"Patience is the key."
The mansion was enveloped with the lively overtones of a piano. The music was quick and entertaining- very suitable for the kind of event that was going on inside the glorious Phantomhive residence. It was lovely music, music to be appreciated and listened to closely, but the guests do nothing but taint it with their chatter. Ash smirked at this display of superiority- these 'guests' of the Earl Phantomhive, they use this beautiful music as a background to their incessant and useless banter. They find themselves superior- they do not know that within the same mansion, there lies 'people' that can wipe them away in seconds. He was one of those 'people'.
To Ash, this was all but an elaborate game of chess; the world was the board, the guests were the rooks, the Earl Phantomhive was the king. He was the most important piece of all- and up until now Ash had not decided if Ciel was just a piece, or the opponent which he played against. Up until now. Seeing Ciel's weakness, his humanity, gave Ash an adrenaline rush. Perhaps it was all too easy. But now he was sure of one thing: Ciel was not his opponent: Ciel was the king in this chess game. The thought made Ash shudder- he loved the power that he now held in his hands. Ciel was indispensable to him- and he had made sure that he will get the Earl.
The angel continued his observation. In his mind, he laughed at all the guests- in a few minutes they will lose all of their resplendence. Look at them, ordering the Phantomhive butler around, as if they were more powerful than he is. He can kill all of them right this second- but he chooses not to. What a bored demon he is. But of course, I cannot leave him. He is, after all, the strongest of my pieces.
Sebastian, of course, was the queen in Ash's game. The angel laughed at the thought. But it was true- Sebastian was, indeed, the strongest piece. However, in the end, he was just a tool to keep the beloved king safe.
The queen is the strongest. Yet she will sacrifice herself for her king.
The time has come. All is in place. The only thing left to do is to annihilate the demon.
Ash stared directly at the butler- and the butler stared directly at him. Ash smiled that devious smile of his, as he produced a vial from his pocket. Sebastian casually walked over to where the angel stood.
"If I may ask, Mr. Landers, what is that in your hands?" Sebastian's gaze was unwavering.
"I made it especially for you, Mr. Butler," Ash uncorked the vial and let the contents pour, its crimson essence seeping into the soil. Red smoke emanated from the spilled liquid. Sebastian's face crooked in distaste.
"I would not appreciate you making a mess in the mansion, Mr. Landers. After all, I am one hell of a butler." Warily, Sebastian bent down to touch the fluid.
"Still a butler, but not a demon," Ash whispered.
Sebastian's eyes widened immediately as his gloved hands made contact with the crimson fluid. He let out a piercing scream- as if he was being stabbed repeatedly, as if he had a soul and it was being taken away from him. He curled up in a fetal position. His claws and horns appeared, and soon enough his tail. Ash forced himself to watch the disgusting transformation- it was to his intentions, after all.
The butler's scream could be heard throughout the entire mansion- but nobody was left to hear the sound. And in a second, the scream halted, abruptly. The demon's body was reclaimed by the dark of night. The mansion was enveloped in white smoke.
It is done. I have swept the pieces off the board and kept them inside the box. For the meanwhile, I shall let others play with my beloved set. But soon enough, I shall be back, and I will play the most interesting game of all.
That shall happen in a thousand years, to be exact.
Ash flew away, and just then did he realize that the music was not playing anymore. Nothing was playing anymore. No chatter, no dancing. No breathing, none at all. His mission was a success.
