Author's Note: This whole fic was inspired by Sandara's Hades and Persephone 2. You can hop on over to check it out on deviant art, if you wish. It's gorgeous. I actually built the whole fic around the last chapter and this one. Don't worry, we're not done just yet. It's going to get a tad bit dark for a while, though.
I had planned to put A Mate's Halloween back up for the holiday, but I don't have it anymore. I evidently forgot to save it when I deleted this the first time. So, I'll post another chapter instead.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of it's characters. I only claim Serena and the demons that I introduce.
A Demon's Mate
Chapter Twenty Eight-Aftermath
Sebastian had stepped into the garden when a burning ripped through his chest, forcing the demon to his knees. His predator's hearing caught the sound of a gunshot and he took off just as fast. Panic, an unusual emotion for a demon, took over as he followed the scent of his mate's freshly spilled blood. He jumped over the fallen log without a thought to see a human male standing over his mate, gun drawn. The man felt nothing as his spine was ripped out of his body and more blood spilled over the snow.
Serena looked to see the stars that she had been staring at, were blocked out by the face of her demon. Behind him, she heard William's voice.
"You have two minutes."
**********************A Demon's Mate***********************
Ciel walked down the stairs alone. At the bottom, Agni was putting a cloak over his prince's shoulders, hiding the officer's uniform Soma was wearing. His hat held a large plumage of white feathers that the higher ranking military wore. The Indian's mask only covered his eyes as he knew that nothing would be able to mask his accent. Lady Frances wore the deep green of the forest with leaves painted on her still flawless skin. Her blonde hair was held up in a looser style than normal, with more leaves threaded through it. The mask covering her face was a large green leaf, almost the same color of her eyes. Snake held a cloak of softer green for the older woman.
The small group shuffled and Ciel almost missed the last stair. Lizzy stood in a soft gown, made entirely of layers of thin silk that was cut at various angles to show off the array of golds, yellows and whites that made it. Her hair was left to fall down her back in a riot of curls to mimic the sun's rays. When she laughed at something Soma said, little citrines and diamonds sparkled from the length. A golden mask covered half her face and reflected any light that hit it.
"Ciel!" Lizzy hurried to the bottom of the stairs and took in his costume. "I still think that it's a little too dark."
"You look beautiful. Your costume suits you perfectly, Lizzy."
The girl giggled and he saw the light blush that dusted her cheeks.
"Thank you."
Ciel took the golden velvet cloak from Tanaka and slid it easily around her shoulders. The Earl didn't miss the raised eyebrow of his aunt as he held out an arm for Lizzy.
"Shall we go?"
A gunshot made everyone jump. Lizzy held Ciel's arm tighter as they all looked to the back of the house.
"That is awful close," Francis commented.
Agni stood in front of his Prince as the farce of bumbling servants was dropped quickly and the four took off for their battle positions. Tanaka smiled at the nobles.
"I'm afraid that your leaving would best be postponed for a moment." The former butler bowed. "If you all would follow me. We should move to a safer part of the house while this is sorted out."
Lizzy tried to loosen her grip on Ciel's arm, tried not to show how frightened she was. When they were married, she knew that this would be an all too normal occurrence. Her mother had told her frequently of how Frances' father and brother had always employed select servants whose only job was to fight those that attacked the Phantomhive manor. It was a part of life for a Phantomhive and one that she had been raised to accept. Still, she admitted to herself that the reality was much more frightening than the stories she had been told.
She looked around and only Soma seemed to be upset. Ciel and Frances walked behind Tanaka with easy strides, their faces betraying nothing.
"Ciel," She whispered, tugging on his sleeve. "Serena is still outside. I never saw her come back in."
"It's alright. I had already sent Sebastian to get her before this started. I'm sure she's fine."
Lizzy nodded and looked ahead again.
Tanaka led the nobles to one of the smaller sitting rooms, used for less important guests. Walking to the back of the room, the elderly man pulled on one of the candle sconces set into the wall. A panel of the wall opened to show another room behind it. It was clean but stark. As they filed in, Lizzy saw a couch and two chairs that had been placed in the windowless room.
"I didn't know that this room was here." Frances looked back to her nephew.
"I had this put in when I rebuilt the manor." He neglected to tell which time the house had been rebuilt. The Earl took the candle stick that his father's butler offered and nodded. In a moment the panel closed, sinking into the wall and cutting the room off. "There is also a tunnel that leads several meters from the house if necessary."
Ciel lifted the small carpet back to show a hatch in the floor and Francis nodded.
"If only my brother had thought of such a thing."
"Nothing had ever happened to give him a need." The Earl looked away, his hand unconsciously going to his covered eye.
********************A Demon's Mate*********************
"Serena!" Sebastian put his hand over the hole in her chest, trying to stop the blood flowing from the wound. He was oblivious to the gunshots and sounds of battle coming from the manor. For once, the demon ignored the calls of his Master
"I didn't...I didn't get a chance...to tell you." She coughed and blood trickled out of the corner of her mouth. "I guess...that it doesn't matter now."
"Quiet." He tried to think, but his mind was too frantic to stay on any one thought. "Make a contract with me."
"What?"
"Wish for something. I can fix this if you make a contract with me."
"You can't...serve two...Masters."
"I'll break it. I'll break my contract with Ciel Phantomhive. Just wish for something."
"No." Her voice was weaker, her lungs filling with blood they tried to cough out. "Promise me. Promise...you'll stay...with Ciel. That you'll...always...watch over him."
"Serena..."
"Don't... dodge it...damn it!"
"I've told you, that is language unbecoming of a lady."
She laughed, coughing up more blood to add to the ever growing pool around them. He felt her heart slowing, failing to beat against the pressure of the liquid that still pooled in her chest.
"Promise...exact words..."
"I swear, I will always watch over Ciel Phantomhive."
She nodded. "...love...you."
"Don't...don't say that."
He watched, helpless as the last breath escaped her lungs. A small, black tear fell from his eye as he felt her organs shut down and awareness slipped from her eyes that stared at the stars. The demon's head fell beside her, buried in the soft hair, trying to catch his mate's sweet scent in the red waves. But there was nothing, the calming smell already stolen by the cloying scent of blood and death.
"Serena."
Footsteps came through the snow and sorrow turned to rage. Swirling, demonic red glared into glowing, reaper green.
"You watched. You watched and did nothing!" Sebastian spat out, still holding his dead mate.
"Of course. It is not our place to interfere." William stepped forward, his death scythe ready. "Once a person is placed on the To-Die list, there is nothing to be done."
"Bring her back! I know you can. For Grell's attack, bring her back."
"I'm afraid that is impossible. I was given specific orders to collect her soul regardless of what is shown in her cinematic record." His scythe shot out, headed for the bloody, red target of the girl's still chest.
A hand with long black nails, like claws, closed around the scythe's blade before it hit its intended target. William watched in horror as his 'unbreakable' scythe groaned and finally snapped from the pressure of the demon's fist. He heard the cry of his underling and turned to see Ronald put his arms up to protect himself from the barrage of black feathers that shot at them both.
When Ronald finally brought his arms down, a being he had never encountered stood before the reapers holding the red head's corpse. Massive black wings rose into the sky, seeming to touch the clouds themselves and curled around the two bodies. A body that was as pale as marble stood clothed in black leather and the chains of the damned. Black hair, that was once short, now danced long and loose in a wind of power. Swirling, red eyes glowed with evil light as stark, white fangs were shown by cruel lips, sneering at the reapers.
"He's...strangely beautiful."
"Of course, evil is always beautiful." William took a step back, mind whirling through his options.
"Boss, what do we do?" Ronald held his own deathscythe ready but still looked between the demon and his manager frantically.
"Her soul must be delivered. There is nothing else to do." He looked at the broken end of his own scythe but stood firm.
"You will never touch my mate." A voice filled with the wrath of hundreds came from the throat of the demon in front of them. "Her soul was made to be mine...and I will keep it."
"Keep it?!" Ronald shouted. "In what, a rotting corpse?"
William put a hand up to silence the other reaper. "Don't bother, Knox. Look at his eyes."
The swirling depths carried none of the arrogance and raw power of new demons, nor the quick cunning of the Elders. There was nothing. Only the desperation one saw in a cornered animal.
"He's completely lost himself."
**********************A Demon's Mate********************
Ciel looked up as the foundation of the house shook. He watched the others panic and try to find the source as they clung together. He knew the source, having felt it once in London.
'Sebastian! What the hell is going on?'
Just like before there was no butler coming to his call. Ciel tried to ignore the dread in his gut and put a hand on Lizzy's shoulder to calm the girl. Another shockwave ripped through the house and the nobles heard the massive shatter of the chandelier falling from the hall ceiling.
"Ciel? Maybe we should look at that tunnel of yours?" Soma jumped as another crash was heard from the room beside them.
"Open it, but don't go yet. We don't know where the fighting is and it would do no good to come up in the midst of it."
Agni came forward. "I could follow to its end and see what is going on, Lord Phantomhive."
After a moment, the Earl nodded.
***********************A Demon's Mate*********************
William and Ronald struck out at the demon as he backed further into the trees. Serena's body was still held against his own as he dodged the blows of their deathscythes. The fight had been non-stop and the reapers were weakening. The younger reaper missed a step on the shuddering earth and the demon switched from the defensive in an instant. A clawed hand shot out and barely missed the blonde's throat.
"Ronald, fall back! You don't have enough experience to fight a demon." William jumped in front of him, his scythe held in front to deflect the attacks.
"And your scythe is broken!"
A fist hammered the scythe again with enough force to send both flying back. William coughed from the blow to his chest but quickly recovered. Straightening his glasses, the reaper surveyed the scene. The demon had fallen back into the shadows, needing to rearrange the extra weight he carried.
"We're not going to get this one, Boss."
"Yes, we are. I won't let that vermin keep her soul." The manager extended his broken scythe and ran forward again. He was struck back by a black wing before he could get in close. Ronald caught the older man as a scream of rage came out of the demon. The reapers put their hands over their ears at the sharp sound. The ground buckled beneath them and jagged spears of rock shot from the crevases that were created, making them move back further.
A clawed hand came at them and William fell over the uneven ground, losing his grip on his scythe.
"Boss!"
The manager heard Ronald's scream from across a distance as the claws came at him again. Falling to the ground, there was nowhere to escape. His eyes widened and stared at the death coming at him. His vision filled with black.
A metallic sound echoed against the trees as time seemed to stop. William realized the black he had seen was Undertaker's trench coat. Gone was the long top hat and the flowing robes the mortician normally wore over his suit. In their place was a fitted coat that was easier to fight in. His heeled boots had been replaced with flat dress shoes, helping to keep his footing as he faced the power of the demon before him.
Undertaker's large scythe had caught the demon's hand as it descended to William's throat. Gathering his strength, the reaper shoved against the hand on his scythe and made the demon fall back.
"I knew that this would happen." There was not a trace of laughter in the legendary reaper as he stood between the other two and the demon. The ancients watched each other carefully, sizing each other up.
Undertaker nodded, not taking his eyes from the enemy. "You two, get out of here. Neither of you has the skills to take on a crazed Elder."
"Undertaker..."
"I said go! You're of no use here." He waited to hear the sound of movement behind him. "Tell the Council, the other Elders may be needed. Haagenti, specifically."
"Very well." William nodded even though the other couldn't see him. "Come Ronald, he's right. We would only be in the way."
Undertaker snorted. "Ask me again why I retired. Bunch of idiots running things now. They should have called for the Elders the minute her name appeared on the list. Another Elder should have been here when you tried to collect her soul."
"I will tell them to call Haagenti." William kept his eyes on the two as he and Ronald went toward the tunnel they had created back to the Reaper's realm.
The ancient waited until the tunnel closed before taking a breath. A fierce growl eminated from the demon's chest as he pulled his mate deeper into the shadows, rearranging her body to fight easier, keeping one wing hiding her at all times. Undertaker stepped forward and saw the black-clad body tense to strike.
He surprised the demon by planting his scythe in the ruined earth.
The reaper was slow as he unbuttoned his coat, making sure not to move too suddenly and spoke the beast in front of him. A growl came from the darkness as he hung the coat on his scythe and pulled the various weapons off his person. For once, the man pulled his silver hair away from his eyes.
"I would like to tell you story this time, free of charge." He stepped forward cautiously, his hands held up to show that he carried nothing. A softer growl filled the air, but the demon didn't move. "Once upon a time, there was a grim reaper. He was excellent at his job and had a talent for fighting. During his early years, there was a war between the demons and the reapers. Just as it does humans, war hardened him to almost everything. He reaped countless souls, killed demons and even a few of their mates."
The demon snarled.
"He became cold, finding no enjoyment in anything, and went about carrying out his orders without thought or emotion. Until one day, he met a child. The little girl's mother had been ill for a very long time and the reaper came to collect her soul one bright afternoon."
Undertaker continued forward, finally stopping a few feet away from the demon.
"The little girl knew what he was and thanked him with tears running down her face, even though she would have nothing and no one after her mother's death. But, her beloved mother had been in pain for as long as the girl could remember. She knew that her mother would die and the child was frightened that she would have had to go into the dark alone."
He knelt next to the two in the shadows of a tree.
"He realized that this child had known the true purpose of grim reapers when he had forgotten it long ago. It is a truth that many of the reapers today have yet to realize. To make sure that no soul goes into the dark to find their way alone." Undertaker noticed a little awareness begin to leech back into the demon's eyes and nodded. "A few, short years later, the girl had grown into a lovely young woman, who was always laughing. The reaper had made certain that she was taken care of after her mother's death and came to visit her quite frequently. The only time he was happy was when he came to see her. As she matured, he decided that when she was old enough, he would ask her to marry him. It was not unheard of for reapers to take human spouses.
"One day, her name and picture appeared in his book."
Undertaker looked to sky and sighed before coming back to the demon. "The reaper decided that he would do something that went against everything that the reapers stood for, the most forbidden to all reapers. He knew that he couldn't stop her death, but after, he would keep her soul. The young woman had meaning to him and he thought of the countless other he had delivered as ordered. Surely, after all the years, all the battles, all the service, he could keep just one. The universe would not deny him this one soul. He could find her another body to inhabit and the future that he had envisioned would be back on track."
Undertaker let his hair fall back over his eyes as a tear fell down his cheek.
"But he was mistaken. You can't force a soul into another body. It wasn't long after he had hidden her that things started to go wrong. Her soul twisted and warped. It...corrupted before his eyes, leeching up all the darkness in himself. Finally, the reaper went to the Council. He told them what he had done and begged them to help him. He begged on his knees for them to fix his mistake. But, he had kept silent too long. There was no way to fix it. And in the end, he was forced to destroy every trace of the soul that he loved. She paid the price for a decision that she had no part of."
The demon's head shot up from stroking the woman's hair. The reaper could see more awareness in his eyes.
"As the pieces of her shattered soul drifted away, he heard her laugh again and promised that he would find something to laugh at every day." He sighed and pointed to the red head. "That is what you would do to her."
"No!" Sebastian pulled her against him, hiding Serena's body from the reaper. "I'm a demon. I keep souls all the time. It would be different."
"You would hold something in your fist until you ground it to dust."
"No." Black tears fell into the red hair.
"Then you have to let her move on."
"But...she's mine." The demon whispered desperately.
"And you have to be the one to let her go." Undertaker stood and went back to his deathscythe. He saw another in the shadows and waved them to stay back.
When he returned, he saw the demon's unnecessary breathing speed up as he stared at the scythe. Clawed fingers stroked her skin and didn't notice the cuts he made in his wake.
"Elder," Undertaker pointed to the delicate tears in the girl's flesh. Sebastian ripped his hand away and stared at the blood under his fingernails. His hand fisted, trying to hide what it had done.
The reaper waited patiently as the demon still held his mate. Finally, the Elder closed his eyes and held out the body. Undertaker knelt down and carefully made a small cut in her chest. Reels of film sprung up from the scythe's wound and began to play.
Both watched as a small red head played in a park alone, waded into a little creek alone to catch tadpoles, read stories to herself as the sounds of arguing filled her home, and looked out a classroom window while other children ignored her. They watched as she began drawing those around her. Each piece becoming better, more lifelike than the one before. They saw her older, not even bothering to look at other people anymore. Gaining the nickname the 'Ice Princess.' Finally, some of her classmates starting to notice her. They saw the boy Brandon and how she had grabbed at the chance to be included. They saw the aftermath, the rumors, the disgusted looks and how she retreated back into herself, ignoring them all. College and the chance for escape it offered. Her scholarship gained through her artwork. The other artists that were nowhere near as good trying to get close to feed off her talent.
The scenes shifted to the Phantomhive manor. People who didn't want anything from her but still wanted her around. They watched as she poked Ciel with a smile, laughed with Soma, gave advice to Lizzy, giggled with Mei-Rin over something stupid and girly, gave Bard and Finny something to do, asked Snake about his pets. Sebastian watched her conversation with his Master about breaking their contract and Undertaker laughed. They watched her frustration and anger at the demon and the happiness she felt around him. They felt the same peace and safety she always felt around Sebastian.
Finally, the film showed her conversation with the reapers, the sound of the shot and seemed to end. The reaper made to stand when it started again. A bench in Hyde Park and an older gentleman. They watched her figure out who had sat next to her and the demon gasped as the man told her that she had been sent to distract him from Ciel Phantomhive.
'But, I couldn't do it. This is what Ciel wants.' For the first time, they heard Serena speak through her record.
'Then I'll just have to think of something else.'
Sebastian snarled at the voice she had heard when the man shot her. The film ended again and stayed black. Undertaker held out his scythe to collect the record but the film didn't go to it. Instead, it rolled into itself, forming a glowing ball that was suspended above the body. It floated gently to Sebastian and took form once more.
The demon gasped as she touched his cheek, but the fingers were cold, not warm. Serena smiled sadly and pulled away. He tried to grab her arm but his hand passed through her. The girl turned and disappeared.
Black wings closed around the two figures, hiding them from view. Undertaker walked to his coat, leaving the grieving demon to himself. As he folded his scythe back into its smaller form, Haagenti stepped from the shadows to meet him.
"I'm glad that you called me. There are some who would love to have this to hold over him."
"They will still know."
"Yes, but they will not have seen this moment of weakness for themselves."
"I'll tell Spears and Knox to keep their mouths shut." Undertaker looked back to Sebastian. The demon still hadn't taken on his human form again. "Leave them for a while."
"I cannot. He'll sit there for the rest of eternity if you let him."
The reaper bowed to the Elder and walked in the direction of the manor. His services would be needed soon.
Haagenti made sure that the younger heard him coming. The wings shifted just enough to let him see the two of them. He stayed out of striking range just to be safe. His gaze moved to the body still held by the other demon. The Elder allowed a small amount of pity through his defense as he looked at the girl who had been brave enough to smack his hand away at their meeting. The same bravery to accept a demon of wrath after catching a glimpse of what he could do.
"Boy."
There was no answer, but Haagenti had seen the small jerk of Sebastian's body.
"Your master is getting awfully loud."
Sebastian snorted but still said nothing.
"Come now, didn't you make your mate a promise?" He saw Sebastian close his eyes again, his hand moving to stroke red hair. "Get up, Boy. I'm not going away."
The younger demon snarled and stood, ready to attack.
"That's right. Stand up and fight. I did not teach you to be weak. I did not teach you to fall to pieces when something doesn't work out. I taught you to survive. And you will." Haagenti sighed as the wings folded into Sebastian's body and leather was replaced by linen. "Good. There is nothing to do now, but move forward."
"But..."
"The past and regrets will get you nowhere. Move forward, always. Now, you made a promise to your mate and you will keep it. A demon does not lie. A demon does not go back on their word. Honestly, we're not those pathetic humans. You made a promise to two people, and your Master is calling. Answer it." He pointed in the direction of the house.
Sebastian nodded and turned to the manor, Serena still in his arms.
"Do you think that little speech will work?" One of the Reaper's Council members stepped out of the dark and to Haagenti's side.
"It will get him past this moment." The Elder looked to the reaper. "I hope this reminds you why we put that communication clause into the treaty. Undertaker is correct, the Elders should have been informed as soon as Serena's name appeared in your little log book."
"This human had an unusual way of becoming close to monsters. We feared that if you had been told, one of you would try to stop it."
"It is true that demons protect each others mates. Even a member of an enemy house would give a token defense. However, we agreed that should a name appear on the list, we would do nothing. We are far more adapt at deals than you all." The Elder raised an eyebrow. "I hope you remember what almost happened here the next time that you think that you can handle a grieving Elder."
"Could it really have been that serious?"
"He's the most powerful demon I ever trained. I'm certain that there are some who could beat him, but not many. Even I was relieved when he choose to leave my house peacefully. Most demons have slipped into complacency as they have aged, but that boy is still filled with fire. He's still as driven as the day I saw him fight in the pits. It is what made him one of the youngest Elders to get their wings. You don't want to see a driven Elder wish for nothing but death and destruction. If Undertaker had not been able to calm him," he held up a small, perfect ball of stone. Characters began to glow red on it's surface. "I would have had to call upon the Fallen to take him down."
The reaper bowed his head. "I will inform the other Council members and we will all remember this in the future."
**********************A Demon's Mate*********************
Ciel looked around him as the shaking stopped just as quickly as it had started. He could see Frances and Lizzy starting to relax but Soma still stared around him, his eyes wide as though waiting for some kind of attack. His fiancé moved to sit next to the prince, hoping to calm him a little. His ever present security blanket, otherwise known as Agni, had yet to reappear from the depths of the tunnel.
'Maybe this will cut down on his surprise visits to the manor.' The Earl snorted as he looked away. 'I know that was Sebastian. Serena must have calmed him down again. But, what set that demon off in the first place?'
The passage opened and Tanaka's smiling, wrinkled face appeared.
"Lord Phantomhive, the disturbance has passed." He bowed to the noble.
"Did they make it into the house?"
"No, my lord." Tanaka stepped out of the way as Ciel strode from the room. Frances and Lizzy pulled a still shaking Soma from the small room and followed the Earl into the hall. All of them stared at the shattered chandelier and broken tiles beneath it.
"Damages."
"Only to the garden, my lord. Those and the small things that fell during the earthquake are all easily fixed."
"Where is Sebastian?"
"We have not seen him, Lord Phantomhive. There were two sets of footprints leading into the woods, I believe he is retrieving Miss Serena, as you ordered."
Agni popped out of the hidden room and went to his Prince's side. "There is no fighting taking place at the end of the tunnel, Lord Phantomhive. It does go quite a ways from the house."
"Good."
"We should be on our way then." Frances spoke up from her daughter's side. "Tanaka and the others can get this cleaned up while we are gone."
"No." Ciel went into the salon that overlooked the garden. The others followed him. "We're not leaving until Serena is back in the house. Stupid girl, she's probably still arguing with Sebastian."
"I will prepare tea while you wait." Tanaka bowed to the room as the earl went to the patio door.
Ciel saw Bard coming through the rose bushes below the balcony's edge. Opening the door, he slipped outside easily.
"Bard."
"Yes, sir!" The former solider saluted out of habit.
Ciel ignored the man's antics. "Report."
"They were a small team, sir, moved carefully through the woods on the east side. We found several of our traps there had been disabled." Bard looked back. "If it hadn't been for that first shot, we wouldn't have heard them until they reached the garden, where Snake's pets would have been able to sense them."
"Find out how they discovered each alarm and change it. Someone may have been able to go back the way they came and we don't want that information to still be valid."
"Yes. Sir?"
"What is it?"
"Everyone knows that you were going to the Midford's ball tonight. And when you left, you would have gone to the west. We found heavy tracks like they had been waiting in the woods for some time."
"They were waiting for us to leave." Ciel crossed his arms as he thought. "Whatever they were after, it wasn't me."
"That's what I was thinking."
"Have you seen Sebastian?"
"No, sir."
"He was out here, looking for Serena when it started."
"I wouldn't be worried about Sebastian, sir. He can handle this. And I'm sure that Miss Serena is with him."
As Ciel nodded, a small light flitted through the darkness. He heard Lizzy and the others come out of the door behind him while he watched the ball of light weave and bob in the soft, night wind, slowly making it's way to the house. The dread that had been pooling in his stomach all night made his guts churn as the light came closer.
It stopped in front of the Earl. Unconsciously, Ciel held his hand out and the ball drifted into the cradle of his black glove. The light winked out and he felt someone wrap their arms around his shoulders. The normal aversion to being touched came up and he turned his face to see Serena's by his shoulder. Her eyes were sad as she kissed his cheek and the Earl shivered at the cold of her lips.
"Despite the consequences, I hope you find what you're looking for." The girl smiled sadly and pulled away. "Goodbye, Ciel."
The girl disappeared, the small ball of light taking her place. The group watched as it drifted on the wind, back to the forest.
"I'm going to go look for them." Bard turned and started down the pathway that led to the woods. Pebbles kicked up in his wake as he stopped. "The first shot."
The soldier threw his cigarette down as they all noticed the black figure emerging from the garden's edge, an unmoving body in his arms and a small trail of blood behind him.
*********************A Demon's Mate*******************
Sebastian made his way back to the manor in a fog. The demon didn't notice much of his surroundings as he carried his mate through the snow covered trees. There was only the rapidly chilling weight in his arms. As they approached the break in the trees, he noticed the same ball of light of Serena's soul coming back.
He recognized the man from her cinematic record leaning against the trunk of a large tree. Dressed in the same suit as in Hyde Park and holding the same cane, he held out a gloved hand and the soul floated down to it. Rage welled within the demon when eyes of the clearest blue turned to him. He held the soul while Sebastian carried nothing but an empty, already decaying shell. The man said nothing, only acknowledged the misery that cloaked the demon with a nod before disappearing.