Author's Note:
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of it's characters. I only claim Serena and Asta, as well as the demons and descendants that I introduce.
A Demon's Mate
Chapter Forty Eight
Serena was confused as she walked through the snow covered gardens of the Phantomhive manor house. When she looked down, she found the pretty green silk dress that she had loved in the past covering her body. Everything was exactly as she remembered when she had left this place months ago. Actually, decades ago. She looked over to where the hedge maze should be, but there was nothing there right now. It could never have grown with Finny around. Something moved out of the corner of her eye and she turned to see the gate to the corner garden sitting open.
Snow crunched under her slippered feet as she walked and she realized that the walkway hadn't been swept. It was the first sign that something wasn't right. She was hot as well, not something that would have happened during an English winter.
A familiar black-clad form appeared around the gate of the corner garden and Serena took off with a smile. She swung into the garden and stopped dead. A large, iron fence ran down the center of the space, the same height as the walls around them, and her demon was on the other side of it.
Serena ran forward and her fingers curled around the cold iron as she smiled at Sebastian.
"Good evening, my mate."
"Sebastian." She smiled as he reached through the bars and touched her cheek. "What's going on?"
"I thought that we should talk."
The red head flinched a little and looked down. "About the show?"
"Among other things."
"Is that why there's a fence?" Her fingers rubbed the rough iron of the fence while she waited.
Sebastian touched the iron between them and Serena noticed that his hands were bare for her to see black nails that faintly resembled claws. "I've been waiting over a hundred years for you. Do you think that I would really put a fence between us now?"
"But, I didn't..." Serena stopped and looked at the design worked into the iron. She'd seen it before. The roses worked into the iron were just like the one she had seen at her grandmother's old Victorian home. It had surrounded the garden and she had been fascinated by it as a child. It was one of the first thing that she'd drawn. She had done several sketches of the one section that held the gate until she had been able to get it perfect. That fence had been her first art class. "I don't understand."
"You're afraid of me."
Her head snapped up. "No, I'm not."
The demon raised an eyebrow and she looked at the iron rose she was touching. It was quiet and she realized he was waiting for her to speak.
"It's not you. I'm afraid of what's going to happen. Of what's going to change."
"To have something, you must first let something else go."
"But, we could stay here. There's the house and...we could just stay there."
Sebastian shook his head. "You would still age even after our bond is completed if you remain in the human world. Trouble will still find you, you would still die eventually. Demons keep their mates in their homes because of the last war with the reapers but, even before that, mates were only brought back for brief amounts of time." He took a deep breath. "I could leave."
"What?"
"I could just leave and you could go back to the life you wanted." He waited for his words to sink in. "For our mating to work, you have to accept me, Serena. If you cannot, then I will leave. That is what the reapers were talking about. There have been mates that have chosen not to accept their demons and have gone back to their human lives."
A tear slipped down her cheek. "I couldn't do that. I'd still be looking for you."
"You wouldn't remember me."
He could see the horror on her face.
"It would fade. Everything. Your memories of the past, the reapers, Edwin, Lucien, Teo. And I would as well."
Tears coursed down her face at the idea. Serena shook her head violently. "I don't want that. I don't think I would be able to do anything then."
"You would go back to way you were before you went to Tokyo. You were doing wonderful then."
"Maybe that's what Greenville was talking about." She scoffed.
"It is." He saw her confusion and explained. "You've always known what you wanted. From the time that you were a child, you've known who you are and what you want. Now, you don't and it's reflected in your work."
She choked back a sob as she looked away from him. "I don't want to lose me."
"Neither do I." He smiled as the fence came down a few inches. "I'm not asking you to change yourself, Serena. I'm only asking you to grow up and be responsible. Something you would have to do anyway. Before you met me, would you have done half the things that you've done in the last few months?"
Serena shook her head.
"You're the one trying to change yourself into someone else, because you're afraid. You think that you can change yourself into something that I won't want and you'll have someone to blame when you're life doesn't work the way you want it to."
"That's kinda stupid." She tried to smile as the fence lowered again.
"Fear causes you to make bad decisions."
"Haagenti said something like that."
"He was my mentor, my teacher. I'm sure that there are many subjects that we share the same view on."
"I don't want you to go, but I don't want to lose everything I have."
"You're scared of what you do not know." The fence came down more, stopping at her chest. "Do you think I would let anything harm you?"
"It's not that. What if..." she looked at the clear sky. "It's stupid, I know, but what if I don't do it right? What if I can't run your house or can't handle you being gone that long? What if your family hates me? I have a feeling I keep screwing up with Lucien and Edwin."
"Do you think I'm going to just drop you there and come back to the human world? I've been storing power this whole time so that I can be there, so I can be with you, as long as possible. It'll be decades before I'm hungry again. There is much to learn but we will have more than enough time for me to teach you what you need to know." He shrugged. "As for my demons hating you. You matter to me more than they do. If they cause a problem, they'll have to go."
"But, that's awful and it would be my fault."
"No, it would be theirs. Either they assimilate with the family or they go. It would be the same if you were there or not."
"We fought all the time."
He leaned on the fence with a smirk. "I think we will always argue about something. I don't want our large arguments again, I believe that comes from two people having to learn about each other, but I miss you telling me that I'm wrong. No one tells me I'm wrong, not even...nevermind."
Serena felt a pout and couldn't stop it. "In that case, it was stupid of you to make a contract when I was going to remember you."
"Yes, but it served a purpose."
"What's that?"
"Well, the meal I'll gain from this soul is nothing to laugh at," he smiled at her. "But more than that, I needed to get away from you."
"Thanks." She glared at him and he laughed.
"I couldn't stay in the shadows anymore. It was easier when you were a child. As you grew, it became harder and harder. I broke when you tried dating and I got too close. I believe that you have regulated the incident to a nightmare and nothing more."
Serena tried to think but he could see that nothing was coming to her. Sebastian sighed and waved her closer. Sliding two fingers under her chin, he pulled her close and laid a kiss on her forehead.
She was back in her childhood room at home. A massive storm raged outside the protection of the house but the growling she heard was coming from inside. Backing against the headboard, she held onto the blanket as hard as she could and looked around the room. Every noise made her jump and the growling got louder and louder. She finally realized the sound was coming from the farthest corner and she strained to see what was there. Two points of swirling red appeared in the black mass of shadows that had taken over the corner and she froze. Staring in horror, the red head couldn't even scream for help. The darkness took shape, moved across the room, to the side of her bed. Serena still couldn't move as the darkness crawled across the small bed to her. She watched as it slid over the sheets, up her legs, taking over every piece of her vision. The swirling red reappeared directly in front of her and the girl couldn't breathe.
Serena came back to herself at the same moment that she had woken up from her nightmare. She remembered she had screamed and her father had come running in. She had tackled the older man, convinced that he could make it go away. It was one of the last times her father had held her like that. One of the last times she had let him that close. Only a week later she had told them about her plan to attend an art school instead of the university that he wanted.
"That was when I offered a contract to my current master." Sebastian pulled her attention back to him. "When you let that human boy touch you. I already knew that you would, but I couldn't control myself anymore. So, I had to put some distance between us."
"Dad convinced me that it was just a nightmare brought on by the storm that night." Her voice was still quiet as she tried to get her breath back.
A ripple went through the corner garden and Sebastian looked behind himself with a growl. When he turned back to her, Serena could see the anger on his face before he buried it beneath a smile.
"I have to go."
The red head tried to grab his arm but her hand went right through him. "We have more things to talk about."
"And we'll have endless time to talk about them later."
She glared at him for a moment. "Master's calling?"
"Yes."
"It was still a stupid move."
"It is taking longer than I had anticipated, but it will be over soon." Something in his voice made her shiver and Serena backed away from the fence that was down to its real world size. "Go on, my mate. I will see you shortly."
******************A Demon's Mate***************
Serena woke with the sun on her face and Noir rubbing his head on her chin. She tried to smile at the cat but it was strained and awkward. Scratching his ears, she gently pushed the feline off her chest and swung her legs over the side of the bed. She noticed that the house was quiet and wondered how long she could hide in here before the demons insisted she face them.
'Well, I should at least clean this crap off before then.'
The red head got up and looked at herself. She was shocked that her skin was bare of paint. Running to the mirror in the bathroom she turned to look at herself and saw all of the paint was gone. Embarrassment took over as she wondered who had washed it off while she was unconscious.
A meow made her look toward the bath as Noir jumped into the large tub. She shook her head with a smile.
"Not today. I'd love to hide out in here but I think that will just make it worse."
A furry, black head popped over the lip of the tub as she turned the water in the shower on.
When she stepped out of her room, Serena saw Teo and Lucien in the living room and Edwin was coming out of the kitchen. As she passed him, the demon held out a plate with a couple slices of toast on it.
"I figured that you wouldn't want anything heavier."
The red head nodded and kept her head down as she settled into a corner of the couch. After a minute of ripping the bread apart, Serena noticed that they were all staring at her. Even Noir had taken the other half of the couch and was staring at her.
"What?" She asked, but she already knew what was coming.
"We're supposed to act like last night didn't happen?" Teo shifted as he leaned against the window by the fireplace.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Well, I do!" Lucien burst up from his chair and started to pace the room. "What were you thinking to agree to that?"
Serena stared at the plate she was still holding. "I don't know."
"Do you honestly think that the Elder would be proud that his mate was parading around, naked, in a room full of humans?"
"I don't know."
"Why can't you just wait? He knows where you are. He knows what you're doing. Why do you have to keep putting yourself in situations to get his attention? You already have it. Why do you keep trying to kill us?"
"I'm not."
"Really? What did you think was going to happen? Did you think he'd take your mistakes out on you?"
She swallowed hard and looked down again. "I didn't think that he would find out."
"The Elder knows every step you take." Edwin spoke up. "To think that you could do anything without his notice is ridiculous."
"Well, how am I supposed to know that?"
"We keep telling you!" Lucien pulled his hair as he yelled.
The blonde stared at her, waiting for an answer. When none came, he threw his hands up and walked out the door to the deck. The door slammed shut behind him and the demon disappeared down the stairs.
Serena jumped at the sound but stared down at her plate again. Teo moved from his place and started for the front door.
"You're mad at me too?"
He looked down at the red head with a sad expression. "No. It's partially my fault, but the Elder has taken mercy on me. I have accepted my punishment."
"What punishment?"
Teo lifted the hem of his shirt to show her the gouges in his skin from hip to shoulder. Layers of skin had melted back to show the muscle beneath flex as he moved. Serena put a hand to her mouth and tried to convince the few bites of toast that she had forced down to stay there.
"Some demons carry a poison, a venom, that can be released through their claws." Edwin explained while Teo put his shirt back down. "It will take some time to heal all that."
"I'm sorry," she whispered as the demon slipped out the front door.
The house was quiet as Serena sniffled, trying not to cry. When she looked up, Edwin was watching her.
"You're not leaving too?" She spoke quietly.
"One of us must stay with you at all times."
"Then, you have a lecture for me?
"Would it do any good?" She looked up at the tone of his voice and saw his blank expression. "It's obvious that you have no respect for the beings that you will one day rule over."
"Yes, I do." She looked at the toast her fingers were ripping apart.
"You're actions say otherwise." Edwin was tired and it showed. "I see no reason to council you. You knew what you were doing was wrong. Why else would you have hidden it from us? I count myself lucky that I will move to Elder Haagenti's house soon."
"What?" Serena dropped the toast back on her plate.
"I will remain in the human world and watch over the Elder's holdings in London while he returns to his home."
"No. I'll talk to Sebastian..."
Edwin held up a hand to stop her.
"It was decided that I would go to London before last night. I am grateful that the offer still stands and that Elder Haagenti will welcome me in his own house permanently after I am removed from my current family."
"Why?"
"It is obvious that I can no longer perform my main function for my current Elder, nor do I hold his trust." He steepled his fingers as he stared at a point beyond her. "My replacement will arrive shortly. Today or tomorrow."
Serena stared in horror at the matter of fact tone.
"Lucien will still be here with you. He has a certain measure of leniency since he was mainly here as a companion to begin with, as well as the fact that he has a mate that must be thought of also. The Elder hopes that Emily will be a better companion to you once you are in his house."
"I'll talk to him." It was all she could say.
He laughed shortly as he shook his head. "You're still not listening. I don't want to be there for the next disaster you will lead them into. Last night has shown me that I still value my own life."
Serena felt the tears run down her face and shot off the couch. Edwin watched as she ran to her room and shut the door.
Where she stayed the rest of the day.
That night, after Noir had returned from the woods, Edwin left the house. The demon only said that he had something to take care of before he left the Elder's family.*
*****************A Demon's Mate*******************
The next morning, Serena still hadn't figured out what she was going to do. She knew that there had to be some way to fix this whole mess but she just couldn't see it. Whatever she was going to do had to be soon. Her next day of classes was tomorrow and she kept feeling that then it would be too late.
When she came out of her room to let Noir outside, Edwin was standing beside the island and Lucien was in the living room. Neither of them said anything to her as she opened the door onto the deck and let the cat out. When she turned around, Edwin was sliding a plate onto the island and she walked over slowly.
Looking at the demon, Serena tried to say something. She opened her mouth but nothing would come out.
"Just eat your breakfast, my lady."
She looked down as he turned away, cleaning up the small space he had used to make the french toast she was staring at, what she always wanted when she was upset. Behind her, she could feel Lucien staring. Although her stomach was still rolling, she thought it would be more insulting to not eat what the demon had made for her and forced a piece down her throat.
Both demons looked at the door but Serena did nothing, figuring it was Teo come early. Lucien stood as the doorbell rang. The red head was confused as she looked at Edwin, however the demon did nothing.
"Oh, hell no!"
Edwin and Serena looked to the door. Edwin moved to stand in front of her but she leaned to look around him.
"I'm not taking orders from you."
They heard laughter from the door. "Best get used to it, honey bunch. I was specially picked for this."
Serena recognized the voice and slid off her stool. "Corrine?"
The brunette was dressed in shocking red from her spike heels to her lipstick. Red framed sunglasses covered half of her face as she smiled at Lucien and pushed him to the side so she could stalk into the house. Edwin stepped away as Corrine came toward Serena. The demon looked at her jeans with the knees ripped out and ratty sweatshirt and couldn't keep the sneer off her face.
Corrine pulled her sunglasses down enough to see her eyes. "Really?"
Serena looked at Lucien and saw the same look on his face that she had.
'I guess Sebastian really was mad at me.'
******************A Demon's Mate******************
After showing Corrine around the little house and listening to her disparaging comments, they all decided to reconvene in the living room. Noir had appeared at the door again, against his normal routine, and was carried by Serena as they went. The red head figured the glares and sneers sent the little cat's way meant that Corrine wasn't a fan of felines and she wanted to keep Noir close to her.
"Now," Edwin started as they sat down. "Lucien will be taking over cooking for Serena. Teo is still going to pick her up in the morning on days that she has classes to attend. Lucien will pick her up from class except on days when he has something to do for the Elder. On those days you will be expected to pick her up."
"She can't drive?" Corrine looked up from her nails long enough to stare at Edwin.
"You know, I'm right here." Serena glared up at them from the couch.
"You act like an irresponsible child and you get treated like an irresponsible child. Now, hush." She put a finger over her lips. "This is adult time."
Serena jumped up from the couch, setting Noir on the cushion as she faced the three demons. Her coming tirade was interrupted by Teo coming into the house with much less enthusiasm than he normally had. As he walked they could see that he was careful how he stepped so as not to jar his abdomen. He stopped at the edge of the living room and noticed the new demon.
"Corrine?" He smiled and reached out to hug the other demon. "What are you doing here?"
"She is taking over for me," Edwin answered.
"What?" Teo looked over quickly and clutched his stomach at the fast movement.
"What happened to you?" Corrine lifted his shirt and whistled at the damage. "Damn."
"The Elder was angry."
"I'll say." Her fingers ran above the marks on his side. "These aren't the Elder's. They're too ragged, too much venom was used."
She looked at the cat that had jumped to the floor with his tail wrapped around himself. "You know, punishing a member of the house isn't you're place."
"Oh, my God!" Serena looked at the cat. "He's a demon too?"
"You never noticed?"
"No." She backed into the couch as Noir looked toward her. "I've taken him in the bath with me."
Corrine waved it off. "That's his problem to work out with the Elder."
"Why don't I feel the same around him as I do other demons? It doesn't bother me to touch him."
Teo shrugged. "The fur blocks most of it. Also, he doesn't have as much power in that form."
"Although," Edwin said as he cocked his head to the side. "You didn't have a problem with him in his normal form either. He was the one that washed your paint off the other night."
Lucien growled as he glared at the feline. "Among other things he did."
"Why do I not even want to know?" Serena put a hand over her eyes and tried to shut them all out.
"Oh, you don't."
"That bad, huh?" Corinne smiled as she looked at the cat. "Is it bad enough to knock him off that little pedestal the Elder keeps him on?"
Noir glared at them before turning his back and flicking his tail up in the air as he stalked toward Serena.
"It is," Edwin answered with a glare.
"What did you do?" Serena looked at her little friend.
"He took your bath a little far."
Noir jumped onto the arm of the couch and started to fluff the fabric. Serena watched as he stared at her, purring loudly, his eyes half closed. She could just imagine what he was thinking.
"Great, another pervert."
Noir rubbed against her arm and Corrine smirked.
"Evidently, he liked what he touched."
"Why didn't anyone you do anything? You all keep talking about how you're supposed to protect me and he's still here?"
Lucien blushed as he crossed his arms over his chest. "None of us can physically move him."
"What?"
"He is stronger than us, although he is the youngest." The blonde still refused to look at the cat that had sat up a little taller at the other demon's confession. "Edwin might have been able to take him, if he had caught him by surprise. Even then, it's a big maybe."
Edwin looked at the cat that had turned to stare at him. After a moment, he shook his head.
"Haagenti said something about Sebastian training another Elder." Serena looked at Lucien as Noir's tail swished back and forth. The blonde nodded as he waved at the cat that was slowly creeping closer to her.
"I see." She opened her arms and the cat slipped easily into her lap. The red head scratched under Noir's chin as he purred louder. "Let me show you something."
She kept the cat snuggled against her as she got off the couch and walked to the doors leading to the deck. She rubbed her cheek against the top of his head while opening the door and threw the cat outside. Claws scrambled on the wood deck as she slammed the door shut and locked it behind her.*
"Oh, that was so hard." She rolled her eyes as she came back to the rest of them.
"True," Edwin said as he started for the front door. "However, he would never have allowed any of us close enough for that tactic."
"Where are you going?"
The demon turned and gave her a look. "London. You're new guardian is here and I am to meet my new Elder, Haagenti, as soon as possible."
"He's waiting at the townhouse." Corrine waved as she took a seat in the living room.
Serena looked at the floor as she was reminded of why the woman was here in the first place. She was motionless as Lucien walked around her and stopped the other demon at the door and she was reminded of what Haagenti had told her about Lucien and Edwin being Sebastian's most trusted demons, the ones that had been with him the longest. Edwin's leaving was a punishment for all of them. Even Sebastian.
Walking to the two by the door, she still didn't know what to say. Time was up and she never found a way to fix her mistake. Maybe it didn't exist. At least, not right now. The red head stared at the floor as Lucien stepped back to let her face Edwin.
"My lady?"
With tears running down her face, Serena launched herself at the demon and wrapped her arms around him. Lucien stepped forward but he waved them off. Even Noir had stopped scratching at the back door and stared through the glass. Edwin didn't touch her though.
"My lady, it is not right for you to touch another demon." His voice was quiet as he held his arms away from her.
Serena sniffled into his chest. "I'm sorry that I'm awful at this mate thing."
"To recognize and accept your mistakes is the beginning to learning from them," he said softly.
"Yeah, but it's everybody else's problem too."
"That is why you must learn to think before you decide to act." The demon stepped away as she nodded.
Edwin bowed to Serena and shared a look with Lucien before opening the door and slipping out before Noir could shoot in.
Lucien looked at Serena but the red head wasn't moving. Her hair had slipped down to cover her face as she played with the cuffs of her sweatshirt. He could smell tears and hear the slight catch in her breath that told him she was still crying.
He was still angry with her.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" Corrine asked as she looked at her nails.
Serena used her cuff to wipe under her eyes. "Could you not be a bitch right now?"
"I'm not." She shrugged. "He couldn't do his job, so he was replaced. Simple. There's nothing bitchy about it."
"It was my fault. I didn't tell him what I was doing so he couldn't stop it."
"And the fact that you didn't trust either of them enough to tell them what you were doing is telling enough about both of their effectiveness."
Serena spun to look at the demon, shock on her face.
"What?" Corrine shrugged. "That is what they were supposed to do. Guards must be trusted by those they watch to protect their very lives. You hid a decision that you made with a women Edwin had already warned you away from. Obviously, you didn't trust his judgment, so he failed. It's not something to be sad over."
Serena stared at the other woman for a moment. "If that's true, than I didn't trust Sebastian either."
"Obviously, the Elder needs to work on that."
******************A Demon's Mate**************
Rain beat down on the roof of the little house in sheets of water that cascaded down the sides of the roof that could be seen from the living room windows. It was like the weather was reflecting Serena's mood as she sat on the couch, thinking about what Corrine had said. The sketchbook in her lap was open to a still empty, fresh page.
The demon in question was looking at something on the tablet in her hands and Lucien was sulking from the kitchen. Teo had left at his normal time, although not his normal speed and no one had spoken since he left.
Some show was playing on the TV but none of them were paying attention to it. Yowling finally caught her attention as Lucien walked across the floor to the back door.
"Don't let him in." Serena's voice was sharp as she looked over the back of the couch. "If he's so powerful, he can let himself in."
Corrine didn't even look up from her tablet as she answered. "There are wards on all of the exterior doors and windows that even the Elder cannot come through if they are activated."
"How are they activated?"
"The lock."
"Hmm." Serena thought for a moment. "Good."
Lucien started back for the door and she looked at him again. "I said, don't let him in."
The blonde stared down at Noir, who looked like a drowned rat, and shrugged. He walked away and went back to his place. A scratch against the glass made her turn around and stare at the demon outside.
Noir sat up straighter and meowed again. He reached up and pawed the glass. With a glare, Serena turned away and focused on the TV. The scratching sped up, sounding like nails on a chalkboard. Corrine dropped the tablet to put her hands over her ears and Lucien did the same. Serena knew whatever she was hearing, they could hear exponentially louder.
She turned the volume on the TV up.
And, the scratching stopped. Serena shifted to be more comfortable with a sigh and looked at the page in front of her again. Her pencil raised but there still wasn't anything in her mind.
A bang made them all jump and they looked to the window nearest the TV. Noir was plastered to the glass and slowly sliding down as his claws tried to find a way to hold himself up. He stared at Serena and meowed before sliding off the window.
Behind her, Lucien burst out laughing and quickly tried to cover it. Corrine had a smile on her face as another meow came from outside. Even Serena laughed a little as something banged against the front door next.
"Are you really going to leave him out there?" Lucien asked as the cat appeared on the ledge of the kitchen window. Water dripped off his fur as he pawed at the glass again.
"I was planning on it." Serena looked over the back of the couch as Noir let a pitiful yowl. "He's making me feel awful though."
"He was touching you when you were naked and passed out," Corrine reminded her.
"I might see that as a compliment." She didn't look up from the lines she had started drawing. "No one else wants to play with me."
Lucien laughed. "I don't think that's exactly accurate."
Another meow came from the back door again and Serena threw her pencil down. Tossing her sketchbook to the other cushion, she stood up and went to the back door. Noir meowed up at her and pawed the glass again, looking as pathetic as possible. Serena crossed her arms over her chest as she stared down at him.
"Can you behave?"
Noir leaned up and put both paws on the glass as he stared at the doorknob.
"No. You're not coming back in this house until I know that you are going to behave yourself. Molesting an unconscious person is not acceptable."
The cat slid back down, sitting on the deck as he looked up at her. His head dropped further as more rain pelted the back porch. Serena sighed and looked back at Lucien.
"Get me a towel."
The blonde shook his head as he went into the front bathroom. Noir's ears perked up and he stood, moving happily on the other side of the door.
"Now you wait for the towel. I don't want you dripping all over the floor." Serena unlocked the door and was surprised when the knob turned before she could touch it.
The door opened, but he waited outside until she bent down and held the towel open for him. Serena scooped him up and made sure that the towel was covering him completely, including his tail.
"See, if you had just had some manners this wouldn't have happened to you." She rubbed the cloth, trying to soak up as much water as she could. "Since I have a feeling that you're not going anywhere, we'll just have to teach you some."
Corrine coughed to cover a laugh from the living room as Serena took Noir into her bedroom and through to the bath.
Setting him in the tub, Serena took off the soaked towel and reached for another. Noir shook himself inside the copper tub, spraying water everywhere and the red head held the towel in front of her to stay dry with a laugh. Laying the new towel over him, she rubbed his fur again and heard him start purring.
"You're just lucky that you're cute like that. If you were in human form...demon form...whatever, I would have left your ass out there to rot."
Noir meowed and pushed his head against her hand. She dropped the towel into the tub and stared at the wet cat for a minute.
"Well, since you're not really a cat, you shouldn't have a problem with the hairdryer." Serena picked him up and carried him to the counter. Plugging it in, she checked how far away she would have to hold it for it not to be too hot before turning back to the wet mass of black fur.
When he was dry, Noir jumped off the counter and headed for the bedroom. Serena stopped when she came out of the bathroom and saw him curled up on her bed.
"Oh, I don't think so." She picked him up again. "It's the couch for you from now on, my furry friend."
*******************A Demon's Mate****************
Serena was in her little studio when she realized it had been a month since Edwin had left them. There had only been one phone call from the demon, that came through to Lucien, telling them that he had arrived in London and to inform the Elder when possible. Undertaker had called once, wondering why Edwin was in London without her. At the answer, he had started laughing and hadn't stopped. She finally hung up on him.
In the time since, she had fallen into a new routine after a few days of depression. Listening to Corrine and Lucien had helped pull her out of her slump. Mainly because she had been forced to play referee between the two demons. It didn't help that she wasn't immune to Corrine little jabs either. Evidently, it was alright for her to make comments about the red head's clothes, classes, the fact that she didn't drive herself and what an inconvenience it was, the fact that she didn't cook and what an inconvenience it was.
They did have one occasion a week that was fairly peaceful though. Lucien had not bothered to help her with trimming her hair or her nails since Edwin left and that meant that she had to find another option. Once a week, she and Corrine would leave campus and go to a salon that the demon deemed acceptable. Corrine was known to take advantage of all the services that they had to offer. Serena just took a trim and a manicure.
It was wasted within a day anyway. Artist hands didn't mix well with nail polish.
'What does it say about me that I forgot about him?'
The first days after the Fall Festival had been filled with trying to keep her head down. Several of the males on campus had finally noticed Serena after the show and had started going out of their way to try to talk to her. Comments had followed her from the girls and some from the guys. Finally, after a couple weeks, it calmed down and Serena went back to not talking to any of them.
Nadine hadn't talked to her at all. The blonde had actually seemed to be afraid of her when Serena had tried to talk to her after one of their classes.
At least someone was happy after the Festival though. Teo had received an award for his metalwork and acknowledgment from Anita that seemed to take some of the pain of his injuries away. He still didn't move easily and could be seen holding his stomach when he thought no one was looking.
She stared at the portrait that was taking shape on her canvas and saw the cat on the stool beyond. Noir hadn't been happy that he was regulated to the couch. Several times she had woken up to find the cat curled up next to her on the bed. Each time, he was thrown out until he had finally gotten the message and left her alone. That didn't mean that he had stopped following her into the studio or on their nightly walks.
The first time that she had taken a bath after finding out that her little cat was actually a little demon was a rude awakening for him. Noir had jumped into the tub the minute she had turned the water on. He had been cute as he played in the water. Until she threw the little cat out of the room, literally, and locked the door.
He hadn't tried again since.
Serena looked at the cat again and Noir stood up a little straighter. She couldn't help but laugh. He was acting like she was painting his portrait and would stay in the same position for hours. Several times she had caught the little cat looking at the painting when she stopped for the night. She thought that he approved of it.
The other canvas was set up sat in front of the windows, looking out over the lake. Serena knew what was going to take the place of the blank, white space, she had seen it months ago before leaving Tokyo, but felt the need to finish what was in front of her first.
'Malory's going to love it.'
**************A Demon's Mate*****************
"Finally. I didn't think that you were ever going to come out of there."
Serena looked across the car at Corrine and her perfect hair and her perfect blue dress with matching shoes and her perfect complimenting jewelry. She looked down at her jeans, stained with paint and the sneakers she had thrown on this morning while running out the door. She knew her hair was a mess and stopped herself from touching it. Serena had woken up late and had just rolled the length into a clip that some of it had fallen out of.
'No wonder she was Sebastian's lover. She's just like him, not a hair out of place. He always made sure that I was perfect too when I was with him in the past.' Serena stared out the window as she grew more and more uncomfortable. 'Would I really want him to see me right now?'
Corrine noticed the turn Serena's mood had taken and huffed. "What is your problem now?"
"How do you do that?"
"Do what?"
Serena waved at her. "That."
"It's called effort, I believe." The red head glared at her and Corrine raised an eyebrow. "Can you say that you really tried when you got dressed this morning?"
"Never mind."
"What person do you know that commands respect showing up in front of people in a ripped sweatshirt and stained jeans?"
Serena shifted in her seat. "I had class today, it wouldn't do any good to paint in what you're wearing."
"You could wear an apron or something over your clothes. Of course, you don't really need to protect those." Corrine waved to what she was wearing. "You wear the same thing if we go into town as you do to your studio classes. You've spent so much time trying to fade into the background that you've stopped trying. You weren't wearing stuff like that when I met you in London."
"I took painting clothes and regular clothes when I went to Tokyo."
"You were trying to make a good impression. Why did that stop now that you're home?" Corrine looked over as she stopped at a light. "Is it because you're already taken? So you don't have to worry about it?"
"No."
"Good. Because it's that line of thinking from anyone that leads to your partner looking elsewhere."
Serena glared at the demon. "You're a bitch, you know that?"
"Because I'm honest? Can you honestly say that if the Elder started wearing stained and ripped clothes all the time that you wouldn't start noticing the others around you?"
Serena shifted uncomfortably.
"I'm not saying that you have to spend three hours in the bathroom every morning, but do something. You have days that you aren't in studio classes. On those days, wear something different. Actually do something with your hair."
"I do fix my hair."
"Did you even brush it this morning?" Corrine waited a beat. "That's what I thought. Do you honestly think that demons, who spend a lot of time on appearance and blending in with humans, are going to respect someone who didn't respect themselves enough to brush their hair in the morning?"
Serena was woken the next morning by Corrine ripping the sheets off her. The red head came up with a scream and Noir appeared, spitting in the doorway. The demon glared at the fluffed out cat as he jumped up on the bed and stood in front of Serena with his ears back.
"Oh calm down, Fluffy." Corrine sneered at the animal before looking to Serena. "You have regular classes today. So, we're going to do something a little different."
Serena grabbed the still hissing cat and looked at her alarm clock. "It's six in the morning. My class isn't till ten."
"That's right. I don't know how long this is going to take and no one does a good job of anything when they're rushed." She clapped her hands together. "Well, come on. Out of bed."
She glared at Corrine as the demon opened the door to her closet. Serena grabbed Noir and scrambled out of the way as Corrine dropped everything that was on hangers into the middle of the bed. "Alright. Let's see what we have to work with." She put her hands on her hips and stared over the clothes that were spread in front of her. "While you're in class today, I'm going to sort out all of your clothes that will be used for painting and studio classes from other clothes that will be worn for regular classes and going into town. That will make choosing your outfits easier and you won't have to get up so early."
Serena stared at the demon, not knowing what to say. She wasn't even sure that Corrine had said what she thought she said.
"Well, go on. Into the shower. I'm going to look over our options."
The red head was bustled into her bathroom and the door shut behind her before she knew what happened. She looked down and saw Noir with the same blank look on his face that she had.
"Why do I wish that I had never brought up her clothes?"
Noir looked up at her and meowed.
"Oh, that's right." Serena opened the door again and set the cat on the ground. He flicked his tail up as she shut the door behind him.
After her shower, Serena came out in a towel to see Noir on the bed with his ears back as he watched Corrine flit around the room. An outfit had been laid out on the bottom of the bed and Serena admitted that it didn't look bad. She had bought the white shirt that was made from a slinky material a while ago. It looked like it didn't have any form to it, but it changed when it was on a body. She had bought it on a whim and then buried it in the back of her closet because she didn't have anywhere to where it. A fresh, new pair of jeans was laid next to the shirt.
"I was so happy when I found this in your closet. I can't believe that you haven't worn this." Corrine touched the shirt gently.
"Isn't that a shirt to go out in?"
"Paired with jeans it's good for daytime." She opened the door and urged Noir to leave. Instead, the two got into a staring contest.
The red head sighed and nodded to the door. "Noir, go."
An hour later, Serena admitted that Corrine was right. The outfit looked very nice and not too dressy. The demon had done her hair to fall in soft waves and then added a couple of pins to pull it away from her face. She had also sat through Corrine's makeup tutorial and found out that she didn't like to wear makeup because she had been using too much to begin with. Serena was shocked when Corrine pulled out a pair of black leather boots with a low heel that came up to calf length and insisted the red head wear them.
"I bought them but the heel's too low for me." Corrine shrugged and set them on the floor.
"I thought that demons could just make whatever they wanted appear."
"Some of us can. Some of us can't. I can, but that would take all the fun of shopping away. It's the search that's fun." She gave Serena a smirk. "It's the finding something that's perfect, just what you wanted and yanking it away from someone else."
The demon laughed and Serena stared at her for a minute. "Okay then. I take it you're greed too."
"Demons of greed and lust outnumber other sins by the hundreds. They're the sins most often to be abused when human."
Serena looked at Corrine out of the corner of her eye. "What were you when you were human?"
She smirked. "You would have called me a pirate."
"That's kind of cool."
"Because you didn't live it." Corrine smiled as she thought about the past. "I will admit that it was fun though. Some of the time. Because I was a woman, I had to be more vicious and frightening than any other. Which is part of how I came to be this."
Serena decided to give her a minute and finished putting on her shoes. Corrine came out of her memories with a sigh and looked around the room.
"That reminds me, you need jewelry."
"My necklace and watch are really the only thing that I have."
Corrine cocked her head to the side. "What about the box the Elder sent with Edwin?"
"What box?"
The demon opened the bedroom door, mumbling under her breath. "Completely useless."
Lucien sat at the island, a plate next to him with Serena's breakfast. He looked up as Corrine stalked out of the bedroom.
"Where's the box?"
"Box?" He asked confused.
"The jewelry the Elder sent for Serena."
"Oh, right." Lucien slid off the stool with an absent look. "I had completely forgotten about it."
"Useless."
"It's not like she was going anywhere that she would need it." He shot back as he left the room.
"I know there is more than big stuff in there. The Elder had gotten her some everyday pieces as well."
"How do you know?" Serena leaned against the island.
"I picked some of them out before I was transferred to Haagenti's house."
"That's a little awkward."
"I have excellent taste." Corrine shrugged. "Of course, so does the Elder. I don't know why he wanted me to pick them out to begin with."
Serena thought back to when Corrine would have left Sebastian's house. "Wouldn't they be old though?"
"Good pieces never go out of style and vintage is big right now. If necessary, the stones can be reset."
Lucien came back out from the front bedroom that she had never gone in. Holding a wooden box. He stopped when he finally saw Serena and looked shocked at the outfit. Corrine snatched the box from him and opened the lid.
"Very nice, my lady."
Serena felt a blush come up her face and smiled. "Thank you."
Both jumped a little when Corrine dumped the box on the island, a glittering mass pouring out of it. Several pieces came close to the edge and a small, black earring fell off. It skittered across the floor as Noir shot after it. He playfully batted the stone around a few times as Serena laughed before he picked it up and jumping onto the island to drop it in the pile. Corrine dug through jewels, pulling out certain pieces that caught her attention.
"Shouldn't this be a little more organized?" Serena pulled up a diamond choker that must have cost a small fortune. "What was he thinking? Where would I even wear this?"
"I believe that he was making sure that you were prepared for any occasion," Corrine said absently as she held up an overly long necklace that was fairly simple silver with a few black stones placed in the chain. Simple, at least compared to the rest of what was in front of them. She faced Serena with a smile and slipped the necklace over her head. The earring that Noir had run after was found to have a mate and the demon held them up to Serena before nodding. "Put these in."
The red head's hands were shaking a little as she slid the posts into her earlobes. Corrine had turned back to the pile and pulled out a set of bangles that she slid onto the girl's wrists. Stepping back, the demon looked critically at Serena and nodded again.
"Alright. I like it."
"That's great, because Teo should be here any minute." Lucien grabbed her bag from the living room and held it out to Serena.
"Ugh," Corrine glared at the backpack. "That bag is hideous."
Serena looked down at it and back up. "It's just a book bag."
"It's an ugly book bag."
"Well, it's all I have to carry my stuff so it'll have to work."
Corrine growled at the bag that was, in her opinion, ruining all of her hard work by it's mere existence. In the background, she heard Teo come in and choke at Serena's appearance. He told her it reminded him of the presence she had in the past, when he met her in an Indian sari. Through it all, she glared at the bag the red head was holding.
She waved her hand and the bag changed to a messenger style in leather. Gold buckles gleamed and set off the reddish color of the polished cowhide. Corrine smiled as Serena lifted the bag to look at it.
"You changed my bag."
"This one is much better."
Serena threw the strap over her head and grabbed Teo's arm. "Let's get out of her before she decides that she doesn't like my outfit as much as she thought she did."
******************A Demon's Mate*****************
Serena admitted that Corrine had been right. She had walked into her first class confident and had received several compliments on the outfit. Throughout the day, she hadn't felt the need to scurry between classrooms. She and Teo walked easily between buildings, him firmly in his disguise, and no one had anything bad to say. When the day was over in early afternoon, she met Lucien coming up from the parking lot.
The demon noticed a couple of stragglers trailing after Serena and hurried to take her bag, slipping in to walk beside her. When he looked back, the others were making their way back to their friends.
"How was class today?"
Serena could still hear frost in his voice and wondered how long it would be before Lucien would have a conversation with her without a bite to it.
"Fine." Lucien opened her door for her and the red head wished he wouldn't. She wished that they could just have a screaming argument and get it over with. But it wouldn't happen that way. He'd already yelled at her and gotten nothing from it. "I'll admit that I was more comfortable today."
"I hate to say anything nice about her, but Corrine knows how to make an impression with clothes."
Serena looked at the pin-striped dress shirt that he had rolled the sleeves up his forearms and left untucked. The distressed jeans hugged his long legs down to the black oxfords on his feet.
"She's not the only one."
Lucien sent her a smirk across the car. "Thank you."
The rest of the drive was quiet. Returning to the house shattered that.
Serena stepped out of the car and heard a scream from inside the house. Lucien pushed her behind him when she would have run ahead, giving her a shove to fall back into the car.
"Stay here and lock the doors."
The red head watched him disappear around the side of the house, heading for the back door. The screaming quieted but she could still hear something, even inside the car. The front door yanked open and Serena jumped as Lucien appeared. He came down the steps and she unlocked the door.
"Don't do that again. You already know that some demons can take on another's looks." He helped her out of the car. "I had the keys."
"What's going on?"
"Corrine and the damn cat." He grabbed her bag out of the back seat and slammed the door shut.
Serena hurried into the house and saw Corrine cradling her hand as she rocked back and forth on the couch. Noir was sitting on the island, calmly licking his paw.
"What happened?"
She was still curled around her hand and little whimpers of pain escaped her mouth. "That damn brat bit me."
The red head held out her hand. "Let me see."
Corrine's hand was swelling and between her thumb and forefinger was a bite wound. Something green and infected-looking was leaking out of the wounds and she could see the same damage as Teo's stomach and side. Corrine yanked her hand back when Serena would have touched the wound.
"Don't touch that. It's the venom."
Lucien had come in from taking the car back and saw the damage. He glared over his shoulder at the cat on the island.
"You can release venom from your teeth?"
Noir stretched lazily and laid down on the counter.
"What did you do?" Serena asked the demon in front of her.
"Nothing. I was trying to get him off the counter." Corrine pulled her hand back and curled around it. "He wouldn't move so I tried to move him myself."
"Well, that explains it." Lucien shrugged.
Serena looked up at him. "What do you mean?"
"He doesn't let any of us touch him."
Corrine glared at him, pain still visible on her face.
"Noir! Get in here." Serena stood up and put her hands on her hips. The little cat jumped from the counter easily and trotted toward her. As soon as he was close, she picked him up and sat down on the table with him in her lap. "Fix it."
Noir looked back at her with his ears plastered back against his head.
"Don't look at me like that. That is no reason to bite someone and you fix it."
He meowed at her.
"Right now." She pulled Corrine's hand forward and waited. After a moment, Noir lowered his head and started to lick the demon's hand. Slowly, she saw the lines of pain leave Corrine's face and nodded. When he was done, Noir strained to be let go. As soon as he hit the floor, the cat ran for the back door, it opened on its own and he disappeared.
It wasn't until almost midnight that the little cat showed up at the back door again. Lucien was the first one there and Noir hesitated before shooting past the other demon into the house.
Serena was in the bathtub and heard something scratch frantically at the door.
"I don't think so," she called. The red head waited a minute but didn't hear anything else. Laying her head back against the rim of the tub she tried to relax. Voices from the other side of the wall weren't helping any.
It took a minute for her to realize that Lucien and Corrine were teasing Noir.
'Well, I can't really blame them. He's been an asshole for who knows how long.'
Deciding that she had lain in there long enough, Serena stepped out of the tub and grabbed the towel from the nearby warmer rack. She was pulling her hair out of the clip on top of her head when she came into the bedroom and saw Lucien standing next to the bed with his hands on his hips.
"What is it now?"
The blonde looked up and smirked. "I think I like that outfit better than the one this morning."
Serena rolled her eyes, even his flirting had a bite to it now. "Lucien. Why are you in here?"
"He won't come out." The demon waved at the bed.
"What?"
"Since you told him that he can't lash out at us, he doesn't feel safe in the other room with us." The sarcasm rolled off him in waves.
Serena made sure the towel was secure and dropped to her knees. Noir was backed against the wall, his ears back as he looked between the two sides of the bed.
"That's because you've been a bully." She sighed and tried to see Lucien over the top of the bed. "Maybe it wasn't right to tell him that he couldn't defend himself. What does Sebastian do to punish him?"
Lucien looked at her strangely as he thought. "You know, I've never seen the Elder punish him."
She rolled her eyes.
"No wonder he acts like this." Serena moved a little closer and held a hand out. "Come on. Come out of there. It's not your fault. It's Sebastian's."
Noir stared at her for a moment, weighing his options. Slowly, the little cat edged his way out from under the bed and let her pick him up.
"Corrine, come in here." Serena held the little cat as she leaned against the bed and waited.
Corrine glared at Noir as she came in the room and the cat hissed at her.
"Stop that." Serena shook him a little. "I'm not a big fan of corporal punishment unless it's something huge. So, we're going to have a logical, adult discussion."
Lucien looked at her like she had lost her mind but settled in against the wall. The red head lifted Noir's head to look at her.
"It's not right for you to hurt others when they aren't intending to hurt you."
Corrine and Lucien started to snicker.
"It's also not right that you two were baiting him after I told him not to bite you anymore." Both demons looked a little shocked. "Yeah, I heard that. Why do all of you act like this? You're supposed to be family. And family that you actually got to pick in a way."
All three of them looked down.
"I know you're demons, but come on." She looked down at Noir. "You've made them scared of you, you've been spoiled by Sebastian and then you're upset when they make fun of you or try to bully you back when you can't do anything."
His ears flattened even as she turned to the other demons. "You two aren't making it any better by trying to get your own shot in while I've told him not to fight back. All you keep saying is that demons are better than humans. From where I'm sitting, you're acting just the same."
"Well, we are a little more viscous than humans," Lucien tried to explain.
"You're all acting like a bunch of school children. Just because you do more damage, doesn't change the behavior."
"And you'd know all about that, wouldn't you?" Waves of resentment came from Corrine as she glared at both of them.
"Don't try to change the subject. Now, we all have to live together. I'm guessing that you all haven't spent much time with each other before this?"
Lucien shrugged.
"You act like you don't get along but you've never really tried, have you?"
All three of them shook their heads.
"Well, now we're going to try."
*****************A Demon's Mate*****************
He couldn't wait anymore.
Plans, strategy, timing; it all flew away as he stared at the little house by the lake. The house he had built, for her. It had given him something to do...for a day. As times changed, the house had changed as well. It was never good enough. It never would be. But, she liked it and that was what mattered.
In the dark of the forest, he could see light from the windows of the master bedroom. Shadows passed in front of the curtains and he took a step forward. A small, black head popped out from under the fabric, staring right at him.
The young demon knew that he loved that form.
Serena pulled the curtain back and he heard her ask the cat what he was looking at.
He grabbed the nearest branch to keep his hiding place. Memories were cold and stained with blood. The living flesh on the other side of thin glass was warm. Slipping into her dreams just wasn't enough anymore and seeing her so close was almost overwhelming.
Artificial light shined off her hair as she stared into the darkness of the trees. He preferred how it had looked in candlelight or the light from the fireplace when he had brushed the red length as it dried, soft as silk.
He growled when he noticed the tank top and skimpy pair of shorts she had put on to prepare for bed. One of his former master's nightshirts would have been more modest. He made a mental note to make sure that she was provided with something different.
The little demon, she called Noir, shook his head and ducked back under the curtain. Serena took a last look into the trees, staring right at his hiding place, before smiling back into the room and letting the curtain fall back into place.
He snapped as she turned away from him. Nothing moved as he came out of the forest. There was no sound, nothing disrupted to prove that he had passed. It was easy to hover just to the side of her window and look through the break between the casement and curtain.
Noir had jumped up on the bed and Serena was staring at the cat as he fluffed the comforter. Lucien stuck his head in the door after knocking. The blonde waved at Noir but the cat merely planted himself in the middle of the bed. He looked back at Serena and meowed.
He could imagine the look his mate was receiving. His youngest demon knew that he was at his most adorable in his animal form. No one could deny him for long.
'Not even me.'
He heard Serena sigh and knew she wasn't immune either.
"Fine." The red head gave up and went to pull the comforter back so she could get into the bed.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah." She smiled at the cat. "If he does anything, I'll have him neutered."
He choked back laughter as Noir stiffened in fright, prepared to run.
Lucien laughed as he shut the door and Serena reached over to shut the lamp off. He heard the door to the deck open and slipped around the side of the house to meet Lucien.
"Elder," the demon whispered as he shut the door behind him. "What are you doing here?"
He pulled himself up to his full height as he glared at Lucien. "This is my house, Lucien."
"Yes, but you're not supposed to be here."
He didn't say anything. Lucien was right. The time wasn't right. His plans weren't finished yet. Still, he went to the door anyway.
Corrine shook her head but got up from the couch without a word. Power crept through the house as she stepped outside with Lucien and waited for their third. Neither said anything as they waited in the cool, spring night.
The door to her room was already open when he slipped inside to face Noir's glare. The cat was sitting up on the side of the bed closest to the door, waiting for him. He listened to her even breathing and pushed the command to sleep a little harder.
"Go." The demon nodded his head toward the door but Noir didn't move other than to put his ears back. A growl bubbled out of his chest. "Now."
Noir shrunk back at his tone and moved slowly across the bed. When he jumped down, the cat disappeared as soon as he hit the floor. Just to be sure, he shut the door.
Lucien and Corrine didn't say anything as Noir appeared and the door shut behind him. The locks turned as they started down the stairs. They hit the bottom as the wards went up around the little house, giving every human who would go near it a sense of foreboding and any demon the fear of a powerful Elder that didn't want to be disturbed.
He moved slowly around the edge of the small, dark room, staring at the figure on the bed. Serena moved restlessly in her sleep, fighting the compulsion as if she knew he was there. He slid onto the bed carefully, making sure not to disturb the mattress too much.
Serena moved closer in her sleep and he smirked. He slid down next to her, reveling in the warmth of her body. He remembered her cold once with the stench of death clinging to her skin. A shiver went through him but he pushed the memory back. She was alive now and he would keep her that way this time.
She sighed when he curled around her and he pushed her hair back to rub his thumb over her cheek. His fingers drifted down to skim the line of her jaw.
He could do this now. It could be so simple. He could just lift the compulsion to sleep, she'd be happy to see him after all this time. She'd been almost entranced at that stupid Fall Festival. Serena would welcome him, he could claim her and that would be the end of it.
"No. If I had wanted to do that, I would have woken her when I came in." He sighed and laid his head on her chest, listening to the steady beats of her heart. 'It's not time yet.'
The demon jumped when her arm came around him. Her fingers brushed his hair and his eyes closed in pleasure.
"My mate."
*********************A Demon's Mate******************
Graduation Day was not quite what Serena expected. She woke up that morning no happier than if it were any other day. Corrine had been more excited to dress her up than she had been.
Her hands slid down the heavy white silk dress that Corrine had picked out for her and stared at the lace sleeves. A thin slip of crinoline gave the skirt a little poof. The black sash tied in a bow behind her and trailed to the end of the skirt that stopped mid-thigh. The sash matched the black heeled sandals that gave her extra inches of height. Pearl buttons ran up the back and Corrine had produced a triple strand of matching pearls to go around her throat and wrist, each tied with a black ribbon.
Serena had thought it looked almost like a wedding dress.
She checked her hair that Corrine had spent an hour arranging in soft waves with a jeweled clip at her left temple. When she came out, Lucien was waiting with breakfast and Corrine with a sheet so she didn't ruin her outfit. Serena laughed as she waved them off.
"I'm really not hungry."
"Are you ready?" Corrine flitted around her and checked to make sure that the red head hadn't messed anything up in the few minutes that she had been out of sight.
"What is your problem? You're more nervous than I am."
"It's a special day." Lucien smiled as he took the plate back. For the first time in months, he didn't have anything nasty to say to her.
Noir meowed from her feet and Serena leaned down to pick him up.
"No!" Corrine pulled the red head back quickly. "Black fur and a white dress don't mix. Not to mention his claws on this silk."
"Alright, alright. Calm down." Serena held her hands up to placate the demon. When Corrine let her go, the demon went around her, pulling down her skirt and tugging the dress back into position.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Corrine went back into the bedroom.
"Help me." The red head ran to hide behind Lucien but the blonde just laughed and danced away. "Traitor."
Serena sent him another look when Corrine came back out with a bottle of perfume but Lucien just held his hands up.
"This is perfect." She took out the stopper and waved it around so Serena could smell it. The fruity smell was nice, light and not obvious or as noxious as most other perfumes.
"It's nice."
"It's perfect." She looked back as Lucien. "Isn't it perfect?"
"Hmm." He smiled as the red head glared at him.
Corrine waved the girl closer and dabbed the stopped at her throat, her wrists and pulled the neckline of the dress back to dab some between her breasts. Serena jumped back.
"That's enough." She pulled at the dress a little. "Forget a wedding, I feel like a virgin sacrifice."
"Without the virgin part, right?" Corrine placed the stopper back as she smiled at the red head.
Serena gaped at the other girl. "You know about that?"
"Of course."
She looked up at the ceiling. "Perfect."
"Well, I have to get ready. Teo should be here soon and then we'll all go."
"You're coming?"
"Of course." Corrine smiled as she glided out of the room and Serena stared at Lucien. The blonde just shrugged and picked up the blue coat that completed his suit.
The front door opened and Teo appeared, in his Michael disguise. He was wearing a suit of his own, black of course. The demon smiled as soon as he saw Serena.
"Are you ready for today?"
"I guess." She looked down at the dress and smoothed imaginary lines out of the skirt.
After the ceremony, Serena walked through the crowds of graduates and happy families trying to ignore the fact that she was alone. The seats reserved for her family had been empty every time she looked. Eventually, Corrine and Lucien should find her.
She didn't notice that the crowd had thinned out, keeping to the sides of the walkway and keeping away from the man standing in the middle of her path. She had almost walked into him when she finally looked up.
He was dressed in a sharp gray suit and let his silver hair hang loose around him. A single braid hung down his side with a black feather tied to the bottom. In his hands was a bouquet of white roses. When she looked up, his scars were gone and it took her a minute to recognize him.
"Undertaker?"
The reaper smirked. "I was wondering how long you were going to stare."
"I wasn't staring."
"You were." Undertaker giggled. "I was going to ask if you wanted a spoon."
Serena felt the raging blush come up her face and tried to ignore it. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard you might be celebrating some life-changing event today."
"I guess," She laughed.
Undertaker held out the roses. "Congratulations."
She blushed hotter as she took them from him and touched the soft petals. "Thanks. They're beautiful."
"You're welcome." Undertaker held out an arm for her to take, a strange look in his eye. Still, she took the arm.
"Lucien and Corrine should be around here somewhere."
"I told them to go away."
"What?"
"There is a benefit to wearing my father's feather. I get to order little demons around when it fits my mood." He giggled as he led Serena out of the building and to the parking lot.
Several others were walking around, standing in groups or running to congratulate friends while Serena kept her head down and followed where the reaper led. It was just easier that way.
"I thought I'd take you to dinner." Undertaker sent her a smirk. "Unless you're not so conventional anymore."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, you've been waited on by demons for months. You live with three of them." He giggled a little and slid a look out of the corner of his eye. "Who knows what you have been ordering from them."
"Undertaker!"
"They're all very beautiful and you've been waiting a long time for your demon. I'm sure you've gotten lonely." He giggled as he opened the passenger side door of a pretty silver car.
"It's not like that."
The reaper didn't say anything as he shut the door and went around the other side.
"It's not. Lucien's still pissed about the Edwin thing and Corrine's a bitch, who also used to be Sebastian's lover. I don't even want to think how that would work."
"There's also the Carthrage guard." He interrupted the tirade he could feel coming.
"Is that who Noir is?"
"You didn't know?"
"No." She rolled her eyes. "I didn't even realize that he was a demon until someone told me. Apparently, after he molested me in the shower."
"Really." He made a show of looking her over.
"Don't even think about it. I'm awake this time."
Undertaker laughed as he started the car and threw it into reverse.
Serena never expected him to pull the car into the parking lot of The Cliffs. It was the nicest restaurant in town and getting reservations took damn near a human sacrifice. She was still staring at the building when he shut the car off. The red head didn't notice when he got out and came around to open her door.
"What are we doing here?"
"Corrine said that you hadn't eaten all day." He shrugged as he pulled her out of the car. "Besides, isn't this what normal people do when they reach a milestone?"
"I don't think that you've ever done anything normal."
"Good a time as any to try."
At their table, Serena looked around the restaurant and saw a couple others from graduation.
"Alright, be honest. When did you make this reservation?"
"I didn't."
"Then how...?"
He put a finger up to his lips. "If you look too close, it may disappear."
"That's a lame line."
Undertaker just shrugged and opened his menu. Serena tried not to look but the feather was calling to her as she looked down at her menu.
"You can ask about it." He even look up as he guessed what she was thinking.
"What happened between you and," she looked around. "Luci?"
"Luci?"
Serena looked at the other tables. "Well, I don't want anyone to hear us."
"Nothing really. I've been trying for a long time to ignore what I already knew. You can't escape death. My father had been telling me that for years before my mother died. He'd been telling me about mates for years, as well. I just..."
"Wanted someone to blame?"
"Yeah. It just had to be someone's fault. He didn't come when I called, the only time I had ever called for him. So, it was his fault." Aelius leaned back in his chair and picked up his wineglass. "He tried to get me to come with him but I wouldn't do it. I ran across him every few years. Sometimes, I wonder if he kept finding me to see if I had forgiven him yet."
"So, have you?"
"It's hard to forgive someone for something they never did in the first place."
Serena picked up the braid and ran a finger down the edge of the feather.
"But you two are good now?"
"If you're asking if I trust him, no. I still know that that's a mistake, and a large one at that."
She didn't know what to say, so she didn't say anything. After a moment, she flicked his hair back at him. The reaper looked at the feather himself.
"I loved him once." Aelius looked into the candle on their table. "As much as I hate to say, a part of me still does."
"Your parents are still your parents."
He nodded and looked at her again. "Even when they don't show up to your graduation?"
"I didn't see them for Christmas either." She wiped under her eyes to make sure nothing ruined her makeup. "I felt so damn stupid. I went shopping, which I hate doing, suffered through Corrine little comments, picked out something and got to the house and there was no one there. One of the neighbors, Mrs. Rolston, was outside greeting people coming to her house and told me that they had gone to visit relatives. No one said anything to me."
"Did you give them their gifts later?"
She shook her head. "No, they're still at the house. I know I should just get rid of them but..."
"You know, it's not you. It's quite a common occurrence for those that will mate demons. They have no close connections, even with family, so it's not so hard to leave."
"Then what's this?" She waved between them.
The server saved him from having to answer. After their plates were set down, he had gained his equilibrium back.
"What makes you think that we're close?"
Serena stared at the reaper.
"We haven't seen each other in months. We haven't spoken since Edwin was moved to Elder Haagenti's house. On the other hand, you talk to little Alex once a week."
"How do you know about that?"
"Malory mentioned it." He waved it off and took a sip from the wineglass in front of him. "You think because you know about my father that we're close. We're two people that shared an extraordinary experience. Once it is over, we drifted away from each other."
The red head watched him silently as the cold truth poured over her. Would she be unhappy to never see Undertaker again? Yes, but it didn't steal her breath or the ability to think. Not like thinking that she might never see Sebastian again did.
But, something else pulled at the back of her mind. Working around the sudden dryness in her mouth, she asked.
"Then why are you here?"
The reaper's dual green eyes almost glowed in the candles. "Hell if I know."
Both stared at each other, neither saying anything. Serena broke first and looked down at her plate and the meal that was no longer appealing. Soft music played and Aelius looked to the abandoned dance floor in the center of the room.
He stood up quickly and held out a hand. Serena stared at the elegant hand and saw he had cut his nails as well. The black nails only emphasized the long, pale fingers. She hesitated for a second before taking his hand.
"Sebastian obviously didn't make a joke for you out of my dancing skills."
He giggled as he pulled her closer. "Just follow me."
Laughing at the same thing Sebastian had said to her when he had gotten her to dance over a hundred years ago.
"I can't believe you know how to dance." She smiled a little. "And know enough to keep me from stepping all over your feet."
"It's one of my many skills."
She laughed and looked around them.
Now that the ice was broken several other couples were joining them on the floor. Serena saw a few girls from graduation with their fathers and quickly looked back to her partner. He saw it of course. Thankfully, Aelius decided not to say anything.
"So, what's the plan now?"
"I don't know. Maybe I'll come back and visit you all in London." She was very proud of the fact that she didn't choke on the words.
"You know that won't happen."
"Yeah, I know."
*********************A Demon's Mate*******************
When the car pulled up in front of the house, Serena stared at the dark windows. Aelius put the car in park but didn't shut off the engine.
"Why don't you come in for a while?"
He leaned around her to look at the house. "I think that you have enough company in there."
"Yeah, I guess." She still didn't move to open the door. "They always sit in the dark when I'm not home."
"Well, they are demons."
"I know. They like the dark."
"They can also see in the dark. So, there is no reason to have a bunch of lights on when it's just them there. Demons are ruthlessly pragmatic."
Serena shrugged and reached for her graduation gown and cap in the backseat. Aelius beat her to it and held out the black fabric.
"Thanks." She took it from him with a smile. "Thank you for dinner and for actually coming to my graduation."
"It's an important time."
"Yeah. That's what everyone tells me." Serena rolled her eyes and put a hand on the door handle.
He grabbed her hand before she slipped out and pulled her back. The reaper stared at the hand he held for a minute before looking back to the house.
"Undertaker?"
"Don't...call me that."
"Aelius?" She gave him a smile before slipped out of the car.
"That's better." He smirked and yanked her back in. Serena fell back into the seat and ended up stretched across the console. He slid a hand along her jaw, holding her head still as he leaned down and kissed her forehead. The red head blinked at him before smiling and sitting back up.
"Goodnight, Aelius." Serena smiled at him before closing the car door behind her.
As she stepped onto the porch, the reaper put the car in gear. He looked one more time at the door that was just closing behind her.
"Goodbye, Serena."
"Lucien. Corrine. I'm back," Serena called as she clicked on the little Tiffany lamp on the entry way table. No one answered her. "Lucien? Corrine?"
Still nothing.
"Holy shit, am I actually babysitter free?" Serena smiled as she walked into the dark kitchen and opened the door to the fridge. She reached in to grab a bottle of water and felt a prickling down her neck.
Serena straightened slowly and closed the door of the refrigerator as she tried to look around the room. As she turned to the living room, the scent of spiced vanilla danced on the air.
He had turned the overstuffed chair to face the kitchen, giving him a better angle to stare at her. The demon was dressed in his normal black, highlighting his lithe frame and pale skin. His head leaned on his hand as he stared at her with a smirk.
"Congratulations, my mate."
*Author's Note 2: I'm going to do a one-shot about this later. I already have the entire idea and half of it written.
**Author's Note 3: Please remember that this is a demon not an actual cat. Do not try this at home unless you possess an authentic demon that is disguised as a cat. And if you do, tell me where you got that. Share the love, ya know? Also, this scene was inspired by Simon's Cat: Let Me In.