Ciel looked around the hallway. There were no paintings, no antiques, not even any carpets. There was nothing personal. The hallway was just bland. Bland and eerie at the same time. The guard had stopped in front of a room and turned around. In front of Ciel were two doors. The doors seemed very expensive. Why? It was because of the artfully crafted images on the doors.
Alex opened the rosewood doors and bowed. Keeping his head low and placing an arm across his chest.
" In here sire" Alex kept his head down, but he was hoping, hoping that this child-Earl would save the boy in the dungeon from working for the madman that was the Wester Earl. The young Earl nodded and walked inside. Alex straightened, thinking that he was alone, only to see red eyes looking at him. Alex tensed and stepped back in shock. 'It is only the Phantomhive butler' Alex thought trying to calm himself. The butler merely smiled and bowed.
" Thank you for your time" was all the Phantomhive butler as he walked in the room and closed the doors. Alex shook his head. ' What strange people' was all he thought. Remembering Artemis the guard hurried down the hallway to the visible entrance to the dungeon. 'Hopefully with some good news' Alex thought, stopping at the kitchen to swipe some caviar.
Ciel
Ciel Phantomhive looked at the room. The curtains, bed, and carpets were all a dark blue. However a small purple flag was hung near a corner of a wall. It was if the room was trying to tell them something. Ciel looked out the window. The sun was close to setting completely.
" Fifteen minutes until dinner Master" Sebastian bowed. Ciel looked around the room and nodded. Ciel stood allowing Sebastian took off his cloak and top hat. Placing them on the hanger near the door.
Ciel put his hand on his eye patch and pul led it off, revealing the contract sign on his right eye.
" Sebastian, I order you to find out what John Wester plans to do with the Funtom company" The contract sign glowed and Sebastian bowed, eyes glowing pink.
" Yes, My Lord" The demon butler walked out of the room swiftly and disappeared. Ciel walked under the purple flag and narrowed his eyes. ' There has to be something in this room' Ciel put his hands on the wall and pushed. Nothing. Ciel reached his hands up and tugged on the flag. Nothing. Ciel pushed the stone bricks, tying to find a switch. Again nothing. Frustrated, Ciel walked over to the fireplace. As he walked Ciel saw a poker out-of-place.
' Wester can't even keep his room tidy' was the angry thought that ran through Ciel's head. Ciel reached out a hand and grabbed the rusting poker. Ciel yanked the poker harshly trying to pick the poker up. Instead the poker leaned to the left. Ciel stopped, then yanked on the poker again. Ciel's effort rewarded a small rumble. His blue eye widened and Ciel swiftly turned. Under the flag there was a small entrance. Ciel walked over to the opening a looked inside. It was dark, but Ciel could see the small flickering of light. Ciel looked at a nearby clock. Ten minutes. Ten minutes until dinner. Ciel looked at the opening and walked in.
Artemis
The clacking of footsteps made Artemis place his quill down again He knew it was Alex, as the footsteps were slow. Artemis didn't have to wait long until the guard came in. In his hand was another tray of bland food. Artemis's expression brighten a little at the sight of caviar. Looks like Alex got away with stealing again.
" Dinner" the guard grunted. This time the guard did not unlock Artemis's shackle. Artemis took note of that as he reached for the food. " What is going on?" Artemis asked as he place the tray on the desk. Alex coughed. " The Earl of Phantomhive has arrived, I've given him that room."
Artemis nodded. Placing a silver spoonful of bland broth in his mouth Artemis wondered what persuaded Alex to give the Phantomhive Earl the room to the dungeon. Taking the spoon out of his mouth Artemis turned to Alex. " The Phantomhive Earl who is he?"
Alex made a strange expression on his face at the question. " The Earl is a boy, around your age." Artemis cocked his eyebrow. " A child Earl" Artemis mused. " Obviously this boy is fit for the job, or he wouldn't keep his title of Earl. That and the fact of Wester acting like a manic at the arrival." Artemis stated as he ate. There was silence as Artemis ate. After Artemis finished his dinner he placed the spoon down and picked up the crisp white napkin. Nonchalantly Artemis wiped his mouth. " You should leave, seven minutes left before dinner"
Alex looked shock, but did not argue. After all Artemis is a very smart boy and he is hardly ever wrong. Taking the tray Alex nodded at Artemis and left, locking the dungeon cell as he left. Artemis waited until the footsteps had disappeared before he turned to the left. " You can come out now, Earl of Phantomhive"
Ciel
The dark hallways were annoying, but Ciel kept quiet and walked down the stone stairs. At the bottom the light was stronger. As Ciel continued to walk he heard voices.
" The Phantomhive Earl who is he?" a young, cold, yet curious voice asked. Ciel stopped and hid behind a stone wall.
" The Earl is a boy, around your age." Ciel recognized the voice of the guard that had escorted him to his guestroom.
" A child Earl" Ciel heard the other voice take a more curious tone" Obviously this boy is fit for the job, or he wouldn't keep his title of Earl. That and the fact of Wester acting like a manic at the arrival." Despite himself, Ciel felt himself feel quite prideful as the voice said that.
" You should leave, seven minutes left before dinner" Ciel was highly impressed. How this person could tell time without needing a clock, in the dungeon ,shocked him. Footsteps echoed and the click of a lock was all Ciel heard before the guard the gone. Ciel straighten and was about to face this mysterious person when a cold voice stopped him.
" You can come out now, Earl of Phantomhive" Ciel widened his eyes. How had this person know he was here? Ciel thought. Ciel started to walk cautiously, to where the mysterious stranger was. Ciel reached the cell and looked inside. What he saw shocked him. There inside was a very pale boy, with raven black hair. His ice-blue eyes glared coldly at Ciel. Ciel tensed as the boy stood and walked to him. Ciel heard chains and looked down. At the boy's right ankle, a rusting shackle. ' He must be thirteen' Ciel thought, remembering what the guard said.
The boy stopped in front of the cell and Ciel could look at the boy better. The boy was about the same height as Ciel and he was wearing a suit. Ciel wondered why a prisoner would be allowed to wear that type of clothing. " Why are you here?" The boy asked. Ciel took a moment to answer.
" I am here to find out what John Wester is hiding. I can see now that it is you." Ciel stared at the boy a little longer. " I presume that it was you who wrote the letters" The boy nodded. " Did you write any documents?" Ciel asked.
" Yes" was the other boy's cold answer. The boy did not make any move to talk to Ciel." How long have you been imprisoned here" Ciel asked, wondering if this boy was what Wester was trying hiding.
" Three months" was all the answer Ciel needed. ' Wester had imprison this boy and forced him to destroy other companies' Ciel looked into the boy's eyes. There Ciel saw sadness and a hint of anger.' He must've had a family and Wester took him away without thinking' Ciel felt anger pass through his body, but he didn't know why.
" I'll find away to help you" The boy lifted an eyebrow " Why?" he asked. This Ciel did not know. Ciel decided to change topics. " What is your name?" The boy stared at Ciel for a few moments. Ciel understood why. After all he was a stranger. " Artemis" the boy answered.
" However you should leave, there are five minutes left before dinner" The boy-Artemis informed Ciel. Ciel nodded and started to walk away, but for some reason Ciel kept thinking of Artemis and ,he would never tell this to anyone even by gunpoint, how beautiful Artemis looked in the candle light.
Artemis
Artemis walked back to his desk and started to write again. When he saw the Phantomhive Earl, Artemis stood shocked at how similar they looked. What made Artemis shocked was the Phantomhive Earl would help him ' I will not believe it, until I am free from this place.'
However Artemis had to wonder. How did a boy of thirteen become an Earl, and what happened to his parents. After all no parent would let their child become an earl at such a young age. Artemis also had a strange feeling about the eye patch on the Phantomhive Earl and what it really meant.
Ciel
Ciel ran back inside his room and quickly yanked the poker to the right, closing and hiding the entrance. Ciel panted, tired from running so fast. " My Lord, just what have you been doing?" Ciel jumped and turned. It was Sebastian who spoke. " Do not do that again" Ciel ordered Sebastian smirked. Ciel straightened and dusted himself off.
" Yes, Master." There was knocking at the door. " It's time for dinner" a meek voice said. Ciel, ignoring Sebastian's grin. Walked out to the maid. " Show me the way" He ordered. The maid nodded and escorted Ciel to the dinning room. As Ciel walked, he kept thinking about Artemis, and the sadness in his eyes. Behind him Sebastian grinned. ' It seems Master is becoming attached to that boy' Seems Sebastian saw what happened.
Dinnertime
Ciel sat across John. They both did not eat, they just stared at each other. Many minutes pass, not one made a move to eat. John broke the silence. " Phantomhive what do you think?" Ciel narrowed his eyes at John. ' Do you expect me to join you, with your filthy ways?' Ciel wanted to say. Instead Ciel just said " I decline the offer" Ciel saw John tense. " Why?' John asked, but you could hear the anger in the tone. Ciel narrowed his eyes. " I can do fine without your companies help" Ciel stood wanting to leave the psychopath and help Artemis escape. John's shoulders started to shake and the man ducked his head.
" Hahaha." John chuckled. Ciel went for his gun. " AHAHAHAHAHAHA!" John stood, madness in his eyes. " You think I need you! You're just a boy! The queen's dog! I just wanted to get rid of you!" John quickly brought out a gun and pointed it at Ciel. " Goodbye you damn brat!" He shot the gun,
Ciel stood, still alive, glaring at John. John's eyes had widened. " What-how, how are you alive!" John screeched. He shot the gun again and again, all the bullets missed. Ciel narrowed his eyes. 'Time to end this foolish man' Ciel thought." Sebastian!" Ciel called.
Red eyes shine with malice and joy. " Yes Master?" Ciel put a hand to his eye patch. He yanked the eye patch off. " I order you to capture John Wester" The contract glowed and the demon smiled as he bowed. " Yes My Lord" Ciel took this time to walk to the dungeon.
Artemis
Artemis was writing another document. Loud footsteps ran in the hallway and the cell opened. A gun pointed at Artemis. " Don't move" the figure said. 'Like I have a choice' thought Artemis. The figure unlocked the shackle. The gun then pointed at Artemis's back.
"Start walking." The figure ordered. Artemis walked, not wanting end up with a bullet to his back. Many more footsteps were heard and the the mysterious figure grabbed Artemis's hair and pointed the gun at his head. Artemis closed his eyes in pain.
"Artemis!" a voice yelled. Artemis opened his eyes. ''Phantomhive?' Artemis's face showed his shock. He didn't think that the Earl would save him. Not that he was complaining.
Ciel
Ciel walked down the stone steps. He planed to find the key to the dungeon cell and order Sebastian to break Artemis free from the shackle. However the click of a gun made Ciel start to run.
" Don't move" The female voice say. Ciel ran faster trying to get to Artemis and find out who is threatening the other boy.
"Start walking." Ciel ran even faster, he was only two dozen steps away, but the footsteps were too loud. As Ciel reached the bottom, he saw Artemis held hostage with a gun at his head.
" Artemis!" Ciel called, surprising himself. Ciel saw Artemis open his eyes. Ice-blue eyes looked shocked. Ciel reached for his gun and pointed it at the person who held Artemis. Ciel widened his eyes. ' The maid!' It indeed was the meek maid who escorted Ciel to dinner. Now the question is, why was she holding Artemis hostage.
Thank you Paxloria for reviewing! You made me so happy. I will finish this story. I promise. Oh by the way, if you can tell me if something's wrong with the character's I'll be glad to change them to make them more in character.
Anyway here is the explanation of why Ciel is the dominate one in the relationship.
1. Ciel can shoot a gun, Artemis as quoted in the book ' Can't even hit the side of a barn' with a gun
2. Ciel has Sebastian, which makes him stronger, while Artemis is smarter than Ciel
3. Artemis is nicer than Ciel, when you think about it.