Episode 31 - Dark Smile
“Do you sense anything?” I asked Sebastian as we walked around the manor together.
“I do not, young master,” he answered, staying close by my side. “It seems as if the demonic guard has not left his post.”
We both gave Edward a cautious glance before continuing into the crowd.
“This unsettles me,” I said, voice low. “What is he planning to do with all these people?”
“My main guess is that the father is behind this,” Sebastian stated honestly. “So my direct assumption is that all these people are his next creatures.”
I just sighed, something cold consuming me. “His victims are mainly women… which doesn’t connect well, does it?”
“It could be a personal preference,” Sebastian said then. “He could be a killer and also be working for ‘the father’.”
“I hate to praise you, but perhaps you are right,” I said then, thinking this thoroughly. “Which is nothing new, really.”
A small smile formed on his lips.
“Don’t get cocky,” I snapped then, looking around the crowd. “That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Being right is an insult?” Sebastian said then. “Even when you directly stated that you hated praising me? How confusing.”
I just ignored him. “I see no suspicious figures other than Edward standing guard. Overtaker and Grell look like they’re having fun and searching through the food table.” I paused then, blinking. “Wait… where are my servants? I think I lost them a while ago.”
I glanced around then, immediately gazing up at Sebastian to find his eyes closed and the smile still curling his lips.
But I looked behind him.
My lashes lowered when a beat of sweat slipped down my cheek.
“Oh, hya mister carpenter!” Carter said, slurring his words while karate chopping Maddox.
“Ey! I like my hair the way it is!” Maddox said then, slurring his words as well when he shrank back.
“Both of you,” Scarlet said then, also sounding drunk while shoving them away, “shut your mouths. I have a headache!”
Cammie waddled around them, tripping over nothing and falling.
I just closed my eyes tightly, the veins on my neck throbbing. “Idiots got drunk the moment they got here, didn’t they?”
“I insisted that I’d pick the staff, master,” Sebastian said then, sounding slightly amused. “But you went for those wrecks.”
“At least they’re good bodyguards,” I said then, starting back into the crowd as Sebastian followed me. “Any other senses?”
“Ah, no…” Sebastian said then, “I don’t sense Damien anywhere near here. And as for paranormal creatures, those three nuisances are still here, no new ones.”
I looked around. “I see. Very curious, indeed.”
We were both silent for a moment.
“Sebastian,” I said then, making him gaze up curiously.
“Master?” he said then.
“Do something for me, would you?” I said then, gazing up at him. “Figure out what Count Damien is up to. Search the house, close places. Anything, really.”
His lashes lowered then. “Master, I do not feel comfortable doing this with Edward near.”
“It should only take you a couple seconds,” I stated then, lashes lowering. “Be a good butler and hurry up, would you? Go find out. That’s an order. And,” I added, putting a finger up, “don’t tell me ‘your survival is at risk’ because Edward doesn’t seem interested right now. He hasn’t glanced at me once.”
Sebastian sighed then, closing his eyes in annoyance. “Very well.”
“You have five seconds,” I stated. “This time I expect you to take five seconds rather than twenty minutes.”
He smiled slightly.
I pointed a finger up. “Starting now. Go.”
He suddenly vanished.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
He reappeared again, making me gaze up numbly.
“Well?” I said then.
He smiled slightly, but his eyes were burning in anger. “I figured it out.”
I arched a brow.
He just caught my arm and pulled me to another hallway, and I stumbled a little when he tugged me into a room and closed the door behind us.
I gazed up, brushing off my bandaged arm before looking up at him fully.
He set his back against the door. “It isn’t good.”
I just lowered my lashes. “Enlighten me.”
“The killings are not connected to ‘the father’ in the slightest. Edward is here because he knew you would be here, and Overtaker, as well. They were probably bored and were seeking entertainment. Grell is here because there is about to be a series of killings within the night, and he’s on the job.” He gazed up with dark eyes. “I found Damien’s charges, but there isn’t enough to convict him.”
My lashes lowered. “What are his charges?”
“Murder one,” Sebastian said then, looking grim. “For fifty victims.”
My eyes widened then, breaths stilling.
“According to his file,” Sebastian said, “the police suspect that he’s a serial killer. He kidnaps women by luring them in with charm, and then ties them down, kills them, and then has sexual intercourse with them.”
I just set my finger on my chin, thinking thoroughly despite the bile rising in my throat. “Serial killer, huh? That explains it. But he keeps tapping the police off which is why they cannot convict him, he’s tampering with governmental documents. But still… what is he planning to do with all these people here then?”
“I’m afraid I do not know,” Sebastian stated, “his plans are all in his head, it seems. I’m not very sure if I can find evidence of his plans tonight. Although,” he added, making me gaze up, “judging by the times of the fifty murders, they were getting closer and closer together through time. Years apart, then months, then weeks, then days. So, I suspect that he’s planning a mass murder… a big finish.”
I just stared at him for a moment, body growing cold. “No… no that doesn’t fit him.”
Sebastian blinked then, brows drawing together. “Master, you’re saying that as if you know him.”
Another cold pain struck me, but I attempted to ignore it. “I know, but still… something’s amiss.” I then gazed up to find him watching me suspiciously. “Sebastian… are you a hundred percent sure that he has no other victims currently?”
“I am not,” he said then. “He could have a thousand women hidden somewhere; I do not know.”
I swallowed something hard and tapped my chin. “Then we still must go through with the plan. I have to find those women.”
“Isn’t there another way, master?” Sebastian urged then, voice dark. “I still am weary about your capturing.”
I just closed my eyes tightly. “If you found out where they are, then I would say we wouldn’t. But you just told me there was no evidence of his plans. The only thing you would be able to find would be documents to a cabin or something, a place he owns, but it’s a high possibility he burned the documents or erased the file. Depending on what sites it’s on.”
Sebastian was silent then. “Master.”
“We have to save those women, Sebastian,” I stated then, shaking slightly. “Don’t you understand? They could be going through hell right now. And Damien has sights for me… if I convince him to take me, then maybe the people in this manor will be saved. He would have different priorities.”
Sebastian watched me suspiciously.
I felt shivers start racking through me, my blood burning and cooling, boiling inside me.
Fear.
I knew why I was afraid. It was because I knew Damien. I knew him personally.
And I didn’t particularly like him or what he did to me.
Sebastian just stepped over to me, lightly catching my hand and making my head shoot up.
He knelt down and kissed my knuckles. “I do whatever you wish, master. This is your game, after all.”
My brows drew together, and he stood back up, still holding my hand.
“But first, we must stop the shaking,” he said then, pulling me forward until I collided with his chest.
I gasped a little at the action, but he just scooped me up and carried me further into the darkness of the room.
I gazed up at him hazily, only seeing the moonlight reflecting off him in a silhouette, and the red in his irises glowed like a lamp despite his shadowed form.
He then settled down beside a wall, holding me in his lap as I sat against him, resting my head on his shoulder.
“I know how to ease your mind,” Sebastian said then, lightly running his index finger along my stomach.
I sucked in a breath, closing my eyes tightly.
“I just have to distract you for a bit,” he stated then, letting his finger fall further… and further down.
He slipped it under me, but not inside this time.
Instead, he started rubbing a sensitive spot… a spot no one had ever touched before.
I closed my eyes tightly, holding back a moan.
“Focus on it rather than the situation,” he said gently. “I will make you forget everything.”
He then set his hand fully on it, starting to caress a little harder.
I whimpered, nails digging into his shoulders.
“This is a sensitive spot, indeed,” he stated then, sounding amused. “You’re all flushed.”
“Shut up…” I said then, shivering a little as he rubbed faster.
I tipped my head back, mouth dropping open as warmth flooded me, pooling deeper and deeper… until…
I cried out, but Sebastian just covered my mouth, holding my face to his neck as he kept rubbing me down there.
He was clearly riding it out.
He kept his fast pace, letting the orgasm go deeper, and deeper.
Until I grew incredibly sensitive, almost like he dropped hot wax on me, and I lurched forward.
He pulled his hand away then, making my eyes close tightly as I breathed for a moment.
He let go of my mouth and held me against him, gently rubbing my arm in soothing up-and-down motions.
“That was fast,” he said then.
“Shut up,” I hissed. “I don’t need your infuriating comments.”
“Perhaps not.” He just caught my shoulder and pulled me against him, helping me tuck my face into his neck as he held me tightly. “But, alas, you still need me.”
I never responded, just kept my position.
I didn’t know how he always did it, but… every time he did this I felt so calm and at ease. It was like I had a euphoric high and now I was stuck in a numb highness… and exhausting highness.
Sebastian brushed his hand down my hair. “You’re mine.”
I just opened my eyes softly, a smile peeking through my lips. “I’m contracted to you, yes. My soul is yours.”
The contract I signed with him. He would remain my butler, he would act as my servant, follow my orders, protect me from harm. In exchange, my soul belonged to him, and the moment my wish was granted, he could drop the servant act and take my soul.
Although, he was no longer contracted to kill me, he could do what he wished with me.
He could slaughter me.
He could devour my soul.
Or he could save me.
And he could love me.
It was his decision, and I had no say in whether or not he chose to kill me. This was a tad unsettling, but I signed the contract with him knowing the risks.
I accepted the risks.
Sebastian could tear my soul into pieces. Stab me and saw me in half. Slaughter me or suffocate me. Smother me or poison me.
Or he could love me, save me.
I accepted that the moment I signed with him.
After a minute or so, he finally broke the silence.
“There’s twenty minutes until the Count comes back to start the show. In the meantime. I only ask you stay here with me until then.”
I never replied, although my answer was clear with my lack of movement.
I would stay.
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