The only sound in the office was the loud drumming of Ciel's fingers on his desk. Aurora's human façade had all but begun to fade, leaving behind the sparkling silver eyes that were growing wide with worry. She could already feel the sickness churning in her stomach, nausea creeping up through her body like a disease. She glanced to her left where Sebastian was standing a foot or so beside her, stoic as always. He must have detected her eyes on him, because barely a moment later, his eyes flicked towards her, seeming to scan her for a moment before he let his hand reach out to hers, pinky finger outstretched slightly towards hers. Her hand quivered beside his, buzzing with anxiety at the glare the young earl was sending them.
We can't...
She would have given anything to do more than just lace her fingers together with his, but given the circumstances, with the glare Ciel was sending (particularly in her direction), it might be in her best interest to abstain. Sebastian didn't seem to care, prompting her again as he gently nudged her finger with a touch of his knuckle. Relenting, Aurora stretched her pinky, curling it around his with a short squeeze. She felt the demon hum in silent laughter at the action, and she shot him a short glare, though her eyes were anything but warning.
The drumming of Ciel's fingers stopped suddenly, and he moved his attention to a pen on his desk, squeezing it tightly enough that the pair of friends turned lovers could hear it beginning to give way under the weight of his hand.
"So... the two of you have been having a scandalous affair under my nose this entire time... is that right?"
Ciel's question was left unanswered.
Aurora's face was already paling, hands quickly becoming clammy, and the feeling of nausea in her gut only worsened. Affair . The word was sinful. Too often associated with sin at least. Granted, she supposed he was right. They'd spent a great deal of time together, some of it tangled within the confines of bedsheets, wrapped in each other's arms. By all means it classed as an affair. She swallowed. To make matters worse he'd had a mate at the time.
Before she could even utter a word, Sebastian answered for her.
"That is correct." Sebastian said, "We have been having what you would consider an affair for sometime. Though I was under the impression our personal business did not interfere with the contract."
Ciel scowled, "It would have interfered at some point."
She had kept her eyes on the boy, and it was something in the way his fist shook, matched with the glare he was giving them, that made the pieces fall into place.
"You knew."
The cerulean eye switched from her lover onto her. "You knew," she repeated. "You had to know something. Otherwise you wouldn't have left me in the dark. You knew there was something going on between us, and most of all- you had to know that I wouldn't be able to silence myself if I truly believed that he was dead." Every part of her body was on fire as she waited for him to answer. She could feel all eyes in the room on her. Ciel glaring at her, and Sebastian glancing at her before fixing his gaze back on his master. "My lord?"
Ciel's lip quirked up in a slight smirk. "I had an idea," he confessed quietly. "You just made it easier for me to have leverage over you."
There it was. He knew.
The admission sent the bile in her stomach up. Her hand came to her mouth and she bit down on her forefinger with a low groan, trying to swallow it down. The young earl rolled his eyes at the sight of her, then slowly gestured with a wave of his hand to the window, muttering as she hastily stumbled to the windowsill. "There. Just don't make a mess of my office."
Aurora barely heard him, gagging as the bile fell into the bushes below. She pulled her head back in after a moment, breathing heavily, her left hand clutching the edge of the window while her other wiped away the remaining traces of bile upon her lips. From behind her, Sebastian was attempting to reason with the boy.
"My lord, might I ask what kind of leverage you sought?"
Aurora could almost hear the impish smirk make its way onto Ciel's face.
"I can't have you misbehaving can I, Sebastian?"
The demon was gritting his teeth, "With all due respect, my lord, I would never betray-''
"Stop it." Her soft whisper cut him off, and his attention was immediately on her, "An-" The glare she sent over her shoulder silenced him. "I'm fine." She murmured, "Stop fussing over me. You've always done it far too much." She winced as she turned around, still leaning heavily on the window ledge, her hands shaking as they strained to keep her upright. "All this was done just to ensure he would remain loyal to you?" She frowned at the boy, "You know he could never even if he wanted to. For as long as the contract stands-"
"You said it yourself, Aurora. He's more loyal to you than he ever will be to me. Even with the contract in place." Sitting back in his seat, Ciel smiled, his hand still toying with the pen on the desk. "And with the revelation that you two have been having a rather scandalous affair, publicly I might add, I have means to either fire you, or relocate you to the town house."
A faint grinding sound caught the blonde's attention. Sebastian was gritting his teeth, and a soft growl seemed to be forming in the back of his throat. His chest had begun to rise and fall, and his fists were clenched behind his back, shaking in anger. "All this to ensure I would not break the contract?" Agitation was prominent in his voice. His voice was strained as he forced a laugh, "My lord- you must know that I would never betray you. My first priority is always the contract." Aurora felt as if she'd been stabbed. Of course she knew that she couldn't be his first priority, it would have been foolish to think otherwise. The only time she could ever be his first priority is if they were mates. Even then she'd be second to a contract. Ciel would always come first, even if Sebastian's heart said otherwise. She felt tears in her eyes. She'd never be first, always pushed aside for a contract.
The thought made her instinctively wipe away a tear that hadn't been formed. The demon would never truly be hers. She could be his friend, his lover, his mate even- and she'd never be his. She glanced at the demon, he was still arguing with the boy, vowing that he would never break the contract for anything. Not even her.
It infuriated her, by all means it did, she knew the contract was binding. Knew that until it's end she could never truly have him. Something in the room was hurled past her and she startled, looking back at the Earl. Ciel was seething, strands of his blue hair sticking at awkward angles as he snapped at them both.
"The only reason Aurora is here is because you were so adamant that she stay! Otherwise she would have been long gone by now!"
Aurora narrowed her eyes at the boy, "I would have stayed either way." That made Ciel glare at her. "I would have stayed with him, I wouldn't have even bothered to ask your permission. He is far more important to me than you are." Gently, she tugged off her glove, revealing her shimmering oath seal. "I can always break the oath. I don't have to protect you, Ciel. I'm not bound the way Sebastian is."
A small smirk danced onto her face, and Ciel saw her eyes. Normally kind, blue flecked with grey, now warped by a dark violet that was reminiscent of Sebastian's own eyes. "You must think we are fools, to take the threats of a human child seriously. You can't tear us apart, you don't have that kind of power." Ciel jumped as she suddenly slammed her fist down onto his desk, sending sharp cracks through the finely polished wood. "If you think you have the power to dictate the boundaries of our relationship, I've truly misjudged your intelligence." She leaned down to his level, "You can send me to the town house if you want, Ciel. But trust me when I say this, I am not your enemy." Her hand pressed gently onto the side of the boy's face, finger running over his covered eye. "As long as you are marked with his seal, you have his loyalty. But trust me when I say this, if you ever step over the fine line that you have so foolishly made, I will make sure the rest of the contract is hell for you."
Her eyes flashed a shade of demonic and she sneered, "Have I made myself clear?"
Ciel couldn't answer. He'd never heard her speak to anyone like that. It seemed so unlike her to speak in such a way. The angel had already turned on her heel, walking back towards Sebastian, her victorious stride cut short as a wave of exhaustion washed over her, causing her to trip over her own feet, stumbling forward into Sebastian. As she fell into his arms, face quickly buried in the crook of his arm, she broke into a harsh fit of coughs, blood running down the side of her lip. It felt painful, and she could barely register Sebastian's hand rubbing soothingly over her back. "You've overexerted yourself, darling..."
Yes. He was right, he was always right when it came to matters about her health. Nodding slowly, she dug her nails into his arm, trying to get a decent grip on him, hoisting herself up and into his shoulder. He was holding her tightly, taking great care not to let her go. "I'm fine," she whispered, "Promise..."
Ciel caught a glimpse of her face then. Deathly pale, with dark bags under her bloodshot eyes. She suddenly appeared weak, frail as she clung to Sebastian, forcing herself to be strong. He'd never admit it to anyone, but she reminded him far too much of his late mother.
She'd been ill a few short months before the fire that took the lives of everyone in the manor. Ciel remembered how small he'd been, peeking into his mother's room as the servants tended her needs. He'd only caught a glimpse of her before he'd been rushed away from the scene. Deathly pale, with dark red blood on her lips.
Ciel was jolted back to the present as he heard Sebastian murmuring something in another language, "Stai bene?"
Weakly, Aurora responded, a shaky hand coming up to hold his face, finger brushing a stray strand of hair from his eyes.
"Lo sarò, amore... Non preoccuparti... Sto bene..."
She staggered, leaning heavily against him with a small moan of pain. Sebastian glanced down at her, adjusting her in his arms so he could meet her eyes. "Ne sei abbastanza sicuro? Sembra che tu stia lottando, mia cara."
Ciel snapped, "Stop speaking Spanish!" The couple shared a small smirk and Aurora bit back laughter, looking up at Sebastian with a pained smile, "Oh mio Dio, sembra che il giovane signore non riesca a capire l'italiano dallo spagnolo."
Ciel's face turned bright red as embarrassment flooded through him. "Don't change the subject!" He glared at them both, "Either way you've been having an affair, and one of you-"
Aurora coughed again before snapping. "If you think... Either of us will let you... tear us apart... You're wrong." She rasped, "People have been telling me what to do my entire life. I don't plan to carry on that record." She glared at the boy, "So don't expect me to follow every last one of your orders." Sebastian found himself biting back a victorious smirk as his young master's eye twitched in annoyance. After several years of having a demon butler at his beck and call, an angel who refused to follow every last order was a not so pleasant surprise.
"I expect you to follow most orders at the least." Ciel retorted. Aurora scoffed, "I'll follow orders I deem necessary. But when I deem them wreckless- I want no part in it." Sebastian pulled her to his chest suddenly as she coughed again, nails tearing at the threads of his tailcoat. "My lord, I must insist that I be allowed to escort Aurora to-"
Ciel groaned, "Enough already!" He sighed, reaching behind his head to pull his eye patch free, letting it fall from his eye, leaving both uncovered. He gave a few short blinks of his eyes before glaring at the demon and angel duo. The overlapping seals in his right eye flashed, starting to glow dimly. Aurora immediately reached to her left hand, pressing the palm of her right atop her oath seal in an attempt to relieve herself of the burning itch scratching at the back of her left hand.
Sebastian wasted no time clasping his hand over hers, squeezing reassuringly as the boy began to lecture them. "I don't want to see or hear of anything that compromises the Phantomhive name, you'll handle any business between yourselves in private, behind any and all closed doors. If I hear or see anything between you two- then Aurora will go supervise the town house." Ciel's eyes narrowed, the seals glowing at the order, and dimly lit upon both demon and angel's hands. "Am I understood?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Of course..."
Ciel sighed, dropping back into his chair and kicking off the desk, spinning to face the window overlooking the gardens. "Then we have nothing more to discuss on the subject. Sebastian, make sure you aren't seen. Aurora, remember to continue your grieving widow act."
Aurora grit her teeth. It wasn't fair. None of this was fair... Sebastian simply bowed, giving that all too familiar phrase- "Certainly, my young lord." It was becoming sickening to hear. So when he hooked his arm around hers and led the way out of the office, the blonde just feeling Ciel's smug smirk following them out, she snapped the moment the door shut.
"Explain to me why you're so willing to roll over and let that brat do whatever it is he wishes? Especially when it concerns matters not of his volition?" Sebastian's face fell and he looked down at her, "We haven't much of a choice, darling. We're both under some sort of contract with him, obeying is about all we can do."
She wrenched her arm from his. "You might, but I don't. My oath only binds me for his well being and protection. I have no consequences if I break the oath with him." Sebastian's eyes narrowed, "Whether you like it or not, this is the easiest option for all of us. If you had nothing to offer him, he could order me to stay away from you. He could order me to kill you- even with those repercussions, it would be under an order. I'd have no choice and all punishment would fall to him."
He offered his hand again, "So please, choose your words very carefully." Aurora rolled her eyes and took his hand, giving it a short squeeze. "How different things might be..." She started forward only for the demon to spin her back into his arms so her palms slapped against his chest. "On the contrary, my dear, if this contract had not occurred, I would never have seen you again. I wouldn't have even known you were alive."
His forehead pressed against hers, and she sighed, letting her eyes flutter shut, content to enjoy the quiet moment. "We'd have... found each other again... Somehow." Sebastian smiled, "But how much longer would it have taken us? If things were any different, you'd either be dead or imprisoned again. You would never have remembered anything." Aurora shook her head, "I know you would have found me. Somehow. You always do." She glanced up at him, smiling a bit as she leaned up to press a soft kiss against his lips. "Now why don't we pick out a room to steal in the guest hall? I certainly don't want to spend our time together in the servants quarters- we'll be disturbed every five minutes with the others around."
Sebastian bit back the growing smirk on his face. She was right. As she always was. And thankfully he'd anticipated this very thing. "I had a feeling you might say that." He offered her his arm, continuing as he escorted her down the hall. "So I took the liberty of moving a few things and getting permission from the young master to have a room to myself while I was indisposed." Aurora smirked, "All to yourself? My, you lied to his young lordship? Isn't that going against your contract?" Sebastian smiled, "A half truth, but not a lie. I hadn't planned on you joining me. It was a possibility but not a guarantee." He stopped them at a door and reached over, pushing it open. "I do hope you'll find it adequate to your tastes."
Her eyes were still on him. "I'd live in a shack if it meant I got to be with you." She squeezed his arm before letting her hand fall into his. "Anytime, anywhere, I'll always be with you." She kissed his cheek. "That I promise." He chuckled, following her into the bedroom. "Why do I have a feeling you pulled that from your planned vows?"
She paused, "I may have thought about wedding vows..." She admitted, a short blush on her cheeks. "And that I've had several ideas, but I can never seem to decide on one." She shot him a sudden playful glare, "And don't expect me to share them with you, it's terrible luck. And I still don't know which vows I'll use."
The demon smirked, "If we're being honest, I hadn't even thought about vows. I figure it will come to me when the time is right." Aurora sighed, walking over to open the curtains. "You always do things at the last minute, don't you? At least now I know why you would spontaneously propose." It was a bit of a blow to his pride to hear her say it out loud, but he still wore that charming smirk. "Ah, you've figured me out then."
Aurora glanced back, "I've improved, but I doubt I've completely figured you out." His hand caught her wrist and he pulled her to him. "Funny, I could say the same about you." She sighed as his head bent down, lips tickling the side of her neck. "Oh? How so?"
A small smirk graced the demon's face. "Angelica, darling, you're a mysterious puzzle. A puzzle I've had the joy of discovering." He pressed the side of his face against hers, meeting her eyes in the reflection of the vanity mirror. "And every day I relish in piecing you together." His lips started pressing short kisses along her jaw and she slowly turned her head, still looking at him in the mirror. "And what happens when you complete me?"
"Ah.. that's the beauty of it my angel..." He stepped away from her before clasping her right hand in his left, slowly walking back towards the bed. Aurora could already feel herself growing weak. She stumbled into him, knocking them back into the bed, letting her head rest against his. "So what happens when you complete me?" She murmured, "What then?" Sebastian's face was suddenly so close to hers, breath hot against her skin as he uttered softly, "But that's the beauty of it, my angel... you're the kind of puzzle that takes an eternity to complete." She smiled, "Really? You'll never get tired of me?" Sebastian hummed, "Never. You're everything to me. That hasn't changed in all these years we've been apart." He pecked her gently on the lips. "That will never change, Angelica. You and I, we are two sides of the same coin."
Aurora grinned, squeezing tightly to his hand. "You have such a way with words... I can't wait to see what you do for our wedding vows." He hummed, "In due time, my dear."
The sound of silence was incredibly peaceful. Even more so when she was snuggled in his comforting embrace. Her head tucked under his chin, cheek pressed over his heart. The shallow beating was faint, as it always was, but it still beat. And it beat only for her. Her eyes shut as she focused on the beating. He'd always been there for her. "Can I ask you something?" She hummed, glancing up at him. "Of course."
His arm tightened around her briefly. "Why do you sleep?" She frowned, "Why does... anyone sleep?" Sebastian sighed, "Demons don't sleep because sleep becomes a curse of relentless nightmares. Fallen lack sleep for the same reasons. And I know that no angel sleeps so much as you do." He shifted, moving so he faced her, vermillion eyes wide with curiosity. "So why do you sleep? You maintain the regular sleep schedule of that of any human."
Aurora was quiet for a moment. "It's easy. You can forget about pain, problems, stress... even just for a little while." Her hand danced up his arm, massaging gently. "Though now... I find I don't have the desire to sleep anymore. I just want to spend every waking moment with you." The sad smile she had on her face felt like a punch to his gut.
"I love you."
She noticed him stiffening at the three words. After a long moment, he finally brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the back of her seal. "And I, you."
She sighed, cuddling into him again. Shutting her eyes and trying to focus on the now rampant beating of his heart. "It's okay... you don't have to say it back. We can take it slow..." He let out a small indistinguishable sound, and Aurora let herself rest against his chest as another sheet of silence fell between them. Before long he was tugging his fingers through her curls, having missed the feel of them under his hand for the past few days. She wasn't looking at him, her eyes just fixed on the wall. "Something on your mind?" Aurora sighed, "No... I don't know..." she fell quiet again before her voice whispered quietly, "What will be done for the funeral? Have you and Ciel figured that out? Or will you just change your identity?" The demon hummed, "Is that what bothers you?" Aurora frowned. "Perhaps a bit." She sat up and looked at him. "Am I to lose you again?" He chuckled, "Of course not. I merely ring a bell attached to the grave as if I was unconscious."
The blonde stared. "And... Why might everyone believe you were unconscious for three days instead of dead? You would still be breathing!" He smirked, "The only one who could have noticed such an error would be you, and you my dear being lost in grief is the perfect excuse." Aurora frowned before slipping out of bed and going to the windows, throwing open the curtains and then pushing the window open. "True," she said, "But know that I'm not looking forward to this. The thought of seeing you in a casket makes me nauseous."
She glanced over her shoulder as he appeared behind her. "It won't be for long, I promise. If it bothers you so much I can speak to the master about making other arrangements." The blonde shook her head, leaning back against his chest. "No... No, it's fine... Besides, the last thing we need is to inconvenience Ciel in some way that has him splitting us up sooner than later."
The demon's lips pressed lightly against her neck as he sighed, still taking great care as he brushed his fingers through her curls. "I suppose you are correct there..." His head dipped down towards her neck, lips fluttering across her skin. "At least for the next couple of days, you and I have all the time in the world."
Aurora hummed, gently pushing his face away with a light touch of her hand. "Mhmm... And I suppose you'll want to spend most of that time in bed, oui?" The demon smirked, "I'd actually been thinking of a picnic at the lake. Like when we were younger..." He felt her tense under his hands and she ducked out from under his arm. "That sounds... lovely, mon amour. But I think it wise we avoid it for now. With all the rain the lake is sure to have flooded."
The smile she sent his way had him questioning her truthfulness. The way the corners of her lips wavered, how there was still a great sorrow peeking past the happiness in her eyes. "Angelica-"
"You know- let me run down to my room. I can pick up some of the board games, and get the cats."
The door shut forcefully behind her, and her steps moved quickly down the hall, leaving him alone in the room. Sebastian sighed, looking back out the window. Drops of rain fell from the top of the roof, pattering against the windowsill. This event alone had set them ten steps back in their relationship. Only this time, she seemed more damaged than she had when she became Fallen. She was quieter, and when she did speak, every word seemed forced.
He could hear her on the other end of the manor, pulling together a pile of board games and carefully directing the cats out the window in a single file line. The sight alone was comical, and Sebastian doubted he'd believe it if he hadn't seen it. A line of fourteen cats carefully making their way over to him.
Wait- fourteen?
As each one slipped in through the open window, he counted.
One, two, three, four, five... ten, eleven, twelve... thirteen, fourteen...
He frowned, looking amongst the cats. The smallest was missing. The tiny black kitten that he and Aurora had been caring for was missing. Seconds later Aurora burst into the room looking frantic, the board games long abandoned as she looked at him with worried silver eyes, the human facade completely absent in her worry.
"N-Noire... She- I can't- she's not in either of our rooms- and I- I-"
Sebastian caught her as she came over to him, her face pushing into his shoulder. "Everything just gets worse... I'm so tired..." Letting one of his hands twirl her curls around his fingers- something that was quickly becoming a habit of his, while the other settled on her cheek, thumb caressing along her cheek. "It will be alright, darling." He shifted his hand in her hair so it massaged at her scalp, and he smiled as he felt her relaxing under his touch. "Why don't you stay here and rest a bit..." He smirked, hand on her cheek gripping her chin, "Does that suit, my dear?"
Aurora scoffed, pulling away from him, her lip quirked into a small smirk. "I can't tell if you're being sweet or a touch possessive..." She tugged him down towards her, her lips ghosting over his own.
"We'll go together at the very least, mon amour..."
Sebastian's smile turned devious as one arm curled around her waist, free hand wandering up to rest gently upon the collar of her dress, carefully popping one of the buttons free. "You're edging into dangerous territory, my dear..." Aurora smiled, lips lingering around his ear. "Oh? How so?" Sebastian towered over her, "Tempting a demon is dangerous, you should know that."
Aurora hummed, "Really then? Perhaps I ought to step aside." Before she could fall back, Sebastian's grip on her waist tensed. "You can't truly play these games..." Aurora smiled up at him, "But you play them with me all the time."
She pulled away, smile turning into a teasing smirk as she walked over to the door. "Come on. Let's go find our kitten."
-
"Any idea where she's hiding?" Aurora asked as they walked down the servants hall, the space completely void of the others- who had all been assigned to clean up the gardens from the stormy weekend. "Initially, I would assume she would have sought refuge in one of our rooms. If not there, the kitchen." Sebastian replied. "I can't imagine anywhere else she would have gone."
Pushing open the kitchen door, sparing a harsh glance around the room, her ears pricked, Aurora heard nothing but the scuttling paws of a mouse. "She's not here. I can only hear a mouse in the back of the-"
A breeze blew by her as Sebastian was suddenly on the other end of the room, holding the small creature by its tail. The mouse squealed, writhing within the demon's grasp, and Aurora winced as the squeals came to a sudden stop. "Ugh... Must you dispose of things so... brutally? You couldn't have just put it outside?"
Sebastian frowned, glancing back at her as he cleaned off his hands, then pulling on a new pair of gloves. "Ah, my apologies, you had to witness that." He said, though he sounded rather insincere about the subject. She sighed, "It's alright... Let's just go find Noire."
She made certain to catch the hand that hadn't caught the mouse, and quickly pulled him from the kitchen into her room. The lack of cats and board games scattered across the floor made the room seem almost dull. The only notion that it was truly lived in was the mess on the vanity, full of letters and bits of jewellery scattered about. Sebastian frowned, picking up the pile of letters. "You found these?" Aurora stilled as she felt his eyes narrow, "Of course... The ring was hidden alongside them under the floorboard. I should have expected you'd have found these."
Aurora spun to face him, "I'm sorry- I didn't mean to pry into your things, but I knew the ring was somewhere, and I-" He opened his arm to her and pulled her into a tight hug as his eyes scanned one of the letters. "Did they jog any memories?"
She shook her head, "I haven't gotten the chance to sit down and read them yet..." Sebastian's arm around her squeezed her just a bit tighter. "Should we read some together?" He suggested.
There it is.
That kind smile from all those years ago. She smiled, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before slipping out of his arms. "That sounds perfect. I'd love to." Her hand pulled from his as they parted, her going to search under the bed, while Sebastian checked the closet. He smirked at the sight of the gowns.
"Remind me to have something custom made for you." Sebastian said, running a thumb over the fabric of one of her gowns- a pretty blue thing with matching trim. "Why ever so?" Aurora asked, "I already have too many. And besides, it'd be improper if you gave me something so expensive."
Sebastian smirked, "I wouldn't need to spend any form of currency, my dear. I could simply order it of the finest seamstresses the Hellscape has to offer." Aurora hummed, sitting on the edge of the bed. "As enticing as that offer is, I'll have to take you up on it at a later date when a certain prestataire isn't constantly breathing down our necks."
He paused. "Is it not customary to present marriage prospects with gifts?" Her head whipped in his direction, blonde curls flying as she stared at him. "What?!" Sebastian smirked, "You heard me, darling. I know it's customary for demons, and it is for humans as well. I would assume it works the same way with angels."
Aurora was blushing, "Well- I... It is customary..." She swallowed and looked back at him, "You actually want to abide by customs?" A small smile graced the demon's lips. "Well I planned on abiding by angelic courting customs, but if you wish otherwise-"
"Why just angelic?" She asked. "Would you not offer demonic custom?" He stopped, "Demonic customs are rather... different from angelic, my dear. I'm not sure you would be fond of some of them." Aurora looked up from her spot on the floor beside the bed. "Well I won't know till I try will I?"
Sebastian smiled, offering her his hand and pulling her to her feet. "I suppose not," he watched his lover carefully stand on her toes, leaning against him for extra balance- and planting a quick kiss on his lips. "I love talking about our future engagement with you, but we do need to find Noire." She pulled away, still holding his hand, gently tugging him along behind her as they slipped into his bedroom across the hall. "Do you think we'll even be able to get married during the contract?" Aurora asked, "I know this is going to be relatively long, you rarely take long contracts."
Sebastian hummed, "Actually I've grown more accustomed to longer contracts. The payoff is much greater than short term contracts." Aurora looked curious, "Oh? So we will be travelling much?" Sebastian paused, "No... I would prefer to keep you somewhere safe." She narrowed her eyes, "Oh that's not happening. I refuse to be locked in a tower again. If you think for one moment I will abide with that-"
"Angelica, most of my contracts are not like this one. I have been summoned by evil people, I will continue to be summoned by evil people."
He glanced back at her, eyes soft as they set upon her. "The last thing I want to do is trap you somewhere you find unbearable. The last thing I want to do is leave you alone. But it is inevitable. I cannot protect you from everything."
He wasn't talking about contracts now.
The angel softened, slowly moving to his side and wrapping her arm around him. "I know... And I can protect myself now, I will never put either of us in a position where we have to choose who makes it. I will never put you in that position because I know you can't make that choice. Not again."
Sebastian's hand laced with hers. "Letting it happen once was inexcusable. Letting it happen a second time..." She kissed him on the cheek. "It won't." She promised. "From now on it's us against the world. No one can touch us. No one can take us from each other." She stood on her toes again, pulling her arms around his neck so she could reach him. "I will kill anyone who tries." He pulled her tight against his body, head down as he pressed an open mouthed kiss against her neck. "You won't have to."
Her legs hit the back of the bed, and she stopped, looking up at him, eyes flickering between angelic and the human facade. Her breath hitched as he took a step closer, an inch away from sealing the gap between them. She'd lost count of the times he'd pushed her down like this. Of how many times he'd laid with her on the twin bed. Her breathing suddenly became heavier, hands moving to his shoulders. "As much as I'd... like to do this..." She whispered, "You know we can't."
"Why do you think I stopped?" He rested his head against hers, hands set on her waist, massaging gentle circles along her hips. "It's up to you, darling."
She moaned, resting her head on his shoulder. "Why do you have to make things so... difficult?"
Sebastian smirked, "Difficult? Me? Never." His voice dropped then and she glanced up at him to see the hellfire glow in his vermillion eyes. "Malphas," she murmured, "Your eyes..." He licked his lips. "I'm well aware." His lips pressed along her jawline before skipping over her neck to kiss along her exposed shoulder. She shuddered against him, leaning into him. "Malphas... We have to..." She winced suddenly, pushing him away gently with a small hum of pain, His face fell and he stepped back. "Darling?" Aurora gripped his forearm and she shook her head. "I'm fine... Just got dizzy for a minute." She blinked a bit and then looked up at him, words on the tip of her tongue, but failing to pass her lips. She cleared her throat, stepping around the demon. "I- Let me go as Finny and Mey, maybe they saw where Noire went, perhaps she sought refuge in the garden during the storm?"
Sebastian nodded slowly, taking a step back. "I suppose so. I can't imagine any other place she'd be." Aurora smiled, pecking him on the cheek, "Why don't go wait for me in our room? Hopefully one of us will have Noire."
Sebastian snatched her around the waist as she made to leave, " Our room?"
The angel sighed, leaning back to kiss him. "Well you can't hide in my room, can you? We wouldn't keep quiet for very long before we were found out." She smiled, squeezing his hand before venturing towards the door, "I'll go see if they know where Noire is."
"Very well," Sebastian said, "I shall await your return in our room." He hummed as she started out the door, "Just remember not to be too happy around them, darling. Remember, as the young master said, "grieving widow."
Aurora sighed deeply, pausing in the doorway, a solemn look on her face. "You just had to ruin it, didn't you?" He glanced at her, "It's only for a few days." Aurora scoffed, "Whatever." She shut the door behind her, leaving the demon to his own devices for the time being.
She hadn't forgotten their situation, not at all. She'd rather hoped to avoid acknowledging it for as long as possible. Unfortunately, as it seemed Noire was missing, she was left with no other options.
Pausing in the housekeeping room, she glanced at herself in the mirror, fixing the mourning dress that covered her figure and pulling her hair down so it framed her face, casting a dark shadow over her eyes. Twirling the ends of her hair with a finger, she took a breath before starting outside, looking up at the sky letting her eyes fix directly onto the sun. Willing herself to cry would have been easy any other day, today it seemed as if she'd cried them all just this morning.
She found Finny and Mey-Rin on their hands and knees, removing debris and cleaning up the gardens. Bard, as usual, was nowhere to be found. Though Aurora could almost smell the growing scent of burnt chicken. "Mey! Finny!" She called, "Have either of you seen Noire? She's been missing since last night." Finny and Mey-Rin shared a look. "Uh.. Was she the black kitten with blue black socks?" Finny said slowly. Aurora nodded. "Yes. Did you see her?" Both servants stilled and Aurora felt the bile rising up in her throat.
"Don't lie to me. Tell me what happened."
Finny swallowed. "Well... We haven't seen that one per say, but Old Man Sam from next door said his grandson found a cat on the side of the road... It might be one of the other cats!"
Aurora felt sick again. "Impossible, I didn't see her this morning. How could she have gotten out of the mansion?" Mey-Rin winced. "W-We left the door open to bring the deliveries in we did..."
Aurora swallowed the lump in her throat. "No- If she did manage to get out.. She must be on the property somewhere- she never leaves the grounds. Sebastian always has-" She cut herself off, shaking her head. "Nevermind.." She turned on her heel, quickly going back towards the mansion, walking in through the housekeeping room and slamming the door shut behind her.
It can't be Noire... It's not possible...
She didn't even notice that she'd suddenly arrived at the door to her and Sebastian's shared room where Sebastian was waiting on the other side, quick to embrace her as she crashed into him, her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to block out the world around her. "She had to have gotten out-Mey and Finny said Old Man Sam saw a dead cat matching her description.." She buried her face in his neck with a whine. "Which doesn't make sense, Noire would never have gotten that far even if she left last night." Sebastian's hand came up to cup her face, wiping away the stray tears as he began to soothe her aching heart.
"Angelica. I'm fairly certain Noire is fine. We can leave some salmon on the window ledge, with one of my dress shirts. She'll be home by nightfall, I promise." The blonde hummed, gently pushing off him and going to lay on the bed, hands over her face. "I can't handle any more stress." She rolled over, pulling the pillow over her head. Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed and rested his hand on her knee, tracing small patterns along the fabric of her skirt. "Would it make you feel better if I went to look for her?"
Aurora shifted, turning her head so her cheek pressed against the pillow. "You'd do that?" She murmured. Sebastian smiled, "Of course." He leaned down to kiss her when she suddenly pulled him down beside her, rolling back into the pillows with a small hum. "For now why don't you just come here and take a nap with me."
Sebastian bit back the smirk that was quickly spreading across his lips, hooking one arm around her waist, the angel instinctively curling into his side and resting her head on his lap, pale blonde curls cascading over his thighs. "It's strange," she murmured, eyes fluttering shut as Sebastian's hand found its place at the base of her scalp, rubbing in soft gentle circles, the action overall soothing as she found herself content to breathe in his hellish scent. "I never imagined this is where we'd be..." She glanced up at him, smiling as his fingers brushed her hair over her eyes, letting her look at him through pale blonde strands.
"Neither did I, my dear." His voice was soft. murmuring, as a smirk found its way across his lips. "But as long as you end up in my arms- or even my bed at the end of the day," His arm tugged around her then rolled her over so she met his eyes. The onyx black locks were a tad too long, hanging just above her face. Aurora shut her eyes, his breath hot against her skin as his hand crept up the side of her face, thumb stroking along the pattern of light freckles on her cheek.
"I could care less about where we are."
She could have melted into him. Those same honey coated vermillion eyes, sparking with hellfire, had always had a cold appearance about them, but at one point those eyes had set upon her with gentleness foreign to most demons. Aurora smiled, clasping her hand over the one he had on her face. "I love you. You know that?" Sebastian's lips curled up into a small smile, "Every day." His lips were quick to brush against hers, Aurora didn't waste a second pulling him down towards her, smiling, "I could kiss you every day of my life."
The grin that had found itself crossing over his face widened as he towered over her, "I think we could arrange that..." Aurora smiled, leaning further back into the pillows, Sebastian following suit as he pressed languid kisses down her neck, quietly humming to himself. She could feel his fangs poking out from behind his lip each time his mouth rested on her skin. She sighed, completely relaxing into the moment. It'd been so long since they'd been this close. So long since his lips on her made her feel so alive.
His mouth pressed on a small freckle on the side of her neck, almost hidden below her jawline. It was as if a light flashed over her eyes and she could have sworn for the briefest of moments she felt something wash over her. But the instant his mouth lifted, the feeling was gone. Aurora hummed, gently reaching up to put a hand on his arm. "Malphas..." He glanced up at her from where he had his mouth hovering over her chest, his breath hot against her skin.
He was quiet, panting as he stared at her, eyes glowing, almost waiting to continue. The angel looked back at him through slightly lidded eyes. "Would you get my nightgown?"
Sebastian slid back on his haunches, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "Of course, darling..."
He smiled, leaning back on his haunches before sliding off the bed. He could feel her eyes on him, watching as he moved silently to her closet, and pulling out the long sleeved nightgown. Seeing her already drifting into sleep, he sighed, walking slowly towards her, and snapping his fingers. Aurora's eyes fluttered shut as the black dress she was wearing was replaced with the long sleeved pearl white nightgown. She smiled sleepily at the demon. "Thank you..." He was beside her a moment later, hand stroking her blonde curls, watching as she drifted into sleep.
"Rest, darling..." He murmured, "I'll be back."
-
There was a strange pang in her body. Not pain, but not discomfort. A middle ground so to speak.
The angel whimpered, writhing in her sleep and tucking closer to the pillow beside her. Her fingers had just begun to dig into the fabric of the pillowcase when the door to the room opened and she briefly struggled to relax herself as she peeked over the sheets to see the figure coming towards her, her mouth cracked open, inhaling the scent that had become all too familiar.
Sebastian.
A weight fell on the end of the bed, and she opened her eyes a bit more to see the small bundle of black fur coming towards her. She smiled, reaching over to scratch the sensitive spot behind the kitten's ear. "You found her?" She murmured, slowly beginning to wake up. Sebastian smiled, nodding. "She was hiding in the stables. We didn't notice her buried under the tack and hay."
The blonde sat up in bed, pulling the tiny kitten into her lap. Noir purred, nuzzling her palm. "Well you certainly are in a better mood than when I last saw you." She teased the cat, "I can only hope those little claws remain sheathed, hmm?"
Sebastian glanced over, confused. "She scratched you?" Aurora sighed, "More like she saw me as the enemy. Raked her nails over my cheek and hissed at me. For no reason that I know of." The demon frowned, watching the two on the bed. Aurora looked up at him, "Something wrong?"
He sat on the edge of the bed, quiet for a moment. "Malphas, what's wrong? You are never so hesitant." She reached out to twine her fingers with his. "Talk to me." She pleaded, "Let me help."
The demon sighed, laying back against the headboard- deeming the pillows far to fluffy for his taste. His lip quirked up as the angel snuggled up beside him, her hand rested over his heart, and face tucked on his shoulder. "Tell me." She pressed, "You look upset." He sighed, reaching an arm over and around her, holding her against him.
"Just waiting to find out if I get to keep you. Or lose you because of my own actions."
She sighed, "That is what you are worried about?" She rolled onto his chest, humming softly in attempts to soothe him. "I'm fine," she murmured, "I'm fairly certain that the worst case scenario would be becoming a Fallen." She smiled, "Either way, I know I'm safe with you."
Sebastian sighed, "Angel..."
"Whatever happens, it's going to be fine." She was glaring at him now, her silver flecked irises like finely sculpted blue ice.
"I promise." She whispered, "I'll be alright."
The demon frowned, "Don't make promises you can't keep, darling." He squeezed the hand she had resting over his heart tightly. "Lies don't suit you."
Eyes fluttering shut, Aurora leaned closer to him. Darkness began to overtake her and she mumbled something quietly into his arm before her eyes flickered shut. It felt like a moment before they opened again, only to find the hearth lit and Sebastian playing quietly with Noire beside her.
"Ah, finally. You're awake." He seemed rather chipper, and she yawned. "Finally? I only shut my eyes for a minute." Sebastian smirked, "A minute? Oh angel, you've slept the day away." Her eyes widened. "What?!" Her head whipped in the direction of the window, surprised to find it pitch black outside.
"The others-"
"The young master has taken the liberty of covering for us. As far as the servants know, you are staying in a guest room and requesting not to be disturbed." The angel sighed, "Rather kind of him to allow us time to ourselves. There is no catch we should be weary of?" Sebastian sighed, "That is something we will find out in due time. My supposed funeral is meant to take place the day after tomorrow, complete with a church service and all." Aurora frowned, "You can't be thrilled about hearing a priest preach about the glory of god and whatnot. I know you have a distaste for all gods."
Sebastian smiled, "Most." He agreed, "On one rare occasion I did spend some years in Lord Hades Realm." His lover's eyes widened. "You never told me this!" He sat back against the headboard, "It was a dull diplomatic venture. It took him three days to sign the document. In this world, it was thirteen years." He frowned, "You don't recall that particular time when I was gone. Do you?"
Aurora shook her head. "No. I don't." She laid on her side, glancing up at him curiously. "Remind me how we fell in love, Malphas? I find the memories lacking." Sebastian smiled, "I couldn't say what lured you to the earth, but I remember..."
-
It was meant to be his first contract. A fledgling demon just into his teenage years, sent out into the world for the first time. The earth was rather empty then, so he'd spent much time wandering the world before he grew bored and stopped by a small lake.
Staring up at a tree above his head, he wondered briefly if the fruit it held would taste anything like the foods of the Hellscape.
That was when he caught the scent.
Lavender and vanilla- tinged with something ethereal... Whatever the last scent was, it had no name. He just knew it smelled angelic. Dropping into the tall grasses, panic spiked through him as that ethereal scent finally began to register. Arch.
He needed to leave. Quickly before he was seen.
So he crawled a few feet to his left before he broke into a run, and tackled a few moments later. He snarled, scratching and clawing blindly at his attacker. The wings of his attacker flapped wildly before regaining their balance.
A pale silver rapier was placed at his neck.
Teeth grit in anger that he was going to die under the foot of an angel, the demon snarled again. "You'll release me if you know what's good for you. I didn't take angels for attacking without cause."
His attacker huffed and he stilled briefly, the sound sounding... off .
"Demons are untrustworthy creatures, you would have done worse to me if I hadn't moved."
Female. He should have noticed that. He smirked, "What's a lone angel doing out here? I can tell you're an Arch, you reek of that ethereal odour."
The blade dug closer to his neck. "Watch what you say, demon."
He smirked, she sounded rather young. His age, maybe a little younger. "I'll make a deal with you-"
He hissed as she cut his neck. "Are you really offering me a deal? Correct me if I am wrong, but you're not in the position to be making requests." The angel leaned down, and he finally got a good look at her. Pale blonde, with her hair tied back in a single braid, bright silver eyes with blue starlike flecks. Dark brows furrowed on her face, and her cheeks dusted red with agitation.
The demon stared briefly, analysing her features. He'd never forget her face, or that obnoxious scent she carried. "I'll return to my world as soon as I get dinner... Sound fair?" The angel sighed, pressing the blade further.
Before removing it altogether.
"Ugh. Fine." She flew off him to land on a nearby rock, watching him like a perched bird. The demon scoffed, climbing to his feet, keeping his eyes on her. Her wings were a bright white- and then he noticed they were more of a white gold, with feathers that could reflect the sun's light. She pulled her long braid over her shoulder, quick to untangle it and watch him curiously.
"How old are you?" She asked, all hostility suddenly gone and replaced with pure curiosity. The demon stared at her, surprised by the question, sparing a glance at the blade propped against the rock beside her. "Is that relevant?" He asked. She eyed him, "I can place that we are roughly the same age. Though you seem a bit older." She daintily crossed one leg over the other, pale pink shoes sliding off her feet to balance on her toes. Still staring, the demon relaxed a bit. "Perhaps..." He said slowly. "How old are you?"
She glared at that, "You can't ask a girl that!" She scolded. "It's rather rude!" Her silver eyes pierced through his vermillion. "You must be one of the lower rabble- I can't think of why you wouldn't have manners."
He chuckled, "Maybe because demons are not meant to offer such politeness. We make mockery of it to appease our prey." Feeling a bit full of himself, the demon stood a little taller. "And if you must know, angel- I'm a demon of a noble house. As I can only imagine an Arch like you couldn't associate with any being... Less than you."
He laughed heartily at her scowl. "You should be happy I didn't use my sword! I could have killed you!" His laughter ceased and his eyes darkened. "You wouldn't." He murmured. "I know little about your particular breed, but I do know this-" He came a little bit closer, and the angel's wings fluttered a bit in fear.
However she stayed still until he was a hair's breadth away from her, and she could feel his cold breath on her face. "I know that angels, Arch Angels specifically, are bound by a sacred oath to their silly little god to not kill without worthy reason."
The angel's wings flared out then, catching on the light of the rising sun, and blinding the demon. He staggered back, a bit dazed before he quickly blinked away the countless array of spots that had begun to dance over his eyes. The angel moved a few paces back, watching him with more concern. Her braid had come undone by now, revealing curled tresses of blonde hair. The demon's eyes lingered on her for a moment, and he eased his stature.
"My... apologies. I did not... ehm.. Intend to frighten you." She stared at him quietly for another moment, wings shivering behind her. She herself didn't appear as anxious as her appendages did.
"You're shaking." He remarked, "Are you still afraid?" His head cocked to the side and her face reddened. "No... It just seems to happen. Ridiculous things seem to have a mind of their own sometimes." Her eyes shot to his then, "Are you on your first contract? I imagine if you were more seasoned I wouldn't have been able to stumble upon you so easily."
The demon scoffed, "It's obvious, isn't it?"
She smiled, "A bit." She agreed. "Does a demon of your rank have a name? Or are you nameless?" The demon smirked, "A demon's name is powerful, my lady. I'm afraid I won't be giving it so graciously." Her lips mirrored his. "Was worth a shot."
So, she approached him slowly. "The same goes for Arch Angels. But... you intrigue me." His brow quirked upwards, "What is it you are proposing?" She smiled, "It's a little selfish of me to ask, but technically, I am not meant to be here. So while I am on the earth, I am in need of say... a protector of sorts. A friend, someone who I can trust won't kill me."
She smirked, "And... If a demon's name is truly as powerful as an Arch Angel's, surely the exchange of names guarantees that one another cannot cause harm to the other."
The demon was quiet, interest slightly- just slightly peaked. "And what is it I get out of this?" She smiled, "A friend for one. But as I understand you will have some need of payment, I'm willing to point you in the right direction to where reapers and the Angelic Guard won't wander."
She smiled, "In short, you get a pleasant meal, and I get a guardian. But for us both, we get a friend."
The demon hummed, "Demons and angels don't mix. We never have. Why is this different? An Arch Angel like you should be able to wander the world as she sees fit."
She sighed, "My case is different. Now, do we have a deal, demon?" She offered him her hand. He found it ironic how just minutes ago he was offering such a proposition, and she'd nearly beheaded him for it. Now, she stood offering her hand to him.
He sighed, shaking her hand. "I suppose we have an agreement."
She granted him a sugary sweet, close eyed grin. "Lovely! Now, how shall we perform introductions?" The demon looked up at her, searching her for any sign of deception. Her hand felt warm in his, and he couldn't detect a racing heartbeat, or any other tell tale signs that might reveal her. Granted, she'd no real intent to kill him.
If he struck first, only then would she have reason to attack. He took a quick breath before speaking. "Malphas Corvus Desideriis. And you?" The angel looked a little surprised at his quick response, but she smiled a moment later. "Angelica Aurora Laverné. It's a pleasure to meet you, Malphas."
-
In the present day, Aurora blinked, not recounting the memory at all. "How do I not remember that?" Sebastian sat back, "I can't be certain." He glanced down at Noire curled up and fast asleep on his chest. "It looks like she has told us what to do next." Aurora yawned, "I don't know why I'm so," she caught herself mid yawn. "Ah- tired..." She rested her head against his and sighed, happy to be so close to him. "Malphas?" She mumbled into his neck, sending heat down his back. "Yes, darling?" He offered. She lifted her head towards his and kissed him gently before pulling away as quickly as she'd come.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For... being here. For everything."
He hummed, "Don't act as if you're dying, I won't allow it." She sighed, snuggling into his side. "I know." She looked up at him. "But just in case. I want you to know how much you mean to me." His arm curled around her waist, tugging her close. "Sleep, angel." He murmured. She sighed almost reluctantly, and let her eyes flutter shut.
Sebastian's arm relaxed over her back, holding her carefully in place before he rested his head against her own, and kept the hand holding hers wrapped around her wrist, quietly feeling the way her blood ran through her veins.
Feeling reassured, Aurora smiled and tilted her head up slightly, looking at him from just beneath his neck. "Bonne nuit, mon amour..."
–
When Aurora woke, she immediately felt different. So as she opened her eyes, she almost groaned finding the top of her canopy in the Silver City. Again Lucian? Really? Wordlessly, she got up out of bed and let her toes glide into her slippers before walking down the hall towards her father's office. She ignored the short greetings given to her by the few staff that littered the mansion, and eventually pushed open the door.
On the floor was a body. She felt her breath hitch, and watched in silence as the blood seemed to rush from her father's already decaying corpse, and pool at her feet, bleaching her white slippers in a reddish pink. She could only watch as the colour seemed to darken, almost crawling up her legs and shrouding her body in it before she finally found it in her to run, only succeeding in staggering back into something else.
Aurora yelped as she fell back into a puddle. What is this? She lifted a hand, stomach sinking to find it stained red. Blood?! Her hand slapped against something behind her. Glancing back, she screamed at the body of Sebastian, Malphas- his eyes wide, dull, and lifeless, echoing with pain he'd felt when he was alive.
Her eyes flew open and she shot up in bed, gasping, her breath stolen from her as she choked on a sob. Sebastian had woken long before, and was prepared to catch her in his arms and pull her close. She choked as her body slammed into his, only hearing a hot slap as her skin hit his.
Her skin was slick with sweat, it was the first thing he'd noticed aside from the rapid beating of her pulse. Her breathing was still erratic as she clung to him, her nails digging into the back of his shoulders. " Breathe ," he murmured, "Angelica, breathe for me. Alright darling? Just breathe." Coughing and choking on loud sobs, she buried herself into him, shaking her head.
"It was... It was..."
"Shh..."
Sebastian's hand brushed through her hair, fingers coiling through the blonde tresses. "Relax darling, it's alright. Whatever happened, it was just a dream. I'm here, it's okay." She was shaking now, her nails beginning to dig into his skin. "But it wasn't just a dream..." She whispered, "It was a nightmare... It was horrid... Just- completely horrid. I've never had one like it."
The demon frowned, "What do you mean?" He questioned. She shook her head, tears soaking her skin, making it glisten in the dim light of the crackling fire. She was having trouble breathing, pressing her face into the front of his shoulder with a small gasp for air. "I-It... It felt so real. It was real. I- Like I never want to fall asleep again."
She let herself fall into him again, holding tightly to him as if he might disappear. Sebastian's hand continued to stroke her hair, a dark look in his eyes as he looked down at the distraught blonde.
Nightmares to such a degree were native to demon kind.
And Fallen.
Propping her up in his arms, he smiled, tenderly catching a tear on his thumb. "You needn't go back to sleep, love. I'm right here. We can do whatever you want." She smiled, holding one of his hands in hers, unconsciously drawing patterns in his palm with a finger. "I don't care what we do as long as it doesn't let me sleep."
-
"Enjoying yourself?" Sebastian asked, glancing back at the blonde behind him. Aurora was clinging to her horse's reins. "I suppose!" She called ahead, "I can't believe Ciel allowed us to borrow the horses! How did you manage to convince him?" Sebastian smirked, halting his horse and waiting for her to join him. "He didn't say we couldn't. And his riding lessons have been cancelled due to a death in the household."
Aurora stared. "We stole them?!" Sebastian shrugged, "I see it as us exercising the horses. They needed to get out at some point." Aurora sighed, letting her horse trot forward. "So where are we going? Couldn't we have gotten somewhere faster on our own?"
"We could have," Sebastian agreed. "But I prefer to use my reserves when I need them. Not for things as trivial as travelling short distances." He frowned at her, "You should be saving your reserves too. You will weaken faster if you don't." Aurora yawned, "I plan on it." He stopped, eyeing her for a moment. "Are you tired? Should we head back?" Aurora shook her head. "No- I don't want to sleep. It was awful. I don't want to sleep again unless I have to."
She gave her horse a short kick and cantered onto the top of the hill before looking back at the demon. "Come on, show me where you're taking me."
Sebastian sighed, urging his own horse forward. "Very well. This way." The angel followed shortly behind him, holding too tightly to her horse's mane and reins.
It's like she's never ridden a horse before...
He stopped then. "You have ridden a horse before, haven't you?" Aurora's cheeks flushed pink and her grip on the horse seemed to tense. The demon frowned, gently moving over to her. His hand took a hold of the reins, and he gently eased both horses along. Aurora cringed. "Sorry... I just- I can't-"
"I know." His voice was unusually soft, and Aurora could hear the heartbreak in it. Sebastian looked over, "It isn't your fault, I want you to understand that. Nothing of what happened in the past is your fault." She seemed to wince at that. "Malphas... I..."
He stopped the horses then, and leaned over to kiss her. She couldn't help but sigh into the kiss, her arm gripping his and pulling him closer. He hummed into her mouth before slowly pulling away. "This way..." He murmured, leading them into the woods just past the estate.
Aurora's eyes couldn't help but wander. The trees seemed to stretch into the sky- shrouding them in a light speckled darkness. A soft breeze blew past them, carrying with it a gentle birdsong that was instantly relaxing. Her eyes shut briefly for a peaceful moment, and then that image of the two corpses flashed across her vision, making her eyes shoot open again, fear surging through her.
Never again. The thought ran through her mind, Never again will I sleep.
Sebastian seemed to have noticed her discomfort and glanced back, "Everything alright?"
You know it isn't... "Fine!" She smiled, "I'm fine, just a bit shaken still from that nightmare." The demon frowned, turning back to the front, leading the horses into a clearing. "We're here."
Aurora looked up, eyes wide as they settled upon the glistening water of the lake. "Wow! I haven't seen it like this in years!" Sebastian chuckled, hopping off his horse and then approaching hers, giving the bay horse a scratch on the nose before offering a hand to help her down. "I figured a visit might be helpful to jog your memory."
She sighed, looking over at him with a soft smile. "You're sweet to do this, mon amour. Thank you." She leaned over and kissed him gently on the cheek before taking a few steps to the lakes edge, watching the coloured fish swim about. "Have the fish here always held such variety?" She asked, "I can't recall if they bore this many hues." Joining her by the edge a moment later, Sebastian frowned, "The lake always bore exquisite fish, but some of these are meant for saltwater. I can't imagine how they came to be here."
He startled as she quickly threw her shoes aside to jump in the water. She was ankle deep, and she held her skirts up to avoid damage to the fine fabric. "Careful," he warned, "You can't swim, remember?" Aurora looked over her shoulder at him, eyes shining with unspoken happiness.
"I'll be fine, I have you here after all. If I slip you'll catch me. Won't you?"
That slight little smile crept onto her face. That smile that he hadn't seen since she'd first remembered him. It brought him the slightest comfort that she might be alright, that he might have the chance to spend another thousand or so years with her. If not eternity.
"Malphas! Stop staring and come in the water!"
Looking back at her, he frowned watching her pulling off her dress until she was only in her under garments and corset. "Be careful, darling." He walked over, bending down to pick up the discarded skirt and dust it off before hanging it on the back of one of the horses.
A moment later he felt the heavy wetness on his back, the splash heard only after her laughter. "Come on!" She met him at the edge of the lakeside, her feet still submerged in the water, the ends of her under skirt sodden.
"Come on..." She breathed, taking him gently by the hand and tugging him towards her. "Come in the water with me..."
Sebastian smirked, "I'm afraid I'll have to decline, darling. If the young master has need of us or there is an incident-"
She yanked him down towards her by his tie. "If he needs something that badly, he can call for Tanaka." She smiled, hand curling around the back of the tie and giving a soft tug. "Come... You need a break just as much as I do."
The flicker of hurt shot through her eyes, dampening them with sorrow and she turned her gaze from him, tears welling in her eyes again. "Please." She whispered, "Can we just- be young again? Just for today. I need this."
Her voice cracked as she said that. Sebastian didn't waste a second as he pulled her close, arms encircling her in a tight hug. He sighed, resting his chin atop her head, tucking his nose into her golden hair. "I cannot lie to you, my dear. That is something we cannot have."
Aurora was quiet, not responding to him as she sniffed, tucking her face into his chest.
"Why not?" She choked, "Why? Why can't we have a few hours- just the afternoon to at least feel like we are young again?"
Sebastian frowned. "We aren't those people anymore. We simply cannot become them again. I'm afraid it's not possible to turn back time."
He was right, as much as she hated to admit it. Tears ran down her cheeks, the past was entirely separate from who they were now. What they were now. They'd never be young lovers again. They'd never have the same kind of love of their youth.
They had both grown up a long time ago.
It was as if she'd gone to sleep one day and then woken up so many years after to find the world and life she'd known stolen from her. Gone and impossible to retrieve.
It's not fair.
Something in her burned. It wasn't fair that her father saw it as his place to make her life choices, it wasn't fair that he'd cut away her memories from her cinematic record with no intent of returning them. It wasn't fair that Sebastian had been with another before her. It wasn't fair that now he was contracted and it wasn't fair that she'd fallen victim to said contract.
"It isn't fair..." She whispered, hissing through her teeth. "Everything has been stolen from me. Everything. And now I have to suffer for actions that weren't even my own. That weren't my choice to make."
She looked up the demon, silver eyes glassy with tears. "I never asked for any of this!" She cried, "I never asked to be imprisoned, I never asked for this to be our lives, I never asked for any of this! I never wanted any of this!"
Aurora's nails dug into his shoulders. "But it's still all my fault... It's always been my fault. "
She gasped suddenly as Sebastian's hand shot to her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "I won't tell you again. It is not your fault. Understand that. If it is your fault, then it is mine as well. I fell just as much as you fell for me." He narrowed his eyes, "Do not ever let me hear you blame yourself for events out of your control. You had no idea what would happen."
She smiled sadly, wiping her eyes. "Right." She buried her face in his chest and sniffled a moment before looking up at him, her breathing a little more heavy and eyes becoming hooded by lust as they flicked back and forth between his eyes and his lips.
Deep vermillion, and then effortlessly pale and pink.
Then that gorgeous smirk crept across his lips.
And he kissed her. Arms loose around her waist, his hands sliding so gracefully over her figure and then settling on the small of her back, still loose enough that if she wanted to take a step back she could.
His kiss was sweet, and Aurora pulled him closer. His mouth moving slowly against hers, pressing deeply, passionately, and a bit heavily. A slight weight pressed against her lips as he pressed further, tongue poking between her lips. A soft pink blush graced the angel's face as she slowly opened her mouth mid kiss, almost giggling as his mouth fit sloppily against hers. So comforted by him, she almost didn't notice as his hand crept down her side to gently tug at her skirts. Breaking their kiss, she barely manages a breath.
"No..."
"No?"
"Not right now, just give me some time."
She slid her hands down from his neck, just catching the disappointed look in his eyes. She smiled, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.
"It's not forever."
"It's been forever."
"Since we had sex? Non, mon amour. It's been maybe a few weeks."
She grinned, resting her head against his and slowly started swaying their bodies in the water. "Malphas, you'll have me again soon. I promise. You just have to wait a little while."
He smirked, "Oh I'm more than patient, my dear. I'd wait for you for another millennia."
A bright pink blush settled on her face at the admission. "Really?" Sebastian grinned, "Of course." He leaned in, intending to kiss her, stopping when he saw the faint dotting of freckles across her cheeks.
"I never noticed you had freckles."
"Hmm? I haven't had them for a long time. I've been in the sun for too long I suppose."
She watched him with the sweetest nonchalant look on her face as his eyes glazed over her face, before leaning in to kiss each one of the tiny freckles, drawing cute girlish giggles from her.
"That tickles!"
"Do you want me to stop?"
"No..." She breathed, her breath hot against his face. "Never."
Sebastian smiled, letting his left hand creep up to hold her face and then his right pulling tightly around her waist. He fell quiet for a moment as he began pressing more kisses against her skin, his smile widening until his teeth grazed along her cheek. Aurora smirked, blush still prominent on her face. "Careful," she whispered. Biting back a giggle as a demonic fang came close to cutting her cheek.
"Do you want me to be careful?" He teased, letting his lips and fang ghost over the shell of her ear, chuckling a bit as he feels the unwilful shiver she gave him before sighing, her body relaxing against his.
"No... I don't know..." She murmured, rolling her head back to bring his lips closer to her own. Sebastian smirked as he pulled her just a little closer. "Make a choice, darling, we probably haven't much longer."
She glanced away from him to look at the sky. The sun hang's low, just above the trees, giving the first semblance of a sunset. "It's almost dinner..." She murmured, starting to pull away from him, "We have to go back." She found herself unable to move as his arms failed to separate, holding her still against him.
"We have all the time in the world, darling. We have until the young lord wakes up tomorrow. The only time we have to head back sooner is if there is an emergency."
Aurora bit back a bit of a smirk, leaning back into him with a soft hum, eyes shut in thought. "Oh, well I trust that you packed us dinner then?"
The demon all but snapped his fingers from behind her back, and almost immediately the delicious scent of shrimp, garlic and freshly baked bread swept through her nostrils. Glancing over her shoulder, her eyes widened at the sight of the romantic setup beneath the willow tree.
"Mon amour..." She felt like crying again. It was the sweetest thing he could have done for her right now. A gingham picnic blanket, complete with a small table and chairs, a full meal set upon the table, complete with a basket of bread in the middle accompanied by a bottle of white wine.
"Surprised?" Sebastian murmured. She smiled, leaning back into him. "Thank you." He expected a kiss to reward him, only to find she was already seating herself at the table with a happy little squeal. "You remembered how much I love dipping the bread!!"
Sebastian sighed, chuckling as he made to join her. There were two bowls full of shrimp scampi on the table, though the one in front of her was practically doused in the lemon garlic sauce. The basket of freshly baked bread had been made just before they left, and had begun to set on their trek to the lake.
Yet still as Aurora swiped a piece through the sauce, it was still as hot as it was when it came out of the oven.
Watching her with an amused smile, Sebastian chuckled. "I remember everything, my dear."
She scoffed at that, drowning a piece of bread in the sauce of her pasta and then swirling the fork and stabbing a piece of shrimp. "Not true." She said, taking a bite, only continuing after she swallowed. "You always forget your birthday."
Her eyes widened a bit as she watched him swirl some of the food around his fork, then popping it effortlessly into his mouth as if the dish contained actual flavour to him. "You're actually going to eat that?" She asked.
Sebastian grinned at the look on her face. "Of course. I made one tailored for my tastes, and one for yours. As usual you have extra sauce for dipping. I've an excellent memory, my dear."
Slowly, he crossed one leg over the other, leaning lazily back in his chair, and then pulling off his gloves with his teeth.
Aurora stopped midchew, watching him with a sort of lustful gaze. He's just sitting there, and the way he sits alone is making her want to have her way with him. So when he was suddenly inches from her face and his thumb brushing over her lip, she couldn't help the slight jump and then the immediate cross of her own legs.
Sebastian smirked, "Did I frighten you, chaton ?"
Her face flushed pink at the new pet name, a little uncertain if she liked it or not. Sebastian in the meantime took a short sip of his glass of wine, humming in slight distaste. "I don't know how you angels drink this. It's rather sweet."
Aurora smiled, pulling herself from her reverie. "What do you mean?" She reached over and took her own glass, giving it a quick sniff and then a small sip. "Angeles Blanc? This was my father's favourite."
Sebastian paused, "Is it not to your liking?"
Aurora smiled, "Not that I don't like it, I enjoy Morning Star Brand as well." Her lips curled into a small smirk, silver eyes having that soft violet rim.
"I'm rather partial to Ávöxtur de Eden."