Nevermore

Chapter 1: Zombie

Alois/Claude

Alois' POV

Though it seemed like a lifetime,

I saw him nevermore...

"I can't shake this feeling," I told him, "that I'm really just shell of myself.. a zombie, if you will. I want you to remove all the mirrors imeadiately, Claude! Smash this one last." My butler glared at me for less than a moment before leaving the bathroom with his usual bow and, "Yes, your highness."

I sighed deeply, pulling my ever-so-short robe up a bit and staring at my reflection. A giggle escaped my throat. "Are you becoming soft, Alois Trancy? Where's your coldness, your vileness? Has it withered since that day?" I spoke to myself quietly, ghosting my fingers across the stiches on my stomach. "Has it.. how do they say? Gone with the wind, perhaps?" Another giggle. "Well, if I do say so myself, it's time to make things more interesting."

I smirked wildly when the door to the bathroom opened again and Claude reappeared. I turned to face him, seeming quite devious. "Oh, Claude! Have you finished the task already? You're such a good demon.. a hungry one, too, I bet." I said, messing with his psyche, for lack of better words.

"It's the least a Trancy butler would do, your highness." Claude bowed once again, and the sight almost annoyed me. I made my way over to my butler and flung my arms around him. "Do you want my soul, Claude?" I asked. His expression remained stoic. It made me want to scream. "Answer me!" I nearly growled the words. Still, he had no emotion.

"You're so odd. You know that, right? But you know what I'm talking about, Claude. You know it as well as I do. You want this very soul." Pointing to myself, I let out a chuckle and released my butler.

"If that's not what you want, then what is it?" I was becoming aggravated. I could tell Claude knew. "Tell me, what do you want, Claude? A round of applause? A feast of souls? Or a kiss maybe..?"

"Your highness, I have no idea what you're talking about. I am but a butler. I want what my master wants." Claude spoke as if he was provoking me. I swear he was, and like a true child, I was falling for it. Every word was luring me in.

"Hmm, what do I want? Ha, I don't know anymore. However, I do love to be entertained.. and you're standing right in front of me, aren't you?" Claude simply nodded.

"But as much as I love to be entertained, nothing equals my biggest love. Do you know what that is, Claude?" I might as well have been saying "hint, hint" aloud for him. I feared for a moment that he wouldn't ever get it.

"No, your highness. I don't know this love that you speak of." Instead of folding in defeat and agony, I decided to provoke him. I decided to take my chances because I had nothing left to lose.

"Don't you feel it, too, Claude? Don't you? It's in here!" I took my hand and laid it on his chest. "It's no heart attack, no panic fit, no. It's not a disease like Cholera, no. It's more like a longing for an emptiness to be filled. It's like a garden before the flowers are planted. It's like.. dying young."

"I'm afraid I still don't understand." Claude spoke, hopelessly. He gently grabbed my hand and held it there. "Enough of the similes, your highness. I am but a lowly demon, and I can't control so much as my hunger. For you to hint to things and use poetry is not fair at all, is it?"

"I suppose it's not.." I replied, ".. but what I'm trying to say is that no one can live without just a little of this.. emotion, if you will. Don't you feel it, Claude? It's love!" He dropped my hand.

"Your highness, I'm a demon. I have no soul let alone emotions." My heart sank into my stomach, and I felt sick all of a sudden. I took a step back from him and lowered my face. "Oh. I see..."

Claude left the room once again, but this time, he didn't come back. I followed soon after and put myself to sleep that night.

I want what I can't have...

... and I need what I don't want.