The Choice is Mine Chapter 3
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Black Butler but Briar is all mine.
Steam rose from the grill top as Sebastian wiped a rag across its surface. Placed on the counter were six plates filled with breakfast items, each wrapped in plastic to keep the heat in. I really shouldn't be surprised at the speed Sebastian was able to finish the meals. After all, he was a demon.
"You finished these really quickly." I said as I waved an arm towards the plates.
"I wanted no distractions when we have our discussion. Besides, that was nothing." He said.
"Won't it seem weird though. I just walked up here." I said as I eyed all the contents.
Sebastian went to the sink, dropping the rag into a sanitation bucket. Completely unbothered by my statement he turned around and started leaning against the sink.
"Honestly Briar. Its not that hard to manipulate their minds to think that thirty minutes have passed. I can make them see what I want them to see. Here, I'll prove my point."
He reached out for four of the plates, neatly stacking them on his arm. I swiftly grabbed the other three and to my disbelief we both walked out the door. I gave glances to the cops that were in the front. Several heads could be seen popping up from their resting positions on the couch. No one was alarmed in the slightest. Once the plates were in the warmer we returned to the kitchen and I shut the door behind us.
"Told you." He said mockingly. "Not only did they not question how quickly they came out"
"They also didn't see you." I said, finishing his lecture.
Sebastian nodded his head, satisfied that I was finally understanding some of his abilities.
"Now that the medial task are completed we can have a deep conversation."
"Have our conversations not been deep ones?" I asked, puzzled by his choice of words.
"I'm afraid not." Said Sebastian as a frown started to pull at his lips. "Before I could only scratch upon the surface of the topics that I wanted to share with you. However, now that your eyes have been fully opened by this world I wish to go deeper."
His eyes started glowing a crimson red and I desperately fought the urge to run out of the room.
I'm gonna have nightmares because of this.
"Why are you afraid to become a demon?" asked Sebastian.
The question took me off guard. The thought of becoming a demon has always made me uncomfortable. The species didn't seem to fit well to who I am.
"I-I don't have it in me to do the things that demons do, whatever that"
"Wrong. Do you know what the main purpose of a demon is?"
"Uhm, to tempt and torture humanity."
"Correct, as a demon I bring misery to the world by confusion. I confuse the heart of a person, the mind of a person and the soul and if a human is sent to my realm I can physically torture them as well. Now I want you to think about your experience with humanity after you joined. Actually, I'll do you one better."
Sebastian leaned over; his lips were mere inches from mine. I held my breath waiting for him to speak. Which memory would he bring up? Maybe one I was trying to suppress.
"Think about"
"Excuse me? Can I put in a breakfast order?" said one of the cops who had entered the kitchen while I was distracted. A snarl came from Sebastians throat as he stared daggers at the intruder. He had no idea how close he was to death as he wrote out his order.
Sebastian stood motionless by the microwaves, his eyes looking at the pocket watch he kept in his coat. He breathed in deeply causing his nostrils to flare.
"Twenty Minutes before closing. How tacky." Said Sebastian as he crossed the kitchen to where I was holding the menu. I turned towards him as he held my gaze.
"May I see the menu." He asked sweetly. "I would like to know what my next target has ordered in this despicable manner."
"What?! No! I- I don't want his death on my hands."
"Little one, his death or whatever horrible thing I decide to do to him will not be your doing."
Horrible thing? What could be more horrible then death?
"Got it, despite your cooperation. I'll finish this really quickly." Said Sebastian as he removed his coat and rolled up his sleeves.
Two minutes later the meal was taken to the front.
"Now then, we shouldn't have anymore distractions."
"Ma'am is it too late to put in a breakfast order?"
Pressing my lips together I looked at my watch which was at six fifty. Ten minutes before I could have told them a flat out no.
I hate these dumba$$ AFI's.
"Yea" I said as I tossed the menu folder a little too roughly in his direction. I watched as he started to write, then randomly he wiped his hands on his pants and seconds later he wiped his face.
"It sure is hot in here." He said as he turned to me.
"And its about to get hotter."
I snapped my attention to Sebastian which is something I really wish I hadn't done. His form became shifty as his body flickered. Raven feathers scattered across the kitchen floor, his shoes spiked, his teeth sharpened as a bead of poison slide down his sharp canine. His eyes became a red that I had never seen before, unknown and alien to this world. I faintly heard the door close but I was too transfixed on the form that was appearing before me that I didn't even bother to look in that direction.
"I'll be back." Said Sebastian as he calmly walked out the door. I walked over to it but before I could look out Sebastian was at the grill top, cracking two eggs for the over easy that were just ordered.
I heard rustling in the front so I opened the kitchen door. The scene was a frenzy as cops rushed in and out of their office. Some were bringing out ammunition while others were getting geared up. One of the cops saw the confused look on my face. He took the time to fill me in on what was going on. Apparently, something went off and that they were leaving to check. With that they were out the door.
What an interesting morning. I thought to myself as I returned to the kitchen. Sebastian was whipping the grill top clean again, his demeanor still eerily calm and the feathers were all removed from the floor.
"The security Forces Airmen will be gone for the rest of the day." Sebastian said as he placed the orders into the register. "Apparently something is triggering the sensors in all their assigned regions. Plus, there is a future forecast of a nice long nail blowing out both of their vehicles tires and a loss of cell service with a nasty chance of a thunderstorm with lightning within five. I heard that it stops them every time" He said as he winked at me.
Who knew a wink could have such dangerous actions behind it?
"What a pity." He continued as he held out a plate of scrambled eggs, French toast and Kiwis.
"Come sit down for breakfast."
Do I have a choice?!
I stared at Sebastian in disbelief as I ate my eggs, with just one second, he completely jacked up the cops entire day, all because two people were inconsiderate.
"Tell me Sebastian. What do you do to your enemies?"
"Easy, I incinerate them in the lake of fire repeatedly. Allowing their wounds to heal completely and just before they experience the feeling of being whole with no pain I dunk them back into the lake again."
I really need to stop asking him questions.
"Tell me Briar. What would you do to your enemies?"
"Nothing, I don't have the power to do anything."
He looked at me, I guess he was considering my answer before responding.
"I want to go back to what we were discussing before some." He swallows hard. "annoying individuals interrupted our conversation."
UH OH!
"I want you to think back to the time when you were deployed in Turkey. You remember that time don't you? I can still see the soul wound from it. Tell me what happened?"
I guess now was my turn to swallow hard. How on earth could I forget Diyarbikar when the memories haunt me.
"I was sent to that site with a team from hell."
"You were. And might I say that it was a very enjoyable ride for us demons."
"You demons? You weren't the only one there?"
"I'm afraid not, that team came with so many "issues" that it was a cake walk for several demons to attach themselves to the group."
That's disturbing.
"Well, from the beginning there were issues. Unfair treatment, favoritism, that sort of stuff. It felt like they wanted the impossible and they were willing to burnout our bodies to get it done."
"What happened after you spoke up against the person that was mistreating you?" said Sebastian as he handed me a chocolate bar. "For comfort." He said.
"I got paperwork."
"And on that day" spoke Sebastian.
"I stood before the captain with my arms pressed to my side. As she read about the wrong that I did for speaking against the manager of the DFAC. While my "offenses" were being read to me that bastard sat in the corner, smugly drinking his coffee. Proud to have manipulated someone that should have been over him to do his bidding. That day I got a "Letter of Recommendation," they had completely skipped over the letter for a first offense and went straight to a more severe one. That's not what hurt me the most though. That day they took my newsletter away, saying I couldn't be "trusted." Funny coming from people that can twist your words around."
I threw the chocolate to the ground, all the rage of the day coming back to me with the force of a meal coming back up from being eaten.
"That was my newsletter! I started it to help myself and the people around me. That day they took my voice and made it clear that my opinions didn't matter, that I could not speak out against mistreatment! I was nothing but a number and that I better remember my place. To add injury to insult a month later I found out with everyone else at the camp that the newsletter had a new editor. I had no fore warning that my baby was given away and no warning about the announcement. They might as well had slapped me in the face."
"Interesting. And what would you do to the captain and the TSgt that wronged you, birthing these feelings of anger and resentment."
"An Eye for An Eye and a Tooth for A Tooth."
"My my my. How breathtaking…"