Note: Again with this. Whoopee. Anyway, I'm actually getting a chance to post this today! And thank you so much for the reviews, as well 3 Oh, before I forget, about the man in the previous chapter who Sebastian "interrogated": No, Sebastian did not kiss him or whatever. Ciel didn't ask to be shown, remember? I think it may become more apparent what happened to him in this chapter... but maybe not. Either way that, and anything else that may be confusing throughout the course of the story, will be sure to addressed at some point. And, last thing, the cover art is posted on my deviantART! So check that out (there's a link to my dA on my profile). Now, onto the story...
Ciel sat in his office taking notes of what had happened at the crime scene and what the victim's husband had said. It was dull work but it had to be done.
When there was a knock on the door he prayed it was Sebastian or Mey Rin coming to get him for dinner, but there was no such luck. Frances entered, a stern look on her face. Ciel quickly tucked away his papers.
"May I help you with something?" he asked, hoping he didn't sound as tired as he felt.
Frances didn't hesitate. "Where were you really today?" she asked.
Ciel frowned. "I was out shopping for Elizabeth's present, just as I said before."
"Oh? You're lying, Ciel."
"What-"
"Explain the bruises on your neck, then. And the blood on your butler's gloves."
Ciel silently cursed himself. He never even imagined that Sebastian might've left marks on his skin. And blood…? How had he not noticed?
He went out on a limb, trying to evade the bruises. "I didn't intend to tell you of this as to not worry Elizabeth… However, the queen recently sent me a letter regarding the murders of young women. Sebastian and I were out investigating, and he probably stained his gloves while we were at the victim's house. There was an awful lot of blood."
"Don't lie to me, Earl!" Frances hissed. "You're lying to me again!"
Ciel pressed his lips together in a thin line, trying hard to contain his irritation. "Where else could I have been?"
"You were out at a brothel of some sort, weren't you?" she accused, and Ciel was a bit taken aback. He hadn't expected this.
"What? Of course not! I'm shocked that you think so lowly of me."
"Prove me wrong, then!"
"I have the queen's letter right here," he said, rummaging through the papers on his desk. When he didn't see it, he started to panic.
Then he remembered – Sebastian had it. They'd taken it with them to gain entry to the victim's house.
Damn it…
"If you would let me call Sebastian, then he can-"
"He's your butler! He would defend you either way."
It was true. Ciel found himself out of arguments.
The look on Frances's face was something between disgust and triumph. "I'll keep this between us as long as it doesn't happen again – for Elizabeth's sake. But you must promise that this won't repeat, otherwise I won't be so lenient."
Ciel scowled. "There's no need for me to promise it won't happen again, because it never happened in the first place."
Frances, though obviously upset, accepted this. She excused herself and left in a huff.
.
Dinner was a silent staring contest between Frances and Ciel. Elizabeth tried desperately to start a conversation, but was always sorely disappointed. Alexis, as always, didn't seem to notice much going on around him.
Ciel was barely finished eating when he excused himself, saying that he was exhausted from his day in London and needed to go to bed early. Sebastian followed him out of the dining room after muttering quick orders to Mey Rin, who nodded frantically as she always did.
Ciel sat, silently brooding, as Sebastian changed him into his nightclothes. Ciel found a sanctuary in the demon's crimson eyes, wanting desperately to run his fingers through Sebastian's hair.
After the last button on his shirt was fastened Sebastian moved to kiss him, his soft mouth just a centimeter away from Ciel's. "You seem a bit distressed tonight – is everything alright?"
Ciel closed his eyes, focusing on keeping his hands at his sides as he recounted his conversation with Frances.
Sebastian barely gave him time to finish. "It seems," he whispered, his lips lightly brushing Ciel's, "that we will have to be a bit more cautious next time."
Ciel called on the one part of his mind that hadn't been completed tainted by his feelings for Sebastian, somehow finding the strength to push him away. "There won't be a next time," he said harshly.
"And why would that be?" Sebastian asked, sounding all too innocent.
Ciel scowled, forcing himself to look away. "You know why."
Sebastian chuckled softly, amused by Ciel's stubbornness. "I don't love you."
Ciel's face felt hot and he was sure he had turned a bright shade of red by now.
Sebastian pressed Ciel down onto the bed, hovering over him. "I wish I could say I knew what it felt like to be in love with someone who didn't return your feelings, but I cannot lie," he whispered, his breath fluttering across Ciel's skin teasingly.
Ciel wanted so, so desperately to shove him away, to tell him to get out and stay away, but couldn't find it in him. He lied there unmoving under the demon.
Sebastian pressed his lips against Ciel's ear. "All it takes is an order. I can become anyone or anything that you want me to."
"But then it's not real," Ciel said, though his fight was slowly fading. "If it's only because of an order… it's not really love. It's just an act."
"Mmh… You're quite smart, aren't you?" Sebastian laughed airily, and it tickled Ciel's skin, making him squirm. "But obviously not smart enough. You may not be able to make a demon love you, but you can make Sebastian love you. And because at the moment I am Sebastian, I will love you. Genuinely."
Ciel closed his eyes. "Get off of me," he said softly. Sebastian didn't hesitate to move away. Ciel sat up a bit shakily. "Stay here tonight," he whispered. "Please. Just… stand there. Don't leave me."
Sebastian's eyes flashed. "I would never think to do that. I will never leave you, my lord. And I never lie.
Ciel took a deep breath. "I should hope not."
Note: Any thoughts? Remember, the next chapter will be posted sooner than Friday if I get enough reviews!