Hello everyone! My laptop broke down a couple of days ago, but thankfully, it was easy to fix, so that I didn't miss our weekly date here! Without any further delay... here is chapter 29! 😄

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or its characters. I entirely own only my OCs, arcs and ideas/themes not mentioned in any form of the franchise (manga, anime, games, movies or musicals).

Chapter 29: The Tutor, False Curse

And thus, despite Wolfram's objections on the matter, Sebastian became Sieglinde's loaned butler, since the girl was determined to use him as a source of knowledge for the outside world for several days. Needless to say, how Sebastian's exemplary performance made the little witch all the more enchanted by him.

Breakfast was always served earlier than she could ever imagine Wolfram would have managed, her every desire was satisfied immediately and with great success as Sieglinde, Wolfram and few of the village women saw right the first day. One of them was assigned to help Sieglinde get dressed and she, along Wolfram, were really shocked when the girl expressed a desire to wear clothes of the outside world, but since the only available ones that would fit her were Ciel's, Sebastian took it upon himself to produce a decent ladylike garment in a matter of minutes; the bed's coverlet was the only available material. The result was more beautiful than expected, and Sieglinde's growing admiration towards the black haired butler caused Wolfram to stalk and look at Sebastian, like a jealous dog robbed of his master's affection would look his rival. Selina could not help but really enjoy the situation and give friendly pats on the back of the giant man.

Of course, Sieglinde got to know Sebastian's strict side too as the demon butler took the girl's desire to learn about the outside world too literally and began teaching all about proper table manners and etiquette any lady should know. Wolfram could not accept that "dangerous and too suspicious man" – as he called Sebastian with every chance – to raise his voice and finger in a reprimanding manner at his lady, while shocking the girl by bringing his face extremely close to hers and violating her personal space, but he could do nothing more than keep silent, since Sieglinde seemed really thirsty for knowledge and eager asking Sebastian to teach her English.

"I will gladly do that my lady, even though normally it is the tutor's duty…" He responded at her request and then both turned their disapproving glance towards Selina.

"Seeing that this particular tutor has inability in learning a language as simple as German, I doubt she could teach one." The girl whispered to him and he could only nod agreeing with a really disappointed look on his face.

Selina saw it and even though did not understand what they were saying; her instinct told her it was not something really good for her person. As soon as Sebastian informed her of the girl's desire, her suspicion became certainty and pride along stubbornness, made her begin studying German anew with greater enthusiasm and determination. That, as well as her research on deciphering the riddle of Sieglinde's healing potions, were the only things filling up the seemingly endless days, since the women from the village were there to assist the Phantomhive servants in the house chores Sebastian had assigned them, and her one and only student was still locked up in the prison of his mind permitting only Finny at his side.

Truth is that Finny's duty was the heaviest, as the sensitive and sentimental adolescent could not bear watching his master being reduced to a small crying boy, terrified by unknown dark shadows clouding his brilliant mind. Finny did not really care that his master was three years younger than him and under different circumstances they could be equals and Finny could even tease the younger one, because to him that boy was his only and absolute master. More mature and serious than what he should be at his age, commanding a house, a toy company and above all carrying on his small shoulders a really heavy name and title as Earl Phantomhive, Queen Victoria's Watchdog.

For Finny, that child fighting to prove the world he was a grown man was indeed a man; a man that took him by the hand and gave him a new life along with a new name. Seeing him now huddled up in the bed's sheets crying while saying he did not deserve to be protected, was indeed more than what the young gardener could bear. He was more than relieved to take back to the kitchen the dishes of the barely touched breakfast, when Sebastian brought Sieglinde into the room to examine young master. Sebastian was silent as always and that made Ciel not notice him; that was the only way for allowing Sieglinde approach him.

Finny closed the door behind him and jumped a little surprised to hear a voice he really loved calling him softly. "Finny, how have you been?" Selina asked with a smile.

"Miss Selina! I am so happy to see you! Are you all right? You really scared us the other day being covered with all these red wounds and stuff, but I am so glad you are perfectly fine now. Young master will recover soon too, I am sure of it. I will do my best to help him!" His eyes were sparkling with determination.

Selina ruffled his hair knowing how much he enjoyed that and hugged his shoulders. "I am sure you do a great job with young master, but I did not ask you about him; that I will find out when Lady Sullivan examines him. I asked about you, how have you been doing?"

Finny remained silent for a while and slowly the signature wide smile was gone from his lips, a shadow appeared on his face and his eyes started sparkling again, only this time due to tears threatening to escape.

"I… I cannot stand seeing young master like this… I cannot understand what is going on in his mind and that… that makes me sad and angry because I cannot help him. He just told me I should not protect or care for him, because there are others who deserve it more." That was the last straw for the blond boy and tears started flowing from his big green eyes. "How can he say that? How can he think he does not deserve it? He took us in and gave us a new life, he gave me a name and let me find the real me! I do not know what has happened between him and Sebastian in the past to make him be afraid of him that much, but they both are good to us and young master is the most important person in our lives and we will protect him, no matter what he thinks!" His determination was evident even through his tears.

Selina had already taken the hard metallic tray he was carrying as he was tightening his fists with so much strength that he would have broken it. The woman hugged him with one arm and did not stop stroking his hair all the while he was crying on her shoulder, allowing himself to relieve some of the pent up stress and emotional frustration about the situation. Selina could understand very well how Finny felt and how much he suffered watching his dear master like this; for the hundredth time in just a few days she wished she could really help the little, scared boy in the bedroom.

After a while, when he calmed down she smiled at him, wiping his tears with her gentle fingers and gave him back the tray, when he reassured her he had his strength under control. She kissed his forehead and promised him that soon everything would be alright before he took his leave for the kitchen. She remained standing outside Ciel's door waiting for the examination to finish. She jumped from anticipation when the door opened and Sebastian came out with the young 'witch' perched in his arms.

Selina followed Sebastian and surprised both girl and butler by speaking in German as best she could. "My lady, how is our lord?"

"As expected, I must say. Physically he is almost healed therefore the reason for his blindness and his attitude is purely psychological. I am afraid even I cannot do anything more than tending to his physical injuries." Sieglinde said in a very serious tone and look that made Selina sigh.

"Either way, thank you for examining the young master." Sebastian said with the necessary politeness.

"Hm… Putting that aside… there is something I would like to ask you." Sieglinde said and her gaze was fixed on both butler and tutor. "I have kept silent so far, because Wolf has been with us constantly, but you three… are devil worshippers, are you not?"

Sieglinde's conclusion really surprised Sebastian and Selina, who looked at the girl with a confused look on their faces and a soft "Eh?" left Sebastian's lips.

"You do not need to hide it. Unlike the perpetrators of Inquisition, we witches do not condemn devil worship. I saw the devil's marks both on your hand and wrists respectively..." She said looking at Sebastian and then at Selina "...and on his eye. Am I wrong?"

"The truth is slightly different." Said Sebastian and went on explaining when Sieglinde insisted on learning more. "The young master was once kidnapped by an organisation that worshipped the devil and was offered as a sacrifice. I encountered the young master during that devil summoning ritual."

"How could that be?! Laymen cannot summon devils!" She said quite surprised.

"That does not always hold true, for devils are whimsical, you see…" Sebastian tried to explain but his words seemed to infuriate the girl more.

"Watch what you say, you novice! One blunder and you will be cursed by them!" She said shaking her little fist at him, looking like she had heard the most preposterous statement ever.

Sebastian was left speechless looking at the fuming girl in his arms with a totally blank face, while Selina was biting the inside of her cheek trying to stifle a laugh as she was amused by the irony of the situation. A girl, believing herself to be a witch, advising a real witch and a… devil about being careful and not tempt or call forth the devils... How hilarious!

"In other words, those cretins branded Ciel's eye against his will with that mark… How cruel! Were you two a sacrifice too? Wait." She said lifting her hand signalling she really did not want to know more details and cutting off Sebastian saying "No, I-" and Selina saying "Actually, you see-". "I will not ask any more. It must have been trying for you as well. I shall not force you to tell me. Do the others know about this?" She finally asked.

"No. It is a secret between the young master and us two." Sebastian said and Selina nodded.

"Is that so? Then I too shall keep your secret for you." She reassured the couple.

"We deeply appreciate your kind consideration, my lady." Sebastian responded and slightly bowed his head.

{~}

Sieglinde informed the rest of the Phantomhive group about Ciel's condition and they were all relieved and happy that he was getting better. They decided to make the best and most delicious food they could, to help him built up his strength, along with sweets he normally enjoyed.

"Try not to make more work for me by doing unnecessary things." Sebastian said sighing, certain they would do exactly that.

Wolfram asked for Sebastian's help in preparing dinner, even though he clearly did not enjoy the idea, and when Sieglinde saw Sebastian hesitating leaving her, she grabbed an English book about herbs that was her actual textbook and Selina's hand as she was standing beside her.

"I will be reading this along with Selina, now that she can understand German, so you do not have to worry about me." She reassured him with a bright smile and Sebastian along with Snake followed Wolfram in the kitchen.

Dinner was a success and everything pointed to a calm night. Sebastian was tidying up the last pieces of dinner and Selina was assisting him really closely, giving him the opportunity to whisper to her that he and Snake found a secret door in one of the basement walls leading to some stairs descending into darkness. Unfortunately, Wolfram discovered them before they could search further and so Sebastian told Oscar, Snake's snake, to slip down there and report back at first chance. Selina was ready to ask something but was interrupted when a loud crash, like glass shattering, was heard from Ciel's bedroom, followed by a quite animalistic growl and a thud like something big and heavy was smashed on the wall. They abandoned whatever they were doing and ran to Ciel's bedroom with a speed like wings had suddenly grew on their feet.

When Sebastian opened the room's door with great force, he saw the tall window across the room wide open and its glasses broken on the floor. He caught sight of a dark, large shadow jumping out of the window but even he could not be certain what it was. On the bed, Ciel was lying curled in a trembling ball underneath Finny, who was fast enough to cover the younger boy and receive the hard blow of claws meant for Ciel and could even prove lethal for his fragile body.

"What is going on?" Sebastian asked only to receive from Finny the answer that the wolf man attacked them and then escaped through the window. The blood trickling down the gardener's back from the thankfully not so deep claw wounds was enough proof for everyone.

Bard got really furious and was ready to chase after the beast, but Wolfram stopped him reminding him that he would be cursed too. The chef could not understand a word but had to listen when Sebastian also asked him to stop. Lady Sullivan was really terrified at hearing that the wolf man attacked inside the Emerald Castle, and seeing Ciel crying while clinging on Finny, exactly like a terrified kitten, she gritted her teeth and ordered Wolfram to accompany her in performing her Emerald witch duties. She reassured everyone she would protect them and the village, and left the room along with her giant butler, leaving them deal with the utterly scared Ciel, entwined in the bed's curtains creating a protective cocoon around him.

"Young master, please c'mon out, okay?" Bard pleaded to him forcing himself to smile happily.

"You still need to rest, you do!" Mey-Rin said with her shaky voice and Mr. Tanaka with Snake nodded agreeing.

"I hate this place! I want to go home!" Ciel yelled from his fortress.

"C-Calm down, Smile! – says Goethe." Snake tried too, only to receive an order from the furious boy to shut up.

Sebastian was sitting on a stool wrapping bandages around Finny's torso, after having treated the boy's wounds on his back - Selina's healing salves were already greatly at work. Finny's fidgeting, as he listened to the others and young master, made his work harder; thankfully, Selina realized that, kneeled down in front of the gardener and with her calming words and light touch on his hands helped him fight his anxiety, and thus allowing Sebastian to properly finish his task. The demon butler sighed really troubled as he listened to his master yelling and practically ordering him to take him back home immediately.

"W-We finally managed to get him back in bed, we did!" An exhausted Mey-Rin exclaimed when they all exited the room, after two hours of struggling to calm him down. They finally made it and now he was asleep with Finny always by his side.

"Whadda we gotta do to get the young master back to normal?!" Bard sighed, without paying attention to an exhausted Snake and one of his snakes almost leaning on his arm. Even Sebastian and Selina seemed quite worn out.

"'An eye for an eye' as they say. Perhaps we should try shocking him out of it again?" Sebastian suggested.

"I would happily agree, but it scares me when it comes from you." Selina answered receiving a not so friendly look from the butler beside her. "What? We both know your techniques can be a little… far-fetched…"

"Cease, I pray you." A voice they rarely heard said with surprising strength. "The best medicine for that which ails the heart and mind is rest. I am certain the young master is experiencing emotional turmoil. In times like this, we must not succumb to panic or impatience… We must simply watch over him." Mr. Tanaka said and his worry was evident in his old, gentle face.

Sebastian remained silent lowering his head thoughtfully, while Selina crossed her arms over her chest and her face showed she did not quite agree with the old butler, but could do nothing about it.

"So, what the hell is this 'miasma' that's made our young master act like that?" Bard broke the silence, his tone showing he still could not accept that their strong minded master was now a whimpering kid. "Magic power and all that doesn't really click with me. I ain't so good with that occult stuff."

Before anyone got to speak, Wolfram appeared with the little lady in his arms to let them know they would go to the village assembly and discuss the case of the wolf man. Wolfram warned Sebastian not to do anything funny again. Pure and deep sadness were reflected on the cute, petite features and brilliant emerald eyes of the young girl, who seemed to already know what the decision would be; she was already trying to come to terms with losing a possible friend and sink back into her dull and isolated life of the Emerald Witch.

Sebastian and Selina saw the look Sieglinde gave them over her butler's shoulder; the blond woman could not help but feel deeply sorry for the girl and once again frustrated by her inability to help another child. Sebastian seemed also deep in thought as he kept staring at the girl, although Selina could swear his thoughts were totally different from hers. Bard calling took them out of their thoughts.

Sebastian sighed giving up. "All that has happened this time around puts this case well outside my purview, so… perhaps it is best to continue to wait and see for a little while yet." He said and followed the others with his hand on Selina's lower back gently pushing her forward.

{~}

Indeed, Sebastian was willing to wait and keep his distance from young master, although he was still lurking in the shadows, watching his master fighting in his sleep with a mirror image of himself, and trying to understand what scared him so much. However, certain events forced the demon to act earlier than he thought.

It was while he was standing outside Ciel's door, when Snake came running to inform him that Oscar came back from his… mission to sneak where Sieglinde was performing her Emerald Witch duties. The snake seemed very enthusiastic and proud of himself for his success. Sebastian congratulated him and then went to the kitchen to treat the snake to some… mice and have the others listen to the new information.

"Eh? There are wolf men in the bowels of this castle?" Bard seemed to freak out, his cigarette almost falling from his lips.

"Then Lady Sullivan is in league with the wolf man?!" Said Mey-Rin not believing it.

"That li'l lass was doin' something surrounded by a whole passel of wolf men! – says Oscar."

"What kinda 'something' are we talkin' about here?" Bard seemed really upset.

"'What kind'? This and that! – says Oscar."

"Well, guess that's the best I'm gonna get out of a snake."

"How dare you! We remember everything right up through yesterday, thank you very much! – says Wordsworth." The other snake hissed quite offended.

"But the look of sheer panic on Lady Sullivan's face when the young master was attacked… I cannot believe that was an act. I just cannot." Mey-Rin said bringing the discussion back to the main issue.

"She was also shaken when a villager was harmed. The wolf men's attacks may actually be against her wishes." Sebastian added rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Personally, I am sure about that. You saw her eyes when leaving, I believe even you can see how truly sorry and hurt she was from everything happening. That kid is being played by someone." Selina contributed and Sebastian could not disagree.

"Er… Why don't we take a peek in the cellar while we got the chance? No one's home now and all…" Bard suggested having regained his composure and allowing the military man in him to resurface.

Sebastian informed them about the talisman he noticed, when he and Snake opened that secret door in the cellar. He also expressed the idea that if there was some kind of magic cast upon it, it would make sense for Wolfram to appear behind them so fast, since the talisman would have alerted him about intruders. He then directed the servants to find a way and stall Wolfram in case he returned before Sebastian finishes his investigation.

"Wh-What do you plan to do, what?" Mey-Rin asked him.

"I am the butler of the Phantomhive family. It goes without saying I can infiltrate a room and not be found out." He said in his usual overconfident way that made the maid blush a little.

"And I am the tutor of the Phantomhive family. It goes without saying I can do the same." Selina cut him off as he was ready to take a step out of the kitchen.

The woman had already unfastened and removed her skirt, for greater freedom of movement, revealing black trousers underneath; something that always seemed to shock Mey-Rin for some reason. Sebastian looked at her a little surprised and annoyed at the same time; he made an attempt of suggesting she should stay behind since she now could… "Let us say, speak some German" but she had none of that.

"No, no way, nein or in any other language you want. You will not leave me behind again. You know you might need my more specialized knowledge on the so-called occult and magic, therefore zip it and I'm coming." She was really determined and angry by the prospect of staying out of action once again. Now she was ready, her hair tied in a high ponytail with a black elastic band, as she passed in front of the demon butler. "Come on, move your tight ass and let's go see what kind of 'magic' that kid performs."

She was so focused on her goal; she did not notice the demon's eyes momentarily flashing red or the looks of surprise and astonishment drawn on the servants' faces at her provocative words. Sebastian could do nothing more than sigh and follow her, smirking lightly and quite satisfied.

He guided her to the wall in question and stood at the right of the secret door. "You normally push that stone for the door to open and the talisman is up here." He pointed respectively. "But we do not need that since we do not need Wolfram come back running." He finished and started hitting the wall with his fists right where he stood.

Selina nodded agreeing. "Although it would help if I could see that talisman. I could determine what kind of magic it has… even though I still sense no magic anywhere."

Before long, there was an opening on the wall from which a man could easily pass through and so they did, only to find a staircase leading down into darkness. They followed it for a while and ended up in a small ornate bridge that led to a marble column looming over in the middle of a great and tall stone room, with a dome and a deep trench, to which neither Selina nor Sebastian could see an end through the deep darkness. Beautiful flowers and hanging or climbing plants were decorating the surrounding pillars supporting the dome and the column in the middle. Right at the centre was an iron railing that continued beneath the column and inside it was a cage like elevator.

"Hoh… this is rather a sight to behold." Sebastian said mildly admiring the ability humans always had to build majestic sights that could easily be said to resemble a heavenly one. He either ignored or did not see the proud look Selina gave him, clearly saying something along the lines of "Impressed by the weak humans' creations, are we?"

He leaned over the bridge marble rail and looked down not seeing anything, but then wrapped an arm around Selina's waist as she too wrapped one around his neck, and jumped over the bridge leaving gravity pull them down, until they landed on a round room with alcoves on the walls and iron and glass gates in front of them. The floor was decorated with strange symbols and writings in circles and some of them were enclosed in bigger circles connected with lines. In the middle of all this, there was a small altar-like pedestal where a staff, designed after the ones fairytale witches were supposed to use, was resting.

Selina, careful not to step on the symbols, crouched down and started examining them closely while Sebastian walked over them and reached the pedestal.

"This must be what they call a magic staff. Is it made from a variety of calcite?" He commented quite intrigued.

"Oh… you keep up with the most recent developments of human science, don't you? Very strange for a demon not caring for humans at all." Selina teased the demon from her place as she was side-stepping like a crab in order to examine the next set of symbols. "Anyway, as I guess you already know, real witches do not use that kind of staff to help their magic… actually real witches do not use staff at all since we do not need mediators to actually communicate our magic. Also… calcite is very helpful in stabilizing and healing soil… if I remember correctly from my chemistry classes in school."

"That would be logical; everything is dead in a wide range around the village… no plantation from which animals feed and no other animals that eat the first ones… but if left uncontrolled it could become lethal even for the villagers. So it seems that the 'magic staff' has some actual use in creating 'spells'." Selina nodded. "Interesting… women will be eventually taught that kind of things in school?" Sebastian said showing he found it difficult to believe women to be taught such complicated ideas.

"My dear Sebastian… keep showing me your misogynistic side and two weeks of abstinence will seem like heaven." Selina threatened in a most sweet and alluring way. "Yes, we are taught sciences, exactly like boys and if a woman is talented, will excel. Chemistry was not my strong point but a boyfriend of mine with a brain for that kind of stuff helped me. What? Did you think I was an innocent damsel waiting for my demon in a black butler uniform?" She asked seeing the demon's thin and arched brows rising.

Sebastian chuckled really amused. "No, I would never like you to be a meek, ignorant, inexperienced woman since it is too bothersome to teach a woman how to make love… And I am not a misogynist, I have met very bright women that did nothing to put their mind in use, and they ended up becoming quite dumb."

It was Selina's turn to chuckle. "Let's discuss the social reasons for that some other time. What do you think about the writings?"

"It is the 'Theban alphabet' also known as the witches' alphabet… How terribly nostalgic." He sighed shaking his head.

"Yeah right… it must have been very entertaining watching women being burned alive, under the accusation of fornicating with… you." Selina said, irony in her voice.

"Some were… they insisted." He whispered absentmindedly; his eyes focusing on the symbols in the bigger circles.

"Why am I with you, I wonder. You could throw me in the fire and not give a damn." Selina whispered mostly to herself. "It is the Theban Alphabet but not complete and some symbols are slightly altered so that their magic is negated." She pointed to one with a small dot that normally did not exist. "I guess that someone who had an occult knowledge, or did an extensive research, decided to take these safety measures just to be sure." She stepped over them, sure it was safe.

She heard Sebastian mumbling something and then gasping the same time she leaned on the pedestal to examine the staff more closely. She felt a slight slide on the side and when she pushed hard, a hole was revealed; inside there was a strange mechanism with a lever. Both demon and witch were left looking at it quite speechless.

"What the hell?" Selina said and leaned ready to pull the lever, but Sebastian's fingers circling her wrist stopped her.

"I think it is better to stop our investigation here." He pushed her away from the hole, went to the pedestal's other side and pushed it back into place. "I can tell you for sure that you were absolutely right from the beginning… There is no magic here, everything is man-made." He took her in his arms and jumped up to reach the bridge and out of there..

"What? A secret niche with a mechanism inside does not prove anything. What about the alphabet? It must have some other use, besides creating the illusion of Sieglinde being a witch… and I believe that illusion aims clearly at her."

Sebastian was now putting the stones back in their place on the wall covering the opening he created. Once done, he turned and took Selina's face in his hands as he kissed her to silence. After a while he cut short the kiss and whispered.

"You are correct in everything, my dear. As for the alphabet… if chemistry was your strong point you would have found the answer, but worry not; I think we will soon have the solution to this riddle in our hands."

He winked at her smiling and walked away, leaving her speechless for a moment, but she quickly collected herself and followed him back to the kitchen.

They actually ran to the kitchen as they suddenly heard a scream, and when they got there their eyes were met with a most weird sight. One of the village women was screaming in panic spilling the basket of vegetables she was carrying on the ground, as Oscar was coiling around her and then dive head first between her breasts and underneath her clothes. Everyone was panicked and the men were frozen on their spot and turning red, while Mey-Rin was trying to cover her eyes resulting in smearing her glasses with her fingers.

"Please hold still. It would be a shame if you were bitten." Sebastian's cool voice was heard as he caught the woman and with an all serious face shoved his hand underneath her skirt and pulled Oscar out. "Oh dear." He sighed as the terrified and flustered woman collapsed on his arm.

He passed the woman to Selina's arms, who had already put her skirt back on, and placed her on a chair in order to bring a wet cloth to cool her down, since the others were still trying to get a grip of themselves. Sebastian kept holding Oscar tight, watching the snake hissing at him with a twinkle in its eyes.

"Please, excuse our servant's grave discourtesy. I think it would be best if Oscar cooled his head outside. Come with me, Snake." He finished in English and started towards the exit. As he passed Wolfram, the blond man informed him they should leave by tomorrow, because they could not continue challenging herr wolf man's rage; Sebastian could only accept the order with a look saying completely the opposite of his words.

{~}

When Sebastian and Snake came back everything was back to normal. The poor woman had regained her consciousness and seemed to have calmed down; now she was helping Wolfram with dinner, after accepting Selina's apologies on behalf of the Phantomhive servants. Sebastian executed his duties perfectly as always and when everyone was occupied with cleaning the kitchen or preparing the table, he slipped by Selina whispering to follow him.

When they were close to young master's bedroom, Sebastian pulled an envelope form his tailcoat and gave it to Selina. "Oscar assaulted the woman because she smelled of the wolf man, like she is one too. Also, John Brown, the Queen's Master of the Horse, delivered this message. Read it."

And so she did. Her eyes opened wide. "This-this is some chemical compound! And the symbols are the same as some of the alphabet letters… they formed this formula. That's the so called miasma causing all this? It would explain why my potions and salves are useless. Magic can heal wounds caused by magical or natural means and materials, not chemicals; plus Sieglinde and I process the same herbs with an entirely different approach. What exactly is it, some poison I guess?"

Sebastian paused with one hand on the door handle of their bedroom and looked at her sighing obviously displeased. "Chemistry is indeed not your strong point, is it?" They entered and he closed the door. "That is what is called 'mustard gas'. I believe many scientists have worked on studying and developing it in this century."

Selina was left speechless looking at the paper with the formula. "Of course, I watched a documentary once! Mustard gas can cause blotches and blisters on the human skin and, if I remember correctly, it might cause hallucinations too? Oh my… that was from the start!"

"Yes, and now our time is running short since the… 'village summit' decided we should leave by dawn. Young master should be informed and decide what our next step would be."

"How? We cannot get anywhere close to him and I don't think his mental ability and capacity are in a state to process that kind of information, right now. Perhaps we should decide for him this one time." She said giving the envelope to the demon.

He put it back in his pocket while his eyes were getting redder and his pupils turned to slits. "I do not think he would like that… at all. Do you remember when I said we should shock him out of it?" Now his demonic eyes were staring at her coldly.

"Yes, and I said I would agree if your techniques were not so… brutal. You would only scare him more." She was looking at him with suspicion growing in hers.

Smirking he wrapped his arms around her, hugging her body and imprisoning her hands between them. "You know it well that sometimes brutality is the only way to achieve a goal. Do you trust me, my precious and equal partner?"

"I try to." She said while her tense body had already started squirming in an effort to escape his hold; however, no matter the hard training she had received, a male demon was still physically stronger from a female human, especially in this position, and so she struggled in vain.

Then a cold, black tentacle made by just black shadow wrapped around her, binding her hands and arms on her chest. The shadowy tentacle went further down binding her legs too and upwards, ending up on her throat where its ending glued on like a hand that penetrated her skin and took hold of her vocal chords, squeezing and preventing them from making a sound. These bindings did not cause her pain, but their coldness and deepest darkness froze Selina's body, making it unable to move a muscle. Only her eyes were still glaring pleadingly at the demon in front of her screaming to him "No, please don't…"

Sebastian moved back from embracing her as his chest and hands were regaining their human form, instead of that of the blackest shadow. Now, he lifted Selina in his arms and placed her on the bed as he was talking to her with his velvety voice.

"Then keep trusting me, my lovely witch. Do not worry, I will not hurt you… there is no way I would do that. I am just… taking you out for a while. As soon as I am done with our master I will come back for you; I could never leave you behind." He said while his gloved fingers tenderly caressed her face as a lover would, and then placed a light kiss on her parted lips that instinctively were struggling to speak.

He straightened up and exited the room, leaving Selina bound on the bed with uncertainty and worry, to the point of panic, mirrored in her eyes. She was bound and unable to do anything. She was almost wallowing in despair when a blue flame sparkled in her mind and, even though she knew what it could cause, focused on that little sparkle.

Damn it, Sebastian, you can be a real jerk sometimes, can't you? To the readers that might not like how Sebastian acts in the end of this chapter... I agree, he is not being nice to Selina at all, but he is a demon, sometimes he might not be able to resist his nature.

Theban Alphabet: No idea if this is an actual thing or Toboso made it up, therefore the markings Selina sees and realizes there is no magic in the letters, are totally my idea. I'm saying this just to make clear I have no knowledge of this alpabet, in case it is real.

That's all from me now. Till next time! Bye!