Short Stories

An empty mansion, right?

Third POV:
 The house is quiet, only two people were left in the mansion. The head of the house, a demon named Salem, and an immortal butler, Flame. Flame sold his soul to escape his father's torture. Salem rules hell, taking after his father's legacy.

     Flame had been making breakfast while the master slept, he had been doing this for years without fail, he took pride in his ability and in gaining the favor of his master. Salem rarely showed when he was pleased, lower life forms don't deserve his attention, certainly not to his servants, butlers, or maids, for they were beneath him. At least that's what he told himself.

Flame's POV:
      I hum a soft tune, carrying a silver tray of food up to Salem's room. He was always grouchy after an event so I knew to tread lightly. I quietly open the door and step in, it smells of ash and alchohol. Setting the tray down on the small table by the entrance of the room, I open his bedroom door. One foot in, I hear a soft noise, is he awake? I step in fully and greet him.
       "Good morning, master Salem, breakfast is ready." It is dark, I can't see his face, still I wait a moment before speaking up, "Salem, breakfast is ready." I step closer, my eyes finally adjusting.
        His silhouette can barely be made out against the darkness of his bedsheets, but he seems to be trembling. 'Another nightmare' I think and sit on the bed. I gently move him, putting his head to my chest, humming softly. It was a trick I learned years ago, meant to use the heartbeat and a soft vibration to ease someone out of a stressed or scared mindset. Salem hates when I do it, but he never tells me not to. His shaking slows a bit and I wrap my arms around him. I can't tell if his is awake or not, but he's too cute to not keep him like this.
"You're safe, Salem," I move a bit of hair out of his face, " I'm here, nothing will hurt you." His hair is soft, I can't help but mess with it.

Salem's POV:
       I wake up to being wrapped in someone's arms. I curl up to the stranger's body, not caring who it is. I'm too tired to recognize the voice, whoever it is, I'll kill them later. They begin messing with my hair and I swat at their hand.
"No." I say quietly. They move and laugh lightly.
"As you wish, master Salem," The voice is soft and soothing, "Better get up before your food gets cold." 
My eyes snap open and I push him off. "Damn it, Flame! You dumb ass!" I shout and turn on the light, "You know I hate you doing that!" He's on the floor laughing. I make sure to kick him on my way out, murmuring strings of curses. I sit down and eat, sending glares to the room Flame was in.

Flame's POV:
       I get up and dust myself off, unable to hold my light laughter. I walk out of the room to Salem glaring at me, I force myself to regain composure, returning to my emotionless face. 
"My apologies, I only wished to help," I bow, internally laughing. I feel his glare burning through me, I'm dead, aren't I.
I brace for pain as I hear his chair, then footsteps. 
"Up." Salem's voice is dark and deep. I stand not wanting to piss him off further.

Third POV:
       Normally, this is the part Salem would beat the shit out of a misbehaving servant. Though, he always took a favor to Flame he was not above punishment….normally. Salem's nightmares had been getting worse and worse, that was the first time in weeks since the incident, Flame had been the one to console him. Even after being beaten, bruised, and overworked he never said a word about the moments of weakness he had witness, not to other servants or any guests that needed dirt on their host. 
   Flame tenses awaiting a strike or a scolding, or a new list of chores to be dropped on him. To his surprise, it never came, what did come was a pair of arms, wrapped around him in a tight hug. He hugs back, pulling him close to his chest.
"Why do you stay? You could kill me or my reputation in an instant, why don't you?" Salem softly says.
"Take no offense, but that's my secret." Flame responds, his smile obvious in his words.

A moment no one should have seen. Yet there are eyes everywhere in the castle, even on Salem.

A soft growl comes from the shadows. "Your demise will be swift."