"I am cold Mommy, I miss my special sleepy time blanket. " Rachel said as the group made their way through town. The empty streets and eerie silence combined with the red tint covering the land, created a nightmareish dreamscape.
"I know I'm sorry." Ciel said removing his jacket and placing it on his daughter's shoulders, the princess smiled briefly.
"Thank you Mommy, you are a happy mommy to have."
"Oh no!" Rowan cried suddenly, causing the group to stop.
"What is it ?" His father asked obviously concerned.
"Lovey I didn't get to bring him, he's my favorite one. Mum, dad, what if they hurt Lovey?" Rowan sobbed.
"They will not hurt him, Mama bunny stayed to protect him and sister Rachel's tiger." Evian sniffled, Ciel was grateful to his eldest son for his attempt at calming his younger brother.
Lenora began to sob in Luca's arms.
"Don't cry, it's okay." The younger demon said, cuddling his niece.
"She's probably hungry." Alois reasoned, resting his head on Naveen's chest.
"I am too, I wish Hannah was with us. She always knows what to do."
"So do I, Luca, but she's not and we still have to figure this out."
"Brother, are we going to die?"
"No. I won't let you die, Luca, I promise."
"But then...who's going to look after you?"
"I will," Naveen assured his brother-in-law. "He is my mate and mother to my daughter, if by my life or death I can protect my family, I will not hesitate.
"You can't do that, if you die, then brother won't ever be happy again."
"No one is dying." Sebastian interrupted sternly. "We will look after each other, with our priority being the children. I'm certain that my father will be sending his soldiers to help us, just as he said and-"
"But Daddy, Grandfather said that a long time ago, what if he does not love us anymore?"Rachel sobbed.
"Children, your father would never tell you anything that he didn't believe is right. We need to trust him as we always have." Ciel added, he felt Lizzy grasp his hand.
"where can we go?" She whispered.
"I don't know, it seems to be everywhere, everything is so strange now." Ciel whispered back. He looked to Alois, The blonde teen was looking rather ill.
"We have to get Alois somewhere safe, he needs a doctor or something. He's not doing too well."
"But where is safe, like you said, it's everywhere, the whole town is covered in this red light."
"Then maybe we have to leave the town completely, I don't see any options." Ciel sighed.
"But what about Sebastian's father, h-"
"He'll find us, he has his ways...if he comes at all."
"That's not very comforting, Ciel."
"I know, I'm sorry but that's our reality right now. I don't like it anymore than you do. The only other place I really know we might have a chance is my manor, but that's a long way off."
"It's an even longer journey to make when you have an injured person that can't walk. Leave me." Alois said quietly.
"Precious one-"
"Stop, My life's not worth the sacrifice of our daughter, Luca or Ciel's children. I'd rather it be me than them. I love you so much Naveen, but I can't-"
Having heard the conversation, Sebastian cleared his throat.
"Listen closely everyone, I still wear the ring given to me by my father to signify that I am the future king of hell. As such, I'm now giving an official order to everyone present. I expressly forbid any of you to die, is that clear, Alois, this includes you."Alois smiled weakly.
"I'll do my best." He replied. Ciel turned back to the children, who were now huddled together, holding onto each other.
"This will be warm, hugging is such a happy thing."Rachel shivered, prompting her brothers to move closer.
"Oh yes, hugs are good. They say I love you and do not worry, here I am, I will keep you safe. Mommy and dad hugs say that."Vincent added.
"I don't know if it's gonna make a difference." Bard crossed his arms over his chest. "No matter where we go, those things are gonna find us. I hate to say it but-"
"Then don't. Some things are best left unsaid." Mey-Rin patted his shoulder, comfortingly.
"We need to decide on a plan, I doubt that was the end of the chase."
"More monsters will come, Mama. They will be the meanest ones ever!"Evian called, refusing to leave his siblings.
"It'll be all right, we just need to find a way to get back to the manor as quickly as possible." the group looked around the deserted street, it was then that Sebastian noticed an object in the distance.
"Ciel, take our daughters, I think I may have a plan to get us at least part of the way,"Ciel held out his arms, taking the children from their father.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"I believe I saw a carriage, seeing as no one's around, I doubt they would mind us borrowing it."
"All the way over there, on your own with those things, I don't think so."
"Ciel, what choice is there, Naveen can't carry Alois much further, his arms must be tired, and the children have been walking the entire way, miles in fact. Alois needs a doctor as you pointed out. We must try something." he reasoned.
"You see a shadow that looks like one, and even if it is, who's to say these monsters Evian talks about didn't have a hand in putting it there?"Ciel replied.
"The Necro hounds, Ciel they're-"
"The others, when he showed me, there were voices chanting some kind of-"
"Listen to me, we must work with what we have, this is the best possible-"
"Unless it's not, what if you go over there and something's on the other side, how am I to explain that to our children, is that really what you want?"
"Please, don't argue with me Ciel. I know this isn't the most ideal situation and it's because I love you and our family that I must at the very least look into it."Sebastian said trying to be patient.
"And what bloody good will it do if I'm right, What good will you be to us if you're-'
"Remember the children are near by, perhaps it's best to leave this conversation." He leaned down to kiss Ciel.
"If you die, I will never speak to you again." Ciel whispered.
"Come now, all that will do is send me home, you would no doubt see me again, of course we wouldn't be demons and that would mean-"
"Never again, are you willing to take that chance, an eternity of silence?"Ciel whispered in his ear knowing how much his mate hated it when he wouldn't speak to him.
"If it's an eternity of silence, or my family's lives, then as much as it might pain me, I will choose to protect my loved ones, after all, you would still be near me, I suppose that would have to do." He turned to leave.
"Sebastian, don't do this." Ciel pleaded.
"My dearest love, I have given you your way a vast majority of our life together, something not many mates can claim. You and I have been equal,this once,I must go against you. In time I know you will forgive me."
"Sebastian-" Sebastian turned back to him.
"Ciel Michaelis, be still and be silent!" He said sternly. Ciel stood in silence, the group let out a collective gasp.
"Oh no Brothers and baby sisters, Daddy was so mean to Mommy, Mommy is so sad. We should go give him hugs."Rachel suggested, seconds later, Ciel was surrounded by his children, each one throwing their tiny arms around him.
"It's weird... seein' Sebastian yell at the Young Master like that."Bard said as the shock wore off,
He began walking toward the former butler.
"Don't worry, I'll go make sure he's all right."
"Ciel-" Lizzy began, unsure of what to say to comfort him,
"They'll be back." Alois said weakly. "Sebastian will always come back for you. You know that."
"Mama, we will stay with you, and when dad comes back we will tell him to be very nice with you so you will not be sad anymore. We love you Mama"
"Yes, lots and lots." Rachel and Vincent added in unison.
"Forever." Rowan tightened his grip slightly,
"Meemee!" Angelina and Kathryn cried, snuggling into their mother.
"I love all of you too, Thank you for being such brave children."
"Mommy, we are brave because of you."
"Oh yes, you showed us how to be very brave babies, you are a brave Mama. You are good at teaching us to be."
"You're the bravest Mum in the whole world!" Rowan exclaimed.
"And the very best one, do not for get the very best one." Rachel scolded.
"See, even the little ones believe in you." Alois added. "The rest of us do as well. They'll come back because there's no way in hell you'll tolerate failure, Bard knows it and Sebastian's not going to let you down, he loves you too much, Trust them."
"I do. It's those things I don't trust." Ciel drew in a breath, letting it out slowly.
Sebastian, I love you very much, but if you die, I swear I will kill you. Ciel thought allowing a few tears to fall. With so much strength around him, Ciel had no right to be so weak.