Bwah…late chappie. Ish. I just finished Black Butler in English. The dubs really irritated me at first but then I got used to them and loooved them. It's really an incredible series. And the ending gives me chills. XD I really hope there's a third season against all odds. ANYWAY! Enough about that. Welcome to the second segment! Or…book two as I shall now be referring to it cause I like that better than 'segment'. XD Monsters Within series, book one was Here There Be Monsters, book two is Chains of Brotherhood, and book three will be- XDD Shh. Now then, to write! …At 9:13pm when I need to be up at 5:50am. XD Oh writing. You slay me. In a good way. XD
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For those of you just tuning in:
Oz&Co were attacked by Baskervilles under orders to 'test' his new abilities. Gilbert Nightray was mortally wounded during the battle and would have died if his Chain, Raven, hadn't interceded and inserted a portion of his essence and power into his contractor. Gilbert's life was saved but he was transformed into a raven-human hybrid and was nearly driven mad by the influx of power after ingesting Oz's blood. A mysterious man referred to by Chains as the 'Bellman' instructed Oz on how to save him by drawing Raven's essence into himself and pulling it down into the Abyss, with the unfortunate cost of him going along for the ride. Both Oz' and Alice's souls are currently missing, and according to Jack Vessalius, the only way to save Oz…is to bring him back as a Chain.
Welcome to…Monsters Within, book two, Chains of Brotherhood~
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Tick tock. Tick tock.
The idle repetition of a wall clock was the singular sound in the otherwise gravely silent room. It was nearly time for the impending 'ceremony' to begin. The gate to the Abyss would be opened to Gilbert Nightray, and from there, he would descend into the Abyss to bring his master home.
As a Chain.
Duke Barma and Break seemed unsurprised, but the eyes of Gilbert, Liam, and Lucero opened wide.
"A…Chain?" Gilbert repeated, stunned.
Jack Vessalius, in the body of Oz Vessalius, gave a light nod. "His soul has disconnected from it's body, it's no longer a matter of simply bringing him home. But even if he had his body, he was already so integrated with the Abyss…and then to have taken in Raven's essence…he will now be anchored down, tied to the Abyss. To save him, you'll need to anchor him here, with a contract, and with his body."
"You want me…to become…Oz's contractor?" Gilbert was still too stunned to think clearly, he was in a daze. Oz was going to be…a Chain? One of the very creatures that he hunted? His Chain?
"It's not a matter of want, Gilbert. It's a matter of saving Oz from an eternity in the Abyss." Jack said solemnly. "It's already begun, from the moment you received his blood…"
"So it's…an illegal contract?"
"No. The first time you received his blood since his…time in the Abyss, it entered your broken seal."
"What?" Gilbert's brow furrowed as he pulled out the chain necklace that held his seal with Raven.
"It's cracked…the blood within is no longer purely Raven's blood, but Oz's as well…as long as you have that, the contract is a 'legal' one." Jack noted. "But I would recommend you repair that seal, something incomplete like that will only lead to more incidents. It was because of that that Raven's power so thoroughly overwhelmed you, because Oz's fought against it."
Gilbert stared and beside them, Liam spoke up.
"If Lord Gilbert goes after Oz…what if they return far in the future? There's no telling…we don't have a way to keep the door open to us, and even Ecques couldn't help with that…"
"That would be…inconvenient." Barma murmured and then he smirked faintly at Gilbert. "You might lose more than just your life in trying to save that boy, is he really worth it? Have you figured out what you needed to know yet?"
Gilbert stiffened. "I will save my master. He is definitely worth it. And mind your own business." he growled.
"You would just…need to hold it open to this time, right?" Lucero spoke up and all eyes turned to him.
Gilbert scowled. This was a crucial matter, the last thing he needed was that man-child to be interfering. "Listen, you-"
"I can do it." Gilbert stopped, and those around him seemed surprised.
"Do what, exactly? You are suggesting that you have a way to do what no one else can, and keep time connected?" Barma drawled.
"I'm not saying no one else can do it, I'm just saying that I can." Lucero said firmly. "Open the gate to your Abyss and I'll open to my…other side. If I keep that link open, time won't change, it'll be like following a thread back. I can lead your souls back."
Barma seemed temporarily taken aback before a look of disgust mixed with reluctant respect entered his features. "A necromancer…"
"Got a problem with that, cherry-top?" Lucero asked as he narrowed his eyes.
Break stifled a smile. Oh yes, he liked this fellow more and more all the time.
"Not at all…how intriguing. To force that link….it might just work. If you can keep your power going that long." Barma challenged lightly.
"That and longer." Lucero replied coolly and Jack rose from the bed.
"Then it's settled. We'll open a gate, send Gilbert through, and hold it open with the magician's magick. Once you've come back with Oz's soul, I'll help with the rest…."
The door opened to reveal a stoic-looking Duke Barma. "The preparations are complete." he turned on his heel and left, and that was to be interpreted apparently as a 'follow me, underlings'.
Gilbert, Lucero, Sharon, and Jack rose and followed the other outside to where a little ritualistic circle had been set. Barma's Chain, the Dodo, would be used to open the gate to the Abyss. The night sky was fittingly dark and faintly overcast. Gilbert would be sent alone, it wasn't as if there was a suitable partner for him anyway. Oz and Alice would be the most capable, but they were the ones who were gone, after all.
"I'll begin the preparations." Barma said as he rose. "In the meanwhile…stay here and…attempt to plan, I suppose? Not that there is much you can do by way of planning, you are dropping into a world of chaos, after all. But it's worth it, right?" Barma mocked lightly before he left.
"Hmph. Arthur would teach his descendant some manners." Jack muttered before his gaze slid to Liam. "He's being awfully generous with his help. He must have decided that Oz was of significant use to him, isn't that so?"
Liam stiffened and then looked a bit flustered. "Well…that is…it's not my place to…"
A hand clapped Liam on the back, a bit hard. "Don't bother, Lord Jack, poor Liam-san is quite the loyal puppy to his master. He won't say a word, he'll simply turn red and stammer out an excuse." Liam did indeed turn red with embarrassment at that. Xerxes really delighted in making him suffer, didn't he?
-"That was my present to you. I enjoyed watching fireworks with you. Happy birthday, Reim"-
Liam's blush only darkened at the sudden memory of those words, at the way that Xerxes had given him that little 'present', a kiss. Probably just his twisted idea of a joke but…damned if he hadn't enjoyed it.
"It's…not like that.." Liam muttered as the door opened to reveal a frowning Sharon.
"So this is where you've all been…having an important meeting in my home…without me."
Gilbert and Liam jumped, Jack smiled lightly, and Break went to her side with a sly smile. "Young mistress, you were gone, after all…"
"Young mistress?" this from Lucero, whose eyes had gone slightly wide.
Sharon's gaze slid to him and she froze as her own eyes widened slightly.
"Why yes…" Break drawled. "My young mistress, Lady Sharon Rainsworth…"
He was going to drop dead. It was going to happen. And why? Because that amber-eyed lovely he'd kissed in the hall and called 'sweetheart', was the bloody future Duchess Rainsworth! And he'd kissed her to keep her silent even! Just his luck… An expression of silent misery flickered onto Lucero's expression and while Break couldn't see these subtle facial cues in either Lucero or his young mistress, he wasn't lacking in perception.
"Have you two met?" he asked curiously.
Sharon's face had gone a bit pink, and Lucero's a bit red as they stared at each other before Lucero gave the lowest bow he could muster and slightly stuttered. "N-No. But it's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rainsworth…I am Lucero D-"
"By the by, young mistress," Break cut in, "How much do you know of what's going on?"
Lucero seemed surprised and then frowned, why had the albino man cut him off?
Gilbert meanwhile, was curious and riled (he was a bit protective of Sharon after all) at the blushes and odd behavior of Lucero and Sharon, almost like-
"Nothing beyond that the Nightray manner was attacked, and they still haven't…identified everyone." Sharon said quietly. Pandora Officials, Chains, guests, there had been quite a few causalities…
"I see…well, if you'd look beside you…"
Sharon looked and saw Gilbert and Liam beside 'Oz', and Alice lying in a bed behind them. "Alice! Is she alright?" she started to move towards Alice but Break put a hand forward to stop her.
"Both Oz-kun and Miss Alice are gone. Oz-kun is currently in the Abyss, and Lord Jack was kind enough to keep his body occupied and explain this much…"
Sharon's eyes widened. "Gone…but…"
"Their souls, Lady Sharon." Jack said politely. "They are missing. I know that Oz in the Abyss and it would be likely that Alice is as well, but I don't know that for sure."
"Don't worry, Sharon. I'll get them back." Gilbert said firmly.
A hand was set against Gilbert's arm and he looked down to see Oz-no, Jack-as the other looked up at him with a sad sort of smile. "You never get a break, do you? Someday though, I promise you that, you'll find what you're looking for. And I look forward to it, I've always wanted you to be happy, my cute little servant." Jack smiled.
Gilbert still didn't know what to make of the other and the vague, tangled memories that he had of him. What he had seen in Sablier… "…" what could he say back to something like that?
"It's alright, Gil. I know who you serve now. And I'm happy for that as well…" Jack murmured as he slid his gaze to where Rufus Barma had settled near the center of their little 'stage'.
"Dodo." his voice was a sharp command. "Open the gate!" It wasn't fancy, but it got the point across, as it were.
The ground began to tremble as little tendrils of black, violet, and blue charges split up from the ground where a hole had started to form.
Gilbert's gaze slid to Lucero at his side. "Don't mess this up…"
"Don't worry, kid." Lucero eyed the other from the corner of his eyes as he gave a tight smile. "Where Oz is concerned, I refuse to fail." he smirked, and it had clearly been his intention to irk Gilbert with his words.
Gilbert seemed about to say something but he was ushered forward by Jack.
"Remember that what you see is generally not what it appears. The Abyss is not a world ruled by reason, or at least, not a reason you're familiar with." Jack noted. "And Gilbert.."
"..?"
"Be careful." Jack said softly and a funny, tightening feeling flickered into Gilbert's chest as after a split second of hesitation, he patted the other's head lightly. Not a full hair ruffle, nothing like a bond…but…he could do that much, at least.
A hand gripped his shoulder from behind and he jumped as he whirled around to face Break.
"I expect you to come back alive and in one piece, Gilbert-kun. It would be so troublesome if anything were to happen my left eye…" Break murmured, and Gilbert's eyes widened before he inclined his head.
"Yeah, I know…" he let his hand ghost against Break's. Break said that, but they both knew that it was Break's method of expressing concern, amongst others. "I'll be back, as soon as I have Oz…"
"By the by, Lord Jack's warning was sound…nothing in that world is as it appears. Pay attention." Break rapped his cane on Gilbert's head and the latter gave an, "Ow", before he steeled himself. He couldn't be afraid, he couldn't give in to the strange, trembling feeling that came over him and furthermore…the feeling of déjà vu…as if this were not the first time that he had plunged into the Abyss…
Break moved back to stand beside Reim with a frown that he hadn't let Gilbert see. Oz needed to be saved, of course, but...
"There are people you can turn to in this situation!"
"Please...Will you help me, Gilbert-kun?"
Insolent brat. Don't you dare die, Gil-kun... Break refused to lose anyone else, he would be gone soon enough, and he'd be damned (again) before he lost someone else in what time he had left...
Lucero stepped forward towards the circle of the Abyss as he removed his hat instinctively as he prepared to open his own gate.
"Rabbit ears?" this from an uncharacteristically surprised sounding Barma.
Lucero froze and his look of concentration became one of embarrassment as he shoved his hat back on his head. But indeed, there had been two brown rabbit's ears that matched the color of his hair. "I-It's just a side effect of what happened. I'm sure I can get rid of them eventually. I've just been busy is all." he said through gritted teeth.
Gilbert stared at the other's ears before he listened to the other's embarrassed grumbling. So there was a 'kid' behind all that arrogance after all. The urge to taunt the boy and tug one of those ears came through him, but he quelled it. He didn't have time for that anyway, he had Oz to save…and if he knew Oz, the other would want Alice saved as well…as for him…what did he want? "Just what we need, another stupid rabbit." Lucero flushed and Gilbert felt a flash of triumph despite himself. He wasn't vindictive by nature, but he also didn't like being condescended to and taunted at every turn, by someone younger than him no less. It felt more like a game than anything though, strangely enough.
"Anyway." Lucero muttered with a cough before he reluctantly removed his hat again and set it aside, now very conscious of his ears and the stares he was received. He ignored them and knelt down beside the entrance as he closed his eyes a moment. Lucero began to mutter a chant before he called out. "Antares nil war akshala, open the gate!"
A blast of red haze burst forth and covered the area and as with before, the haunted figures of dead souls loomed. But this time, there were only a few stragglers. The dead had been rounded up already and what remained would soon be dealt with.
Lucero, again in a pure black robe, turned equally black-eyes onto Gilbert as he went to the other and grabbed his hand. "With this," he jabbed Gilbert's hand with the tip of his hounds tooth and Gilbert jumped and tried to tug his hand away, only to find that Lucero's burnt hands held fast…that strength… "This soul is mine to seek." he licked the blood away and Gilbert felt a little shock run through him.
"What did you just-"
Lucero's eerie, pure black eyes met Gilbert's golden ones. "Interesting trick, isn't it? With just that drop of blood, your soul can never hide from me." he smirked faintly. "Likewise…I can find you wherever you end up in the Abyss…and Oz as well."
"All this blood.." Blood had been a warning sign his whole life, and suddenly, it seemed like blood was suddenly the cure-all for all of this oddity. Contracts, magick, power…all for blood?
A mirthless smile replaced the smirk on Lucero's lips. "Yes…blood is life, and life is the ultimate currency, right?" he turned away as the red haze on the area suddenly reverted and came to rest as a haze around the portal to the Abyss. "It's ready. Go on in."
Gilbert sensed that there was something in the other's words he'd missed, but there was nothing that could be done for it now. "Thanks, stupid rabbit wanna-be."
"You're welcome, kid." Lucero replied with a tight smile as he knelt beside the circle again to keep the magick held.
The swirling mass that was the entrance stood before him and Gilbert stared down at it. He was going to jump into the Abyss of all places, now-when his Chain was absent, to save his precious young master… "I'll find you, Oz." Gilbert said softly, and then with a jump-
-he was gone, into the Abyss.
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After a ten minute dozing session, I managed to finish before passing out XD '10:10pm' Wheeee! XD And now…to bed. Hope this intro chapter was alright, if for some reason, I think of something I ought to have added-I will. But it should be technically sound, as far as…technical things, and the little goodbyes he got being about all that he'd get XD Enjoy!~ P.S. Thanks for reading! It brightens my soul! XD~ *now 10:39pm* It's really sad when you do the worst of your dozing and your internet cuts out when you're already DONE! *angst* XD ~
Gilbert has regained his form, but at the apparent cost of the souls of Oz and Alice. Oz is trapped in the Abyss once again and to save him, Gilbert will have to enter into a contract…with Oz as his Chain.~~Sequel to 'Here There Be Monsters'.