━━ CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE / fittes, rotwell
episode four, part three.

Night had fallen and they were in a taxi heading to Kensal Green Cemetery. Demi was a little nervous but most of it had vanished after she took a well-needed nap. Also, Lockwood's reassuring words helped. Anything he said helped, though. It was just something about him. She loved him so much, she hated it. She hated that she loved how arrogant he was.

But that wasn't important as they sat in the taxi. How she felt about the man that sat across from her was the least of their worries as they trundled closer and closer to the unmarked grave. They were all a little worried about what they were about to face. Nobody would say it but another strong spirit and one that had made someone pass out was concerning.

However, they were Lockwood & Co and this is what they were best at. So, they would be fine. If the Relic Men didn't catch them first.

"Let's keep our wits about us. We do not want to get jumped by relic men," Lockwood voiced what Demi was already thinking. She nodded, sending him a half-smile. George had been watching the brunette since they had gotten in the taxi. He was worried. He had been since Combe Carey but he started to show it now.

"Who even keeps those arseholes in business? I don't understand," Lucy snapped as she moved her hand away from her mouth where she had just been biting her nails.

"There's a lot of rich twisted bastards out there who want something to scandalise their equally twisted mates," Lockwood responded, his elbow resting against the small window ledge. He was wearing his ring and Demi couldn't help but notice it. The light reflected off it as they passed ghost lights. He was so pretty.

"It's so messed up," Lucy mumbled. Demi shrugged and she forced her gaze off Lockwood to turn back to the streets of London.

"But not surprising. Sources are fascinating and illegal. Put those two things together, there's your black market," George commented. His eyes had widened considerably, he seemed excited by the prospect of illegal Sources. That came as a surprise to nobody in the taxi. You didn't steal a Source from one of the biggest Agencies in Fittes for fun.

"A ruthless one at that. Relic men are the scum of the earth. I know one notable exception but by and large, they'll kill you without hesitation," Lockwood explained but Demi was quick to cut in.

"Two exceptions," She corrected. Lockwood looked at her for a moment, the brief confusion flickering over his face before he realised who she was talking about and nodded his head.

"Either away, if you see one, run," Lockwood warned. Demi nodded. That was one thing that they could agree on. A relic man was more likely to kill you than a visitor ever would. Though, that was always the case. Humans are the most dangerous animals of all.

The taxi was getting to the cemetery now and there was a crowd. A crowd that Demi had only had the displeasure of interacting with once and George's words were almost exactly what Demi was thinking, "This lot are almost as crazy." Demi hummed in agreement.

"Fittes managed to keep them away most days," Demi said as she met George's gaze, "But they are a determined lot." The sarcasm was thick in her voice and George nodded.

"Who are they?" Lucy asked before George could say anything in response.

"Ghost Cult. They think instead of fighting visitors we should be welcoming them in. They're the Venn diagram intersection for noisy, angry and deliberately thick," George put it rather succinctly and his voice made it easier to ignore the rabble shouting outside the door. Demi hated people like that and she was beginning to realise that she really didn't like most things that were required of her in a job like this. Quitting sounded like a more appealing option every single day.

"That was horrible," Lucy commented after they had successfully made it through the gates into the cemetery. Demi nodded. The taxi came to a stop, Lockwood paid him and then they got out and began walking. It was a short walk to the main hub where everyone would be waiting for them. Then the night would really begin.

"You get used to it," George said as he glanced over at Lucy. Their torches were in hand now as they headed up the dirt path, "It's this bit I don't like. I know most of the dead here are properly dead but-"

George was cut off by Lockwood who said, "It still feels like enemy territory." Demi glanced around, shining her torch along the graves. Cemeteries had always felt off to her, from being a toddler, it was always weird.

Everything felt off and as they trudged up the path, she could feel it now. A tingling in her fingertips. Visitors whose Sources hadn't been discovered and a sense of dread in her stomach. It was hard to miss but she did her best to ignore it. As long as she didn't touch any Sources, the night would go just fine.

They eventually made it to the hub and Lucy's, "Jesus," was the first thing that they had said in a few minutes. Lockwood walked in the middle of the group and he glanced back at Lucy.

"Like the man said, the cemetery really comes alive at night." His words were accompanied by his typical charming smile but Demi ignored it in favour of looking ahead. The fact that she was even here was enough to make her want to disappear. Her back still ached, her whole body seemed to reject the very idea of existing and the feeling of Sources and visitors was making her wary. George was right. She wasn't ready. But there was nothing she could do now.

"Who are all these people?" Lucy asked, pulling Demi right back to reality. She glanced around. The building in front of them was tall with pillars holding up the structure. It was Roman-style architecture and the grass area in front of it was covered with various equipment and people. Portable lights and fires in old oil drums were all that lit up the area as the group stepped closer. It was a typical site for operations like that.

"It's the security and the uh, gravediggers. Proper honest blokes, you know? Real salt of the earth," Lockwood explained. His deadpan tone made it hard to tell if he was joking. Demi glanced at the boy, cocking an eyebrow but George spoke before she could.

"You've never even spoken to them." His tone was clearly unimpressed which made Demi giggle. It replaced the anxiety that had been filling her chest for a brief moment.

"Well, they're a bit scary," Lockwood mumbled in response which made Demi grin a little wider. Nobody else seemed as amused but she was taking anything as a distraction.

"You can face the most horrific Type Twos but gravediggers are just a little too much for you?" Demi asked, teasingly with a raised eyebrow. He huffed out.

"Shut up." Demi nudged his arm playfully and he flashed her one of his charming smiles before he returned his gaze to the groups around them, "Anyway, that's night watch. Lowest pay, lowest life expectancy in the business," He explained. Lucy nodded.

"They need to unionize. I've told them a thousand times," George commented as the group continued to walk closer to the Chapel.

"That could've been me," Lucy said, her gaze fixed on the small group. There were about five of them. They were all younger than the group. Probably twelve or thirteen years old, at most. That could have been all of them.

"But it's not, luckily. You've dealt with sensitives before, right?" Lockwood asked as they continued walking.

"No why?" Their conversation was keeping Demi sane but the closer that they got to the Chapel, the more off-putting everything felt. There were lights around and people and probably iron everywhere but something just felt off about the cemetery. She hated it and she didn't even realise that she had zoned out of the real world until George nudged her elbow.

They were standing on the steps of the chapel and there was a group of workers standing in front of Saunders. He didn't seem particularly pleased and Demi had missed the way he was having a go at his workers just a moment before.

"These troublemakers are refusing to let their teams work," Saunders ranted as he turned to face Anthony. Demi glanced between Saunders and the groups and from what she had heard about the grave, she wasn't at all surprised.

"It's not safe and you know. You call it risk. I call it suicide," One of the older team leaders responded. Her hands rested in the pocket of her vest. It was hard to argue.

"Even I can sense it and I haven't been able to see a visitor for 35 years!" The older man stood beside the girl argued. None of them looked pleased and Demi had nothing but sympathy for them. She was glad they were standing up for themselves. She could feel the Source, something wrong in the cemetery. It was bad.

"Which is exactly why we have hired these agents, the best of the best, to deal with the whole situation," Saunders explained as he gestured to Lockwood. Demi, George and Lucy were still standing on the steps while Lockwood took front and centre. As always. Demi didn't particularly want to be here and something felt off. Her gaze was unfocused, constantly flitting around the graveyard and George nudged her arm.

"What's up?" He asked softly. Demi shook her head, attempting to dismiss it but it was George. He wouldn't let her dismiss it.

"Whatever we're dealing with. I can feel it," She mumbled. George nodded and he glanced around. They couldn't have been too far away from the Source but with how strong it felt to Demi, it didn't bode well.

"I told you to stay home," He responded, his voice hushed. She rolled her eyes and nodded, mumbling about how he didn't need to remind her. Demi lifted her head just as Saunders began to step away but Lockwood spoke to him and turned back around before anyone else could make a move.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Anthony Lockwood of Lockwood & Co., and I'm here tonight with my team to assist you all. Now let me assure you, your safety is our number one priority," He addressed the crowd. Demi gave the group a small - hopefully convincing and reassuring - smile. But it didn't seem to make any difference.

"Get us proper agents! Get us Fittes! Get us Rotwell!" The older man said, crossing his arms over his chest. Demi sighed and she glanced at George and Lucy. Lucy was paying attention to the crowd but George was looking at her. He gave her a smile, his attempt at being reassuring.

"Sir, I guarantee you we are the best agents in London. The only reason you haven't heard of us is because we don't do our work for applause or attention. No, we do our work discreetly and bespokely. Now, I am certain that no one knows this cemetery quite like you do. We will do nothing without a full consultation on what you have seen. And miss, you have clearly had a terrible experience, so please, take all the time you need, and when you and your team feel strong enough, you will have my undivided attention." The way he spoke was so suave, so comforting. Demi couldn't help but feel comforted and more attracted to him at that moment. It wasn't even directed at her but she felt her cheeks flush. It was ridiculous, the effect that Lockwood had on her.

George picked up his bag and he stepped up towards the entrance to the Chapel as he said; "If we ever really get famous, he'll be absolutely unbearable." Demi jogged to catch up with the boy, catching his hand with her own. He glanced down at her, giving her a reassuring smile which she promptly returned. Maybe, tonight would be better than Combe Carey Hall.

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