WANTED (Sequel to One Hell of a Maid)

Chapter 25: Warming Up

"But why would you do that?" I ask.

My mind is whirling with questions.

"You never broke our deal, Ebony. It was unforeseen circumstances that brought the young master and I back here. So, if you still choose to stay here it will not be breaking our deal."

"And why do you even want me to stay, anyways? I just don't understand how it benefits you."

"It does." Is all he says as an answer.

I force myself to change the topic, ignoring all the bottled up questions I have. "So, you are here to help me clear my name because Ciel ordered you. And that means that no matter what I say you still have to stay and help, correct?"

"Precisely."

"No use arguing it, then." I mutter, pondering many things at once.

If he has been ordered to assist me then he has no choice. It would be stupid to fight it. Maybe this really can help me. No, it will help me. With Sebastian's assistance everything will be solved in no time. After that we will both be free.

"Ebony." Sebastian says, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yes?" I answer or rather ask.

"If I am to properly help you I'm going to need to know everything you have found out." He stares me in the eyes. "Everything."

"I know just about as much as you do about the murders that I was framed for." That's when I realize he didn't just mean the murders.

He must of known that I was holding something back from him all those days ago when I asked him about demons. Speaking of which what ever happened with that? Did Catrine get fired or arrested for terrorizing the ship?

From everything that has happened to me I've been distracted from those sort of thoughts. Still, I can't believe I haven't wondered about it.

My eyes stay on Sebastian's and I know immediately that I should tell him what happened. As Ciel's demon butler and caretaker he should know the reason why they're ship back to England broke down was not an accident.

"Yes, I have been keeping something from you." I say. "When Ciel and you returned from the ship I grew suspicious. Maybe I was paranoid, but I went to investigate and found out that the engine didn't just randomly break down but was tampered with." I say.

"I admit that at first I suspected you, however from talking to you I found that you would have no reason to do it. I was in a turmoil until I heard a screeching noise one day when everyone was away from the house. I followed the noise and stumbled across Catrine's room. I found all the tools needed to tamper with the engine all in her closet. I immediately knew it was her."

I leave out the part of my memories hurting me and nearly blacking out. He doesn't need to know that.

"That night I told Simon about Catrine and he said that he would deal with it either that night or early morning as not to disrupt the guests. I do not know what happened though because that night I was framed and had to escape." I explain.

"That's strange." Sebastian comments.

I nod. "I don't know why Catrine would do that." I say. "My best guess is that she did it because she has some sort of obsession with you." I can't help but crack a smile.

"No, that's not what I meant. What is strange is that Catrine is still working for Simon currently."

My eyes widen, why would she still be working for Simon after I told him what she did?

"Maybe he thought I lied about it." But even as I say it it sounds doubtful.

Because if he did think I was lying he would surely check Catrine's room and if he did then he would find the evidence in her closet.

"I don't think so." Sebastian says. "It seems unlikely."

"I agree with that."

Silence envelops us but it is not one filled with tension or awkwardness, it's more of a thoughtful silence.

"Get some sleep, Ebony." Sebastian says after a couple of minutes. "We will talk tomorrow."

"Alright. But do you want a tent or something?" I ask, unsure.

It's not like demons sleep or anything.

Sebastian smiles wanly. "No, I am not allowed within the boundaries of the camp."

This doesn't surprise me. John would surely put some sort of protection from the evils of the outside. How, I don't know, but it makes sense.

"Goodnight then." I say.

"Sweet dreams." Is his response.

I hold back a sarcastic chuckle. I haven't had sweet dreams in awhile, quite the opposite of them actually. However, I only nod and go back to my tent.

It's beginning to get light out but I ignore this, forcing myself to fall asleep.

The nightmares don't seem as bad.

〰〰〰

I awaken hours later feeling more alive then usual. I can thank John for that, his talk with me had really made me feel better. I owe him more and more each day.

Since I'm already dressed for the day all I do is adjust my clothes and hair before stepping out of the tent and grabbing breakfast at the fire where everyone is gathered around.

I quickly shovel the food into my mouth. Today is another day of working towards my goal. It cannot be wasted.

I set my plate down in the pile of dirty dishes and gather any supplies I need for the day, putting them in Knight's saddle bags. I borrow another one of the horses and set off towards the woods to meet Sebastian.

I quickly reach them to find the demon leaning up against a tree. He wears the cowboy looking clothes that Simon leant him. I hadn't noticed before because of how dark it was the last two times I saw him. The clothes on him still strike me as strange, nonetheless he looks good in them.

"I know you don't really need it but I borrowed a horse for you." I say, handing him the reigns of a reddish colored horse named Ginger.

"Thank you." He says, taking the reigns.

Our hands barely touch but it send lightning up my spine. I ignore this, letting my hand drop to my side.

"Lately I've been playing the part of a desperado to play into the hands of fate." I say after a moment. "During this I have been investigating who the person who framed me was."

"Fate." Sebastian muses with a smirk. "Have you even found anything out?" Sebastian asks, petting Ginger's nose with a leather gloved hand.

I shake my head. "No, not really. But I have noticed that things have been awfully quiet lately. It's odd."

"If that's all then it seems that fate isn't being a fair player. I say that we take our own path and just figure out who framed you. Any objections?"

It's good that I've been helping people but with the sudden calm of the Wild West in the past couple of days, I do admit it's been more difficult to find people to save.

"None."

"Good. Then let's go, shall we?"

I grin, remembering all those months ago when he said something similar to that to me during the Siren case.

"We shall."