Comforting Darkness

Chapter 17: The Tutor, Couple Practice

The train had departed from Paddington station half an hour ago, and Selina was trying to decide if she should try get some more sleep, since it was still early and they had almost twelve hours to reach the next station close to St. Ives. Sebastian was sitting on the opposite seat, motionless, watching her, or actually observing her. His thoughts of the previous night seemed to be confirmed by how different the woman looked this morning. The last two days, that her cousin was in the house, Selina gave out a light, warm feeling and her aura was so strong, that Sebastian had a really hard time not to give in to the tingling sensation that excited his body and made him feel so many strange things, filling him with energy; an energy he had not felt for too long since he was starving, waiting for his master to achieve his goals.

He did not know why this was happening to her aura and why it affected him so much, but for some reason it was pulling him to her. However, it was most strange that he was not bothered or angered by any of this, it only made him more curious, wanting to know more about her, everything if possible. He also wanted to know the things that triggered her passion and see fire burning in her eyes again.

By closely observing her, he had come to the conclusion that her aura was changing significantly and became really strong when she was experiencing strong positive emotions and looked genuinely happy; even if her happiness was triggered by small, everyday things like taking care of young master, ruffling Finny's hair or having a laugh with the others... and himself! When she was like that, Sebastian could feel her lowering her defences and becoming more carefree for a while; right now she was in that state – obviously due to these two days with her cousin whom she seemed to really love – and Sebastian thought it was the long awaited perfect chance for him...

With a predatory smile in his eyes, he came and sat beside Selina, who was currently watching outside the window the scenery, changing constantly and seemed really enchanted by it. Sebastian rested his arm on the back of the seat, behind Selina, and spoke with the usual slight irony in his voice.

"Oh, how unexpected indeed. Green grass and bushes gave place to more green grass and bushes."

Selina took her eyes away from the window and glanced at Sebastian a supposedly angry look. "Hilarious, Sebastian. Nature is always beautiful, and even more so, when you have grown up in a city or town, where you can find green grass and bushes mostly in parks. When you'll see the 21st century, you'll get what I mean." She turned to the window again.

Sebastian nodded and took a more relaxed pose stretching his long legs and slumping his body towards her. "Anyway, I am glad you got used to call me by my first name... at first you had difficulties."

"Well, you asked for authenticity, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did, our master did actually, and I agree. However ... I think we are missing something, something important." He furrowed his eyebrows in thought.

Selina turned to him curious. "We are missing something in order to convince as a couple in... love?" He nodded again. "No, I don't think so, considering the era where everyone is so... prudish."

"Oh, but we do miss something!" He suddenly cried and his face brightened, as it 'suddenly' came to him. Selina was watching him closely in anticipation. "Well... married couples do kiss... a lot." He smiled satisfied as he watched her getting paler by the second.

It was then that Selina realized how exactly Sebastian was sitting and that she was actually cornered between him and the window. "Y-y-yes... yes, they do, b-but... in private, not in public! So, we don't have to worry about that, no one will see that we don't." She laughed lightly in an effort to show she remained unaffected by the topic... She really did hope Sebastian would have forgotten that part and given up his games; that he would get tired of them.