Chapter Seven
Cold yet gentle hands were touching his face, and fingers raked through his hair soothingly. Ciel sighed like a cat with relaxed delight, leaning further into the comforting touches.
"How do you feel?" Sebastian asked evenly, softly.
A quick stammer of panic zipped through Ciel as he opened his eyes to meet an upward view of said vampire. He was lying down, his head on Sebastian's lap, and after a tense moment of silence, Ciel forced himself to unwind, to ignore the position. Although he'd hate to admit it, he owed Sebastian his life; starting something troublesome was the least he could do.
"I'm tired," he replied quickly, nuzzling his head against the thigh it rested on. He turned so that he was looking down those long legs, and he focused on his hands, trying to suck up what shred of pride he still retained. "Tha-thank you," he murmured, a little embarrassed in doing so. He had never thought in his life of thanking a vampire.
A hand slowly ran down his back, cupping his waist. "I'll never let those idiots near you again," Sebastian vowed, tightening his grip. Ciel couldn't help but look up sharply at the vampire.
"What do you mean?"
Sebastian mirrored his quizzical expression. "I know you're half blind, but please don't tell me you've failed to recall what mess those two got you into."
Slowly sitting up to stave off any dizziness that he expected would follow, Ciel turned to look at the creature before him properly. He licked his lips, unsure of why exactly he felt the need to stand behind Claude and Alois. "It wasn't their fault."
Sebastian chuckled at him, hardly believing what he had just heard. "So you mean to tell me that it wasn't their fault you were unnecessarily and painfully purified by wicked elves? And then sold to the market where you were stripped bare for all to see and then bought by-"
"I'm alive aren't I?" Ciel argued. "Besides, it's not like they intended for all that to happen!" He thought of how Claude had told him that he'd never hurt him, that he was too good a friend to Sebastian to betray him. "Surely they helped you look for me."
Red eyes narrowed as the truth was spoken. Sebastian stood up, watching as Ciel fell back in anticipation of him striking. His anger simmered, but Sebastian held himself steady from doing anything rash. Ciel was right, but this whole situation should have never happened in the first place. He wouldn't confess it, but in the few short weeks since he'd taken Ciel, he had become attached to the boy.
Somehow it had gone beyond the blood. Yes, it was delicious, and he had yet to find out that extra spice was, but Sebastian had to wonder. He had found it absolutely endearing when Ciel had refused to fight him; he was surprised the boy had figured his game out. Sebastian knew he had become greedy of Ciel the moment Angela showed up, and it only further developed when Alois had the boy clutched snugly in between his thin arms. Claude had cast some obvious looks of interest as well, and although Sebastian knew that he wouldn't try anything funny, he could feel his possessiveness over the boy grow stronger.
And with this last incident, Sebastian just knew that something had clicked.
Licking his lips, he turned back to Ciel. His ire was beginning to lift and he settled back next to the perturbed human. He smirked, and pulled Ciel into his lap without warning, causing the boy to struggle and inadvertently flush. He pinned his arms round the boy's waist, holding him still.
"Stop it, what are you-?" Ciel protested, ceasing when it became clear as hot breath hit his neck. Biting his lip, he writhed, attempting to twist around so that he could face his captor. Surprisingly, Sebastian gave him leeway and he glanced to the side as those burgundy eyes observed him with captivation. He desperately wished to be out of the Sebastian's arms, but he knew that he shouldn't press his luck with a famished vampire. "Tell me about them…Alois and Claude."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow, plainly seeing what Ciel was doing. He supposed that he'd be able to hold his hunger off for a little while longer. He ran a hand against Ciel's cheek and through his hair, never minding the scrunched face the boy made and how he leaned back, but rather enjoying how delectable he appeared. "They've hardly a tale to tell from my standpoint. You'd be better off asking them."
Wincing away from Sebastian's touch, Ciel half glared at the creature before him. "You've made it quite clear they're never to be near me again."
The vampire shrugged. "So it seems." He narrowed his eyes at the boy, smirking with a threat laced around it. "But for your sake I'm hoping that you intend for me to tell you the shortened version."
Ciel could see Sebastian's fangs elongating and he nodded without hesitation. He knew that this distraction had a ghost of a chance passing by the other, but he couldn't help but want to prolong the inevitable. He glanced at the surrounding candles and wondered when dawn would come. Their silent answers of "a while" did little to console him.
Gently, and thankfully, Ciel was pushed off Sebastian's lap. The vampire drew his legs up at an angle, and he gave the impression of thoughtfulness as he rested his elbows atop his knees. "I was still under Undertaker's wing when I met – or rather, we found – Claude. He's as old as I am, give or take a couple years. As with me, Undertaker taught him the basic means of survival among vampires, but he left us after about two centuries. When I met up with him about three or four decades after I left Undertaker, he had Alois attached to his hip.
"Claude and I generally got along; he was quiet and always gave the impression of knowing something I didn't, so we'd have the occasional quarrel. I'm not too sure where he picked Alois up; something about a kid prostitute if I recall correctly, but Alois was turned about three centuries ago. If you ask me, I think he's a bit of a brat, but he appears to know his limits," Sebastian disclosed, his eyes clouding over at times, obviously going back to his memories of the good and bad; Ciel couldn't tell which.
"How old are you?" Ciel interrogated, half interested in the actual answer, half entertained by the fact that this discussion appeared to be taking Sebastian's hunger away. He ducked his head and feigned discomfiture for asking such a thing as the other looked at him sharply. "If you don't mind me asking."
Sebastian waved his hand, not looking at him, appearing to still be immersed in whatever memory that happened to cross his mind. "A little over five centuries. And to answer your next question, I was turned when I was twenty. I was a lord's son and was foolish to think that it'd be better to go off by myself to hunt for dangerous game in order to acquire some reputation in the manor since I had three elder brothers who already had statuses for themselves.
"Instead of getting what I wanted, I paid dearly for my imprudent decision. I don't remember who turned me; they must've done that on accident and didn't realize it, otherwise they'd be forced to keep me. I tried going home, but the sun started to become unbearable on the journey back, and I was forced to find shade and shelter." Sebastian appeared to consider whether or not to continue. Ciel hoped he would.
"I grew fangs as well as mad with hunger within the day. My first kill was messy, and after I had killed one of my father's serfs, I knew that I would be unstoppable if I were to stay any longer. I can still remember some of the old folklore stories of vampires and other creatures of the night; those gave me enough sense to get away. I was on my last legs and desperate for a meal when Undertaker found me a couple years later."
Candlelight flickered against Sebastian's pale face, making him come across human as he openly talked about his past. In many ways it seemed quite sudden. Ciel had the inkling that Sebastian would never convey to him about his previous years, and as Sebastian illustrated it for him, Ciel found that he could care less about it. However, he did notice the change in the vampire as he told his tale. He didn't know what to make of it.
It became apparent that Sebastian had nothing more to say. Ciel grew nervous, and thought twice about asking more of Undertaker, deciding against it. He glanced down at the chain still secure around his ankle and wrinkled his nose at it. Sebastian must have used something to help the swelling in his ankle; it barely hurt now. Looking up he caught sight of the small burn mark printed on Sebastian's neck; the one he'd made with his cross when he was first captured. "So…are all those myths about vampires true, then? You can't go out in the sun, or be near garlic? Do you sleep in coffins?"
Sebastian turned on him so quickly that it nearly gave Ciel a heart attack. He fell back to his elbows as the other hovered over him, a smirk and a look of deep hunger now evident on his expression. His scent of rain washed over the boy heavily. Ciel's heart thumped dreadfully in his ears.
"I can turn into a bat on a whim, a stake to the heart will kill me, and although a handful of us think sleeping in a hole in the ground is natural, yes, many of us do rest in coffins, including myself," Sebastian answered, setting his pale hand against Ciel's chest, forcing him flat on his back. He appeared thoughtful for a moment. "And sometimes I decide to be elegant and drink blood from a chalice."
Ciel tried to make his neck disappear by lifting his shoulders to his ears. "What about hypnosis? And living in medieval castles?"
Despite his efforts, Sebastian pressed his shoulders down, his tongue swirling against his skin and making Ciel fidget. "I unfortunately have not been a vampire long enough to develop that trick; in fact, it's possible that I may never receive such a gift." He chuckled, nipping at the column of flesh, causing Ciel's breath to catch. "Castles, hm…we have to live up to your petty stories, don't we?"
Previously Ciel had figured out when Sebastian was most likely to bite. Hands tightened around his forearms in preparation, and in turn, Ciel unthinkingly bucked his body against the other's. "Wa-wait, stop!" Sebastian groaned at his action and Ciel blushed as he caught sight of the other's expression. He quickly looked away, already regretting his course of engagement.
Nevertheless, he had Sebastian's attention now. He knew that the vampire was starving, and it would be unavoidable to stop him, no matter how many distractions and questions he threw out. He didn't look into those inquisitive eyes, trying to think about whether this was something he'd want to ask or not. The last time hadn't been what he'd expected, and he remembered wishing that it had been painful instead. But the logic in him tried to steer clear of said pain, no matter the consequences.
"Be…be gentle," he said, feeling utterly mortified with himself. It felt like he had just shoved his most prevalent weakness onto a plate and presented it to Sebastian. He evoked there being little to no pain when he was relaxed, when he didn't struggle. He was sure that even if he did remain unmoving, Sebastian could still hurt him just by digging his fangs in the right way.
Blood stained eyes stared down at him as if they were looking straight through Ciel. Sebastian blinked for a second, his expression softening. Ciel's heart thudded heavily in his ribcage as the vampire leaned down until their noses were nearly touching. A cold hand against his face made him shiver, and his breaths grew thinner as he didn't know what to make of this odd behavior.
"Alright," he said in almost a whisper. He sounded almost as if he was in a trance, but all thoughts flew from Ciel's mind as Sebastian did the unthinkable.
Lips attached to his own almost cautiously, gently caressing his mouth as if he were the most delicate of flowers. Hands light as feathers danced down from his neck, rubbing circles against his exposed sink. Perplexed by the sudden pleasure and actions, Ciel moaned in confusion as his lower lip was bit and pulled out. Before he could even think, a tongue entered his vulnerable mouth, deepening their kiss.
Not for the first time, warmth blossomed through his body. Ciel felt like he was drowning in it, and he wanted out. Yet as hands slipped under his new shirt, the boy couldn't help but succumb to the indulgent and foreign touches.
'What about my family…my faith?' his mind questioned frantically as he continued to sink deeper and deeper into the wickedness the vampire was dragging him into. Somewhere he couldn't believe that he hadn't thought of this earlier, and he just barely scolded himself for even thinking to ask Sebastian to "be gentle". 'This goes against everything I believe in…this is a vampire, a guy…y-yes…'
Sebastian cupped his neck as his head fell back, offering him support. They pulled apart, and Ciel gasped for breath, his eyes clouded. Red eyes gave the impression that their owner was very distant, but Ciel didn't bother to notice it. His body moved accordingly to Sebastian's own fluid movements. He arched as lines were traced, and he kissed back unconsciously when provoked.
"Ah…" Ciel sighed, wrapping his arms around Sebastian's neck, drawing him closer. Said vampire's face was hidden in his neck, kissing his skin, his hands clutching at Ciel's back. He felt warm, almost too warm, but Ciel wouldn't give anything in the world to lose such sinful heat.
Tracing his lips with his tongue, Sebastian indulged him in one last kiss before mimicking his action to Ciel's neck. Ciel's hand snaked up to tangle in black locks, and he couldn't help but moan as teeth sunk into his flesh. So tender, so hot…he whimpered as lips locked and sucked, and his toes curled as countless sensations ran through him like several bolts of lightning.
What felt like hours but were only to be minutes later, Ciel's arms lethargically fell to his sides as Sebastian licked him clean. Their mouths connected for a last time, and he didn't bother to be dismayed by the taste of his own metallic blood. He deepened their kiss, making it last, even though he didn't understand why. He held steadfastly to Sebastian's shoulders as the other started to shift away.
"Stay," he requested with a hint of fear of being left alone, the hindmost part of his mind convinced that he was drugged. His fingers were slipping from the fabric that he clutched and his eyes drooped as sleep badgered him to yield to its dreamy darkness.
Sebastian caught his hand as it fell, and he held it as he watched Ciel submit to sleep. He waited until the boy's breaths were even, idly smoothing Ciel's limp fingers against his lips as he slowly came back to himself.
Glancing at the candles whose wax were nearly burnt down to the sockets, Sebastian silently gave Ciel his hand in return and unshackled his ankle before relocating to the back of the cave.
A/N: My good golly gosh, you people are so wonderful! Thank you times a billion xD Thus, I'm sorry that this chapter's a bit on the short side, and a little slow, but I still hope that you guys found it somewhat entertaining. Got to learn a little bit about Sebastian, eh? Anyway, thanks again, and please feel free to drop a comment of what you think on your way out!
