A Demons Mate

Kiss me Kill me

Ciel pulled away from Serena, keeping his head down so she wouldn't see his tear-streaked face. The red head kept a hand on his back as he pulled a lord's arrogance back around him like a shield. She realized that she had some of the gold dust that had once coated his skin on her dress.

"Why don't I get a washcloth and we'll get some of this stuff off you."

Ciel nodded, not trusting his voice to speak yet. Serena stood slowly and headed into the adjoining bathroom. There was a pitcher and basin already waiting by the sink and a small towel hung on the bar next to it. The girl thanked whoever was listening that indoor plumbing had already been invented as she filled the bowl with warm water.

When she came back out, Ciel was sitting in the chair in front of the fireplace. His still clutched the coat but was quickly returning to his normal, surly attitude. Serena put the bowl on the table next to him and pulled the matching ottoman up next to his feet.

"You're going to have to take off the coat."

The Earl started, as though he had forgotten that she was there. Slowly, he slid the fabric from his shoulders and she saw the faint bruises that had started to bloom on his arms. Serena didn't say anything, only took the tailcoat from him. She whistled at the gold dust that coated the inside.

"Even Sebastian is going to have a hard time getting that out." She laughed and set the coat aside.

Serena dipped the cloth in the bowl and reached for Ciel's arm. He jerked away.

"I can do it."

"Well, I was hoping that you would tell me what happened tonight while we got this off." She smiled at him.

He huffed and held out his arm. "Fine."

"So, I'm guessing that it didn't go well?"

"It was a disaster."

She ran the cloth lightly up his arm as Ciel's head fell back against the chair.

"You didn't find the kidnap victims?"

"No, we found them. He had them set up as living statues throughout the estate with hoods over their heads. Definitely arrogant, not obsessed."

"They didn't try to get away?"

"The only ones that he used were those that were already scared to death. They were quite hard to move."

"Too scared to get away?"

"They were scared of people finding out what happened to them, being killed, being further tortured. The usual. That fear kept them from trying."

Serena smiled at his returning attitude.

"Sebastian was able to round them up while I kept the Colonel busy."

The cloth ghosted over a set of finger-sized bruises.

"I assume the dance worked."

He didn't answer.

"You froze, huh?"

"He seemed to like that more."

She looked up at the haunted tone. Ciel was staring straight ahead, his eyes fixed on the flames dancing in the fireplace. A shiver stole through his body and pulled him back to the present. The red head took his hand, rubbing her thumb across his fingers.

"But you got him in the end."

Ciel laughed low. "Yes. I believe that he'll be in Bedlam until his execution. Sebastian left quite the impression on our dear Colonel."