Posted: 3-13-18 At 9:10 PM
(USA CST; GMT: -6:00)

A/N:

Hi! OK, as I said before, I hate posting 13 chapters. It is illogical. I am aware. But I HATE the number 13. So, I have cut chapter 13 into 2 parts. I am posting it as chapters #13 and #14. That said. This fic will be ending soon. Probably with chapter #16 or #17. I doubt it will make it to 20 chapters.
Also... I'm not real comfortable writing a lot of details, in fight scenes... So, some readers might find the rescue scene lacking.
If that is the case, I am sorry.
I hope it doesn't take away from any enjoyment you might find in the story. If you like the story I would REALLY like to hear that in your reviews. It might affect whether or not I write anymore fics for this series (though, at this time, I have no other story ideas).

Not really anything to warn you about in this chapter of chapter #14, either. More Grell's and more Undertaker in these 2 chapters. Also, Lau has a bit of a surprise. And that will be further addressed later, before the end of the fic.

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Chapter 13: Strength Of The Soul...

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2AM- Jan 3rd- 1892:

Sebastian sighed. He was getting tired of hanging here. He was held by the legs with each leg chained with 2 chains. One chain for each coming from the floor. And another chain for each coming from the walls near the floor. The chains were coiled around his ankles and up towards his knees.
He couldn't move them, nor could he de-materialize from their grasp. There was another chain from the center of one wall, wrapped around his waist, and attached to the opposite wall.
And his arms were held above his head at the same angle as his legs- a chain from the ceiling and top of the wall to each of his wrists and coiling towards his elbows (he had a feeling that if it were ANY other situation: that Mey-Rin would LOVE to see him in chains, and unable to move...)
Those chains were so tight he could barely feel his fingers, or move them. His powers seemed to not be working, either... 'How strange...' ... And to top all of that off: the chains burned his flesh, when he did try to move, and they brushed against exposed skin.

'This is what it's like, fighting against a demon who is a former archangel... The one who turned me into what I am... I suppose...'

Sebastian thought, feeling somewhat like a slab of meat hanging there. He could not see Lau.
The human was behind him and slightly to his right... What was bothering Sebastian, was that Lau had been incapacitated by the sound of the horn, like he was, humans should not have been affected.
Another thing was: one chain for each arm and each leg, for Lau, should have been enough.
But with Lizzie in the same room with them, they couldn't talk openly. And likewise, Sebastian and Lizzie had to be careful of what they said to each other with Lau here.

"Mr. Lau?"

"Hmm~?"

Came the annoyingly carefree sound from behind him. The demon rolled his eyes. Lizzie looked over at them, then sighed and turned on her side, away from them.

"Why did the sound of that horn hurt YOU? I know it should only affect Demon's that way..."

Sebastian let the silence settle in, he knew the man was thinking of an answer.

"Gee... I'm not sure, Mr. Butler..."

He said in that sweet tone of voice that suggested he was hiding something and innocent as a lamb, all at the same time. Sebastian wanted to incinerate him in hellfire whenever he used that blasted tone!

"What is that horn anyway~?"

"None of your business."

The demon said bluntly. Lizzie suddenly sat up in the bed.

"Lady Elizabeth?"

She looked up at Sebastian.

"Mey-Rin told me you could sense souls... C-can you tell if I'm with child, yet?"

They eyed each other, he frowned, then shook his head.

"I can't. And it's likely too soon, you only just started sleeping with my young lord about a week ago..."

"Oh..."

She looked sad, but thanked him anyway. He considered her a moment more.

"None of the demons came inside of you, right?"

She blushed brightly, hiding her face with her, now, short hair, then she shook her head.

"N-no. He ordered them to do as they liked... But they couldn't do that, and they couldn't do a few other things, either... But aside from those things, anything else was permitted, as long as I was still breathing when they were done with m-me... They healed me magically, so that they could hurt me over and over again.
One time they tore all my finger and toe nails out... Then dipped my bleeding fingers and toes in salt water... The pain was incredible... Somewhere along the way, my wedding ring from Ciel was taken from me. I-... That hurt more than losing my finger nails. I-I hope he'll forgive me for losing it."

She said softly, sitting in the center of the big bed, hugging her knees.

"I seriously doubt that he will be worried about that ring, my young mistress."

"We said our vows over those rings... They're precious..."

She said in a small voice. After that, she slipped under the blankets and tried to get some sleep. 2 more hours, and she'd have to blow the horn again. Behind him, Sebastian heard Lau shifting slightly and struggling. A bit. If there ever was a time that Sebastian wanted to see Grell with his chainsaw, it was now. The silly creature could use that ridiculous weapon to cut through these chains! Somewhere along the way, with his powers being cut off, Sebastian zoned out while hanging there.

3:08 AM Jan 3rd

"Wakey~Wakey, Sebastian!"

Sebastian's eyes snapped open, and he blinked a few times. There, floating before him, sat the Undertaker.

"What are YOU doing here?!"

He nearly growled. Trying to look over his shoulder at Lau.

"He's asleep. So is Lizzie. Boy... They made a mess of her."

Said Mana, as he glanced at the girl sleeping in the bed. Sebastian saw a flash of rage in the rebel reaper's emerald green eyes as he had turned to look at his great-granddaughter.

"Yes, and I think she's only told me half of what they've done."

"That's understandable. You are the same sort of creature, as they are, after all."

Sebastian hated that. It seemed that whatever he had left of his humanity, was closer to the surface at the moment... That was when he regretted the things he had done.
The way he thought. He supposed he reverted to the mindset that he had when he was still completely human.
He had such an overwhelming desire to cease existing, just at the moment that followed Mana's words, that he almost asked him to take whatever was left of his human soul.
But as he opened his mouth to ask that, Mey-Rin's face, smiling up at him from her bed, flashed before his eyes.
And he remembered the souls that he sensed from the new life within her.

"What do you say to a depressed Demon?"

Sebastian looked at the Undertaker.

"Now is really NOT the time to be making jokes."

Sebastian said dryly. He and Mana watched each other.

"What are you doing here, anyway...?"

"I... I have a job."

Said the shinigami. Sebastian frowned slightly at the infinitely sad tone in his voice.

"What sort of-?"

"Currently, it is 3:09 am... If 4:30 rolls in, and Elizabeth is still in this unchanged situation- I am to take her life..."

The gray haired creature said, as he glanced down at his great-grandchild for a moment. Sebastian's eyes widened.

"Some angel, Gabriel is!"

He snapped. Once more, he tried to tug on the chains holding his wrist.

"- Can you-?"

He started, motioning with his head, towards the chain. Mana shook his head.

"I can't do anything about these. Due to the fact that I am no longer a proper reaper, and the sort of angel Labolas used to be, these chains are unbreakable. At least, for me. The most I could do is sever your arms and legs where the chains stop. You COULD regenerate. But I think you are too weak to do so in time to be of any use."

The demon wanted to rage and scream...

"However, currently: 6 former archangels, along with Gabby, are headed here. And, I can try to lure Grell here. That stupid weapon of his would likely be able to cut through these chains... And, don't you have a plan?"

Sebastian nodded.

"We do. As long as Lau and I can somehow get free, there is a plan. We worked it all out with lady Elizabeth, everything except for how to get us free from here. Until we can get free, we aren't likely to be able to carry out the plan."

"I can get Grell here, as I said. However, I've no idea how to go about getting it to do as you say."

Sebastian frowned at that.

"I have an idea on how to do that."

Sebastian said, grimly. He didn't like the idea at all, though.

"Shall I call the baby reaper, then?"

Mana asked with wide eyes and a raised eyebrow. Sebastian nodded.

Grell was looking around London, for Sebastian. It was supposed to do other things, of course. But this was more fun!
The reaper had briefly sensed the demon here well over a day ago. But, now, nothing. It was frustrating!
Suddenly Grell felt a presence behind it.
Turning around, the reaper swung the chain saw blindly. And found the Undertaker there, blocking it with his own scythe.

"Oh... Its you again. Why do you wield such a BORING weapon?!"

Asked Grell.

"I decline to answer such an asinine question."

"Why are you bothering me, then?! Go away. I'm busy."

"- Busy; not doing what you're supposed to do."

Mana countered with a smirk.

"Want me to kill you?!"

"You could try... However, then you're Sebastian won't get any help."

"Help? Why would Bassy need help?!"

"He's currently trapped in a warehouse building. Chained up in-"

"He's in chains?! I have to see! Oooo I'll bet I could-!"

"He needs your help. I can take you to him, if you will try to help free him."

"Why on earth would I free him?! Bassy in chains! That's a dream come true for me!"

"Because he wants to be free...?"

Mana tried. Then the Undertaker grinned, as a thought occurred to him.

"No one else can help-!"

He said dramatically.

"- Sebastian has asked for you, SPECIFICALLY to help him!"

That did the trick! Mana saw a spark in it's eye and knew that it was happy that it's precious demon had asked for HER help!

"He did?!"

"Yes~ He said: "Please, Mr. Shinigami! Please find Grell and ask him to help free me from these horrid chains!" So... Here I am. Will you help?"

"Yes, I would never turn my Bassy down!"

'Got you. Now, hopefully, the demon can handle the weirdo, when I get him there...'

"OK, then! I'll take you to him. Follow me,"

Said the Undertaker, then he vanished.

"Right!"

Said Grell excitedly, then he also vanished.

Lizzie was asleep still, when Grell and Mana reappeared in the room.

"You're princess in shining armor is here, Bassy~"

Sang Grell. Sebastian sighed inwardly.

"Get me out of these chains, and my "friend" back there, as well... Please."

"Is that all? What do I get in return?!"

Sebastian looked at him.

"I'll do anything you want... WITHIN REASON."

"Really?!"

The demon had a feeling that Grell only heard the: "I'll do anything you want" part... Well, it was Grell's fault if it chose to not hear the whole statement.

"Yes... Really. As I said, though: within re-"

He trailed off as the chain saw appeared and came to life, Lizzie startled awake in the next instant, saw the redheaded man from the cruise liner, and another man with long shaggy silver/gray hair. She looked worriedly at Sebastian.
That redhead was swinging that noisy weapon at him! She grabbed under her pillow for the weapon, but the silver/gray haired man appeared beside her, and held her hand.

Lizzie looked at him with wide green eyes. He smiled and just shook his head. She looked back to Grell and Sebastian, just as the Reaper cut through all of the chains holding Sebastian's legs, then all the ones holding his arms.
As Sebastian landed on the floor, on his feet, he stumbled a moment, as Grell did the same for Lau. The Chinese man swung his body so that he could land away from the blood pool on the floor. He stumbled, as well. But also landed on his feet. Mana noticed that he was looking at Grell.

'He can see us... What is he?'

The rogue soul reaper wondered, as Grell made it's chainsaw vanish, then stood in front of Sebastian.

"I want my reward now!"

"What is it?"

"A kiss!"

"That's all?"

"Yes!"

"Very well, then. Close your eyes..."

The other 3 in the room watched with wide eyes, as Sebastian walked up to Grell, who had his eyes closed and lips puckered.
An instant later, Sebastian had turned into a dog, completely.
It was a large Irish Setter.
It was a reddish brown color.
The dog placed it's paws on Grell's shoulder, and licked his face as Mana struggled not to laugh, with both hands over his mouth.
Lizzie also, was trying not to giggle despite the situation. Grell opened it's green eyes and looked at the dog.

"Where did Bassy go?!"

Without missing a beat, Lau spoke up, in a calm, serious tone of voice and a pleasant smile on his face.

"He vanished, this dog saw you standing there like that and thought it would be friendly... It gave you your kiss."

"I wanted Bassy to kiss me! And on the lips!"

"You didn't specify if you wanted HIM to kiss you, or where you were to be kissed, though."

Added Lau reasonably. Lizzie and Mana were having a harder time not laughing, as this went on. Finally, the annoyed Grell left to look for "Bassy". Sebastian returned to his human form with a satisfied smirk on his lips. Then he looked at the Undertaker and the girl as they let their laughter out.
He put his hands on his hips and shook his head, still looking amused. Then he went and calmly looked in the room that Lizzie had told him to keep Lau from. After looking, he came back, and magically locked the door to that room.
The man did not need to see his lover in that condition. As far as Sebastian could tell, her soul had also been devoured... Against her will, without a contract.

"So, what is next?"

Lau was asking as he went back to paying attention to them, once more.

"Next, we all get out of here. But first, Mr. Lau... What are you? I THOUGHT that you were human. However-"

He trailed off. The Chinese man looked at him.

"I AM a human. I wasn't always. But what I am now matters."

He said seriously. They all looked at him. Sebastian smiled slightly.

"Very well."

He said softly.

"So, what was in that room?"

Asked Lau. Lizzie looked extremely worried at that question. Sebastian just shrugged.

"I think it's a demon play room. Some of us can be really sick about how we entertain ourselves."

Lau looked at him. He frowned, considering what the demon had said. Finally, he sighed.

"Whatever. I still need to find Ran-Mau... May I search for her?"

"Sure. You're on your own, though. I'm not watching your backside- I have enough to do."

Said Sebastian. Lizzie looked at the demon curiously. But said nothing.

"Understood. Good luck Mr. Butler! See you some other time, Lady Phantomhive."

Lau said, with a salute to Sebastian and a wave to Lizzie. She nodded.

"Thank you for helping Sebastian!"

She called and then he was gone.

"I didn't need his help to find you."

Said Sebastian, as he looked at the girl.

"By the by, Sebastian... Who is this?"

Lizzie asked softly, pointing at the Undertaker, still beside her. Sebastian opened his mouth, but the shinigami interrupted.

"I'm a former friend of your Uncle Vincent, the former Earl. My name is Mana."

He said as she blinked at him.

"Oh. OK..."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes.

"He's also a shinigami."

The demon said and earned a glare from the soul reaper. Lizzie blinked.

"Why did you-?"

Mana started, raising his voice, but was interrupted by the demon.

"She saw you floating and is far from being a stupid girl."

That deflated Mana's anger a bit.

"Wh... What is a shinigami? And... How are we supposed to get out of here?"

Lizzie asked. Sebastian frowned slightly.

"They are like angels of death. Help should be arriving soon."

"Oh..."

She said and then frowned.

"But you told Mr. Lau th-"

"I don't need help from him. That much is true. However, we will need assistance to get you out of here. There's something preventing me from materializing from one place to another in here, or from in here to outside of here. So, we need to leave on foot. And for that, we need help."

He explained. Then he looked at her state of dress. With Vepar being the only female demon of the group coming- he doubted Elizabeth would feel safe around so many men. Especially after being molested so badly. He snapped his fingers, and her slip disappeared and new riding clothes reappeared on her body.
Her hair was also tangle free and pulled back into a ponytail at her nape, since it was now so short. Gasping softly in shock, she looked at her new outfit.

"Sebastian, Thank y-!"

Just then, they heard chaos break out downstairs.

"They're here~"

Said Mana, then he vanished. She blinked at where he had been, then at Sebastian.

"If you can't do that, then how can he-?"

"Because, he's not a demon. And I am. Our abilities... Our powers are much different... He's closer to an angel, than a demon. But he can't do what he just did, and take you with him. He would have to sever your soul from your body, to get you out of here..."

'Which is likely the final option, to keep them from making her blow that horn. I can still sense him watching...'

"Oh..."

Was all Lizzie could say. Looking a great deal depressed. She did not fancy the idea of trying to get through all of those demons. And there was no window in this room to try to leave by.
Not to mention she hurt all over, still and had no swords... On that thought, she reached under the pillow and grabbed Mey-Rin's gun and Mr. Lau's knives, he had let her take 3, and she had used the gun to shoot the 4th from the ceiling, it fell to the floor, and she got it. She slipped the knives carefully into her boots and the gun under her shirt, in her waistband, against her back.

Sebastian held his hand out to Lizzie.
She had just taken it when the door slammed open and demons came in. Lau was fighting with 2 of them.
Sebastian pressed Lizzie against the wall and hid her with his own body. Before either could blink, the other door in the room had been smashed open and Lau fell into the room backwards.

"Not good."

Lizzie heard the demon mutter. She bit her lip. Sebastian did not know what Lau had been, before taking a human form and body... So he had no idea what seeing his lover dead, and in that condition, would do - suddenly there was a scream of sorrow, then a blast of magical power from the room.

Sebastian nudged Lizzie to move as a spray of blood erupted from the room as demons screamed in agony.
In the room: Lau had looked around, after stumbling into the semi-dark room. And found Ran-Mau dead.
She was such a bloody mess, that he could barely tell it was her body. He went over to where she lay on a table in the center of the room.
He pulled her upper body into his arms and screamed from the strength of his sorrow.
Several demons had been advancing on him when he suddenly cried out. Along with the scream; a blast of energy erupted from him.
It caused the demons that it hit, to implode and caused a rain of their blood.

By the time Lau came out, his eyes were open, glowing a silvery blue color, he was covered, almost completely, in blood from the demons he had just killed.
Tear tracks ran down his face and a malevolent aura surrounded him. He held Ran-Mau's battered body in his arms.
By that time, Sebastian had gotten Lizzie out of the room.
But Sebastian was still in the room, trying to leave, fighting off a demon. Lau snapped his fingers, and the demon attacking Sebastian suddenly screamed and melted.
Lizzie, around the corner of the door, just in the hall, blinked, not sure what to do, at seeing the demon just melt like that.
Sebastian looked at Lau.

"You knew she was dead."

"Y-yes."

Said the butler.

"Lady Elizabeth saw them murder her. She asked me to keep the state that miss Ran-Mau was left in, a secret. She was worried about you and-"

"I'm taking her, and going home."

Said Lau, suddenly. His anger evaporating into sadness as suddenly as it had arrived. Before Sebastian could say anything, the Chinese man had vanished. Just then, Lizzie screamed behind him. He turned and found a demon holding her by her throat.
He started towards them, but stopped as a demon appeared and slammed Sebastian against another wall.
The demon butler groaned and lost consciousness for a short bit of time, when he came to, Lizzie was being held down while a demon pulled the struggling girl's pants down.

Sebastian saw that the gun had been knocked away from her, and she had a knife in each of her hands, tacking them onto the floor. Those were the knives she'd gotten from Lau! She sobbed as she tried to keep them from taking her pants off.
As Sebastian struggled to his feet, there was suddenly a shout from the stairwell not far off to their left.
After the shout, a massive flood of water ran up the stairs and flooded the hall way. The demons were washed away.

When the water subsided, Vepar, Gabriel, Camio, Sitri and Furfur the large stag, stood in the hallway.
Camio and Sitri were between the demons and Lizzie. The stag stood protectively over her body, and Vepar and Gabby pulled the knives from her hands.
Lizzie screamed in pain, as each hand was freed. Down stairs, Marchosias the wolf and the owl: Stolas created chaos.
Once her hands were free, Vepar pulled the girl into her arms, hugging her. Gabby tugged Lizzie's pants back up around her hips.

"Get her out of here!"

Sebastian shouted. Vepar nodded as she and Gabby helped Lizzie to stand up. Then the archangel grabbed a sword from the pack on Furfur's back and tossed one to Lizzie.

"Another one, please,"

Said the countess. The demoness and archangel looked at her.

"But, your hands-"

Said Gabby.

"- Are fine enough for me to hold a sword in each hand. Give me another sword, PLEASE..."

She said and Gabby finally nodded, then gave her another one. Then she took one for herself. Vepar hated swords, she wouldn't use them. Then the 3 women started down the stairs.
Lizzie cast a worried look over her shoulder at Sebastian. He did not have a sword, but the demons who had come with Vepar did. Including the stag, who was shifting form to that of a human like demon.
Once the women were downstairs, they were all nearly killed by a spear wielding demon. The demon was knocked off course by Marchosias in wolf form.

"Get out of here! We'll take care of this lot, then find you!"

The wolf snarled. At that, Vepar grabbed one of Lizzie's swords, and took the girl by the hand and started running.
Gabby followed close behind. They wove through the chaos of demons trying to attack the large wolf and the small owl flitting here and there, while taunting them.
They were all relieved when they saw the front door. But, just as they reached it, Gabby's long golden hair was grabbed.
She screamed as she was pulled away from Lizzie and Vepar. The two stopped as they saw Labolas holding the Angel.

"How lovely for you to join us, Archangel Gabriel."

He purred in her ear. She shuddered, then tossed the sword in her hand to Lizzie and Vepar.
It would do no good against this demon.

"Go! Get her out of here, Vepar! Protect her!"

Vepar nodded and tugged Lizzie.
She reluctantly left. Labolas ordered some of his demons to go after them.

"Kill them both. I have Gabriel and if she proves useless, I can force my daughter to blow the trumpet a final time."

He told his servant demons. They all looked at him, and at each other.

"There isn't a lot of time to persuade them, though..."

One demon said. Labolas gave him a death glare, though, and after that- they chose to not say anything else, they all just took the form of dogs and ran out the door.

"I had wondered how long it would take, to defile the second in command of the archangels..."

He whispered in her ear as he grabbed her breast painfully through her shirt, and licked her neck, making her shudder in revulsion. Still, though... She said nothing.

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To Be Continued...

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Disclaimer: don't own anything from the Black Butler series. At all.