A Demon's Contract CH 5

The next few days contractors and plumbers began to pile in with smiles only for the customer whose paying them. They said it was going to take some time because of the scarcity of materials. The great fire had them scrambling around even though they were from out of town. It looks like most of England was trying to help out.

My servants helped out with all that so that no one would see me. I still needed to change more. My hair ended up growing out a little bit after a couple weeks. By then the house was half done. I still hadn't bathed in a while because the damn plumbers kept screwing up and had to re-do their work. Today, the plumbing in my bathroom was fixed enough so that I could bathe. Coincidentally, Elizabeth decided to come over and brought supplies to color my hair. She said she learned from her stylist how to dye hair.

I sat in front of the mirror staring at myself. I had a cloth wrapped around my neck which covered my shoulders. My hair hung loosely down till the base of my neck and my bangs reached pass my cheekbones. So, this is what my hair looks like when I don't cut it. Elizabeth said she was going to style my hair also but I am skeptical about it. My eye patch still covers the contract eye.

Each night I looked at that eye. I frown at the lack of life in the markings. I question why didn't Sebastian devour me. He desired my soul and became my obedient slave just to obtain it. A demon became a slave just for my soul. Then he abandons me. I watch my mouth turn into a frown and I look away.

"Alright! Ready!" Elizabeth says as she bursts through the doors to the bathroom. She had a pair of scissors in one hand and a small bucket of...something in the other. I stare at her with disbelief as she sets down the final materials on the counter.

"Don't worry. Leave the fate of your beautiful hair to me!" Elizabeth tries to reassure me as she gives a wink in the mirror. What she just said kind of bothers me. I tense as she starts to touch my hair and wash it out. It is hard to relax especially when she is pulling my hair the whole time. The goop she had brought in the small bucket smells grotesque. I feel my lunch start to come up as the smell enters my nostrils.

As hard as it was, I keep my mouth shut and my opinions to myself. I just want this to be over with it. My eyes are shut tight afraid that Elizabeth might cut off my ear. I grit my teeth after some very painful finishing touches.

"There!" Elizabeth giggles as I hear the scissors snap close. I slowly open my eyes and to my surprise I could barely recognize myself. My bangs are cut like they were before they grew. Elizabeth made sure that my bangs cover most of my eye patch. She left two long pieces of hair framing both sides of my face that hang by my ears. The rest of my hair is pulled back in a pony tail which I was okay with.

What is interesting is that my hair is black. A glossy black. I almost see Sebastian looking at me through the mirror but I look away before my mind play any more painful tricks on me.

Elizabeth gives me a giant smile. I notice that she is covered with black smudges. She had forgotten to put on an apron and now her pink dress has black stains in it. She follows my gaze and gasps.

"Oh no! My dress is ruined." She cries as she starts to tear up. I quickly take her hand.

"I will get you new one." I say in a tone I haven't even used in my life. It is quite charming. I guess being Sebastian's master teaches some things that you do not want to be taught. Elizabeth has wide eyes and her face has a pink hue. I smirk as I turn to walk towards the bath.

"..sparkly.." I hear Elizabeth murmur as if she is in a trance. I frown at the word.

"Now, leave me. Tell Maylene to start my bath." I order. Elizabeth turns more red as she runs out of the bathroom.

Sebastian had always bathed me. It became routine after a while. I did not mind his touch as I did others...Am I blushing? No. I must be coming down with a fever.

This is one of the things that I can learn how to do without any help. Just soak and scrub and then rinse. That's it.

Maylene came running in. "I'm here, young master!" She announces as she quickly turns on the water by turning some knobs. So, that's how you turn it on. Maylene turns to me and quickly bows. She came back up with a slight blush on her cheeks.

"W-Would you like me to help you bath, young master?" She asks nervously.

"No." I snap quietly. The water rises to a point and Maylene turns the knobs to stop the water. She bows again and leaves the soap near the tub. She then leaves in peace.

I strip my clothes off and throw them in a pile in the corner. Bumps invade my skin as the cool air touches it. I step into the warm water as more bumps appear as the feeling of relaxation washes over me. I sit in the deep tub on the verge of falling asleep. I take the ponytail out of my hair and let it sit on my shoulders. I throw my eye patch to the side, also. I dunk my head underwater as I let my mind drift off.

I was ready to leave this world. I was prepared to feel the pain be burned into my soul. The pain of losing my parents, the pain of sacrificing those around to fulfill my revenge, and the pain of knowing that I will never see those I cared for ever again, especially him. Then he just leaves me in that vast place of nothingness. I am here in London with that burden still weighing me down. Do I have a goal now? Revenge isn't my reason for living now, so what can I do now?

I open my eyes just to see that I was underwater and in need of air. I burst through the surface and cough. My chest felt like it was going to burst. I feel faint and lightheaded. Daydreaming will kill me if I am not careful. I pant for a moment. I decide that I need to clean myself with the soap that was near the tub.

After squeezing some of the thick liquid onto my hands, I scrub my body. For some reason I feel really dirty at the moment and I just scrub hard until my skin feels raw. I didn't need to wash out my hair so I do not understand how I got soap in my eyes! I rub furiously at my eyes only to end up making it worst. I let out a shout by accident as my eyes start to tear up. I hear the door open and a couple voices sound out.

"Young Master!" Maylene spoke as I hear her walk toward me. I hear Bard and Finny talking at the door about having trouble bathing. I feel Maylene's hand touch my hands but I smack them away.

"No! I will do it myself!" I snap as I furiously find a way to make the stinging stop. I hear Maylene sigh. I hear more footsteps then feel my arms get pin to the side of me with incredible force. I struggle.

"What is this?" I demand. Still they will not let go.

"That's not how you treat someone who's helping you out, young master." Bard states.

"We'll have you clean in no time!" Finny says happily.

After some more struggling I finally settle down; Tired of thrashing about. How dare they touch me. I have a headache but it seems to diminish as Maylene washes out my eyes, all the while I try to keep my right eye shut, and rinses me off. It doesn't feel like my demon butler but it will do for now. Until I get the hang of things.

I open my left eye after Bard lets me go. They are all smiling at me. It makes me uncomfortable so I glare at them.

"I need to change." I say hinting for them to leave. They all became stiff as the realization of what they just did hit them. They bow like puppets and quickly leave after saying "Yes, young master." They are probably going to be nervous for a while now thinking that they might get fired.

I smirk as I grab a towel and dry off.

This time around when I bring out my attire (brand new from Nina) I pause to take a look in the mirror at myself. Before when I'd look in the reflective surface the first thing I'd have to check, had to make sure it was absolutely there was the contract.

Now as I stand in front of the mirror the deep crimson of my clothes stand out. This new me stands straight, strong and looks as if he was ready for anything. I wonder if I am as mentally prepared to go out and face the world by myself as I looked.

I grab a hair tie from the top of my dresser and walk out into the hall. Lizzy is down stairs in one of the drawing rooms, I walk in and straight to her.

"Teach me how to pull my hair up like you did." I demand quickly holding out the hair tie towards her.

Lizzy looks me over curiously, her eyes wide at first and then trailing over me thoughtfully, finally a smile brakes out and she gently takes the tie from me.

"Sure."

I start to get uneasy; why is she being so quiet? So calm? What was that look she gave me? I push the thought away and pay attention as she pulls up her own hair and tie it back the way she did with mine earlier.

I pull back my own hair the same way the first time, I feet pretty proud!

"Well do you think this new look with work?" I ask finally, the question has been plaguing me since this started.

Lizzy takes a step back from me and takes another look from my feet to my head, her hands sit on each hip as her eyes continue to rake over me.

"The black hair is something you have to get used to but really I think it's adorable!" She exclaims as she jumps and hugs me.

My hands fly away from her slightly waving at the sides of both of our bodies.

"Lizzy! Move! Get off!." I snarl trying to step back away from her only for her to step in toe with me. After another hard squeeze she releases me. "I can't wait to get married." she mutters with a dreamy sigh.

I frown and give her the most irritated look I can manage. Getting married in the next couple years is the last thing on my mind.

"Listen Lizzy..." I start out calmly.

She turns her head and listens intently with an innocent smile. "Yes?"

I already know how her reaction is going to be...I just have to be prepared for it.

"Lizzy I need to start making some changes in my life besides my appearance." I began gently but still in my usual cold voice.

Her smile growa into a wide grin. "Yes and? Oh! Do you want me to move in here? I can dye my hair too and we can-"

"No! Lizzy please!" I growl in frustration and then sigh in another attempt to calm myself down.

Her smile quickly disappears but she patiently sits and waits for me to finish.

"Alright. Lizzy I need to start to changing my life to be this new person and even though you helped me with my appearance I need to move outwards with my advancements."

Lizzy's face starts to form into a frown.

I know she iss starting to realize what I was trying to say. "For the next couple months I need you to stay at a distance from me..."

Tears start to well up in her eyes.

"Lizzy...d-don't cry." I stammer trying to calm her down before she really starts to cry.

Her face quickly twists into an angry face; she bites her lip to try and calm herself down. "I can't believe you! I worry sick about your health, I come here to help you do this stupid plan of yours!"

Anger iss quickly rising in me again and there isn't anything that can stop it now, no Sebastian and there is no way I am going to let her yell in my house.

"Enough! I don't care if we're engaged to be married Lizzy, that gives you no right to scream at me in my household!" I scream right back stopping her dead in her tracks.

Her face goes pale and her eyes wide, she holds her hands tight near her chest as if getting ready to cover her face in case I rose a hand to her. She must have remembered the time when she broke my father's ring.

I grit my teeth slightly but finally my face drops in enraged look and goes back to it's neutral. "Lizzy I won't hit you."

She slowly lays her hands back at her sides and raises her chin at me before she can get a second wind I cut her off.

"I'll keep in contact with you Lizzy but for now I need you to stay away from me. It's for your safety as well as mine understand?"

Her eyes immediately soften at my mention of her safety, she slowly nods. "Alright...I'll go. How long do I have to be away?"

This sudden attitude change surprises me. Never in my life of knowing Lizzy has she ever straightened up to be serious in her life.

I mull it over in my head for a moment between all my plans I have to throw into action within the next few months and walk to the closest window inside that room.

I glance over my shoulder at her and sigh. "Give me three months alright? If I don't contact you by then than by all means come back and check up on me." I hate having to say it but it's the only thing I know that she'll agree with.

"Alright." She walks up to me calmly and smiles.

I turn around to face her; the closeness of us making me uneasy again. "What?"

After a minute of just staring at me she leans in and kisses me; her soft lips pushing against mine. My eyes widen and I quickly move my face away from hers. I stumble back and my back slams against the glass window making it rattle a little.

Lizzy smiles and gives me a small wave. "Don't work too hard."

I don't even notice her as she leaves the room, I slowly slide down the floor bringing my left leg to bend up so that I can rest an arm on it. My other hand reaches up to just barely touch my lips. That feeling...that was it wasn't it?

The night when Sebastian left me...just before I realized he was gone, the pressure on my lips. My face suddenly gets very warm. "Sebastian what have you done to me?"

I look up at the door across the room from me and sure enough my mind gives me the torture of showing him again to me. I look up tiredly at the figure across the room. He's in his normal attire and nothing has changed...well except he has both of his arms.

I push myself off the floor not letting my eyes blink or leave him, he stays the same not moving; the same half smile glued to his face.

"If my imagination is wild enough to bring you back to me...can it also make up answers of questions you left unanswered?"

I close my eye for a moment, part of me begging that it isn't just some trick of my mind but as soon as I open my eye all I see is the door.

I laugh to myself, what was I thinking?

I walk back out into the hallway only to have Maylene running up to meet me. "Young master! Lady Elizabeth is leaving so suddenly, did you guys have a fight?" she asks in concern.

I shake my head. "No...how much longer are we expecting everything to be fixed?"

"I-In the next week or so young master." she stammers bowing slightly.

I smirk as I look up at the partially flustered servant of mine. "Alright then by the end of this week I want to start interviews for a new butler or maid." I state coldly to her. I brush past her and start to head for my office which was one of the first rooms finished.

"Yes young master." she says quietly, she turns the other direction and runs down the hall, probably going to gossip about my new orde