Death Watch
Chapter Two
Troublesome Ice
The wind rushed past Ciel's face and whipped his hair about as the pair sped together across the early morning landscape, the air at least a bit warmer than the day before to Ciel's relief, but still quite brisk. He actually relished the feel of it, as it served to whisk the remaining mists of sleepiness out of his brain.
Ciel had been awakened by Sebastian at the break of day the next morning to find himself lying alone once more, wrapped tightly in his cloak. He surmised it must not have been long that Sebastian's body had been absent from beside his, as he still felt delightfully warm, comfortably curled up within his cocoon of cloak, and not wanting to leave his drowsy, relaxed state. Sebastian had insisted, however, in the relentless manner he always had of getting his master to obey the schedule he set out for him. After providing Ciel with a light meal to break his fast, Sebastian had quickly gathered their things, clearing the area of any evidence of their ever having been there, and the two had set off, neither one of them mentioning the previous night's unusual arrangements. Feeling a little self-conscious about it, Ciel reasoned to himself that it had simply been made necessary by the circumstances; there had been no other choice. And, to be perfectly honest, it had actually felt rather nice, he found himself thinking. What the hell? He didn't want to think about that, so he put it out of his mind.
Sebastian reported that he had left early in the morning while Ciel was still sleeping to investigate any tracks that Augustine might have left upon his departure the day before, and had been successful in determining that the thief had, indeed, headed in the direction of Chesfield. It being half a day's journey on foot, Ciel had once more acquiesced to being carried, knowing it was ridiculous for him to persist in being so childishly stubborn in the face of necessity.
Within an hour they had slowed down, coming in sight of the thief's domicile. It was an elegant little cottage made of brick and mortar, ivy growing all around, surrounded by Junipers and what would most likely be a stately garden come summer. Lowering Ciel to the ground, Sebastian glanced towards the residence.
"I will scout out the area, my lord, and determine the whereabouts of Augustine, as well as any others who might be present."
"Very good," Ciel replied.
He didn't have long to wait. Within minutes his butler was back, reporting that besides Augustine, the only other person within the household was a young female, most likely a maid, in the kitchen scullery area.
"Let's take care of Monsieur Jacques first, and worry about her later," Ciel ordered. His servant nodded in acknowledgment, and immediately led the way, heading around the right side of the house to the back, where a recessed wing housed a glass-walled conservatory. The door was easily broken open by Sebastian, and they entered quietly. The butler then slowly opened the inner door which led into a narrow wood-paneled corridor. He signaled to Ciel to hang back, and after looking up and the down the hallway carefully slid out of the room. Turning around, he beckoned Ciel to follow him, and the two cautiously made their way to the study that Sebastian had seen the thief lounging in. Throwing open the door, the butler sprang in with Ciel following, to see the man they sought sitting in a chair, taking a mid-morning meal. He jumped back in surprise at seeing the two intruders, and then darted up to dash across the room in the direction of another door, which no doubt led to an adjoining room.
"Halt!" yelled Ciel. Augustine paid him no heed, and continued until he reached the door, his hand outstretched to grasp the handle. THWACK. A sterling silver table knife pierced the wall just inches from his head, quivering slightly where it landed, solidly embedded in the thick wood paneling. Augustine yelped and leaped back, spinning around and flattening himself against the wall in terror as Sebastian slowly walked towards him, beaming at him with unnerving delight, another brightly polished, sharp edged table knife held loosely in his hand.
Reaching the quaking man, Sebastian's arm flashed out to grab him by the throat, while his other hand pressed the knife under his goateed chin.
"And just where did you think you were going, Monsieur Augustine? Dear, dear, is this any way to treat guests, running out on them just as they get here?" Sebastian smirked at the trembling thief as he pressed the blade in closer until a tiny trickle of blood ran down his neck. "We came to retrieve something which somehow wound up in your possession, an object which her majesty values most highly and wishes to have returned. So tell us, please, where is the Collet?"
The man's eyes were squeezed shut, moisture seeping out of them as he grimaced in pain. He was obviously aware that moving his mouth in the slightest amount would result in the blade slicing even deeper into his neck.
"Sebastian, ease up and let the man speak," Ciel said with an irritated tone. That demon of his got a little carried away, sometimes.
"Certainly, young master; as you wish." He immediately proceeded to remove both his hand and the blade from the thief's throat. Augustine put his own hands up to his neck and choked a little trying to get his breath back. Bringing his hands away, he saw blood on them, and glared at Sebastian with fury and accusation.
"How dare you two break into my house and accuse me…"
"Oh, cut the shit and tell us where the bloody necklace is," Ciel said, whipping out his gun at the same instant, feeling vastly impatient with the man's pointless protestations.
"Who the hell are you people?" Augustine asked, looking back at Sebastian.
"I am merely a butler," Sebastian replied. "And this is my master. We are here on a mission for the Queen, to bring back that which you stole." Augustine just looked at Sebastian with narrowed eyes and furrowed brow.
His eyes shifting from Sebastian to Ciel, then back to Sebastian once more, Augustine seemed to realize the futility of his situation. Shrugging his shoulders and pointing with his chin, he grunted, "It is in the lock box under the settee." Sebastian strode over to the couch without further ado, and easily found the box in a hidden compartment covered by a panel underneath the upholstery. Breaking open the lock with a simple twist of his hand, he opened it up and withdrew the magnificent piece of jewelry. It sparkled gaily in the light of the lamps as well as the glow from the fireplace, the myriad facets of each of its twenty one perfectly cut diamonds glittering as they caught the reflection of the flames. Moving back towards the crook, Sebastian then said, "Very good. Most cooperative of you. Now, my lord, I believe you had some questioning of your own to do?" He looked to Ciel, standing a little ways away, still pointing his gun at Augustine. Ciel nodded.
"Indeed." He glared at the thief. "Sebastian, would you bring out the watch?" His butler complied, dangling it in the air before him. Augustine looked confused. "I would like to know where and how you got this watch. Tell me everything you know about it."
"Where did you..." he said, obviously realizing as he said it what fate had most like befallen his accomplice. "I don't know much about it, really," he said with a huff, closing his eyes and stroking his beard. "I... received it from an acquaintance of mine, as a gift."
"A gift, eh?" Ciel sneered. He didn't believe it for a minute, for some reason. "What was the gift for, hmm?"
"I don't seem to recall; it was quite some time ago."
"Think! And think hard!" Ciel shouted. "What was his name? Rack your brains, man, or I will personally splatter them all over the wall behind you." Augustine looked only slightly taken aback by that; he apparently didn't take an undersized fifteen year old boy too seriously, gun or no gun. He looked haughtily at Ciel.
"I'm terribly sorry, but that is all I can remember."
Ciel steamed at the man's evasiveness. "Sebastian, perhaps you can give the Monsieur some aid in recollecting the matter?" His butler gave a small smile through squinted eyes, and said, "Certainly, my lord. Here, hold this." With a flick of his wrist, Sebastian then flung the necklace so quickly Ciel didn't even notice he had thrown it until he felt it land with perfect accuracy around his neck. He rolled his eyes at his butler's audacity. Sebastian glanced over at Ciel, and smirked.
"It looks quite attractive on you, master."
"Go to hell."
"Master, are you telling me to go home?"
Ciel glared at him.
"Fuck off. Now get on with questioning this bastard, so we can go home."
"My, what an adorable couple you two make," Augustine quipped, with a sly smile.
"That's it. I'm through with you, you fucking piece of..."
"Alright, alright!" the man suddenly shouted, as he faced down the barrel of Ciel's gun, now pointed straight between his eyes, his finger having already cocked the hammer.
"I'll tell you everything you want to know! Don't shoot!" The crook looked more vexed than terrified, as he continued. "It was in a tavern, many years ago; a man at a table next to mine was showing off this lovely gem, and bragging to his companion about how he had come across it. Something about having gotten revenge or some sort on another lord. Quite pleased with himself about it, too, he was. An idiot that foolishly reveals himself so openly like that doesn't deserve such a pretty little trinket, I thought, and so later that night I unburdened him of it. I thought of it only as a favor to him, as a way of teaching him to be more careful about such things in the future."
"And what was this man's name, whom you took the watch from?" Ciel asked fixedly, looking at the thief through narrowed eyes.
"I do not know. How would I know?" Augustine looked at Ciel with disdain. Ciel seethed. The man was lying. He knew he was; he had to be!
"TELL ME!" he screamed at him. "Tell me his name, or I'll blow your head off! NOW!" He thrust his gun into the man's cheek, pressing into it his flesh mercilessly. Augustine's eyes went wide with terror.
"I don't know! I don't know! I'm sorry." the man wailed pathetically. "Please! Please believe me! I do not know his name. I never asked him!" Ciel just looked at him, then at Sebastian, still holding the man's arms behind him in a tight hold. A small nod from him was all Sebastian needed. The next second he viciously twisted the man's arms as he held them behind his back in such a manner that would soon result in bones being broken. The scream from Augustine was ear splitting.
"Stop! Please, stop!" he yelled piteously. "I will tell you! I'll tell you!" Sebastian's hold on him loosened.
"Well?" Ciel said. "The name. The name!"
"Ah, yes, yes. I remember now. It was... it was... Baker. Yes, that was it. Uh, Thomas Baker." His whole body seemed to go limp after that, as if in defeat.
Ciel smiled. "Very good." He felt a thrill of triumph at the man's final confession. "Now. Tell me anything more you know about this Thomas Baker. Where did he live? What was his address?"
"I don't know! Please! I do not know anything more! I swear!"
Ciel just looked at the man coldly. "If you want to live, you will tell me. Try to remember. Try hard. Your life depends on it." He grinned at the man, who was now squirming desperately in Sebastian's hold.
"I, ah, yes, I seem to remember now..." he said, grimacing with pain. "Yes, yes, his address was... he lived on... let me see... it was Upper High Street, I believe it was, yes, in... in Watford. Yes! That was it. Ha!" The man let out a laugh of nervousness and seeming relief.
"Is there anything else you know about him? What was his business? Any other information you can think of, tell me now." He pumped the man for more; it couldn't hurt to get as much knowledge as possible about this Thomas Baker, he figured.
"That is really all I know, sir," the man replied, now addressing him with slightly more respect. He eyes were pleading as he looked over at Ciel, still holding the gun pointed at his head. "I know nothing more. Truly." Ciel believed him, this time.
"Very well. We thank you for your time, and for the information. That will be all... for you. Goodbye, Monsieur. We bid you... adieu." And with that, Ciel squeezed the trigger of the gun and put one perfectly aimed bullet between the man's eyes, which opened wide with surprise, and then went dead, as his body slumped to the floor. "Come, Sebastian. Let us be on our way."
His servant stood there, his tall black-clad form standing perfectly still as he looked at the boy before him. His eyes narrowed as he glanced down at the body, which he had quickly let go as soon as he perceived that the boy was going to fire his weapon. Looking back up at Ciel, head cocked slightly to the side, he smiled and said, "That was rash of you, my lord. There will be no further questioning of him by the Yard when they get here, now."
"There was no need of it. The case is solved; the jewels are recovered. And what we now know in regards to my father's watch is for my pleasure alone; no one else needs to know about it."
He looked to his butler, who seemed to be frowning at something behind him. Glancing around, Ciel's eyes widened at the sight of the grim reaper, Grell Sutcliff.
"Well, hello there, Bassy," the reaper simpered, although with a menacing edge to his voice, using the pet name that Sebastian hated, for just that very reason. Seeing Ciel turn around to look at him, he looked just as surprised as Ciel for some reason, but then shrugged in contemptuous dismissal.
Ciel scowled in loathing at the sight of him, and then shuddered, realizing that the being responsible for his very own dear aunt's death was standing just a few feet away from him, holding his chainsaw and wearing his aunt's red coat that he had so coldly confiscated from her dead body on that day more than two years ago.
Sebastian simply glared at the reaper, and then growled, "Hello, Grell."
It seemed like quite a strange coincidence that this reaper would be the one to have the responsibility to collect this particular individual's soul, but as he thought about it, he realized it probably wasn't such a coincidence as rather a deliberate maneuvering on the shinigami's part as a way to come into contact with the person he was so obsessed with, namely his butler.
Leering back mischievously at the butler, the shinigami smiled a wide, sharp-toothed smile. "So, maybe after my work here is done, you and I can go and have some fun together, eh, Bassy dear?"
"Uhhg." Sebastian snorted impatiently. "I believe I shall pass on that offer. Now if you don't mind, we are in the midst of conducting important business, and would appreciate it if you let us pass."
"And just where are you two off then, after having caused such a lovely scene here for me to clean up after?"
"I hardly think it is of any business of yours. And I haven't the time or the inclination to stay here and chat with the likes of you."
The reaper gave a devious, Cheshire cat-like grin. "Oh, come now, Bassy. I know the likes of a runt like that," and here he gestured rudely at Ciel; "couldn't possibly satisfy the needs of a lusty fellow like you. I can show you a real good time, Sebas-chan darling," he said, licking his lips and letting his tongue hang out the side of his mouth.
"You are obscene as usual, Grell, and it disgusts me. Furthermore, I am on duty, and simply do not have the time for any more of your nonsense. Now get on with your task, and we will be on our way."
The grim reaper hissed indignantly at that, but then stepped aside to let them go by, a look of disappointment and slight hurt crossing his face as the two brushed past. Ciel heaved a sigh of relief; he had not relished the thought of engaging that vicious and mercurial being in a fight ever again. Looking back over his shoulder at the sound of an ear splitting whine, he watched as the reaper's chainsaw scythe rent the air as it sliced through the cinematic record zinging out from the dead man's body, looping and flying high into the air in cellophane streams, and sweeping up his soul.
Heading out of the room, the two then made their way to the kitchen, where Sebastian located the maid cowering in a corner behind the cooking hearth. She had obviously heard the shot ring out when Ciel had fired, and was shaking uncontrollably with fear as she looked up at the two strangers. They calmed her down as well as they could, explaining the situation to her. She then went on and on about how she had a mother and twelve younger brothers and sisters to feed, wailing and despairing over how they would all carry on, now that she would lose her place of employ. Ciel began to be thoroughly annoyed by her unceasing display, and was growing vastly impatient; and then he had an idea, which he had his butler put into place. Finally, after helping themselves to some provisions for the trip back and using the phone to call the Yard, they took their leave.
The train station was not far from Augustine's home; they would reach it within an hour of walking. During the walk there they decided on going directly to Baker's residence. The train ride would take a little over five hours, getting them to Watford by just before four o'clock.
The ice-encased branches of the trees sparkled in the mid-morning sunlight as they walked back, the snow-covered ground now a bed of gleaming white smoothness, breaking and crunching under their boots as they walked. Ciel smiled with satisfaction as he thought about how he had instructed Sebastian to arrange for the entire property to be deeded over to the young maid, finding the crook's will and altering it with ease. Ciel took the action more out of amusement at how fitting it was for the thief to have all he owned now go to his maid than any real sympathy for the lass. Doing so had simply amused him, he told himself, and he chuckled slightly thinking about how much Augustine would have hated it, he had known. Of course, being dead he never would, alas. He grinned. The image of the thief's shocked face just before he had put the bullet in his head appeared in his mind as he thought about him. He didn't feel the least bit remorse for having killed him. The man was a murderer many times over, and a menace to society. He had only done the world a favor by removing him from it. He knew there was another reason for his action, too; but he didn't feel any more guilt over that one, either. The knowledge about the watch was for his pleasure, and his alone. He simply did not want anyone else knowing about it, nor about the information that he had gleaned from the man. Perhaps that was a selfish reason for having killed him. Ciel shrugged. But what was he if not a selfish and self-righteous person? He had no qualms about it; made no attempt to deny it. He felt that old, familiar stab of self-doubt that he carried always in the back of his mind, and tried to shut it out. The voice that said he was undeserving; a liar and a fraud, who would no doubt be found out. He chastised himself, however for even having such a fear. The past was long gone; what was lost could never be retrieved; the things he had done and the self he had been so long ago was irrelevant, he assured himself as always. He was Lord Ciel Phantomhive, the Earl of Phantomhive, goddamn it, and he would live up to that name and be proud of it.
A brilliant flash of color suddenly caught his eye as something swooped overhead, and his eyes followed the object as it landed in a nearby frosted-covered evergreen tree. The bright red plumage of the cardinal stood out like a beacon over the land, as it piped and tweeted its song for all to hear. He smiled at the sight, but then was reminded of something else that was that same shade of red… Alongside the picture of the smiling face of his late aunt Angelina, framed by her vibrant red hair, the image of the reaper who had once been her companion in crime came to his mind, wearing his aunt's red coat with such careless aplomb, slung halfway off his arms. He gritted his teeth with anger and disgust, as well as the grief which still lingered in his heart at her death. He assuaged this with memories of the crushed and defeated reaper begging for his life as Sebastian had pounded him mercilessly into the ground, the pathetic red head even resorting to offering to spill classified secrets at one point about the identity of Ciel's parents' murderers… Ciel's heart jumped, and then pounded in his chest. He had actually forgotten all about that until now. The reaper knew something! Of course, that other reaper, William T. Spears had appeared and promptly cut short his pleas, keeping Sebastian from killing him with his very own death scythe in the process. But he wondered now: did that perverted red head actually know something?
"Sebastian, it may be worthwhile to find and confront that reaper again at some point in time. I was just thinking about how he once babbled something about knowing who the murderers were. Had you forgotten all about that, too, I imagine? I only just now remembered."
The demon slowed a little in his tracks as they walked alongside one another, and looked over sidewise at Ciel. "No, young master, I did not. I just never had orders from you to investigate it further." Ciel scowled. It was just like the demon to be cagey about his not having given him specific orders to do something, when they both knew he was perfectly capable of assuming the initiative in such things if he was at all inclined to. He shrugged with annoyance.
"Well, do so when you have the opportunity, then, and use whatever means you need to extract the information out of him when you do. Who knows whether this Baker will actually turn out to be the one whom we have sought, or even have any information of use at all for us. If he is a disappointment, it would be advantageous to have another avenue to explore."
"Yes, my lord," his butler answered, albeit with a displeased look, dipping his head slightly in acknowledgment.
Once in their private compartment on the train, they each settled back on the cushioned seats across from each other. Ciel gazed thoughtfully out at the scenery as it whooshed by. The steady clacking sound of the train, monotonous and relaxing, and the soft, swaying "ka-bump" of the wheels as they passed over the tracks was soothing, soon making him drowsy. He sat up straight suddenly and jerked his eyes open when he was startled by a knocking at the door to the compartment, and the announcement by the steward that their food had arrived. Sebastian had ordered him as elegant a repast as the train had to offer for him to lunch upon, and Ciel then proceeded to do so with relish, being quite famished, he realized with surprise. The events of the day had all but distracted him from such things.
As he ate, he thought about what might happen when they reached Watford, and found Baker-if they found him, that is, he cautioned himself. But if they did... well, he must know something at least, it being his father's watch. Would finding him actually lead to their perhaps finding the one's responsible for his parents' murders and his own ordeal? If so, what would he do? After all this time, to have finally achieved his ultimate goal, the one thing he desired above all else... Ah, such sweet revenge it would be. How incredible the feeling of squashing the man and grinding him under his heel. To see him squirm, hear him scream... He gave a tight lipped grin at the thought and took a deep intake of air into his lungs. He sensed movement across him, as his butler looked over at him at the sound, cocking his head in curiosity.
"And what is it that has you in such deep ruminations, young master?" Looking at his butler's smooth face, with its undeniably handsome features and his glowing, oddly reddish eyes, the thought came to him of exactly what finding the true culprit and achieving his goal would mean... A small spark of fear filled his heart, but was quickly extinguished by the thought that this was nothing more than what he had known would eventually happen all this time, and what he had willingly agreed to at the very beginning. No; he did not fear death; that was not it. After his tribulations during that time so long ago, when he was just an innocent, happy, trusting child, the world had become a much darker place, filled with nightmares and death and painful memories that haunted him to this day. A world in which he didn't particularly care to live in overall, however much enjoyment he managed to eke out of it here and there. The price he would pay for achieving his goal was well worth it, he felt. So, what was it, then?
Suddenly a heavy weight settled on his shoulders at a thought that hadn't really registered with him before. He looked up at his butler sitting across from him. "Sebastian, if we find Baker, and it turns out that he leads us directly to my parents' murderers..." He trailed off. He didn't want to even finish the sentence. "Well, I just realized... This could be one of the last few days we spend together." He found he couldn't say more, say what was really in his heart.
He didn't want to say goodbye to the demon. The realization surprised him. He supposed it was only natural. They had spent more than five years together in close company, through good times and bad. This wasn't something that he felt able to express to the demon, however, feeling just a little too embarrassed by his sentimentality and weakness. To his surprise, the demon said the words that he was unable to say himself.
"I will miss you."
Ciel was shocked; he couldn't believe his butler had actually spoken the words. But they rang in his ears, and echoed in his head still, as evidence.
"Does this surprise you so much, young master?" the demon asked, a slightly amused smile curling his lip. Ciel could only continue to look at him, unable to find any words with which to reply. "I have enjoyed your company these past few years, as well as serving you as your butler. I will miss knowing you in your physical presence. Of course, this will be more than made up for by the pleasure of knowing the true flavors of your soul." He chuckled. "But we shall see what comes to pass with this latest development. We aren't there yet."
Ciel found himself in a state of bemusement, as he wondered at his butler's words. He realized there was a lot about the demon that he didn't know, even after all this time; things which he had simply never thought to ask.
He wondered now what the demon would do after their contract ended, whenever that happened to be. He wondered what it would feel like when he took his soul, if it would hurt. He wasn't afraid of pain, even if it was something he would rather avoid. Even so, he found himself surprisingly disconcerted by the idea. He had thought that he had had plenty of time to get used to the idea that one day Sebastian would take, and devour his soul, whatever that meant, exactly. Thinking about it, he realized he had no idea at all what it actually involved, and curiosity suddenly overwhelmed him.
"Sebastian, just what exactly is… does it mean to… to eat…" Damn. He didn't realize it would be this hard to put the question in words. "To eat a soul. Can you explain it to me? What exactly is a soul, anyway? I have never thought to ask these things before, and I find myself wanting to know."
"Dear me, young master. You would really like to know, eh?" Sebastian grinned at him with amusement. "Well, where should I start? Let's see. A soul… A soul is a person's complete essence, the entirety of their being, of their life's experiences, from the moment they are born. All their hopes and dreams, their desires and passions, their personality and memories. And not only that, but also all their subconscious thoughts and sensations, all the things they could see and hear but that they themselves were never privileged to be really aware of, to really see with any true understanding. We demons are able to comprehend much from what we can sense from the smallest of objects or sounds. All this, wrapped up in one glowing, splendid bundle of energy that flows through the blood, which I can only describe as being a force that emanates from all life, and which demons need to survive. Of course, souls are not the only way to derive that energy, but they are the most enjoyable. Consuming a soul is like reading, no, drowning yourself in the most incredible novel ever written, which I am sure you can relate to, young master, being such an avid consumer of novels yourself." He grinned again at Ciel, and Ciel knew he was referring to the books by that author he loved so much, a certain Arthur Doyle, whom he had even had the pleasure of meeting once. Yes, he could understand the enjoyment in that, certainly. Sebastian continued.
"As to what is meant exactly by a soul's energy, well, that is a bit harder to explain. A soul's life force is a very esoteric, highly abstract thing that you humans just don't have the ability to comprehend yet, not so much because of your limited intelligence, or a lack of ability to adequately explain it to you, but simply because you lack the reference points needed to comprehend it. It would be like trying to explain color to a blind person.
"Of course, there are some members of our race that have diverged from this path, that shun such pleasures... But the majority of the Meerlia feed off of that energy, craving such 'novel experiences,' if you will-the things that you humans make us feel, such passions, such yearnings, such a desperate urge to live, to strive. A demon's years are long, and the need to fill them with distraction and entertainment is something which we crave even as the subsistence upon which we survive."
"Just how old are you?" Ciel blurted out, and immediately wondered if this was something he actually wanted to know. Sebastian smiled at him, one sharp incisor showing in the corner of his grin.
"Ah, I am very old, very old indeed, young master; at least, I am sure it would seem so to you; many thousands of your earth years old. More than seventeen thousand, in fact." Ciel's eyebrows raised in shock. Seventeen... thousand… years old…
"Actually, that's not even that old, for my race. I am still considered relatively young on the whole, for a demon," Sebastian added. "The oldest demon, it is rumored, is more than one hundred thousand years old; but I think it might actually be just a myth. I have never met him, in any case."
Ciel was determined not to be cowed by his all too forthcoming knowledge, and continued, undaunted with his questions.
"And just what does it mean… what is involved, I should say, in the process of…" Ciel found he was unable to find the words to express his question. It was all just so…
"You mean, when I eat your soul, young master?" Ciel couldn't believe he had even said the words, like that; they just seemed so… vulgar. But he nodded, in agreement.
"Ah, well…" Here, the demon paused, and seemed to be gazing off into a place far away from their little enclosure inside the compartment. "Ah, yes. To eat a soul… Well, if you must know the true nature of that act, then I will tell you. It is a most sensual thing, rather like the most intense sexual experience, but much more so, as it is to take in that person's very being; their essence; their nature. Every aspect of them. It is the ultimate act of merging with another, of becoming one with them; but much more intense than any act of purely physical intercourse."
Ciel felt himself grow warm at the demon's words, a rush of heat flooding his body and concentrating in a certain region below. He felt his face flush, as well. Damn the demon, saying such things. He didn't want to think about that, much less have this reaction to it. And yet… He couldn't help feeling a certain level of… intrigue… at the thought. So, that's what it would be like for the demon, for Sebastian to take his soul. He shivered. But not, he knew, with fear. His eyes opened wide as he stared at his butler. Then he laughed out loud. "Well, then. Well, well, well." He chuckled again. Why should he be embarrassed? If that was how it was for the demon, so be it. "How nice for you," he said with a sly smile. He couldn't resist teasing him a little. And he couldn't help feeling a bit curious about it, too; about how it might feel… Well, he would find out in time, without a doubt, he knew. Sebastian looked back at him with a satisfied grin, no doubt for having embarrassed Ciel so roundly and feeling proud of it.
Ciel leaned back in his seat after a few minutes of looking at the scenery going by, and closed his eyes. Weariness overtook him, having had insufficient sleep the night before, and his eyes grew heavy, the struggle to keep them open becoming harder and harder.
"Master, wake up! We'll be arriving soon." Ciel heard someone saying, and felt his body being softly jostled by a hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and blinked a few times, wondering where he was. A loud thump startled him, and at the same time the world around him lurched; ah yes. Train; they were on a train. He turned his head away from the somewhat prickly pillow it was resting on, only to find to his utmost discomfiture that the pillow was his butler's shoulder. Moreover, to his even greater horror, said black wool-clothed shoulder now sported a small dark patch of drool stain from his mouth where he had slept against it. Jerking up and looking away, he responded furiously.
"Sebastian, what is the meaning of this?"
"Master, I do apologize, but I had no choice, seeing you start to fall over sideways as you fell into sleep, as you would have toppled right over onto the floor had I not quickly caught you. I then felt it my duty to act as a support to you while you slept. I am not too sure how comfortable a pillow my shoulder made for you. However, as evinced by your, ah..." Here he glanced down at the telltale spot. "…total ease of slumber, it must not have been too inadequate." He smiled at Ciel. Ciel glared back, and didn't deign to even answer him. Served him right, he decided, for being so impertinent.
A cab was easily procured from the station, and within half an hour the two had arrived at the Stevenson Tavern on Upper High Street, having directed the driver to let them off at a pub nearest to that street. It would be easiest, they decided, to query about the exact house number and address of Baker by asking the owner of a nearby establishment such as this. Sebastian left Ciel sitting on a bench outside with their satchel, while he went in to do the questioning. Within a few minutes he had come back out, and presented Ciel with the news.
"Master, I am very sorry to have to inform you, but it seems our Monsieur Augustine has had one last prank to play upon us. Regrettably, there is no person by the name of Thomas Baker anywhere on Upper High Street, nor indeed anywhere in the near vicinity, the tavern owner has assured me." Utter dejection swept through Ciel at this news, feeling like a physical blow.
"And unfortunately, my young master," Sebastian continued, "we do not have the benefit of being able to go back and interrogate Augustine further, his current state of existence being somewhat of a barrier to this." Ciel seethed at his butler's insolence but held his tongue, as what he spoke was only the truth, and the consequence of his own rash actions.
So that was it; all hope that he would finally achieve his objective: dashed; shattered beyond redemption. He felt like sinking to the ground and just pounding his fists into it in frustration.
"Gah!" he exclaimed helplessly through clenched teeth. "Sebastian, I'm going for a walk. Stay here." He just needed to get away; away from it all. From his hopes, his fears, from his salvation and his doom. He walked off aimlessly after crossing the road, scrambling down an embankment, over the blanket of still slightly snow-frosted damp ground and leaves. Skidding a little to the bottom, he continued down the slope until he came to some trees, which then thinned out onto a wide field, almost perfectly smooth and flat, a glistening expanse of white that stretched away before him in the fading twilight, until it reached another line of trees in the far distance.
Striding out, he stalked across the snow-coated ground, wanting to just put distance between himself and the rest of the world. He didn't get far.
Twenty or so yards out he suddenly heard the oddest sound, like a crackling, creaking noise, which soon became amplified into one after another loud, sharp cracks. The land under his feet became unstable, and he started to lose his footing as it suddenly began to break apart and splinter under him. His heart gave a large thump and panic filled his chest as he realized that this was no ordinary field... Just as he was beginning to turn back, a large shard of ice jutted up through the snow below his feet and he lost his balance, swaying and tumbling over into the frigid waters of the hidden pond below him.
Splash! Coldness assailed him as he fell backwards into the freezing water. He flailed helplessly to try to grasp the edge of the pond's frozen surface, but the pieces of thin, snow-covered ice just splintered and fragmented off whenever he gripped them. He tread water as best he could as he continued to struggle to get a purchase on the crumbling surface remaining around him, failing however to keep his head from repeatedly going under. Gasping and spluttering while desperately attempting to grasp the ice's edge between sinking and resurfacing, he attempted at the same time to yell out the best he could.
"Sebastian! Help! Sebaaaas..." His last cry was drowned out by the water as he sunk once more, even further this time, his legs growing numb and failing him, feeling like blocks of ice now. He tried to rise up above the water once more, but found a wall of ice this time over his head. His hands came up to beat and flail uselessly at it, as he whipped his head back and forth trying to find where he had fallen through. He heart was racing, and his lungs were bursting with the need to take in air, as his limbs finally gave out and he sank into the icy depths.
