Me And The Devil | Sebastian Michaelis x OC

Filler Chapter: Lonely with Me

August 13th 1878

Juliet had been preparing tirelessly for her debutante ball, she was finally thirteen years old and according to her parents, it was time she was introduced to high society. More her father than her mother, who had for the past year been trying to introduce her to men well over twenty years her senior, claiming they simply needed to meet her for business reasons but the looks they gave made her aware of the true nature of the meetings. She didn't want to debut yet, once she did then she was eligible for marriage. She would lose the little freedom she had to turn down the creepy men brought in by her father.

It was nightfall as Juliet finally sat at her vanity after a long day of dance lessons and etiquette, her eyes were tired as she reached her nimble fingers to slowly undo the pins in her hair. One by one locs of shiny chestnut fading to blood-red ringlets fell from the neat hairstyle, laying against her shoulders. She hummed a soft tune in the quiet room to herself as she scratched her scalp, giving it a much-needed relieving massage to ease the headache that was beginning to form. She brushed her hair as she looked in the mirror, she felt out of place. Her room was so bright and meticulously decorated but she felt so empty. While her home looked as if it was filled with love, as if her father doted on her giving her anything she desired, it was devoid of love or warmth.

To her, those trinkets were the key her father used to guilt her into doing as he said. She didn't like snowglobes, or dolls, or porcelain eggs. She loved paints, canvases, and running through the woods behind her estate without shoes after it rains so she could feel alive. She loved the smell of the air just after it rains, it smelt fresh like every impurity was washed away. Emerald eyes shifted from looking around the room through the mirror back to her hair, focusing her attention on brushing out the knots in her hair. She sometimes wished she could sprout wings to escape her gilded cage. She only wished to be accepted with all her sarcasm, flaws, and unusual interest in deadly poisons.

Setting her hairbrush down Juliet got up from her vanity, changing into a thin white nightgown that reached halfway down her calf with sheer sleeves. With the summer heat on the August night, she opted for the thinnest dresses she could, to not overheat. Picking up the candelabra up from her vanity that she used to light her room as she got ready for bed she made her way across the room, setting it on her bedside table. Pulling her sheets back she yawned before blowing out the candle and crawling into bed hoping for a peaceful slumber.

Juliet awoke with a whine hearing the sounds of people scrambling through the hall, unable to process the words being shouted as she slowly crawled out of bed with a blanket around her shoulders. Striking a match she lit her candelabra, holding it in her left hand and the blanket around her with her right she sleepily shuffled her way to the door. Opening her bedroom door she saw chaos. Maids crying, doctors rushing to her parents' room, yelling, fighting, accusations being thrown about. It all was annoying, bringing the throbbing ache back to Juliet's forehead. "What in god's name is going on?! Why are you all running like chickens without your heads at this unholy hour?!" Juliet's high-pitched and childish voice rang over the chaos, her face scrunched up grumpily as she awaited an answer. She was tired and being awoken from her slumber in the middle of the night made her cranky.

Gretchen made her way through the crowd to her young mistress, ushering her back into her room and shutting the door behind her. The tired Juliet didn't have the energy to fight back as her nanny lead her back to her bed, taking the candelabra from Juliet's grip to set to the side before helping Juliet settle into bed. Sitting on the edge of the bed Gretchen had a sad smile as she moved Juliet's messy hair from her face. "My dear sweet young lady, I fear you will have to grow up much faster than expected now. You are a strong young woman. Your mother has fallen gravely ill and your father has gone missing leaving behind a single letter." Gretchen spoke softly, trying not to upset her young mistress.

Juliet looked confused as she rubbed one of her eyes with the heel of her hand. "What do you mean? Momma is strong, the strongest! She's not sick, we have plans to have tea together in the morning. I'm sure Papa just had some work to do, he wouldn't abandon us." She said with the naivety of a young girl which she was. Her mother wouldn't fall ill and her father wouldn't abandon them, right? But seeing the sad look on her nanny's face while she was pulled into a hug her idea of what was supposed to happen and her resolve caved in. Tears welled up in her eyes making her vision blur, streaming down her face in quick hot rivers as her small hands clenched the back of her nanny's dress. It started as a sniffle, then a hiccup, building until her sobs turned into wails. Her lungs burned as she screamed and cried out, her small form trembling from the force of her sobs ripping through her. Her nanny held her quietly as her young miss soaked her dress with boiling tears. The feral screams of anguish and despair echoed through the halls, her family had fallen apart. She was stuck in her gilded cage, she now had to maintain it for the sake of her mother.

At the age of thirteen, just a week before her debut to high society, Juliet Snider became Viscountess Juliet Snider. With Adelaine Snider now bedridden and unable to preform as the lady of the house and Albert Snider having ran off with a maid whom he had an affair with it was up to Juliet to take the mantel as the head of the house.

August 13th, 1888

"Are you sure, My Lady?" came the soft voice of a blonde maid named Annabeth who stood in front of a desk. Behind the desk was a twenty-three-year-old Juliet, her hair now reached well down her back even when tied back with a ribbon, wearing a beautiful light green dress with a square neckline that showed her assets in a modest manner. She had a pair of thin black-framed glasses in one hand having just taken them off, a letter from the Phantomhive manor in the other hand. She raised an eyebrow as she glanced up at her maid. "Yes, I am very sure Annabeth. Ciel and Sebastian wouldn't put me in harm's way, it's just a ball for Lady Elizabeth Ciel's betrothed. I don't understand why you're so worried." Juliet said with amusement as she set the invitation to the side.

She had grown quite fond of the pair over time, with Sebastian courting her she would visit the estate regularly, and she worked with Ciel on an art gallery where she was a featured artist. She trusted the pair, Ciel had even warmed up to her and they had formed a sibling-like bond. They playfully bickered, she helped convince Sebastian that Ciel had earned a cupcake for all his hard work, and they shared many laughs at the misfortune of those who cross them.

Sebastian had shown her a kindness she had thought only existed in books, he was exceptionally gentle with her, always asked for permission to kiss her, accepted her cruelty, encouraged her to do what made her happy, and comforted her when she was upset. He was her soulmate after all, Juliet being reincarnated and Sebastian a demon so they would have a chance to truly be together this time around. He had been the best lover she could ask for, showing her she could still be loved and adored while being true to herself. And she made him feel alive again, sending a whirlwind of emotions through him at a startling pace.

"I don't know My Lady, I worry that they may not be sincere to you." Annabeth confessed while fidgeting with her nails as she looked down. A soft sigh escaped Juliet as she smiled, getting up from her desk she pulled Annabeth into a hug. "I appreciate your worry Annabeth, but I'm courting Sebastian and Ciel is like a little brother I never got to have. Have faith in them and that I'm making the right choices. Now, how many times must I tell you to call me Juliet, not My Lady? We're friends!" She ruffled Annabeth's blonde locs with a laugh as Annabeth pouted. "Alright, Juliet. I'll trust you, not them." Though it wasn't the answer Juliet wanted she accepted the small baby step of progress.