Sebastian looked out at the water where his pole sank and he sighed.
"Come, I can get us there on my own." he said. Sebastian lifted me with one arm and jumped from the boat to a rock path. He jumped from rock to rock, his gaze focused on the grey rocks beneath him. I rested my head on his shoulder and wondered how he had gotten this way?
Sebastian was always so gentle, even when we first met he reached out and gently took my hand. Where was my Sebastian? The one that brought me sweets, the one that encouraged me to keep trying to play violin no matter how badly I played, the one that stayed in my bed with me when I felt like I couldn't be alone? I felt tears well up.
I miss him...
Sebastian stopped at the edge of a cave and took my hand.
"Stay close." he said. I looked at the ground and pulled my hand away.
"I am not a child. I can follow you on my own." I mumbled. Sebastian sighed.
"Fine, but don't get lost." he said, his voice a little angry. I followed behind him, my eyes glued to the rocky floor beneath us. I wanted to cry at that moment. All of this was too confusing, and Sebastian wasn't acting himself...
Or is this what he is really like? Has he been...living a lie with me?
I shook my head and told myself that even someone as collected as Sebastian couldn't stay intact like that for as long as he did. But then I remembered that before the battle with that angel...he had disappeared. Now that I thought about it, he disappeared a lot. And what was he doing while I slept..?
"Phantomhive," i heard. I looked up and saw Sebastian looking right at me, his eyes bright. "We are here. Please stay close and listen carefully to the Lord." he said. I nodded, my chest tightening at the sound of him calling me by my last name, not his usual 'Young Lord' or 'Young Master'. Sebastian knocked on a large boulder once, a moment later he let out a small growl and kicked the boulder. The bolder shook a little then crumbled to the ground. A demon, male, stood at the other side with wide eyes.
"Master Sebastian, If you had waited a moment later, than I would have been here to open it for you." he said, his voice wavering.
"We don't have time to wait." Sebastian simply said.
I followed Sebastian over the rocks, I noticed that Sebastian didn't say thank you to the poor demon or apologize for scaring him. I did it for him.
"I apologize for him scaring you." I said. I gave the man a polite nod. "Please excuse his actions."
The demon looked at me like I had three heads. Like he had never received an apology before.
"Phantomhive!" Sebastian snapped. I flinched and looked over. I saw that his demon eyes were bright with anger.
I ran over to him, my eyes lowered.
Sebastian smacked my cheek.
I looked at him with shock, because he didn't really hit me hard at all. The only reason my cheek hurt at all was because he smacked the same cheek Price did. He looked down at me with apologetic eyes but his mouth was in a firm line.
He doesn't want to hurt me...
I smiled to myself a little. I did notice however that the demons around us looked at me like an abused animal. Like Sebastian really hit me.
"Let us move on." Sebastian said. He turned his back to me and walked on. I nodded and followed, noticing that his tone of anger wasn't as strong as he means it to be.
Sebastian led me down a series of long dark hallways and after what seemed like forever, we came to a set of large black double doors. Sebastian opened then and walked inside, me following behind. It was a throne room, with stone walls covered in blood-red curtains on them. Swords were lined on the wall too. And in the back of the room was a large chair shaped like a claw. Behind the chair was a stone hanging of a demon with horns coming out of his head.
"Welcome back, Vladimir." said a deep voice. Red smoke swirled around the room and ended up at the throne. The smoke took the form of a tall creature. The creature had red skin, hooves for feet, and it's fingers had long claws. The creature wore a black vest and dark pants. It's eyes covered by dark glasses.
Sebastian knelt to the floor like he usually did with me, his head lowered.
"I have returned, Lucifer." Sebastian said. The creature, Lucifer, let out a loud booming laugh.
"I see you have brought back a treat." he laughed. Lucifer's red eyes glowed with hunger. Lucifer stood from his throne and approached me with heavy hooves sounds, his eyes glued to mine. Lucifer circled me and sniffed at my neck. "He's very young, but his scent is rich."
"Lucifer." Sebastian said firmly, his eyes glowing. "I have acquired his soul already, me and him had a contract. I have brought him here so that I may receive the rest of my reward.
"The rest of it?" I asked, looking to Sebastian. "What are you talking about?"
Sebastian looked at me with an expressionless face. "I told you, the contract was altered."
Lucifer walked back to his throne and sat down, crossing his legs. He snapped his fingers and a paper appeared, he looked at it and smirked.
"He's right, there have been changes. And it was signed by you, Ciel Phantomhive." Lucifer observed.
"What? I don't remember signing that contract for any changes!" I snapped.
"Silence!" Lucifer roared. I shut my mouth but kept glaring at him.
"Lucifer, please read what the contract now says." Sebastian suggested.
Lucifer cleared his throat before speaking.
"The contract states that after Vladimir has fulfilled his duty, helping you to avenge your parents death, you will give him your soul. But, if this task takes two or more years to complete, then Ciel will have to return to the Underworld with Vladimir acting as his slave for all eternity."