Chapter 2: "A Gentleman's Bet"

A sudden interruption caused the moment to defuse as Tanaka, quite mysteriously, stood at the threshold of the Games Room in his usual dapper manner and butler attire. He cleared his throat before speaking. "We have visitors, my lords'," he said in his rich, gentlemanly voice.

A slight smile beamed on Sebastian's face as he suddenly sensed the mysterious visitors.

Ciel turned to Tanaka. "Whom? I am not expecting anyone today."

"They just arrived, Master Ciel. And they are waiting in the Drawing Room. I informed them that you were engaged at the moment and I would inquire if you were free, as it is proper to do so. Notwithstanding, the two gentlemen are not here to visit you, my lord."

Tanaka looked to Sebastian and Sebastian nodded. "Ask them to come here, Tanaka. I believe we are finished for the lessons for today."

Tanaka went to leave and then stopped. He smiled. "I believe they already knew your answer, Sebastian," the old butler said, and suddenly Braydon and Brandon, Sebastian's twin sons, appeared at the door. Tanaka left.

Despite his remote covenant with Ciel Phantomhive, Sebastian had led a previous life that resulted in matrimony to a human woman and three sons. Braydon and Brandon were his first-borns. He had third son, but he later had to destroy him because of Decco's sadistic, demonic ways.

Decco wanted to destroy Heaven and Earth and reign in Hell over Lucifer, but Sebastian couldn't allow that to happen. Therefore, he used his powers to send Decco back through time to Pompeii and at the time when Mount Vesuvius was erupting, removed his powers, and left him to die. He would also no longer be a threat to his new masters', the Phantomhive's. With aid from the First Prime of the Reaper High Council, an old friend, Braydon and Brandon then became Reapers, finding their place in the universe, despite their quarter-demon ancestry.

"Father," they said in unison, and greetings were had all around. Sebastian did not hug his sons, he felt to do so in front of the others would not be proper. So he merely shook his sons' hands.

"It is always nice to see you," Sebastian said. "Your visits are rare."

"We are quite busy," Braydon said. "William Spears, Head of Reaper Affairs, sends us out on missions frequently. And Uncle Altima has us doing administrative work after he was appointed First Prime. It is good we don't need sleep, for we couldn't afford the backlog."

Sebastian chuckled.

Ciel snorted, putting his hands on his hips apparently annoyed that all attention was directed away from him. Sebastian knew Ciel could be a spoiled little brat when he didn't get his way.

"Well?" he demanded. All eyes turned to him. Ciel eyed Lukas. "Accept or withdraw?! You answer, now!"

"You never back down, brother!" Lukas retorted.

"What's happening?" Brandon asked. There was a tension in the air. Sebastian explained everything about Ciel's challenge. "Excellent! After all our hard work, I could use a little light entertainment!"

Ciel sneered. "It will not be 'light entertainment'! It will be a duel of honor between opponents and to the victor the spoils!"

Lukas's brow furrowed. "What spoils?" he demanded.

Ciel curled a smile. "Quite simply, the privilege of calling oneself Lord of the Manor."

Lukas narrowed his gaze. "You must be joking, Ciel. You already have that distinction. I have no desire to take it away from you. Don't be so jealous of me!"

"I am not jealous of you, Lukas; far from it, in fact. But we need a final judgment. It is the first born who rules the family. We do not know who was born first, despite we are fraternal twins."

"You're acting foolish, Ciel. If you want that title, it's yours!"

"It must be earned. Accept or withdraw to my challenge? It will be my Sabre versus your Tanto, in a battle to see who is best with their sword."

Lukas shook his head. "You give me no recourse, brother. I must accept. But even when I win, it will not change things. You will still be head of the family."

"We shall see who is the better, Lukas. And I don't intend to lose, either!"

When all departed the Games Room, respectfully, to allow Sebastian and his sons to catch up, the three stood talking, firstly, about what each had been doing while apart, and then to the current issue - that involving the young Phantomhive lords.

"Why is Ciel Phantomhive so competitive?" Braydon inquired. "He has everything a young boy would want at this age - privilege, status and wealth. But he always wants more."

"That is his nature, son," Sebastian spoke, "it is inbred in him. Much like his parents, I'm afraid. Only recently has Ciel found lost family and he feels he must prove he is better. Lukas is his twin and brother's often fight."

"So it all drums down to sibling rivalry," Brandon said.

Sebastian nodded. "One-sided, you see. Lukas has no interest in power. Ciel has yet to come to grips with no longer being alone in the world. Perhaps this is what drove him prior, for it was the anger that resided in him before that deep hatred that originally drew me to him that gave him unwavering strength. Now he realizes that his actions may have dire consequences for his family if he lashes out. This scares him, I know."

Brandon folded his arms across his chest. "Braydon, have I ever given you just cause to act in a similar fashion towards me?"

"No," he answered. "We are equal. And we have no throne to claim."

"Our brother Decco was misguided."

Sebastian signed, he looked reflective.

"Do you regret your decision to destroy our brother, father?" Braydon asked. "I feel it was a just punishment."

Brandon agreed, nodded. "He was dangerous."

"I do not regret it; it had to be done for the sake of others' safety, and all that is concurrent. He also attempted to kill you. I could not allow this. Morning Star, or someone else, manipulated Decco, even before he was born. I sensed an evil influence in your Mother's womb as he developed. Decco murdered your Mother. I knew he had to be destroyed before his power grew. In retrospect, I believe Morning Star was naïve to have Belial educate and train Decco, but he will not admit so."

"He deserved what he got!" Brandon said with a hint of bitterness.

Even though he was a demon, Brandon still had feelings. And Sebastian understood that still residing hostility that resided in his sons, more so with Brandon, in what Decco had done to Kassandra Smythe, their mother. And he knew there would always been animosity there. But Decco was dead. And there lay the problem, there was a hole inside his son's hearts. Every boy loved his mother and wanted to protect her. Brandon had once said he wished he could have been the one that killed Decco.

"Anger is only natural. You are two-thirds human, son. But do not let it fester inside. I'll do not good." Sebastian smiled inwardly. "Ironic, do you not think? A demon saying such a thing?"

Brandon put a hand on Sebastian's right shoulder and smiled. "There's an exception to every rule, and a change in every heart, father. People, like history, change over time. Be them human or demon."

Sebastian was glad Ciel Phantomhive wasn't here to hear that. While his son was right, he didn't want to appear soft in front of his master. Especially when the boy's soul was to belong to him after every one of Ciel's enemies were rid of. And he did not have regrets about it.

"Unlike you two, I do not have the luxury of negating human souls for food," Sebastian said. "I must still feed on them. I have nibbled on a soul here and there since I have made my covenant with Ciel Phantomhive, but his is soul is as tasty as a full-course dinner."

"You mean the darkness that resides within because of all the bitterness and hatred he has towards those who murdered his parents," Braydon murmured. "It is quite a shame that eventually the boy will have nothing for his efforts. It was not his fault."

Sebastian nodded. "It was Ciel's will that summoned me when the Inner Circle attempted to kill him. Ciel Phantomhive ordered me to kill them and their blood was our bond for the covenant. The Inner Circle did not foresee their flaw; no one can control a demon."

Braydon looked at Brandon, and Brandon reached into his pocket for a small paper bag. "We're not supposed to do this, but hopefully this will quiet your hunger for the time being."

He gave the bag to Sebastian. Sebastian reached in and pulled out a small piece of fruit that looked like an apricot. Sebastian smiled. "Thank you; with every visit, you bring a piece of fruit, Ambrosia. And it does help." Ambrosia only grew on trees in Reaperdum, a world between the living and dead.

Sebastian devoured the fruit and licked his lips. And instantly his hunger diminished. His sons' desires were completely eliminated by eating this fruit, but Ambrosia only worked on Sebastian for a short time.

"Thank you, I do feel better," Sebastian said.

"Ambrosia would never have worked on Decco," Braydon said. "He had too much bloodlust and hatred for everyone. I wonder why he was this way?"

"Some children are just different. You two are special."

Braydon and Brandon blinked shocked. It was very much out of character for their father to say that. However, Sebastian said it so nonchalantly that it appeared to not register on an emotional level with him. He was a man of such proper edict and refinement.

No words were spoken about it.

"A wager," he said, breaking the air. "Who would you choose? Ciel Phantomhive or Lukas Phantomhive?"

The twins looked at each curious and surprised. "A bet, father?" Brandon asked and smiled. "Are you wagering on who would win the duel?"

"Indeed. Who do you think is the stronger? Lukas: with his skill and tactics as an assassin for Bryon Kelvin? Or Ciel: with his fortitude and cunning nature?"

"Hard choice," Braydon said. He put a hand to his chin in thought. "I would say Lukas because of his history and the Tanto, the small Japanese sword. Ciel's Sabre will be no match for such a weapon. It's weak against such a strong weapon, feeble and thin."

Brandon agreed.

"Then I shall choose Ciel Phantomhive," Sebastian said.

Brandon eyed his father curiously. "You were going to choose the opposite of whomever we chose no matter what, weren't you?"

"How would a wager be made if we both bet on the same?" Sebastian smirked thinly. "It will be a Gentleman's bet for a pound."

The twins smiled. "Agreed," they said in unison.

"Then may the best Phantomhive win."

To be continued...