Chapter Two


Ciel woke in a daze, his limbs terribly heavy and the thick aroma of wet earth suffocating him. The lighting was dim yet strangely warm, the echoes of trickling water lightly bouncing off the walls from his right. His mouth was extremely dry and his body ached. He weakly took note that he was lying on the ground, a square, puffy blanket and pillow his only comfortable support.

For the longest moment he didn't question where he was, but rather if he was dead. His previous fear and panic rushed to him all at once, causing him to curl up with the tiniest of whimpers. Fresh memories of being attacked by a monster in the dark left him trembling for the longest time, his mind unable to comprehend what was going on. His hand absently touched the small bite marks on his neck.

A vampire. A…vampire.

He moved again and a high pitched rattling noise startled him badly. Ciel managed to push himself up into a sitting position. Somewhere in the midst of his panic and confusion he was relieved to see that he hadn't been stripped save his shoes. It was a short-lived liberation, however, when he noticed the shackle around his left ankle. Blue eyes warily followed the thin chain as it coiled this way and that; he estimated it to be at least eight feet long.

'Maybe I can…?' He heaved his leg to his body, dread overwhelming him as he realized that the manacle was seamless. Biting his lip, he tried to slip it off, but it was too tight. In growing desperation, he spit at his fingers and rubbed his ankle, trying to lubricate it, but he only ended up drawing frustrated red scratches along the thin skin.

Flopping back Ciel caught his breath, all too aware of how pathetic he currently was. He desperately wished to stand as a way to reassure himself that he could still get out alive, now that he was certain that he wasn't dead. But he did nothing, too exhausted and heavy-limbed to do anything. Hours of waiting for something he knew he didn't want to meet seemed to pass before he heard footsteps.

With much effort he was able to prop himself on his elbows. Setting a hard glare in his eyes came naturally enough and Ciel braced himself. Who he presumed to be his attacker's footsteps reverberated to where he sat came louder than the last, each footfall making Ciel's stomach knot tighter and tighter.

All his doubts were chased away when the person…vampire came into view.

Skin as pale as the moon, hair as dark as ebony, eyes as red as freshly spilt blood…Ciel suppressed a shiver of fear at the mere sight of the creature, and he couldn't help it as he hurriedly glanced away when it looked and smirked at him.

The man stalked up to him, and Ciel forced a brave face in place of a steady and powerful stance that he'd much rather present. It took all his willpower to not look away as the creature approached, and then kneeled before him. He screwed up his courage to slap away the hand that tried to touch his face.

"Stay away from me-!" Ciel demanded, his voice rising out of his control as he realized those red eyes became amused at his defiance. "…you have no right to-"

Eyebrows shot up and Ciel's heart pounded as he caught the brief sight of fangs. "Oh, I have no right?" the vampire mocked, his voice surprisingly smooth now that Ciel was able to put a face to it. "What about you? Intruding in my home…if I knew any better, you're the one who doesn't deserve any rights." Thin lips pulled into a horrific grin, and Ciel shuddered, trying to back up despite his lead laden body.

The creature laid a hand on his knee, freezing him to the spot. Ciel watched as long fingers slithered their way down his leg, only to hook under the small space the shackle provided. "Hm, it suits you, don't you think?"

Dare he answer back? His fear was receding ever so slowly, and Ciel could taste the bark waiting behind his teeth. It was odd, but this vampire seemed to be in a rather good mood. However, Ciel had the inkling that this guy would be like a double-edged sword. If he chose the wrong words, he may have to pay the price.

Shifting so that he sat down fully the vampire chuckled, all the while his fingers made the trip back up his leg in a teasing manner that made Ciel squirm. Red eyes regarded him, looking hungry. "Surely you have a name?"

He somehow managed to tug his leg away from those wandering fingers, and he defensively wrapped his arms around both appendages. Ciel considered staying silent, but quickly decided that it would get him nowhere. "You tell me yours first."

A hand with fairly long and pointed black nails raked through dark hair as another amused laugh tumbled from the vampire's lips. Ciel unconsciously curled further into himself when rubicund eyes flashed. "So demanding, aren't you…if you must know, it's Sebastian." He moved forward and traced fingers along Ciel's jaw. "And yours?"

His breath had gone shallow at their close proximity. "Let me go!" he blurted without thought, terror gripping his heart, his flesh quivering at the unpleasant touch. He squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn't have to look at the creature before him, or what he may do. "I just…please I-"

An unexpectedly soft cry ripped from his throat as he was pushed back. Cold hands held him down by his chest and that all too familiar hot breath was swirling against his collarbone as his shirt was tugged down to properly expose his neck. Something moist moved along his skin and Ciel weakly tried to push the larger body from his, but it was no use.

"Your name?" came the repeated question.

Ciel tensed when he felt something sharp graze his skin. "Ciel!" he exclaimed with a gasp, drawing his legs up in an attempt to drive the other back. The vampire drew away minimally, but only so much that they were face to face now. Red eyes gleamed and fangs were bared in a truly intimidating sight.

A tongue ran teasingly along the bottom lip and Ciel looked away. "Ciel…" Sebastian said, testing the name out for himself. "Ciel…I'm finding that I made quite a good decision earlier," the creature continued more or less to himself. He cupped the side of the boy's face and Ciel unintentionally opened his eyes, now forced to look at the man above him. "You've no need to fear me."

His bravery came back in a sudden, confusing rush, and Ciel jerked his head out of the vampire's hold. He kicked out and Sebastian moved back, but didn't appear angry with him. His courage almost faltered when he saw the amusement from before grow stronger, but he kept a tight hold on his resolve that threatened to slip. "That's a dirty lie," he spat.

Sebastian was toying with the thin chain, a smirk on his lips. He looped it around his fingers tightly and glanced at Ciel. "Is that so?" Ciel cried out as he was yanked harshly by his ankle, his body slipping off the fabric and onto the rough ground. The vampire was instantly over him again. He could feel his skin breaking as a stinging sensation ran up his spine.

"I could make you fear me," he said, a hand once again gliding along Ciel's exposed flesh from the neck up. "If anything, you should be grateful to me. You're still alive, aren't you?"

"Just kill me already," Ciel murmured as he regarded the hungry expression above him.

Sebastian's tongue darted out to wet his lips. "But that wouldn't be any fun at all…I like to savor my meals," he said. "Besides, I know you wish to live, your eyes give you away." Ciel tensed as that face burrowed into the crook of his neck, breathing deeply, a warm breath making his skin tingle. He pressed his hands against the other's chest in a futile attempt to give himself more space, all the while proving the vampire's words to be true.

He didn't want to die.

Ciel needed to distract the vampire. It was obvious the creature was hungry. "Is-is this how you killed the others?" he asked with a choke as he felt teeth nip at his overly sensitive neck.

Sebastian hummed and to Ciel's relief, shifted back. An impish smile spread his lips, and Ciel grew wary. "No. I made their deaths quick, as I usually do."

"Why not me?" Ciel interrogated despite the fact he really didn't wish to hear the answer. Half a dozen reasons ran rampant through his mind and he somehow managed to focus on the famished vampire before him.

Ciel started to panic when Sebastian's obvious answer was bending back down to his neck, his tongue continuing along the trail it was previously blazing. It ran over the small puncture wounds, and he softly whined in protest, feeling what little strength he was able to gather starting to dissipate. He felt a rush of hot, moist air and he squirmed for all he was worth. "No-wait…sto-ah!"

As if he'd be electrocuted, Ciel's whole body jumped and arched deeply as those needlepoint canines sunk in with a viciousness that would shame the most violent of wolves. The pain was worse than before, and his waning struggles weren't helping him in the least. White hot pain pulsed through his veins, shaking him to the core. He must've been holding his breath, for he gasped when those sharp fangs retracted and then when lips proceeded to seal securely around his broken skin.

He was numbly aware of his body convulse a second time when the vampire started to suck. It hurt just as much if not more, and Ciel's hands absently clutched the creature's shirt for dear life as he felt himself being drained. Eventually, his grips slackened and he welcomed the oblivion that was darkness.


Sebastian languidly licked the tiny wounds with an air of self-annoyance. He evidently had taken too much out of his own greed and lack of self-control. He gently moved Ciel back to the sparse comforter that had come with one of his last meals and simply stared at the unconscious boy.

He supposed it was because Ciel could properly see who he was up against that gave him those fleeting moments of strength. His hand still tingled when the boy slapped it away, and he smiled, knowing for a fact that the boy's confidence would grow the longer he remained here. Sebastian shuddered in anticipation.

Standing up, Sebastian glanced over his shoulder, his internal clock telling him through his growing weariness that his night would soon be over. He looked at Ciel, his hunger satisfied, but he still scolded himself to be more careful next time.

Picking up the cloak he'd dropped near the entrance, Sebastian swung it around his shoulders, shying away from the growing light that started to peek through the gnarled trees. He passed the unconscious boy without a backward glance and moved deep into his temporary home. He slowed as he passed the small spring and thought of bathing, but his body pulled at him to sleep instead, and he continued onward.

He would have preferred his coffin, but the makeshift living space that consisted of a hole and a dark, heavy blanket would have to do. The rundown home he had claimed as his own was currently under suspicion by those nosy people of the church. Sebastian had every motive to drive them away himself, but their various holy weapons discouraged him. There was no use fighting by himself, even if he was five centuries old. So he had hid his belonging and left, deciding to wait a couple months. It should be enough time for those groups to stalk through his home only to find nothing.

Sliding into the small cushion of space he had created for himself, Sebastian reached for the heavy blanket, covered the top of the hole and fell into the trance that would render him dead until nightfall.


Something was more or less thrown into his lap. Ciel blinked awake at the sudden weight, his head dizzy. A tall and dark figure moved somewhere in front of him, and he immediately snapped to alertness when he realized it was the vampire. He was currently brushing off his clothes and pulling a cloak around his shoulders. Ciel stared, wondering why he wasn't being assaulted.

"You should eat," Sebastian told him with a quick glance, his fingers working fluidly to button up the coat.

Ciel regarded the food in his lap. An apple, pear, and a few grapes. They all looked perfectly safe to eat. "You've poisoned them," he declared, showing his skepticism.

The creature chuckled, but to Ciel's relief, did not come any closer. "I promise you I didn't. But if you want to go hungry, by all means, be my guest and starve yourself," he said, leaving Ciel hanging on a limb on whether or not to believe him. "There's plenty other fish in the sea to catch, though I must admit losing you would be quite a pity."

Ciel huffed at Sebastian's words, not really appreciating the other's tone that was stuck between mocking and admiration. Hesitantly he picked up the ripened pear and slowly bit in. Nothing tasted unusual, and while the possibility of poison kicking in later was ever present, Ciel discarded the nagging worry and ate everything up. He hadn't eaten since his midday meal last, and he wasn't entirely sure how much time had passed since he'd been captured. For all he knew it could have been days.

Eating had definitely made him feel stronger despite the hard fact that he physically wasn't up to par. Ciel observed silently as Sebastian moved this way and that; he wasn't about to surround himself with any more unwanted attention if he could help it. Instead, with one last guarded look at the vampire, Ciel took to taking in his whereabouts.

There wasn't much to look at other than the candlelit cave walls that glowed a soft ruddy-brown. Dark shadows danced here and there in the small nooks and crannies, leaving Ciel as the centerpiece of the enclosed area. Leaning to his side, he noticed that the cave stretched back, but it was engulfed in darkness so he was unable to see way lay beyond. The tunnel that led to the entrance of the cave curved, and he couldn't see any natural light.

"I'm going out," Sebastian suddenly announced, moving to stand in front of Ciel, a mystifying smile on his face. Ciel drew back slightly when a cold hand cupped his chin, red eyes glistening with amusement. "So don't try to run away, alright?"

Ciel wanted to bark out that he'd bite off his own leg if it meant escaping, but he said nothing and merely set a dark glare on the vampire. Sebastian hummed and moved back, and then a light bulb of worry clicked in his head, his mood turning around completely. "Wait-!" he cried out and the creature turned around after stopping mid-step. "Where are you going?"

How could he have been so blind, worrying about himself? Lizzy was still in danger of this blood-thirsty monster. He paled at the sudden thought that she might already be dead, but shoved that train of thought away as fast as he could.

To his dismay Sebastian shrugged, yet his teasing smirk remained firmly in place. "Out for a bit of fun, maybe a quick snack or two." His expression then turned downright devilish. "There's a green-eyed girl whose fear I can smell a mile away…"

It was obvious he was looking for a reaction, and Ciel mindlessly gave it to him. "Don't you dare hurt Elizabeth!" he nearly shrieked, his weakened body aching to launch at the creature before him. Whether Sebastian was playing with him or not, Ciel would never forgive himself if the other made Lizzy his next meal. She was the reason he came out to stop this vile creature!

Sebastian cocked an eyebrow, his lips curling deeper. "Oh?" he questioned lightly, moving to stalk back toward his captive. He leaned over and scooped the chain back up and gave it a yank. Ciel cried out at the momentary pain as he was unexpectedly dragged forward again, and he was suddenly all too aware of the vampire's closeness.

"I bet she tastes delicious," Sebastian breathed and Ciel could see his fangs. "And I'd bet she'd scream."

Ciel was pulled closer, the vampire's hands clutching at his shirt tightly. Hot breath pressed against his face and he squeezed his eyes shut. "Isn't that right?" Sebastian continued, his voice low, "She's the reason you came out here, isn't it?"

'Stay away from her!' Ciel mentally screamed, his voice lost. His heart hammered in his chest, wanting to shove the creature away from him, his fear bubbling up again.

Unexpectedly he was thrust back, his head nearly knocking against the coarse rock wall. Righting himself, Ciel confusedly took in Sebastian's tense stance, his back to his prisoner. His head tilted to the ceiling slightly and he looked ready to pounce. A voice suddenly drifted from around the corner and Sebastian visibly relaxed.

"Heehee ~ oh Sebastian, what've you got this time?"


A/N: Thank you so much for all the wonderful feedback ~ comments, favs, and alerts! They mean so much to me. Hope you enjoyed chapter two, updates will come weekly!