...
As bittersweet poison
Vengeance consumes the soul,
It starves and tempts it;
A lascivious smile
Plays on her bloodied lips.
...
They say revenge has a bittersweet taste and the demon Sebastian wondered if that was true. Such a petty reason for staking one's soul on it, yet his Master had willingly promised him the sweetest ambrosia as an exchange for just one simple attainable wish. It had taken years, but now the contract was finally fulfilled, at least on his end. The dark creature of hell smirked into the night as he considered consuming Ciel's soul on the spot, right after he had extinguished the pained cries of his last enemies. He was starved and the tempting scent of the child's precious soul was driving him to the edge. Still, he refrained from tearing apart the little body at his side, he might be a demon but he had yet to sink as low as to succumb to his bestial instincts.
Amused he noticed how the Earl slowly became aware of the situation and a shiver passed through his spine at the realisation that his bill was now due. The child looked at him from below, his blue eye betraying the anxiety which filled his heart as he questioned his Butler without speaking. Sebastian allowed doubt to dwell on the little boy's heart a bit more before answering to the unspoken question, 'Bocchan, I do not deem it worthy of your position, nor my aesthetics, to consume you here in this filthy road. Shall we get back to the manor?'
A frown appeared on the kid's face, but he soon recomposed himself. 'Of course, let's head back'. Swinging slightly from side to side, the Earl walked past his Butler and out of the dark alley. The demon followed him, revelling in his scent, emanating fear and determination at the same time. Such conflicting emotions ravaged that body as he got into the carriage and Sebastian wondered if he would break, at last. Licking his lips he pictured the little Earl screaming for his life, begging him to let him live. Yet, he knew that was not a feasible scenario. His lord was far too proud to let his mask crack in front of the Butler and even though Sebastian had seen him in his weakest form, that didn't count, as at the time Ciel had been scared by his past not by his future.
The carriage stopped in front of the manor after a silent ride. They both entered the house without exchanging words. Ciel's shoulders were a bit too high, as if he was trying to protect himself from the eventual grasp of the demon. Sebastian chuckled noting how his presence was affecting the child. 'What's so funny, Sebastian?' the Earl snarled at him, anger flaring up in his eye.
'Nothing my little Lord,' he bared his fangs at him.
'Don't lie, Sebastian!' Ciel's voice was a tad too high as he said so, maybe he was aware that control had already slipped out of his hands.
'Of course, my Lord, you know that I cannot lie to you. I just didn't think that my thoughts would be of any interest to you, so nothing you should mind about'.
'I insist to know. Now tell me why you were laughing behind my back, and I hope for it to be a good reason'. His posture indicated that he was not moving from his spot until he got an answer to his question. Sebastian considered scaring him further by refusing to comply yet again, instead picturing himself picking the child up bride style and bringing him into his bedroom. The sight of terror on Ciel's face was elating, to say the least, making his hunger burn even more.
A low click of the tongue brought Sebastian back to reality from his fantasies. He decided it was better to acquiesce to his Master's wishes, for now, 'I just found it amusing, Bocchan, seeing your small figure tremble as I approach you,' he walked towards the child as if to make a point about his words, 'When once it was my presence which comforted you'.
Ciel's eye widened and then it narrowed again as the kid growled at the demon. He was angry, yet fearful at the same time, and that made him furious; Sebastian could tell form the scent.
'My, my, it seems I touched an exposed nerve'.
'Shut up, you demon. Yes I am trembling, but not of fear, it is anger at you that shakes my body,' Ciel spat at him, yet he retreated a bit, trying to put distance between him and his advancing Butler.
'Is that so?' Sebastian's voice was a mere whisper, hot breath reaching Ciel's ear. His eyes glowed red and he was so close that the child believed everything was going to end that very moment.
A crashing sound was suddenly heard coming from somewhere inside the giant house. 'S-shouldn't you go and check on it, Sebastian?' Ciel stuttered.
'Of course my Lord, would you allow me to put you to bed before that?' the demon smirked.
The child hesitated but finally nodded and followed his Butler upstairs. As soon as he was dressed in his nightgown, the Butler bid him goodnight and hurried towards the noise. It took him only a few minutes to clean up the mess that Mey-Rin presented to his eyes, but he decided to let the Earl rest for one more night before claiming his prize. If anything, it would have been even more entertaining watching as terror and fear took hold of the poor boy's heart.
With these thoughts, he slipped out of reality and his hunger-consumed mind created a fantasy where the moment when he would take Ciel's soul played over and over, his Master screaming and begging at his feet. His darkest side was indeed starting to resurface. When morning came, he hurried towards his Master's room, fully intent on consuming his soul and surprised by the fact that he had not heard any screams the previous night. Yet again, he had been so absorbed in his illusions that it was plausible he had missed the show. Sighing he knocked and entered only to find an empty bed.
Ciel was nowhere to be seen and Sebastian was surprised at first. He could not have run away could he? There is no way he would have. He thought to himself, still doubts assaulted his mind. He checked every room in the house before concluding that the Young Master must have left the manor. Eyebrows knitted together he wondered what the little Lord hoped to achieve with this futile escape. He was aware that the mark on his eye would allow Sebastian to find him instantly and more so, he knew his soul was due since the revenge had been fulfilled. I would have expected you to cling to your pride until the very end, Bocchan.
Dark flames spread around him as he realised he would have to go hunt for the soul that was already his property. Using his demonic powers he located the child, he was distressed, on the verge of an asthma attack and in London of all places! Storming out of the house he did not care if anyone saw his true form, he was going on a hunt after all.