Sebastian moved about the manor, trying to keep his thoughts busy. The day had been hectic alright, with the master's kidnapping, miraculous reappearance, and then his planned wedding.
"At least the wedding was a success." He replaced the stained table clothes and moved about quietly as he dusted things down and swept the floor. Normally, these chores were meant to be done by Mey-Rin but at the moment, he needed something to occupy his thoughts.
He knew a talk with his master could not be avoided but how, how would he explain everything? The moment he had walked through those church doors and looked Sebastian in the eye, Sebastian knew. His secret was out.
Sebastian stopped to observe a statue as he straightened it and dusted it down. He continued working as he thought about the demon's motives. He already knew they'd taken the Queen's prized package from him but why? Sebastian's curiosity knew no bounds and his mind pondered.
Why would they cross into the human world, attack his master, and then take that? What was in it?
Something was fishy about the situation and Sebastian couldn't figure out what it was, and as always, Sebastian was one meticulous demon who hated not knowing.
He fixed the chairs in the dining room, placing the final one in place and took a deep breath. There, he was done.
Now what? "I guess I wait until my master calls me."
Remembering to get extra candles from the kitchen before retiring to his room like the others, Sebastian made his way in the dark. As he approached, he noticed a soft light glowing in the kitchen and a soft humming sound invaded his ears.
"Mey-Rin? At this hour?" His footsteps remained silent as he approached the doorway to see the maid munching on the cake put aside for the servants. There she stood, in her nightie with a shawl draped over her shoulders to keep the cold air out. She walked with bare feet and wore her hair loose, and for a moment, Sebastian thought she looked beautiful.
"Mmm, Sebastian really does outdo himself. This cake is magnificent, yes it is." Sebastian smiled at the mention of his name and continued to watch as the maiden finished her late night snack, his worries from earlier momentarily taking a backseat. He watched as she finished, washed the disk and then got herself a drink of water.
"Enjoyed your snack, Mey-Rin?" Mey-Rin gasped at Sebastian's sudden question and immediately dropped the glass she was holding as she turned around to see the butler. Unbelievably, Sebastian didn't make it in time to catch it and it crashed to the floor, sending shards everywhere.
"Sebastian! Oh my god, you scared me!" Flustered, she knelt down to begin picking up the shards of glass that were barely visible. It was a mistake. When she moved, her bare feet sunk into glass that stay hidden in the darkness.
"Ow!" Sebastian, who had been staring at his outstretched hands and cursing at his own inability to catch the glass, now smelled blood as Mey-Rin clutched her foot in her hand.
"Mey-Rin, are you alright?" He watched as the maiden jumped about. "Stop that, you'll hurt yourself even more!" He shook his head as he observed the mess with his demon eyes. Shards of glass lay everywhere.
"I-I'm fine." Mey-Rin winced and Sebastian could see the blood trickling from her wound.
"You are not. Come here." Without warning, Sebastian pulled the maid closer to him and she awkwardly hopped as quickly as she could to get her bearings. Turned out she didn't have to as the demon butler picked her up in his arms.
"I will take you to your room and tend to your wound. Sit here on top of the counter and give me a moment to clear the mess, or else someone else can get hurt." He sat her down on the counter as she started to protest.
"Oh no, it's alright Sebastian. It is my mess, I'll clean it. I imagine you are tired. Please, go to bed." Sebastian turned towards Mey-Rin and she watched as his beautiful, unearthly eyes stared deep into hers. His black hair glistened in the dim light of the candles as he used a gloved finger and placed it on her lips, shushing her.
"Quiet. Do as I tell you." Seconds ticked by and she realized he was waiting for an answer and so she nodded slowly. "Wrap this around your foot for now." Sebastian gave her his handkerchief to clog the bleeding and stepped back. Like the expert butler her was, he then picked up the shards of glass, swept the floor, and mopped it of the water.
"Done." Mey-Rin admired Sebastian's ability to control any mess at any time and so her mind wandered to this afternoon's events. Even though Sebastian had asked her to forget about it, she found it odd that he would say something like that about the master in the first place. Something was wrong about that picture but she knew better than to ask the inhuman butler.
"S-sorry Sebastian. It's my fault…" She trailed off as once again those demon eyes turned to look at her. Parts of her being involuntarily grew warm as they trailed down her body and she realized she was in nothing more than a thin, flimsy nighty, with only a shawl partly covering her.
"A beautiful angel such as yourself shouldn't apologize." Sebastian smirked as the girl flushed red under his gaze as he took steps to get closer to her. Her body tensed with each step he took and he knew exactly how he'd spend the rest of his night.
He'd been meaning to put his theory to test for the past month as he observed the maid out of corner of his eye. The subtle lady like changes in her demeanor and even her apparel, they were all brought about by Lady Elizabeth but it wasn't just that. The way she carried herself, the way she completed her tasks so that she could impress him, they all appealed to him.
"Se-Sebastian." She whispered his name as the candles suddenly blew out and he repeated his earlier motion and shushed her. "Shush Mey-Rin, you can't walk with me if you're afraid of the dark." He knew the girl wasn't really afraid and he chuckled to himself at the irony of his statement. If anything, Sebastian was darkness personified and Mey-Rin, with her innocence, she was a ray of light in that darkness.
"Come, I'll take you to your room." Sebastian leaned in to pick her up again but once again, Mey-Rin protested.
"I can walk, really." Sebastian placed a gloved hand on her cheek and Mey-Rin forgot to breathe as she felt the silk material of the glove on her cheek and the hand that cupped it.
"I insist." The word came out as a silent, sexy hiss and Mey-Rin was lifted easily into the demon's hands and she clutched to him as he guided her through the darkness.
He arrived at the separate maiden's quarter and he realized there was a nice, scent in her room compared to last time. He spotted the source of the scent as a candle's light lit the room, casting shadows everywhere.
"You're room is much more…feminine than I remember." Mey-Rin looked away from the butler and towards the scented candle. Was it so bad that she'd considered Sebastian coming into her room again and wanting it to smell nice just because of that?
"I just thought the candles smelled nice so I bought one in the market the other day." Sebastian walked her over to her bed and placed her gently before lighting several more candles. He looked at the door and wondered for a moment before slowly shutting it.
"Where do you keep your bandages, needles, and alcohol?" Sebastian asked as he turned to see an odd look on Mey-Rin's face.
Mey-Rin snapped out of it and motioned for a drawer in her dresser. Sebastian opened it up to find the box and then made his way towards her.
He took Mey-Rin's foot in his hand and she immediately jerked back.
"Mey-Rin, I can't tend to your wound if you pull away. Please." He looked up at her with his red eyes and she remained motionless as he looked back down and started to clean the wound with alcohol. It stung a little and Mey-Rin clutched onto her bedsheet and bit her lips from crying out. She'd always been a coward when it came to such trivial things.
"I have good news for you. There is no glass and the wound isn't too deep, so I'll just bandage it. Just a few moments longer, Mey-Rin." Mey-Rin nodded, her eyes remaining closed as she felt his cool fingers work expertly as he wrapped the bandage around her foot.
Sebastian looked up at her face and was surprised to see Mey-Rin make the cutest expressions as he continued to wrap the wound. He smirked as he felt a familiar arousal start within him. It was time for him to find out if it was sexual or not. He'd been in a debate with himself ever since his last visit to her room, and like everything else that intrigued him, he needed answers.
"All done, Mey-Rin," Sebastian said as he secured the end of the bandage properly. He didn't let go of her foot though and watched as slowly, she opened her eyes. She looked down at her bandaged foot and beamed at Sebastian.
"Thank you so much Sebastian!" She began to scoot away but Sebastian held her foot firmly in his hand as he continued to look at her. Mey-Rin noticed the devilish smile on his lips and her brows furrowed in concern as she lost her smile. "Sebastian…what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I was just admiring how smooth your leg is. Your porcelain skin shines, almost as if it belonged to a noble woman. You take good care of yourself, don't you?" Mey-Rin's mouth opened and closed in surprise, not knowing how to answer. She grew alert as the seconds ticked by and the heat of Sebastian's hand holding her exposed, cold, foot in place continued to rise.
"Your own body heat is rising, isn't it? I wonder what will happen if I do this?" Sebastian put his gloved hand to the tip of his mouth and seductively pulled off the glove covering his hand. The flames in the room automatically dimmed and Mey-Rin looked down to see two glowing orbs shining back at her as Sebastian moved his hand and slowly traced a finger, starting at her ankle and inching up slowly. He pushed at her nightie as he went, gradually exposing more, smooth, porcelain skin.
She shuddered under his touch, unable to think of what was actually happening. Her mind overflowed with questions of whys and how but her heart listened to none as her body reacted to his subtle touch.
Liking the reaction he enticed, Sebastian gently raised her foot to his lips and placed a kiss on top. He heard her take in a sharp breath but just like before, she made no move to push him away. Wanting to see how far he could take it, Sebastian started kissing up her leg and felt her quiver as his cool lips caressed her soft skin. He laughed to himself as he wondered where on earth he had picked up this weird foot fetish from but he realized that he liked it.
When he stopped to look at Mey-Rin, her eyes were shut as she bit her lip, her hands curled into fists on the bedsheet, clutching tightly as she tried hard to stay under control.
"Are you having trouble with something, Mey-Rin? I can help…" He purred as he let go of her foot and climbed onto the bed next to her and pushed her onto her back. He now straddled her, pinning her from either side.
Mey-Rin's eyes opened wide as she watched Sebastian hover over her, his strong arms holding her hands apart. The shawl she'd worn had fallen off and now lay next to her in bed and she wondered how much of her he could see through her thin nightie. She blushed underneath his predatory gaze and she wondered why she couldn't say anything to push him off.
This wasn't right. She hadn't consented to this.
Then again, she hadn't exactly said no…
"Mey-Rin, what would you like for me to do?" Sebastian looked down and saw the various emotions play across her face as she considered the right and wrong of the situation.
"Sebastian…" What was she supposed to say? It would be wrong to tell him to continue but she also didn't want him to stop. For the first time in her life, she wanted something so badly.
She'd always known that she wanted Sebastian, but like this? No…she'd imagined something completely different. Something that brought them together. Something that wasn't as superficial as sex. Something like love.
Mey-Rin took a moment to look right into the demon's eyes. All she saw was lust and it broke her heart.
"N-not yet Sebastian. We aren't ready." Sebastian's eyes went wide at the answer and he slowly sat back, allowing Mey-Rin to sit up too. Realizing what he had almost done, he looked away from the girl and immediately climbed off her bed.
Mey-Rin took this as a sign of rejection and looked down at her hands, tears surfacing in her eyes. Had she let Sebastian down? Should she have just gone through with it?
A long silence stretched between them as Sebastian looked down at his own hands, disgusted at himself. How could he do such a thing? Losing control…so despicable…so human.
When he spoke, his tone was as usual, professional with a hint of pride. "Mey-Rin. I apologize for taking things so far. I apologize if I've made you feel uncomfortable. I promise, it won't happen again." Before Mey-Rin could say a word, the dimmed candles snuffed out and she was left alone in the darkness, staring at the place the butler stood but seconds ago.
The door to her room was slightly ajar and she waited and waited, wondering if he would come back. Five minutes passed, then ten, then twenty. When she was certain he wouldn't return, Mey-Rin curled up in her bed and cried her broken heart out.
Back in his room, Sebastian's aura glowed with a dangerous black as his anger at himself took over his better judgement. Something was seriously wrong with him. He couldn't understand how easily he'd let his body take on such human emotions such as lust and greed.
He questioned himself vigorously, wondering how he could simply lose control like that. One moment he was playing with her and the next minute he had her pinned underneath him.
But that wasn't all that was wrong.
"No, you've been messing up other things too." Sebastian spoke to himself as he looked into the mirror. It took longer than usual for the redness in his eyes to fade and he wondered if that had something to do with the recent things.
As he thought about it, several strange things came to mind. He really had messed up a lot in the past few months. His rapt senses had dulled and his attention to every little detail was almost nonexistent now. He'd managed to get by with the help of the rest of the Phantomhive staff and Agni at the wedding. He'd even agreed to let Lady Francis decorate the church and his master's bedroom according to Lady Elizabeth's wishes.
But the worst had happened today. First, when he'd allowed his master to get kidnapped and then robbed of an important possession and just now, with Mey-Rin.
What is happening to me?! The usual calm and collected butler now pulled at his hair, as he shook his head. Unable to think of any reason, Sebastian opened his cupboard and began getting ready for bed. Just as he pulled out his night clothes, his eyes fell upon something hidden towards the back of his cupboard.
Reaching in, he took the little box out. "This…" Sebastian's eyes went wide as realization hit him.
"It can't be…not yet…" He clutched the little box in his hand and peered out the window to the night outside. He couldn't leave, not yet, he still had to fulfill his contract.
"So you've finally realized. It took you long enough." Sebastian's gaze fell on the hideous being now sitting on bed.
"Why are you here?" Sebastian eyed the demon known as Arragon and watched as it morphed into it's human form.
"You know why. It is time you come back. I believe even you understand that now?" Arragon rose from the bed, walked over to the Sebastian and leaned in close. Sebastian turned and they stood inches from each other's face.
"He sent you didn't he?" He eyed the demon warily as he spat out the words.
"You sound like a rebellious teenager saying that. I'm guessing the Phantomhive boy you call your master has rubbed off on you in the past few years?" Sebastian glared at Arragon as he just laughed. Arragon took several steps back and turned to look out the window.
"You're aura has weakened and so has your abilities. You are no longer, what do you call it, one hell of a butler. The only way to heal yourself is to come home now." Arragon reasoned.
"I know you and him very well. He wouldn't send you because he's suddenly worried about me. Tell me why you're really here." Sebastian waited for the green eyed demon to answer.
Arragon smirked and focused his eyes on Sebastian. "Sebastian. That is the name your new master has given you correct? Well then, Sebastian." He looked over at the angry demon as he played with the name. "We've finally found it. The missing piece of the Diabolos."
Sebastian's eyes widened as he looked down at the package still clutched in his hand. "You need this then, not me."
"How ironic that you hold the second piece of the puzzle." Arragon eyed the package in Sebastian's hand. "But I am not here to take that from you. I have news from his majesty. You are correct to assume that he sent me."
Sebastian looked at the green eyed demon who stared back intently. "His majesty is severely ill, Sebastian. He'd like you back at his court immediately."
"I have a duty here to my master." Sebastian said defiantly.
"You have a duty to the king first!" Arragon exclaimed. "You're sole and only duty is to him! A mere contract does not matter. Especially one that results in insanity and death."
"Do not insult my master's soul by calling it a mere contract. As a demon, we take great pride in our ability to make contracts and abide by the laws. Once a demon picks a master, his master's words are absolute."
"Listen to yourself! I tell you his majesty is ill and this is how you react? Defending a mere human? Open your eyes, Prince Abaven!"
"Don't call me that. I have long since renounced my title!" Sebastian said, annoyed at the demon.
"You may have but the king still considers you his son and so you are the rightful heir to his throne. You must return to the kingdom at once."
"At what happens if I refuse?" Sebastian challenged Arragon.
Arragon looked at the hate filled eyes of the demon in front of him. "I am authorized to use force if I have to."
"I'd like to see you try." Sebastain narrowed his eyes at the green eyed demon. His aura was now flaming red as it blazed around him dangerously.
"You're petty flames don't scare me." Arragon's own aura erupted around him, a beautiful green shade that engulfed the entire room.
"Even at my most weakest, I am stronger than you, Arragon." Sebastian readied his stance.
"We shall see, my prince." The world blurred around them as the two demons made their moves.
