Chapter 11

Sebastian's POV:

Marcellus kept his eyes on me while he carried me up the stairs and while he settled me back in bed. Usually, such an action implied a challenge, but in this case, I doubted it meant that. No, he was staring at me for another reason, one that I knew I wouldn't like. However, he didn't speak and he gave nothing of his thoughts away.

"Go to sleep, Sebastian," he said at last while putting me to bed, pulling the comforter over me. "Rest, little one."

If he'd said anything else, I might have done as he said. Instead, my temper snapped. "Stop treating me like a child!" I'd had more than I could bear of this situation.

He didn't answer. Instead, he put his hand on my forehead and forced sleep on me. I fought it as long as I could, watching him warily, but I only saw him stand by my bed, watching me. Once again, his eyes didn't leave my face.

When I woke, the room was dark and quiet, and I was oh, so tired and relaxed. The dark and silence had relaxed me and I was nice and warm, but I knew that I wasn't alone. I had sensed his presence as soon as I opened my eyes. I shifted, wishing that I could get up. "Marcellus?"

"I'm here," I heard him say as he approached my bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm all right," I said. I had more important things on my mind than how I was feeling right now. "How is the young master?"

Marcellus chuckled. "He is fine. He is deep in a game of chess with Sir Charles."

I felt rather sorry for Sir Charles. What masochistic impulse had prompted him to take the young master on in chess? Shouldn't he have his butler on hand to console him for a thoroughly bitter defeat?

Something about his presence in my room struck me as strange. "Why are you here, Marcellus?" Didn't he have duties to perform or something? Didn't he have to attend Sir Charles? Why was he just…standing there?

"I wanted to be here, Sebastian," he said evenly. "I think this is where I need to be right now."

I didn't understand his statement, but it made me more nervous than anything else he could have said. Why that was, I didn't know, but I did know that I was worried.

"I'll read to you until it is time for me to go and prepare supper," he said. "You slept the rest of yesterday and all through the night. Now, what shall I read?"

How strange! Yesterday, he'd been ready and more than willing to swat me upside the head, and today, he was amiable and willing to read to me. Incredible. Demons were incapable of becoming mad, so that wasn't a possible explanation for his behavior. For a moment I wished that he could be mad, since then I would have had a reason for this irrational behavior on his part.

"Have you read the Brontes, Sebastian?" he asked, lighting some more candles so he could see to read.

"It's been some time," I admitted. Often, when I had some free time and nothing pressing with which to fill it, I spent time in the library, reading. I'd looked into each book in the library once and by this point, I'd read most of them. I'd enjoyed reading the Brontes' novels during one blustery week end and I still held a certain fondness for them.

"Any favorites?"

"Jane Eyre," I said immediately. I didn't know why, but aside from her sister Emily's work, Charlotte's Jane Eyre was the most believable story I'd ever read, especially for one penned by a human. The author's insight into the human psyche was incredibly sharp and at the same time, illuminating. The entire work was fascinating.

Marcellus gave me an indulgent smile and pulled a book from the pile on the table and opened it after taking a seat in the chair next to my bed. "Jane Eyre, Chapter 1," he read. "There was no possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering, indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning…"

I was content enough to settle back in my pillows to listen and experience Jane's story once again. A life with unloving relatives, a sentence to a dreary and strict boarding school run by a self-righteous and hypocritical religious man, a teaching post in an isolated house, a mercurial master (in that one particular, Jane's and my stories matched), and an odd presence that lurked in the halls of Thornfield, leaving flames behind it. Ah, such stories were part of the reason why I found humans so interesting.

I listened to Jane's story, content for the moment, but it wasn't long before my mind began to work. Why had Marcellus' mood changed so quickly? Why was he so glad to read to me after threatening me the day before? Was he planning something? I had to think so, but once again, I ran up against my old stumbling block. I didn't know how he thought. I couldn't tell what he was thinking now and I couldn't tell what he was planning. I had no way of guessing what he was going to do next. What could I do?

Nothing, apparently. Blazes. Even if I could stand, I would have no hope of overcoming Marcellus if the situation called for my challenging him. He was powerful. I knew that already. His true form had revealed how far his power went, and it was fully possible that even if I were at my peak, he would defeat me. Even if my master ordered me to win in a struggle against him, it was fully possible that my prevailing over him would cost me my life despite any victory on my part. I had no hope of even being able to challenge him in my current condition; I was far too weak. If I died...Oh, I didn't want to consider it. When we demons died, then that was it. In exchange for eternal life, we could hope for no afterlife. For us, this was our afterlife. Some of us had previously lived in other forms and had become demons through various circumstances, but in my case, I had been born as a demon. That meant that this life was the only one I had. I had never planned on risking my life by challenging a higher demon, but now, I was in some sort of struggle that could lead to a challenge. What should I do? What could I do?

"Stop that."

I blinked and came back to myself. "What?"

"Stop fretting yourself into a knot," Marcellus said, setting aside the book. "What's worrying you?"

I wasn't about to tell him. If I mentioned any of my worries, he could easily use them against me in some way. "Ah, I don't want to talk about it. Why did you stop reading?"

"I noticed that you were fretting," Marcellus told me. "I won't continue reading until you tell me what's wrong."

"Then you might as well put the book back on the shelf," I snapped. Why must he keep on like this?

Marcellus considered me thoughtfully. "I bet I can guess."

"Oh, really?"

He nodded. "You're worried about the young master and your ability to defend him should it come to a fight between us."

I wondered once again if he had the ability to read minds. "You sound very sure of yourself."

"You get an odd crease between your eyebrows when you worry about the young master," he said, pointing to the corresponding spot on his own face. "Then, when you worry about fighting me, the corners of your mouth turn down. This time, you had both, so I figured that you were worrying about both."

Damn him, he was right! I would have to make sure that the inscrutable face I tried to present to the world really was inscrutable!

"Humans wouldn't notice such small changes, but I can see them," Marcellus said.

I glared at him. "Stop that!"

"Stop what?"

"Stop doing that!"

"What, surprising you? I'm not certain if I can, but I will try my best if it truly bothers you. Now, would you like me to keep reading?"

"Please," I said after considering a moment. "That would be nice, thank you."

I let my eyes close while I listened, and soon I was immersed in Jane's story again. At the part where Jane and Helen discuss the nature of God, Marcellus stopped and gave a chuckle.

"What's so funny about that passage?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"Something about Helen's faith reminded me of an argument I once heard between two men about whether or not God existed," he said. "At the time I remembered thinking that they were idiots for ignoring something so obvious."

"Well, of course such a person exists," I said, surprised into speaking. "All demons know that. He created the angels, even the ones who turned against him. Also, we are damned to eternal lives and trying to feed ourselves off of human souls. That's proof as well. Such as we are not accepted in Heaven."

"Yes, that's true," Marcellus said. "I've often thought that it would be a great joke on demonkind and Lucifer if God did something that purified and sanctified us all in the end."

"What, forcible salvation? Don't be ridiculous."

"He is powerful enough for that, Sebastian. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, but why would God wish to do such a thing? Lucifer turned his back on Heaven and so did we."

"But he could do it, if he wished to," Marcellus said. "He is powerful enough to end everything. It would be interesting, wouldn't it, to see it happen on the final day? The Devil wouldn't know what hit him."

I had to admit that that was most likely true. He really wouldn't, but still, I couldn't conceive of how it would happen. Maybe that was why God was God and we lived here on earth. We had little to no chance of understanding or anticipating him.

Oh, how that thought sounded familiar.

"Enough of philosophy and suppositions for right now," he said, glancing at his pocket watch. "Ah, I have to prepare supper. You'll be able to hold this book with one hand. Would you like to continue reading?"

"Yes, please." Anything to distract myself, if just for a little while. Marcellus told me that he would check on me again in a few hours and to enjoy the book. I was happy enough to read once more about Jane and her story. When I reached the part where Jane became the governess to Adele Varens, I found my thoughts wandering to my young master. How was he faring with only Sir Charles for company?

I forced myself to focus on the book, reminding myself that if I spent too much time worrying then my healing would slow. I read for another few pages but had to stop. My mind was too preoccupied with Marcellus' behavior. Something about it reminded me of something, something I was sure was very important, but what was it? It was something do with demons...of that, I was sure. Had he been watching me sleep, or had his presence in my room when I woke signified something else? I had to think that it was the latter. If he'd been in my room while I was asleep, then what was his purpose? I knew as much about demons as anyone else, but oh, how I wished I could remember things better! Sighing, I set the book aside and began to consider everything about his behavior and the way he'd watched me. I was sure that eventually, the answer would come to me.

Mention of Rochester's demonic wife and her crazed eyes were what did it. For a few seconds, I simply stared off into space as my mind raced, but then I had to accept what my mind was telling me. If what I thought were true, then the young master and I were in a great deal of trouble.

Ciel's POV:

I wondered if one could lose his mind due to a geography lesson.

It had started out innocently enough. Sir Charles had decided to give me a geography lesson on Africa. Aside from the colonies of different nations in the area, I knew little about it or its geography. Of course, that meant we had to cover absolutely everything about the continent. An hour later I was considering homicide. I had a strong feeling that the circumstances were mitigating ones!

"Ciel, are you paying attention?"

I fought down the urge to throttle him. "Yes. You were saying?"

He gave me a long look. "What was I saying?"

Uh-oh. I took a wild guess. "Timbuktu?"

He sighed. "Timbuktu was a desert and a river ago," he said. "Maybe we should take a break."

Finally! "I'd like a break. I can't keep focused." Idly, I wondered how Soma and Agni were doing, but then I shook myself out of it, amazed. I had to have been bored.

"Are you feeling all right?"

I wondered what I should say. No, I'm bored out of my mind. I'd like to throttle you for boring me so much. No, that didn't seem to convey my full feelings. Why are you still keeping me here, you demented madman? That seemed more akin to my feelings. I had thought I would be away from this place by now, yet I was still (still!) here! "I guess I have a bit of a headache." That was true. I had an almost constant headache from those whispers that were still plaguing me. I'd learned to live with them, but I still preferred to be in Sir Charles' company as much as possible.

It was as if I'd uttered a magic incantation. Immediately, Sir Charles was all solicitation and concern, ushering me to my room so I could stretch out on my bed and relax. I couldn't believe that one mention of a headache could turn this man into a devoted nurse! He was either a devoted nurse, or a golden retriever. Over the next twenty minutes, he fetched me a cool drink, hot willowbark tea, a snack, a warm compress for my head, the phonograph, and a record of soothing Brahms music.

"Shouldn't Marcellus be doing that for you?" I asked when he brought me the snack.

"I'm happy to do this for you," Sir Charles said. "When I first lost you, I thought about all the times I would never be able to fuss over you when you were ill."

"Didn't you get enough of doing that while I was ill?" I asked.

"Not nearly enough," he said. "I want to spend the rest of my life fussing over you, Ciel. I want to make you happy and make sure that you have a good life."

The intensity in his tone made me nervous. If sacrificing his life would benefit me, then I was sure he wouldn't hesitate to do it. Also, there was something about the way he looked at me that reminded me all too forcefully that no, he wasn't quite sane. Oh, he could appear sane, but he wasn't. I couldn't afford to forget that again. I lay on my bed and pretended to be sleepy, settling into the pillows with a small sigh of relief. Despite being a prisoner, I had to admit that it was a luxurious confinement, and the bed only proved it. A featherbed mattress cover, Egyptian cotton and silk comforter, and lots of feather pillows gave me a very comfortable bed, and sleeping in it or lying on it was absolute bliss. While I'd been ill, being in bed hadn't been that bad aside from the boredom. When Sebastian and I returned home, I would have to see to it that I obtained a featherbed like this one and once again, I marveled that I had never thought to try one before this.

I didn't know when I fell asleep, but I woke up and the room was dim. Sir Charles wasn't there and the whispers were what had woken me. Sighing, I left the bed, pulled on my shoes, and went in search of him. He wasn't in the study, parlor, or the library. Perhaps his bedroom? I turned toward it, but then I remembered that I hadn't seen Sebastian since his trip outside. I should check up on him, at the very least.

To say that he was glad to see me was a vast understatement. His face broke out into a smile as soon as he saw me. "Bocchan!"

"Hello, Sebastian," I said, taking a seat in the chair next to his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm healing," he said, relief written on every part of his face. "Are you all right, Bocchan?"

"Tolerable." I glanced at him and saw that he was still smiling. "What's wrong with you? You never smile this much!" In all truth, it was starting to make me as nervous as Sir Charles did.

"I'm just relieved to see you," he said, the smile fleeing his face. "I was afraid that I wouldn't see you before...well...hmm. I don't quite know how to tell you this, but I think Marcellus is planning something."

"That's no surprise," I said. "Do you know what it is?"

"It's something particular to demons," he said. "I think he may be planning to put me in thrall to him."

I stared at him. "Can demons do that to one another?"

"The higher orders can. Marcellus is what one could call either a 'duke' or 'prince' demon, and he would certainly have the power to do so."

I blinked. I knew that demons differed in power, but this was the first I'd heard of there being an actual ranking system. "What rank are you?"

"Marquis. That means that I'm more powerful than a good many demons, but there are still demons more powerful than I."

I nodded. "So, what does it mean for one demon to put another in thrall?"

"It means absolute obedience from the one in thrall," he said flatly. "I would have to obey his orders, even if that meant I had to disobey you."

I was staring again. "You would actually have to disobey me? Wouldn't that break our contract?"

"It would shatter it," he admitted. "Since no demon's ever broken a contract they had with a human master, I don't know what would happen to either of us if I broke it. I have a strong feeling that the Fates would not look kindly on someone who broke a contract, even if I was forced to do it."

I couldn't believe that I was hearing this. Sebastian actually sounded afraid! "What else does being in thrall mean?"

"It's somewhat similar to having a contract with a human, except that I would be the 'human,' so to speak," he stated. "I would never be able to hide from him since he would always be able to find me. It doesn't matter how far I travel or where I go, he would know where I was. He could either go to where I was, or he could compel me to go to him. If he ordered me to do something, then I would have to do it. There is no way a demon in thrall to another could resist. Also, he would know constantly how I am physically. He could tell if I was injured or ill, how much energy I have, and so on. I would be able to hide nothing from him, and he would know my strength at all times. If I tried attacking him or attempted to protect you from him, he could stop me with a word."

I thought about this. "What led you to believe that he was planning to do this?"

"He spends a great deal of time here when I'm asleep, and he rarely takes his eyes from me. When I was young, I'd learned about being in thrall and while it's taken me some time to remember all I'd learned about it, one of the ways a demon prepares to put another in thrall is by watching him as much as possible. Something about a demon's eyes on another demon prepares that one for thrall."

"Is it possible to break away from being in thrall?" I asked. I refused to believe that Marcellus...wait, I had to believe it, for my sake and Sebastian's.

"I've never heard of someone doing so," he confessed. "The only way I know of to end thrall is if the demon who put it in place ends it, but I doubt Marcellus will do that."

I doubted it, too. "Hmmm. This could be..."

"Bad," Sebastian said flatly. "Very, very bad, young master. It's so bad that it frightens me even to think about it. If he puts me in thrall, I may never be free again, and I may very well lose you. He could even use thrall to shatter my mind and use me against you in some way. Right now, you and I are both in danger."

I nodded. I could see that he believed it wholeheartedly and I could see that he was indeed frightened. I had never, ever seen him afraid. Not like this. I'd seen him worried on occasion and preoccupied, but not frightened. Some humanitarian impulse prompted me to take his hand, wrapping it in both of mine, the same way a parent would hold a child's hand when he is frightened of something. My action surprised Sebastian so much that he turned and stared at me. "Bocchan?"

"It will be all right, Sebastian," I said, and the irony in my situation was not lost on me. I was actually comforting a demon, who shouldn't need such comfort from his prey. "I know it seems hopeless, but I'm sure it will be fine."

"I don't see how," he said doubtfully.

My mind was working furiously, weighing several scenarios and possible outcomes. "I think it will," I repeated. "Sebastian, I have an order for you."

He looked at me. "I hope I'm able to obey it, Bocchan."

"Oh, you will be," I said. Really, this was the only option we had. I leaned close and whispered my order to him, and I could tell that it surprised him. His eyes widened and his eyebrows shot up, and he stared hard at me for a moment. Then, he smiled.

"Yes, my lord."