darker_london | Demon Magnet (Peter, Caoilfhionn)

Ryn was out finding where the Templar were holding Emma and Peter felt like he could do nothing until that was accomplished. Until Allanah had reminded him of Caoilfhionn and Peter had remembered that he did have something he could do. He could find her. If he did, she could be the key to getting Emma back in a far more peaceful manner than a siege. Caoilfhionn was a demon with Templar connections. She could solve everything.

Finding Caoilfhionn required Peter to think like Caoilfhionn. And that led Peter on a fruitless trek to the zoo and through a few amusement parks before Peter started thinking about her more deeply. Caoilfhionn went to those places when she was happy. And with Holden gone, Caoilfhionn wasn't likely to be happy. In fact, she was probably horribly sad.

That was when Peter started looking in buildings that had once been orphanages. Like the one where Caoilfhionn had grown up. The place where Peter had first met her, so many years ago. And after searching through several, he finally felt her presence as he neared St. Mary's Home for Children.

Peter ducked inside the hulking, structure, opting for going through a window, as none of them had glass in them anymore, but the door had been boarded up long ago. Once inside, he climbed a rickety looking staircase carefully, feeling her presence getting closer and closer. Finally, she was quite close by and he knew she could sense him too. He called out to her gently so she needn't be afraid. "Caoilfhionn...it's Peter."

Caoilfhionn lifted her head, her wild red hair hanging down into her eyes. "Priesty? I felt you."

Peter poked his head into Caoilfhionn's room, and he was shocked to find her curled in the corner, looking like she hadn't moved in some time. He hurried closer to her and he knelt down, placing one hand on her arm. Anyone else would have been dead in that instant. But Caoilfhionn didn't kill Peter. She loved Peter. "Caoilfhionn! Are you alright?"

Caoilfhionn turned her ice blue eyes onto him and she leaned her head back, letting out a weary sigh. "I let him go."

Peter frowned, but he knew what Caoilfhionn meant so he nodded. "You did what you had to do. You were very brave."

Caoilfhionn gave a rueful laugh and then she coughed a few times before she could speak again. "He would have made me his puppet. You don't want a puppet Caoilfhionn, do you?"

"No, Caoilfhionn. Of course I don't." Peter sat down, inching towards her a little. She looked weaker than he'd ever seen her looking, and it worried him. He didn't want her to suffer, even after all the suffering she had put others through. "I came here to ask you something. But I won't take the slightest offense if you say no. You are not my puppet. You don't belong to me. I would be pleased if you helped me. But if you don't, it won't change how I feel about you."

Caoilfhionn took a deep breath and all at once, she dropped the childish demeanor she usually had about her. She was not carefree at the moment anyway. And tea-parties and colouring books were as far from her mind as tropical holidays in Fiji. "And how do you feel about me?" She asked. "Really?"

"Really?" Peter didn't lie, and as soon as Caoilfhionn nodded, Peter spoke the truth. "I don't forget the things you've done. I can't. You were once the demon I feared the most. Well...you and Svetlana. But just as my opinion of her has changed, so has my opinion of you. And just as she changed, I know you can too. If that is what you want. I know you're unhappy. And that hurts me. I like you, Caoilfhionn. You've done terrible things, and that's a fact. But you also stopped a horrible man from molding the world into something hateful and devoid of love. You stopped that. Not me. Not Thomas. Not Deirdre. You. Caoilfhionn, that was the most terrifying thing I have ever faced. I dreamed of a world run by Bishop Holden. And it was...bone-chilling. Humans and demons and angels were his playthings, though he didn't see it that way. And you chose to live in this world. And that meant that everyone else gets the same chance."

"Your world is better than his." Caoilfhionn said softly.

"This world has love in it." Peter reached out for Caoilfhionn's hand. One thing that made it possible for him to reach so many demons, was the fact that he didn't treat them any differently that a dangerous human. He held their hands. He hugged them. He didn't run and hide. Peter was not a hider. Unless there was a spider...

"I want love." Caoilfhionn whispered. "I thought Holden loved me. But he didn't, did he?"

"I don't know." Peter answered truthfully. "I don't know if he honestly knew what love was. But I do believe he enjoyed your company. Caoilfhionn, I love you. I love when you draw me pictures. And when you smile. I love when you're happy. I want to know you better. For you. And I want to get you out of this place." Peter said, glancing around the ruined building. "Please. Let me take you out of here. You look hungry. We can have a nice big meal. You can stay at the hospital. As long as you don't hurt anyone, I won't lock the door." Caolfhionn looked dubious so Peter continued. "You trust me, and I trust you in on this. Does that work?" He didn't trust her completely, but he knew that a little give and take went a long way.

Caoilfhionn was hungry and she didn't fancy staying here any more. Hell, even when she had been locked in at the hospital, she'd been visited and she'd had crayons and pretty things. It was better than here. "It works." Caoilfhionn finally said. "And I'll help you. Because you help me."

Peter smiled at her and he rose, holding his hand out to help her do the same. "Thank you, Caoilfhionn. Thank you so much."