A/N: Hi, friends! Golly, it's been quite some time since I last updated this guy, huh? Well, I've been working my little fingers to the bone for the past couple days and I'm going to bring you another update! This should be the last one. The end of all endings. And I promise there's going to be a hell of a plot twist at the end that'll be the most perfect note to end on. So, since it has been a while, how about a quick recap? Bingers need not continue. Just jump right to the story. But if you're in real time…

Where we last left off, Cierra was about to go out for the evening with one of her roommates while Sebastian provides the soundtrack for her finding her soulmate. And all after an exhausting day of getting ready for it. That's pretty much all you need to know for now. Get to reading. I'll see you at the end.

Also, a quick heads up, there is a little bit of dubcon in this. I'll give you a little warning before we see it.

I hated clubs. With a burning passion. Granted, going clubbing is what got me Sebastian, but still. Sweaty, drunk idiots and fuckboys as far as the eye could see. I swear to God, if I heard one more pick up line, I was going to shoot myself. Hey, baby. Did it hurt when you fell from Heaven? No. But chipping a nail while I clawed my way out of Hell hurt like a bitch, though. That usually got them to go away. After a while, they were just getting sad. They weren't even creative.

"I don't know about this, Sebastian," I hung around the DJ booth.

"No need to lose faith so quickly, Cierra," Sebastian tried his best to keep me optimistic, "At least attempt to have a little fun. Pretend if you must."

"Here, Cierra," Laurel gave me some sort of concoction, "Drink this. It'll make people less stupid and make you more fun."

"What is it?" I choked on it.

"A mojito," she told.

"Thank you, Laurel," Sebastian kept spinning.

"No problem!" she chirped, "Now, if you're not going to look for your guaranteed lay for the night, I'm going to find someone to pay for the rest of my drinks tonight."

"Make good choices," I cringed, "Use protection. If you need a ride to the clinic, let me know."

"I'll make some good ones if you make some bad ones," Laurel nudged me. Then, she ran off to find the evening's sugar daddy. Laurel was young and cute. It wasn't going to take her long.

Me on the other hand? I still looked like a freshly peeled potato. I went into this night thinking I looked hotter than hell. But now? Now, the more I sat here, the more depressed I got. I just wanted to go home. Morgan had the right idea. At this point, a big ass bag of Cheetos and Netflix sounded a whole hell of a lot better than this cesspool of sheer stupidity.

"Sebastian," I sighed out, "Can we go yet?

"We just got here," he pointed out, "And I can't leave here until my set is over and I get my money."

"Damn..." I grumbled, downing the rest of that mojito Laurel gave me, "I'm going to get another one of these. They're not really all that bad. Pray for me."

"Irony, Cierra."

"I know," I left Sebastian to his work and made myself comfortable. I'm sure his heart was in the right place, but this was pointless. I wasn't getting anyone worth calling a soulmate. And if I did think any of these morons were even coming close to that, we'd be stopping by the hospital on the way home to make sure I didn't have an aneurysm. Then again, after my seventh mojito, anyone was looking pretty good.

"You need another one?" the bartender offered.

"Keep them coming, sister," I groaned.

"Sister?" he chuckled, "I'm a dude and I'm pretty sure we're not related, but ok. I can go with that."

"Sorry," I let out a heavy, depressed sigh, "My usual bartender is a chick and my roommate. Habit."

"You ok?" he asked, sliding my mojito across the bar.

"Oh, yes," I rolled my eyes, "So I can be even more of a cliché by whining to the bartender about how I'm going to die alone."

"I don't think you're going to die alone," he tried making me feel better.

"How would you know?" I scoffed, "You've never met me before. How can you be so sure I won't?"

"Call it intuition," he started mixing someone else's drink, "There's something special about you."

"Don't you sound like a Hallmark card," I wasn't falling for the bartender's bullshit. He was probably just like the others in here. All he wants is one thing and that's my panties on his ceiling fan. No, thank you.

"Come on," he whined a bit, "I'm trying to be sincere here."

"Alright then," I threw him a bone, "Deduce me. Tell me what you think my life story is and I'll tell you how wrong you are."

"Alright," he looked me over, "You really don't want to be here."

"Wow, Sherlock," I rolled my eyes, "I'm so impressed."

"I wasn't done," he went on, "You came up to my bar saying you were going to die alone, so you're in here looking for love. But you're in here against your will, so I'm assuming one of two things. Either it was a messy break up where dishes and cutlery were thrown or there was some infidelity going on. How on the mark am I so far?"

"Keep going" I insisted. Damn, this guy was good.

"You'd much rather meet the love of your life in a coffeehouse," his eyes kept scanning me over, "Maybe he's sitting outside with a cigarette and a thick novel. Tolstoy, perhaps. Or maybe Hawthorne. And you admire him from a distance for a while. That is, until you're working on a novel of your own and your publisher has you by the balls to get your next couple chapters in. So, you have your face buried in your laptop. And all he can notice is you. How cozy your mint green, chunky knit sweater you're drowning in looks on you. Your eyes glued to your computer screen. Your occasional breaks to sip from your green tea with a heavy squeeze from the honey bear. But then, you realize him sitting there, watching you work, completely enthralled by you. And he wins you over just by saying hello."

"Oh my God," I wasn't sure if it was his words or the booze kicking in, but I got a little emotional, "That was beautiful."

"So?" he wondered, "How'd I do?"

"Nail on the head," I wiped my eyes, "Only thing you got wrong was my tea. I go more for a good earl grey over a green tea. And he wouldn't be smoking. I was asthmatic when I was a kid and the smell of it makes me nauseous."

"I don't smoke," the bartender smiled at me, "And I have earl grey tea."

"Here?" This club didn't strike me as the type to have tea on hand.

"At my apartment." There was the catch.

"And let me guess," I figured, "I can have some if I go home with you."

"I never said that."

"Implications."

"I don't even know your name," he made me another drink, "But I'd really like to...If you don't mind."

"And if I do?" I wonder how long I can fuck with this guy before he gives up on me...

"Then, I'll have to ask you for your ID," he told, "Just to make sure you're old enough to be pounding those mojitos like they're going out of style."

"You should've asked that before you started serving me," I fought back, "Now, if I was underage, you'd not only lose your job, but you'd be arrested for contributing to the delinquency of a minor."

"Only if you were under eighteen."

"And then, there would be you flirting with me," I pushed, ""We didn't do anything, but it could still be construed as sexual harassment. You might want to think of another way of finding my name."

"Did you come here alone?" he asked.

"No."

"I'm sure whoever you came here with would tell me." This mother fucker was getting crafty on me, "Who here belongs to you?"

"No one," I wasn't going to tell him a single word, "If you're so smart, you can figure it out."

"Well," he droned, "I saw you talking with the DJ. Obviously not your boyfriend or you wouldn't have whined about never finding love, but you're familiar with each other. I bet he knows your name."

"He does," I confirmed, "But he won't tell you."

"He wasn't the one to drag you here," the bartender glanced up at Sebastian, "No...Even though he can keep a party going, he strikes me as the type that likes to stay home, too."

This guy was good. Sebastian gave me the same vibes when we met in London, "How are you going to find out who else I came here with?"

"She'll show herself," he figured, "Any minute now..."

"Dude!" Laurel showed her face, spilling her drink everywhere, "This is my fifth dirty martini tonight and I haven't paid a dime! I knew contouring the shit out of my tits was a good idea!"

"Really?" the bartender gave me a look of pure disbelief, "This one's with you?"

"Yeah," I brushed him off, "Laurel, honey, are you ok?"

"Oh, I'm plowed!" she chimed, "But this won't be the only way I'm getting plowed tonight. What about you? You getting any at all? I've seen a few guys on you, but they all left."

"Nothing," I pacified, "I've pretty much given up on the night."

"You!" Laurel shoved her finger in the bartender's face, "Are you single?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "Why?"

"There you go!" she nudged me, "Chat up the hot bartender!"

"I'm trying to," he had the biggest, shit eating grin on his face, "But she won't even tell me her name."

"Rude!" Laurel slurred, "This guy wants to talk to you and doesn't even know your name! This is..."

"Shut up, Laurel," I growled at her.

"Come on," the bartender begged, "Let the girl speak."

"I think it's time we go home," I took my drunk roommate by the arm.

"But Sebastian's not done with his set yet," she pointed out.

"It's almost done," I assured, hearing Sally's Ordinary World boom over the speakers. Sebastian usually ended his sets with my favorite song he's ever done.

"Ok!"

"Laurel, look at me," I got her to focus, "I want you to go up to the DJ booth and stay with Sebastian, got it?"

"But there's this guy," Laurel whined, "He's super fucking hot. He's the one buying my drinks. And he's got a penthouse with a pool and a hot tub on the roof. I can smell the old money on him. I think I may go home with him."

"No," I stopped her, "Remember what happened last time? You almost lost a kidney and I had to come and get you."

"Freshman year of college was such a magical time..." she sighed nostalgically, "I remember it like it was yesterday..."

"It practically was yesterday, dumbass," I prayed for this girl, "Now, I am not letting you walk of shame tomorrow morning. As soon as Sebastian's done, we're out of here."

"Fine, Mom," Laurel pouted, "I swear to God, Cierra. You're worse than Morgan."

"If Morgan were here," I finished my mojito, "She'd be encouraging you to go with old money. Not happening. Now, go by Sebastian before I have to beat you with a newspaper."

"Ok," Laurel dragged herself over to the DJ booth and I put my head down on the bar.

"Kids," I groaned, "What are you going to do?"

"I don't know," the bartender shrugged, "Don't have any."

"Neither do I," I told, "But her sister would kill me if I didn't bring her back in one piece."

"And if the DJ's almost over," he slid me another drink, "I guess that means good bye for us, doesn't it?"

"I guess so," I sipped on my mojito.

"In that case," a dirty little smirk appeared on the bartender's face, "It was a pleasure talking to you tonight, Cierra. And I hope to see you again soon?"

"Dammit," I grumbled to myself, "Laurel always was a chatty drunk."

"By the way," he took my hand and the pen out of his pocket, "This is me. I really hope this isn't the last time we see each other."

"Since you know mine," I blushed, "You think you could tell me whose number you just gave me?"

"Elijah," he smiled, "But call me Eli. I'm free tomorrow night. You?"

"I don't think I have anything," I looked in my phone. Nothing.

"Cierra," Sebastian came up behind me, "It's time to go. Laurel's completely gone. We should get her home."

"Good idea."

"Hello," my demon's head snapped up, looking over the guy behind the bar, "What's going on here?"

"Sebastian, this is Eli," someone had put a lighter under my skin, "Eli, this is my…friend…Sebastian."

"You're friends with the DJ…" Eli pointed out the obvious.

"Yeah," I nodded, "Is that a problem?"

"No," he shook it off.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Eli," Sebastian started emanating a dark shadow at his feet. I gave him a quick nudge in the ribs, "Yes…We should be going."

"I'll call you tomorrow, Eli," I promised.

"See you later, Cierra," he waved me off.

As soon as Sebastian got paid and I got Laurel's drunk ass to bed, we retired to my bedroom. Instead of riding out the high of a shit night that turned much better, I was more or less pissed, "What the hell was that all about?"

"What?" Sebastian gave me a look.

"You know damn well what," I snapped, "What was with you turning dark when I introduced you to Eli?"

"That was the demon coming out, Cierra," he explained himself, "Forgive me. I thought I had a better handle on it."

Exhausted and exasperated, I threw myself on my bed, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"When was the last time you consumed a soul?" I wondered.

Sebastian was taken aback by my question, but obliged anyway, "It's probably been one hundred and fifty years since I last had a decent soul. Why?"

"Do I really make you that hungry?" I couldn't even look at him, "Is that why the demon came out?"

"Things with you and Eli certainly were a little touch and go for you, weren't they?" Sebastian abruptly changed the subject.

"I will admit," I confessed, "He was kind of a pain in the ass at first. After the dicks I had to wade through already tonight, I didn't want anything to do with anyone anymore. But then, we got to actually talking and I was kind of toying around with him for a while. That was fun. Once he broke the wall, Eli was really sweet. I think I'm going to actually go out with him. One date won't kill me, right?"

"It could," he assumed, "You don't know what he'll do. He could poison you, stab you, burn you alive."

"Sebastian," I rested my hand on his face, "It's endearing that you're being so protective of me, but I'm a big girl. I can handle myself. I'm pretty sure that Eli isn't going to poison, stab, or burn me alive. He seems pretty harmless."

"I'm just saying," he shrugged, "You never know."

"I doubt it," I rolled my eyes, "Can I go to sleep now? Or is someone going to stab, burn, or poison me while I'm sleeping?"

Sebastian grabbed a hold of my jaw again, "What did I say about the smart mouth, Cierra?"

"That you weren't going to put up with it?" I murmured.

"I thought so," he let me go, "Now, I suggest you get some sleep."

"That was the plan," I grumbled, untying my corset. Finally, I could breathe again. I peeled off my leather miniskirt and rolled over. It was bedtime. Even if it was three in the morning.

I felt a blanket being pulled over me, "Good night, Cierra. Rest well."

"Good night, Sebastian," I mumbled into my pillows. I was tired as hell and I needed to clock out for the night. Between shopping with Laurel all day and partying all night, I deserved this. But I still couldn't help but wonder what made Sebastian demon out. It may be a little early to say this yet, but did Sebastian know who my soulmate was? And the closer I got to him, the hungrier his inner demon got for my soul? And we were that much closer?

Maybe it was Eli. Maybe he's the one and I don't know it yet. Maybe Sebastian can see what destiny has for me before I do. And that's why we were at the club tonight. So destiny could unfold the way it was supposed to. Sebastian hasn't consumed a soul in so long. He's probably starving. Absolutely ravenous at this point. And he did say that my soul was a once in a lifetime thing. Maybe this is like a demon's equivalent of putting a hot pocket in the microwave.

Regardless, when I woke up the next morning, my usual coffee order sat by my bed along with a couple of aspirin. Bless you, Sebastian. Bless you. Yes, I realize the irony of that, but nevertheless, bless you. I grabbed my phone to check for any messages or damage receipts from last night. Fortunately, I didn't get too crazy last night, but the smudged ink on my hand had already been put into my contacts for me. I typed out a quick text to Eli asking if he wanted to meet up and threw myself into the shower with my coffee in hand.

"Good morning, Cierra," Sebastian chimed from the other side of the shower curtain, "How are you feeling this morning?"

"Sebastian!" I squeaked, "What the fuck are you doing in here?! I can't shower in peace?!"

"Might I ask your schedule for the day?"

"GET OUT!" I screeched, "THAT'S AN ORDER! GET OUT OF MY BATHROOM!"

"Yes," Sebastian obliged, shutting the door. I hope it smacked him on the ass on his way out.

I couldn't believe him. Did he have no boundaries? Was that just not a concept that registered in that idiotic, demon head of his? I got out of the shower and stared into the mirror in the medicine cabinet. One eye blue, one eye purple…I'd take it to my grave that I made a deal with a demon, but I can't help but wonder what Eli would say about it. It didn't really strike me as the overly religious type, so he won't exorcise Sebastian. Or me for that matter in attempts to break the contract and save my soul. I wanted this. Like Sebastian said, I'd just have to find the one that was worth selling my soul for.

"Morning," a little voice groaned in pure misery. Followed by all the noises associated with violently throwing up. Good thing I had a strong stomach. And clothes on.

"Oh, sweetie…" my heart broke, "What did we learn?"

"Cheap liquor and expensive liquor have the same effect the morning after."

"That's my girl," I felt so bad for Laurel, but I can't protect the baby forever, "Your sister go to work already?"

"Yeah," she rested her head on the edge of the toilet seat, "Hey, Cierra…"

"What, Laurel?"

"Do you have anywhere to go today?" she asked. I grabbed my phone off the edge of the sink to see that very thing, "Because I'm sick and needy and I shouldn't be left by myself."

Hey, Cierra! Good to hear from you! I honestly wasn't expecting to, but good to see you're in high spirits. I got some errands to run in town real quick, but I'd love to see you again. Four o'clock good for you?

"You got me until four," I smiled at my phone screen.

"What's at four?" the contents of Laurel's stomach came out again.

"I have a thing," I threw her a hand towel to wipe her mouth with, "You want me to make some breakfast?"

"Food sounds amazing," she sighed out, "Coffee, too. Lots."

"What do you want in it?" I asked, heading toward the kitchen.

"Surprise me," Laurel picked herself up off the floor and followed me, sitting at the island.

And in that moment, Laurel knew. She fucked up. I knew she was miserable and very complacent, but if there was one thing I knew how to do, it was making drinks of any kind. I was going to make my poor, hungover roommate a cup of coffee that would resurrect her.

Let's see…Espresso, for sure. Small. Bitter. Me in a drink form. Double shot. Laurel will thank me later. Now, she was cranky. I need something that would make her more pleasant. Mocha. Laurel was a sucker for chocolate. Never such a thing as too much. The more, the better. And a little bit of mint because I love her. Besides, it'll be good for her tummy, too. Breakfast. What was I going to make for Laurel? She's kind of a sugar junkie, so something sweet would probably tickle her fancy.

"Cierra," Sebastian was tucked away in the corner where I should have sent him, playing on his tablet, "Would you care for some help?"

"Don't worry about it," I brushed him off, staring into the fridge, "I got it. Not the first time I've made breakfast for either one of them after a hard night."

"Are you sure?" he got up, looking over my shoulder, "You do know I could have this done in almost seconds, right?"

"Sebastian," I stuck my finger in his face, "I got it. Besides, you saw me naked this morning. I'm still a bit upset with you."

"You'll get over it," he assured, "Now, what were you planning on making?"

I didn't even know. I had Laurel's coffee done. All I needed was food. I did another quick scan of the fridge. And found a box of cream cheese in the door. And a loaf of French bread on the top shelf. I ran over to the spices and kept my fingers crossed. Yes! Cinnamon! And vanilla! I'd do cartwheels if I wasn't afraid of hurting myself! I'm making French toast, bitches!

"Sebastian," I called out, "Wo you want to help me?"

"Always happy to help," Sebastian jumped at the opportunity, "How may I assist you?"

"Take and cut some bread for me," I ordered.

"My pleasure," he took the loaf out of the fridge, "Anything else I can do for you?"

"Just get the bread," I started mixing the batter, "I can manage the rest."

"Are you sure?" he worried, taking my whisk from me, "I would hate for those beautiful hands of yours to lose their soft touch. For those long, well-kept fingernails to chip and break. For the butter in the pan to snap and burn your glowing skin."

"I'll be fine," I promised, "And if I do end up getting burned, I'm sure you'll be able to take care of it."

"Of course I would," Sebastian smiled a little, "If I couldn't take care of a little burn for you, Cierra...Well, what kind of a-"

"Cierra," Laurel came shuffling out, "Coffee. Done. Is?"

"Wow," I gasped, "You really are dead inside, aren't you?"

"I'm in Hell," she put her head down on the island.

"No, you're not," I assured while Sebastian chuckled to himself, "And yes. Your coffee's done and taken care of."

"Will I be able to smell colors?" Laurel hoped, taking her cup from me.

"Oh yeah," I nodded, "When have I ever made you coffee and you couldn't smell colors afterward?"

"Good," she sighed out, "Because I got a call for a job interview this afternoon and I need to pull my shit together."

"Congratulations," I threw the block of cream cheese into my mixing bowl with the vanilla and the cinnamon, "Hey, Sebastian, I have another job for you."

"What is it?" he stood ready.

"Dice some apples for me," I demanded, "Fold them into the cream cheese. Laurel, do we have any brown sugar?"

"I don't know," she groaned, taking slow sips from her coffee.

"Evaporated milk!" I squeaked, "Dammit! We don't have any."

"Hold that thought." In the same breath, Sebastian dropped his knife and he was out the door. I really needed to hold onto this one. Something about having a demon in the back pocket was kind of nice.

"Hey, Cierra," Laurel picked her head back up, "Can I tell you something without you getting pissed at me?"

"Sure," I allowed, "What is it?"

"I really think you and Sebastian make a really cute couple," she confessed, "Whoever your thing at four is with, you should cancel and stay with Sebastian instead."

"No," I put my foot down, rolling a bottle of wine over the bread, "I don't think that's going to happen."

"Why not?" Laurel whined, "You're adorable together and when he looks at you, it's like there's no one else in the world."

"He does not," I rolled my eyes. If I didn't know any better, I'd think she was still drunk.

"Yes, he does," she assured, "Whenever you're not looking."

"That's nice, Laurel," I finished Sebastian's apple cutting job, "I'm still going to my thing at four. Sebastian practically set it up. With a little help from you."

"Are you going to meet up with the bartender?" Laurel pieced it together.

"You remember the bartender?" I gave her a look, "You were pretty plastered last night."

"Yes, I remember the bartender," she smirked, "Pretty face, great ass. Oh, I remember the bartender very well."

"That's nice, Laurel," I shook my head at her. I loved my roommate dearly, but she's lucky we didn't have an actual rolling pin.

"I thought I was supposed to be taking care of the apples," Sebastian snuck behind me.

"When did you get back here?" I jumped.

"Long enough to hear Laurel's appreciation for the young man behind the bar last night," he took the can opener out of the drawer and poured the can of evaporated milk into my sauce pan, "I'm assuming you have a date?"

"I do," I confirmed, "Is that alright?"

"Fine by me," Sebastian's shadow began to grow again, but quickly, it retracted. Maybe my theory was right. Maybe the closer I get to my soulmate, the hungrier Sebastian gets. And he's staring into the microwave while his hot pocket has thirty seconds left.

I made Laurel's stuffed French toast and drizzled the caramel over the top just the way she liked it. Granted, it was one o'clock in the afternoon, but I made roommate of the year for making her breakfast. All I needed to do now was get her into the shower, throw her in a sensible skirt, and ship her off to her interview. I swear, if I ever have kids one day, Laurel's given me a hell of a lot of practice.

I probably should be doing the same thing. Who's going to want someone with a degree in English literature that doesn't have any teaching under her belt? I had a guidance counselor tell me that I'd make an excellent event planner, but that involves too many people. I hate that Eli had me so pegged about my want to be a writer. Maybe a journalist. Then again, that involves too many people, too. I'm sure I'd find something eventually. Or better yet, something would find me.

Fretting over a job aside, I had something more pressing to attend to. Sebastian gave me a pat on the head and sent me off to my date with Eli. I had gotten a text from him earlier saying to meet him at this coffee shop downtown. I grabbed a table and a cup of earl grey and pulled a notebook out of my bag. I had been toying with an idea for a story in my head with a couple from Greek mythology. I wanted to see a story of Echidna and Typhon, the mother and father of all monsters, being cast down to Earth and reborn as mortal humans. I wonder if Sebastian could help me with that. He probably knows a thing or two about Greek myth.

I sat with my notebook and got started on it. Maybe there's a publisher out there willing to take a chance on someone with absolutely no name or reputation like me. Let's see. Echidna and Typhon. Do they know that they're Echidna and Typhon? Or did Zeus wipe their memories when they were turned mortal? Will they know each other? Will they have to meet again? Will any of their children make any appearances? And what time would this be set in? Would it be biblical? Would it be now? Where would it take place? Are they just two people on opposite ends of the globe that have to find each other? Will they team up to take on Zeus to get their power back? Would they even want it back? So many unanswered questions.

"I see someone's a sucker for Greek myth," a familiar voice broke my concentration.

"Hi," I smiled, putting my pen down, "Sorry. I needed something to pass the time."

"Have you been waiting long?" Eli asked, glancing down at my notebook, "Long enough to plot out an entire novel by the looks of things."

"I don't think I've been waiting long," I checked my phone.

"Sorry I'm late," he apologized, "I had to go on a booze run for the boss. Still had to work on my day off. At least I got a little overtime."

"Silver linings, I guess," I put my notebook back in my bag.

"So," a dirty little grin appeared on his face, "How right was I?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're drinking earl grey, aren't you?" Eli elaborated, "And you were working on your novel. All that was missing was the sweater."

"It's a little warm for a sweater," I pointed out. But then, it finally hit me, "You're talking about last night..."

"Bingo," he chimed, "And you said I'd be completely wrong."

"In my defense," I argued, "I was also a little drunk and bitchy last night."

"Don't I know it?" Eli chuckled, "What was with you last night? Or are you a little drunk and bitchy all the time?"

"Not usually," I assured, "That was because I had idiots hitting on me all night and my lack of self-esteem taking over."

"You shouldn't have a low self-esteem," he scolded lightly, "You're cute. You're sweet. You're intelligent."

"And you're stroking my ego," I assumed.

"And you have a sharp tongue," Eli took my hand, "I like that."

"Do you now?" I blushed.

"And I like you," he confessed, "I really like you, Cierra."

"How would you know?" I teased, "You barely know me. You've seen me drunk and bitchy and you've seen me withdrawn and focused. How do you know you like me?"

"Everything I've seen so far," Eli said, "I've liked. Even the bitterness. It only makes the sweetness stand out that much more. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," I allowed, "Shoot."

"If this goes well," he proposed, "Do you think we could do it again? Maybe at my place next time?"

"Your place?" my heart stopped. He was moving a little fast for my taste.

"It's just up the road," Eli directed, "My hole in the wall apartment. I promise I won't make any moves without your ok."

I thought back to the line at Heathrow. My last impulsive decision. Going to Ibiza. I wanted a drastic change. Why not make another impulsive decision? I had yet to regret this one, "Ok. I can do that."

"Awesome," he beamed, "You empty yet?"

"Yeah," I shook my cup, "I could stand another one."

"Honey or no?" Eli cleared my empty.

"Sugar's fine," I ordered.

And that's how we killed our afternoon. I really wasn't holding much hope for this date, but I'm glad we did it. Because it led to me nearly bursting into song out of pure joy a few times the following week. I hadn't been this happy in a very, very long time. I hadn't been this happy since…Well…Since I met Sebastian and he told me that Oliver had herpes. We didn't even make the three-day rule. After our first date, we went out the following night. It got to the point where the girls were asking questions.

"Hey, Cierra," Morgan sat at the island with her sister and a bottle of wine, "Come have a drink with us."

"I can't," I shot her down, "I have a thing tonight."

"Again?" Laurel wondered, "You've had a lot of things lately. It feels like we hardly see you anymore."

"It's obvious, isn't it?" Morgan pointed out, "Why she's been in such a good mood. Why we never see her. You're finally getting laid regularly, aren't you?"

"No!" I squeaked out of sheer embarrassment.

"But there's a guy," Laurel assumed, "It's the bartender."

"Yeah," I looked around for my other shoe, "He's taking me out tonight."

"This would make it date number three, right?" Morgan asked.

"Yeah," I nodded, "What about it?"

"She's getting some tonight," she chimed, "We all know what the third date means?"

"Good for you, Cierra," Laurel praised, "You should see this guy, Morgan. He's a babe."

"You do have condoms, right?" Morgan worried.

"Always do," I rolled my eyes, knowing Sebastian was the one to put them in my bag.

"A pair of clean panties?" she drilled, "I know I raised you well, Cierra."

"Yes," I swear to God. My own mother wouldn't be this hard on me.

"You really should stay home one of these nights," Laurel begged, "We miss you! We've had to use Sebastian as a stand-in."

"Not that we mind," Morgan undressed my demon with her eyes, "But I'm sure Sebastian can only take so much ugly crying from Grey's Anatomy."

"I can only take so much ugly crying from Grey's Anatomy," I shared his implied disdain, "Why else would I be out so much lately?"

"I honestly don't mind," Sebastian chimed in, "It's not like I pay attention. I found it repetitive after the second season."

"That season had the code black episode!" Laurel squeaked, "If you don't cry at least once through it, you have no soul."

"I guess I have no soul then," he chuckled at his own dark joke, "Not my first choice for television programming."

"We can't watch Grey's Anatomy," Morgan argued, "Yet you can binge Downton Abbey until four in the morning?"

"I never said you couldn't watch it," Sebastian defended, "I'm merely saying I'd rather not."

"See?" Morgan pouted, "This is why you need to be home more often, Cierra! You'd be the one to settle these things. And you can't stand doctors bickering back and forth while saving lives, but you'll deal with whiny, bitchy, pain in the ass British nobles?"

"Gives me a sense of home and warm nostalgia," he told. After the reading I did on Ciel Phantomhive, I'm not surprised.

"While you three are having your little pissing contest about the TV," I let them fight it out, "I have a date with Eli."

"What's his last name?" Morgan asked, grabbing her phone.

"No," I stopped her, "You're not cyber stalking Eli."

"Come on, Cierra," Laurel whined, "We cyber stalked Sebastian!"

"Excuse me?" the demon in the corner perked up, "What did you do with Sebastian?"

"What's his last name?" she took her sister's phone.

"I don't know," I lied.

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way," Laurel threatened, "Either you give me his last name or I can go through every Eli that lives in the New Haven area. I know I was pretty trashed, but I can remember his face."

"Happy searching," I wished them off, "I should be home tonight. I'm not staying with him. Good luck. Sebastian, keep an eye on them."

"I will," he obliged, "Call if you need me."

"Ok," I left the three of them to their search for Eli online and their Grey's Anatomy and waited outside for him. Eli pulled up in his little black Camaro and brought me to a very secluded section of the park by the lake.

"Eli," I gasped, "This is gorgeous."

"I used to come here all the time when I was a kid," he told, "This was my home every summer. Not many know about this spot."

"It's perfect," I wrapped my arms around his.

"It's a special night," Eli kissed my cheek, "How long do you think we've been a we?"

"A couple weeks?" I figured, doing the math in my head.

"It's weird, though," he took my hands, "I feel like we've known each other since we were kids."

"I guess I can see that," I could understand a little where he was coming from. We came from the same town, went to the same college. It was astounding we've never met. Although, the more we got to know each other, the more something felt off.

But he was my soulmate. If he's enough to make the demon come out of Sebastian, I guess I couldn't say no. And all I wanted to do was spend as much time with Eli as I could. A small part of me was still a bit skeptical, but what could I say? Eli made it really easy to fall in love with him.

"Couldn't have picked a more beautiful night," he held me against his chest as the two of us stared into the vast and sparkling void, "And I couldn't have picked a more beautiful girl to spend it with."

"I picked you, thank you very much," I clarified, "I called you and said yes. I could've just deleted your number and washed my hand off. But I didn't."

"Fair enough," Eli agreed, "How about we just chalk this one up to fate?"

"You believe in fate?" I gave him a look.

"Big time," he nodded, "I think everything happens for a reason and I think you falling into my lap at the club was destiny."

"Destiny, huh?" I sighed out.

"Yeah," Eli gave me the most gentle kiss, "I love you, Cierra. I know it might seem a little soon to say that, but I do."

"I love you, too," I cuddled into his rib cage. Like I said, he made it hard not to.

"And it makes me happy to hear you feel the same," he smiled, "Let's go back to my place, yeah?"

I thought it over for a minute or two. This made me nervous. Relax, Cierra. He's supposed to be your soulmate, remember? He's the reason you saw the demon, "When do we leave?"

I slid into the passenger seat and we took off back downtown. I had never been to Eli's place yet. Not all that surprised he lived in a loft. I liked it. A little too industrial for my taste, but I'm sure if I had an afternoon to kill, I could make it a bit more tolerable. I'm sure that once I moved in, Eli would let me play a little. Isn't that what relationships were all about? Compromise? Give and take and all that Hallmark bullshit?

"Here we are," Eli threw his keys on the kitchen counter, "Home sweet home."

"Cozy," I complimented.

"Well," he wrapped his arms around my waist, "Now that we're here, what should we do?"

"I don't know," I wiggled out of his embrace, "I could use a drink."

"Sure," Eli cracked open a bottle of wine, "You know, Cierra, it is our third date tonight."

****DUBCON RED FLAG. HERE'S YOUR WARNING. IT'S COMING UP****

"Yeah," I sipped slowly on the cabernet in front of me, "I know."

"And you and I have this connection," he took my hands, "I could feel it earlier. We're two souls that are meant to become one. Like we should be bound together."

"Uh-huh," I shook in his grasp. My heart felt like it was being out of my chest. What the hell was this?

"I want to show you something," Eli said, leading me up the stairs, "Is that alright?"

"Sure," I nodded. Not that I really had much choice in the matter. We were already halfway upstairs. By the looks of things, I was about to see his bedroom.

"Go ahead," Eli insisted, "Make yourself comfortable."

"Ok," I kicked my heels off and sat on the bed that practically swallowed me whole. My god, this was comfortable.

Click!

"What the hell?" I chirped, noticing the shiny new bracelet around my wrist. And the other end of it was attached to the head board, "Eli, what are you doing?"

"Shh..." he hushed me, "I told you I wanted to show you something. And with our kindred spirits, I wanted to see what you looked like all bound up."

"Excuse me?"

"I never told you to speak," Eli scolded, "And you want to be a good girl for me. Now, give me your foot."

"No," I growled, "Get this off me."

"Wrong answer," he dug in the trunk at the foot of his bed and held a black belt in his hand, "I don't want to have to use this on you, Cierra. But if I must..."

THWWAAPP!

Eli had flipped me over and snapped the leather against my ass, sending a shock through my body. Damn near bringing tears to my eyes. I didn't like that at all. I had heard of people doing this, but for someone as sheltered and vanilla as I am, I wasn't liking this in the least bit. I didn't have a pain kink. But by the way things appear to be going here, Eli did.

"Now," he stood his ground, "Give me your foot."

I did as he said and kept my mouth shut. I figured that'd be the best way to get through this. It's not like we were going to do anything. He said he just wanted to see what I looked like bound to his bed. That's all he wants. Then, I can grab my coat and leave. And probably go a while before I see him again. This was the guy that was supposed to be my soulmate? He was enough to make the demon deep within Sebastian come out? Maybe he's the one that's going to push me out of my comfort zone and make me a better, stronger person in the end.

Ring, ring.

"What the fuck…" Eli snarled, "Is that your phone?"

I nodded, not entirely sure if I should speak yet. He dug around in my bag to shut my phone up. When Eli caught a glimpse of the screen, his eyes turned red.

"The DJ? Doesn't he know you're fucking busy? I swear to God, it's like he thinks he's your dad…" Eli got down in my face, "But the only one you'll be calling Daddy tonight is me. Answer it. Put it on speaker."

"Hello?" I answered shakily.

"Cierra?" Sebastian sounded worried, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," I lied, telling him exactly what I was told to say, "Why?"

"Are you sure?" he asked, knowing that something was amiss.

"Get rid of him," Eli mouthed to me.

"I'm sure," I assured, "I'm a little tied up with Eli at the moment, Sebastian. Could I call you back?"

"Of course, Cierra," I could hear his smirk in his voice. Thank God, it clicked, "Do you need anything? I'll be going to the market soon."

"Yeah," I said, "You know what I like. Thank you, Sebastian."

"No need to thank me," he brushed me off, "I'll get exactly what you need."

"Hang up," Eli demanded silently.

I hung up with Sebastian and threw my phone aside. He couldn't get here soon enough. But I knew Sebastian was on his way. Talking in code was a beautiful thing. Eli dug through his trunk again. This time, he brought out another leather strap, only this one had a bright red ball on it.

"Do you know what this is?" Eli asked. I shook my head, "Of course you don't. Fucking virgins...This is a ball gag. The next time you speak without my permission, baby girl's going to get this in her mouth and a swat on her ass with the riding crop. Do we understand each other? Speak."

"Yes," my voice shook.

"Say yes, Daddy."

"Yes, Daddy," I never would've guessed this from him. The mild-mannered bartender with the beautiful words. And this is supposed to be my soulmate?

"There we go," Eli spoke softly and sweetly to me, "You see how much easier things are when you listen to Daddy? When you submit to me? When you're my good girl? I should reward you. All I need is an idea of what to do with you."

Eli ran his finger up my jaw, playing with a strand of my hair. I shivered under his touch. Sebastian was taking too damn long, "You know, baby girl, I think you should get extensions. Short hair doesn't suit you. It makes you look like a guy. The color does, though. I like it dark. But longer. Much longer. And pigtails. I don't know why, but I picture you with pigtails. What am I saying? Handlebars."

Knock, knock.

"Who the hell…?" Eli jumped, strapping the ball gag in my mouth, "I'm sorry, Cierra. But you can't be trusted to not scream for whoever's at the door. This is for your own good."

Dammit. He knew. But unlike him, I knew who was on the other side of the door. I could feel it in my right eye. A slight twinge that offered the most comfort since the smack to my ass. I knew who was on the other side, "Can I help you?"

"Hello, Eli," Sebastian greeted him, "I was in the neighborhood and wondered if Cierra was still here."

"No," he lied, "She was getting tired, so she went home."

"Strange," Sebastian called him out, "Because I just got off the phone with one of her roommates and she said Cierra wasn't there."

"You must have just missed her, man," Eli tried closing the door, but Sebastian's foot wasn't letting him, "What the fuck is your problem?"

"You, mostly," Sebastian growled, "I don't take very kindly to liars. Considering what I am, I reckon that makes me a hypocrite. However, that's something I can live with. And my most hated kind of liar is the kind that keeps me away from the ones I care for. Cierra, whenever you're ready, give me the orders."

I felt the handcuffs holding me to Eli's bed loosen as the fell to the floor. Almost immediately, I ripped the ball gag out of my mouth and called out downstairs, "Sebastian, this is an order! Get me the fuck out of here! By any means necessary!"

"Yes, Mistress," Sebastian's footsteps moved quickly toward the stairs.

"I think not," Eli stopped him, "You leave my girlfriend alone."

"Excuse me," Sebastian floored him, "I have strict orders from the young lady upstairs to take her away from here. And you're impeding my progress."

"You walk into my house and try to take my girl?" Eli snapped, "That's when I turn into a really big asshole."

"No," Sebastian came back, "You've been the really big asshole since I walked in."

It made me giddy to hear Sebastian curse so openly like that. I looked forward to giving him shit about it later. But now wasn't the time for that. I could gush later, but for now, I just wanted to leave. Not necessarily even go home. Just anywhere else but here.

"I didn't want to do this," Eli growled in attempts to sound threatening, hilariously unaware he was going toe to toe with a demon.

"This is the part where you expect me to beg for my life, isn't it?" Sebastian assumed, "Before we do this, could you point me in the direction of your silverware?"

"What?" Eli questioned his sanity, "Why the hell would you want to know that?"

"Because," Sebastian explained, searching Eli's kitchen, "I don't beg. Cierra, you did say by any means necessary, yes?"

"Yes!" I squeaked, "Enough of the foreplay!"

"Understood," he went on, "But I don't beg. It's very unbecoming. Although, I do rather enjoy the begging of others. Again, your silverware? I have a soft spot for butter knives in these situations."

"What are you on?" Eli wondered, "Molly? Acid? PCP? All of the above?"

"No," Sebastian told him, "My drug of choice is a good cup of tea and a cat purring on my lap. You're merely underestimating me. I can't really fault you, though. You're so blissfully ignorant of what I am."

"What do you mean?" Eli scoffed, "You're just a DJ."

"Oh, no," he corrected, finally finding what he was looking for, "I'm much more than that. You see, Eli, I'm one hell of a DJ. Among other things."

In the next breath, Eli was pinned to the wall by five butter knives, "What the hell?! How did you...?"

"Now, if you'll excuse me," Sebastian bowed out and finished his ascent up the stairs, "Are you alright, Cierra? He didn't rough you up too bad, did he?"

"Other than the belt to my ass, the ball gag, and the mental scars," I grumbled, "I'm ok. You took your sweet time getting here."

"I'm just glad you're not fatally injured," he cradled me, "Shall we?"

"Sebastian..."

"Yes, Cierra..."

"Can you wipe someone's memory?" I asked.

"Yes," he nodded, "Would you like me to take care of him?"

"Please."

Sebastian carried me downstairs and waved his hand over Eli's eyes, effectively knocking him out, "He'll wake up thinking this was all a very vivid dream. Also, he'll never approach you again. I put some very colorful imagery in his head."

"Thank you," I rested my head on his chest, "Can we go now?"

"Yes," Sebastian agreed, "Would you like to go home?"

"Not yet," I sighed out, "I need tea. Large quantities."

"I can do that."

Sebastian and I left Eli's apartment and scoured New Haven for anything open. We had a choice between Denny's, Dunkin Donuts, and Bea's twenty-four-hour diner that usually housed half a dozen truckers at this hour. But tonight was different. It was practically empty. The waitresses were playing poker at the counter when we walked in.

"No need to trouble yourselves, ladies," Sebastian stopped them as they scrambled to get up, "Go back to your card game."

"Thank you!"

He came out of the kitchen with a cup of tea for me and the two of us spent the remainder of the evening holed up in a corner booth away from the poker game. I laid my aching head on the table, "I don't understand, Sebastian."

"Understand what?" he wondered.

"I thought he was the one," I got all choked up, "I thought Eli was supposed to be my soulmate. He was enough to make your demon half come out. I never thought he'd be like this."

"Are you crying?" Sebastian ran his thumb across my cheek, "Oh, no, Mistress. There is no need for this. What would my demon half coming out have anything to do with finding your soulmate?"

"I thought that was a sign you were getting hungrier for my soul," I assumed, "That the closer I got to my soulmate, the sooner you'd be able to consume me."

"No..." he let out a very heavy sigh, "Do you want to know the real reason why my demon half came out when you met Eli?"

"Why?"

"It was jealousy, Cierra," Sebastian confessed, "Do you remember what I said when we first met? How you reminded me of someone I knew?"

"Ciel Phantomhive," I remembered, "Yeah. What about him?"

"I loved him," he went on, "Just like how I love you. Eli isn't your soulmate, Cierra, because it's me. The sheer beauty of your soul is what drew me to you. Granted, I've had some moments where I never wanted to see your face again, but they were just that. Moments. Brief snippets of time that were overshadowed by the rest of how incredibly wonderful you are. How ridiculously complex you can be. That's the thing about humans. No matter how horrible things are, they always keep trying. I want you, Cierra. Not just your soul. That isn't something that happens every day."

"You..." Sebastian had me completely stunned, "You love me?"

"Very much so," he took my hands, "When we were in Ibiza together and you were recovering from the seal in your eye, I could've very easily have taken your soul right then and there, but I didn't. I was hoping you'd realize who you were meant to spend the rest of your life with as soon as you woke up, but it took you a while. So, I sat quietly in the shadows, waiting for you to wise up. Then, when you met Eli and I could see it in your eyes that you were falling so hard, so fast, I got jealous."

"And that's when the demon came out..."

"Precisely," Sebastian nodded, "Look, I understand if you don't wish to spend the rest of your life with a demon like me, but it's much better than the rest of your life with a monster like him."

This was quite a bit to process. And I wasn't quite sure how to feel. All I knew was in that moment, I had never felt so safe and so loved in my life. And all because of a damn demon! However, Sebastian did have a point. Eli needed a good shot to the balls for what he was going to do to me. And if I didn't have Sebastian, I probably would've had so many more mental scars that I didn't want to have to deal with, "So, in other words...You want to renegotiate my contract?"

"Yes," he confirmed, "Instead of me helping you find your soulmate, you accept me as your soulmate. In return, I can grant you eternal life by my side. Just you and me. Yes, you will see everyone you know and love die someday. You and I can never have children together, so your DNA will never be passed on the traditional way. But I promise that you'll always have me. Any time of the day. Any day of the week. And I will always keep you safe. You will be my master for the rest of eternity."

"Sebastian..."

"Yes, Cierra?"

I hid a little smile on my face, "Did you just propose to me?"

"In a manner of speaking," he shrugged, "Are you saying yes? Do you accept the terms of our new contract?"

"Will you still eat my soul?"

"How else am I going to make you live eternally?"

"In that case," I leaned over the table, pushing my lips against his, "I accept."

"Very well then," Sebastian smiled, "I should probably remove the branding from your eye."

"No," I shook my head, "I want to keep it. I want our bond to never go away."

"It won't," he promised.

The next morning, I woke up in my bed by myself to the sound of my two roommates bitching at each other for one reason or another. Was I dreaming last night? Did Sebastian and I not renegotiate? Are we together? Do I still have my soul? Unsure and confused, I rolled over and found a gift on my nightstand. A small, black box and my iced caramel macchiato. Along with a note under the cup.

Good morning, my love.

Whenever you're ready,

meet me on the balcony.

With love,

Sebastian

I opened the box out of sheer curiosity and found a blue stone set in silver. I guess we did renegotiate our contract. But when I looked in the mirror, our seal was still in my eye. I popped my contacts in and headed out to the balcony. My mere presence was enough to get Morgan and Laurel to shut up for five minutes.

"Morning, Cierra," Morgan greeted me.

"How was your date with Eli last night?" Laurel asked innocently.

"We decided it wasn't going to work out," I bit my tongue, "Have you guys seen Sebastian?"

"Outside."

As if I didn't already know. I threw back the sliding glass door in the living room and joined my demon on the balcony, sitting comfortably in his lap, "Good morning."

"Good morning, darling," Sebastian wrapped his arms around me, "I see you got my gift."

"It's beautiful," I awed at the ring, "Does this mean we're official now?"

"I'd say so," he nuzzled his face in my neck, "By the way, your soul was delightful. Truly the best this world had to offer. So, how about it? You? Me? Eternity? Is that alright with you?"

"Can I take your last name, too?" I teased him.

"If you wish," Sebastian kissed my cheek, "If you don't mind me asking, what was your maiden name?"

"Really?" I gave him a look, "You don't know?"

"I'm a demon, not a mind reader," he cuddled me. Damn, he was awfully affectionate today, "What was your last name?"

I curled into Sebastian's lap, resting my head on his chest, "It's Sutcliff. Why?"

And in that moment, my demon turned completely pale, "What…?"

A/N: No more! No more of this! I know I said this was only going to be a one shot, but it turned into the miniseries. We're done. It's over with.

And I must say, I'm pretty happy with the way it ended. Eli's a dick. Sebastian and Cierra are going to ride off into the sunset together. And we found out her last name…I've been wanting to reveal that for so long now. I haven't known that since the beginning, but I've known for a while. Look, I'm going to be honest with you. This was supposed to be up last week, but I ended up not getting it done, so here I am. Now, if it's alright with you, I'm going to bow out and call it a night. See you later! xx