WARNING!
This chapter contents a lot of swearing, attempted rape, and pedophilia. Nothing is all that severe, but don't get offended. This story borders on being rated M.
If Kate hadn't been seated she would have stumbled back.
A suitor? Was he serious?
"Surely you're joking!" Kate exclaimed, her book now forgotten. "What would that even accomplish?"
"It would help to calm people's worries about the two of us. Granted, there could still be some suspicion, but, if you were to marry, the rumors should fade for the most part."
"I will not marry. I refuse." Kate retorted.
Sebastian stepped closer so that he towered over her. He looked down on her as if he owned her, like she was HIS servant.
"Need I remind you that our contract demands that I remain at your side and protect you at all times? These things are much easier done if there is not the obstacle of a governess."
"So if I were to marry it would benefit you and inconvenience me? Need I remind YOU that you are my servant. Your only purpose is to make my life as luxurious and care free as possible- not the other way around." Kate stood and stepped to sit at her vanity to fidget with the various items set on the table top. Sebastian followed, standing behind her and making eye contact in her mirror.
"If I am not able to freely attend to and protect you, that will also cause problems for your business."
"I am very capable of killing without your assistance." She glared at his reflection.
"Oh?" He teased. "Then perhaps I should just remain at the manor tomorrow night so as not to hinder your task of assassinating Mr. Hensley."
Kate stopped to consider. Could she kill without the help of her demon butler? She'd never tried. Each time they'd gone into battle, she'd been armed. But, looking back, she realized that she'd never once drawn her weapon. Sebastian had always taken care of everything.
He noticed her pause, and knew she was either going to accept his unspoken challenge or submit to him and find a suitor. Either way, he would win. Sebastian knew she wasn't capable of killing, not with her own two hands.
"Fine." She finally said. "Don't come. I'll take care of it myself." Kate stood and turned, retrieving her book and replacing it on the large bookshelf in her room.
He raised a mocking eyebrow.
"Are you sure, Young Mistress?"
"Yes." She said confidently, betraying the feeling of worry she was consumed with. The more she thought about how she was going to kill him, the less she believed she could actually do it on her own.
"You are dismissed."
"Very well." Sebastian said after a moment of silence. He bowed. "I will return at six with your dinner."
She didn't reply, or nod, or even move. Kate felt she wouldn't be able to kill this man without Sebastian. But how could she admit that to him? She couldn't, simply could not admit defeat to her snide butler. How dare he challenge her in this way!
She would show him! She didn't need Sebastian. She could kill on her own. And tomorrow night she was going to prove it.
Sebastian watched with thinly veiled amusement as Kate finished up her makeup and ran her perfectly French manicured nails through her thickly curled locks. She must have sensed his inner laughter as she turned and glared at him.
"What?" She spat.
"Nothing, My Lady. The carriage is waiting outside. Whenever you're ready." He regained his composure and bowed slightly
Once again unlocking her drawer, she placed her gun in a discreet pocket of her dress and then stood, walking haughtily past Sebastian. He shut the door to her room after she'd exited and proceeded to follow her down the hall.
"Have you changed your mind, My Lady? Would you like for me to accompany you after all?"
"No." She replied. "I am perfectly capable of handling this job on my own. Besides, I'm seventeen now. I no longer need to be accompanied to every event."
They reached the foyer where all of her servants were lined up to see her off. She had asked them time and time again not to do this, but they insisted. The men to see her in whatever elegantly seductive gown she'd chosen for the nights festivities, and the women to do the same to Sebastian, though he always wore the same perfectly tailored and pristine black butler uniform. Together they were quite a vision, descending down the grand staircase of her mansion.
Charlotte and Jessica, who somehow had the nerve to face her after they had spoken of disgracing her family's name, were the first in the row. They looked straight past their mistress and focused on Sebastian, who kept his eyes forward. Carrie was there too, but kept her gaze on the floor. Kate noticed this and figured she was forced here by Jessica and Charlotte. After the three maids were George, her groundskeeper, and Leslie, though she was to call him Mr. Baker as he was her tutor. The two of them stared at her shamelessly, feasting their eyes upon something they could never attain. She noticed this and smirked, throwing a seductive look their way only to cause a reaction. The two stiffened and this only caused her smirk to grow.
There had been many classes with Mr. Baker when she'd grown bored and decided to play around with her teachers emotions. When she looked into his eyes, she didn't just see that same hint of lust she'd long since grown used to seeing in the eyes of men, but something softer and sweeter. And sometimes she felt guilt. She suspected he loved her, or at least thought he did. And if it weren't for her social standing, if it weren't for her contract with Sebastian, if it weren't for that night, maybe, just maybe, she could grow to feel the same way. But, things being as they were, such a thing was unthinkable. As for George, he just liked to sleep with every girl he could get his hands on, and he was simply infatuated with her because she refused him constantly.
For the first time, Kate departed from her home alone, Sebastian giving a mocking smirk as he saw her off.
He thinks I'm going to fail Kate thought bitterly. Throwing him another glare, Kate pulled the curtain closed over the window.
Meanwhile Sebastian looked after the carriage in a way that resembled fondness. He always enjoyed when his prey was willing to put up a fight.
Kate let out yet another sigh of boredom.
Three hours, she whined to herself, I've been waiting three God damn hours and this man still hasn't presented himself.
Three hours meant sixteen turned down dance partners, five glasses of champagne, and two cream puffs. Oh lord, she was bored beyond comprehension!
Kate watched with eyes that didn't see as many couples danced around the room, some gracefully and others, not so much. All she wanted was for this man to show up so she could kill him. Was that really so much to ask for?
Kate wandered once again to find a server who could provide her with more champagne. After a moment's search, she found herself colliding into another person, causing for him to spill his own bubbling drink onto her dress.
"Damn!" Kate muttered quietly.
She looked up to see who she'd run into. He was a tall man, looking somewhere between two to three years older than herself. He was certainly attractive, his eyes were bright blue but still very warm and welcoming, and, she supposed, if he had been smiling, that would only enhance his features. He was no doubt handsome, and if she was interested in such things, Kate would have been dazzled.
"I'm terribly sorry, My Lady." He hurriedly apologized, hands at the ready to help but not sure what he should do. To touch her would be beyond inappropriate, especially considering where the champagne had landed.
"It's fine. I was looking for more champagne... I suppose I found some."
And then he smiled. Kate thought she could vomit.
It was a beautiful smile. His teeth were perfectly shaped and white and his eyes seemed to sparkle like they were filled with stars.
And Kate hated him for it. She forced herself to tear her eyes away and look down at the ground.
I used to smile like that... She remembered
"Sweetie! Sweetie get under the bed- now!" Her mother cried out to her desperately from the now opened doorway of her room. Kate had been peacefully sleeping until only a moment ago.
Somehow, amid all the yelling and noise and confusion, she understood. She knew why her mom was shaking in fear, and why she needed to hide herself.
They had come for her.
Kate slid off her be to lie underneath it. She did her best to hold her breath and be soundless. At this point her mother had closed the door and she could hear the screaming get louder as gunshots went of. Finally, one more shot rang out and silence consumed her now trembling frame.
The door to her room opened slowly, eerily, so as not to wake her. But Kate was very awake and very aware of what might happen if she made a single noise.
She could see many pairs of feet wandering about her room, opening cupboards, closets, dresser drawers, leaving no hiding place unseen. A man, who Kate assumed to be their leader, called out to the other men.
"She's not in here, let's keep searching!"
Kate waited until they left, not bothering to pull the door closed behind them. She counted to ten and then crawled out from her hiding spot and quickly moved to close and lock the door. But, before she could take more than three steps, arms were around her, a hand covering her mouth and muffling her screams.
"No! Please let me go!" She bellowed. But no one would save her. Even if the men in her house heard her plea for mercy they'd just ignore it. She was alone.
"Stop squirming you little bitch!" He snarled into her ear. Kate didn't stop. She kicked, scratched, hit, bit, tried everything but she could not break free. She was a small thing, a young girl of only ten, and he was no doubt at least into his mid to late twenties. What chance did she have?
"I said to stop!" He threw her down, and delivered a harsh slap to her face. Her little hands reached up to touch the area that was now a fiery red. God it hurt!
No. There was no God. The God she'd learned about wouldn't let scary men into her home. He wouldn't have let them hurt her or her mom. He just wouldn't.
"Alright, you little bitch." He began, grabbing her by her shoulders and throwing her hard onto the floor. "Let's see if your as big of a whore as your mother."
"Miss, are you okay?" The young man said. "Once again, I am very sorry about ruining that splendid dress of yours. If you'd like I can pay for it to be cleaned professionally." He offered sincerely.
"No that won't be necessary, but thank you." Kate said, pulling away from her reliving of the night her splendid life went to hell. She was about to walk away, but his hand gently yet firmly seized her elbow, drawing her back to him.
"Then at least let me share this dance with you. If you won't let me clean up the mess I made then at least let me offer you a dancing partner." Kate sighed. She really didn't want to. But seeing as she had time to kill...
"Alright," she submitted, "one dance couldn't hurt."
He bowed, she curtsied and the two walked onto the dance floor together and began to waltz.
There wasn't a long pause before he began to speak again.
"So, My Lady, could you share with me your name?"
She forced a blush to come off as shy. Most men found that enticing, so it had become a habit.
"Kate, Kate Mitchell. And might I know your name?"
"Julian." He responded, flashing another bright smile.
"Is there a last name to go with that?" She teased. Julian chuckled slightly.
"There is," he began, "but only a select few are lucky enough to learn it."
"Oh?" Kate bantered. "Well, surely you could make an exception. I do love a good secret."
"I'll bet you do." He twirled her round before bringing her back to him. "A young girl like you who's obviously very wealthy, no doubt you have nothing but free time on your hands. What better to fill it with than gossip an rumors?"
"You flatter me, Mr. Julian. What makes you think I'm any wealthier than the next woman here?"
"Your elegance. You're more refined than them. And much more innocent." He countered truthfully. "I can see it in your eyes. And please, I am simply Julian."
"Well then, Julian," she said, "you had better look into purchasing a pair of glasses. I assure you, though I may be elegant, innocence does not reside in me."
"Really?" Julian said stepping closer once again to speak softer so no one would hear. "Well perhaps you'd like to put your money where your mouth is, Lady Kate."
"A lady doesn't gamble." She said, finding herself actually enjoying this little game of theirs.
"A lady also maintains both innocence and elegance." He said, raising an eyebrow.
"Are you implying that I am not a lady?" Kate challenged with mock offense.
"I'm not sure. But I would love to find out." Julian smiled again and winked playfully before she shook her head and lightly hit his chest.
As she was about to return to the seating area her eyes caught a man standing at the top of a staircase with a butler by his side.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the honorable Mister Andrew Hensley."
Everyone turned to watch him descend, applauding him.
"I'm very sorry to have kept you waiting so long, my friends. I, unfortunately, had a pressing business affair to see through..."
He rambled on, but Kate had stopped listening. This was it. This was her chance to show Sebastian that she didn't need him as much as he liked to think.
He gave a small speech before beginning to mingle with his guests. Kate really didn't want to stay any longer, so she bravely stepped up to the host. However she did not anticipate that the trashy blond he was talking to was going to jet out her leg and stand in a rather unrefined way. It was as if she was losing, trying to get this soon to be filthy rich Mr. Hensley to pay her any mind. Kate tripped over the girl's skirts and fell towards the ground, only to be caught by Mr. Hensley's butler.
"Are you alright, Miss?" The butler asked. Slightly frazzled, and still drunk, Kate stood up and held out her arms to regain her balance.
"Yes, I'm fine, thank you."
"My, my." A semi familiar voice said. "What a lovely little thing you are, my dear."
Kate looked up to see who had been addressing her.
"Mr. Hensley, I apologize. It's shameful for a lady to be so clumsy in the presence of a gentleman."
"Oh, my sweet child," he draped his arm around her shoulders and guided her away from the other guests, "don't be so hard on yourself. Everybody has their moments."
They were now standing on a large balcony, surrounded by a lovely hedge of roses, each in full bloom and unbruised. Kate stepped forward, allowing her hands to delicately lay atop the cement lining of the planters where the hedges had been placed. Getting this man alone was easier than she had thought it would be.
"Sir? Is it not rude for a host to leave his own party?" She said innocently. Just because innocence wasn't a natural characteristic of hers, didn't mean she couldn't fake it.
"I'm sure they will understand once I explain to them the situation."
"And what would that be, Mr. Hensley."
"Please, my dear, call me Andrew."
"Very well, Andrew," Kate turned to face him and was met with a look of unashamed desire, "what is this pressing matter you will use as an excuse to escape your guests?"
"I will simply tell them," he stepped forward as he spoke, pressing her against the wall of the balcony, and playing with the laces I her dress, "that a young girl came my way and I simply could not resist getting her alone and learning more about her."
He pressed a kiss to her shoulder. And, when he received no resistance from her, placed another. And this continued as he trailed kisses up her neck finally reaching her mouth.
Kate loved this part. A man's kiss was so revealing. It told you exactly how far they wanted to go with you, how much experience they had, and just how they felt for you.
However he hesitated, choosing instead to let his lips hover over hers and stare into those big blue eyes that screamed of virtue.
"What would you like me to do to you, Miss?" He said stroking the smooth flesh of her arms.
"Kiss me." She breathed out, Putting on the mask of the shy young virgin.
Still he didn't kiss her.
"And after?" He asked.
"Corrupt me." She said, choosing the perfect words to arouse the man.
His lips began a fierce battle with hers, and he forced her to accommodate his tongue in her mouth. Kate went along with his desires. After all, it was the least she could do, considering she was about to kill the man.
She let her right hand slip to retrieve her gun. Pressing the weapon up against his chest, she pulled away from the kiss to stare into his eyes that just now realized what was happening.
She had planned to say something darkly witty. After all, dying with an erection surely wasn't the most noble way to go, and Kate found it amusing. Just when she'd formulated her words, he snatched her wrist with a bruising grip.
"I'd expected an assassin tonight..." He mused darkly. "But I never would have anticipated a lady as lovely as yourself to be capable of such an act of violence." As if nothing had changed, Andrew crushed her to him, and she knew exactly where this was going.
Kate was stunned and in her shock lost her mask of cool indifference and seduction. She panicked, clawing at him with her free hand, trying to break free from his painful grasp.
"Please!" Kate begged. "Please let me go! You're hurting me!" Tears welled up in her eyes as she was taken back to a certain night long ago...
"Let me go!" The young girl shrieked before she was silenced by her attackers hand firmly gripping her delicate neck and choking her.
He held her there for a moment before tossing her to the ground, once again, as if she were a toy he'd grown weary of. His eyes were like fire.
"I told you to shut up, you little brat!" He snarled, walking to were she'd slid to once she made contact with the floor. He snatched her wrists and held them high above her head, pinning her down. All Kate could do was kick, but in their position she could get enough leverage to be able to accomplish anything.
Tears of frustration an fear slid down cheeks that were now rosy from exhaustion. The girl knew very little about matters of intimacy, and yet she could sense his intentions and she trembled in fear.
"Please," she spoke now in a helpless whimper as he forcefully gripped her shoulder length chocolate curls, "please, sir, let me go. I won't tell anyone about any of this, I promise!" Her voice crescendo-ed along with her rising panic.
"Don't you get it, you stupid bitch?" He snapped. "You're not leaving this room alive."
Kate's eyes widened in terror. "No please don't kill me!" She began bawling. Was this the fate that had befallen her mother? Had his companions done to her whatever he planned to do to her?
Kate gave a cry of helplessness as he slid his hands up the length of her petite body, pushing up the fabric of her nightgown...
As she was taken back to the present, she found a similar thing occurring with Mr. Hensley. She fought him as best she could, but just like back then she could accomplish little to nothing with the way he was holding her against him, despite all her efforts.
Similar to the man that had trapped her all those years ago, he thee her into the cement and climbed on top of her. In his haste, he'd left her mouth uncovered and she let out a shrill cry for help.
Mr. Hensley slapped the right side of her face, causing her to turn her head to the side. He looked down at the new bit of porcelain skin that had been revealed to him and noticed something peculiar.
"A tattoo?" He questioned tauntingly. "Perhaps you aren't as innocent as you seem? Where did you get it, hm?" He hovered above her ear as one of his hands covered her mouth. "Were you part of some circus or something? That's what it looks like... Regardless..."
He kissed the pentagram on her neck as she continued to squirm beneath him. Her muffled cries continued to grow louder and more desperate until her throat grew sore. Her screams evolved from loud, desperate pleas to be saved to muffle whimpers of helplessness as she realized that no one was coming to save her this time. Sebastian wasn't coming.
Tears continued to trail down her face as he undid the ties to her dress and ripped it off of her, somehow managing to keep her mouth covered with his hand.
She was going into shock- her cries had grown weak to the point where they were near nonexistent. Kate stared blankly to the side, trying to block out what was happening to her.
She was now bare before him, and the cold breeze stung her skin. He briefly swept his hungry gaze over her before kissing her again. She closed her eyes when she heard a zipper go down and prepared herself for the pain that was soon to follow.
"Don't make that face..." He pleaded with her as she kept her eyes closed and grimaced, furrowing her eyebrows together in expectancy. "You'll enjoy yourself- I promise."
She could hear the smirk in his voice and another tear slipped down her cheek. But, just as he was about to have his way with her, she felt the weight of his body lifted from off of her and heard his cries of pain. Numbly, she sat up and watched the man receive blow after blow.
"Took you long enough to get here..." Kate said, trying to sound strong but failing.
He turned around to face her after delivering one last blow to Mr. Hensley.
"You have my sincerest apologies, Young Mistress." Sebastian replied as he stepped over to her, removing his coat. Upon reaching her, he draped it over her bare shoulders, and, though she hated to admit it, she couldn't have been more grateful. She hugged the warm fabric against her skin in an attempt to block out the cold night air. It served as another reminder of that night so very long ago.
She was pinned down on the ground, still screaming and thrashing in a pointless attempt to free herself.
"Somebody please help me! Anybody please!" She was crying like she'd never cried before. There were multiple bruises that were beginning to form all around her little body and she felt so very sore and tired.
"You can cry all you want," the man stated coldly, "but no ones going to save a worthless little bastard like you."
All of a sudden the large double window of her bedroom slammed open, shattering the glass. The man looked over, obviously startled. There was no wind that night- and yet suddenly a strong, audible, gust of cold flew through her room.
Then, there was a dark shadow that flooded her room, starting at the window. Once her room was enveloped in darkness, black feathers that were glowing fuchsia began to float from the floor to the ceiling.
"What the hell is going on!?" The man cried, confused and concerned for his safety. He still had Kate pinned die and the two gaped in terror at the infinite darkness that surrounded them.
A deep, luxurious voice then echoed around them.
"I believe it would be wise of you to let the girl go." There was a menacing tone to the voice. A crow then flew in through the window, landing on a tree that had materialized in seconds in the center of her room.
"What is this?" He bellowed, looking down at Kate who shook her head, saying she knew no more than he did.
"You will find that I am not a very patient man." The voice continued, now coming from the crow, even though its beak remained closed. "I will not ask again. Let the child go..."
The crow vanished and so did the tree. All of a sudden a dark, faceless figure appeared behind the man and Kate screamed in fear. The man followed her gaze and turned round, only to be snatched by the neck by unnaturally long fingers.
Kate shut her eyes tight and she heard a scream of pain, followed by dead silence.
When she reopened her eyes the eminent darkness was gone and had been replaced with a near blinding white light. The feathers that were once black and purple were now white and now remained still, suspended in the air.
She looked around in slight wonder. A gentle hand then landed on he shoulder and she flinched, turning around in fear. The eyes that looked down at her were filled with a trustworthy kindness and the small smile on his face assured her that this man meant her no harm.
"It's alright." He said. "I won't hurt you."
Hesitantly she began to believe him. "You- you aren't with those other men?"
"No, my dear child. I can assure you that those men are no longer here. You have no need to be afraid of them any longer."
"And what about the monster?" She said with fearful eyes. "There was a monster with long fingers and red eyes here!"
"The monster is gone too." He said, with slight hesitance. "There is nothing here to be scared of."
"Who are you?" Kate asked with a breathless wonder.
"You will understand soon, my dear. But for now-" he removed his jacket with a grand gesture and placed it on her dainty shoulders, "we need to go."
"Go where?" She asked with curiosity. "Are my parents going to be there?"
He paused. "No, they won't. But they've asked me to take care of you. And in order for me to do that, we must leave. Don't worry, we'll be returning soon."
And with that he lifted her into his arms and exited the room through the still open window and they began their journey. Kate rested her head against his shoulder and managed to fall asleep once they'd returned to the ground.
Sebastian looked down at her with a hint of worry. He'd never seen Kate this vulnerable and he couldn't help the small pang of guilt that overcame him. He should have gotten there sooner.
"Now then, Mr. Hensley," Sebastian began with a sinister look in his eye as he retrieved he pistol from Kate's torn and tattered dress, "I believe you know what happens next."
Mr. Hensley began to panic and backed up against the wall of the balcony. "No please, I beg you! I wasn't actually going to rape her!"
Sebastian smiled as he took aim. "So sorry..."
"Stop, Sebastian!"
The look on his face expressed shock and he turned in the direction the order had come from.
"Don't kill him." Kate finished.
"Young Mistress, I don't-"
"No-" she held up a hand to silence him. She stood and walked over to Sebastian, taking the gun from him. He looked down at her, surprised that she was brave enough to do this herself.
Mr. Hensley's hope that had come when Kate gave the order to stop had vanished as soon as she gave him a death glare unlike any other.
"Now then, Andrew," she said in a sinister tone, moving close to the terrified man, "I'm sure you know where this is going. Through your despicable actions you have severely damaged my pride... And now you will atone with your death!"
The life in his eyes had vanished before he had time to plea for mercy.
The two stood in silence, listening to the muffled sounds of the party still going on inside the manor.
"Well, that's done." Kate said, slowly placing the gun in a pocket of Sebastian's coat. "Let's go home."
She turned and walked in the direction of where Sebastian was standing. Once she'd come close enough, he rested a hand on her shoulder to halt her before putting a gentle hand against her ice cold cheek.
"You're chilled to the bone, My Lady." He said as she leaned into the warmth of his hand. "When we get to the manor I'll arrange for a bath and some tea."
"Tea sounds amazing right now..." She said with a small smile as she looked back up at him. In the blink of an eye he'd scooped her into his arms and they began the journey back to the manor.