Why Me? (Sebastian x Half-Demon Reader) Pt.13

Chapter 13: Hidden Agendas

After a few peaceful hours of sleep, you lie awake in bed staring up at the ceiling. You sigh silently as you turn your head to see Ciel's sleeping face. Watching him sleep reminds you again of Thomas causing your mind to rush to that night in the alleyway. You smile to yourself as you remember the kids rushing to hug and love you but this also causes tears to form as you remember baby-girl with the scar on her neck handing you the note she wrote; you never got a chance to read it. Your grip on the cotton comforter tightens as you fight back the urge to cry and break something in half.

You quietly sneak out of bed, turning your head slightly, smiling when Ciel turns away from you. The smile stays on your face as you close the door behind you and make your way to your bedroom without a hitch. You wonder for a brief second where Sebastian is but you quickly remember that the demon never sleeps. Entering your room, you make your way to the dresser and pull out the top right slot. You look at the folded white paper sitting in the center and pull it out quietly. You debate opening it up and reading it as you remember the apologetic smile on baby-girl's face; you close your eyes tight as you shove it back in and slam the dresser closed.

"Shouldn't you be in bed (y/n)? You have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow?"

Sebastian teases as he enters your room with a lite candle stick in hand. You stand there unresponsive as you turn your head away from him. Your behavior doesn't go unnoticed as he walks over towards you,

"(Y/n), what has you so quiet?" his voice is still teasing but you hear a hint of concern.

You shake your head as you turn back towards him,

"It's nothing, just a lot on my mind is all. I couldn't sleep that well so I thought I'd stretch my legs a bit. Sorry for disturbing you Sebastian," you answer as you try to get away from him but he blocks your path.
 
"Don't lie to me."

That tone...it caused you to feel breathless; you didn't dare look up at his face. You both stood there for what seemed like hours until his hands found themselves on each side of your face.

"Look at me (y/n), tell me what's bothering you." You pick up your face slightly but only enough so he can hear you,

"It's...just...do you have to take the Young Master's soul?" when you look up tears are streaming down your face.

Sebastian's shocked expression changes to understanding as he wraps his strong arms around you,

"Is that what has you so upset? You know there's no way around that; once I've done my part, I must take Ciel's soul."

You shake your head 'no' against his chest,

"It's not right, he should worry about being a kid, not some Italian drug trade."

Sebastian strokes your head lovingly as he pulls you back and kisses your forehead,

"You needn't worry about such things, just go back to bed and let me handle it."

You sniffle as you nod your head and return to Ciel's room. You look down at his sleeping face as you think to yourself,

"The game is finally coming to an end."

.....

The Next Morning

You groan as you feel someone pushing your arm,

"(Y/n), it's time to get up!" you hear Finny's cheerful voice.

"Five more minutes," you complain as you turn over.

You open your eyes slightly only to meet Pluto's excited face causing you to jump and fall out of bed,

"Ow! What the hell are you two doing?! I was having the best sleep!"

"The Young Master let us sleep in for an extra ten minutes already, c'mon!" he smiles happily.

You rub your head as you get up, shove them out of Ciel's room, and prepare for the day. After exciting the bathroom with your maid uniform and boots on, Sebastian stands at the window pouring tea,

"Good morning (y/n). I take it you slept well last night."

You nod in agreement because you don't feel much like talking; there's a sick feeling deep in your stomach. You drink your tea in silence and get to work helping Sebastian set up for another guest's arrival.

"Good morning (y/n), how are you this morning?" Mey-Rin asks as she stands on tiptoe trying to reach the china dishes.

"I'm fine I guess," you answer as you walk past her holding a case of fresh vegetables,

"Ah!" she screams as she begins to fall back.

You quickly put down the box and catch the dishes with your right foot and left hand as Mey-Rin falls into your right arm's grasp.

"Mey-Rin, please be more careful. Why don't you try taking down a few dishes at a time instead of trying to get them all at once?"

"I'm so sorry! I just want Sebastian to be proud of my work is all!" she exclaims blushing cherry red.

This causes a mischievous smile to appear on your face,

"Oh Mey-Rin, do you have a secret crush on Sebastian? Should I put in a good word for you?"

"No, no, no...please don't tell him (y/n)!"

"What are you two doing?"

Sebastian's serious tone causes shivers to go down both of your spines.

"I was just helping Mey-Rin," you explain still in the pose of a clown practicing some balancing act.

He sighs as he takes the dishes away from you and you pick up the case of veggies.

"Mey-Rin, go make sure that the guest room is ready for Lau and Ran-Mao," Sebastian orders causing Mey-Rin to run off to her job.

You laugh at the scene before you as you follow behind Sebastian.

"So Lau's coming over? That should be fun," you comment more to yourself.

"You know Lau?" he asks as you set the case on the kitchen counter.

"I know of his reputation but I've never actually met the guy. I hear he always has a lot of women around him and he used to be in the opium trade," you answer as you begin to skin and cut the vegetables.

Sebastian nods as he begins his preparations for dinner,

"Where's Bard?" you ask noticing the reason the kitchen felt odd.

"I sent him to get some more groceries after he blew up the kitchen earlier this morning," he explains annoyed.

You shake your head as you finish helping and wait for Sebastian to give you your next job.

"So what's next?" you ask with a smile. He looks at you with a raised eyebrow,

"Is something bothering you again? You seem...like your stressed."

"No idea what you mean," you answer shrugging your shoulders.

He buys your act as he tells you that you are to entertain Lau and Ciel when he arrives but until then, you were with Finny and Pluto in the garden. After watering the plants and plucking weeds, Pluto runs up to you and lightly grabs your uniform with his teeth. You turn your head to see a carriage pull up in front of the manor. You grab a towel and wipe yourself clean before walking up to the carriage and opening the door.

"Welcome to the Phantomhive Manor Lau, my name is (y/n) and I will be entertaining you this evening," you bow politely as you help him and Ran-Mao out of the carriage. 

"Yes, the Phantomhive Manor is as wonderful as I remember," Lau smiles with his eyes closed as he and Ran-Mao enter through the front door.

Ciel walks down the stairs with his cane and loyal butler,

"Lau, it's good to see you again. Have you brought the item I requested?" he asks standing in front of us with me on his left. 

"Of course, Ran-Mao, if you would," he asks gesturing towards the beautiful heavy-set woman hanging onto him as if her very life depended on it.

She reaches into one of his bags and pulls out an elegant red Chinese dress with gold trim. Ciel smirks as he looks at you and responds,

"Great, now put it on (y/n)."

The polite smile leaves your face as you look from him to Lau before screaming,

"NO FUCKING WAY!!" your outburst echos throughout the manor that you're sure that Bard, Finny, Mey-Rin, and Pluto heard it.

Lau laughs silently,

"A Phantomhive maid who isn't how she appears. I wouldn't except less from the Phantomhive household."

"Are you going against your Master's order?" Ciel asks snapping you back into reality.

The upset expression in his eye causes you to gulp as you bow,

"I'm sorry for my outburst my Young Lord. I"ll go change now."

You begin walking up the stairs as Sebastian leads Ciel and Lau to the parlor,

"Would you like Sebastian to help you?" Ciel asks mockingly.

You grit your teeth and the dress as you force the words out of your mouth politely as you turn your head towards them,

"That won't be necessary my Young Lord."

Ran-Mao tugs on Lau's long sleeve and he looks down at her questionably,

"What is it Ran-Mao? Do you want to help (y/n) put it on?"

The woman just continues to stare at the tall Chinese man as if wondering if it's alright. Lau nods his head and you watch Ran-Mao let go before coming over towards you; you walk to your room as Sebastian leads the boys to the study. You sigh as you remove your maid outfit as Ran-Mao sits on the edge of your bed looking up at you like a confused cat. You delicately put on the long red Chinese dress with its short sleeves; you smile at your reflection in the mirror. Ran-Mao gets up and sits you down in the small chair in front of the mirror. She picks up a brush and styles your hair in a bun on the right side of your head before finally putting on a lighter shade of lipstick to your lips.

"Thanks," you smile as she nods at you.

You sigh again as you open the door and make your way to the study with Ran-Mao as close to you as your own shadow. You knock on the door,

"Come-in."

"Young Master, I've done as requested," you respond politely even though you'd truly like the strangle this runt.

He smiles cheekily as he and Lau take in your appearance.

"Truly breathtaking, you did an excellent job Ran-Mao."

Again, the Chinese beauty says nothing as you walk to Ciel's side,

"Is there anything I can do for you Master Ciel?"

"Yes, go to the kitchen and fetch us some tea and scones."

"Right away my Young Lord," you bow.

You're surprised to see Ran-Mao still following you but push the thought out of your head as you enter the kitchen. Bard and Finny's backs are to you as you try to silently make the tea, sadly luck is not on your side today. Sebastian storms in,

"Bard, have you finished preparing dinner? Finny, there are still some plants that need to be-" he cuts off his sentence as his eyes are locked on you.

Finny and Bard turn around to see why he is in such a state of shock,

"(Y/n), you look absolutely stunning," Finny cries out happily with his eyes sparking.

"S-shut up! This is embarrassing enough already," you blush as you prepare tea and scones.

From the corner of your eye, you see Bard ready to burst as he holds his nose; Sebastian clears his throat as he orders them out to finish their chores. You know he's coming your way but you put your hand up to stop him,

"No! Don't come near me, we have company, don't even think about it!"

He only smiles at your resistance before taking the scones out of the oven,

"I'm just trying to help."

"I don't need your kind of help," you huff as you take the tray in your hands and make your way back upstairs with Ran-Mao close behind.

You open the door and place the tray on the table in front of Lau and Ciel. You begin pouring the tea for Lau when Ciel begins the conversation,

"Lau, you know why I called you over here, correct?"

Lau looks up after you handed him his cup, smiling almost evilly as he smelled the tea,

"Not a clue."

You almost drop Ciel's cup of tea as you look at him questionably,

"W-what?!" you asks before you can shut your mouth.

Ciel just sighs as he drinks his tea calmly,

"It's fine (y/n), this is how Lau usually acts."

You look at the Chinese man as if he was crazy; you'd heard this man was eccentric but this was pushing it.

"Lau, I don't have time for games. Do you have the information on Lorenzo Vanel? On his whereabouts?"

"Ah yes, Lorenzo Vanel, the youngest brother of Azzurro Vanel. Lorenzo is the man behind the new drug trade making it's way into London. I don't have much information for you Young Ciel; only that he's got some new kid by his side."

You eyes widen as Ciel beats you to the punch,

"Is his name Thomas?"

Lau's smile widens as he bends his head as opens his eyes slightly, revealing the beautiful dark brown orbs,

"Yes, and he's only keeping him alive long enough for a certain someone."

His eyes meet yours as you jump slightly before feeling Ciel stand up and look out his window.

"Do you have any idea where he is Lau?"

Lau's eyes never leave yours as he keeps smiling,

"Some mansion out in the country. No one knows exactly where it is. Might I get some more tea?" he asks returning to his cheerful self.

You nod as you refill his cup, wondering who exactly this man is. 

"Is there anything else I can do for you, Master Ciel?"

"That will be all (y/n)," he answers not looking back at you.

You nod as you scurry out of the room and silently close the door behind you. Your hand rest over your chest as the realization that Thomas is alive continues to circle around in your head. You can't catch your breath as Mey-Rin makes her way towards you,

"(Y/n), are you alright? Your face seems really red, c'mon, let's get you to the kitchen."

She takes your hand and guides you back down to the kitchen and has you sit in a chair.

"I'm going to make you some tea, just relax."

Her words sound like white noise as you hold your head in pain, it feels like there are elephants stomping around inside it. You groan silently as you put your head down on the table.

"(Y/n), what's wrong?" Finny asks coming in through the back door with Pluto by his side.

You sit up and shake your head but doing so causes you to feel so dizzy. You stand up only to feel your knees buckle and almost fall to the floor before Bard catches you,

"Woah now (y/n), take it easy. What's wrong?"

You look up at them with dazed eyes as you grab onto Bard's apron for support,

"I'm sorry...I think...I need to just lie down," you answer leaning into him more.

"What are you all doing in here?!" Sebastian yells making his way into the kitchen.

When he sees you leaning onto Bard with your face flustered, he has to take a deep breath not to tear Bard apart. He stands in front of you, putting a gloved hand to your face,

"(Y/n), are you alright?" You smile sleepily as you look around all the people who are concerned for you before falling into Sebastian's arms unconscious.