HOME | DD

Description
Chapter 2 Transformation Because Of Sebby
“What the hell was that?” I ran a palm thru my face in confusion. It’s no ordinary night.
“She’s possessed.” He opened a can of beer and offered it to me. I drank it without much ado.
“By what? Aren’t we supposed to be the bad guys here? From her expression earlier, I can absolutely declare she’s not looking for me to offer a midnight snack.”
“In Revelle, shit happens dear.” Sebastian sipped his beer modestly staring into the moonlight. We returned to the school garden.
“Demons are creatures that possessed powers which activates and intensifies during the period of misery or hatred. Devils are evil personified.” He looked at me with those flaming eyes that are to die for. “She looks like she’s being possessed by a devil.”
“What difference does it make?” I took a stone and threw it at something with all my might. Frustration.
“Listen, here’s the cue. Don’t believe in everything the dictionary tells you. Demons and devils are used interchangeably, but that is wrong in any angle.
“Demons are not necessarily evil okay? We use our negativity like desire for vengeance and hatred as a weapon. A human can be a demon by choice. But we can also be good. It depends upon the demon’s self-control.
‘Whereas devils are exiled angels. They are deceivers. They pretend to be good to lure humans into evil. Wolves in the guise of sheep.”
“What about those legends?” I frowned.
“Demons have black feathers, horns etc. it really depends. But devils are ephemerally beautiful, like angels. Their true forms are exquisite.
Pure demons devour souls for survival.” He stood up, his words reminiscent. “souls with hatred. Souls with sorrow. It fades those souls away.
But devils enslave a human being’s body and soul. They use those souls like familiars to do their bidding. And the innocent is their prey.”
Sebastian glanced at me from his shoulders, his eyes cold as the dusk. “I am a pure demon, but I managed to quench my thirst for souls.”
My voice was barely audible in the wind. “how?”
He absentmindedly whispered. “I fell in love.”
“pardon me,” a pale man with long ashen hair spoke in a low modulated voice. He is beautiful under the pallid moonlight. His lashes thick and pale as his hair. Taller than Sebastian, but more grace and fluidity. A thin, auburn ribbon is tied around his neck and it stood out from his cotton white outfit.
“I am Haiku,” his aubergine scrutiny drifted from me to Sebastian. “I’ve seen from my mind’s eye what has happened to her relative, and as a Yokai, it is my obligation to relay information about that matter.”
“proceed, Haiku.” My leader answered.
“it seemed as though the soul of Audrei Petitia was already enslaved a month before Tatiana came to Zhanaron. They were ready. And they came with no mercy.”
Haiku met my eyes and murmured, the depth of his thoughts oblivious to my fear.
“will the demons succeed? I wonder.” He drifted away from us, his hair flowing with Zephyr.
I didn’t understand anything he said, but I didn’t have time to ponder. Sebastian started the motor of his vehicle and tossed me the helmet. “Let’s go.”
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o
Sebastian’s house is in the middle of the Grizly forest to the north of Zhanaron, 20 kilometers from our school. It’s a two-story terraced structure painted in magnolia and butter-scotch. It’s a pretty home with a small flower garden filled with hydrangeas, fuchsia and geranium. Nearby, one can hear the gushing of a river. The balcony faces the stupendous view of the mountains.
Inside was the combination of grandeur and minimalism. The lights are huge chandeliers akin to the Versailles , but the furniture are carefully selected necessities, in black, brown and cream.
“here’s your room,” he opened the door nearest to the crystal stairs. It has a small bed with pink bedcovers and pillows, and the walls are a cute shade of baby blue embossed with bunny prints.
“did you design these? ” I stare in awe. Cute, but so-not-like Sebastian.
“a friend did. “He shut the door tightly and left me alone.
I was so tired that I didn’t even bother to change clothes before I dozed off. I woke up the next day, feeling light-headed and dizzy. But my head ache vanished when I saw that Sebastian managed to retrieve my stuff from aunt Audrei’s place. Even my hairpins and soap.
“Sebastian,” I looked for him in the kitchen and saw him preparing breakfast. It’s an entrée with soup (lobster bisque), desserts (blancmange), main dish (Delmonico steak) and beverage (sparkling wine). I never seen food so intricately prepared, so worthy of noble status. “this is smashing,” I dumbly exclaimed.
“as the leader of the Demon Order, what can I do if I can’t even prepare a fine breakfast?” he mumbled, more to himself than me. I ignored his bravado and changed the topic. “what happened to aunt Audrei?”
“She’s found dead by the police.” He glanced at me while putting coulee on the dessert. “you will be the main suspect. The most sensible thing to do would be to change your identity.”
A knock on the backdoor interrupted the conversation. It opened by itself, and a tall individual walked in, dressed in a red velvet coat, black denim pants, and white cotton shirt. His emerald eyes are emphasized by his long fiery red hair. The guest flashed a smile and revealed a jagged set of white teeth.
“oh my Sebastian!” he announced in a flirty tone and is about to envelope his arms around my host when Sebastian swiftly turned away.
“Oh, so icy!” the visitor mused. “But that’s what I love about you ever since.’
“Tatiana, may I introduce you, Grell Sutcliff. An acquaintance of mine.”
“His fiancée,” Grell insisted.
“He will reveal to us some details about your relative’s death.
“You got pretty hair,” the guest winked, referring to my curly wine tresses. “Red is sexy.”
“This is really against the Shinigami rules, Sebastian, but for you, I will do anything!” he blew a kiss which was repelled by Sebastian’s disgusted face. “Even be the mommy of your tiny demon spawns, Sebby!”
“Now,” the ostentatious, (obviously) homosexual sat with crossed legs on a chair. “Tezhanna, was it? I will tell you a few details about Audrei Medici Petitia’s death.
“She was supposed to be dead 2 months ago, because of pneumonia. However,” with his pinky finger raised, he sipped the tea and continued. “our shinigami that was assigned to her was not able to find her soul. It was as if she’s hollow inside.”
“I see,” Sebastian continued to set the table and left me alone with the guest. “we are currently hunting down the culprit responsible,” Grell flipped his long hair with delicate fingers and ogle at me. “But he or she is pretty slick.”
The red-eyed Demon reappeared to call us for dinner. The bespectacled shinigami walked to the table with swaying hips, excited to taste the home-cooked meal.
“As usual Sebastian,” he fingered the blanc with flair. “your cooking skill is not even slightly tarnished throughout the years. I remember at the Phantomhive manor-“
The utensils slightly clashed in protest. I turned and saw my host’s unsmiling face. The guest took the cue and cynically rolled his eyes and turned to me. “good luck with your training. I hope you’ll survive with flying colors.” He departed without a word to Sebastian. As fast as he came, as swift as he left. Grell Sutcliff is like the playful wind.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o
As I was strolling around the small garden, Sebastian appeared in his usual black t-shirt and jeans, with a white scarf around his neck.
“Did I scare you earlier?” sat on a rock and toyed with the geranium. He was talking about the clash of the silverware at breakfast time.
“Not really.” I lied. His calm façade being tainted by Grell’s comment, that’s something new and unexpected.
“Remember when I said that we’ll change your identity?” he showed me an envelope, which I opened with slight curiosity. A birth certificate.
“Your name will be Maxine Norine from Russia. Or at least for now. We’ll post as lovers to avoid suspicion. Preferably a fiancé status.”
Before I can protest, a black Lamborghini stopped nearby. Camino Dean alighted from it, along with Denise Laurent. The wizard and the fairy.
“we came as you insisted, Michaelis. ” Camino removed his spectacles and revealed his fair, handsome face.
And something tells me today’s gonna be big.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o
I marveled how a few herbs, a few words and a few strokes can change one’s appearance, tremendously. I spin around the mirror in astonishment. Straight hair, red as wine, chopped straightly, leaving bangs to cover my forehead. My freckled skin polished to porcelain. Suddenly, I’m gorgeous. Camino, a wizard? More like the beauty miracle worker.
“my power’s quite strong, and with your demonic qualities, the effect of the spell cannot be altered.” I clinched at the word “demon” but thanked him anyway.
“So today, you will be Maxine Norine. Don’t dare forget. A slip of tongue can get you killed,” the fairy, Denise, dragged 2 huge suitcases and opened it before us. It was full of clothes. Clothes too sexy for an average girl. Clothes that are way out of my league.
“Oh no,” I backed away slowly when she took out a white miniskirt. “I am so not wearing that”
“Don’t be such a baby, Maxine.” Already calling me by my new name, she grabbed me tightly and tried to imagine me in a skirt. “you’ll look good, I swear.” She fluttered her long lashes.
“Don’t make it hard for Denise. She will be a great help after all.” Sebastian served Camino and Denise some tea at the small table. The guests inhaled the aroma, and complimented him with a smile.
“Here’s the plot at the operation: I’m-Maxine-Norine-and-so-definitely-not-Tatiana. You’ll be my childhood friend, and I was the reason you and Michaelis met. Fell in love and soon to be married, and happily ever after.” Denise summarized the crazy plan.
The demon chuckled. “isn’t it too fluffy for my taste?”
“Of course not,” Denise defended her plan. “Camino, anything you’d like to add?”
The warlock lifted his tea to the air. “not my forte, sorry.”
“I still have to go to school?” I stupidly asked.
“That’s a must, after all.”
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o
I used to be your little, sweet, socially challenged girl. Yes, I was Tatiana Petitia of the messy-head-freckled-cheek society where I was the leader and sole member of my own world. But now I walk with forced confidence, palm to palm with the demon heartthrob, Maxine Norine. A (supposedly) bright, confident and pretty lady, fiancée of Sebastian Michaelis. Or so this guy insisted.
“A new student? Who is she?” an eye-rolling freshman glared at me when I accidentally met her eyes along the corridors.
“She’s so pretty!” a tall senior whispered to a friend.
“what’s with her clothes? It’s too daring.” A girl commented. Sebastian gave them a sharp look, and finally silenced the flibbertigibbets of Revelle College.
Suddenly, it’s first day at school all over again. I sighed.
“Class, starting today, we’ll have a new student that will join you. Please give her a warm welcome.”
The teacher tried, but not the least bit looked enthusiastic at my entry as a new student. Being the ‘girlfriend’ of the campus crush, I was scrutinized carefully by my classmates, even more harshly than before. Every now and then, Sebastian would appear and save my ass from the angry mob, but I’m still so pissed because I still blame him for all of this.
I need a break.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o
I woke up in the middle of the night, thirsty and fatigued. School’s been tough, and as always, I had to juggle a few questions from the jealous fans plus deal with Sebastian’s weirdness. And we are so not making any progress.
I wore my glasses and walked barefoot. My destination’s the kitchen to gulp down a bottle of agua. I feel so weak. High heels are such a drag.
I noticed Sebastian’s room was still lighted. I dismissed it and was about to go back to my room when I heard Sebastian’s voice beneath the door.
“I know I can do anything I want right now, but I still prefer to have him around…”
“Are you saying that you rather be Ciel’s little pet for eternity?” Grell’s voice reflected the shinigami’s disgust.
“At least I wasn’t so alone.” Sebastian, frustrated? Now that’s a first.
BTW, who’s Ciel?
I pressed my ear against the door. A little bit scary. I can be killed because of eavesdropping.
“it was supposed to be an eternity, Sebby.” Grell giggled. “I don’t think you will last in his hands anyway. He is bossy.”
“you really don’t understand, and this conversation is utterly pointless. But since you’re here, Maxine, you are free to enter the room to publicly listen to my whining.”
I slowly opened the door and popped my head to his room. It’s so sparkly clean. The bed sheets are of cream color and his pillows are black. The blanket is a nice shade of burgundy red. I noticed that there’s no other furniture in it, save for the closet tightly shut and a huge mirror.
“come in, girl!” the now-familiar guest motioned me to sit beside him and I noticed that he’s holding a gigantic black kitty stuff toy. I walked in hesitantly, bracing myself to be scolded by the cranky boss.
“So, you’re here at this isolated country to look for demons that can help you, right? Why don’t you just ask Claude? ” Grell flipped his long hair and looked at Sebastian with hazy jade pupils.
Who’s Claude? I pouted to express my self-annoyance. I am so missing out.
“Another impossible suggestion, I must say. He would want to steal it for himself.”
“Alois?” the red-head yawned. “I’m sooo sleepy!”
“There’s absolutely no way I’d ask help from those greedy demons.” Sebastian glared.
“It’s not like you have a choice. You have this young lady here and it took you 50 years to find her. You’re time is officially running up considering that Tezhanna, no,” The shinigami mused. “Maxine would eventually age and die. Swallow your pride and ask your old friends if they can help you find that brat. Or wait for another 50 years.”
“And what if they refuse?” the raven shot back.
“Uhmm” I coughed coarsely “I think I can help you convince them.” I fidgeted a little. He may be cranky annoying and cold, but I owe him my life and identity. Strictly speaking. “I will convince them.”
The demon lay back. “Do you know why I’m doing this, Maxine?”
I smiled sweetly. I like you Sebastian. But I can feel you are already fixed your eyes at a certain someone. “Because you’re inlove?”
“Precisely.” He turned his seductive fiery eyes to me and smile. Sincerely.

~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o
“that one’s a handful.” Grell lamented. We left Sebastian for our ‘girl-talk’ and went instead to my ultra girly room. Something tells me that we’ll be great friends.
“Who is Ciel btw?” I hugged a pillow and stare at the shinigami’s beautiful face. He can be silly, but he has undisputed beauty. His creamy complexion free from any flaws contrasts sharply with his red hair and green eyes, highlighting their beautiful color.
“Sebby’s master/love interest.” Grell leaned closer and whispered like a gossiping housewife. “Sebastian used to be a demon butler serving the Phantomhive family. It was awkward, Max. A demon actually falling in love?” he chuckled.
“How does she look like? Is she pretty?” I foolishly asked.
“You could say that,” the death god rolled his eyes. “For a boy, that is.”
“That’s-” I gasped in amazement. “no ordinary love.”
“you know, that kid became a demon and Ciel was supposed to be Sebby’s master for eternity.” He spread his arms to emphasize the width of the period.
“But when the brat was contracted by someone, he suddenly vanished without a word. Sebby was infuriated. Then a rumor reached us. It seemed as though the devils possessed Ciel’s master. That’s the last thing we heard. And damn, it’s been a hundred years since then.”
“He just, disappeared?”
“Exactly! And by the way, Max.” Grell rubbed his eyes. “You ought to be careful around Alois and Claude. Both are eccentric and those three, Sebastian included, are not great friends. So do your best okay? Before my fiancé disintegrate because of heart ache.”
We laugh lightly, picturing Sebastian in unlikely despair.
“You should sleep here Grell. Tell me more about them. Please?”