dreamgirl: True to my word, I updated the next day! ^_^ Even though I only got 2 reviews, I'm happy. At least it had lots of hits and visitors. Anyway, this is the beginning of the Ciel we all know and love. There will be limited fluff from here on out. Mostly angst, so don't tell me I didn't warn you!
disclaimer: Is this really necessary? I own nothing. There, happy?
quick note: As you may have noticed, I have begun to add quotes at the bottom of every other chapter. So there will be quotes in previous chapters that weren't there before. You can check them out if you like! ^_^
ENJOY!!!!
Chapter 8
"Tell me, Sebastian. Are you, by any chance, a sadist?"
It was a simple question, not that Ciel really meant anything. The young boy just had to know the answer, seeing as how his butler was treating him like a disposable toy.
"What would make you think so, my lord?" Sebastian said with not-so-hidden sarcasm attached.
Ciel glared at the demon, "Oh, I don't know, maybe because I'm TIED TO THE DESK!!!"
Sebastian gave a hoarse chuckle, "Not at all, young master. This is simply part of your training".
"Never have I said that this was to be included, Sebastian", Ciel said.
"Oh, but you see, you are quite wrong, my lord. You requested I teach you the demon ways, and so I shall. This is merely a lesson, and this is an obstacle. At least for you it is. Now, relax and try to concentrate on releasing yourself", Sebastian said.
"Okay", Ciel said as he closed his eyes and tried to pry his hands and legs from their current position.
After a few moments, a deep laughter was let loose within the room.
The laughter broke Ciel's concentration. "What the bloody hell is so funny, Sebastian?"
The butler had to wipe away tears from his eyes, "You are, my lord. I did not mean for you to take me so seriously".
Ciel pondered upon his words for a few seconds until he realized the demon's double-edged words: 'Concentrate on releasing yourself'.
Ciel was outraged, "You…You BASTARD!!! You said this was a lesson. Untie me this instant!"
Sebastian did no such thing, "But, my lord, this is your lesson. You should not trust a demon so easily. Or anyone for that matter. Because if you do…well, you will end up like this, young master. That is one of the vital laws, 'Trust no one'. Shall I teach you more, my lord?"
Ciel just stared in disbelief, "I swear to God, Sebastian, I'll have your head on a fucking platter. You hear me!? I order you to untie my wrists and ankles, now!"
"You really do not own a sense of humor, do you, young master?" Sebastian joked as he untied Ciel.
"And what, demons do? Bull-shit and you know it", the young earl said.
"Touché, my lord", the butler said as he settled Ciel onto the ground.
Ciel adjusted his clothes and said, "What other lessons do you have in mind, Sebastian?"
The demon titled his head, "You want to continue, milord?"
Ciel just stared at him, "Well, how else am I supposed to learn about demons?"
"Then, shall we?" Sebastian said directing his hand towards the door.
Ciel smirked, "We shall".
Walking towards…well, wherever Sebastian had in mind, an interesting conversation came up.
"My lord, may I ask you a question?" Sebastian innocently said.
"That is a question", Ciel snorted.
Sebastian ignored this, "Do you like pain?"
Ciel stopped dead in his tracks, "Excuse me? What are you implying?"
"Are you, perhaps, a masochist?" Sebastian titled his head.
The Phantomhive Earl stood there in disbelief, "What in the bloody hell are you talking about? Are you trying to get back at me for the sadist comment? Good God, Sebastian".
"Oh, not at all. I was simply asking. The young master seemed very enthusiastic about continuing the lessons".
"Of course, if not my lessons have to include actions such as these, then I am willing to go through. I have to be able to get my revenge no matter what the cost", Ciel said confidently.
"Yes, I suppose so. And so young master, we come to the second lesson", Sebastian stated.
"And what might that be?"
Ciel was actually very curious, they had walked through the halls of Phantomhive Manor and ended up at a door. He didn't really ask any questions, he just followed his butler wherever he went.
And then he suddenly realized, "Wait, isn't this your quarters, Sebastian?"
"Indeed, it is, my lord".
"Why are we here?"
Sebastian lit the candles in his room and motioned for his master to sit on the bed, "We are to have the remainder of your lessons here, young master".
Ciel sat down and felt as if he were sitting on the floor, "Why is your bed so hard? Doesn't your back hurt when you sleep here?"
Sebastian smiled as he brought over a chair and sat on it, "You forget, young master, I am not human. I do not require sleep, nor do I seek it. That bed is for mere show, milord".
"I see…"
A few silent moments passed before Sebastian confronted Ciel with a blackboard with writing on it.
"W-where did that come from?" Ciel asked.
"I just decided to own one just now, my lord. That aside, on this board is the list of things you must accomplish to actually meet the level of a demon", Sebastian said, allowing Ciel to clearly see the board.
"Aren't those…?" Ciel seemed hesitant.
"The Seven Deadly Sins: superbia, avarita, luxuria, invidia, gula, ira, and acedia. Most commonly known as: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony", the demon concluded.
"But those are Roman Catholic teachings; they cannot be correct", Ciel said.
"Ah, but you see, that in itself is a wrong belief. First, may I ask of what religion the young master belongs to?"
"I, honestly, do not know. I do not believe in anything or anyone, for that matter. Albeit, my parents converted to Protestantism when Queen Victoria did, so I guess I am of that religion", Ciel shrugged.
"And that is the problem. I do know, somewhat, of the various religions out there. Whereas Roman Catholics believe in SALIGIA, Protestants do not. They do exist, the seven Princes of Hell are proof of that, but that is for another time. You must practice these things to be as vile as I, and other demons", Sebastian explained.
Ciel was still in shock at the fact that the Catholics were right and by the fact that there were actual Princes of Hell.
"How very astonishing", the ten-year-old said with a deadpan voice.
"Now, first on the list is 'wrath'. I shall teach you how to divert your anger and vengefulness onto those who stand in your way".
"And how do you suggest I do that?" Ciel replied while swinging his legs back and forth.
Sebastian stood up and handed his master a metal contraption and walked towards the wall furthest from the bed.
Ciel looked down at what he had in his hand. A gun.
"Shoot me".
"Excusez-moi?" Ciel was so confused he began to speak in French. (1)
"Vous m'avez entendu. Dirigez le pistolet et tirez-moi", Sebastian fluently responded. (2)
"Why must I shoot you?" Ciel said reverting to English.
"Because this is part of your training, my lord. Your wrath needs to be awakened and put into practice. Now, believe I am the person who murdered your parents. Imagine I am the person who kept you as a prisoner. You hate me. You want to kill me", Sebastian used his tempting voice to drain out Ciel's anger and made him pull the trigger. Reverse psychology used to its proper use.
Sebastian barely even blinked before Ciel used both hands and pulled the flimsy trigger without hesitation.
The demon allowed himself to be shot mostly because he would not, or rather could not, die. One bullet cannot do any harm.
But Ciel kept shooting. Again. And again. And again.
The butler looked down at his clothes and felt deep regret for not having changed out of them. In a heartbeat, he dodged the next bullet and slid to the boy's side and retrieved the pistol from his young hands.
The blue-eyed boy was breathing heavily and his eye held anger within it. It was just a matter of time before the young boy collapsed onto his knees and his asthma began to act up again.
"Goddamn it!! Why am I so weak?" Ciel cursed.
Sebastian made no movement to help his master, just watched him as he clutched at his chest, "It is because you have no control. As I said before, you are a child, you do not yet know of the adult world. You may have suffered a great deal, but you have not experienced what many have. Anger, you certainly have, just not to the point where you have acted upon it. Concerning the other sins, wrath and pride are the only two you have had a slight taste of. You are weak because of your inexperience and insecurity. Your emotions run wild, yet do not go very far".
Ciel strived to calm himself down and slowly the pain in his lungs began to fade. He stood up and faced Sebastian. He reached for the gun and snatched it out of his hands. On a table nearby, there were bullets. Ciel grabbed them and snapped them into placed inside the pistol.
"Shall we continue?"
(1) Excuse me?
(2) You heard me. Point the gun and shoot me.
dreamgirl: This is basically where Ciel begins to change, although he said he already has, but this is the actual part where he is. I will update as soon as possible so PLEASE REVIEW (as I have stated before). I am aiming for 20 or more, so please help make that possible. Jusqu'à une autre heure!