Hello everyone! A new chapter filled with Selina's and Sebastian's... adult shenanigans and... guess what! We are exactly in the middle of the story! Yaaaay!🎉🎉🎉🎉 I honestly can't believe how well this story goes the longer it gets! I want to thank each and everyone of my readers for helping to get... literally a breath away from 5000 views! You are all awesome!

But since I can't thank everyone I'll do so for all who have followed and favored this story and a huge shoutout to the newest additions. Namely: Alirrae, CatNilla, MidnightPixie25, NightsBlackRose13, ld2002, merimabajramovic97, ripvanwinklehellsing, LMRain, SaChan22, starrat and darkangelynn5 as well as the latest Guest (I'm so happy you find Sebastian and Selina cute together 😍). Thank you all and I'm sorry if I forgot anyone... it's getting hard to keep track of all the names, but... I like there are so many!

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 34: The Tutor, Safe Haven

Diedrich never cared to explain how it was that he came and found them in the middle of the 'cursed' forest, or how he knew where exactly to find them. But he also never explained why he had not arranged for a carriage or something to receive them from the end of the railway, since he already knew its existence and had thought the possibility of using it; therefore, they walked many miles from the railway to his estate… which was an actual castle. It was in the afternoon when they finally knocked the door and the formal elderly butler opened the door, only to slightly lose his composure by widening his eyes as he was met with a strange group of people, obviously having gone through quite a few hardships the previous day.

"Welcome home, herr Diedrich. But goodness me, I must say… you have gotten into more than a spot of mischief this time." He said as his gaze travelled up and down the figure of his obviously tired and displeased master, and then roamed from the smiling elderly butler all the way to the younger one, also smiling and holding a little girl in his arms, that was… dressed in a boy's outfit, while in front of them stood an exhausted and grumpy child that… should be a boy even though it was dressed in a dress and wrapped in the butler's coat. "A strange lot indeed." The poor butler thought and sighed, while making way for them to get in and calling the rest of the house staff to help.

As soon as Diedrich entered the manor, he ordered Heinrich, as the butler was called, to call for a physician and prepare baths for everyone. The elder butler spoke then and by his calm and gentle voice Heinrich realised he knew the man, although he looked more worn out than what he remembered; he was Mr. Tanaka, the so capable and loyal Phantomhive butler. Well then, that meant the boy in the dress should be the earl's son, the new earl Phantomhive, Tanaka confirmed it and Heinrich bowed and greeted Ciel in perfect English to the boy's relief.

"I glimpse quite a bit of the previous earl in you." The butler said and smiled in a good intended manner.

"Please, do excuse my attire…" Ciel said obviously displeased with the image he presented to strangers.

The castle was really majestic, not only outside but inside too. Great stairs and columned alcoves decorated the great main hall, and chandeliers were shedding their light on the so elegant plaster elements of the place and the dark wooden details of the furniture. Finny and the others were left with eyes and mouth wide open in awe and amazement at the building that was obviously double the size of the manor they were running. They were even more astounded when the butler informed them that this castle was rather small compared to the principal residence of the… something barony; no one really understood the name he said. Selina having forgotten her injuries or the pain, even though she walked more stiffly, was rather excited just in the idea of walking into a real castle and even Sebastian was looking around with quite an appreciative look in his eyes.

"You are actually a sheltered young master, are you not?" Ciel said Diedrich in quite a moody manner.

"Well, is that not the pot and the kettle?!" The round man growled to the boy while crossing his hands on his belly.

More servants rushed in, bringing a stretcher and some first aid kits if they were needed. Sieglinde was worriedly looking as Wolfram was gently placed on the stretcher, and Finny helped moving the heavy man to some upstairs room where the doctor would examine him. Snake and Bard had their thankfully superficial wounds treated and Selina could not avoid the help, so she allowed a maid to change bandages to her slashed hand. Mr. Tanaka and Mey-Rin took the initiative to offer their help to Heinrich if they needed two pairs of extra hands.

Soon the baths for the young master Phantomhive and the young lady Sullivan were ready, but the girl seemed hesitant and perhaps a little afraid when a smiling maid approached Sebastian and announced she would help her take her bath. Sieglinde huddled up closer to Sebastian's chest and the demon for the first time looked like not knowing what to do, as he had to attend his master, but the girl was not ready to trust some strangers, even though they looked very pleasant. Selina saw that and as soon as her hand was cleaned and newly bandaged stepped in.

"Excuse me, lady Sullivan has gone through a lot of turbulence these last days and I think she would feel more comfortable having a familiar face taking care of her." She politely explained the maid, who agreed although was quite confused on what could possibly have happened to that cute little lady to make her so distrustful. "Good, then I will take care of Lady Sullivan's bath so that our butler can tend our master." She said and opened her arms to Sebastian, who relieved placed the girl in them. Sieglinde was more than willing to escape that uncomfortable situation and also relieved hugged Selina's neck.

"But Miss… you are wounded and you also need a bath." The maid stressed.

"If you would be so kind to borrow me one of your oldest uniforms and a pair of gloves I would be fine; I will take a bath when Lady Sullivan will be ready." She smiled and the maid could not bring any other objection.

She showed them the way to two bathrooms, the one next to the other and did not forget to put herself to Sebastian's disposal in case he needed any help; needless to say, her voice was trembling from excitement, her eyes were sparkling and her face got even redder as he thanked her and smiled politely. The woman looked ready to faint to Selina's displeasure, who glared at her with a look saying "Hey, stupid! I'm the beaten up here, I'm the one that might need help, you know!"

To her even greater displeasure, the maid did no similar offer to Selina, she only said the requested outfit would be there in a minute and left humming, ignoring Selina's fiery gaze following her for a while. Sebastian could not help it and chuckled a little, he innocently shrugged his shoulders indicating it was not his fault for drawing the woman's interest, when Selina looked at him with the same fire in her eyes. Selina lifted her middle finger at him and went back inside the bathroom, where lady Sullivan was waiting for her, trying to undo her outfit. Sebastian also needed to help his master find his way out of this really uncomfortable dress; he blinked a few times to turn his eyes back to human, calm his excitement and then got to work.

{~}

"Do my feet disgust you that much?" Sieglinde asked, still soaking in the hot water as Selina in the maid outfit was gently lathering and scrubbing the small feet.

"W-Why are you saying that, my lady?" Selina asked, looking at the girl surprised.

"You obviously avoid looking at them and when you do, you keep swallowing like you are trying to push down something, a bile maybe."

"Well… I would lie if I said they don't upset my stomach at all, but… how do I say this, it is because I haven't seen it again and it is so cruel. Where I come from, this technique is considered barbaric to say the least, applied in China and it will… or rather, I hope it will be banned in the future. Forgive me for saying that, my lady, but no woman, no living creature in general, should be forced to experience such great pain and all the side effects that surely occur in time, no matter how noble is the reason for it, true or false." Selina said in an honest manner.

Sieglinde thought about it for a while as she was chewing her lower lip. "Then… you must not like Wolfram since he was the one who performed this… ritual."

"He is not high on my list with friends either way, but seeing how honest and true are his feelings for you... Knowing he was following orders blindly, as I guess he was taught to, up until the moment he realized how… ruthless his comrades were and how he betrayed them in order to save you… I can reconsider, once we settle this." She pointed at the bruised bridge of her nose with her slashed and bandaged hand currently protected by a glove.

Sieglinde opened her eyes wide and sat up in the big tub bringing her face close to the woman's; her little hands started lightly touching the purple appendage examining it. "Wolfram did this?" Selina could only nod as a lump came up in her throat once the child touched her; Sieglinde's brows furrowed and her lips pursed. "If he lives and gets back on his feet I will beat him until he apologizes." She looked so determined and seemed satisfied with her examination; Selina would not have any issues since her cracked bone had been put in its right place soon enough, she would only suffer for a time every time she sneezed.

Selina smiled. "Do not worry, my lady. I have already thought of a way to make him pay for all the bruises I have." She winked at the girl mischievously.

Sieglinde looked really surprised. "With his body?"

"Hmm… In a way, you could say that."

"But you are a couple with Sebastian!" Now she looked really red and scandalized as she brought her little fist at her lips.

Selina burst out laughing and wheezing as the air rushing from her nose hurt her. "No my lady, not that way! Sebastian would skin me alive and then roast me for sure."

"Really?! He looks so gentle!" The girl said with obvious admiration for the butler.

"Oh dear lady, nothing is what it seems in our world; please keep that in mind. Anyway, Wolfram is a trained soldier, a fighter. In a way, the same goes for me. Until now, I could only train with Sebastian, whose skills are way above mine and he exhausts me more than I can bear; therefore training with someone else whose skill are closer to mine might prove more beneficial to me. If I beat Wolfram at some point I will be more fitted to train with Sebastian and have a better result." She winked at the girl.

Sieglinde seemed excited at this prospect; she happily clapped her hands and splashed her feet in the water. Then Selina went on to wash the long, black, silky locks of the teenage girl, the same time she was listening to Sebastian in the bathroom next door picking on his master; the human race changes and develops really fast but the young boy failed to grow any bigger, commented the butler with a supposedly concerned sigh. The woman smiled as the grumpy boy started kicking the demon that had no right talking about his growth, since he had not changed for centuries; the demon chuckled in response.

For a moment, Selina felt a sudden desire to make her demon lover see how unique and precious the two young teenagers under their wing were, make him see they were not just food to fill his stomach. But then, the image of the analogy she had devised, in order to make herself understand the demons' side about feeding, came to mind.

The same way she was eating a chicken, a previously living being cultivated in some farm, to sustain herself and did not feel any desire to get to know or care for it, Sebastian was eating human souls, also previously living beings, to sustain himself and did not, could not really care for their actual worth inside the human world or to other humans.

That was how things were once a human soul was turned to demon, devoid of any humanity; they became an entirely different species with nothing reminding of the human they once were. Humans were above the chicken in the food chain the same way demons were above humans… that was all there was to it.

{~}

Selina was finally soaking her bruised and battered body in the warm water. She had cleaned and dressed Sieglinde and then left her in the bedroom given to her, with a towel wrapped around her hair waiting for her long, heavy locks to dry.

The blond woman sighed, her mind back in her previous thoughts as she absent-mindedly combed her fingers through wet hair. She lifted her head and looked at the ceiling, or rather beyond the ceiling, beyond the roof of this house and beyond the clouds on the sky.

"If you really exist… you are so cruel… The cruellest demon I have known up to now was nothing compared to you." Her voice was trembling a little and blinked to stop a tear from trickling down.

"Oh my, a human accusing of cruelty her Holy Maker! What could possibly cause such a blasphemy?" Sebastian's cheerful voice was heard from the door so suddenly, startling Selina, who almost slipped entirely in the water to cover her naked body. The demon chuckled.

"Sebastian! What are you doing here? What about master?" She asked surprised watching him approaching, removing his gloves and kneeling beside the tub while taking the soap in his hands.

He smiled predatory at her. "He rests until dinner is ready and I came to help my little witch. Really, that child is so weak… he slept on our way here and again fell asleep in the blink of an eye." He creased his brows in supposed concern.

Selina was looking at him with a totally not persuaded look in her eyes. "Well… sorry for informing you, but running through a forest, while being chased by crazy pre-Nazis all night and then getting almost strangled by Wolfram is quite hard, even for the strongest human." She said and then goggled at the demon's dark face.

"That human constantly gives me reasons for killing him." He growled and started washing Selina's hair moving behind her. "I myself place master in danger for fun, but I know I will be in time to save him… I cannot accept others threatening his life."

"Control freak…" Selina mumbled with a smirk, lying back in the tub and leaving herself at the demon's hands. Before she knew it a pleased sigh left her lips.

Sebastian finished her hair and now moved to her neck, shoulder blades and back. Soon she found she could not hold her moans, as her strained muscles started relaxing under the so skilful ministrations of the demon's strong fingers. Only when she felt the burning breath of Sebastian on her face and his hands constantly sliding southern on her body, did she realise how her moans sounded to the man kneeling behind her.

She opened her eyes and met with two burning red globes and two parted lips leaving sharp teeth peek from behind them. A hot wave rushed through her and ended in turning her face to a bright red. She opened her lips with the intention of calling the entranced man back to reality but never made it. His lips sealed hers not bothered by the fact that their faces were upside down to each other, and hungrily robbed her voice and breath while his hands were travelling up and down her body with urgency.

"Seb… Sebastian… what are you doing… at such a time?" She managed to say when he released her mouth and moved to the side of the tub, where he would face her properly and reach the place he wanted.

"I am just enriching my knowledge of the future era." His smile was as sharp as his teeth and his eyes sparkling with pleasure at the woman's embarrassment. "Now, let us see… You did a gesture before going to bathe lady Sullivan. My understanding is it held a negative meaning but I believe it derives from something like this…" He slipped his middle finger in Selina's centre making the woman cry out at the sudden intrusion. "It seems I hit the spot!" He chuckled darkly, satisfied, leaned closer and started devouring her mouth again.

His master's calling reached him not long after, and was the first time he felt like really wanting to ignore the bratty boy. He was much more pleasantly occupied with Selina's body flushed on his and dripping water on his clothes, her arms wrapped around his neck and her mouth not getting enough of his lips and tongue. He too could not get enough of how her hot body trembled as his fingers worked in her. However, he could not ignore his master and so he sped up his ministrations, making the woman fall apart in his hands in seconds and then splashing back in the water as her muscles could not support her anymore.

"Wha-What the hell? Why do you always have to… do things like that out of the blue? What are you? An incubus?" She panted while struggling to keep herself upright in the tub.

Sebastian chuckled as he poured water to wash away the soap from her hair and then got up to dry his hands with a towel. "Oh my dear, a demon does not have to be an incubus to drive insane a human with sexual desire and pleasure, especially when the demon enjoys it so much." He winked at her.

Selina narrowed her eyes. "Hmm… so since you are not allowed to just kill me, you decided to make me crazy with your lewd practices…"

"Well… it is not like you are unwilling; an innocent girl getting corrupted by my depravity, correct?" Sebastian whispered in his low voice leaning on the tub's edge towering over the woman.

Selina raised her gaze and after staring at him for a moment, suddenly pushed him away, not bearing what the seductive and arrogant look of his eyes did to her.

"Stop fooling around, didn't master call you or something?" She said and immediately submerged into the still lukewarm water to continue her bath.

"Actually, he already called me and is getting quite angry with me for being late."

"Hey, how exactly are you going to explain your wet clothes?" Selina asked challenging him. "You already revealed the truth to everyone, although I am certain you did it just to tease me..." Sebastian's sparkling eyes proved her impression right. "...but that doesn't mean you are allowed to get sloppy." It was her turn to make fun of the demon.

For an instant, Sebastian seemed tempted to tell the boy the truth and utterly shock him – either way he would not be able to lie – but then thought again.

"Well, young master does not want me to use magic in front of humans, but since it is just the two of us…" He did a really gracious twirl, his black aura flashed for a second and then his clothes were as dry and pristine as ever. He looked at Selina amused, waiting for her reaction.

The witch seemed to enjoy the demon's display, watching with one raised eyebrow, but controlled her features perfectly, not to show any excessive admiration. "Show off." She just said smiling.

Sebastian laughed lightly and opened the bathroom door. "We shall meet later, my dear." He said cheerfully exiting the room while Selina waved her hand.

{~}

Heinrich seemed really astounded at the young Earl's request - that his butler and tutor should be at the same floor as his and lady Sullivan's rooms in case they needed something during night - but since his own master had no objection having servants upstairs, it was none of his business; besides, they were guests so he had to treat them accordingly. Therefore, the tutor was given a small bedroom at the end of the corridor and it was there where she was now, since soon after dinner everyone was allowed to call it a night as they needed rest, and thus Selina was alone in the bedroom.

The woman had already changed in a light, soft nightgown and, seated cross legged on the plush mattress, was applying some healing cream on the wound of her slashed right hand. The cream was already working and she felt the wound tingly and itchy but resisted scratching it. The fact that her thoughts were still at the so sweet scene she had witnessed between the little lady and her wounded butler, helped to take her mind off her wounds.

During dinner, lady Sullivan attacked every plate with a surprising fervour while announcing everything was delicious and chewing at the same time, shocking Ciel once again and entertaining Sebastian, who decided to teach her proper manners if she was to appear before the Queen. The demon's obvious anticipation about Sieglinde's etiquette lessons really alarmed Selina, as it always happened when he looked something resembling to being happy.

Afterwards, they were given permission to visit Wolfram, who was treated by a very optimistic doctor. Ciel reprimanded the man for nearly abandoning his lady by dying, but Sieglinde cut him off, saying there was no reason to blame only him for abandoning and betraying her; she did the same by following strangers to the outside world. As far as she was concerned, they were even, they had betrayed each other.

Now, she invited him to leave everything in the past and together again venture forward in a new world awaiting them. Wolfram seemed not to believe her at first, but when she asked him to once again become her butler, the giant, rough and strong man seemed to break in tiny pieces, falling apart and revealing a soft, caring man whose centre of life was this little, sweet girl. Selina tried hard to not get emotional when she saw tears in both man's and girl's eyes as Wolfram pulled Sieglinde in a tight, loving embrace a father would give his most precious and cherished daughter.

The woman smiled remembering the scene, and thought it would be hard for her to return the beating she received from the German butler as she had planned; she would not be able to bring herself be cruel to such an emotional man. She humphed and lifted her nightgown to treat the big bruise on her stomach with an ointment especially for bruises… and as soon as she touched it, decided it would be so easy to fight Wolfram, once she thought of the pain he caused her.

"God damn it!" She cried and fell back on the bed, continuing her treatment despite the pain.

She was breathing hard when done, certain that luckily she didn't have any rupture in her internal organs from the so strong kick. She was still lying on the bed thinking how to reach her back and waist, when she sensed Sebastian getting closer to her door. Quite 'magically' pain left her instantly and she was able to jump up and open the door the moment the man was a stride away. She reached out, grabbed his wrist and actually pulled him in the room, surprising him to the point he almost tripped, but avoided it with his very characteristic grace.

"Are you done for the night?" She asked with eyes wide open, sparkling from anticipation and excitement.

Sebastian felt taken aback by her behaviour; he took her smell in and could tell for sure she was not sexually aroused at the moment, which could be a possible reason for her obvious excitement. He nodded and opened his eyes wide when he saw a smile blooming on her lips.

"Nice! Come, I want you to tell me everything that happened in the 'curse' factory and what did you do to the crone." She said climbing back on the bed, pulling Sebastian to sit beside her.

"Wait… Are you that excited because you want to listen how I… murdered some humans?" He had to ask, because even though he knew she had a bloodthirsty side and had asked him to make Sieglinde's mother suffer, he never expected she would like to know how he did it. He thought she was like his master, who was giving the order but never cared about the method.

"Well… yes. Why not? I mean… they asked for it." She shrugged her shoulders. "I do realize they did their job and really believed in their cause, but building an entire fake world just to fool and imprison a little kid? That is unforgivable in my book." She looked at him with so honest eyes.

Sebastian smiled and brought his face closer to hers. "So you think they deserved to be murdered?"

"They should be punished for sure, but since they attacked us too… we had to eliminate any danger threatening our master and lady Sieglinde, so…"

His handsome smile widened inches away from her lips. "My little, arrogant witch, making decisions on who needs to be punished and who does not, who lives and who dies… playing god."

"W-w-well… I am not playing god… only god-ish… maybe." She blushed by the truly so arrogant acceptance of taking up such a role. "It's not like god is that good at his job. So many innocent people die every day around the world and so many evil ones prosper instead." She said innocently as her fingers were playing with the end of his loosened tie.

"You are a very peculiar human and a strange woman, indeed." Sebastian chuckled and closed the distance between them. He started kissing her lightly again and again, like he was pecking her lovingly, and for a few seconds the sound of their lips was the only thing heard in the silent room.

"I'm twenty percent demon-to-be, don't forget that." Selina whispered in between kisses.

"Twenty? I would say it is more like… thirty, maybe?" Sebastian teased back and resumed kissing as she was about to protest; they both ended up smiling on each other's lips.

They felt so peaceful and relaxed, like there was nothing outside the space they occupied, outside each other. That was a strange and unknown feeling for the demon, but lately he was getting more and more acquainted with it, and found it was not unpleasant at all. He actually really enjoyed these moments of being alone with the mortal witch, talking and discussing various issues, having fun with each other since Selina had a sense of humour similar to his, joking, kissing and having sex… no, making love, he liked the sound of it more.

When Selina started to feel Sebastian's kisses lasting longer and becoming fuller by the second, she lightly pulled away, before her playful kisses also turn to something else. Her back and waist were quite in pain and she should not exert herself too much.

"Wait… please; tell me what happened in the factory. I really want to know!" She pleaded to Sebastian staring at him, with what could be called 'kitty eyes' as she took the begging look cats used to make humans do their bidding. She opened round big eyes and waited, playfully tugging at his tie.

"Hmm… and I thought you would be more interested in what herr Dietrich told us concerning the Undertaker, just before dinner."

Selina furrowed her eyebrows thinking. "Okay, tell me that first and then about the factory."

Sebastian quickly related to her that Undertaker had visited Diedrich, and among his silly comments, he said that thankfully the next Earl Phantomhive was still alive. That seemed to really trouble young master as he was not sure to whom the lunatic reaper was referring to.

"Hmm… Indeed that was interesting and it means that for sure we didn't see the last of Undertaker and his Frankenstein-ish experiments." Selina remained silent thinking for a while; but then shook her head since no solution would just pop up in her mind, and resumed her kitty technique towards the demon with a soft spot for the whimsical felines.

Sebastian sighed, pretending to give in under the 'pressure' she exercised on him. He began his narration and enjoyed watching her eyes change as he was getting to the point where he gave Professor Sullivan a taste of her poison. To be honest, he expected Selina to get angry at him when he described how exactly he gave the scientist that taste, but surprisingly enough she did not seem to mind he had kissed another woman… Normally, he should feel relieved she was not that clingy to get jealous of a deadly poisonous kiss, but that was not exactly the case and it was really weird for him.

When he finished, Selina had a really sharp smile on her lips and blue fires in her eyes; she seemed really pleased with what she heard. Her entire facial expression reminded him a little naughty imp; but of course, she was much more beautiful than any imp or any kind of demonic creature in his realm.

"Did you really say that to her?" Selina was really thrilled to hear what Sebastian had said to the woman, surely in his usual mocking way, right before breathing the poison in her lungs.

Sebastian nodded and was left speechless when Selina grabbed the lapels of his tailcoat and pulled him in a full, demanding kiss. He found he was unable to do anything other than respond and return the kiss in an equal manner. Her hands slid upwards and hugged his head running her fingers through his raven hair; Sebastian also wanted to feel her silky gold curls and with no further delay removed and dropped his gloves on the floor to bury his long fingers in her shiny ringlets.

Selina sighed frustrated when that contact was not enough and in an instant straddled him, gluing her breasts to his chest causing him to groan lustfully; in a flash his hands were under the nightgown hem caressing her thighs.

"And I thought the way to your heart was through sweet ice cream cake with cookies and chocolate… not cold blooded murder and tortures." Sebastian chuckled when their lips got separated to get some breath.

Selina smirked, her hands busy unbuttoning his vest and shirt to reveal that marble chest she so loved to touch. "Maybe it's both, depending on the situation." She shrugged her shoulders in a whimsical manner.

"I do not mind taking both routes." Sebastian said in a really husky voice, staring at her so seductively that the woman felt her legs getting weak.

Right after that, he lowered his head and took one end of her nightgown's bow between his teeth, he pulled untying it and the cloth slipped off her shoulders, leaving her sun kissed skin exposed to his hungry red eyes. Selina could not take it any longer, she wanted to feel him like crazy. She lowered her body and with a thrust of her hips rubbed herself on him, pleased to find he too was ready and happy to go further. However, the sharp pain that ran through her spine at her hips' movement surpassed the pleasure from their contact, and forced her to pull back with a cry that had nothing to do with their activities.

"Ouch, ouch!" She said biting her lower lip and furrowing her brows in pain.

"Selina? What happened? Did I hurt you?" Sebastian's voice was heard surprised and laced with a trace of worry. His hands stilled on her hips holding them like they were the most fragile china.

"I'm okay, it's just… the bruises on my waist and back hurt…" She looked at him the same way she had when admitting her wounds to him.

Sebastian sighed, once again angry at the German man. "Are you sure they are just bruises? What if you have broken or fractured anything, besides your nose that is?"

"If that was the case, I don't think I would be able to walk or bathe Sieglinde. It's just that I reached my limit and my body can't take any other sudden movements or pressure… I'm sorry. I fired you up and now…" She lowered her head.

A black nailed finger hooked under her chin and raised her face to look at him. "If I wanted I could force you and get my pleasure, if that was my top priority… but it is not; therefore, do not blunder such foolish words. Now, do you have any healing potion or something in your magical stash that could help you?"

Selina smiled in view of his genuinely worried expression and the crease between his brows. "Is the great and powerful demon under the current name of Sebastian Michaelis worried about me, a human woman?" She would lie if she claimed that the possibility did not make her a little happy.

"Miss Clark, I am serious. Do you have anything that would heal you and make the pain go away faster?" Indeed he was dead serious.

"Yes, I have." The woman said rolling her eyes. "When you got here, I had just applied that cream on my slashed hand and that ointment on the bruises of my hands and stomach... and was trying to figure out how I would reach my back without getting lumbago." She informed him pointing to the still open vase of healing ointment next to the previously used cream on the night-stand.

"Healing is indeed your expertise, my beautiful witch. You have something for all kinds of wounds. I wonder what other powers you have." Sebastian smirked lifting her nightgown to check the big bruise on her stomach, and was pleased to find that in the few hours, from the moment he had seen her in the bath, it looked considerably better.

She made a disappointed grimace. "Indeed, I chose healing as my specialization in an effort to compensate for the destructive attributes of the Blue Flame - my innate power - but my potions, salves and everything work mostly when the wounds are inflicted through magic... I cannot heal grave 'normal' wounds and... chemicals, as we recently discovered. You have already seen most of my other powers."

"You never know, you might be able to do these too, in the future." He looked at her like he really believed it, believed in her. "All right, hold on to me." He suddenly announced lifting her body with one arm under her bottom; he also got up and with the other hand pulled the bed covers down. He gently placed her on the bed again and pulled her gown up. "Please, remove your nightgown and lie down on your stomach. Make yourself comfortable so that you will not put extra pressure on it."

"Yes, sir." Selina said teasingly and followed his instructions, as he took off his tailcoat, rolled up his sleeves and took the ointment in his hands.

Selina was left with only her pants on, lied on her stomach, put a pillow under her chest to be more comfortable and pulled her hair sideways, away from her back. "You apply it like any other ointment or cream and massage the area. The skin will drink it up instantly and will be spread in the hurt tissues underneath." She informed feeling him moving behind her, straddling her legs to have better access in all the length of her back.

He did as was told and soon Selina could not contain her moans, just like in the bathroom, as his long, strong and so skilled fingers massaged her strained and hurt muscles so strongly but gently, that immediately started to feel loosened up and in much less pain. When he was done, Selina was left panting, unable to move as her muscles felt so floppy she could not muster them to work at the moment.

"Wow, Sebastian. If you ever find yourself in need of work in the human plane you can easily work as a massage therapist. That was the best! Well done and thank you so much!" She said a little breathy, as she closed her eyes to savour the so relaxed feeling her body had.

"Oh, thank you, dear. However, are you sure you would like me to apply that same therapy to other women and especially the next part?" His voice was heard again heavy with desire, and Selina was even more alarmed when she felt him gently removing her pants, leaving her totally naked. "Please, refrain from moving your hips too much."

"Sebastian, what are you…"

She did not have the chance to finish as his artfully lips and tongue started a slow, pleasantly torturous journey, following the same path as his hands just did on her spine. All the while, she was trying not to move her hips or back and when failed, Sebastian's firm hand on her buttock pushed her down asking her again not to move. At the same time, his masterful fingers kept skimming and caressing the rest of her body and thighs and currently, were getting closer to the hot, quivering place between her legs with the intention of driving her crazy for the second time tonight.

"Se-Sebastian, you cannot ask me not to move if you go there." Selina said making evident she would not be able to hold back for long.

The demon paused and then climbed upwards on his knees and elbows as he leaned over the woman to reach her ear. "You are correct, my dearest. Forgive me, I almost forgot myself. It is just... Your voice, you cannot imagine what your voice does to me." He planted a tender kiss on the woman's shoulder.

Selina felt her body growing hotter at how heavy with desire and even a little shaky his voice was; it would take her quite a long time to get used to how she affected this demon who was honestly lusting for her. Wanting to somehow pleasure him too, she moved her hand back and down, reaching between his legs and feeling how hard he was for her, even through his trousers' fabric. A shudder of pleasure ran through her body at the pleased groan that escaped the man's lips as his hips thrust in her palm; she turned her head to the left and found his throat at the level of her face. Her tongue darted and teasingly licked the pale skin, making him gasp and also shudder.

"As you have no idea what your voice does to me… when you speak, laugh, gro-"

His lips captured hers and Selina could feel in the kiss how much he enjoyed her touch, even more when she slowly turned on her back - Sebastian placed a couple of pillows so that her back and waist would rest on their softness - and both her hands moved inside the trousers. Her ministrations made him feel like hot lava was running through his veins, even after a climax that shook his body and made it hard for him not to collapse and crush the woman underneath him. Finally, he rolled to the side and remained there, sprawled on the bed, breathing heavily, ignoring the rivulets of sweat running across his chest, back, arms, legs… literally everywhere.

"I can fight hordes of humans and monsters all night, even when I am wounded... I can pleasure any woman within minutes without breaking a sweat, maybe pretend that I do… but when it comes to you, none of this matter… even with just a simple touch of your hands... it is like you drain me entirely!" He said and took one more deep breath.

He slightly opened one eye, when he heard a giggle and felt a pair of burning eyes roaming all over him, watching his sculpted abs flexing with every breath. He smirked when indeed saw Selina's eyes devouring his chest peeking through the open shirt, exciting him once again. He stretched an arm to her and she rolled close to him, nestling at his side and hugging his chest as he did the same at her back.

"You are the one feeding from my aura when we are in bed, not the other way round." Selina sounded quite pleased and planted a light kiss on his pectoral.

"I swear I have not since St. Ives, I do not need to but even if I did, I would never do it while you are wounded and you have gotten quite a share in this journey. Also, I would ask your permission, now that you have knowledge of the matter." He said as his fingers tickled her back, while the other hand pulled her right thigh across his stomach, wrapping the woman around him, not caring that his bodily fluids spilled on the woman were now smearing his clothes. Any kind of physical contact with her calmed and pleased him immensely.

She nodded. "I know you haven't, but allow me to have my doubts for the last part, but as for the wounded part… It's true and you have taken care of me every time… Thank you. Although you should be careful, one might think you care too much for your toy and perhaps you have fallen to the trap of that 'illogical notion called love'." She said half joking half serious avoiding his eyes as she laid her head on his chest.

"Demons are very cerebral creatures to indeed fall in such a trap. We cannot or desire to even comprehend, how is it ever possible for someone to claim that one could sacrifice themselves for the sake of someone else. It is foolish and… illogical."

Selina remained silent for a moment; when she spoke her voice was low and very serious. "Real love is not illogical. Just claiming you can sacrifice yourself for someone usually means nothing; not when you abandon that very person you claim to be important, at the face of hardships. It is not love when you push or trick the other one to live a life full of lies, in order to achieve your own selfish goals. Love is when you feel happy when he is happy, when you want to do everything in your power to take away any sadness and pain he feels, when you are with him whenever he needs you, support him; when you feel incomplete away from him but also be able to leave him when he needs it, accepting his pros and cons, accepting him completely… Love is when you do everything for him even when you have nothing to gain, or expect any kind of return. When being with him is enough and you don't need anything else. Love is not only when you say the word 'love' but when your actions prove it too!"

"You will do anything to protect your master in order to be able to devour him in the future, while I will do anything to protect Selina without having anything to gain, ever; I will do it because I love her and want her to be safe and happy…"

These words ringed in the demon's mind, along with Miranda's cool demeanour upon accepting the fact of being forced to have a demon around her beloved cousin. Instead of getting furious and wanting to kill him instantly - as it would be natural between an angel and a demon - she threatened to do so only if he hurt Selina in any way. She would accept him for the sake of Selina who had already accepted him completely… that was what she said while making love the last day at St. Ives.

He sensed frozen fingers and claws grabbing his demonic essence and squeezing his heart, as a possible interpretation of her words dawned on him, an interpretation that would mean big trouble for any demon. But they immediately retreated in front of warmth spreading inside him coming from Selina's side. He did not know how to feel about any of this, annoyed or pleased, and therefore decided to actually ask her as straightforwardly as he could, and make a deduction from her response, whether it was true or false.

"That is strange… most people declare their love frivolously, but are unable to define or act on it; of course that is not the case with you. I guess you know all this, through personal experience with the people you loved in your life." She nodded. "Were they the people you loved so much that you had to avenge, because they were taken away from you?" He asked casually.

"Yes, them too."

"You said love is being able to leave someone when they need it… Do you not think killing those who took them away is in contradiction to your altruistic view of love?"

"I mean letting someone go when he himself wants it, not when someone else takes him away by force… by murder. In such a case little selfishness is not bad."

"Right." Sebastian said trying to understand and find logic in all that, but he still failed; however, curiosity took the best of him. "Was he one of the people that were taken from you?"

Selina suddenly lifted her head and looked at him. "He? Who's he?" Her face started turning red.

The demon shrugged. "I have no idea; you were saying 'he, he, he' while explaining what love is, so… I guess you know who you meant."

Selina sat up and feeling obviously awkward pulled up the bed covers. "Oh… I-I-I wasn't referring to anyone in particular… it was a slip of the tongue." She tried to smile, drawing the light blanket to her body as if it was her armour.

"Lie." Sebastian was certain. His eyes did not leave her, and even though her face was trying to remain calm and expressionless, her eyes, windows to a human's soul, were telling him other things.

"Maybe it was, maybe it was not. Did you ever have a he that made you feel all these things you said?" He finally asked as he also sat up beside her.

Selina chuckled. "Love can have many targets and take up many forms, but some things stay the same, so all these things I said do not apply only to romantic love."

"I know that much. Probably most of these were references to Miranda or any other member of your family, but I am asking specifically about him. Did any man ever made you feel that way but then… left you maybe?" He was watching her red face turning to pale.

She took a breath and regained part of her composure, she chuckled again. "As I have told you, things in my time are different, and women do not wait for a knight in a shining armor to love him forever. They are as free as they can, to have experiences and choose the one who really suits them and can love them, they are free to choose whom to love; therefore, I too had my share of lovers, if that is what you ask."

"Did you love them all? Did you love them so much that you were strong enough to let them go when they wanted?"

Selina was getting angry and defensive now that the demon's beautiful voice had turned to a cold, mocking irony. She grabbed her nightgown lying at the edge of the bed and pulled it with force over her head.

"I am not going to discuss my love life or explain how difficult and complicated is the nature of love with a demon deeming it an illogical notion."

"But it is… everything you told me lead to suffering, one way or the other. Being happy when the person you love is, is the only reward, which I do not find very satisfying, and generally I do not see the reason why one would put oneself in such a trouble. What is the point of forcing yourself…"

"Aren't you bored and tired always caring only for yourself? Haven't you ever felt the need to care for someone else?" Selina was really angry; her face was bright red, her eyes blue fires and her voice a little loud.

"I do care for my master and you." He said like it was an already stated fact.

"I meant caring for someone for no specific reason, but just because it makes you feel beautiful in here." She poked his chest with a finger at her last word. "Not caring for someone only because they are your food or your sex toy… Now, let me sleep, I really need it."

Selina got ready to lie down and turn her back to the demon, but a steely hand took hold of her arm and turned her to him pulling her to his naked chest, another hand grabbed her other arm. She looked at the demon's face and saw his features dark and hard, his eyes burning red ready to eat her up, his pulled up lips revealing pointy teeth emphasized that image more.

"How many times do I have to tell you? You are neither my food nor my sex toy!" He growled at her. "If I wanted such a thing I could have Mey-Rin whenever I wanted or… I could have kept Beast." His eyes never left hers telling her more, and making her heart jump in her chest before starting beating loud and fast once again.

"Yes… you have told me; you lust for me, for my touch and everything, but… that doesn't change the fact that I am a sex toy, just a toy that amuses and entertains you more than the rest of them. When you'll get bored you'll dispose of me." That seemed to surprise Sebastian a little and his face turned to a scowl of confusion. "But that's alright… I am well prepared for that, because you could say that I too see you as a sex partner just for fun. Let's say it's something like a subcontract between us, a deal, and this time I agree, since I am aware of it."

Sebastian now looked almost shocked and the hold on her arms relaxed significantly so that Selina, with a very self confident smile, released herself and turned again to lie down and sleep. She did not see the change in his features; from shocked turned to disappointed, perhaps one could say even hurt, and then back to his usual arrogance... and all because of simple words coming out of the mouth of a human woman. Again he found that effect really interesting and intriguing.

"Well then… perhaps it happens the other way around. Perhaps you get bored of me before I-" The demon started saying lightly and cheerfully, but still quite ironically.

"I would never get bored of the people I lo-" Selina hastened to say, while sitting up again, but was cut short by the man's smug smile and arched eyebrow; his eyes obviously challenged her to continue. "Nothing… forget it." Now she turned and threw herself on the mattress with a thud, stating the end of the discussion.

Of course, Sebastian had not decided the same and slowly lied back leaning over her as his other hand was planted on the mattress caging her. "The people you love? Is that what you wanted to say?"

Selina sighed fed up. "What if I did? It was just out of habit or whatever."

"Was it? Was that what you used to say to him, whoever that was, or maybe that he is… I?" He asked obviously teasing her but with a tinge of serious curiosity.

Selina remained silent for a while, and then with another sigh turned and looked at the demon's red eyes, trying to subdue the usual shiver. Now she struggled to keep a straight face, showing how really tired of this meaningless conversation she was.

"Don't be absurd. For that word to be directed to you, I should have such a feeling for you, but how can a human love a demon? Even if that happened, you are always mindful to remind me, how impossible it would be, that we just have fun and a great time when having sex, and as I told you, I totally agree with you. That is why I spoke about me being your sex toy and you being my sex partner and you got all… angry and stuff." Her eyes turned even colder. "However, if you must know… Of course I was in love with a man a few years ago and was telling him that, when he felt not so sure of himself for being my lover. Satisfied?"

Sebastian was still smirking arrogantly, but his expression was quite undecipherable, Selina could not tell what answer did he expect or even hope for. He kept staring at her for a while before he spoke.

"Kiss me then!" He finally demanded.

"What? I'm not in the mood anymore. I need to sleep." Selina answered like she was really annoyed by his request.

"If you do not, you will prove to me that our discussion really bothered you; that you avoid me and the matter - just like before - and you behave all cold and indifferent when in reality you are really hurt or sad, right? In short, if you do not kiss me, like every other time, it will mean your entire high and mighty act you just presented me was an obvious lie." He kept smirking.

"That-that does not make too much sense, you know."

"It does to me however."

Selina stared at him for a while and then sighed for a third time, grabbed his hair and pulled his face downwards to her, while calling him bastard.

She kissed him deeply as usual, hoping to be passionate enough to shut him up, but also cold enough to maintain control and not reveal things he most certainly did not need to know. However, an invisible hand squeezed her heart and a knot jumped from her stomach up to her throat shutting her airways, and the only way to release them would be to let go of a sob she was furiously pushing down since they began discussing about love; she started doubting her self control. When she felt tears gathering at the corners of her eyes, she tried pushing him away and his arms tightened around her, his left hand caressed her cheek.

"Just a little more!" Sebastian said breathing heavily and deepened the kiss even more, leaving Selina shudder, with no option other than respond and melt under his hot lips and body that had already almost covered hers.

At some point, she felt him smiling satisfied and thought he was finally pleased by her negative answer. On one hand, she could easily understand him; she also never liked having a clingy lover claiming to love her, when she only cared for his body from time to time; on the other hand, she was really furious at him for dismissing even the possibility of being loved by her, by a human. She bet he found the idea quite revolting. She wanted to scream at him that the only truly illogical about love was that nothing could dictate who would love who and for what reason; love was a matter of the heart and soul and no one could control it, only pretend they did.

When he finally released her lips, both were short of breath with red faces. Selina turned hers away, suddenly unable to face the demon's hungry eyes, as his black nailed slender fingers traced the shape of her swollen lips and hot cheeks. He suddenly flipped on his back, removing himself entirely from the woman while sighing obviously displeased that he had to.

"I apologise, I took a lot of your resting time away. Go to sleep and I will take care of everything in the morning, you will need more rest." He said in his businesslike voice.

"No thanks, I don't need any favors. I will be up in time to wake Lady Sullivan." Selina responded in an equal manner and turned on her side, her back to him, pulling the covers up to her ear. Thankfully, exhaustion made sure that in a matter of minutes she was in a deep restful sleep.

Once Sebastian was sure she was asleep, he finally allowed the warmth around his heart spread through his body, reaching his spiritual core of existence and filling the emptiness he always thought as the natural state of demons, void of sentiments. He brought to his lips the thumb he used to wipe a small tear trickling from Selina's eye without her taking notice, although obviously struggling to keep herself under control. Struggling to show him only what he wanted to see, or rather what she thought he wanted to see, to make him rest easy she had no deeper feelings for him.

He smiled at how easy he could tell when she lied and when not, but then his brows furrowed quite troubled as he remembered her admitting the existence of a man she loved deeply. He found it bothered and confused him… as everything involving the strange grey witch from the future.

He finally sighed hoping for the really annoying angel to have some answers for him soon. If he at least knew the source of all these... feelings he had but could not understand, would be easier for him to decipher them and decide what to do about his situation. He normally would immediately get up from bed, but once again, preferred to stay there close to Selina's warmth, although he dared not touch or embrace her as he wanted, lest he disturb her much needed healing sleep, until the first rays of sunlight entered the dark room.

That's my Selina! Giving a first lesson on love to our beloved, yet heartless demon!

Now, this whole scene might seem a little weird, and Sebastian's reactions strange, but... everything is important for later on, so keep it in mind. Other than that... What did you guys think of this conversation of theirs? Did Selina really have an important "he" or did she really mean Sebastian? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Thanks again everyone! More chapters are coming, be certain of that! Till next time! Bye!