Hello again dear readers! First I want to thank you for the reviews, favourites and follows! It really makes me write faster.
Yes, chapter 3 is finally up! This one really put up a fight in the beginning... I couldn't get started at all. But then my muse came to my rescue! You know who you are, Darling! Thank you for helping me out in a way! You are so inspiring, just so you know!
Okay, it's time to go on, right? As always, critique is welcome!
A familiar shinigami stood in front of the mansion and his arrival did not go unnoticed. A pair of crimson eyes was watching him from the shadows. 'So he did accept my offer. How pleasing.' These eyes were observing him further. How the red hair flowed down his shoulders and almost touched the ground. How the beautiful red dress hugged his body in a most alluring manner. How… The figure in the shadows let out a sigh. 'Am I manipulating myself now?' He shook his head and looked at Grell again. 'At least he didn't show up in his usual attire. Well, I shouldn't keep him waiting any longer.'
„Good evening, Miss Sutcliff. Welcome to the Phantomhive manor. May I take your jacket, Grell?" „Thank you, Sebastian." Grell was surprised at how official it all felt. He thought they would have to meet in secret, so he was worried. "It's really nice from you, but I don't think Ciel will like me being here. Maybe it's better I leave." Just as the redhead turned to depart again, a gentle tug on his arm stopped him. "Nothing is going to happen to you, Grell. The br-, I mean, the young master shall not return until dinnertime tomorrow." Sebastian put his hands on Grell's shoulders in a most reassuring manner. "You're not lying to me, are you?" The shinigami's gaze sank to the ground. "Why should I lie to you? You can trust me." Grell's gaze shifted to the butler's crimson eyes. There was no dishonesty to be seen. A weak smile formed on the redhead's lips. "I'm sorry Sebastian. A lot of things happened, you see…" "A lady shouldn't be the one to apologize. It is my fault for making you doubt me and not being precise with my words." He bowed to emphasize his apology. "Please follow me now, I cannot leave you standing in the doorway." Sebastian offered Grell his hand, which the shinigami shyly took. 'He still isn't his flamboyant self, but I must admit that I like this shy side of him. Well, it doesn't make me want to kick him in the face. Sebastian, get a hold of yourself! Once you solve his problem, everything will return to normal.'
He led his precious guest into the dining room, which he had prepared for them. Grell couldn't believe his eyes. "S-Sebby… This is amazing!" The room has changed drastically since his last visit with Madame Red. The full moon's pale moonlight illuminated it and all the items within. He saw the red, silky curtains, which were tastefully arranged. The floor was littered with rose petals, all of them red. The large dining table has been swapped for one for two people. On it there were a vase with blood-red roses and a silvery candle holder in which a red candle – with a very calming smell - was placed. The tablecloth's colour reminded him of a fiery sunset. The most eye-catching item, though, was the chandelier. Rather large, decorated with hundreds of red crystals and rubies which reflected the moon's light perfectly, bathing the room in an intensive red colour. Oh, how it shone.
"Did you go all the way to redecorate it just for me?" Sebastian frowned at Grell's statement. "Don't degrade yourself in such a manner. It was pleasure to prepare the mansion for such a special guest like you Grell. Now, could you please take a seat? I will be back with dinner in a second." With that been said, he disappeared. 'I can't believe that Sebastian took on so much trouble for me. He has changed… He even called me Miss Sutcliffe and a special guest… He also prepared dinner for the sake of this "meeting"… Could it be that he can actually bear with my presence?' Grell was torn between his positive and negative thoughts. 'I wish I could stop thinking for a moment!' Just in this instant, the demonic butler reappeared with a food-cart. Whatever meal he cooked, it smelled delicious. So delicious, that a loud growl erupted from the redhead's direction. A deep red blush coloured his pale face almost instantly. "I assumed that you haven't had the time to eat a proper meal, so I took some courtesy and prepared something for you. As a starter, we will have a light chicken soup; the main dish consists of a tenderloin steak from the finest Angus beef, carefully cooked on an olivewood powered grill, served with a cranberry sauce. To our meal we shall drink a fine French Burgundy, which goes wonderfully with the tenderloin steak. As for the dessert, it shall stay a secret for now." Grell's mouth watered with anticipation. They never serve such delicacies at the canteen in the Shinigami Realm. At the same time a pang of guilt hit him. He felt as if he doesn't deserve all this.
They ate partly in silence and partly chatting about nonsensical things like the Londoner weather. Grell held back from wolfing it all down. It tastes as fantastical as it smells. The soup was wonderful and the meat… It was so tender, so juicy; the cranberry sauce only enhanced the taste of it, never being too aggressive. What surprised the redhead was the fact, that Sebastian was eating the same meal. "I thought demons didn't like human food?" The demon never lowered his gaze from Grell. "It depends on the taste and the demon. I, for example, can stand most types of food. All but sweets, that is." They both finished their meal in silence. Sebastian removed the plates from the table, exchanging them for smaller, clean ones. "It seems that the time for dessert has come. I hope you have a sweet tooth of some sort." The sight made Grell's jaw drop. This dessert was the most beautiful chocolate cake Grell has ever seen in his life. "It pleases me seeing you all engrossed in this sight. This is a chocolate cake with a soft chocolate vanilla biscuit, with three layers of chocolate buttercream – dark, milk and white chocolate - with a layer of the finest chocolate fudge on top and covered with a creamy and decadent chocolate whipped icing, which is then covered with a thin layer of melted dark chocolate. The substance oozing down on the sides is chocolate fudge. On the very top, the decorative chocolate mousse swirls encircle the red rose made of marzipan." Sebastian served Grell a piece of this chocolate heaven. One bite was enough to make the shinigami forget all his worries for the moment.
In the meantime, the servants were watching every step the pair made. When they first saw this mysterious guest, they were enthralled by her beauty. Bard grinned. "Our butler does have good taste in women, eh?" Meyrin couldn't help herself but to add something. "The lady in red also has a good taste in men." After she realised that she had said that aloud, the maid fiercely blushed. "Seems your chances with Sebastian are getting slimmer. No worries, you'll find a fine man someday!" Meyrin's face fell after reality hit her. "Bard, they are entering the dining room!" "Okay, let's follow them!"