The New Beginning

The Ritual of Night

Annalise sat on her bed waiting for Sebastian to come up to her room to help her change. He walked in and shut the door behind him. "I suppose you were waiting on me?" She nodded slowly as she looked at him. He looked perfect and her face turned a deep red. Sebastian ignored it and looked through her nightgowns, when he finally found a quite shear one, he frowned. "Why is this still in here?" He threw it onto the floor and grabbed a nightgown with lace frills on the sleeves. It was white and went down to her ankles. "Sebastian, why are you so worried about what I wear to bed?" Sebastian stood her up and closed his eyes as he changed her. "Well, my lady, if someone kidnaps you, I simply don't want them to think you are just another woman. You are a noble woman and deserve to be treated like one. So even at night only the finest nightgowns can be worn by my mistress." She nodded as that seemed a reasonable answer. Sebastian began walking out then he turned around. "If you wake up frightened again, all you need do is call out my name and I will be by your side, my lady." With that he walked out of the room leaving behind a sweet smell that Annalise only just noticed. Roses, Sebastian Michaelis smells like roses even after being in a kitchen cooking fish and soup, he smells like red roses. Annalise laid down as the room became dark. The door shut with a creak and she was alone once more. Her eyes shut and everything was black. Hours later, a shrill scream broke the eerie silence of the manor and Sebastian ran to her room, knocking on her door. "My lady, are you alright." He could hear hysterical crying on the other side of the door so he opened it walking into the room. Annalise was hiding under her covered shaking in fear. "Sebastian, Sebastian, Sebastian..." She repeated his name over and over as he sat on her bed. "My young mistress, you only need say my name once. For I am already here." Annalise lept out from under the covers hugging him in tears. "You can never leave me alone Sebastian! Never leave me alone! That's an order!" She was hysterical and Sebastian sighed. "As you wish, Lady Annalise. I will stay by your side until your death bell tolls." Annalise cried herself to sleep in Sebastian's lap. This had been happening since he formed the contract with her. It happened every night. Although, this was the first time she ordered him to never leave her. Once she was asleep, he moved her under her covers and went back to patrolling the manor grounds to make sure there was no one trying to enter without invitation.