Chapter 3
Gilbert did not look at Sebastian as he made his way to the library.
Instead of using the main entrance, Gilbert knew from past experiences that there was a door that led into the back of the library where the sitting area was spread out.
He could hear the man behind him, could almost feel his breath on the back of his neck. There were moments when the Nightray wanted to run, as fast as he could, away from the butler. But something inside him told him it was of no use. Gilbert wanted to know who this man really was; what his real goals were. There was the occasional affair between maids and the male servants, but they went unnoticed. Nobody seemed to care as long as the relationship did not affect their work. But something about this was totally different. From the moment Gilbert saw Sebastian, he knew something was off. He had known the man for not but a day, and yet… There was just something about Sebastian, something that almost seemed inhuman.
Out of no where, Sebastian was blocking him. He had no way to get by, he had no where to run. Sebastian stood in his way, and there was no way around him… But then Sebastian had moved aside. He was holding the door open for Gilbert, looking at him expectantly. The fear that engulfed him disappeared, and he could have laughed at his own foolishness if he could make a sound.
Through the opening in the wall, Gilbert saw the sitting area, cast in the shadow of the tall bookshelves that lined each and every wall. Gilbert gulped and bent his head as he walked past Sebastian into the darkness. The light from the hallway was suddenly cut off as Sebastian shut the door behind him, and the same feeling returned. Gilbert ran his hand along the wall as he looked for the light switch. Come on come on come on! I do NOT want to be left in the dark with this creep!
The gaslight over his head ignited, and Gilbert had to blink a couple times to get used to the sudden brightness. His fingers had been inches away from the switch, but he had not reached it before the light turned on. How…? Gilbert looked over his shoulder. Sebastian stood a few feet behind him, holding his arm behind his back and smiling coolly at Gilbert.
"Don't like the dark, I see." Sebastian said in a voice that was as calm and devious as his smile.
"How did you…?"
"I have learned many things over the years." Sebastian replied before he stretched out an arm, indicating to one of the thread-bare arm chairs. Gilbert ignored the gesture and stared at his butler. "Over the years? You've only been here for a day!"
"Very true. But this is not my first job as s butler. I was once a servant in a mansion very much likes this one."
That's right. Gilbert remembered the conversation he had had with Sebastian that morning.
"The term I use for you is of a higher standard in my opinion. My master before I came here always preferred me to call him 'Young Master'. I suppose I made a habit out of it. Forgive me. Does it displease you?"
He had said something about that, at that time… Gilbert thought. Was it only this morning?
"Young Master?"
The name startled Gilbert out of his thoughts. He must have been staring at Sebastian. He felt his face grow hot as he swept past Sebastian and sat rigidly down in the armchair. Through dark, curly bangs, Gilbert watched Sebastian walk calmly over to stand by his side, far enough away from him not to be touching, but way to close for Gilbert's comfort.
Gilbert cleared though throat and met Sebastian's blood red eyes. "What did my brother tell you when he gave you the job?" Gilbert was careful to say the words slowly in order to hide his panic from the other.
"He told me to be a 'good servant' and take care of his brother."
"So sleeping around with the maids is being a 'good servant'?" Gilbert snapped.
Sebastian's smile seemed to widen. "I did not know there were regulations about that sort of thing here."
"There aren't." Gilbert growled, digging his nails into the arms of the chair and turning away from Sebastian.
"Then, what seems to be the problem, Young Master?" Was he being mocked? By his own servant, none the less?
Gilbert gritted his teeth and did not reply. He heard Sebastian chuckle softly from somewhere above him. "Then, perhaps…" Gilbert's eyes widened when he felt cool fingers reach under his chin and pull his head upward so that he was nose to nose with Sebastian. "Perhaps," he said again, "my Young Master is jealous?" Sebastian's eyes sparkled in the dim light coming from the gas lamps. He ran a long, slim finger down Gilbert's throat slowly only to stop at the neckline of Gilbert's shirt. Gilbert turned completely white and had to resist the urge to faint. What had he just….?!
The Nightray found his senses and fell sideways out of the arm chair and scuttled backward across the room. His back was against a bookshelf before the arm chair could hit the floor. Sebastian covered his mouth with his hand, his shoulders shaking with laughter. No wonder Vincent hired this guy!
"J-jealous?! What the hell?!" Gilbert spluttered as he stood up on shaky legs. His shock quickly turned to rage that rose from his stomach up to this throat where it seemed to choke him. His head was reeling, his heart pounded in his chest. He was supposed to be in charge here. Sebastian was his servant. Why was he being pushed around by him? Why was he letting this stranger mess with him? Anger at his own weakness joined that that was directed at Sebastian. "How dare you." Gilbert growled. Sebastian stopped laughing and was regarding him with the same expression that he always did.
"How dare you talk to your master like that?! To me?!" Gilbert barked. Sebastian made no move; the only reason Gilbert knew his words had gotten though to the butler was when his eyes narrowed slightly and the grin faded a little from his face.
Gilbert's choking anger would allow him to say no more. He would have never talked to Oz like that. Ever. After years of being Oz's personal servant, Gilbert had never once laid an unfriendly hand on his master, had never touched him when it was not appropriate. And Oz had always called him 'friend'. But here stood a complete and total stranger, a man that his brother, of all people, had hired for him, and here he stood, harassing him and seeming to be enjoying himself.
Gilbert was not sure how long he stood there, fuming, his breath coming in harsh gasps as he glared at Sebastian. Finally, the invisible fingers that had been surrounding his neck released their grip, allowing Gilbert to speak again.
"I don't know what Vincent told you to do to me, but I will have none of it. You are my servant - meaning that you must respect me and my orders."
"What are your orders, Young Master?" Sebastian said, calmly regarding the temperamental teen before him.
"Do not touch me without my say so… And do not ever speak to me like that again." It was after Gilbert had said those words that he realized that his palm felt strangely wet, and it was beginning sting. Looking down, he realized that he had been unconsciously digging his finger nails into his hand to hard that he had drawn blood. But he was not looking at the self-inflicted injury. Instead, he was watching Sebastian as his servant got down on one knee, putting a hand over his chest and bowing his head so that a curtain of black, glossy hair fell down over his face. "Yes, Young Master."
Gilbert nodded, more to himself than Sebastian. He could not control many things in his life, but he had control over this butler. He held up the hand that was bleeding at watched at a trickle of his own blood went down his wrist and soaked through the sleeve of his shirt. He did not feel any pain, but he did feel the cold eye begin to creep around his heart as he stared, blank-faced, at his bloodied hand.
"Oh, dear." He heard Sebastian breath. He, too, must have seen Gilbert's hand bleeding. "Shall I help clean that up for you?"
Gilbert did not look at Sebastian, only nodded in response. He would let this feeling of having control over someone take its effect.
Light spilled over the floor as Sebastian opened the door from which they had come in. The only thing Gilbert regretted was that he was not able to spend more time in the library as he walked out with Sebastian at his elbow.
