His Butler, Chasing

At first, Sebastian thought he had made a clean getaway. But as he ran through the dark woods, he could feel someone was catching up to him. A single rider on horseback, if his senses were correct. A pleased grin tugged at his lips as he turned to face his pursuer. He was more than willing to deal with them.

They drew nearer and nearer until they were right on top of him. He had expected to see one of Claude's henchmen, however, the demon was surprised to see that it was the young lady of the house, Viola, riding straight for him… and at considerable speed too.

Spotting him in the darkness, she suddenly pulled on the reigns of her horse to stop so she would avoid trampling him. The horse reared up wildly in retaliation but the young woman was not thrown. This alone impressed Sebastian. Perhaps there was more to this girl than what he had previously thought.

The moonlight filtered down on her through the trees, making her seem ethereal. But the sweet scent of her soul and those beautiful, solemn grey eyes reminded him that she was undoubtedly human.

"It appears you have caught up with me. This night continues to grow more interesting." He commented, a seductive grin playing at the corners of his lips.

Viola dismounted her horse without a word and approached him. The air of authority in her step and disapproving look told him she was not at all amused.

"You've caused quite the disturbance in my house this evening, stranger. So tell me, what sort of thief risks his life to make off with one measly tin of tea?" She demanded.

Sebastian couldn't help but smile at her boldness. This fire she now displayed lit up her grey eyes making her appear quite formidable. She was far more lively and vibrant now than she was in the manor.

"If we are discussing abnormalities, I could ask what sort of mistress of the house rides without a saddle or reigns." He said, that inwardly amused grin never leaving his handsome face.

"I am no mistress." Viola informed him. The idea of her married to that little monster, Alois, was positively repulsive.

"Then you have your answer, I am no thief." He replied.

Viola locked eyes with him then. Those seductive ruby red hues seemed to shine in the blue moonlight. This stranger was yet another reminder that beautiful things were often the most dangerous.

"Then what are you, exactly?" She asked.

"Well... I am merely one hell of a butler." He answered with slight bow and a clever grin.

"But what more than that?" She murmured, cautiously drawing nearer to him. "I already know of such a butler. You wouldn't happen to be one of his ilk would you?" She knew the possibility that he was a demon was more than likely. There couldn't be two unfathomably talented and handsome butlers running around and have it turn out that one of them is a regular human.

Upon hearing her quarry, Sebastian frowned at being lumped in the same category as the spider demon.

"I wouldn't exactly compare the two of us."

Viola let out a small laugh, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Clearly there was some bad blood between the two of them… or at least where Sebastian was concerned. "Alright, but the fact still remains, you are a demon are you not?"

"Indeed," he confirmed. "Furthermore, I believe we haven't been properly introduced." Placing his hand over his waist, he then bowed before her. "I am Sebastian Michaeles, butler to the Phantomhive family."

"Viola Druitt, first cousin of Lord Alois Trancy." She replied with a polite curtsy.

"It is a pleasure, my Lady."

Viola was still unsure about this demon. Though Claude would not hurt her, she could not be sure that this demon wouldn't. After all he was only the second one she had been acquainted with. Still, he seemed quite polite and was far freer with his words than Claude.

Looking down at the steamer trunk by the butler's side, she could feel her heart begin to sink upon remembering what was inside.

"Your master... Earl Ciel Phantomhive, is he truly the boy in that trunk?... is he dead?" She asked, unable to hide her concern.

Sebastian regarded her with those sensual red eyes then. "My young master has merely been sleeping." He reassured her, which raised more questions than it answered.

"Does the tea tin have something to do with reviving him?" She asked, believing she was beginning to understand the demon's rash actions earlier. If he had done it all to save the boy, she couldn't really be mad at him. Still, why they would have such an item hidden in the manor was a mystery all on its own.

Sebastian politely nodded, a couple strands of raven black hair falling in his face. "Indeed, it does."

There was a look in the butler's eyes just then that made Viola soften. He seemed genuine, like he actually cared about the boy. That was something she did not often see, even before coming to the Trancy manor. Viola would be lying if she said it didn't touch her heart.

"If it will help the boy, then you may keep whatever is in it," she told him, softly.

Sebastian suppressed a pleased grin. So, she was secretly a compassionate soul? That, along with her inner fire, made for an enticing combination. He couldn't help but wonder what other secrets she could be hiding. Surely Claude had noticed her too, he wasn't that dull… in fact he smelled the other demon on her. The thought of the spider demon's hands on her was simply vile. Pushing that image aside, he approached her.

"You are an angel among demons, Lady Viola," he told her, gallantly taking up her hand and kissing it. "But this," he said, releasing it and motioning to the black choker Claude fashioned for her... it reeked of that spider, "it spoils the effect. Angels do not wear collars." Catching the end of the bow at the back of her neck with two fingers, he slowly pulled it until the ribbon came sliding off. Coiling it up, he then tossed it into the bushes without so much as a care for where it landed. "Much better, don't you think?" He asked, his tone far more seductive than before.

"I..."

Her voice halted in her throat, her cheeks burning red, as she reached up to conceal her cut. Sebastian's smirk disappeared as he saw the thin red line marring her creamy flesh.

"Covering it up isn't going to make it go away," he told her, tracing the air beside her his soft voice tinged with pity. He knew this must have been the work of the boy, Alois. "Don't think that a filthy spider is going to protect you either... you've already seen his way of dealing with it."

Clearly he was referring to the ribbon, which Viola had taken as an act of kindness. Still, Sebastian did have a point. She knew she was not safe at the Trancy manor, but it was her home. There really was no other place for her to go. And as far as Claude went, he was the only one had helped her thus far. She wished to defend him on this point but seeing how the two fought earlier, she knew it was probably futile.

"I can take care of myself, Mr. Sebastian," she told him- more confident than admonishing.

"Forgive me, my Lady," he politely apologized for his intrusiveness.

"Please, there is no need. I really should be going now though," she said, turning and walking back to her horse. Sebastian watched her for a pensive moment before joining her by her side. Again, he thought, she was an interesting one. He wondered if she would survive Claude and the Trancy boy. It would certainly be something he would look forward to seeing.

"If you will permit me," he said, offering to help her onto her horse. Viola nodded, allowing him to encircle her waist with his gloved hands and lift her onto it's back. Her eyes widened, gripping onto his wrists as he did so. It was as if she weighed nothing to him. Fighting off a blush, she looked down at the demon.

"Thank you, Sebastian. I hope your master will be alright," she said, once again thinking about the boy in the trunk. It was none of her affair but she was concerned all the same. A part of her hoped to see the boy awaken, just to make sure, but she knew that was impossible.

Sebastian nodded in reassurance. "I will take care of him, my Lady."

"Good, I wish you luck. Also, you'd be wise to stay away from Trancy manor and the Earl," she told him, that air of mystery returning to her once more. "Though, I doubt that will be possible."

Sebastin smiled knowingly, "Indeed. Have a safe ride home, Viola."

With that, the young woman rode off, leaving the demon with his steamer trunk grinning to himself.

AN: REVIEW! FAVOR! FOLLOW! Yay! Another chapter done. I hope you all enjoyed seeing and hearing more from Sebastian. I kind of wanted to have his and Viola's relationship feel more like a playful rivalry. They are from opposing houses after all. That being said, I didn't see the need to add any animosity on either side. I wanted Sebastian to be the character that brings out more of Viola's personality. There are many shades to her that she often hides from Claude and certainly from Alois. With his introduction, we will see a lot more character development from Viola that I hope will be exciting for all of you. Overall I think her relationship with Sebastian is a good contrast to the one she has with Claude, which tends to be more serious. Let me know what you think!