Chapter 22: Sebastian POV

The King's Bar was not fit for a King, nor was it really a bar. My kind were terrible at socializing and the King's Bar was merely where we sold and bought information. Demons got prices placed on their Contracts by rivals, Demons fought openly over territory. Demons traded tips how to best Possess, and how to take Souls out and leave a Human craving the Demon's powers, toying with them and then killing them off slowly. It was disgusting.

I waded through the depravity and got to the counter where a lovely Demoness was tending to a few who were betting on how many villages they could out Possess.

"What brings such a powerful Demon to a humble place?" she asked.

"I need information on Demon approvals," I said. I didn't need to sugarcoat anything. "I have a Human I would like to Suffer a bit more."

"Oh the Eternal chain of Suffering? Well, darlin, that will cost you," she said, winking. "I can take a Soul now or something a bit more… intimate?"

I pulled out a bottled Soul and placed it on the counter. At least she looked appropriately saddened about being denied a good bedding. Her hand curved around the glass and I held a firm grip. "This is yours if I get some information. Make it decent, and don't mind getting indecent with you."

Her lips curled and she leaned forward. "Mmm, well, what exactly did you need to know about approving your little Human to be a little Demon?"

"The process - what are the steps?"

"Well the first one is sometimes the hardest - the Human must sacrifice what was given to them from the moment of birth." She leaned forward more and whispered into my ear, her lips touching them. "The Human must take their own life, but before the Reapers claim the Soul and Body, you must do so. No, no tasting the Soul, because this is that tricky part, it's there and open, and dripping, and you want it," she added, licking my neck. I closed my eyes and set my jaw. "Once the pesky Reapers are by passed, that Soul and Body must be burned - not by Human fire, mind you."

"Hell's Fire," I muttered. That was why the Tutor was in a feverish state. "How long must the Soul and Body burn?"

"Oh, a day or so. They come out as if they are still Human, after that. It takes a bit before they fully change. The steps - those hows and what-nots - differ from Human to Human. It could be that they are craving Blood and Souls within a few days, and are high class Demons like yourself, or they could boil for a long time, simmering like those low slugs we toss around," she said, pulling back and twirling a strand of hair around her finger. She looked at me and smiled. "So ready to come to the back and render your payment?"

I looked at her and smiled slowly. "I think I paid already," I said, wiping my hand down my neck and pulled her bar towel from around her neck and wiped my hands. "You seemed to have left something behind. I like my encounters clean. Unless it is avoidable." I cupped her face and leaned in close to her ear and licked her neck. "That's as intimate as we will get, filthy Demon."

And I turned and walked out. The Demoness hurled curses at me and I simply opened the door and stepped out onto the Strand. I straightened my jacket and pulled a hat from the air, to put on my head, blending with the other high class theatre goers. But I would not be taking in a high class show, I would be watching a different one. I thought about the Tutor in the woods, his eyes, pale blue. They looked Human. They looked like he had a complete Soul back, not chained to the Reapers and the Scythe anymore. The sacrifice he had made to save my young Master was done without thought of the consequence. I frowned; was it fair he became a Demon then? Why would he not become Human, redeemed of a past crime? I paused at the corner to let the traffic pass. His crime of taking his own life.

I walked around the city, taking in the Humans as they passed. Mr. Hyde at one point, to even become a Reaper, had to have take his - her - life. Had the deception been found? Had he ever lived as a woman except the one time I met her by accident at the Devil's Acre pub? I thought back to the seemingly strong Tutor, so sure in each word and firmness in each step he had walked past me, fully knowing what I was. Surely she had not succumbed to the burden of her secret.

The Manor was dark and still, but all the members of the household were accounted for. I found the Tutor in the kitchen and was alarmed. I raced into the kitchen and found the Tutor, in the clothes I had made, gripping the cutting table and cutting a slice of cake. He looked up and I saw surprise in his dull red eyes.

"I got hungry," he said. I sat opposite him and looked him over.

"Mr. Hyde," I started. "I don't know how much you understand about your current condition."

He paused mid-forkful of cake and I smiled; it reminded me of the times the Master was younger and would simply shovel the pieces in as quick as possible. "Is the young Master safe?"

"Yes."

"Good," he sighed and proceeded to put the piece in his mouth. He chewed and closed his eyes, savoring the taste I assume. I admit, cakes, rich in sugar and sweetness, did appeal to me. He swallowed and took a sip of water. "Whatever happens to me is fine."

My eyes widened. "You have no concern whatsoever?"

"My thought was to save the young Master, so whatever happens, is fine." He paused and looked at me thoughtfully. "Am I dying?"

"In a form, yes."

"Oh," he said softly. "Oh no, I'm not shocked at the answer, but rather that you did answer."

"I don't see why I should not tell you. If you don't care, then you don't care if you are dying, in a manner of speaking."

He wiped his brow and picked up another piece of cake. "I thought you always said the Cook can't really cook. These are amazing."

"Thank you," I simply said. He nodded as he licked his fingers of the icing.

"A Demon who can cook, interesting."

"And a Demon who is compassionate, is also interesting," I said softly as he gulped more water down. His eyes widened again and I smiled softly. "Yes, Mr. Hyde, you are becoming a Demon."

"Well shit," he breathed. My eyebrows positively went up high. "Oh, I'm sorry is that not 'lady-like?'"

"Not at all," I answered. I smiled wider. "It's highly unusual to hear anyone who is as cultured as you to swear with such vulgarity. I scold Baldroy for using coarse language many times."

He shrugged and licked his lips. "Could be an American thing."

I suddenly realized his accent was indeed closer to American in its delivery. "I don't know anything about you."

He looked at me with curiosity. "How about you cook something - I'm right starving - and I'll answer all your questions. If I'm going to be a Demon, may as well purge my Soul. Oh," he paused as he slide his empty plate to the side. "Do I have a Soul?"

"I was told yes, and it will be burned," I answered, taking my jacket off and rolling up my sleeves. "I don't know what that means for you. I was Made, not Born, like you. Very few Demons are Born."

He rolled his eyes, "Lucky me."

"Indeed, lucky you," I said. "You are unique, in more than one way."

"Ah, so we shall start there?" He sighed and smiled as he brought the plate over to the sink. "Can you show me how to make that cake?"

"It may be as complicated as your answer," I laughed. I pointed to the empty space on the preparation table and looked at him. "What flavor?"

He looked at me. "Seriously? It's that easy? You can think coconut cream cake and -" he stopped and stared at the cake.

"There are perks being a Demon," I said. "What perks are there to dressing like a man?"

"It's a longer list the you conjuring a cake." He eyed the cake and I handed him a fork. He delightfully took a forkful and we moved to sit at the table. "I had a twin brother - Danny. I had a family that died in a fire and I was not home when it started but got there too late." He paused and lifted his eyes. "My name is Daniella, we met once."

"Yes it took me a while to figure that out. Sebastian," I added again.

We shared a smile and a handshake. "It was pretty easy to claim to be my brother because we looked very much alike," he laughed. "Even in town we would be confused."

I studied the features I had looked at for almost two months. "You are, literally, being remade. Is this still the life you wish to lead?"

He looked down at his hands and frowned. "I was on my way to whatever comes when a Reaper retires. I've lived as a man for close to 50 plus Human years. Even before that, I owned more pants than dresses!"

I placed a hand on his and he looked up. "Danny, it's a beautiful name for a woman or a man. I fear this process of your change may be a while, so you don't have to decide yet."

The Tutor nodded and looked at me sideways. "How's your Shepherd's Pie?"

"You ate half this cake, how are you still hungry?"

He slowly smiled and cocked his head. "Reapers are like Demons, we don't need food, but it passes the time. When I woke from my," he waved his fork as if the word would form, "sleep, I was starving. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. I haven't eaten for nourishment for 50 years."

"Well, no one has complained about my cooking yet," I laughed.

I filled the table with chicken, Shepherd's Pie, minced meats, and some vegetables. I sat watching the Tutor - the once Reaper, turning to Demon, really female - man lick his lips and tucked in. In that moment it was satisfying to watch his delight as he tasted each dish. And the wonder when he was done, the dishes magically disappeared. It was seeing what was always a part of me, the tricks and glamour of being a Demon, for the first time.