What is the value of a human life?

Is it merely the soul they possess for either reapers to harvest, or for demons to farm and eventually devour?

It is something I never quite completely understood myself, even during my long lifetime. My time as a human is but a vague memory to me now, my birth name long forgotten and swallowed in the vast pools of my memories. When I attempt to think about it, I always come back to my former masters and the bratty humans I've witnessed as a demon, and it always surprises me to think that at one time, I was as sinister as people.

But, if I was at one time a human, how similar or different am I to something that I once was?

Can demons and humans be the same?

Temptation is something we both feel, that I am aware of at least. We both cannot resist temptation if it nearby, though it is more commonly lust for us Demon, I've noticed. For me, it is the prospect of a delicious soul that I can easily form a contract with, with the promise of revenge and eventually snatch up the soul. For humans, it seems it can be anything that revolves around the sins. The Seven Deadly sins act as a code of conduct for us demons, while it is looked down upon in Human society. Being greedy, gluttonous, or envious isn't exactly the most worshipped of traits; I've caught onto during my time on this earth. Is that a similarity or difference if both a human and a demon follow the Seven Deadly sins?

Though sometimes I wonder if humans are more demonic than even myself. They knowingly get themselves in trouble, and they even sell their souls to the devil, knowing of what they're getting themselves into. It's something I've never understood. I'm forced to do certain things due to the instincts and urges I feel, the sins also playing a part in my attitude and actions. Yet humans have no animalistic instincts, though I still see them knowingly ruining their lives with drugs, lying, and destroying others for their own gain. All of always earns a scoff from me. If only they knew what was promised for them now at the end of the tunnel. They cling to anything they can get their hands on in hope of getting themselves out of the situation, even if it is a spider's thread, and if they are being burned alive in the midst of their struggle.

Is it true that the rumors all of the others say?

That loyalty is not in the vocabulary of humans?

It is as if they do not understand the concept of staying loyal with one another of their species. Betrayal is something they at least know, though I wonder why they do do that, even if their fate is already right in front of them. Loyalty may assist them in changing their fate for the positive, instead of the negative. If only those humans knew of the horrors of Hell beyond the living once their lives come to a close.

Though, I really shouldn't be talking in such a manner about humans about Loyalty. Demons like myself aren't very aware of loyalty any more than they are, I suppose. It's not uncommon for demons to break contracts with their masters, as one had recently done not too long ago. Yet most of the times others advise that it isn't all too healthy to break the contract with your master, usually having…detrimental results in the end.

And so I wonder…

Are humans and demons really all that different from one another?

Or are they from the same root of the tree?

I wonder if I'll receive the answers I'm looking for eventually…

Day XXX1

I can't think clearly as I write this. My head is pounding from the blunt force — I'm still not sure what exactly hit me. Whatever it was, it's still aching me, after possibly twenty four hours. I haven't felt a pain like this in a long time. The lump on my head is so bruised; it hurts whenever I brush my fingertips on it. When was the last time I had ever had lasting pains?

The other sleeping demons are crying loudly in their sleep. What are they saying? Every single one is speaking a different language, and all of it is so muffled, I can't understand them completely.

They're going to put myself and my master to work tomorrow. I can't wait to see him actually forced to do hard work for many hours in the day, for rude and bitter customers.

This realm hotel will be interesting. I still wonder why we are here in the first place. The shackles on my body are restraining me uncomfortably, yet I can't adjust them. It's confusing to me.

I can hear Ciel grunting from the bed below me. He likely cannot sleep on this flat bed. At the moment, he knows to not disturb me. The frustration is building up inside me. I'm trying as hard as I can to not break my only pencil in half.

But yet, I wonder…nothing here makes sense. No one here is talking to me. He promised that he would tell me, yet he hasn't spoken a word to me as of yet. Though…

Why are we here?

Is there a reason that the demons are now forced to sleep?

How weak are we about to grow?

Will any of my questions be answered? Or will I rot in here with the others?

The pounding of my head startled me awake at the foreign feeling of a continuous pain in my body. It felt like there was cotton stuffing up my senses, a wave of dizziness hitting me as I attempted to see past the blurs and shapes that was in my vision. A dull humming sound drummed against my ears, and I let out a loud groan, my hands moving up to grasp my hair and my temples. The stone floor feels cold under my human skin, the stagnant air in the room is pushing down on my exposed skin. With a start, I realize that it's pushing on every fiber of my being, and my damp hand runs down my chest and my legs. I felt naked, only wearing what I can understand is just my undershirts and undergarments are present. They cling to me, and I shift slightly, though groan loudly in the pain that minor movement caused, my eyes squeezing shut almost immediately.

After many inhales to calm the pain radiating from my head, my eyes flicker open once more, pointed teeth gritted as slowly, carefully, I forced my body up. My body worked as a doll being pulled up by strings, each body part being pulled up one by one, my head rising up last. Everything felt so heavy, eyes droopy and half lidded as I tried to see through the hazy and clouded veil over my eyes, blinking slowly to aid in my attempt. The feeling in my body reminded me of waking up from a long nap midday, at least I think so. How long had it been since I slept? It was necessary anymore, I suppose.

I ran my hand over my head again, running my fingers through my hair as I tried to locate the possible source of my unconscious state. To my surprise, I found a large, bloody lump present, blood streaming down my neck and back, staining my undershirts. How did that happen and why was it still bleeding? Something must have bypassed my ability to heal quickly, which was unusual. Some unfamiliar emotion began to creep in my chest, stuffing my chest and making it stiff as I touched the lump again.

The air in the room felt heavy, weighed down by the reeking odor of rotting flesh and splattered blood, both of which had been giving repeated coats over the years. The room reminded me of the torture cell back in London — and the other torture cells I had been in during my long life — complete with the mold and grim covered bricks, the shackles chained to the wall, the entire gloomy and disgusting room was very similiar to that one in London. But yet, there was a different odor mixed in with the fungus and bodily fluids, one that was too alike to my own and my young master's…at that, my breath hitched.

My head swiveled around to give it one last look around, eventually falling upon the young man that I was now tied to for eternity. I stared at him for a few moments, a scowl tugging at the corners of his lips as I noticed how he appeared wounded as myself. Instead of a lump on the back of his head, there was a large gash on his forehead, blood trickling out and staining his pale pristine skin. Well now. There was the first scar he would receive in his long life as a demon that would taint his cherubic face. He still appeared unconscious, and knowing him, he would be out for a while, giving me some time to get my act together and find out what was going on here.

Someone had obviously wanted to bring us here for an unknown reason, and whoever our captors were, knew we were demons. Yet, something just didn't feel right. The smell of other demons, and the condition of the room sent chills down my spine. My master and I weren't safe here; whatever the reason we were here wasn't important. How we got out of here was important, and how fast we got out of here is also vital.

A grunt left my parted lips as I slowly managed to make my limbs work and cooperate long enough to allow me to get to my feet and somehow get in a standing position. My balance almost threw be right back on the cold stone floor, but somehow I managed to stay up, my joints creaking at sudden movements. The shirt I wore fell slightly on my thin form, and I scowled at how baggy it appeared on my body. This contract with Ciel was going to kill me eventually, my weakening body groaning in agreement as I slowly moved and walked around the cell to examine it, the senses I possessed struggling to react to their full potential to aid me.

Slowly, I staggered towards the nearest wall, using it as a support as I moved down the wall, trying to find a possible method of escape, even if one wasn't predominantly exposing itself to me. I ran my fingertips across the walls as my eyes scanned the bricks, a chill going up my spine every time I found a gouged out mark in the bricks similar to one possibly made out of claws. The struggles of one of my species was apparent everywhere, which made the feeling in my chest more immense.

Though I blinked in surprise when I felt a few loose bricks that appeared to have weakened over years of abuse and neglect. Gently I nudged my hands against the bricks, smirking when I felt them shift from my touch. I leaned my hand back as it curled into a fist, then smashed it into the building material. An explosion of dust and fragments of concrete bricks fell everywhere, my other arm shielding my face from debris.

Once the dust settled, my eyes blinked open and I peered out, noticing a bed of grass in front of me, leading out to more on the property. I was surprised that we were ground level, it felt like we were much higher up. Far down, lanterns were lit, objects seeming to move down a walkway and up towards something. Were they walking towards the entrance of the establishment? Maybe this prison was bringing in more captives.

I glanced back at Ciel, seeing that he was still in the pits of slumber. Gritting my teeth, I hobbled over to him, trying to not move too fast and aggravate the sick feelings I was experiencing. Carefully I scooped him up in my arms, and then looked back at the hole I had created. I had to move fast, or else they would find me and we would be right back where we started. Without a second thought, I sprinted forward and jumped out, landing on the soft grass.

The air felt slightly chilly on my exposed and sweat-coated skin, and I unconsciously held on tighter to Ciel. My toes curled in my dirtied socks at the feel of prickly grass against my skin, not feeling at all like regular soft grass, which made me wonder briefly where I was yet again. I almost slipped at my first step, rubber pebbles holding the grass down. Gritting my teeth, I clumsily sprinted ahead again, though stopped again when I noticed that my footsteps glowed on the grass, brightly and noticeably. Stumbling back, I blinked in surprise at the glowing footsteps, which would eventually dim down into nothing.

My breath quickened as I looked ahead, clinging tightly to Ciel, trying to keep myself calm and figure out what to do. Something wasn't right here. The grass continued to glow brightly under my feet, the glow growing brighter and brighter as I stood in one place a longer amount of time. I had to get out of here as quickly as possible, and take my master with me.

Quickly, I lunged forward, sprinting as fast as my trembling legs would allow me to, Ciel bouncing slightly in my hold. Even so, I felt that my body refused to go as fast it normally would, slowed from whatever likely knocked me out in the beginning. There was a rising terror in my chest when I saw the grass glow behind me, noticeable figures in the distance that seem to grow bigger and taller as they seemingly approached me. I sniffed the air as my breathing quickened, struggling to possibly detect who they were, but all I could smell was the artificial aroma of the grass I was running on and the other odors of being outside, including the faint smell of other demons.

I turned my body sharply in a different direction, running faster than what my body was comfortable with. Pants left my body as I struggled to breathe, heading towards a large gate that was becoming visible as I ran towards it. Little sounds relatable to a cat's mews were leaving Ciel's lips, and I knew he would eventually awaken. Not now, not now…not when I was getting closer to finding a way out of here. I could figure out what we were doing here later, when I knew for a fact we were safe and out of harm's way.

Something glittered in the moonlight, and I quickly turned my attention towards it, finding a gate that connected to the fence that surrounded the property. It was large and magnificent; the metal bent and manipulated in such ways to create a gorgeous work of art that greeted everyone who entered. My feet landed on the pavement as I made a sharp turn towards the gate. I could feel my feet carrying my body at a faster rate, now having some traction to make my movements faster.

A grin spread across my lips as I approached the gate. The details were becoming more visible as I got closer, Ciel's movements becoming more apparent as he began to awaken. Now I wasn't afraid of his awakening no longer, our escape now a definite possibility—

A gasp left my lips as I jumped back right in front of the gate, staring in horror as the color drained from my face, staring right at visible salt lines that line the property. I looked around, breathing heavily, now seeing the salt lines go all around the ends of the property, locking me inside. My chest moved up and down quickly as I clung tightly to Ciel, shaking violently. I didn't even notice as I was suddenly tackled to the ground, Ciel being flung from my arms as I blacked out again, my head smashing against the pavement.