Chapter 7
The oak doors were slammed shut before Ciel could muster out a faint call. He shot up off of the couch and raced to the window. Below on the garden patio, he witnessed his betrothed running out to her carriage. The voices were inaudible from his height and distance, but he could read their body language very well. Paula trailed behind her before casting a worried glance at the library window. Ciel froze when he realized that he was discovered. He quickly diverted his gaze towards his feet. As Elizabeth's carriage made its way through the gates, he could see Sebastian ordering the Phantomhive servants to scatter and resume their responsibilities for the day. The boy shuffled his feet as he retreated from the library and to his bedchambers. The melancholy young Earl closed the curtains before flopping on to the plush duvet covers of his bed. After about an hour had passed, he heard a familiar knock on his door.
"Young Master, may I come in? I think that I have something to lift your spirits."
Ciel wanted to tell him to sod off. But he realized that the treat may be some kind of dessert and decided that it may be worth the temporary annoyance.
"Fine. Come in."
The raven-haired man entered the umbrous room. Ciel did not bother to turn his head to face his visitor.
"Whatever it is that you have, just leave it on the night stand. I will taste it later."
A loud pop pierced the silent room. Ciel turned to face the man and his curious treat. In Sebastian's hands was an uncorked bottle. He poured a rose-colored liquid into a glass goblet and offered it towards him. The teen sat up and eyed his butler suspiciously.
"Wine? Why this? You know that I don't drink."
Sebastian still kept the offering outstretched.
"It is about time that you started developing a taste for it. Just give it a try. I believe that I selected one to your liking."
Ciel grasped the glass and lightly sniffed the beverage. He cautiously sipped it. Then took in several large gulps before choking.
"Ah-ah, Bocchan," the butler chided, "With wine, you must sip it slowly. It goes down easier that way."
Ciel nodded and proceeded to take one more sip.
"Hm…I like it."
"I knew that you would."
"What type is it?"
"A Moscato D'asti, Young Master."
Ciel took several more sips before pausing.
"Shouldn't I be drinking this in the dining room? Indulging in alcohol while sitting on the bed just seems inappropriate."
Sebastian shrugged and grabbed another goblet from the serving platter. He seemed to study the surface of it for any smudges or imperfections.
"Well...after Elizabeth's...hasty departure, I thought that you would probably want to hide up here for the rest of the day. Am I incorrect for assuming so?"
Ciel sighed as his cheeks began to blush.
"No. You are correct. Does everyone...know? Know...about why she left?"
The demon began helping himself to the beverage.
"Well. She didn't say exactly what it was that upset her. She just insisted on leaving. But I think that it is safe to assume that everyone had an inkling as to what transpired in the library."
The boy groaned as he finished off the last of his glass in a few gulps. He suddenly felt warmer. More comfortable. Ciel extended his glass for a refill. His dutiful butler happily obliged.
"You understand why I had to...right?" asked the boy hesitantly.
Sebastian shrugged before gulping three-fourths of his generous serving. Ciel marveled at how he managed to quickly polish off such a large amount of wine and still appear clearheaded. Sebastian sensed that his young charge was disturbed by yet another one of his demonic traits. He managed to stop himself before finishing the last fourth.
"I'm sorry, 'Had to' what? I'm afraid that you are being too vague."
The boy grunted in exasperation.
"You know! Why I had to...touch her. You know why, correct?"
The demon could barely contain his laughter at the sight of his master blushing and being so flustered. He used every ounce of willpower to refrain from doing so.
"Ah yes. Of course. To keep up appearances. That is the game of nobility, is it not?"
Ciel's eyes fell to his dangling feet. He took a few swigs and paused to marvel at the effects of the wine. His mind was beginning to feel fuzzy.
"How did she know? She just...knew. Knew that I am with another. With...a male. She sensed it! She kept saying that I am unnatural around her. Some kind of unnatural man? I had to prove her wrong."
The boy forced himself to choke back a sob. But tears welled in his eyes regardless.
"I tried to show her...that I am capable….capable of whatever she wanted. I don't understand….am I broken? Is that why I am cold around her?"
Sebastian walked over to the boy's side and sat next to him. He patted his back in an attempt to comfort him.
"There there. It isn't all bad."
Sebastian wiped a rolling tear from the boy's eye. The butler then unfastened Ciel's eyepatch and cupped his face in his hand.
"Some men are very gifted with women. Some are more...comfortable in the company of other men. And then there are those that are quite comfortable with both."
The boy stared into the demon's piercing eyes. He felt a peculiar pull—a force. The longer that Ciel stared, the more difficult it was for him to shrug off the strange feeling. He felt as if invisible chains bound him to the spot on his bed. His own pale eyes felt lost. As if the man's gaze had consumed them.
"Which one...are you?" asked Ciel timidly
Sebastian chose not to answer. He suppressed a chuckle as he briefly considered explaining the intricacies of demon sexuality.
"I think that you should write Elizabeth an apology."
Ciel shuddered as he felt himself breaking away from his trance. He became all too aware that his head was now not only cradled by one hand but two.
"I should...I should what?"
Sebastian guided the teen's head in the direction of the small bureau in the corner of his chambers. The satisfied demon then nudged Ciel toward it. The young Earl hopped off of his bed and unceremoniously tripped on a foot before Sebastian caught him.
"Be careful now."
Ciel groaned in annoyance and shuffled over to his mahogany chair. He haphazardly pulled out the desk's drawers before remembering that he kept his best stationary in a tea box on top of the bureau surface. Ciel's mind still felt fuzzy and unfocused. He retrieved a few sheets of paper and wet a pen nib in his inkwell. His hand's movements were slow and cautious.
Deer Elizabeth,
It is with great disapppointment and hummiliationn that you left my estate. For that, I am eternally apologetic. Their is know excuse for how I treated you. You are my dear betrothed and I made you feel as if you were nothing mor then a common harlot. You are my other halv, my gift from the Lord. I tarnished what was a beutifull afternoon. A beautyful day with you. I am not sure ho—
In mid-sentence, Ciel felt a hot breath panting against his neck. The teen froze as a pair of lips lightly traced his ear.
"I'm sure that this can wait, Bocchan. I just wanted an excuse to catch you by surprise."
In that instant, Ciel felt the man lifting him up into his arms. Before the Earl had time to process what happened, Sebastian had gingerly laid him on the bed. The demon butler was now hovering over the boy. His long arms pinned the smaller hands above him. His equally long legs straddled Ciel's. The teen's heart was jumping in his chest while his mind still crept at a snail's pace. After days of trying to ignore the man inches above him, he could now no longer pretend that there was no sexual tension between them. In a matter of seconds, the demon's lips captured Ciel's. The Earl broke away from the butler and gasped for air. The air felt thick and suffocating.
"Wait...Sebastian?"
"Yes my lord?"
"My duties as Earl are the only reason why I am maintaining my engagement to Elizabeth. Other than that, I am done with her."
Sebastian resumed his seduction and began nipping at the teen's neck.
"Of. Course. Bocchan," he breathed between bites.
Ciel pushed him away once more.
"What I mean...is that I am done with her emotionally. I...only want you."
The lascivious demon grinned and laid a surprisingly chaste kiss on the boy's forehead.
"Of course, Bocchan."
Ciel turned his head away from Sebastian and mumbled something sheepishly.
"What is that?" asked the playful demon.
"I said that you are mine!" he shouted furiously, "I have to be with Elizabeth, but that is strictly business. You must not have relations with anyone else!"
Ciel's face burned with embarrassment and desperation. Sebastian's seductive facade subsided into an expression of genuine surprise. This degree of possessiveness was new for his master.
Ciel's heart lurched at Sebastian's hesitation.
"Am I not your only lover?"
The prurient butler recalled his rendezvous with Mey-Rin. He felt a sudden wave of satisfaction wash over him. It is very unfortunate that Ciel wished for complete monogamy. How adorable!
"Why of course, Young Master. I am exclusively yours."
Ciel reclined back onto the bed and lifted his arms above his head as if he wanted them pinned down again. His eyes fell into half-lidded moons.
"Then prove it to me. Show me how you really treat your lovers."
Sebastian leaned in closer to his prey. He could not believe how easy this was. How his efforts these past few weeks have paid off handsomely.
"Are you sure? Young Master, you must know that what you are asking for is very...intense."
Ciel closed his eyes and smiled. Even with the alcohol in his system, Sebastian could still sense the youth's fluttering heartbeat. The boy was more nervous than he was letting on.
"I am certain, Sebastian. I can handle it."
