Just as the sun began to set, Sebastian quietly opened the door to Lyra's apartment, almost expecting to find the girl frightened and huddled in a corner, and the reaper bored out of his mind. What he found when he stepped inside, however, was completely unexpected.

Grell sat cross-legged on the loveseat, Lyra curled up with her back against his knees, her head leaned back into his lap, and Ludus dozing in her arms. The thin black gloves that Grell normally wore had been discarded so that he could weave his fingers through her long chestnut hair, twisting it into an intricate braid. Both of them were laughing; Lyra's eyes sparkled with mirth. The demon arranged his features into a simple smile before speaking.

"Well, it looks like the two of you are getting along wonderfully."

The reaper grinned. "She is such a dear, Bassy! Look!" He turned his head so Sebastian could see the simple but elegant updo that Lyra had pulled his scarlet locks into.

Lyra blushed and buried her face in her cat's furry back. "It's nothing special."

The demon nodded. "Lovely. If you wouldn't mind, Grell, I think it's time that Lyra and I had some time alone."

His words were pleasant enough, his tone congenial, but there was a threatening flash in his eyes and made the other two occupants of the room swallow nervously. Grell quickly finished his work on Lyra's hair, then stood and patted her shoulder.

"Lovely to meet you, Lyra."

She smiled up at him, remaining seated on the floor so as not to disturb the cat. "Come back and see me sometime, okay?"

"Of course, dear."

Grell straightened and pulled his gloves back on, then put his hands flirtatiously on Sebastian's chest, leaning into him. "Perhaps one kiss for the road, Bassy, my love?"

Sebastian's eyes flashed that poisonous fuchsia, and he said calmly, "Some other time, Grell."

The reaper drew back as if he'd been stung, then gave the girl a rather frightened wave before leaving, stumbling a bit over the threshold. Lyra giggled, hiding her smile behind her hand. "Well, that was a jerky thing to do. Poor Grell."

"Well, if you'd had to put up with it for as long as I have, you'd be a trifle testy as well."

Her laughter died away, and Sebastian didn't miss the slight dimming of her eyes; the joyful glimmer was no longer there. He crouched in front of her and held out his hand. "Come with me. I have something to show you."

Slowly, she placed the sleeping cat on the loveseat, then narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously. "Something like what?"

He gave her a secretive little smile. "It's a surprise."

She stared at him for a few moments before sighing and standing, ignoring the hand that he offered. "Fine. But I swear, if this is some sort of trick-"

"You'll do what, hm?" He surged forward and took her face between his hands, smashing his lips to hers in a heated kiss. She yelped and pushed against his shoulders, but she already knew it was useless. He growled softly as he slid his tongue into her mouth, sliding his hands down her arms and grabbing her wrists, pinning her hands behind her back. She wiggled in his grasp, but could not get free. Finally, he drew back, pressing his forehead to hers and brushing his lips against hers with every whispered syllable. "You have no power to command me, Lyra. Your life, your heart, your very soul rests in my hands." He smirked and released her hands, gently stroking her cheek. "But that could change. You could have your pride back. You could be my mistress, could have my obedience at your command."

"I wouldn't be free; you would still have my soul."

"Is that really such a steep price to pay?"

"My soul isn't yours to take. I'll never give it up."

He sighed and released her. "Are humans always so stubborn?"

"Only the smart ones."

He chuckled, then snapped his fingers. "I almost forgot. The surprise." He smiled and held out his hand. "This way, my lady."

Hesitantly, she put her hand in his, then gave a short yelp as something covered her eyes; a blindfold. "Sebastian, what the hell-?"

"Relax, my lady. We don't want to spoil the surprise too soon, do we?" Gently, he led her from the apartment and out into the parking lot. From there, he helped her into the passenger seat of a car. Instantly, she knew something was off. The seat beneath her was made of soft, supple leather, not the worn fabric of her car. The doors didn't squeal when opened, and the interior smelled brand new.

"Sebastian…this isn't my car."

The demon said cryptically, "Isn't it?" before sliding into the driver's seat and pulling out, the engine springing to life with a roar.

Quickly buckling herself in, Lyra muttered, "Since when can you drive?"

She could practically feel him smirking, though he remained silent. Lyra fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling distinctly uneasy about the whole situation. After a while, Sebastian said conversationally, "Sing for me."

She arched an eyebrow beneath the blindfold. "Any requests?"

"Something on a more solemn note, if you wouldn't mind."

She sighed, hesitating for a moment, then sang a couple of songs that she'd always found to be tearjerkers, mostly about broken hearts and failed relationships. The lyrics seemed trite now, and she blushed a bit, switching to an old classical piece about a woman pining for the man she loved; even that sounded a bit trivial. She folded her arms over her chest and turned her head toward the passenger window, even though the cloth over her eyes prevented her from viewing the scenery. Nameless dread was roiling in her stomach, making her feel queasy despite the smooth ride of the car. The machine was so quiet that she could hear nothing but the hum of tires on pavement, Sebastian's soft breathing, and her own pounding heart. The silence pressed on her ears like a physical force, and she was tempted to sing again, just to break the oppressing lack of noise.

After what seemed like an hour, she felt the car turn onto gravel and the sensation of being pressed back slightly as they drove up a hill. She twisted her hands nervously in her lap, a little bit frightened of what she would see when the blindfold was removed.

Finally, the car stopped, and Sebastian helped her out and led her through a doorway; she could hear the click of a knob being turned and the subtle sound of air moving as the door swung open. He pulled her forward a few steps, then stood behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. "Are you ready to see your surprise, my lady?"

"Sebastian, for God's sake, quit with the theatrics and show me already."

He laughed, then gently removed the blindfold. For a minute, she was paralyzed with fright; her surroundings were completely unfamiliar. It appeared to be the foyer of a large house, expensive-looking rugs laid out on cool tile. It was meticulously clean; the surfaces almost seemed to sparkle. To her right, there was a large wooden door that she assumed was a living room or a study, and to her left was a grand dining room, the space mostly taken up by a huge mahogany table.

"What is this…?"

He laughed softly in her ear. "Welcome home, my lady."

She swayed a little bit, her knees buckling. "…Home?"

Sebastian tightened his grip on her to keep her upright. "This is where you and I shall live for the remainder of my stay on the mortal plane."

"Sebastian, you…please tell me you didn't…"

He feigned innocence. "Didn't what?"

"Buy this place."

He grinned. "Of course I did. Would you suggest that I steal it instead?"

"I can't believe…where did you get the money for this? This must have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars!" She was panting a bit, pressing a hand to her heart, blinking rapidly to try and clear her overwhelmed mind.

"I have my sources, Lyra." His hands slid down her sides to curl over her hips. "It's paid in full under an alias, so you needn't worry about a scandal."

"Oh trust me, a scandal is the last thing I'm worried about." With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she ran to the doorway, fearing the worst.

A sleek black car crouched like a sleeping jungle cat in the drive. She didn't recognize the shape, but she knew it was a luxury car; one that very few could afford. Her knees shaking, she circled the machine, half-fearful that it would roar to life and pounce on her. On the back, there was a decal, a pair of silver wings with the words ASTON MARTIN printed in a block of green.

"Oh, no…"

"Quite a stunning piece of craftsmanship, don't you think?" The demon was leaning in the doorway, the slight breeze ruffling his hair. "It's yours, of course, but I don't think I'll be able to resist driving it from time to time."

She rounded on him. "You…why…why would you do this?" Her mind was racing, trying to catch up, to comprehend Sebastian's actions.

His expression was pleasant, though somewhat blank, as if he were wearing a mask. "I was under the impression that your vehicle isn't in the best condition, my lady."

"But…the house…"

"I hope you'll forgive my rudeness, but that cramped apartment was hardly suitable for one person, let alone two. I thought this would be more comfortable."

She narrowed her eyes; something didn't add up. She walked up to him, searching his face for any betraying emotions. "Why? Why would you feel the need to buy me such extravagant gifts? What are you hoping to get out of it?"

"Your happiness."

She blinked; she had been expecting a sneaky, roundabout answer. His eyes betrayed no hint of untruth, no signs of hidden intent. The poor girl was naïve enough to believe, even for a moment, that the demon was capable of being entirely selfless.

"I…I don't know what to say…"

He allowed himself a smile. "How about 'thank you'?"

She finally averted her eyes. "We'll see." She brushed past him and walked back inside. "Don't think this means that I owe you any favors."

He laughed and followed her inside. "Perish the thought, my lady." He trailed after her like a shadow as she explored the ground floor, but when she started up the stairs to the second floor, Sebastian took a hold of her wrist. "Not yet." He smiled, though his expression was just the tiniest bit hungry. "That's a surprise for later, pet."

"Oh, God…" She sighed in dismay.

With a gentle tug, he pulled her into his arms, pressing his lips to her temple. "I think you'll enjoy it, little one."

Her brows furrowed in confusion. First the car, then the house, and now this strange display of affection? What was with him today? He was acting almost…loving toward her. Her hands balled into fists; that couldn't be it. He was a demon, a fiend. Creatures like him knew nothing about love. Didn't they? She was too caught up in her thoughts to struggle away from him, and she relaxed in his embrace, for once not minding the weight of his arms around her.

After a moment of silence, he murmured gently into her ear, "Is there anything in particular that you'd like to do this evening, my lady? To break in your new home?" He smiled, brushing her bangs off her forehead.

Lyra sighed and squirmed away from him. "I kind of just want to curl up and watch a movie or two." She moved to rake her hand through her hair, but it was still trapped in a braid. "I've had a long day, and I just want to relax, you know?"

He nodded. "Yes, I know. The Undertaker alerted me to your little ordeal at his shop." He looked her over, but said nothing more.

Lyra's cheeks turned pink. "Oh…well, I don't take back anything that I said. My feelings for you haven't changed, regardless of any outrageous gift you bribe me with."

He laughed. "I would expect nothing else from a young woman like you, dear." Casually, he crossed his arms over his chest. "If watching films will make you happy, then please do so. I believe there's a television in the library." He nodded toward the open library door.

The girl arched an eyebrow. "Okay…will you be joining me?"

He smirked. "Of course. I can't allow you to have all the fun, can I?"

She held back a groan, closing her eyes. He was going to be pawing at her all night, wasn't he?

To her surprise and delight, he kept his hands mostly to himself as they settled on the couch to watch her favorite horror flick, only sliding one arm around her shoulders and pulling her close. She had to admit, despite present company, it felt rather nice. It was almost easy to forget what he'd put her through.

Lyra grinned as one of the villains of the movie filled up the screen in a close-up shot. "Could they have gotten a better actor for this role? The only thing I would change is his eyes."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Well, in the book, they were red. It would have made him so much more menacing and interesting if he'd had red eyes."

"Really?"

She glanced up to see Sebastian staring down at her with that hungry look in his blood red eyes, the same color that her favorite villain should have had. Turning away, she pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Why did he have to go and spoil what was until then a wonderful movie? Now all she could think about when she saw it was the villain with Sebastian's eyes, those crimson eyes that trapped her, snared her, seduced her, and frightened her.

That was the only dark moment in an otherwise calm evening. They watched quite a few movies; Lyra even played an animated musical, just so she could see Sebastian's reaction to it. He remained mostly indifferent, however, tightening his arm around her when she giggled and smiling when she gave a critique about an actor or plot point.

After maybe four and a half hours, Lyra stretched and turned off the TV. "Alright, show me this surprise upstairs so we can get this over with and go to sleep."

The demon smirked. "As you wish, my lady." The two of them got to their feet and went out into the foyer, Lyra hobbling a bit until her stiff knees could fully extend. When they reached the staircase, Sebastian fixed her with a hard look. "Please close your eyes, dear."

She shook her head. "No way. I've gone up stairs with my eyes closed before, and it didn't end well."

Sebastian smirked. "Don't you trust me?"

"You already know the answer to that," she murmured.

His smirk fell. "I swear to you that I will not let you fall, Lyra."

Her heart stuttered a bit as she heard the conviction in his words; there was no way that was an empty promise. She felt unsettled and confused; what was he trying to accomplish? He knew that she would never give up her soul, would never surrender herself to him. Had he accepted this fact and given up on forcing her? She chewed on her lip. Maybe…maybe he was starting to care for her. No, that couldn't be it. He was a demon, a monster. She was nothing more than a toy to him. A slave. Why should he care about her? And yet…her young heart, inexperienced with matters like this, was persisting that maybe what she read in novels and short stories was true. Maybe creatures like him could fall in love with humans. And maybe…that human could be her. Letting out a breath, she closed her eyes and nodded. " Alright. I trust you."

There was silence for a brief moment, and she was tempted to open her eyes. Then, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, guiding her step by step as they went upstairs. She remembered a few summers ago, when she'd spent one week at a retreat for Methodist youth. The kids had done something called "trust walks," where they were paired up and one person was blindfolded while their partner led them around, giving them instructions on where to step and when to turn. That's what this was now; a trust walk. She pressed her lips together; she hadn't wanted to trust him, at least not yet. Somehow he'd managed to make her trust him, and it annoyed her somewhat that he'd been able to break down her barriers so quickly. As they came to a stop, the girl decided that despite her annoyance, trusting him might not be such a bad thing after all.

She heard the sound of a door being opened, then Sebastian put his hands on her shoulders. The hairs on the back of her neck prickled as he leaned close to murmur in her ear. "Alright, my lady. You may open your eyes now."

Hesitating for a moment, her eyes fluttered halfway open, then shot wide. She was standing in the most gorgeous bedroom she'd ever laid eyes on. The floor was a beautiful glossy hardwood, with a big plush rug laid out in the middle of it. The walls were painted in a breathtaking deep purple with swirls of indigo around the baseboards. A television was mounted on the wall, the newest and fastest laptop sat on the desk, but by far the thing she was most delighted to see was the bed. It was huge, at least a king size, if not bigger, and draped with soft cotton sheets in the same deep purple as the walls. A canopy and curtains made of layered silks covered the bed, and could be pulled to conceal her as she slept. It was the bedroom she had dreamed about ever since she was a little girl.

"Oh my God…"

Sebastian laughed quietly and leaned against the doorframe. "Do you like it?"

Unable to speak, she nodded slowly, then stepped inside. Everything smelled like lavender and fresh rain, and she sat down carefully on the bed, as if not quite sure that this was real and wouldn't disappear at the first touch. "This is…the most beautiful bedroom I've ever seen." Her eyes were wide, almost owlish, as if she didn't want to miss a single detail. After a few moments passed in silence, she looked at the demon, chewing on her lip and her brows knitted together. "Sebastian…"

"Yes, my lady?"

"Um…where do you sleep?" Somehow, she just couldn't picture Sebastian lying on purple sheets.

He must have read her expression, because he smirked, chuckling quietly. "I have my own room, dear one."

"Oh." She continued to nibble at her lip, still completely confused by him. Was this even the same person who had raped her only a couple nights before? He'd been insatiable, barely able to keep his hands to himself, but now he had taken a few steps back and given her some space. If they were forced to be together, she realized that if he continued to act as if she were something other than just a sex slave, that she mattered to him…then she could live with this. She could be okay for a little while. Suddenly, deep appreciation and gratitude for his actions overwhelmed her.

"Can I see your room?"

Sebastian gave her a blank stare, then a knowing smirk curled at the corners of his mouth. "Of course."

She stood and followed him out of the room, down the hallway until they reached the last door on the left. The demon opened it for her, and she stepped inside, a little bit stunned. Where her room had been lavish and colorful, his was sparse and gloomy. The walls were a dark slate-grey, and the only three pieces of furniture were a bed with black sheets, a desk, and a bookcase. The small closet had only a few clothes hanging inside.

"Oh…"

He laughed softly. "Did you expect it to be as extravagant as yours?" He put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm not one for flashy colors; I prefer to keep things as monochromatic as possible."

Slowly, she nodded. "I see." She turned in his arms, her lower lip caught between her teeth, her eyes avoiding his nervously as she lightly wrapped her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

Sebastian was rarely surprised by anything; having lived for as long as he had, there was little that could catch him off guard. Even now, as the girl who professed to hate him embraced him, he smirked to himself and wrapped his arms around her in return, drawing her warm body close. They stood, holding each other in silence for a long moment, before Sebastian brushed his lips against her ear. "I'll assume this is your way of thanking me, shall I?"

"Shut up."

He laughed softly, pulling back a bit as Lyra raised her head. Their eyes locking, she slid her arms around his neck and whispered, "Just…just get it over with."

"My lady…"

She reached up and pressed a finger to his lips. "Stop. If you wait around, I'll lose my nerve." Finally looking away, she rested her forehead against his chest. "Please…don't let it hurt. Just don't let it hurt anymore."

He nodded, a smile crossing his features, then took her face between his hands and pulled her up for a kiss, his tongue sliding gently into her mouth. Her arms tightened fractionally, and she kissed him back, moaning softly as her tongue shyly caressed his. For several moment, they kissed in each other's arms, Sebastian purring as Lyra pressed herself against him, able to feel every soft curve of her body. He could even feel her heart pounding against his chest; she was either very nervous or very excited. Or both.

She tried to make herself relax, to let her body take over and just give in; perhaps it would hurt less later on if she did. Yet she couldn't force her tensed muscles to loosen, couldn't soften the fierce grip she had on his shirt as his mouth moved to her throat. It was as if an electric current was being passed through her body, pulling her nerves as taut as piano wire. Forcing herself to take deep breaths, bit by bit she relaxed, only to become rigid again when his hand slipped under her shirt or when she felt the scrape of teeth against her skin. Finally, she couldn't take it any longer, and she closed her eyes, curling against him.

"Ah…Sebastian, please…"

Without another word, he lifted her in his arms, growling softly as she wrapped her legs around his waist. With inhuman grace and speed, he carried her to the bed and laid her down on it, crawling over her. His lips curled into a lustful smirk as he felt her hand slide up into his hair, her fingers combing through the inky black strands. Slowly, he began pulling her shirt over her head, humming in approval when she sat up to help him remove it. Her bra came next, disposed with in a matter of seconds, and when she was bare from the waist up, she laid back down and arched her back with feline grace, moaning softly as he ran his hands over her breasts. Her own hands were shaking as she hesitantly unbuttoned his shirt, her fingers sliding across his skin with a feathery touch. The crimson eyes burned into her as he swiftly unfastened her jeans, pulling them down and leaving her in only her panties. She was biting her lip as she pushed his shirt off his shoulders, throwing it aside. He really was attractive, his skin smooth and pale, more warm to the touch than she had expected. Her eyes practically begging for his approval, she leaned up and brushed her lips against his neck. The demon let out a satisfied purr, lifting his chin to expose more of his throat. Her soft lips left spots of heat on his skin as he kicked off his pants, sliding her underwear off so that their bodies lay bare against each other. Her cheeks were a delicious cherry-red, and he bent to kiss them, his hands sliding up her legs and prying them open. Gasping, she turned away, rolling onto her side and trying to close her legs.

"Sebastian…I c-can't…I can't do it."

He sighed, then reached up and touched her face, his fingertips sliding against her silky cheek. "Of course you can, my lady. You have the strength to do anything." He kissed her forehead, smoothing her hair back. "And you know that."

His unexpectedly gentle words both shocked and soothed her. Perhaps her suspicions were right…perhaps Sebastian was beginning to care for her. At least enough so that he didn't want to force her to lie with him. Tears gathering in her eyes, she nodded slowly, turning to face him again and spreading her legs, whimpering a bit as he wedged himself between her thighs. She buried her face in his shoulder, clutching him to her so tightly that her nails left crescent-shaped marks in his skin.

"Please…"

He nodded reassuringly as her soft plea for gentleness ghosted against his skin on her breath. While kindness wasn't in his nature, he found it easy to indulge her, pressing his lips to her forehead as he slowly entered her. She tensed a bit, but forced herself to relax; to her great relief, it didn't hurt nearly as bad as before. There was hardly any pain at all. After a few moments, Sebastian stroked her cheek, one eyebrow arched in question.

She nodded, answering his unspoken inquiry by wrapping her legs around his waist and arching her hips into his, encouraging him to move. "Go ahead. It doesn't hurt now."

Groaning as she moved against him, around him, he began to piston his hips in a fluid, sinuous rhythm. She raked her nails down his back, new scratches blending in with the old, and the sting on his skin only fueled his desire. He tugged the rubber band from her hair and combed his fingers though the silky strands, pulling out the braid that Grell had twisted it into earlier. She looked so free, so uninhibited with her maple-colored hair spread out on his pillow, eyes rolling back with pleasure and soft mews of bliss flowing past her kiss-swollen lips.

Lyra held on for dear life as he moved within her, his lips moving restlessly from her mouth to her throat to her chest. Nothing else had ever felt so wonderful, including the times he'd slept with her before. The pleasure she'd gotten from those encounters was tainted by the fact that she was unwilling, that she hadn't wanted him to make love to her. But now, this was the only thing she wanted; he was the only thing she wanted. Now that her body was used to him, the pain had vanished, and she found herself enjoying the way he felt, the way that every so often he would change the angle of his hips and spend sparks up her spine, the way he covered her upper body with kisses. She even discovered that she liked kissing him back, curling her tongue around his, even pressing her lips to his throat and chest.

Suddenly, she felt the familiar tightening sensation in her lower stomach, felt her body clamping around him, but Sebastian didn't even slow down, even as her legs wrapped around his waist so rigidly that it would have left bruises on a normal human. She threw her head back and screamed at the top of her lungs as her orgasm overpowered her, choking out his name, her breath coming in harsh pants. Finally, she started coming down from her pleasurable high, but Sebastian was far from done with her.

Without missing a beat, he grabbed her hips and rolled them over, Lyra now straddling him. Her head still cloudy from her orgasm, she furrowed her brow in confusion, bracing her hands on his chest. "Wh-What…?"

"I thought a change of pace might be nice." He smiled and reached up to stroke her cheek. "After all, it's always good to try new things." His smile turned into a smirk as he ran his hand down her body.

"B-But I don't…" She moaned as the new position allowed him to slide deeper within her. "I don't know what to do."

"I'll show you, little one." He cupped one hand around the back of her neck to pull her down for a kiss, whispering against her lips. "I'll teach you, don't worry." Slowly, he pushed up into her, grabbing her hips and guiding her to move with him, his eyes glowing with every moan or gasp that he wrung from her. Within a few moments, she began to move on her own, rocking her hips back and forth and whimpering with pleasure as he clamped his hands around her waist to steady her. In this new position, she was able to take so much more of him into her body, so now there was a bit of pain. Not enough that it made her want to stop, but it did bring a wince if Sebastian snapped his hips too roughly.

Soon, it was the demon's turn to grow tense as he neared his end, and he sat up, pulling her into his lap and kissing her deeply, his hands stroking and teasing her breasts as the two of them continued to move against each other in a fluid rhythm. Finally, their skin slicked with sweat and their bodies straining, Lyra clutched at him, crying out his name as she came for the second time, Sebastian following a moment later. Quietly, almost reverently, she heard him murmuring her name, his own climax making his voice sound rough with passion. As they fell back onto the bedspread, their chests rising and falling, the girl glanced over at him, her eyes sleepy and half-lidded. "Wow…"

He smiled and pulled her close, pushing her damp hair out of her eyes. "Did you expect anything else?" The demon smirked. "After all, I am-"

"One hell of a lover. Yes, I know." She allowed herself a small smile, then curled up on his chest with a yawn. "I hope you don't mind sharing a bed tonight. After that, I'll be surprised if I can walk tomorrow."

Sebastian laughed, stroking her hair. "I certainly have no problem with that, pet. We've shared a bed before."

She snuggled against him, offering no reply other than a soft sigh, her breath feathering against his bare skin. It was silent for several long moments before Lyra muttered, "Sebastian?"

"Yes?"

"Um…can demons…feel like humans can?"

"You mean emotions?"

"Yeah."

He sighed, staring up at the ceiling. "Well, not exactly, no." The dark-haired demon paused, running his fingertips up and down her spine. "For the purpose of comparison, imagine your favorite food. You've eaten it so many times that you can recall the flavor exactly. You can almost imagine that you're savoring it right now…but that's all it is. Your imagination." It might have been his light touch that made her shiver, but probably not. "When a demon consumes a human soul, traces of their flavor, their emotion, stay with us. We can imitate human concepts like happiness, sadness, or anger, but we cannot truly feel them for ourselves."

"So you can pass for human, but you'll never feel like one."

"Exactly, little one."

She was silent for a few moments, then asked, "If a demon ate enough souls…if they absorbed enough human emotion, would it change that?"

"I don't know. There's only one demon I can think of that might have experienced a brief spell of humanity…but she's long been dead."

"Who was it?"

He grimaced. "Hannah Annafellows."

Lyra's brows knitted together. "I know that name…she was involved with the Trancy thing, wasn't she? She's the one that turned Ciel into a demon…"

"Yes." His tone was just a touch more curt, so she remained quiet, hoping she hadn't upset him with the memory. "When she was summoned by Luka Macken, his singular and unique wish astounded her. She had never met another human like him, willing to sacrifice his life to bring his brother happiness. When the time came, she consumed his soul dutifully, but regretfully." Sebastian let out a slow breath. "It may be that the affection she felt for Luka, and the boy's own fierce love for his brother combined and overwhelmed her, creating the false impression that she felt love for Luka and Alois…or perhaps, for a moment, she felt true humanity for herself."

"But you don't think she did."

He kissed her temple. "No, I do not think it's possible for demons to feel as humans do. All we have are wisps of memory, illusions and phantasms of the impossible." He combed his fingers through her hair, wrapping his arm more securely around her waist. "Sleep now, my lady." She could hear the smirk in his voice as he added, "I must have exhausted you."

"Cocky bastard."

He laughed. "I'm going to have to do something about that vulgar tongue of yours, aren't I?"

"My tongue and all its vulgarities are none of your concern."

"Au contraire," he purred, tilting her face up with a curled finger the kissing her. His tongue slid into her mouth, curling sinuously around hers, teasing the sensitive underside. "Your tongue concerns me greatly."

"Mmm…" She sighed, licking her lips, then lowered her head onto his chest. "You think you can turn off the charm long enough for me to get some sleep?"

"I suppose so."

She smiled, closing her eyes. After a few moments, she whispered almost inaudibly, "Thank you."

Minutes later, she was dozing peacefully, her breathing slow and steady. The last coherent thought she had before drifting off was, Being with Sebastian might not be so bad after all…even if he is a demon.

XXX

The demon laid awake, his arms curled in a cage around his little captive. A satisfied smirk curled on his lips, his eyes pulsing with a faint scarlet luminescence. Things were moving much faster than he had anticipated; the poor girl was more tender-hearted than he'd thought. If this keeps up, I won't be on the mortal plane for much longer. Two months, three at the most. It had been difficult to refrain from touching her despite the powerful lusts of mæccea still calling from deep within him. Especially when they had been watching films together downstairs. Her fragrance, completely her own and free of any traces of demoness, had been more seductive than any siren call; the glow of her milky skin in the shifting light of the television almost compelled him to pin her to the cushions and taste every inch of her.

For the purpose of his endeavor, however, he restrained his urges so she would be more at ease around him. If she didn't fear an unwanted advance, it would be easier for him to gain her trust. He simply hadn't expected her to trust him so soon. He chuckled quietly to himself, a sinister sound that didn't linger in the air. It was almost as if she wanted to trust him, desperate to find anything that would justify her hopeful weakness. He'd been hoping that capturing her heart would be more of a challenge, hoping that she wouldn't be as predictable as the women he'd seduced in the past. But she was young, still just a child, not to mention inexperienced, vulnerable, and too trusting for her own good. A beautiful instrument that was pliant to his will, and nothing more. The girl was naïve enough to believe that she brought out good in him, that with her kindness, she could change his nature. He supposed that was the reason behind her questions earlier.

His thoughts soon drifted into calmer waters, and he found himself comparing Lyra to his master. They were as different as day from night, and the dissimilarities amused him. After his parent's murder, Ciel used his hatred and anger as strength, distancing himself from frivolous things like compassion and forgiveness, always driving himself toward his ultimate goal of revenge. However, when Lyra's father died, there was no revenge to be had. She hadn't cast the blame on God, as many did when a loved one was taken. Her devout faith was a testament to that. In fact, Sebastian doubted that she had a single antagonistic bone in her body. True, she claimed to hate him, but she had given into his manipulation with ease, taking only a matter of days. It was unlikely that her claim had been sincere; the girl simply didn't have it in her to hate. She was a pure soul, which is why he found her so attractive, why he wanted to possess her so fiercely. Only one thing stood in his way of conquering her completely.

The unknown demoness.

The smirk disappeared from his face; though no trace of the foreign scent remained, the threat still lingered. It was possible that the demoness was a friend of Lyra's, masquerading as human in order to get close to her. After all, the smell had been on her clothes, her hair, her skin. A chance encounter wouldn't have saturated her so strongly. A growl rumbled deep in his chest before he could stop it, and Lyra stirred, disturbed by the vibration in her ear. He hushed her, stroking her hair and urging her back to sleep. For a moment, he wondered if he should tell her his suspicions and warn her to beware. Sebastian closed his eyes with a sigh; no, telling her would serve no purpose. He could handle the problem without alerting her to it; he would simply have to keep a close watch on her.

When the first hints of sunlight began to seep into the horizon, he carefully gathered her in his arms and carried her down the hall to her bedroom, walking smoothly so he wouldn't wake her. There were a few things he needed to take care of before she woke. Lying her down on her bed, he smoothed her hair back from her face, smiling as she made a quiet, sleepy sound, like a sigh from a dream. He pulled the curtains around her so the rising sun would not disturb her rest, and as he left the room, he looked back and softly whispered, "Sweet dreams, my lady."

Hello, lovelies! Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Because I did. The last half just wrote itself. :) Anyways, please review, because you know I love to hear from you! Cheers!