Author's Note: I need like three of me. While I was working on Kat and Nikolai, I got an idea for another series. I did get an outline and basic premise done but it still needs to be fleshed out. It's going to have to sit on the backburner for now, I guess.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of its characters. I only claim Serena, as well as the descendants and demons that I introduce.
A Demon's Mate
Chapter Fifteen
Sebastian hadn't spoken a word to Serena before he followed his Master out the door for their appointment with Lau. The red head decided to wander the halls while they were gone. While smaller than the manor, the Phantomhive family townhouse boasted five bedrooms other than the Earl and Countess's suites, a library/reception room, and a ballroom. Although still clean, the ballroom looked like it hadn't been touched since the previous Earl's time. Chairs and small tables had been pushed against the walls and were covered with white sheets. The doors to the balcony overlooking the garden were shut tight. When she tried to turn one of the locks, the metal screeched and wouldn't move far enough. Serena laughed at one thing the butler hadn't fixed but felt a little sad when she looked at the floor. Buffed to a high shine, she could still see the marks from much use long ago.
The reception room had a more lived in feel with a couple of the books still out on the table and a chessboard set up in front of a wingback chair. There was also a desk against the far wall that held writing instruments and blank paper. It was hard to envision Ciel sitting here after seeing the massive desk that was normally covered at the manor.
The bedrooms held no surprises. Unused, they were still aired out and everything neat. One room was obviously being used, with knick knacks, decorative pillows and bright silk clothes everywhere. There was also a scent of incense that still wafted through the air. Unable to stop herself, Serena walked over to the wardrobe and felt a stab of envy at the colorful silks and touched the pale peach of her own gown.
'Unmarried ladies wear demure colors.' The dressmaker's words came back to her from the day she had gone shopping with Elizabeth.
'Except in evening gowns.'
Sticking her tongue out at the wardrobe, the red head went back to the hall. She saw a door tucked into a corner and figured that it led to the servants' bedrooms.
'I wonder what Sebastian's room looks like?'
The sound of the front door opening stopped her in her tracks.
'Well, so much for that idea. I should have thought of that earlier.'
As she came to the head of the stairs, a strange voice drifted from the entrance.
"It is good to be back, isn't Highness?"
"Yes, Agni."
She stopped dead at the sight of the two Indian men. 'Wow, two more that are spot on. Even the clothing is right. Although, no purple hair. I guess this is reality though.'
Both men looked up and saw Serena on the stairs. The white-haired man stepped in front of his prince, pushing the younger man back in a protective gesture.
"Hello, miss. Who are you?"
*************************A Demon's Mate************************
Sebastian opened the door for his Master and ushered the young Earl into the house. The teen had been deep in thought on the way home after their interview with Lau and was still distracted. Laughing greeted the two and brought his Master out of his thoughts.
Both stared up the stairs and realized that there were multiple voices coming from one of the guest rooms. A masculine laugh drifted down the stairs and Ciel sighed.
"She said that she was going to stay out of trouble."
"At least she didn't leave the house, Master."
The Earl waved his butler off and headed up the stairs. A heavy accent greeted them at the top and Ciel rubbed his forehead in anticipation of the headache that always started around the Prince.
"I had hoped they would stay in Brighton for the holidays," he groaned.
"It seems that is not to be, my lord."
Sebastian walked behind his Master as they went to the room that Prince Soma had claimed in the house. Both stopped dead in the doorway.
Serena sat on the bed, with Soma, propped up against one of the bedposts. Both were dressed in rich and colorful silks of the prince's homeland. The red head was dressed in an outfit reminiscent of an Indian princess with jewelry to match the sunset colored silk. Gold bangles chimed from both wrists with arm bands further up, rings glittered on her fingers and strands of gold set with rubies lay against her red hair.
The three finally noticed the two in the doorway and stopped laughing.
"Ciel!" Soma jumped from the bed to hug the younger lord and Serena laughed at the panic on his face.
"I'm sorry that I did not greet you downstairs." Agni came forward to bow to the both men and welcome them to the house.
Ciel finally peeled the Prince off himself and turned to Serena. "I see that you made some new friends while we were away."
"Oh, yes!" Soma ran back to hug her too. "Serena can be my sister too. We will all share curry tonight!"
She caught Sebastian glare out of the corner of her eye. Serena sighed but pulled away from the Prince anyway.
"How was your visit to Lau?"
"Very informative."
"I'm glad that you did not invite Mr. Lau here." Soma crossed his arms and sat back down on the bed. "I would not share my curry with him."
That seemed a strange statement from the normally happy Prince and everyone in the room noticed it.
"Why is that, Soma?" Serena asked.
"He is not a good person."
'This from the man who sees nothing wrong with the demonic butler,' Serena mused as she watched the two.
"Oh, Ciel. I almost forgot. We made plans to go to the theater tonight. You must come as well." Soma stood with his hands on his hips, prepared for an argument from the anti-social Earl.
"I don't..." He stopped when he saw the hopeful look on Serena's face. Behind the Prince, she put her hands together and nodded excitedly. "Oh, alright."
"Yes!" Serena started forward to hug Ciel as well, but stopped before touching him. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. I have work to do." The Earl left and headed for his own room.
***************************A Demon's Mate************************
Ciel was looking through more papers that come in for a property north of London that he had just purchased in his suite while Sebastian tidied up the room. The butler kept stopping in his work and the Earl waited for whatever he wanted before Sebastian would start putting things away again. The demon was putting a book back onto the shelf when he stopped again.
His Master threw his papers down and glared at Sebastian.
"What is it?"
"Serena claimed earlier that I did not respect her."
Ciel blinked at the demon, incredulous. "That is what this is about? You're having relationship problems?"
"You're right. I should not have asked you, Master." Sebastian picked up the tray holding the remains of the Earl's afternoon snack and opened the door. The Earl picked his work back up. "You can't even sort out your own relationship problems."
"Hey! I could give advice."
The demon raised in eyebrow in disbelief.
"I could."
Sebastian came back into the room and stood before the Earl. "Well..."
"What did she say?"
"She said that I didn't respect her." The demon answered simply.
"No woman just says that," Ciel said blandly. "What was the whole of what she said, word for word."
*Some time later...*
"Well, Serena is not like the women of this time. Her personality doesn't fit with a woman that will fall at your feet. You're treating her like a possession that should follow along behind you without a word."
"But she is mine."
The younger man sighed. 'This is going nowhere.'
Finally, an idea struck. "Sebastian, you said that Serena was your mate?"
"Yes, Master."
"Then you would be her mate as well."
"Yes, Master."
Ciel waited for his butler to catch his understanding. When it was clear that wasn't going to happen, he tried a different tactic.
"You said that a demon's mate ruled their demon."
"That is correct master."
"Then why are you trying to rule her?"
Sebastian cocked his head as he thought about the simple logic behind his master's words.
***********************A Demon's Mate*************************
'There's something strange going on in this house.'
While preparing the evening meal, Sebastian noticed how Agni kept staring at him. The other butler would look at him out of the corner of his eye whenever he thought that Sebastian wasn't looking. The demon made sure that he had not pulled the wrong ingredients out of the pantry for the sauce he was making. Perhaps Agni didn't want to correct him but, there was nothing amiss.
Agni was peeling potatoes and Sebastian saw how the other man inched toward him. He decided to simply wait for whatever was bothering the other servant.
"She wants you to talk." Agni whispered
"Excuse me?" He asked, the muscle at the corner of his eye twitching.
"It is easy to see that there is some strain between you and Lady Serena. When a woman feels that she is not important to you, you have to talk to her. Listen to what she has to say and respond with what is in your heart."
"I see." Sebastian felt irritation rise as well as another emotion. It took a moment for him to acknowledge embarrassment as the alien feeling.
"Women are very confusing to men as they have a fundamentally different view of the world. The gods created women to be the opposite to men and their compliment. A man must always look beyond the surface of their words." The butler continued to peel vegetables with a peaceful smile on his face that Sebastian compared to a sage handing out age old wisdom to a child.
'Rather interesting if you consider the age difference between us.'
Agni looked to him again and nodded at the pensive look on the butler's face. Since he had imparted his message, the white haired man went back to his cutting board on the other side of the counter. Silence took back over the working men.
When going to the Earl's rooms to ready his Master for the evening, Sebastian was surprised to see Prince Soma peek his head around the door to his own room. The younger man waved him over with quick movements. Once the butler was inside his room, Soma leaned back out to look around the hallway before spinning around quickly.
"You must give her something."
"Prince Soma?"
"Serena. You must give her something. A gift to show that you are thinking about her. A woman wants to know that she is on your mind, so you must bring her something to prove that. However small the gift, it will be appreciated."
The demon managed to hide the irritated tick this time. "Of course, your majesty. Thank you."
The Prince smiled brightly and gave him a little push out the door. "Go now. Think of something that Serena would like."
In his Master's rooms, the teen was laying on a sofa and appeared to be napping. He didn't even move when Sebastian leaned over him with a creepy smile.
"Master."
Ciel opened his eyes and yawned. "Sebastian, is it time to go?"
"Almost, Master. We must ready you for the theater." The demon pulled a black suit with silver embellishments from the wardrobe.
"I suppose." The Earl sighed and stood to be undressed.
"Master," he slipped off the younger man's jacket. "I seem to be getting a lot of unsolicited advice lately."
"Well, since you didn't think that my advice would be worth anything...I thought that others' ideas on how to solve your little problem would be welcomed." Ciel smirked down at the demon currently removing his shoes.
"I see. Well played, my master."
***********************A Demon's Mate*************************
Before getting ready to go to the theater, Serena had stopped by the Prince's room to drop off the jewelry that he had loaned to her earlier. She was surprised to see Sebastian leaving the room. The demon looked a little ruffled as he made his way to Ciel's rooms.
Soma had tried to get her to wear the outfit to go out but she finally convinced him that it was simply too cold for that. Now, she wondered what she was going to wear and how to get into it. Sebastian still hadn't spoken to her since this morning and there was no one else to help. She wasn't going to ask Agni for help again after this afternoon. The man had been cherry red every time he looked at her since.
In her rooms, a red gown with extensive embroidery laid on the bed. Serena had fallen in love with the fabric in the dressmaker's shop that first day. The heavy wine-colored silk had been shot through with real gold thread. The red head had tried to put it back as too expensive for her, but Elizabeth had insisted.
'It's perfect for the Season!' The blonde exclaimed while holding a sample up. 'And it actually goes with your hair.'
'She's right, my lady. If you're going to be known as a connection to the Earl of Phantomhive, a dress made out of this will be just what you need.' The dressmaker took the bolt of fabric and walked to the counter.
She ran a hand over the beautiful gown again. 'Hell with it. I'm going to wear it, especially after what Ciel paid for it. If that means that I have to ask him for help, then I guess I'll have to hunt down a certain demon and force him to talk to me.'
Plan in mind, Serena walked into the adjoining room to start a warm bath before she tried to find Sebastian. She stopped in the doorway. The bath was already filled, steam rising from the water. As she drew closer, a light scent of roses greeted her and she saw petals floating on the water's surface. On the bench next to the tub, a towel lay folded and ready to use beside a fresh shift.
She ran a hand over the surface, playing with the soft petals. 'At least I can get out of this outfit without help.'
Serena slipped out of the layers of silk easily and sank into the warm bath. The petals flowed around her body as she lazily trailed her fingers through the water. Trying to relax, her thoughts turned back to the demon.
'When did he do this? Why did he do this? Is it just because it's his job as the butler?'
The wardrobe in the bedroom opened in the next room and the red head realized that she had been lost in thought for a long time. Her fingers were pruned and her body was stiff from sitting in the same position for so long. She shivered at the water that had cooled to an uncomfortable temperature.
Serena quickly dried off and dressed in the underclothes that she could get into without help. She took a deep breath before opening the door to the bedroom, knowing he was waiting.
'Speak of the devil...'
Sebastian stood next to the vanity laying out something on its top. A large box sat next to her hairbrush and a pile of hairpins. She looked back to the bed briefly as he picked up the dress's matching corset.
"Don't you think that is too much for the theater?"
"Of course not." The demon waved her forward and slipped the corset around her body. "Master said that I treat you like a possession."
"Did you honestly ask Ciel for advice?" She giggled and got a rather viscous tug on the corset's laces. "He's a teenage boy, but he's right. I think that is what's bothering me."
"I do not understand." Sebastian peeked over her shoulder.
"I do have a brain and it's fully functional." She glared back at him.
"I know that."
"But you don't act like it."
"I do not understand."
"You just expect me to go along with this whole thing, no questions asked. You try to decide everything for me. Like tonight. You had already picked out what I was going to wear."
Sebastian looked at the dress in his hands that he was preparing for her to step into.
"There was something else that you wanted to wear? This is really the only gown you have that is suitable to go with the Earl."
"That's not the point." She threw her hands up. "I want you to ask!"
"Then say that."
"I shouldn't have to, Sebastian."
"You're impossible."
"No, I'm a girl. I'm a person, not a dog for you to command."
He shifted the gown to hang right with a couple of tugs and started on the gold buttons.
"I apologize if that is how I made you feel. It was not my intention." The demon directed her to sit at the vanity to do her hair. "I am unused to a woman that wishes me to act a different way."
"Now, we're getting back to your previous experiences."
"That is all that I know."
"So, you've never been around someone who actually wanted to know you?"
"There have been a few masters who asked but it was mostly for their benefit or they were curious about demons as a whole. For the most part, humans have only wished to know what I could give them."
"That's kind of sad."
"It made no difference to me." He answered quickly and continued to pull the brush through her hair. "Is there something else that you object to?"
"I'd like some privacy." She looked at him through the mirror's reflection.
"Privacy? But, you can't dress in this gown by yourself."
"I was talking about at night. I'd like to have my room to myself."
"If you didn't flirt with other men then I would have left you by yourself at night." She started at the demon's snapping.
"I didn't...fine. I will promise not to flirt with anyone."
"Then I will leave you alone tonight."
"Every night."
"I will not agree to that. I will leave you for now. As long as there is no danger to you and there is no reason for me to suspect you of having an interest in another, I will let you sleep alone." Sebastian leaned past her to put the brush down.
"I'll take that." Serena sighed. 'Honestly, it's like talking to a brick wall.'
Both were quiet as he pulled her hair into an elaborate but flattering configuration of red curls, white silk flowers and gold drops. When finished, Sebastian placed the box in front of her and pulled a key from his pocket to use in the small gold lock. Inside was a glittering mass of jewels.
"Master sent this for you to choose something to wear tonight."
Serena blinked in shock at the contents. "Are these real?"
"Of course." He sniffed as if he thought the question was offensive.
'Of course Ciel wouldn't have fake jewelry.'
"Wow." Her hand moved on it's own to lightly touch the top layer. "But, what if I lose a piece or it breaks?"
"I assure you that my Master can afford to replace it."
Serena frowned and pulled her hand back. "I always wondered, are his companies really that popular or is it you?"
"I'm sure that you have noticed that my Master has an aptitude for games."
"Yes, he's a little bit of a genius."
"Exactly," the demon smiled and dug through the shining contents. "He sees his business and investing as a game to be won and is very good at it. He needs no help from me in that department. I merely assisted in getting the ball rolling sort of speak. Even as a title, when Master first took over as Earl, there were not many who would look at a child buying a warehouse or hiring for production work without a laugh. So, I purchased the necessary equipment and met with the solicitors on his behalf."
"It almost makes you wonder, would he have still been a business genius if all that hadn't happened?"
"I believe so. Most humans never find their true potential without a traumatic event, they get caught in complacency. However, my Master would still have taken over the title of Earl and the Queen's Guard Dog whenever his father did pass away." He pulled a gold necklace set with diamonds out of the box and held it up for her to judge. "He may have gotten started earlier than expected, but the knowledge still would have been there."
"That is beautiful."
"It is part of a set that would go well with your gown." Sebastian started to search again. "There is a bracelet and a pair of earrings that match."
Serena waited while he found the other pieces, not wanting to break the moment of peace. As he fastened the necklace around her throat the words came out anyway.
"I'm glad you're talking to me again."
He stopped and looked at her through the mirror. "I did not like it either."
The red head smiled back at him. Sebastian picked up the matching slippers to the gown and knelt at her feet.
"Is there anything else that you object to?"
Serena looked away, not wanting to start another argument. Her fingers ran over the necklace in a nervous gesture. When she finally spoke, her voice was barely a whisper. "I know nothing about you."
"I cannot tell you much until my contract is completed."
"Why?" She stared at his bowed head, waiting for him to meet her eyes.
He looked up after sliding the second shoe gently on her foot.
"Demons are taught from their beginning to safeguard any personal facts about ourselves as they may be used against us."
"You think that I'll use something about you to...what?"
"You are very close to my Master and, as stated before, Lord Phantomhive has a vicious intelligence. I cannot take the risk that something I tell you may make its way back to my Master."
"That's a trust issue."
"As if you don't have any of your own?" He raised an eyebrow. "I'm not saying that I will never tell you, just not right now."
"I guess that is as good as I'm going to get, huh?" Serena stood and fussed with her skirt before moving toward the door.
"If that is all, it would be a pleasure to escort you to meet the Prince and my Master."
"Do you ever call Ciel anything else?"
The demon cocked his head and looked confused. "No, that is what he is."
She laughed and shook her head. "Nevermind.
Sebastian walked forward to open the door for Serena as she swept past him. He stayed a step behind as she swept down the stairs to the two nobles waiting with their mouths hanging open. Ciel stared for a moment before coming to the bottom to help her down the last stair. The demon handed her a white feathered fan while placing a matching cloak around her shoulders. She opened the fan with a quick flick of her wrist and smiled coyly at Ciel and Soma.
"Will I do?"
"You look fine." Ciel blushed lightly and turned for Sebastian to place his greatcoat on his shoulders. He offered Serena his arm, blush still across his cheeks.
She smiled and noticed Soma watching them.
"Well, a handsome earl and an exotic prince. I'll be the envy of every girl there."
The Prince came to her side and took her other arm. "Come, we'll go forth and make the world jealous."
Agni and Sebastian opened each side of the double doors so the trio could enter the frigid, winter night together. In the carriage, Serena took the seat next to Ciel while Soma told them about his trip to Brighton from the other side. As they rolled through the city streets, she noticed the Earl kept looking at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Is there something wrong?" She whispered so as not to disturb the Prince who was still chattering on.
"No," he looked back out the window quickly. "My father gave that set to my mother when they were married. I haven't seen anyone wear it since her death."
"I knew I shouldn't have picked this one."
"No, it should be worn. The set was her favorite and I'm sure that she wouldn't like that it's just been sitting in the safe all this time." The Earl shifted in his seat. "Besides, it looks beautiful on you."
Serena smiled and blushed a little. Both noticed the silence that had taken over the carriage. The Prince was watching them with a secret smile on his face.
"What?!" Ciel glared in his discomfort.
"It is nothing." Soma shook his head, the smile still in place.
She heard the Earl start grumbling under his breath and sought a quick change of topic.
"So, what show are we going to see?"
"I don't know."
Ciel and Serena sighed at the blasé prince.
"I does not matter what they are performing. Because, it got Ciel out of the house."
The red head laughed as Ciel mouth dropped open. "That's true!"
*************************A Demon's Mate**************************
Serena tried to remember that she was an adult as she looked around the opulent theater in wonder. The rich colors, artwork and décor made her slightly ashamed of what theaters had become in her time period. The sight of various nobles dressed in decadent fabrics and dripping with jewels made her grateful that Sebastian had planned ahead and had Mei-Rin pack the red gown.
'I will definitely thank him later. I'd have felt embarrassed if I had worn anything else.'
"I assume by your reaction that you do not go the theater often?" Ciel leaned forward from his seat next to her. Soma had run into a friend as they were coming in and had left them to mingle before the show started. As the teen had no interest in mingling, they had gone straight to the box always reserved for the Phantomhives.
"I do. It's just that the theaters back home aren't like this."
"What are they like?"
"Much more...stripped down I guess is the word that I'm looking for. And people don't get dressed up like this."
"The theater has gone out of style then?" Sebastian presented the two with a tray that carried two flutes of champagne and slices of freshly peeled orange.
She couldn't tell them about the huge multiplexes and most people going in jeans after looking at her current surroundings so she opted to not say anything at all.
Ciel took a glass and sat in his seat while turning his attention back to the stage. The actors were performing a comedy routine for the audience before the main show began. Serena noticed that the Earl looked lighter and more relaxed than he had all day.
"Why don't you come more often? You obviously enjoy it."
"It's the people that I don't enjoy." He took a sip from his glass, eyes still on the stage.
She looked around at the box that was empty except for the three of them. "Okay."
"Just wait. During the intermission, we are expected to walk around and socialize with everyone. If we stay in the box, they'll just accost us here. Unfortunately, the nobles' boxes give them a view of the theater and the theater a view of us. Everyone knows we're here."
Serena looked around and realized that she could see into all the open boxes. Those that weren't being used for the night, had the curtains drawn. She also noted that there were several people looking at the two of them and whispering amongst themselves. The red head almost jerked back when she met the eyes of a blond woman glaring at her from across the theater.
"That's an impressive glare." She looked to Ciel and nodded to the woman. Although older, the woman was still beautiful. Judging by her appearance, she was one of the nobles. "Who is that? There's something about her that seems awfully familiar."
The Earl leaned forward and groaned. Putting on a fake smile, he nodded to the woman and her party.
"That is my Aunt Francis. She should look familiar to you, she's Elizabeth's mother."
"She's scarier than in the manga." Serena looked back and stopped herself from jumping. "Wow. That is just pure malice. I'm intimidated from across the room."
"She's trying to intimidate you. Just ignore her."
"But why me?"
"Because you're with me. And I'm sure that she recognizes the jewelry."
She turned back to Sebastian. "This is all your fault."
"I apologize, my lady." He put a hand over his heart and bowed.
"You know, I could ignore her...or I could make it worse." Serena smirked.
"How would you do that?" Ciel asked.
A dark aura began behind her.
"Nevermind." She shivered.
"What?" The teen looked between her and Sebastian.
"Well, I was going to flirt but I promised I wouldn't."
Ciel leaned toward her. "I didn't promise anything."
Serena giggled and flicked her fan out. "My dear Earl, I believe that you are in a baiting mood tonight."
She put a hand on his arm and he covered it with his own. Both felt the glare from the other box intensify.
"Perhaps. I seem to be doing that a lot lately." His eye slid to the demon behind them with a smirk.
"Indeed, Master." The demon sighed while waving them on. "However, I'm not very fond of the marchioness either."
Serena laughed, hiding her face behind the fan while getting closer to Ciel.
Sebastian leaned down on the Earl's right. "I do believe that we have more important things to be discussed. It seems that this was not a wasted night after all, Master. That appears to be the man that Lau was speaking of."
"Where?" Ciel straightened slowly, all thoughts of irritating his aunt forgotten.
"With the Viscount Druitt." He discreetly directed their attention to another box.
Ciel took a sip from his glass with a shiver. "Why is he always in the middle of it?"
"Because he's an evil bastard." Serena whispered back and the Earl choked a little on his champagne trying not to laugh. She laughed at him.
"That is language unbecoming of a lady." Sebastian gently reprimanded.
"What are we talking about, anyway?"
"Mr. Lau told us about a colonel recently from returned from India. It was his servants that were always at the workhouses buying young men. They were supposed to be house servants. Shortly before the noblemen started disappearing, his servants stopped buying."
"That is very suspicious." The red head noticed the viscount looking directly at her. "And that is very creepy."
"Don't worry about him. Druitt is small fish compared to who we're after." Ciel leaned back in his seat and pulled Serena with him. "At least Lau was also able to tell us where the good colonel spends most of his nights."
"Master, I do not believe that this conversation is appropriate for a lady."
"Oh, you hush." She waved him off. "Where is it?"
The Earl stopped and considered not telling her, but Serena had already proven that she could handle his world.
"A bordello in the center of the city. It specializes in...younger offerings."
"Do you think that we could shut them down while we're at it?" She growled.
Ciel sighed. "No. Even if we did, another would just take their place. Some things just cannot be changed."
"That's disgusting."
"That's London."
"And humans call me evil." Sebastian straightened.
"You know, some people are kind of decent." She glared at him.
"I have not met many."
They were interrupted by the arrival of Prince Soma and Agni. The man took the seat on the other side of Serena and waited for his own glass of champagne while chattering about his friend.
"The play should be starting soon. I'm glad we got here early so I could talk to Redmond. I haven't seen him since Weston."
Serena smiled as the Prince kept going.
'A part of me wishes that I could be that carefree.'
A man slipped his head into the box and told Sebastian to cut down the gaslights as the show was starting.
*************************A Demon's Mate**************************
The intermission came quickly as Serena had truly been enjoying the play. The theater had decided to put on Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' before the nobles left London for the Christmas season. When the lights came back on, Ciel rolled his eye and held out a hand to Serena. Soma was already up and chattering about the play so far. They let him go first in leaving the box as the Prince had already made plans to meet up with Redmond again.
As they left through the curtains, Serena felt a stab of panic and it took her a moment to realize that it was because Sebastian was staying behind to prepare refreshments for the second half.
"What is it?" Ciel leaned close to speak over the crowd of other nobles that were exiting their own boxes.
"It's nothing." She shook her head and started forward again.
Several people stopped to talk to the Earl, mostly about business, others were simply trying to toady. The red head noticed more than one couple had approached with a young lady in tow. They seemed to back off when they saw Serena holding Ciel's arm. She just smiled and turned back to whoever her escort was talking to.
"Thank you." Ciel led her away after breaking from the group that had formed when they stopped.
"For what?"
"If you hadn't done that, I would have been surrounded by nobles parading their daughters in front of me."
She laughed as they continued on. Most of the others that they encountered merely nodded in acknowledgment from their own circles. They had almost completed a circuit of the upper level when Serena shivered, a feeling of being watched making her itch between her shoulder blades. She turned slightly to see the marquess and his intimidating wife. With them was the Viscount Druitt and the three were heading straight for them.
"Incoming." She whispered to Ciel.
"What?" He looked back and noticed the trio. "Oh. Damn."
The three blondes stopped just in front of them.
"Lord Phantomhive. I was unaware that you were in London at this time." The marquess decided to start the conversation.
"It was not a trip that was planned." With a sigh, Ciel pulled Serena forward. "Lord and Lady Midford, Lord Druitt, may I introduce Miss Serena Walton."
The redhead curtsied to the nobles and found the Viscount right beside her waiting for a hand. He pressed a light kiss to her knuckles with a smirk and pulled the girl closer.
"What a lovely bird that the earl has brought into our midst. I think with that hair, you would be a cardinal, my lady. Come to bless our drab world with color."
She firmly pulled her hand away with a smile. "I thank you for the sentiment, my lord. From what I understand, it is quite a compliment coming from you."
"Indeed. It is well known that I take in interest in all things beautiful." His voice dropped as he tried to put an arm around Serena.
Ciel stopped him by flicking the Viscount's hand away from her other side. He turned the attention back to the blond couple.
"Are you enjoying the play, Aunt Frances?"
"It seems passable. Why doesn't Lord Druitt take Miss Serena around for a moment? There is a matter that I wish to discuss."
'Oh, don't leave me alone with him! If he tries anything, Sebastian will kill this idiot...or I will.'
As if he could read her thoughts, the Earl smiled at his aunt. "For the time being, I am Serena's escort and guardian. I can't take the chance that the Viscount may try to take off with my guest. As he did once before."
Ciel glared at the older man. Druitt just laughed it off.
"Well, he is right. I'm afraid I just can't help myself."
'The problem is that you help yourself to too much, moron.'
"Very well," The marchioness drew herself up to her full height. "Elizabeth sent a letter to the estate today. Since you are in town, we will come by in the morning."
"I'm afraid that my schedule is quite full until after Christmas."
The woman's face darkened as the bell sounded to announce the second half.
"We should be returning to our seats. I will receive Elizabeth's letter when I return home. You can tell her that I will reply to it as soon as possible." Ciel bowed to the three and pulled Serena away.
"Well, that was nice and awkward." The red head whispered as they walked back to the box.
"Ask me again why I don't like to go out."
*************************A Demon's Mate*************************
When they returned home, Soma bid his friends good night and went upstairs. The Prince had been close to falling asleep in the carriage. Agni bowed to them and, after a meaningful glance at Sebastian, followed his own master to his rooms.
Serena waved before turning back to Ciel. "Was there anything else that Lau had to say?"
"Let's go into the salon. Sebastian will fix tea while we talk."
The butler bowed and headed off for the kitchen. Ciel led the way into the other room and took a seat near the fire.
"Lau was able to tell me that the man in question seems to have had in interest in young boys since his return from India. He had been stationed there with the army and lived rather opulently as he is the son of a successful merchant. His servants were reported as always asking for the better looking, cleaner, and if possible, virginal young men from the workhouses."
"I guess that Undertaker was right. This man's tastes have refined and he's looking for quality. He is also either obsessed or thinks that he has amassed enough money that no one will come after him, no matter who he takes. With his recent kidnappings getting higher and higher up the proverbial food chain, I would vote for obsessed."
"Obsessed is easier to catch red-handed, but harder to contain. Most of the time, nothing matters except the object of their obsession. And they'll go through anyone who gets in their way to keep it." Ciel stared at the flames, lost in his own thoughts. "I would almost prefer arrogance. Still easy to catch, but more reasonable once caught."
Serena nodded as Sebastian opened the door carrying a tray.
"Unfortunately, we are going to have to catch him and find out what he has done with the men he has taken already."
"The easiest way to do that will be for someone to be captured." She looked straight at the earl.
"Yes, that is the same conclusion that I reached. Tomorrow night, I will go to this establishment and try to catch his interest as the others did."
"Everyone knows you, Ciel. I highly doubt that he would try for someone so obviously well protected when there are others who are not." Serena took the cup and saucer that the butler presented.
"You have a suggestion I assume?" Sebastian held out a plate of cookies.
"You're going to hate my guts for this, but you would be better off impersonating one of the prostitutes."
The Earl glared at her but nodded.
**************************A Demon's Mate************************
Thankfully, Ciel had insisted that Sebastian help Serena to bed after she started yawning and drooping in her seat. The demon followed behind and had to steady her on the stairs. The second time she stumbled, he picked her up to carry the red head the rest of the way.
"I'm sorry. I'm just so tired." Her voice was thick with sleep as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"There is no need to apologize, my mate. Night is the only time that you seem to let me get close to you."
Serena was tired enough to not notice how the door opened without a hand and shut quietly behind them. In the center of the room, she had to stand for him to unfasten the gown and corset. When she listed to the side, the demon moved her to rest against him. After she was down to just underclothes, he picked her up again to sit her on the bed.
It wasn't until Sebastian slid a hand up her leg that the red head voiced a protest.
"I am only removing you stockings, my mate. You do not want to sleep in them, I assure you."
"That hand better not go any further." Her threat was ruined by another yawn.
"It will not."
She didn't like the look in his eyes and tried to wake herself up. It just wasn't going to happen. The alcohol from the wine at dinner and champagne at the theater combined with the stress and heavy gown, her body was exhausted. It didn't really care about demons and their intentions.
Serena didn't notice the nightgown that appeared next to her or the evil smirk until Sebastian pulled her back up. A squeak escaped when the shift she was wearing was jerked quickly over her head. She felt the cold air of the bedroom and put her arms up to cover herself by instinct. The demon's smile was still present as he slid the nightgown over her head.
"Be honest." She glared are him. "You really are a pervert, aren't you?"
Her only answer was a kiss to her forehead as he slid her under the sheets. As soon as her head hit the pillow, darkness sucked Serena under into the world of dreams.