"So, what will you do?" Cybil asks me as she gradually draws her fingers over the sign of our newly made contract. I can't help but admire it myself as I watch her touch it gently.
"I'll do whatever you ask of me until you get the revenge that you seek." I reply, sitting down on a nearby chair as I watch her touch her chest delicately.
I leave her in the middle of the candle lit pentagram where, after I marked her with our contract, I dropped her and she fell to her knees, choosing not to get back up.
Leaning back in the chair, I cross my legs and study her. I must say, for a marked woman, she is truly captivating. Her dark chocolate brown hair is in weakly curled ringlets that fall over her shoulders. Her skin is lightly tanned and her eyes a vibrant green that reminds me so much of Lizzie's.
Reflecting on Lizzie, I feel a sharp pang in my chest and I wonder if this is meant to be sadness? This is a feeling that I haven't felt in such a long time that it seems almost foreign to me now.
In this moment, I let my mind start to drift over to Lizzie and how she looked when I last saw her. Stoic, cold and almost as dead as me when she was at my funeral. That was six years ago, she will be twenty-one now, probably married. I wonder if she has any children or if she's even happy? It's not that I miss her, well, I do, but I think what I miss most is the life she encompasses. That familiarity, the routine and the tradition – life was just so simple then.
Alas, that life is not meant for me, especially as this is what I am now - a demon who has just successfully made a contract with this woman in front of me, who is now staring at me curiously. I must have drifted off thinking about Lizzie and my old life.
"So, this man who betrayed you is your husband?" I inquire.
"Yes."
"What did he do to betray you?"
"He has been having an affair with my best friend Ruby." She starts to stand up, closing her cloak over her chest to cover it.
"Why?"
"I cannot bear him a child so he is punishing me – especially now that Ruby is with child."
"I see." I don't really, but it is the only thing I could think of to say. What a silly thing, the woman cannot bear him a child, so what? Why torment her and have an affair?
"Demon?"
"Yes?"
"Can I ask, do you have a name?"
"You can call me Ciel." I shrug as I drape my arm over the back of the chair, glaring at her.
The room is dark and I know she can't really see my face but I'm watching everything she does. How she stands, how she moves and carries herself. She is nothing but confident in each movement she makes. I'm impressed with her.
"Well then Ciel, how are you going to punish them?"
"Any way you see fit. I will only work on your command."
She nods as she hitches up her skirt and starts to walk over the candles.
"Don't do anything yet, I haven't figured out what I want."
"I can wait until you're ready." I reason. Well, it's true; I'm in no rush.
"Gideon was my whole world." She breathes as she starts to approach me.
"Gideon?"
"My husband."
"I understand."
"I did everything for him. He wanted nothing more than to have a child and I made it happen. I was once pregnant but unfortunately, I lost him – still born. I tried and tried over and over but I just couldn't get pregnant again. Gideon tried to understand and he took care of me, doting on me for a short while but that stopped once he started his dalliance with Ruby. He cast me aside like I was barren and empty, like I was nothing." She walks towards me slowly and seductively, switching her hips from side to side. "I tried everything to keep him. I even went to a Voodoo Priest for help, are you a part of Voodoo?"
I shake my head no, "I am not but I did know the late Marie Leveau."
She hums at my reply and nods.
"Well anyway, he gave me a potion to help me conceive but it didn't work and I almost all but gave up until Gideon told me that he wanted a divorce and that Ruby was pregnant with his child. I went back to the Voodoo Priest and asked for a spell to keep him but you came. I didn't realize my love spell summoned a demon."
"I'm not here to help you with love I'm afraid, I'm not even sure I understand the meaning myself."
"Do not worry, you're promising me revenge – I like that so much better." There is a glint in her eyes that is pure deviousness. "So you don't have anyone special in your life?"
"Sebastian." I let the name slip before I even have the chance to stop myself. I jerk myself upright as I sit up straight, silently cursing myself for letting his name slip.
"Sebastian?" She purrs, as she starts to walk over to me. "So are you and Sebastian lovers?"
"Don't you have to be in love to be lovers?" I scoff folding my arms across my chest.
The truth is that I do love Sebastian. Although, it's a love I doubt this human could ever understand.
"I would like to meet him, is that something I can do?"
"Trust me Cybil, you do not want to meet Sebastian, he is vicious and dangerous."
"Then why are you with him?" She now stands in front of me, the candles softly light her face and her beauty is illuminated.
"Not out of choice I can assure you, we're contracted to each other as well." I wish I knew why I was being so confessional; I haven't even addressed these thoughts and feelings with myself, let alone speaking about them to a complete stranger.
Her mouth drops open to ask a further question but I know it's something I don't feel like discussing now, so I raise my hand to cut her off.
"What do you want to do now?" I ask. Tilting her head to the side, she smiles.
"I want to enjoy Mardi Gras and I want you to escort me."
"I think not - I should be getting back."
"Back to where? Hell?"
Hell? You could say that. Depending on the mood Sebastian is in when I get there, it could very well be hell. I just left him in the alleyway without so much as a good-bye, and he's probably going to be livid with me but that's something I am going to have to deal with once I get back.
"No, I don't reside in Hell." I answer.
"Then where do you live?" She places both hands on her hips, seemingly slightly disappointed that I don't live in the underworld.
"Actually, I live off of Bourbon Street."
"Bourbon Street? Excellent!" She claps her hands together and grins gleefully as she twirls around and heads towards the exit. "I must go home and change, Gideon will probably be with his whore tonight anyway and I really don't like to be alone."
"Shall I escort you home?" I offer, I'm not sure why but it seems like the gentlemanly thing to do.
"No, but I will meet you later, in say three hours for the second parade? I'll wear something blue to match your eyes." She titters.
"Meet me where?"
"On the corner of Canal and Basin Street, that's not that busy, considering it's on the parade route." She giggles. She is so carefree, beautiful and charming, I can't imagine any man letting her go as her husband has.
We bid our farewells and agree to meet at eight for the second parade.
…
Going home, I walk through the threshold and he's there, waiting for me, right across the foyer, he leans against the banister of the staircase. Ignoring him, I walk right past him towards the kitchen but he's on me like a shot.
Sebastian grabs my arm and throws me to the ground; he pounces me, his hands encircle my wrists, pinning them down on the ground as he straddles me.
"You left before we finished our conversation my lord." He growls at me, bearing his teeth. Oh yes, I remember what our last conversation was about; he wants me to say that I love him – no.
"I'm done talking about that." I smirk.
"I'm not done."
"What do you want to hear Sebastian?" I coo.
"You know what I want to-" He stops, leaning over, he sniffs me. "You were with a woman?" He sounds surprised and jealous, which is utterly delightful to me.
"I made a contract with a woman." I state truthfully. He sits upright and twists my hands over to see the back of my left hand. His exquisite face scrunches into a scowl as he sees my contract seal.
"You made a contract?"
"That's what I said isn't it?" I don't look at him, turning my head and looking towards the staircase. I could fight him off of me but what would be the point?
"A woman?"
"Yes."
"Are you doing this to make me jealous?"
"No, though you sound it." I simper.
"Did you even mention me?"
"And why would I?"
"Am I not important to you?"
"Don't flatter yourself Sebastian, I may be your world but you're not mine." I snort sarcastically, that should sting him sufficiently. "Besides, I've contracted – you should be proud of me, you taught me well." I pause for a moment, "Actually, you didn't teach me a thing."
"You will break this contract." He threatens.
"Oh? And why's that?" I still don't look at him, but I know he's angry.
"Because you don't belong to her, you belong to me."
"I do, do I? Since when?" He was right in that alleyway; I do exist to torment him now - and I enjoy every moment of it.
"Since I marked you and made you mine." He retorts. Fine Sebastian, you can have me but you cannot have all of what you want.
I'm not going to give into him – it's taking a lot of effort but I'm working as hard as I can to keep what I can of myself for me.
Then it dawns on me and I roll my head towards him, still averting my eyes, "You didn't want me to make a contract with someone else because then, I'm technically free of you."
Bending over, he kisses me roughly. I close my eyes and part my lips as his tongue protrudes and rudely enters my mouth but I put up no protest and I let it. As quickly as he enters, he releases my mouth and I tilt my head upwards, searching for them but they go without as Sebastian dips further to my ear.
"No matter where you go, no matter what you do, you will never be free of me as long as our contract is in place." He whispers, his voice is so sweet it is absolutely delicious.
I can't lie to myself, I love this and I love it when he's like this. There is something about being all that someone could want in this world that intrigues me and turns me on. Although, however I feel about it, my goal is still the same – I will be free of you Sebastian, just you wait.
My eyes flick up to meet his and, with a tighter grip of my wrists, he uses his knees to part my legs and leans into me, using the top of his thigh to rub against my groin. I'm aroused, I can feel my erection swelling and becoming hard as he grinds into me. He has a self-satisfactory smile on his face as he can feel me getting harder under the slightest nudge.
"Damn you." I whisper before he licks his lips and presses them to mine as he kisses me again.
God damn you Sebastian for having such a hold on me, and God has damned me, as I can never say no to you – you alone will be the end of me as you are the only one who is destroying me.
…
My eyes flutter open slowly as I start to stretch out in my bed. Once they fully adjust to the light, my eyes look over to my left and I see Sebastian sleeping soundly beside me.
Demons don't really need sleep, it's a luxury for us but when we can indulge, we do.
Before I left Cybil earlier that evening, I agreed to meet with her again, as per her order. She probably wants to go home and change first because I had ripped the front of her dress.
I slowly start to rise up to sit against the headboard. Sebastians' back is to me and I fight the desire to run my hands over his shoulder blades and the pronounced muscles of his back. I even stop short of stroking his face and gently sweeping the inky black hair that has fallen over his face.
I have to stop this.
Every time I look at him I desire him more and more which makes it harder to sever my feelings for him. I can't keep going on like this; it hurts me more and more each day. I am nothing short of confused as I love him and despise him all at the same time. I want to stay with him but I can't wait to leave. I don't want him to ever touch me but I want him to penetrate me so hard that I can never walk straight again.
Sighing quietly, I discretely slip out of bed and try to find my clothes.
Finding something that I deem suitable, I quietly and swiftly dress. Once I finish buckling my boots, I head for the door, stopping to look over my shoulder to cast my eyes over him one more time. He's turned over and propped himself up on his elbow, resting his chin in the palm of his hand, I didn't even hear him stir but here he is, wide awake and staring at me.
"Go back to sleep."
"Not unless you're here with me." He grins. I shake my head.
"I have to meet Cybil, it was an order."
He tosses the sheets back and my eyes land over his perfect body. There is nothing I would want more than to go back into bed and into his arms but a deal is a deal.
"Then let me come too." He suggests.
"Absolutely not." I bark. "I'm leaving now so you'll have to entertain yourself." I smile at him as I turn back towards the door.
I walk along the streets where everyone is still partying, drinking and having a good time. The second, larger, evening parade is about to begin and people are starting to line both sides of the streets as they wait for it to begin.
Cybil and I agreed to meet at the corner of Canal Street and Basin Street but she is nowhere to be seen. I look around for her in the crowd but I can't seem to find her. Where on Earth can she be?
Suddenly, I feel my left hand start to burn. It must be Cybil, is she in trouble?
As I dart down Basin Street, I can feel the burning sensation on my hand increase, as I get closer to an alleyway. Hearing voices, I stop, only poking my head around the corner slightly so I can get a better view of the situation.
It is Cybil all right, but she is pinned against the wall as a man in black holds her against it by her shoulders. I didn't have to see his face, I already know who it is.
"I want you to break your contract." He demands.
"And why would I do that?" She inquires; her tone is curt and huffy as Sebastian holds her still.
"Because if you don't, I'll kill you."
"Ah, so you must be Sebastian?" She states calmly. I should not have told her his name; I feel I have only made this situation worse for her.
"Pardon?" Sebastians' lips curl into a smile.
"Ciels' lover? Have I got it wrong?"
"So, he did mention me?"
"Not in so many words but I'm as intelligent and perceptive as any man. I can read between the lines." She quips.
"If you know who I am, then you'll forgive me when I do this." He holds her face in between his large hands and holds her perfectly still. Her eyes widen in shock as she realizes that she is about to die.
It's time I intervene.
"Wait!" She shouts and I stop, "I could call him and he would be right here, non? Isn't that how the contract works?" She inquires, not knowing that I'm already near. Even from here, I can hear her pulse race frantically in her chest.
"That depends, the more visible the contract, the closer the link."
She slides her hands up and between their bodies and unbuttons the five buttons that cover her chest. Pulling the fabric aside with both hands, I can see the glow of our seal on her chest. Sebastian looks down, his face is bathed in the bright lavender glow and I see Cybil smile. Releasing her face but holding her shoulder back with his left hand, he outlines the seal with his fingertips.
"I'd say that's pretty visible, wouldn't you?" She mocks sarcastically.
"Why your chest?" His voice is a low growl as he examines her seal.
Cybil shrugs her free shoulder. "We have something in common Sebastian." She says to him with a half smile.
"How do you reckon?"
"I have a love I cannot have all to myself too, that's why I made the contract. Don't you see? We're the same, you and I." She whispers and I listen in to their conversation curiously. "I can help you have him." She purrs. What does she mean by that? I wonder.
"How?"
"Let me live and I promise, I'll do everything I can to help you." Sebastian lets go of her and she holds out her hand in front of him. "Deal?"