A Demons Mate

Relationship Advice

Ciel was looking through more papers that come in for a property north of London that he had just purchased in his suite while Sebastian tidied up the room. The butler kept stopping in his work and the Earl waited for whatever he wanted before Sebastian would start putting things away again. The demon was putting a book back onto the shelf when he stopped again.

His Master threw his papers down and glared at Sebastian.

"What is it?"

"Serena claimed earlier that I did not respect her."

Ciel blinked at the demon, incredulous. "That is what this is about? You're having relationship problems?"

"You're right. I should not have asked you, Master." Sebastian picked up the tray holding the remains of the Earl's afternoon snack and opened the door. The Earl picked his work back up. "You can't even sort out your own relationship problems."

"Hey! I could give advice."

The demon raised in eyebrow in disbelief.

"I could."

Sebastian came back into the room and stood before the Earl. "Well..."

"What did she say?"

"She said that I didn't respect her." The demon answered simply.

"No woman just says that," Ciel said blandly. "What was the whole of what she said, word for word."

*Some time later...*

"Well, Serena is not like the women of this time. Her personality doesn't fit with a woman that will fall at your feet. You're treating her like a possession that should follow along behind you without a word."

"But she is mine."

The younger man sighed. 'This is going nowhere.'

Finally, an idea struck. "Sebastian, you said that Serena was your mate?"

"Yes, Master."

"Then you would be her mate as well."

"Yes, Master."

Ciel waited for his butler to catch his understanding. When it was clear that wasn't going to happen, he tried a different tactic.

"You said that a demon's mate ruled their demon."

"That is correct master."

"Then why are you trying to rule her?"

Sebastian cocked his head as he thought about the simple logic behind his master's words.

There's something strange going on in this house.'

While preparing the evening meal, Sebastian noticed how Agni kept staring at him. The other butler would look at him out of the corner of his eye whenever he thought that Sebastian wasn't looking. The demon made sure that he had not pulled the wrong ingredients out of the pantry for the sauce he was making. Perhaps Agni didn't want to correct him but, there was nothing amiss.

Agni was peeling potatoes and Sebastian saw how the other man inched toward him. He decided to simply wait for whatever was bothering the other servant.

"She wants you to talk." Agni whispered

"Excuse me?" He asked, the muscle at the corner of his eye twitching.

"It is easy to see that there is some strain between you and Lady Serena. When a woman feels that she is not important to you, you have to talk to her. Listen to what she has to say and respond with what is in your heart."

"I see." Sebastian felt irritation rise as well as another emotion. It took a moment for him to acknowledge embarrassment as the alien feeling.

"Women are very confusing to men as they have a fundamentally different view of the world. The gods created women to be the opposite to men and their compliment. A man must always look beyond the surface of their words." The butler continued to peel vegetables with a peaceful smile on his face that Sebastian compared to a sage handing out age old wisdom to a child.

'Rather interesting if you consider the age difference between us.'

Agni looked to him again and nodded at the pensive look on the butler's face. Since he had imparted his message, the white haired man went back to his cutting board on the other side of the counter. Silence took back over the working men.

When going to the Earl's rooms to ready his Master for the evening, Sebastian was surprised to see Prince Soma peek his head around the door to his own room. The younger man waved him over with quick movements. Once the butler was inside his room, Soma leaned back out to look around the hallway before spinning around quickly.

"You must give her something."

"Prince Soma?"

"Serena. You must give her something. A gift to show that you are thinking about her. A woman wants to know that she is on your mind, so you must bring her something to prove that. However small the gift, it will be appreciated."

The demon managed to hide the irritated tick this time. "Of course, your majesty. Thank you."

The Prince smiled brightly and gave him a little push out the door. "Go now. Think of something that Serena would like."

In his Master's rooms, the teen was laying on a sofa and appeared to be napping. He didn't even move when Sebastian leaned over him with a creepy smile.

"Master."

Ciel opened his eyes and yawned. "Sebastian, is it time to go?"

"Almost, Master. We must ready you for the theater." The demon pulled a black suit with silver embellishments from the wardrobe.

"I suppose." The Earl sighed and stood to be undressed.

"Master," he slipped off the younger man's jacket. "I seem to be getting a lot of unsolicited advice lately."

"Well, since you didn't think that my advice would be worth anything...I thought that others' ideas on how to solve your little problem would be welcomed." Ciel smirked down at the demon currently removing his shoes.

"I see. Well played, my master."