Chapter 10

Sebastian was back on his feet within a couple of days, now with a whole realm that had to be rebuilt. Along with that, he wanted to try to make contact with Crocell Faustus to be sure Claude's family was safe. Claude had been worried about his family since Sebastian had woken up and for once he had to admit that it wasn't normal for his father to not make contact.

Claude was walking along the blood-stained streets when he caught sight of a familiar face. He was relieved to find that Claire—his maid—had also survived attack.

"Say, Claire?" he called to her.

The maid jumped at the sudden sound of his voice but also seemed to be relieved that Claude was all right.

"Hello, Master Claude. What can I do for you?"

"Have you seen my father or anyone from the house, for that matter?"

"I'm afraid not, sir. They're gone . . . well, not the dead kind of gone; they left."

"They left?! Where on earth could they have gone; what, with every angel and Grim Reaper hunting our arses?"

"I don't know, sir. I was just told they had left they'd be back a little later."

Claude ran a hand through his hair. Of all times to go missing, this had to be the worst. Not only had Hell been reduced to dust, but Sebastian was also close to delivering and they didn't even know if their chosen birthplace was still standing. It stressed him out, which he already knew wasn't good for his own pregnancy.

"Thank you for telling me, Claire." Claude said to the maid, "Obviously nobody else bothers to let me know of these things."

The spider demon walked back into the castle and found Sebastian right where he last left; in his bed chambers . . . apparently trying to nest. Bed sheets had been pushed up and wrapped in a circle with the pillows scattered everywhere.

Sebastian was tossing and turning restlessly in the massive heap; a sign that his body was trying to prepare for labor.

"Take it easy, Sebastian," Claude soothed, "Try to rest and save your energy."

Sebastian let out a frustrated huff, "I've been trying to relieve the pain in my back for the better part of a half-hour."

"Well, it sounds like you're getting close." Claude ran a hand over Sebastian's abdomen, which was now smooth, slightly curved, and lacking its hard, chiseled features, "Maybe a walk will help a little bit."

"Have you heard anything from your father yet?" Sebastian asked Claude as they took a stroll through the garden.

"I haven't . . ." Claude replied, "But Claire has told me they've up and left."

"Claire . . . Claire . . . why does that name sound familiar?"

"No reason . . . I've probably mentioned her before."

Sebastian nodded and continued walking.

"It stilled seems strange that your father would just up and leave without you knowing."

Claude couldn't deny that. His father usually told him everything. Although he had taken refuge in the Lucifer castle, he still didn't see why his father wouldn't tell him where he was going, or that he was leaving in the first place. Now that he thought about it, why was Claire the only servant of his household that was left behind? Sure, she was nothing more than a simple chamber maid, but she was highly skilled and took orders well. If nothing else, she should have been considered extremely valuable and Crocell should have sacrificed an arm and a leg to leave with her in tow.

"We'll see," Claude hummed, "Of course if they return . . . huh, I don't know what I'll do. Frankly, I'm upset they left in the first place."

"Claude . . ."

Sebastian suddenly gasped and clutched the sleeve of the spider demon's shirt as he pressed a hand to his stomach firmly and let out a soft groan.

"Sebastian? What is it?" Claude asked; alarmed by his mate's sudden change of state.

Sebastian let out a few slow breaths before his grip loosened and he straightened up.

"I'm fine . . ."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Claude rested a hand against his mate's abdomen. He could feel the slight tightening in the raven demon's muscles. He knew what this was, but ignored it as they continued walking.

"I still wonder why the angels and Reapers would attack ups without reason," Claude commented, "And why would Undertaker try to kill you?"

"I don't think he was trying to kill me." Sebastian stated, "When he looked at me at first, he didn't seem to recognize me and he had no clue that I was expecting."

"That's not a good reason, you know. You're the only source of high-quality entertainment he has. It seemed a bit strange to me that he would try to attack you, or any demon for that matter. Humph, perhaps he can't see a damn thing through those bangs of his, and he sure as hell can't see a damn thing without a pair of spectacles."

"But you should know it's not the first time Undertaker has sent his scythe through some part of my body. I nearly died because he sent that sickle of his through my chest."

"When was that?" Claude asked.

"Maybe two years ago."

Sebastian's grip on Claude's shirt tightened again, "Claude!"

His knees buckled and a hand clutched his stomach as he began panting heavily.

"Claude, I think it's time!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Claude scooped Sebastian up in his arms and his spidery limbs carried them quickly into the woods and to the clearing, which still remained standing and beautify, as if it had been untouched by the attack.

"Just relax, Sebastian." The spider demon told him as he laid him against a smooth curved side of the old, dead tree.

Sebastian relieved a soft moan as he adjusted himself into a more comfortable position.

"At least this child knows a thing or two about timing."

"What do you mean?"

Sebastian managed to crack a clever smile, "Imagine how much of a nightmare this would have been if I had gone into labor a couple of days ago."

Claude shuddered, "I think I'd have a heart attack."

Sebastian gave a small chuckle before a contraction took hold of him and he groaned loudly. His hands gripped onto the long grass so tightly his knuckles turned white. He felt a pop from within and a large amount of fluid spilled from between his legs. Sebastian's moans increased in volume as the pain became more intense, and he knew it wouldn't be long before he'd have to push.

Claude did his best to comfort and encourage his mate. He held his hand and let the raven demon crush it to his heart's content. Being the eldest son of dozens of Crocell Faustus' children, he had been present at many of his siblings' births and had even assisted in a few. He still couldn't get over the amount of pain Child birth caused the expecting parent, and he couldn't help but grow nervous at the thought of having to go through labor, himself.

Claude snapped out of his thoughts at the feeling of Sebastian's grip growing tighter and tight and his moans had grown into pained cries.

"Claude, what's happening?" he gasped, "It's getting worse!"

"Just breathe, Sebastian," Claude soothed, "Everything's fine."

"Then why . . . AHHH . . . does it hurt so much?"

Claude checked Sebastian's progress and looked up at him with an encouraging smile, "It's because you're fully dilated and able to push."

"I-I don't think I have enough energy to push."

"Just try . . ."

Sebastian propped himself up on his elbows and braced himself for the next contraction. As he felt his core begin to tighten, he took a few calming breaths before curling forward and bearing down.

"Come on, Sebastian. You're doing great!"

Sebastian let out a heavy, shuddering breath. He had been pushing for the better part of an hour and he was bitterly exhausted. Sweat coated his face and his hands had raked large gouges out of the ground. He was growing tired and weak.

"Come on, Sebastian stay with me!" Claude said encouragingly, "Push!"

"I . . . I can't . . ."

"Yes, you can!"

"No, I can't!"

Claude cupped Sebastian's cheek and stroked it with his thumb.

"You listen to me, Michaelis. You were able to defeat a Grim Reaper with a massive wound cutting across your chest. You defeated an angel with one arm. You escaped a sinking ship filled with undead bodies with a wound going through your torso with Ciel Phantomhive in tow. If you can do all that, I know you can push our child into the world. You can do this!"

Through his steady panting, Sebastian nodded to him. He moved back to propping himself up on his elbows and as a contraction struck, he pushed with everything he had. He moaned loudly as he felt pressure begin to build at the child's birthing exit.

"That's it, Sebastian! I can see the head."

Sebastian pushed until he was sure his face had turned blue. He spread his legs further apart, hoping I would make more room for the child. A sharp burning sensation started as the baby's head began to emerge and his cries turned into screams.

"It's all right, Sebastian. I know it hurts, but everything's all right."

Sebastian collapsed back into the grass as the child's head left his body.

"C-Clau-Claude . . . I can't do this anymore!"

"Yes, you can, Sebastian!" Claude said in a determined tone, "Just a few more pushes and you're done."

Sebastian didn't seem to be convinced. He was exhausted and looked as though he could pass out at any moment.

Claude took one of Sebastian's clenching hands and guided it down to where the child's head was.

"You see?" Claude said, "Our child is right there. All you have to do is push the shoulders out and the rest will be easy."

Sebastian could only manage to nod before pushing once more. A few small whimpers escaped his slightly parted lips as the shoulders left his body.

Relief washed over Sebastian's body and a loud wail filled the air as Claude lifted a squirming infant with thick black hair covering its head. Its skin was as white a snow and a pair of black, raven-like wings the size of a grown man's hand was folded behind it's back.

"It's a boy!" Claude announced as he placed the newborn in Sebastian's arms.

As weak as he was, Sebastian seemed to gain a burst of energy as the wailing of his child filled his ears. He cradled the child tenderly as he cleaned off the fluids covering it with a long, flat, raven-like tongue.

Claude settled himself beside his mate and held them both in his arms, "What are you going to call him?"

" . . . Errapel."

"That's a name. But what does it mean, exactly?"

Sebastian gave a soft smile.

"It means, 'to heal'."