Silver light flooded the dark damp room, illuminating the lone figure of a woman in her early youth huddled in a corner. She shone brightly like the moon itself as the silver light touched her white cleric robe. She could easily be confused for a ghost, for her skin was white as snow – her beauty could sway the hearts of a thousand men. It was injustice to a beauty like her to keep her locked up. She deserved a feather bed but was provided stone to lie on. She deserved the comforts of noble but was bounded in chains - her ankles were red owing to the soreness. On this cold and lonely night, only she could be heard throughout the dungeons sobbing. Hearing her sobs, all the guards desired to console her but they didn’t dare to. They feared for their life…they feared for their families’ lives, they feared their wretched master…

“Though you pretend to be brave in front of him…the truth is you are frightened of him.” A voice of a man spoke out from the shadows of the dungeon.

The woman stopped crying and wiped away her tears in a hurry.

“What do you want?” She asked in a stern voice.

“I need to borrow your powers….” The man replied as he stepped out of the shadows. His hair was immaculately gelled back and he wore a black tail coat over a white frill shirt.

The woman froze up in terror and tried to step away further – but she was already pressed against the wall. She tried to keep as much distance as possible from him – but where could she escape to?

“Does your master know you are here, monster?” The woman asked anxiously. She was desperately trying to put up a brave front.

The man simply smiled as he took one step at a time – slowly making his way to the woman.

The woman grabbed a metal mug and threw it at the man. However, the mug flew through him – as if he were an apparition. The mug landed on the ground making a clanging noise.

“Come now…” The man said. “Don’t resist me.”

The woman trembled. “Please…” she begged, fear loomed in her eyes.

The man continued to smile, he was now standing in front of the woman –intimately close – he grabbed her hand and pressed it against the wall.

There were tears brimming in the woman’s eyes. “Please Sebastian…” she begged one last time.

The black butler’s eyes revealed no emotion – his eyes were cold as ever.

He moved forward and pressed himself against her – he gave a her a shallow kiss and stepped back.

The woman lost all her bodily strength and her body began floating a centimetre above the ground. Her head propped back, with her face looking towards the ceiling. Her eyes shone white light – her body began shimmering as the moonlight touched her.

“Tell me where the adventurer I seek is?” Sebastian asked.

“He no longer exists in this realm.” The woman replied – though her lips and jaws didn’t move – a voice rung out of her; a monotonous voice that was hers yet not hers.

“Tch.” Sebastian was disappointed – he could only ask one more question.

“Has the course of the future been changed?” He asked her.

“I see no change in the future. Feladonia will fall, marking the fall of the Empire and your demise.” The woman whispered as she fell to the ground.

Her body was writhing in pain.

Sebastian sighed and took leave –all that was left behind was the tiny figure of girl dressed in white robes.

Once Sebastian left, the tiny girl used the remainder of her strength to kneel and pray; her source of strength came from her desire of revenge. This girl had a trick up her sleeve that even Sebastian was not aware of – her last straw of hope.

“Mighty Grace, please intertwine the destinies…” She began whispering as her body lost its warmth. The girl continued whispering silently till she lost consciousness.

When dawn came the body was restored to its former self – there lay an unconscious beauty on the ground – her hair open and dishevelled – how many more nights like these would she have to live?

***

“Have you found him?” The Old Emperor asked as he sat back in his plush red chair, sipping wine from a goblet.

“No.” Sebastian replied with a graceful bow.

The Old Emperor raised his eyebrow.

“The Seer reports that he is no longer in this realm. Further, our actions have not brought about the slightest ripples to the future.”

“The Seer?” The Old Emperor asked with a surprise. “Was it a full moon night?”

“No…”

“Did you touch her?” The Old Emperor asked as he began losing his temper – a vein or two became visible on his forehead.

“…” Sebastian kept quiet.

The Old Emperor threw his goblet of wine at Sebastian – it struck him on his forehead. A single drop of blood trickled down his forehead. He could have easily dodged it but that would have incurred him the complete wrath of his master.

“Leave…” The Old Emperor ordered as he rose from his throne. “Change the outcome no matter what the cost; even if it means you have to stain her soul.”

Sebastian smiled as he continued to bow – the Emperor had favourites but he would throw away anyone and everyone to persevere. Sebastian was only attracted to the Emperor for that cold hearted personality; that was the reason he agreed to become the Emperor’s familiar.