Bitterness of life, prelude to the happiness of which it offers
But to the demon of whom jeers with attitude of scoffer
No regards for life, but is seen as a meal
Luring desiring humans, to claim them with a deal
Taking the soul for selfish needs
Devouring all without a heed
That faithful day of a darkened time
Gave way to save a boy of the divine
A boy who struggled through pain and grief
Sought revenge against the wicked, the killing thief
Silently pleading to make amends
A summoned guest enters; Black wings descends
The orders given were never abhorred
He only answered with, " Yes, My lord."
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
A strange world that we reside in … The man concluded to himself, leaning back in his chair. His eyes were fixating their gaze upon the mounds of papers that glared back at him with a menacing aura. It seemed as if they had gotten bigger since the last time he looked, but then again, he could only figure that it must be cause of his continual work ethic upon the cold cases.
He winced at the name every time he heard it. Cold case meant that there were cases unsolved by not enough evidence or of unknown reasoning. The name brought back memories of the strange events leading up to the supposed " death" of Sir Ciel Phantomhive. There was no body, no tangible evidence that the boy was indeed dead. Only letters engraved with his name were distributed among close acquaintances by some unknown addressee.
Rubbing the bridge of his nose with his index and thumb, his headache grew more due to the pile of events occurring with stranger death patterns. People died, young, old, and middle aged without a mangled body or marred features. It was as if the souls left the body, yet the body remained frozen as time elapsed. It seemed to him, that this type of occurrence was popular in other country's besides the United Kingdom. Death was the latest trend...
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
" Crude, oh how crude!" The red-headed male sighed in detest, " How is it we always come late? I blame you William. If you hadn't taken so long to get here then maybe we could have gotten the soul in time."
The dark haired male pushed his glasses to the bridge of his nose using a hedge shear, " Who's fault is it really? You are the despicable sight that took so long. Maybe if you spent less time primping your features and focusing on your assigned job then this type of mess would have never occurred. "
" But look at this face! It isn't easy to keep such beauty intact, I have to work hard for it you know. Oh Willy, why won't you notice me for my beauty?" Grell Sutcliff asked brazenly, leaning on Williams shoulder.
The dark haired male sighed, " Troublesome little … get off of me, " He pushed Grell aside and fixed his own glasses. A blonde male jumped from one of the higher buildings and landed on his lawnmower.
" Sempai," The blonde started with harsh breathing, " Sorry I'm late Grell Sempai..."
Grell looked over to the newly arrived shinigami and nodded, "Oh Ronald, it's fine I-" He started, but William cut in.
"- Where is our organization coming to if NONE of you can get to work on time. You do realize we're in a critical state considering the massive amounts of souls gone missing, don't you? Honestly, I'd have you both fired in an instant-"
" -Oh come on Will, loosen up your tie a little. We're the best you have. No others can do what we do. So stop being such a busybody, " Ronald Knox chuckled and sat on his mower.
William made a move towards him, but then though better of his actions, " If you two are the best we have, I fear for the reapers. "
Grell frowned and leaned on his chainsaw, " Willy, it wouldn't have made any difference if we were here on time now. This soul is long gone past the expiration date. See?" He poked the limp body with his foot, " Not even a trace of soul left. I'd say it was gone for weeks."
" Impossible, " William interjected, " We got the report an hour ago at least. How is it no one noticed the soul being taken from the records?"
Grell shifted his weight on his chainsaw, lifting it on his shoulder, " This smells like something one of us would know about. Think about it Willy, if the records weren't placed, then that means someone on the inside must have known how to change the information around..."
William T. Spears gave Grell a sharp look, " I thought the traitor was taken care of? The letter we received informed us about the angel's death at the hands of that demon. That demon is long gone as well. It can only be assumed that he successfully consumed his masters soul and fulfilled that disgusting contract. Ciel Phantomhive's soul never was registered in our records either."
Grell shrugged, " I wouldn't know, but something smell's like a traitor was involved with this, " He gave a forlorn look, " Oh Bassy, why didn't you take me with you?"
Irritated, William smacked Grell on the head with his hedge shear, " Just get to work finding out the cause of death for this body. And you-" He glared at Ronald, " Go search the area for anything suspicious."
" Who died and made you boss?" Ronald demanded, but left anyways, riding his lawnmower away into the streets.
William looked back at Grell, meeting his gaze, " Do you believe that Phantomhive never died?"
Grell looked at the dead body, his glasses reflecting a light that masked his gaze, " I believe he didn't die. Sebas~chan cared for the boy more then he let on. Somehow, Earl Ciel Phantomhive is alive. Something tells me they might still be around here somewhere..."
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
It was as if never having to breath. He needn't worry about the weight of being restricted to such a short and fruitless life. He wasn't ever afraid, even without his butler by his side. Though, subconsciously he knew that such a thing would never happened. Abandonment wouldn't be an unnecessary burden for the boy, for his butler was bound forever by contract. The events in the past had ignited such a fate for the demon of crows.
Realizing this with distaste, he walked the quite and sheltered hallways of the great castle mounted high in the Ben Nevis mountains. The castle was build high above civilization, just like his master wanted it to be. Isolation was a common request of his master, and he obeyed without question, constructing the massive plantation. Suspicion led the butler to believe that his master no longer wished to associate with the living, but strangely enough he began to form questions of his master's newest request.
A newspaper, The Earl requested of his butler. He wanted him to bring a newspaper. It was the only bit of contact that his master had of the world beyond the mountains and castle walls. It was a strange request, but the butler didn't linger in the thought long. He did as he was instructed to do, day by day, and brought his master a newspaper. He then left, not wishing to impose upon the presence of his master any further.
Yet there he was once more, walking the corridors and carrying the paper folded neatly under his arm. He passed the various glass windows lining the hall, allowing the misty light of the morning gloom to seep into the castle. The whole castle was barren of life except for the gray light that illuminated the silvery knight statues guarding the door to the master bedroom. Without making a sound, his footsteps were not audible as he strode across the stone ground underneath his feet. He stopped, however when he reached his master's door.
Knocking once, his master's voice could be heard, " Enter," He called. His butler obeyed and opened the door at once.
He saw that his master was sitting near the window, his legs crossed in their usual manner. It was not a rare sight to see his master in such a state. He wore a black attire, crisp and neatly kept, much like a doll. His deep blue eyes fixated on the scenery; the light cast from outside made his pale skin glow. Ever since his master had become non-human , his days were spend idle. He needn't eat, he needn't sleep, and he rarely needed amusement. His butler provided him with whatever he needed, which lately hadn't been much.
Slowly, his master turned his head to face his butler, " What kept you, Sebastian?"
Respectively, Sebastian placed a hand on his chest and bowed to his master, " My apologies, Bocchan. It was a rather long wait to attain the newspaper," He lingered with the bow and walked over to hand his master the paper, " I hope you will find pleasure in reading it."
His master nodded once, taking the paper from his butler, " You are dismissed," He said and waved his hand.
Sebastian gave a curt nod and bowed once more, " Yes my lord," He turned on his heel to leave.
" Wait."
He turned around perplexed at his master's sudden and unusual command, but heeded his words., " What is it you desire of me, my lord?"
His master sighed, placing the newspaper on his desk before he stood, pushing the chair back. It seemed to Sebastian that his master was greatly irritated with something, and for his master to show any amount of emotion was of great surprise. The both of them - being demons- hardly had any room for needless emotions. Yet the sudden change in his masters mood encouraged a curious feeling for Sebastian.
As if pondering something, his master walked to the side of his desk until he was directly in front of it. Sebastian couldn't help but notice how his master had grown. It was strange to think that a demon could only age by choice, and his master chose to age his respective two years from which the point he died. His body matured to it's full fifteen year old status; his head now level with Sebastian's chest.
Finally, after a bit of silence, his master sat atop the desk and addressed Sebastian, " I have grow bored, " He started, " Lately, I have been wondering where would my life lead me now that my revenge has been sought and my body has left it's mortal state. As I stay here, alone with my thoughts, I have also though of you."
Surprised, Sebastian cocked an eyebrow, " How do you mean, Master?" His master crossed his legs, placing his hands on either side of the desk.
" You wanted my soul. You lived for it, served for it, bleed for it and fought for it. I know you must be miserable being my servant for eternity. To be honest, I grow bored of living for eternity. Though it has only been two years, I grow tired of the isolation that I cast upon myself. My reason for this seclusion was to isolate myself from a world where I wouldn't have need to be harmed nor bothered by needless company. But now more then before, I have had need to leave my usual place of isolation. I've been reading the newspaper to be better informed of what has happened between the time I left until now. "
"Stranger still … events of unnatural deaths have occurred in London. In the last article I read, the victims have been left untouched and not mangled. Now … " His master picks up the newspaper and shows Sebastian the front, " It seems the numbers have increased significantly."
The title in the front read, 56 People Found dead overnight. Sebastian placed a hand on his chin, covering his mouth for an instant. He wasn't only fascinated about the amount of deaths that have surfaced, but also that his master had shown any care at all. Without a word, he went to his master and knelt beneath his feet.
" What is your wish, Bocchan?" He asked softly, his crimson eyes gazing into the deep blues of his master's.
His master turned and looked out the window, not showing Sebastian his face. Then, he spoke almost in a whisper, " I want to start anew. I don't want my old life back, but I want to be out there once more. Not to do good, nor evil, but to live. I haven't experienced my life yet, and I refuse to waste away here. I have you, only you, and that's all I need to achieve what I want. I too am a demon, and I have abilities as you do. All I ask of you is this: Regardless of the fact that I am capable on my own, regardless of the contract that binds us, will you still follow me?"
Sebastian's surprised manner never ceased with his master's words, " Do you mean to say the you are giving me a choice?"
" Yes," Was all his master replied. Sebastian was awestruck at such an offer.
To be given freedom from serving this boy and to have his old life back. Consuming souls as he liked, making contracts with the weak was what a demon lived for. Yet here was his master, offering to let him go as if it were nothing. Yet, somewhere in his master's words were the weight of something more melancholy. Loneliness. It was as if his master were subconsciously reaching out to him, telling him -no- begging him not to leave. If Sebastian had been as cruel as he once was, he might have laughed at such a silly thought. But he understood too well how his master felt, because he too had felt the same void.
Sebastian had consumed countless souls in his lifetimes. None of those souls, however, filled the void left in his life. It was simple to take a soul, but much more challenging to give it. His days spent were not of a normal living creature, so naturally he found it hard to connect with humans. Manipulating them was easy enough. Humans had too many insecurities that set them apart from demons. Yet demons suffered seclusion from all else. Rarely did demons associate with other demons.
Without another moments hesitation, he said, "My master, I will serve you to the end of life itself."
His master turned to him quickly, searching his face for any lie that may have been hidden within his devilish features. When none was found, His master spoke slowly, " You are sure of this choice …. but are you willing to follow by my side?"
Sebastian grinned in his usual manner, " I am just pleased that you've acknowledged me to do more then fetch your paper every morning."
His master chuckled amused. Though he is a demon, he still retained attributes to that of a fifteen year old boy. Pleased with the answer, his master removed himself from the table and stood.
Sebastian lifted himself from knee to face his master, " How shall I call you now, My lord?"
" Ciel. Ciel Phantomhive. I've thought it over, and I want my name to be the only thing that remains the same. You as well shall stand beside me as Sebastian Michaelis. Together, we will rid ourselves of this lonely and isolated stated."
" Your wish, will forever be my call, Earl Ciel Phantomhive," Sebastian said with a smile playing on his lips...