The Choice is Mine Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Black Butler; however, Briar is mine all mine!
The red is when Briar is speaking in her demon form. Also, this chapter has a darker undertone. Enjoy!
Sebastian's POV
I wasn't expecting this out come from our talk. However, I am delighted and in awe. As soon as she uttered the cursed tone the room grew smoky. Her air force uniform was replaced with a maid costume which was colored gray with blue accents and was finished off with a white apron. Long ears protruded out of her head. Her legs were encased by a fishnet stocking that stopped right below the hem of her skirt. Her features stayed the same except her teeth which were now elongated, and her eyes no longer contained a pupil. They were black as night with a single ember glowing in the dark.
"A succubus?" I said looking at her new form. "Who would have thought that your demon form would show so soon? Quite promising Miss. Briar."
She smiled, exposing her fanged teeth before she opened the roof and jumped through. I followed and saw that she was standing above the building. Once I reached her, she lifted her hand towards the sky and before us small bunny prints formed a trail that stretched through the horizon. With no warning she ran towards the paw print, her speed increasing as she jumped from one mark to the next.
"Quite interesting. Where are you taking us?" I said as I wondered where she was leading us and for what a response, she leapt onto the next print. Determination was felt with every hop that was taken. Whatever she had planned it seemed that the elements were in agreeance. The wind pushed us forward, the clouds covered our descents and the sun dimmed its light to make the journey easier.
We crossed an ocean and came across a lush land that was carved out in squares. My smile widened. This place that she has brought us brings back so many memories. At our time of arrival, the land was now shrouded with darkness as the stars twinkled overhead. The prints that we followed stopped over a home. This home was ordinary and resembled the other old-fashioned buildings around it. Nothing special as far as the naked eye could see.
I watched as she let herself in. Once in the hall her hand traces across the wall as she walks. She hangs a left and walks through a door. Inside are two people, a man and woman sound asleep. I ignore the woman as does she. Her focus is on the man who from here I can see is white and bald with ridiculously thick eyebrows. She walks over to his bedside leans over and whispers into his ear.
"You silenced me and for that I will make you as helpless as I felt when you took my voice away. I will destroy what you love right in front of you."
Instantly the man started to toss and turn in his sleep. With a smile on her face she turned and made her way back into the hall. Making a right she entered another room. This room was cluttered with useless items that most male children play with. The mess went unnoticed by her as she made her way around toys, unbothered by the chaos that lay at her feet. She stopped at the bed and looked at the boy who laid fast asleep. He looked to be about nine and although his eyes were closed, he had a shocking resemblance to his father.
I supposed those hideous eyebrows run in the family. Hmmm. I wonder if bullshit runs in the family too. Probably.
"Aren't you precious." She crooned to the sleeping child. "The offspring of a cold-blooded bastard. I would say that I am sorry that you will have to suffer for your fathers' actions towards me." She stopped for a moment, her eyes turned red as the walls started to slowly melt and the room filled with off tuned music.
"But honestly. I don't give a dam. So, listen to my hushed lullaby…"
Lullaby?
"Enjoy your eternal slumber:
Good Night, Sleep tight
To my luuu lu by
As the life seeps out of you."
"No, it can't be. You are mortal born. How could you know that, let alone recite it?" I said as I stood there in disbelief. In all my years of walking on this earth, I had only witnessed this one other time. The "Cursed Lullaby," thousands of first-born children had died from it and the one that ushered its lyrics was not of my kind. From where I stood, I could see the color as it slowly drained from his face. Though peaceful, his face was simply a mask that hide the screams of anguish that was ripping through his body.
It's almost complete. I think to myself, as the lyrics are close to the end.
"In the quiet of night.
In the co-ver so bright,
will the light seep. Ugh. Get out. Get out!"
I rushed to her side. Her hands were pressed to her ears and blood started to pool down her eyes.
"Who cares if he is an innocent, I was an innocent!" She snarled as she shook her head.
"What's wrong?! Why did you stop?!" I ask.
"Get out! Get out! Get out of my head!"
Suddenly she collapsed. I caught Briar before she fell to the floor. Cradling her I watched as the boy's soul returned to his body. Briar had also undergone a transformation; she was once again the human girl that I have looked after over these three years. Without another word I take to the air. Someone interfered today and so help me, they would pay dearly.
Five Minutes Later
We returned to the building; it was still after breakfast so I tucked Briar into her bed. She was still unconscious when we had arrived, I thought that maybe a comforting bed would help.
"The lullaby is a heavy burden on an angel, and you performed the song while still technically being human. You do amaze me young one. You have more talents then I would have thought."
I tucked the covers around her and left, I had to get this straighten out before it was time for lunch.
Briars Point of View
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Sebastian is gone. Good.
I rose up from the bed, tossing the covers to the side. At once I could feel the transformation. It can only be described by the illustration of someone putting on a coat. You shrug your body into it, pulling the cloth over you. Demon over the human body, hiding the fragile form that lay underneath.
"I have unfinished business."
I knew where my next destination would be. Making the tracks in the sky I promptly followed them to this earthly paradise surrounded by the ocean. The area smelled of sand and saltwater with a hint of warmth. Slowly walking across the sand I allowed my feet to sink in and my rage to grow. Here this bitch was in luxury, a beach within walking distance while I still had the bitter taste of this past winter in my mouth. I leapt to the sky and made a beeline towards the location of my target. It was evening and inside the room the woman was busy rummaging through her closet. She looked so happy, for now. I smiled.
Enjoy these last moments of happiness because when I am done with you, joy will be a distant and fuzzy memory.
"Come to me little Press."
A little purple globe came from out of the girl and floated over to me. Holding my hand out it landed onto my palm. The sphere curled its tail around my wrist, exposing a small white snake with red eyes.
"Ah, so you are the Demon of Depression. You are smaller than I thought you would be."
The snake flicked out her tongue and raised her little head. Her eyes curious as to why I was there.
"The girl you are attached to made a point in my life more hectic then it needed to be. When I was deployed with her, she was somehow able to get Gappetto to grant her favor. Any complaint she had he would act upon, punishing me and the other airmen. In the end, the rules only affected me severely while that lazy bum was left unscathed by her own actions. That was a terrible time for me and to this day, God has not avenged me against the people that have done me wrong. So, I am taking it into my own hand, one person at a time. You are small because someone in her life has been interceding for her. The prayers have made you barely effective while that bitch thrives in life. That is changing tonight. I will grow you in size and strength so that you will have the ability to take over. Now go back to your host, once you enter you will see my words come to life."
I sent the snake back and quickly dashed into the sky. I didn't need to see the results because I knew my will was finally being done.
"One more to go. I'll have to go back to the beginning. Before the deployment from hell, before going to my first base and before I even rose my hand to pledge to lies. Florida, here I come."
Swiftly I took to the sky. I didn't even have to create a trail to follow. The lies that flowed from this person's lips was enough to lead me straight to her. Minutes later I was standing in her office, she was talking to her latest victim.
"Yes, you got hired for an open general position." She said as she looked at the paperwork. The young man sitting before her looked confused. He had no clue what he would be in for with an "open general" spot.
"So, most likely you'll get a medical job."
I see you are still using the same tactics. Where have I heard this before. Oh, I know. This is the same bullshit you told me. Sadly, this boy is going in around the same time I did. His list won't be filled with medical jobs. It will be filled with the scraps from the year. Services, Security Forces, etc.. He'll be lucky if he gets one medical job. How unfortunate.
On the shelf in the back was a picture of her with her boyfriend. They look so happy. I picked up the frame and instantly it started to melt. In the background I could hear the recruiter say something about the heat.
"You know, my life in the military could have been different if you had actually cared about what job I had gotten instead of being so focused on your numbers. No matter though. The lies that you have told have made me the woman that I am today. Since you specialize in lies, I will allow you to continue. You will be the living embodiment of Pinocchio. You will never be able to speak the truth again. When the love of your life asks you to marry him tonight you will say that you don't want too and when he asks if you love him you will say no. On second thought, you won't be able to write the truth either. That's going to catch up to you fast if you stay in the military. Drown in your sea of lies bitch. I'll make sure to pour some champagne out for you. On second thought, I won't waste it on you."
I walked over to the desk where the tramp sat. Scattered across were the boy's documents; recommendation letters, transcripts and his ASVAB scores. From the recommendations it looked like he was a decent kid, one that was just trying to make his way out of Miami. Honestly, I couldn't blame him for that one. Glancing at his scores I saw that his score had mirrored my own score. They were too low for me to get anything decent, especially around this time. Sighing I walked over to his chair. I leaned close enough so he could hear me.
"Run. The recruiter that sits before you is only preparing you for failure. The only thing the military is going to do is creep into every aspect of your life, there will be no escaping. You will get no rest and If you are able to find some it will quickly diminish. At the end you will either be physically or mentally drained. Trust me. It isn't worth it. Even with the benefits what is the use of it if you end up killing yourself because of the trauma you will go through. Trust me, run."
The young man jerked to his feet, startling the recruiter in the process as he grabbed his bag and binder.
"I'm sorry but I don't think I can do this."
"What?! You are at the end, now…"
"Sorry I can't." he nearly ran out the door with the recruiter following him. When I looked out the window, he was already out of the parking lot.
Hmmm. Good Boy.
I started to make my way back home. Today was successful and for once I felt that justice was finally served. I listened for a moment to hear the results of my actions.
"What's wrong with him?! Why is he convulsing?!"
"No. Um. I'm gonna stay inside. I don't feel right."
"Get him away from me!"
"All that work for nothing."
Music to my ears.