Hello again! That was fast, wasn't it? Sorry, but don't get used to fast updates for me. I'm a slow writer :(
Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chap! You guys make writing worth my while.
~Unfortunately, I don't own Black Butler~
Celeste blinked up at Richard in shock. His white wings seemed to glow in the dark, the feathers catching the moonlight.
"What do you mean?" she asked slowly. Bound to a demon...
"Ceil Phantomhive... He's a demon."
Celeste simply stared, unable to find words to respond.
Ricard continued, "The demon Hannah Anafeloz, the sheathe of Lævateinn, made a contract with Jim Markin. In the end, Ceil became a demon."
"But...that isn't possible, is it?"
Richard sighed. "I'm afraid that anything is possible where a demon's contract is concerned."
When Celeste didn't reply, he continued. "Surely you must have sensed this when he bade farewell to the Lady Elizabeth?"
"Well... I did sense something like that... But I simply believed that butler of his had gotten stronger. I never thought..." Celeste trailed off and fell silent.
Richard sighed. "I truly am sorry. Perhaps you'll be able to persuade him to give you back to Lady Elizabeth?"
When Celeste still didn't reply, Richard bent down and kissed her head. "I need to get back to Finnian. Please don't hesitate to come to me should you need any help at all."
He gave her one last smile then began to walk away, the tips of his white wings swaying slightly.
"Wait!" Celeste suddenly called after him.
"Yes?" Richard asked as he turned.
Celeste walked a few steps to catch up with him. "Please, do you have any idea where they've gone?"
"They didn't say... But I suspect the worst."
Celeste nodded. That was all she needed to know. "Thank you, Richard. Take good care of Finny."
"I will." He paused. "There may not be a way to save him, Celeste. Don't...don't get your hopes up."
Celeste offered him a small smile. "Goodnight, Richard. I hope we'll see each other again."
"You really did a number on this place, didn't you?" Ceil mused as he looked over the ruins of the Island of Death. During his little temper tantrum over Ceil's soul being stolen, his butler had reduced the place almost entirely to rubble. Ceil let out a dry chuckle. All that fuss, and look at the result, he thought.
Sebastian remained silent behind him. Ceil fell onto one of the few unbroken benches. "What do you demons do all day? Must be a terrible bore."
"Indeed it is, master. But we are rarely free. It's remarkable how many of you humans have fallen low enough to make a deal with one of us. I'll miss granting wishes," he added sarcastically.
"You won't be able to now that you're bound to me?"
"No, my lord. I belong to you and only you, forever."
Ceil made a humming noise of understanding. He wasn't yet sure how he felt about his new... Species. He had gotten his revenge, and he wasn't sure what he wanted beside that. It was a terrible feeling, having no wants or hopes or dreams. Just an empty feeling of settlement. He hadn't even been thirsty since his change.
"But can we go into the human world without forming a contract with anyone?" he asked.
Sebastian nodded. "The weaker demons- the ones who can't control themselves around humans- can't, but demons like you and me can come and go as we please. Unfortunately you'll find that being around human souls will make you aware of your hunger, and you'll be unable to eat until you make a contract with one. It's a rather uncomfortable experience, my lord, but if you'd like I can take you back."
Ceil tilted his head back and closed his eyes. "Perhaps."
"Your will is mine, my lord," Sebastian murmured, then fell silent again. Was this how it was going to be for eternity? He understood now why demons made contracts, why they claimed he had too much time, and he hadn't even been one for a year yet. Still, he would admit that he liked this newfound sense of power and control, along with the knowledge that with a little practice he'd be as skilled as Sebastian.
Demon's didn't need to sleep, but they often did so to take a break from their buzzing thoughts. That was exactly what Ceil needed right then. He shifted so that he was laying sideways on the icy stone of the bench and shut his mismatched eyes.
Celeste's wings flapped powerfully as she flew through the starry sky. It was close to midnight now, but she was almost there. Nobody-not even demons- could see her in the human world. However once she passed into the Underworld (the demon's domain), that would change. She would be seen, and probably hunted. She flapped harder, refusing to allow fear into her mind. Only determination would fuel her. This had been done, so it could be undone. Nothing was permanent, not even death. She would find a way.
Below her, she saw a swirling, dark purple vortex in the middle of a lake. Humans of course couldn't see the entrance to the Underworld, but (bless their hearts) they believed the place was haunted. This was where she was headed.
She tucked her wings into her back and dove, head first, straight into the dark hole.
For a few moments, it felt like Celeste was pushing her way through a thick, freezing liquid, an unpleasant sensation. Then, like shattering glass, she broke through. She was in the Underworld.
It took her a few moments to regain her bearings. Celeste had only been in the Underworld once, before she became a guardian angel, when she had been part of a battalion of angel warriors which had been sent to rescue a group of humans which had been kidnapped by rogue demons and dragged here against their will.
It was dark here, and depressing. There was a damp chill in the air and such a large well of demon power that Celeste found herself significantly weakened. She thought it best not to be seen flying through the sky and swooped down to the ground. She vaguely wondered how long she had before the demons closed in. For reassurance, she reached down to her waist and fingered the twin blades hung there. She had weapons, at least.
She took her first few steps along the hard ground. Now that she was here, she wasn't sure what to do. Celeste had never been one for planning.
"Still my young lord," Sebastian mused at he looked down at the newest demon, who had fallen asleep curled into the bench.
Sebastian laughed a humorless laugh. So, this is how it ends, he mused, I'll admit it's a surprise.
His thoughts were interrupted when he sensed something... Something that made the blackened husk he called a heart skip a beat. Something he hadn't sensed in a hundred years or more.
His mate was near.
"That was fast," Celeste said aloud. Her powers were weakened, but her instincts were heightened enough to let her know that something was trailing after her. There was no doubt in her mind as to what it was.
Celeste's hands closed around her blades. She hadn't needed to use them in a long time, with Elizabeth's relatively peaceful life, but she had never allowed herself to get out of practice. Guardian angels weren't allowed to, and it was a good thing, too, because Celeste was now sure she was being followed by three beings.
She whirled around before more could join the hunt.
"Come out, then, and fight me!" she called. When she didn't get a reply, she called out again. "Come out, you cowards!" She had no issue insulting demons, and she would not lead them to Ceil.
Of course the proud demons couldn't let the insult slide. Three Commoners emerged from the shadows, baring their teeth. Commoners were more what humans thought of when they talked about demons. They were fanged, red-skinned, and horned. Their faces and bodies were shaped similarly to monkeys'. Their eyes were snake-like and a bloody red color. And they also smelled strongly of sulfur.
"Cowards, she calls us..." one hissed.
"Well, we can't call her a coward. Just stupid," another announced.
"Yes, very, very stupid angel, coming here all alone..." the third cackled.
"Let's show her just how idiotic she's been," the second spoke again.
"Yes, lets..." the first one said. Without further hesitation, it bared its dripping, yellow fangs and lunged for her neck.
She sidestepped and swiped a dagger, creating a long gash along its shoulder.
It hissed in pain. "You'll pay for that, angel."
Celeste didn't have time to focus on that threat, for the second and third launched themselves forward at the same time. Celeste spun and slashed, missing both but at least managing to keep herself unharmed.
The battle continued for a long time, until Three managed to sink its sharp fangs into Celeste's shoulder. She cried out in pain.
It was all downhill from there. However just as One was about to rip out her throat, something threw it to the side.
"Mine," came a voice that was more animalistic then human.
Celeste gasped as a tall, black form swooped in front of her. "Don't touch. Mine." It said again.
The remaining two demons looked at their fallen comrade and turned with snarls to the new enemy. Two threw itself at the shadow, claws extended, but, quicker than even Celeste's angel eyes could see, it was grabbed by the horns. Celeste heard a sickening crack as its neck was snapped as if it was a twig. It landed with a wet thump next to One's corpse.
Three looked down at them, then back up at the shadow. The shadow strode forward with careful determination. Three started to turn and run, but didn't get very far. The dark thing grabbed it and ripped out its heart in one swift motion.
Celeste gasped and the thing turned. She immediately readied her knife. Should it try to attack her, she would be prepared.
It took a few steps towards her, then stopped when she raised her knife. It's glowing orbs began to change, becoming more like eyes, standard demon eyes with fiery pink irises. But then it blinked a few times, and they became a deep crimson color. Why was that color so familiar?
Gradually, the shadow began to change shape, becoming- Oh, God, it couldn't be- but it was...
"Sebastian?"
Cliffhanger, yay! ^_^
Okay, a few things. First of all, according to my wiki research the Island of Death (where Ceil fell asleep) may or may not be part of the underworld. But for the purposes of this story, I'm saying it is. Probably won't make much of a difference anyway.
Secondly: I know Sebastian was a bit OOC with the whole "mine" thing, but that'll be explained in later chapters. Just hang in there for now if that bothers you :)
Okay, I think that's all. Pretty please review!