Sebastian's Mate (Book 1)

Act 23: The Red Reaper

Soon after preparing Ciel for bed, Sebastian appeared at Louisa's door. Louisa lay in her bed, waiting for him; he approached and held out his hand. "Come with me." He said. She took his hand and allowed him to pull her up out of bed. Wrapping his arms around her, he brought her in close and kissed her. Louisa responded, opening her lips and giving his tongue access to her mouth.

Sebastian scooped her up into his arms and held her tight to his chest. Moving over to the window, he opened it and stepped out onto the balcony. Without warning, he leapt up to the roof, causing Louisa to gasp and hold him tighter. Sebastian moved swiftly and soundlessly across the roof to a flat area at the back of the house. Placing her back on her feet, he kissed her, and a blanket appeared over his arm. Laying it down, Sebastian pulled Louisa down to sit beside him; wrapping his arms around her they resumed their kiss, leaving Louisa breathless.

"Since we need to be extra careful and quiet while we are here, I thought we might take in the night sky; humans rarely look up to see the world beyond them." Said Sebastian.

"The city is almost beautiful from up here," replied Louisa.

Sebastian moved his arm and trailed his fingers up Louisa's leg, as she moved closer, undoing the buttons on his shirt. As Sebastian leant in to kiss her, a flash of red caught his eye. As the shape moved towards them, Sebastian let out a low, menacing growl. Before Louisa could question the sudden change in his mood, the red shape appeared on the roof and spoke.

"OH BASSY, how could you? And with a mere girl. You'll break my heart."

Louisa looked between them confused and unsure of what was happening. Sensing her apprehension, Sebastian spoke.

"This is Grell Sutcliffe, reaper of souls, and perpetual pain who should by rights have already joined his onetime mistress in the underworld."

Grell grinned showing a mouthful of pointed teeth. Louisa reciprocated, her eyes turning black and her features shifting momentarily to their demon form.

"Oh, not so much a mere girl, still, Bassy, how could you?" said Grell, dramatically pressing his hand to his heart and throwing back his head.

"What are you doing here, Grell?" asked Sebastian, his dislike of the reaper still very clear in his voice.

"Well, I saw you up here with her, and I thought I would stop you from making a huge mistake, but I can see now that I am far too late for that." Grell's eyes narrowed as he glared at Louisa. She simply smiled back, for all his bluster, he posed no obvious threat to them.

Sebastian, however, was getting increasingly impatient with the reaper. "I meant what are you doing in London, you half-wit."

"Oh, you wound me, I'm working, of course, deary. Trying to keep on Will's good side before he demotes me any further, but for you, I'd stop."

Sebastian growled louder this time and showed his own perfectly formed needle-like teeth. Grell took that as his cue to leave. "Goodbye for now, then. Find me when you are ready to experience the real thing," he called as he leapt off the roof.

Louisa placed her hand on Sebastian's face, guiding his attention back to her. "He cannot come between us, do not fret so much."

"I know my love, but he is more dangerous than he seems and should not be underestimated." He continued, "it would seem that we are to get no peace up here either tonight."

"Then, let's go back inside and find a way to keep each other quiet," Louisa said with a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

Returning the grin, Sebastian replied, "I have a few ideas."