Sebastian's Mate (Book 1)

Act Nine: The Truth Revealed

Once in the study Sebastian directed her to the sofa, "this will probably work best if you are laid down and relaxed" he said, moving the cushions to make her more comfortable. He could see that she was shaking and grasped her hand gently, resisting the temptation to kiss her, he held her gaze as he explained what would happen.

"Just look into my eyes and focus on my voice. I will walk you through every step and wake you when it is done."

As Sebastian spoke, her eyes grew heavy and the world around began to drift away. His voice guided her just as it had when he brought her back to consciousness; only this time, there was no darkness.

Louisa knew that she was speaking, describing the scenes in front of her, yet she felt as if she was really there, back with her mother and father. She was young, very young. Her mother was laughing. Her father, yes, it was her father, although different. Great leathery wings spread beneath her as she grasped his neck by the great black mane that moved with the wind as they flew above the earth. They were happy, so very happy, yet her mother's heart was tinged with sadness and her father's with fear and anger.

The scene changed and raised voices surrounded her. Her mother was crying, begging. She looked around; it wasn't possible; they were at the Phantomhive manor, the study looked exactly as it did now. The man in the chair, so much like Ciel, only older. He was angry; he wanted her parents gone. They were appealing to him as a father, as the head of the family. She couldn't hear the words, Louisa focused harder.

"You were given a choice, your family or him. The existence of that child changes nothing. In fact, it only damages the family name further."

"But brother, the Order, our lives and that of our daughter, your niece. You are a father now, surely you can understand?"

"No, you are a disgrace to the family name. Father disowned you for running off with this commoner and the knowledge that he is a demon does nothing to redeem you, neither does the existence of that half-bred who is an affront to God. Now remove yourself from my presence and never darken my door again. Ciel will know nothing of you or your demonic little family. Is that clear? You are dead to me."

Cousins, how had her parents kept this from her, how had Ciel's father so easily removed them from the family? The questions raged through her mind as Louisa felt her mother's anguish and her father's anger. As she dwelt on those emotions, the pictures shifted. In quick succession, she relieved the night of her capture, the years of torment at the hands of the Order, and the final conversation with her father, only now she could hear everything, even the things he had hidden from her before.

"Louisa, my darling daughter. You must do whatever is necessary to escape this place. They have given you the skills you need to survive. Find the Phantomhive's and hope that the son is not like the father. Even before you birth, I charged Malphas with your care in the event of my death. I have never called on him for fear of putting you and him in greater danger from the Order, but now if Ciel will not shelter you, find Malphas, in and my name remind him of his promise."

In the study, Ciel sat pale and shocked at the revelations.

"My family did this."

"No, my young Lord, not entirely, however, they may have made it easier for the Order to find them by denying them shelter and protection."

"You are not helping Sebastian."

"No, I guess not." Said Sebastian, only half listening to Ciel as he tried to piece together his role on all of this. His brow furrowed as he realised just how much more complex his life had become. There was only one demon he had ever given an oath to, just one that had the power to command even Sebastian's respect and devotion. It was the same demon who had remained in the human world to raise a child with the mortal he loved; that demon was Typhon, Louisa's father.