(This is along chapter, but I hope it will make up for not posting for a while.)
Stepping into the Undertaker's parlour, Ciel was welcomed to the usual sight of coffins around the room, jars containing…body pieces and god knows what else.
Wanting to get this over with quickly, he was just about to call the insane man out when he was greeted with the odd laugh that he was used to hearing upon his adventures to this place.
"He, he, he, he, he. Welcome, young earl. Have you finally decided to come for that coffin fitting?" Undertaker asked as he appeared behind him, seemingly out of no where.
Ciel glared in response.
"No? Well, the offer is always there for my favourite Earl. "
"Undertaker I am here for a reason. So do stop the foolishness."
"Hummm, business you say… there have been no bodies lately. It's been ever so boring around here. But perhaps….the business is about that shadow of yours, where is it I wonder?" Undertaker asked grinning at the end of his sentence.
Ciel frowned. He was right. This guy was insane. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"He, he, he, Silly boy. Your butler Earl. You never come here alone, so I wonder where he is."
"He is not to be near me at the moment." Ciel tried to sound normal but he couldn't help the anger that laced his words.
"Well, this is interesting. Why? Did he burn your cake?" Undertaker giggled.
"I would prefer that, but no. It was much worse."
Undertaker went silent as he observed the little Earl. This was obviously serious. Being here alone was one clue, but the way he stood there, rigid, yet ready to run if need be. Then that eye of his, full of anger, pain, and betrayal… what had happened. He truly did care for the young one, so if he could help then he would in anyway.
"Undertaker, you know of my goal, yes?"
'Oh. So that's what happened.' "Of course, though I wonder how many times you will end up achieving that goal of yours."
Now that caught Ciel's attention. He stared at the other, trying to figure out what was going on. "You know something about my situation, about Sebastian, that you're not telling me."
Undertaker laughed before he turning serious. "Oh yes. I know about what he is. Why you cover that eye of his. How you sold your soul. Tell me Earl, how long will you follow along the path he drew, just for you? How many times, will your revenge be taken? After all this is not you're first. You are no longer the king, in this game."
"What do you mean?" Ciel demanded as he glared at the other.
"You will never get your true revenge Earl. You won't be able to find the true culprit with that demon of yours. But I could show you. If…you want. I am above human also you see, all it would take is opening one, single, book."
"What do you mean show me?" the young Earl asked, almost cautiously. "Why are you helping me? And for free that is?"
Undertaker smiled a genuine smile. "Because, Ciel Phantomhive, I honestly do like you and the many numbers of your family who I have helped in my life. And when I say I will show you, that is what I mean. You will see and hear what your parents saw in that moment before death. Would you like that?"
'So from what he has been saying this whole time, even my first revenge wasn't real. But if this book does show me the truth, then I will know who it was once and for all.' "Very well. Show me this book"
Undertaker nodded once before he went into the back of the store, returning with a greyish book and placed it on the counter.
"Are you ready Earl?"
Ciel stepped closer in reply.
"Very well, Lets begin."
He opened the book, and instantly the room was bathed in a white light as what seemed to be a film roll flew around them, showing brief moments of his parent's life. Until it reached almost the end, then he was filled with a strange sensation as he was pulled into the image itself. Shaking his head to get rid of the feeling, his heart jumped when he saw them. There they were, just talking with each other, but there. Alive. Together.
His parents
He could see them, clear as day. It felt almost like if he reached out, he would be able to touch them. But somehow he knew that was not true. He didn't know what hurt more, having to watch them live their final moments, or being able to see them happy and smiling but not able to speak or hold them. Both, he decided were just as painful, as he watched them laugh and smile lovingly at each other. What he wouldn't give, to have them by his side now.
A smile, not one of the fake ones he gave to those around him, but a real, pure, loving smile graced his face as he watched them. They were just as remembered, his father strong and kind, but from the gleam in his eye, you could tell he was smart and one not to be reckoned with. His mother, as always, was beautiful, clam and gentle, with a presence of warmth and comfort.
But then the room turned dark.
What was going on?
He could here them panic slightly as they called to each other, asking if the other was okay. Then there was the sound of the door, and footsteps… Had one of them left?
Why was it dark? What happened to the lights?
Suddenly there were two loud noises. The lights flickered back on, and then he could see his parents were on the ground. Fear filled his body, were they already…? No. Looking closer he could make out the steady rise and fall of their chests. He sighed in relief, but it was short lived. As a few minuets later, his nightmare began, once more.
He wanted to call out to them, but as he began to see smoke coming from under the door, he knew that their time was up. There was nothing he could do but watch…
Rachael woke up to find herself on the floor next to her husband, who was still unconscious. The room was roasting hot with smoke making its way in from under the door as flames devoured it, before spreading into the room.
There home was on fire. They were separated from their child; did the servants get him somewhere safe? They had to get out. Now!
Coughing and gasping for breath as the smoke played havoc on her asthma, Rachael crawled over to her loves side, shaking him by the shoulder as she shouted at him, "Vincent…Vincent, wake up! This is an emergency!"
His eyes began to blink open. "Uggghhhh… R-Rachael, W-what's going on?" Looking at the room, his eyes filled with horror. "Oh my god!"
"Vincent we-" Rachael broke into another painful fit of coughing as the smoke intensified as the most of the room was now ablaze.
Getting up Vincent pulled his wife to her feet. "The fire is spreading fast, come on we have to move. Now! We need to get Ciel and find a way out."
He looked around for a way to escape and noticed the door at the back of the room had a path free of the flames. "Come on, this way hurry"
Their eyes began to sting and their lungs were starting to hurt from the fumes. The heat was almost unbearable by now. They needed to get out soon.
However as they got closer to the door, a creaking and groaning sound was heard, when suddenly… "Rachael look out!" "Ahhhh!" Both landed on the ground, as Vincent had pulled his wife out of the way, just in time as the roof above where she had just been standing collapsed in a fiery heap in front of the door.
*Cough* "Are you okay?" He asked, holding Rachael at arms length as his eyes scanned her for any sign of injury.
"I'm fine, but there's no way we can get past now." She gasped. By now, every breath she took sent shocks of pain throughout her body and the heat was making her drowsy.
"We have to keep trying; we need to save our boy." Desperate Vincent shouted as loud as he could, hoping, praying, someone was around to hear him. "
"Is someone there? Please, help!"
"Over there! There's a window, maybe you can get through come on, don't stop. "Once again he tried to pull the both of them up, bur after a few steps Rachael fell to her knees, as she clutched her side, coughing and gasping as she tried to breathe, but the smoke was making it worse.
"M-my asthma, I-I can't…" 'Cough' 'cough'
Panicking Vincent held her face in his hands, "Look at me sweetie, I need you to look at me. Calm down, you can do it" he begged, yet it was useless as her eyes began to slowly close "Rachael! Please hang on; you'll be fine, all of us will." Why was this happening… once again he tried to call for somebody, anybody…"PLEASE! IS ANYONE AROUND, WE NEED HELP?"
Then suddenly a voice "Are you okay in there!"
"Oh thank god, Rachael, someone is here!" He smiled in relief before shouting back to their saviour, "Me and My wife can't get out! We need to find our son as well!"
"Hang on I'm coming in"
Rachael, barely awake, used what little strength she had to take hold of Vincent's hand. "Vincent, I don't think I can-"
"No, please just a little longer, were almost there. Help is here, come on."
"Well, what do we have in here?" a deep voice spoke to them.
Vincent looked up to see a tall man, dressed in black, with dark hair and red eyes.
"Please her lungs can't take this much longer… and we need to find our boy"
"Now that is a shame, you weren't supposed to have made it this long…" The man spoke in, what was meant to be, a disappointed voice. But the smirk on his face and the way his eyes seemed to glow, he was clearly amused at the sight of them, surround in flames, and begging for help.
"w-what, I don't understand, never mind your jokes we need to –"
"You don't need to do anything but stay here and burn like you were supposed to. And don't worry about your child; I have some very special plans for him. "
*cough cough* "W-who the hell are you, y-you bastard, I –"*cough cough*
"If you excuse me, I need to make sure the young master got out okay, but don't worry, I'll be back to check on you soon. This should help. Good bye Phantomhive" The man waved his hand and the fire in the room some how increased and spread around faster, closing in on them, trapping them with nowhere to go. Then he left and didn't look back once.
"Bastard come back here, you…"
"V-Vincent … What a-re we going to do –"*cough *cough* Rachael asked gasping for air, tears running down her face.
"I-I don't know. " He replied helplessly, holding her close in his arms as he tried to shield her from the fire with his body.
"C-Ciel-…." She tried to say, before gently, her eyes closed and she fell limp in his arms.
"Rachael… Rachael? No, no, keep your eyes open baby, please!"
"….."
"No, no. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" Holding his wife's body closer he cried for her, himself and their son. "I couldn't protect you, or our child. I'm sorry. I love you both, so much. Our little b-boy and y-you Rachael…*cough, cough* Please forgive me."
He looked back towards where the stranger had left them to die. "That man…no that monster, I hope you fucking burn in hell!" he yelled.
His body was heavy, his eyes began to close, and the flames had finally reached them. Sending agonising pain all over. But with is last breath he whispered "Ciel please be safe, well be watching from above form now. We're so proud of you baby boy. We'll love you, always…"
But just before his eyes fully closed he could make out the red eyes, of the man that had sentenced them to death.
The man, unaffected by the fire, watched as the bodies began to burn, and smiled. "A monster am I? No. I am just one hell of a demon… "
He grinned, showing off a set of fangs,
"… And soon enough, I shall be one hell of a butler…"
Then Ciel's world went black.