Title: Predator Disclaimer: I do not own any of the known Characters.

Warning: This story has graphic sexual encounters. Please keep that in mind when reading. This has no connection whatsoever to Heat.

Genre: AU, Rape, Violence, Hurt/Comfort, Angst

Pairings: Claude/Sebastian, Eric/Alan, Undertaker/Grell

Chapter 9.

Later on in the evening, Sebastian was sound asleep within his bed, his nude body covered with his blankets. His cheeks were slightly flushed, rosy lips parted as he breathed slowly and deeply, more from being truly exhausted than from actually needing to do so. The raven was alone now, having been bathed by Claude and put to bed where he had fallen asleep almost immediately. He was still somewhat sore, though Sebastian's weariness had distracted him from that for the time being. He had no way of knowing that his Master was searching for him, in a rather dark mood that was only growing more so the longer his search took.

Ciel Phantomhive had no idea of where the Demon was. He had searched the grounds and the rooms where Sebastian could be found most often. The Demon in question had not been seen since Alois and his Demonic Butler had arrived. Part of Ciel was afraid something had happened, though another part of him would be severely annoyed if Sebastian was fine and had simply removed himself to stay away from Claude.

Having searched everywhere else he could think of, Ciel finally decided to check the Demon's bedroom. He never went in there, but if Sebastian was nowhere else, then this was the last place in his estate that the Demon could be.

Sebastian didn't even stir when his young Master opened the door, having been trying to find him since the moment Alois Trancy and his butler had left. Ciel Phantomhive had seen a definitive smirk of satisfaction upon the golden-eyed Demon when he had departed and it had concerned Ciel more than he had thought possible, particularly since he hadn't seen Sebastian since the chess game had begun.

Knowing that Sebastian was a Demon, the blue-eyed teenager was a little more worried to find his Demonic Butler so deeply asleep that he didn't even stir when his door was opened. Walking over to the bed, Ciel looked down at him, his brow furrowing slightly when he saw what looked like bruises upon both Sebastian's neck and cheek.

For several moments Ciel just stood there, slightly stunned. Had Sebastian disobeyed his direct order not to fight? He thought furiously for several moments, thinking back to the loud noise he and Alois had both heard during the game. Then the dark-haired boy frowned, remembering the previous fight that Sebastian and Claude had engaged in at Alois' estate.

The sounds of the two demons fighting each other was unmistakable. It couldn't have been a fight like that, which meant that Sebastian hadn't disobeyed him. Yet something had clearly happened, considering that Sebastian was exhausted, bruised, and had blood upon him. And when Sebastian shifted slightly, Ciel realized that the Demon was wearing no clothes.

The blankets had slipped, revealing a pale shoulder and bare leg. Feeling as though he was looking at something he shouldn't be, Ciel began to fix the blankets and that was when he saw the blood upon the sheets. There wasn't much, but enough to make Ciel even more suspicious. Sebastian was clearly exhausted, bruised, and naked; in addition, his sheets were bloody. The satisfaction in Claude's eyes had not escaped the Earl's notice, either, when the Demon had left with Alois. Suddenly feeling immensely guilty, the now pale teenager recalled the uncertain, flushed look upon Sebastian's face just after he had given his Butler the order not to fight against Claude unless Ciel himself gave him an order to. Sebastian had questioned what if Claude started something with him; perhaps he had feared that this would happen.

The guilt built within Ciel as he continued to think about it. It was pretty obvious to him that Sebastian had been sexually assaulted, probably even raped. What if Claude had been doing something similar to Sebastian during the fight at Alois' estate? That would explain why Sebastian had refused to look at Claude when the fight had been stopped and why Claude had been so smug.

Rage flashed within Ciel's one visible eye, showing clearly. Had Alois known what his Demon was doing? Ciel didn't know but he intended to find out and quickly, for Sebastian's sake. It was better for right now to pretend that he didn't know what had happened, for he suspected that Sebastian wouldn't be comfortable with him knowing the truth.

No one knew what had befallen Ciel during the time after his parents had died and before he had contracted with Sebastian except for the Demon himself. Ciel did not want anyone to know what those men had done to him so long ago and he truly believed that Sebastian would feel the same about what had happened to him.

Leaving the room silently, Ciel closed the door and headed back to his study. He needed to think on this and determine how he should proceed. He had no intention of letting Claude- and Alois, if he had been involved in what his Butler had done. No one was allowed to do such a thing to Sebastian. Vengeance would take time, but Ciel was determined that he would get it for his Demon.

On the other side of town, a certain Spider Demon had bathed himself once his Highness was asleep in bed. He was quite pleased, though he wished that he hadn't had to leave Sebastian behind. His time with the Raven had been cut short; Claude had not even been able to change the sheets on the bed. But at least Sebastian had been able to relax within the bath, the bleeding having stopped within the heated water. When he had fallen asleep, Claude found the expression upon Sebastian's sleeping face to be adorable, an emotion he had never felt before. It was, quite honestly, a little disturbing.

Claude had desired Sebastian for so long, yet had been touched by how cute and defenseless Sebastian looked when he was sleeping. No one had stirred such a feeling within the Spider before, not even his own Master. Of course, Claude would never admit to such a thing to any other Demon, least of all Sebastian himself. Emotion was highly frowned upon for any Demons who weren't a mated pair and Claude hadn't even considered that. However, Sebastian was quite a prize to have won. His power, cunning, and beauty would only raise Claude's standing that much higher. And when he tired of the Raven, others would, no doubt, wish to have him for themselves.

Unfortunately, the thought of that made jealousy burn within Claude. He didn't want anyone else touching Sebastian but him. No one should be allowed to see the Raven in the throes of passion except for himself.

Finishing his bath, Claude dressed himself in clean clothes, heading outside to do his nightly patrol. His mood had considerably darkened, a distinct frown upon his face. What the Devil was he supposed to do now? He had meant only to use Sebastian for his own sexual gratification, not to develop any sort of feelings for him.

So distracted was Claude that he didn't realize he was being watched by a rather unfriendly set of glowing eyes. And when the Spider Demon moved around the side of the house, Nox stepped out of the shadows.

Now he knew where his fellow Demon rival for his chosen prey dwelled. Soon enough, Nox would deal with him. However, he was getting hungry again, thanks to the fight with the older Reaper who wore no glasses. All he had gained from feeding upon the Crimson Reaper had been lost because of the unexpected battle.

Since the Reaper he'd fed upon had not been killed as planned, Nox decided to go find him again. Draining him completely of his blood should be enough to give him the strength to capture Sebastian and kill Claude Faustus.

To Be Continued