Author's Note: Just a head's up - disturbing theme up ahead.

Chapter 55

Ciel and the demons rode on tiger beasts, quickly traversing miles of the barren wasteland towards Claude's mansion. Claude rode in front while Sebastian and Raiden rode on either side of her. With such powerful demons for protection, Ciel did not worry about their safety and easily fell into introspection, remembering their argument the day before.

"Ciel this is madness!" Sebastian thundered.

"Whether you admit it or not, this is foolhardy at best and downright suicidal at most" Raiden seconded.

"Claude is every bit as proud as either of you. For him to go to such lengths must mean that he truly needs my help" Ciel reasoned.

"And perhaps he's willing to sacrifice all pride for the sake of wreaking vengeance upon me, even if it means grovelling at your feet" Sebastian spat.

"There are very few circumstances that would make me lower my pride like this and none of them pertain to you Sebastian" Claude said, a look of haughty disdain clearly visible on his face.

Sebastian snarled like a vicious animal preparing to attack and Claude readied himself as well. But Ciel stepped between them before Raiden could hold her back.

"Stop this both of you! Coming to blows won't solve anything" Ciel snapped.

"It would make me feel better" Sebastian snarked. Ciel gave him a reprimanding look and the demon lapsed into glowering silence.

"At the very least" Ciel said wearily "I should see if he does indeed have a human at his mansion needing my help."

"But you don't owe this human anything, if there really is one" Raiden said, confused.

"How can I live with myself if I had condemned some poor soul to suffering simply because I was afraid of taking a risk?" Ciel asked.

"But you're not the one who put this person in this situation. Why should you do anything about it?" Raiden asked in return.

"Because I can. You demons might not agree, but for me this is the right thing to do" was Ciel's simple answer. "I know I am far weaker than anybody here and at the end of the day, I might not be able to do anything at all. But I can at least try."

The demons could only look at her in awe, each thinking This must be why humans still survive despite their weakness, beacuse they would never give up no matter the odds, no matter how slim the chance or how faint the hope.

There was no arguing with that so the brothers could only acquiesce to her wishes with one condition - they will go with her.

And so Ciel found herself racing across the plains of the netherworld. Claude led their little band in desperate haste, the brothers riding along in grim acceptance.

In no time at all the mansion was in sight. Claude has since rebuilt but this time, the architectural design was a bit more subdued. Sevants took their mounts as soon as they dismounted.

Claude, aware that he was the supplicant in this situation, offered them refreshments albeit reluctantly. But the trio refused, the brothers due to their distrust of their host while Ciel was anxious over the human. Without further delay, Claude led them into the drawing room.

This was probably the most lavishly appointed room in the mansion. Lush carpet, floor to ceiling silk wallpaper and embroidered brocade drapes gave the room an opulent air. The centre table was laden with pastries served on fine china, leather-bound books and other finely crafted trinkets. But everyone's attention was on the boy of about fourteen years old sitting on the floor while staring intently at the fire in the fireplace. His blond hair was tousled and the clothes he wore, although of fine quality, were wrinkled as if he hasn't changed in days.

"Alois some guests are here to see you" Claude began but the boy did not so much as bat an eyelash to acknowledge their presence. "Alois did you hear me?" the demon said frustratedly.

Ciel signaled that they should all leave and when the door was closed, she rounded upon Claude immediately.

"What did you do to that child?!" she said, her anger evident in her voice.

"I didn't do anything!" he denied vehemently.

"He isn't merely suffering Claude! That child is someone who has lost all hope. I know because I've been there myself. You better have a good explanation or I swear..." but Claude cut off her tirade.

"This is exactly why I brought you here! He barely eats, he just sits there all day. At this rate, he'll die of starvation before my very eyes and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm at my wit's end!" Claude raged.

The three were convinced of his sincerity so they went to the library to talk. When they were all settled, Claude began.

After his fight with Sebastian, Claude fled to the human world. Weak and wounded, he could only take the form of a spider before he collapsed in the forest. When he next awoke, he found himself housed in a tiny wooden box in an empty room. There was dust and cobwebs everywhere, the meagre light came from a tiny window with grimy glass. As he wondered how he came to be here, the door opened and revealed a human child. About 6 or 7 years old, he had blond hair and light blue eyes. Fearlessly or perhaps naively, the child approached the demon and gushed "Oh good you're awake! I brought you a treat" and promptly dropped a dead butterly in front of him.

The child radiated good cheer. Claude, still smarting from his loss, wanted to disdain the pitiful offering but he was hungry and beggars can't be choosy. Watching him eat, the child was marvelously entertained, chattering away as if they were old friends. The demon tuned him out, wondering how soon he could regain his strength. Suddenly the door opened and an older blond boy entered in a rush. Their looks were similar and Claude was right in assuming they were brothers.

"Luka! I was looking all over for you!" he said.

Hearing the anger in his voice, the younger boy began to cry, noisily apologizing "I'm sorry Alois! I just wanted to feed my pet."

The older one relented and hugged his younger brother "It's alright Luka. Just don't disappear like that again. I was worried about you."

Claude later learned that he was in the attic and that they were keeping his existence a secret. As long as they continued to feed him and leave him alone, Claude wasn't interested in what they were up to. Despite his self-absorption, Claude found himself wondering where their parents were for no adult ever came up to the attic. Because he was still weak, he could not go and satisfy his curiosity. He also wondered why the older one was always so worried when his brother is out of his sight even for a few minutes.

As the days passed, Claude was shocked to realize that he was beginning to take an interest in the boys. No human had ever grabbed his attention before with the exception of Ciel and that was because of her connection to Sebastian. But Claude excused himself believing that he was simply bored and the boys were his only source of entertainment.

But with the passing of weeks, his interest only intensified instead of waning. He got to know them very well, even the things they were trying to hide. He noticed that Alois would sometimes have bruises on his body hence his penchant for wearing long sleeves despite the warm weather. On the rare times that Luka noticed, his concern was easily brushed aside by a few little white lies. The demon also became aware of a cloyingly sweet smell that clung to Alois occasionally. Most of the time, Alois does not wear perfume and this did not seem like something the boy would choose to wear. On the days that this happened, Alois would visit the attic alone, no matter the time of day or night. He would sit in a corner, quiet and unmoving, his eyes staring blankly at the wall. When it came time for him to leave, he would move slowly and visibly brace himself before opening the door. Claude cursed his weakness because he can't go and find out what is happening downstairs. His curiosity is eating at him and there's nothing he can do about it.