The demon paused, turning to face her slowly, almost lazily. His smile was taunting, daring her to try something.
"Are you going to bite again, little witch?"
"No," Elise smiled then, sweetly, the sort she used around foolish Lords who were about to die by her Craft. She walked towards him, still smiling, noting with satisfaction that his eyes flashed with wariness at her approach. So, she had the demon on edge, did she?
Good.
"You and I are going to have a small, polite conversation. Turn around, would you?" she gripped the nightgown and pulled it off as the demon dutifully averted his gaze. She hadn't been shy before, of course; but now she knew he was after her brother's soul she didn't fancy showing her modesty to him.
On went the stockings, the garters and the plain chemise laid out before her. Luckily, Elise was no stranger to the multiple garments a noble lady had to wear, as standard. She ignored the footweae provided, dainty things made of the finest leather, in favour of her sturdy old boots. They had served her well in the Order.
"Butler?" Elise pursed her lips, knowing she was not going to like this next part."You may assist me now. Corsetry is...not my strong suit."
To his credit, Sebastian did not miss a beat. He turned immediately, a charming smile on his face as he bowed his head,"At once, my lady."
Elise might have found it amusing, how dedicated he seemed to his role of dutiful butler, had intense loathing not boiled in her blood at his very presence. Instead, she remained silent, but kept an eye on his movements through the mirror. His sudden friendliness was unnerving.
"Would you be able to substitute my soul for Ciel's, without his permission?" Elise waited until he had placed the corset round her waist to begin the real discussion.
Sebastian chuckled, mirth glittering in his wine coloured eyes,"A sister, going behind her brother's back, interfering with his personal matters. What on earth would the young master think?"
He pulled the corset tight, suddenly, and Elise hissed as her poor abdomen throbbed at the harsh pressure on her injury.
Sadist.
"Alright, I will try a different question," Elise exhaled, trying not to show that he was having any effect on her. How embarrassing would it be, for a corset to be her downfall?
"Even if Ciel gave permission, for myself to be put in his place, would you accept this?" Elise eyed him through the mirror, holding his gaze through their reflection. The demon raised a brow, wine red irises glittering with a cruel sort of enjoyment as he seemed to contemplate her offer.
"I am flattered that you are so eager for me to devour you," Sebastian yanked the ribbons of the corset again, chuckling unkindly as Elise groaned, clutching her ribs."But I'm afraid I shall have to decline."
"Ow...a-and why is that, pray tell?" Elise fixed him with a frosty look, so frosty it was a wonder snow did not begin to fall from the ceiling."Ciel is young, and pretty innocent, let us be honest. On top of that, he's just a human boy. I am a witch, and I'm pretty good at it, in case you hadn't noticed. My soul is not boring, I assure you."
Sebastian did not respond for a moment, deftly securing the torture device around her waist in its place whilst she waited, biting the inside of her cheek with impatience.
His hands came up, gloved palms smoothing down the sides of her neck to her shoulders in a sudden, all too intimate movement. Elise shivered, almost flinching away but not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm
Not that he was making her squirm. How absurd.
Liar. How long has it been since someone has touched you like that? You are blushing.
Elise cursed her damn secondary thoughts, realizing she was, to her frustration, a little flushed as the demon dipped his head, nose delicately skimming the side of her throat, her collarbone, right the way down to the bare skin of her shoulder.
"Hmm," Sebastian hummed, seemingly deep in thought. He inhaled, and a devious smile pulled at his lips."What a violent scent."
Fuschia bled into his half lidded eyes, then, and all squirming was immediately a distant memory. Her skin crawled, and she turned around sharply, placing a firm, warning hand on his chest.
"What does that mean, exactly?"
The butler tutted, that devious smirk still on his face. He ignored the clear threat in her glare, gloved fingers clasping her jaw, thumb smoothing over the pale skin of her cheek.
"Such a delicate little thing, yet such a twisted soul," the demon chuckled softly."What on earth could you have done to cultivate such a bloody stain on yourself, I wonder?"
Elise began to feel discomfort rise within her. This was not a line of questioning she wished to experience. She was well aware that she had done cruel, immoral things to serve cruel, immoral masters, in order to use them for her own ends. It did not need to be discussed any further than that.
"Your silence is rather telling, little witch," Sebastian purred, clearly enjoying himself."Tell me, how many lives have you taken?"
"I don't know."
His lips brushed her ear,"Liar."
"Get off me."
Elise shoved him away, heart pounding, skin crawling, and guilt stinging. Sebastian righted himself instantly, victory shining in his eyes. The witch cursed inwardly; clearly, he had been looking for a reaction, and she had played right into his hands.
Damn him.
And damn herself.
"67."
The butler raised a brow,"Hmm?"
"You wanted to know the number," Elise fixed him with a cold stare, feigning a lack of conscience as she continued. There was no point in lying, not at this stage."It is 67. 49 men. 17 women."
"Is that so?" Sebastian paused, gaze curious. "That is only 66."
Elise looked away from him. Feigning emotional distance was not going to work, it seemed. She swallowed, trying to collect herself.
"49 men. 17 women," the witch closed her eyes."1 child."
She opened them, icy once again,"I have gallons of blood on my hands. Surely I am more appealing to you than my brother?"
The butler's expression betrayed none of his thoughts as he surveyed her. Elise waited, breath baited, clenching and unclenching her fist with a nervousness she did not want to admit to.
She would convince him to spare Ciel. She had to.
"Not so, my lady," the demon stated, shaking his head with a dissatisfied sigh."Violence is not to my taste, too bitter and rich. I'm afraid you would be rather hard to swallow."
"Bitter and rich?" Elise muttered, unsure if she should be offended."Did you just compare me to dark chocolate?"
Sebastian merely chuckled and bowed, to her irritation,"I beg your forgiveness, my lady. I have become distracted and you are not yet dressed. Please, allow me to assist you further."
She sensed this was his way of ending the conversation and cursed inwardly, panicked and having seemingly gotten nowhere in her quest to protect her brother.
"Yes..." Elise murmured, though admittedly she was not entirely paying attention as the demon nodded, dutifully collecting the blue dress from the bed so he could help her into it. She would have complained, offended, at being treated like a child, but the cogs of her mind turning over the words of their conversation.
He was not going to allow a negotiation of the contract.
Ciel was not going to allow it either, it seemed.
Alright. One option left, then.
And you had better be prepared for the consequences of it, Elise Phantomhive.
"The young master wishes for us to join him, after you are appropriately dressed," Sebastian informed her, every inch the dutiful, perfect butler once more, all talk of violence and souls forgotten."He expressed this wish when I first informed him you had awoken. I can only presume this wish remains."
The demon gestured for her to sit at the vanity, so her hair could be fixed; her energy sapped for the moment, Elise sat without argument.
"I have already joined him; I doubt, given how that meeting went, that he would want another familial tea break," Elise's laugh was bitter, but she didn't care if the butler noticed or not
"On the contrary, my lady," Sebastian fixed her hair in the appropriate style for respectable society as he spoke, the task seemingly coming easily to him."He did not request your presence for personal reasons, originally. There is a mission he must complete that requires an impartial eye."
Elise quirked a brow, but he did not elaborate; instead, he placed the last touch to her hair and stood back with a polite bow.
"I believe my task is complete."
Elise stood, stiffly, studying her reflection. The dress was blue, finely tailored and exactly the type of garment she had expected to come from a Phantomhive closet. Her hair was tidy and perfectly drawn up. You would never have known that a few days ago she had been bleeding to death, clothes sliced, hair matted, half dead.
"Ill admit, your assistance was...useful," Elise cleared her throat, quickly moving past the fact she had complimented a demon and pointing to the frilled monstrosity on the floor."Please, get that damn nightgown out of my sight. Preferably via burning."
"I shall dispose of it appropriately, my lady," the butler promised, dutifully scooping it from the floor."I trust you can find your way to the young master's study?"
"I used to live here, I recall where the study is, yes," Elise stated, fixing an impassive mask on her face as she addressed him. By far the best way to deal with the demon seemed to be to show none of her emotions. Then, there was nothing for him to play with.
The witch strode to the door, pausing as she opened it into the bright corridor. The weather had improved, it seemed. She could even hear birds, faintly, as she turned back to the butler.
"68."
Sebastian paused, smiling in polite bemusement, a picture of false innocence as he took in the word,"My lady?"
"When I kill you, my death tally will be 68."
She was gone before the demon could stop her.
First arc begins, sort of.
Ciel's need for an impartial eye is the prelude to the first case Elise will assist with.
As for how Sebastian is going to deal with her threat...wait and see.
I think I did a good job at Sebastian here, but please tell me if there are some things that are wrong. I maybe exercised some artistic license with the soul smelling thing but...eh.
Yes, Elise has done nasty shit. More will be revealed as time goes on.
Please review if you are able :) thank you