Author's Note: I really don't have anything to say this time. Probably has to do with the migraine I have building currently. Oh wait. One of my lovely readers had found an article online about why couples sleep together and emotional as well as chemical bond that forms between them. I have to go back through my email to find the exact address but it was very interesting.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of its characters. I only claim Serena, as well as the demons and descendants that I introduce.
A Demon's Mate
Chapter Twenty Three
"How are you enjoying your trip to the Victorian era, Serena?"
Her head snapped around so fast it hurt. There was nothing to give away his thoughts on the man's face, only a smile. Eyes that she hadn't been able to see before were blue as the sky, seeming to contain a world all their own, and laughing at her. She opened her mouth but no words came out. Until the man started laughing.
"You! You're the one who brought me here?" She finally asked.
"I am." He nodded.
"Who are you?"
"Who do you think I am?" He teased with a gentle smile. Serena looked at the ground as her hands dug into the wood of the bench.
"After what Undertaker said, I could only think of two beings that could mess with time." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "But, which one are you?"
The man leaned close as though telling a secret. "Actually, there is only one. You could say that I'm on the opposite side of your Sebastian."
Serena's eyes bugged out of her head and the man laughed again.
"Why did you bring me here?" She asked, breathless with shock.
"You're not supposed to ask why." He turned back to the crowds, dismissing her question.
"Then how is anybody supposed to know anything?"
"How will you learn truth if you believe everything that is told to you?" He countered.
"Well, since you're the only one who knows why you brought me here..."
"True." The man seemed to think for minute. "I guess I could tell you this once."
Serena waited. When nothing was said, the red head turned back to stare at him and waved her hands. "Well?"
He smiled at her impatience. "Your Sebastian."
"Sebastian?"
He nodded, smile still in place.
"But why bring me here? He's a demon. He could just as easily find me in 100 years." The red head put some effort into whispering when all she wanted to do was yell. It wouldn't be good for the rest of the park to think she was crazy.
The man stared at Serena, one eyebrow raised, unwilling to give her any more information. After a minute of thinking, it hit her like a ton of bricks.
"His contract with Ciel."
"I was hoping a mate would...shift his focus." The man looked back to the people in the park, blissfully unaware of what was going on at the bench. "Your Sebastian has given me a little trouble for a while now. He is rather intelligent and I had thought that it would occur to him that I was holding back your meeting for a reason."
"Again, how are people supposed to know this?" Serena threw her hands up and he just laughed at her.
"And again, you're supposed to find the reason for yourself. I expect there to be some higher thought involved. Even with demons."
"So, I was sent to distract Sebastian from Ciel? Why didn't you just send me to before their contract was made?" She didn't wait for an answer that wasn't coming as a tear ran down her cheek at the thought of the young Earl's fate. "I tried. I've tried to get Sebastian to let Ciel go, but he won't. And I think that Ciel...It's more than just a deal is a deal for him. I think he's almost looking forward to it. He'd hate it if I got Sebastian to let him go."
"Shh, child." He picked up a lock of her hair. "You are right. That boy is rather attached to his demon. Your Sebastian certainly is more...likeable than some demons."
"Why do you keep calling him my Sebastian?" She wiped the tears off her cheeks, pulling herself back together.
"Well, he's certainly not mine." He tugged her hair with a smile before letting it go.
Serena found herself laughing. "No. No, I guess not."
The man smiled as he looked up one of the paths.
"I believe that our time has run out. Before I go, you should ask Undertaker about the origin of demons. He will be able to answer some of your questions." He stood gracefully and tipped his hat to her. "Do not worry about Ciel, Serena. I will simply have to think of something else."
The man walked into one of the crowds that was passing their little bench before she could protest. He blended in with the passing people just as easily as she had thought he would.
"Wait!" She stood, trying to find him.
"Miss Serena."
She turned to see William and Ronald coming up another path. When she turned back, the man had completely disappeared. Serena scanned the various crowds but it was useless. She sighed in defeat, turning back to the reapers.
"I see that demon left you on your own again." William stopped in front of her, his expression as cool as usual.
"Not exactly, I kind of wandered off." She was still looking around them.
"You really haven't learned anything." Ronald shook his head with a smile. "Are you looking for someone?"
Serena opened her mouth to answer but nothing would come out. Her body started to shake and William caught her as her knees went out. He pushed the red head back to sit on the bench again with an arm around her shoulders. Ronald looked around them, making sure that people didn't notice what was going. Not knowing what else to do, he stood in front of them to block the view of most of the park.
"You're going into shock. Just relax." The reaper rubbed a hand up and down her arm as the girl's entire body shook. He could feel the goosebumps on her skin and pulled a little closer. Serena leaned into the warmth.
Slowly, the adrenaline stopped. Minutes passed and Serena was able to stop shaking. The elder reaper picked up the same lock of hair and studied her.
"What?"
"You've been touched by something divine." He said absentmindedly while touching the red length that had fallen from the rest.
"Yeah, you could say that." She stood, but swayed on her feet. "I...I need to see Undertaker."
"You are rather shaken up. We will see you back to Phantomhive's townhouse."
"No!" Both reapers jumped at the sharp response. "I need to see Undertaker, and it needs to be without Ciel or Sebastian."
William studied her for a moment, seeing the resolve and the fear hidden underneath. "Very well. Ronald and I will escort you."
Serena nodded and looked around her one last time. When she looked back, William held his hand out. She took it hesitantly, still thinking of what had happened. The reaper escorted her out of the park with Ronald on her other side. The trio entered an alley near the park's entrance and Serena pulled back a little.
"It's alright. I know a quicker way to the Undertaker's parlor but we need to be away from people." William walked over to one of the walls and put his hand on it. A black hole appeared, the same as before.
********************A Demon's Mate********************
Serena popped out behind William into an alley across from Undertaker's shop. Ronald brought up the rear and waved his hand over the hole to make it disappear. She looked back at the untouched brick, running a hand over it.
"Okay, even as freaked out as I am, that's pretty cool."
"Quite. Shall we go?" William waved to the shop.
"Right." The red head took a deep breath before going across the street. Ronald moved in front to open the door for her and was rewarded with a smile. "Thank you."
Behind her, William glared at the wink the younger reaper shot her.
"Oh, hell!" Serena backpedaled out of the doorway, bumping into William.
"Harlot!"
"Honestly, what are you doing here?" He glared at Grell standing in the shop as he pushed the girl behind him.
Undertaker laughed at the scene in front of him. "The council asked me to watch our friend here after they caught him trying to escape."
"Maybe this isn't a good time." Serena popped her head over William's shoulder.
"Oh, it's alright. He's harmless without his deathscythe." Undertaker held up the chainsaw, bands around the deadly sharp chain.
"Give me that back! I'll get rid of that man-stealing hussy right now!" Grell made a dive for the weapon but the other reaper merely held it behind him. Undertaker danced around the shop, over coffins and in front of shelves of urns, as Grell chased and dived after him. Every time the red reaper missed, the ancient would laugh harder.
"Sutcliff!" William walked forward and smacked his underling in the head with his logbook. "Stop being such a problem."
Grell sunk down with a hand on his head, looking pitiful. "But, Will..."
"But nothing. I'm sick of dealing with you. I'm sick of your mood swings, I'm sick of cleaning up after you and I'm sick of hearing about that damned demon!" He grabbed Grell by the arm and hauled him to one of the coffins. "Now, you are going to sit here and be quiet. Is that understood?"
"Oh, William. Perhaps I've been pursuing the wrong beast." He pawed at the manager's jacket with a sly smile.
William let out a heavy sigh as his shoulders slumped.
Serena tried to stifle a laugh but it wasn't working. She and Ronald snickered like school children until the manager's gaze came to them. Both straightened and had the decency to look apologetic.
"What brings you my way?" Undertaker pulled Serena to another coffin top and took a seat next to her. He picked up the same lock of hair with a seriousness that was strange from the reaper. "Someone's had a spiritual experience."
"You could say that." She pulled the hair back.
"Why are you here?" The silver-haired man stroked the same piece of hair. His head fell to the side and Serena could finally see the glowing green eyes of the ancient reaper.
"He said that I should ask you about the origin of demons." She shivered under the sudden scrutiny those eyes subjected her to.
"Ah, it is a secret that I stumbled upon a long time ago." Undertaker snickered when he saw he had everyone's attention. William and Ronald had taken a seat on either side of Grell and waited. "Demons originally played for the other team."
********************A Demon's Mate********************
Sebastian entered the Miss Nina's shop to hear the last of Lady Elizabeth's words.
"Oh, Ciel. I'm sorry." The blonde looked up as he entered the shop. "And there's Sebastian. Why don't you go back to the house? Miss Nina and I will figure this out."
"Thank you for understanding, Lizzy." The Earl bowed a little to his fiancé.
"Not at all. You can't help that you're a man. Now, leave us. I'll have a dress for Lady Elizabeth that will knock you off your feet." The tailor picked up a bolt of cloth and turned her back on the Earl.
"I'll send Sebastian back."
"Say about three hours?" Nina was already putting different patterns together, waving the men off.
"Alright. We'll see you then." When Ciel got to Sebastian, he quickly brushed past the butler. "Let's get out of here while we can."
Once they were on the street, the earl sighed in relief. "I can't believe that actually worked. It went almost exactly as Serena predicted."
"Master, where is Serena?"
"She should be in one of the shops nearby." Ciel waved a bored hand down the street.
"She is not nearby. I cannot feel her at all."
"You can feel where she is?" He blinked at the demon.
"Yes, and she is not in this area."
"Bloody hell! She swore that she wouldn't go that far." The Earl rubbed a hand over his face, trying to calm down. Sebastian was already looking up and down the streets, hoping that he was wrong. Finally, Ciel looked around. "Serena turned this way when she left the shop."
"I will take you home and return."
"No, I'm coming with you. Stupid girl. She'll be lucky if I don't thrash her." He set off down the street, the demon trailing behind him.
"We are in accord as always, Master."
The two moved through the crowds that had picked up with the midday sun. Ciel looked in each shop window they passed, hoping to see a flash of red. Sebastian kept his senses open, calling out in his mind but received no response each time. When they passed an alley, the demon stopped.
"What is it? Did you find her?"
"Reapers. They used a pathway near here. I can feel Serena's essence with them." The demon walked down the alley and stopped where the hole had been.
"They wouldn't have taken her to see that Council that Knox was talking about would they?"
"I do not believe the Reaper's Council would approve of them taking her without my knowledge. And why would Serena go with them? There has been no fight in this area." Sebastian finally stepped away from the wall.
"Undertaker's parlor then, he has to know what's going on." Ciel started out of the alley, not waiting for his butler.
"I will get the carriage, Master."
**********************A Demon's Mate***********************
"What?!"
Undertaker laughed into his sleeve at their shock.
"That's right. Demon's came into being with the sole purpose of eating the souls that were too corrupted to be reborn. They served, as well as the angels. It was a penance for those who not quite corrupted enough to be eaten, but still carried too much sin to be reborn or allowed into paradise. As their numbers grew, demons became fascinated with the humans, just as some of the angels did. They soon learned that they could take other things from the humans that they watched."
"Their essence." Serena thought back to the little lesson she had already gotten from the reaper and the demons days ago.
"Exactly. With such an easy meal, they weren't limited to the souls that were sent to them. Some lost their powers to consume souls all together and began to feed only the essence, the life force that humans carry. Of course this angered others, the angels specifically. They called for the demons to be cast out of service. It was when Lucifer fell that the demons went with him. By now, the number of demons had grown as well and they were put into categories based on what they fed off of. As time went on and more and more demons came into being, they started to band together. The Elder at the top, is always a soul eater and the strongest. He's rules the 'family.' All the others that are considered members of this 'family' answer to the Elder. Some Elders are more powerful than others depending on the souls that they feed upon."
"I still don't understand what Sebastian's contract with Ciel has to do with it."
"It has everything to do with it." The silver haired reaper slid an arm around Serena's shoulders and pulled her closer. "He's quite intriguing, Lord Phantomhive. The little Earl's soul, while filled with wrath, is not corrupted."
"If he had died that night, Ciel would have been reborn."
"Correct. Just as many of your mate's meals would have been. The demon known as Sebastian Michaelis has acquired a taste for pure souls. And it's gotten him into trouble, it would seem." Undertaker laughed as a nail stroked her cheek.
"He said that I was sent here to distract Sebastian. To pull him away from Ciel."
"It seems that William here isn't the only one upset by the loss of souls to demons." He snickered.
"If you had let me kill her the other night, sweet Bassie would have had his distraction." Grell picked at his nails. "Although, I do hate to kill another red head. There are so few of us."
Serena stared across the room and recognized her chance.
"I always wanted to ask, how do get that color?" She waved to the reaper's hair.
"It's natural!" The reaper stroked some his long hair. "I do punch it up a bit though."
"You have to tell me what you use." The girl leaned forward and could practically see the wheels turning his head. 'Come on, come on. Work.'
"Oh, alright." Grell rushed over and plopped down next to Serena. "You have to use..."
Everyone watched as the two red head whispered between each other. Ronald looked between them and his boss, confused.
"Are they friends now?"
Will rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a migraine exploding in the back of his head.
"I don't know."
"I never would have thought of that!" Serena touch some of the hair that was near her. "Oh, is that how you get it so soft?"
"No, no. For that you need oils." Grell crossed his legs and settled in for a long discussion.
"I've tried oils before and it never seems to do anything. It just makes my hair greasy at the scalp and frizzy at the bottom."
"I'll bring you some of mine when they let me off the house-arrest."
Undertaker snickered into his long sleeve while the other two men just shook their heads.
'Serena!'
"Ow!" The girl clutched her head, almost falling off the coffin lid. "Not so loud, damn it."
"Serena. Are you alright?" Ronald rushed over, Will right behind him.
"I'm fine. Sebastian is just way too loud." She was still holding her head but the pain was receding.
"Too loud?" William looked around the shop. "But he's not here."
"He's calling for her. In her head." Undertaker explained as he poked her head. Grell smacked his hand away. "I think that you've been away from your demon too long."
The door burst open and Serena grabbed onto the nearest person, that happened to be the red reaper. When Sebastian appeared, the demon roared, heading straight for them. Undertaker danced out of the line of fire as Grell fell back over the coffin in his haste to get away.
"You! How dare you come near my mate again!" The demon bared his fangs at the reaper. His master was right behind him, Ciel pulling out the sword hidden in his walking stick. Darkness filled the room, all the light being sucked out in the demon's anger. William and Ronald backed into the wall behind them, trying to get away from the feathers that were slicing through everything.
"I didn't, Bassie!" Grell back up until there was no more room.
"Whoa!" Serena jumped between them and held a hand against Sebastian's chest. "Calm down there, Feathers. Grell didn't do anything."
"That's right." He peeked from behind the smaller red head. "She came here."
Sebastian snarled at the reaper and tried to advance again. He growled at the hand that still held him back. "You're in the way."
"I'll stay in the way."
Ciel leaned out from behind the demon. "Why are you protecting him? Grell tried to kill you."
"And then he gave me hair secrets. We're even."
"Hair secrets?" The Earl's sword lowered a fraction.
"See, you just don't understand the importance of hair secrets."
"Well, can you not see why?" Grell propped his head on her shoulder as he whispered to her. "He has perfect hair."
"I know it just makes you sick, doesn't it?" She whispered back.
Sebastian and Ciel just stared at them.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Ciel looked around the room.
"Don't ask us. I have no idea." William sighed.
"Hair secrets." Serena stressed. They all still looked at her and the girl just rolled her eyes. "Oh, you all just don't get it."
"Well, they are men." Grell put his hands on her shoulders and Sebastian snarled again.
"I get it." Undertaker laughed and pulled the room's attention back to him.
"With that mane, I bet you do." Serena put a hand on her hip as she looked at the massive fall of silver hair. "I would hate to have to comb all that out."
"Who do you think told Sutcliff about the oils?" He snickered while pulling a small glass vial from his coat. Serena walked over and took the bottle. She stared at it for a moment before giving it back.
"I've seen you how many times and you never said a word." The girl huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. "I feel the love, let me tell you."
"Well, I didn't know you. Hair secrets are sacred." He sing-songed and poked her in the side.
"See," she turned back to Sebastian and Ciel. "He gets it."
"Are you out of your mind, woman?" The demon's voice was low, more dangerous than when he was yelling.
"I do hang out with you two."
Ronald laughed behind him but stopped at the demon's glare. A snicker or two still came out when Sebastian turned back to his mate.
"Oh Bassie, I had almost forgotten how powerful your glare could be." Grell ran a hand down the black overcoat Sebastian wore before it was swatted away. "Serena darling, how do you feel about sharing?"
Serena and Undertaker burst out laughing and hung on to each other.
"Aren't you going to defend your mate?" Ronald looked between them all, still not sure what to do.
"Did you see his face? It's even funnier in person!" Serena laughed into the Undertaker's shoulder.
Sebastian grabbed his mate's arm and pulled her to the door. "We're leaving."
The girl felt the anger radiating off him and decided to just go along. Ciel walked behind them, still shaking his head and confused. When they reached the carriage, Sebastian wrenched the door open and all but threw her inside.
"Sebastian, I need to tell you something."
"Silence!" The demon roared and Serena backed into the corner of her seat.
When Ciel was inside, the door slammed behind him.
"What's wrong with him? Nothing happened."
The Earl reached over and smacked her arm with his cane.
"Ow!"
***************A Demon's Mate******************
As soon as they entered the townhouse, Sebastian rounded on Serena.
"I have to go pick up Lady Elizabeth. You will go to your room and stay there until I return."
"But..."
"Go!"
She jerked back as Ciel and Sebastian both yelled at her, pointing at the stairs. Agni appeared from the kitchen as Soma stuck his head out from the salon. Even the Prince seemed to realize this was something to stay out of. Serena let out her own growl as she brushed past Soma and went up the stairs. The door to her room slammed.
"Sebastian." Agni came forward.
"She does not leave this house." Sebastian demanded and waited for the other butler's acknowledgment before going back out the door.
Ciel didn't say anything as he stormed up the stairs. Soma followed behind, wondering what had happened. At the door to his rooms, the Earl turned back around and went into Serena's. Agni came up the stairs as the yelling started.
"What is wrong with you?"
"Ciel, nothing happened."
"Do you have any idea what could have happened? You knew about Grell and still you wandered off."
"But..."
"Quiet! I'm beginning to think that I should have let Ronald stay here."
A crash came from beyond the door and both the Indian men jumped.
"You swore that you would not go far and we find you across town!"
"But..."
"Shut up! You walked right into the same building as the man who tried to kill you! And then you stood there and defended the same man? I swear, I wonder whether you're insane or just stupid."
Soma and Agni leaned closer as it stopped for a moment. The front door opened below them and Elizabeth walked into the townhouse followed by Sebastian. The demon heard his Master raging at his mate and did nothing. After taking the lady's outer clothing, he went through the doors to the kitchen.
Lizzy came up the stairs and saw the two outside of one of the guest rooms.
"What's going on?"
"Shh!"
"Sit down! I'm not done yet! With your actions, I'm beginning to think you're an idiot. You will stay in this room until we leave tomorrow. Once we get to the manor, you won't leave there again!"
"Ciel..."
"I don't want to hear it!" The door was wrenched open and the trio outside fell back.
"Ciel," Lizzy tried to touch his arm but he pulled away.
"Not now." The Earl stormed down the hall to his own rooms and slammed the door.
They looked at each other in shock, never having seen the teenager so angry. Lizzy looked to the closed door in front of them.
"Maybe I should talk to her?"
"Don't you dare!" Everyone jumped as the earl's door reopened and he appeared behind them. "She needs to think and obviously her brain shuts off when other people are around."
*****************A Demon's Mate*****************
Anger continued to pour off Sebastian hours later as he finished up in the kitchen. Agni had taken a tray to Serena as Ciel still wouldn't let her leave her room. Lady Elizabeth had escaped to her rooms after her dinner and Ciel had followed into his own. Soma and Agni walked on eggshells around both of the men, afraid to set them off again. All three wondered exactly what had happened in town, but none of them had the courage to broach the subject.
Finally, after his Master was settled and the house quiet, Sebastian had retreated to the kitchen where there was always something to be done. The door swished open and closed while he worked at the sink. The demon didn't turn, he didn't need to.
"You are not supposed to leave your room."
"You never came to see me." Serena played with the too long sleeves of her nightshirt as she stood in the doorway.
"I'm not ready to see you." Sebastian put the glass that he was cleaning down and picked up another.
"You're not coming to bed then?" She took a step forward, still staying close to the door.
"I had not planned on it. Why?"
It was quiet behind him and the demon finally looked over his shoulder. His mate stared at the floor, her hands stroking her hair that hid most of her face. He could smell the scent of tears that clung to her and stopped himself from crossing the distance between them. He was still far too angry to forgive her yet.
"Serena."
"I can't sleep without you." Her voice was quiet, barely a whisper as she finally admitted why she had sought him out.
Sebastian threw down the towel he was holding. "Fine."
"Never mind!" The red head yelled as she lifted her face to glare at him. "I never realized, with all your talk, that it was such an inconvenience to be with me."
Serena spun on her heel and stormed out of the room. Sebastian picked his towel back up and the next glass. After a moment, he threw the glass in the sink, taking pleasure in the sound of it shattering. Gloved hands gripped the edge of the basin as he hung his head.
"Sebastian."
The demon turned, surprised at not noticing someone walking up on him. "Agni? I thought that you had gone to bed already."
"You cannot leave it like this." Agni walked to the counter next to the other butler and opened the cabinet that the glasses belonged in. "Miss Serena swallowed her pride and sought you out, probably to apologize for whatever has upset you and Lord Phantomhive."
"I'm too angry to talk to her right now." He turned back to the sink and the mess he had made.
"It does not matter." He stared at Sebastian. "I gave you advice once before and I will do it again. There will be no end to a battle between two people who will not speak."
Sebastian hung his head again and let out a long sigh. Agni reached past him and took the towel holding the glass shards from his hands.
"Go. I will finish this."
The demon stepped away from the counter and took off the apron. He slipped back into his tailcoat but stopped at the door. "Thank you, Agni."
The Indian man bowed and went back to picking up the glass shards.
*************************A Demon's Mate***********************
Serena heard the door open and knew that it was Sebastian. She had drawn the lock when she came in and no one else could have opened it. The red head kept her back turned as he came to the bed, hiding her face in her pillow. She heard him moving about the room behind her, but she refused to look at him.
He could hear the soft sniffles from his mate as he came closer. The demon turned to tend the fireplace before slipping out of his coat and shoes. She still didn't turn when he put a knee on the bed and the mattress dipped with his weight.
"Serena."
She jerked away from the hand he laid on her shoulder.
"What?" The girl whispered in the soft darkness.
"Look at me." Sebastian pulled gently but she still refused to budge.
She sniffled. "You didn't want to see me."
"That was earlier."
"Well, now I don't want to see you."
The demon sighed, he could hear the pout in her voice. "I was too angry to come see you. I didn't trust myself."
"You wouldn't even let me explain." Her head lifted out of the pillow enough that she could look at him out of the corner of her eye.
"I know." Sebastian leaned closer, his hand moving down her arm as he laid his forehead on her shoulder. "It...frightened me to see you so close to Grell after what happened before. I am unused to such an emotion and I let it turn to anger. Something I'm more familiar with."
She finally turned to look at him. Sebastian brushed away the tear that was still below her eye.
"You scared me again."
"I know. That's why I didn't come up here. I let my Master say everything that I wanted to because I knew that he would walk away. I was so angry that I did not think that I could do the same."
"I don't like fighting with you," Serena admitted quietly.
"I don't like it either." His hand stayed cupping her cheek, thumb brushing over her skin. "Will you let me lay in your bed, my mate?"
Serena nodded and moved over. When he was beneath the blankets, she came closer and cuddled into his side. His hand stroked her hair as she laid her head on his chest.
"Ciel is still mad at me." She spoke into his shirt, not wanting to look up.
"My Master was frightened as well. He is rather attached to you."
"I expected you would have a problem with that." The red head played with one of his buttons that was close to her hand.
"We have already discussed it."
Serena laughed at the idea.
"I'm sorry, that I took off."
"Why did you go with the reapers, Serena?" Sebastian shifted to see her face but she kept her head against him, her hair hiding her from him.
Something in her gut told her that it wasn't the right time to tell him about her little encounter of the religious kind. She still needed to sort it out for herself and decide how to approach the subject so that he didn't think that she really had lost her marbles. "I needed to talk to Undertaker."
"I would have escorted you to see Undertaker."
"I needed to talk to him without you there."
"Why?" His hand tightened on her hip when he felt her start to pull away.
"Because of things you won't tell me."
"Undertaker cannot tell you anything about me either." Sebastian pulled her hair away from her face.
"No, but he can tell me about demons. Things that you haven't told me and they are things that I'm beginning to think are kind of important."
"I know that you need more of explanation. And I will give it to you."
"But not right now."
"But not right now." He agreed.
Serena yawned and shifted against him. "Why are you so much easier to talk to in the dark?"
"I was wondering the same thing."
Sebastian watched as his mate succumbed to the sweet abyss of sleep. He looked around the guest room that she used after the red head's breathing had evened out. While comfortable and elegant, it was also blank. It was a room intended to be used by anyone and showed it. There were nothing personal or even showing someone's personal taste.
The demon thought of the rooms that he had designated to house his mate at the very top of the tower he had built for his 'family'. They were much the same as this one; beautiful, everything of the highest quality, colors that were pleasing when paired together, but still blank. The rooms were still empty, waiting for someone to fill them.
He had changed them with each contract. Every time he returned home alone, he would spend hours, sometimes days, rearranging the furniture, changing the style and colors to reflect what was currently favored. The bookshelves were filled with tomes from the different places and times the demon had walked the world of man. The paintings that lined the walls never masters, but pieces that had caught his attention. Everything was created by his own powers, of course. He couldn't carry anything through the gate when he returned.
'Nothing but a mate.' Sebastian stroked her hair as he watched her sleep. 'The rooms will have to change again to suit Serena's taste.'
Plans formed and ideas ran rampant as the hours of night passed and gave way to the light of day.