Chapter Five
All Ciel could focus on was the unnerving and slightly psychotic energy that blazed in the young vampire's face. A twisted smile stretched his expression, his icy blue eyes dancing with a wildness that couldn't possibly be contained on any given level. Ciel supposed he had extracted his fangs in order to scare him, and it was working. His own eyes darted down to the vial in the other's hand.
"Shouldn't I drink that first?" he asked, glad that Sebastian had given it to the blonde before departing. Besides, Ciel had already taken the notion that Alois' definition of "fun" would cost him a lot of energy.
An annoyed look crossed the youth's face briefly. "You mean this nasty thing?" he inquired, holding the bottle up and scrutinizing it. Without warning, he threw it over his shoulder. It shattered against the wall, and when Ciel turned his attention back to Alois, that chaotic look was back.
Pushing Ciel off his lap, Alois climbed over the defenseless human on all fours. As much as he desired to fight back, Ciel restrained himself. He was very close to drowning in shark infested waters. The blonde smiled at him lovingly, a hand tracing along his jaw. "You don't want that, kitten," he purred, "I can give you all the strength you need to play…"
Watching wide-eyed, Ciel didn't dare move a centimeter as Alois settled back on his knees. His tongue wetted his pale lips, a devilish smirk blooming across his face. Bringing his hand up, he teasingly licked his fingers and wrist, moaning every now and then and causing Ciel to blush. Alois caught his head and tapped his nose when he tried to look away. "Ah-ah, kitten. You shouldn't shun the hand that feeds you."
Instead, Ciel attempted to block out the noises until he heard a prominent crunch. Alois giggled as he stared up, a look of disbelief washing over him. Bright red blood trickled down the youth's forearm, staining the sleeve of his shirt. Ciel felt sick when small droplets landed on his face.
For what seemed the umpteenth time in the small timeframe that they had been together, Alois grabbed at his face again, this time pinching at the corners of his mouth in order to forcefully open it. Ciel understood and felt utterly sickened. He wriggled to get away, his hands moving up to clasp at the pale arm that held him. Knees dug painfully into his sides in order to keep him still.
"Now, now, it isn't all that bad," Alois chided. "It isn't exactly milk, but it will make you feel much better, kitten." He pulled his wrist away from his mouth and moved it to Ciel's own parted lips.
Claude remained motionless in his spot, continuing to read his book.
Blood dribbled into his mouth, in between his teeth, down his throat. It was agonizing, disgusting, inhumane. Ciel grunted, trying to spit it out, but it was no use. Nor was struggling to get free. When Alois finally let him go, he flipped over, intent on bringing it all back up. He was granted no mercy, and only ended up dry-heaving.
He could hear the pout on Alois' words. "Aw, come on kitten, it wasn't that bad!" He grasped a fistful of Ciel's shirt and dragged him up to his feet. Pushing him forward, Ciel was left to awkwardly balance himself so he wouldn't fall. Somewhere behind him, he heard the rattling of a chain, and he realized that Alois had disconnected it from the wall.
Approaching to stand next to him, Alois handed Ciel the neatly coiled metal. "I don't think you'd like tripping on this, so hold onto it," he instructed, grabbing Ciel's other hand. "Now come on, we don't have all night to play, kitten."
"My name's Ciel."
At his almost defiant sounding tone, Alois turned back to him, that unnerving smile plastered back on his face. Ciel held his ground, his nature – and perhaps the blood – compelling him to take up whatever dignity he had left and flaunt it. "Oh my, is my little kitten finally learning how to use his claws?" Alois sneered.
Ciel didn't answer on account of Alois flashing his fangs. He held his gaze against the other, a surge of energy washing through him.
The hand that held his jerked and he nearly tripped forward. The other snatched the back of his neck tightly, as if threatening to snap it. "Luckily for you, I hate dogs," Alois hissed. "They're so obedient and boring, but you…" he giggled, his eyes brightening with mischief as his mood about-faced. "This should be fun."
Swinging Ciel forward, Alois pushed him to the entrance. They passed Claude, who was still reenacting a statue. Alois said something to him, but the night's cold air entertained Ciel's attention as they walked closer and closer to the land of the living. He was tempted to run when they reached the boundary between grass and stone.
"What are we going to play?" he questioned as curiously as he could, a very disjointed plan forming in his head. Alois seemed to be one that could take things seriously, as well as one who could be easily distracted from the bigger picture. The hand that wound around the chain tightened in apprehension.
The half-moon made Alois appear as dangerous as a dagger when Ciel turned to look at him. His eyes glinted, half his face shrouded in inky shadow. The vampire's voice betrayed this picture. "Hide and seek, kitten. It's my absolute favorite~!" He moved to hug Ciel as if he were the five year old he sounded like, and in turn Ciel held his breath.
Parting, Alois clapped his hands together. "Of course, you'll be hiding first while I count to one hundred," he said, his voice changing yet again and giving Ciel the impression that there was something to this game that he wasn't about to tell Ciel. He shoved Ciel forward, giggling like a drunken maniac. "So go and hide, and make sure you pick a really good spot! I love hunting my prey down dramatically…"
Trying and failing to ignore that last part, Ciel nodded stiffly and started moving, the damp grass cold under his bare feet. Alois disappeared back into the cave to count, leaving him by himself. Using the sparse light to find his way, Ciel drifted into the forest.
Should he make a run for it? Was this really his chance for escape? Ciel moved nervously through the thickets and leaves, making sure he wouldn't bonk his head into any trees and their branches. It wasn't as light as it was when he first came out who knew how long ago, and he wasn't too familiar with this area. His hopes started to deflate.
Besides, Alois was a vampire, Claude was a vampire, Sebastian was a vampire. It only made sense that they'd be able to sniff him out in a heartbeat. For all he knew, Sebastian's "business" could be this whole charade; a test, to see whether or not he'd try to make a break for it.
But he seemed antsy to leave. Perhaps he had real business to attend to, like he said. Ciel almost chuckled. Vampires, the creatures of bloody and horrifying myths having business deals and matters to attend to. Just as he was about to picture them in suits and top hats, he halted.
"Damn it, this is my chance!" he berated himself as he stopped to collect his thoughts. This was hardly the time to make light of the situation. There was a vampire using the game of "hide and seek" in order to hunt him down. He needed to get out of here.
Despite his objections and disgust to the blood he was forced to swallow, Ciel was rather exultant about the extra energy. He was sure that the liquid Sebastian had given him would've had the same effect, but he was glad for the strength either way. If it got him out of this mess alive, it would be worth a thousand swallows of vampire blood.
Not caring if his legs, arms, and face were scratched, Ciel quickened his pace. Pushing back thickets, going through thorn-laced bushes and skidding over twigs and sharp rocks, Ciel ignored each sting of pain as he moved faster and faster until he was running through the darkness, choosing any blind direction that appeared best with the minimal light he had. His breath was heavy, but he pressed on.
"Uah-!" he cried, falling face first, his ankle twisting as he inadvertently stepped into an unseen rodent hole. He crashed on top of what he guessed to be a cluster of roots and rocks, as they gouged painfully into his abdomen and chest. Pushing himself up, he realized that he had scraped his hands as the feeling of running blood tickled his arms. The chain he'd been holding trailed back behind him.
Heart thudding, Ciel turned over to sit and pulled his injured leg to him. Wincing as he touched the already lightly swollen ankle, Ciel gathered back the chain. He bit his lip with frustration as it suddenly became clear that it was snagged on something a ways off. He certainly couldn't walk, and dragging himself would only result in –
"Kitten, where are you? Here kitty, kitty~!"
Naturally Ciel held his breath, his action to yank the chain again hastily ditched in favor of keeping quiet. He could feel the cold sweat against his skin now as everything slowed down, as Alois' high pitched voice drifted closer and closer. Swallowing thickly, he bit his tongue to stifle any noises from escaping and lugged himself out from the middle of the path to hide in the brush to his right.
Ignoring the random twigs that poked at his sides like claws, Ciel peered through the dark leaves, attempting to shallow his breath as much as he possibly could. Alois' voice came very close not seconds later, and when boots halted before his hiding spot, Ciel just knew that the game was over. However, it soon didn't seem to be the case.
"Aw, come on out, kitten. You needn't be scared," Alois cried out with a rather unbalanced giggle. With disbelief, Ciel watched as the vampire continued on with his search. "You're really good at this…"
When the other seemed to be far away, Ciel finally allowed himself to shakily exhale. Surely that had been a trick, right? Alois just had to be feigning ignorance.
'But he's not close by so…' Ciel thought smartly to himself. He shifted, holding in a groan of pain as he moved his ankle the wrong way. "Damn it," he muttered, his hopes of escape fading again as he realized he was stuck. The chain was still snagged in the darkness, and moving would only further hurt his ankle since it was the one that was bound.
He squeaked suddenly when a large hand clapped over his mouth, the unseen force pulling him back by the collar of his shirt. His hands instinctively reached up to free himself, but it was a fruitless attempt as he was dragged out of the hedge and left dangling over the forest floor by a couple inches.
Ciel's eyes went wide as something decapitated suddenly filled his vision. His scream was muffled as he was pressed to what could only be a chest. The bloody fur was thrown at his suspended feet, landing on top of the chain. His body broke out in frightened gooseflesh.
Heated breath moistened his ear, shooting a violent shiver through his entire body. A low groan rumbled at Ciel's back. His breath hitched.
"No wonder you've been kept as a pet," came the low, hunger-filled voice. Despite the dramatic change in tones, Ciel knew instantly that his current captor was Claude. "You've no idea how painstakingly difficult it was to just sit there watching my lesser half shamelessly paw at you." A tongue slithered sickeningly against his flesh.
"'at 'as the…an'mal 'or?" Ciel asked through the hand that covered his mouth. Claude didn't answer immediately, too absorbed in his scent. For a moment Ciel thought that he was going to be bitten again, but at the last moment, the golden-eyed vampire drew back.
"Because I am too good a friend to Sebastian," he answered, surprising Ciel despite the sorely regretful tone he held. "The rabbit was a substitute for you…although it is unfortunately not enough." Ciel was released, and as Claude's hand came away, he could feel a sticky substance smeared over his mouth. His stomach churned uneasily, yet he managed to keep from pitching.
Without realizing it, Claude helped steady him on his injured leg and then quickly retrieved the snagged end of his chain. "Here," he said, holding the thin metal out.
With a nod Ciel accepted the chain and was about to express his gratitude when a very near call of "kitten" beat him to it. Alois burst like an eager dog through the trees and nearly tackled Ciel in his excitement at finding his prey. Luckily Claude was able to snatch the human away before any further damage could be done.
"Claude you big oaf! Why'd you do that?" the blonde whined, moving closer to the older vampire in hopes of taking Ciel away for himself. Ciel watched with amounting fear and concern as his expression darkened when Claude failed to offer signs of giving him up. "Don't make me angry by stealing my toys."
Claude appeared to hesitate at the blonde's demeanor, and Ciel was frightened for a moment that he'd be handed back over to Alois. He unconsciously tightened his arms around the elder vampire's neck, unable to unglue his eyes from the fuming Alois.
"Your playtime's over, I'm afraid," Claude said simply, sternly, as if scolding a spoiled child. He turned to go back to Sebastian's dwelling. "I believe you've had enough enjoyment for one night."
Turning his back had been a huge mistake. With no other warning than a growl, Alois sprang himself at Claude, causing the other to trip. Forgotten, Ciel flew through the air until he hit the hard earth. For an instant he heard scuffling and hissing, but striking the ground hadn't been a lasting moment for him. He'd been tossed onto an inclined level of land, and he cried out as he continued to roll downhill at an angle that seemed much too steep. His chain coiled round his body, and his blindly moving hands couldn't find purchase. He didn't realize that he was airborne until he splashed into ice-cold water.
Like thousands of tiny pin-needles, the water stabbed at his skin without even the smallest of mercies. His tangled legs kicked weakly, sluggishly, and he couldn't find the strength in his arms to pull himself to breach the moving surface. Panic set in his system for a second, but it did hardly any good with the combining factors.
Helpless, Ciel just barely felt the last of his energy – and breath – escape him, his numb and unconscious body completely unaware as something clutched at his middle.
Alois cowered into the gnarled tree trunk, sobbing his eyes out, his breath choked as he pitifully attempted to form coherent pleas of clemency as Claude relentlessly spewed fire at him.
"Of all the damn things you could've done…! I should have left you-you pathetic excuse of a -"
The blonde hurdled forward as if he'd been electrocuted, his nails digging desperately into his maker's pant leg. "No-no! Ple-please-se don't-t lea-ve me-e…don't-t leave m-me in the dar-dark-k, Claude! Any-thing, I-I'm so-sorry!"
Golden eyes gazed down in disgust, their owner squashing the instinct to just snap the younger's neck. His blackened heart thudded slowly at the sight at his feet. He curled his lip, a small part forgiving the blonde out of stupid habit. "You know we can't go in there to search," he said lowly, glancing over the edge at the running water. Claude could tell that it was deeper than it appeared. "He's probably drowned by now."
At his eerily calm words, Alois shuddered against his legs, wiping streams of snot against the plain fabric. His ice-blue eyes suddenly widened and his head snapped up as panic gripped his already shocked being. "What about Sebas-"
A punt to the stomach sent Alois flying back into the twisted tree with a loud crack that split the rotting wood into two. "That's what I'm trying to figure out!" Claude shouted in a rage, causing Alois to curl into a terrified ball. He had only heard his maker raise his voice once in his whole undead existence, and this was much worse.
The elder vampire paced for a moment to cool himself down, trying to think the situation through in silence save for Alois' constant sniffling. His nails dug into his palms, drawing blood as he realized they'd have to face the music one way or another.
Sebastian would undoubtedly be angry, but what was the most he could do? He and Sebastian were roughly the same age, and Claude knew many of his faults through their nights of hunting together. He thought of the boy and recalled how Sebastian had been watching him carefully, completely on edge when he'd been turned to Alois' attentions. A sensation of melancholy for the other swept over Claude for an instant.
Wiping a hand across his face, he turned to Alois. Kneeling before the younger creature, he softly wiped the tears trailing down the porcelain skin before gently pulling him to stand up. He gathered the blonde to him, wrapping his arms around Alois securely, who, in turn softly wept into his shirt.
"I-I'm-m sor-sorry, kit-ten…"
A/N: This is the first story I've written Alois. I absolutely adore the little freak, and I had a fun time writing out his more or less PMSing dynamics...so I hope that I've written him well. A million and a half thank yous with cookies on the side to everyone's feedback, and as usual, a comment/criticism or two is always appreciated~!
