I'll apologize ahead of time for the shortness. I hate leaving cliffhangers and not being quick with updates. I hate when people leave cliffhangers and don't update for months and your just left dangling off that cliff. Anyway, here you go.


Elizabeth was free.

She wasn't really sure how—she just was. She kicked with all her might, fought with the air. She shot upward and scrambled to her hands and knees. Still, she was restricted—a sheet wrapped around her ankles. Trying to stand, she fell off her bed and onto the hard wood ground. She gasped for breath, face still stained with cold tears—still trying to escape an entity that was no longer there.

By then Elizabeth realized that those events hadn't happened—but God, she was afraid. Those images—they're going to happen.

Claude is going to devour her.

"Mistress?"

She hadn't heard the door ease open. Elizabeth quickly unwrapped the sheet around her ankles and wrapped it around her fully. She fisted the blanket in her hands and buried her face in it. If she looked at him…

Her heart was once again gripped in an ice cold fear. Somewhere in her, she knew he wouldn't do that—not while the contract still stood. He wouldn't. But her rationality was gone. She could still see him above her, animalistic eyes glinting in the dimness. A silver smile, baring his weapons of feast.

She heard him approach—see the empty bed and then round the corner to see her huddled onto the ground under a sheet. "G-Go!" she tried, but her voice was still filled with tears.

"…Mistress?"

"Go away!" She sunk lower to the ground, body quivering.

"Mistress, whatever are you doing on the floor? Please, get back into bed—"

"I…I'm fine. Get out. Now!"

But she only heard him approach. "N-No…!"

Why wasn't he stopping? I'm giving him orders! With every step, Elizabeth felt her heart yank painfully. She felt the sheet drawn back gently and she looked at him, saw his eyebrows drawn in concern. Concern.

"C-Claude…" Elizabeth muttered, whimpering. He was worried. He didn't know what was going on. He didn't know what was wrong. He worries for my well-being…even if it's for selfish reasons.

The butler drew closer, pushing the sheet off his Mistress' head completely. He took her in; shaking limbs and a sopping wet face. Hair askew but still graceful somehow. Wide, frightened doe eyes blinked up at him, and as if she couldn't take the sight of him, she lowered her head, holding back a sob.

Claude blinked. Were her nightmares…about him? Had he driven her to this state?

He let out a long breath. "Mistress, please allow me to assist you…"

Elizabeth hugged herself, but then nodded slowly. Claude gently placed his hand on her arm, and when her inner quaking continued, he placed his other hand on her and lifted her. She got to her feet, stepping on the white sheet now pooled around her. She continued whimpering softly, sniffling.

Claude gazed over her once again. He looked down at her legs—they shook with the weight of herself. He sighed before pulling her into his arms. She clung to him magnetically, whispered his name. He had been reluctant to bring her this close to him for fear of losing control of himself—but, with Elizabeth in this state, it made it easier to restrain.

"Elizabeth, please calm down. There is nothing to be afraid of…"

She buried her face into Claude's jacket.

"I am here now…" he assured gently as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

And you're all that I have…

"C-Claude…" Elizabeth reached upward with delicate arms, and he lifted her. She ensnared her arms around his neck, pulling him into her. Claude was startled. For a moment, the butler didn't know what to do with his left hand. His right was holding her up to reach him. He finally settled for rubbing comforting circles over her back, breathing into her neck. Her intoxicating scent grew tenfold.

For a long time, Claude just sat there and held her until her shaking ceased. Her whimpering lowered into shaky breaths and minutes passed by, silence-filled and unmoving. It surprised him that such a small body held so much warmth—and he basked in it. He never really thought he'd get the chance to hold her so close to him until the contract was fulfilled—but oh was he lucky.

He shivered reluctantly when he felt her breath on his neck before she spoke, "Please don't betray me, Claude. You…you're all that I have, so please…"

"No," he stopped her before she could continue. "I am forever faithful to you. I will dive into the depths of hell to keep you safe and your trust is the thing I value most in this world. You are worth too much to lose or betray."

Elizabeth didn't immediately reply, but he could tell those words had calmed her nerves. She hugged him tighter and then impishly pulled away, eyes downcast.

"I…I thought I accepted my fate a long time ago… But it still haunts me, Claude. I fear you but I trust you with my very being."

"…It is only natural. I am a creature worth being feared."

Elizabeth looked up then, squinting at him in the dark. Her eyes were still wet, along with her eyelashes, and he watched her as she spoke, "Claude, why is the devil's voice so sweet to hear?"

"We must lure you in somehow, yes?" he replied without hesitation. Elizabeth laughed so gently, it could've been mistaken for a gasp.

Elizabeth was smiling again—and now Claude was painfully aware of the scent, the feel of her against his chest through her thin clothing. She made the slightest move, and Claude reached upward to push his glasses from the bridge of his nose, to distract himself as their bodies unintentionally grinded together, but she beat him to it. She reached for him—he could feel the flesh of her fingers against his cheeks. She pushed his glasses upward and then shyly looked back down.

Ugh, did she have to choose now to be so flirtatious?

Claude Faustus abruptly stood from his seat, turned around, and placed her gently on the bed. She lay sprawled for a split second, looking up with those doe emerald eyes of hers—and he found himself frozen above her for a moment, glancing down over her delicate curves. Really, he must give her more to sleep in. That nightdress simply wasn't enough. All of her legs were revealed to him—the milky skin enthralling his demonic orbs.

The demon looked down at her, and she met his gaze. He smiled, eyes closed, as he pushed his spectacles into place. "Your frock, My Lady."

"O-Oh!" she cried, moving her arms to pull her nightdress over the majority of her thighs. He found the action even more seductive then it should have, and he lifted from her bed. He should have tucked her in, like he was supposed to. But, if he did…

There'd be no telling where that'd lead.

So Claude took a long breath, readying himself for another long whiff of her glorious scent. He fixed the sheet over her, and then the thicker quilt. She relaxed under the warmth. Now, with her scent smothered, he could finally breathe without suffocating in utter bliss.

Elizabeth turned on her side, so she was facing her butler. Claude asked her gently, "Would you like me to stay until you fall asleep, mistress?"

"Y-Yes…" her quiet voice sounded, and she reached out to him. He came closer to the bed, and gently grazed her hand with his. She took his gloved hand tightly, pulling it toward her. Surprised, Claude leaned with her as she tugged.

Elizabeth brought his hand to her chest, clutching it to her like a child's teddy bear. She sniffled, nose still clogged with forgotten tears, as she closed her eyes.

Claude melted at the sight, her heart beat pulsing against the back of his hand. The contracted hand. He could feel her heat—so warm, burning, even. Though he couldn't see it, he felt his eyes flash gold in the dark, pupils thinning. He might as well have gotten his hands on the most beautiful creature in existence.

As he listened to her very breathe fade into slumber, everything began to become clear. Very clear. She would not die. No, she would stay with him for an eternity more. But she would be caged. She would not—will not—escape his clutches. She will always be bound to him.

He will never let her go.

Claude Faustus looked down toward her sleeping face—the pert nose and rosy cheeks, deliciously tempting lips. He leaned closer, the scent steadily growing as he neared.

"I cannot let you go, butterfly. I hope you know that."

And he faded away.

Elizabeth woke immediately to the sound of the door opening. It's not morning. Not yet. It can't be… She couldn't see strips of sunlight through the curtains. It just wasn't possible—not yet…

"I'm sorry, Lady Lizzy," a voice murmured. Elizabeth's ears perked, and she sat up quickly. Her bleary eyes set on him and she took in his nighttime attire. He wore a long white shirt, and short baggy pants that, though he was a male specimen, revealed pale and rather nice long legs.

Elizabeth sighed sleepily, yawning, as she patted the spot on the bed next to her. "Hurry, Jim, I'm tired."

Jim nodded quickly, "Yes, o-o-okay!" He hurriedly climbed in next to her as she pulled back the blankets, and then lifted them back to his chin. They were already heated with her warmth. Hesitantly, he inched forward, into her warm rays.

Though Jim knew he wasn't there, he could almost the feel the wrathful eyes of the butler on him—but Jim couldn't help it. He longed to be near her, the only person whom cared for him besides Luka. Luka…he would've loved Elizabeth so much. Jim knew it.

"I wish Luka could've met you," Jim whispered gently, eyes clamped shut.

Elizabeth opened hers, meeting his closed eyelids. She watched him for a moment, before leaning in close and placing her lips on his forehead. Startled, his opened rainy blue eyes.

"I…wish I could've met him, too," Elizabeth murmured, closing her eyes.

Jim sniffled. He scooted closer to her—yes, he dared to. The only barrier between them was a few inches of body warmed air. Her scent of fresh garden flowers seemed to overflow him. Elizabeth smiled gently, both of their bodies curling toward each other in familiarity and trust.

Sleep came soon.

Elizabeth awoke, two too many times in one night, to a scream.

She shot upward, turning toward the cry.

"I'm sorry," she heard in a sob. "J-Just…Elizabeth makes me feel safe—I'm sorry."

Elizabeth found Jim Macken with his face in his hands. At the end of the bed, Claude stood with a tea pot in his hands and a cup in the other.

He blinked, then narrowed his eyes at the boy. "Tea, sir—?"

Jim turned to Elizabeth, tear-filed eyes making her heart break. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth. I'll restrain myself from coming in here, I promise…" And with swift movements that Elizabeth's tired eye frantically followed, Jim fled the room.

Elizabeth turned to Claude, scrambling from her bed and approaching the demon. He did not move as she reached upward and backhanded him—hard. Claude's head snapped to the side, eyes widened slightly from the shock of the action. He turned to look down at her where her stare was hard and calculating.

"What did you do to him?"

"I did nothing to the boy—"

"Don't lie!" she shouted, pointing a finger at him. "He looked like he was about to urinate in his clothing…"

"I cannot lie, Mistress. Perhaps he was a bit intimidated…"

"A bit?!"

Claude sighed. This time, he really hadn't done anything. All he'd done was come in and sure, he may have stared—no, glared, at the scene until the boy awakened to the terrifying sight, but really, he hadn't tried.

Elizabeth seemed to calm a bit. She looked exasperated—this was a bit of a rude awakening. Claude quickly dropped to his knee and grasped her hand, kissing it gently. "I apologize if I have displeased you, Mistress. That was not my intention."

Her eyebrows furrowed in dismay. She lifted her left hand and placed it against his cheek. "Sorry…" she muttered. And she really felt bad. He was her butler, she should be able to punish him without remorse, but Elizabeth couldn't bring herself to do so. "Did…did I hurt you…?"

Claude gave her a smile—a rare smile. "No more than necessary, Mistress."

Her fingers continued to circulate on the fading redness of his cheek until he reached upward and grasped her warm, small hand in his larger one. He brought the hand to his face and kissed it.

And then he kissed it again. Shocked, Elizabeth watched his gentle lips collide with her heating skin—a small spark burned in each place his lips touched.

He kissed it again.

And again.

Claude seemed utterly absorbed in placing his lips on her skin with a burning passion—so much so that he didn't notice the startled, hoarse whisper of his name as he began to inch up her arm.

"C-Claude, you—" she gasped as he tugged her forward gently, and she stumbled toward him. Claude immediately encased her in his long arms, his face in the fabric of her nightgown.

"I…truly am not worthy of such a forgiving mistress," he told her against the silk fabric.

Elizabeth swallowed, and having fully registered his words and the event previously done, she let her hands fall into his mop of silky black hair. She ran her fingers through it. Secretly, she had wanted to do this for a very long time. His hair reminded her of a child's, the messy elegance soft due to child's play. She could have done it at any other time, but always thought better of it. Now seemed the perfect opportunity, with his head in arm's reach.

But this sudden affection was still very strange. Claude was not a very emotional person. She had had to order him to smile when it so pleased him, just so she could witness his emotion in action. And she knew he usually avoided touching her when it wasn't necessary—at first she had been a bit hurt by it, but it didn't really faze her anymore.

Elizabeth took a deep breath as she pushed a lock behind his ear.

A minute passed by. Elizabeth wondered when he'd let go, but his arms only tightened. Elizabeth was more or less getting a little frightened. This is so strange…Claude, what has gotten into you?

Did it have something to do with last night? This morning?

But the golden silence was shattered very suddenly. The sound of splintering and clattering glass cut through, and both heads turned to the open door, where a very startled looking Maria stood with a pot of water at her feet.

"T-the…" Maria swallowed, watched as Claude slowly—oh, how achingly slowly—released Elizabeth, "The water for your bath, Mistress…"


Hope this cliffhanger isn't too much, haha. I have a feeling some are disappointed that the rating hasn't needed to be changed yet. Not yet, lovelies. XD

Someone asked for permission to make fanart. The answer is always yes under the condition that you send me a link to it (CAUSE I REALLY WANNA SEEEEEEE) and you link to the story, if I may request. I'd love fanart-no one's ever done that for my stories before and now I'm really excited to see.

Oh! And I'll put it on my profile and link to the art in updates.

About high school... I hate it but I love it. I started a successful Anime Club which occupies most of my after school life, but fear not. I'll always make time for updating. :)

Oh, and, if you guys need to, you can always message me if you have personal issues-depression, suicidal thoughts... It doesn't even have to be something to that degree, if you just need to vent, or tell me how your day was cause you think no one else will listen. I'm always here. I just want my readers to know that.

I never know how to end these...oh well. Bye!