The Fear That Gave Me Wings

Okay so basically, this story will be based on the slavery events at the Trancy Manor, but it will involve Ciel and Sebastian in the ways I explained in the summary... (: There will most likely be some heavy stuff going down later on in the chapters so I just thought I'd warn you. It's also centered around Sebastian and Ciel as a pairing.. so expect a lot of lemony stuff. (:

"Tch, this new batch of dolls doesn't look particularly great. The pickings are getting very scarce nowadays. Wouldn't you agree?" A very old and podgy man, stood in front of his own bedroom window said as he watched two coach loads of boys be transported through his gates. Stood behind him was a man of a dark humour and attitude, dressed very smartly and stood proud.

"Yes, My Lord. I do suppose you can say that these are the runts of a litter, but it is very hard to find orphan boys who are willing to be taken in as slaves under your name."

The man continued, ignoring his butlers comment "Hm, I mean look at them. Small, weak and pathetic… I expected my servants to do better but obviously they are incompetent at even doing tasks like this. I should have sent you instead" The man said, as he motioned his hand for his butler to press forward towards the window to have a look at the new arrivals. He smirked and said "I guess these will just have to do, can you see any good ones?" He asked looking over at his butler's vivid eyes.

"Hm" The butler hummed, learning closer to the window and looking at the carriages. One boy in particular, dressed very lightly with the lightest shade of black hair and with the strangest colour of blue for eyes interested him. To the butler he seemed scared, lonely and he certainly didn't know what was going to happen to him. It almost made him feel sympathy, even feeling a form of protection over the child. His master seemed very concerned over his look and turned his head towards the window to see what his butler was gazing at.

"Oi, what's caught your attention?"

"I appear to have found someone I may even admire" His butler smiled demonically, almost licking his lips in satisfaction of his new but secret prey.

His master smirked quite evilly and faced his butler "Well keep your hands off; I know these aren't the pick of the litter, but they'remine. If I see even you touching them or doing your own perverted acts towards them, don't underestimate my movements from then on, do you understand, Sebastian?"

"Yes, My lord. I sware I will not lay one finger of mine upon any of the new dolls"

"Good, now lets go and view these new arrivals. I would like them all in the viewing room and I would like them to be clothed minimally so that I can view them to their full extent. Attend to this immediately Sebastian"

"Yes, My Lord" Sebastian bowed gracefully and saw to the order as quick as he could. Sebastian left the room and let his master do as he pleased. Out of all the butlers, Sebastian was the only one the master listened to and seemed interested in any of his own opinions. The rest of the butlers were either scared of the Earl or even despised him because of what he committed towards the young and soulful children, whose hopes were instantly taken away when they were brought through the gates of this manor.

Sebastian made his way downstairs towards the entrance of the mansion, outside were around ten or even twenty children all stood disorderly but guarded by many of butlers who would stop any escapee's, even so the odd few were lucky and managed to escape, but at least here they had a home and were cared for, even if it was to a small extent.

The small and innocent looking child that had aroused Sebastian's interests before was Ciel Phantomhive; he was no younger than thirteen and had recently lost his parents in a tragic accident. After which he was kidnapped and marked for life by a secret order of people who were committed to ridding the world of filth and evil. With no where else to go and his only home burned to ash, as well as managing to escape alive from the kidnappers he allowed himself to be taken in by the Trancy butlers, knowing very little about what would happen to him, but at least he wasn't the only child around.

His interests were too peaked when he noticed the very smart and better looking butler come out from the large doors and greet them, leading them all inside the building. As both Ciel and Sebastian crossed paths their eyes were met in an unbreakable stare, Ciel cold only look in wonder as Sebastian smiled back. Ciel was almost hopeful that Sebastian would treat him better than the others.

Sebastian stopped inside the hall and halted the rest of the children, dismissing the other butlers and summoning a fair few of the household maids. "Our Lord, Master Trancy will be viewing you very soon. I advise you to not breathe a word nor do anything stupid around him; he will not hesitate any sort of dirty looks, foul mouthing or anything else as such" Sebastian shouted so that he could be heard and understood correctly "The maids will now wash and clean you and supply you with a loin cloths"

The few maids led the children off down one of the darkest and coldest corridors, eventually leading to a dirty and cold basement, with very few facilities for proper cleansing.

One by one, the slaves were washed with buckets of water thrown over their heads and scrubbed down with a brush and very little soap. Ciel was yet to be washed and found himself feeling the urge to talk to one of the boys in front of him. This boy in particular had bright blue eyes and golden blonde hair. Every so often this boy turned around and smiled very weakly at him and ever since Ciel felt the need to say at least something to him, even if he got no reply it would be best to try and make some friends, though it was not such a great place to make any.

"Hi..." Ciel whispered bravely. He doubted any of the maids would do anything but they were certainly loyal to their master and any unseemly behaviour would most likely be reported, whether they liked their master or not they were probably just after his praise.

The blonde eventually turned around and smiled again with an almost silent "Hi" in reply.

"What's your name?" Ciel asked impatiently, beginning to not care whether the maids noticed him or not.

"Jim, yours?" He replied shortly after, still facing his new acquaintance.

"Ciel"

"…I know you!" Jim replied, somewhat excited "You're the son of the recently deceased Phantomhives" His mouth dropped in silent excitement "I'm so happy to meet you… I never had the chance to play with any of your toys or enjoy any of your delicious sweets but I would love to one day…" He smiled in delight.

Ciel felt somewhat better now knowing he had made a friend "Thank you" He replied "I didn't think I was that known unlike my parents…"

Jim's mouth closed into a sad and depressing smile when he noticed Ciel turn silent and distant. "I'm sorry about your parents. I know how you feel… and I'm sure everyone here too knows how you feel, so you're not alone" Jim added, trying to make him feel better and giving him some closure on the situation.

"Next!" One of the maids shouted, with that both Jim and Ciel got up and went over to the maids and begun being washed, even if it wasn't a very likeable shower at least they were being cleaned.

Once they were thoroughly cleaned and dried they were given the loin cloths and were sent back down the corridor where Sebastian was waiting for each and everyone one of them. It was a few more minutes before the rest of the slaves were finished being cleaned and made their way back to Sebastian in which during this time both Ciel and Sebastian had spent in a locked gaze. Ciel was almost amazed by how different and kinder this butler seemed, almost like the butler already had a soft spot for him which would indeed help him out greatly. Jim had also noticed their eye contact and also saw a connection between the two, but he also felt a hint of jealousy rinse through him, almost like... why didn't Sebastian look at him in that way, he was equally if not better than Ciel. Of course, before was all an act. Deep down he had always despised the Phantomhives, mainly Ciel because he knew what kind of person Ciel would turn out to be one day, spoilt, arrogant and boring, completely unlike him.

But he couldn't complain, he was in the same predicament Ciel was in and now they had to get through this difficult phase of their lives, but he wasn't going to let Ciel hold him back from doing anything to stay alive in this hell hole, even if it meant impressing the master in sick and twisted ways.

"If everyone is ready, please follow me. The master is waiting… and remember what I told you all before" Sebastian walked towards the grand stairs and everyone followed behind quietly. Sebastian knew only he was needed to care for this bunch of young lads as he paraded them down the long and beautifully decorated corridors, yes even some of the children were amazed by the extent of the décor in the house, but it was expected of an Earl.

They finally reached the masters study room and Sebastian halted them all outside whilst he opened the door and alerted the master of their presence. "My Lord, the dolls are ready to be viewed"

"Good, line them up and come and stand by me. I value your opinion Sebastian"

"Yes, My lord" Sebastian bowed and motioned his hand for the other servants in the room to help him out in lining them up. Once they were ready he went and stood by his master who was sprawled across a glorious red and golden chair, with a wooden cane in the grasp of his fingers to hold his hands up.

Once many of the boys had seen their new master they were instantly worried and scared, he was old, wrinkly and very perverted in his own ways. Not to mention the fact that he was clearly overweight, foolish and very selfish.

The boys one by one stepped toward to the front and allowed their new master to view them, without saying a word or doing anything. Their master would simply say "Next" when he was fed up with the current one.

After viewing around five or six of the current boys, next was Jim and behind him was Ciel. Sebastian was eager to know about what his lord thought of Ciel… if it was apparent that he had very little interest in him then it was very likely that he wouldn't use him at all, if ever. Currently he seemed a little off-put by the blonde boy's dark and daunting expression.

His master was up in moments, bad-mouthing Jim's expression "Your eyes are impure and filthy! Don't you dare look at me with such vengeful and hating eyes" He cried beginning to stab at the boys weak and fragile chest, even at his face and all Jim could do was take it like a dog, he wasn't allowed to even tell him to stop.

Ciel from behind couldn't stand around and do nothing, he wanted to help him even if there was bad consequences, he wasn't going to let this all happen. Ciel stepped aside and in front of Jim, stopping his new master by grabbing hold of his cane and pulling it from his grasp, he then tossed it to the side and said "Stop! Leave him alone" He said, holding a protective stance over his friend.

Jim looked up very weakly and worriedly, even if he wanted to thank him with all his heart for helping him, Ciel had pulled a very stupid and idiotic move; he would now face the dire punishment for his actions.

"You…" His master said angrily, walking forward towards the now trembling child who was fearing the next move he would make. The other children could only cover their eyes in coward-ness. As his master raised his hands upwards, ready to strike at him, his wrist was grabbed unexpectedly and tightly by his butler, Sebastian.

"Excuse me, My Lord. But allow me to take care of this individual, you have many others to attend to and I would not like it if you got behind…" Sebastian said sternly, there after releasing his master's wrist after he swiftly tugged it out of his grasp.

"Fine, don't go weak on me Sebastian. I want to see him covered in bruises and scars. Do you understand?" He shouted vulgarly.

"Yes, My Lord" He bowed and took hold of the child's wrist and dragged him out of the room, the other boys could only pray in hope that he would at least return alive.

"Get up" The Earl said to Jim who was still in shock on the floor after everything that had just happened "Go outside and wait with the others and don't let me see those eyes again, you pathetic piece of dirt" He said almost spitting his disgust.

"Yes Master, Sorry" He apologized quickly before leaving the room.

The Earl re-took his seat back on the couch and continued on looking at the rest of what he called 'his dolls'.

***

Elsewhere, Sebastian still had a good grip on Ciel's fragile wrist, leading him down one of the many corridors of the house. The journey was silent and frightening to say the least. Ciel hadn't a clue what possessed him to do what he did before, Sebastian had clearly warned them all about what would happen if they did anything stupid in front of their master, he wouldn't hesitate to do anything.

Sebastian was all the while though excited that he had finally been able to drag his new interest away from his Lord. He could now study him in his own way and even see what he was like. He was still unsure whether he did actually want to punish him however, but if Ciel didn't return with bruises then Sebastian would be in major trouble, not that a mere old human could do anything to someone like him.

Although, Ciel had to think about this new situation in other ways, at least now he was going to be punished by this intriguing butler and not by the hands of some perverted old geezer.

"Um… where are we going?" Ciel asked, the butler had to at least answer that.

"My quarters" He replied simply, but thinking about how soft and delicate his voice seemed, with just a small tint of hate and evil laced within the sounds of it.

"Oh" Ciel replied uncharacteristically, of course he was even more worried now that he knew he was going to the butler's room, of all places.

.. How dramatic ;)