There exists only thing in the universe that can bestow happiness upon a vile demon—the death of their master. Though they may pretend to care for the humans with whom they sign contracts, more often than not a demon will use trickery and manipulation to steal away a soul before it ripens, before the contract is properly fulfilled.
Once, one named Sebastian Michaelis was such a demon. It was only when he contracted a child known as Earl Ciel Phantomhive that he found himself unable to slink off with his prize early on. Through strict orders that could not be disobeyed, the demon was leashed to his master for an agonizing amount of time, nearly four years of slaving over the child, essentially leaping through hoop after hoop in order to obtain the soul.
It wasn't without perks entirely; the opportunity was there for Sebastian to learn of human behavior more intimately than he'd ever experienced before. However, his starvation nearing the end of the contract had kept him from keeping up most of the time, as far as culture was concerned.
And, near the end of his pact, he was trained like a dog, and patiently awaited his reward until the day came at last when his contract with the boy came to an end.
Thick fog rolled around the small boat they rode in, almost completely concealing it, though the water below was clear, and glowing with the remnants of the young lord's Cinematic Record. Pieces of memories floated about at the surface, playing back the lord's life as they did so.
He, however, paid it all no mind. Glancing up at the dark, thin figure rowing the boat, Ciel finally spoke up, ice in his voice, "Where is this place, Sebastian?"
"This river? It is known by mortals as the river Styx, a gateway into the supernatural," the demon answered with ease. "We are going somewhere no one can follow us to."
"Not even another demon?" Ciel asked snidely.
"A persistent demon, perhaps, but there are none here," Sebastian answered with a chuckle. "I'm referring more towards… those of the red-haired, loud type."
"Reapers, you mean."
"Yes."
Silence fell over the two again, and as Sebastian continued to row through the waters, he felt a small sense of relief. They would soon be on a safe point. No reapers knew of the devil's rock that lay between the mortal realm and Hell itself, making it a place where demons could finish off their contracts peacefully, without interference. Despite the old truce between demons and reapers that stated that contracted souls could not be reaped, safety was always one of Sebastian's biggest priorities.
At last, they began to approach the large, dark form of the devil's rock, the island crumbled and cracked from countless battles. As they pulled up to the ashen shore, Styx's water's lapping at the edges of their small boat, Sebastian rasped, "Here we are." He pulled the boat up a short distance, then moved to Ciel's side and picked the boy up, beginning to carry him to the center of the island.
"Awful gloomy out here," the earl muttered boredly as they walked.
"I find it quite pleasant," Sebastian answered.
The soft sound of the distant waves faded, replaced by soft footfalls against rocky ground. It was a thick, pregnant silence, like the pause between a distant flash of lightning and the thunder that would follow, and everything about the land was black, from the skies to the ground that they walked upon. There were no plants, though the occasional ravaged building passed through their sight, and if not for the glowing red eyes of the demon and the splash of colorful human held in his arms, even they would blend into the scenery perfectly.
Looming ahead lay the ruins of a gothic-style building. The low, raucous call of a raven would occasionally ring out, though it hushed as the pair approached. Carefully, Sebastian led them through an archway into the building, and moved to lay his master against a worn, stone bench.
"I will be gentle," he said.
"Don't," Ciel rasped, "I've lived out this contract knowing what was to come, and I want you to be the ravenous demon you are now that it's over. Etch that pain in my soul forever. I'm not afraid of you."
"Yes, my lord."
Sebastian's eyes flickered like flames as he leaned in close, and he licked his lips with anticipation as he approached the body before him. Like a fine wine, Ciel's soul was aged to perfection, ripe for the taking, so fragrant and perfect that it drew the demon nearly insane. He inched forward until their noses brushed, breath mingling as he began to carefully draw out the soul. The faint glow of it as it was pulled from the boy would've brought a lesser demon to his knees—at long last, a delicious meal…
Sebastian's jaws parted and he began to move, only to jump in surprise as a long blade sliced through the soul, forcing him back and taking his master's soul alongside it. Red eyes widened as he saw the long pole snap back as quickly as it'd come, clicking as it retracted. The ravens that had gathered flew off with sharp squawks, and all around the smell of death began to cloud the sweet scent of sin. Shadowed figures stood on the walls of the ruins, their forms broken only by the glinting glasses, and the blades held in each gloved hand.
Reapers.
"Sebastian Michaelis," came the call of a familiar voice from the figure that had stolen away his meal. "We have been sent to dispose of you on accounts of malicious behavior towards reapers, disturbance of the natural order, and attempted consumption of a human soul without proper clearance with Administration. You will now be executed like the vermin you are."
"I apologize, I was under the impression that we had a truce here," Sebastian answered calmly, though the ground shook beneath him, as if quaking with fear of his rage. The rock below lit up with dancing black flames as the demon's power flared, and the demon continued, "Alas, that contrived speech you delivered simply assures me that you never intended to follow that truce from the beginning. Do you do this often to my kind, William T. Spears?"
"Quiet, vermin! Dispatch, rid this world of that dog."
With that, the thunder roared, reapers dropping in from every angle, brandishing their scythes and all lunging for the demon. Sebastian's eyes narrowed as the demon analyzed their movements for a brief moment that felt far too long, before he was gone, having leaped over the very walls they used to ambush him. Running quickly, he made back for the shore, soon diving into the water of Styx and starting to swim downstream. The records in the water were deadly, and though the demon was well aware of the threats of having records flow into him, it was less trouble than being slaughtered by reapers.
"Don't lose him!" William ordered. "We have to take him out while he's weakened!"
The band of reapers ran for the water as well, only to stop dead at the shore. "We can't, we might catch the Thorns," murmured a couple, and William brushed past them, sharp eyes scanning the water. He launched his scythe a few different places, soon bringing it back with a sigh.
"Excellent. Overtime again today…," he muttered as he adjusted his glasses, soon turning back to the others. "We're leaving," he said, before using his scythe to tear open a portal back to the reaper realm. As the reapers began to file out, William looked back at the water. There was a larger vessel making its away along the river, and he didn't need to make it out to know it meant trouble. As William followed after the last reaper, the portal blinked out of existence.
Sebastian continued to swim for a fair amount of time before he had to surface again, taking a slow breath as he glanced back. The island was no longer in sight, and the cold water and fog surrounding him weren't quite the most soothing of sights.
"Hello? Who's out there?"
Recognizing the voice, Sebastian gave a half-relieved sigh. Perhaps he wouldn't be lost out here for too long after all. "Demon, Sebastian Michaelis. Is that the ferryman I hear?"
"The one and only. What are you doing in my river?" A large boat began to roll up beside the demon, and Sebastian didn't hesitate to climb aboard.
"I was chased away from my meal by a gang of reapers," the demon muttered. "I've been cultivating it for four years, but they snatched it anyway. I wasn't aware you allowed them access to our sanctuary, Charon."
He ducked as the other male swung an oar made of bone towards him, narrowly avoiding the strike. "You will not address me by name, you impudent thing. You'll notice I'm polite enough to not ask yours," the other huffed, before stepping forward and sitting before Sebastian.
He was an older male, with a grayed beard that touched the wood of the boat. His eyes were bright green, and as he stared Sebastian down, his sunken features contorted as if he recognized the demon. He reached up to adjust a set of half-moon spectacles perched on his bony nose, then muttered, "You're awful bold to accuse my reapers of such a thing to my face."
"It's the truth, but I don't need to press it further. I'll take it up with Satan instead," Sebastian muttered.
"Would you like a ride to Hell, then?" the ferryman questioned.
"If you would," the demon agreed.
As the ferryman began to lead them along the river, Sebastian sighed, changing his attire to something more appropriate for his destination, a dark cloak, before altering his form, allowing ram-like horns to manifest, as well as the feathers that covered his body from the clavicle down. "It's been some time since I've been home. Four years."
"Will you be waiting for the next contract?" Charon questioned.
"… No, not yet," Sebastian replied. The boat gave a soft rock then, slowing for a moment, before it lurched forward again. The fog of Styx gave way to pure darkness, the records fading to black waters, and the very air turned warm and humid, thick with sin.
"This is as far as I go," Charon said. "Care to pay me for the ride?"
Sebastian tossed a gold coin towards the ferryman, hopping off of his boat on to the muddy shores of Hell, and soon leaving. As the boat vanished behind him, the demon continued on towards the dark figures ahead.
Hell was lit only by torches, the flames hot enough to burn in straight streaks of blue, which lit the way towards the castle of Satan, as well as separate cities within the realm. Sebastian looked about for a moment. It was nearly as quiet as Styx, and that wasn't right. They must have dwindled in numbers more than he'd originally thought, as it was rare for all demons to be in a contract at once…
"No screams, no crying… what a boring place this has become," Sebastian sighed, starting along a path that led to a forest. "Completely bland."
He'd seek out a fellow demon, one he'd met during his contract. If he beat the other into submission, after all, he'd have a rather good servant, help in retaliating against the reapers.
A breeze swept across the ground as he strode along the path, catching his cloak and blowing ash into his face from the forest ahead. Shaking his head and sighing, the demon trudged on, eventually entering the forest, which sparkled and rustled as ash and wind jarred the black leaves hanging on the trees.
The dark indigo of Hell's sky wasn't visible in the forest, as the tops of the trees grew thick together, branches tangling and filling any holes between them with their leaves. A demon gifted in flight, namely one such as Sebastian, was handicapped in such a place, keeping those who lived out here safe—safe, at least most of the time.
"Hoheo taralna, rondero tarel," Sebastian rasped. "Hoheo taralna, rondero tarel. Hoheo tar-"
"What do you want?" muttered a voice from behind him. Sebastian turned, the demon he'd summoned hanging from a branch, frowning. His eyes were dead. "I've no interest in you."
"Ah, but I've interest in you, Claude Faustus," Sebastian answered with a small smirk, eyes tracing the form of the other demon, analyzing the strength in his body—not enough to win, which was good. "I believe that you can assist me in something very important to our kind."
"I've no interest in you or our kind. What payoff would such a thing offer me?" the other answered as he hopped down from his branch, though he stayed a safe distance from Sebastian.
"Souls," Sebastian replied. "Reaper souls."
"Ridiculous. I'll have none of it," Claude stated flatly. "There are more reapers in London than demons in Hell."
"Now, now, I know that thinking isn't your strongest virtue, so I'll extend my thoughts to you," Sebastian sneered, "If we had a scythe, or two scythes, we could take down reapers with ease. If we had more scythes, we could sell them in Hell, arm the remaining demons, and turn a good profit in the process. With each soul we would also gain power, become stronger, and what comes with strength?"
"Archdemonhood," Claude muttered, glancing back at Sebastian.
As rubies met gold, Sebastian continued, "I will split the rewards with you under one condition: you must follow my every order."
Claude's nose wrinkled and his eyes flashed red. "Not a chance," he hissed.
"I worried you might say that, so I propose a fight. Here in this enchanted forest, where you are most at home. I will not venture out of it," Sebastian replied, to which the other mused for a long moment.
"If I win… I can gain dominance over you?" Claude asked at last.
"I'll place a hundred years' servitude on the line if you offer me the same," Sebastian answered.
"Do you desire to form a pact?"
"No need. You and I both know that you are incapable of sticking to pacts," the feathered demon sternly huffed. For a moment, he could've sworn that he caught a spark of mischief in the spider's blank expression, but he didn't pay it mind. "We will simply fight, and sign a real contract after. One that cannot be escaped until the hundred years are finished."
"We will fight, then," Claude answered. "And I will win, and I will enjoy my power over you."
Sebastian's only response was to make his first move, quickly dashing around the lesser demon and sweeping a leg out to kick him in the side, but the other was fast to leap back up into the trees. A few quick jumps between branches alerted Sebastian that the spider was already laying web—same tricks as always, Faustus.
"What's the matter?" Claude asked as he dropped down in front of Sebastian once more. "Distracted?"
The feathered demon rolled his eyes, then threw a swift punch towards the spider's face, dodging the retaliating kick that Claude responded with. With a hiss, Sebastian leaped back, then summoned his power and expelled it in the form of his black flames, which lit the trees and caught fire to the threads Claude had laid.
"Your little fairy tricks won't serve you so well now," Sebastian said with a smirk. "I'm not the sort to fall into the same trap twice." He again leaped forward, flipping gracefully before he landed with a kick to Claude's chest and sent flames towards his face. The spider grunted and grabbed his leg however, soon throwing Sebastian into a burning tree.
The red-eyed demon gave a sigh and got back to his feet, brushing the flames off like dirt and soon smirking. "I seem to have won."
"The cheapest win I have ever seen from a demon who thinks himself a noble," Claude hissed, opening his golden eyes again, the right one bearing a purple pentagram that glowed faintly alongside his eyes. The flames Sebastian had forced forward at the last moment had been those used to sign a contract, and in that last moment before he hit the tree, the pact had been made, and Claude had been forced into subservience. "I had not expected you to resort to trickery, Sebastian Michaelis."
"I've merely turned your own dirty tactics against you," Sebastian replied, stepping forward again. "You will be a good slave, I'm certain."
The spider lunged forward with a hiss, only to halt as he was ordered to, "Follow every order given to you without fail, do not harm your master in any way, and know that this contract will break after a hundred years, or sooner, if I die before then."
"What shall I address you as?" Claude muttered.
"I would gain nothing but an upset stomach to hear you address me as master. Refer to me by the pet name you know, and I will do the same. I do not wish to render you totally helpless," Sebastian replied simply, "at least for now."
"What will you have of me, then?" Claude prompted as his eyes continued to glow.
Sebastian lifted his left hand, the pentagram that had formed on it glowing in response as he muttered, "Claude Faustus, I order you to join me in forming a clandestine plan to rid London of its reapers and grant us a safe hunting ground for the next hundred years. Our ultimate target, named William T. Spears, is my kill, and my meal. Do not lay a finger on him."
"… Fine," Claude answered, before sitting. "This is my part of the forest; will we remain here?"
"No. We will make way to my territory," Sebastian replied. "This forest makes me terribly claustrophobic." He started out of the forest, and Claude reluctantly followed, closing his right eye to hide the seal from any other demons they crossed paths with.
A/N: Man, first time I've started a new fic in over a year. o_o' Well, here we go I suppose!
Expect romance in this to be extremely slow, haha. This won't be much like old times, I'm afraid. :P Reviews and criticism are welcome, so do let me know what you think! :)