The Damnable Life and Deserved Death of Sebastian Milieus

With that, Tropical Storm Gretchen is currently heading out to the sea, where it will soon dissipate. In her wake, she leaves destruction running along Schonheit's main street. But thanks to our city's history of violent storms and the hundreds of years spent preparing against them, most buildings were spared intensive damage. Nonetheless, many parts of Schonheit still have no power hours following Tropical Storm Gretchen. First Responders are already deployed, including SPD services, EMTs, Firefighters and electricians. Please, if you are in need of any aid, call--

Click!

“Dammit, Hansel. Isn't it enough that I have to survive that damn storm; do I have to hear people talking about it?”

“What's wrong, Hauptmann? Afraid of a little... rain? What are you? Nine?”

Schonheit has a history with storms. So much so that the buildings within the elegant city are built specifically to survive whipping winds and relentless rain. Even bolts of lightning seemingly bounce harmlessly off their immaculate surfaces, as if in direct opposition to Mother Nature and her whims.

But every now and then, a storm arises with enough strength to shake the boots of Schonheit's oldest members. Weather strong enough to shake buildings, break glass, and yes, even take lives. It happens rarely, but 'rare' does not mean 'never'.

It just so happens that Tropical Storm Gretchen was one of those 'rare' storms.

Driving through the city streets, a police car scanned the destruction left in Gretchen's wake. Storefronts had shattered glass, some buildings seemed to be bent out of shape, and there was so much trash and debris everywhere. Aimlessly, civilians of the city wondered in search of friends and family who may have been caught in the storm, since among a lack of power, there was a lack of cellphone services as well.

Thus the police and other First Responders patrolled the streets, searching for anyone in need of aid. This included Hauptmann Gretel and her partner, Leutnant Hansel, driving around in their police car as they headed towards main street. Like the radio said, Schonheit's main street was mostly damaged by Tropical Storm Gretchen, and so most First Responders found themselves heading in that direction.

But as they headed towards their destination, Hansel gazed laxly out of his window. He saw many people helping one another as they attempted to put back together Schonheit; civilians working with First Responders to mend buildings, windows, and even clean streets. But among them all there was the familiar sights of statues and busts, all of them baring the image an earl of Faust, or some random family member of theirs.

These statues were seemingly unaffected by the storm, glistening in the bright sunlight of this lovely noon day. Gazing upon them, Hansel gave a sigh of indifference, for their sight reminded him of his own run in with the current earl of Faust. They really did run Schonheit, didn't they? Makes a man wonder...

“What about the Earl of Faust?” Hansel suddenly asked, making Gretel look at him with an eyebrow raised.

“What about the earl? What are you talking about, Hansel?” Gretel asked in an annoyed manner, “Ya'know, I had a talk with the Earl some time ago about your insubordination! I – and everyone else – had to practically beg him not to kill you!”

“Yeah, I know, you already talked my ear off about that!” Hansel replied with a roll of his eyes, “I'm not accusing the earl of anything! I was just... ya'know...” he stared back out the window, “All these people could really use help is all. What does the Earl of Faust typically do in a situation like this?”

“Whatever they want,” Gretel answered simply and quickly, “If they want to help, they help. If they don't want to help, they don't help. It's their choice, not ours. Most earls usually do help the city – it's why their statues are everywhere – but that doesn't mean they have to. Still...” she looked away for a bit, “The current earl – Master Sebastian – he seems like a good kid. I have no doubt that he'll aid Schonheit. But before the earl can do his job, we have to do ours, okay? So I don't want to hear anymore about it following all the trouble you gave us with your nonsense.”

“Yeah, yeah... jeeze... are you my mom?”

He sighed in an annoyed manner, while a clearing in buildings allowed him to gaze off into the distance, meeting the opulent walls of the Faust Estate. It was far from them, yes, but even through the forest that leads up to the estate proper, one can see it just barely poking through. Leaning on his fist as they steadily arrived at their destination, Hansel had one more question to ask.

“Hey, Gretel...”

“Oooh... what now...?” she asked as they parked to the side of the dirty road.

“The other day when the storm was here...” he looked over at her, eyebrow raised, “Did you... notice a red light?”

“A... what?”

“Red light...?” he repeated before raising his hand, cupping the air as if he was holding an invisible ball, “I was... sitting in my apartment watching the storm and... I swear at times I saw a red light beaming from the distance...” he looked up then, pointing towards the Faust Estate, “It was coming in the direction of their manor... I was just wondering if... if...”

“What? If you're crazy?”

“Well... yeah... a little bit, I guess... heh...”

“Stop mucking around, Hansel. We've got work to do.”

…

“Kurrrghh...! Krrrgghh...! Kah! Kaaah! Khhhaaaahhhaaaahhaaa! Kaaaaaaaaahhhhh!!!”

Tears streamed down her eyes, flowing from endlessly like a river. They streaked down her cheeks, flowed down her head, mixed with the blood and mud that marred her naked form, then fell out upon the ground beneath her.

How long had she been here? On her knees, her hands up to her face, her head tipped to the sunny skies, just crying? How long had she been here? Crying, and crying, and crying some more? How long had she been here? She didn't even have the will to move on. How long had she been here?

How long has she been here?

“Kuurrraaaaahhhhaaaaaaaah!!!”

Igrene was crying. A crushed truck laid beside her, while the remains of a vicious battle laid behind. Around her was a pit of blood and mud, mixing in a gunk that covered her body. When she fainted, she was as a dragon. Now in her human form once again, the Red Serpent awoke to pain from her face. The injuries followed, but they were nothing to the mental anguish in her head.

She had failed.

“I can't keep going!” Igrene shouted to the skies, “What's the point of going on anymore!?”

Bringing her hands up, she slammed them down with so much force, she made the earth around her shake and the mud and blood pop up... before falling back down. The once beautiful, elegant and regal Head-Housemaid, now looked disgusting as mud and blood covered her... but once more, she didn't care. Why bother caring about such things? Who cares if she looked messy and horrible? Who cares about anything anymore when he is no longer with them?

Already she could feel it in her bones; the tensing of muscles, the fading of thoughts, the loosening of morals. She was starting to... turn off, to put it lightly. Without a Faust to take care of, to love, to fawn over... what is the point of existing anymore?

But Igrene – even through her remorse, even through her regression – had enough wherewithal to rise up to her feet. Stroking back her mud covered blonde hair, the Red Serpent slowly walked towards the estate manor in the distance. Briefly she looked towards the closed front gates of the estate, biting her bottom lip because... she knew he was gone. He escaped...

He was dead...

Sebastian was the last Faust; the end result of a great lineage. Without him, there will be no more earls, and the family dies here. And without them, well, the drachenmagd will fade too. She and her sisters have spent centuries servicing the Faust family... there was no point in living without them.

Igrene turned, facing the open doors of her home. It was dark inside; she could not see into it from her distance. So she began walking towards the building, thinking about how she was going to confront her sisters with the truth. Without Sebastian, they would all fade and turn off... a fate worse than death.

Well...

Stepping into the front lobby of the estate, Igrene leaned on its door frame for support while her eyes gazed ahead. She saw puddles and dirt had been tracked inside due to the storm, but more importantly, she found Selene groaning on the floor. The Black Dragon too had returned to her human form, writhing about on the floor as she came too. Blood adorned her body as well, the injuries she suffered as a dragon having followed in her regression back to this state.

“Selene...” Igrene called, drawing her sister gaze over.

“Igrene... I...” Selene replied, her voice raspy and confused, “What... what happened...?” she then tensed up as she pushed herself away from the floor, “Where... where is he? Master Sebaaaastian! He's here... yes? Please tell me he's-- ah!?”

Doubling over, Selene cut herself off from a sharp wince of pain. Igrene – feeling sorry for her sister – wished she could tell her that all was okay, that Sebastian was still here, and everything that happened yesterday was nothing more than a nightmare.

But it wasn't, and Igrene is no liar. Her body shook and she bit into her bottom lip, while her head hung low in a defeated manner. More tears began streaming down the Red Serpent's face, and sobs started flowing out her mouth and nose. She began crying again, while her ears picked up the sounds of others.

Gazing up towards the halls, Igrene watched as more of her sisters appeared. Rodeline, Mylene, and Carmeline coming in from the left, while Larsine, Adeline, Emiline, Faline and Nadine came in from the right. All of the drachenmagd collected in the main lobby of the estate, and all of them were naked and covered in all sorts of injuries. Blood streaked down their forms as they shuddered, confused, bewildered, and still rumbling with pain. But all of them – all of them – looked at Igrene for guidance, needing their sister to tell them what happened, for they could not remember well themselves.

And seeing that – seeing their eyes rumble with confusion and pain – brought nothing but more mental anguish to Igrene herself. She hugged herself close, her mouth splitting open as she let out a cry of defeat. Falling to her knees, the Red Serpent continued crying and sobbing, unable to tell them the cruel truth. But somewhere deep inside, she swallowed her own sadness, raising up where she finally said,

“He left us! Mater Sebast--”

“Sssssshhhhh!!!”

“Huh?”

Bringing her gaze, Igrene's cries were cut short as she looked at her sister. Someone... shushed her? Why and who? But as she brought her gazes along their faces, she could see that none of them were responsible for silencing him. So... who was it? Wait...

“K... Katherine...?” Igrene called, “Where are you? Katherine!”

“I said, 'ssshhhh!'... Don't you listen...?”

Igrene pulled back, confused by how... blasé her sibling was being about the situation. Did she not realize that Sebastian was gone? Without him here, what was even the point of going on anymore? And yet Katherine sounded so... mocking. It brought a growl to Igrene who cut through her sisters, searching for the White Dragon among them.

“Where are you, Katherine? Why are you shushing me!?” the Red Serpent snarled.

“Because... you'll wake him up...”

“Hnh!?”

Together, the drachenmagd all guided their gazes towards the staircase in the lobby. Katherine was sitting halfway up it, holding something... holding someone. They all approached their sister slowly, confused as she shifted to face them. And in her hands...

Was Sebastian.

He was mattered down in rain, mud and blood, his body injured following the onslaught he endured during the storm, but his face looked so cherubic as he snuggled up against Katherine's bosom. Naturally, Igrene was confused, because from last she saw, he was preparing to leave the estate. So... what was he doing back here?

“I told you to trust me, Igrene...” Katherine remarked, a blissful smile appearing on her lips as her eyes closed, “I knew he'd make the right decision.”

…

Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...!

“Unnnghh...?”

He felt a hand stroke along his sweaty brow. Gently it patted him down, moving from the left to the right and back again. A soothing, loving, warming touch, making sure he was in his bedridden state. He struggled to open his eyes, but with that hand there, he didn't need to. He felt... loved... he felt...

At peace...

Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...!

But that hand did not linger about, and soon it pulled away, leaving him to long for more of its touch. Moving himself, he clutched at the air as if to grasp for the hand, wanting it back, But the hand was gone from him now... replaced by the glowing rays of sunlight.

Brown eyes opened. Sebastian was awake.

He looked over, his gaze blinded by blurs and a white light. It came flooding into his eyes, but he did not wince and look away. He merely stared at the glowing light that fluttered in through the windows and curtains of his bed, feeling a calming wind drift through to caress his body. And of course, that beeping, which echoed into his ears even now.

Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...!

“Aaaahh...”

He groggily gazed over, eyes befalling the silhouette of a machine resting on the other side of his bed's curtains. Grabbing said curtains, he pulled it open to reveal the machine to be a heart monitor. Thumping... beeping... checking... making sure he was okay, making sure his brain was working, making sure he was alive. For some reason, seeing it brought a smile to his face and he relaxed into his bed, gleeful to return to the blissful ignorance of sleep.

Blissful ignorance within this endlessly soft, amazing bed. Sinking deeper and deeper inside. Wishing to return to the shear darkness that is rest. Maybe visit a few dreams. Maybe. Just sleep well knowing that... you've done it. You've escaped. You've...

“Faustus...?”

“What?”

He shot up, only to jerk back as a wicked surge of pain came roaring through his every inch. Looking down to the medical gown his body was covered in, he parted it open slightly to stare upon the multiple bandages and coils adorning him. He had so many on his chest, his arms, his stomach, his legs, even a few band aids on his cheeks thanks to all the injuries he sustained.

But none of that – none of that – mattered as his heart rate began increasing. First palming his face, he waited for his eyes to focus in, finally allowing him to gaze upon his surroundings. And when he did, he saw not some hospital room with sterile, white floors and walls. No, he saw his bedroom! His grand, mighty, opulent bedroom; one meant for a king!

He was in his bedroom.

He was in his bedroom!

Why was he in his bedroom!?

No, no, no! This had to be some sick joke, right? After all he went through, he ended up back here? How did he get here!? He couldn't remember! He remembered... he remembered... shit! He remembered... aaaahh! Why was it so hard to remember!?

Falling back in his bed as his hands collapsed over his face, Sebastian struggled to parse together what happened following his escape. All the fighting, all the abuse, ending with him walking towards the gate. The storm, Katherine standing behind him, and... and... shit, there was someone else there too, right? RIGHT!? Then... then...

Why couldn't he remember...?

His clear fear and horror over the situation caused his heart rate to spike, making the machine beep at an alarming rate as he laid there, shaking and... and... crying.

Oh no... how did he... how did they... when did they? No... this had to b a dream, right? A nightmare? Or maybe he was dead and was just waking up in some strange afterlife state? Igrene did say if he made it through the gates, he would die, didn't she? So... was he dead? Well, if he was dead, then why was he hooked up to a heart machine? Why was his afterlife a perfect recreation of his bedroom?

Why couldn't he remember anything?

“No... no please don't...” Sebastian groaned as he fell back further, still struggling to just... to just... to just...

Think...

But his mind came back as nothing but... blank. This blank, white fuzz. It was impossible to see through; like static on a TV. He could only remember everything up to that moment where he was before the gates, and nothing else.

In his delirium, Sebastian dragged himself from his bed, crawling over to its edge where he kicked his feet over. When he tried to stand though--

“Guah!?”

His legs gave out on him, making him collapse into the floor. Groaning in pain, the young earl tried pushing himself with his hands, but they too were weak. His entire body was like this; weak to the point that carrying his weight around was almost impossible. It felt like he had not moved around in days!

But Sebastian didn't care, and continued dragging himself along his opulent floors to make way for the drawer in the distance. Grabbing it, he mustered enough strength to pull himself up, though he continued leaning against it for support. It took everything he had just to pull it off, and sweat was starting to break more along his head. Was he sweating from overexerting himself, or sweating from the fear of this situation?

Yes...

But things weren't getting any easier as he weakly reached his hand out for the curtains before him. The blinding sun outside blocked his gaze with light, but once the drapery was moved aside, he could see unobstructed the land outside.

And the swaths of destruction littering it.

There was no more running from it, no more denying it, no more lying to himself; he was back in the Faust Estate. Outside below him, the once elegant courtyard was ruined; stone and grass was littered about, there was so much mud drying under the sun, and of course, the the hedge maze had been reduced to nothing but ash and smolder by a vicious fire. And that's not even getting into the lines drawn in the ground by a particularly large, serpentine beast.

But... no... one thing at a time! He was back in the Faust Estate!? This was really his bedroom!?No... no!

“NOOOO!!!”

His legs gave out on him, dropping Sebastian to the ground as he huddled into a ball next to his drawer. He was frustrated, angry, confused, upset... what happened!? How did things end up like this!? Why is... what happened!?

In his horror, he felt his heart beating faster and faster, his eyes widening as he palmed his chest. There was fear here, an overwhelming fear that he'd go into cardiac arrest. And... honestly? Perhaps that was for the best! Maybe he could lay here and die, finally escaping the horrors of the drachenmagd once and for all.

Fate... was not so kind...

Whump!

“Master?”

Her voice rang into his ears. The voice of a woman who looked after and maintained his well-being... more so than even he did himself, one would argue. She sounded as she smelled; like sweet, sweet cinnamon. But hearing her did not instill him with a sense of joy and need... but quite the opposite.

She... he... he... she... hah...

He shot her. Multiple... multiple times. He shot her. How could she ever forgive him for what he did? How could she forgive him for what he did to her and her sisters? Shooting them... running way... trying to escape...

NO!

He shouldn't be thinking this! He tried to escape for good reasons! They were... they are going to... to...! Why was he still here? Why was he still here!?

He couldn't think about that for too long, for his thoughts were cut as he heard footsteps approaching him. That person... she walked up towards Sebastian, standing behind him where he felt the pull of her hands... and the touch of her tail. Her soft, smooth, pink tail. It stroked along his shoulders, their mere touch making him lock up as he pressed harder against the drawer in front of him.

He didn't want to look. He didn't want to look. He didn't want to look! And yet... he did so anyway. It took everything in Sebastian's power to look up and over, bringing his gaze to meet the woman who stood behind him.

Rodeline. It was Rodeline. She was dressed in nothing but a pink cloak. It was tied around her neck and hung all the way down to her ankles, with a hood that covered her head like a hood. But the cloak was open, and with where Sebastian sat, he could perfectly gaze upon her face beneath her hood as well. In doing so, he could see everything beneath.

So many... coils.

Much like Sebastian himself, the Nurse Maid had coils wrapping around her body. But unlike him, hers were much more extensive. They went around and around and around, covering her nude body in the very same areas where... he remembered shooting her. And if there was any doubt to this, it was cleared up with her face.

Rodeline had this sizable, white, medical eye patch that covered the left side of her face. He may not remember much about their tussle in the ballroom, but he remembered the aftermath; the Pink Dragon laying on the ground after his last shot struck her face, knocking her over a table and into a window. There was so much blood, but it didn't mar the mournful expression she gave him, even as a dragon.

He remembered pulling away in distrust... but now... he was weak to her ministrations. So when she reached out for him, he had no choice but too--

“No... Rodel...”

“Shhhhhh... Master...” the Nurse Maid said as she easily lifted him up like a mother holds her child, showing that – even when injured – she had more than enough strength to easily crush him like a bug, “It's okay, umu! I'm here now! Everything is alright!”

“No... no! But I... nnghhh!?”

“Shhhhhh! Shhhhh... shhh... it's okay, Master,” she said soothingly, lacking any sense of malice, any sense of anger towards him and his actions during the storm, “You're very weak, Master. You need to rest in your bed until your well enough to move! Don't worry; my sisters and I are still looking out for you. Umu! Selene has enjoyed giving you your daily bubble baths despite your comatose state.”

“Comatose!?” he cried, “Nnghhh!? Coma... hah!? I've been in a... coma!?”

“For five... going on six days now, Master,” Rodeline claimed as she led him towards his bed, “But don't worry! We've been taking care of you extensively! And fixing the estate up too, umu! Tropical Storm Gretchen did quite a number on this place, didn't she?”

“Tropical... Storm...?”

No... no! It wasn't just some storm that caused all this destruction! Was Rodeline purposefully dancing around the reality of the situation? His escape attempt? But she made no hints to it, nor did she treat him any differently from how she normally would. No... even the smile on her face was the same warm and inviting smile she always had, just with an eye patch covering half of it.

But.. why wasn't she angry at him? Why wasn't she – at the very least – disappointed, or upset? Why was she going on like this was all normal? Resting him in his bed, just to sit on the edge while her hand checked him; there was no strength behind her touch, no desire to make him submit! Rodeline was just... being Rodeline!

And that confused Sebastian to no end! He closed his eyes and thought, but the more he thought, the more his head hurt. The more his head hurt, the more confused he became. And the more confused he became, the more he wished to cry. To just... cry, cry, cry. But he kept it swallowed up, even as tears began brimming from his eyes. Closing his eyes he shook his head, still in disbelief with this situation, but garnering enough courage to ask,

“What... happened?”

And for a few moments, all he got was silence.

Looking up at Rodeline, he finally – finally – saw a reaction in her. It was... sad... forlorn... hurt.. She gazed away as one hand rested upon her chest, and the other hand came to caress his thigh. Then more moments passed, and she finally said,

“You... had a mental breakdown. Fortunately, it happened here, with us at the estate, as oppose to in Schonheit. Only we were hurt by you, Master. But! Umu! You eventually came to your senses and returned to us,” she looked at him, a smile on her face that was at odds with his confused, wide-eyed gaze, “And I'm so happy you did, because if you killed yourself... I... I don't know what I'd do.”

A... mental breakdown? That's what they're calling it!? A mental breakdown!? He was running through here shotgunning them, and they were just going to brush it aside as a 'mental breakdown'!? Just thinking about it had Sebastian hyperventilating, a sound that alerted Rodeline... though she didn't do anything. She understood this was caused from anxiety, and so she stroked her hand along his chest in a soothing manner, while her lips pursed in a warm, inviting smile.

“It's okay, Master. We understand,” the Nurse Maid said in a reassuring manner, “These things... happen, from time to time. You are not the first earl to crack under the pressure of being the earl. Oh...” she frowned whilst looking away, “If only I had noticed the signs sooner with you. We could have avoided such a thing happening in the first place. Oh well... nothing more happened than a few injuries which are now healing so...” she looked back at him, smiling, “All's well with the world!”

No! No! All is not well with the world! And... what? What did she mean by him not being the first earl to crack under the pressure? And why could he still not remember anything!? No, no, no! There had to be more to this, had to be some sort of explanation! He refused to believe otherwise! He refused...

“Igrene! Igrene!? Wh-where's Igrene!? Where is she!?” Sebastian shouted as he rose up from his bed, alerting the Pink Dragon.

“Oh! Careful! Careful!” she cried whilst reaching out for him, “Calm down, Master!”

One hand fell on his chest, the other hand on his back, and both slowly pulled him in close to her. He continued shivering under her grasp as his eyes widened, but Rodeline's hold was the same as it always was; warm, kind, and nurturing. She snuggled him up against her coiled chest, but not to offer him her breast milk. Instead, she...

“Urrrmmrraaaaahh...”

Shuddered... Rodeline shuddered. And when she shuddered, her cinnamon scent increased. No, wait, it didn't just increase, it practically exploded. All Sebastian could smell was the overwhelming odor of cinnamon, which flowed into and dominated his nose. At first his heart rate spiked again, knowing what the Pink Dragon was doing. It was her pheromones! She was trying to quell him with her pheromones!

He tried fighting against her, but he was far too weak to offer up much resistance. And as more of the Nurse Maid's scent flowed into his nose, the more subdued he became. All of his movements died even though he knew she was manipulating him; Rodeline's pheromones were far too strong to overcome.

He fell back into the bed, welcomed by the soft pillows and mattress below him, and the Nurse Maid's sweet body above. When she pulled back, she had a smile on her face... and a soft pink glow in her eye.

She just... couldn't help herself. Placing her hands on his head, she tipped it to the side slightly, allowing her to move in and kiss his cheek. A soft press of the lips; nothing more, nothing less. And yet Sebastian shivered... but he was far too weak to do anything about it.

“I'll go and fetch Igrene for you, Master,” Rodeline claimed, “Umu! And tell everyone you are awake! Everyone has been so worried about you! They'll be overjoyed to know you are awake and well, umu!”

“Haaah... Rodeline...”

He could only groan and croak, watching as his Nurse Maid rose up from her feet. After performing a respectful bow, the Pink Dragon made way for the room's exit as Sebastian watched, his hand reaching out for her, only to pull back in. And for the next few moments, he was alone with his thoughts... which... may have been the last place he wanted to be at right now.

Alone with his thoughts, struggling and failing to piece together what happened during the storm, and why he was back in the Faust Estate. Closing his eyes and groaning aloud, he found himself remembering... very, very little. Just the storm, him holding the Serpent Key, Katherine behind him... and then... nothing.

Why... why couldn't he remember anything? And... right! Right! Katherine was there! She'd know what happened, right? He... he just needed to...

Whump...

Sebastian tensed up, his hold on his blankets tightening as his head turned over. The curtains on the opposing side of his bed was closed, so all he could see was the silhouette of a woman as she walked closer and closer. She – like Rodeline – was wearing a cloak that covered her from her head to toe, but even with it on, he could tell who this woman was. It was just in the way she walked, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor, and her height as well. There was no surprise from Sebastian when she appeared in his line of sight, revealing her cloak to be indigo in color.

“Emily...?” Sebastian said weakly as the Marshal stood before him.

Gazing beneath her hood and upon her open cloaked, he could see the injuries that marred the Indigo Dragon's body. Coils... so many coils... wrapped around and around and around. Most striking of all, her leg had a brace wrapped around it, reminding him of where he shot her at. And her jaw had a brace around it too; something elastic yet strong enough to hold it shut so that it could mend. Meaning...

“Mmmssstrrrr...” Emiline... couldn't speak very well.

But she could emote, by God, could she emote. The sadness in her eyes, the pain, the regret... and yet, she smiled, her hand reaching out for his face, gently stroking her fingers along his cheeks and nose. Her touch was just as strong and as tender as ever, and her lavender scent was ever so potent. Smelling her while she touched him further drew Sebastian into a sense of calm, his eyes even closing as he so quickly fell beneath her wiles. He just wanted to snuggle up against her hand, and as Emiline sat down beside him on his bed, she was more than ready to offer him that kinship he so desperately needed.

That kinship... that kinship that would... lead him to nothing upon death... sniiiiffffff... hmm... that kinship that he so desired... sniiifffff... the kinship she could offer him... that... that... sniiifffff...

“Mmmsstrrrr...”

She was treating him with love, tenderly caring for him... but all Sebastian could do was cry. It wasn't loud, it wasn't violent, but the emotion on his face was clear nonetheless. His cheeks puffed, his teeth ground against his teeth, and tears streamed down his face like rivers. But Emiline continued stroking her hand along his face, clearing the tears he shed before guiding him in to hug him against her bosom.

“Mmstrr...” she whispered whilst snuggling him against her bosom, “Mmsstrrr... alwys... prtct... alwys...”

“Emilyyy...” he groaned back.

Whump...

The door once again opened, followed by footsteps. Multiple footsteps. They came around towards Sebastian's side of the bed, drawing his face from Emiline's bosom to see... Rodeline had returned, and beside her was Selene. She was dressed in a black cloak, also naked beneath with her body wrapped around in coils to almost mummy-like degree, especially along her face that covered most of her features... save for her eyes. Purple eyes so bright, glowing as they shed a tear of joy seeing her Master again. She couldn't talk because the coils covered her mouth, but her facial expression were strong still.

But...

There she was...

The one he knew had the answers he sought...

Igrene...

She stood there behind her sisters, wearing a red cloak much like they did. And also like her sisters, she too had bandages covering her from head to toe. Band aids and coils wrapped along her face to cover her injuries, but unlike Emiline – whose jaw was clamped – and Selene – who only had her eyes exposed – Igrene's face wasn't inhibited in the least bit. She could see, emote, and – most important of all – speak.

But she said nothing as the Black Dragon reached out for Sebastian, desperate to hold him in her arms again. But Sebastian? No... he had other plans. Seeing the Red Serpent incited him, causing his blood to pump and his heart rate to once again spike. Tunnel visioning on Igrene and Igrene alone, the young earl gained a sudden spurt of energy that launched him straight into the Head-Housemaid's arms, which she grabbed to hold him up. Everyone locked their eyes on Sebastian, stunned as he fell to his knees, though he kept his eyes locked on the woman he held upon. And through his clinched teeth, his gripping hands, and his angry expression, he cried,

“What! Did! You! DO!?”

The room grew silent, with no one saying a word as their Master struggled to keep himself upright. With no power in his legs, he further leaned upon Igrene for support, though his face remained sharp and emotional. The tears, the anger, the confusion; it all mixed together on his face, creating something... bewildering.

And Igrene just... smiled.

“Yes... you would be confused, wouldn't you, Master?” the Head-Housemaid said as she used her great strength to pick him up like Rodeline did before, “You've been unconscious for days now. Anyone would be confused in your situation.”

“You dragged me back! Didn't you!?” Sebastian shouted as he pounded into her chest with his weak hands, though Igrene merely shook her head.

“No, Master. I did not...”

Her response silenced him, making him draw back... but only for a few seconds before he bore his fangs again. More he pounded his fists into her chest, trying to cause her harm and break her hold, but this only served to tire and weaken him more. He soon grew too exhausted to move, sweat pouring from his every orifice as he gasped in her grasp. And Igrene – ever the loving servant she was – gently guided Sebastian up to her bosom. That hug, her odor, feeling this warmth drew the young earl in, even with his wound up emotions. He broke into tears as he grasped upon her body, clinging to her coils and cloak as he desperately tried to make sense of his situation.

Everything he did... was it all for not?

“You... you're lying!” he cried whilst shaking his head, “You have to be lying!”

“Master... oooh... Master... you know my sisters and I would never lie to you,” Igrene answered whilst briefly wearing a hurt expression, “I did not drag you back. None of my sisters did. And you know this, don't you? Hmm...”

“No... no! Please just shut up! Guh!?”

His grip on her slipped and he nearly fell again, but the Red Serpent continued holding him in her arms. Shaking her head, she shifted her gaze over to Rodeline, who nodded back. Turning around, she revealed a wheelchair, pushing it forward for their Master. And with grasping hands, Igrene sat him down into the wheelchair, relaxing him in its incredibly soft seats.

“I know you have many, many questions, Master,” Igrene said as she pulled back, though her eyes remained locked on his face, “And everyone has been patiently awaiting your return. When you are ready, we will go and see them all!”

Igrene smiled sweetly and Rodeline clapped, but Sebastian couldn't help but to feel incredible fear. His head hung low and his eyes grew wide, teeth grinding against one another as he envisioned the faces of his maids. He ran through here shooting them all – these injuries were his doing – and now Igrene was going to show him off to everyone? Could he even face them?

He just...

“Haahhh! Haaaah!”

He just...

“Haaaah!? Nnnghh!? Haaaaah!”

“Master?”

He just!

“Haaaahhnn!?”

“Master is having a panic attack.”

HE JUST!!!

“HAAAAHHH!?”

“Ara ara... oh dear... Rodeline, can you handle this?” Igrene asked, her tone so... casual.

“Of course, Igrene,” said the Pink Dragon as she circled around to face their Master, watching as he panted furiously in an attempt to catch his breath, “Don't worry, Master. I'll take care of you. Just... come here...”

He fought against her grasp, but with his weak strength, hyperventilation, and overall confusion with the situation, there was nothing he could. And unlike days ago where it was clear he had some modicum of control over his maids, enough of which to force Selene back when he pushed against her, now they made no qualms with manhandling him.

Rodeline pulled Sebastian back into her arms and then shuddered, exuding more of her cinnamon scent which filtered into his nose. He tried fighting back, but this was only compounded as Emiline and Selene came in too. The Black Dragon shuddered her own sweet aroma, followed by the Indigo Dragon who also shuddered to fill the room with her lavender scent. Together, the three dragons surrounded Sebastian in their coiled and cloaked bodies, pressing against him and surrounding him in their soothing aromas.

He struggled and shook, pushed and even tried to punch... but it was all for not. His weak body grew even weaker as they guided him back to his bed, surrounding him on all sides with flesh and pheromones. The smells mixed together, overpowering his ability to think and calming his panic attack. But they didn't stop even as he stopped hyperventilating. No, they continued hugging him close, continued surrounding him in their odors, continued snuggling him, continued... loving him.

He just...

“Ahaaahahh... hhh...”

His body became hot. Far, far too hot. Overwhelmingly hot. And in that heat he found a sense of pleasure that only the drachenmagd could give him. It made him melt, calmed him down further, relaxed him, soothed him, made his eyes heavy. He leaned in against them, gazing out of their bodies towards their faces and softly glowing eyes.

But none grew as bright as Igrene's.

“I... Ihh... Iiiiiiiii...”

The darkness surrounded him.

…

Pooooooooooooouuuuuuuurrrrr...

“Yes... nyeh... that's perfect... mmm... okay... a little more...”

Poooooouurrrrr...

“Yes yes... nyeh... perfect... perfect... yes...”

Poour... pooourr... poouuuurrr...

“Nyeh heh heh!”

Groggily his brown eyes slid open, the sound of liquid pouring echoing louder than the sound of his beeping heart monitor. Moving around, he discovered that... oh... he was still being held on to by someone. Rodeline and Emiline was gone though... so when he looked over... oh... of course... it was Selene. She was still snuggling up to him, resting blissfully as her hand wrapped around his stomach, holding him in close. Her smell was strong however, lulling him into a sense of calm.

But he curiously gazed around, searching for the sound he heard. Breaking free of Selene's grasp, he crawled over to the edge of the bed and pulled open its curtains, gazing off where his eyes befell...

Mylene. She stood near a silver platter, casually pouring a cup of some liquid. She – like all the drachenmagd thus far – was wearing her green cloak, which covered her head and back, all the way down to her feet. He reached out for her, the distance too great... but she twitched nonetheless, her subtle laughter being cut off by an audible 'hm?'

Turning around, Mylene revealed her coiled body to him, the signs of damage he inflicted upon her. Her face wore an eye patch though it did not constrict her chin and lips. Her neck was wrapped in coils, which extended down to her chest, her stomach, her hips and even a little on her legs.

She stared at him with her one yellow eye glowing, her expression shocked before shifting into a teasing smile.

“Guten Abend, Master~!” Mylene said with her usual sense of playful mischief as she placed a teacup upon a small silver plate, “I see Selene stayed with you, despite Igrene's orders. I hope she didn't ring you out, since you are still recovering. You know Selene! Nyeh heh heh!”

“Mylene...” he murmured, drawing his voice out like a wailing zombie.

She ignored his tone as she walked over towards him, offering the newly poured cup of tea. At first he was reluctant, but as he felt his dry tongue lick along his parched mouth, he reached out for the teacup, grabbing its handle. Bringing it back, Sebastian placed it to his lips, drinking it down to Mylene's enjoyment.

“Nyeh heh heh... my lovely Master,” the Parlor Maid remarked as she gently brushed her hand along his head, “Haaah... I'm so happy you are okay.”

“Mmmm... gllp... M... M-Mylene...” he muttered, his eyes leering up at her in a longing manner.

There were a dozen things he wanted to say, and yet most of them were of the... concerned variety. Despite everything he had done, despite everything he knew they were secretly doing to him behind his back, Sebastian still felt wrong. Yes, he felt like he was in the wrong because he shot her. And now whilst gazing upon her coiled body, he reached out with one hand, gently palming her stomach. She stiffened up, a soft sigh escaping her, while he closed his eyes and thought back to that moment in the hall.

She was the first one he shot... and he shot her as a human no less.

But now as he stroked his hand along her body in a curious manner, he found himself ashamed by what he had done. Even more so, how does Mylene feel about it? How could she forgive him for what he had done.

Wait... forgiveness? Shit! He was still asking for forgiveness from them?

But before he could second-guess himself for what felt like the hundredth time, Mylene sat down beside him on the bed. He looked over, his brown eyes meeting her yellow ones as she smiled at him in her cat-like, mischievous manner. Leaning in, she kissed his cheek softly, and he... pressed back against her.

“I'm happy you are okay, Master,” Mylene commented as she stroked his thigh, “I can't wait for you to get better.”

“Better... hmm...?” Sebastian muttered, his eyes cutting away, “I should have... I shouldn't be here...” eyes closing as he pulled up one of his hands, some tears began swelling from within, “I fought against you all. Why am I back here? What happened?”

“We all surrounded the lobby following your mental breakdown,” Mylene explained, drawing his gaze up towards her softly smiling face, “The moon was gone and we were back to normal. Ohh...” she groaned as her hand rubbed her head, “We were all hurting and... afraid that you'd left us. Especially Igrene; she was convinced you left. But Katherine was holding you in her arms; she claimed you came back to us, that you chose us.”

“But why would I?” he said in disbelief, “I tried to run away! That was the poin-- nngghh!?”

“Calm down, Master! Nyeh heh heh! I'm not going anywhere,” Mylene said whilst snuggling up close to him, attempting to calm him down.

“Haah... but that's not... hmm...” he shook his head, “Mental breakdown? Why is everyone calling what I did a 'mental breakdown'? I was shooting you!”

“Well... isn't that what a mental breakdown is?” Mylene asked, eyebrow raised, “You lost your mind momentarily – the crushing weight of the estate fell on your shoulder – and you... well... nyeh! You had a mental breakdown! You put that moon up in the sky, and you shot us. You... shot us...”

Mylene looked away, pain blatant on her face as she remembered what he did to her and her sisters. Sebastian too felt pain in seeing her reaction, which further made the conflicting emotions he felt fly out of wack. But before he could speak, Mylene looked at him with a smile, her hand reaching over to stroke his face.

“It must be a mental breakdown,” she stated, “The Master Sebastian I know would never bring harm upon us unless he wasn't in his right of mind. He claimed so himself...” she smiled blissfully, thinking about days past, “You promised you'd make sure no one harmed us like Zeit and Oden did. So the idea that you were the one who harmed us...?” she shook her head, her hand clinching into a tight fist, “No. You... you must have been suffering a mental breakdown, because there is no other explanation for your actions! You would have never harmed us otherwise, Master. Nyeh heh! I know you wouldn't have. You love us too much to hurt us.”

He struggled to speak, struggled to tell her she was wrong. The words were there, but the defiance was not. Besides, what she said wasn't completely false. While he wouldn't call his attempted escape a 'mental breakdown', he would be lying I he said he didn't love the maids. Admitting that to himself made his tongue curl.

What the hell was wrong with him? Was this Stockholm Syndrome or something?

“Well... let's not talk about your little episode, nyeh heh!” Mylene said, getting up from his bedside so that she could walk towards a nearby silver table, “I don't want to bring myself – or you – down with such things. You're better now! That's all that matters.”

“Mylene...”

He closed his eyes and palmed his face, groaning into his hands while the bed softly shifted behind him. Before he knew it, Selene was grabbing him by his shoulders, gently guiding him back into her bosom as she pressed her chest to his back. He looked over his shoulder towards her wrapped face, feeling the smile behind it as her sleepy purple eyes opened. Then he looked forward again, watching as Mylene returned with a small plate in hand with a bowl of pudding on it.

“Nyeh heh! I'm sure Rodeline will say you need healthier foods as you recover, but pudding never hurt anyone! I had Nadine make this, and I snuck it to you, so don't tell anyone, okay, Master? Nyeh heh heh!”

The bowl of pudding... it looked amazing, truly. How perfectly white it looked, and the sweet aroma of vanilla that wouldn't be out of place on someone like Katherine. It even had a cherry at top, streaking slivers of red down its ivory surface. And when Mylene cut into it with her spoon to scoop some up, it retained its form still.

Sebastian thought about pushing away from it, thought about denying it... but Selene began rubbing her face into his neck like an affectionate kitten, and her sweet aroma began dominating the air around him. Not even seconds later, and Mylene's odor too began filling the air. Suger and lemons, mixing in his nose, calming him down.

He bowed his head almost submissively as his Parlor Maid brought forward her scoop of vanilla. Without hesitation, he slowly began eating it.

“Nyaaah... such a good boy you are, Master.”

…

He... did not get much sleep that night.

Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...!

There were moments where his heart rate would speed up. There were moments where it would slow down. He swore there were moments where it would skip a beat. Didn't matter.

Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...! Beep...!

His eyes gazed out of his bed's curtains, staring to the silver-lining that gleamed through his windows. Selene's unconscious body snuggled up close to him, her aroma having died down... though not completely. Maybe that's why he could think now... though he wondered if he even wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

Unobstructed by the pheromones or bodies of his ever loving maids, Sebastian continued to think about the moments that led up to his reawakening within his bedroom. He fought long and hard against his drachenmagd, and for what? Just to end up right back where he started.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! He should have known better! He should have known that escape was impossible! If it was, then someone in the Faust family would have done it by now! The drachenmagd would not so easily give up their life source, would they?

But why? Why could he not remember the moments leading up to this? Why was his mind so... so opaque?

Katherine. She had something to do with this, she had to! He remembered seeing Katherine last, and Mylene even said Katherine was holding him. Mylene said that he chose them... that he came back willingly.

No! No! No!

No...

He couldn't have...

If anyone had the answers he sought, it was Katherine. He needed to speak to her, and speak to her now! With the pounding in his chest, he just couldn't lay here, thumping his fingers together as his anxieties ate away at him. At the very least, he just wanted to know why.

As if learning the truth would make him feel even a smidgen better...

Breaking out of Selene's slumbering grasp, Sebastian pulled himself out of the bed and locked his eyes upon his wheelchair in the distance. He was still weak, but within him there laid a surprising bit of strength which he used to pull himself over towards the chair. The cords attaching him to the heart monitor broke off, one by one, and he sat himself into the wheelchair.

Selene... was still asleep, though she clutched at the bundle of blankets that once was his body. He eyed her, before gripping his wheelchair's wheels. Rolling himself forward, the young earl made way for his door, opening it so he could exit out into the endless halls outside.

This... this was his first time leaving the room since waking up. It sent a shiver down his spine as the cold air graced him... and the lingering signs of destruction showered the corridor. Broken pieces of furniture, dented walls, floors and ceiling... dried blood...

Dried... blood...

The large, grandiose window within this hall was still shattered, with only a plastic screen set up to block the air outside. Didn't stop a soft, subtle gust from blowing in through its seams, making Sebastian shiver.

He remembered what he did; shooting Mylene out of this very same window. Seeing her earlier today and now seeing this, reminded him of what he'd done to his maids. But it also showed him how strange this whole 'mental breakdown' excuse they've created was. Is that how they were going to explain off everything; the pillar they've leaned on to forgive him so easily? Is this Rodeline's medical evaluation for the situation, or Igrene's excuse for it all?

Igrene... Igrene... Igrene... she was at the head of all this, wasn't she? She claimed she didn't drag him back – and he knew the drachenmagd not to be liars – but if she didn't drag him back, then... then...

No. He refused to believe the opposite.

Shifting his gaze down the hall, Sebastian wheeled himself into the distance, gazing around in search of her. At this time of night in the lonely, dark, silent halls, he was bound to run into her; this was her domain after all. Pushing and rolling, searching for the telltale sign of her silver-white glow.

It did not take long for him to see it. It glittered in the distance, passing by a perpendicular hall briefly. Seeing it, Sebastian began pushing for her in the distance, his voice raising as he called out,

“Katherine! Katherine!!!”

He pushed with all his might, rushing towards the White Dragon as fast as he could go. Now as always, she moved at a speed that was faster than him, but still slow enough that he could see where she was going. But with his weaker arm strength, he just barely could keep himself going, and even stopped a few times just to catch his breath. But Sebastian was nothing if not tenacious, and he never gave up. He kept going until finally--

He arrived at a balcony. Glass doors separated him from said balcony, while on the other end stood a woman in a shimmering white cloak. He reached his hand out for the glass door, but they parted open as if by an invisible force... her doing.

Rolling out upon the balcony, Sebastian shivered from the cold air surrounding him. His medical gown offered very little protection, but he didn't care and he just pushed forward towards the Housekeeper. She stood there with her back to his face, but when he was only a few feet shy of her, she removed the hood on her head, revealing her long white hair. She turned to face him, still wearing her glasses, and still with an expression that was rather flat. She – unlike the others – had no injuries on her body. No band aids, no coils, no nothing; beneath her cloak, she was completely nude.

“Master...” Katherine said whilst bowing her head in his direction, “You're better...” Grab! “Uh!?”

“WHAT DID YOU DO!?” Sebastian shouted as he clung at her cloak.

He stared at her dead in the face, expression frantic and teeth clinched. In his haste, he pulled himself from his wheelchair, falling on his knees before the the White Dragon. His legs moved to push himself up, but he failed again and again due to his weakness. Didn't stop him from trying, pushing in an attempt to stand whilst gripping upon Katherine for support. In his frustrations, he began crying again, but not even that was enough to slow him down.

“You forced me back!” Sebastian shouted whilst punching the Housekeeper in the thigh, “You forced me back, didn't you! Hahhah!? Why!? Why didn't you just let me die!?”

“Master... I--”

She pulled her head up, cutting herself off as her gaze looked past him and his wheelchair. Following her gaze, Sebastian too stared over his shoulder, eyes falling on... Igrene. The Red Serpent stood at the entrance to the balcony, still cloaked and coiled, staring at Sebastian in a concerned manner. Pinned between the two, the young earl began shaking in place while Igrene slowly approached them.

“Is... everything okay?” she asked, “Master Sebastian's heart monitor suddenly turned off; I was worried.”

“Everything is fine,” Katherine said in a reassuring manner, though Sebastian shook his head.

“NO! NO! EVERYTHING IS NOT FINE!!!” he shouted back whilst shaking his head, “What the hell happened!? Why can't I...?” his head hung low, tears forming still though his expression was hard and angry, “You dragged me back, didn't you, Katherine...” his face returned to her, glaring into her white eyes, “YOU DRAGGED ME BACK!!!”

But she remained silent, with only the sound of Igrene's footsteps sounding out among them. Walking behind Sebastian, she placed her hands upon his shoulders, gently kneading them before guiding him back into his wheelchair. He didn't fight back, lacking both the power and the will to offer any sort of resistance.

Katherine walked before him, her expression saddened as she and Igrene traded glances with one another. Both then brought their gazes down upon Sebastian, who continued hanging his head low.

“Master...” Katherine said softly, her fingers stroking his chin though his expression remained... depressed, “Why would you think I dragged you back?”

“Why else would I be here...?” Sebastian asked, averting his gaze as his shoulders slumped, “I was so close to escape. I just... I needed to get through the door. You were there and... and... rrggh!” he balled his hands, closed his eyes and clinched his teeth, “I... I can't remember! But I know you were there! And Mylene even said I was in your arms; that I chose to come back! But I know I didn't! Why would I come back willingly after all that I did!” he grew weak again, falling back in his chair as his head dipped, “Why would I... come back...? You had to... drag me back...”

“Who are you trying to convince, Master?” Igrene asked, making him look up at her, “Are you trying to convince us? Or are you trying to convince yourself.”

“What!? What do you mean!?” he replied as a frantic visage took his face.

“You are indeed correct, Master. You were in front of the gate, and I was there,” Katherine said, drawing his gaze back towards her, “You were stumbling about before the gate, talking to yourself, twisting and turning. I wanted to help you, but after all you had done, I knew to give you your space and let you make your own decision. So I did nothing, and you eventually passed out. I admit, I came close to indeed bringing you back to the estate, for I knew the storm would no doubt kill you as you laid beneath it. But when I walked towards you, you got up on your own. And then you turned around and grabbed my hand. You didn't say anything, but you looked so tired. I led you back to the lobby, and you didn't fight back,” she smiled blissfully, “You chose us, Master. You chose us.”

“No... no... no! I didn't... not after all I did. I... I couldn't! You... you have to be lying!” more tears began streaming down his face, “Please, Katherine! Please! Tell me you're lying!”

They read the desperation on his face, as he once again clung to the White Dragon's cloak. Staring in those eyes, she watched as they quivered, his shoulders slumping down, and even his grip was growing lax. Katherine reached down, placing her hands upon his wrists as she knelt down to be close to his level. Bringing his hands away from her cloak, she placed them softly upon her cheeks, letting him feel her as she lovingly rubbed her face into his hands.

And then her lips moved.

“No...”

“What...?”

“I am your humble and obedient servant, Master,” Katherine stated, “But I cannot lie. I will never lie. Perhaps I could lie to others, but I cannot lie to you. Everything I said... it all happened. I apologize if it further damages your psyche, but know we are here with you. We will all get through this together.”

Shivering in place, Sebastian pulled away from Katherine, his back resting against his wheelchair. The Housekeeper did not stop smiling however, and instead moved in to once again palm his face. Tipping his head, she kissed his cheek in a loving manner, garnering whimpers from him as he felt her love.

Her vile... possessive... love...

“Let's take you back to your room, Master,” Igrene said, turning him around so that he could face the darkened halls of his estate, “You'll need all of your rest for what will come.”

“Igreeeeneeee...” Sebastian groaned as she began pushing him back towards his bedroom.

“Shhhhh, don't exert yourself, Master,” the Red Serpent whispered soothingly into his ears.

Gripping the armrest of his wheelchair, he felt the tension within his body balloon. Ahead of him he could see Selene standing there, her purple eyes glowing like lights in the distance. She beckoned her Master forward with her curling hand, guiding him down the hall straight towards her as she stood front and center within his bedroom's doors.

But...

She was not the only one of his maids currently standing in this hall.

While Katherine and Igrene were pushing him along, the halls were also aligned with the other maids. Emiline was there, and Rodeline, and Mylene too; the three of them wearing their cloaks with their bodies still coiled. But that's not all, for there was also Carmeline, and Nadine, and Faline, and Larsine, and Adeline. They were lining the halls too, watching Sebastian sharply. He hadn't seen them due to being locked in his room all day, but now they looked so...

Intense.

Bodies wrapped in medical coils yes, but their expression picked him apart. Watching him, scanning him, penetrating his very existence. He'd never felt so... little beneath their gazes before. Even while covered in all manner of gauze and coils, some having eye patches, others even having braces, the drachenmagd were incredibly domineering and powerful. Their odds were overwhelming, their strength all encompassing, and he was in the center of it all.

Their weak, human, Master.

“Wh... what are you going to do with me...?” Sebastian asked as he was wheeled closer to his bedroom.

“Why do you say it like that?” Igrene asked, eyebrow raised, “Are you worried we will bring harm upon you?”

“Igrene...”

“Fufufufu... ara ara, Master. Do not worry; we will be here with you... forever.”

Her tone was comforting, but nothing about it felt reassuring. And with the intense, almost predatory gazes he garnered from the rest of his maids, Sebastian further felt understandably shaken. But what could he do as he was now? He was trapped in their clutches, surrounded on all sides, his body weak, and with no more Dragonsbane.

He... did this to himself... didn't he?

He did this to himself...

Sebastian's gaze moved forward, locking in on Selene's open arms and her piercing purple eyes. When he entered into his bedroom, the door closed shut behind him.

Fwooosh...

From Katherine's lips flowed a stream of white fire, igniting the fireplace in Sebastian's bedroom to give the chamber an ambient glow. Now that he was here, Selene reached out and grabbed him, pulling her Master into her arms as she carried him off to bed. He was far too weak to offer any sort of resistance.

“Mmmfff... haaahh...”

Resting into the bed, his body laid against Selene's. Being the overly affectionate Chamber Maid she was, she gently stroked and teased his head before turning him around so that he could face the rest of his bedroom. Igrene and Katherine naturally had their eyes locked on him, with the Red Serpent sitting on his bedside, and the White Dragon standing tall beside them. He looked at the two, while Selene shuddered, causing her sweet-smelling pheromones to fill the air around him.

But Sebastian stood his ground, gritting his teeth as he reached out for his drachenmagd. He still had one... one very, very important question to ask, and he wasn't sure if he could wait.

“What... now...?” he asked whilst pulling his hand back.

“The same as usual, Master,” Igrene answered as she grabbed the sensors from the heart monitor, placing them upon his chest, “We want you to live out the rest of your life under our ever so watchful eye. Nothing will change that...” her hands then traveled up to his face, clutching it, “You're safety and well-being is the utmost importance to us.”

“But after everything I did... haaahh...” he sank closer against Selene's body, “You're just... going to forgive me... like that?”

“Of course,” Katherine answered, “You were shaken, Master. But I knew you'd return to your senses once you got your fears out of your systems...” she smiled gently, “Your father was much the same as you are.”

“Haaahh... ohh... that's... hhh... that's not reassuring...” he murmured weakly to himself.

Selene's aroma began mixing with Igrene's, and soon after came Katherine's as well. Mixing together, all of their odors made it hard, if not impossible for Sebastian to think straight. He felt drowsy, his eyes began hanging low, and even his heart rate started slowing in a more methodical manner.

Everything in his body told him to sleep. From their scents, to Selene's stroking hands, to even the glowing light from his fireplace. Just sleep, Sebastian, sleep. But...

He didn't sleep... he locked his gaze towards Igrene... he reached his hand out for her... one final... act... of... defiance...

“The Serpent Key...” he whispered, “Where is... it...?”

“The Serpent Key?” she repeated, “Ara...”

Igrene's hand closed shut... and then it opened, revealing the golden key with the serpentine design. It appeared from thin air within her palm, and glowed softly in the night light of his bedroom. Sebastian reached out for the key, but the Red Serpent closed her hand over it, pulling it back.

“I'm afraid... I can't let you have it, Master Sebastian,” the Head-Housemaid claimed, making him drop his hand, “Having the master key to the entire estate with your mental state... would be most unwise. I can't risk you... regressing into a negative way of thinking.”

“We've also decided to keep a far, far closer eye upon you in the meantime,” Katherine stated as she walked forward as well, “Igrene and I did not agree with each other before on how to handle your arrival, but we're on the same page now following your breakdown.”

“From now on... you will always have one of us at your side,” Igrene explained, “Larsine... Mylene... me... Katherine... oh... the possibilities. We'll always keep you in our sights, Master. Even more so than we have before.”

“Always... have one at... always?”

“Always...” Katherine said, reaffirming her sister's statement, “While you did return to us by your own fruition, we would be foolish for thinking you are 100% healthy once again. So until we are sure we can trust you again.”

“We will always be with you. Always...”

And as if for extra punctuation, Selene hugged him close, her chin resting on his head as she lovingly rubbed his body. Her sweet aroma dominated his nose, and her loving touches sent a heat through his body.

But Sebastian was shivering, trapped beneath the intense and overpowering eyes of Igrene and Katherine alike. Their gazes were glowing – green and white – completely enveloping him. For all the time Sebastian had spent here, he had never felt so small before. Even when Igrene and Katherine were battling against Zeit and Oden. And yes, even when he tried to escape the estate himself. Not once during either of these moments had he felt as tiny and insignificant as he did now.

He couldn't muster any semblance of defiance now. Quite the opposite really; he began breaking and crumbling. His teeth pressed against one another, his eyes closed, and tears began falling from his face.

He was crying again, yes, something he's done so often as of late. But this? This felt so much... stronger than that now. It's a different type of crying when you watch your own failures play out in real time. For all of Sebastian's defiant actions, and his valiant attempt at escape, he ended up right back where he started from; within the loving and possessive embrace of his maids. Selene cradling him, Katherine dominating him, and Igrene...

Igrene...

That smile of hers. That smile she used to beckon him in here in the first place. This smile that always made him feel like everything was going to be okay. It was sweet and kind, elegant and beautiful... but beneath its veneer, there was an obsession to it. She was controlling... they were controlling, and now that he'd returned, he knew escape would be impossible.

And he knew it was his fault. He knew that – as time went on – it would become harder and harder and harder for him to say 'no' to this. He'd never say 'no' to this. Trapped in their clutches, controlled by their love, at some point he'd become...

Docile... if he wasn't already like that...

This realization – this understanding of his own doom – it caused Sebastian to cry out harder. But then he swallowed it in, his head dipping down and his expression shifting. When he looked back up with those lost, wide brown eyes of his, he appeared to be so utterly...

Defeated...

“Oh Master... don't cry,” Igrene said, her soft hand clutching his cheek as she moved in, “We'll be here with you. Forever.”

She pursed her lips, pressing it to his in a pacifying kiss. It worked somewhat, making his tears dry up slightly, but never fully diminish. He continued shaking beneath them still, while Selene pulled him in closer to her body.

The soothing touches and overwhelming heat began to have its desired affect on Sebastian; his eyes became heavy. He sank in closer to Selene's body, and she pulled over covers which covered him up to his neck. The images he had of Igrene and Katherine became hazy, but their glowing eyes did not. Even as the darkness started enveloping him, their eyes continued to shine.

“I'm... haaahh... I'm tired...” Sebastian whispered as his eyes close, a hand resting upon his forehead.

“Then rest Master. We will be here when you wake up. Promise...”

Igrene's soothing and reassuring words filtered into his ears, all as the darkness took hold of him. He fell back into these shadows, sinking like he was falling underwater. Deeper...

Deeper...

Deeper...

Did... sleeping always feel like this? He felt...

He felt...

He...

felt...

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I knew you'd give it to me. They always give it to me. Always.

Auf Wiedersehen