Sebastian's Mate (Book 1)

Act Five: Answers - Some At Least

The next morning started just as the previous day had; Sebastian brought Louisa her breakfast, checked her wounds, and carried her to the chair. She felt safe enclosed in his arms and lost as soon as he left her to tend to his young master. She knew that he was no human, but when she had asked, he had simply smiled and said, "my dear, I am simply one hell of a butler."

He returned later that morning with Ciel. Sebastian positioned a second chair facing Louisa and stepped back to assume his usual position as Ciel sat down.

"Good morning Louisa, it is good to see you looking so much better."

"Good morning, my Lord, and thank you. I believe I am all but healed now."

"Excellent, I will have Mey-Rin take over your personal care from tomorrow."

Ciel must have seen the disappointment cross her face, he continued. "It is more appropriate for you to have a maid, and Sebastian has many other responsibilities."

"Of course, my Lord, I understand." She replied. She looked briefly at Sebastian, but his expression gave nothing away. She felt slightly confused by this but shrugged it off; it was Ciel's home, his staff, and his butler after all.

"I was hoping you may be able to tell us more about what happened." Continued Ciel.

"Yes, I will try." She said, unsure of where to begin.

Seeing her uncertainty, Sebastian added, "maybe you could begin by explaining the events that lead to you being taken by the Order?"

Louisa took a breath and began.

"I couldn't have been more than about five years old when they came to the house. My father knew immediately that something was wrong. He hurried my mother and myself to a hiding space that he had created below the house. He had just covered the boards when they entered; we heard shouting, and the clash of blades. My mother held me tight, covering my mouth to stop me from crying out as the shouts of pain from my father grew louder. Then there was quiet, and the smell of burning, smoke started to fill the space where we were hiding, and I could feel my mother's rising panic. We had no way out; if the flames reached us, we were dead. As the smoke grew thicker, the boards above us were ripped apart. For just a second, we both thought that my father had beaten them and had come for us. But it was not my father's hands that reached in a grabbed me from my mother's arms. As they dragged me through the floor my mother was screaming, I was kicking, biting, doing anything to try to release their grip, but I was no match for the man that carried me away. My mother's screams were the last thing I heard as they chained me into a cart and took me away from the burning heap that had once been my home."

Louisa stopped, tears streaming down her face. She had worked hard to suppress the memories of that night, and now it all came flooding back along with the pain, the fear, and the hate that she had felt.

Sebastian fought the urge to go to her, to comfort her, to put an end to all of this now. He could see the effect that the story was also having on his young master, the memory of his own parent's death still raw and close to his every decision. Instead, he did what any good butler would do; he poured the tea.

Louisa became aware that Sebastian had moved from is master's side and was stood in front of her, teacup in hand. Shakely, she took the cup that was offered and sipped the tea. She looked at him, willing him to say something. She could see the unease in his eyes, yet he stayed silent. She placed the cup on the table for fear that it would shake out of her hand. It was Ciel who was first to break the silence.

"Please, continue if you can."

Louisa breathed and calmed her sobs.

"I was taken miles away to a castle in the middle of nowhere. I was a prisoner, kept in a small room. Alone and scared, every day soon began to follow the same routine. I would be brought food and along with it would come a lengthy sermon on the evils of my parents. How I was a result of their evil doings, and how I still had time to redeem my soul. How I could be pure again if I took the right path."