Author's notes: *hangs head in shame* I'm sorry it took me so long to update! Uni, job offers and life all got in the way and I've just been too tired to write D: But life is calm and my muse is back! And I got my first favourite and follow on this story! Wow! I'm so insanely happy right now! Thank you so much! And I shall try to update a bit better now eh heh…
Warnings: Sebaciel (implied) swearing and gore
That Butler, Annoyed
Ciel stared blankly at the girl with a gaping hole in her chest,
"You… died? 90 years ago?!" he repeated with eyes still fixed on the hole. Sebastian had regained his composure and waved pleasantly at his master from the other side of the hole, causing Ciel to shudder and look up at Rachel's face instead.
'Well it would explain how she survived a demon attacking her' the rational part of his brain commented. Rachel nodded,
"Yes. However, this was not my first death. I have died some hundred times prior to this one" she continued casually. A sad, almost bitter smile appeared on her lips, "But the last one proved more… permanent"
Ciel found he wasn't as perturbed as he probably should have been; an eventful three years getting caught up with grim reapers, weird cults and a demon had all made an influence on what he perceived as normal now.
"So… you've been reincarnated often but you're dead now: does that mean you were human? What are you now then?" he queried, thinking of their… experiences with unhuman beings. He shuddered when he thought of a certain redhead with a chainsaw.
"I used to be human when I was alive. I do not know what I am now, but I believe it's something akin to the Grim Reapers" Rachel explained. She then shifted slightly, contemplating how much she should explain. "However… there's something… more about me… that perhaps I should explain" Ciel was surprised at this hesitancy and felt slightly apprehensive of what it could be.
"'More'…?" he pressed. He watched as Rachel undid her collar slightly and rolled up her sleeves. Black lines ringed both her wrists and her neck tightly and they started to glow slightly. Ciel shielded his eyes as the light grew too bright.
Once it had subsided, where bands had been were now chains. Dark ones, not black in colour, simply empty of light. As if they absorbed all light around them and were not part of this world. There were three altogether; two disappeared into the floor, leaving no mark when they moved around, and one disappeared into the air above Rachel's head. Ciel felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up and suddenly Sebastian had come over too.
"I've not seen chains like those in a very long time" he commented, his tone serious. He looked up at Rachel, scrutinising her face carefully. "You must have either upset some very powerful beings or you're more than simply human" Rachel shifted at the accusations,
"Uh well… I'd wager it was more likely the first. But I don't remember what I did to get them in the first place. I just… woke up with them on" she explained vaguely. She gestured to them, which made them clink with a dull sound. Ciel felt captivated, burning with curiosity, and reached out to touch the one nearest him. Ciel jumped as Sebastian snatched his groping fingers and held his hands fast. He looked up in surprised at the demon, whose face had darkened with eyes glowing pink in warning, and glanced over at Rachel again. The girl looked so small in her tangle of chains,
"Just where do these chains lead? Who did this to you?" he asked, feeling a knot of fear in his stomach as he looked down at the chains again. Rachel bit her lip in indecision, looking up briefly at Sebastian. Sebastian nodded and sat back as he let go of Ciel's hands, permitting Rachel to reveal this information.
"They lead… to both the plane that Sebastian comes from and to… the plane of the beings humans call angels" she said, gesturing slightly to the sky. To Rachel's surprised, Ciel nodded and looked thoughtful, as if she was explaining something perfectly normal like a telephone.
"So to Heaven and Hell, you mean? I see…so we can presume that whoever it was who chained you up didn't want you escaping their sight then? Does that means they're still around?" Ciel asked, now aware of how dangerous this situation could be. Rachel nodded and Ciel's expression grew even grimmer as the knot in his stomach tightened further,
"They're always watching me. So they're always near" she said. The atmosphere had grown very tense. Ciel leaned forward, closer to Rachel,
"So tell us: are they a friend or an enemy?" Rachel looked at Ciel, unsure, before speaking again.
"W-well uh… they're…" she started and, to both Ciel and Sebastian's surprise, she turned bright red. "H-he's uh…"
"'He'?" Ciel murmured.
"Oh I'm very much a friend" purred a voice, causing them all to jump. Ciel could've sworn the voice was just behind his ear and he spun around. Nothing was there, but he felt something sharp poke him in the ribs. He yelped and spun that way, nothing again. He started as Sebastian leant in and pulled him tight to his chest, protectively. The boy noticed the butler's glowing pink eyes and fangs were now showing prominently. The demon was growling low and his hold on Ciel tightened. Ciel was surprised at Sebastian's reaction and it made him nervous. Chastising himself for feeling fear, he looked around and felt his anger rising instead,
"Who's there? Show yourself!" he barked. The voice chuckled and Ciel noticed Sebastian was staring intently at one spot on the grass near Rachel. He focused too and could just make out a haze in the air where the light bent unnaturally; he watched it move around behind Rachel now.
"Such a hostile reaction… so protective over your precious meal there, Malphas… But you needn't worry about that. Not when I-" a sudden swirl of darkness and intense wind made Ciel cry out and close his eyes. When it died down, he looked back and noticed a figure now hugging Rachel. "-have my own cute little human right here!"
Ciel stared and he could feel Sebastian staring too. Rachel was bright red and struggling madly, smacking the person holding her in the head,
"Get off! W-who are you calling 'little' exactly?" she cried out. Flailing madly. The person, a man, ignored the assaults and continued nuzzling the helpless housekeeper's face with his own bristly one. He looked similar to Sebastian, with black hair and pale appearance, but he was much taller and slightly more muscular. He was wearing a simple outfit of a white dress shirt and black trousers and had his hair pulled back in a small ponytail. A well-trimmed beard covered his jawline too, which was currently smushed against the girl's. To anyone he looked perfectly normal. Except for the long leopard tail and ears that seemed to poke out and waggle with a happiness that matched the dopey grin on his face.
"Now now! There's no need to be embarrassed!" he cooed teasingly at Rachel, patting her head and earning more hits. Ciel stared more; was he actually awake right now?
"…..Wha?" was all either Ciel or Sebastian could muster, but this seemed to attract the mysterious stranger's attention. He looked over at them with big brown eyes curiously and got up. His features reminded Ciel of a large wild cat, just like a leopard, and the tail and ears suddenly seemed fitting. Ciel leant back as the man knelt down and leaned in close, stared deeply into the child's eye, until their noses touched.
"Huh… so this is the one? He looks… sweet" the glint of fangs that accompanied this observation just served to further worry Ciel and Sebastian looked ready to pounce.
"Get away from him now!" the butler ordered hotly and jumped at the man, knives ready to throw. Ciel watched in amazement as the man deftly caught Sebastian and held him in a bear hug, all trace of his previous playful expression gone. He stared down at the struggling butler impassively, observing him. Ciel felt his mind reeling.
'This person is holding Sebastian like he was as weak as a baby! How strong is this guy? And just who is he?' Ciel gulped and found himself riveted to the scene, mind too numb to think of how to help his flailing demon. The man continued to lean closer to Sebastian's face, who looked both angry and flustered as he struggled. A tense moment passed when no one was quite sure what would happen, then the man beamed again and ruffled Sebastian's hair. He nuzzled Sebastian's cheek, much like he'd done to Rachel's,
"Aw, still so serious! You're so cute, Malphas" the guy gushed, continuing to pet Sebastian. Ciel watched this display and noticed the twitching eyebrow on his butler. He felt sure something snapped inside Sebastian. The butler, who been struggling intensely up until now, stopped and started to lose his human form, which allowed him to form around unnaturally. He smacked the man in the face, forcing the affectionate being off.
"Get the fuck off me, Sitri!" roared Sebastian, eyes aglow. The man blinked in surprise then beamed, satisfied with this reaction.
"Aw… just so adorable and-"
"Sitri, that's enough" came the exasperated voice of Rachel. The man blinked and looked over at her; Ciel looked over too and noticed she looked exhausted and annoyed. With an almost puppy-like innocence, he gazed at Rachel and released Sebastian.
"Ok" he said simply as he let go of the enraged demon and his tail and ears disappeared, making him look like a normal human. Ciel stared in shock as the man walked over and plopped down happily next to his housekeeper. Ciel then looked over at Sebastian. His perfect butler was panting, dishevelled and had actually sworn at this man! All to no effect! Then Rachel speaks up and the man stops like an obedient lapdog! Ciel really felt like pinching himself; this had to be a dream. He was feeling slightly faint from shock. This was too much…
The man smirked over at the dishevelled demon, shaking with rage, and his master, who looked pale. Rachel sighed in irritation,
"I apologise, Young Master, but you did want to know who was involved in putting these chains on me, did you not?" she waved a hand at the man beside her, who grinned. She scowled at him "However, I feel it would be best to reconvene to somewhere more sheltered. It's now getting late and we will need to find a place to spend the night"
Sebastian relaxed slightly and began adjusting his clothes and hair,
"I agree. So, what shall we do, Young Master?" the butler turned and looked back. He started at the prone form laying on the grass and rushed over "Young Master!"
When Ciel next woke up, there were cool sheets on him and a soft bed under. He murmured and winced in pain as he turned to look around the room he was in, rich Rococo style architecture and design was everywhere and he noticed the Impressionist painting on the wall. Clearly, a room decorated by someone with high end taste. He heard the door open and peered down, whilst moving as little as possible, to look at who it was. Sebastian entered with cloths and a bowl; his face tense. This expression relaxed when he noticed the boy was awake and he smiled,
"Fainting twice in one day. That must be a record, even for you, Young Master" the butler remarked. Ciel ignored this, he felt too exhausted for their usual banter.
"We're in Paris. What happened after I fainted?" he asked plainly. The recent memories caught up with him "Are those two still here?"
Sebastian smiled at the matter-of-fact attitude the young earl had always had coming into play and bent down to help sit the boy up. Ignoring the hiss of pain, the butler plumped the pillows as he spoke,
"Yes, we are in Paris now. I thought it more prudent to bring you to where the best care was, rather than risk you with some small country doctor" Sebastian began. Ciel nodded and sat up, allowing the butler to change his bandages. "As for Rachel and her… friend" Sebastian growled this word, as he worked "they are nearby. I persuaded them to stay in one of the other hotels on this boulevard, so as to not put more strain on you"
Ciel scoffed at this,
"Please, you just didn't want another demon near me" he spat, crying out in pain when Sebastian tied the bandage tightly around his shoulder. The demon smirked at the heated look the boy gave him. Ciel relaxed once more as Sebastian continued tending to his wounds,
"So… who is this person? Is he a demon? I believe you're both… acquainted" Ciel smirked again and noticed the pointed way his butler ignored this remark.
"Sitri is a demon, yes. He is a prince back in my world who specialises in teaching astronomy and other sciences to those who manage to call him. Also yes… we know one another" the demon seemed almost reluctant to admit this fact. "He taught me as well and is considered an intellect and an… enigma amongst our kind. He actually enjoys human company and observing human behaviours. Also, as you saw, he can be quite… eccentric" Sebastian stood up straight, allowing Ciel to rest back into the pillows again. Ciel watched him go to a teapot that was gently steaming and begin to pour tea into a cup.
"From what I've seen, he and Rachel are obviously involved in some way" the young earl remarked as he thought back to Rachel's blushing face and Sitri's comments to her.
'There really are different demons out there. That guy acts nothing like Sebastian' Ciel tried to imagine Sebastian behaving like that; he shuddered at the idea of Sebastian nuzzling people and winced at the pain this brought him. Sebastian nodded in agreement to Ciel's observations, oblivious to Ciel's internal musings, and handed the boy the teacup.
"I believe sir, that Rachel and Sitri have been quite involved for some time with each other. You see, another thing all demons know about him is he has been dutifully following a particular human soul since the time our kind fell to Earth"
Ciel took the cup and looked up at Sebastian, surprised at this information,
"'Dutifully following'? As in he is in love with this human?" Ciel clarified, sipping his tea. "I thought your kind were incapable of loving?"
Sebastian chuckled and smiled sadly at the boy, further confusing his young master.
"Alas Young Master, you read too many fictitious accounts of demons. We have been painted as a dark species with cold hearts and no idea of the joys of love and kindness, but this simply isn't true. We are very capable of love, more so than humans"
Ciel stared at his butler in shock. Was this true? Could demons really love? It would neatly explain the appearance of Sitri and his relationship with Rachel, but still… Ciel also felt a flutter in his stomach at the idea and he couldn't help looking up at Sebastian,
'If it's true then… I wonder what it feels like to be loved by a demon?' the boy mused. His mind drifted further into musing 'I wonder if Sebastian has ever been in love?' He felt his cheeks flare up at this thought and he shook his head quickly. The rational part of his brain cursed this soppy thought. 'Idiot! It's probably another stupid joke of his! Demons loving others, especially their own food, is ridiculous!' He forced himself out of this reverie and to focus on the matter at hand,
"If we suppose this is the case and the soul he has chased is actually Rachel, what now? Is he a threat? Does it mean he will do as she says?"
Sebastian looked thoughtful at this question,
"I doubt he's any kind of threat. If he wanted to kill you, he would have done it. Also, Sitri has never been the type to use underhanded methods to get what he wants. So I doubt he will harm you. As for if he listens to Rachel: they aren't in a contract so he's as liable to do what she asks as a wild beast would. He may listen if he feels like, but he may also turn on us"
Ciel mulled this over. It was a gamble, but no more than working with the majority of his human contacts. As he thought this, he also wondered if Rachel really was involved with the gang who had attacked them on the train. The more he thought about it, in light of knowing what Rachel really was, the less likely it seemed.
"Rachel has no links to the men who attacked us, my Lord" Sebastian stated, reading the boy's mind and causing him to jump. The demon smirked at the surprise on the boy's face and bowed at the questioning look he received, "I thought you would want to ask this question so I took the liberty of questioning her. I know how impatient you can be when you want to get your way. Like a terrier following a rat."
Ciel scowled at the connotation,
"I don't want to hear that from someone named after a dog" he retorted, sipping his tea. He ignored the chuckle from the demon and concentrated on the problem at hand. So, Rachel wasn't involved. Which meant that there was a third party somewhere who had gained the information and he didn't know who or how. Ciel frowned; if he had been in London, he could've checked in with Lau. As it was, he had no leads and, for all he knew, walking into that school would be walking right into a trap. He sighed and laid back against the pillows, putting his tea on the bedside. Undertaker, the Bizarre dolls, the Queen's letter, his family's murder and this attack on the train. He had the feeling they were all connected somehow, but there was just one thing he was missing. He glanced out the large window at the busy street below. Well he was here now, which was further than that gang on the train had thought he'd get, so it would be foolish to waste the opportunity.
"Sebastian, please fetch Rachel and pack our bags" Ciel ordered quietly. The butler looked over curiously, raising an eyebrow,
"My Lord?" he asked, noticing the determination in the boy's eye. Ciel looked over at him and smirked cockily,
"I don't want to be late for school, after all"
And that's it for now! How was it? I know there was a lot of OC in this one, but I wanted to make sure to introduce Sitri properly and explain Rachel too. Please like, favourite and review! I want to know how I'm getting on! Also any dress or French girls' names would be greatly appreciated for the next chapter. Next stop, Ciel goes to the girls' school at last!