So fans, I've decided to hold something hostage, a secret chapter. Now then, if you want this chapter, I'm going to hold a small little challenge. You're going to have to wait for the next chapter to find out the challenge, trust me this chapter is worth it. It's going to give you a more outlook on here.
Chapter 25
~ASC~
"Kyaaaah!" A woman screamed, "I-it really showed up!"
The demon looked to the right at three masked people.
'No.'
"Grant me eternal life and wealth!" One masked man shouted. The demon looked to him.
'No.'
He then looked down at a small child in a cage
'It's this one.'
"...oh." He smiled mischievously, "You have given a big sacrifice. Now it's your choice whether to make a contract with a demon and have your wishes granted, or not." The small boy perked up at this, and the demon licked his lips at the thought of eating his soul, "The price to cross the river has already been paid."
The small hands clutching the bars of his cage shook in anger, "I...I..." Tears fell down as he said, "I want...power..."
"Wha?! Someone shut him up!" Someone shouted.
"The power to take revenge on the ones who did this to us!" Ciel shouted, "Demon I'll make a contract with you!" He stared straight at the demon, and said demon smirked at this, "So you're abandoning the light for the path to hell...fine. Well then let's mark our bodies with the contract seal. The more visible the place where your seal is, the stronger its power. So where do you want-"
"Anywhere is fine. I want power stronger than anyone else's!" He screamed as he held his outstretched hand to the demon. The demon grabbed his small head, his thumb wiping the tear away from his right eye, "You're quite greedy, despite your small body." His hand covered the boy's face and gripped it harshly, "Well then. I shall put the seal on that big eye of yours, filled with despair." The small boy screamed as he felt a burning sensation on his eye.
There was a large flash of light, and they were outside the burning building, the demon now in disguised and by the boy's side.
He made three requests. That I protect him, and never betray him until he obtains his revenge. That I obey his orders unconditionally. And that I never lie. They're all quite difficult to accomplish, when you're playing the role of an elegant butler.
The small boy, Ciel, looked down at his bloody hand, a ring he had taken from one of the regal men, was nestled in his palm, "Someone out there tried to obliterate the Phantomhive household. Aunt Frances said...that the best chance to counter your opponents is when they're attacking you." He closed his hand tightly around the ring, "My predecessor lost the game. However...I won't." He held up his head high, eyes still hollow, but deep within, a burning fire of hatred laid, "As Ciel Phantomhive, head of the Phantomhive household...I swear I won't!"
"Hmph." The demon chuckled.
Ciel looked at him out of the corner of his eyes and he turned his head, "...What's so funny?"
"Well. You told me not to lie, yet you seem to be quite a liar."
Ciel glared at him and he turned his head, presenting his back to the demon.
This looks like a hassle. However, even if it takes as long as all of this boy's life, it still feels like an instant to me. If I can kill time and get a good meal out of it, that's fine by me.
"Well then, master. Let us go back to the mansion." The demon suggested.
"I don't know where it is." He said.
"Eh?"
Ciel turned to face him, shoulders slump, and gaze averted, "I don't even know where we are now...I didn't really go out often..." He walked over to the demon, "I have a relative at the Royal Hospital. Let's go there first."
"Certainly." He turned around and started walking forward, a frown on his face.
Oh my... I ended up serving a boy who was kept in cotton wool.
Something tugged on his clothing and he looked down, "Wait, demon." Ciel said, his hand clutching one of the coat tails, "What's your name?"
He gave him a fake smile and said, "Whatever my master wishes."
"Then..." He carefully thought about it, the sun rising over the mountain peaks behind them, "Sebastian. From now on your name will be Sebastian."
"Certainly." Sebastian said as he laid a hand on his heart, bowing his head to Ciel, "Well then, please call me Sebastian. Is that the name of your former butler?" He asked Ciel.
The boy shook his head, eyes downcast, "No...It was my dog's name." Sebastian's eyebrow twitched as he kept the smile on his face.
I take that back. I ended up serving an incredibly disagreeable boy!
They were at the hospital, having reached it in less than an hour, thanks to the demon now named Sebastian. The small boy talked to the secretary and asked, "I'm looking for Aunt Ann-...Doctor Durless." There was a thud behind them and they turned their heads. An old man was on the ground, his hand reaching for Ciel, "Ah...ahh...!" He was at a loss for words, but Ciel was not. "Grandpa!?" The small boy rushed to the man who now started calling him 'Young master', over and over. They held each other the older man crying, "You are...you are alive!"
They had placed the old man into his room. Ciel had asked him questions of what had happened that night, but sighed dejectedly when the man wasn't able to answer him, "I see...so you didn't see the culprit either."
"Yes... I am sorry; I couldn't protect your father."
"...It's not your fault." They both stood in silence and the old man looked up and smiled weakly at Sebastian, "You said that your name is Sebastian, if I'm correct." Sebastian nodded and the old man took something out from under his pillow and held it out to Sebastian, it was a pocket watch, "Please take this."
Sebastian took it into his hand and looked at the crest engraved on the pocket watch. "What is it?"
"It's been passed down from every Phantomhive butler to the next." The old man's hands gripped the covers of his bed and he called to him, "Mr. Sebastian," He bowed to Sebastian, and begged, "I don't know who you are or where you are from, but please...please take care of the Young master."
"...Yes. As a butler, I will do my best to serve the Young master, properly." His words put the old man at peace, and they left him to search for Ciel's aunt.
They had found her and she grabbed Ciel, not even noticing anything else around her as she started to cry, and she said, "Ciel! Aah...you're so thin!" She held him tightly, "I'm so glad...at least you are fine..." Ciel barely even lifted one hand as he patted her back.
She had given him some clothing, bigger than his own body, and she had called for a carriage upon his request. They were outside the hospital and she was fixing a scarf tightly around his neck, "Thank you for preparing a carriage for me, Aunt Ann."
"Are you really going? You should stop at my house..."
"It's ok. I'm going." He said, his voice holding no emotion what so ever.
She frowned at this and took his small hand into her own, "The others burned down, this is the only one left." She placed a ring in his hand, the family ring that his father and his ancestors wore. Ciel pocketed it and headed to the carriage. He paused before stepping on the ladder and he turned his head to her, "...Thank you." They left the hospital, and after a while, had arrived at the mansion.
It was beyond repair. Sides of it were collapsing, and the walls were covered in soot, the inside perhaps worse off than the out. Ciel took all this in with a wide eye, and Sebastian just stared at it, a slight frown on his face, "This is quite bad." Ciel turned around and started walking away, "Young master?" The demon followed after and stayed outside the family cemetery. Ciel was standing in front of two fresh ones, they held his mother and father, and he fell to his knees, his back hunched over and he silently cried, "Father...mother..." Sebastian was behind the boy, his eyes uncaring as the cold winter wind blew at them.
This was the first and last time...
He turned away from the boy to leave him alone.
...That I heard him call his parents that way.
Sebastian stared at the mansion, studying every crack and chip he can see, "...Well well." He smirked and tightened his gloves.
Night came too quickly for the boy as he continued to stare at his parents' grave.
"Young master." He snapped to attention and turned his head to see the demon smiling at him, "The sun is setting. The night wind is not good for your health." Ciel stood up and dusted the dirt from his knees, "There are pubs and inns offering lodging in this area, we can stay there-"
"Actually..." Sebastian said, the smile growing bigger as he raised a finger up to pause Ciel, "That is not needed." Ciel stared at him, wondering what he meant. Sebastian led Ciel back to the mansion, and he once more had a surprised look on his face, "No way..." He said as he stared at the mansion, good as new.
"Didn't I promise you? I don't tell lies." He held out his hand and Ciel took hold of it as Sebastian led him up the stairs, never once taking his eyes off of Ciel, who was still looking at the mansion, "This. This is..."
"How could I be the butler of an Earl if I couldn't even do this?" He stopped at the double doors and touched the handle, "And as an Earl, you are supposed to live in a beautiful mansion." He pushed them open and held out his hand to Ciel again, "Come." Ciel gasped as he looked at the inside of the mansion, everything looked as if the fire never once wreaked havoc to it, "Starting from today, this is your manor." Ciel took a small step forward and Sebastian smirked as he greeted Ciel, "Welcome back. My Master."
It was the middle of the night, an owl was on a branch and a loud screaming was heard inside the mansion, going, "It's too hot!" It shocked the bird and it flew passed the window that showed Ciel in a bathtub and Sebastian, coat off, and holding a bucket of water near Ciel. "You can't just pour all the boiling water in at once! Check the temperature!" Ciel shouted.
Sebastian stood up straight and looked at the hot water still inside the bucket, "I am sorry. I'll be more careful next time." He then softly muttered, "So this is too hot..." Sebastian shrugged and grabbed Ciel's hand roughly, and twisted it behind the boy's back, "Well then, I'll wash your body." He harshly rubbed the sponge on Ciel's back and the boy screamed once more, "That hurts!" He pulled away and said, "That's it, don't touch me! I'm getting out!"
Sebastian frowned at this, "What are you saying? You're still dirty. I can't risk having you die suddenly because your wounds suppurate." Ciel glared at him, getting angrier at the incompetence of his new butler. He slapped the water, and it splashed on the demon's face, "Get out!" He ordered. Sebastian glared back at him and stood up, water falling down his locks from the movement, "...Yes, sir." He closed the door behind him and he thought, 'That brat...' As he ran a hand through his hair. There was a loud clatter and Sebastian rushed in to see the cart that held the toiletries, and Ciel, were on the floor. "What happened!?" He said as he rushed over to Ciel, picking him up from the ground. The boy had a red mark on his forehead, and he said, "I just slipped when I was trying to grab a towel." Sebastian stared down at his incompetent master, unable to really say anything in this kind of situation.
He held back a sigh and said, "You must be tired, after all that happened today... I'll wash your body." Ciel pulled his arm away from Sebastian, "I said you don't have to." Sebastian's eyes shifted into slits, in a flash his hand gripped Ciel's chin roughly and he brought his face close to Ciel, "You're being a little too stubborn." His voice was one filled with malice, and his eyes showed that he was not tolerating Ciel's behavior well, "Humans are weak animals that can die easily just by bacteria entering their bodies from even the smallest of wounds. You're a child that cannot even treat his own injuries properly; don't make me waste my time." Ciel's eyes looked at Sebastian's own, then he turned them away, and he pouted.
Sebastian sighed and picked up the towel from the floor and started to dry Ciel's thin body.
"Grroug." Sebastian looked up at Ciel in surprised, and he smirked, "Humans are low beings that will get hungry under any circumstances."
"Shut up."
Sebastian dressed Ciel and he led him to the dining hall. He pulled the chair out for the boy and he unfolded the cloth napkin, "Well then." He whipped the cloth, it cloud Ciel's vision for a moment and food suddenly filled the empty table. Ciel gasped as he looked at it all, "Please help yourself." Sebastian cleared his throat and then said, "We have Japanese spiny lobster sauté, roasted turkey...sticky toffee pudding, fairy cakes, and more. I will fetch anything you want." Sebastian picked up Ciel's plate and took a pair of tongs.
"...Sebastian." Ciel called out to him.
"Yes?"
"Don't ever do such a thing again."
Sebastian stood up straight and looked at Ciel with his eyebrow raised, "Why?"
"Normal butlers can't rebuild a house in one night or cook dinner in the blink of an eye. If someone sees you, they'll get suspicious."
"So you want me to do everything step by step like a human?" Sebastian asked.
"I'm not saying you have to absolutely do it like that, but at least pretend to. People can't make anything without ingredients, or time."
Sebastian sighed and tapped the tongs on his shoulder, "How troublesome."
"You're my butler, right? Do what I ask." Ciel ordered.
"Certainly." Sebastian said, sighing once more as he laid a plate of food in front of Ciel. The boy picked up a fork and stabbed it into a piece of the lobster meat. He bit it off the fork and immediately spitted out and grabbed the glass of wine, gulping it down to wash the taste away. "Oh, didn't it please you?" Sebastian said, a little surprised by the reaction.
"It's greasy, spicy...and salty." He criticized.
"I see...I guess this menu is a little too heavy for you, since you've been in that place all this time. I'll make some risotto right a-"
"Enough," Ciel interrupted as he stood up, "I'm going to sleep." Ciel left the room and was curled up on his parent's bed, his stomach still growling for food. There was a knock on the door and Ciel looked up, "What?" He said, as Sebastian came in with a serving cart. "I brought some hot milk. You should eat something..." Sebastian said as he brought it towards the bed, "There are many things you will have to do from tomorrow, if you wish to become an excellent head of the family and revive your household."
Ciel threw himself back onto the bed, clutching a pillow to his body, "I don't need it. It probably tastes awful anyway." Sebastian smirked and poured some of the milk into a teacup, "I only warmed the milk, and I didn't add anything to it. I cannot tell if it tastes good or not. Will you try it?" He held out the teacup to Ciel and the small boy looked at him, "...What about honey?" He asked, eyes wide, like a small child asking for candy.
"You can put as much as you want." Sebastian said.
The boy sat up and said, "Grandpa used to tell me that it's bad before going to sleep because you will get cavities."
Sebastian picked up the jar of honey and took out a dollop of honey, pouring it into the milk. "Well then, from tomorrow I shall do the same." He said as he handed it to Ciel. The boy took a small sip and he looked down at it, "It's good..." He then drank it all and Sebastian chuckled at this as he continued to refill Ciel's cup, till none was left. He placed everything onto the cart and Ciel called out to him, "Sebastian. That hot milk...was good."
Sebastian paused; surprised to hear Ciel complimenting him for once, and then he smirked at Ciel, "I'm glad to hear that."
Ciel's hands clenched his night-shirt and he said, "Also..." He looked up to Sebastian, a scowl on his face, "If tomorrow's breakfast is as bad as today's food I won't forgive you. I'm not going to live on hot milk like a puppy for the rest of my life." Sebastian's eyebrow ticked again, the mood was completely broken by Ciel's words and he took the cart away. He stepped out of the room and told Ciel, "...Certainly. Good night, Young master." He closed the door and stood silent by the door, and he harshly muttered, "That little brat!"
In the foggy early morning day, a man and a boy were on a rundown carriage, a mule pulling it forward. The small boy looked to his side and started shaking the older man, "Gramps! Gramps that's..!"
"What is it? There's nothing but ruins over..." The man turned his head and his mouth fell open in shock, "This is...am I having a dream." They stared at the mansion that should have been nothing more than an empty burned down shell, instead was now amazingly restored to its original prime.
Inside the mansion that demon butler was cutting his master hair, "So in the end you messed up today's breakfast too." Ciel complained.
"I'm very sorry; I made it according to the recipe, but..."
"You didn't taste it?" Ciel asked.
"My sense of taste is different to humans. So if you can tell me what you dislike about it, I will work to improve." Sebastian said as he continued to snip Ciel's hair.
"Anyway..." Ciel said, "We have a lot to do today. There are too many things that I don't know about this household. Because my predecessor passed away before he could tell me." Sebastian paused and looked down at Ciel, "The household matters are a given, but as the current head of the family you will have to attain a wisdom and education that rivals that of adults. Society has monsters lurking that are far nastier than a demon like me, a child such as the Young master would be perfect prey." He said, "Languages and economics, hunting and horse riding... there are many things for you to learn. I looked it up last night, it seems that this sort of thing was left to a Governess before, so we'll have to interview for a new-"
"Don't." Ciel said, "I don't want to hire anyone else for the mansion now." Sebastian smirked and took off the clips on Ciel's hair, "Though it might sound arrogant, would you let me be the substitute then?" Sebastian asked.
Ciel turned his head to face Sebastian, "You?" He questioned, doubt in his eyes.
Sebastian turned Ciel's head forward as he tied the medical eye patch, "I haven't lived this long for nothing. But I'm pretty strict." He raised the eye patch up and covered Ciel's right eye, "That'll be fine." Ciel said, as Sebastian pulled on the knot, making sure it was tight, "Earl and Butler...we're not there yet. We have to become the real thing as soon as possible." Ciel ordered.
Sebastian grabbed the towel and removed it from Ciel's body, revealing a business like attire. "Certainly." He said.
For a few days, Sebastian taught Ciel, the demon revealed that he liked to dress up a lot. He adjusted the glasses and looked down at Ciel's paper, "Another mistranslation." Ciel flinched at that, a frown on his face, "You're supposed to translate this with 'At first' not 'From the start'. Did you forget that you made the same mistake yesterday already?" Sebastian picked up his pointer and smiled widely at Ciel, "Okay. Please take off your ring. Hands open." Ciel gulped and hesitated to do so. Sebastian slapped the stick on the open palms and Ciel grunted from the sharp pain. He forced the boy to sit down and he grabbed a stack of books, "Well then, transcribe ten Latin poems, ten times each. Start over!" He stacked the books on the pile already on the table and Ciel stared at his throbbing hands
After his lessons they were in the green house. Ciel was sitting on a chair, a table next to him, and Sebastian came forward with a teapot. He poured its contents into the cup and Sebastian proudly said, "Today's tea is Mariage Freses Darjeeling." Ciel took a sip and he paused to stare at the tea, "Sebastian, open your hands." Sebastian raised an eyebrow at this and held his hands out. Ciel poured the hot tea onto the demon's hand, "Uh." Sebastian said as his hands shook from being burned. He looked up at Ciel and the boy glared at him, "This isn't tea, this is just brown water. Start over!" He slammed the tea-cup on its dish.
They continued on with training again. This time outside, Ciel was holding a rifle, aiming at the bull-eyes 50 yards away.
"Draw in your chin and aim carefully." Sebastian said, as he adjusted Ciel's position correctly. He backed up and Ciel squeezed the trigger twice. Each shot missed the circle completely. Sebastian sighed at this and he snatched the rifle away from Ciel, "You're drawing in your hips and not pressing your arms in tightly enough. You have to stand more firmly." He pointed at the target and shouted, "You can only dream of hunting on horseback if you keep going like this." He pulled the trigger and the bullet hit its mark, dead center.
It was now dinner time and Ciel looked at his fork with a critical eye, "This fork is cloudy. You mean to have your master eat dinner with dirty silverware?" Sebastian flinched at this and he started to apologize, "I'm very sorry...I'll get another immediately." Ciel dropped the fork on the table, ignoring Sebastian completely, and he said, "Also...you spilled sauce on the edge of the plate. Food that tastes good but looks bad is the worst." He glared at the small spot on the dish and Sebastian sighed, "I'll pay attention to it." Ciel stood up, his right hand near the silverware, "I won't eat anything until I can sit down and eat immediately. Start over!" Ciel threw the dishes to the ground
The next day, they were outside, Ciel was perched on a brown and white horse, nervous beyond belief. "Straighten up! Match the rhythm with your body." Sebastian ordered.
"Ah, y-yeah."
"Please start by kicking the horse's belly softly." Ciel kicked harder instead of gently, and the horse reared up and threw Ciel off. Sebastian caught Ciel and the horse glared at the two, "If you flinch, you lose when dealing with animals. You have to maintain your dignity. Be firm and make it know you're the master." He placed Ciel back onto the horse, and Ciel fixed his hat, "Well then, face forward. Start over!" He shouted as he harshly slapped the horse's flank.
Ciel's eyebrow ticked in annoyance as he heard the screams at night. He couldn't take it any longer and he stepped out of his bed and opened the windows, shouting, "You're loud, Sebastian!" The demon stopped and looked up at Ciel, his hand holding a man's bloody ripped off arm, and a handful of other men were laid scattered across the yard, either torn apart, or missing a limb, "I'm very sorry. There are many intruders, so it's taking some time."
"I can't stand this every night! Can't you clean up a little more quietly!?" Ciel shouted again, getting even more annoyed, "Also I told you to leave one so we can figure out who's behind it!"
"Ah! Sorry..."
Ciel shook in anger and he pointed at Sebastian, "I won't go easy on you if you forget again!" He slapped the window shut and returned to bed.
But he would wake up every night, regardless of the racket.
Sebastian was at his desk, several stacks of books on the floor and he flipped the page of the book he was currently reading on how to cook England meals. Something clicked in his mind and he closed the book.
Haunted by nightmares, he would wake up screaming.
Sebastian knocked on the door, and he peeked his head inside the room, "Young master, are you okay?" He asked, the light on the candelabrum casting a soft glow to his face. He looked at the bundle, clutching the blanket over his body, "Who..." Ciel trembled. Sebastian walked forward and calmly said, "It's Sebastian. It's your butler."
"Sebast-tian..." Ciel said softly, as if trying to remember where he was right now. "Did you have a bad dream again?" Sebastian asked. Ciel's hand gripped the blanket tightly, "They're all dead...they're glaring at me..."
"There's no one in the mansion but you and me. No one else." Sebastian emphasized. He laid the candelabrum on the night stand and Ciel hesitantly asked, "Sebastian...nothing happened today?"
"Yes, it's a quiet night. Come, lay down..." Sebastian brought his hand forward and Ciel slapped it away, screaming, "Don't touch me! Don't touch me...don't touch me..." Ciel sat up and his body trembled as he pulled the covers tighter around his body. Sebastian stared at his master and just bowed to him, "Then I'll retire, but if you need anything-"
"Stay..." Ciel said, "Stay...here. Until I fall asleep." Sebastian smirked and he said, "Yes, my lord." He blew the candles out and waited till the boy finally fell asleep.
Days continued to progress as both Master and Servant learned together.
Ciel stood rigidly as he waited for Sebastian to finish grading his paper, again. "Young master." Ciel snapped to attention and Sebastian smiled as he held out the paper, "Excellent! A full score." Sebastian had drawn a spiral with flower petals on the paper.
Sebastian poured the tea into the cup and placed it on the table, "For today's tea I have prepared Mariage Freses Darjeeling." Ciel took a sip and he said, "It's passable." Sebastian bowed to him, "Thank you very much."
Ciel aimed up in the air, eye focused and he squeezed the trigger twice. The bushes rustled and he looked to them, Sebastian came out holding two dead ducks, "Splendid!" He said.
"Your appetizer." Sebastian placed a small salad in front of Ciel, silverware sparkling, "What's today's main dish?" Ciel asked as he took a bite of the appetizer. "A roti of duck that the Young master shot."
"And dessert?"
Sebastian smirked and held out a cake, "The gateau chocolate that the Young master likes."
The horse whined softly as Ciel looked up at the hill, Sebastian by his side. "Shall we go up the hill today?" Ciel said. "I shall accompany you." Ciel smirked and kicked the horse, "If you can keep up that is! Ha!" The horse rushed forward and Sebastian smirked as he chased after, "My, my."
Men surrounded the mansion at night, each wielding a revolver. A hand covered the lead man's mouth, and a knife was pressed against his throat, "This is no good." Sebastian whispered into the man's ear, the bodies of the other men were on the ground behind them, "Guest should enter properly through the front door, also when the little master is awake." Sebastian slit the man's throat, and he released him. He looked up to make sure Ciel didn't wake, but the boy was sleeping soundly in his bed for once.
Sebastian stepped into Ciel's office, holding a tray with a letter placed in the middle of it. "Young master, there's a letter." He said as he brought it towards Ciel. Ciel read the letter, Sebastian looking over his shoulder to see it as well, "This is...we must hurry and have some clothes made for an audience." Sebastian said.
Sebastian had called Nina over, and the women made an outfit for Ciel. The reason that he was getting an outfit, specifically made, was because of what the letter said.
To lord Ciel Phantomhive, first, I would like to express my deepest regret for the loss your family. I am thankful to God for your safety. Therefore, I would like to return to you the land and title that were temporarily given back to the Royal family in the absence of a Lord. A special decoration ceremony will be given on the 17th of March, 10 a.m. At Buckingham Palace. I look forward to meeting you.
Victoria.
Nina waved goodbye to Ciel, promising to send him his attire as soon as possible. She did so, and he looked at the regal outfit she had made for him. Sebastian made him strip to his underpants and Ciel looked at his mirror image, his back facing the mirror, looking at the brand on his skin. "Does it still hurt?" Sebastian asked. "...No. Rather than pain, I feel a burning anger." Sebastian smirked and held out the white undershirt, "So an unfading anger as burnt into you...fufufu." He slipped it on Ciel's body, and buttoned it up for him, "If you see it like that, this ugly wound isn't so bad is it?" Sebastian added the rest of the outfit on to Ciel, and the boy slipped on a pair of white gloves and Sebastian placed a hat on his head.
Sebastian grabbed a small-sword and held it out to Ciel, "It suits you well, Young master."
"Ha! Your flattery's become more like a butler's as well." Ciel said.
"Thank you." Ciel took the sword from Sebastian and the demon continued to speak, "But I'm not lying."
"Hmph." Ciel scoffed and he walked forward, his back to Sebastian, and he shouted, "Let's go, Sebastian!"
Ciel walked past the rows of people watching him as he went to the Queen. Two men whispered among each other, "Why is he getting decorated at such an age?" One asked, "He may be from a distinguished family of Earls, but still..." The Midfords ignored the people talking and looked at their future son-in-law.
The Queen smiled at Ciel as her servant placed a cord around him. Then the Queen placed a gold jeweled chain around his neck, "Welcome back, Earl Phantomhive. We warmly welcome your return." She said happily. The people started to clap for him. Ciel ignored everyone and looked straight ahead, his butler waiting outside the open doors for him.
"You should've gone and watched up closer." Sebastian turned his head and saw Angela Duress walking up to him, "You're as good as family to Ciel by now." Sebastian smirked at her words, "It would be presumptuous to call myself something like family." They both looked forward at Ciel, and Sebastian uttered, "Because I am...just one hell of a butler."
After the ceremony, Ciel started to depart, Sebastian following after him like a shadow. "Now you're officially an Earl. The status, the fortune, a beautiful fiancé. They're all yours now." Sebastian's eyes turned to slits as the aura around him started to change, "What do you think?" He asked, fangs peaking from his mouth, "Would you throw away such foolishness as revenge and live on in happiness like this?" His hand reached forward to Ciel's back, and the small boy said, "That doesn't sound bad...But!" He whipped his head to look at Sebastian, the demon immediately straightened his composure, "I didn't come back 'here' to attain happiness. I came back to fight. After taking up this title, Earl Ciel Phantomhive." His hand clutched the cord tightly, and he declared out loud, "There's no other way to go but forward. I'll stake on this evil name of mine that I will definitely attain my revenge!"
Sebastian's eyes widen as he saw Ciel turn around and continue forward.
Ah. He turns his back towards the light without hesitation. That figure that charges into the abyss at a dignified pace. How beautiful and foolish.
Ciel stopped walking again and he said to Sebastian, "This is an order, Sebastian. You will be my sword and shield..." He turned around and pointed at Sebastian, "And bring me victory!" Sebastian walked over to him, and fell to one knee, a hand over his heart, and his head bowed, "Yes my lord." He took Ciel's hand and placed a kiss on the ring adorned on his thumb, "I will definitely deliver you the crown of victory."
When you receive your crown decorated in despair.
Memories passed by of the countless people that had to die because of Ciel. The people that suffered, the friends and family that was caught in the crossfire.
Your soul will surely be...
Extremely delicious.
Sebastian felt his heart being ripped into pieces, he felt like something was torn away from him, and his eyes widen when he realized that Ciel was still in the air, screaming his name, "Sebastian!" Sebastian, grunted as he stretched his hand out, the contract burning, the only thing keeping him on earth, and he screamed like a ferocious animal, his fangs elongated as he grabbed Ciel's hand and pulled him close to his body as they hit the ground. Undertaker landed gently to the ground and he walked over to them, "I knew you'd be able to protect the Earl. As expected from the butler."
Ciel moved out of Sebastian's arms and he looked down at his demonic butler, realizing that he was covered in his blood. "Sebastian? Hey!" Ciel grabbed Sebastian's shoulders, his eyes were closed and he wasn't breathing, "Sebastian!" Ciel shouted as he shook him. Sebastian opened his eyes, a rush of air going into his lungs, and he said, "You're loud...I can hear you just fine." Ciel scrambled off of him and Sebastian sat up, blood still oozing out of his wounds. He spit out the blood and Undertaker smirked, "Though I thought you would die along with him, I suppose my fun would have been ruined then." Undertaker said as he came closer to the two, "Your record was pretty interesting. But...it seems like you only make the Earl miserable after all."
Ciel looked up at Undertaker, surprised and confused at his words. Undertaker hoisted his death scythe and reared it back, "So maybe I'll just have you disappear." Ciel gasped and Sebastian glared, waiting for the attack. The ship shook violently and tilted backwards, forcing the group inside to slide backwards with it, "Wha!?" Ciel screamed as Sebastian grabbed him and held him close.
"Could it already be!?" Grell shouted as he and Ronald fell backwards, "Crap!"
"Wah!" Ryan screamed as he tried to hold onto the railing.
"My, my." Undertaker smirked, not even once losing his footing, "I guess it'll be soon?"
"Damnit!" Sebastian shouted, "The floodwater's weight is making the front of the ship tilt upwards!"
~ASC~
William grabbed the railing as the ship went backwards. He watched as Matthew's body started rolling off the ship. "Matthew!" He released his grip and slid down. His hand reached out to grab the blonde's arm, but he wasn't fast enough as the body fell into the water, and Matthew disappeared into the dark sea of blood, and his book slowly floating down after him. "Ma-..." He shook his head and leapt up, there was nothing he could do for Matthew, his soul was already reaped.
~ASC~
Sebastian grabbed onto something and he watched as Ryan lose his grip and slid straight down, screaming, and he hit the wall with a sickening crack.
"Ryan Stoker, born August 24th, 1854. Death by falling accident on April 20th, 1889." Grell landed on the railing that Sebastian was holding, making it get weaker from the sudden extra weight, "No special remarks." Grell looked down at Sebastian, and he said, "Sebas~, as you can see there's really no time. I'm sorry, but I'll be taking him." He looked at Undertaker who was holding on to a railing with one hand and looking for something else, "You just stay there and watch."
Sebastian growled at this and he shouted, "I won't." The railing collapsed and Sebastian landed to the ground with Ciel in his hands. Ronald landed in front of him and he caught a support beam with his hand, "He's stronger than me, so I'll leave that one to him." Ronald said, "I'll finish off the weakened one over here." Sebastian caught onto a support beam as well and he tried to catch his breath, glaring fiercely at Ronald. Ciel tugged on Sebastian's coat and he hmph, "I can't have you looking down on my butler. Weakened? Lose to you? That joke isn't even funny." Ciel mocked as he narrowed his eyes at Ronald, he turned his gaze to Sebastian and he asked, "Right, Sebastian?"
Sebastian's eyes went back to Ronald and he smirked, "Yes, very much so. Uh!" Sebastian groaned as he felt his heart squeezing again. Ronald frowned at this and he sighed, "Oh man. It's like I'm picking on the weak here..." Ronald's head whipped to the side from Sebastian's fist, and he looked at Sebastian out of the corner of his eyes with surprise. Sebastian threw Ronald far back and he slid down after him, "Wai-" Sebastian kneed him in the stomach sending him backwards again, and he ran after him once more, this time grabbing him by his collar and he brought his face close to his own, "What did you say about...picking on the weak?" He punched him the face again, and he jumped off of Ronald's mower as the boy swung it in order to catch his balance.
He gripped his mower and slashed it at Sebastian. The butler flipped backwards and land on the ground; again he kicked Ronald in the stomach sending him back, this time with all his might. The reaper's body struck the wall and he struggled to move as he tried to speak, "Wha...why are you moving..." Sebastian stepped on Ronald's injury and he cracked his knuckles, "I have to answer my Master's orders, don't I?" Ronald looked at him, eyes wide in terror, "Trying to look all cool when you can barely stand...that's so...disgu-" Sebastian raised his fist and he smiled maliciously as he sent it straight at Ronald.
The chainsaw struck the death scythe and they both reeled their weapons back. "You..." Undertaker said, "I thought I'd seen you somewhere, you were the shinigami who acted as Madam Red's butler. You also tamper with people's lives, didn't you?" Grell slashed at him as he shouted, "No one likes nosy guys, you know!" Undertaker dodged and landed on the railing, "Isn't time almost up for you guys?" He asked.
"With all these handsome men in front of me, I'm not gonna just leave like Cinderella!" Grell charged straight at him, and a black and yellow blur brushed passed him and Undertaker, causing both of them to jump back as the blur hit the wall with a crack. Grell winced in pain, having landed in a pile of tables and chairs and he looked to see what flew passed him, "Ronald!" He shouted as he saw the blonde haired boy beaten to a pulp.
Sebastian placed a foot on the lawnmower and he leaned on the bar, "Young'uns these days are really so feeble." He smirked. "Isn't it kind of old-fashioned to just rely on your death scythe? So what's left is-" The ship shook once again and Ciel clung to Sebastian as he almost lost his balance, "This is bad!"
~ASC~
The ship's nose was almost at its highest point. The people on the lifeboat watched in horror as one of the ship's stewards pointed at it, "L-look! The ship is!"
The people that remained on the boat were soon falling to their death, plunging into the freezing waters.
~ASC~
One of the walls of the ship broke and water started to flood in. It washed over Ciel and Sebastian, and Ciel screamed as Sebastian covered him with his body. "Well then, it's finally time to say goodbye." Undertaker said as he leapt up, "It was pretty interesting." Both Grell and Sebastian glared at him and they both dashed forward. Sebastian aimed a kick at Undertaker's head, and Grell tried to slash his legs off. Undertaker dodged Sebastian's kick, and he stopped Grell's weapon with his own. The chain that held lockets fell off of Undertaker's body and the ex-reaper reached for them.
Ciel caught it instead as he looked up at Undertaker, he suddenly looked like a small child, and Undertaker's eyes widen at this. He smiled and he jumped backwards, landing near the gushing hold, "Earl, I'll entrust that to you for a while. Please take good care of it." He looked up at Ciel and his eyes were sincere as he said, "It's my treasure." Ciel gasped and he held his hand out, "Wait, Undertaker!"
The silver-haired man ran a hand through his wet hair and he held his weapon up, "See you, Earl. Let's meet again." He slashed in a circular motion, and the ship split in half.
~ASC~
The people in the lifeboats watched in horror as the Ship split in half.
"T-the ship broke!" A man shouted.
The top part fell to the water hard, causing a wave and pushing the lifeboats further away from it. That part though started to tip backwards as well, and a black blur shot out of the water, and it started running up the ship.
"It doesn't look like this side will hold either!" Sebastian shouted as he ran passed a man who fell off. Sebastian caught sight of a safety floater and he grabbed it, "Young master." He placed Ciel down on the tip of the Ship's nose, the water swallowing the rest of it, and Sebastian shoved the floatation device on Ciel, trapping his arms, "Take a deep breath!" Sebastian shouted.
"Eh? Wha?" Ciel shouted.
"With the situation being as it is, please forgive me!" Sebastian hoisted Ciel up, the boy finally able to free his arm and he shouted, "What are you-" Sebastian flung Ciel away from the ship as it was engulfed by the water.
Grell was floating face down in the water, not moving or responding. A pair of hedge clippers went forward and it gripped Grell's clothing. William glared at him and chastised Grell, "Not even able to make collections properly..." He adjusted his glasses and threw Grell into the boat, "Honestly." He huffed as he looked down at both Ronald and Grell, "Did you slack off too much during your suspension? Try putting yourself in my shoes, having to be mobilized even though I'm from a different department. Looks like I can't finish up in time again today...honestly." He started kicking and jabbing them, "Wake up! Grell Sutcliff! Ronald Knox!" The two woke up from their beatings and Grell looked at him, "Ow...Will!" He rushed at him, arms opened wide to hug him, "You came to get me didn't you!" William went to the side and Grell fell off the boat. William scowled at him and shoved his head under the water, "This is no pick-up. I came to clean up after a certain piece of trash dispatch member who can't even manage their own job. Hurry up and start collecting."
"Wait a minute; we're all beaten up here!" Ronald complained.
"It's a shinigami's job to indisputably and correctly collect souls at any time."
Grell scrambled onto the boat and he started wiggling around, "That gaze even colder than the sea, ignoring any kind of human rights! It sets my body ablaze!"
Ronald sweat dropped at his elder, "Really lively aren't you."
"After you're done collecting, return to HQ immediately and file a report." Grell looked up at William, "A report about the 'Violator', that is." They nodded begrudgingly and William stood silent for a few minutes. "Hand me your books." He told them.
"Eh?" They both said.
"Just do it!" He shouted.
They jumped not use to hearing him shout that way, and did as he said. William flipped through the books, "Damien Ross died by impalement...December 14, 1992...April 20th, 1889." William closed the books and stared into the water, "Did any of you claim that soul?" They shook their heads, and William's eyebrows furrowed, These two idiots don't have an old scythe. And there is no one else in the division that has it either...
"Did something happen William?" Grell said.
William snapped out of his thoughts, and he glared at them, "Get to work!" They flinched and did as he said, going out collecting the souls of the dead.
~ASC~
Ciel's body trembled from the cold water, his hand still clutching Undertaker's chains. It hurts! He thought as he started to wheeze, his asthma getting worse. My body feels like it's being stabbed all over because of the ice. My limbs won't...move... His body slipped under the water and he started to float down, he opened his eye for a brief second, and saw Matthew's body slowly drifting down into the red sea, along with other dead frozen humans, his eye widen and he released a sob, the air in his body leaving him, So...even he... His eye started to close and something grabbed his collar, and pulled him up.
He busted out of the water and clung to a boat as he started to cough out the water and tried to breathe. Sebastian pushed him completely onto the boat and he said to Ciel, "I guess they couldn't manage to lower all the lifeboats in time. So I went and borrowed this from the sinking ship."
"S-Sebastian." Ciel coughed out, "He's gone!" Sebastian removed his coat and handed it to Ciel, "Please wear this."
"Aren't you-" Ciel covered his mouth and coughed, "Ma-tthew he's-"
"I know." Sebastian said. Ciel's body shook with the coughing and he looked at him. Sebastian smiled sadly at him and he said, "I'm sorry I can't prepare any hot tea for you. Please...bear with it for a while." Sebastian said. Ciel shivered, and he heard the screams of people calling for help as they fought each other trying to get to a boat.
"If we go back they will sink this boat too..." Sebastian said.
"But what about Matthew-"
"Let's get away." Sebastian pushed the boat forward and started kicking his legs as he propelled the boat. Ciel shivered, a tear had fell down and he looked at his hair, there was ice forming on it, My hair is...freezing up... Sleepy... Sebastian saw Ciel's head slowly going limp and Sebastian shouted, "Young master! You can't sleep!" Something grabbed his leg and he looked behind to see an undead woman holding his leg and her teeth sunk into his ankle.
"Kuh!" He kicked the dead women's skull and flipped over to his back, in case the woman came after him again.
"They can move in the water!" Ciel shouted.
"They don't need to breathe, so I guess they can't drown either." Sebastian said as he held on to the boat.
"Then..." Ciel was cut off by bubbling sounds.
"Shh! Quiet!" Sebastian said as he tried to figure out where the noise was coming from. He squinted in the darkness, his vision was starting to fail him, as was his other senses, and he finally saw the bubbles on the water. Heads soon replaced the bubbles and Ciel gasped, "N...no way..." They started swimming towards them and Ciel stood up, "This is! Sebastian, get in!" Ciel held out his hand, a panic look on his face. One of the zombies lunged at Ciel and Sebastian jumped up and grabbed Ciel out of the way. They started crowding the boat, trying to climb it, and Sebastian grabbed an oar and slammed it into the one that was able to crawl onto the boat.
One of them shot out of the water and grabbed Ciel's hand, "Wah!" He screamed and Sebastian kicked the zombie away. "How many are there!?" Ciel shouted as he grabbed onto Sebastian. "I don't know. But...they will probably keep going after souls until their body rots away...which also means that you are probably the only living human around here." Sebastian's hands tightened around the oar, at his own words and Ciel looked side to side, noticing that all the undead were with them, and the life boats were on the other side.
"Then...we can't escape..." Ciel shook violently from the cold air as he glared at the zombies viciously, "If we do, Lizzie and the rest will be targeted. We've already lost Matthew; we can't expose the survivors to danger..." Sebastian stabbed one of the undead and he shouted, "Whether it's a good or bad thing... they only seem interested in the soul nearest to them!"
"We'll stop them here. You can take them can't you Sebastian?" Ciel asked.
Sebastian breathed heavily and looked down at Ciel with a smile, "There is no need to ask a servant anything. Please give me an order." Ciel ripped the knot off his eye patch and he shouted, "This is an order, Sebastian! Eradicate them!" Sebastian stood up and held out the oar, his fangs came out and his eyes turned blood-red as he glared at the undead with hatred, "Yes, my lord!" They rushed at them, trying to pull the boat down and Sebastian said, "It's going to get a little shaky." He slashed some of them away, the boat rocking back and forth, "So hold on to the boat!"
They came; wave after wave, trying to get to Ciel, and Sebastian destroyed the ones that came to close.
"How interesting..." Sebastian said as he saw one zombie pull the other down to get to Sebastian. He easily cut those two in half, and a malicious smile was on his face as he was covered in blood, "Humans will drag others down to get what they want, even in death. What truly insatiable creatures!"
~ASC~
Back at the life boats, they could hear Sebastian's shouting and fighting. "Wha...what're those voices...? What on earth is happening?" One of the stewards said.
"There might be survivors! Turn the boat around!" Edward shouted.
"We can't! It's too dangerous to move carelessly in this darkness! And what if those monsters are still there..."
"I'm scared!" A child cried as her mother held on to her.
"Smile..." Snake whispered.
Edward's grip tightened on Elizabeth's shoulder, "Ciel!" He grounded out.
A small boy looked into the dark water; his father had fought his way through the crowd to get his mother and him on the boat. His mother was crying in to the arms of another woman and he held back a sob. Something sparkly floated over to him and he reached out for it. He took it out of the water and saw it was a familiar black mask, with silver vines, "Mr. Matthew..." He said softly. He held the mask tightly, and he wondered if his father was still alive. Dad, please, please live. If you do, I'll play the piano for you someday!
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