Until the very End

Chapter 14:
His Master gets rescued

I did not have much time to rest, since two more men, who until now stood in the background, closed up to me.

I flinched from them. In the meanwhile I tried to catch a sight of Grell, who obviously wasn't able to move yet. In front of him were the only two conspicuous men - the one man because he was capable of speaking English and the other because he resembled Agni. They conversed with each other. If that was now positive or negative, I wouldn't know.

But I had my own trouble. The two other Indians already came quite close and one of them even had a knife, with which he took a swing at me.

I saw that he targeted my chest, wherefore I attempted to parry.

During my training at home back in London I had learnt that it was important to anticipate the next step of the rival to see possible blow off or to dodge it.

I even felt certain to see the following blow off - if not suddenly this Ajith appeared by my side. Although everything went so fast, in my eye the event chain proceeded inexplicably in slow motion.

At first the Indian touched a spot at my arm like Agni did once during my fence battle with Soma.[1]

This entailed that a terrible pain shot through my arm. As a result I couldn't hold onto the dagger anymore, which was why he slid out of my hand. With a clanking sound it reached the ground.

Now utterly defenceless, I watched as the blade came closer. It was going to hit me within the next second. That was for sure.

Even the adrenalin in my veins couldn't help me now.

I shut my eyes tight.

In the next moment images of a certain person appeared automatically in front of my mind's eye. The only person who should have been there for me until the very end. But now that I came face to face with the end, this person wasn't there. The person I trusted the most and entrusted with everything. The one who knew all my facets. Who defended me when I was in danger. The person who was the most important one for me. The person who grew dear to my heart.

Sebastian!

A few seconds passed while I waited for the pain to appear. But nothing happened. I didn't feel the pain I should have felt. Therefore I hesitantly opened my left eye.

In front of me stood the Indian who just now wanted to attack me. He stared in confusion at his hand. The blade had disappeared.

In the meanwhile even the others eyed astonished the Indian's hand.

What had happened? Had Sebastian rescued me? Where was he?

I looked around but I couldn't find him.

Instead I saw Grell in a short distance of a few meters motionlessly lying on the floor. In his chest stuck a dagger and under him was a pool of blood.

I had to face the truth: If Grell didn't manage to take it up with these humans - if they even were human - I didn't have a slightest chance.

Especially since my arm hurt like hell yet. Moreover, the monsoon rain was still relentlessly dashing down on us. In addition, the Indians were in the majority.

Although the chances weren't high, I had at least the surprise effect.

Without wasting another second I bent down. With my left hand I picked up the dagger and stabbed forcefully into the body of the Indian, who still didn't comprehend the loss of his weapon. I heard as he coughed and felt how a warm liquid splashed onto my face. If I hadn't empty my stomach content yet, I would have do it at the latest right now. The thought of having blood of someone else on my body was extremely gross. But I must not stop now.

Two of them were defeated. Only four left. And those four headed my way now. Quickly I kicked against the body that was still stuck at my dagger, to free my weapon. Next I tried to hit this Ajith.

But before I could jab out, a foot hit me with such immense power that I darted backwards through the air and landed in the middle of mud.

Like ever so often, my sight darkened.

The Indian used the time I needed to recover myself. Before my sight cleared up, all four stood around me.

It was a terrible feeling. I was cold, a gross taste lingered on my tongue, despite the rain I was stained with blood and dirt, my whole body hurt and now those ungrateful rebels looked down at me like I was a verminous stray. The uneasy feeling inside me knew no limits.

The English-speaking Indian began to speak: "It is all the fault of you English bastards. How long should we bear this misery? You take everything we have, even want to dictate us our politics and religion! Due to your damned machines at your ever so lovely country, our hand-made is worth nothing anymore! So much for create new jobs! The plague you have dragged along at the very most. We will continue to fight for the freedom of our land until every of our men are killed. But it will never come thus far. When we perform revolt furthermore and apply enough pressure by doing sufficient of you buggers in, we will eventually achieve our deserved independence."[2]

His voice shook with rage, while he clenched his fists. He still starred with an appraising, but serious, gaze down at me. Then he lunged out and kicked me, hitting painfully my rips, which hurt from the day before anyway.

In the meanwhile I had utterly lost my jacket, my shirt as well as my medical eyepatch.

The other three Indians became likewise violent, didn't gave me any time to stand up or to say something.

'Why am I so weak? Why can't I do anything? Where are you, Sebastian?

"That's enough. If you may be so kind to let up on my master."

My heart skipped a beat as I heard the long-awaited voice.

"Se...bas...tian."

"That's right. Give me an order, Bocchan."

Seemingly out of nowhere Sebastian appeared behind me, building himself up in front of them. With his deep red eyes he looked into my bicoloured ones. Like incidental, he absorbed a kick, before it could hit my face. The time seemed to stop for a short moment and each cry of the confused Indians fell silent in my ears.

They probably were insecure due to the sudden appearance of my butler and backed off. Only the one, who was capable speaking English, proceeded to attack, after he had shouted: "What the...? Another of those damned British snots? Go to hell!"

Sebastian chuckled lowly and helped me up. After that he eyes my dirty body, while he furrowed his brow. "Young master, what a sight you are. From head to toe you are stained and entirely sodden. Such a unsightly manner doesn't behove for a noble" Sebastian commented, whereby he didn't even bother to act like he didn't know what had happened. Most probably he had watched me the entire time and only had waited for the convenient time to intervene and to play the shimmering hero. That was typical for him.

I wanted to reply something, but a new coughing fit shock my whole body. If Sebastian hadn't support me, my legs would have surely gave up. Calmly Sebastian pulled off his coat and wrapped it provisionally around my body.

Just in this moment the Indian lost his temper and ran at Sebastian.

"Sebastian. This is an order..." Despite my burning lungs, I immediately felt the tingle in my right eye and knew that the Faustian Contract was glowing purple. "Make those disrespectful villains pay for their sins."

"Yes, my lord!"

To be continued

[1] See Black Butler: Chapter 16, page 27

[2] India reached their independence in 1947.