It's been two days since you last saw Sebastian. Two hellishly long days.
It had been fine at first. Sure, you were upset that you'd upset him, but that was all. You'd convinced yourself that he'd forgive you in time, and settled into bed for the evening.
That night was one of the worst nights of your life.
Your whole body felt as if it was on fire, just as it had in the early days of the ritual. The main difference was that in the past, the pain had gone away quickly, or had been treated by Sebastian. However, it didn't fade away quickly, and Sebastian clearly has no intentions of helping you.
The pain had lasted all night, preventing you from sleeping. Only with sunrise did it finally seem to fade, leaving you completely exhausted. You'd finally been able to get a few moments of sleep, before Mey-Rin had knocked on your door. You'd reluctantly gotten out of bed to let her in, silently hoping that she was going to leave the food and go.
It didn't turn out like that.
Instead, Mey-Rin had told you that she was under strict instructions from Sebastian not to let you sleep in the daytime. You'd almost kicked her out there and then, until you remembered that Sebastian is upset with you. Maybe if you cooperate, he'll find a way to forgive you for questioning his motivations and intentions.
You'd let Mey-Rin in, and spent the whole day with her. You'd played chess, drank tea, gossiped… all the while fighting your desire to sleep. You were relieved when evening finally arrived, and she left you alone to sleep.
That is, until the pain started again.
That second night was even worse than the first. You'd had to shove your head into the pillow to keep yourself from screaming loud enough to wake the entire manor. The pain so unbearable you're surprised you didn't pass out as you have in the past. Instead, you'd remained conscious the whole night, trying to think of ways to ease the pain.
Alas, in your sleep-deprived state of mind, not a single idea popped into your head. So instead you'd suffered, curled up in the middle of your bed, praying that Mey-Rin wasn't planning to pay you another visit.
Alas, that's exactly what she did. She arrived at your door even earlier this morning, determined not to let you sleep for any reason. It's been a living hell, going two days without sleep. You only hope that tonight will grant you some relief from the pain.
You're about to find out. The sun is setting outside.
You're currently sipping a glass of water, your heart full of dread. If tonight is to be like the previous two, the pain will hit you the moment the sun disappears from view. You begin to sob, the two days without sleep beginning to take their toll. All you want is sleep. You'd give anything just to sleep for a few hours. Surely, this can't go on forever. Is there any way of stopping it? How many long days and sleepless nights will you have to endure before this is all over? You can't take this any more. You need to find a way to make it stop, no matter what. At this point, death seems like the only viable option. If Sebastian doesn't come back soon… you may not have a choice.
The sun finally sets.
The pain flares up once again.
You drop your half-empty glass of water on the floor, screaming out in agony. You end up stifling most of it with the back of your hand, still determined to keep quiet. You're not sure why you're bothering, it's not as if Sebastian will reward your consideration. In fact, being denied your screams might make him even angrier…
No, he will be pleased. He'll be pleased that you haven't woken his future meal. That's all he cares about, after all. Eating souls. Nothing else matters to him. Not you, not the servants, nothing. He probably doesn't even enjoy sex! He's a manipulator, after all. Even now, he's got you right where he wants you. You regret ever feeling guilt over your suspicions. Of course he's going to manipulate you. Of course he's going to use you.
Of course he's going to ruin you.
Tears of pain and anger fall unrestrained from your eyes. Who are you now? Sebastian has changed you so much over these last few months. You used be be a doting wife, who would do anything to please her cheating husband. You were a push over, sure, but at least his intentions were always clear. Sebastian's motives are as murky as a pond in autumn. The more you try to pick them out, the more unsettled the water becomes, making them even harder to distinguish. You just know that some day soon, you're going to fall in, and drown in his lies. If they even are lies. You just don't know any more. You only wish you knew someone who could he-
Wait. Him. You could ask him to help you.
Undertaker.
Up until now, you'd completely forgotten his offer of assistance, pain and sleep deprivation affecting your memory. You wonder if he's nearby, awaiting your signal. What was that signal again?
The window! You have to get to the window!
You try to stand, only to fall onto the floor, in too much pain to walk properly. You let out another scream, and begin to consider abandoning your plan in favour of writhing in agony for the next few hours…
No, you can't do that. You can't give up. You need to get to the window. You have to invite the Undertaker inside. He's your last hope, your only chance at freeing yourself from this unbearable agony. You need his help. You need him.
You begin to crawl over to the window, body screaming out in protest. Every moment brings with it a fresh wave of agony, but you keep going. You inch further and further towards the window, determination in you tear-filled eyes. You're going to make it, you're going to make it, you're going…
The door to the bedroom opens. Sebastian has returned.
He strides over to you, a wide smirk on his face. 'Well, well, what do we have here? You look pitiful, my dear. Positively pitiful. Crawling around on the floor like an animal, have you no shame? I daresay you don't. I daresay that I've fucked away all of your shame. Still, I have missed the sight of you on your knees. I really don't get to see it often enough these days.' His words cut into you like a whip, tearing your heart to pieces. How can he be so cruel, despite seeing you suffer like this? He truly is a demon.
He scoops you up off of the floor, and drops you onto the bed, towering over you as he does. 'You know, as much as I like the thought of you on your knees, you look so much better on your back.' He bites you on the neck, and your body jolts up of it's own volition, trying to make contact with his.
'Ah, yes. I see the ritual is coming along swimmingly. I bet you've had a rough few nights, haven't you? One moment you're having to live through excruciating torture, then the next your whole body feels like it's on fire.' Did he just make a joke? What kind of monster jokes at a time like this? A demon, apparently.
Somehow, his smirk grows even wider. 'You didn't have to suffer, you know. If you had only been your obedient little self a few days ago, I could have helped you with it, made it all go away. Alas, you questioned my motivations, and I do not care for such questions. So, I've decided to let you suffer a while longer. I need to make sure you learn your lesson, after all. I'll come back in a few days, should I feel like I need entertaining again. I have missed my favourite toy…' He squeezes one of your breasts, and you let out at sound that's halfway between a moan and a scream. You try to talk, but the pain prevents any words from coming out.
Before he leaves, he strides over to the window, and opens it, letting the cool air flow into the room.
He looks back at you. 'I take it that this is what you were trying to achieve when I walked in? It won't help, you know. If anything, it'll make things worse. Your body only feels hot to you. In reality, it's the same temperature that it's always been. All this is going to do is increase your chances of catching a cold. Still, what my pet wants…
'Good luck trying to sleep tonight. I get the feeling you're going to need it.' With that, he leaves, and you swear you can hear him chuckling to himself.
You let out a furious scream. How can he just leave you like this? You're suffering because of him, yet he's not going to do anything to help you? Have you truly wounded his pride so much that he's willing to make you go through hell as punishment? You regret ever coming here, you regret ever trying to feel anything other than hate for him. He doesn't deserve your loyalty or your obedience. You're going to leave him, you have to leave him, you to to g-
Your thoughts are cut short by a fresh wave of pain, one that affects every single one of your nerve endings. You want to die. You just want to die. You wish you'd died on the streets, poor and hungry. At least then you'd never have known pain like this. Starvation surely can't be worse than this. Nothing can be worse than this.
The pain is getting stronger now. Why won't it stop? It needs to stop! Why won't it stop? it needs to stop! Why won't it stop? It needs to stop? Why won't it stop? It needs to stop! WHY WON'T IT STOP? WHY WON'T IT STOP? WHY WON'T IT-
A pair of hands grab your shoulders, but you barely register them. Your mind is desperately repeating its chant over and over again, unable to do anything more complex thanks to the pain. It's all you can think of, and all that you know. You just want it to stop. Why won't it stop?
You think you feel something prick one of your arms, but you're not sure. You're not sure of anything. There is only the pain. The pain is all you know. There is nothing but pain, and it never stops.
That is, until it does.
You feel the pain fade away slowly, your mind gradually regaining control over itself. As you regain lucidity, you finally pay attention to the other person in the room.
It's the Undertaker.
He notices your increased awareness, and begins to speak softly to you. 'It's okay, my dear, you're okay. I've given you a special little injection. It should keep the pain away for now.' You could kiss him. You should kiss him. He deserves a kiss. Would he accept a kiss? Probably not, given your altered state of mind. Maybe when you've had enough sleep to regain full control over your mind.
You blink at him heavily, trying to form words. You manage only two of them; 'You came?'
Undertaker suddenly looks very awkward. 'Well, you see… I know that technically, you didn't open the window, but I thought that you might have tricked Sebastian into doing it for you, given how you clearly weren't in any fit state to do it yourself. I'm sorry for interfering. Unless of course, you want me to interfere? If so, I'm more than happy to help you out like this every night. Or, I can help you break the ritual? Anything you want, you have but to ask. Time must be running short now though, so you'll have to decide quickly. For now, I think it's best if you rest. Do you want me to visit you tomorrow?' You nod weakly, silently thanking your lucky stars for his existence. Part of you wonders exactly what was in that injection, but you don't have the strength to ask him. Maybe tomorrow night.
The Undertaker gently scoops you up and tucks you into bed. You think he kisses your forehead, but you can't be certain, as your consciousness is already beginning to fade. You try to thank him, but you're too tired to speak again. Instead you watch him as he makes to leave, cleaning up your broken glass (something Sebastian had failed to notice, apparently) before heading over to the window.
You fall into a deep sleep before he reaches it.