Chapter 3: Secrets Among the Wealthy

CIEL PHANTOMHIVE

"Wait?! How the heck is a kid going to house us?! He's barely old enough to tie his shoes!" The annoying blonde boy said as I stood in the doorway of the hospital room.

I scoffed and him and said, "You do not know to whom you speak, boy."

They all looked at me as I said in a dignified tone, "I am Earl Ciel Phantomhive the 4rd and I have the ear of the queen, herself. Furthermore, I am the Queen's Guard Dog and one of the most respected figures in London, and you will treat me as such!"

In truth, there has only been one Ciel Phantomhive, but we can't let them know, I'm a centuries old demon now can I?

I still retained my titles, I just had to change the documents few decades...

Can't have my family name die out, it would be a disgrace!

The white hair boy gasped and said, "Forgive us, you Lordship! We had no idea..."

I looked at him and said, "That I am a Lord at my age? No, how could you... You see I'm the only heir to the Phantomhive line left, making me the Lord of my household."

The all looked at me with bewildered looks and Sebastian said, "What the Young Lord means to say is, that he is the only living Phantomhive... He holds the queen's ear and her trust, he owns the Phantomhive estates and is the owner of the Funtom Toy Company as well."

The brunet boy in the leather jacket then said, "So the kid is rich?"

"You idiots... He's one of the most wealthy aristocrats alive. You should be honored."

I looked at the boy who was sitting in the bed...

He was horribly injured, decrepit, sickly looking, and his voice sounded like someone tried to tear out his throat...

But then I took notice of the eye patch and how close Sabastian stood near him...

So he's found a new master...

Explains why he's called me up to house complete strangers in my home.

Well, not complete strangers, but still I've only talked to Kaiba over the phone.

Sebastian looked at me and said, "Now why don't we get introductions out of the way. May introduce my master, Seto Kaiba and his younger sibling Mokuba, then there are his acquaintances of Yugi Motou, Solomon Motou, Ryou Bakura, Tristen Taylor, Joey Wheeler, and Tea Gardener, who all hail from Domino City Japan, Milord."

I looked at them invaluably as Sabastian said their names when I noticed something... Odd...

Yugi and Ryou...

By the smell of it, they have two souls...

One of their own and one around their necks in those odd charms...

I sniffed the air once more...

They certainly smell old, I'm suprise Sebastian hasn't tried to devour such a delicious smelling darkness.

Which reminds me I need to eat...

I haven't good soul in 30 years.

I looked at his new master and said, "So once you are able, you shall come to my manor until you are fit for travel, correct?"

He nodded and said, "Indeed, and I thank you for you gracious hospitality Lord Phantomhive."

I nodded and said, "I understand that your friends and brother had just only arrived but, if it at all possible... I'd like to have a word with you in private."

Mokuba looked at his brother and said, "It's alright Seto. We'll be right outside."

He nodded and his guest stood up leaving the room and closing the door behind them.

Now all that remained was Sebastian, myself, and his new master Seto Kaiba.

I looked at him as he sat in his bed and said, "So, you sold your soul to a demon..."

He looked up in shock and asked, "How did..."

I laughed and said, "Did I forget to tell you? Sebastian's old master... was me back in the 1800's."

He looked at me and said, "But that means you don't have a soul... That Sebastian ate it... and the 1800's?! That doesn't make sense!"

I smirked and said, "I'll answer them in order. No, another demon named Claude, ate my soul... From that result, my body lived soulless until..."

I let my eyes glow their unearthly blood red color and smiled showing my sharp teeth.

"Until he became a demon, Young Master." Sebastian said as he stepped up to me.

I nodded and said, "And that's why I'm still alive and pretending to be a grandson I never had... It gets quite tedious being a 13 year old after a decade or two."

Kaiba looked at me and said, "So that's how Sebastian knows you."

I looked at him and said, "Yes, but still you formed a contract with him, from the meeting we had over the phone you sounded very skeptical of anything unproven, so this came as quite the suprise."

He glared and said, "When your on the brink of death, your beliefs go out the window."

I looked up and said, "I remember what he said to me when we first met, 'Think carefully. Should you reject the faith even this once, the gates of paradise will forever be out of your reach.' Those were his exact words."

Kaiba looked up at him and said, "He said something similar to me, but still... It was difficult..."

He placed his hand on his patch and said, "But I chose to bind myself to him, and I stand behind that decision."

I then asked, "May I see it? The contract?"

He sighed and gently lifted up his bony fingers to lift up the patch revealing the partiality burned eye.

The eyelid gingerly opened showing the now violet iris and the full extend contract seal in place.

I could feel the power radiating from it, telling me that it was a powerful contract indeed and could not easily be broken.

I nodded and said, "This type of contract is sealed by a mark a demon places on his prey. The more noticeably placed the mark is, the tighter the demon and prey are bound to one another. The demon serves...and in exchange, the prey can never escape, not until the day he swallows your soul of course."

He nodded and said, "That what he told me."

Sebastian bowed and said, "Yes, I will be with you anywhere, until the end. I shall be at your side, no matter what. Even should I perish in this world, I'll still be there - in the very depths of Hell, my lord. This is how I differ from humans; I do not lie."

Kaiba nodded and said, "Good. You will never lie to me, no matter what. Understood?"

"Yes, my young lord." The Demon butler replied.

I looked at the door and said, "Did you sense it Sebastian? Those two boys, Yugi and Ryou I believe, they possess two souls... Ancient ones at that."

Kaiba laughed and said, "To think they were telling the truth the entire time..."

I raised a brow and Sebastian then said, "From what my master has explained to me, those objects possess ancient and dark souls, one to save the world, and one to destroy it. Until their destinies are fulfilled, they remained bound to their host. Although I do admit... The aroma of their darkness is quite... appetizing."

Kaiba glared at him and said, "You are not to eat those soul... Understood?"

Sebastian smirked and said with a purr, "But of course, that would violate the contract, and I would not want to risk my reward."

Kaiba covered his eye back up and said, "Now that is done, is there anything else I should know?"

I tilted my head and said, "Maybe later I'll tell you about the Shinigami, like Grell and the Undertaker. But for now I believe you guest may wish to return to your side."

He nodded and said, "Very well. Sebastian, let them back in."

He bowed slightly and said, "As you wish my Young Lord."

He opened the doorway and the flock of humans who were acquainted with Sebastian's new master came walking in.

Mokuba took his place at Kaiba's bedside, snuggling his head on his brother, and the others sat in chairs that were scattered about the room.

I looked at the group and said, "Thank you for your patients and as soon as visiting hours are through, I'll have my driver take us to Phantomhive Manor. Hopefully Bard has cooked something sweet."

Technically, I don't need to eat, but I must keep appearances in this day and age.

Sebastian looked at me and said, "So old Baldroy is still manning the kitchen?"

I nodded and said, "Quite, just like his great grandfather before him. Most of the families are still in service to mine."

It was true... Mey-Rin, Finny, and Bard's great grandchildren still grace my household...

Most share the same traits as their name sakes. Baldroy the 3rd cooks with a flame thrower from time to time, but still has flashbacks to his days Iraq.

Finnegan the 2nd has troubles with maintaining the garden and he has inhuman strength from experiments done on him while he was held captive.

Mini Mey-Rin (Minnie for short) was huge klutz with a thick glasses but never misses a shot with her guns.

They might as well been reincarnations of their former lives, by how the spoke and acted.

Tea looked at me and said, "Sounds like they are very loyal to you."

I nodded and said, "Indeed, now when did the doctors say you could be released for recovery at home?"

He replied, "Once my leg is set properly and gain a few more pounds, I can leave... But I won't be walking for a long time..."

I nodded and said, "Believe it or not my great grandfather, the original Ciel Phantomhive was in the same position as you... But of course this was the 1800's and Jack the Ripper ran the streets."

Joey then said, "Whoa... That's the guy who was like the first serial killer."

"Correct, and my great grandfather was the one who caught him, he was about my age when he did so." I said in a unimpressed tone.

They all shared a gawking look and I sighed. "You have quite the family history Earl, how do you mangage it?"

I smiled and said a line that Sebastian himself would be proud of. "Quite simply, I'm just one Hell of a boy."