━━ CHAPTER FORTY / family
episode eight, part two.

The pair had quickly decided to speak to the Skull, which Demi just discovered was actually someone who knew Bickerstaff or worshipped him in life. According to Lockwood, he called Bickerstaff 'Master' which Demi had her own issues with but she put them to one side as Lucy pulled the towel off the top of the Skull. Her eyes narrowed as she slammed her hands on the table in front of the glowing jar. Demi hated that she couldn't hear the Visitor.

"What do you know? What have you seen? Where's he taken it?" Lucy snapped as she looked down at the Skull, her eyes narrowed. Silence seemed to suffocate the room as the mouth moved but neither Lockwood nor Demi could hear a thing. It was infuriating not being able to help. They hated only being able to hear half a conversation.

"What's he saying, Luce?" Demi asked once the mouth had stopped moving. Lucy's eyebrows had quickly furrowed, annoyance spreading through her chest as she glanced at the two beside her before she looked back at the skull.

"Something about another friend," Lucy mumbled as she continued to glare back down at the skull in front of her.

"What other friend? Flo? George doesn't have any other friends apart from-" Lockwood went through the very short list before Lucy interrupted him and the trio all seemed to come to the same conclusion at once.

"Joplin."

"Sh... She wouldn't do anything. Would she?" Lockwood asked, glancing at Demi for some sort of reassurance but Demi didn't trust Joplin as far as she could throw her. It was sickening to think what Joplin would do.

"She's mad, of course she would," Demi snapped as she glanced back at Lucy and then back at Lockwood. The boy had lifted his hands into his hair, pushing his fingers through it as he looked around. He was panicking. Lockwood never panicked.

"Everyone who goes near that thing loses their mind," Lockwood snapped, annoyance lacing his tone as he stepped back from Lucy, Demi and the Skull. Lucy sighed and she forced her gaze back to the Jar. Annoyance only seemed to grow stronger on her features as Demi wrapped her arms around her stomach protectively.

"Tell me where they are," Lucy all but shouted as she looked down at the Skull. It's mouth was moving but no matter how hard Demi tried to tune into it, she couldn't hear a thing. It was impossible to feel a thing, "Where?" Lucy said after a moment and then it dawned on her, "Bickerstaff!" Lucy looked at Demi and then Lockwood and it hit him.

"They're at the cemetery," He stated. Demi nodded and she took two steps from the desk. They had to go to the cemetery. None of them even had to say it to understand. Lucy shoved off the desk and all of them rushed downstairs to the stockroom. They just hoped that they still had something left to defend themselves after the few weeks that they'd had. They barely had time to breathe, let alone get more salt-bombs and flares and iron chains.

And so, when they got into the stock room in the basement and found that almost every box was empty, Demi couldn't say that she was surprised but it still didn't make the situation any better. They were about to go into a cemetery full of dead bodies with nothing but salt-bombs.

"One measly box of salt-bombs," Lucy lamented as she pulled the box from the shelf. The trio all looked inside, a frown spreading across their face before Lockwood turned to Demi.

"Demi, please tell me you have something," He asked. Demi had completely forgotten about her little inventions. It had been a while since she had had the time and the mental capacity to work on the prototypes but she'd only used one when they were at Combe Carey Hall. There were plenty under her bed and she let a smile spread across her face.

"Yeah. I still have a few," She said as she stepped back, ready to rush and get them. But before she had a chance, Lockwood grabbed her wrist and pulled her into him.

"You're the best," He mumbled before he kissed her forehead. She grinned up at him before taking two steps back and rushing upstairs. She took the spiral staircase a little slower but as soon as she was on the main stairs, she bounded up two at a time to grab the prototypes. They were in a cardboard box under her bed and when she reached her room, she began to sort through them.

The prototype that she had used at Combe Carey had been the latest in a long line of them and there were still a few working ones. They had a tendency to malfunction but they worked well enough that they should be somewhat useful. Iron filings and salt were still inside all of them when she shook them and so she threw them onto a pile on her bed beside her bag.

There were also a few other prototypes of salt and iron infused chains but there wasn't really enough of the chains to make it worth it. It had taken too much effort to make and she hadn't been able to leave the house long enough to make more recently. But she put it on the pile anyway.

Once she was sure that she had all the useful prototypes, she grabbed her bag and stuffed them inside before she stripped her jumper off and slipped a black t-shirt on. She took her comfy pants off and replaced them with black cargo pants, tucking her shirt in. Then she grabbed her green jacket, slipping it over her shoulders. Her torch went into her left pocket and she slipped a handful of salt and iron filings from her desk into the other pocket. It wasn't the most efficient but could be used in a pinch if she was really desperate.

Then she headed downstairs, bag slung over her shoulders and she picked up her belt and rapier. She slipped the rapier into the holder just as Lockwood and Lucy came back down the stairs. Demi slipped the torch into her belt and then glanced up at the two. They both seemed determined, Lockwood was slipping his rapier into his belt and they met gazes.

"Ready?" Demi asked. The two nodded and she pulled the front door open and they headed out. They called for a night cab and were in it within five minutes. Then it was the drive to Kensal Green. None of them really knew what to say but it was only when they were in the cab that Demi noticed that the ghost jar was with them.

Demi could only assume it was for some help so she didn't question it as she opened her backpack. They exchanged salt-bombs and Demi slipped her prototypes onto her belt.

She gave two to Lockwood and showed him how to set it off but warned him about the malfunctions and how fiddly they were. She then placed a few salt-bombs into the pockets of her cargos and adjusted her belt before she slung her bag back over her shoulders. There were a few other supplies inside but she hoped that she wouldn't need them.

Once they had gotten out of the cab, they began their walk through Kensal Green Cemetery. Demi could feel the lost souls of the cemetery. It was buzzing in her bone and they were making her a little sick but she did her best to ignore it. There were the faint sounds of the dead but nothing overly worrying. It was just noises and so she focused ahead, holding Lockwood's hand for support.

"Come on then, you bastard. Tell us where he is," Lucy snapped as Lockwood held his torch up with his free hand to light the way ahead.

"Is that aimed at us or the skull?" Lockwood asked as he glanced at the brunette. Demi couldn't help but smile.

"I hope it's not aimed at us," Demi muttered jokingly. She wanted to try and keep the atmosphere light. Maybe that would get rid of the intense feeling of dread in her stomach. She wasn't really sure but she didn't trust any of this one bit.

"I was talking to the Skull. I would never be that mean to Demi," Lucy corrected as she glanced past Lockwood to the other girl. Demi grinned, a smug look spreading across her face before she glanced up at Lockwood. He looked vaguely offended.

"Can't you use a different voice?" He suggested. Demi rolled her eyes and the two girls spoke at the same time.

"Shut up," were Demi's choice words while Lucy merely stated, "No." Lockwood rolled his eyes at the two but he didn't say anything against them, electing to stay quiet rather than bring the wrath of both of them down on him.

"Stop glowing so much. You'll give us away," Lucy snapped suddenly once the trio had fallen into silence. Demi let go of Lockwood's hand, glancing around. There was something going on. She felt like she was being watched but she couldn't put her finger on why, "That was to the skull," Lucy clarified after a moment. Demi wasn't paying attention to either of them as their conversation continued.

Her eyes narrowed as she looked behind them. There were shadows moving but she could only assume that they were Shades or maybe some other Type 1 Visitor. They couldn't have been dangerous if they were still lurking around but Demi didn't want to think about it too much. She turned her gaze back in front of her and Lockwood had glanced at her in concern but she brushed off his look with a smile.

The trio came to a stop outside the same building they had been only a few days earlier. It looked just the same as it had the last time they'd been there. Tall, imposing, the columns towered above them and Demi couldn't help the feeling of unease. The tingling in her fingers had gotten even worse from when they had just entered the gates. The pit of dread in her stomach seemed to have grown exponentially.

Lockwood and Lucy were walking up onto the steps of the building but Demi was rooted to her spot. The feeling of being watched, seen, observed was even stronger now and she wrapped her arms around herself, looking around for anyone that would be making her feel like this. But the cemetery seemed empty.

"Demi, what's wrong?" Lockwood asked as he glanced back at her. She forced her gaze back up to his face and gave him a tentative smile.

"I just feel watched," She mumbled. He sighed and he stepped down towards her, taking a hold of her hand.

"You need to stay focused," He responded. Demi glanced around again. Something was different. This wasn't just paranoia; she could feel something. She just couldn't put her finger on what and she reluctantly looked back at Lockwood, "What? You have that look on your face," He asked after a beat of silence between the pair. He glanced at Demi then back at Lucy - who looked somewhat impatient - before he returned back to the girl in front of him. Demi ran her fingers through her hair.

"I can feel something. A Source or... I'm not sure. It's strong and it feels like- it feels like when I first felt Bickerstaff. Nowhere near as strong but I can feel it. I feel like he's watching me, he's waiting, I can't keep my gaze focused and that's what I felt like last time," Demi replied as she wrapped her arms around her stomach, forcing her hand away from Lockwood. Lockwood looked down at her before he glanced at Lucy again. Demi stepped back from the boy. She needed to follow the feeling, "If I just followed the feeling I might be able to find him and George." Lockwood's eyes narrowed. He didn't like this.

"Why do you think he's with George?" Lockwood asked. Demi shrugged.

"Because Joplin's mad. I just- I need to follow this. If I don't find anything, I'll come back," She promised. Lockwood let out a reluctant sigh before he nodded his head, "I have my flares and you saw what they did at Combe Carey," She added, hoping that it would reassure the boy. He hadn't been letting her go anywhere on her own since Combe Carey but it seemed like he was reluctantly trusting her. She wasn't going to take that for granted.

Lockwood nodded, giving her a reassuring smile before he leant forward and pressed a quick kiss to her head before muttering for her to stay safe. Demi let one of her hands rest against her rapier as she stepped back from Lockwood.

"Is she gonna be safe?" Lucy asked, Demi barely registered the words as she let her mind take over her movements, following the feeling deep in the pit of her stomach.

"I hope so," Lockwood muttered before he finally walked back up the steps. Demi continued to walk, the feeling leading her as she weaved through gravestones and came up on a crypt. It was on the smaller side, cracked walls and names etched on the side that had long faded with time. Whatever she was feeling, seemed to be coming from there and so, she drew her rapier. Her free hand slowly moved forward and she pushed the rotting wooden door open. There was complete silence and she tried to sense anything. There was the feeling of unquiet spirits but nothing came for her. It didn't seem like the crypt held any Sources.

So, she grabbed her torch from her belt and flicked it on. She was glad she did because right in front of her was a gaping hole of steep steps into what seemed to be the catacombs. She knew that she should have gone back out to Lockwood and Lucy and told them that she had found a way down but she couldn't pull away from the feeling.

And that's why she walked down the stairs with absolutely no back up. The feeling was getting stronger. It felt like someone was looming over her shoulder now and the tingling in her fingers was worse than before. She felt the need to clench her fists in some attempt to get rid of the almost painful sensation but she knew it wouldn't help.

Her free hand rested on the handle of her rapier as she moved cautiously down the steps. Her eyes narrowed, adjusting to the darkness while her torch lit up the way ahead. Her footsteps echoed around her. It was the only thing shattering the delicate silence as she took cautious steps forward. When her foot finally landed on the floor of the catacombs, she felt an overwhelming sense of nausea. The same kind of nausea that she had felt with Bickerstaff. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to get a hold of herself before she stepped forward.

Each step was careful as she surveyed her surroundings, her eyes weren't able to stay in one place for long as she made her way through the catacombs. It was a dizzying maze of corridors but every time she came to an intersection, she seemed to know what way to go. It was like Bickerstaff was leading her to him. He wanted her to see this and she couldn't for the life of her understand why. But something wanted her there.

Her path was only interrupted when she came face-to-face with a Raw-Bones. Her hand shoved into her pocket and she threw the iron filings and salt mixture at the creature before she drew her rapier. The raw-bones vanished for a moment before appearing behind her. The Visitor was a completely skinless corpse. The rotting that she was used to with a wraith had vanished. It was just a bloody, skinless creature whose eyes were falling out of their head. The teeth ground together with a sickening crunch and the wet sound of raw flesh against stone filled her ears.

Demi wanted to throw up.

She took two steps back, hoping to create some space between her and the Visitor. But then the Raw-Bones suddenly came for her. She swung her rapier out in an arc and cut the Raw-Bones through the middle. It vanished into a puff of air, about to reform somewhere else in the corridor within seconds. She barely had time to think as her head shot from side-to-side, trying to spot the creature in the darkness.

It didn't immediately reform and that gave her a moment to think, A source, she had to find the Source but nothing seemed to be calling to her in the endlessly stone tunnels. They were carved beautifully but there were thousands of corpses hidden in the walls behind etched epitaphs. She couldn't pinpoint just one that could be manifesting as a Raw-Bones.

So even if the overpowering presence of Edmund Bickerstaff wasn't taking up all her senses, there would be no way to narrow her down. With a deep breath, she turned on her heel again, searching for the Raw-Bones. Her eyes narrowed as she searched through the dark. Then, the Raw-Bones came for her again and she swung her rapier but dropped her torch in the process.

Silently, she cursed under her breath, looking back and forth for the Raw-Bones before she saw it reform a little further down the corridor and it was coming for her fast and so she bit the bullet and snatched a prototype from her waist and with a steady hand, flicked the flare on.

It gave her a second or two to check that it was working before she threw it and it blew. The entire catacomb seemed to shift, the unfamiliar sounds of stones rubbing against each other. It was a terrifying creaking noise, dust clouding Demi's vision without the assistance of her torch light. She coughed and blinked against the dust cloud. The Raw-Bones had vanished but then she heard it. A giant crash, right in front of her.

The adrenaline set in quickly and she watched through the dust as the roof of the catacombs was collapsing right in front of her eyes. The brunette suddenly snapped into action and she leant forward, snatching up her torch before she ran. There were dust clouds forming on her heels and rubble was kicking at her heels as she sprinted. Her feet moved as fast as she could physically move as the ceiling creaked and cracked over her head.

The feeling of Edmund Bickerstaff led her through the corridors as she heaved oxygen into her lungs, gunning it down the corridor as everything collapsed around her. Just ahead, she could see a wide open room and she ran for it, jumping at the last second to save herself from the rocks that fell above her head.

The brunette landed heavily on her front. Her face smashed into the smooth stone of the wide open room. Her chest rose and fell heavily as she shoved her hands underneath herself, pushing herself to her knees. Her entire body ached, the pain in her back returned with a sickening throb and she desperately clawed to get more oxygen into her lungs. Her torch had slipped from her grasp when she jumped and so she crawled over to pick it up from the floor. Her body was shaking, adrenaline slowly coming down as she turned over to sit on her arse.

The corridor that she had just run from was completely gone now. Rubble dribbling from the carved doorway that was now lost. If she hadn't jumped, she would have been dead. The rubble would have caught her and she would have been stuck. She heaved out a heavy breath.

The Raw-Bones was gone, she was safe but if the catacombs were that unstable, she dreaded to see what could happen if she used any of the other prototypes. Her rapier was back on her belt now and once she had her breathe back, she got to her feet. Her body ached, her palms, chin and knees hurt from throwing herself at the ground but she tried to ignore it. Even if she could feel the scrapes on her skin.

With a deep sigh, she let her hands rest on her rapier and looked around, deciding which direction to go. She let herself tune back into those feelings and they led her in the right direction. She took the right-hand corridor, taking cautious steps.

But as she walked down the corridor, she began to hear conversation. The echoes of voices and as she tried to focus on them, she was sure it was Joplin and George. She was sure she could hear them and the closer she got, the more clear it became and then she heard Lucy beginning to speak. The worry sat heavy in Demi's chest as she walked quietly to the doorway into the room. It was a giant stone cavern, much like the one she had just been in. The room was surrounded by columns of stone and right in the middle was George, tied to a chair. There was a tripod with what Demi assumed to be the bone-glass set atop. Then Lucy and Joplin were just to the side.

Joplin had all her focus on Lucy, her back to George and by extension Demi. Her eyebrows furrowed as she tried to assess the situation that she had walked into. That sickening feeling was overtaking all her senses and she could feel a grip around her wrist but she tried to ignore it as she stepped into the room, pressing her back against the nearest column to ensure that Joplin wouldn't spot her. She forced her breathing to be shallow as she thought.

George had to get out of that chair. She knew it. And so while Lucy was speaking, Demi took her chance, "You're the best of us. I left my family without looking back. Lockwood's lost all of his and so has Demi. We are not losing you, George." Lucy was on the verge of tears as Demi slipped out from behind the column and stepped into the middle of the room.

George3 saw her coming and his head shot towards her. Lucy tried not to show her surprise as Demi moved closer to the boy. She knelt behind George, the chair hiding her from sight, as Joplin snapped, "Very moving. Now bind your hands." Demi slipped the now turned off torch back into her belt. Then she adjusted her rapier to avoid it scraping against the floor before she desperately tried to untie George's bindings.

"No." Lucy threw the rope that she had been handed down, "Because if anybody is looking in that mirror, it's me." Demi's mouth dropped open at her words and she tried to stay quiet as George protested loudly. His hands moving only made trying to untie him worse, "It has to be me. Because this is something else. This is historic and for that, you need the best talent in the room. The best since Marissa Fittes," Demi wanted anything but to protest like George but Joplin didn't know she was here. They had an advantage. They could do this. But George was fiddling and Demi couldn't tell him to stop. Lucy and Joplin were getting closer to the pair.

"I can talk to Type Threes. Commune with the other side. This is what I'm made for. This is meant for me," Lucy was continuing her monologue and Demi finally managed to get a hold of the right part of the rope, tugging. But then George was moving again. He was shouting at Lucy that he wouldn't let her do this and Demi could feel the tears pricking her eyes. She needed to get George out of this but he wasn't helping.

"George, you don't have a choice in this! He'll be dead in an instant. Just look how much one glance has screwed him up. Just... just... just let me do this for him... Please," Lucy begged. Demi was trying to keep her cool but her hands were shaking. Her fingers had the right grip and she was tugging them. The rope was loosening.

"Cross me and I'll cut both your throats," Joplin threatened and despite Demi nearly having the rope off. She had to move. Joplin was about to turn and so, she grabbed George's hand and kissed his palm in a hopefully comforting gesture before she rushed out of sight before Joplin caught sight of her in the room. Her back pressed against one of the columns in the giant room, across from the form of Bickerstaff and she watched in the corner of her eye as Joplin shoved George out of the chair and onto the floor, right next to Demi.

"Don't you dare look and whatever happens, this wasn't your fault," Lucy said as she looked at George and then gave Demi a quick glance. Her face had fallen. This couldn't be happening. If they just got George free, they would have the upper hand. It would be fine, "This was my choice." Demi turned her head away, desperately blinking away tears.

Then George shoved himself back, away from the bone glass and towards Demi. The two met gazes and she gestured for him to come closer. So, he did and he pulled himself as close to her as he could. She got behind him and began to untie the ropes. The two of them were quiet as Joplin spoke. Demi moved faster, pulling on the edges of the rope and then George's hands were free just as Joplin pulled loose the bone glass.

Demi grabbed a hold of George, burying her face in his neck. She didn't want to see this as George held onto her. He was never one for hugs but in that moment, he knew it was what Demi needed. His hands gripped her tightly as he watched Lucy, not knowing what to say. Then he watched as Lucy grabbed the Skull from her bag and she shoved it in front of her. Her eyes squeezed shut, head turned away from the bone glass.

"Demi, look," George said into her ear and Demi blinked back the tears as she slowly turned her head to see the stream of light from the bone glass and the Skull was looking at it. Her mouth fell open and Joplin demanded that Lucy spoke as George kept a tight hold of Demi. The two watched in shock and horror.

"It says it's not right! It's a trap! We have to destroy it!" Lucy shouted, finally repeating what the Skull was saying to her. Demi's face fell and she looked to George. This wasn't right. She didn't know what to do and she was terrified. And then Lucy started whimpering before her whole body slumped and yet the ghost jar stayed up right.

George let go of Demi and ran at the stand that held the bone glass, knocking it over. Demi watched as the bone glass flew through the air and then cracked on the floor. Her jaw dropped and then she looked up to see Joplin glaring at them before her head snapped to the bone glass. Her gaze flicked to George who had rushed to Lucy's side and Demi crawled over, trying to turn the girl over.

"Lucy, please," Demi said as George continued to beg Lucy to say something, taking a hold of her face. But nothing was happening until suddenly she gasped, her eyes shot open and Demi grabbed her hand, looking at her face. The trio all looked up to see Joplin rush to the bone glass.

"You broke it," She said, sounding almost tearful, "You stupid little boy. Wait, it's working. Something's happening." The enthusiasm had returned to her tone and George looked between the two girls. Demi then helped Lucy sit up as they watched in complete horror as the bone-glass began to whir back to life.

"Whatever happens, don't look at her," George instructed the two girls and then all three of them turned their heads away. Joplin's voice of 'it's beautiful, it's wonderful' echoing around the room as the familiar sound of the bone glass became overwhelming. Then the screaming began and Demi covered her eyes to protect them from the sudden glow of light, the bang and then complete silence.

"Lucy, don't-" George warned as Demi felt the brunette shift beside her.

"No, it's okay," She insisted and Demi tentatively opened her eyes to see that Joplin was gone and the bone-glass had broken apart, "Look," She said softly. George followed the two girls' actions and looked over at the other side of the room. The bone glass was broken completely and the trio watched as small orbs of light began to slowly appear from the glass. Demi's eyes widened as she watched them fly around, extending to become more human-like.

"They're free," Demi muttered as they listened to the spirits hum gently and fly up into the rafters of the room.

"Why aren't they coming for us?" George mumbled as the trio watched the ghosts fly around above their heads. It was the most beautiful thing Demi had seen in a long time but the feeling of someone watching over her shoulder had begun to intensify. It was becoming nauseating as she watched the spirits begin to disappear into the ceiling.

But that brief moment of serenity was suddenly ended by Lucy's words, "How did he escape?" The terror laced her tone and Demi's head snapped to where she was looking. Bickerstaff was looming around the corner of the column, staring down at them and Demi shuffled back. She was right. Bickerstaff wanted her to be here and his spirit was an angry smoke cloud that almost seemed to be on fire from within. The face of the man was vaguely made out of smoke as he lingered closer to them, sliding between the columns.

"His chains..." George mumbled.

"The blast," Demi suddenly snapped as she turned away from Bickerstaff.

"Where's your rapier?" George asked and Demi shuffled further back. Lucy and George were both ghost-locked, Demi could see it and she slowly climbed to her feet. Her muscles were stiff and her back was aching but she had to do this. Her hand snatched a prototype from her belt and she began to flick it, trying to get it to work but - of course - it would malfunction now.

"Demi," Lucy was calling for the brunette and she let out a rushed, "I'm trying to-" but she didn't get to finish her sentence before Lockwood had suddenly appeared. Demi spotted him in the corner of her eye, he looked worse for wear. His shoulder was clearly injured and he had a hold of a rapier.

"Get away from them! They're my friends!" Lockwood shouted before he threw the rapier right at Bickerstaff's fire-y smoke form. It gave Demi just enough time to try and fix her prototype as Lucy and George shuffled out from underneath them. Lockwood began to throw salt-bombs at the figure of Bickerstaff and George staggered next to Demi as she fiddled.

"Throw it, come on," George snapped and Demi tried the trigger one more time.

"It's not triggering," Demi snapped and she glanced at Lockwood who was throwing more salt-bombs. George was letting out a ragged breath as he watched Lucy move and Demi suddenly threw the prototype. She just hoped that it triggered but just as she threw it, Lucy covered Bickerstaff and the smoke disappeared. Her prototype sat squarely in the middle of the room untriggered. A frown spread across her face.

"Really handy," George muttered under his breath. She rolled her eyes and turned to him. He had a look of annoyance but also appreciation. Demi wrapped her arms around the boy, burying her face in his neck, mumbling that she was glad he was safe. George held her onto her, squeezing her waist and insisting that he was fine. Then, she stepped back and as Lucy disappeared behind one of the columns to a slumped figure, Demi rushed over to Lockwood.

He didn't seem well and now that she could see him properly, his hand was pressed against his shoulder. Something was really wrong. She grabbed his face the second that she was in front of him, searching his features.

"Hey, hey," Demi said softly as she looked into his eyes, trying to gain attention of his wandering eyes. He then looked back at her, a smirk spreading across his face.

"You need to work on that," Lockwood stated, glancing over her shoulder to the prototype, untriggered on the ground. She rolled her eyes at him and wrapped one arm around him, hugging him softly. He let his head fall against hers and breathed in her scent. They both smelt like blood and flares and dust but there was still a familiarity, for both of them,

"What happened to your shoulder?" She asked when he awkwardly pulled only one arm around her. It wasn't even a particularly tight hold, he barely seemed to be standing and Demi just wanted to pick him up and carry him out of this godforsaken place.

"Just a gunshot," He muttered. Demi's eyes popped open as she looked up at him. He was smiling wryly and Demi stepped back. Not a single part of her could believe him but at least he was alive, she was so glad that he was alive.

It had been a few days since everything had happened at the cemetery. Demi had taken some rest, actually gotten her back checked out when the ambulances came and they told her to rest. Which she did. As did Lockwood, with his injured arm. It wasn't as bad as it could have been but he had his arm in a sling which he hated.

Lucy and George were relatively unscathed and the tension in the house had simmered back to normal levels. Erin had even become a more permanent fixture after they had pulled her and Kipps out of the catacombs with them. Demi - in the mess of it - hadn't even seen either of the two dressed in Fittes uniform slumped against one of the columns. It was only after Lucy had rushed over that Demi had even seen the girl. Erin looked annoyed but she was groggy from being knocked out alongside Kipps. Demi was just glad they were safe.

Demi was glad that everyone was okay and now, after a few days, everything was getting back to normal. Lockwood had given her the all-clear to start her usual schedule again and so, she slipped out of his bed just as the sun rose to go on her run. It felt good to be back to it. She hadn't gone on a run in what felt like months but really it had been only a matter of weeks. It felt good and it wasn't her best run but it gave her the energy she needed to face the day.

When she returned to Portland Row, she went about her usual routine of showering and she tied her hair up before she headed downstairs to make breakfast for the five of them. But just as she stepped into the hallway where the front door was, there was a knock. A soft knock and Demi's head lifted towards the front door. None of them expected visitors. Erin was upstairs and the shadow was nothing like anyone they would expect to see.

It was tall, pale and there was a mop of black hair. Demi's heart stopped. It couldn't possibly be. She didn't believe it and she had to be sure and so she rushed to the front door and yanked it open. And he was there, right in front of her. The brunette almost started crying on the spot as she threw herself at her dad. He was alive. He was here. He was right here.

"Hello, sunflower," He said as he held onto his daughter. His face buried in her hair as he squeezed her. Demi held him even tighter. She didn't want to let him go, she couldn't let him go but when he squeezed her again, she did let him go. With reluctance, she stepped back and looked up at him. He looked like he always had. Salt-and-pepper black hair, a certain mischievous look about him, a crooked smile and pale skin. His hands rested lazily in the pockets of the jacket he was wearing. A simple sage green shirt underneath and jeans. It was an outfit that she would have seen him in all the time and she didn't know what to think.

"I thought you were gone. I thought- I thought something had happened," Demi spluttered, unsurety filling her words. He smiled softly and shook his head.

"He tried but Rupert really was never that good with his rapier or a gun," Her dad shrugged. His words were so casual, as if Demi should have known this. As if she should have expected that he knew this but it was all so new, and jarring.

"Why are you here?" She asked softly. He smiled sadly down at her before he glanced around the street. His chest rose with a deep breath before it fell and he turned to face her.

"I meant what I said about the rings. I need them," He retorted. Demi's face fell at the memory. Her mum. Her mum was dead. She had her Sources with her. She hadn't taken them off since they had gotten back from the cemetery but she didn't want her dad to leave yet, especially not with them in hand.

"What happened to her?" Demi asked as she wrapped an arm around herself, the other moving to fiddle with the chain around her neck. Her dad's face fell and he ran his hand across his mouth. He didn't know what to say and she could tell. He had that look on his face where he knew he wanted to lie but he couldn't.

"Your mum and I, we're involved in something that will expose Fittes and Rotwell for things that you won't be able to understand right now. Fittes and Rotwell are very powerful companies and men like Rupert want to protect them. She was killed for what she knew. They tried to do it to me too but I was lucky. I escaped. Your mum didn't and I need her Sources, please, sunflower. I will explain this all when it's over but I can't right now," Her dad mumbled softly. Demi closed her eyes, trying desperately to decide whether asking more was worth it.

"We can't be a family anymore, can we?" Demi asked. Her dad shook his head.

"It seems you've found a new one. Maybe one day when the work is done, I'll find you again but for now, Portland Row is your home," He insisted. Demi nodded and she stepped back from the door so that her dad could come inside, "That doesn't mean I don't miss you but I can't put you in danger. It seems your new family makes enough of that for you." A bittersweet smile spread across Demi's face and she nodded her head.

"Something like that," She mumbled before she let the hand that was playing with the chain drop down to her side, "The Sources are upstairs. Come up with me." Her dad nodded and he stepped inside Portland Row, closing the door behind him. Demi then took the stairs up towards her room but when she stopped outside her room, Lockwood appeared from the stairs. He had a smile on his face as he went to say something to Demi but then he saw the tall man beside her.

"Ah, you must be Lockwood!" Her dad said suddenly, a grin spread across his face. Lockwood nodded and Demi tried not to smirk as she stepped into her bedroom. Lockwood stepped up onto the landing so that he could talk with Demi's dad. The brunette only vaguely listened to the conversation as she pulled the necklace over her head.

"And you are Demi's father?"

"Yes. I am. Harry. Nice to finally meet you. I see we've both survived Rupert then."

"Rupert?"

"I think you called him a pretentious prick, if I heard correctly?"

"How did you-?"

"I know a lot more than you think."

Demi unclipped the back of the necklace and let her mother's rings slip into her hand. They were still cold to the touch but the iron coating prevented them from creating any sort of danger. Not that they seemed to cause much danger even when they weren't coated or protected by iron. Part of her didn't want to let go of the rings but she knew that she had to. Her dad needed them; she didn't.

"Are you staying for long?"
"No, no. I won't intrude on your space. I just need something from Demi."

"Oh. It's really no trouble if you want to stay for breakfast."

"I really must be going. I'm afraid staying here for too long will only bring trouble to your door. You bring enough without me adding to it."

"Of course. What is it that you do?"
"I investigate."

"That's... vague."

"You don't need to know any more than that for now."

"For now?"

"The world is changing, son. I just hope you and my sunflower survive long enough to see it."

"I hope we will."

"As do I."

Demi turned to the pair and she held the rings out towards her dad, "Mum's rings," She mumbled. Her dad let out a soft sound of relief and he took them from Demi's smaller hand. He held them in his hand and then he slipped them into the pocket of his coat.

"Thank you, sunflower," He mumbled, "But I best be leaving. Please, keep yourself safe. Both of you." He looked between the two teenagers warily and Demi nodded her head. A smile tried to pull across her face but all she could feel was loss.

For a second time, she was losing her family and she had no choice in it this time. Instead, her dad was leaving her. Her hands wrapped around her stomach and he smiled, "I'll see myself out. I love you, chicken. Don't ever forget that." The words were directed at the girl and she nodded her head, forcing a smile onto her face.

Then, the man took his leave and they watched as Harry Campbell walked down the steps and right out of Portland Row. Demi looked up at Lockwood, tears brimming her eyes and he stepped towards her, using his good arm to pull her into a hug.

"He's gonna die and I'm never going to know a thing about it," Demi mumbled as tears began to spill down her cheeks. Her breathing was getting quicker as Lockwood leant his head forward and pressed a soft kiss to her hair.

"We'll find out. We will," He whispered. Demi didn't believe it, not for a second.

THE END.

THE FINAL RUBY'S NOTES

- hello hello my lovelies, this is where demi's story has come to an end! i have so many thoughts so this is going to be a very very long little afterword with some very vague book spoilers based on my limited knowledge of the books bc i've yet to fully read them so be aware that the next bullet point thing will have spoilers so skip it if you want to!!

- spoiler warnings!! so from what i know of the book, the whole visitor problem was caused by fittes and rotwell and basically, to clear something up because i can't write it into the text due to the nature of how the tv show ended (deserved a second season), demi's parents were both part of the investigation to expose fittes and rotwell for basically causing the problem and trying to find a way to fix the problem since they know that there is a way to do it! that's what her father was doing, that's why the golden blade is called rupert in this (bc i'm presuming he's rupert from the books) and her father has been keeping an eye on rupert and following him so that's kind of the whole thing that's going on there, there's a little more nuance to it so if any of you have any questions feel free to ask and i will try and answer them the best i can with my limited knowledge of the books haha

- okay now NO MORE SPOILERS FOR THE BOOKS, so this is the last chapter :( the interaction with demi and her dad just makes me feel so many things, demi and her dad mean so much to me, i'm really close to my dad in real life and their relationship very much mirrors that, he is fiercly protective and it's just so cute, i also felt like a lockwood/harry campbell interaction was very much needed because lockwood needed to meet demi's dad, i just needed it in my life!!

- and then the whole graveyard scene, demi just ofc can sense bickerstaff and he is drawing her to the bone glass bc he wants her to either free him/look into the bone glass, bickerstaff is just a lil bitch that wants to hurt people and that's the whole reason he draws her to the cemetery, just as a little explanation but i'm so so proud of demi's little adventure, i just thought it'd be a cool side quest bc i didn't want her involved in the main like two bits of the show, i like having her do her own thing 

- and DEMI AND GEORGE INTERACTIONS?? SOBBING. they bicker and fight so much but they LOVE EACH OTHER ENDLESSLY AND I JUST YES! also we did get little bits of campwood and it's just <333 it's my everything, i love them

- writing this chapter (because it's the end) was so emotional for me and although no tears were shed, i'm still very emotionally invested in this and i really really hope you guys like this, this ending chapter feels like a good ending, it fels like satsifying enough (for me personally) so i hope you guys feel the same way!

- genuinely thank you all so much for the support and 150k reads! i will never ever ever understand it and i am so endlessly thankful because this story is my baby and demi is one of my favourite characters i've ever written and her story has changed a lot over the course of writing it and it was admittedly very chaotic but i've really really enjoyed it! thank you all so so so much for reading, voting, commenting, everything!! it is everything to me <3

- so this is demi (and me) over-and-out for probably the last time in this fic! thank you for reading and i promise demi's back heals (and she goes to the doctor) <3