Disclaimer: I'm not even going to bother.
Entrance Fee - chapter 1
23 March 2009
"They found a boy."
Sebastian Michaels snapped awake from his sleepy stupor as the men beside him began to gossip. They were servants to the mortal king. Sebastian wondered what unfortunate circumstances had led them to be summoned to hell.
"Where?"
"The southwest border."
"Near the passageway?"
"Yes."
"Human?"
"I think so."
The passageway at the southwest border led from the living world to hell. It was rare that humans used it. Most died in the process. It was made for demons, after all. Sebastian was curious, in spite of himself. For a human to cross the passageway, it meant that he had willingly entered hell.
What kind of boy was he, Sebastian wondered.
A loud trumpet hoot announced the king's arrival, ceasing all gossip. Sebastian straightened himself as he watched the mortal king take a seat on his throne. The king wasn't particularly good-looking, but he had a powerful air about him. Considering that he was the first ever human to have a kingdom in hell, he was not to be taken lightly.
"What is the agenda for today?" he asked. The question echoed in the large throne room.
There were no windows because there never was light outside. The hall was always lit with hell's molten rocks, placed strategically around the room. Even the men who had grown used to this setting edged away from the rocks. They were hot enough to burn any one of them alive. Most of them probably still remembered the young page who had his arm amputated because he attempted to touch the rock.
The king's attendant came forward. "There is an envoy from Lucifer waiting to see you, sire."
Upon hearing mention about himself, Sebastian approached the king and nodded respectfully. "Some of your mortals have been seen crossing the borders, Your Majesty," said Sebastian, explaining the reason for his presence. "While we have no qualms about disposing them, we fear that your kingdom here does not have enough men as it is. Please keep your dogs on a tighter leash. Otherwise, we shall keep them in hell permanently with us."
The young king nodded. "I understand the sense behind your suggestion. However, you presume much if you think you have right to threaten me here, demon," he said, eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"No, it is you who presume much if you think that this land belongs to you, Your Majesty," replied Sebastian readily. "Do not forget that our king is only loaning it to you. The day that contract ends, we shall sweep off your men in a celebratory massacre if they do not escape fast enough."
It was a promise Lucifer made himself. Thus was the risk of borrowing land in hell. Sebastian didn't understand why the human king wanted a kingdom in hell when he could rule anywhere he wanted in the living world. Were humans really so greedy?
The king waved his arm dismissively and said, "Enough of this talk. Conversing with your kind has always given me a headache. You may leave, demon. And where is Lord Maslow? Has he not said he has something to show me?"
As if on cue, the doors to the throne room were thrown open. Screams of torture flooded into the room and its occupants clapped their hands to their ears (except Sebastian). Lord Maslow entered with a pair of guards dragging a young boy behind him. From the looks of it, he couldn't be older than thirteen.
As soon as the doors were shut again, Lord Maslow and his guards took off their earmuffs. Their poor captive had none to begin with. Sebastian noticed the boy swaying on his feet, head hung and eyes staring to the ground. So this was the boy they had found at the passageway. Why had he chosen to come to hell?
"A boy from the living world, sire," said Lord Maslow, waving his arms in grandeur. Sebastian snorted softly in amusement. Lord Maslow's lumbering figure never failed to amuse him. His clumsy movements and excessive body fat always made for cruel jokes among the demon envoys.
The king was unimpressed. "I visit the living world every other week. What use do I have for a child in my kingdom?"
Lord Maslow waved his arms again. "No, no, no. Look here, sire." He crossed over to the boy, who was held up by his guards, and lifted his head.
The entire throne room fell silent. Even the king himself was dumbstruck with awe. The young boy was breathtakingly beautiful. Though he looked to be semi-conscious there was no mistaking the beauty in his face and figure; large eyes of the deepest amber from the richest wine, set off by a tiny nose and a dainty mouth.
Sebastian felt a stirring in his loins. He'd only felt this way when he first met Lucifer's wife. Therefore, to feel this way now was a testimony to the boy's physical beauty. It wasn't just him. Every pair of eyes in the room were caressing the boy's form lasciviously. Even the lust dancing in the king's eyes was evident.
"Who is this boy?" the king demanded.
Surely a boy this beautiful cannot be solely human.
To everyone's surprise, the boy answered for himself. "My name is Ciel Phantomhive. I am the head of the Phantomhive family and I've come to hell to meet a demon. However, the lot of you look very human. I am very disappointed."
The king was offended and was about to punish the young boy for his insolence when Sebastian stepped in. He was very amused. Never had he heard any mortal, much less a boy, address the human king like that. "Greetings, my name is Sebastian Michaels. Unlike the other beings in the room, I am a demon. How may I be of service to you?"
The boy called Ciel regarded him warily. "You don't look very demon-like."
Sebastian smiled to himself. It was true that most demons' appearance was that of an attractive human. He used his supernatural speed to cross the large hall and appear two inches in front of Ciel Phantomhive in the flash of a second. He saw Ciel's jaw drop slightly and his smile grew. "Are you convinced?"
"Demon, what are you doing?" exclaimed the king. "Do not interrupt my court affairs. I shall deal with this boy."
"When you say 'deal', do you mean you are going to send him to your bed?" asked Sebastian nonchalantly. He saw the human king flinch and sighed. Even a king, albeit a mortal one, was not free from lust. Lucifer would be very happy. Another sinner to his list. Sebastian flicked the guards away with his fingers and kept Ciel by his side. "From now on, this boy in under my care. You have no rule over him."
"That boy is found in my kingdom!" exclaimed the king. "He belongs to me!" That young boy was a once-in-a-century beauty. He wasn't going to let some demon lackey steal him.
"Ciel was found in the borders of your kingdom. Who he belongs to is up for dispute," replied Sebastian calmly, in contrast to the furious king. "In any case, he has come in search of a demon. It is my duty to make sure he finds one. Have a nice day, Your Majesty."
Sebastian exited the throne room with Ciel in tow, grinning as he heard the king shout expletives. That had been highly amusing. No doubt, Lucifer would give him a smack on the wrist for angering the king. But then again, he would also shake his hand, so it made no difference.
The demon envoy observed Ciel Phantomhive from the corner of his eyes. The boy really did look too young to be in a place like this. Yet, he held himself high and walked with the pride of great men. The only thing that betrayed his nervousness was the slight tremor in his hands from time to time.
Sebastian took the boy's hand as they walked and stroked it soothingly. "Do not worry, my dear Phantomhive. If you have done nothing wrong, there is no need to fear hell." He snapped his fingers and cast a spell over Ciel so that his ears would be protected from the continuous tortured screams.
Tsuzuku...
To be continued...