I've been thinking, should I publish this twice a week like my other story? It seems only fair. Comment pls.

Chapter 10

Alyssia was really proud of what the boy said at the graveyard. His conviction didn't falter even if his aunt had just died. Others would have undoubtedly caved from his experience but the boy hadn't let her down. The witch was glad she chose to be here, but she also knew that whilst he said all that the little lord was hurting on the inside. "Do you want me to read you something, little lord?" She asked while tugging him into bed. She had previously convinced the butler that just for today it would be her job.

The boy huffed. "Don't be stupid. I'm far too old for that." 'So if you were younger you would have said yes?' She mused with an amused smirk. "Alice?"

"Yes little lord?" She calmly stroked his hair as the boy snuggled into his covers, his eyes drooping with sleep.

"Do you have any family?"

To say she was shocked would have been an understatement. Her eyes saddened and gained a far-off reminiscent look. "…all my blood relatives are dead." Ciel's tired eyes peered up at the woman as she continued to sooth him to sleep. "Though there is one person who has become my self-proclaimed godfather." Alyssia shook her head with a small amused smile.

"That's stupid." Ciel yawned.

"In so many ways." She watched the boy's eyes close as his breathing softened and sleep finally captured him. For him to ask such a question – the little lord sure was interesting. Her eyes flashed a delighted crimson as she silently left his room for her own. It was definitely the right choice to work here and she couldn't wait for what would happen next, but his question also reminded her of something. And Alyssia could feel the sting on her back even if the wound had long since healed, the memory remained…

As Sebastian was walking through the shadow filled halls of the manor he noticed that a fire was still burning in one of the servant's quarters. Following the delicate tangy scent of smoke the demon found himself before the witch's room. He should have known that it was her. Silently Sebastian opened the door walking in without knocking. There leaning against the edge of her bed sat the witch surrounded by pillows and covered by a soft elegant and regal looking fur blanket. Her room was dark only illuminated by the soft glow of the orange flames that danced within her fireplace. She was watching the blaze while humming a soft but morose tune, not acknowledging his presence as her soft gaze followed the sparks and ambers. He couldn't understand what possibly made her think of such a melody.

"It's past midnight." He interrupts her humming making the woman smile softly.

"Is it? I didn't notice." Her voice was clear and genuine, so different to her usual teasing tone. She moved her blanket a bit, leaving him enough space to sit beside her.

"Are you thinking about Madam Red's funeral?" He asked while taking off his tailcoat, vest and tie, draping them over the chair by her desk so not to wrinkle them.

"Hmm – not exactly." She answered him, still looking at the dancing flames in the fire place. They reminded her of hell.

"Are you regretting her death? Feeling remorse?" His voice was lacking the usual mockery as he loosened the top buttons on his shirt and rolled up his sleeves, slipping off his shoes and taking a seat beside the witch.

"No. For you and me seeing people die is normal, whether we kill them or they die as time passes, we live." It was something that depressed so many of her kind. Some found a way to deal whilst others would slowly lose themselves in their tears. It was also why so many witches stuck to their own not wanting to start any relations they would some day loose.

"Yes, that is a simple fact." He appeased her thoughts and propped an elbow on the bed, leaning his head against the palm of his hand watching the flames. "Then, what has you humming such a morose tune?"

"I find morbid and sad tunes undeniably beautiful." Alyssia chuckled lightly as she answered.

"Is that so?" He was not really expecting her to respond.

"Yes." Her voice was still soft, making him quirk his lip at her contrastingly short answer, but she continued. "The little lord reminded me of something I should have remembered to do."

The demon looked at her, surprised that she didn't hide behind a playful or teasing comment as she usually did. Her expression was sad and reminiscing, similar to the day Lady Elizabeth had come for a visit. "And what is it you have forgotten to do?"

"Grave visiting."

Her answer left him frowning. "I thought you don't care for people dying."

She laughed at his confusion. "I don't." And she could feel the irritated expression he turned at her. "But there are those few who died and are of importance to me." Sebastian hummed in deliberation as they continued to watch the fire dance. "Respect the dead, for they are your blessing. The blood in their veins that now flows through you is their legacy and yours to come. The blood knows, so the blood flows." The witch whispered a soft mantra that was taught to her as a child.

"Interesting." The demon mused out loud, "I don't think I have ever heard it before."

"I doubt you have." Alyssia looked at him for the first time since he'd entered her room, genuinely amused with a gentle smile on her face. An expression Sebastian hadn't seen often. It wasn't mocking or mischievous. It was truly soft – people didn't usually look at the demon like that and he couldn't help but feel awed. "It is only passed down between blood witches, from generation to generation."

"And yet you tell me." The witch just shrugged with a chuckle, turning her gaze back to the fire.

"I'm the only one left; no one is going to care." Alyssia closed her eyes and smirked tenderly, remembering the faces of her dead relatives.

"So why grave visiting?" He questioned keeping his eyes on the peculiar woman beside him.

"Do you know of the New Orleans witches?" Sebastian shook his head in answer. "They are quite powerful, a tight nit coven, only those who live there can enter. That is of course for a reason. They rely on the strength of their ancestors, drawing power from the dead."

"An interesting method. You do something similar then?" She nods at his comment. "I take it they don't specialize in one type of magic?"

She let out a snigger at his assumption. "No they dabble in everything, but that doesn't mean they master anything."

She was mocking them. He mused. "There are always those stronger and more talented." The demon commented with a smirk

"Are you insinuating something?" Sebastian laughed at her defensive question only making the witch narrow her eyes at him. "I do not have a problem with them." She pouts indignantly, waiting for his laughter to stop.

"Of course not…" The comment earned him a jab into his side. "When will you be going grave visiting then?" He was genuinely curious.

"February 13th. It's the beginning of the Parentalia festival - though I might go on my mother's death anniversary." She explained, beginning to hum that morose tune again. It was a lullaby her mother used to hum.

"How long has it been?" He asked while turning back to watch the flames dance to her melody. Sebastian doubted she did it purposely – but that just went to show the influence she had if even the erratic and unpredictable flames would dance to her tune.

"Since her death?" He dibbed his head. "Around 400 years, she was killed in the beginning of the witch persecutions." Taking a calming breath she continued, "The scar you saw was from the day she died." The demon was shocked that the witch had so calmly enclosed that information, when just a day before, she had flung him out her room because of it. Of course he wanted to know but Sebastian doubted she would actually tell him about it – yet she did. And now he wanted to know, who was behind it, but Sebastian stopped himself as Alyssia leaned against him, wordlessly seeking warmth and comfort. He listened as she continued humming and leaned his head on top of hers dropping his arm around her, both watching as the flames dance to her tune. It wasn't the time to ask. Rather the demon wondered if hell's fire would dance to her songs as well.

"I do have a question though." Sebastian waited for her to go on. "Why haven't you killed me?"

Thank you for reading and reviewing!

This chapter was inspired by Ed Carlsen – Rain so check it out. The song is really emotional.
As for the info concerning the New Orleans witches it's actually from The Originals, you know that tv series. But I really liked the idea and couldn't refrain from using it.