Chapter 2

"My, my, my… Has Raven not been getting enough sleep lately?" Break asked, covering his mouth with his sleeve like he always did as if he was about to stifle a laugh.

Gilbert glanced over at him, and turned his head away, looking annoyed.

"Shut up." He muttered under his breath.

"You know, Raven, if you do not like it at the Nightray House, then you could always just get yourself a house of your very own. You are indeed a young man now~"

"What's the news with Oz?" Gilbert asked, still not looking at Break. He wanted to change to subject, because he had been thinking about that very thing and there was no way in hell he ever wanted to be thinking the same thing as the twisted man in front of him. But maybe it would be best he if lived on his own. The Nightray's had money, and it would be easy to find just a little house in town that would be away from his 'family'. That was he could face and deal with his stalker and no one would have to get involved.

He heard Break sigh and shift positions so that his back was now against the balcony railing.

Gilbert had been summoned to the Rainsworth Household by Sharon Rainsworth. Her Servant, Break, was who he was speaking to now. He had been waiting for this meeting for quite some time, and he was relieved that the call had finally been made. Now he could focus on what was really important: Getting Oz back from wherever-he-was to their world.

"We're close, but not close enough." Said Break, his tone flat of all emotions.

"Tsk." Gilbert clenched his fists and straightened up. He was about to walk away and go talk to Sharon, but Break grabbed his arm. Gilbert tried to jerk away, but Break's grip was stronger than he assumed it would be.

"We do know for certain that he is in Abyss."

"Haven't you known that for a while, now?!" Gilbert demanded. Break looked taken aback, and let go of Gilbert's arm in surprise. Then, his usual playful grin came back and he covered his mouth with his baggy sleeve once again while Emily chimed in:

"Someone's a little grouchy~!"

Gilbert's shoulders hunched and his left eyebrow twitched as he restrained himself from strangling that annoying little doll and Break. He opened his mouth to speak, but froze.

"…Gilbert Nightray…Hehe"

He heard it. His name being called. Of all times, why now? It had only been a week ago since he last heard that same amused and playful chuckle, and it tormenting him to hear it again. Could he just be going insane? No, it seemed to real... Gilbert ground his teeth, clenching his fits so hard his blunt fingernails were digging painfully into the palms of his hands.

Shit…

"Huh?" Break cocked his head to one side. He raised an eyebrow. "Raven?"

But Gilbert did not hear him. He was at the balcony railing again, bending over it to look down at the grounds below as he removed his gun from his belt and put his finger to the trigger. He held it aloft and looked around for the source of the noise.

Nothing. There was no one in sight.

Gilbert slowly lowered the gun, but did not put it away. He turned back to look at Break, who was still looking confused. Shoving past him, Gilbert walked off the balcony and right past Sharon, who was about to step onto the balcony before Gilbert had had his little 'episode'.

"Gilbert-san?" She asked, looking slightly shocked to see Gilbert getting so irritated with Break so quickly into the conversation. It usually took a little longer than it had today. Her eyes sparkled with innocence and kindness.

"Thank you for providing me with this information. I shall be off now." Gilbert said without looking at her and walked out of the room, slamming to door behind him.

Sharon looked and glared at her servant. In his own defense Break shrugged.

"Don't look at me." He said simply. Sharon narrowed her eyes at him, but said nothing more.

A few moments later, Gilbert was outside the Manor. His carriage had not arrived yet. Then again, he wasn't really looking for a way to get back to the Nightray Household. He walked along the cobble stone path and into the cluster of trees that surrounded the house with his gun still in his hand.

"You almost blew your cover there." He said, smirking as he made his way down the narrow path, looking from side to side trying to find his stalker.

"I know you're there. Come out and show yourself!" There was a rustling sound from his left, and Gilbert spun around, gun at the ready. The color drained from his face as a cat walked out of the bushes. It stared up at him with bright green eyes, and then sat down to clean its paw with its tongue. Gilbert took a step backward, looking in horror at the cat. He had always been afraid of them, and now seeing one when he stalker was on the loose made him even more afraid.

He took another step backwards, and then tripped over a root. He fell backwards with a yelp and sprawled on the ground, legs up in the air. His head banged against the trunk of a tree.

"Shit!" He swore, sitting up and rubbing the back on his head. The cat let out a loud 'meow' and took off. Gilbert was glad to see it go.

He got to his feet, still rubbing the back of his head where it had hit the tree trunk. Then he heard it, closer this time. The same laugh as before.

Ignoring the pain in his throbbing skull, Gilbert sprinted in the direction of the sound. He did not know how long he had being running, but when he stopped he was at the edge of the woods. Gilbert rested his hand against a tree and bent over, trying to catch his breath. Whoever it was laughed again, and he looked up and took in his surroundings.

He was standing a few feet away from a clearing, and when he stepped into it he almost fell backwards again. In front of him stood a large, old building made out of stone. Vines had just started to creep up the walls, and the old wooden doors where nothing more that a few splinters on hinges. Its windows were cracked and broken and through one of them, Gilbert spotted movement.

The young Nightray stumbled forward, and once he caught his footing he ran inside. He stopped dead on the threshold. The dusty rug below his feet had done nothing muffled his foot steps, since it had been old even when Oz had set foot in this very hall. The carpet went all the way up the staircase, on the top of which his previous young master was supposed to have been titled an adult. That was almost three years ago.

But now, Gilbert stared at the figure that was standing at the top of the staircase. The figure was cast in complete shadow.

Just like the dream…

Shaking his head to rid himself of the fear that threatened to cloud his mind, Gilbert firmly planted one foot in front of him, and aimed his gun at the man's chest.

Gilbert saw a flash of white. The shadowy stranger seemed to be smirking down at him. Gilbert narrowed his eyes, glaring up at him.

"So, you're the one who had been messing with my head." Gilbert said between gritted teeth as he readied himself to shoot. The man let out a low chuckle.

That basically confirmed it…

Gilbert watched as the man took a couple of steps downward, his foot steps echoing slightly through the large, empty room. The figure was no longer in shadow. Light from one of the broken windows brought his face into view. Despite himself, Gilbert caught his breath.

The man standing on the stair case above was possibly the most beautiful being Gilbert had ever laid eyes on. (Besides Oz, of course.) He had jet black, roughly cut hair that framed a pale, flawless face. His eyes were like the color of died blood, and even from where he stood, the young Nightray had to fight the strong urge to drown himself in their depths. He was dressed from head to toe in black.

Gilbert mentally shook himself, trying not to stare. He was still pointing to gun at the stranger arm shook slightly from holding it in one position for so long. How much time had passed? Seconds? Hours? Gilbert could not tell.

"Who are you?" He demanded.

The figure let out another low, breathy chuckle, and took another step downward towards Gilbert, who adjusted the gun so that it was still pointing at the man's heart.

"Even if you tried, that would not be enough to kill me, Gilbert." Red eyes seemed to flash as those words were spoken.

"Oh, really?" Gilbert smirked and-

BANG! Gilbert fired the gun, but the man seemed to go into hysterics. He seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly, as if he found Gilbert's attempts to protect himself amusing. Gilbert's heart pounded in his chest. He had aimed directly at his heart, that bullet should have been enough to kill him.

The man on the stairs seemed to calm down a little. Shaking his head and sighing as he made his way down the low, well worn steps. Now, he was halfway to the landing and to where Gilbert stood. The man rested his forehead against the tips of his gloved fingers looking almost irritated.

"I told you so."

Gilbert thought he heard he heard the other mutter something about ruining another suit.

Before he knew it the man was gone from Gilbert's sight only to return with alarming rate and stand in front of him.

"What the…?!" Gilbert's gun was knocked from his hand. It clattered to the ground a few feet away.

He was towering over the his now, casting the tarrified Gilbert into his shadow, smirking slightly. The man bent down so that their foreheads were almost touching, placed a cool hand on Gilbert's cheek and stroking with his thumb gently.

Gilbert could only watch as this complete stranger did this to him. He wanted to get away from him, to kill him, but his gun was unreachable and his body would not respond. What was this? His brain was slowly bringing to cloud over. He no longer had the strength to move. It was all he could do just to keep his lungs working.

Somehow, Gilbert managed to speak.

"Who are you?" He sounded so vulnerable...

"You may call me Sebastian."

Now Gilbert at least had a name for his stalker.

"What do you want from me?"

Sebastian pressing a finger to Gilbert's lips to quiet him. Gilbert would have bitten Sebastian then and there, but he couldn't. He could no longer feel anything other than Sebastian's gentle touch. Gilbert almost welcomed the feeling. He no longer felt the pain of missing Oz, or any pain for that matter.

Oz... His masters name brought Gilbert back. He now had enough scene left in him to snap his eyes open and look directly into Sebastian's. When had they began to close...?

"Shh…" Sebastian whispered. He seemed to be inching closer and closer to Gilbert. He was falling again. Falling into blood red eyes, into emptiness.

"I have been watching you for some time, Gilbert Nightray." Gilbert heard Sebastian's voice, saw his lips move, but did not comprehend what the words meant as he melted into the sweet sound.

Suddenly, Sebastian drew back from him. Gilbert nearly fell to his knees. All thought came back at him in a rush of color and sound. He was in an abandon building with a stalker. He had let Sebastian's presents drain him of all thought. He had forgotten all about Oz in that countless expanse of time. How could he be so stupid?

A glint of mental caught Gilbert's eye. He made a dive for his gun, but Sebastian kicked it away from him so Gilbert was left sprawled on his stomach on the dusty floor. Sebastian was looking down at him, one eyebrow raised. Again, he seemed to be enjoying himself.

Scrambling to him feet, Gilbert stared at Sebastian, who was almost waiting for him to make another move.

Those piercing eyes mocked him. Go on, try it.

Gilbert growled deep in his throat. He puffed out his chest, trying to make himself look as big as possible.

"What. Do. You. WANT?!" He barked with more confidence than he felt. Gilbert was hoping the startle Sebastian, make him take another step back. He longed to see some sort of hesitation flash in those unreadable eyes.

"I believe you can answer that one for yourself." Sebastian replied, flexing his long fingers slightly. Even this simple action made the teen step back again, swallowing hard. Gilbert thought he was about to be sick when Sebastian chuckled and took another step forward. Gilbert found himself lacking the strength to back away from him again.

A sudden movement, Gilbert's eyes widened when he felt a warm, soft pair of lips press against his. It was the same feeling as before. Only this time there was no surfacing from the cloud that wiped his mind completely blank. Gilbert's eyes were slowly closing. He was not aware of the fact that he was leaning into the kiss just as the other was pulling away. He almost fell forward when Sebastian broke the kiss.

It took a couple seconds for Gilbert to realize what had just happened. Hurriedly, wiped his mouth on the back of his sleeve and took a few more steps backward towards to doorway, glaring at Sebastien through long bangs as he did so.

Sebastian was smirking in satisfaction.

Gilbert was just about to open his mouth to say something, but then Sebastian looked over his shoulder as if he heard something that only he could hear. When he turned around to face the other once again, he bowed, silky black hair sliding across his face as he did so.

"Wha-?" Gilbert breathed, but Sebastian cut him off.

"I have to be going now, Gilbert. But I promise you, I will be back very, very soon." Gilbert felt his mind go numb once more as Sebastian kissed him again. Gilbert could not help but melt into the parting kiss, closing his eyes and leaning into Sebastian without hesitation. He heard the other one laugh once again. When Gilbert open his eyes, Sebastian was gone.

All Gilbert could do was stand there, staring stupidly at the place where the other once stood.

"What just happened?"