A/N:: Hello everyone! Chapter three is out and ready to go, and quite frankly I am extremely surprised that so many people have liked it and want me to continue. 8'D You guys all are amazing, and I love each and every one of your comments. Thank you for pushing me forward!
So let's get this going, shall we? :3
Disclaimor:: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of the out-of-story literature or such that I may mention throughout the chapter.
Despite my constant pestering and persistent demand for answers, Sebastian was not budging in the least and I might as well have been pushing against the stone walls of the Birmingham Castle. I don't understand why he was so set on not telling me exactly what this deal that we made was, and every time I argued that it just wasn't fair he would just turn with a smirk and tell me , "Demons don't have to play fair."
Damn, infuriating, insufferable butler!
I stared at him across my desk with my fingers laced together. He was finishing up his little pretense of life before everything changed, attempting to teach me our old studies of literature and economics and bringing afternoon tea—in empty cups of course—and being the "perfect" butler that he was simply supposed to be. It was all incredibly infuriating and my gaze must have reflected it like a mirror; why else would he appear so sadistically amused and just stare at me right back in the eyes?
I wanted to wring his neck with my bare hands. I was such a fickle person, and I knew that. I was not happy with Sebastian simply ignoring me and hiding away, but I got so easily annoyed and fed up with his little games. Was there no balanced ground with us? Would things never stop tilting back and forth, both of us fighting to have the upper hand over the other one?
No. Of course it wouldn't. It would never be that way, because if it did then the little game would become boring.
I sat up straight in my chair and stared at the demon across from me as he talked about the most meaningless things. I had long stopped listening to his words and just settled with watching him, the way his jaw moves with his lips to speak, the way his eyes slid shut and hid those deceptive crimson eyes behind the thin lids of skin… Sebastian was a being of lies, seduction, and playful torture.
Yet he was still there, and I had not yet grown tired of it…
What was wrong with my thoughts? Why was I thinking in such a stupid and immature way? I was not some child with a little obsession over their teacher, like some children in schools develop. I was an adult. Simple things like this should be far from my mature mind…
"I want a rematch."
Sebastian stopped mid-sentence and turned his attention back to me. His eyes were open again, pretending to be innocently confused before that smirk once again per versed the pretense of innocence. "A rematch, young master?" He placed a book that he was holding back on the shelf next to the other ones that were only collecting dust. "Would you mind explaining your request further?"
I stood up from my seat and glanced outside. The "sun" in my little world had long since set and darkness had flowed in and settled over the mansion. The only light in the room was the bright full moon that I could see clearly through the bay windows. "I want a rematch of the game we played this morning." I narrowed my eyes at him with a stubborn frown. "Instead, however, I wish to be the one hunting you."
I had the satisfaction to see the slight surprise glint in Sebastian's eyes before he expertly hid it again beneath his lying face. "Is that so…?" He turned to face me fully with a smirk on his face. "I don't see the harm in it. It would be a good experience for you." He reached up and held his chin in thought, the other arm folding behind his back. "And it may be amusing, to see you attempt to catch me…"
"Don't think so little of me." I crossed my arms behind my back and stared at him levelly as I kept my temper in check; if I reacted so wildly to his obvious taunts it would only serve to make him enjoy it more. "I know how your mind works." At least, what he showed me… "I can find you easily." A smirk found its way on my lips as I stared straight at him. "There is no challenge to this."
I would not lose this time.
Sebastian grinned like a Cheshire cat and knelt down on one knee, bowing deeply.
"I accept your challenge, my lord."
The game began in the same spot as before, in the heart of the mansion. The only difference would be that I would be the one to disappear first, to a place of my own choosing. Sebastian was able to hunt me down without moving from his original spot. Honestly I was not sure that I would be able to do the same and be able to catch him, but I would pull out whatever tricks I had left up my sleeve.
I chose to be in the kitchen as my starting point. It was in the near bottom of the mansion and out of the way. It was dark with very little light, save my own eyes attempting to catch whatever shred of light that I could see. It was enough to be able to make out a few little things like the counter and the wall.
I sighed and leaned against a counter, shutting my eyes and letting each part of my body relax and my senses take full control. I had only ten minutes to track down Sebastian's presence in the mansion and lure him to where I was… No pressure at all.
Damn… Had my big mouth lured me into another trap once again?
No. I wouldn't lose. I swore to myself that I would be victorious and make Sebastian choke on his own words!
Suddenly I felt my fingers and toes begin to almost… tingle. Warmth spread up my limbs slowly to the center of my body, from head to toe, and envelope me. My head tilted back as I allowed my demonic energy to take over for me and let it do what it did best. I felt the tell-tale burn in my eyes and a slight prick of sharp teeth against my tongue.
Behind my shut eyes, I was able to see Sebastian. It was as if I was watching right in the room, standing there right across from him without him even noticing me. My breath felt a little light for a moment as it hit me; this sort of experience, the feeling of sudden weightlessness… It was as if I stepped out of my body.
I watched Sebastian closely, and after looking around, I was annoyed to see that Sebastian was still standing in the parlor where we had begun. He was so arrogant that I wouldn't be able to catch him that he didn't even feel the need to hide! I seethed a bit, but stood my ground and watched him still. He was just… standing there, his eyes shut and his body straight. He appeared at first to be sleeping standing up, but that was ludicrous. He wouldn't be so confident that he would just fall asleep… Would he?
My spirit slowly stepped forward, and it was a little unnerving to be unable to feel the ground beneath my feet or hear the sound of my steps on the ground. Sebastian still stood there motionless, and I figured that this might as well be my best chance to strike. But how…?
I hesitated before reaching out and lightly touched his arm—or at least attempted to. My hand slipped through his arm and disappeared, but what lack of what I felt physically was instantly satisfied by the amount of mental stress my mind was suddenly put through. The moment my spirit "touched" him, a flood of images and voices and emotions packed into my mind firmly like a thick fog. I winced and pulled my hand back immediately, sighing in relief as the memories stopped.
A soft chuckle caught my attention and snapped my eyes back up to Sebastian in front of me. His eyes were open and staring straight down at me, despite the fact that I wasn't truly "there" in the room. "Clever, young master. However, taking the form of a poltergeist does you little." He reached forward as if to touch me with a wide smirk on his face.
I gasped sharply and my concentration snapped like a tight string. I felt a physical slam against my body that left me a little breathless and actually pushed me back against the counter I was leaning on so hard, the cabinets above shook and a few items fell out and clattered loudly to the ground.
I sunk down to the floor and trembled a little, idly making sure that every part of my body was still very much in tact and working properly. A poltergeist? Did he mean that I actually was able to become a ghost for that little amount of time? Though, like he also said, it did me little good… All it did was let him know that I knew where he was.
Glancing at a clock that hung on the wall, I could see that I only had a few minutes until my ten minute limit was up. All rational thought left my mind with a quick shock of panic. If I didn't hurry and do something, then I was done for and he would win once again. Jumping to my feet rather clumsily, I ran out of the kitchen doors and headed towards the foyer.
Seconds went by like the bells of a church, ringing loudly and tauntingly as I ran. They mocked me, just like everything else did in this world, and pushed me forward still to win this challenge. I didn't want to be left in the dark and allow Sebastian to have such a tight hold over me.
I dare not let Sebastian ever know this, but I was terrified for the split moment in the basement when I felt vulnerable and weak in his grasp. Unable to do a single thing and my only "protector" being my "attacker", I was left with very little options. Just like when I was locked away as a child, without my family there to take care of me, I was frightened. Where would I turn? What could I do? What would theydo to me? What would he do to me?
Not knowing so much in such a short amount of time left me on my knees, clinging to the one who knew everything and promised to guide me; Sebastian. Leaving him all that power, the power that could truly make me crumble to pieces under his lying gaze… I hated it, feared it, and wanted desperately to take hold of those reigns and not let them go.
I was a spoiled brat, bossy and crude and cold to the touch, but even I had my reasons for my actions just like any murderer would.
That didn't make me any less guilty.
No one in this world, demon or human, is truly innocent.
As I came to the foyer and my eyes adjusted to the silver light that flowed in through the windows, I sunk to my knees in defeat when I realized Sebastian had long since left. Right on time, the bells of a clock run and announced my time was up.
"That was a good attempt, my lord." I didn't turn around as Sebastian appeared behind me. "Clumsy, however. It would have been far much easier if you attempted to persuade me to follow you, as I did with you before."
I stared down at the ground and clenched my hands tightly by my sides. I couldn't believe it. I lost. Again! How was it that I couldn't seem to grasp victory in my hands? I used to win at everything I did so much that I might as well have won victory around my neck in diamonds and jewels. Has the great Ciel Phantomhive… met his match?
No. I wouldn't admit defeat so easily!
I scowled and stood to my feet, brushing off my clothes before turning around the face Sebastian. I tried my hardest to look fierce to him, but lately it seemed that any face I would make only made Sebastian laugh and grin with sadistic glee. He just watched me with that same amusement in his eyes.
"My, my, it appears death is staring at me again twice in the same day." He stepped forward, and I stepped back away from him. "What is troubling you this time, my lord? Are you in a spoil mood because you have lost twice now?"
"I'm troubled because you are annoying me. You're playing at an unfair disadvantage!"
"Demons—"
"-Don't play fair, I KNOW!" I turned from him sharply and began to pace back and forth angrily like a wild animal. "You've hammered that thought into my head quite enough today. What I DON'T understand is why you even suggested such a stupid game where I obviously cannot win!" Yes… It was his entire fault. It was much easier to put it that way than to actually take the responsibility for my own mistake. That was what he was there for, wasn't he? Take away everything that was bothering me, take all the responsibility that I didn't want to take…
Sebastian watched me quietly, waiting as if to make sure that I was done, before speaking again. "Because, young master… I want to." Curiously, he wasn't smirking as he stepped closer to me, and before I could stumble back and move away, he reached forward and took my arm in his grasp and pulled me forward. I fell forward and into his iron grasp as if I fell into a cage. "I want to be able to see you think. I want to be able to test you, to see you struggle and attempt to learn something that I must teach you myself. I want to be able to guide you and be the one that you must cling to."
How was it that Sebastian always seemed to catch me by surprise? No matter how well I thought I knew him, he always knocked me off my feet… My face flushed with embarrassment as I stared up at him, speechless and stunned. He wanted me weak and unable to stand on my own? He wanted me to cling to him and let him be my support?
…What a stupid thing to think.
I pushed against his chest as I tried to create some space between us, looking away from his stubbornly as I tried to salvage what pride I had left in my small body. "You're being awfully demanding lately," I stated offhand. "What brought all of this on? Why are you suddenly acting on your own whims?" It was unsettling, to see Sebastian being not only open of his desires but acting upon them. He wasn't supposed to do such vulgar things since he was butler and servant…
Sebastian pulled my face back to his again and made me stare up at him, making me grow more and more uncomfortable. I didn't have control. These actions, this emotions that were slowly building up inside me each time I looked at him were completely out of my grasp… "It is in our deal, Ciel. If you had a better memory and remembered exactly what our deal was, perhaps things would not be so confusing." He smirked and taunted me with his eyes.
"You son of a-!"
"Language, my lord."
I scowled up at him angrily and slapped his hand off of my face, pulling against him harder and soon managed to stumble out of his grasp and out of arm reach. "Tell me what the deal was so we can be done with these games!"
Sebastian chuckled and crossed his arms behind his back. "Giving up so easily? That is unlike you, young master. You always saw everything to the end…" His eyes glinted wickedly as his smirk curved upwards at the corners, sending almost frightened shocks down my done. "Which reminds me… Since I won this round…" He stepped forward, holding a hand out to me. "I believe I am entitled to one wish?"
I stepped back away from him uncomfortably. I didn't want to do anything with him that left me helpless again. "No," I muttered quietly, looking away from him as I continued to step back away from him for each step he took towards me.
"Are you frightened?" I realized too late that Sebastian was slowly herding me into a corner of the foyer. I wanted to run the second I felt a wall press against my back, yet before I could move the butler pounced and pinned me. I looked up with wide eyes, unable to move and feeling my heart pick up its pace into an almost panicked sprint. His hands were on the wall on either side of my head and his body blocked me from moving away.
Sebastian stared down at me with an almost hungry smirk on his face. "Young master… you must know that I will not cause you any sort of harm." I barely felt a tug when he pulled my eye patch loose, showing the sadistic proof that I, in a way, belonged to him. "You must trust me a little more." His face contradicted his words in my mind; he looked like he was absolutely eager to practically devour me where I stood.
"Trust a demon?" I asked quietly, grimacing and trying to break the gaze that he held between us with iron locks. I knew my words were contradictory; after all, I was a demon as well.
"Trust me." He started to lean down and I quickly shut my eyes and turned my face away, bracing for the touch of his lips on my neck or his teeth ravishing me like he did before. However, I felt the almost… gentle touch of his hand on my cheek. I cracked one eye open a little, just in time to see and feel him press his lips softly to my forehead.
I blushed, looking up at him in surprise. He never did what I expected… Why did he suddenly turn so tender and gentle? Wasn't it in his nature to be sadistic and evil and… well, demonic? This… wasn't like him.
Slowly he pulled back and looked down at me with a smile, and for a split moment through the mask of lies I had grown accustomed to, I thought I saw the smallest glint of honest affection. "I believe this is payment enough." He stepped away from me and lowered his arms back down to hide sides. "Now, you must be exhausted after all the energy you used to become a poltergeist… Do you wish to turn in for bed, my lord?"
I stared at him for a moment, still stunned by the kiss on my forehead, but slowly nodded. I was beginning to feel the exhaustion tug at my body and make my limbs feel heavier and heavier as if I was carrying weights.
"Very well." Sebastian smiled down at me and turned and started towards the staircase to lead me to my bedroom. I stood there, watching as he moved, thinking about what he said. 'Trust me…' Could I really allow myself to be so vulnerable around Sebastian? Could I afford to risk losing everything to him? It was childish to be so afraid… but I could not help it. He knew as well as I did that I was still a child, albeit a very mature one… but a child nonetheless.
"Young master?" Sebastian stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at me curiously as he waited for me to follow him. "Does something else trouble you?"
"…No. I'm fine." I followed after him, thinking quietly to myself as we disappeared down into the shadows of the hallway. I had so many questions…
Perhaps my questions will be answered as these games continue on…
A/N:: I must admit this chapter fought with me a little, not to mention college work and actual work at my CVS. xD Ah, real life~ Why must you torture me so~? Regardless, I'm pretty happy with this chapter, and I hope you enjoyed it. ^-^ I'll have the next one out as soon as possible! Keep those reviews up, please! They are truly my driving force! =3=
P.S:: I hoped you noticed that I had to change the rating of the fanfic after all. ;D So, keep an eye out for any juicy stuff! (even though I'm slightly terrified I'll do horribly. 8'D *has never written a lemon in her life before* )
