Sebastion

Her curiosity peaked mine. Why would she ask that? That knowledge would serve no purpose. In fact, it could send one into despair, perhaps even madness.

The answer coming from the demon that was going to savor it. Indeed, my curiosity was well and truly roused.

I would answer her, as well a butler of my stature should. Obeying everything from a simple request to a heartfelt order. But how deep should I delve while granting her order? What details should I include? Did I want the calm in her eyes? Or would I relish the fear… the panic… as she realized the immeasurable pleasure I would get from devouring her?

Humans were dull, infinitely boring, in their predictability. However, the few times they acted counter to that predictable nature, made them tolerable. That surprise made the tediousness of my days bearable.

My young master. He surprised me at every turn.

I had believed I had my Mistress sorted out. I felt, despite her resolve during the making of the contract, that she, when the time came, would wish for me to deliver the killing blow. Which would have been fine. I do enjoy a bit of blood play. The length of time she took to recover, her hesitance to speak. All of these things spoke to regret, to me feeling as if she wished she had simply died.

Most times she seemed as fragile as the thinnest glass, barely a bump and she would shatter. But as time moved on, I found I was wrong. That was when she was at her strongest.

"My Lady." I bowed before meeting her eyes. I could do nothing about the twist of my lips that felt as evil as me. The smile was one of anticipation. How would she react?

"Your soul is very different from my former master's. They would have to be. While seasoned with much the same spice, you have yet to take a life. Yet to have your revenge. Those things will change the way you taste to me." Her eyes never left mine and I found myself slightly disappointed in the lack of horror. "There is nothing that I can compare them to that will allow you to experience what I do after consuming one."

"Of course." She said and I will admit, her smile surprised me. "So, you have tasted mine."

"Only the barest bit. And I can really only tell you that yours is far more delicate than his." I could still remember the hint of her soul in her blood. The glistening crimson that covered my hands as I sealed our contract was a delicacy that I couldn't resist. The warmth of her body giving rise to the notes of her life. The joy, the loneliness. The happiness, the fear. So much fear. Rage. Helplessness. Despair.

The notes and spices of the finest red wine, the complexity would be the only comparable thing, and even that would leave the wine as bland as desert sands.

"Delicate?" Her question roused me from my memories.

"Indeed, my Lady." I almost stopped the light bit of laughter the sight of her furrowed brown. "However, that in no way means less." Had I insulted her? Most women preferred to be 'delicate'.

Perhaps she would intrigue me as much as my young Lord.

She looked away and I found myself… missing… that direct gaze.

"Delicate." This was not directed at me and I remained silent. "I wonder, was that what everyone believedofme?"

Alanna

Delicate.

The way noble women were brought up. Dainty. Fragile. So very breakable.

Things would be different now, for as long as I lived, anyway. The life of leisure was no longer mine. I had an estate to run, with the help of my impeccable butler. I had revenge to plan for. I couldn't, no, I wouldn't, laze away the days.

This was my world now.

Hold tight to my purpose. Use it to move forward. One person at a time. Slay them all. Then, I could rest eternally.

"Sebastian, what does it feel like to take a life?" Where did this morbid curiosity come from?

There was that sound again, as if he only stopped himself from laughing. I didn't care enough to find out.

"Mistress, that is something I cannot tell you." That got my attention more than the almost laugh and I faced him. A twist of his lips was the only thing that showed humor.

"Please don't tell me you won't because you are under the mistaken impression that I am some wilting flower."

"No, my Lady, that I wouldn't do. I shall put forth every effort in answering anything that you may wish to ask. It matters not to me if the answer be the desired one or not. I am your's to command and I will never lie to you. It's simply because I don't know. Humans are different. Some take pleasure from ending the lives of their brethren. Others abhor it, only finding it necessary in order for they themselves to survive. Some only do it for money, many for a country. Others let themselves be done away with, rather than doing what might be necessary at the time.

His smile grew wider. "I can tell you how it feels to me, but that information would be useless to you, as you are a human, and I am not."

Pleasure from killing.

Judging by the heat in my blood, simply by remembering that newspaper article, I felt that would be me.

The longing to end the ones responsible for destroying my husband, my family, my child was nearly overwhelming. The only thing keeping it from sweeping me away was the need to know how to do it.

I couldn't even cut bread.

But I would learn. And what would be a better time than the present?

"Sebastian."

The expression on his face changed, became expectant. Did he know I was about to give him his first command?

"This is an order. Teach me to kill."

A burning filled my abdomen, flames raging, excruciating, then gone. I looked down, my hands pressed to the place my unborn babe once lived.

Lifting my head, I met his glowing fuchsia gaze. His lips were still curved, but there was a gentleness in this. Solemnly, he knelt in front of me. "Yes, my Lady."

Sebastian

She handled the pain better than I had hoped.

My choice of locations had changed since Lord Phantomhive. I had learned with him. Though what had happened with his contract was not his fault.

With her, my choice was simply to remind her, every time she gave me a command, of what she had lost. That might have been sadistic of me, but I felt it suitable. But then, I was supposed to be evil, wasn't I? The monster under the bed?

Though humans seemed to me far more evil than myself.

Lying, scheming, fighting each other for the most trivial things. Horrid beings. And these were supposedly God's children. They may be, but they were spoiled brats.

Ah, but this was not what I was supposed to be doing.

I rose and offered my arm.

She kept her eyes on mine, not moving. Did I perhaps make a mistake?

After a moment, she sighed and gave a bitter smile. Why bitter?

"You are going to be training me and yet you still seek to help me." She put her hand on my arm and rose.

"A Livingston butler who can't do that much isn't worth his salt," I said.

"Mm."

"Perhaps the ballroom, my Lady?"

"Fine."

The disinterest in locations brought a new smile. I could almost smell the longing in her. The desire to start preparing for the things to come. Yes, my violent Mistress would take great pleasure from ending these lives. That enjoyment would leave a mark on her soul, but I felt that once she had achieved her goal, it would hardly be noticeable. She would still be a soul to savor.

When we reached the ballroom, I removed my tailcoat. After placing it neatly over the seat of one of the chairs along the wall, I turned to her.

"In order to do this right, I would rather have you in pants. Since that is not an option, please forgive me for what I am about to do."

"What do you mean?" She asked.

She would see in a moment. This was but one dress out of many, with more that would be coming. She needed to be able to move freely.

Kneeling, I gripped the hem of her skirt and petticoats and ripped them. The material gave way with a satisfying sound and a sight of her slender leg. Repeating the same action on the other side, I stood and admired my handiwork. I would take note to discuss with the seamstress a method of making a dress of two with slit sides. But that would be later.

"Spin," I said and her brows met. "Please."

If this were to work, she would have to trust me, and for now, obey me.

Wordlessly, she did as I requested.

The skirt flew out around her, just as I wanted. Her legs would be mostly unhindered. What of her corset?

"By your leave." I said before moving around to her back. I would plan better for our next session. After unbuttoning the back, I ran my nail down the lacing of her corset. Tugging on the edges that disappeared beneath her petticoats, I watched as she took a deep breath. Perfect. I re-closed the back and turned her to face me.

"My Lady," I said and she turned toward me. "Please keep in mind that through the contract, I cannot kill you, though is may seem that way at times. You have no need to fear me."

"I think I have much to fear from you, Sebastian." She smiled again before lifting her head. "Now, teach me what I need to know."

"Very good."

Alanna

Time was meaningless during the lesson. And such a lesson.

I learned with a small knife first, one that he said could be strapped to my ankle, or, provided I had long loose sleeves, it could he strapped to my wrist. A small movement would have it sliding into my palm and from there, into the flesh of my enemies.

At the beginning, I grew impatient with the instructions to flip the blade on my hand, over and over. From one to the other. The hilt in my palm, to the sharp metal against my skin. What did all of this teach?

"You have no idea what is going to happen in a fight." He said when I grew vocal with my irritation. Grabbing my wrist, he smiled. "How can you cut into the one holding you now?"

Ah! A moment of revelation.

A slight toss and I held the knife in my free hand and lunged for him. That half laugh sound filled my ears as he disappeared.

"Now, that is not fair, my Lady. If I can't hurt you, then why do you wish to hurt me?" His voice came from behind me and I spun, blade out.

"I am studying you. You say I won't know what is going to happen, well, if I watch you, won't I learn?"

"No, Mistress. You see, I am not human." He approached me and took my hand, the one holding the knife, and held it up to his heart. "This won't kill me. You could cut me a thousand times and while it would be… uncomfortable, I would walk away."

"I see." I dropped the knife. "Is there a way to learn about humans?"

"Well, I could hire a trainer, but your skills would suffer from it. So, my piece of advice would be to watch the eyes. They will tell you more about the opponent's moves than anything. They give so much away."

I nodded. "Fine. Please continue."

He studied me as I followed every instruction he gave. I tried to be as quick as he with spitting out directions, though I felt as if I were failing miserably. Soaked in sweat, I was trembling when he finally stopped.

"Perhaps tea?" He asked, ripping a strip of petticoat to wrap around my hand. My grip slipped from sweat and my blood was the punishment.

"No. Continue." I said, standing straight and tried not to let my fatigue show.

That insolent smile appeared as he told me to spin while shifting the knife behind me.

The weight of the skirts was my excuse as my leg gave out. The floor rushed up to me before arms caught me and held me softly.

"Tea, my Lady." He said. "You can't fight when you can't stand. Unless, you are trying to deny me my payment."

He was gentle as he helped me to stand.

"Point taken, Sebastian. We will resume this later."

"Such a strong spirit." His voice was low and I don't think he meant for me to hear it. Either that or the admiration that laced the words.