October 4, 1695

Forest of Dean, 9:12 AM

Hod lifted his head from his bucket of grain to snicker in acknowledgement when Annabel slipped between the large barn doors before turning back to his breakfast. Strange to think it was still morning. So much had happened in such little time.

Annabel was quick to hurry to the stall at the end of the stables. Stepping into the doorway her eyes darted to the corner where a group of kittens were huddled into a furry bundle of small bodies. It seemed the mother cat had decided to take a break which was rather fortunate timing.

Moving slightly closer, Annabel quickly knelt down for a closer look. It seemed that Jack had been right. The smaller gray kitten was outside of the furry pile and the little guy was obviously lethargic. Weak mews sounded as his little head bobbed from side to side.

"Hmm..." a warm silken voice sounded out from behind her, making her jump with a gasp. Whirling, Annabel's green eyes widened to find Sebastian's belt buckle only inches from her face. Taking a steadying breath her eyes slowly rose, tracing the lines of his immaculate silver buttoned coat to his face.

The demon's red eyes were momentarily focused on the kittens before they shifted to her. "Mistress, what are you doing wasting your time with these flea ridden vermin catchers?" he asked, his smooth kind tone clashing with his harsh words.

Annabel scoffed at the words, finding them ammunition enough to turn from the distraction of his close body. "I will choose what is and isn't a waste of my time Bastian," she replied sharply, turning back to reach out and pick up the small runt, holding it close to her body. It felt cold so she lifted it up to her upper chest allowing skin on skin contact.

Standing to her feet, Annabel was startled further when she turned to see that Sebastian was holding open her cloak. She'd been in such a rush to come out that she hadn't bothered to put on anything but her boots. Wordlessly, he reached behind her, stepping closer to drape it over her shoulders.

Was that kindness or merely a protection of his investment? Annabel didn't bother to thank him. Instead, she turned and began to walk back to the manor, the small kitten cradled to her chest. Sebastian opened the door and she made her way to the kitchens where Mr. Malcolm Taylor, the cook, was arguing with Jack but the argument paused with her entrance.

"Gentlemen," she greeted coolly, "What seems to be the problem here?" They both turned, Jack looking apologetic and Mr. Taylor's face one of discontent.

Jack spoke first in a rushed voice, "Miss Annabel, I was just telling Mr. Taylor here that we need to warm up a bit of the milk from this morning so-"

He was cutoff by the cook in question, "And I was just telling Jack here that the milk is to be used for butter and cheese." The kitten against Annabel's chest nuzzled against her chest and she could feel it weakly trying to suck on her skin.

"That's enough," she spoke, her tone hard. She may not have been born with authority but she had found that she could play the role when she needed to. "It needn't be more than a ladle of milk. Warm it up but make sure it isn't too hot to the touch," she ordered, looking at the cook. His face went ruddy and she wasn't sure if it was with embarrassment or aggravation.

Whatever Mr. Taylor felt, he masked it with a bow of his head and the words, "Yes, my lady." Annabel nodded and turned, noticing that Sebastian hadn't left her side. She still felt the evidence of his earlier company between her legs and she didn't quite know how to handle it or him just yet.

"Sebastian I need you to find me a medicinal dropper and ensure it is cleaned as well as some soft blankets and a wetted handkerchief. Bring them to the study," Annabel ordered. There was a strange look upon his face but he merely bowed and left the room.

Jack came over then to stand beside her and pointed to the kitten she held and caressed. "May I?" he asked softly, holding out his hands. She nodded and passed the kitten into his large hands, feeling a warmth in her stomach at the soft smile that molded his lips. He was holding it away from his body and Annabel moved her hands to his, pushing them so that he clutched the kitten to the hollow of his bare throat.

"Bare skin is best for warmth and comfort," she explained, quickly pulling her hands back. The look in Jack's sky blue eyes was something she didn't know how to handle so instead she took a step back to lean against the island counter.

Jack too seemed to realize the sudden intimacy of their close quarters and he stepped back as well to lean against the opposite counter. "How do you know do much about kittens?" he asked curiously, his fingers stroking gently over the ball of fur.

"They're similar to babies. My mother was a-" Annabel let her words trail off, realizing that it would be unwise to tell this man the truth of being a midwife's daughter. He was too easy to talk to. Clearing her throat she continued, "My mother enjoyed cats and we had a litter of kittens once." The false words weren't too far from the truth but they still felt sour on her lips, especially since they involved her mother.

Still, the young stablehand nodded, not pressing any further for which she was grateful. Mr Taylor appeared then with a small glass bottle of milk that was wrapped in a hand cloth. "Here you are my lady," he spoke, holding it out to her as he warned, "It is quite warm, you may need to let it cool."

Annabel took the bottle with a gracious nod. "Thank you Mr. Taylor, we will leave you to your work." With a gesture to Jack, Annabel turned from the room and they walked to the study. Sebastian opened the door as she approached, balancing folded blankets in one hand.

She moved to where a fire crackled in the hearth and motioned for Sebastian to set down the blankets before lowering herself down bottle still in hand. Jack followed, dropping down beside her uncertainly while she looked to Sebastian with her hand out. With a smile the butler placed a small dropper into her hand and Annabel used it to draw up a measure of the warmed goats milk, testing it against the skin of her wrist. Satisfied that it wasn't too hot, she held out a hand to Jack.

With overly cautious slowness, he brought the kitten from the crook of his neck and Annabel took the small thing in one hand, holding it close as she brought forth the dropper. "Above all, kittens require patience and time," she spoke quietly to the two in the room, although her words were more directed to Jack. Milk dribbled from the end of the dropper and at first the kitten did little more than wipe its face, smearing milk across its fur.

In comfortable quiet she coaxed and coaxed, until the little thing finally opened its mouth and she was able to drop a bit of the milk on its tongue. After a few more minutes, it seemed to get the hang of it and was doing its best to suck on the end of the dropper, eager for more.

"Amazing," Jack breathed out, drawing closer as he watched the kitten muster a bit of strength so it could get its fill. Annabel warmed a bit at his words and Sebastian only watched silently.

"Here," Annabel offered, holding out the dropper, "You should know how to do this as well. He will need to eat quite often." Jack looked uncertain but he gathered both the kitten and the dropper, holding both awkwardly. Feeling amused, Annabel leaned in and helped guide his motions.

Although he wasn't quite as smooth and steady the stablehand picked up the act quickly and his head shot up to beam at her as suckling sounds filled the air. It was a fast gesture and both their eyes widened when they realized how close they were. Quickly, Annabel pulled back and smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her skirt. She really hoped he didn't get the wrong idea.

"I think he's falling asleep," Jack whispered, and sure enough the little kitten had begun to nod off, it's cute tiny mouth going slack around the dropper.

"I believe he's had enough," Annabel spoke softly with a smile. "There is still one last thing and it isn't as pleasant," she mused, grabbing the hand cloth that had been around the milk. Taking the kitten back, she first cleaned the milk dribbled from its mouth before turning the cloth to wipe over its bottom. "He'll need help with other bodily functions as well," she instructed, wiping softly until the kitten released its bladder.

She gathered up the blankets into more of a nest and placed the weary kitten in the center, near the warm hearth. "There," she spoke finally, sitting back on her heels. Jack looked amazed and rocked back as well. "He'll need to eat again in a couple hours," she told him and he nodded. Annabel knew it was a foolish thing to try and save this one kitten but the thought of leaving it to probably die was not something she could abide.

"What are you going to name it?" Jack asked her and she shook her head at his words.

"Let's wait to see if he makes it to open his eyes. Then we can choose a name," she replied, not wanting to get hers or Jack's hopes up. The odds weren't the best.

"I best be getting back to my chores then," Jack spoke, obviously hesitant to leave until Annabel gave him an encouraging nod. The young man stood and left, quietly shutting the door behind him.

Once he was gone, Sebastian finally knelt down next to her, his crimson eyes focused on the tiny grey bundle, nestled into the blankets. "What can you hope to gain by helping it?" he asked curiously, turning his gaze to her.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Why should I seek to gain something Sebastian?" she questioned back, looking away from him and into the crackling fire. "Although, perhaps I seek to balance the scales," she continued her voice growing softer, "Why not help this one innocent life if I can? After all, I will be taking much more from his world before I leave it."

He was quiet beside her and she wondered if he was pondering the words. She sensed his movement as he gathered up the bottle and things before he set them on the table by the nearby wing-back chairs.

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Sebastian left her be for the rest of the day and she used it to begin planning out their impending visit to her hometown. First she wrote out a list of the people that deserved her retribution in order of severity then began to decide their ultimate fates. She took breaks often to either feed herself, or more often, the kitten.

By that evening, she was rather exhausted and welcomed the coming bath that Sebastian drew up for her. It was welcome against the chill that was trying to pervade the house and she let out a deep sigh when she sank into the steaming water, her red hair piled atop her head haphazardly.

Just when she'd closed her eyes, Annabel heard a soft knock on her door before it cracked open. "Forgive the intrusion my lady," Sebastian's voice spoke from the hall, "But I have the box with the kitten inside."

Instinctively she stiffened, overly conscious of her own nudity and sank deeper into the tub. And yet, she had ordered him to bring the kitten to her chambers. She just hadn't expected him to do it right now. "Come in," she finally spoke, her voice quiet, but she knew he would hear her. In his arms, Sebastian held a small crate with blankets overflowing from the sides.

To his credit, Sebastian didn't so much as leer in her direction when he entered. He was completely impassive as she took in the crate he held in one hand as well as the milk in his other. "Can you handle feeding him?" she asked, raising a brow mockingly. His crimson eyes shifted down to the kitten and then back up to hers.

"I am capable of whatever task you require my lady," he replied coolly, walking forward to pass by the tub she was sitting in. Annabel's hands gripped the basin's edges hard, fighting the urge to cover herself. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her so uncomfortable.

He set the wooden crate down in front of the hearth before moving to build up the fire, allowing a fresh wave of heat to pour forth. Leaning her chin against the edge she allowed her green eyes to follow his movements, the water helping to ease her discomfort. If anything, watching his movements only made her feel warmer.

"Whatever task I require?" she repeated back to him, arching her brow playfully but keeping her lips from turning up. Sebastian paused before placing the fire poker back and turning back to face her.

"Of course my lady," he replied in his silken voice and she couldn't help but remember how it had felt when he'd drawn so close to her that morning, how he'd sighed after breathing her in. "What is it you require?" he asked, his voice dropping a notch before he was suddenly at her side.

She twitched in surprise, cursing inwardly when she saw his lip curl upwards. The bastard loved seeing her squirm. She was just about to chastise him or send him away when he lifted a gloved hand to his mouth and pulled the glove free with his teeth in a decidedly erotic fashion.

Annabel's mouth when completely dry as he mimicked the move with his other hand and then his fingers began to slowly unbutton his waistcoat, revealing the white linen shirt beneath. Had she missed something? "Umm... Sebastian?" she questioned, not sure what she was planning on asking.

He continued, his eyes on hers as he shrugged free of the black waistcoat, draping it carefully over the nearby stool. "Yes my lady?" he asked softly, slowly rolling up the white sleeves of his shirt. His nails were oddly black, in sharp contract to the pale skin of his fingers and she was utterly mesmerized by his every movement.

What was she going to ask him? The firelight was dancing over his features, lending him an ethereal glow. "What are you doing Bastian?" she questioned, her voice breathy and whisper quiet.

Kneeling down beside her, he reached forward and she couldn't move, completely under his spell. Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers moved to her hair and he pulled out the clip, allowing it to cascade down her back and into the water. "I am merely tending to your needs, my lady," he replied, his mouth turned into a wicked smirk as he gripped her hair and pulled her head back gently to dip it into the water.

An exhale left her in a rush as both his hands wove to massage through her hair and over her scalp. She was acutely aware that at this angle, her breasts would undoubtedly be on display but she could do nothing but close her eyes and let out a subdued moan as his touch worked over her skin. This was ten times better than when he styled her hair. Her body seemed to crave even the barest touch.

Suddenly boneless, she allowed him to maneuver her by her head and neck so that her back was to him and then he lifted her hair from the water. The scent of roses filled her nostrils as he upended shampoo onto her head and she kept her eyes closed as his fingers worked it in.

Heat curled in her belly like molten lava and she felt more relaxed than she'd been in her entire life. It was positively sinful. Gently he dipped her back down, allowing water to cleanse away the soapy mixture with his gentle ministrations. His fingers worked her scalp and then the nape of her neck, sending tingles down her spine each time he brushed the mark they shared.

When he lifted her head from the water he leaned in close to the shell of her ear before whispering, "Would you like me to continue mistress?" Holy hell. His words sent a thrill of pleasure straight to her core and it served to jolt her from her inaction. She wanted to say yes and she couldn't keep that truth from herself. It sat on the tip of her tongue as if begging to be spoken.

"No Sebastian," she replied stiffly and her entire body ached at the words, "You've done enough. Fetch me a towel." Even though she couldn't see him, she could practically feel his smug amusement from behind her before she heard him rise. Damn it. Her body had betrayed her and he had won this round. This had been the most erotic experience of her entire life. Granted she didn't have much to draw upon.

Sebastian returned to her line of sight, holding a thick white towel spread open in invitation while his crimson eyes sparkled with mirth and challenge. How much more could she handle from him today? He played dirty which was no surprise. She would need to figure out what made him uncomfortable at some point.

Keeping her features schooled into a firm glare, Annabel gripped the edges of the basin and pulled herself to stand. The sound of the water cascading down her body to splash into the bath stretched between them as she held his gaze. Heat from the fire warmed her backside as well as the room, making it impossible to blame the way her dusty pink nipples tightened to hard peaks on a chill in the air. He stepped forward without looking down, wrapping the fabric snug around her torso before taking her hand so she could step out onto the wood floor.

With supernatural speed he moved the chair from her vanity to in front of the fire, holding a comb in his grip as he beckoned her towards it. Annabel eyed him warily, her instincts making her muscles tense momentarily before she stepped into the waiting chair, clutching the towel close. With delicate hands, Sebastian combed and dried her hair in front of the heat of the fire, lulling her into closing her eyes. When he'd finally finished she let out a gentle sigh, slowly reopening her eyes to see Sebastian cleaning up the remnants of her bath.

It was a good thing she had gotten something out of their bargain. With such skillful hands she may have sold her soul just for his touch. It was dangerous how easily he could manipulate her.

While he cleaned, Annabel went to the crate and looked in to see everything needed to feed the kitten. It had woken up, letting out gentle cries if hunger so she quickly scooped him up, choosing to feed him before she got dressed for bed.

At last, once everything had been cleaned and the ball of fur tucked into it's blankets to sleep, Annabel stood and went to the bed where Sebastian had laid out her nightgown. He had left for the moment so she quickly changed and folded the towel, moving to set it on the vanity.

The notes she'd made for their trip to her former home lay on the vanity as well and she brushed her fingers over the names she'd inked onto the paper. The name that stood out the most to her was the town's mayor, Richard Mason. She was planning on saving him for last. She wanted him to fear his impending demise.

Turning, her emerald eyes met the crimson ones of her demonic butler, not missing the hungry way he stared. Sebastian made no attempt to appear abashed by her discovery but instead walked to her bedside with a tray of tea in his hands. He set it on the nightstand before turning down her sheets.

"I've brought you some chamomile tea my lady," he offered, gesturing to her bed. Annabel nodded and padded around to climb into the four poster bed, taking no small pleasure in the thick plush bedding. Resting her back against the headboard she waited quietly as he poured her a cup.

Taking it and then a tentative sip she finally spoke, "I want you to wake me when the kitten needs to be fed and ensure there's enough firewood to keep the room warm through the night," she ordered and he gave a small incline of his head.

"As you wish mistress," he spoke, low and smooth. She wondered if he even slept. After drinking most of the tea she handed it back and he retreated from the room, tray in tow. Although her mind raced with plans, it took almost no time at all for her to succumb to sleep.

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Seeing her naked lithe body, backlit by the flames in the hearth had granted his young mistress the appearance of a hellish nymph. She was truly mouthwatering in more ways than one and the anticipation of having her had begun to plague his every thought. And then he'd walked back in to taste her vengeance on the air as she'd looked over her notes. Delicious.

The demon currently known as Sebastian Michaelis was laying on the bed beside his fiery mistress as she slept, breathing in the scent of her. He was propped on an elbow, stretched out on his side as he watched the low flames from across the room dance over her face. She enticed him, even in sleep, and he ran a bare hand along the fabric of her neckline.

Annabel let out a sweet whimper of torment, clearly beseeched by nightmares as she was most nights and he relished her troubled moans. He couldn't help but wonder if pleasure would elicit such tempting sounds.

A tiny mewling cry suddenly sounded from the small crate at the other end of the room and in the blink of an eye he stood over it. Peering down, he looked upon the fragile grey thing within that could've been described as pitiful were he capable of feeling such a weak emotion as pity.

Bending down, Michaelis scooped up the squirming thing and, for a moment, debated squeezing the life out of it. It would've been simpler than breathing and would eliminate this unnecessary distraction from his mistress's life.

Teetering on the edge of a decision, he felt the way the creature tried to nurse on his skin. The slight sensation gave him pause and a moment later he was seating himself at the end of the bed, kitten in hand. Hunger was something he understood well. It connected all of them.

Using a sharp black nail, he made a shallow slice on his opposite pinky finger. Dark blood welled up to flow from the cut and he held the finger up to the kitten's mouth. Blindly searching, it was rather quick to latch on, nursing the wound with increasing vigor.

He didn't know why he did it for certain but then he heard Annabel's earlier words echo in his mind. Why should I seek to gain something Sebastian? Perhaps there needn't be a reason for his action. If anything this could prove entertaining. Smirking, Sebastian allowed the tiny thing to drink its fill before placing it back into the box and returning to Annabel's side. He looked forward to the upcoming trial of her revenge.