Chapter 4

As Ciel regained consciousness, the memories came flooding back. He stayed still and pretended to be asleep. Slowly he cracked his eyes open and surveyed his surroundings. He was in a large rock cavern. Torches were set on the cave's walls and provided the only illumination.

"I know you're awake" Fenrir growled beside him. Caught out, Ciel struggled to sit up and found that his hands were tied behind his back.

"So why have you brought me here?" he asked.

"To eat you" came the bald reply "after we defeat our liege of course."

"And why do you wish to defeat him?" Ciel asked again.

"Why else? So I could rule this world" Fenrir spoke as if he found Ciel slow of wit.

Ciel scoffed "World domination? Couldn't you have come up with something more original than that?"

"Feisty little runt aren't you?" Fenrir stated the obvious.

Ciel let the word runt go, for now, and continued "That's a pathetic excuse to betray your liege, isn't it?"

"Pathetic?! You little brat! I will take great pleasure in ripping you to pieces!" Fenrir roared.

"Of course it's pathetic" Ciel reasoned "why do you think it's a barren wasteland?"

At Fenrir's blank look, Ciel's patience, never infinite, to begin with, finally ran out "Because nobody wants this place! There's nothing of value here you moron!" Of all the creatures to kidnap me, why does it have to be this idiot?!, Ciel inwardly raged, just talking to him is torture enough!

"And how would YOU know that there's nothing of value here?" Fenrir mocked.

"I would know" Ciel stressed the word I "because I used to run a business empire while YOU reigned supreme over this dump."

"Most prisoners take great pains not to anger their captors, you know" Sebastian's silky voice came from the darkness.

Sebastian! How did he find me so fast? Ciel thought. Then he saw the seal on Sebastian's hand. Does this mean he is still bound by the terms of our contract? Is that why he's doing this?

"Fenrir" Sebastian began, his voice deceptively soft "you have taken something I have expressly declared as mine. I trust I need not explain to you why I have come here."

"I've waited a long time for this" Fenrir said with relish "I will make you feel what it is like to be a prisoner."

"What are you talking about?" Sebastian and Ciel could only look at each other in confusion.

"This cavern!" he roared. "A pack needs to run wild and free, not locked up in a cage. A pack needs wide, open spaces, not live underground like rats!" Fenrir ranted.

"If you wanted to go run through the wastelands, why didn't you just do it?" Ciel asked.

"Because we are his prisoners, he conquered us when we lost to him so we cannot leave this place without his permission" Fenrir explained.

When Sebastian remained silent, Ciel prompted him "Well are they confined to this cave or not?"

"It's true that I conquered them," Sebastian said in a conspicuously dazed voice "but I never imagined that they would think I wanted them locked up in here. I just said they can't have the castle. I didn't want them tracking their muddy paws on the marble floor. Think about the fur and the slobbering!"

Ciel just realized Sebastian was such an accomplished butler because he was a naturally fastidiously clean demon.

Equally dazed now, Ciel said, "So this was all just a misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstanding or not, he defied me," Sebastian said in a hard voice. "I cannot allow this challenge to my authority go unpunished."

"Wait! Don't kill him" Ciel cried.

Sebastian could only stare at him in surprise. Why would he plead for the life of someone who kidnapped and hurt him?

"All he wanted was a place for his pack. He didn't think he could ask for it and the only option was for him to do this. He hasn't actually harmed me so why can't we just settle this peacefully?" Ciel argued.

"Why would you do this after everything I've done to you? You have nothing to gain by this" Fenrir asked.

"And nothing to lose either, at least nothing of value" Ciel turned to Sebastian "Come on Sebastian you don't want or need all that barren wasteland anyway. Why not give a portion for Fenrir's pack to run in? Besides, do you seriously want to fight someone with his level of intelligence?" and of course, that last sentence completely went over Fenrir's head.

"You're right" Sebastian tiredly conceded. "Fighting him would be a waste of time, arguing with him, even more so."

"Fenrir" Sebastian declared "you and your pack are free to roam and hunt all the wasteland stretching south of the castle from now on. Defy me again and there will be no more second chances."

"Tha-thank you my liege" Fenrir could only stammer in shock.

"What a pity! You could have done me a big favor had you finished that big oaf" said Aristed as he emerged from the shadows beside Ciel.

"And what's your reason for hatching this little intrigue Aristed?" Sebastian inquired.

"Obviously so I could rule this world" Aristed boasted.

Exasperated beyond endurance, Ciel snapped "That again?! You lot need to find a new hobby!"

"How dare you mock me, you puny human!" Aristed roared. "I am the rightful ruler of this place, not that brainless oaf and certainly not that lazy, shameless philanderer! Me! I will teach you to show me the respect I deserve and I will start by flaying the skin off you!"

In the blink of an eye, Fenrir launched himself towards Aristed and locked his powerful jaws on the cyclops' throat. The sound of bones snapping was loud in the cavern and just like that, Aristed was no more. Sebastian helped Ciel up and untied the rope binding his hands.

"Fenrir why did you save me?" Ciel asked in confusion.

Fenrir knelt in front of Ciel and bowed his head. "I have harmed you and yet you plead for my life and the welfare of my pack. I cannot swear my allegiance to you for I have already given that to my liege but I and my pack shall always be your devoted servants" Fenrir pledged in a solemn voice.

Ciel put his hand on Fenrir's bowed head and said: "I always liked dogs."

Sebastian's eyes narrowed in irritation and abruptly pulled Ciel to his side. "Enough of that!" he snapped "I don't want you coddling my people lest they begin to expect belly rubs from now on."

As they made their way back to the castle with Ciel in Sebastian's arms, the demon slyly quipped "You've been here less than a week and already, you got yourself kidnapped. I guess old habits die hard."