The Labyrinth

Gus Kinney: Hello everyone i'm back with another Black Butler story the name of this is read the title but this will not be the movie i just take some things from the movie and add that to a Black Butler one so now that i got that out of the way here is chapter one for all of you to read i call this chapter BAD NEWS!

Being the second born really did have its perks. I didn't have to worry about getting the throne or living up to any of high standards that were set for my eldest brother. I had free reign of our kingdom. It may not have been the biggest or the nicest...well I knew it wasn't either of those things, but it was home I suppose. Every chance I got I would travel to the other more interesting kingdoms that surrounded us. Which was often thankfully since my parents were trying to marry my brother and I off. My brother would sooner find a wife than I. I had taken a lot of enjoyment in purposely ruining several interviews just because my 'bride' wasn't pretty enough. If I was going to be forced to do this I wanted to at least have something nice to look at.

A frustrated sigh escaped me as my horse walked across the bridge leading into the capitol. My family had arrived back hours ahead of me since I had decided to take a much slower pace on our return trip. Coming back home was always so much harder than leaving was. I had grown up contained in these walls, I didn't want to spend any more time than necessary in them. I supposed that was another reason I kept ruining so many proposals, all the kingdoms were too close. If my parents wanted to arrange a political marriage, the least they could have done was expand their horizons across the sea. I couldn't remember the last time I had a proper adventure across the ocean. The main reason was because my brother didn't like ships. It would have been nice to come across vendors who didn't hide things when I came around, or have some new people to reap havoc with. Most of my old gang had been strategically shipped off or given a 'special' place in the kings royal army. My father wanted to get rid of any possible distractions but to do that he'd have to do a lot more than get rid of my... convenient acquaintances.

In order to avoid riding through the busy main streets, I took a few short cuts through back roads, which added consequently took longer. Not that I minded, the longer the route the better. If my latest keeper hadn't managed to find me I might have taken a few more laps around the city before thinking about returning to the palace. "My prince there you are! You parents have been looking for you?"

I peered down at him as he took my reigns from me and sighed, "What do they want now? I'm busy?"

"I don't know, they just told me to find you and bring you back at once."

He started to lead my horse back towards the palace gates, but I slid off the saddle and folded my arms over my chest. He sighed and stopped. "Please, I need this job."

"That's really not my problem, I'm not going back unless I know what I'm needed for."

"It's not my place to-

He jumped when I took a step forward and dropped the reins, shielding his face as if I was going to hit him. Violence never really occurred to me with this one, he was already so meek and submissive that I could bend him to do my bidding with a simple look. And in turn, he wouldn't last long. It had been two weeks and I had already gotten away with thrice as much 'un-princely' activity as I had gotten away with when my father put one of his guards in charge of keeping me in line.

The alley wasn't wide enough for him to turn my horse around, so I could have probably evaded him with ease if I wanted. At the moment it was more of a debate of whether I wanted to be lectured by my father when I tried sneaking back into the castle, or listen to what they had to say then sneak out of the castle. In my years I had come to realize I was much better at the latter. "Fine, lets get this over with."

I made my way in front of him and led the way back to the castle, taking care to include few detours. My babysitter seemed more than eager to bring my horse to the stables while I crossed the courtyard and entered the throne room. Much to my surprise it was empty. Most of the time when my parents summoned me they felt the need to do it some place public so the whole castle could know how displeased they were with me. However it wasn't anything new. I could be sitting in the drawing room and they'd yell at me for breathing too loudly.

I ducked out of one of the side doors and headed up to the drawing room. This better not take all afternoon, I have much better things to do than sit through another tedious marriage interview. A nicer thought was my brother getting married so they could focus on his wedding instead of mine, because at this point I was surprised marriage was still on the table for me. Who in their right mind wants to settle down with someone for the rest of their lives? It's one of the stupidest ideas to have ever been come up with and I want no part.

My parents stopped arguing with one another the moment the doors opened and I knew I had done something particularly horrible this time. Or they thought I had. They normally didn't stop just because I was there. My mother seemed exasperated and my father seemed to have this odd triumphant look on his face that made me question why I was here. I didn't even bother opening with an apology and saying 'it would never happen again'. That was too... easy. "What brings you to call upon me so early in the day? Did some family heirloom go missing again?"

My mother's hazel eyes narrowed but she didn't speak and looked to my father. He must have asserted himself into the speaking role this time. As far as I was concerned she didn't even want a part in this. "Since you seem to think marriage is a joke."

"Which it is, you two aren't exactly role models of a perfect relationship."

My father ignored my outburst and leaned forwards in his chair. I took a few steps forward and smirked, folding my arms over my chest. Don't tell me he's at it again. "As I was saying, since you think this is a joke, I've made an arrangement you can't get out of."

I rolled my eyes. He doubted my determination in such things. Any binding things always had a loophole. There was always one, it just took the right amount of wit to find it. I was not lacking in that department, so finding it would be a piece of cake. "As you may know we've had trouble with the dark forced attacking us unprovoked and it would be quite unwise to declare war on them. In exchange for a peace treaty, you shall be going to their highest ranking demon as a sign of gratitude."

"That's the stupidest idea I've heard today, I'm not doing it."

"You don't have a choice, the arrangements have already been made."

"The hell I don't! You can't sell me like some whore! I won't do it." Storming out of the room, I made sure to slam the door behind me and slipped out the castle once more. Who the hell did he think he was? I wasn't some worthless girl. I was his son. Yes, I may not have been on my best behavior, but what was the point. My brother had the throne and I was clearly just something to be seen and not heard. But I wouldn't allow myself to have been reduced to this. Maybe if I was a girl this would have been so surprising, but what sort of king jut sells off his son? If he wanted an alliance wouldn't they rather have my brother? He was the one next in line not me? Why did he have to get me involved in his stupid plans. I'm not going through with it. I refuse. I'll run away before I let myself be sold off like a piece of unwanted property.

Gus Kinney: I hope you like chapter one see you for chapter two