Author's Note: I know everyone is doing some sort of tribute today and I thought of staying silent, but I can't. I still remember being in English when the principal came around and told all the classes to stop and turn on the small TVs that were mounted in the corner of most of the classrooms. The only thing he said was, "New York has been attacked" and then closed the door quietly to go to the next classroom. We all watched in stunned silence as the second plane hit right after our teacher turned on the TV and for the first time, a bunch of high school kids were all a little afraid of the world we wanted to explore. That day cliques, feuds and class division fell away as we left our classrooms to go to the gym and we all huddled together, waiting to find out what we were supposed to do now. We were half a country away from New York, but I swear we could feel the ground shaking. Now, I wonder if that was just all of us realizing that everything was about to change. We would still go to school like we always did, hang out with friends, date, party and try to lie to our parents, but there was a new awareness, maybe of mortality, maybe of the world outside of our own small sphere, I don't know.
In the days, weeks and months after, that little nugget of fear was eclipsed by pride in how we all came together when everything fell apart. When I was a child, 'proud to be an American' was just a saying. I didn't really understand it then, but I did on September 11, 2001. I am still proud to be an American. We have problems, some things don't work like their supposed to and sometimes I swear those in our government don't have the brains that God gave a gnat. I still want to travel and see other countries and cultures, but America will always be home.
To those who died that day and after, from the attacks on New York City and the attempted attack on the Pentagon, you will always be remembered. To everyone who helped, that day through the last fourteen years, I say thank you. You have all instilled in me an unshakable pride of the flag that flies outside my home and the eagle on my passport.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of it's characters. I only claim Serena, as well as the demons and descendants that I introduce.
Chapter Ten
Serena had been wandering the halls of the upper floor for a while when she found the portrait gallery. It was only a single hallway, lined on both sides with portraits in various sizes, but she was fascinated by the people swirling around her. Maybe she shouldn't have asked for the wine before Mei-Rin left for the night.
Or at least, she should have stopped after the first bottle.
She stopped at the end of the hallway, a large window letting in moonlight to illuminate the portraits. There wasn't one of Ciel. The last portrait at the beginning of the hallway was of Vincent and Rachel. She could tell the pieces of each that had contributed to their son. Moving through, she thought she could see a resemblance between all the Earls, maybe in the slim build or dark hair, maybe the lines that made up their faces. The last one by the window gave her the chills. It was as though it was staring at it.
Turning away from the portraits, Serena looked out the window over the gardens. There wasn't much to see with the light dusting of snow covering all the bushes. A large expanse of flat ground ran between the edge of the garden and the woods beyond. Woods that formed around the entire property.
Which way had she come from? She hadn't been able to see at the time and then she had woken up in the manor. This wasn't right. Why was she here? Did anyone notice that she was missing? Her roommate probably thought she hadn't shown at the theater and then would have stayed at her boyfriend's while she was mad. Her mom wouldn't know something was wrong until she didn't come home.
Maybe not even then.
Was staying here so bad? So what if she was really some vegetable on life-support and this was just her brain's last neurons firing before she died? Was it really that bad? The food was great, the room was awesome and her favorite characters were just like she imagined. She could stay here for a while.
Maybe that was what the reapers had been talking about today. That she had made her choice for now. Maybe they were talking about the fact that she just wasn't ready to die yet. And the whole 'mate' thing, what fan wouldn't want to be with that demon? Maybe she should just coast on through.
But, she didn't want to die.
She was about to graduate. She had family and a life and a whole lot of student debt to pay for. What if her brain throwing up being with a demon meant that she was going to hell?
What if it was real? What if she just accepted this craziness and that she had found some rip in reality? Could she stay here?
"There you are."
She jerked back from the window pane at Sebastian's voice and realized how really cold it was next to it. Sebastian moved gracefully down the hallway toward her, the intermittent light casting most of his face in shadow.
"My master was worried about your absence at dinner tonight."
"So he sent you to find me?" She wavered a little as she tried to stand. "Good doggie."
"Have you been drinking?" He stopped close to her and made a production of smelling the air near her. "I wanted to speak to you, preferably sober, about what had happened today."
"You should have been here a while ago," Serena knew that her words slurred a little as she waved the almost empty bottle.
"Come. I will get you back to your room." He offered her a hand, watching her carefully.
The red head brushed past him to walk on her own. She knew he was behind her the entire time, especially when the world shifted sideways and she tripped on the plush carpet that lined the hallway. Sebastian scooped her up and kept going without breaking his stride. She started to push him away but her ribs protested.
Wasn't that a sign that this whole thing was real?
The minute he set her down in her room, Serena shoved away and had to grab the chair from the small set next to the window to keep from falling over.
"Where did you get the wine?" He demanded as he helped her sit.
"Mei-Rin brought it to me. Evidently after my little breakdown earlier, she was more than willing to bring me anything I wanted."
Sebastian took the empty bottle from the table and it disappeared. In its place, he held out a glass of water.
"I will inform Mei-Rin that she is not to serve you alcohol in the future."
"Of course you will."
"At least you are a calm drunk."
"Actually I'm normally a happy drunk. But right now, I'm just numb." She fell back against the chair, using the back to hold her head up. "I'm finally numb."
"What is the problem?" He built up the fire in the hearth.
She watched the flames dance over his face, reflecting in his eyes and shivered. "Is this real? Any of this?"
"Of course. I do not feel like a figment of your imagination."
"Would you, if I was dreaming?"
The demon turned back to the flames, appearing to think about it. "I don't feel like a puppet, if that's what you are asking. All my thoughts appear to be my own. No different than they normally are."
"Then what do you want with me?" She asked as her voice broke. "Couldn't you just find a nice demoness to play house with?"
"A nice demoness? I don't believe such a thing exists. Demons don't become what we are because we're nice." He said the word like it was something funny. "And I want you because you are my mate."
"Will you stop saying that?"
"I say it because it's true."
"No, it's not!" Serena threw the glass at him, way off the mark. "I don't know you and you don't know me. You can't just decide something like that. I don't even know what being your mate means."
"A demon's mate is along the same vein as being their wife, but it goes deeper. Your life
will be tied to mine so that you share my lifespan. Your healing rate will increase and you will stop aging after you are marked. We will be able to feel each others emotions. And I will always
know right where you are."
"That's a little creepy. So, what do you get out of this?"
Sebastian knelt at her side. "A companion. Demons...they are not big on trust. Probably
because none of us were the most upstanding beings when we were human, or else we would
never have been made demons in the first place. We gather together in families, however even
that is at a price for each member. It's...transient. Members are joining to be taught and have
protection while they grow stronger. Elders teach to keep the demons from destroying
themselves and to have those who serve. Humans believe that demons do not feel any emotion
but that's not true. We've been conditioned to hide it. We've learned to bury them. But there is
one that always seems to dig itself out. Loneliness. The longer a demon is alive, the stronger this
feeling gets. A mate is an end to that."
He lifted a hand to her cheek, but Serena pulled away. "Don't."
"Very well." The demon stood and slipped back into the role of butler fluidly. "You
should get some rest, my lady."
Sebastian walked to the bed and turned down the sheets. He blew out all the candles
around the room except the one next to the bed. Coming back to Serena, the demon lifted her
gently and without the fight he had been expecting. As soon as he put her down, Serena turned to
face the other side of the room.
"Good night, my mate."
The red flinched but gave no more acknowledgment of his statement. He pulled the
blankets over her body before taking the candle from the table and leaving the room.
*****************************A Demon's Mate*****************************************
The next morning, Serena was awake when Mei-Rin came to wake her. The redhead was quiet while sitting on the bed. The maid was subdued herself as Sebastian had caught her going up the stairs with the order that Serena was not to be given alcohol again. He had also made sure to inform Mei-Rin that she had made a large mistake in bringing her the wine to begin with.
'A guest should be given a glass if they request a nightcap, not an entire two bottles.'
Mei-Rin pulled the peach dress that Lady Elizabeth had chosen in London from the closet. Thankfully, it was a little looser than the others being pre-made. It left room not to lace the lady's corset as tight as normal. Once it was on, Serena sat at the vanity. She dropped the brush right after picking it up.
"I'm sorry, Mei-Rin."
"My lady?"
"I'm sorry that I lost it yesterday. And I have a feeling that Sebastian already talked to you about the wine."
The maid blushed. "Yes, my lady."
"I thought I told you that you didn't have to call me that." Serena tried to smile at the other woman.
"Sebastian said something about that too."
The girl heaved a heavy sigh. "Alright. The butler gets his way again."
*******************************A Demon's Mate*************************
Serena walked into the dining room with Mei-Rin right behind her. The rest of the house was already there and the maid went to stand with the other servants. Ciel stood when she entered, as usual. Snake stepped forward to hold out her chair, as usual. Sebastian set the plates in front of the two, as usual. Serena wouldn't look at the butler. Unusual.
Ciel watched the red head eat in a detached sort of way. She didn't seem to be there at all. There was no smiles, no attempt at conversation, and no looking at anyone in the room.
"Serena," the earl waited for her to look up at him. "I would like to talk to you in my study after breakfast."
She looked away again and nodded.
"I would like an actual answer."
Serena looked back over, a dangerous gleam in her eyes and a fake smile on her face. "Yes, my lord. I would like that very much."
"Thank you." Ciel answered with his own fake smile.
The servants shifted uneasily at the tension except for Sebastian and Tanaka.
****************************A Demon's Mate***************************
Ciel watched Serena carefully as she sat before him. The red head was back to being quiet and staring at nothing. Whatever he had seen at the breakfast table was long gone.
"What's wrong with you?" The earl leaned back in his seat, tired of whatever drama was going on now.
"I don't know what you mean, my lord."
"Bullshit."
Sebastian and Serena both looked shocked at the profanity coming from the nobleman.
"Sebastian, I want you to go into town and pick up the clothing that Lizzy ordered for Serena. It should be ready now."
"Yes, My Lord." The butler bowed at his new orders and walked out of the room.
"I'm assuming there was something that you wanted to talk about without the demon around."
"Yes." Ciel stood to look out the window and waited to see Sebastian leaving through the gates.
"So..." The earl held up a finger to stop her.
"Just wait." He saw the small rig heading down the driveway. "I've learned that if I want to speak without Sebastian hearing, then I have to make him leave the house."
The teen came back to his desk and sat carefully, still weighing what he was going to say.
"Last night, I sent Sebastian to check on you. Now, you're acting like a ghost."
"Maybe I don't want to be some demon's mate?"
"Maybe you should get over it." Serena felt her own anger spark to life at his comment. "I didn't want to watch my family die at the age of ten, I didn't want to be sold into child slavery, I didn't want to be some sacrifice to a demon and I certainly never wanted to sell my soul to said demon."
Ciel leaned forward on the desk. "But, I did. Nothing is going to change these facts. Just as nothing is going to change the fact that you are Sebastian's mate whether you want to be or not. After seeing that demon yesterday, you should be happy with what you got. You were fine with each other yesterday. I could see how well you got along. You like Sebastian, admit it."
After a moment, she nodded. "I'll think about what you said."
"Good. You should be thankful, many in my world hate who they have to spend their life with." Ciel laid his head on his hand. "Now, do you want to know what the Undertaker said?"
"That would be kinda nice." The sarcasm was thick in her voice.
"That's the attitude I was expecting. He didn't have much to say about you. Just that no one knew why you were pulled here and we should be looking more for someone with that kind of power to find the why of your presence and how to get you back home."
"Someone with the power to move people through time? I can't be just Joe Schmoe off the street. Otherwise, things like this would be happening all the time."
"My thoughts exactly. Unfortunately, the only person that we can ask is never very forthcoming. Add to that the fact that he doesn't want you to go back and it'll be even harder to get information from him." Ciel rubbed his temple as he thought. "We have to ask the right question to get him to talk."
Serena decided they needed to switch gears in the limited time they had. "What else did Undertaker have to say? You were there a little while."
"He wanted to talk about Sebastian. Undertaker told me that he was an Elder and that I had a valuable soul."
"The demon that was holding me called him Elder too. Marcus also seemed very afraid of Sebastian. He had no fear of the reapers, but as soon as Sebastian showed up, he was shaking in his shoes."
"Undertaker said that Sebastian had claimed London as his territory and that other demons had to check in with him before entering his territory."
"Well, there haven't been any of your cases that ended at a demon, so I would assume that he's pretty powerful. London is a perfect playground for demons and he must be keeping them away or at least in check. That would take a lot of power in my estimation."
"True, but Sebastian was just as shocked at your appearance as the rest of us. With that in mind, I think that we can take him from our list of suspects." Ciel tapped his fingers on the desk. "What I don't get is why Undertaker was so willing to talk about Sebastian? Normally, all I can get out of him is specifically what I ask. He could have just told me about the other demon, instead he started out telling me that Sebastian was an Elder and had claimed London. The comment about my soul as well. There has to be a meaning there."
"So, he has to have some kind of motive? We just have to figure out what that is."
"Serena, I want you to talk to Sebastian about his being an Elder and what that means."
"Me?!"
"I have a feeling that you will have an easier time getting information out of that demon."
They were thinking when the sound of horses came up the drive.
"It looks like our time is up." Serena stood to look out the window. She watched the small rig the butler had left in go around to the left side of the house. "Damn, that was quick. He was only gone an hour."
"Yes, he's perfectly aware that I wanted to talk to you without him knowing what we were speaking about. He always does things faster when I order him away from me."
It wasn't long before the butler was knocking on the door. After Ciel gave him permission to enter, Sebastian came in with a tray.
"It is time for morning tea, master."
"Good, we just finished our discussion. I'm sure Serena would like tea."
"Yes, my lord."
The demon noticed that her demeanor was close to normal as he poured the tea.
"What else is on the schedule for today?"
"You have a dancing lesson with Mrs. Bright this afternoon, my lord." Sebastian set the earl's cup of tea down first, followed by Serena's. A tray of snacks was set on the desktop between them.
"Cancel it. I have more important things to focus on then dancing."
"Master, are you forgetting the ball at the Marquis of Arden's home tomorrow night?"
"I don't see why I have to go anymore. I was harassed into going by Lizzy." Ciel set his cup down with a small pout. The red head stopped herself from laughing.
"Did you already send a reply that you would go?" Serena took a sip from her cup.
"Yes."
"Then you have to go. You can't just not show after you said that you would be there."
"Fine."
"If master does not wish for Mrs. Bright, perhaps Serena can help." Sebastian glanced at his mate to see her wince.
"Oh, that's not a good idea. Dancing is not really my thing."
"Not your thing?"
"I'm worse than he is." She looked away slightly embarrassed.
"I find that hard to believe." Sebastian caught the earl's glare with a smirk of his own.