Chapter One; Welome Home

Evelyn kept silent the entire drive home, watching the scenary fleetingly as Sebastian drove her home. It was autumn, her favourite time of the year. At least, it used to be. She used to find the colours so vibrant and beautiful, the air was aromatic, she could be outside for hours, just smelling the air and admiring the colours.
Now, she came to see, everything was dying. Life was draining from the trees, and the smell of the decomposing flesh of leaves was carried on the wind. And soon, the bodies would be buried under blankets of snow.
Just like...
No. No, don't think of him that way.
She forced that thought to the back of her head, but the stinging of her eyes said differently. She sniffled lightly and wiped away the small tear that threatened to fall down her cheek.
Sebastian heard her trying to stiffle the sound. She was trying to appear as though everything was fine, that she was going to get over it. He knew very well that that wasn't going to be so. She would have to come to terms with this, and now, as her butler, he would be there though it all with her.
"Mistress, we're almost home. When we arrive I was going to make you some tea and draw you a bath, would you care for anything to eat as well?"
Evelyn sighed audibly from the back seat. "No Sebastian. Just the tea and bath, thank you."
Even with his enhanced demonic hearing he had to strain to hear her. She barely spoke above a whisper since she left the hospital. Her voice carried the weight of her emotions. This was going to be a long process, she was the type who shut down once something overwhelmed her. He hadn't had many female clients before, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of mistress she would turn out to be.
Sebastian pulled the car into a long paved driveway, leading up to a very well polished mansion. He had to admire the girl's taste in architecture, a beautiful Victorian home, dark grey and black in colour. It almost reminded him of the young master Ciel before her. Those had been interesting times in his life, times he may have actually genuinely enjoyed.
Pulling the car into the large garage, the stepped out and opened Evelyn's door. She got out slowly, trying not to strain her body any further. She grimaced when she stood up, and walked very stiffly, still in obvious pain.
Sebastian looked at her standing before him, and felt a pang of pity for the girl. She was much smaller than he, he was at least six foot five, Evelyn couldn't have been more than five foot three. He noticed that even though she was valiantly trying to hide it, just walking was too painful for her right now. Taking two large strides to catch up to her, Sebastian gently put his arm over her shoulder. "Come my lady, you shouldn't be up and walking just yet." He knelt down beside her and gingerly picked her up without hurting her.
"Sebastian, please. I have the wheelchair just inside and -"
"Let my lady walk around while she's in tremendous pain?" He tsked playfully at her. "Now, what kind of butler would I be?"
Evelyn didn't bother protesting, she was much more tired than she cared to admit. He stopped at the front door only long enough to unlock and open it without so much as a struggle with her in his arm. She expected him to let her down into the wheelchair the hospital had sent for her, but he didn't. He had continued through the main foyer and up the grand marble staircase. She couldn't help but marvel at how well he navigated through the mansion, he found the bathroom quite easily and set her down gently, and moved to take off her coat.
"How did you know where the bathroom was?" She asked quietly.
Sebastian simply smiled sweetly at her and removed her coat and began working on her shoes. "My lady, as I have said, I'm simply one hell of a butler."
She noticed his wine red eyes instantly light up, almost as though saying that amused him greatly.
What an odd man...
Once Sebastian had removed her coat and shoes, he moved to the large claw bathtub and turned on the water, making sure it was a good warm temperature for her to relax, but too too warm as to pain her wounds. "Now then," he began, adding a lavender scented bubble mixture to the water. "Why don't you finish undressing while I go fetch that tea for you, my lady. Then once you're settled in here, I shall prepare dinner for you."
"W-what? Sebastian I said I didn't really feel up to eating."
"You need to regain your strength mistress, you've had a tiring day. Though you say nothing, it shows plainly on your face."
Among other things.. Eveyln thought to herself.
"Very well, thank you." She said quietly.
Sebastian rose from the floor and adjusted his coat. "I'll be back in a moment, er, milk and three sugars in your tea, isn't it?" He asked, making his way to the door.
Evelyn snapped her gaze from the floor to turn and look at him. "How did you..."
Sebastian's hand paused on the large ornate handle, but he didn't answer, he merely turned back to look her, that sparkle came back to his eye and his mouth was pulled into a half smile.
Might as well just go with this. She thought to herself. "Nevermind." She turned her back to him and began unzipping her sweater, once she heard the door click shut, she breathed out a heavy sigh. The bath did look nice, maybe it would do her some good. She removed her sweater and slowly pulled off her t-shirt, then removed her sweat pants and let them sit on the floor. She looked down at them and sighed, there were spots of blood on them, mostly her shirt. Her gaze moved to her chest, she brought her hand up to feel the stitching they had done to sew her back up after surgery. The bullet, from what she was told, had entered through the front of her torso, narrowly missing her heart, they said she was lucky.
Lucky.
Evelyn let her hair down from it's ponytail and looked at herself in the mirror. It was worse than she thought. The bruising around her eye was starting to fade, it was now a dark purple instead of black. The cuts on her face were dried over with crusted blood, her split lip swollen and crusted over, attempting to heal itself. She looked down at her arms, where her attacker had made various cuts all over her arms, a couple small incisions were made on the main artery of her wrists. She removed the bandages and looked back in the mirror.
Her eyes stung again and she cursed herself for starting to cry again. Why had she suggested going for a walk? She had brought this on herself, on Velkan. Thanks to her, he was dead. That mere thought was enough to break down the weak emotional defense she had been attempting to build. She fell to the floor, letting her tears flow freely now. She ignored the pain coursing through her body, and just cried.

On his way back up the stairs, Sebastian heard a thump on the floor, coming from the bathroom. Keeping the tea steady, he leapt to the top of the staircase and hurried along to the bathroom, he opened the door and froze. Evelyn was on the floor, huddling against the wooden cabinet of the sink, her arms wrapped around her pale, naked body. He noticed the healing cuts on her arms and smelled the fresh blood coming from her. Probably from her split lip. Setting the tea down on the sink, he knelt beside her
She whispered something when he put his arm on her shoulder, but he couldn't make it out clearly.
"My lady?"
"It's all my fault!" She cried louder and wrapped her arms around herself even tighter, her black curly hair falling in front of her face, Sebastian took her into his arms and noticed the combination of blood and tears on the floor from where she had been sitting. He found himself at a loss for words, he didn't know what to say to her. Sebastian lifted her from the floor and gently lowered her into the bath, then moved to the linen closet to grab a washcloth. He sat with her at the edge of the tub, and wet the cloth.
"My lady, you cannot blame yourself for what happened to you." Sebastian moved the hair from her face and brought the cloth to her face, gently wiping the blood and tears away.
Evelyn grabbed his hand and pulled it away from her face. "Not me. I don't care about what happened to me. It's Velkan. It's my fault that he's dead!"
That response actually surprised him. This woman was beaten and attacked within an inch of her life, and all that consumed her thoughts was what became of him. She blamed herself for all of it. Completely selfless, this girl.
Sebastian released her grip on him and turned her arm over, beginning to wash out the cuts on her arm, his eyes tracing over the cuts as he worked. The fact that someone would do this to another human being without any provocation digusted him. Most clients he served, were resemblant of Ciel, they wanted vengeance for family who had been killed, and made a few enemies along the way to get where they were. Ciel's family was responsible for keeping the country of England safe, that made them quite unfavourable to criminals.
But this, this was a woman who came from a wealthy family who had done wrong to no one, Evelyn herself had done wrong to no one. What had happened to her was an act of senseless violence. Even in a demon's eyes it was despicable.
"No, my lady. It isn't." He spoke softly, finding his words again. "What happened to you was senseless, disgusting and cruel. What happened to Velkan was unforgiveable, but through no fault of your own." He dropped the washcloth in the water with a light splash, and gently tilted Evelyn's head to make her look at him. Her emerald green eyes shone brightly with tears, filled with self loathing.
"I do not want you thinking this was in any way your doing. And once you find this man and you give me the order, I will end him for you." Sebastian reached and toyed with a small tendril of her hair. " A mortal such as yourself shouldn't be filled with such rage and self loathing, my lady. It takes away from such precious beauty."
He sighed and moved away from her then, bringing her her cup of tea and bowing gracefully. I shall be downstairs preparing your dinner, if you need me for anything, my lady."
Evelyn watched as he shut the door and was left with her thoughts steaming in the bath.
I will end him for you.
Wasn't the deal that he keep her safe until she found the man and killed him herself? Shaking her head, she set the cup of tea down and wiped away her remaining tears, and began washing her hair, wondering just what kind of demon she had bargained with.