-Flashback continued-

Penelope awoke to a cold cloth being placed on her forehead. Jumping back, she gave a cry of alarm as she saw Claude there. Looking around quickly she realised she was in her parents bedroom and looked to the balcony as an escape route since Claude was sat near the door.

Trying to act normal, which was hard for Penelope on a normal day, she gave him a small smile and carefully started to shuffle to the other end of the bed, creating more distance.

"H..h...hello Claude, h..how a..are you?" she stuttered the fear obvious in her tone. She didn't even wait for his reply as she shot off the bed towards the balcony. She was stopped, however, by two long arms around her waist and she cringed from pain and fear. Her uncle had caused her some pain by kneeing her in the stomach.

"You need to calm down Penelope" came Claude's soft voice from above her. He was at least a foot taller than her and now looking up, for the first time she actually feared her friend. Even with him becoming some sort of spider monster, she hadn't been so scared.

"Calm down!" She shouted. "How on earth can I calm down in this bizarre situation. Daisy was nearly killed, so was I for that matter. Not only that but I was nearly raped by my psychopathic uncle. And you expect me to calm down". She gave a laugh and managed to push him away. She had no idea where her sudden burst of bravery had came from but she carried on.

"And on top of all of that, I just saw you...I don't even know what I saw". She paused as though she was trying to make herself believe even what she saw.

"Perhaps it's time I should explain myself. If you would please sit back on the bed, I'm sure you would be much more comfortable" he said calmly causing Penelope to make a sound of disbelief.

"Claude, how are you even acting calm about all of this?" She ended up shouting at the end. Backing further away from him she made sure her back was touching the glass of the window doors and felt a little safer. Looking at him with tears in her eyes from exhaustion, fear and tiredness, she sunk slowly to the floor.

"What are you?" Her voice broke and she gave a whimper of fear. Her mind was reeling around the events that had only just occurred an hour ago. She felt an immense amount of relief for she hadn't died or been raped, but the creature that now stood in front of her diminished the feeling of safety she had once felt when he saved her.

The next thing he did surprised Penelope greatly. He also sunk to his knees and leaned back on the bed so they were directly looking at each other. His shoulders seemed to have slumped foreword and he removed his glasses slowly, instead replacing them with his ungloved hands to pinch the bridge of his nose. His hands, which she had never seen without gloves on, made her tilt her head. His nails were painted black, or rather they were in fact black. His voice broke her curiosity.

"Do you remember when you found me?" His voice was not as calm as it had been, and she swore she could here some emotion that she couldn't name.

"A little, you were hurt and I helped" she answered unsurely.

"When you found me, I had been close to death. Another, who is also like me, had almost killed me in a fight. I had barely got away and by the time I had reached the woods, my body was very slowly giving up". He paused, and she nodded to demonstrate she understood. "I am a demon, and had you not found me I probably wouldn't be alive. Demons usually eat souls but blood can be just as good. I took some of your blood and put you into a trance". As he spoke Penelope's eyes grew larger and larger, making her look quite comical, if this hadn't have been such a series conversation.

"When a demon is saved by a human or any creature for that matter, we become indebted to that person. Which means that we have to protect that person and grant them something their heart desires, be that riches or murder. As long as we fulfil that debt, can we once again be free. However you asked for.." He was cut off by Penelope.

"I asked for you to be my friend forever. Oh my god, I asked a demon to be my friend!" She exclaimed to herself.

"Well yes" he said quietly. Standing up, he came and sat next to her causing her to try and move, but his hand stopped her.

"Penelope, as your protector do you think that I would really want to hurt you? I had intended to tell you what I was one day, but I had not accounted on you finding out in such a horrific way. You must understand that your wish means that I have to be protective over you". His hand moved and she noticed a trickle of blood run down his forehead. Leaning over she grabbed his handkerchief from his tailcoat pocket and gently dabbed the dark red liquid away.

"You promise to never hurt me?" She asked seriously. Her voice never wavered but her hand shook, conveying the fear.

"Never" he answered.

Leaning back, she winced at the pain in her ribs. He noticed and stood up, then picked her up. Putting her on her parents bed, he began to leave.

"Wait! Claude?" She asked hurriedly. He raised an eyebrow.

"Is Daisy alright?"

"I'm sorry to inform you, but we will be needing a new maid" came the quiet response. Once he had left the room, Penelope allowed herself to cry, she cried for Daisy, for herself and for the situation she was in. She cried so much that very soon she fell asleep.

Weeks later, Penelope still acted differently around Claude and so did he. Her bedroom had needed to be redone completely, for she could still smell her uncle and his blood even when it had been washed. She had noticed he never referred to her as Penelope, but rather by 'mistress'. And she didn't like this. He even stiffened when she would hug him. Not that she did this regularly considering she feared him still. But any contact became forbidden and she found herself actually missing him. Thankfully a new maid had been hired, and she was a lovely young girl with pretty brown eyes called Victoria. She was the only friend that Penelope felt she had sometimes.

However, one day she was walking down the stairs and she missed a step. Before she could even scream or register what was happening, Claude had her in his arms. Sighing with relief, she snuggled into his chest.

"Thank you Claude" Penelope's muffled voice spoke. Expecting him to put her down she found it odd when he carried her down the stairs instead. Deciding this was the right moment she asked the question she had been wanting to say for a few weeks.

"Claude, tonight will you read me a story before bed?" She asked, trying to make her eyes as innocent as possible. It seems to have worked as he patted her head and gave a quiet 'yes'.

Watching him walk towards the kitchen, she made sure he was gone before doing a happy dance. 'Yes!' She thought. After so long he acted like he usually did, since he hadn't done anything like that for weeks.

Her bedtime came quickly and after she had dressed with the help of Victoria, she pulled back the blankets of her bed waiting for Claude. Smiling when he came in, she patted the bed obviously wanting him to get in. Claude on the other hand, looked at her with a raised eyebrow. He slowly made his way to the seat next to her bed and picked up the book closest to him, which resided on her new bedside table. In fact everything in her bedroom was new, from the wallpaper to the window frames. She was actually very happy with how it all looked.

"Claude" she whined in frustration, 'he could be so annoying sometimes' she thought. "I wanted you to get in bed with me". Realising how it sounded, Penelope blushed and then corrected herself. "Not in that way!"

He gave a small laugh and took of his shoes and tailcoat, before getting in. Penelope looked at him in shock, wondering when the last time he had laughed. Shaking her head, she gracefully removed the book from his hands, receiving a bored glance from her friend.

"Am I not reading to you?" He enquired and began to sit up. Pushing him back gently, she sat up and bounced a little.

"I want to know more about demons. Or more specifically about you! I mean you know all about me, and it's not as though I want you to tell me all your secrets but I want to know some things". She finished with a hopeful look in her eyes, causing the demon to grumble in defeat. Claude often found her eyes far too powerful for such a young female.

"Well... Demons as I have told you eat souls. Particularly souls who are the most tormented or interesting. Although innocent souls do greatly appeal to demons also". As he spoke, she snuggled down into the covers and put her arms around his waist.

"A demon to gain a soul will often form a contact with the human in which they become their servant until the contract is complete" he continued. Moving her red hair out of the way, she looked up at him.

"When is the contact complete? Is it like a written contract?" She asked whilst biting her lip. Something he noticed she did when thinking.

"It depends what the contract was. For example, the human may want to avenge their families murder or perhaps want to live a life of luxury. Humans will sell their souls for quite fruitless things. Also a contact is not written, but rather a imprint on the humans skin. That imprint will then be seen on the demon as well, mine is usually found on my hand. Every demon has one, and every one is different" he explained as he played either curly hair. As he spoke, she felt him relax and couldn't help feel relaxed as well.

Claude carried on answering her questions, and when he felt her fall asleep wrapped around him, he very carefully moved her and blew out the candles. She had no idea how much he wanted to consume her innocent soul, but his protective nature over her prevented him from doing so. Leaving the room, he gave a quiet 'goodnight' and missed the smile that graced his Penelope's lips.