This chapter just explains Tessa's past and my own version of Sebastian's demonic past, or what I assume and take is his past.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji.

Chapter Eleven

I gasped and let my eyes flutter open slowly. I was aware that they probably were burning orbs of a bright scarlet but I felt too worn out to try and change them at the moment. I needed a few moments to regain my strength. Visions had done this to me since before I could remember. They came on fast and left me feeling worn once they wore off. Demons shouldn't have to feel tired, sleep was a luxury not a necessity. But after a vision sleep was the one thing I both needed and wanted.

"Are you back with us, mistress?" I heard the familiar velvety voice purr.

I moaned softly and reached up to clutch at my head, "Yes, but I believe I rather prefer not being here. It hurts too much."

A chuckled resounded through my ears, causing me to wince, "Here, drink this. It should help relieve the pain."

I saw the silver tray being placed down onto the nightstand out of the corner of my eye, but I was reluctant to move. I didn't want to feel just how heavy my body was going to feel right now. Knowing from experience, moving my body would feel like trying to run in three feet of water.

I groaned, "I couldn't get up even if I wanted to."

"Of course you can," the voice chuckled again. "But let me assist you if you are that against doing so."

I was about to open my mouth to protest, but found myself being hauled into a sitting position before I could blink. I shot a glare at Sebastian as I leaned back into the pile of pillows, letting my body relax. Now that I was sitting up I found that I couldn't be mad at him for moving me into this position, it was just to comfortable and it was good to be able to see the full layout of my room. Though I could still act like I didn't agree with his actions.

"Bastard," I muttered.

Sebastian just grinned and offered me a saucer with a tea cup on it, "Whatever you say, Tessa. But please drink, the master would like to see you and in your current state it wouldn't be fit for him or the guest to see you."

I sighed and took the cup with a shaky hand, bringing it to my lips.

"Very well," I mumbled against the rim of the cup.

I tipped it up slowly, letting the rich flavored tea fill my mouth. Sebastian had clearly put something more than tea, sugar, and cream into it as I felt the energy slowly ebbing back into my body. I mauled over the taste, but gave up after a few seconds. There was no need to know what it was as long as it didn't kill me, but I had a sinking feeling that it was probably a stray soul he had slipped under his master's watch.

I placed the cup back onto the saucer and handed it to Sebastian, feeling my strength returning in full.

"Thank you," I said softly, adverting my eyes from him. I hated having to say that too him of all people. Being indebted to someone like him wasn't what I wanted.

"I forgot that about you, Tessa," Sebastian mused as he placed the saucer back onto the tray.

I raised an eyebrow, "That isn't very like you at all, Sebastian. I'm curious as to what you forgot now."

"That you're not fully demon," he answered, eyeing me while he did so. "One of your parents was the Watcher, the angel that saw visions of the past, present, and future. But he fell from glory and ended up with you as an offspring. I rather pity him now."

"You are correct, I am not fully a succubus like my mother was," I replied curtly, giving him a sharp look for the snideness of his last comment. "But neither am I an angel like my father was. Thanks to his status I'm fully a dark being, but I still carry some of the bastard's genes. So I guess that would make me half fallen and demon."

"Which is why you see visions," he finished. "A rather angelic power, that doesn't seem to fit someone of your breeding."

My lips curled with disgust, "I would watch the words you use."

"What memories of the young master's did you see?" He asked, ignoring my comment and vicious look.

I sobered up immediately and then looked towards the door of my bedroom, "I saw the moment he summoned you...It's absolutely horrid what humans are capable of. I'm certainly glad I'm not one."

Sebastian nodded and pressed a gloved hand to his chin thoughtfully, "They certainly are foul beings."

"Not to mention fools," I smirked. "So how did it feel to kill them? Is it any different to kill under a master verses just doing it?"

He frowned thoughtfully, "I suppose it's no different."

I sighed, "Well that's a shame, I was sort of hoping you'd say otherwise. Then I might have just been the first one of my kind to form a contract in the near future."

My jest caused a sadistic smirk to cross Sebastian face as he looked down at me with a twisted sort of amused look on his face, "Well, you certainly are the most interesting person I've met by far, Miss Tessa."

I grinned back, "Good, that satisfies me some. I've been trying so very hard to impress you."

He leaned forward till he loomed inches away from my face, an intimidating smirk on his face. I flinched back, stopped by the headboard and pile of pillows behind my back. He was radiating a dark aura that even would scare the most intimidating of demons, but then again Sebastian held the highest power a demon could get. He literal could own all of hell if he pleased to do so, any demon with any sense in their head would fear him. Sebastian put the Lucifer himself to shame by just existing.

"But remember at the moment you are bound to me under our current contract, Tessa, and until it is completed you are mine," he purred in a voice that was just as alluring as it was dangerous.

I visibly flinched, though quickly composed myself. He might be a strong demon, but I refused to let anyone believe they could control me how they wished.

"How could I forget?" I said, my voice acidic.

He smirked and leaned back, "Just making sure you remembered."

My eyes narrowed and I quickly slide off the bed, making sure I was on the opposite side that Sebastian was on. With an annoyed click of my tongue I stormed into my closet, slamming the doors shut behind me as I silently fumed to myself.

"Ciel will be waiting to see you in his study," Sebastian informed me through the door as he conveniently happened to pass by it. I snorted and choose to give him no answer, though I knew in the back of my mind that I would go see Ciel after I was done.

I sighed angrily and fingered the gowns hanging around me. So many styles to choose from and so many different designs, yet there seemed to be a scarcity of dresses that suit my mood and the weather. It took me longer than I would have liked, but I finally found one that I deemed suitable enough.

It was a simple empire waisted gown with off the shoulder elbow length sleeves. The bust was made of a black soft cotton with ruffling at the center. A bow rested at the bust line where the skirts flowed freely. Below the bow the black fabric split in a triangular shape with black lace ruffling at the edges. A cream colored fabric lay under this that added a softer tone to the dress. It also didn't happen to require wearing my corset too tight so that my body would fit into the so called perfect shape that women these days sought after, though I found this particular form to be unappealing to the eye.

I quickly got dressed and placed on a pair of black silk slippers and cream colored gloves with black lace detailing. Gloves weren't a necessity to be worn in the home these days, but I needed to hide the mark on the back of my hand that was becoming an annoyance to me as of lately.

Pinning my hair back into a neat up do that accented my spirals, I swept my way out of my room and down the hall. As I passed throughI happened upon Soma who looked like a mess to say the least, though he didn't look too upset at the moment. I noted silently the dark puffy circles under his eyes that hinted at both a loss of sleep and crying, but I also noted to the small smile he wore. After last night one would have thought he'd be even more of a mess, but apparently I had missed something important when I'd conveniently 'passed out'. When I passed he looked up and gave me a warm smile.

"Oi, Tessa," he called, forcing me to stop out of polite social etiquette.

I turned and flashed a small, forced, smile, "Yes, Soma? May I help you with anything?"

He shook his head and approached me, seemingly examining my face carefully. I kept my face blank of anything but the false smile, knowing that even if I did happen to display some sort of emotion he wouldn't have been bright enough to notice.

"Are you alright after last night?" He asked, seemingly genuinely concerned about my health.

"Ah, yes everything is perfectly alright now, Soma. You see, I'm prone to fainting spells frequently when situations become too tense. My dear nerves seem to be unable to handle it," I lied easily.

He nodded, buying into my lie completely, "Well then you should avoid such situations, Tessa."

I smiled softly, "Thank you, I'll try to stick to that advice from now on, but for now can you excuse me? I have to meet my dear brother in his study. He wanted to speak to me in private about something."

Soma, daft as he could be sometimes, seemed to understand and nodded, "Well then don't let me hold you back."

I smiled and curtsied, before spinning gracefully on my heels and going off again. I passed the front stairwell and made my way towards the opposite side of the manor then my chambers were on. Ciel's study was the last door on the left and set up much similar to the one back at the Phantomhive mansion, but instead of being oversized and roomy this one was quaint and scaled much more rationally. The wood desk that the young earl sat before was pushed against the back wall right in front of a window with a nice view of the grounds behind the manor. In the spring the view would have been rather lovely, but today with it being coated in snow there was no green leaves or pastel colored flowers to look at. Besides the desk, shelves occupied the room, masking every wall with rows upon rows of books. Other than these few pieces of furniture there was only a small set up area with two comfortable looking love seats and a small wooden coffee table to decorate the room.

As I entered, Ciel looked up from the pile of paperwork he was reading and turned to face me. I curtsied and stood silently before him with my hands clasped in front of my waist. Though I masqueraded as his sister, I was still a maid in all technicalities, and would be such until I could figure a way to permanently secure myself a place as acting relative.

"Take a seat," he ordered, waving to the velvet love seat closest to the desk.

I nodded and sat down, letting silence envelop the room until the boy decided when he wished to break it. For a moment all that was heard in the room was the scratching as ink was put on paper.

Finally Ciel broke the silence.

"Sebastian has informed me that you see visions," Ciel stated, his back still to me.

I nodded, even knowing Ciel couldn't see the action, "He has informed you correctly."

Ciel turned in his seat to look at me with his one sapphire eye. It was narrowed in on my face, searching the planes on it for answers, but if he knew anything by now he'd know that demon never revealed anything through expressions alone.

"Is that all?" He inquired.

I smiled ruefully, "Of course not and you're smart to ask because I wouldn't have told you otherwise. I do see visions of the past, memories and the sort, but that isn't all I see. On occasions, or when I wish to, I can see present events but I have to have something linking me to the event in my hand to do so. And sometimes, but it's very rare that I do, I can see glimpses of future events. They're nothing to clear or anything special and normally they are of no help."

Ciel spun his chair around to face me so that he no longer had to bend at an awkward angle, and leaned back thoughtfully. His eye never left my face the whole time he mused silently to himself.

"And what did you see last night?" He asked.

I smirked and looked away, "Why do you wish to know? Does the earl have a secret he'd rather be kept behind closed doors?"

His jaw clenched visibly, "No, I was just curious to see how trust worthy this talent of yours is."

"Oh, it's rather accurate," I grinned deviously. "In fact if you want me to relay all the details of what I saw I shall."

He seemed to actually ponder over this, as if internally debating whether or not he wanted to know what I saw. Curiosity seemed to get the better of him for he gave me a wave that clearly was meant for me to continue. I hid my smirk and nodded, he had asked for what was coming.

And so I began to tell him.

I didn't bother sparing him as single detail as I told him the detailed version of his memories I saw. The cold, blank mask that usual dominated his face seemed to slip every so often as I explained the terrible ordeal he lived through. It seemed to bother him, illicit a few touchy nerves within his small body, and this time I was prepared to fight off the memories again as my tale brought them back to the surface of his mind. The dull numbing sensation fought against the barriers surrounding my mind, but were unable to breach.

"You may stop," he ordered harshly, waving a hand erratically to have me stop.

I smiled softly, a hint of smug entertainment hidden in the curve of my lips, "As you wish."

Though I enjoyed the brief torment of the boy I was glad he stopped me. Even being prepared for them, the memories still would've breached over the barriers surrounding my mind eventually and I didn't need another viewing of them. Once was enough for me. Twice would be too much to swallow.

Ciel wore a grimace as he looked back at me, "You're not to tell anyone about what you saw."

"The thought never even crossed my mind," I stated, waving a hand dismissively. "We demons are very good at keeping secrets."

"Yes, but you aren't a complete demon either," he pointed out.

"So Sebastian told you that as well? I wonder if he willing did so or did you force it out of him?" I arched an eyebrow and let a smirk decorate my face.

He grinned in return, one that appeared almost as devious as a demon's, "What do you think?"

A grin broke through my smirk, "You know, I was right about you, Ciel. I find that I enjoy you're company more and more everyday. You're quite the interesting mortal and you'd make a wonderful demon."

Ciel's eyebrow rose a fraction as he looked at me, "Humans can become demons?"

I nodded, placing my arm across the arm rest of the love seat and rested my chin on it. It was a lax movement that showed I was in no way uncomfortable with this topic as most demons would've been. In fact my action showed that I held no real interest in it at all.

"Sebastian never told me that," he mumbled to himself in a musing tone.

I titled my head to the side and sighed, "Of course he wouldn't, something like that requires unusual circumstances. I believe it's only happened once or twice before, but it's nothing a demon would wish to happen to their contractors. Because if it does happened to a human who is contracted to a demon, the pair are bound together for all eternity as master and servant."

My lips turned into a devilish grin as I paused, "Though Sebastian cherishes you, he wouldn't want to lose such a rare soul as your own. Nor would his pride allow him to serve under another's control for that length of time. He is, after all, one hell of a demon."

Ciel caught my pun and play of Sebastian's words, and eyed me carefully. I just grinned back mischievously. If he wished to know more he'd have to ask. A demon never revealed all their secrets unless ordered to or found some gain in doing so.

"Is Sebastian a high ranked demon?" Ciel asked, turning in his seat and going back to work on whatever he had been doing before I entered. If he was trying to act like he wasn't interested, he was failing. I could see that his eyes kept glancing my way periodically as I took my time answering and the way he angled his head slightly in my direction to catch every word I spoke better.

I smiled and leaned back in my seat, lifting one of my legs to tuck it under myself.

"He doesn't own the title," I stated cryptically. "But let's just leave it at there would be no competition if he wanted to claim one such as Lord of Hell."

Ciel paused in his writing and seemed to freeze over. I smiled as I watched the blood slowly drain from his face, leaving his already pale skin almost a bluish hue. I giggled and stood up, moving so that I stood right behind him. I leaned down and placed and hand on his cheek gently, caressing his soft skin gently.

"Surprised to learn that your butler is so powerful?" I purred. "You had no clue did you? But of course Sebastian wouldn't have informed you of this. Why would he? After all you're only meant for dinner."

"Tessa, I would appreciate it if you didn't touch the master so casually," a voice snapped from the door.

I lifted my hand away automatically, but didn't move away, "Oh, Sebastian! We were just discussing you."

"Nothing too intimate I hope," Sebastian commented, but it wouldn't have taken a genius to hear the underlying threat in his voice.

Ciel unfroze beside me and began to go back to writing, though the motion was still stiff and uncomfortable as if he was still in surprise at what I had revealed to him. His master's odd actions didn't go missed by Sebastian and he turned his attention from the young earl to me in an instant. I gave him a pretty smile that was only slightly mischievous.

"Of course not," I laughed lightly, enjoying the way it sounded like bells as it echoed in throughout the room. "Why would you accuse me of such brash actions?"

Sebastian's gazed narrowed on my face as I moved back to take my previous seat. After observing me for a moment he returned his attention to his master and began to place a dish with what looked to be a sweet chocolate cake on the desk besides his master's work.

"For dessert today young master, you're having Gateau Chocolate made with the richest dark chocolate and drizzled over with a much lighter milk chocolate," Sebastian announced.

Ciel didn't even bother looking at the dish and shuffled through some of the papers on his desk instead.

"I'm not hungry," he stated plainly.

Sebastian seemed baffled, but lifted the tray from the desk nevertheless, "Then what shall I do with this?"

Ciel rolled his eye, "I don't know, throw it into the curry or something."

Sebastian nodded, "Of course, my lord."

Bowing, he turned and left the room.

"Since when do you turn down sweets?" I chuckled, looking from the door back to Ciel. "Especially Sebastian's desserts. This isn't like you at all, Ciel."

Ciel looked at me out of the corner of his eye, a smirk on his lips, "Because I'm currently in a game. One I have an intention of winning for once."

I frowned softly and cocked my head to the side, "And may I inquire as to what game this is?"

His smirk broadened into a grin, "Trying to find that demon's weak point. For once he seems to be losing this round."

I furrowed my brows together in confusion, "A game to see if you can make Sebastian fail at something? What on earth is he doing that he's failing?"

Ciel grinned and looked at me smugly, "I've order him to take part in the curry competition. But it seems he is rather untalented in foreign cooking."

I laughed loudly, causing Ciel to look my way in surprise. Attempting to control myself I placed a gloved hand over my mouth to muffle my giggles and held the other up to tell him to give me a moment to compose myself. Once my laughter had been some what contained I looked at Ciel with a large smile. The boy had no clue as to what he just did.

"Well, you've just lost this round then," I informed him, still giggling softly. "You've just given him the perfect ingredient to bringing out the best and richest flavor in curry."

He gaped openly at me, "H-how?"

I smiled, "I've lived all over this earth, Ciel, and India isn't an exception. Chocolate is a rare ingredient, but it brings out the flavor of the spices and adds a sweetness that cannot be compared to when it comes to curry. Only the wealthy and the holy ever taste such delicacies there, and only a handful of chefs know the secret. You're butler will follow through with you're order to add the chocolate into the mix because you ordered him to, and when he does he'll find the ingredient he's been searching for."

Ciel swore and turned around in his seat. I grinned at his display and stood up.

"Mad that we lost are we?" I teased playfully. "You have no one to blame but yourself for this one."

Ciel muttered something under his breath that sounded like something along the lines of 'stupid demons'. I chuckled and shook my head. Oh this was amusing.

And it would've remained so if I had not felt the cold presences creeping back over me. I stiffened and my soft laughter stopped as I glanced out the window on instinct, just in time to see the black shadow run off again. I growled lowly, causing Ciel to turn and give me a questioning look. I ignored him and moved to the window, clenching my hands into fist at my side as I glared out with scarlet eyes at the retreating back.

Who was this person?

And what did they want here?

I didn't know but I was dead set on getting answers.