Note: I honestly have no idea what's going on right now... I proofread everything a few weeks ago and since I'm on vaca I haven't had time to read through every chap. and see which chapter I'm on xD Oh well.
Ciel woke to the sound of Rose wailing desperately. Sebastian was still clawing at his back; it felt as if he were tracing something. A shape, maybe. Or a word.
"You're quite naïve at times, my lord," Sebastian said softly, digging his nails into Ciel's back. "But I suppose that's what happens when you love someone." He laughed softly, and Ciel opened his eyes.
Sebastian was still there, the same as he had been when Ciel had fallen asleep, but changing quickly. Ciel corrected himself harshly, that is not Sebastian.
Ciel scrambled away, trying to smother a surprised outburst.
"The time is up, my lord. You realize this, don't you?" The demon laughed softly, sitting up and stretching out his bony wings.
Ciel swallowed hard, closing his eyes desperately and trying to dispel the image of the demon and the sound of Rose crying. "It's just another nightmare," he told himself, though he was trembling terribly.
The demon stood, moving around the bed to come to where Ciel was sitting. "My lord, why so shaken? Are you feeling unwell?"
"It… It's just a dream… Sebastian wouldn't lie to me. You aren't Sebastian."
"I wouldn't be so sure." He brushed his hands – which were now more like talons – through Ciel's hair tenderly. Ciel, almost involuntarily, reached up and touched Sebastian's face. Though his skin looked smooth it felt dry and rough. He drew back sharply.
"I warned you that there would be alterations to the contract. Either way, demons are very good at twisting the truth around."
"But the note…"
"That was the original note. The one he showed you first wasn't."
"I'm not dreaming?"
The demon laughed softly. It was the same exact laugh as Sebastian's. "You are dreaming."
Ciel stared at him for a long time; the only sounds were Rose's crying and his own raspy breathing.
"So have you decided yet, my lord?"
Ciel thought for a moment. He had to be smart about this. "Tell me… If I'm dreaming, that means nothing in my waking world is affected by what happens here, correct?"
The demon smirked. "I suppose you'll have to just find out for yourself, now won't you?"
Ciel chewed his lip anxiously, something he didn't often do. "You… You are Sebastian."
"I am the being that takes the form of Sebastian when you are awake."
"Does… Does Sebastian love me?"
"Sebastian loves you very much, my lord. You are the only thing that matters to him."
"Sebastian is… you?"
"A form of me. A very docile form, I might add."
Ciel nodded. "I can see that."
The demon laughed.
"Sebastian… he said that I've made a demon human. Not that I've made him human."
"Ah… So you caught that, did you?" He chuckled, pressing his ice-cold lips to Ciel's shoulder, making him shudder. "Yes, I do love you, Ciel Phantomhive. I, the demon from Hell, not just Sebastian, the exceptional butler to the Phantmhives. Too bad for me you love Sebastian."
Ciel didn't respond to the icy kisses left on his shoulder. "I could never love a demon. Not a true demon, as the one who is before me now."
The demon growled, and somewhere in the room Rose cried louder. "That's just unacceptable, now isn't it?" His tongue flicked across Ciel's skin, and Ciel had to put a hand to his mouth to keep from moaning. "I'll be generous tonight, my lord. I'll give you more time. Find proof as to whether this dream world and the real world are connected, and find a way to pay me. But this is the last time I make any exceptions." He brought his head up and kissed Ciel's temple. "Otherwise…" He chuckled softly. "Otherwise I'll take matters into my own hands. And you don't want that, do you? And don't bring this up to me outside of the dreams again. Do you understand?"
Ciel nodded, closing his eyes. He knew when he next opened them he'd be out of the dream.
For now.
.
Everything was silent. Sebastian appeared to be asleep, but it wasn't fooling Ciel. By the sound of it Rose hadn't ever been awake.
Ciel shifted, sitting up and looking down on Sebastian, whose face was a pale circle in the blue dark. It was still night out, and none of the lanterns were lit.
Ciel, feeling a bit sick, reached over to get the candle and matches off of the nightstand. He struck the match and lit the candle, everything suddenly bathed in a warm golden glow. Sebastian's eyes flickered open as Ciel shook out the match.
"What are you doing awake at this time, my lord?" he asked, sitting up. "It must be nearly three in the morning.
Ciel started to speak, but cut off, examining the candle. It was wrong.
Sebastian, frowning, took the candle and set it back on the nightstand so he could pull Ciel against him. "Did you have another nightmare, my lord?"
Ciel wanted to push him away, but it seemed to have become an ability he did not possess. "You know very well what's wrong, Sebastian. Don't play dumb with me."
Sebastian laughed softly, and the hands on Ciel's back suddenly felt much firmer. Did you forget what I said already, my lord?
Ciel wanted to close his eyes, but was afraid that he might be thrown into another nightmare. So instead he focused on the candle's flickering flame, watching as yellow wax dripped down the sides.
Had Sebastian switched out the candles? He always had a thin white candle in the silver holder sitting there, but this one was different.
"Sebastian… did you change the candle?"
"I did. The other one went missing."
Ciel drew back from Sebastian. "What do you mean?"
"Yesterday when I went to light the candle it wasn't there."
That was all the proof he needed.
Note: Has anyone read Loveless? If I posted a Loveless fic how many of you would read it?