Chapter 8
When I woke up, I was hugging Ciel around his waist, my head using his chest as a pillow. I sleepily started to snuggle closer, but then I remembered the previous night. Oops. I immediately released him, not entirely comfortable with the idea that my best- and only- friend was a demon. That's not something you just pull on someone and they're okay with it. I was still majorly pissed off. I scooted a little bit away from Ciel.
"You really like holding on to me when you sleep, don't you?" Ciel inquired, his navy hair falling into his eyes. He still wasn't wearing his eye patch, so I could still see his contract mark on his right eye.
"Yeah... That's a habit I have to break," I said sheepishly, shrinking down a little under the warm covers. After a moment's silence, Ciel sighed.
"You are obviously bursting with questions," Ciel commented idly. I blushed a little- was it that obvious? Well, I suppose it was. You didn't find this out and not have questions. I shifted on the bed to get into a more comfortable position. I know I probably looked like hell- like I always did in the morning- but I didn't care at the moment.
"Yeah," I answered, drawing out the word. "For one, do demons even sleep?" I asked. "Because if you don't, and you stayed here all night, that's super creepy and very Twilight-esc." Ciel smirked, and then shifted so he was laying on his back, his head propped up by the pillow.
"Normally? No," Ciel answered truthfully, "But since I used to be human- and I'm not very old- I still sleep. I probably don't need to anymore, it's become more of a habit than anything." I nodded slowly, that did make sense. But he said he used to be human, like other demons didn't.
"How did you become a demon, then?" I asked, partially out of curiosity and partially wanting to know more about him. Ciel's jaw immediately tightened, as if he didn't want to think about it. "It's alright," I reassured hurriedly, "You don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to." I didn't want to make him talk about something he didn't particularly want to dredge up.
"No, it's alright," Ciel replied. I could see that he was visibly struggling with the topic. "It's a complicated story." He cleared his throat, as if preparing himself. "I was an Earl in England, long ago. My parents had been killed in a fire started by an angel of war, who had fallen, and I was sold into a demon cult," His voice shook slightly before continuing, "It was after I had gone through so much pain, and humiliation, that I contracted Sebastian when I was about to be sacrificed." My eyes widened in sympathy and sorrow for him. No one deserved that.
"Sebastian and I did kill the angel, but before Sebastian could take my soul, another demon named Claude Faustus, took my memories. Wanting to get them back, Sebastian fooled me into thinking that Claude and his master, Alois, were the ones who had killed my parents. Claude killed Alois, transferring his soul into me. When Alois was possessing me, he made a contract with a demoness called Hannah. Part of his contract was to make me into a demon, not letting either demon eat my soul," Ciel said flatly. I was in shock from his story.
He sighed, as if mentally exhausted from explaining that much. I blinked, how had he not gone insane through all of that? My countenance softened, he's had a long life. I wouldn't be able to do that; if I was immortal, I would have gone insane a long time ago. Time is not always a good thing, especially when there's too much of it.
Tentatively, I reached out a hand to place on his arm. Ciel looked slightly shocked at the meager amount of comfort I could give him. He had obviously been expecting me to run away and hate him because he was a demon. Logically, that's what I should be doing, but I was never one for logic. It ruins all the fun you could have.
After a moment's silence, I asked another question that had been bothering me. "Why was A- Akarian able to mess with my mind?" I asked, my voice wavering slightly on the demon's name, "He was able to persuade me to do anything he wanted." My tone was angry and more than slightly bitter. My mind was my one sanctuary. No one could ever take my mind away from me, it was my safe place. Sometimes it was destructive and dangerous to myself and others, but it was always mine. Ciel sighed at the question, it had a rather lengthy answer.
"Akarian was a kind of demon that feeds off of energy. Raw emotions- terror, fear, anger, rage- all of those things," Ciel explained to me, "He is able to mess with the mind, persuade you or control you. You actually were a rarity." My eyebrows shot up, but that's exactly what he had done to me! Ciel cleared his throat. "He wasn't able to control you, you put up resistance. Like when he told you to sleep, you refused. You may have gotten slightly sleepy, but you didn't immediately fall asleep. You have a strong mind," Ciel said. I smiled to myself; he may have just been stating the truth, but it meant a lot to me. It was good to know that I had a 'strong mind'. That may be useful in the future...
"So he's like an energy vampire?" I asked, tilting my head to the side. Ciel gave me a look, raising an eyebrow.
"If you want to put it that way, yes," he answered dryly.
"I thought all demons like feed off of souls, or something," I said curiously, wrinkling my brow. Then again, I wasn't really experienced in this area, so I didn't really know.
"Many do, but there are different classes. The lower classes feed off of energy," Ciel explained to me. I nodded, subconsciously, storing the information in my brain. I suppose that made sense.
"What kind are you?" I asked curiously. Ciel looked at me.
"High class. Since I was turned into a demon by a high-class demoness, I do eat souls." I took a moment to process the information. I wasn't really scared by it, I realized. Though, logically, I should be. But if Ciel had wanted to kill me, he's had plenty of time to do it.
After a moment of comfortable silence, I groaned. "I guess I really should get up now," I said lazily. I really didn't want to, but I had to. I doubt Ciel wanted me irritating him longer than usual. I usually didn't care, but since he let me sleep with him last night, it was the least I could do. Consider it my payment.
Heaving myself out of the oh-so-comfy bed, I made my way towards the door. "Oh, and Ciel?" I started. Ciel looked up at me from his spot on the bed. "Thank you for letting me stay here last night," I said with a smile. Ciel looked confused. I just found out that he was a demon from hell and I was thanking him? Yes, because logic.
"You're welcome," he answered eventually. Without another word, I closed the door and made my way towards my room- again. I really need to stop spending the night with Ciel. Oh God... that sounded wrong. I shuddered at the thought, and banished my mind from that train of thought.
Once I made it to my room, I got dressed, and fixed the monstrosity that was my hair. I was going to have a relaxing day today. Not that I didn't usually, but especially today. I smirked as I left my room, I knew exactly what I was going to do today.
~o0o~
"Sebastian...?" I called from the kitchen door, drawing out the name. He turned around to face me.
"Yes, Miss Thea?" He answered, quirking an eyebrow. It was strange how alike he and Ciel were. Well, I guess that's what happens when you spend two hundred years with someone. I made my way to the counter and leaned on it, giving Sebastian my best sad puppy eyes.
"Can you please bake with me today?" I begged. I was in a baking mood, sugar was life! This had to work, no one was able to resist my sad puppy eyes.
Apparently I was wrong.
"No," Sebastian answered smoothly, obviously hoping I would accept his answer and just go away.
"Please?" I begged again. He had another thing coming if he thought I would give up my opportunity for chocolate.
"No."
"Why not?" I demanded, crossing my arms in front of my chest and pouting like a four year old.
"I'm busy," he answered. That may have not been a complete lie, but still. Baking was important- how else could I get my sugar that I desperately needed?
"I'll smuggle cats in the manor for you again, if you do," I bargained. Sebastian had an indecisive look on his face at the mention of cats. I had found out his weakness for cats a while ago, it was only a matter of time before I had used it against him. I was a dirty player and I did anything necessary to win.
Sebastian sighed. Win! "I'll bake with you for the next," he checked his pocket watch, "half hour." He snapped the watch shut. I snickered for a moment, imagining that Sebastian was secretly a Time Lord but he had turned into a human. He arched an eyebrow at me, but didn't ask. He'd learned not to.
Sebastian cleared his throat. "Is there anything in particular that you wanted to make?" He asked. I tilted my head, thinking about it. I wanted chocolate... Maybe I could make mum's fudge? I brightened at the idea, mum's fudge was delicious. I have never had fudge as good as hers.
"Fudge," I announced proudly. "And," I continued slyly, "Let's have a competition." I smirked. Sebastian arched an eyebrow at that. "I'll make my mum's fudge and you make the best fudge you can possibly make."
"And how will we decide which is better?" Sebastian inquired.
"I will," I said proudly. Sebastian's eyebrow got even higher, if that was even possible. "I won't be biased, I promise," I promised. Sebastian then smirked.
"Then," he said, "What are we waiting for?" I answered back with a smirk of my own. They really were rubbing off on me... Oh well. I have been living here for about a month now, but this place felt like home already. I liked it here, it felt comfortable.
We both immediately started making fudge. Admittedly, Sebastian was working far faster than I, but I was sure I would win. Mum's recipe always won. She had said that she had never seen a recipe like her's before, and I had never tasted anything that came close to her's.
After the half hour was up, both of us had our trays of fudge. Sebastian's looked perfect, as did everything he made, while mine looked like what it was- homemade. I preferred it that way, though. But there was one thing I was pissed off about. After baking, I was covered in sugar and flour, while Sebastian looked perfect. Even his hair was still perfect, while mine was all over the place. This is so not fair...
"I hate you," I said, my eyes narrowed at him and I pointed an accusing finger at him. Sebastian arched an eyebrow at me.
"Whatever for?" He inquired. My eyes narrowed even more at him, if that was even possible.
"Why do you still look perfect?" I demanded with seething irritation. Sebastian just smirked at me as an answer. Scowling, I sat on a bar stool, while Sebastian cut both a square of my and his fudge. Without using a fork, I took a bite out of his. My eyes widened, and I'm pretty sure my eyes dilated.
"Holy shit," I swore. That was amazing. I swear, I saw sparkles. It was surprising he was such a good cook, considering he was British. Well, also a demon, so technically not really British. You know what, whatever.
Resisting the temptation to stuff the rest in my mouth, I tried mine. I smiled sadly, it tasted just like mum used to make. Swallowing, I debated in my head, which one was better. This was so difficult... I turned to Sebastian.
"So, can neither of you taste human food?" I asked, hoping I could get another judge. Sebastian looked slightly surprised at my line of inquiry.
"No," he answered, "Though, the young master may be able to since it's sweets. He had a particular fondness for them in his human life," he reflected after a moment. I nodded understandingly.
"What does it taste like to you?" I asked curiously. Sebastian pondered that for a moment.
"It tastes like ash to me. Though, I don't know what it tastes like to the young master, since he used to be human," Sebastian answered honestly. I thought on that, it did make sense. I guess I should go try Ciel just in case.
"I'm so sorry," I said, taking hold of Sebastian's shoulders. He looked extremely confused and worried that I had lost it, at the same time. I've gotten that look a lot in my life. But I felt sorry for him, it must be awful to not know what chocolate tasted like...
I released him and cut two more pieces of fudge. "I'm going to see if Ciel can taste it. He can decide which is best," I announced. "And I won't tell him which is which," I added after a moment's thought. I feel like Ciel wouldn't choose Sebastian's on purpose- there seemed to be some kind of competition there. I don't know what about, but it was there.
I took two new plates and made my way upstairs, to Ciel's study. Once I got there, I couldn't open the door. Shit. Gritting my teeth, I balanced one plate on my arm and opened the door without knocking.
"Ciel!" I exclaimed with a cheerful smile. I can't help it, chocolate makes me happy- and high on sugar. Irrationally happy, even. Chocolate had some kind of super power, and I was helpless to it. I had actually read somewhere that sugar affects your brain like cocaine. That's one hell of a drug, then...
"What now?" Ciel sighed, exasperated. Ignoring his tone, I placed the two plates on his desk.
"One thing first," I said, "Can you still eat desserts?" Ciel looked confused at my line of question.
"I think so. I taste it faintly, but I can still taste it," he answered cautiously. He was obviously still wondering where the hell this was going. So was I, in fact. I didn't usually have any clue what I was doing anyway. I was strange like that.
"Good, because you have to judge and see which is better," I said with an air of superiority. I crossed my arms in front of me and tried to make myself taller. It didn't really work, but who the hell cares.
Ciel slowly picked up each piece of fudge and took a bite out of it. If it wasn't my imagination, he looked rather sad. Almost... nostalgic. "This one wins," he said blankly when he got to mine. I double fisted the air.
"Go Thea!" I yelled. Ciel looked at me like I was crazy. I seemed to be getting a lot of those looks lately... It was probably because it was almost 'that time'; also known as 'shark week'. I acted even stranger than I usually did during that; if that was even possible. "I win!" I sang to myself. "Thanks Ciel, see you later," I said, smiling at him. I then stalked out of the study.
"Suck it, Sebastian!" I shouted, double fisting the air again. I admit, it felt good to win against the demon butler. He did everything perfectly, after all.
Still enjoying the after effects of my victory against the demon butler, I made my way to the kitchen to grab the rest of the fudge. After I claimed my reward, I made my way to my room. Stretching once I got there, I picked out a couple books off the shelves, intent on spending the afternoon reading and not thinking about demons.
I stretched my cramped legs after finishing my fifth book of the day. Glancing at the clock, I saw that it was almost five. I had finished both batches of fudge, so I didn't exactly want dinner. In fact... I was in a Doctor Who mood. I grinned evilly to myself. Ciel was in for it...
"Oh, Ciel," I sang, bounding into his study. He immediately pinched the bridge of his nose at my entrance. I never knocked- what was the point? It was far easier to just burst in. Ruder, perhaps, but who really gives a shit about manners anymore?
"Yes, Thea," Ciel answered in a tone, that said he was exasperated with me. I grinned, I had driven him off the edge. Oh, how fun our little game was...
"It's Doctor Who time," I sang. Ciel put up surprisingly little resistance, unlike last time. That confirmed my thought that Ciel was addicted. Everyone got addicted in the end; it was impossible not to. Once you're in, you're in.
I managed to drag him to the main room again and place him on cozy sectional. It was extremely difficult not to fall asleep on that sectional, it was ridiculously comfortable. Putting on Netflix, I started to play 'The Empty Child'.
Sometime during the episode, I managed to drift towards Ciel again. It was like something always dragged me towards him.
"You know, I'm rather surprised by you- and that's very difficult to do,," Ciel said, during the part where the Doctor was in the hospital with all the gas mask people. I turned my head to look at him.
"About what?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"You not hating me. For one, most people would be screaming in terror, not watching a sci-fy show with them," Ciel said dryly. He still seemed shocked at the idea that I wasn't completely terrified of him like others would be. However, I should be.
"I'm not like most people," I said, giving him a look, "I can't hate you since I liked you before, so why not now? Besides, I had already suspected before." I guess I have already forgiven him. That didn't take too long... But I liked Ciel, he was someone I could actually talk to. Kind of ironic that my first friend in years wasn't even human. But the world works in strange ways- that I already knew.
Ciel smiled at that- a proper smile, not a smirk. I felt strangely happy that he smiled at me. A warm feeling bloomed in me. No, this isn't... I do not have a crush on him. We are friends, that is all. Besides, he's not even human.
Ignoring the feelings blossoming in my chest, I snuggled down and watched Doctor Who well into the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(A/N)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey guys! Okay, when I saw the amount of love that the previous chapter got, I was stunned! I'm so glad that you guys liked it! Also, I noticed that my chapters are getting longer... Well, you're welcome. Onto reviews!
Reviews:
Angelaleopard: I'm glad that you liked the ending! I'm soooo glad you like this fic!
FluffyDarkUnicorn: Thank you as always for reviewing! ;) I'm glad you liked it! I also thought that the fight needed a little more, I'm not all that great at writing fight scenes. I don't really know what to do. I'll practice, though!
ThatDragonThatReadLeviathan: I'm so happy that you think it's awesome! Your review made my day! Thanks so much! (But the way, that assignment sounds awesome!) And I'm sure that's not true.
Helen Teng: I'm glad that you like the idea for a Ciel X OC AU fic (Holy shit that was a lot of acronyms!) It's good to know that the fluff part was okay! I was really confused on how to make Thea react about Ciel becoming a demon, so I kind of bullcrapped my way through it. That's what I usually do, anyway!
Esmereilda: I'm glad it surpassed your expectations! To be honest, I was kind of worried about the chapter. :) I wasn't quite sure how to write it, but I thought it turned out okay, at least. I'm happy you are still reading this!
MagentaPeace: I'm glad you like this! I know, there aren't that many Ciel X OC fics. And if there are, they aren't AU. I'm really glad you love Thea! (To be honest, she's one of my favorite characters I've come up with. She's actually getting her own book.) Glad you can't wait!
Please R&R!
