06. Sacrilege.

No sense of time, like you to stay, want to keep you inside. — runaway, yeah yeah yeah.

Sebastian.

That was his name now.

And it seemed sophisticatedly human, even though it's a dog's name. It was not the first time he played a role within a human body, but by his external appearance, his own use was paw purposes of lust, loneliness and loss.

He was an exquisite actor, however, and even though the apathy prevailed, on the outside he would be all his masters wanted him to be.

The final prize was worth it.

This human boy was funny, though.

He was too smart for his own good, and before his real duties began, he already knew that child would be a thorn inside his wound.

For him, no matter how long it was before the child — his master — completing his desire, boredom was a recurring problem. The years passed and he was still wandering the other side, the one the humans named hell, humans kept changing through the centuries and demons gained the advantage of strength over the material thanks to the souls they consumed.

It was a surprising situation, it had been a long time since the last time it had been summoned, the pyramids of Egypt were still inhabited.

There was much since the last time the demon consumed a tasty soul, all the others were stained and broken by human afflictions, and then this kid existed, his soul had been taken to extremes, cut like diamond, and its essence remained pure, from an almost blind whiteness for those who had these specific eyes.

He was already hungry, but for that soul, he could wait.

In the end, the boy was just a boy, who couldn't do anything for himself and who couldn't even sleep alone. Obviously, the child knew how to enjoy the contract and he — Sebastian, because that was his name this time after all — had to accept his own misfortune since he himself that accepted it.

Only a day after the count arrived at his mansion, he had received more than one visit only on a single morning, all visits of the boy came to demonstrate their support and apparently know how Ciel Phantomhive's health was. The boy spent much of his time resting, though against his own will, he could not say no because of his current physical situation, standing was already a great effort.

The week passed fast, faster than the demon would like, he and his master began an internal training to help each other. At least boredom was gradually extinguishing, although it was a stain on his personal pride as a demon learning how to make tea and properly dress a child, it was a personal pride as a butler learning to do the chores properly.

It was on the second day of the week after the little count received a letter warning about the visit of one of his cousins, the eldest of Francis Midford's daughters, Lady Eden Anastasia Rosalind Midford, Sebastian made the preparations for the girl's arrival.

She arrived around 3:30 p.m., the white carriage stood out.

The demon felt long before the carriage was near the property, he raised his chin and narrowed his eyes, the ruby-colored obes flickered into a malicious glow.

He had been caught off guard, it was not a recurring situation.

A small smile skirted his lips, his fangs being exposed.

It was a great achievement, whoever did it.

That essence.

Another demon?

No.

The essence of a demon was not so subtle.

It was something different, cleaner and...

Familiar?

It wasn't possible. Not precisely in this era, there have been many decades since the last time he were on a contract, and now, that.

The aberration that he heard of.

Dangerously close.

From what the demon knew, according to those who found it in this human dimension, the aberration didn't consume souls like they did, what was cast into it was about wandering the dying land and reborn again in another human body. The story that circulated among the beings on the other side was so old that now more seemed like a legend.

There was still the fact that few demons had seen the aberration, and the legend prayed that only killing another demon the aberration could come out of it eternal punishment.

It was awkward, understanding what kind of creature would rather remain trapped in a human shell rather than simply falling rid of its own moorings. Not that being under the feet of a very ancient, childish and undecided being was the best alternative, but any being who knew the three kingdoms knew well that being human was being a pariah, a fragile insect and food for the strongest beings.

Perhaps the aberration was simply masochistic, all creatures had their fetishes.

Sebastian was bothering about the situation, but he wasn't worried with the aberration, it's essence was not strong and there was no strength in the underworld more powerful than him.

It wouldn't be a problem for his master, he was sure, but... He didn't like to fight for his food, however, it was a personal inconvenience.

He pulled the collar from his costume, his gloved fingers pulled the black fabric and he walked out of the mansion. The coachman had opened the carriage door before he did, Sebastian reached out to the person inside the cabin.

A delicate hand of small fingers landed on his palm, soon a young face was brought into the opaque light of the sun.

That—

His eyes widened, he held back so he wouldn't get close.

The proximity had been the catalyst that made him notice where the trail of the ancient essence was coming from, an old soul and not human. Her surprise was to realize that smell, that weight in the earthly air and the shadow behind her green eyes.

That was her.

It was exactly the same essence.

Every piece of his false human body asked him to lean towards her, inspire the smell of her skin, know if his natural instinct weren't being deceived.

She stared at her own hand on his and faced him again, doubt appeared for a few seconds on her face, but was replaced by an attempt at seriousness and rigidity that did not match her childish features.

He helped her get down in the carriage.

She was different from her younger sister, although her eyes were very equal, she seemed to be only a few inches taller despite being the oldest, her hair was taken by soft waves and was stuck in a elaborated hairstyle, her hair had a pale blonde tone and almost greyish, and the dark dress made her look still in mourning and probably still was.

"You can wait for me, Lucien. I won't be long," she told the coachman, who bowed and headed to his previous place, the girl's green eyes again faced the black butler in front of her. "You must be my cousin's new butler. I'm sorry I'm so perplexed, this mansion has been very different since I last time i've been here."

Her voice was balmy like a breeze and a trembling whisper, she seemed distressed and her eyes stared at the great building in front of them. Sebastian pointed to the mansion discreetly, bowing a little forward and pointing the way to the doors of the Phantomhive mansion.

"I completely understand, my lady. The young master waiting for my lady in his office, please, I ask you to accompany me."

He opened the door for her to enter, his ruby-colored eyes remained on the ground even though the smell coming from her was unbearably familiar and take the demon to a part of his memory buried to many ages.

She was here, they could touch each other, but she was like any other human reincarnation.

She didn't remember.

Lady Eden walked through the doors of the mansion, observing everything with caution, hesitately following the butler. The girl stopped near the foot of the stairs, raising her eyes to the steps.

"Are you the only employee in the mansion actually?"

"I'm afraid so, my lady."

She smiled with melancholy.

"It must be exhausting."

Sebastian offered an educated smile.

"Nothing less would be expected of a Phantomhive butler."

She didn't close a smile as she climbed the stairs.

"I suppose." She touched the railing, Sebastian didn't look back until he got ahead of his master's office door, she stopped again. "Mr. Butler..."

The butler touched his chin near his shoulder to see her in a panoramic view.

"Forgive me, I didn't introduce myself. Sebastian Michaelis, my lady." He tilted his head down on a small nod.

She felt slowly.

"Mr. Michaelis,"

"I wonder every second as it would,"

"There is..."

"Touch you at least once..."

"... The possibility, "

"... know what kind of texture has your wings,"

"Of we have met each other before?"

"if we've never touched each other before, if we aren't created for this, why do I want to touch you so much?"

The butler stopped when he heard her footsteps stop too.

"Starlight, I would destroy all the existent creations if it meant I could desired you in the way i want."

"I'm afraid not. If it's not daring, may I ask you why the question, my lady?"

Eden denied it with her head, looking away.

"I'm sorry. It's just that your voice sounds very familiar to me."

Sebastian waved in agreement, walking back toward his master's office.

There was a subtle change in the traces of the butler's face, but he knew how to disguise any other than an false cordial expression.

No advantage would come from digging up dead stories.

Ciel.

That was his name now.

A name he didn't deserve, a name of ghost. But there was no way to look back, he chose every aspect of that life, he rode it for the purpose of his revenge.

And now he was attached to a demon and his soul was no longer his.

There was much to do, and the visits kept coming, all walking near him like the moths into the light, in search of the advantage they would take from a child with an empire in his hands.

His relatives also came.

First his Aunt Angelina, Madame Red, who took care of his health during his first week upon arrival. Elizabeth who came to visit him only a day after his arrival, his Aunt Francis and her uncle Alexis who came with Elizabeth. Edward who came once with his Aunt Angelina.

He asked for Eden once, to Elizabeth.

"Eden's not feeling... very well."

It was an unsatisfying answer, but he didn't question it for more.

When the sunday arrived, he received a letter from his cousin, Eden formally informed him about her future visit. The letter was as formal as the rest of the other letters he received from his father's former partners, it was the kind of letter that was sent to a stranger, he recognized, however, the letter of his cousin in the paper, elegant and feminine as in the times when she helped him learn to write.

He could only assume that she already knew, she knew he was no longer the same.

There were knocks on the door.

"Come in." He, 'Ciel', muttered.

"Excuse me." Ciel darkened the words coming from the demon behind the door, he could laugh inwardly with irony.

Sebastian was the first to enter, giving way to a girl with grayish blonde hair that Ciel knew well. She, unlike him, didn't look any different from the girl he'd seen last time.

"Ciel."

She just pronounces his name and he could feel so many things wrong.

"Eden," he leaned over the armchair and pointed to the seat in front of his predecessor's old table. "Please, take a sit."

Eden hesitated, but walked up to the chair, she seemed shy at that moment as if she were dealing with just a stranger. Sebastian came in the wake of her and pulled the chair for her to sit down.

Unlike his other relatives, she seemed more quiet, everyone rushed to embrace him, even Francis who was so rigid.

"I don't wish to take much of your time, " She wet her lips, Sebastian was preparing tea in a tray just a little further away from the two. "I just wanted to see you... know if it was real."

Ciel supported his elbows on the table and tied his fingers.

"You're seeing me here, It's real."

Eden shrank into her chair, and Ciel considered her reactions somewhat sinister. It was like she knew and feared, which made no sense to him.

"Ciel..." She whispered his new name. "Anything I'll say now will be unfair compared to what you must have been through, I didn't plan what I'd say when I saw you again."

Ciel stared at her without expression.

"I'm glad you came, Eden."

She bowed her head, staring at the cup of tea in front of her, Sebastian was like a statue watching near the door, motionless and showing more than ever his lack of humanity.

"We've never been so close, have we? You've always been spontaneous, but impenetrable in a way, I've always admired the intelligence of the two of you."

Ciel was paralyzed. Eden was very similar to his predecessor. She had a gentle force inside her eyes, and the rhythm at which she spoke, soft and continuous, forced him to listen.

"Eden," He closed his mouth, disturbed.

Eden didn't look at him, her finger brushes the embossed drawing in the cup.

"Your brother was receptive, though few sought to know what the key made him open." She gave a warm smile. "I remember you when babies, you guys were too small. Your hair smelled like everything sweeter I'd ever smelled before, it's lovely, to me, you're like Lizzy and Edward, the love I feel for you and your brother is the same as I feel for them."

"I know that, Eden." Ciel said, maybe a little rude, the fact that she was talking about himself as if he were dead was weird, he felt like a ghost. It wasn't something he felt with others, he was convinced there'd be no turning back.

Her words bothered him.

"When you two are gone, it was as if parts of me had gone too," She raised her gaze at him. "And when I heard you came back without your brother, I knew a part of me died. For a few days, I didn't know if I was dreaming or if it was reality, because for so long I dreamed that you two were alive and in home, that your parents were alive, and that everything was a nightmare."

Ciel shook his jaw.

"Nothing is more like before, none of this is a nightmare. There's no reason to continue living in the past." Ciel told her firmly. "The faster you understand reality, the easier you'll accept it."

Eden pressed her lips, and attached her eyebrows, she looked in pain and Ciel had already seen that expression on the face of those who meet him before her.

"You... You are right." She finally said. "I just want you to know, that no matter how far I'm away, If you need me, I'll be there for you. Not as someone who will replace those you've lost, but as someone who loves you very much."

Love is not enough, never was. That's what Ciel believed now, that's why his eyes were empty when he nodded, not absorbing any of his cousin's words.

"Yes, I appreciate it."

Eden got up, putting the cup back in the saucer although she hadn't even drunk from its contents.

"I will always be here for you, Ciel."

"Get a nice trip back, Eden."

Elizabeth visited her fiancé a month later, she was trying to cheer Ciel up despite the various tasks she had in search of becoming a proper young lady. They were having tea, the sweets of Ciel's new butler were delicious.

"I was so anxious to see you, Ciel! It's so cute the new clothes Nina made for you, it's so nice to see beautiful things after everything that's going on in my ho—" Lizzy immediately widened her eyes, realizing that he had said too much about things she was forbidden to say.

Ciel raised his gaze by realizing the way his fiancée had faltered.

"What's going on in your house, Lizzy?"

The girl gave a fake smile and laughed.

"Nothing is happening! Ciel, it's just..."

Ciel bowed his head to the side, his gaze became soft, and he seemed so much like the Ciel from before that Lizzy held her breath.

"You don't have to hide, I'm your fiancé, aren't I?"

Lizzy's eyes shone, she became tense and shook hands in the fabric of her dress.

"It was about Eden."

Ciel raised the cup of tea in front of the his lips.

"What's wrong with Eden?"

"Doctors said it's a thing called hysteria," Lizzy bowed her head, remembering hearing the term behind the door as she wasn't old enough to hear what the adults were talking about. "They sent her to a asylum."

Her fiancé drank from the tea and nodded.

"I understand." Ciel simply spoke, seeming unwavering.

Lizzy had not understood his coldness, but she no longer knew how to deal with Ciel.

Everything was too different now for her heart.

Ciel shook his hands in fist.

"I just wanted to see you... know if it was real."

"... I didn't know if I was dreaming or if it was reality."

He was frustrated, he felt that weight on his chest like when he saw his own dead brother at a sacrificial table.

He was so blind that he didn't realize she... That Eden... He was just loosing another person because he was...

She was—

"Sebastian," He called for the butler, the demon bowed. "You know what to do."

"Yes, my lord."

[Author's note]

A special thank you to Manon and Swiggs for commenting! Your comments are the only thing that lets me know that you are reading, please leave your opinion before leaving 3

See you in the next chapter!