I didn't want to wake up. Waking meant another day of whips and knives and torture. It meant another day of screaming until I didn't recognize my voice, of crying no matter how hard I tried to steel myself

"I know you're awake," a silky voice murmured.

I jumped despite myself, eyes snapping open to see a tall, dark haired man with-with red eyes? He smirked at me, and my jaw dropped in surprise, realizing that I was not in a dungeon, I was not gagged and bound. In fact, I had bandages over my right eye and hands.

"Who are you?" I asked, quickly schooling my expression into one of mild disinterest.

The strange man's smile grew wider.

He bowed elegantly, before answering, "I am Sebastian Michaelis, at your service My lady."

I frowned.

"You can't have rescued me," I reasoned, remembering the body that held me just as I lost consciousness.

If it was possible, Sebastian appeared to grow even more amused.

"And why not?" "Because there were upwards of a hundred people in that room, the majority of them carry some sort of blade on their person," I remembered with dread.

Who was this man, really?

"No human could do that. And why would you? I've never so much as met you before."

He smiled yet again, and I decided for a guy who would likely kill me in a grotesquely bloody way, he was extremely handsome. He knelt before me, gesturing towards the bandage over my eye.

"May I?"

I nodded warily.

He unwrapped it skillfully setting the used linen on the table.

"Miss, this will likely come as a shock to you, but I am not human." He pulled a hand mirror off the table, holding it up to where I could see.

"And if I were to wager a guess, neither are you."

I had always been pale, but I looked positively ill, especially in contrast to my dark hair. My face was bruised, with small cuts criss-crossing my face and neck. A single blue eye stared back at me, the other hidden behind my hair. I lifted my bangs with a hand, and let out a choked gasp. My right eye was an odd purple-ish color, a strange symbol visible where the pupil should have been. What the hell?

"What do you mean by "not human", what are you saying I am?"

He chuckled. Why was this so funny to him?

"You my Lady, are like me, a Demon," he said simply, as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

"Before I deem you insane and leave you to your fantasies, you might try proving it," I said.

He nodded.

"Of course, My Lady," he acquiesced, before standing.

'He must be six feet tall,' I thought absently, as he removed his gloves. With a snap of his fingers the room grew dark, despite the sun shining full force outside. In a matter of moments I couldn't see my own hand in front of my face.

"What did you-"

Suddenly I felt as if I were back in that dungeon, except I wasn't the one being tortured. In fact, by the sound of it, everyone but me was being tortured. Their screams built up in volume until I was desperately trying to drown them out.

Just as quickly as it began, it was over, Sebastian appearing in front of me again with a slightly apologetic look on his face. I forced myself to stay calm.

"Lovely talent that is," I said sarcastically, standing up and stretching.

"Alright, say I believe you. What makes you think I'm a demon?"

"If you know what to look for, it's fairly easy to identify a demon. We have a very…commanding presence," he said, although I doubted that's what he really wished to say.

"Really. So I just feel like a demon to you," I thought aloud.

"My lady, I will be happy to explain everything to you, but right now, we must be on our way."

"Oh really. And where are you taking me?"

"Home of course, before you are declared dead, and your title passed to another."

I blinked.

"There is a dress for you in the wardrobe. If you need any assistance, feel free to call me."

He left, moving with a gracefulness that honestly didn't seem human. But that didn't mean I had to trust Sebastian. But I could use him, especially if he'd get me back home.

I walked over to the wardrobe and found a dark green dress hanging inside. It was made of sturdy fabric, well suited for travelling. The jacket was simply decorated, with a row of buttons on the chest and cuffs, and the dress underneath was a basic sturdy cotton. It wasn't exactly my normal standard of dress, but compared to the rags I'd been wearing for the last month, this might as well have been pure Chinese silk embroidered with gold thread and diamonds. I realized with a sigh that I couldn't lace myself up without help.

"Sebastian!"

He was there nearly before I finished calling him.

"Yes My Lady?"

I scowled.

"Fasten the back for me," I ordered, turning so that my back was to him.

He worked quickly, lacing up the back with deftly moving fingers, tying a perfect bow at the base of my spine. I shrugged on the jacket, buttoning up the front, and appraising myself in the mirror.

"I need a brush for my hair," I said. He pulled a silver brush from who knows where and began brushing my hair himself, letting it fall back in my face to cover the pink eye.

"If I were you, I'd keep that covered at all times," he said, handing me a black eye patch.

After a moment of consideration, I put it on. The girl in the mirror was not the Cielle Phantomhive I remembered. I wore a calculating expression, my stance was commanding. The smiling thirteen year old I had been was dead and gone, it seemed.

"I'm ready. Take me home."

"Of course my Lady," Sebastian said.

I looked at him curiously, but followed him anyways.

Who are you Sebastian?