Final Chapter

"What?!" Both demons exclaimed, jumping apart. There was a slight crackle of energy and Sebastian wondered if Gabrielle could feel it too.

The white haired demon, named Glaisyer as Sebastian had learned through overheard conversations, sighed in annoyance. "The earl and the duchess are gone." He repeated in a slower tone.

"Who took them?" Gabrielle asked.

"Some demon in glasses and a young boy…at least I think it was a boy. I'm not quite sure…" Glaisyer started to mumble.

Gabrielle smacked him, a resounding smack that was swallowed up by the loud music. "Glaisyer, focus!"

"Oh, right. Yeah, they grabbed them from their table and dragged them outside. The twins went after the kidnappers but were quickly dispatched by some demon triplets." Glaisyer continued.

"Thomson, Timber, and Canterbury." Sebastian mused. "Well it seems a rescue mission is in order." He stood up and offered Gabrielle his hand. "Shall we?"

Gabrielle took it and looked at Glaisyer. "Go change and keep the crowd entertained with your tamed tiger tricks. Find Undertaker; he'll be your "tamer". Do not let the crowd learn what's happened, understand?"

Glaisyer nodded and rushed off to find Undertaker. She turned back towards Sebastian. "Come on."

Having seen that the twins would recover, they had set off in search of their masters' kidnappers. Claude and and Alois had not gone very far. They were easy enough to find in the woods behind Chateau Fontaine. Claude stood in the middle of the clearing, looking at them coldly. Alois was sitting on top of a large gilded cage guarded by the demon triplets. Inside the cage were Ciel and Alice, tied together.

Alois stuck his tongue out playfully. "Look at my new pets!"

"Release them at once!" Sebastian ordered.

"Hmm, and what happens if I don't?" Alois taunted.

"You little brat, I'll make sure you never finish puberty!" Gabrielle countered, pulling a blade from her bosom. Sebastian was a bit taken back, but pulled out his set of butter knives.

"Your fight is with me, Michaelis." Claude said suddenly.

Sebastian and Gabrielle both looked at the cage. Ciel's right eye was glowing as was Alice's right middle finger.

"Sebastian, this is an order. Get rid of Claude." Ciel commanded at the same time Alice said, "Gabrielle, follow this order. Rescue us at once."

"Yes, my lord." Sebastian's eyes glowed demonic red.

"Yes, my princess." Gabrielle looked at Sebastian for a brief moment, eyes glowing even though most could not see it. In that brief moment, it seemed as if the entire world had realigned itself around that face and the demon who wore it. Even when they cast off these human guises, they would remain bonded. But they had more pressing matters at hand. "Sebastian, go after Claude. I can handle those three on my own." Sebastian nodded and took off for Claude, their scuffle carrying them deeper into the woods.

Alois ordered the triplets to attack her, hoping down off the cage, presumably with the key. The three demons charged her, attacking with various weapons. She dodged them, slipping through their strikes with the grace of a serpent. She managed to cut one of the demons' spear in half with her blade but he used the two pieces as a substitute weapon. Alice and Ciel watched from their seats with concentration and what appeared to be…amusement?

Gabrielle quickly incapacitated the first triplet, tying him up with the ribbon from her dress. The other two came from behind her. She snapped the wooden rake into pieces and delivered a damaging kick to his stomach. But the other one was just a little bit quicker and she saw the pick axe coming down towards his face…

Clang! The blade dislodged from its handle in a flash of orange and red. It was Novella with her death scythe. The reaper swung her axe expertly before taking off after the triplet. Gabrielle silently thanked her and rushed over to the cage, picking Alois up by the collar of his shirt.

She brought the blade to the hollow of his throat, smiling wickedly with sharp teeth. "Now, I'll gut you like a trout." She sniffed at him. "Your soul will make a most wonderful treat."

Alois kicked at her, desperately trying to escape her grip. "Claude! Claude, where are you? I need you!"

"Claude is a bit tied up at the moment." Sebastian said bemusedly, emerging from the woods with a lovestruck Grell. He made his way over to Gabrielle and Alois. "Allow me, dear." He took the boy from Gabrielle's grip after she had retrieved the key from Alois' pocket.

She unlocked the cage door, untying the two children. "I hope you are still in good spirits, dear Alice." Alice rubbed at her stomach, where the rope had been tightest, and huffed.

"Young master, what should we do with this one?" Sebastian asked casually, looking at Ciel for instruction.

Ciel fastened his eye patch back on. "I don't really care. Kill him if you want."

"As you wish, young master."

"Don't even think about it!" Novella shouted, stepping over from the triplet she had defeated. She inspected her axe delicately for damage and pulled her assignment book from the folds of her clothes.

"It seems she's right, Bassy. This one's still got some time left, although not much." Grell peered over her shoulder, adjusting his glasses.

"Leave him for his rubbish butler to collect. I'm missing my party and I will not stand for this." Alice said, smoothing out her dress and fixing her mask back to her face. "Come, Ciel."

The crowd had been thoroughly entertained by "Sir Undertaker and his tamed Siberian tiger". They applauded the reaper and demon's tricks, completely unaware of what was going on.

"Thank you, thank you! You've all been a wonderful audience!" Undertaker announced, ending his show. He and Glaisyer left into the hallway with a flood of applause. The symphony took their seats back on the stage, smoothly transitioning into a slow piece. Couples gathered on the floor and began to dance.

"Running smoothly, just like any event at Chateau Fontaine should." Gabrielle smirked.

Ciel extended his hand toward Alice. "Alice, shall we dance?"

"How adorable!" exclaimed Novella, watching the two as they joined the other dancers.

"Not nearly as adorable as you, m'dear." Undertaker said from his place beside her. He put his arms around her and guided her out onto the floor as well.

"My, my, Bassy. It seems as if you and I are the only ones without partners." Grell scooted closer to Sebastian.

"No, just you, Grell." Sebastian walked over to Gabrielle. "Miss Charbonneau, would you care to dance?"

"Yes, I would, Mister Michaelis." She took his and they too joined the throng of dancers, leaving behind a very upset Grell.

As they danced elegantly to the beautiful music, Sebastian let his hands fall to her waist, pulling her flush against his body. She responded by putting her arms around his neck. The tug resumed almost immediately.

It will continue to grow increasingly painful until the consummation of the bond.

Sebastian decided now was the time to ask her. The consummation would come later, but he at least wanted to know if he had a committed mate. He moved her bangs to the side to catch her attention.

"Gabrielle, I never did ask but…would you consider, possibly, being my mate?" Sebastian said in his proper voice.

The girl looked up at him, smirking. "Yes, Sebastian, I would." She answered equally as proper.

He leaned down and captured her lips in a passionate kiss before a burning sensation started in his chest and travelled down his arm. It settled on the back of his hand. Curious, he pulled his glove off to see what had caused the sensation. There, on the back of his hand, was a symbol. It looked like two pentagrams had been crossed over, creating an entirely different image in crimson red. Slowly, he pulled Gabrielle's glove off as well. She had the same image patterened on her hand. She smiled up at him. "I'm yours, Sebastian."

He put his his hand over hers, the fresh marks warm to the touch. "Forever and always, Gabrielle Charbonneau. I am your loyal mate."

Awww, Bassy!