A/N: Sorry if this seems a bit slow moving, but my biggest fear is diving into something such as a relationship unrealistically fast. The story needs to build up a bit more before things like that can happen. Enjoy!
Esme moved around in the dark mansion. She moved from door to door and huffed in frustration. No house should be this complicated. She felt like an idiot since she stormed out of the room with no idea where she was going. To any ordinary person they would be scared out of their wits in the haughty manor but Esme was immune to it. She had seen and lived through events that were worse than nightmares; most demons had. She knew nothing about Sebastian other than he was somewhat of a jerk, but Esme knew he had probably seen his fair share of horrid events as well. Esme sniffed the air, trying to figure out where she was but to no avail. She stopped walking and stared into the darkness. She still had no idea why the little earl had snatched her off of the street. She had been around for years without anyone bothering her. She had moved from place to place for thousands of years with no real problems. She encountered a few demons on the way but none like Sebastian. Esme was aware that there were demons that lived off of human souls but she had never really associated with one.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Esme jumped and turned to see bright ruby eyes staring down at her through the darkness. She clenched her fists and grumbled with an embarrassed look on her face.
"I've been ordered to show you to your room," Sebastian said.
Esme said nothing and followed the butler around many turns and halls. She stopped abruptly when he came to a halt at one of the large wooden doors. He turned and motioned for her to go in. Esme cautiously opened the door and watched him skeptically. She entered the room and saw a large bed with lavender sheets. She glanced back at Sebastian who watched her silently as she moved around the room. She examined the desk that was in the corner and moved to the closet that already had clothes in it. She gulped as a hunger pang hit her and rubbed her abdomen as she looked out the large window. She gazed down at the courtyard of the manor which was dark with the exception of a few lights shining up to illuminate the fountain in the center.
"Do you require anything?"
Esme jumped again, forgetting that Sebastian was still there. She turned and shook her head.
"Are you positive you don't require anything to eat?" he annunciated the last word and eyed her suspiciously.
"No," Esme bit out, "I'm fine."
"Very well," Sebastian gave her a curt nod.
"I still don't understand why you dragged me here," she told him.
"I do as I'm told," Sebastian replied simply.
"I've never met a demon who feasts upon souls and from what I'm seeing so far I'm glad I haven't," Esme spat.
"It's not the most pleasant way of life, I'll agree with you, but I think you have your own problems that you're unwilling to face," Sebastian said.
"My problems are none of your concern."
Sebastian swiveled about and opened the door, "Goodnight Esme."
She watched him close the door and stared at it for a few moments after he had left. She touched her abdomen and sighed, she was incredibly hungry. She hadn't had a fit meal in days and it was starting to wear on her. She looked outside the window where she saw a forest in the distance. She made up her mind instantly that she was going hunting, even if it was something as small as a squirrel it would hold her over for a little while. Esme tried to open the window and growled when she found that it was locked. Luckily she wasn't a human or else it might be troublesome for her. She pulled extremely hard on the window until a loud crack echoed throughout the room and the window slid open. Esme smiled at her success and hopped onto the windowsill. She curled her lip when she saw how far above the ground she was. She wasn't fond of heights and was especially not fond of the idea of falling. She edged herself out onto the stone ledge and began climbing her way down the front of the mansion, using other ledges to help her down. She finally got close enough to the ground that she leapt and landed on the grass softly.
…..
Sebastian left Esme's room with a scowl on his face. She was a stubborn girl and it irritated him that she was somewhat of a mystery. In the past he had always been able to retrieve useful information about any given person but this girl was off the grid. He knew nothing about her other than that she was a demon that was keeping things secret. Sebastian didn't have time to deal with her shenanigans and was focused on his single goal: helping his young master achieve revenge on those who disgraced his family name. When that goal was complete he would have Ciel's desirable soul that he had been working so hard for.
Sebastian stopped when he heard a loud bang and sighed when he recognized that it was coming from the room he had just left. He approached the door and opened it only to see the window wide open. The butler glanced outside and caught sight of a figure retreating into the woods.
"What is she doing?" Sebastian muttered in an exhausted voice.
He turned and left the room to find Ciel who he still needed to put to bed. The young earl was waiting for him in his room and gave the demon butler a frown when he entered.
"And where have you been?" Ciel questioned.
"Keeping an eye on our guest… who is now outside in the forest," Sebastian replied with a bow.
Ciel's eyes widened, "What? Why is she outside?"
"I'm not sure young master," Sebastian answered as he pulled Ciel's night clothes out of a nearby drawer.
"I don't want her escaping and revealing the fact that you're a demon to any of my enemies and I'm not done questioning her yet," Ciel said, "Bring her back."
"I highly doubt something like that would happen," Sebastian stated.
"Sebastian, that was an order."
"But young master, I'm not finished here," Sebastian told the earl.
Ciel scoffed, "I can put my night clothes on Sebastian, I'm not that incompetent!"
Sebastian smirked, "I wouldn't be so sure, I've seen you try and dress yourself… it's not-"
"Sebastian!" Ciel exclaimed.
The butler bowed, "Yes, my lord."
…..
Esme inhaled deeply as the fresh night air entered her lungs. It was quiet and peaceful outside. She was shocked at how calming it was on the countryside since she had spent her last few years in the noisy city. It was nice to hear crickets instead of people. She peered around a thick tree and saw a small rabbit nibbling on a blade of grass. She poised herself and burst forward with great speed. The rabbit didn't have time to move before it was in her grasp. She ended its life quickly and sat down on a nearby tree stump with her fresh prey. Ever since she had been bitten by the vampire bat demon she had refused to use something solely for the purpose of its blood. She hated what that demon had done to her and in a way she hated herself for having urges to devour humans for their blood. Esme had decided that she would get her blood through her hunting catches such as the rabbit she currently had in her hands. When she devoured it, she would consume the flesh as well as the blood inside of it which would calm her natural hunger and her hated hunger of blood at the same time.
Esme was different from other demons. Her parents had been brutally slaughtered when she was younger for their beliefs against harming humans. She had shared these beliefs and was cast out of the underworld. She had been alone for so long she had forgotten what it was like to be around others in such close quarters. She was an outcast because she couldn't fit in with demons, and at the same time couldn't fit in with humans. Her existence wouldn't end anytime soon either because of the incredibly, almost immortal like, lifespan of demons. Esme didn't like the idea of soul stealing demons that took advantage of humans in times of weakness so they could gain their souls for a quick meal. Sebastian seemed odd in a way to her because of his utter devotion to Ciel. She had always known the soul stealers to be manipulative and cheap, but Sebastian appeared to be the opposite, willing to work hard for something he really wanted. Overall she didn't care because she still viewed it as wrong. She began to devour her captured prey hungrily, unaware of the ruby pair of orbs that were watching her from a distance.
…
Sebastian watched the girl rip into the rabbit's flesh, mildly disgusted at the scene in front of him. It was so uncivilized and he didn't understand why she hadn't just told him she wanted something to eat earlier when he had asked. He would have been more than willing to get her something with a plate… and utensils. He knitted his eyebrows together and this his eyes widened slightly as he watched her behavior change. She was holding the creature up to her mouth and sucking. Realization dawned on him that the missing element in her diet had obviously been blood by the way she was desperately mouthing the carcass. But why did she need it? He didn't understand it and still was unaware of the type of demon she was.
"I know you're standing over there Sebastian."
The butler stood up rigidly, that was ridiculous, how could she know that he had been watching her? A breeze blew behind him and hit his back as he moved toward her slowly and he stopped walking. It was obvious now that his scent had given his presence away.
A dog? No, he wouldn't have it, he hated, no, he despised dogs. They already had Pluto and he was not going to have another mutt in the house. Sebastian boldly walked up to Esme who chewed on a rabbit bone contently. She glanced up at him as she picked her teeth with it.
"Are you some kind of canine?" Sebastian questioned with a disgusted expression.
Esme plucked the bone from her mouth, "I'm not a dog if that's what you're asking."
Sebastian scowled, he wasn't in the mood for games, "Then what are you?"
"A wolf," Esme replied, "What are you? If I may be so bold to ask."
"You may not," Sebastian turned his nose up and added, "I can't stand dogs."
"I'm not a dog," Esme growled back.
"Close enough, are you finished being a heathen? The young master wants you back inside."
"You don't have to be rude about it, I was going to go back," Esme said, standing up and walking by him.
Sebastian followed her and spoke clearly, "The next time you need something like that," he gestured to the bone that she was twiddling with her fingers, "Inform me and I will get you something so that in turn you don't have to behave in such a… barbaric manner."
"Eating little boys' souls isn't barbaric?" Esme questioned.
Sebastian frowned, "It's how I survive."
"This is how I survive, so how is that any more barbaric than what you do?"
The pair entered the Phantomhive estate and Sebastian led Esme back to her room where he entered ahead of her. He quickly closed the window and turned to face her.
"No more of this ridiculous behavior, I'll see you in the morning," Sebastian told her firmly.
"You're the one following me," Esme returned.
"I'm observing suspicious behavior, and I now know what it is that you are so deprived of in your diet," Sebastian said proudly.
Esme gasped, "What do you mean?"
"You need blood, and now that I know that you're a wolf, I'm not quite sure why you require it. I'm sure I'll find out eventually, good night."
Esme stared at the closed door with wide eyes. Sebastian Michaelis… it looked like he was going to give her a run for her money.
