A/N: Onto the next chapter! Thank you everyone for your support! ^^ I hope y'all enjoy the chapter :3
Warnings: Language, brief mentions of sexual situations
Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji
Faint streams of sunlight trickled in through the panes of glass. They scattered against the floor and swept across the walls, claiming everything that it touched. Amused amber eyes watched the light as it played across the wooden floor. Like little kits, they chased each other around the room. A stray streak came to rest across the bed and Claude turned his attention back to the figure next to him.
Sebastian slept soundly, his body thoroughly exhausted after their activities last night. They had continued well into the morning until Sebastian's body simply gave out under the demanding strain and he succumbed into darkness. It didn't stop Claude though from sating his desires and even now, he could feel faint tendrils of lust curling through his body just looking at Sebastian.
He would never feel sated when it came to Sebastian. As much as he owned Sebastian, Claude found that it was truly the other way around. Sebastian had him wrapped around his finger in many ways. So long as Sebastian never found out though, he would be okay. His secret safe.
Claude smirked and reached out to brush away inky locks. "See what you make me do," he muttered softly as his hand continued to trail across Sebastian's shoulders. He traced over the numerous bruises and cuts he had inflicted. Sebastian made him lose control and he feared the day someone caught Sebastian's attention and tried to steal him away.
The mere thought had Claude growling low in his chest. He would never let that happen, no matter how possible it was. Sebastian was his, as he had told the captain several times over. He knew that Sebastian understood their situation, but it didn't stop the twinge of fear that arose on occasion. It led him to lose control of himself, spiraling down into his more primal and feral nature. As he had last night.
It wasn't that he enjoyed harming Sebastian this way. He knew Sebastian's cries last night came from pain instead of pleasure when they first started. Gradually, the pain filled screams gave way to pleasured moans and gasps, but it never meant that Claude liked to wring that noise from Sebastian's throat.
But the desire to claim and protect what was his overrode the sense to be gentle. It had him tearing at Sebastian's body, creating deep furrows in the tender skin and threatening to bleed him dry.
Claude frowned and he carefully eased the thick blankets back. His eyes scanned over the marks that he had inflicted and for a brief moment, guilt welled up inside him. It vanished the next minute though as Claude reminded himself why he had laid claim so roughly to Sebastian.
The damn whelp that ran somewhere up on the decks brought this upon Sebastian just as much as Sebastian had brought it upon himself. He hadn't lied when he told Sebastian that he wanted to see the child's spirits crushed. A different sense of longing shone within the blue eyes of the brat. While Phantomhive claimed that he wanted to make a difference – that wasn't a lie either – Claude could also see the deep sated longing within him.
He admired Sebastian for all that he did. That sort of admiration had the chance to blossom into something else and Claude wanted to snuff out that little flame before it could burn down the forest. Instead of dousing the flames though, Sebastian had fed them and now Phantomhive threatened to burn them both.
Claude refused to let the whelp steal Sebastian from him.
His nails tore at the bedding as the mere thought of that happening entered his mind. Sebastian was his. The marks on his body proved that enough. He lowered his head and his mouth skimmed over a long wound that stretched the length of Sebastian's back. Beneath him, Sebastian didn't stir and Claude's tongue traced the injury.
He jerked away as a faint noise sounded at the door and he swept the covers back up to cover Sebastian's body. The noise sounded again, a light scratching sound against the wood, and Claude already knew who would await him on the other side.
The door opened and he wasn't surprised to find Soot standing in the doorway. Her face showed displeasure and Claude could see her claws digging deep furrows into the wood. "You disgust me. Is he even alive after what you did to him?" she asked and trotted into the room. "I heard you two all last night and this morning. And I'm sure every other creature heard as well."
Claude smirked as he shut the door. He left out that little detail last night when he took Sebastian. While no other human could hear them, he made sure that any nearby creatures could hear them perfectly. Letting them all know that Sebastian – all of him, from his sweet voice to his teasing body – belonged to him.
"He lives," Claude said. "And I daresay he enjoyed it, judging by how he clung to me all through the night."
Soot hissed and her tail twitched irritably. "He didn't sound it at first," she spat and Claude's eyes narrowed. "You hurt him badly during your first mating. Even I could tell the difference in his voice." She gave him a pointed look that made Claude bristle slightly.
"I made sure that he felt pleasure after that. A little punishment was in order first," Claude said without remorse and drifted over to the bed. He took a seat next to Sebastian and shifted him around until his head rested in his lap. Idly, he stroked Sebastian's face and hair as he continued to look at Soot. "Your master and I have a deal. He knows what he got himself into and as such, you have no right to chastise me for what I do to him."
"I can if it endangers his life," Soot scowled and made her way to Sebastian's side as well. She hopped neatly onto the bed and pawed at the covers, her nose crinkling at the smell of sex and blood that wafted across her nose.
Claude snarled and he bared his teeth at her. "How dare you suggest that I would threaten his life that way," he growled. "I know my limits and I would never harm Sebastian in a way that would threaten his life."
Soot stared at Sebastian's prone body. "And that's why he lies here unmoving and dead to the world," she said flatly.
He swiped at her head and Soot nimbly dodged the attack. "I'm warning you kitten," he said coolly. "Silence your tongue."
The small sphinx growled loudly, her body vibrating with the force of it. "And I'm warning you, foul beast, lighten your hand. I stay by Sebastian's side because I want to. Your reasons though, are less than admirable."
"Don't presume to know me," Claude said, unfazed by Soot's warning. "You're nothing but a kitten. A fledgling in our world. You stay with Sebastian because he offers you protection that you otherwise couldn't give yourself. Why I stay by Sebastian's side is something you could never comprehend."
"Don't presume to know me," Soot mimicked. "A kitten I may be, but my reasoning for staying with Sebastian stretches far deeper than the protection he gives me. Could it be that you're jealous that you have to compete with something smaller and younger than you for Sebastian's attention? How does it feel, Faustus, to have a fledgling sphinx trump you?"
Claude snorted but didn't say anything. He could remember all too well when Sebastian first came across Soot. With her mother recently killed in a fight and her father missing, Soot was an abandoned kit. It left her ripe for predators and hunters, if starvation didn't claim her first. A fledgling sphinx though would catch hefty prices at the market and if hunger didn't strip her life away, something far worse would've swooped in.
As it was, Sebastian found her first during an excursion on one of the closer islands that lined the outer reaches. Sebastian always did have a soft spot for the feline looking creatures and upon finding her orphaned; he took it upon himself to care for Soot.
He feed and nurtured the tiny creature, nursing her back to health. She bonded quickly to him - a rarity for her breed, as a winged sphinx had a cruel and unforgiving nature compared to their wingless cousins – and quickly found a place in his life. Her presence though only increased his notoriety and heightened the whispers that followed him.
For Claude though, it meant that he had to share Sebastian – a concept that he didn't entirely like. It was one thing to share Sebastian with his crew but another to share him with Soot. He didn't feel threatened by the crew and it was a strange thing to feel threatened by a kitten.
Soot rarely left Sebastian's side and even slept in the same bed – much to Claude's extreme displeasure. Except for the nights when Claude wanted to see Sebastian underneath him, then she stayed downstairs in the captain's office while their bodies tangled together under the sheets. He understood that she was still a kit and needed the feeling of protection, but as he had pointed out to Sebastian, that didn't mean she had to sleep in between them.
He swore Soot did it on purpose, doing it as a way to make sure Claude couldn't always have Sebastian. Theirs was a petty fight and Sebastian usually turned a blind eye to it, but it left Claude feeling frustrated no matter what.
"This argument is pointless," Claude finally said.
"Only because you know I'm right," Soot muttered under her breath.
Claude scowled at her but continued. "The point is, Sebastian belongs to me and I can do what I see fit with him." He gave her a level glare. "But I would never hurt him in such a way that threatened his life."
Soot tugged at the blanket with her mouth; making it slip down to reveal Sebastian's marked body. "That isn't life threatening?" she demanded. "I could smell his blood from outside his quarters. It'll be a miracle if he wakes up at all today."
"He will," Claude answered and leaned down to nuzzle the curve of Sebastian's neck. "I made him ingest a vile of fresh moonlight before he passed out. It'll speed up his healing and numb the pain of his injuries for a full day. All he needs now is a few hours of solid sleep. By noon, he'll be up and about."
Feline eyes narrowed. "That's how you keep him going for multiple rounds," she mused and clicked her tongue. "I had wondered how you countered that small hurdle. I should've known."
Claude smirked. "Pity that the humans still don't understand the wonders of the moon and sun that rule the skies. But their loss remains our gain, and the number of humans that do know of the secret aren't speaking."
Soot flicked her tail. You still play a dangerous game, Faustus," she said, displeasure ringing clearly in her voice.
"I aim to please," he said and stood up. He drew the cover up over Sebastian again and stretched his arms over his head. "I have to handle the crew and inform them that Sebastian took ill in the middle of the night. Stay with him and come get me when he wakes. It's probably best if he takes more moonlight and I'll need to wrap his injuries."
An annoyed grumble left Soot but she didn't argue. Instead, she settled carefully next to Sebastian and purred softly. Claude inclined his head and quickly dressed himself, feeling his own injuries twinge when he moved the right way. Sebastian wasn't one to take things lying back and he met Claude's violent nature as best he could.
The marks would heal quickly, probably before the sunset, but Claude enjoyed the light sting that they brought. He shoved his feet into his boots and tucked his pants down into them before donning his coat. The morning air would be chilly as they drifted closer to the winter months and Claude's breath puffed white in front of him as he stepped outside.
Crisp air filled his lungs and he breathed in deeply as he looked around. The wind continued to fill their sails, pushing them forward at a rapid speed and his eyes focused on the quickly approaching dark clouds.
"Raise the sails to half mast," he called as he descended the steps and the crew rushed to obey his order. "How goes the application of the retardant?"
"We just need the outer parts of the ship," someone said and he looked at Claude curiously. "Where is the Captain?"
Claude fought the smirk that threatened to cross his lips. "He fell ill last night. Something at port didn't sit well with him and he's sleeping off the virus. He should be on his feet in a few hours' time though." He ran a hand through his hair and then pushed up his glasses. "Until then, we'll slow our pace down so we can safely apply the retardant to the hull of the ship. No part can be overlooked."
The crewmember nodded and hurried off to inform the rest of the crew. Claude watched them with amusement as they hurried about themselves and he leaned against the rail to watch them for a moment longer. His eyes though searched for a particular person and they narrowed when they finally settled on Phantomhive.
The boy still moved slowly compared to the other crew but he no longer looked wholly lost. Claude still didn't understand what Sebastian saw in him, but he knew that Sebastian would never let him harm the brat. It sent Claude's blood boiling and he took several deep breaths to calm himself.
He stiffened when Phantomhive's eyes met him and they glared at each other. He could read the burning question in blue eyes, one that told Claude that the brat didn't believe his story about Sebastian's illness. But beyond that, Claude could see the challenge that lingered just behind the boyish façade.
With an irritated huff, Claude turned away from the brat and focused once more on the rolling clouds. Sebastian was his and nothing – especially not an upstart brat – would change that fact.
Respect the purple dragon – leader of them all
Praise the pink dragon – giver of affection
Excerpt from the 'Tome of Mythoi'
Ciel watched Sebastian carefully as the captain moved tenderly around the quarterdeck. He held his shoulders tightly and stiffly, as though moving them too much would cause a great deal of pain. Ciel blamed Faustus for the way Sebastian moved, knowing that he had something to do with it. Sebastian didn't move like that before his meeting with Faustus, and Bard's words echoed in his mind.
He shook his head quickly, trying to dispel the thoughts before they could settle like poison in his mind. It wouldn't do him any good to think that and Ciel turned his attention to the rope he coated with retardant. The ropes were the last thing that needed covering and Sebastian refused to let the ship move any further until he deemed fit.
Just beyond them, pinkish tinted clouds rumbled and gathered in the distance. Ciel eyed them warily as he set the rope to the side. He didn't like the look of them and judging by the uneasy atmosphere, no one else did either.
He glanced up at Sebastian again, noting that the Captain hunched over a table while Faustus hovered nearby. The wind snatched away their conversation, making it impossible to hear anything and Ciel growled lowly at the sight of Faustus so close to Sebastian.
He perked up when Faustus stepped away and vanished into Sebastian's quarters. With him gone, Sebastian descended the steps and Ciel could see the faint flickers of pain that crossed his face. It only proved that Faustus had done something to the Captain, and Ciel hesitated to think that Bard had a point.
"The ship is covered, Captain," Tanaka said as he approached him. "Orders?"
Sebastian gestured to the rolling clouds. "We're heading into the storm," he said. "If we risk going around it, I have no doubt that we'll run into Ash's men. Passing through the storm will give us a two day head start on them and we can hit Korinth before they secure it."
Faustus appeared next to Sebastian again, carrying a large crate. He set it down next to Sebastian's feet and looked at the clouds. "We're losing daylight."
The Captain muttered something to him that Ciel missed but it brought a smug smirk to Faustus's lips and anger churned low in his stomach. "Before we set sail," Sebastian started. "Everyone is to strip down to their undergarments and store their clothes below deck."
Soft murmurs erupted throughout the crew and Ciel stared at Sebastian, trying to determine his reasoning behind the order. "Now!" Faustus barked and after a moment of hesitation, they started to shed their clothes.
"Form a single line in front of me once you're stored your belongings," Sebastian continued. "No one is exempt from this order. Once you come back here, we'll take a strict attendance to make sure everyone has taken one of these." He held up his hand and a golden vile shone brightly in the setting sun.
"And that is?" someone asked.
Sebastian gave a weary smile. "Protection," he answered. "With what we're facing, this is the only thing that will protect you and I intend not to lose anyone through this passage."
The helmsman coughed delicately behind him. "What exactly are we facing, Captain?"
"A firestorm," Sebastian stated seriously and several members of the crew gave him a disbelieving look. Even Ciel felt a trickle of disbelief. Firestorms were not but myth. Then again, this was Sebastian. Anything seemed possible with him, if the black furred sphinx sitting next to his feet said anything. "You can chose to believe me or not, but have I given you any reason to doubt me?" Sebastian continued.
A few of the crew shuffled their feet in embarrassment and ducked their heads. Even Ciel felt the hot touch of shame. He knew Sebastian wasn't one to lie or deceive them, yet Ciel still doubted him.
Sebastian dug through the crate and pulled out two more vials. "If it comforts you, Faustus and I will drink first. And I'll even give one to Soot before your eyes." He passed the vial over to Faustus, who looked more amused than anything, and then hefted Soot onto the table.
The golden liquid caught the sun's rays and glittered in its light as Sebastian swallowed the contents without hesitation. Next to him, Faustus did the same and they set the empty vials on the table. With his hands free, Sebastian turned his attention to Soot and carefully tipped the liquid into her mouth.
The gesture spoke volumes and Ciel felt his unease slipping away. It was no secret how much Sebastian cared for Soot. He would never do anything to put her in danger, let alone feed her poison. If he gave something to Soot, then chances were that it wouldn't harm them and would turn beneficial in the end if they followed his orders.
Slowly, the crowd on the main deck dispersed as members of the crew started to carry the piles of clothing down below the deck. The ones that remained started to form a line and Ciel felt Tanaka push him into the line. The old man scooped up their clothes and vanished down the steps, leaving Ciel topside.
The line moved forward and it wasn't long before Ciel found himself standing in front of Sebastian and Faustus.
"Phantomhive, Ciel," Sebastian said and next to him, Faustus made a mark in his book and then reached inside the crate for a vial. He passed it over to Sebastian, who then handed it to Ciel. "Drink it all. You're not allowed to leave this spot until you hand me an empty container," the Captain said seriously.
Ciel nodded and unscrewed the cap. Something warm ghosted over his nose and Ciel spilled the contents into his mouth. The liquid had a smooth texture and went down easily, but lacked the spicy taste that Ciel expected. He finished the drink quickly and handed the glass container back to Sebastian.
"Hold out your hands," Sebastian said as he set the vial into another crate. He picked up a thick brush and dipped it into a pot. The bristles came out black and the hair on Ciel's arms stood on end as Sebastian drew something on the back of his hands. "Let that dry and don't wipe it off until I tell you."
He waved his hand, dismissing Ciel and the next person stepped up. Ciel gave the strange markings a curious look as his skin continued to tingle and he could see the marks on the rest of the crew who stood before them. No one questioned the marks, but Ciel could see the questioning look in their eyes.
Ciel supposed that Sebastian would eventually tell them what they were for and he took a seat on the steps. He waited patiently for the line to finish and once down, Sebastian climbed to his feet.
"Everyone secure yourself with a rope," he said and mounted the steps. "We're going into a dangerous storm and I don't want to see anyone cast over the edge."
"What of these markings, Captain?" Ciel asked, unable to help himself.
Sebastian smirked. "A storm brings lightning doesn't it? They'll protect you against that strand of element so long as you don't wipe off the marks." He took his place behind the helm, shooing aside the helmsman as the sails started to fill with wind again. "Everyone to your stations and hold on tightly. This will prove a rough ride."
The wind picked up and howled loudly around them, and Ciel had no doubt about that. Ahead of them, the clouds grew closer and seemed to double before his eyes. Now he could understand that going around them would take days, if not weeks. Cutting through them though would take a couple hours at best. They had the wind on their side and it pushed them strongly.
His heart pounded harshly against his chest and Ciel sucked in a deep breath as the ship dipped. The bowsprit cut through the bottom of the clouds and the temperature dropped. He shivered as the mists surrounded the ship and sucked away any light from the sun. It pitched the area around them into darkness and someone ran to light the lamps.
One by one, the lamps came to life and Ciel strained to see in front of him. Despite the lack of sun, the clouds still held a red tinted color that seemed to grow a shade darker the further they moved into the storm. His hair stood on end and the air around them felt electrified, and Ciel held his breath as they pierced the darkened clouds.
"Brace yourselves!" Sebastian called behind him and the wind answered his call, almost stealing the words from his mouth.
Ciel gripped his rope tightly as the ship pitched sharply to the right. Above them, red lightning fell angrily from the deep crimson clouds and Ciel quickly averted his eyes as the ship rolled again. The rope tightened around his waist and he shouted as something reddish-orange splashed next to him.
"Captain!" someone called and Ciel focused on Sebastian.
"Keep steady," Sebastian shouted and he leaned his weight into the helm to straighten the ship out. The wind continued to buffet the sides and the sails snapped. "Stay alert. We're heading into the heart of the storm."
Ciel swallowed hard and he looked at the black markings on his hand, hoping that they would work. Sebastian claimed that they would deter the lightning from striking them by giving them the same charge as the lightning. The marks covered random spots on the ship as well and so far, they had escaped any bolts of lightning.
Knock on wood.
Another droplet fell from the clouds and splattered against the spot next to Ciel. He stared at it in horror and before he could voice his concern, the skies opened up. Fire fell from the tinted clouds and the flames hit the wood with a hissing noise. Surprised shouts filled the air and Ciel swatted at the flames as they enveloped his body.
Panic overtook his mind and he screamed along with several other people. His nerves stood at attention, feeling every droplet of fire as it splashed over his body and Ciel opened his mouth to scream in pain. Only to close it before a sound left his mouth.
He stared at his arm and brought it up for closer inspection. The flames pounded against his body, but they didn't bring pain with them. Rather, the touch felt more like a gentle beat against his skin. Warm and enveloping, Ciel understood now why Sebastian had them shed all their clothes but undergarments. He could feel the heat sinking into his body and sweat beading up along his upper lip.
His eyes darted to Sebastian and the questions that had once welled up inside him slowly ebbed away. Sebastian had told them they would head into a firestorm and had them drink the golden liquid. He had told them all along what would happen but like a fool, Ciel had trouble believing him.
He didn't know how the liquid prevented them from burning or catching fire, but Ciel didn't bother to question it. Asking would only take the legend away from Sebastian's person and that was the last thing Ciel wanted. There were something's that they couldn't explain, especially when it came to Sebastian. It was what made him so famous.
The fire fell harder and continued to hiss as it touched the retardant that coated the ship. Ciel turned his palm up and watched as a flame landed on his hand. It burned hotly, but it didn't hurt and Ciel stared at it until it eventually burned out.
Even watching the spectacle around him, Ciel had trouble believing what he saw. It didn't seem possible, flames falling from the sky like drops of rain, yet here they were. They moved right through the impossible and unbelievable. The very thing that people claimed as myth, but they plowed through the very storm.
It almost made Ciel laugh and if the situation weren't so dangerous, he probably would've. As it was, the groaning of the ship and the creaking of the sails reminded him that this was no holiday park ride. Their lives danced on the line and Ciel could see Sebastian's grim face as they continued to fly through the violent clouds.
The wind whipped his coat about his body and Ciel wondered how Sebastian could stand the added heat. Even with the bare amount of clothes on, sweat trickled down Ciel's skin and he felt the touch of heat around him. Yet Sebastian hadn't shed a single article of clothing and if the warmth bothered him, he didn't show it.
Next to him, Faustus stood as still as a statue - barely moving despite the rough wind. His mouth moved though as he talked with Sebastian, no doubt giving him the navigation route they needed. It looked hard enough to keep the storm from stealing the ship and Ciel couldn't imagine trying to navigate at the same time.
A panicked shout behind him had Ciel turning around quickly. The man next to him frantically smacked his undergarments and Ciel could see them smoking. He shuffled over to him and quickly helped the man extinguish the fire. "How did this happen?" he shouted. The contents in the vial should've prevented this from happening.
The man shook his head. "I don't know. I took the drink just as the Captain said." His stopped and his face drained of blood. "But it didn't sit well with my stomach and I had to use the bathroom just before we reached the storm."
"We need to get you below deck," Ciel said and his eyes glanced up at Sebastian. He could see him fighting against the storm, the wind trying its best to capture control from him but he held strong. "Captain!" he called.
Crimson eyes flickered down to him and Sebastian said something to Faustus that Ciel couldn't hear. They switched places and Sebastian moved deftly down the steps.
"What's going on?" Sebastian shouted over the roar of the wind.
"He didn't digest the contents you gave us," Ciel answered, noting for the first time that Sebastian didn't wear a safety rope. "His undergarments caught fire earlier."
Sebastian pointed to the steps. "Get him inside the hull," he said and gripped the railing as the ship shuddered against the storm. He turned to look up at Faustus. "Keep her steady, Faustus."
Faustus shouted something in reply but the wind snatched the words away. Lightning flashed brightly overhead and the flames fell harder, landing around them with no sense of pattern. Sebastian pushed at his shoulder as the man cried out in pain as the flames licked against his skin.
"Get him down below, now!" Sebastian hollered.
Ciel nodded and they stumbled towards the steps. He fell to his knees before the hatch and scrambled to find the handle. His fingers finally brushed against the inset ring and he tugged at it, but the hatch wouldn't budge. "I can't get it open," he shouted to Sebastian.
Sebastian hurried over to their side, somehow keeping his footing despite the rolling deck. Together, they heaved at the door and Sebastian cursed under his breath. "It must not have dried properly from the retardant before it closed," he said as he climbed back to his feet. He grasped the ring once more and tugged harder, the wood groaning before the hatch finally sprung open.
Ciel hurriedly pushed the man into the small opening and cut the rope before Sebastian slammed the hatch shut. "There," Ciel said and breathed a sigh of relief.
Crimson eyes flicked towards him and Sebastian started back to the steps. "Keep an eye out for any more trouble," he said and mounted the first step before turning around to look at him. "And let me know if you see anything again."
"Will do," Ciel answered as the wind buffeted them again.
From above, Faustus shouted something before a lightning bolt streaked down from the clouds. It grazed the side of the ship and the energy from the bolt sent the Zephyr swaying dangerously. It tipped to the side and Ciel scrambled to grab onto the handrail that led up the steps. His chest coiled with it harshly and something red fluttered in front of him before vanishing over the railing.
"Captain!" Ciel screamed as Sebastian's body pitched over the edge of the ship. He stretched his arm out, hoping in vain that he could reach Sebastian, but the inky darkness had already swallowed him from Ciel's view. Several hands grabbed him, pulling him away from the dangerous railing as the ship continued to roll and shudder. He fought against them, still seeing wide crimson eyes stare up at him as Sebastian fell. "Sebastian," he hiccupped.
"Tanaka!" a sharp voice called and Ciel's head jerked up to the main deck. Faustus stared down at them as Tanaka came forth and despite the situation, his face looked calm. "Take the helm."
Tanaka's eyebrows furrowed. "Faustus?" he asked.
Claude smirked. "Don't make me repeat myself, Tanaka. Steer her steady through the storm, we're through the worst of it and she'll hold." He climbed up on the railing and stood on the thin strip of wood with surprising ease despite the pitching ship. "We'll meet up with you at the next town," he said and without waiting for a response, jumped from the ship.
His body vanished into the rolling black below them by the time Ciel made it to the railing again. The flames continued to fall as underneath the clouds, a loud rumbling noise sounded even louder than the thunder and shook the very heavens around them.
