The World As We Know It

Chapter Eleven

I woke with a start, screaming with pain. Or at least, I tried. Nothing escaped my lips as I wrapped my arms around myself. I thought I was on fire, but I soon realized that it just my throat. I gingerly traced my fingers across raised skin. What was this...oh. As my memories flooded back, I jumped to my feet only to collapse from the ungodly amount of pain. Right, my ribs were broken, and my ankle might be too from when I was flailing at the end. Well, I would try to figure out where I was first, then make a second attempt.

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, but when they did, I saw a familiar gray couch. I was in Sebastian and Ciel's apartment? I looked around, trying to find where I had been sleep...ing... Was that a coffin? Was that MY coffin? I carefully, and slowly, stood up. Yep, that was indeed where I woke up. How long had it been? Days, weeks? Wait! Where was Cosmo?!

As fast as my feet could take me, I rushed across the room and stumbled into the bedroom on my left. I sank to my knees with relief when I saw a familiar ball of black and white fur curled up on the bed. He was sporting a cast on two of his legs, but I was happy he was alive. However, when I crawled closer to pet him, I realized it wasn't Ciel's bed that he was sleeping in. There was no mistaking the tall, slender form of the raven-haired man.

Cosmo's head lifted at my scent, and he stared at me for a full five seconds before losing his shit. Barking at the top of his lungs, he wiggled closer to me and rolled into my lap. He squirmed uncontrollably as I petted him, his barks turning to attention-seeking whimpers. The tall man sat straight up, scowling at my dog.

"You insistent barking at every noise is not..."

He trailed off, having caught sight of me. Shocked into speechlessness, he crawled across the bed until our faces were mere inches apart. His crimson eyes were wary, but desperately hopeful. When I didn't vanished, he reached out with a trembling hand and stroked my cheek. His eyes widened, and I was pulled into his arms.

"Whoa, whoa! Easy! I've still got some broken ribs!"

"You came back," he murmured into my hair,

With a soft smile, I rested against his chest, enjoying the body heat. Now that I wasn't moving, I felt cold, and he was like a furnace. I also never realized how nice he smelled. The faint smell of soap and something I couldn't quite put my finger on. Sandalwood, maybe? Whatever. I liked it.

"Hey, Sebastian?"

"Mm?"

"How long was I dead?"

He sighed.

"Three days."

I nodded slowly.

"You helped Cosmo."

He kissed the top of my head, smiling against my hair.

"You loved him. He also risked his life to protect you. It was the least I could do."

"He was sleeping in your bed," I pointed out.

"I found his presence...soothing."

Well. I hadn't expected him to admit that. Yawning, I snuggled closer to him.

"Is it weird that I'm tired even though I was dead for a while?"

In a single, fluid movement, I was pulled up the length of the bed. I greedily snatched a pillow to put under my head, and Sebastian's chest vibrated as he chuckled softly. The comforter was pulled over me, and Sebastian drew me into his arms once more while my dog happily laid at my feet. It was strange, I had to admit. What seemed like only yesterday, I learned what he was and lost my mind. I even spent most of last semester either avoiding him or waving off his teasing as an annoyance. Yet, that seemed so insignificant when I died. Learning that Shay no longer existed made me realize just how alone I was. There was no family waiting for me. No friends to see. Just...no one. I hated it. Even worse was the fact that very few people would care that I was alive again, one of whom I was currently lying in bed with. Relationships with pureblooded Demons led to death? So what? I died being by myself. Despite how little I knew about him, he made it clear that we would protect, and even kill, for me. He put aside his distaste for dogs to save mine. My death hit him hard, and the pure joy in his eyes when he realized I was alive was sincere. That meant more to me than I could ever fathom, and I wanted nothing more than to be with the man...well, Demon who had done so much for me.