Silence

Chapter 30:Epilogue

Sebastian was working in the kitchen, fixing yet another Baldroy mess. It was times like these he quite missed his ability to complete things perfectly in the blink of an eye. But every time he missed his powers, he thought about Adalina's smile and her beautiful voice and he knew that if given the chance, he would make the same decision all over again.

When he went to sweep up the remains of Baldroy's cooking, the action was completed before he even had time to process what he had done.

Confused, Sebastian tried again. He focused all of his energy, and he had fixed up the kitchen in no time flat.

He looked down at his hands. No black nails, no contract mark. He then felt his chest. A normal human heartbeat. He was still human.

So...why were his supernatural abilities returning?

Desperate for answers, Sebastian controlled his speed and returned to the forest where he had had his anger tantrum several weeks before. He had to test this.

His speed had definitely returned in all its glory. There was no doubt about that. He put his hand against a tree and pushed. The tree cracked right where his hand was before falling over.

Strength was back as well.

With one swift twirl of his finger, one of the branches on the tree twisted around and cracked off from the tree trunk.

Sebastian focused his mind and was able to deduce a family of three a few miles outside of the forest sitting down to dinner.

One more test. Sebastian picked up a piece of bark from the fallen tree and lifted up his shirt sleeve before jamming the piece of bark into his skin. Dark red blood oozed from the wound and dripped onto the grass.

Sebastian closed his eyes and concentrated. When he opened his eyes, the wound had healed.

The demon-turned-human rushed back to the manor to find Adalina.

The Oracle smirked from her position in the trees, having watched Sebastian run all his little tests. She couldn't help but laugh to herself as she saw him race back to Phantomhive Manor. She knew very well the whole time that it was possible for Sebastian to become human and keep his abilities as well. But she needed to see if he was willing to give all of that up for Adalina. He had to decide if he loved her enough to forgo all of that power. If she had told him he could have both in the end, his decision would mean nothing. He needed to choose his love for her over his power. And he had.

Such actions would not go unrewarded.

She decided that she would continue to keep an occasional eye on Phantomhive Manor to ensure that Adalina and Sebastian were getting along. If she determined that they needed her help again, she would gladly offer it to them.

When it came down to it, dealing with those two was the most excitement she had had in 2000 years.

"Adalina!" Sebastian called to the head maid who was cleaning the ballroom.

"What is it?" she asked, noticing his rather panicked look. "Is everything okay?"

"More than okay. I'm not quite sure how it's happened because I'm definitely human, and I'm positive the transformation worked, but...I have maintained all of my abilities."

"What do you mean?"

"Everything I was able to do before, I can do now. With the exception of eating souls, of course."

Adalina smiled. "So...your speed, your strength, your ability to heal..."

"Yes, everything."

"How?"

"I don't know."

"Perhaps...the Oracle?"

"Why would she return my powers to me now?"

"Because...you made the right decision. You were willing to give all of that up for me. Perhaps this is a bit of a reward for making the right choice."

"The young master will certainly be pleased. I think he was rather worried about how I would handle his cases for the Queen without my abilities."

"I'm sure you would've managed either way." She looked at him with a smile. "Can you still do that thing with your eyes?"

Sebastian smirked as his eyes glowed brighter than ever. "I can indeed."

"I guess that's all you can do without changing into your previous true form. But that's usually all it takes to intimidate someone. Although, I have to admit, I find it rather...alluring."

Sebastian smirked again as his eyes returned to normal. "Well, now, my dear, you can be sure that I shall protect the young master...and you...from anything and everything. I swear it on my beating human heart."

Adalina smiled again. "And I shall continue to protect you from Grim Reapers and Death Scythes." She untied the whip from around her waist and held it between them. "Shall you help me prepare?"

"It would be an honor."

Sebastian pulled her close to him and captured her lips into another kiss.

Adalina smiled into the kiss with him, silently wondering how she had ever gotten caught up in such a complicated situation.

But despite all of the horrors she had been through in the past, she wouldn't change anything if it meant gaining all that she had. A good master who cared about her wellbeing despite his refusal to admit it, wonderful servants to work with who would protect her with their lives, and a devilishly handsome butler who loved her even when she had been at her worst.

She could want for nothing more.

She was happy.