Episode 2 Continued - Murder on Elle Street
TWO YEARS AGO...
I stared softly into the fireplace as I ran a brush through master's favorite jacket, ridding of the dust and grime that fell upon it after this day.
It was dark outside now; the night falling only hours ago, and master was currently in bed.
A month ago was the date I signed the contract with her, and we finally entered this mansion that she hadn't set foot in since she was thirteen.
I made sure to clean it up, ridding off the cobwebs and dust, making sure that all the floors were their normal glossy black, the paintings on the wall freshly dusted, and the rooms clean and fresh.
It only took me a couple minutes, anyway.
And afterwards, master and I went to town. She wanted to cover her eye so we wouldn't attract suspicion, so we went to a clothing shop and looked at a selection of eyepatches. She found one she liked and I bought it.
Afterwards, we got her a new wardrobe. She didn't like the clothes I picked out because they were all old fashioned and historic, but I secretly bought them anyway.
Mainly because I saw in her family photos, she wore those when she was thirteen.
Master was keen on wearing shorts and a T-shirt, but she didn't ever like the outfits that she wanted, so she decided to go for other fashionable trends.
Not common ones, but who cared?
I smiled a little as I looked out the window, still brushing off her clothes as the moonlight glowed the white of the walls. "To think it's already been months, master."
But I suddenly heard a loud crash! and a scream, and I glanced up at the ceiling in boredom.
"Again, master?" I just sighed and draped her clothes over an armchair, and I patted off my hands before stepping out the door.
I made it halfway down the hall before I stopped at a closet, and I pulled out a blanket that I just put in here this morning, draping it over my arm.
Afterwards, I picked up a small pitcher that I left on a tray out here, and a cup that sat beside it, holding it in one hand.
I silently closed the closet door and stepped down the hall—to her bedroom.
I silently knocked, waiting patiently for her to answer.
"Who is it?" she said, voice shaking.
I closed my eyes quietly before opening them again. "It's me, master. Can I come in?"
She was quiet for a moment. "Yes."
I parted the door and stepped in the room, closing the door behind me seconds later.
She wasn't on her bed, but I knew where she was.
After gently setting the tray on her nightstand, I lightly set the blanket on her tussled sheets and stepped around her mattress.
I then kneeled down, peering under the bedframe.
Sure enough, master was there, hiding under a bundle of blankets she stole from the bed.
"Seriously, master, how do you manage to fit under here?" I smiled.
She was silent, entire body shaking as she avoided eye-contact.
I watched softly as her right eye glowed in the shadows, the yellow star in it glistening like the sun. "Did you have another nightmare?" I wondered.
She was quiet for a moment, and she lowered her head, still huddled under the blankets. "I can hear their voices... I beg them to stop, but it's like they don't even hear me." She gritted her teeth. "They just cut, and cut, and cut... and they laugh and laugh... and they can't hear me."
"Master..." I said gently.
"The eyes of those people looking at me like I'm their prey..." she whispered, voice shaking. "I'm not their prey. They're my prey. I am not for sale. I told them that, but they acted as if I spit in their face." She lowered her head. "And they cut, and cut, and cut... and they slice me, and they burn me... and I can't scream." She clutched her head, digging her fingers into her scalp. "I can hear their voices still... in my head. Their laugh on repeat like a record."
I lightly caught her chin and raised her eyes to meet mine.
Her gaze was uneasy, her pupil rattling in the iris as if it was screaming to get out of a cage, and the mark in her eye glistened like the moon in the night sky.
"My lord," I said, red eyes focused on her, "I'm here, remember? I killed them. They're dead. And even though more exist, they cannot get to you without going through me. I will not allow you to die. No one can take you from me. That is a part of our contract."
She kept her eyes to mine, looking a little calmer.
Her ease reminded me of the night I signed the contract with her; despite there being thousands of dead bodies swarming around her, she looked as if she felt she was finally free. Even though she wasn't.
She made a deal with the devil. Me. And she could not escape me.
But it didn't seem like she minded it.
She looked happier about the deal than most of my prey.
And I knew it was because I saved her, and she accepted the cost the moment she saw me.
I held out my hands. "Come out of there, master. That doesn't look comfortable in the slightest."
She listened, crawling out from under the bed as I stood back up.
She stood with me, the comforter falling to her feet as her eyes fixed on the window behind me.
"Master," I said.
She gazed over at me.
"Come now." I gestured to the bed.
She sat down on it, and I stepped around the mattress to catch the blanket I brought, and I made my way to her and draped it over her shoulders.
She caught the edges, wrapping it around herself.
I stood there as she stared outside, looking a little lost. "Sebastian..." she lightly touched her eye, "am I a monster?"
I knelt in front of her, and smiled, red eyes glowing. "You're far from a monster, my lord. I am the monster, you are perfection." I lightly ran my finger under her eye. "That's why I want your soul so greatly."
She looked down then, seeming a little calmer. "Thanks, Sebastian. For helping me."
"Now, now, master," I joked. "Don't go soft on me now."
Her defenses went up immediately. "I'm not going soft! I was complimenting you, and it's not going to happen again."
I chuckled, standing. "I'm sure, my lord."
"Excuse me?" she said as I walked around the bed. "Was that sarcasm I heard?"
"No, my lord," I said, smiling as I picked up the tray. "Sarcasm is not fit for a butler, now is it?"
"It's fit for a demon," she retorted.
I just chuckled, stepping back over to her.
She gazed up, eyes widening when I picked up the pitcher and poured the freshly steamed contents into the teacup next to it.
"Is that warm milk?" she asked me, voice oddly light.
"Yes, my lord."
"With... honey?" She sounded hopeful.
"Yes," I parted my lashes, finishing pouring the milk before I set it back on the tray, and finally poured the exact amount of honey in it that she liked. "Here you are, master. It should help you sleep."
She took it from my hand, holding it in her two palms as she hovered her face over it, clearly relishing in the steam.
I remained in place as she lightly sipped it, and then closed her eyes, letting it calm her.
It took her a couple minutes to finish her drink, and when she did, she handed me the teacup back and I took it, setting all the empty utensils on the nightstand and going back to her aide.
She shuffled under the covers and fluffed her pillow, and I gently pulled the sheets over her as her lashes lowered.
After she was comfortable, I stood and bowed, returning to go clean up the tray and leave, but she stopped me:
"Sebastian."
I glanced back at her. "Yes, my lord?"
"Stay," she told me. "For a couple minutes. And then when I'm unconscious, you can leave."
A small smile formed on my lips, and I turned to her. "My, my, you're getting needier by the day."
"Shut up," she snapped, glaring at me. "Just do it."
"I cannot disobey my master, now can I?" I smiled as her lashes lowered, and I stepped over to the bed, kneeling by the mattress.
I waited a couple minutes, but when she was asleep and her breaths were softened, I stood quietly and smiled, stepping over to the tray and picking everything up.
I then stepped over to a table by the door, where a small candle was lit and swishing around in the air.
I lightly blew it, and the room was enclosed in darkness.
I closed the door behind me and stood there for a moment.
But I ran my fingers through my hair, a small smile splitting across my face as low chuckles came through. "You are interesting, master."
I'm not their prey! They are MY prey!
I continued chuckling darkly, breathing in and blowing it out. "Indeed, they are, master. Indeed, they are."
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