Chapter Two
Meanwhile, Sebastian was holding back an amused smile as he watched his master play. The boy thought he was a king. Always determined. It was pleasing to see. He thought now would be the right time to…
"Bocchan, our visitor has arrived," Ciel heard his butler announce. The boy rose to his feet and proceeded slowly towards the archway to greet their tardy guest, allowing his regal new cape to trail behind in the lowly fog. With rapier in hand, Ciel stood waiting to see who would come out of the coloured mist. But no one did. From his post by the entrance, Sebastian inconspicuously eyed down at Ciel. He could see the growing suspense in the youth's frame. Deciding to be obvious, Sebastian looked directly down to Ciel, and when the boy returned the favour he nodded encouragingly for him to keep his eyes on the entrance. So Ciel watched for a whole empty minute before he snapped.
"I don't see anyone! Sebastian, I think you imagi - ahhhh!"
It was a young man who stepped abruptly out of the distant pink. The stranger carried himself confidently, striding towards them with his long black cane. He came to rest in the centre of the archway, his slender frame somehow taking up the large space. It seemed he liked the attention.
They could see that he was only a few inches in height less than Sebastian, that he was in his early twenties, that he was dressed in the exquisite clothes of nobility. But Ciel couldn't notice what he was wearing, as he was drawn solely to the man's face. His dark, teal-blue hair, cut short and choppy with a mature-styled fringe. His smirking lips. His eyes, one blue and the other…it was branded with the same pentacle as his own!
"W-what is this?" poor Ciel stammered, almost too shocked to order an answer.
"Hello, Sebastian," the man spoke in voice that echoed back Ciel's own, only deeper. His tone was coloured with a coyness that was directed towards the demon butler, who he eyed shamelessly up and down. Sebastian dipped into an almost friendly bow.
"Sebastian, who is he?" Ciel finally demanded, this time pointing his rapier up for effect. Sebastian and the mysterious man exchanged meaningful glances, and together they stared down at Ciel, who this behaviour unnerved.
"Who do you think, Bocchan? Who does this look like to you?"
Ciel's mind was swimming. "He's…he...looks like…" he slowly whispered, "…me."
"Then, that is who this young man is," Sebastian answered, riddling like a sphinx.
As little sense as this made to our poor Ciel, the adult Ciel was promptly invited into their haven. He walked past the boy with neither malice nor cordial interest. Ciel watched from a safe distance, as his adult-aged mirror image settled into his surrounds at the set of chairs and table, and Sebastian began pouring him tea.
"I like mine strong," adult Ciel insisted.
"But of course," Sebastian nodded, as if he should have known.
Ciel slowly approached the ivory-coloured chairs and carved marble table where the two conspirators sat, silently demanding his presence to be acknowledged. But the pair carried on; the adult Ciel giving his orders, and the butler following them devoutly.
"How…natural," the words fell softly from Ciel's open mouth, and though he meant to say 'unnatural', it really was as he said. There was nothing more normal than Ciel being served by his Sebastian.
Sebastian, well aware of the stun his younger master was experiencing, finally turned to look at him. He could see that the boy's apprehension was slowly turning to mild offence. Soon it would be curiosity. And that would be the right time… He motioned for the growingly indignant boy to take a seat, gracefully whipping off the periwinkle blue fabric strewn over one chair to make way for his master's velvet cape. Dazed, Ciel struck his weapon by the tip into the hidden ground, and it quivered as he left it for the strange tea company before him.
Hesitantly, Ciel accepted the seat Sebastian had drawn out for him. As he was tucked in, Ciel observed his adult form from across the table, busy raising his tea cup to his mouth. Just like Ciel always did, he paused to inhale the steamy aroma that rose from the cup before taking a sip. He then let the dark liquid slowly heat his mouth, savouring the warmth. Ciel unconsciously relaxed when he saw this familiar behaviour. He felt comfortable enough to lift his own cup and do the same.
From beside the tea stand, Sebastian grinned slyly. The adult Ciel, even sharper than his younger counterpart, met Sebastian's eyes with a brazen smile. He knew exactly what the butler was thinking right now. Gulp it down.
Ciel suddenly noticed his older version becoming amused over something, so he looked back towards Sebastian, relying on an answer. The butler simply remained appropriately vacant-faced. Ciel was frustrated that something unspoken was going on between the two. So many questions were starting to form in his mind that he could barely settle with one to orate. He wanted to curse at his butler, and demand a reason for this impossible guest. Did Sebastian invite this freakish look-alike just to upset him? It didn't make sense to Ciel. Yet.
Note: Why oh why, has Sebastian chosen to do this to Ciel? Because he's a cruel so and so of a demon, perhaps. It's disturbing to think; adult Ciel has become twisted enough to be on par with Sebastian's wicked ways of thinking.
Keep posted for more, coming soon.