Chapter 8: Sacrifice of Cruelty
I haven't updated for…..A WEEK! I'm sorry readers, I was very busy with things and also the Halloween dance was so much fun! Also trick or treating was fun too, even though it was a little rainy.
Ciela: "Ooooooh~Who did you dance with?"
ME: "Not telling…."
Ciela: "I won't stop to get what I want."
ME: "Hey, just because you're not at the beginning, doesn't mean you can start bothering me now! Besides, even if I said who you wouldn't even know who he is."
Ciela: "Ooooh~So you danced with a guy!"
ME: -_-
Anyway, I hope you will enjoy chapter 8!
DECLAIMER: I do not own anything from Kuroshitsuji, just my OCs.
Chapter 8: Sacrifice of Cruelty
It was closing time, and the lights were turned off. The man walked down into the basement, holding a candle and passing by his sharp master pieces hanging on the wall. His mighty creation of swords became his wealth, however he made great sacrifices to be placed in a high class where all the nobles can recognize "his" great work. What sacrifices you may ask? This sword maker has a dark secret that lies deep and under his shop.
The door creaked opened when he walked in with only the candle light glowing in the darkness. It was a dusty basement, cracked floors and the chips in the walls. The basement used to be the smith room where he would make his swords, back when he was just an ordinary smith man.
A boy was lying in the corner of the room. He was all tied up, wounded and bruised on his cheeks. He was still conscious, although tonight he will not be able to wake up because hell will take him soon.
In the middle of the room was a pentacle i.e. a five pointed star inside a circle, which was carved on the floor. The man stepped onto it and said the words that summoned a creature of darkness.
"Demons who dwell in silvers of night
Uncloak your shadow to the moonlight.
I give you a childs' soul,
In exchange for gold!"
The pentacle shined golden on the floor and the wind was swirling around him. It almost sounded like a howl, until a shadowy figure appeared right in front of him. The figure gave a low chuckle, showing sharp teeth like a vampire'. To be honest this creature is no person, but most likely a demon in its human form.
The demon's face was masked, but he had green eyes showing through the eye holes, long black hair and wore black clothing all over. He is a slender, yet fairly muscular, male demon of average height with a melancholic appearance. His bare hands that showed his long black claws were sharp.
"So you have summoned me again, Mr. Edison" the demon scowled.
"Don't give me that look. I have something to give you!"
"Oh? Will you give me a delicious hatred soul of a boy that I wanted? " the demon grinned.
"Not unless you call me 'master'" he stated. "I made a contract with you remember? So you have to obey my orders!"
"Of course, master" the demon smirked. Mr. Edison walked over to the boy and gripped his mouse brown hair, then threw him in front of the demon. The demon however didn't look too please about the meal he had thrown to him. He lifted the boy by his collar, making him choke a little.
"This is still one of those poorly souls you have given me in the past!" he growled , throwing the boy against the wall. The demon choked the human, angry of his fail to fine a soul filled with hatred for his meal.
"Our contract demands that I will serve and grant you riches in exchange for young boys' souls, one each month until you find the ultimate soul for me to feast on before our contract expires!" snarled the demon. He let go of the smith man, who fell to the floor, gasping for air. "You have done this seven months already! I'm tired on feeding on boring sad souls!"
"B-but I had already committed enough murders now! The queen had already sent her guard dog to find me! Phantomhive! The guard dog is named Phantomhive! Do you have any idea who and what they are capable of?! She must have known who did it by now! They will find me and kill me and-"
The demon slapped the man with his sharp black claws. He looked at the human in disgust.
"You have, until tomorrow! If you don't give me the ultimate soul then it will be your son who will be the replacement!" he hissed.
"WHAT?!NO! NOT MY SON! TAKE MINE INSTEAD BUT NOT MY SON I BEG YOU!" he crawled up to the demon and hugged his leg in despair. The demon sneered and kicked him off his leg.
"I will have your soul, until you give me the ultimate soul" he cackled and then faded away.
Mr. Edison fell to the floor, covering his expression and shivered in fear and confusion. His eyes were turning red filled with fear, but also despair for what he's done to all the cruel sacrifices he had made for his own greed. He didn't know what to do after what had happened.
The boy who lay on the floor had tears streaming down his face, also filled with fear and sadness. His parents were killed just so this man could feed him to the devil and get gold.
The afternoon arrived already and Ciela sat under the gazebos in her garden, watching the birds flying towards the red sky. More bloodshed had been discovered this morning. The queen reported that more family murders had been found this morning and that the news has been heard all over London. Strangely though, all the murdered families had only one son, but also their bodies haven't turned up, so that means that they have been kidnapped. They also discovered that one of the murders had happened last night. Scotland Yard wasn't sure though since they were on patrol, but the sudden smell of blood was near the Royal Foil shop. Her majesty sent Ciela the records of all the murdered families.
There were seven families that had been murdered so far: Johnson, Evans, Robertson, Martin, Young, and Niles. With Ciela's detective mind, she was able to figure out and put all the clues together and figured out who the killer might be.
The seven families have something in common. If you wrote all the families' first letter of their last name, you will get Jermyn. And Jermyn is the street name in which the store is on and where the killer might be. Also Sebastian mentioned that his store suddenly became popular seven months ago which might deal with the number of families murdered so far. However, it was time to take action because tonight Ciela and Sebastian will move down to Jermyn Street and make this 'Silent Killer pay for his crimes.
"Young mistress?"
Ciela suddenly felt surprised and looked down at Sebastian who was standing at the bottom of the stone steps leading to the gazebos. She was so lost in thought that she didn't notice her butler's presence. Most of the time, when he is not around Ciela felt that he never existed somehow. He was a fallen angel from another world that is devoid from love since they are cast outs from heaven. Ciela glared down at him. She had to keep in mind that Sebastian is a demon, not a human where they could show real emotion. She hated having hell beside her; however she will bring down the people for revenge in that place with her.
Sebastian walked up to the gazebos and stood beside his mistress, looking at the sun with her.
"My. The sun has died the sky crimson red" Sebastian commented. Ciela ignored him, however in a way she thought that the red sky meant that someone had died. So many murdered families and kidnapped children, that Ciela felt like she was living in the past now.
"Are we still on for tonight?" asked Sebastian, still gazing at the sun. Ciela looked up at him and glared.
Why does this guy make it sound like we are on a date? That's a common thing to ask to a boyfriend/girlfriend when they are planning to go out Ciela thought disgustingly.
Ciela tried to shook off that thought because who knows, Sebastian might have turned on his demon mind reading.
"Of course. I want to get this over with Sebastian" Ciela responded. "Why'd you ask?"
"I just want to make sure that my mistress is prepared to deal with the killer. A little girl shouldn't hesitate to kill if she wants to" Sebastian smirked.
"Did you come here to tease me?"
"No. I'm only being honest because you told me to never lie, young mistress" smiled Sebastian.
"Yes I did" assured Ciela who smirked, but felt really annoyed on the inside. He had been with her for three years now and so how can she put up with him, until she finds them?
Oh, well. He isn't so bad when he is right by my side thought Ciela.
The two stood side by side under the gazebo, gazing at the sunlight. Two more hours until they will make their move, however somehow Ciela wish that time would stop at this moment with Sebastian. She couldn't help but wonder what Sebastian will do after he had taken her soul, but it's not the time to be thinking of that now, because this prostitute couldn't possibly be the one from the earlier years. Ciela might seem to hate him, but a tiny bliss in her heart will always silently call out for Sebastian to be right beside her, just like this.
From the corner of her eye she gazed at Sebastian's handsome face from the side, wishing upon the red sunset sky, that Sebastian will stay with her for all eternity.
Two hours later during the afternoon it was raining and Mr. Edison was quickly packing his things, so he could run away.
"Timmy! Have you finished packing yet?!" he called from upstairs of the shop. He sounded a little panicked. His son soon came down carrying his bag. Timmy was a boy around ten years old with brown curly hair and icy blue eyes, also was around 144 cm tall (4'8½").
"Father where are we going?" asked Timmy. His father tried to give him a smile, however his fear couldn't move aside. He loved his son and would anything to protect him and keep him by his side. After his wife died when she gave birth to Timmy, they somehow became broke until Mr. Edison became desperate with no choice but to send for the devil to help them survive. However, he thought that he was able to cheat the demon by not getting his soul. Right at this moment, he is confused of what he has done. He wondered why he went to such great lengths to become rich.
"Somewhere safe my son" he came over and embraced him. Timmy hugged him back but was confused.
"Father…does it have to do with the murders happening in London?" asked Timmy. Mr. Edison hugged him tightly, thinking about what to say, however he let him go and gave a small smile.
"Yes. But don't you worry! We are going somewhere better than this place I promise you!" exclaimed Mr. Edison. The boy didn't look too happy though, but then he just nodded and he and his father were about to walk out the door, but then suddenly the door slammed opened. fell back, while his son was hiding behind him.
"Hands up Mr. Edison! You are under arrested for the mysterious family murders in London!" commanded Ciela, holding up the gun. Sebastian stood beside her.
"I-I have no idea what you'r-"
"Don't you dare try to hide it!" shout Ciela, now holding up the gun to his head. gasped. Timmy tried to push the gun away, however Sebastian appeared right behind him and gripped both of his arms so he wouldn't move.
"Timmy!" cried Mr. Edison, however he couldn't move.
"Do something Father!" Timmy cried, trying to strangle himself free.
"Please, let my so-"
"Confess! Confess the crimes you have committed and then your son will be set free" snapped Ciela. The man whimpered, his mind thinking what to do.
"What is she talking about father!?WHAT CRIMES?!" Timmy sobbed.
"Silence! Mr. Tom Edison, confess right here and now or your consequences will be worse than death!" announced Ciela.
"NO! MY FATHER WOULD NEVER DO SUCH A THING! SO PLEASE LET HIM GO!"
"What an annoying little brat you are. Can't you see that your father is a murderer? My young mistress in front of you is the queen's guard dog. We came here to arrest him for his crimes" said Sebastian, tightening his grip.
"Let me go! Oh I know! You guys are the murderers! You guys have been the ones killing the families and kidnapping their sons! You came here and to kill my father and take me away!" yelled Timmy, without even thinking.
"I have enough of this. Sebastian shut the brat's mouth now!" demanded Ciela.
"No! You liars, go away and mind your own business!"
"I am doing my business, brat! By orders of the queen I have to arrest the prostitute who killed the families and kidnapped their sons and that prostitute is by none other than your father!"
"She's right Timmy" spoke Mr. Edison suddenly. Timmy gasped in disbelief.
"No…no, it's not true! Father you didn't!" cried Timmy.
"It's true Timmy. I murdered all of those families in London" revealed Mr. Edison with tears in his eyes. "And I sold their sons' souls to the devil I made a contract with."
Timmy gasped, shaking his head in fear and denial. He didn't want to believe that his beloved father killed all of those innocent families and sold their sons' souls to the devil. Ciela was shocked all of the sudden of what the man had said. Sebastian raised an eyebrow as well.
"What did you just say?" murmured Ciela, holding the gun tighter. She knew that the boys would mostly likely be dead, but she didn't know that this man sold all the boys' souls to the devil…
"WHY?!" roared Timmy. Sebastian tightened his grip on the boy who was crying in confusion."WHY WOULD YOU DO IT!?"
"You wouldn't understand if I told you! It's all so messed up! I traded all of those souls for riches and now that the contract is almost expired, I couldn't find the ultimate soul for him, otherwise he would have taken mine or my son's! Please forgive me Timmy!" wailed Mr. Edison, whipping around to see his son's face.
Timmy gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, Sebastian released him, but the boy didn't run to his father.
"NOOOOOO-!" screamed Timmy angrily. "I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" He fell to the floor and cried in pain. "How could you?! Murder all of those innocent people and then kidnapping their sons to feed them to a monster! WHY?! "
Suddenly, shadows were swirling around the room, until a black figure appeared revealing his masked face, long black hair and long sharp black claws. He grinned in delight as he smelled hatred in the room.
"My,my I smell something sweet in here.I didn't think that you would give me your son as the ultimate soul, however he does smell wonderful…" said the demon, licking his lips. Ciela shakingly lowered her gun, but her expression remained straight, with no fear. Sebastian glared, but stayed calm.
"Y-you c-c-came!" stuttered Mr. Edison nervously. The demon ignored him and walked towards the boy who was lying on the ground crying.. Timmy looked up and backed away, shaking in fear, although the demon grabbed him by his collar and lifted him in the air, choking the boy.
"Wh—what…do y-you want?" asked Timmy, chokingly.
"I want your soul, boy" replied the demon, opening his mouth.
"Don't do it!" shrieked Mr. Edison.
Suddenly, the demon plunged his teeth into the boy's neck, drinking his boiling hatred inside. Mr. Edison suddenly had tears streaming down his face and saw the colors of his son's face, fading away.
Ciela watched the demon devouring the boy's life, drinking his blood and at the same time, sucking out his soul. It was such a disgusting appearance.
The demon licked his hands that were covered with his meal's blood which tasted delicious, then dropped the lifeless body in front of Mr. Edison.
"Timmy!" cried the father in despair over the loss of his son, who died in hatred.
"The wonderful taste explodes in the mouth" commented the demon, licking the blood stains on his hands.
"HOW DARE YOU TOOK MY-" suddenly the demon slashed his sharp claws across the man's neck in which killed his master in the end, however his business here wasn't finished because another hatred soul was lurking in the room.
"I sense something more everlasting in this room…"
The masked demon suddenly turned towards Ciela who stood their emotionless. He sensed something amazing about this soul when he opened his mouth slightly. It had a spice to it that drives a demon's mind mad and an obsession to it.
"Your soul girl…."hissed the demon. He walked slowly towards her, reaching out his hands. Ciel shivered at the underlying menace in his voice. Within a flash Sebastian appeared right in front of her.
"You will never get near my Mistress, not while I'm around" Sebastian said.
"We'll see about that"
"Young mistress please close your eyes!"shouted Sebastian. He pulled out the silverware knives in his trench coat and threw it at the demon. However, since he's dealing with another demon the masked demon was able to dodge Sebastian's first attack.
"I didn't expect one of my kind to play a butler. Just what kind of demon are you?" asked the demon. Sebastian pulled out more of his knives and smirked.
"What kind of demon am I? Well you see…" Sebastian threw his knives again and this time, was able to cut his cheeks.
"I am simply one hell of a demon butler" he said maliciously.
Ciela heard the door slam open but still didn't open her eyes. The strong smell of blood was beginning to make her feel obnoxious until she fell.
Morning greeted Ciela when she suddenly found herself back at home lying in her bed, until from the corner of her eye, she saw Sebastian sitting on the edge of her bed.
"It's good to see you awake, my lady." smiled Sebastian, putting his hand on her forehead. Ciela placed her hand on top of his and began to recall what had happened to her. She remembered that she was in a store with Sebastian while he was fighting another demon, until she fainted by a horribly strong smell of blood. Ciela's eyes widen and suddenly sat up quickly.
"Sebastian what happened?!" asked Ciela. She almost sounded worried there for a second. Sebastian was amused and smirked of the idea that his young mistress was worried about him.
"You passed out suddenly last night, however I think that it was the smell of the blood from the demon I killed last night" answered Sebastian.
"You defeated him?"
"Of course I did. If I couldn't protect my mistress from being devoured by another demon then what kind of demon would I be?"
"A demon and a butler" smirked Ciela. Sebastian closed his eyes and smiled at that until he stood up and bowed before he left.
"Young mistress, I had prepared a bath and breakfast for you and then after that I believe that you will have to report to her majesty about the incident last night."
Ciela nodded, and then Sebastian closed the door.
Ciela relaxed in her warm bubbly bath, that Sebastian prepared for her. It was good to be back at home after a bothersome murderous case. A man selling young boys' souls to a demon in exchange for riches and gold was just sickening and pathetic. Why go to such great lengths, like a demon for such a thing? Because of the man's pathetic greed, in the end the price was actually his son's soul. The boy was filled with so much hatred like he wanted revenge. But then again, revenge does seem pointless; revenge would neither bring the living or dead back. Like Ciela, she didn't come back to avenge her parent's death. She came back to fight and wait until the time comes when those who betrayed her parents will down into the same pit of humiliation and pain that she felt. All hell will strangle them by Ciela's command. Ciela sighed at the thought that she was dreaming about her revenge. She got out of her bath and dried herself before she could wear her sailor outfit. Ciela looked at herself in the mirror and realised how fast her hair was growing because it was already at the bottom of her shoulders. She decided to pull her hair up in a high ponytail, and then she went downstairs to eat breakfast.
Sebastian knocked at his mistress's study door.
"Come in" she replied. Sebastian came in with a cart of black tea and some snacks for her. She was busy writing her report about the incident that happened last night. After she was done Ciela gave it to Sebastian to proof read it.
"You're not going to report on the identity of the demon we had met?" asked Sebastian handing back the letter.
"I don't think it is necessary. She simply asked me to report on who was the killer and that was all" Ciela sipped her tea. Sebastian nodded in agreement.
"Humans can be very greedy. They will drag others down into getting what they want, even in death" said Sebastian putting the tea on the cart.
That I cannot deny thought Ciela, who gazed out at the blue sky outside the window.
Phew! This was a really long chapter! I'm sort of glad that I finished this because I thought that this plot wasn't very good, but oh well now that it's over with I'm going to put Lau and Madam Red in the next chapter!
I will try to update soon readers! By the way, I was listening to the second ending song to Hakuoki while writing the part when Sebastian was under the gazebos with Ciela. Here are the lyrics in which I sort of made it relate to what happened.
Gazing at your face from the side that the scarlet setting sun illuminates
I quietly make a wish– Oh, the burning sky, please keep time stopped
You advance ahead intently while carrying your sorrow
If I'm allowed, I want to chase after you, down this steep path
The clouds drift far, far away
Even if the moment now is transient
I want to be by your side
Because the sun dyeing my heart will be perpetual,
please believe in our bond.
Song: Wish Upon the Red Sunset Sky
By: Mao
Don't these lyrics match Ciela and Sebastian's bond? I love this song so much! I hope to see you guys review!
