"Come on Luca, we should get inside, Hannah says It's not good for young children to be out late." Alois said.
"Just once more Brother, please, then we can go inside, it's been such a long time since we played together." Luca looked up at his big brother pleadingly, he held out the ball to him. Alois placed a hand on the younger boy's head.
"How could I refuse a request like that?"
"Silly, you can't, cause I'm your favorite baby brother in the history of brothers!" Alois chuckled.
"That's true, you are. Alright, you go first." Luca put the ball on the ground and both boys took several steps back.
"Ready?" Luca called happily.
"When you are." Luca nodded and rushed for the ball, this time he was determined to win. Alois stood still, waiting for the ball to be kicked his way. He had missed his little brother, now, thanks to Hannah, he would never have to miss him again. Suddenly, with surprising force, the ball slammed into the blonde boy's chest, knocking him to the ground and sending the ball bouncing off the side of the house and into Sebastian's yard.
There was a long moment in which the brothers stared at the ancient building,, dread gripping them as they realized what they must do.
"It was my fault, I can get it." Luca said fearfully taking a step forward.
"No Luca!' Alois pulled him back, but didn't release him immediately.
"I won't lose you again." He whispered in his brother's ear.
"But it was Hannah's ball, she'll be so sad without it."
"I'll be even sadder if something happens to you. You don't want me to be sad do you?" Luca shook his head worriedly.
"Never. Please don't, I only want you to be happy. I love you." The small boy returned the embrace.
"I love you too Luca, never ever forget that. I'll go get it."
"You can't, Hannah says he's mean, he might hurt you. Make Claude do it, I don't care if he gets hurt.",
"I can't make Claude do anything. Our contract was broken when he-it was a while ago. How about we play another game?" Alois forced a smile.
"Like what?" Luca asked excitedly.
"I'm going to go over and get the ball, I want you to stay here and count to.. let's say one hundred and if I get back before then, I win, but if I don't, I want you to go get Hannah and ask her to be the judge on how far I got, tell her where I am okay?"
"What will I win?"
"Well, if you win, next time Hannah makes us those cakes you like, you can have yours and half mine."
"Okay!" Luca exclaimed.
"Count nice and loud so I can hear what number you're on."
"Yes, your highness." Alois took a moment to gather his courage.
"Okay Luca, start counting now." He was careful to keep his voice cheerful, though inside he felt the fear rising up.
"One... Two... Three..." Alois looked back at his little brother, who was watching curiously.
"No problem, just grab the ball and get back home. There's no lights, so maybe he's not even here. Just keep your mind on finding the ball. Nothing at all to worry about." He whispered to himself as he roamed the property.
"Come on, where is the stupid ball, it couldn't have gone that far" he raised his head to check the darkened house, he was relieved to see nothing had changed. The fear had begun to leave him as he stepped closer to the building. There he found the ball lying in a wooden crate, he reached in and pulled it out, but stopped. There was now a light in the second floor window, and a figure with deep red eyes stood staring down at him.
Alois backed away slowly, keeping his eyes locked on the figure, it remained still, Alois began to relax.
"Shadow of some sort, nothing can be that still for that long, it didn't even twitch." He turned and began walking back to Hannah's house. A low, angry growl came from behind him, as if made by a wolf or other large animal. It was the boy's only warning. A pair of red eyes peered into his and everything else disappeared.
"Well, that was fun" Ao commented closing the door as the last of Ciel's guests departed.
"At least one of us thought so. I couldn't wait for it to be over." Ciel grumbled.
"Awe it wasn't all that bad.'
"Perhaps not for you, where I come from, people know when to leave, they've been here since yesterday afternoon."
"But the place you come from is full of people, who need sleep, down here, you can't expect such things, demons don't know any better, sleep is a luxury that we enjoy sparingly."
"Be that as it may, that was one of the longest gatherings I've hosted and I won't be doing it again any time in the near future."
"Fair enough."Ao chuckled.
"Have you heard anything from Sebastian?"
"No. I spoke to Cynna yesterday, he made no mention of his master, other than he wanted to ask how you were."
"He asks about me?"Ao nodded.
"Yes. It seems that he still has concerns."
"Does he do that often, after contracts?"
"You're the only one he's ever brought home. He never gets involved with his masters. You were something special indeed. Just don't mention this conversation to him. He'd have my head if word got out."
"I believe he would. Don't worry I haven't spoken to him in months."
"You miss him, don't you?"
"That's none of your damn business." Ciel said incredulously.
"Yes, I see it. Why else would you ask such things?"
"Curiosity."
"I'm sure that's the case." Ao teased.
"Go away." Ciel ordered.
"I can't, I promised to look after you tonight, sorry." Ao smiled.
"Then do so from outside, I've had enough of this!"
"Alright, no need to get angry, It's all in fun." The deep voice answered.
" I don't find this amusing in the least, out!" The boy shouted opening the door. Ao shook his head in amusement as he exited, bidding Ciel good night.
