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 Six
"Yes, I was born a human. The same as you." He answered carefully.
Serena sat up. "So then, how did this happen?"
"It was a punishment."
"No, really?"
Sebastian growled at the sarcasm in her voice and rolled to look at the ceiling. The red head poked him the side.
"Tell me."
"It's a long story."
"I'm not going anywhere. Remember?"
The demon rubbed his forehead, looked around the room, tried to think of anything else, but finally looked back to his mate with a sigh.
"It was a very long time ago. The world worshiped many gods then. Almost every city had it's own deity. My original city was no different." He snorted. "I know now he was no god. Merely a Fallen, who gained a following."
"My grandmother used to say that believing in something or someone, gives them power." The red head moved to sit cross-legged, getting comfortable to hear his story.
"Exactly. We worshiped and so he was a god. Our people were ruled by his priestess. She was a conduit to him." Sebastian seemed to pull back, returning to his tale. "It was noticed when I was very young, that I had a talent for fighting. I killed one of the temple guards that had been abusing his position and was taken before the priestess expecting to be executed."
"But you weren't?"
"No, I wasn't. Instead I was ordered to train with the other guards." He laughed. "I thought that it was the greatest thing that could have ever happened to me. My family was of the lowest. My father died when I was very young and I have no idea what my mother did to support us. Well, of course I have an idea."
"Us?"
"I had a younger sister. I don't even remember her name." For some reason, that the demon was not willing to dwell upon, the fact bothered him. Serena put her hand on his arm and the peace she brought flowed over him.
"Go on."
"During training, I caught on quickly and showed the same aptitude again and again. I even defeated the captain of the guard." Serena noticed that he was looking at nothing, almost as though he wasn't there with her anymore. "The morning after I had fought the captain, right at dawn, I was taken before the priestess again. She announced that I was to be one of her personal guards."
"I take it that was a big deal?"
"She only had two before me."
"Yeah, that's pretty big." She leaned over him to look in his eyes. "Tell me about her."
"Armana. Her name I remember. Actually, Agni reminds me of her. Our people believed that those with white hair were touched by the gods themselves. But, it's really the absolute peace that surrounds him and the trust he places in people, regardless of knowing them."
"He always sees the good in people."
"That was Armana." The demon stopped, lost in his memories.
"You loved her." Serena's voice was as soft as the hand running over his skin.
"Everyone loved her. Even the most unrepentant criminal listened when she spoke and bowed when she passed."
"How long were you with her?"
"Ten years. I was only a teenager, not much older than my master, but a man at that age. For the most part, her guards were unnecessary. Our people would never dream of harming the priestess who was the conduit to the god."
"So, what changed?"
"War. The same in always true of humans." Serena stayed quiet and he continued. "There was an army that was steadily making it's way across the land and every city in their path fell. Soon, they were on our borders. The warriors were ready, prepared to fight, prepared to die. Armana told us to stand down. We were going to surrender. Or, actually, she was going to surrender. The city was ordered evacuated. She would face him alone."
"That's insane."
"That was Armana. She would not cower behind the protection of the temple and our people while they were slaughtered. I insisted on staying with her. We watched the army's approach and I tried to change her mind. I knew what they would do to her and she knew it too. She was...terrified, but she wouldn't back down."
"They were almost at our gate. I remember, the buildings shook with the sheer amount of horses and men marching toward us, when another army appeared from the west. We watched, not sure if they were going to fight or join the others. When the battle began, I tried again to get Armana to leave. If this new army was defeated, we were still defenseless. More than anything, I didn't want someone so innocent to see the brutality of war. But, she refused."
'Look at them. If they can fight, I can watch.'
"They fought for two days, when the western army finally killed the other's leader. She was so happy and I saw that peace return to her. I tried to tell her that just because they had fought the invaders, didn't mean that they were friends to us. She was suspicious enough not to call our people back, however, she still welcomed them with open arms."
"Don't tell me they..."
"No. They were friendly to us. The army was composed of the many people that had been left over when the invaders destroyed their homes. Armana insisted that they stay, their wounded seen too and they be given a place to rest. Their leader, Dancti, was a king, as well as a soldier. As such, he was housed within the temple itself. Our people had not gone far, not happy about leaving their beloved priestess to face the enemy alone. News spread and they returned, just as welcoming as Armana."
"The god decided that Caro would be given the greatest reward for defeating the invaders and saving his temple."
Serena shifted a little, getting more comfortable. "Armana."
Sebastian nodded. "They were married before the end of the week. Caro, had his own country to rule and Armana was expected to go with him. She was allowed to take one of her guards with her." He stopped to point to himself. "As well as several of the temple maidens. Armana was quite upset to leave the temple and when we reached his capital, Caro ordered a new temple built for her. It was his wedding gift to her and his thanks to the god. Everything was perfect for a while. As the priestess and ruler of our city, Armana was well suited to being queen. I saw the same happiness that she brought to our people come over his as well. The first two years were perfect."
"Perfect never lasts forever."
"As we moved into the third year, Armana still had shown no sign of carrying a child. In the beginning, Caro didn't much care. He was happy with his queen and saw no need for an heir. Caro didn't believe that an accident of birth should automatically give someone the right to rule. He, himself, had been chosen as king because of his skill as a warrior, not his bloodline. But, years of the nobles ranting had made him...frustrated. It was small things at first. An argument, a poorly chosen word. It moved quickly into intentional jabs at Armana, then physical abuse. I was allowed to do nothing. Caro was king and I was just a guard. Even so, I tried to get her to leave. We could go back or anywhere that she wished. I would follow to the ends of the earth."
Sebastian shook his head. "But she wouldn't go. My queen said only that this was a small trial and that things would return to normal eventually. Then, she was moved into the queen's suite and barred from the king's room. Armana never slept in the queen's room."
"He was sleeping with other people."
"Yes. I was the only one who saw how it upset her. I, alone, watched as she sunk into a depression but showed everyone else the same happy and peaceful face. The years wore on again and again, she wouldn't hear of leaving. One of Caro's lovers, a noblewoman who had her eye on becoming queen and didn't much care that the crown was already on other's head, suddenly became pregnant. There were others who had birthed a child by the king, but never a noble. The rest of the nobles were split as to how to deal with this. Some wanted Armana to stay queen, their people loved her and a great prosperity had come to them all when she became queen. They took it as a sign that she should continue as such. Those nobles suggested that the child be taken from Takani as soon as it was born and raised by Armana and Caro as their own. Others said that Armana had failed in the most critical aspect of being queen, providing an heir, and that she was unfit to be queen at all. They insisted that she be set aside and Caro marry Takani. They were so wrapped up in their petty squabbling that they failed to notice unrest raising in the north.
"War came again, as it always did. The matter of Armana and Takani was set aside for the time being. Caro ordered that I lead part of the army."
"But you were there as Armana's guard, not his soldier." Serena protested.
"Yes. However, I was the best behind Caro himself and he couldn't go. It was just an uprising, not the same panic that the invaders had caused. He insisted that Armana would remain inside the castle and would have her own guards while I was gone. Armana, herself, finally told me to go. That the safety of all of our people mattered more than my worry for one. She gave me her word that she would not leave the safety of the castle."
Serena felt dread pool in her stomach. "But she did."
"I was only hours away. We had quashed the rebellion in the north quickly enough and were only hours away from the castle. In the cities we rode through, gossip gave me the story of what I had missed." He continued to stare at the ceiling, not really seeing anything. "While I was away, Takani had given birth to a son and decided to make her move. In front of the court, she pushed Caro into accepting the child as his heir and agreeing that Takani would raise the new prince in the castle. Armana had stood there, knowing there was nothing that she could do. Caro was unhappy with being forced, but he did it anyway, in front of so many of the nobles his choices were limited. Which was exactly what Takani planned. After Armana left the throne room, she slipped past her guards and out of the castle. I do not know what she had intended. I don't know if she was planning on leaving or if she just wanted to get away from the eyes of the court for a time. They found her body, with a knife through her heart, shortly before we reached the capital." The demon stopped, his voice turning harsh.
"I didn't believe it. She had promised me that she wouldn't leave the castle. I insisted that I see for myself. Armana was laid out in the main room of the temple that Caro had had built for her. The room had been charged to welcome the god, just as the main room in our temple at home. While I stared in disbelief, the doors closed and locked behind me."
"I saw him move around the outside of the room. He kept telling me that I had failed. That it wasn't my duty to listen to Caro. I told him that it was Armana who had told me to go, but he wouldn't hear it. He said that I had higher orders when I took my vow to protect his priestess. He said that if I wanted to follow the orders of man so badly, that I could follow them for eternity."
"I blacked out and when I awoke...I was in Hell. And I was this." He opened his hands to encompass himself.
"There's more." Serena said softly, rubbing her hand up and down his arm.
"You already know that Haagenti was my Elder. When I was finally trained enough to come back to the world of man on my own, I went straight for Caro's kingdom. I knew exactly who killed Armana and thoughts of making them suffer were all that had driven me through training. That stopped me from sinking into the despair of what I had become."
"Takani."
"It wasn't enough to dispose of Armana as queen. Takani needed to eradicate her. To make sure that Armana would never be able to regain her position. She was true meaning of envy. She wanted everything that Armana had, and wanted to destroy her, utterly, to get it. But, time passes differently in Hell. By the time that I could walk the earth again, without Haagenti or one of his underlings following me, they were all dead. Takani still became queen, her son ruled and, after Caro's death, they had destroyed everything that mentioned Armana, even her grave. As far as everyone was concerned, my queen had never existed."
Sebastian stood to pace, unsettled be reliving his past. Serena could do nothing but watch. When he turned back to her, she gasped at the hardened look on his face.
"I understand what drives my master, better than you ever could. Yes, I will eat his soul. But first, I will give him the revenge that he seeks. The same revenge that I was denied."
***************A Demon's Mate*****************
It wasn't long after his story, that Sebastian excused himself. Serena had simply nodded when he left the room, he wasn't really seeing her anyway. The demon had been unable to settle after he had told her his past and she hadn't really been able to process what he told her with his constant pacing and the frustration rolling off him. It was pure exhaustion that pulled her down to the pillow and let the red head slip into an uneasy sleep.
Her dreams were filled with images she didn't understand. Places that she had never been or seen. They finally stopped outside a large city that Serena knew she had never visited. A crowd was approaching a set of large gates and she had no choice but to move with them. The girl didn't understand the words that were spoken around her but the mood was happy. Some kind of celebration. The people seemed to pay no mind to her at all. As though, she wasn't even there.
The crowd pushed through the gates and Serena could see the stone buildings of the city as they passed. It was the same as any other, merchants still hawked their wares, people still chatted with others. But there was a feeling ancient in their buildings, in the food the vendors were selling. The crowds were thicker inside the city walls and she was constantly shuffled, pushed and squashed between people that didn't see or didn't acknowledge her.
Finally, the narrow streets opened to a large square. Looking up, Serena gasped at the building before her. Pale stone and jeweled tiles reflected the sun's light. Spires of the same stone reached for the clouds, capped with more glittering gems. There were no gates or fencing surrounding the building. It gave off a sense of welcome even though she was certain that you were not meant to enter.
The people cheered as the massive doors opened. Parents lifted small children on their shoulders and teens climbed onto the tops of vendor's stalls to get a better look at the women that were coming out in pairs from the building.
A woman appeared in the doorway, alone, and the crowd roared. She was small. Shorter than Serena and gave off an air of delicate. She was dressed in white. The same pure color of the hair that fell to the woman's knees. Gold bangles shimmered from her wrists as she raised her hands to quiet the crowd. She found that she couldn't turn her attention from the other woman. Again, Serena could not understand what was being said but the people around her only grew more excited. When her gaze finally left the woman, the red head was shocked at what she saw.
He was standing behind the woman, just to side to be able to see the crowd. His hair was long, pulled up in a high pony tail to keep it out of the way. The uniform he wore was dark, shades of black and gray. Heavy boots came up to his knees and she could see the glint of a knife hidden in one. What could only be described as gauntlets covered his hands, one resting on the large sword at his side. The man looked over the crowd, constantly scanning for threats. Icy Blue eyes caught the shocked girl in the midst of all the cheering people and narrowed in suspicion.
"Sebastian?"
******************A Demon's Mate********************
"Sebastian?"
Serena jerked out of her vision to see the demon in question in front of her. The tailcoat and gloves had made a reappearance, completing his unruffled look. He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand on her cheek.
"You called for me?"
She sat up, taking the hand in hers and pulling the glove off. Her fingers ran over the contract mark on his pale skin and held his nails up for her inspection.
"You were tan."
The hand jerked out of hers.
"And your eyes were blue."
"It is morning and we need to return you to your room, before the rest of the house wakes." Sebastian stood and turned away from her.
"I saw you when you were human, didn't I?" The red head slid out of the bed.
"I do not know what you saw."
"Bullshit!" Serena watched as he turned back, surprise on his face. "There was a square and people and a woman with white hair. You were standing behind her and watching the crowd. The woman was Armana."
"Yes." His lips pursed before he finally explained. "I left myself open and I apologize."
"So, when you're upset, I can see things in your mind?"
He didn't want to answer, but knew that she wouldn't let it go. "Yes. Now, you need to be back upstairs. Lady Francis and Lady Elizabeth are already awake and using the ballroom for early morning practice. I need to wake the other servants and finish breakfast before it is time to wake my master."
"Ciel." She thought back to the night before. "Exactly how are you going to wake Ciel?"
"Oh, I thought that having one of his limbs ripped off might be a nice change."
"Sebastian!"
"He touched my mate! After he had already said that he wouldn't."
"You are not to harm Ciel." She wagged a finger in his face. "I told you that I would take the blame for that and I thought that we were over it."
The demon growled at her.
"Promise that you will not hurt Ciel in any way."
"I promise."
"You promise what?" Serena crossed her arms as she glared at him.
"Serena."
"Say the words and mean them. I'd like to think that I've learned a little something after all this time."
Sebastian growled a little more but bowed. "I promise that I will cause no physical harm to my master."
"Thank you." She smiled and held out her arms while he eyed her suspiciously. "I'm trying to be nice."
The demon moved slowly into her arms and she stood on her tip toes to kiss him quickly.
"Good morning."
The red head felt his arms moved jerkily and then the electric touch of skin as his hands slid along her jaw, into her hair before pulling her into another, deeper, kiss. When he finally let go, Serena realized her hands were fisted in his coat.
"Good morning, my mate." His eyes were swirling as he smirked at her dazed expression.
The girl held a hand to her lips. "You know, I'm beginning to think that touch thing isn't very fair."
He laughed, a finger still running along her jawline. Serena slid her own over his and pulled it away to look at it. "So, why are you so pale now?"
Sebastian jerked his hand back and put his gloves on again.
"Honestly, you're like a dog with a bone." His voice didn't hide his irritation or his disgust with the comparison. He found a finger in his face again.
"Did you just call me a dog?"
He felt her anger rising and taking the chance of a peaceful morning with it. "Being damned means being denied the light of God. All demons are pale as the sun's warmth never reaches them. I could stand in the Sahara for months and I would still be as pale as I am now."
"Interesting."
Sebastian put a hand under her knees to lift the girl against him. "I will carry you to your room so that we can get through the halls without anyone seeing you."
"You got some kind of magic invisibility cloak under that tailcoat?"
"Close your eyes."
She did and felt the wind rush over her. When Serena looked again, Sebastian was lowering her to the carpet in her room.
"I forgot about that."
"You still have about a half an hour before Mei-Rin comes to help you dress. Is there anything that you need?"
She shook her head. "Nope."
"Then I will see at breakfast." Sebastian started to walk out but stopped when she called him.
"There is something else that I should probably tell you."
"What is that, my mate?"
She fidgeted before finally looking up. "I have a dog at home. Well, Tao is staying with my mother until I get back from Japan, but you know what I mean."
He sneered and went out the door.
"Oh, you would love her!"
***********************A Demon's Mate***********************
Sebastian entered his Master's room to find the young man still in the deep grip of peaceful slumber. He felt the same murderous rage he had last night, but the promise his mate extracted before leaving his rooms this morning made the demon calm himself. However, just because he promised not to harm his Master in any way, didn't mean that he wouldn't confront the human.
Serena never made him promise not to scare his master.
"Master, it is time to wake up." He pulled the curtain and tied it back while hearing the young man behind him rubbing his eyes.
The butler quickly spouted off the Earl's schedule, that was particularly empty since the nobles were mostly still celebrating the holidays and the Midford's ball was this evening. Pulling out a green suit, that even Lady Francis would not be able to find fault with, Sebastian started to dress his master for the day. There was nothing in his Master's movements or speech that hinted he was aware that he had done anything wrong. He would have to change that.
"I hear you and Serena had an interesting discussion yesterday while I was out."
Ciel stopped dead, with his first cup of tea to his lips.
"I thought that we had already had this conversation, Master."
"You want me to apologize for kissing Serena?" He set the cup down on the small table at his bedside.
"It would be a start."
"I will not."
The demon snarled at him, and Ciel jerked. The Earl refused to back down, collecting himself quickly, he stared back at his butler. After a moment of staring, Sebastian smirked.
"My, you obviously have spend too much time around the lowly humans you do business with."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Ciel snapped.
"Well, kissing one woman, who belongs to someone else. While your fiancé, who is staying here with the purpose of spending time with you, is just down the hall. Seems rather low to me. I thought that I had raised you better."
Ciel looked away. Sebastian could smell the shame that rolled off the human and nodded, satisfied with the results. The demon stood and went to fetch his Master's boots. 'Serena was right. I didn't need to dismember anyone to get my point across. When it comes to my Master, shame is always a better motivator.'
"I do not understand why this has happened, and it does intrigue me. However, it really does not matter. It will not change anything. As I told Serena, whatever relationship you are imagining, it has no future. Your betrothal to Lady Elizabeth will not disappear, just as I will not."
"I'm well aware of that," Ciel said as he touched the patch over his eye.
************A Demon's Mate***************
Serena could feel the tension in the air at the breakfast table. Unfortunately, it didn't appear to come from any one person. Ciel was engrossed in the morning paper, refusing to speak to anyone other than a yes or no answer. Lizzy and Lady Midford kept talking amongst themselves while occasionally shooting a glance at the Earl. Sebastian had taken up a place behind his Master that put him directly in the way of Serena and Ciel. Even Soma was quiet, Agni right behind him.
"I have decided that I will remain here," Lady Francis spoke as she set down her cup of tea. "I will travel with all of you this afternoon. It makes more sense than taking two carriages to the same location within hours of each other."
"Of course, Aunt Francis." Ciel didn't look up from the paper and it seemed to irritate the woman further.
"I tried to wake you this morning, Ciel. I thought that you would like to attend practice with Lizzy and myself."
"I apologize. I must have been more tired than I had thought."
"I also tried to wake Miss Serena." Green eyes shot to the red head as she sputtered. "She wasn't in her rooms this morning."
That made the Earl finally look at the table's occupants. Serena was staring at the tabletop, Francis was glaring at him and Lizzy was looking hopeful, like she waited for him to deny her mother's accusation.
"Perhaps, she was just ignoring your infernal knocking, Aunt. Like I was." Ciel took a sip from his teacup with a smile. Down the table, Soma choked on his.
"Perhaps. However, that doesn't explain why she wasn't in the room when I entered or the fact that her bed had not been slept in."
"What are you getting at?" The Earl's hand hit the table with enough force to make the dishes rattle.
"Do you know where you're 'guest' was last night, Lord Phantomhive?"
"Forgive me, Lady Midford." Serena brought their attention back to her. "But, I'm not one of your children and I really don't think that it is any of your business where I was last night."
"It is when you share a house with my future son-in-law."
"I believe that I understand what you are implying, Lady Midford." Sebastian picked up the woman's cup to refill it. "However, you are wrong. Miss Serena was not in the Master's rooms last night."
"Really, Sebastian?" Lizzy let out a sigh of relief.
"No, my lady." He set the cup back down, aware that the older blonde was still staring at him. The butler smiled at her. "She was in mine."
It was Ciel's turn to choke on his breakfast and Serena patted him on the back, her face stained as red as her hair. Lizzy was staring at the red head with her mouth open, while Agni and the Prince were trying to hide their laughter at the look on Lady Francis' face.
A thud came from behind them and the table turned to see Mei-Rin on the floor. The other servants had crowded around the maid, trying to wake her from her faint. Bard could still be heard snickering as Finny complained.
"I can't believe they had a sleepover." The gardener whispered to Snake. "They should have invited the rest of us."
Tanaka reached over and smacked the blonde man. Serena looked around her and dropped her head to the table. After a moment, they could hear her laughing, punctuated by sobs.
***************************A Demon's Mate*************************
When Serena had finally left the dining room, Lady Francis caught her in the hall. The older woman had pulled her into the guest room she was using and proceeded to give the girl a long lecture on the importance of propriety and how one's actions reflected on their reputation. Of course, Elizabeth had to sit in on this lecture, so that she never made such a mistake. In the end, the red head decided that it would be easier to take the verbal beating than fight against it and sat like a good girl as the marchioness ranted.
"I understand that young women can be carried away, especially by a man with such indecent looks as that butler. That is why an older woman is normally present. To prevent girls from being taken in by men with thoughts full of lust." After an hour, Lady Midford was still going.
"Yes, Lady Francis." This answer had become automatic and Serena didn't even think about it anymore.
"This conduct is very unbecoming of a woman that was trusted to watch my daughter and her fiancé. You were specifically to guard against such behavior."
"I never let Lizzy and Ciel alone in a situation that could have led to...what happened between Sebastian and myself."
"It is good to know that your lack of judgment only applies to yourself." The older blonde crossed her arms. "However, just the thought of your actions gives other young ladies ideas."
Lizzy shrunk away from her mother's glare.
"I have never had ideas like that, Mother."
Serena wasn't about to be the only one under this bus. "Yeah, that's why you wanted to stay in the Countess' Suite when you first arrived."
"Elizabeth!"
"I wasn't trying anything, honest."
Lady Francis started to pace and Lizzy smacked Serena's arm when the woman's back was turned. The red head just smiled.
"I really didn't think that Ciel would try anything, Mother."
"Men are creatures that fundamentally lack self-control. It is up to ladies to protect themselves. You have been taught not to put yourself in such a situation, Elizabeth."
"I'm sorry. But Serena did point out the wrong in my idea and put a stop to it."
"Well, thank God for that. You and Lord Phantomhive are not children anymore, Elizabeth. You both have a reputation to protect and society will always look for a flaw. A lady's reputation can be slaughtered in an instant. I have told you that time and again."
"Yes, Mother."
Lady Francis turned her attention back to the red head. "I assume that you got a promise of marriage from Sebastian before your good sense flew out the window, Miss Serena."
'Well, he has gone on about that mate thing enough to count.'
"Yes, Lady Francis."
"Well, at least that was right. However, men are deceptive at their core. After the ball, I will return to the Phantomhive estate and I will see that he makes good on that promise."
Serena blinked at the older woman.
"As you have already proven that you cannot be trusted to resist, the two of you will not be left alone for any amount of time. There will be no more late night visits or sleepovers. Is that understood?" She waved a finger in the girl's horrified face.
"Yes, Lady Francis."
Author's Note: I seem to like the note at the bottom better. Plugging away on Kat and Nikolai, hoping to have a Halloween release date. Also had a great idea for a one-shot with Serena and the Day of the Dead. Very fitting with this world, I think anyway.