"Get up."
Esme's eyes popped open and she sat up quickly; her eyes darting around in the darkness. She held her covers close to her chest and noticed a figure hovering over her.
"Sebastian?" she asked in a rough sleep-ridden voice.
In seconds he was on top of her. His weight pressed her down into the bed and she stared up at him with uncertain eyes.
"What time is it?" she questioned.
"It doesn't matter," he replied.
"You said I wouldn't have to put up with you until tomorrow," Esme told him in a tired voice.
Sebastian smirked, "I wasn't lying, it is tomorrow," he said; pulling out his watch and glancing at it.
"What do you want? Barging into my room and jumping on my bed isn't very subtle."
"Be quiet, lie back, hands over your head, now," he commanded her.
Esme's eyes grew wide with shock but she immediately complied. Sebastian pulled his gloves off with his teeth and tossed them on the floor. He placed his hands on her hips and grabbed her nightgown; slowly sliding it up. Once it was above her knees he reached underneath the material and placed his palms on her inner thighs. Esme let out a gasp and tried to sit up.
"Don't move," he hissed at her with dark eyes.
Esme scowled and her head slammed back onto the pillow. Sebastian's hands were hot against her skin and she felt chills run up her spine. Esme bit the inside of her cheeks as the butler skillfully moved his hands.
"You shouldn't be doing this," Esme spat at him, trying to wriggle away from his touch.
"I can do whatever I please," Sebastian replied, "Unless my master orders me not to."
"I'll be sure to tell him to give you a message when I see him tomorrow," she growled back.
"Should I believe what you're saying to me? Or what your body is saying? Because at the moment they're quite contradictory," Sebastian said with a hint of amusement as one of his fingers slipped inside her.
Esme gasped loudly and her hips jerked. Sebastian's eyes glowed and he gave her a feral grin.
…..
"Ciel! Don't leave! I'll miss you!" Soma cried out as Ciel stood next to the door with his coat on.
He waited patiently and ignored the prince. He watched the staircase for signs of his butler. He nodded as Sebastian came down from the second floor with suitcases. He placed them by the door and exited the townhouse to bring the carriage around. Esme brought her own suitcase down and silently stood next to the earl. When Sebastian opened the front door Soma grabbed her in a fierce hug. The butler wrinkled his brow with distaste at the sight and ushered his master out the door. Esme waved goodbye to the prince of Bengal and climbed up onto the driver's bench on the carriage next to Sebastian. She didn't speak to him and the wheels began turning.
The ride back was completely silence and when they arrived back at the manor Esme darted inside with her things. She gave Finny, Mey-Rin, and Bard quick greetings before seeking refuge in her room. She heaved a sigh of relief once the door was closed. It felt good to be back in her room with her own bed and scent. Even though she had been there for an overall short amount of time, she had grown fond of her new routine and was glad to get back to it. Esme placed her things back in their proper places and made her way out of her bedroom to the library. She sat down behind her desk and smiled.
…
"Sebastian, I want a cup of hot tea," Ciel said as the butler unpacked his master's suitcases.
"Very good, I'll get it immediately," he bowed.
Ciel looked at himself in the mirror and frowned. They had managed to capture the man committing the kidnappings and murders but he still felt uneasy. There were many things weighing on his mind and he needed to organize his thoughts.
Sebastian entered the room with a tray and placed it down on the nightstand.
"Take it to my office, I have work to do," the earl ordered.
The butler nodded, "Yes, my lord."
As he walked down the hall he caught sight of Esme darting down the hall to the library where the door quickly closed. He smirked and wondered if she actually believed she could avoid him. In Ciel's office he placed the tray down and poured the steaming tea into a cup. Ciel entered the room and sat down in his chair. The earl picked up the cup and took a grateful sip.
"That will be all for now."
Sebastian gave the earl a small bow and exited the room with the tray under his arm. He started to walk in the direction to go to the kitchen and halted with a small smile playing on his lips. He turned heel and opened the door to the library. Inside, Esme sat at the desk scribbling in a notebook. Her eyes shot up and she slammed the book shut.
"What?"
"Are you avoiding me?" the butler questioned, humor glinting in his eyes.
"No."
"Your behavior is odd," he told her.
"Yours would be too if I was the one who charged into your room in the middle of the night and dominated you…" Esme mumbled under her breath.
Sebastian shook his head and said in a scolding tone, "You can't lie to me, and you can't keep secrets either."
"I'm pretty sure nothing is a secret," she growled.
"Your back-talk is still as irritating as usual..." Sebastian said with a scowl.
"Was there something you needed? Or did you pop in here just to mess with me?"
"I was only making sure things were in order," he replied simply and added with a nod at her desk, "Continue."
He left the room and Esme squeezed her fists together tightly. Maybe she would get up and leave the manor. There was no reason for her to stay and she had no ties to it. She certainly didn't like Sebastian's little 'obedience' game. The previous night had been awful and she didn't know if she wanted to experience something like that again. He was easy to get meals from and especially delicious, but she wasn't sure that the repercussions were worth it. She stood up boldly, she'd go back to the townhouse where Prince Soma and Agni were. They were always nice to her and she enjoyed their company.
….
"Agni, someone's at the door," Soma stated as he flipped through the daily newspaper.
Agni quickly got up from his chair and moved to the door. He opened it with a frown and his eyes widened upon seeing who was on the other side.
"Prince Soma!"
"What?!" he called to his servant.
"Come quick!"
Soma huffed and tossed the paper on the floor. He drug his feet on the ground and immediately sprang to life when his eyes landed on their new guest.
"Oh Esme! You're back! I'm so excited!"
Soma grabbed her in an iron embrace and squeezed tightly. Esme couldn't help but laugh as the overly ecstatic prince bounced around the room with a glowing smile.
"Where are the others?" Agni asked, peering outside.
"Not here, I left the estate. They drive me crazy," Esme told them.
"Are they treating you badly?" Soma asked with alarm on his face, "Ciel will hear about this!"
"No! Please don't! I don't want them to find me here," Esme said with a serious face.
Soma crossed his arms and let out a huff, "Fine! I'm glad you came here though! You'll be treated like the goddess you are!"
Esme awkwardly stared at the ground and Soma beamed at her.
"Agni! Tea for our guest please!"
"Of course my prince!" Agni bowed, darting out of the room.
"With my luck Sebastian will hunt me down within the hour," Esme mumbled as she sat down in the dining room.
Soma sat down across from her and rested his chin on his folded hands. He stared at her with glittering golden eyes and a warm smile.
"I was so sad when all of you left! It gets quite lonely here sometimes."
Esme gave him a sympathetic look, "I'm sure it does… but if Sebastian and Ciel show up, do me a favor and don't let them know that I'm here."
Soma winked at her and gave a nod to Agni, "Your secret is safe with us."
….
Ciel left his office and trudged through the hallways until he arrived at the door to the library. He was in the middle of doing homework and needed a few reference books. He pushed the door open only to find the room empty. The earl stared blankly at the deserted desk and let out a tense sigh.
He took a step out into the hallway, "Sebastian!"
In seconds the shadowy butler was by his side, "What is it my lord?"
"Where is she?" Ciel motioned to the library.
Sebastian leaned into the room and narrowed his eyes.
"Find her."
"Yes, my lord."
…
"You're really good at chess Prince Soma," Esme smiled as he won yet another game.
"This is exciting! The only person I've played is Ciel and he always beat me!"
Agni was in the kitchen preparing dinner and the comfy townhouse was filled with the homey smell of cooking food. Esme inhaled and let out a relaxed sigh, it was much better here. She went to bed that night with a warm feeling in her chest and a smile on her face. In the middle of a pleasant dream Esme was jarred awake by someone shutting her bedroom door. She jolted upright only to see a pair of sinister red eyes glaring at her from across the room. Esme's heart dropped and she felt frightened.
"So this is where you were…" he trailed off in a cold voice.
Esme sat up a bit straighter, "Yes… I like it here. I don't have you telling me what to do every moment of my life and Prince Soma is actually nice to me."
"I don't really care what your reasoning is… my master ordered me to find you, and I did," Sebastian stated.
Esme folded her arms uncomfortably, "Now what?"
Sebastian leaned back against the door and sighed, "Nothing… I found you, he didn't give me further orders."
"So you're not going to drag me back there…" Esme trailed off, glanced hesitantly at him.
"I could do whatever I wanted to do to you, but no, I'm not going to drag you back to the manor," Sebastian replied distastefully.
"So, now what?"
"I'll leave you here until I'm ordered otherwise."
Esme swallowed dryly and stared over at him through her eyelashes. He watched her with a frown on his face but was silent.
"I don't like our deal…" Esme suddenly spoke up.
Sebastian's eyebrows shot up, "Really… what seems to be the problem?"
"I don't like the things you've been doing to me… you're very forceful, even if it's something I don't want to do."
"Are you suggesting what I think you are?"
Esme winced, she didn't want to use the word rape, but it was honestly how she felt. The previous morning and the time before that were not consensual.
He spoke up again, "It was part of our deal, I don't have any feelings toward you, so why should I ask your permission? I'm merely using you just as you're using me for my blood. I think it's a fair trade."
Esme growled, "It's not!"
"What do you want to change about it?" he asked.
"What you do to me… isn't there a way you could make it more… enjoyable? Rather than painful and miserable for me?" Esme asked in a quiet voice.
"So needy…" Sebastian trailed off and added, "I suppose."
"That's not very convincing," Esme told him with a grim expression.
"Alright… I'll try to make it more enjoyable for you, not that you deserve it," he huffed.
"Thanks," Esme said sarcastically.
"I'll be going now," he announced and opened the door, closing it behind him.
Esme let out a relieved sigh and fell back onto her pillows. Sebastian really scared her sometimes and her past few encounters with him had been much less than satisfactory. Hopefully he would keep his word and she wouldn't have to evade him like she currently was. As far as her housing arrangement, she was staying put. As long as Ciel didn't force her to come back, she was staying in the townhouse. Esme closed her eyes and fell back asleep.
