Posted On: 2-21-18 At: 1:00 PM
(USA CST; GMT: -6:00)
A/N:
Hi! Sorry it took longer than normal- I had a writers block.
To the guest who just reviewed:
"A3O" is the acronym for the website called: "An Archive Of Our Own" The "3O" stands for the: "Of Our Own" part. I am under the same username there. All of the Sebastian x Mey-Rin Lemons are in their rightful chapters, though, not posted separately.
I just cut the lemons out before posting on this website. There is a Ciel x Lizzie lemon, though that is posted separately.
I have said the full name of the website before, but you might have missed it. It was in an earlier chapter, at least one of the earlier ones, if not more.
Anyway- I wrote a Valentine's Day story for Sebastian x Mey-Rin and Ciel x Lizzie- however... I think I will wait to post it, now. Since it is technically an epilogue, of sorts, for Redemption. So I won't post it just yet, sorry. If you want a one shot lemon for Ciel and Lizzie, though you can find it on my A3O account. Called "Belated Wedding Night."... Well, it's actually a longer title, than that- but that's the important part of the title.
When reading THIS chapter, however, please keep in mind that I am still trying to keep Sebastian in character mostly. The name of this chapter is inspired by: "Tears Of An Angel" the Amy Guess version. I do not have any connection to the song or musical artist.
Also, some of Sebastian and Gabriel's discussion is inspired (with some (not all) of the wording used in parts)- by the discussion between Jeanne d'arc/Leticia/Ruler & Sieg and the discussion between Sieg, Astolfo & Mordred all from around episode 17-19 of Fate: Apocrypha- I take no credit for the quotes that I used parts of, from that series.
I tried to insert a bit of humor, using Grell. I was hoping it would balance the darker aspects of this chapter. Don't know if it worked, or not. The next chapter will likely be dark for at least the first half.
I did originally have Lizzie's situation at the start of this chapter.
But, I thought that would be too much of a massive slap in the face of the readers, first thing, right off the bat.
So, I moved it to after Sebastian's talk with Gabriel and Undertaker, as well as his "fight" with Grell. And put that first, instead.
If anyone is confused about the characters' (Sebastian, Lucifer, Ciel, Lizzie and Mey-Rin) connections to angels, I think I put notes about it in the last chapter, but otherwise, feel free to ask me and I'll try to make it a bit more understandable.
But, Lizzie is the human with the most angelic blood in her veins (well, her brother, as well. But Labolas had easier access to her, than Edward, and likes messing with those around Mey-Rin).
Ciel has less than she does, because he only has it on his father's side. Whereas, Lizzie has it through both her mother and father's sides. It's also why she is so good at fighting. She is related to both Mey-Rin AND Sebastian, through their Angel relatives.
Also- If anyone thinks that this is too violent or graphic, please let me know. NICELY. And I will edit it. I have seen things much more violent on this site.
But this is the first time I have written a story so violent. I am nervous about posting this because of that. And- Just a head's up: I will be posting chapter #13 and #14 TOGETHER. I will NEVER (Unless I can't help it for some reason) post a 13th chapter then work on the 14th. I have BAD triskaidekaphobia (Triskaidekaphobia (also being referred to as 13-digit phobia) is the irrational fear of the number 13.)
Trigger Warnings:
- Violence.
- Grell Chaos!
- Pissed Off Sebastian!
- Religious views and anti-religious views stated (it is a discussion between a soul reaper, an angel and a demon, after all. And gets pretty heavy.
- Some graphic/semi graphic scenes are implied, shown and mentioned. Torture MENTIONED (including rape/molestation (not detailed, but it is STRONGLY implied), limbs missing (not detailed), mental and physical abuse.)
If you want to skip it- use the CTRL+F (or the "find" option on a Mobile device) and type in:
{{Lizzie was physically ill.}} - minus the brackets. After that, it's not too bad...
- The Death of a Canon SIDE CHARACTER.
- Soul devouring!
- Blood drinking!
A final note:
About the religious discussion in this chapter. I hope it does not come off as one side is good and the other bad. It is not my intention to place halos on demons or demonize angels. Its to show, that each side: one being mostly dark and evil, and the other being mostly goodness and light- has a little of it's opposite in it, that its NOT completely black and white, evil and good. I'm trying to keep myself somewhat neutral.
Religiously, I am MOSTLY Christian.
However, I would not fit myself into that box alone.
I have beliefs from Shinto, Pagan and some new age thoughts, AS WELL. Not just Christian.
So I don't want someone going off on me for trying to make one side out to be worse than the other.
.
Chapter#12: Tears Of An Angel...
.
2:07PM- January 1st
Bard and Finny found Mey-Rin and Marchosias. The demon was in his poodle form, both were shivering (right about now, the demon really pitied real poodles). Finny looked around for Lizzie, but Bard said they'd have to come back for her.
The maid and the dog were both going into shock from the cold. Bard handed the poodle to Finny, and then he scooped Mey-Rin into his arms, after one last glance around.
Then, he and Finny headed back to where Tanaka, Paula, Vepar and Ciel waited for them...
Bard was very worried about Lizzie. But he knew from experience: handle one thing at a time.
Around the same time that Bard and Finny found Mey-Rin and Marchosias:
Sebastian walked back into the clearing where the angel and the Undertaker were waiting for him... Then he had to try to hide his sudden amusement (despite the situation), at the realization that the thought sounded like the start to a bad joke.
'An Angel and an Undertaker are sitting in a pub, when a Demon walks in...'
He thought with some amusement, then glanced at the two, when he was finally before them again.
"Do you know where he took Lady Elizabeth?"
He asked them with an arched eyebrow, as he came to a stop in front of the 2 with a hand going to rest on one of his hips. The smirk at his earlier thought, barely hidden... Gabriel nodded... But she was eyeing him more carefully.
"Jadon... Or... Demon-who-was-once-the-human-known-as-Jadon."
Sebastian gave a mocking bow at that. She ignored him to go on with what she was saying.
"- You seem more sinister now, than a few minutes ago... Your demeanor has changed..."
She said as the Undertaker brandished his scythe, Sebastian stopped the rebel reaper in his tracks, though, with a look, then he crossed his arms.
"When Mey-Rin is close by me, it seems that my humanity, or, whatever is left of it anyway, resurfaces. When she isn't... Well... You can assume the rest..."
He let himself trail off, his meaning obvious, as he allowed a grin that showed his fangs slightly.
Both beings before him blinked their eyes, was his form wavering? He seemed somewhat blurred!
"-Anyway... I need to eat SOMETHING, if I am going to deal with the damned demon who ruined my life! And while it would hurt me to go after the 2 of you, I-"
He took a step towards them, then stopped and blinked as the Undertaker held a large flask out to him, in the hand not holding his scythe. Practically shoving it into the demon's shifting face.
"Water won't help, Shinigami."
Snapped Sebastian, almost sneering at the former death god.
"That's good, then. Because those, my demon "friend" are souls."
He said, eyeing Sebastian coolly from behind his long pale bangs.
'His human form is unstable. He's too weak to fully maintain it!'
The Undertaker realized the unnerving reason for him to be wavering. Glancing at Gabriel, he could see that she had the same realization. If they were dealing with an unstable demon... The angel beside him suddenly turned her back on them as Sebastian took the flask, she looked slightly pained, upon hearing that there were souls within it.
"What sort of souls?"
Asked the demon.
'Mana, how could you!'
Gabriel thought at the Undertaker. He frowned, able to read her thoughts.
"Evil ones, from the depths of my pagan realm of death-"
Said Mana- his obnoxious Undertaker persona still in place as he glanced back to Sebastian. He wanted Gabriel to know that they were not souls from her faith.
"- I can't (and wouldn't do it, if I could) take any, who were headed for heaven-"
Mana added with a quick look at Gabriel, then he continued...
"- However, those of shinigami, atheists, and from my own, original religion, are attainable for me."
He finally finished.
"I'll examine them later."
Said the demon butler, he would not consume souls (of ANY sort) with others watching him... especially a pair of angels.
He hated having to break his fast, as it was... He had been looking forward to Ciel's soul! Sebastian loved Mey-Rin.
However... He also resented her a bit, at the moment. She had tricked him out of the Soul that he'd been working so hard to obtain! Once he had stated that about the souls- the angel looked back at them both, while he took the flask from the Undertaker and slid it into the waistband of his pants.
"You were saying...? Lady archangel?"
Said Sebastian, sarcastically, eyeing her. She, in turn, eyed him apprehensively.
"I know where my trumpet is... He wants Elizabeth to blow it 4 times. That's the signal for St. Peter to open the larger gates of heaven, for the army. I am unable to return without the Trumpet, either, so I cannot even alert them of this issue... Elizabeth HAS to be near the trumpet, though... He took her, because the angelic blood is more concentrated, in her, then within Mey-Rin.
"So, you're useless, like most angels."
"Excuse me?!"
Sebastian pointed a gloved hunger at her, she took a step back from him automatically.
"You and your lot rule from on high, ignoring prayers from humans who really need the help. That's why us demons and fallen angels can so easily influence them! That's why there are shinigami in the first place!
Poor unfortunate souls who could not gain the kindness or help here in this life: they ended their pitiful existences and are cursed to suffer for it.
That's why I am currently contracted to a broken, human boy, who was molested for well over a month. Tortured! Every sex act you could THINK of, was performed on him by men and women, alike! All of it was forced upon him. He prayed for help from your god... And NONE came from you lot. He is your great-grandson-!"
At that, Mana looked away, his eyes sad. Gabriel flinched, looking pained, and a bit unsure as Sebastian went on, a black mist was rising, slowly, from the demon's body.
"- And his pleas were ignored by everyone, but ME! A lowly demon.
I was the only one who answered his cries! And the same thing happened when I lost my father (who was senselessly murdered while constructing King Solomon's DAMNED TEMPLE to your bastard God!) and then when I lost my lover: Allonia!
I was ignored by EVERYONE, when I prayed and begged!
Everyone except for a damn DEMON, that is.
And it's the same for me, as it is for Ciel and Elizabeth- I was apparently related to the commander of the archangels! Michael is a lazy piece if shi-!"
"The demon who set Allonia's death into motion-"
Gabriel started, Sabastian slammed a fist into a nearby tree, causing it to shudder violently. His face taking on a feline shape, then shifting back. Though his eyes remained cat-like and brilliantly red. Were his fangs bigger, as well?! The angel startled, jumping back a bit more at his sudden display of violence. His first created a dent in the tree when he hit it. Then he went on, as if she had not spoken.
"- AS I WAS SAYING: he is a piece of shit, angel, who won't help anyone with his blood. Let alone those without it!
Not me, not my young lord, and not lady Elizabeth!
He even cast his own twin brother into hell!
And, as far as I'm concerned, he started this mess by harming Lucifer and leaving him to rot in that dark realm.
All Lucifer did was challenge your god on some issues! Dooming countless other angels who sided with Lucifer to the same damn fate! No human should trust you lot any more than they should, a demon! Less than a demon, in fact!"
"The thirst of their souls shall be quenched, the hunger of their souls shall be fulfilled, in being faithful to the lord!"
Gabriel started, ignoring the demons derisive snort. Mana, seeing the demon's form becoming more unstable, tried to stop her, but she went on.
"- Salvation will be brought to those, who are trapped in suffering within the darkness, some day! Being faithful to our lord will bring songs of joy upon the righteous, silence upon the immoral! Humans have free will, Jadon... They have to be left to find their own salvation and to seek our help when they ne-"
She startled.
"You're just spouting nonsense now, Gabriel-"
"NO! While yes, I have seen it time and time again, Jadon! What you witnessed when my great-grandson summoned you: the ability for humans to excuse themselves for doing cruel, irredeemable things to others is indeed HORRIBLE.
It is an unfortunate trait that all humans possess in some capacity. I beg you, though! No matter what! Please do not give up on us angels, or on humans!
You are making us out to be the villains. You were not, Ciel was NOT.... Elizabeth IS NOT forsaken we-"
"I sure as hell have been forsaken! I won't be forgiven, not now that I'm a demon! No one in heaven would think about forgiving all of my many sins! Nor would I want any forgiveness from your kind! I'll do as I damn well please, so will my young master. He is MINE, and I'm not letting you take him! I'll be damned if i-"
"You already are. You're a demon, my boy."
Said the Undertaker, earning a glare from the both of them.
"- That is not helping, Mana..."
The beautiful angel hissed softly. Then looked at the irate demon.
"- Jadon... Just, please, PLEASE, stop trying to further corrupt people!"
"I have never intentionally lied to my young master, nor will I. Ever. And I gave up on your kind a LONG time ago. I wouldn't be a damned demon, if I had not given up on you lot!"
Mana frowned, she was being careless, provoking the demon.
"- While they may have their flaws there is some good in them. Losing faith in humanity is easy. Simply hating them is even easier. But continuing to love them can be EXTREMELY difficult.
I still have faith in them, despite that. Their free will shall redeem them and-"
He slapped her. She blinked wide eyes at him, her hand going to her badly bleeding cheek. His claws had scratched her there. He watched her, daring her to react as he licked the blood from his claws. It burned going down, but his form stabilized a bit. Sebastian smiled.
'Great, now he's had a taste of her blood-'
The shinigami thought grimly as the demon licked his lips, eyeing the angel.
"Humans are humans, deciding on what's right and what's wrong is entirely circumstantial to those creatures. I should know, remember? I used to be human, myself.
Their like animals, though with the capacity to reason, unlike animals.
All their actions are based entirely on self-interest. I have never met a human in all my centuries of being alive, who has NOT been that way!
Even King Solomon from my era as a living human, was like that! They often forget the favors that they have to repay. They'll hold onto grudges forever. Such selfish creatures... Are they really worth your faith and protection?!"
"- I-"
She paused, and he gave her a smug, sarcastic grin, Sebastian knew she couldn't say much to that.
He laughed shortly. It was a somewhat bitter laugh.
"You people RARELY help when, and where IT IS ACTUALLY NEEDED! You can't even answer the pleas of a child being slowly tortured and molested over and over again with many other children... If you can't answer the pleas of a man whose father was needlessly murdered, and then the cries for vengeance and the reason why his lover, who was brutally raped and murdered, had to be taken from him...! WHAT USE ARE YOU LOT?!"
Demanded the irate Demon. Then he went on. He was circling them, now.
"- It's the free will of the person begging you for the help, to do so! It's their free will, Gabriel! It's also the free will of their tormentors to do that to them.
Which party's free will outweighs the other?! The wish of those begging you for help should outweigh the wish of those doing the evil to them!"
"I-"
"- Also- there was a contradiction to what you told me earlier, mighty archangel Gabriel!
You stated that when Allonia died I was supposed to end my life and be reincarnated with her! If I had ended my existence, though, I would not have been reincarnated with her-"
The demon said, still walking slowly around the two of them...
'It's like he's stalking us...'
The Undertaker thought, tightening his hold on the scythe. He could strongly sense the barely suppressed anger and violence simmering just under Sebastian's surface.
"- I would have been a shinigami, myself... Wouldn't I?"
The demon went on.
"Well, I-"
The angel tried again, but once more, she was cut off.
"- Since they are people who have ended their lives, it makes sense that I would have become a shinigami! So, tell me: why should I believe an angel from a god who ignores those in pain and fear, and a former pagan death deity- turned shinigami?"
At that, he and Manannan eyed each other as the demon went on still.
"- Why should I rely on what you say? I'll take these souls. I'll use them. But I need a blood offering, as well. I am not strong enough to go after lord Glasya-Labolas, as is!
These souls, are NOT enough! Vepar placed herself at great risk to pull me back here, through the gates of hell.
She used the young master's blood as an offering, but she could only use a small amount, else her own powers would have NOT been easily subdued... As it was I had to have se-... Well, it doesn't matter. I got her powers under control, finally..."
He stopped circling them and the Undertaker snickered slightly.
"He has a point, Gabby!"
He laughed. She glared at the two of them. Then sighed. She opened her mouth to speak, but Sebastian clasped a hand over it, his skin burning slowly and starting to blister from touching a holy creature.
In the same instance the blade of the death scythe was rested against his wrist. The shinigami smirked darkly at the demon, emerald-green eyes meeting blood-red.
"Hands off, Demon..."
The Undertaker told Sebastian in a low, deadly calm voice. All 3 were perfectly still.
"Demons, are more honest, than either: humans, or angels-"
Said Sebastian. They both watched him.
"If we are going to kill something-"
He said in a low voice.
"- we inform it of that fact, first! We are true to ourselves, if we want sex we say so. We take what we want and offer compensation of some sort, for our pleasure! It doesn't matter what we do to the humans, as long as we grant their selfish desires, first.
And they are happy with the outcome, while we attain what WE want! If we're lying, we tell our prey not to trust us...
It is THEIR CHOICE to listen to us, or not. It is THEIR FREE WILL the free will that you in the heavens keep prizing so much, that we work with, with these humans! We-"
"Can I join in on the fun, Sebas~CHAN?!"
Just then, the 3 broke apart as a chainsaw was swung between them following that shrill male voice. Undertaker grabbed Gabriel and jumped out of harm's way with her in his arms.
"T-thank you, Mana..."
She said as he set her on her feet and pushed her behind him. Sebastian had jumped as well, landing in a tree on a branch with his wrist bleeding profusely.
It was cut to the bone from the chain saw. Glaring at the redheaded creature with its shark-like teeth and glasses that shielded emerald green eyes... Who was wielding the repulsive weapon. The demon sucked the blood dripping from his own slashed wrist, while crouching on the tree branch. He did not need more blood loss!
"I swear, you are a plague on all that is holy AND un-holy, Grell Sutcliffe!"
Snapped the irate demon, once he had time to allow his wrist to heal. Even though he was beyond pissed off, he kept his voice as neutral as it usually was, and there was even some slight amusement in the demon's tone.
"Don't be so mean, Bassy! I just want to be with you! And to help you!"
"Sorry... I'm not, nor will I ever, be interested in genderless freaks! I do not need THAT sort of help... Do go away."
He snapped as he back flipped out of the tree just as the offended Grell went after him with it's chainsaw, it smashed into the tree branch that the demon had just been occupying, splintering it.
Undertaker pushed Gabriel further behind himself, his scythe at the ready. But, as usual... Grell was fixated on Sebastian. The archangel tugged at his sleeve.
He glanced at her out of the corner of his green eyes.
"Stop them!"
He gave her a slightly amused look, then.
"I'm crazy, my love, not insane! Let them kill each other! It's more fun that way!"
She responded by slapping him upside the head.
"We NEED Sebastian alive and in one piece! Remember ELIZABETH?!"
"That baby-reaper is no match for him..."
He pointed out. She crossed her arms.
"Do you really want him to consume a shinigami's soul? There would be no controlling him!"
"He'd never take that one's soul. There is something seriously wrong with it! He might catch something from it, Gabby!"
He pointed out to his former lover, sounding outraged at that thought.
"He's a starving Demon, Mana! They will eat ANYTHING!"
She said, and that made him pause. He glanced back. It WOULD be an interesting experiment, to see what a demon would be like, after consuming a shinigami's soul... But- did they really want it to be THAT demon and THAT shinigami?
"You're being mean, Bassy! Let me cut you a little!"
Came the shrill cry of the overly enthusiastic soul reaper, along with the response of:
"You already cut me, you fool. Go bother someone else! William is calling you!"
"Nice try, Bassy, but he's on a mission! Oooooo! I almost caught you that time! Come on, its not proper manners, to make a lady chase you!"
"If you're a lady: I'm a SAINT!"
Said the annoyed demon. Then there was the sound of swearing from the demon and the sound of more poor trees falling victim...
"Mana!"
"I was thinking, Gabby!"
"Go. And. Separate. Them!"
She snapped, shaking his arm. He sighed, but did as asked. Within minutes, he had both the demon and his own junior shinigami pinned to one large tree with his scythe at both of their throats.
"Are you two going to play nicely?"
He asked, fully aware that it was a loaded question.
"I can play nice. I can play bad... I'll do anything for Sebas~Chan! I can do bondage, as well, and I can-!"
"Die!"
Hissed the demon, they both quieted as the Undertaker applied enough pressure to their throats with his scythe, to draw blood from the both of them.
"Been sharpening your weapon, haven't you?!"
Grell said, and choked a bit, as more pressure was applied.
"Shall we try that again? Or do you both want me to behead you?"
He asked them with a raised eyebrow. In answer, Sebastian vanished and reappeared by the archangel, who was around 50 feet away from Mana, now.
Before anyone could react, he had grabbed her by the hair, exposed her throat and had bitten her. She stood frozen as he consumed her blood and absorbed her powers, along with some of her memories, as well.
"Ooooo! No fair, I want Bassy to bite ME too!"
Squealed Grell as the Undertaker was radiating rage. He released Grell and turned towards Sebastian, swinging his scythe threateningly. The demon, still holding the angel, finished and backed off. His lips and hands where he had touched her were burned.
They were blistering from burns that would eventually heal. She slumped into the Undertaker's arms as the shinigami eyed Sebastian.
"Now I know where to find the horn..."
Sebastian said a bit shakily but with a cocky slight grin, and then he was gone an instant later.
"Are you ok, Gabby?"
"I'm ok... He consumed enough of my blood to gain the ability to sense the horn, I think. At least he only took blood- and not flesh, as well, I can heal this fairly quickly... It hurt him a great deal more than it did, me. Hurt him emotionally, and physically, to do what he just did... We're like poison to human-born-demons."
She said as Grell raged behind them and then took off looking for Sebastian.
"Well... I suppose I will let him be. He was right about some of what he said, you know, Gabby. That was a contradiction... Why did you expect him to believe you about his reincarnating if he had ended his own life, when he was still Jadon?"
She looked at him.
"Shinigami did not exist yet, Mana. That was before the first shinigami was created... Before you were turned from a pagan god into a shinigami! Also... He was of Michael's blood line. It would have been preferable for him to die and reincarnate, rather than fall into the hands of Michael's twin brother: Lucifer, becoming a powerful demon in his own right. Let alone become one of the demons who was considered an extension of Lucifer... Which he currently is."
He frowned slightly.
"Would he have realized that from taking your blood?"
She nodded.
"That's what I meant when I said it hurt him emotionally... He'll learn things he should not have known..."
She said sadly. She felt for Jadon... Or, for the creature that had once been Jadon...
Sebastian re-materialized in an alleyway, in London. He collapsed, crying from the pain that the angel's blood was causing him. He fumbled with the flask and tipped it to his lips, consuming the souls within. Hoping it would ease the pain.
It did not help much. He stumbled out if the alley and collapsed into the arms of a prostitute.
In a building in a seedy part of London:
(Note: I don't like posting these, mid story, however, a reminder: Lizzie's predicament is cause for a warning- some graphic/semi graphic scenes are implied and mentioned. Also, a warning (again), for the death of a canon side character- if you want to skip it- use the CTRL+F (or the "find" option on a Mobile device) and type in: {{Lizzie was physically ill.}}- minus the brackets. After that, it's not too bad...
4:27PM- Jan- 1st
When Lizzie came to, while in Labolas' "care" and he noticed that she was awake: he grabbed the wounded girl and forced a kiss on her. She tried to fight him off, but he kissed her hungrily and demanding, biting her lips hard enough to make her bleed- when she gasped from the pain, his tongue forced its way into her mouth.
From that point on, she felt like she was drowning as she tried to shove his insistent tongue out. He sucked her own, into his mouth, retracted his own, then he bit her tongue hard.
She screamed in the back of her throat and through her nose as he consumed the blood that flooded into their mouths from her tongue.
A trail of it slid from between their lips. She cried as his tongue darted back into her mouth once more. Finally, he released her, the kiss breaking with their tongues still extended, the saliva connecting their lips before the string finally broke.
That was the start of Lizzie's hell: After that- Loabolas tried torturing the girl (one would think that flaying the skin off of part of her arm and inner thigh might cause her to agree to do what he asked). He tried throwing her to his demons to let them do with her body, as they wished, so long as they kept the girl alive, breath in her lungs, and as long as none of them impregnated her (he had a feeling she might already be with child by her earl/husband, anyway). But, still. She refused to blow the damn horn. Even when she was left crying and bleeding with deep gaping wounds.
When they used painful ways to heal her after cleaning those wounds with salt water.
Even after she'd screamed her throat dry, chained to a wooden table with her body naked and exposed for anyone to see, including forcing her legs into a spread position so that she could not close them. Not even the humiliation of being seen by others that way, worked.
She just lay there, refusing to do as Labolas requested:
"Blow the horn, and the torment will cease."
He said. Even now: staring blankly at the ceiling... While she was half out of it, gasping in pain and nearly unconscious from her latest beating...
She only spoke, in order to beg them to just kill her, still refusing to blow the horn. But they wouldn't. Her training as a female knight had prepared her mind, at least (if not her body) for this mistreatment.
Still, though, her parents and brother had no way of knowing that she would be caught, against her will, in a den of demons. The tortures persisted. She kept saying a mantra in her mind through most of the torture.
'I am the wife of the Queen's guard dog!
I am Lizzie Phantomhive, and I am strong, I can withstand this.
I'll do my best to return to my Ciel. He needs me, and I need him!
I am Francis Phantomhive-Midford's daughter, and I am Alexis Midford's daughter.
I am Edward Midford's sister.
I am a strong swords woman.
I can hold on... I can!'
Though, as time wore on, it became harder to make herself believe that. The pain became more intense and she was wearing out slowly. But she was determined to not give in. She would go insane from pain, die or hold out until someone saved her. She hoped for the last option.
12:17PM- Jan- 2
She was withstanding them wonderfully. WAS. That was the key word.
They wouldn't let her sleep long, if at all. In between her own torture, she was forced to watch as the demons killed other humans more helpless than she was. And they did it in slow, showy ways.
'Where are they getting all of these unfortunate and dirty looking people!?'
She wondered silently, feeling for them. Still, she held up fairly well... Until they brought in a young Chinese woman a bit older than she was.
"Miss Ran-Mau!"
The young countess cried.
"I see that you know this beauty, then?"
Labolas looked at Lizzie and the expression on her face was enough to answer his question.
"All the better! This might aid in getting my point across!
She was found in this building, looking for some staff of the opium parlor she is associated with."
Said Labolas. The woman's hair, which was usually up in an Asian hair style was now down, around her waist. She was naked, with wounds and bruises all over her body. Labolas walked up to her and forced a kiss on her as he slid a hand between the Chinese girl's thighs. Someone held Lizzie's head, forcing her to watch as Labolas then pinned the woman to the floor and had his way with her right there, while she screamed and thrashed her legs helplessly as he did as he pleased with her body, over and over again.
He kept doing it until he was finally satisfied. When he got off of her, Lizzie saw that Ran-Mau's lower body was covered with evidence of his actions. It dripped down the young woman's thighs to pool between her legs on the floor, mixing with her blood.
'She can fight, I'm sure of it by the way she carries herself! Why isn't she hitting his pressure points to render him useless?!'
She thought, but then she realized something about Labolas that drove that curiosity from her mind: this was a message. He wanted to get it across to Lizzie, and she had understood: it was QUITE clear - he was saying that he was QUITE willing to do absolutely ANYTHING, and to ANYONE, to get her to cooperate with him.
Ran-Mau just lay there, with silent tears soaking her face, just like Lizzie's own face.
They just left her laying there, bleeding from all the wounds for a while. That was when Lizzie realized it:
The Chinese woman wasn't able to use her pressure point attacks- both of her hands were missing, with bloodied bandages around the stumps where her hands would be, was the painful proof of that.
After that, Lizzie watched as Ran-Mau was finally dragged into another room by her long black hair. The door closed partially, then there was a scream of something in Chinese, and after that, the scream of agony that followed was cut suddenly short.
Lizzie was physically ill. She knew they had killed Ran-Mau.
After that, they forced Lizzie to drink a strange substance. It made her fall asleep. Then Labolas had a demon read Ciel's memories, without him, Vepar, or Marchosias noticing. Once that was done, they gave Lizzie dreams.
In those dreams, she was still naked and was chained to a chair. She watched Ciel's memories. Unable to move. Unable to turn away or even close her eyes, she watched every vile thing that had been done to him.
From the time he found the staff and his parents murdered, right up till every last shred of his innocence was ripped painfully from him. And when he finally summoned Sebastian the first time.
4:32PM- Jan- 2
When she was allowed to wake up, she was unchained, clothed in a nightgown, and found herself lying on a big bed. All she could do was sob brokenly. Ciel had told her what happened!
And she had said she understood.
But... She realized now, she had not fully understood what happened to him, when he was 10!
She curled into a fetal position, her knees to her chest, her hands over her eyes, as she sobbed her heart out.
After some time she felt the bed shift.
Looking up, she saw Mey-Rin's father sitting beside her.
Panicked, remembering what happened to Ran-Mau, and her torment, then her dying scream...
Lizzie scrambled away from the demon, she looked around, hoping to see some sort of weapon. But there was nothing. Not even a letter opener! And every inch of her body hurt!
She had no way to defend herself- that thought had just crossed her mind, when she saw him simply lay a long trumpet between them on the bed.
"I realize now, that you really don't care what happens to yourself. And you can sense that you should NOT blow this horn. However... I can give the order for Earl Phantomhive to be... Acquired-"
At that, her sad green eyes widened in silent panic.
"- And I can have everything that was just done to you... And much, MUCH more, done to him, over and over again. Unless you do as I ask: Would you blow the trumpet... PLEASE? Would you blow it if I threatened him? You have seen what I am willing to do."
She frowned, nodding as she wiped tears from her face.
"I can do everything you have seen and experienced. That and MUCH worse. I can make you wish you were dead 10 times over. Just do as I ask, and blow the trumpet of the Archangel Gabriel, will you? Would you do it, to save HIM from more of the hell that he already experienced when he was 10...?"
He asked her calmly. She bit her lip, looking at the silver trumpet with its gold trim. She nodded. That's when she noticed her hair: most of it had been cut off! It was now somewhere between her jaw and her shoulders in short curly golden waves... She took a deep breath.
'Calm down, Lizzie. At least hair can regrow... Body parts... Lives... Those could NOT. When they are gone, it's forever...'
"I- I... I'll do as you ask..."
She said finally... Then:
"W... What will that do, anyway...?"
She finally asked him in a shaky voice as her defiant but frightened green eyes, met his red ones. Her throat still mostly raw from screaming in agony and fear, for so long.
"Blow it 4 times, once every 4 hours, and the gates of heaven will open."
"W... W-why would you want that?"
"I want a war on earth."
He said simply as he got to his feet. She blinked at him.
"- A war between heaven and hell. I want to claim control of both!"
Resting her head on the pillow, she sighed.
"W- Why me?"
She asked softly, tiredly.
'Would heaven win? He seems awfully sure of himself. Do I even really care if they won?'
She had always been religious. She never understood why Ciel had suddenly stopped being so, when he returned from being kidnapped. It made sense, now: He had felt forsaken. So, if he had been forsaken...
Could she trust that heaven would prevail in this war...? Did she even really have a choice?
Ciel had Sebastian, Mey-Rin, Bard and Finny to guard him... Could she dare to call Labolas' bluff?
"You really don't have time to be asking me questions, Countess Elizabeth Phantomhive. You will still blow it, correct?"
Looking up at the angel-turned-demon... She decided:
'No.'
She couldn't, she thought with a soft sigh.
4:45PM- Jan- 2
Lizzie reached for the horn with shaky hands, it was icy cold to the touch. About 2 feet long and straight as an arrow, flaring at the far end. There was nothing to change its pitch or tone. It was not a trumpet for creating music. It was used to alert. To alarm and send a message.
"Just take a deep breath, and release it in one blow, through that horn."
The demon beside her encouraged her. She glanced at him.
"Ciel will be safe?"
She asked weakly. He nodded.
"And none of the lesser demons will harm you again."
He added. She chewed on her lip. Then she sighed. Placing the horn to her lips, she took a deep breath through her nose, and closed her eyes tightly, then she blew it. The sound was deafening in such proximity. She found herself swaying from dizziness as she released the horn from her lips.
"Good girl. Rest. In 4 hours, blow it again..."
She frowned grimly, then nodded. She lay down and within moments she was asleep again. He rested his hand against her forehead to place a spell on her, to keep her bad dreams away, he would only allow nightmares if she disobeyed him...
Gabriel collapsed to her knees, clutching her head.
"She... Elizabeth has blown the horn!"
The angel cried out...
"Sebastian will find Lizzie."
Ciel had told Bard and the others. It was a surprise, since none of them had realized that the other butler was back. Bard took all of them back to the Phantomhive estate, after that.
Ciel had no idea that he was being used- to make Lizzie cooperate.
When the horn was blown for the first time, Mey-Rin, along with Vepar and Marchosias, all seemed to be in a bit of pain. Both women held their ears, as the wolf whined.
'Please, Lizzie... Stay safe...'
The teen thought desperately, as he looked out the window, watching the scenery rush past him. He was trying to stay strong. But... He feared for her!
5:55PM- Jan 2nd
The next time he woke up, Sebastian was in a bed, dressed only in his pants. He knew this prostitute. She was from Lau's opium parlor. She was also just what he needed, right now.
"Tsumi-"
He said as he sat up. The Asian girl looked at him from where she sat at her dressing table.
"Hello, Mr. Sebastian. Are you feeling better? You've been asleep for a VERY long time!""
He nodded. Then realized what she had said, he sat up suddenly, then felt dizzy, was this because of the angel's blood he had consumed?
"... Good! I-"
She said smiling as she went back to brushing her hair, but she stopped, when he cut her off.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Hmm... I think it was about 26 hours ago?... Give or take. I told Mr. Lau I was ill and couldn't take any clients... I was starting to wonder if I would have to do that again tonight, when y-"
'Not good! I generally only sleep when I'm with Mey-Rin... Shit! I just had to take blood from Gabriel!'
"Tsumi... What if I told you I was a demon?"
She just looked at him.
"What if I offered you something in return for your soul?"
He added after a minute. The Asian girl blinked.
"Anything?"
She asked, and he nodded.
8PM- Jan 2nd
Sebastian had left her room after obtaining her soul, and then worked his way through other prostitute's rooms, offering them the same thing.
He gained more blood offerings from them as well as their souls. He passed by 2 who he felt were likely with child, and only offered the trade, to the ones who he could tell had tormented souls.
There were 5 in total.
As the night wore on, 2 of them were found in their beds, dead. He was leaving the room of the 5th girl when he came face to face with Lau and two of his guards.
Lau insisted Sebastian talk to him in his office. The demon refused at first. However, he changed his mind and said that he would do as Lau asked. Only if he could get some of Lau's opium.
Lau agreed to give him some, if he explained what was happening. Finally, Sebastian went to Lau's office and told him that he was a demon, and that he was after another demon. That demon took his young master's new bride and was likely torturing her. Lau was not happy about 5 of his girls dying.
However, he owed Ciel... And Ran-Mau was also missing. So he considered the request, then agreed. He told Sebastian that several of their staff had gone missing, his lover had insisted on investigating, on her own.
Lau had not seen her since.
He would help the demon get Lady Elizabeth back... But he wanted Sebastians help in finding Ran-Mau. Sebastian warned him it would be dangerous, but he shrugged it off.
After that, the two planned a way to infiltrate the location that Ran-Mau had been known to have been heading. Sebastian said it was likely the demon's den. Lau had given the butler the opium he wanted.
8:45PM- Jan 2nd
Once again- the countess Phantomhive was commanded to blow the horn. She did so, looking sadly at the wall.
Where Sebastian was, his knees locked up, he could not even take a step. Everything within him froze. He felt ill.
'Is that the first time it was blown? I doubt it, I was out of it for some time... It is the trumpet of the Apocalypse, after all...'
He thought as the power of the horn vibrated through him. Lau watched Sebastian curiously. After the horn was blown, Lizzie was locked away, once again. She cried herself to sleep.
"The second time... She blew it once more!"
The angel told the Undertaker.
"I know, I can hear it, as well, Gabby. What do you expect me to do?! Kill Elizabeth? I know where she is, and I can get to her at any time, but I can't take her out of a demon's den, all I can do is kill her. And neither of us wants to kill one of our great-grandchildren!"
He said grimly. The issue was, what the HELL did they do to stop it?! Gabriel sighed sadly and brushed her golden blond hair back behind her ear, as she looked up at him with her sad sky blue eyes.
"You have a fondness for her... She has your eyes."
She said softly. He looked away. He had a fondness for Ciel, as well. They were both his daughter's grandchildren.
"If she blows it a 3rd time..."
Everything in the Undertaker stilled as his green eyes widened in shock, he looked back at his former lover. He had an idea of where she was headed, with this. And he didn't like it.
"- If she blows that horn again, and 3 hours pass after that- Mana, kill her by 4am on the 3rd. Before she can trumpet the start of the Apocalypse."
She looked right into his eyes.
"You're going to make me, even if I refuse..."
He said, looking away, he was leaning on his scythe.
"It's her, or everything else..."
She said softly, quietly
"As you wish."
He said sadly. She looked back at her hands, folded in her lap. She just hoped Sebastian got there before Mana had to go.
Mey-Rin was sitting in her room, when the second blow of the horn reverberated through her. Vepar and Marchosias came to her.
"The gates to both heaven, and hell will open if it is blown 2 more times!"
Said Marchosias, irritably. Vepar walked to Mey-Rin's window and looked at the sky. 8 more hours... That's all Sebastian had left
"What will happen if they do?"
Asked Mey-Rin. Vepar looked at her.
"A war will break out on earth. Humans will be made to chose sides, or will be caught in the middle of it all."
She said softly. Mey-Rin closed her eyes, and clasped her hands in front of her chest. Both demons wondered if she was praying, or wishing. If she was praying, who was she praying too?
'Sebastian, please, be safe...'
The demon stopped walking.
'Mey-Rin...?'
He had thought he heard her voice a few times when in the demon realm. But, he had assumed that he was hearing things... Maybe he hadn't been? Perhaps there was some sort of strange deeper meaning to hearing her voice?
"Are you alright, Mr. Butler?"
Asked Lau. The demon looked at him, Lau blinked, seeing an un-composed expression on Sebastian's face for the first time ever- though he blinked a few more times, and the demon had composed himself. Then, without saying a word, he started walking again. They had to hurry.
12:30AM- Jan 3rd
3.5 hours went by after Lizzie blew the horn a second time. Sebastian would have made good time, if not for Lau.
The annoying Chinaman got injured, and slowed him down. He considered leaving him to his own devices, but he figured that Ciel would be pissed, if he let one of his underworld contacts die.
On top of that, the man might be useful at a later time... That meant Sebastian had to protect the human, though, and that lead to the demon being bitten by dog demons many times. Finally, when they made it in to where she was, it was almost the 4-hour time limit.
Labolas was there, in the room with her, she was holding the trumpet. Lau threw a knife at Labolas, and then slipped in a pool of blood drying on the floor. The demon dodged it, the knife embedded in the ceiling.
"Lady Elizabeth!"
The butler said as Labolas grabbed her by the throat and aimed his clawed hand at her heart.
"One step closer, Mephistopheles, and she will be seeing me rip her own heart from her body."
Sebastian froze, he HATED that damn name! He couldn't risk her, though. She looked at the butler, tears in her eyes as the clock on the wall chimed the hour. Carefully, Labolas eased his hold on her, he grabbed the trumpet and handed it to her.
"You know what to do, m'dear..."
She nodded, crying silently as she blew the trumpet a 3rd time. Being so close it it when it was blown caused Sebastian unimaginable pain. He screamed, his hands going to his ears as his knees gave out. Lau, for some strange reason screamed, as well. Labolas seemed mostly unfazed, though in a slight bit of pain.
When she had finished blowing it, Labolas snapped his fingers and chains sprang out of the walls, floor and ceiling, the chains coiled around Sebastian and Lau, and both men found themselves chained in midair. Labolas took Gabriel's horn, and left, after that. Lizzie stayed kneeling on the bed, crying softly.
"Lady Elizabeth, can you find a weapon?"
She looked up at Sebastian.
"N... No. I've tried. Not even a letter opener. Nothing I can use to-"
Sebastian eyed the knife above them.
"Can you use a gun?"
She blinked at him, then looked down, unsure.
"I... I c-could try. But, how would I get one?"
"Under my uniform jacket- there is one of Mey-Rin's guns tucked into my waistband."
She got to her feet, wincing. His eyes flashed red, as he noticed her pain.
"What did they do to you?"
She stopped walking towards him, looking away from him... Then she looked back up at him.
"I'll just say: I understand a bit more about what Ciel endured just before he met you... And, that is the nicest, they were. I'm sure I'll die of some sort of infection from all the injuries..."
"Is this your blood?"
He asked, looking under them to the floor. Sebastian saw her eyes dart to Lau then to another door leading from the room, before she shook her head.
"No."
She said softly, she grabbed a chair and placed it in the blood below Sebastian. She climbed onto the chair with a hiss of pain, then found herself only about a foot shorter than he was.
The chair brought their feet almost to the same level. She hopped up and hugged him around the neck and shoulders, shocking the demon.
"Thank you for coming for me!"
She said then in a very soft voice, since Lau was only a few feet away, she added:
"If you two get free, don't let Mr. Lau near that other door..."
Then she released him from the hug. He nodded, and as she reached under his jacket, he saw where the skin on her arm was healing. Most likely with magic.
"They stripped the skin off of that arm, didn't they?"
He asked as she gently tossed the gun onto the bed, and started to climb down from the chair.
"Yes. A-and... P... Part of... Well... They did the same thing somewhere else, as well..."
She said, blushing, looking like she was about to cry.
Then she picked the chair up and hefted it back over to where it was supposed to be. Once that was done, she climbed back onto the bed and picked the gun up.
"How could they do such a thing to such a lovely young lady...?"
Asked Lau, and Sebastian sighed, rolling his eyes. He'd forgotten that he was there, slightly behind him, also strung up with chains.
"Mey-Rin said these weren't very useful against his kind..."
She said, remembering that, as she looked back up at him.
"It's loaded with silver bullets cleansed in blessed holy water. It should do SOMETHING to him."
She nodded at the butler. He eyed that knife that Lau had thrown.
"Mr. Lau?"
"Yes?"
"Do you have any more daggers?"
The demon asked. When Lau answered, both the girl and the demon could hear the grin and evil joy in Lau's voice as he answered.
"Why- Yes, Mr. Sebastian... Yes, I do."
Ciel sat huddled in his room, his knees drawn to his chest, tears streaming down his face, Mey-Rin sat on the bed beside him. It was 2 am, now. He had tried sleeping.
But without Lizzie or Sebastian... He leaned into Mey-Rin's arms, which was very unlike him. His head rested against her shoulder, she was rocking the teen gently.
'I hope they get home, soon...'
She thought, a hand going to her belly. It was firmer than normal, she had two lives growing there. She hoped that the father would be safe, and return.
Ciel hated himself for needing comfort from his maid. But, she had been the first of the servants to come running (without her glasses, or else she might have fallen a few times)... It wasn't really the fact that it was her.
It was the fact that, as an adult (which he was considered, now) he still woke up screaming bloody murder from these horrible nightmares.
"S... Sorry that I w-woke everyone u-up."
He said finally, after some silence. He felt like a bloody fool!
"It's OK, young master. I know you likely feel embarrassed. I still have horrible nightmares as well, from things that I'd like very much to forget. And that still torment me to this day, even though those things can't happen to me again, and I am strong enough to prevent them from occurring again, they still bother me..."
"I shouldn't need my hand held!"
He said, his head still against her shoulder.
"Even the strongest of us need our hands held, at times. It's when we have no one to do so, that the bad things happen."
She said softly. He was silent for a while, then he realized she was dressed all in black, resting pants, rather than a nightgown or skirt.
"Were you on patrol?"
She nodded.
"After today, I probably should have let Finny do it, as was planned. But... I had a nightmare. And Sebastian wasn't there for me, either. So, I got up and told Finny to go to bed, after that, I walked all around the grounds, and-"
He looked at her, sitting up, and scooting away a bit. He was surprised she had walked all the Phantomhive property.
"Aren't you...?"
She blinked at him a moment, not fully understanding the question. Then she nodded.
"Yes, I am pregnant, young master. But I'm fine with doing that much for now. Anyway, after that, I came back here and got on the roof, where I could see everything.
There is a good spot around 50-70 feet from your balcony, where I can see most of the land surrounding the manor. That's how I got here so fast. I jumped down onto the balcony."
He frowned slightly. Then he nodded.
"I wonder if Sebastian has found Lizzie, yet..."
"If he had, he would have brought her here... I- I'm sorry for not protecting her, my young master. I-I was selfish. I chose to protect my stomach, and what was inside of it, rather that to do my job, so I-"
"It's natural for a mother to protect her child. I'm fine with it..."
He said, but in his mind, he added:
'As long as she is brought back to me safely...'
The young Earl did not know what he would do if Lizzie was brought back injured or worse.
Elsewhere, a large wolf ran through the darkness. On its back, sat: it's lover: Duchess Vepar, friend: Prince Sitri and above them flew an olw: Prince Stolas and a raven wearing a dagger: Earl/Prince Camio (Lucifer's son), and behind them ran a stag: Earl Furfur.
(It occurred to Vepar: if anyone were to see them, they would look a strange sight, indeed! A man and woman on top of a monster sized wolf, with a weapon laden stag chasing after the wolf and 2 birds flying above!)
All were following Sebastian's demon energy and heading to help. Furfur carried about 8 swords upon his back.
All, including the demonic Nobel: Marchosias, were fallen minor archangels, like the Earl: Glasya-Labolas.
They wanted to be forgiven by heaven, and to return to its grace, some day. However, they now knew it was highly unlikely.
So, the best they could do was stop the war between them and the heaven that they all still loved, deep down. They had to keep those gates from opening!
.
To Be Continued...
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Disclaimer: don't own anything from the Black Butler series. At all.