Chapter 1 - - - - -Meeting
Deep in the darkest part of London's slums, there was a certain door that seemed to be covered in cobwebs, a door that seemed to never have been opened since the day it was placed there. However, people do use that door, people who know what lies behind it. People connected to the underground world, people know how the existence of demons, angels, and other mythical creatures, who have business to share and exchange with others searching for it, enter the door everyday in secrete. This place is a secrete haven for demons as well, not so much for angels and grim reapers. Demons from all around England come to this spot to gather information regarding on anything of Hell, a possible revolt, or anything else of interest. This place has been nicknamed The Room.
The Queen has asked Ciel to find the reason why there has been a rise in crime in the slums, why people have been mysteriously dying for no real cause of death or link to a murderer. His first stop on his new assignment was Undertaker, but he had no information to give, but suggested The Room as an alternative. Of course, Ciel followed the trail and, with Sebastian, sat in The Room just staring at the others with them. They listened intently to what was being said around them, trying to pick up any clues.
Ciel sat at a table located in the back with Sebastian standing next to him like the watch dog he is. The Room was dark and dull, and had a stale smell of something rotting in the air. There were a few other people in the room, murmuring among themselves in another language not of this Earth, occasionally catching a glimpse of the the young Earl who was staring back. Some gave odd looks to him, hoping to scare him away, but nothing seemed to work as he sat their stone faced.
"Young master." Sebastian said in a low voice, bending over to the sitting down Earl. "What exactly do you plan on learning here if you're just sitting around?" He asked with a faint smirk on his face.
"Undertaker suggested that we go here to learn about our case, and I am intently listening upon everyone's conversations, despite the different language, for any clues for a step forward and a way out of here." Ciel responded coldly.
Sebastian chuckled and stood up straight. "Perhaps your plan is rather useless here." He said.
"Explain."
"You see, the only human in this place right now is you, Young Master. So they wont be saying anything of interest until you have gone." He explained, taking a step back and pointed to a door. "If you intend on gathering any useful information, I suggest going through that door and asking yourself." He finished with another smirk.
Ciel turned his hand and looked at him. "And why would I do that?"
"I've been to this place a few times in the past before my contract with you, and I know how this location works for ones advantage." He replied. "Behind that door is someone of interest who knows every supernatural creatures that walks this Earth. He is a good source of information but it comes at a costly price." He finished.
Ciel took a moment for the information to sink in. It was a tempting offer to go through the door, but he had nothing of true value to a demon to offer in exchange for the person. "What exactly does this person want for an exchange?" He asked, standing up.
Sebastian smiled with darker intentions. "You'll have to ask him yourself."
Ciel said no more and left his spot, walking over to the door with Sebastian following behind. The other creatures in the room sat silenced as they watched the young Earl and his demonic companion walk towards the door that lead to London's most powerful creature.
Sebastian opened the door for his young master, allowing him to pass through before he did. Beyond the door was a darkened room that had a small scent of decaying flesh, blood, and roses hung in the air. Once Sebastian closed the door, everything fell silent, almost deafening.
"Is someone in here?" Ciel asked the darkness. Moments passed before a sound was heard, the sound of the floors creaking with the weight of someone's body pushing against it. "I understand that you have information that could be useful to me. "He said.
"What do you have to give?" A raspy voice asked.
"What do you want?" Ciel responded.
Another long moment of silence followed before a candle flickered on, illuminating the room with its faint glow. The raspy voiced man stood next to large chair that seemed to be facing the other way. The man walked closer to the young Earl, revealing his features as an old man well beyond his years of life. No hair, glazed over eyes, and skin that drooped off of his bones. He wore a long gray robe that covered his entire body, a robe that looked like it hadn't been washed since the day it was made.
Ciel stood his ground as the man drew closer to him, showing no signs of weakness or fear, just the same blank expression of a prideful Earl. But the man wasn't heading towards the Earl, no. His interest lies within the black clad companion he had behind him. "What a surprise to see you here..." The man said with a faint chuckle.
"Indeed it has, but I am not here for my own intentions." Sebastian replied with a serious exterior.
The old man looked at the young Earl in somewhat disgust. "Very well then." He said, walking back over to the large chair. "You've come here in search of information regarding the unexplainable deaths that have been occurring in this area, no?" The man said, his back towards the two.
"That is correct. I'm here on orders by the Queen herself to resolve this matter." Ciel responded.
"In exchange for my knowledge, you must give me your knowledge in return." The old man said, slowly turning around.
"What are you searching to know?" Ciel asked.
"In a time long since before your birth, there lived a legendary family who hailed from the frozen wasteland of Russia." The old man started to explain. "But over time, the family fell apart and were slowly killed off by opposing enemies. Only two have managed to survive but their wearabouts are unknown." He finished.
"And by telling me this story, you hope to achieve any information I might have on the whereabouts of these survivors?" Ciel asked, quick to the point.
"Why would I ask that from a human who doesn't even know the family's name?" The man threw back. "I was asking your friend there, since he is more knowledgeable on this subject than you ever will be." He snarled.
Ciel didn't take to well with that response but he was right regardless. He moved his head to look at Sebastian, giving him the okay to respond to the old mans babbling.
"You are speaking of the Vladimir's, correct?" Sebastian asked, stepping forward, passed his Young Master.
The old man nodded his head. "I cant speak much on this subject, but any and all clues or information you may have on the Vladimir's will be enough payment for my knowledge for you." He said.
"I do not know much about them, just the basics of which every demon is aware. Their legacy, strength, and connections to the King himself." Sebastian replied, trying to remember his days in Hell a long long time ago.
"So you know nothing of worth?" The old man hissed. "Not even where any of their locations may be or where you last spotted them?" With each question asked, the tone in his voice became more tensed and annoyed by the demon.
Sebastian grew suspicious of the old man with each passing second. With one look, he could already tell that this being was a human who managed to escape death multiple times. "Why would you need to know about these survivors?" Sebastian questioned.
The man grew silent as his anger rose. "Watch your tongue." He hissed.
Sebastian merely smirked. "Only my Young Master can tell me what to do." He said, teasing the old man. "Seeing how we do not have the knowledge you want for an exchange, we are rather useless to you now." He said.
"This was just a waste of time. Lets go Sebastian." Ciel said, turning around and headed for the door. Without a word, Sebastian followed his master, opening the door for him once again, allowing him to pass through first.
But before Ciel or Sebastian could pass through, a tall figure stood in their way on the opposite side of the doorway, blocking their exit. He was tall and slender with long black hair that was held in place by a pony tail. He wore dark glasses to cover his eyes but his ears were pointed like that of an elf with a blue hoop earring on his left ear. He wore a long trench coat that covered his entire body but was snug around his arms, shoulders, and torso.
Ciel was about to demand the darkly clad man to move but Sebastian covered his mouth before he could speak. Instead, he pulled his Young Master aside to allow the strange man through first.
The man seemed to look at Sebastian but no one could tell through his dark glasses who exactly he was staring at. But he moved forward through the door way, passed Ciel and Sebastian and got up close to the old man. He need not to have said a word before the old man started to quiver where he was standing.
"H-how did y-you find me?" The man stuttered, trying to keep his composure.
The stranger turned around and looked towards Ciel and Sebastian, possibly ushering them to leave. As Ciel tried to move forward, Sebastian stopped him once again, pulling him back into the room and closing the door behind him.
"Sebastian, let me leave this forsaken place. I have no more use for being here." Ciel growled.
"Forgive me my Lord, but I've been told not to leave." He responded, not looking down at his master.
Ciel stood there rather puzzled but turned around to the two others that stood behind him. The stranger seemed to have put his attention back at the old man who seemed to have a great fear for this one cloaked in black. Ciel just watched intently as to what was going to unwrap before him.
"I k-k-know why your here, s-sir. But please let me explain!" The old man pleaded with a whimpering voice. The stranger grabbed the old mans neck and lifted him off the ground, slowly choking him. "Please, I beg for your forgiveness!" He cried.
"You...are scum." The man in black murmured. The sound of bones cracking could be heard as he crushed the old one's neck until he died. Silence fell upon the room after a loud thud could be heard from the lifeless body falling to the ground.
Ciel was shocked at what he witnessed before his eyes and starting to think that this stranger in front of him could be a key suspect to the crimes in this area he was sent to clean up. "You there, what business do you have here!" He said, taking a step forward.
The stranger didn't respond but turned around and faced the two. He towered over Ciel and was even taller than Sebastian by a few inches. He looked down at the boy with disgust. He lifted his hand up to take his darkened shades off to reveal his dark amethyst eyes with cat-like slits for pupils. He put his attention toward Sebastian as the demon butler got to his knee's and bowed before the cat-eyed stranger. Ciel couldn't believe what he was doing, Sebastian was doing a jester that he only did to those of higher authority to him such as his master or Madame Red.
"Do forgive my Young Master for his rudeness. He is unaware of who you are thus thinks of you as nothing." Sebastian said with remorse.
The stranger sighed. "You have no need to show that kind of respect around me." He replied, putting his shades in his coat pocket. "I am not who you think I am anymore." He added.
Sebastian stood up immediately, as if following an order. Ciel stood there, lost. He had no idea what those two were talking about but he intended on finding out. "Who are you? Tell me your name right now." Ciel ordered.
The stranger sighed as he turned around, facing his back to theirs. "I am merely a demon who goes by the name of Belial now." He responded in shame.
"Well Belial, you will explain to me why you have just slain an innocent man." Ciel ordered, stomping his foot.
Belial paused before answering. "Not here..."
"And why not?" Ciel questioned.
Another pause. "This place isn't safe for me. The walls have ears." He replied, walking past the large chair to another door that lay hidden in the shadows. "Follow me if you want your answers and to solve your case." He said.
Ciel looked at Sebastian with disagreement but followed Belial anyway with his butler following behind him like his shadow. If he had the answers or any clues to the Queen's case then he would follow this demon until he got every good use out of him. He was just another pawn in his game of advancing forward and he would remove him from play when he was no longer needed, just like all the others.
Authors Note:
Alright, this is the first chapter. Not bad, right?
Reviews would be appreciated~