"You fight with cutlery?!" Aragon said as he ducked. Sebastian threw one of his knives at the demon's head as the two ran about in the mansion's open courtyard.
"My choice of weapon shouldn't concern you. It is my skill in wielding them that should frighten you."
"Me and frightened by a bunch of kitchen knives? Do you forget the ancient weapon I yield?" Aragon lunged at Sebastian with his own weapon, an intricate sword, simple and light, but deadly.
"You're right. Where is that beloved sword of yours? Why are you using something as simple as a Little Demon?" Sebastian swung back as Aragon managed to get close with his sword. He could feel it in his movements, the sluggishness weighing him down.
"Of course I wouldn't bring it in the human world. I don't need such a sword to bring you down. Now then, let's get serious shall we?" Sebastian was surprised as Aragon's posture completely changed and in one fluid motion, he was able to cut through Sebastian's right arm.
"You're slow." Aragon said, taking a step back, the blade of his sword tinted with blood as he drew it out.
"I…" Sebastian knew such a simple wound couldn't bring him down and yet as soon as the blade withdrew, a weird sensation started to spread from his arm, numbing it and then his entire body.
"Wha-what did you do to me?!" Sebastian demanded as he reluctantly collapsed on his knees.
"Oh my. You were weaker than I thought." Aragon looked down at the fallen demon butler at his feet.
"You-you cheated!" Sebastian clutched his right arm with his left, trying to get some feeling back but none of him squeezing worked. His entire body was beginning to numb and he cursed as he looked at Aragon's laughing face.
"Look at you, complaining! Oh my." Aragon continued as Sebastian scowled. There was one good side to the numbness, he couldn't feel pain…
"I am a demon. I am entitled to cheat. Perhaps you should've kept your guard up." Aragon returned to his serious attitude as he knelt down and turned Sebastian's face up, daring the demon to look into his glowing green eyes. "You're coming with me." Sebastian knew he was beaten. A portal began to open beneath them as his eyes trailed to his master's bedroom window. A deep shame overwhelmed him as he hung his head and stared down into the endless abyss of the opening portal to the underworld.
"I've failed you master, forgive me." Aragon, although irked at the statement, cast a spiteful look at the manor one last time before grabbing an injured Sebastian and stepping through the portal.
"You injured him?!" A beautiful young maiden came running down the steps leading to the foyer of the palace as soon as Aragon pushed himself and Sebastian through the portal. The girl's striking black hair flew behind her as she raced towards them, almost colliding into them. Her curious red eyes watched as Aragon stepped in front of Sebastian, blocking him from her view.
"Not now, Aria. You. Come here and take him, I must inform His Majesty of his son's arrival back to court." Aragon handed the half passed out Sebastian to the attendant who rushed forward as Aria looked on with worried eyes.
"Aragon…" She whispered to the green eyed demon as he walked away. He heard the concern in her voice and despite himself, he stopped and sighed.
"He's alright. I just used a mild concoction made by our family physician to temporarily knock him out. He looks like that due to his own accord. It's what you get for not consuming a human soul in a long time." Aragon didn't wait to see the look on Aria's troubled face. He hated that the girl had always loved Sebastian more than him but that couldn't be helped.
Aragon departed for the king's chamber and Aria followed the attendants that had taken hold of Sebastian to the infirmary. There, she stayed by his side, watching as the family physician and several servants bustled about.
"He's worse than we thought…" She heard phrases like that often, causing her to become more nervous. She reached out and held onto Sebastian's cool hands. The gloves he had worn were now gone, revealing his contract symbol with his human master. Seeing such a thing on Sebastian's hand surprised her but she pushed her questions aside, determined to be there for him.
"Princess…you should go rest. You've been here for well over four hours. He will be alright…" A nervous servant said as he observed the girl slowly watch Sebastian's still form.
"Not now. I will leave once he wakes up." And so she waited but Sebastian did not come to. Sometime in the night, she fell asleep still clutching his hand, afraid that he'd be gone as soon as she let go.
She awoke to his body stirring the next morning. Her groggy eyes opened to see two red orbs, similar to her own, staring right at her.
"It is you. That means…" Aria immediately bolted upright, beaming brightly as tears came to her eyes. His voice brought back so many memories…
"Yes Abaven, welcome home." Sebastian looked at the girl. She'd grown a little in the past few centuries.
"You've grown." Aria smiled even brighter, happy that he'd noticed.
"Yes. So have you. You've become ruggedly handsome, but then again, that was expected. You are a demon prince." Sebastian scowled at that as he slowly sat up and looked around. He was in an infirmary, the smell of medicine making his head hurt.
"Aah, I see you have woken up." The family physician came in and Sebastian and Aria both looked at the old woman, her silver hair tied back in a tight bun as her white cloak draped over her small frame dragged on the floor.
"Where is Aragon?" Sebastian demanded and the woman arched her brow at him.
"I will send for him and your father, in the meantime, drink this." The woman uncorked a bottle and poured a thick red liquid into a cup. Sebastian tried to place the smell coming from the bottle but it was unfamiliar.
"What is this…?" He looked at the liquid as he sloshed it around a bit.
"Drink." Sighing, Sebastian did as he was told. He took one sip of the liquid, allowing the liquid to coat his tongue before realizing what is was and spitting it out.
"This is human blood!" He glared at the older woman who looked unamused.
"Of course it is."
"But it smells nothing like it!" Sebastian looked down at the cup again. He should've realized.
"That's because it's a special brew to help sooth you're weakened form."
"I don't need such vile things to revitalize me. I am fine. All I need is my master." Sebastian almost dropped the cup as he realized once again where he was…
"Master…" He'd left his master behind. No doubt his master would be wondering where he disappeared to.
"Quiet, son of Amaro. Drink."
"Absolutely not." Sebastian placed the cup on the night stand next to him and attempted to get up when he realized he was stopped by an invisible barrier. He glowered at Aria and the physician both.
"Sorry, Abaven…Aragon ordered us to…just in case you know…you tried to escape." Aria didn't meet the demon's eyes as Sebastian slowly sat back down.
"Fine. I shall remain here until that lapdog of father's comes." Aria felt bad for Aragon and Sebastian both but knew that their mutual hatred for each other was something not even the King himself could fix.
"Why are you making me drink human blood, anyways?" Sebastian asked as he eyed the bottle still in the elder's hand.
"Human blood is what gives humans their life essence. Us as demons, we devour that very essence, their soul. As I can't feed another human soul to you, I'll have to do with human blood. Tell me son of Amaro, don't you feel a little different? That drop you swallowed, did it not boost your energy, even the slightest?" The elder woman waited for her answer as Sebastian remained silent. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't feeling a little better…but still…he would not disgrace himself even further by consuming human blood.
"Fine. Don't drink it. Once you are desperate enough, you will drink it." Sebastian kept his eyes concentrated on the mark on his hand, ignoring the old lady's words.
"Abaven…is that your mark? The one that binds you to a human?" Sebastian nodded slowly at Aria, wondering about his master. Judging from the sunlight coming in through an ajar window, his master would be waking up soon.
"Damn it…" He should be at the manor right now, preparing a grand breakfast to celebrate Lady Phantomhive's first day in the household.
"Abaven-" Aria started.
"You're awake. Good. I've had the servants clean out your old room and prepare you a set of clothes. Get ready, father expects to see you at the breakfast table in one hour." Sebastian's cold eyes remained on Aragon as he turned his back to leave.
"What a coward you've become. First you kidnap my master, then you poison me, and now you've put me in binds?" Aria looked between the demons, a worried expression masking her face.
"It is you who is a coward for leaving. As for the binds, good job Aria. Come, you must get ready too." Aragon held out his hand and waited for the girl to grasp it like she always did.
Aria looked over at Sebastian's seething form and laid a reassuring hand on his wounded arm, causing Sebastian to flinch and look at her.
"I will see you at breakfast Abaven." She leaned forward and placed a shy kiss on his cool cheek as Aragon watched from the corner of his eye. Sebastian remained frozen momentarily as he watched the girl stand and walk away.
Aragon's hand was tense when Aria put her small hand in his and neither of them spoke or looked back to see Sebastian continue to stare daggers at Aragon's back.
Sebastian, now aware of the boundary spell surrounding him, carefully walked beside the attendant as he was led to the living quarters of the palace. He was surprised to see that much had changed inside the palace. The dark and gloominess signifying a demon's lair was gone, replaced by a more warm and inviting interior and furniture.
"It must all be for her sake." Sebastian moved his hand to touch his cheek where Aria's soft lips had brushed on a delicate kiss just minutes ago. His demeanor softened a little as he remembered her melodious giggle as a child. "Such innocence…"
"Please call on me if you need anything." Sebastian thanked the help as he settled into his room and looked around. Everything was new. Except one thing. There in the shady corner of his room stood the cradle his father had made for him as a baby.
"Still holding onto this piece of junk?" Sebastian couldn't hold back the sad smile that appeared on his lips as reminiscent thoughts of the past surfed through his mind. He touched the polished wood of the crib, letting his finger trail along its edge.
"I must get ready. His Highness awaits." Sebastian said sarcastically as he withdrew his hand several moments later. Thoughts of his master and how to get out of this fortress kept bugging him and Sebastian was sure about one thing. No matter what, he had to find his way out of here and back to his master.
Ready in a smart tux, unlike the raven colored tailcoats he so loved, Sebastian stared at his reflection in the mirror, his eyes glowing red as he smoothed his hair back.
"Master Ciel, do not worry. You're butler will be with you shortly." With one last look at his reflection, Sebastian turned and walked out of his room. He was escorted by two attendants on either side and he kept calm as he picked up on every nook and cranny of the palace he passed as well as each attendant's weakness. If he was to escape this prison, he would have to be patient and observant.
His eyes narrowed on a green clad figure up ahead. "You're wardrobe choice is despicable." Sebastian smirked at Aragon's expression.
"Be on your best behavior. Our beloved father awaits inside." Aragon turned away from Sebastian and motioned for the guards to open the doors.
"Our?" Sebastian scoffed, enticing an annoyed grunt from Aragon.
"Quiet." Sebastian did not have time to retort as his eyes fell on the figure seated at the end of a large, elaborate dining table, sitting in a throne like chair.
"Father…" Although he'd promised himself countless times that this man was no father to him, his heart thought otherwise. The word was heard clearly in the silence of the room as both men gazed at each other.
"Abaven. Welcome home." Sebastian's eyes grew wide as he realized that was all real. His worst nightmare had come true.
Author's Note: Just wanted to take the time to thank all my wonderful readers, reviewers, and followers. You're continued support with this story means the world to me. I hope you've enjoyed reading the latest chapter and I promise, CielxElizabeth fans, there will be some fluff to look forward to in the next chapter. Please review and follow if you've like the story so far. Thank you, once again!