A/a: Hm, well, now you see exactly what Sebastian was referring to... Slightly, er, Satanic, as everything demonic is... So, any aversion to that, and perhaps this chapter isn't for you... Anyway, I own neither Ouran Host Club, nor Black Butler. Sadly. Please, continue with this story, and enjoy!
"Sebastian, I command you to untie me this instant!"
"Ciel, I advise that you remain quiet from now on, or you will find out about far worse things than losing a butler."
The two nightmares even appeared in his pain-induced dreams. Kyoya groaned, entire body screaming in pain as he shifted slightly. Slowly his eyes fluttered open, taking in the scene although his brain couldn't process it.
First his exhausted gaze settled on Sebastian, the man's lethal smirk causing him to cower a little. Alabaster skin practically glowing, the outline of his uniform could barely be seen in the darkness. A glowing candelabra was in front of him, blue candle burning in the center along with the golden one to the left. On the right was a traditional white candle, the only one of the three to remain unlit. Sebastian placed the black candle-holder on a small table also containing a decorated knife and lighter. Other candle light glowed from the floor, a large pentagram drawn on the floor in white chalk. A black candle glowed at each of the five points, flickering gently. Kyoya was handcuffed, both wrists this time, tied in a standing position against a pole, one of the candles glowing at his feet.
"Perfect timing, master." Sebastian's voice dug into Kyoya's brain, bringing back memories of the lessons and causing him to shudder. "I am sorry about tying you up, but I am afraid there was no other way." He couldn't think, the light from the candles was hurting his head, the pain almost excruciating. Clenching his jaw the Ootori tried to ignore the fact that his torturer had just called him 'master'.
"Sebastian, what on earth are you suggesting?"
Kyoya's eyes flew open, locking with a pair of wide, almost fearful blue ones. "Ciel, why are you.." His voice trailed off as the lessons rushed back, making him straighten and bow his head formally. "Lord Phantomhive, may I inquire why you are in this predicament with someone as lowly as I?" Sebastian had better be proud, he thought, wincing as the claws flashed in front of his eyes.
His former captor was bound in the same position, hands behind his back, leaning against a pole on the other side of the pentagram. With a start the Ootori realized the eyepatch had been removed, revealing a perfect and working eye underneath. "Sebastian, I command you to release me immediately!" Ciel pushed against his ropes insistently, the strain on the pipe making it creak and groan under the movement. Kyoya's aching head throbbed at the boy's shouting, vision going hazy. "Really Sebastian, I am not your enemy, let me go!"
"Ciel Phantomhive," Sebastian replied irritably, fixing his angry gaze on his struggling captive, "unless you shut your mouth and keep it that way for the rest of the ritual, I will knock you unconscious and leave you to magically untie yourself. Please make the easy choice."
The Ootori's vision cleared, although the darkness simply looked less blurry. "Ritual for what?" he murmured, instantly regretting the question as both his lungs and his head wailed in agony.
"Hm." Kyoya held his breath as Sebastian's red eyes settled on him, feeling his own dark eyes widen when the butler smiled tenderly. "I suppose you are a bit confused, my lord. After all, you are the only one here that has no idea what I truly am. Or what is going on."
A thousand questions fell from Kyoya's blood-encrusted lips, each swept away by his fear and confusion. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes in an attempt to gather his thoughts and calm down. Before the teen could say a word the butler beat him to it. "Three people." His tone of almost pure awe made Kyoya glance up in an almost paranoid curiosity. Sebastian's eyes traveled over Kyoya before doing the same to Ciel, making the teen shiver at their penetrating feel. "Three candles." An ungloved hand gestured to the half-lit candelabra, sharp black nails glinting in the candlelight. "Three circles." Every pair of eyes instantaneously dropped to the floor, Ciel and Kyoya just noticing that besides the original circle enclosing the star, the entire symbol had been circled thrice more in the almost glowing white chalk.
Kyoya inhaled sharply as he saw the butler reach into the pants pocket of his uniform, already fearing the worst and bracing himself for another round of assault on his already bruised body. He didn't know how much more he could take, knowing he most likely would be spending days in the hospital when he got out of here. If he got out of here, the Ootori corrected with a small shudder. Few could escape a kidnapping and survive without being scarred.
"My lord." Sebastian chuckled softly, withdrawing his hand and sprinkling a fine white crystal onto the ground. "It is simply salt, Master Ootori. To keep away the unnecessary spirits." He began to walk around the outermost circle, sprinkling it liberally and muttering odd words under his breath.
Salt? What was going on here, with the almost inhuman butler and his cruel ways of torture, the twelve year old business tycoon somehow running a company without doing anything himself? And the candles and knife, the salt and spirits, Kyoya thought in confusion, a cult is the only thing that could be going on. What would they want him for then? Evidently something had gone wrong and now both Kyoya and Ciel were now at the mercy of Sebastian. He feared for who would be left standing at the end of this 'ritual', especially since he had neither the strength or courage to attack the butler and escape. Goosebumps raised his torn skin, the temperature in the dark warehouse plummeting.
"Besom besom demon's broom, sweep out goodness, bring in doom." A sudden gust of wind followed Sebastian's low tone, scattering the freshly laid salt away. He calmly continued speaking, the air around him swirling dangerously. "Rid this place of hallowed ground, bring devils, imps, and hell's red hounds." The temperature dropped even farther, white mist pouring from their mouths with every breath. Across from him Kyoya could see Ciel shivering violently. "Cover this floor in innocent blood, feed it to evil's bud." Flinching as invisible fingers caressed his cheek, the teen's eyes grew wide, inhaling sharply as they trailed over his jaw. When the phantom touch left he could see Ciel jerk away, fighting against something of his own, squirming against his bonds as the candles flickered ominously. "I invoke the spirits to come and aid with this ritual, to bind and silence my sacrifices and promise their innocence and blood."
"Sebastian!" Ciel shouted, failing to hide the terror on his delicate features. "Stop this at once! I demand you untie me, I wish to leave this place immediately!"
Kyoya held his breath and froze as the butler looked up from the lone candelabra, instantly recognizing the murderous glint in his captor's glowing red eyes. "Lord Phantomhive," Sebastian replied in a dangerously low tone of voice, "you, of all people, should know better than to shout at me like that."
Ciel's angry, gaping mouth snapped shut, deep blue eyes wide as he stammered. "I-I seem to have forgotten the consequences," the child whispered, trembling slightly. It wasn't only Kyoya that was afraid of the odd butler. "Perhaps you will learn to grow a heart and forgive." He had resumed some of his haughty, business-like manner of speaking, barely cowering as Sebastian strode up, reaching to warningly rub the Phantomhive's small, thin neck.
"I am quite certain that you would like to keep your ability to speak, Ciel." The child whimpered softly as the butler's nails dug into his skin. "So unless you would like me to rip your voice box from your throat, I suggest you remain quiet. Any questions?"
"No," the captive finally managed to choke out, shaking his head. "I understand now, Sebastian."
"Good." The butler tapped Ciel teasingly on the nose before returning to his spot at the head of the pentagram, glowing candelabra only a foot away from his dark uniform. "Spirits assembled, as you can see by my lack of the marking, I have willingly terminated my contract with one of my captives and sacrifices, Ciel Phantomhive." Chills ricocheted down Kyoya's spine as dark murmurs filled the freezing air. "But," Sebastian continued, unperturbed, as the teen's eyes widened in horror, "I have, however, chosen a new master, following the rules from my previous contract's fine print."
The Ootori could feel eyes boring into his skin, eyes dizzily focusing on a stunned Ciel. He groaned in anticipation, seeing the child take a deep breath and already bracing his aching head for more yelling. "You've picked the weak Ootori over me?" the Phantomhive said in disbelief. "He has nothing I do not."
"I would kindly like for you to refrain from talking about my master that way," Sebastian replied calmly. "He may not be a demon but I am sure he is not a thirteen year old."
Ciel flushed angrily as Kyoya's head began to pound painfully, making him close his eyes and fear passing out again. "Sebastian, there is no need to say such horrible lies." Hearing the child gasp softly the teen glanced up in worry, already fearing another weapon and hating to be right.
Absentmindedly the butler straightened, grasping the handle of the small silver knife, the blade glinting as it rested comfortably in his hand. "It is not a lie, Lord Phantomhive. You are, and forever will be, thirteen." Without warning he darted over to his captive, making a clean, shallow cut on the pale underside of Ciel's forearm. The child flinched and tried to jerk free, gritting his teeth as the crimson liquid bubbled out, some flowing over the butler's fingers as he gripped it tightly. "I am no longer in charge of this blood, nor the life it gives." Stepping back and releasing the arm gracefully, Sebastian bowed. "Spirits, his fate is yours once again."
The Phantomhive whimpered and Kyoya watched in terror as unseen tongues lapped greedily at the trickle of red, small indents appearing on his arm where teeth dug in, feasting. The butler simply watched, a content smirk on his dark features. "Sebastian, what have you done?" the boy asked almost pleadingly, jerking his head away from the shadowy outline of a bony hand. "This is unnecessary, please just let me go.." He let out a small cry, a small bruise already blossoming on his collarbone.
"And, of course, now Ciel has no contract as well. His soul is returned." Kyoya turned his attention back to Sebastian, watching in terrified silence as the golden candle was gently blown out, leaving the blue one the only candle to glow on the black candelabra. "Then again, we are not quite finished," the butler corrected, wiping the sullied knife off on the cuff of his uniform. "It is time to create a contract for someone else." He turned his red, almost devilish and mischievous gaze to Kyoya, thumb flicking the sharp blade as he slowly walked around the table, careful to avoid the candles on the floor. "I'm sure it will be a nice change to serve an Ootori, especially one as unorthodox as you."
Kyoya could only nod, swallowing a plea. It wouldn't do him any good now; it never would've done him any good in this situation. Slowly, tenderly, Sebastian drew the knife point down the bottom of Kyoya's left arm, fingers digging harshly into the teen's porcelain skin. Blood instantly trickled out, crimson and thick as it poured down his arm. "This blood, however, is my responsibility. Whether its owner would like my help or not."
"Sebastian, don't!" Ciel shouted, pushing frantically against his ropes as still jerked away from shadowy things attacking him. "He doesn't know anything, just stop it now!"
The butler ignored him, smoothly pulling the teen's arm free of the ropes securing his body before loosening his grip slightly. "I would like to apologize for the pain in advance, my lord. You have been through more than most ever will, yet you seem to still be thriving. I promise that after this, you will no longer hurt for a very, very long time." Without warning he bent down, sinking his teeth into Kyoya's wound as blood dribbled out from his lips, locked around his captive's limb.
The teen screamed, trying in vain to jerk his arm free of the butler's bite. It was like a fire pumping through his blood, consuming him from the inside out, melting first his bones then his skin. His heart pounded fiercely in his chest, ribcage making him hold back a cry of agony as it fought to get out. Yet despite its best efforts apparently the fire destroying him couldn't kill the organ, the skin just above it starting to ache more than the rest of him. The initial pain from Sebastian's teeth and knife had retreated to the back of his mind, every torture in the world second to what was ripping through his body. There was little heat, just the agonizing burning sensation crawling up him, both inside and out. Eventually he simply succumbed to the pain, letting his mind go numb. He was mildly surprised his brain hadn't melted yet.
After what seemed like hours the hurt faded, leaving him dazed and gasping for breath as his lungs screamed. Slowly, groggily, he opened his eyes, blinking fast and squinting. The warehouse lights had been turned back on. Judging by the cool metal against his back, he was still tied to the pipe, but from what he could see the candles and table had been cleaned up. As his eyes got adjusted he could see that even the chalk had been scrubbed off the concrete ground, the only evidence that it hadn't all been a crazy dream was the dark splotches of blood on the ground. His arm was no longer bleeding, but there was also no bandage or gauze on it or his other cuts.
"Hm." From a distance Kyoya could see Sebastian gritting his teeth, cradling his left hand as dark red, almost black blood dripped down. He turned his head and the teen froze, not wanting anything else to happen to him. "Glad to see you're still alive, master." He started towards him, not bothering to hide his wound as he tilted his head, standing only a foot away from Kyoya. "Not many people can survive the contract and as much as you have."
Kyoya's head started to spin as he opened his mouth to reply, seeing that on Sebastian's hand someone had carved an intricate pentagram into the top of his hand. Ciel was nowhere to be seen, and the teen could feel his strength sapping. Almost as if reading his mind the butler said knowingly, "Lord Phantomhive was sent to the nearest hospital, and is fine. He is of no concern to either of us anymore." It barely registered in the Ootori's mind as Sebastian disappeared from his view, instead focusing his energy into keeping his eyes open. "I have already arranged for a cab to take us to the Ootori residence once everything is done, my lord. I have taken care of everything, including the press."
As his bonds were undone Kyoya crumpled, the blood rushing to his head. It was too much, he needed time to think and understand what had just happened. The black no longer lingered on the edge of his vision, instead rushing quickly to cover his eyes again. The moment before the back of his head could connect with the concrete two strong hands caught his shoulders, one sliding up to cradle his neck, the other moving down to raise his upper back. Eyes blinking shut he made a feeble attempt to wave away the fingers adjusting his glasses. No more spirits, please, he thought wearily. "It is alright, my lord." The fingers started to gently stroke the teen's dark hair as Sebastian's quiet voice lulled Kyoya to sleep. "The pain is over. Just rest." If the Ootori hadn't been unconscious he would've seen a tender smile on the butler's face, head cradled in his lap. "Thank you, Kyoya. You have no idea how much you have helped."