Sebastian has done a wonderful job; the townhouse is perfect and suits me well.

From the outside it is a beautiful royal blue and white Antebellum town house with a massive garden in the front filled with white rose bushes and another white flowering plant I have never heard of. Sebastian tells me that the flower is called a magnolia, in any case, it's beautiful and it lines the outside walls of the house.

The inside is very grand, white marble flooring in the foyer that leads into dark ebony wooden flooring throughout the rest of the house. A massive staircase right in the middle leads its way to the many rooms of the home. My room, at the far back, is the biggest and has a wonderful view of the French Quarter, and I can see everything out of my large bay window. Although I would much rather experience the world going by outside, rather than sit by the window, but ever since I had expressed an interest in voodoo, or rather, The Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau, Sebastian has been keeping a tighter eye on me than usual. This has resulted in him limiting my time outside.

Still, it has become somewhat fun staying inside with him. I would not go as far as to say that we are getting along famously but we cohabitate naturally. He has ceased to act as my butler when we are alone together, which I have started to welcome as I can do everything by myself now and I greatly enjoy the feel of freedom it brings. Especially now as he barely trusts me to go out on my own, accompanying me everywhere I go, whether I want him to or not.

Although it has been rather obnoxious of him to constantly tag along on my jaunts, he hasn't been that much of a nuisance to me, in fact, dare I say – I am rather enjoying it. It is fun to spend time with another person and share in all of the new experiences this town has to offer. Sebastian has even shown me around to places I had yet to explore which were full of wonderful visual treats for my eyes and the rich sounds, feasts to my ears.

He has taken me to various music halls, where we sit and listen to all kinds of sounds from whatever musicians are in residence at that particular place. I do love it here and I feel so much a part of it that I could be considered a fixture on the streets. With all of that being said, I do miss Marie.

I have only been able to see her every so often - when Sebastian goes out on his own. I sneak away and try to see her, even if it is only for an hour or so. I never know how but Sebastian will have somehow beaten me back home, always with a sullen scowl on his face and a snide remark about voodoo being witchcraft – maybe it is but it never bothers me, I am, after all a demon so what difference would witchcraft mean to me?

"I don't like that you spend so much time with that woman." He remarks as he finds me sat on the bench outside in the back garden amongst the magnolias that have started to bloom. It was late spring and the weather was perfect for reading. I don't look up from by book but I don't carry on reading either, I know he will interrupt me soon.

"I don't see what the problem is." I retort. He walks over and bends over to look at what I'm reading, it's a book of short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, currently, I'm reading The Fall of the House of Usher, which seems to have relieved him. I've hidden all of my books on voodoo, which, with Maries' help; I have built up quite a collection over the last few months. I simply find the whole thing fascinating, how they can marry Haitian witchcraft and Christianity together without the idea of blasphemy – it's intriguing. However, Sebastian seems to have taken a strong disliking to it, which only makes me what to learn more. Surely anything that would help break this contract, I thought he would welcome.

"Why do you insist on upsetting me so, my lord?"

"I wasn't aware that I was."

"Is my company so repulsive that you would do anything to be away from me?" He asks coyly. Well, that comment deserves my full attention, so I close the book and sit it down beside me. Folding my arms, I lean back and glare at him.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Sebastian shrugs and leans against the side of the white cast iron bench I'm sitting on. His back is to me but I can tell he's thinking about something, perhaps the punishment part to his reward behavior. Whatever it was, I was bracing myself for what he felt like throwing at me. Instead he was silent, he just stood up and walked away, leaving me by myself.

Just before he goes back into the house, he stops at the doorway.

"I'm going to go out for a bit, would you like to accompany me?"

I think for a moment.

"No, I'll just stay here – I'm enjoying the sun."

He turns to me and smiles, "You'll stay here." It wasn't even a question, it was more of an order but I just nod and pick up my book. Seeming satisfied by my response, he goes back inside.

I wait, leaf through my book and just sit in the garden, I wasn't sure if this was a test or not but I thought that I would err on the side of caution and hang around just in case. An hour later and he was still nowhere to be found, so I run up the stairs to my room, grab my long black cloak and appropriate top hat, drape my cloak over my shoulders and head out.

Even though Sebastian has forbidden me to do so, visiting Marie has become a regular occurrence, whenever I can. She lets me sit in with her clients and I watch her work, I can see how she has earned herself the title of Voodoo Queen; I have never seen a human so powerful before. Of all the things she would let me sit in on, she wouldn't let me see an exorcism, she said that she was worried that I would be forced out too. I wasn't sure if she was joking or if she really didn't want me there but I was happy with it all the same.

It's only been a few months but she has a habit of making me feel like a true friend. She has even forgone her patchouli oil, as the smell is an instant give away to Sebastian, something that I'm quite glad of because it always turns my stomach. Aside from her kindness, she treats me as a human – even though she is very aware that I am a demon – she likes to be around me just as I am. I never dreamed that anyone could accept me but she does, more than that – she helps me. Not only does she teach me things, but she also keeps Alice and the other voice at bay – being around her brings me such peace, Marie is my sanctuary.

Sitting on her davenport, I flip through one of the books she has given me on demonology. I wonder if Sebastian is in here, he's been around for so long, he must have made a name for himself by now. Marie comes in with a tray of maudit root tea and what seems to be cake. I look at her curiously as she knows that I can't taste human food. I can't help but frown, as I would want nothing more that to remember what cake tastes like.

"Whatcha lookin' so sour for demon?" She drawls.

"Oh, nothing." I smile politely as I watch her cut into the cake, it looks sweet and moist as she sits it delicately on a plate and hands it to me, I know I must have looked at her curiously as she starts to shake with stifled laughter.

"Oh cheri, worry not. This here pound cake is made from ground digitalis, safe for demons."

I take a fork from off of the tray and cut into it, popping it into my mouth. I let my tongue absorb the flavor and texture – it was one of the best things I've had in a long time.

"Dis ish delisheous!" I mumble with my mouth full, which causes her to roar with laughter as she sits down next to me. "Aren't you going to have any?" I swallow.

She shakes her head, "Oh non, non, non. Digitalis is poisoness to humans." She pauses for a moment and then chuckles, "I like cooking for you demon." Her statement causes me to grin broadly as I inhale another bite – finishing off the cake and setting the plate back down on the table. She takes my hands into hers and breathes slowly.

"How have they been?"

"Quiet since I've arrived." I reply and she nods.

"D'accord. I must teach you how to calm them yourself. I am worried though…" She thought aloud.

"About what?" I ask as I exam her face, she looks concerned as she looks straight into my eyes.

"You have a deep darkness in you child, something that I don't think can ever be repaired. If you take a soul darker than yours-" She stops abruptly and lets go of my hands.

"Mon petit chou, could you go into the kitchen for me and get the honey, it's in a jar on the top shelf on the left?"

Straight away, I know that it's a feeble excuse; I don't even need to look around because I can sense him, and he's here. I am so outraged that I could rip his head from his shoulders but I decide to stifle my boiling rage and placate my anger by carrying out her request instead, she must have a reason for wanting me to leave the room. I nod to her and I get up to go into the kitchen. I know she's watching me so I turn the corner to be out of sight but I press my back against the wall to eavesdrop.

I hear her shift on the davenport, she isn't even nervous, which surprises me because of what I have told her about him. I can't see her, but I know she is relaxed. Now I can hear Sebastians' light footsteps as he approaches behind her. I slide down the wall, sit on the ground and turn my head towards the doorframe - I can't see much but I can see them.

Sebastian casually leans over the back of the couch, resting his elbows just behind Marie, who lightly scoffs to herself and folds her arms, leaning back into the cushion behind, completely unaffected. Please Marie, please don't mock him.

"Bonjour Sebastian, I was wondering when you would make an appearance to see me."

"You know me?" He draws his finger down her cheek, it sends shivers down my spine but she is perfectly still.

"Oui, anyone with the slightest knowledge of the underworld knows about the demon Michaelis – that is what you're going by these days isn't it?"

"Hm. Is that so? Well then, it saves me the effort of introducing myself." He spoke so languidly - it was unnerving.

"What do you want demon?" She hisses.

"I want you to leave Ciel alone and I want you to keep him away from here."

"Why would you think I would do that?"

"Because you know about me." He grabs her by the cheeks and whilst squeezing her face, he turns her to face him. "So you must know what I'm capable of." He threatens, his nails dig into her flesh and I can smell the blood that is leaking out from underneath his grip. As her head moves, her eyes glance over to me, she knows I am watching, and she blinks twice and tries to smile under his grip in an effort to reassure me.

Please Sebastian, don't do this, I'll do whatever you want – just don't hurt her. I want to scream, I want to run and take her with me. Why, why is he doing this to me? She's the only thing I have that has any meaning to me anymore. Is that it? Is it because she means something to me?

She moves her hand to his wrists and holds on tight.

"I am afraid that I cannot help you. I do not compel the boy to come, it is of his own free will – you remember free will don't you?" She goads, as Sebastian lets go of her face and smirks, licking her blood from his fingertips.

"Does he talk about me?" He asks her, his baritone voice was lowered into a soft growl. Marie sits stoically as she still faces him, her face is still dripping blood but she doesn't move to do anything about it.

"Can't say he does." She lies, there was no reason for her to lie to him but I think she was doing it to protect me – there was no need.

"You're lying."

"And so are you."

"What are you talking about?" He raises his eyebrow.

"Keepin' the boy."

Sebastian sniggers at her comment, "So you know."

"Of course I do."

"Does he know?"

"Not yet but I plan on tellin' him."

What are they talking about? I thought. Whatever it was, I could sense that Sebastian was fuming. What is it he doesn't want me to know?

"You know, there's nothing stopping me from killing you right now." He growls ferociously.

"Oh yes there is, you know the boy is here and you know he is listening. Il est vrai, oui, mon petit chou?" She calls over to me as her eyes land on me.

I move away from the wall, stand to my feet and turn into the doorway.

"Why are you here Sebastian?" I spit, balling my fist and clutching them to my sides, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. I watch as he moves directly behind Marie, this action has made me hesitant on attacking him head on.

"I came to check on you, you've been gone for an awfully long time my lord." He speaks as though nothing has happened, like this was a typical conversation, he rests his hands on her shoulders. I can't cry, that privilege has been taken from me - not that I ever did. In all my life, I can't remember shedding a single tear at any time; all I had was anger. It was all I had left then and it's all I have left now and what he is doing angers me deeply.

"I am here, I am always here! But now, I want you to go."

"My lord, be reasonable, she's filling your head with lies – you can't trust her." He moves his hands around her neck.

"Like I can trust you?"

He sneers at my response and wraps his fingers around her throat and squeezes tightly. She doesn't move or struggle as if she knew that this would happen to her and she is prepared for whatever is to come next. I hear her choke, gasping for air as Sebastian does nothing but stare at me. I stand here stunned, frozen to the spot. If I attack, what will he do? I don't know – should I risk it?

No.

"Let her go Sebastian and I will leave with you now." I snarl.

I can see that this will get us nowhere. I must leave with him, in order to protect Marie; I must go – even though I truly do not want to. I look over to her and this time; I see the emotion on her face, she is afraid, not for herself though – she seems to be afraid for me.

Marie is gifted, using her talents as an oracle and, being the Voodoo Queen, she can see not just what is inside of me but what my future is destined to be. She has never shared that information, as I never wanted to ask – what good is a future if you are endless? However, she must see something here; it's conveyed in her face. I nod to her to reassure her that I will be all right, even though not even I truly believe it.

He instantly lets go of her throat and she falls forward gasping for air. She places her hands on the table and clutches them into fists as she tries to breath. I'm over to her like a bullet discharged from a revolver, I use my small arms to envelop her and secure her safely as I hear Sebastian chuckle sardonically behind me. Pushing herself up from the table, she takes one of my hands and slips something into it, it was a something hard and metallic. Looking up, she winks at me, which causes me to look over at Sebastian, he didn't notice.

"Let's go Sebastian." I demand as I stand, and start to make my way to the door. He turns the handle and opens the door for me as I walk out. I pocket the small metal item quickly before he notices and I look over at her and smile, I don't care what I have to do, I will see her again.

As Sebastian follows behind me, Marie calls out to stop him.

"Demon Michaelis, do not do anything else to hurt the boy." She states firmly as she rubs her neck. "Don't you think he has suffered enough?" She waits for a reply but Sebastian does not give her one. She sighs, stands and walks over to him and continues, "I am not afraid of you and with or without you, I will help him summon the courage to break your contract."

"Oh? You think you can see that, don't you?" He mocks her as he points to her forehead. "It's too bad that I won't let that happen. I will not let him go."

I am still within earshot and I can hear him, what does he mean that he will not let me go? I have so many questions but I know I will not get the answers from him – he's keeping something from me.

She places her palm on his chest and he leaps back instantly.

"Bloody witch!" He hisses as he rubs his torso.

"That's for me throat." She smiles and slams the door in front of him.

Sebastian was wise to leave me alone after that. He didn't bother to say anything but I know he must have felt victorious; he'd won after all. I left with him and vowed not to return to her home.

I never really realized it at first but now it was too hard not to notice, I was never in control of him, even when I was alive – I realize now that he was always the one in control of me. He would always wait before he came to rescue me, watching my reaction or how I would writhe in agony. Sebastian is a very clever demon indeed, all along, he has led me to believe that it was me who had control of the leash but I was the one who was collared.

Even now, he made me leave my home; he chose what country and city we would live in, where we stayed, where we live and now, who I can visit. Sebastian owned everything about me but made me think that this was all for my benefit.

If all that is true, then what was all of this about? Why make me go through the idea that not breaking the contract was my fault and that I had an obligation to him? What was he getting out of all of this? Surely this can't all be for the fun of tormenting me?

I strop off up the stairs and to my room, I pass Sebastian on my way up, he is leaning against the banister with his arms folded across his chest with an impressively smug look on his face.

"Oh, don't pout my lord. You'll forget all about that witch soon enough." He chuckles. I stop midway but I chose not to look at him.

"I don't want to forget about Marie. She cares about me."

He snorts at my sentiment, "She cares about you? Oh dear." I hear his footsteps as he approaches, he stands right behind me and places his hands on my shoulders. I can still smell the vague scent of blood that remains on his hands. He bends over, leaning in very closely to my right ear. "Don't you see Ciel? You now belong to me and I'm not willing to share you with anyone." He whispers coolly, which causes me to shudder.

"So I'm a prisoner?"

"No, I wouldn't say that, my lord." He coos.

"Then what would you say? I can't leave and I can't see Marie I am nothing more than a prisoner here." I wriggle out of his grip and walk up two steps - Sebastian follows me.

"Did I say you couldn't leave? I merely said that you can't see that witch anymore – it's for your own safety."

Safety? My own safety? I sigh and lower my head, looking at my shoelaces; they seem to have come undone in the long hoof I took to get home. I think about tying them but then again, I think about being spiteful and commanding him to do it – in the end I do neither.

"I thought you would want to break the contract?" I exhale.

"I want nothing more than."

I turn my head to him sharply, "Then why can't I see her? She said she could help me! Damn it Sebastian, stop toying with me!" I shout.

Sebastian ignores me as he turns to walk back down the steps, I watch him leave and I can see a faint smile traced on his lips.

I storm off up the rest of the stairs and into my room, slamming the door behind me. I throw myself onto the bed and bury my face in the linen sheets that cover it. Rolling over onto my side, I feel something digging into my hip – oh! It is the thing Marie gave me. Sitting up, I quickly put my hand into my pocket and pull it out; it is a flat circular disk with a decorative carving on one side and an inscription on the other in a language I am unfamiliar with but it seems like it has some words of French in it. All I can make out is Amulet and Protection.

I close my hand around it and squeeze it into my palm; Marie knew that this was going to happen and she was prepared.

I lay back down with the amulet in my hand and I try and devise a way of seeing her again. Of course, like clockwork – the moment I need to focus my thoughts, they appear.

'Oh Ciel, you know you can't see her again.'

Oh, it's you. This time, it was the boy giggling childishly through his warning.

'Haven't you realized what Sebastian will do to keep you?'

I think I realize what Sebastian would do all too clearly now – wait... I can talk to you? It must be the amulet...! I take this opportunity to get some answers as I try to speak loudly in my mind to communicate with him.

Who are you? How were you with me all along?

'Don't you remember? How could you forget the feel of the blade as you drove it into me? How after that happened, our souls were then merged together? Oh Ciel, I'm disappointed.'

Alois – I gasp aloud and look around to see if I am heard, and of course I'm not, I am alone.

'It's about time you realized that it was me…'

Authors' Note: I really wish there was a genre for psychological on this site – I know I've said that before but I'm going to reiterate it. I will say that when things start to take a turn (and it will), I will give you a warning each step of the way – I don't like just springing things, especially if, like me, you get emotionally invested and then it gets ripped away. (If anyone one reads Pandora Hearts, you know what I'm talking about)