The Queen's Demon Pet (A Black Butler Fanfic)

Chapter Sixteen

Although the previous night had been one of the best nights Maria had ever experienced, the next day had to be one of the worst she had ever been through.

It started in the morning when she woke up. Sebastian wasn't there, and it annoyed her a tiny bit that he hadn't bothered to stick around. And by tiny bit she meant a lot of bits. Big bits.

Maria decided that she would go find her frustrating demon later and talk to him about the previous night. Maybe, now that they had crossed somewhat of a milestone in their relationship, he was having doubts? Or maybe he had just been after sex the whole time? Maria contemplated possible reasons during a hot bath before getting dressed and heading downstairs.

Everyone else in the house was already awake and lounging around, doing the usual. Grell was talking to Ronan - a very flirtatious talk, at that - with one of his hands on Ronan's knee. Ciel and Raoul were in the opposite corner of the room, looking at a book together. Ciel pointed to something in the book and started explaining something to the hellcat, who nodded as he listened intently. Maria assumed he was teaching him more about the world. From her vantage point she could also see out the window that Zeke and Samuel were sparring. Her ears picked up three different sets of footsteps deeper in the house - the humans. She briefly wondered if they were still fine with being here. They hadn't had as much of a use as Sebastian probably hoped they would, and they kept to themselves. Humans, although daft when it came to the supernatural, still had instinctual feelings that they should avoid supernatural creatures. With there being this many in the manor, it made sense as to why they would want to stay away.

"Good morning, Maria," Ronan greeted her, surprisingly. Grell turned and gave her a warning look, which made her grin. It was obvious that Ronan was uncomfortable, but who was she to stop the Reaper?

"Good morning everyone. Have any of you seen Sebastian?"

"I thought he was with you," Grell said with a mischievous smirk, "at least, he was last night."

Maria grew considerably hotter in the face as she stammered her reply, "O-Oh, you, uh, heard that?"

"The whole house heard it." Ciel said flatly from the corner.

"I thought the headboard slamming against the wall was a nice touch, mistress!" Raoul declared, not noticing Maria's obvious embarrassment.

"Do we have to talk about this?" Maria pleaded, rubbing a hand over her face in exasperation. "And Raoul, don't call me that."

"Mrs. Sebastian, then?"

"No!"

"Seb-ah! Sebastian!" Grell moaned, mimicking Maria's voice perfectly. Now even Ronan and Ciel looked uncomfortable.

"Enough already! I'll just go ask Zeke and Samuel," Maria exclaimed before escaping outside.

Luckily, she had caught Zeke and Samuel taking a quick break from their training. "Have either of you seen Sebastian?"

"Went in the forest a few hours ago," Zeke panted out his reply, chest heaving from the workout he had just received as he jerked his head towards the woods.

"Thank you," Maria said, already walking to the forest.

"Are you sure you should be going alone, little one?" Samuel asked.

"I'll be fine, just going to find Sebastian. He couldn't have gone far."

"Are you going to have a repeat of last night?" Zeke questioned, chuckling despite being short of breath.

At this Maria turned and gave him a warning glare. "You better shut your mouth before I come over there and shut it for you."

Zeke shut up, but was still smiling as she entered the woods.