Chapter 46: Sebastian POV
I slid my hand over Danny's and smiled down at her. She truly was a handsome woman in her her suits, but she became a special kind of beauty when she was in long, silky and flowing dresses. Of course I was bias. I was the one who gifted them all to her, so I knew what she would be like and how they would make me feel. We lay awake at night, wrapped in each others bodies and talk about all the possible futures we could have. The ones where she remained my Lady only, the ones where she stepped out of the shadows and lived as a woman. The ones where we shared our existence with a Contract, and even the ones where we had our own children. I didn't have the heart or desire to tell her the last one was beyond a possibility between us. Demons and Demonesses could mate with Humans, produce Dark Humans, who usually were captured by Angels quickly once they realized a child had not only been produced, but birthed. But within the species we could not have a child from our matting.
"You look like you are thinking too hard once more, my love," Danny said as we walked down the street. "And where are we going by the way? I see the sign for the Funeral Home. Not where we are going for a bit of theatre, is it?"
"No, we will be meeting a friend, or sorts. He has a private box at the Apollo. And several other theatres, but tonight we go to the Apollo," I said as we climbed the short stairs to the landing in front of the Undertaker's. "It is the first time you will meet him, but don't be alarmed, I have discussed you several times with him. You, as in Mr. Hyde you. But, he will not really be alarmed by you as Ms. Hyde. He has heard of your true nature by now."
Danny looked taken aback and I could see she was trying to think long and hard about if she wanted to even meet the Undertaker. I didn't blame her. Was weary the first time I had heard of him and taken the Master to see if he had any information about his family's murder. He had a few ideas, but nothing solid. Strangely he never had much solid information when it came to Ciel Phantomhive's question about his own past.
Danny finally sighed and drew closer and pushed open the door, scowling at the darkness that pervaded the Undertaker's Funeral Home. He said it "put the clients at ease" once when I asked. I remarked the clients were dead, and he simply laught as if I had told a joke.
"Ah, Sebastian! Early as always!" the Undertaker said, seeming to materialize out of the shadows. "And who is the lovely lady? Oh, my, my… Ms. Daniella Hyde? Do my eyes deceive me?" He turned to look at Danny and then at me, all smiles. "You catch the most beautiful creatures. The Earl, this gem… what is your secret?"
I smiled and chuckled. "I'm simply one hell of a Butler. I can't help if they all come willingly to me."
The Undertaker gripped his stomach and started a long and silent laugh and then finally ended in booming shouts of laughter, rattling the ceiling beams even. Danny glanced up at me and I smiled. Ah yes, this was a wonderful way to introduce your love to a very interesting man indeed.
"So, Ms. Hyde, how did you manage to fool everyone in the Society?"
Danny bustled and stood straighter. "I didn't fool anyone. I simply adapted. I took what I had learned as a Human into the Society. I am a survivor."
The Undertaker chuckled and stuck out one of his boney fingers and stuck it under her chin, I saw Danny's eyes flash in anger, and I put a hand on her back.
"Oh yes you are a survivor," he crackled. "Survived being a Human who was viewed as male, survived the Society of rather narrow minded Reapers, and then, lo! You survived being Birthed as a Demon."
"What do you know about the Society?" Danny asked as she tried to look at the Undertaker's face. It was covered in his shaggy grey hair, and the low hat he wore.
He snorted and let his hand drop from her chin. "Many things. But most importantly, I am an ex-Reaper myself. I am my own ex-Reaper, no papers needed! Hehe!"
Danny gasped and looked at him as if he was a hero now. "You? You are the Reaper who tried to Retire and was denied? You… you just left the Society."
"Yes, I did."
"Wow. Do you know you are feared because of that?"
The Undertaker sighed, and swept his air back, revealing his green eyes, the same ones that I had been drawn to Danny with, except hers was behind glasses. The Reaper didn't need such corrective wear and I heard in Danny's heartbeat she also was aware of this.
"I do love getting everyone so excited, but shall we go to the show? It's a special late night showing," the Undertaker said finally. "We can order some lovely meals while we are in watching, or in intermission if you prefer privacy."
Danny sank back into my side and I wrapped my right arm around her. "Let's," I said as we took to the side door that was a Portal, from his Funeral Parlor, to the Theatre district. We joined a small group of Demons and other Lower Beings, even a few Angels who were looking annoyed as we walked into the same place as they were. A struggle, literally, as old as time. The three of us walked through the lovely vaulted ceiling of the entry, smiling at some of the other couples, Danny leaning into me and whispering about the number of Humans that were with Demons and even Angels.
"They are not…" she whispered.
"No, they do not bring Humans here to Feed on," I said, planting a kiss in her hair. I took in her scent and knew she needed to Feed tonight as well. "They are here to be entertained, like us."
She smiled slightly and we all went up to the private box. I held Danny's hand as the Undertaker slipped out and did whatever he did; I wasn't paying attention to the ex-Reaper. I laid a hand on Danny's left hand, her Mark burning into my hand even through our gloves. I slipped my gloves off and she shook her head as I undid hers.
"Sebastian," she hissed and tried to pull away.
"You are free to be who you are," I leaned down and kissed her lips lightly. "You, the real you."
She looked at me from under her lashes and I tried to still my beating heart, tried to flee from the one thing I wanted to - fling us down to the stage and show off my glorious lover, the Human, the Reaper, the Demon. Danny slid her hand over my arm, up my chest and cupped my cheek. She moved and sat on my lap, sensing what I wanted, my desire. Her eyes met mine and the flash of permission to be there, zipped through, making me pull her closer and laid my lips on hers, keeping her gaze, demanding to watch her eyes. I pulled her closer on my lap and slipped my hands up her back, her skin burning into mine. Ah, the joys of the flesh.
She pulled back and I watched her pull her hair back from her neck and gave it a small twist and laid it on her shoulder. It was now sitting along her left shoulder and she placed her finger on it, a ribbon springing it into her hair, weaving in and out of her dark-brown locks, and I watched in wonder as it seemed as effortless as I made things appear, and disappear. I didn't question it as I pulled her face closer, the smell of lilacs suddenly stronger, making me more sure of the woman sitting on my lap, making me wish to bed her, take her, love her, protect her, and never let her go. Never in all the many men and woman I had known, did one ground me so completely. Hunger fled, my desire for the beautifully cultivated Master's Soul fled, and I needed this one woman above all.
The play continued, I remotely registered and the audience was enthralled. I was too, with the vixen beauty I had created out of the normally calmer woman I enjoyed kissing. But now her hands slid into my jacket, sliding it down and making me shrug it off, wrap my arms around her, holding her. I slid my hands up, boldly cupping her breasts and she gasped and then smiled as she moaned into my ear. To hell with dancing, tonight we would be celebrating in our bed, clear until the sun peeked up and the Master was yelling for me. I chuckled as she bit my neck and kissed me.
"If I knew a darkened private theatre box was all it took to have you wildly marking me as yours, I would have rented one, bought on, stole one… obtained it the first night I found you to be a woman," I breathed.
She pulled back, startled and slowly looked at me in the eyes. "You… even so I was a Reaper?"
"I didn't know about your Reaper status, I simply knew you were not Human. You never smelled Human. And you most definitely did not smell like a Reaper." She frowned and I placed my fingers along her jaw, tracing the curve. "They smell of Death. You never did, not once, smell of Death. I don't know, you enchanted me with that feminine body you hid so well, I may have rethought my stance on mating with a Reaper."
The blush and bold look in her eye clashed and she finally pushed her fingers into my hair and laid her head on my shoulder, sighing. "I was so scared when you came in. I was the young Master's Tutor, investigating you. Trying to place you into a simple checklist of items, of making sure your Soul count was exactly one - preferably none - for the Phantomhives."
I breathed her in, my eyes slightly focused on the action on the stage. "And how did you find me?"
"The Head Steward - Tanaka. He was my last Reap."
"So elegant, 'last reap.'"
"I punched William when I came back," she added softly. She laughed at the memory and I looked down. She lifted her eyes, back to the dull, soft red, of my beautiful Demon. "He knew I would find an irregularity in the Record. He knew you were there. He knew when he gave me the Record he could perhaps keep me in the Society."
"That would explain why he hasn't really given me a hard time when I snatch a Soul or two here in London," I muttered. I turned and laid a kiss into her hair. "Intermission is soon. Shall we Feed or go home?"
She smiled into my jaw and kissed me. "I am a bit Hungry. Besides, today has been emotional, and I think I should be a good girl and have a light birthday snack." She sat up and looked at me, smirking. "I know the real meal is after hours."
"My temptress," I breathed and pulled her back into me as we waited for the call for intermission. Once we had our 15 minute break, the theatre was buzzing with light chatter and we walked to a private door on the second floor, and was met by a man who sat on the bench and smiled at Danny as she came and sat next to him.
"You will only be able to sip from him, not Feed," I said, sitting beside the man as well. The Human looked at me with equally excited eyes. Danny looked at me and I smiled. "He will be rewarded with some monetary compensation, and the memory of a wonderful night out. Now, his neck is best for a good flow of blood, but his arm is prefered by many women."
She gave a snort and wretched the man's head back a bit and laid her lips, on his throat, coming away licking a patch and slowly sinking her teeth into him. I held the man and watched as his eyes fluttered in ecstasy for this moment was a dream to him, a dream of perhaps a lovely woman devouring his desires and taking him as he wished to be with an unknown, strange, mistress of the night. I reached over and petted Danny's hair a bit and then slid my hand to her shoulder.
"Back off, my love, you will give him an exploded heart, not a night of passion, to remember."
She lifted her head and licked her lips, the ruby red blood staining them a bright red. "He isn't as good as some, but he is a nice taste."
I moved the man to lay down, and I pulled Danny to her feet and brushed my thumb over her bottom lip, taking some of the blood that was on her chin. I licked my finger and nodded. "A delicate balance of greed and self-pity," I muttered. I pulled her back out of the room, signaling we were done. "Souls carry the emotions, the passions, of a Human. A taste can give us an idea if they wish to make a Contract afterwards. LIke that man, he is greedy but can't figure out why he isn't making more money when he hoards his cash. He spends it on fine clothes and food, and women," I added as I kissed her hand and smiled. "But they are all not helping him in his quest. A Contract with a Demon could help direct him, guide him, protect him from himself. Be a shrewd one with money and direct him away from such pursuits." I slid a hand down her back as we walked slowly among the crowd. "A delicious dance."
"And the Earl? What dance are you doing with him?"
I looked down at her and smiled wider. "One that will lead to the death of those who pry on innocent children. Of learning to love, to trust, to give into the anger and fear. To move past them all. To manipulate other Humans, bend them to your will, but be kind. Be compassionate. Save those who deserve to be saved, and if not, be prepared to wipe them all out with the bad." I sighed. "I build what I want the most. I capture and cultivate the emotions I know, as a Demon. As a Darkness within. But then… then there was something else that the Master did that was quite unexpected."
"What?" Danny said after a moment. I didn't realize I had stopped talking. I took a glass of wine from a passing waiter and handed it to her.
"Love. Love happened. Real, genuine, longing for her arms, her bed, her company, love. The Earl and Lady were betrothed to one another since they were young, since his parents' murder, and they didn't know what that meant beyond family duty. The Lady Elizabeth became more to the Earl after one particular moment when he could not defend her, and she defended him and herself. The strength in that act made the emotion I had been trying to bring about, happen. The seed was planted, at the very least. It did not bloom until she lost their first pregnancy." I looked down at Danny and she was wiping her hand under her eyes. "That was the first time I felt the love that had been slowly worming into him. Planting what I could not."
Danny pressed herself into me as the lights flickered, letting us know we should head back to the box. "Do you mind terribly if we leave?"
I smiled and kissed her forehead. "I have no idea what this musical about, so I will not object." I looked around for the Undertaker and didn't see him, not sensing he was around. He had thankfully abandoned us. "Let us go home, my love. I think I have one more present for you to undo for your birthday."
She giggled and we walked down the stairs, back to the Undertaker's Portal, and to the carriage I had brought Danny in. She climbed up beside me, and swept her skirts around her legs instead of sitting in the covered carriage and I leaned my head on hers as she clung to my arm. It was peaceful and the moon gave the barest of light, easing the horse as we made our way back to the Manor. Danny fell asleep, something I hoped would never change, because she looked so Heavenly when her eyes were closed, her face relaxed. An Angel. It was a grave sin she was a Demon and that Heaven was no longer a place she could go. But neither could I and I rather selfishly wanted her in my arms, not anothers. I had to rouse her as I finished unhooking the horse and her sleepy sighs made me carry her a little lighter, not really wanting her to wake.
I was walking up the side stairs when the prickle hit me and I smiled. Ah, yes, the infatuation of Humans and the learning of the emotions. I kissed Danny on the temple and whispered we were back at the Manor, she should wake. Her sigh and small smile was enough for me to wish simply to zip past the Humans and curl her back up into my arms, watching as she regenerated, like a Phoenix, except… no, I would make her explode and come back to me, willingly coming back to me. I opened the door and Danny sighed and walked into the entry. Even in the darkness of the grand entrance, her red dress shone. I smiled and licked my lips. Ah, I knew the appeal of staring at the woman. At the glorious figure of a woman with delicate curves and how she wore anything, or nothing, so effortlessly. I closed the door quietly and tuned into the small breaths, the small movements, the confusion. I smiled and wrapped my arm around her waist and led her up the stairs, my hand on her hip as she wrapped her left arm around my waist, under my coat, clinging to me. We were each other's possession and I relished at the moment to come once we were in our room.
"Mis… Mister Hyde?"
The small voice, of confusion, wonder, and astonishment, the wave of fear and embarrassment came over me and Danny. Danny whipped around and stared up at the young Master who was crouching against the upstairs banister, looking wide eyed between the poles. The gasp of not knowing what to do came from her lips and I slid my hands away from her, looking at the young Master, as he looked at Danny. His lips quivered and he pulled away from the position he was in and stumbled. Danny took a step and rounded the corner, walking the next staircase up, slowly approaching the young master like he was a frightened rabbit. Because he was, I smiled.
"Young master… I… it's still me. Still Mister - well… no Misses - Hyde. I'm still your Tutor," she said, slowing as she took one more step and was on the second floor with the young Master. She threw me a glance and I remained unmoving. The young Master had to find out who he was dreaming of at night, and stared at during the day. My lover. My lover, I hissed in my mind.
"But… you dress like a woman! How… how can that be?"
Danny took a step and bent down toward the young Master. I was walking up the stairs now as well, and his eyes darted to me. Scared rabbit, you have a rather lot to learn.