After awakening from her accident in the forest, Morgan was confined to her room as a punishment. Over a month passed with Morgan locked in her room, barely seeing anyone aside from a single servant who brought her meals. Trapped in her room, the only thing on her mind was seeing Sebastian again. All the while, she was unaware that Sebastian was gone, replaced by a being inhabiting his body.

  During that time, the new Sebastian had a sudden growth of productivity, becoming a notable servant among the staff. A cheerful face to all who were able and willing to help everyone with anything. As he worked, he learned more of the other staff, speaking to them closely and spreading his influence deeper within the estate. As his influence grew, it soon became impossible for his employer to ignore this standout young man.

  “So, tell me, boy, what is your game here?”

  Marcel sits in a waiting room with Sebastian. He holds out a cup with Sebastian pouring wine for him. Marcel drinks it readily as Sebastian smiles, bowing towards him.

  “What do you mean, sir?”

  “I mean your jump in productivity. If it was not for your sudden spike in productivity and everyone on the staff voguing for you. You would be out on your ass for that incident with Morgan.”

  Sebastian nods. “Yes, I appreciate your forgiveness for that affair.”

  “So why are you still sticking around and trying so hard?”

  “To be honest, sir. I’ve made a pledge to Mistress Morgan. I promised I would be beside her in her struggles to support her, no matter what.”

  He nods. “Why? I could understand cozying up to either of my sons. But Morgan’s duty is to marry and bring wealth back into the family. Are you in love with her or something?”

  “No Sir. I assure you my loyalty to Morgan is not born out of something like love. In the past, she saved me and sent me down the correct path. Since then, I’ve decided to repay her by dedicating my life to her.”

  He nods. “Ah… well then. Considering your growth in the past month, I’ve considered allowing you to continue on as Morgan’s attendant.”

  “I thank you Sir.” He says bowing.

  “But let me make one thing straight. You are not to make any plays at my daughter. I’ve almost secured a deal to marry her off. And if you really want to keep following her around like some puppy, you’ll need to bring that up to her fiancé’s family. Understood?”

  “I understand, sir.” He smiles.

  Marcel holds out his glass. “Pour me some more before you leave.”

  Sebastian smiles. “It would be my pleasure, Sir.”

  He pours the wine as unbeknownst to Marcel black particles float amongst the liquid invisible to the undiscerning eye. Marcel drinks as the laced wine goes down his gullet with Sebastian watching on happily.

  “Oh yes. One last question for you. What are you and the other servants doing in the bloody woods?”

  “Nothing Sir. Just working on some team building.”

  After his meeting, Sebastian goes to the woods where four figures await him. They stand around waiting as Sebastian calls the group to order. Talia, Oscar, Luka, and Lois, all fresh in human bodies, gather around Sebastian as he leans against a tree. He looks up ahead, smiling at a large black mass centered behind them pulsating with life as the five stare at it.

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  “It’s recovering quite nicely,” Talia says.

  Oscar laughs. “Come now. This being is the Great One. He saved our kind and led us to this point. His haggard state is sadly a consequence of his sacrifice.”

  Lois nods. “It’s a shame. I thought it wouldn’t last much longer, but seeing it so lively after a few meals is so nice.”

  “Yeah, and it was delicious, too. We should just slaughter the entire estate and be done with this. Subterfuge and waiting are taking too long!” Luka yells out.

  Sebastian nods. “Yes. But we can’t be too hasty. Remember that King of theirs is the one who slayed the Demon Lord. If the Great One is going to take his place as the successor, we must ensure he is safe. And right now, we can blend into these humans and secure the Great One so he can recover his lost strength.”

  “Fine. But then what are we doing? Should we not take over the Lord and his heirs?” Luka asks.

  “Sadly, the Lord is not compatible with us. Nor are his kin. The only one with good compatibility is Mistress, but she is not a suitable host, either.”

  “Yes, they come from strong bloodlines the Mana built up in their bodies make possession difficult. But at the same time, it makes them delicious treats.” Lois interjects.

  Oscar nods. “On that end, what is the plan, Sebastian?”

  “Mistress Morgan has been implanted with part of the Great One. It will gestate inside of her until the correct moment of awakening where the Great One will feed upon her and regain his lost other half.” Sebastian explains. “To that end, I believe we must deal with the master and his sons.”

  “How? If we just kill them, wouldn’t we scare Morgan away?” Talia asks.

  “I have an idea,” Luka smirks, laughing. “Let’s have her kill the bastards! She has to hate them by now, so we get her to kill them!”

  “That’s a terrible plan,” Talia states.

  Lois laughs. “It could use some work.”

  “It’s not the best idea out there,” Oscar says.

  Sebastian pauses. “Luka might be onto something.”

  “What!?” Everyone yells out.

  “Leave the details to me. I will be soon returning to Mistress Morgan’s side. I will see to the growth of the Great One resting inside of her personally.”

  “Why do you call her Mistress Morgan?” Luka asks.

  “Yeah? It’s strange we can all call her Morgan, but you always say Mistress Morgan.” Talia states.

  Sebastian smiles. “It’s the influence of this body. I can still feel him fighting from within to break free. Every time I call out for her; he tries in vain to resist.” A look of excitement overcomes him as his face goes red. “It’s positively ecstatic. I have a hard time keeping control of myself around her. I wonder just how good it’ll feel if I hurt her or worse. I can’t wait for the sacrifice.”

  “Sebastian’s enjoying the situation a little too much,” Lois says. “But he does have a fair point. This is the most excitement I’ve had in nearly a hundred years.”

  “But who can blame him?” Oscar says.

  The four laugh. “This is the most fun we’ve had in ages!”

  “We’ll revive the Great One, awaken him as the new Demon Lord and then have our revenge against the Human wastes. We’ll show them where their natural place is in this world. Underneath the boot of us Demons.” Sebastian says. “But first. We have a party to set up. And it took some time. But I finally found the perfect fuel to start our little fire.”

  The group in the woods cheer all as the black mass pulsates, resonating with some distant thing.

  Meanwhile, as the sun sets and the moon rises, Morgan sits in her room. Staring out of a window, she holds her hand to her stomach as it rumbles about. Her hunger rising, she stands to pace around her room.

  “Father has to let me out soon. It’s almost…” She lowers her head. “No. That doesn’t matter. He doesn’t care about something like that after all. He hates me.”

  She stares into a mirror, looking at her face. “I resemble Mother too much. That’s why my brothers, and why father…”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure about that.” A voice comes from her door.

  After a knock, the door swings open with Sebastian walking into the room with a confident grin. He presents Morgan with a bouquet as her face goes red. He flashes her a confident smile as she takes the flowers.

  “Sebastian, what is….”

  “Happy Birthday Mistress Morgan.” He grabs her shoulder. “You should prepare yourself. We’ve all prepared a wonderful party for you.”

  “Huh?”

  “It was all planned by Lord Marcel himself.”

  Her eyes go wide. “Father did….”

  “I promise you, Mistress. This will be a day you will never forget.”