Hi everyone, here's the next chapter, sorry for the wait!
"I am an Elemental."
Ciel shivered both from fear and the cold, watching the glow in Seiren's eyes fade slowly.
"You won't be leaving my side unless I decide to let you go, and your precious servant can stay here for the rest of eternity." Said Seiren, watching Sebastian pull and struggle against the chains around his wrists and ankles, his own eyes glowing red.
"I won't let you hurt my young master!" Sebastian promised, watching Ciel's eyes grow in fear.
"Let him go!" Ciel ordered, pulling at Seiren's collar. "It's me you want, isn't it?!"
Seiren chuckled softly, his eyes dimming back to their natural orange-brown.
"If I let him go, he'll no doubt return to rescue you, won't he?" He countered, pulling the blanket around Ciel's shoulders again. "I'd rather not have to deal with the inconvenience."
"But-!"
"Now then, it's getting quite late." Seiren interrupted. "It's time for you to go to bed, Ciel."
Ciel struggled against Seiren's grip and watched Sebastian as he pulled against his restraints, not even leaving a dent in the stone wall.
Ciel didn't notice the tears that were falling from his eyes as he was carried up the stairs into the bright light of the manor again.
Ciel sobbed into Seiren's suit jacket miserably, coughing till his lungs hurt and crying till his head throbbed.
"Now now, remember your promise." Seiren reminded him, reaching Ciel's bedroom and entering in to find Sophie sitting in the chair Seiren had previously occupied.
"Seiren! Finally you've returned! Ciel is supposed to be resting!" Sophie scolded, hurrying to his side. "Oh dear, what's wrong darling? What hurts?"
Sophie pried Ciel from Seiren's arms and held him comfortingly, whispering reassurances as Ciel cried the last of his tears. She frowned as she felt his face for fever, noting the slight increase since the last time she had checked.
Sophie shooed Seiren away and shut the door, effectively locking him out.
Once Seiren had left Ciel quieted his cries and his coughing decreased enormously, making Sophie angry that Seiren had taken him out.
Before long Ciel was back under the countless blankets and thoroughly dosed with medicine, though he hated the sickly sweet taste of it.
"Sleep now Ciel, you'll feel better in the morning."
Sophie said gently, running her fingers through his hair as he looked at her with drowsy eyes.
Ciel fought the need to rest as long as he could, but eventually he closed his eyes and let sleep take him, forgetting the pain of what tomorrow would bring.
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The next morning was sunny without a single cloud in the sky, a perfect day for a toddler to be outside, playing and having no care in the world.
But this was not the case in Ciel's life, for instead of being outside in the sunshine he was laying in bed, surrounded by toys and blankets and things to keep him occupied.
He paid no attention to the woman who sat beside him, trying to bribe him into drinking medicine or persuade him to sleep.
He was wide awake with nothing to do, he absolutely hated the toys he'd been brought, besides his rabbit of course, and would attempt to escape while Sophie's back was turned, only for her to catch him at the last moment and drag him back every time.
Now however, she had suddenly taken extra interest in the book in her lap, and Ciel carefully pushed the covers off of him in quiet ceremony.
He slid off the bed and knelt on all fours on the floor, effectively hiding himself from view.
He crawled over to the door with the rabbit in his hand, surprisingly successfull and without being seen, but now he had a bigger challenge to face:
Reaching the knob on the door.
It was just an inch higher than he could reach, even if he stood on his toes, but he didn't want to risk jumping to reach it and landing too loudly.
He looked around the room and smirked once he saw a rocking horse not too far from the door itself. Ciel could easily scoot it over and stand on it without falling.
Ciel smiled to himself and got to work, snatching the pretend reigns and gently tugging the horse till it came to a stop beside the door.
Ciel carefully eased his body up onto the horse and pulled his legs up till he was almost standing. He wobbled and almost fell but caught his balance again and reached for the knob.
He stretched his fingers and grazed the polished brass but could not grab it enough to open the door.
He spared a glance at Sophie again, and she hadn't moved a bit, much to Ciel's relief.
He scooted further on the horse and stretched his arm out, just barely reaching the knob. He tried turning the knob, and much to Ciel's shock, it began turning on its own!
Ciel fell back as the door was opened and landed flat on his back, slightly dazed.
"Ciel?!"
Sophie's head snapped up at the sudden crash and gasped as Ciel picked himself up off the floor and stood up, angrily glaring at the man in front of him.
Sophie bolted out of her chair and raced to Ciel's side, kneeling down and running her hands over him to feel for any bruises.
"You naughty boy!" Sophie scolded, holding Ciel's wriggling body as she continued. "You could've been seriously hurt!"
Seiren chuckled at the sight before him and bent down as well, watching Ciel struggle in Sophie's grip.
"Your mother is right Ciel." He said. "Trying to sneak away while you're sick is not appreciated either."
"She's not my mother!" Ciel argued. "I'm tired of this room! I want to see Sebastian again!"
Ciel lost the fight to remove himself from Sophie and gasped for breath, collapsing onto Sophie in exhaustion. Seiren opened his mouth to scold him, but Sophie beat him to it.
"I'm sure Sebastian wouldn't want you to be exposed to the cold air down there, I know he wouldn't want you to get worse." Said Sophie, smiling as she held him without struggle.
Ciel bit his lip and remained silent, refusing to cry again. He looked at Seiren and grew nervous at his frown and pointed stare.
"I believe it's time for you to return to your bed now Ciel." Seiren told him, scooping up the rabbit and taking Ciel from Sophie. He stood up quickly, walking briskly to Ciel's toy-covered bed.
"No! I don't need to sleep!" Ciel pleaded, growing frustrated at his lack of authority. "It's too early to go to bed now!"
Seiren ignored him and pulled back the covers, bending and placing a squirming Ciel onto the bed.
Ciel kicked his legs childishly as the covers attempted to cover him, and he ignored the warning glare he recieved from Seiren in return.
Sophie stood by his bed silently, not offering to help him nor Seiren.
"Ciel Blackwood, cease this tantrum at once." Seiren ordered, attempting to pull the covers up again.
Ciel simply kicked them away and threw the pillow behind him at his kidnapper, hitting Seiren dead in the face.
Ciel finally stopped his tantrum as Seiren dropped the covers in slight annoyance and snatched Ciel into his arms again, motioning for Sophie to leave and sitting down on Ciel's bed.
Ciel watched Sophie leave in slight confusion, looking on in slight fear as Seiren fixed a cold stare on him.
Ciel struggled as he was pulled up to stand on the bed between Seiren's legs, holding on to the man's shoulders for support. He barely reached Seiren's cheek.
"Be still." Seiren ordered, putting an arm around Ciel's waist.
SMACK!SMACK!SMACK!
Ciel gasped and fought harder as Seiren struck his sensitive backside thrice, putting just enough force to bring tears to Ciel's eyes.
"I want an apology." Seiren demanded, smacking him again.
Ciel yelped at the sharp pain igniting in his bottom and grit his teeth rebelliously, shaking his head as he did so.
"Very well then."
SMACK!SMACK!SMACK!SMACK!SMACK!
Ciel cried out in pain and ignored the tears that flowed down his face, struggling to keep silent and endure the hard swats.
Seiren put more force into the next set and Ciel began sobbing and grabbing at Seiren's coat to keep from reaching back.
"I'll ask you again," Seiren said, pausing. "Apologize."
Ciel hesitated and reached back, earning him a swat on his hand.
Ciel hissed and yanked his hand back, tears again pouring from his royal blue eyes.
"I won't ask you again Ciel," Seiren promised. "I'm waiting."
Ciel frowned and put his head down on Seiren's shoulder whispering a short and quiet 'Sorry'.
"What was that?"
Ciel flinched and raised his head, squeezing his fists into the fabric of Seiren's jacket.
"I-I'm...I'm sorry." He repeated, relaxing when Seiren nodded, smiling softly again.
"I forgive you Ciel."
Seiren rubbed Ciel's back until he finished crying and yawned cutely, making Seiren chuckle and Ciel blush, embarrassed at his own childishness.
Ciel was then scooped up and held in Seiren's arms comfortably, frowning at the unspoken order to sleep.
"I don't wanna-"
"Just close your eyes." Seiren interrupted, watching Ciel's unamused face twist into annoyance. "Go on."
Ciel huffed and shut his eyes, a few stray tears falling from them in the process, reminding him of the humiliating events just moments ago.
He suddenly felt Seiren touch a finger to his forehead and Ciel frowned in slight confusion before his eyes flew open in recognition of the act, but it was too late, and he was already falling into unconsciousness when he heard Seiren say:
"Sleep now, your father will always be here to protect you."
Then everything went black.