Well here is Chapter 80, I know it's a long series so thanks for bearing with me. Things have gotten interesting again.
Chapter 80: A Whisper in the Darkness
Claude stepped out of his car as he went to his office; he had been called by the firm to clean out his office and was officially fired. The camera's flashed in his face as reporters attempted to rattle a statement out of him. The buzz of people sling questions at him an slandering him for something he never did. He was wearing a pair of black gloves and black sunglasses to hide his face. The letter weighted a ton of bricks; Canterbury had tied his letters in twine and handed them to William to give to Claude. A month had passed and Sebastian had established a system to handle Claude's mail, he threw it at the triplets. He didn't even catch a glimpse of his raven anymore, he was thrown away. "Faustus, why did you steal the funds?" called one young reporter. He was silent as he pushed through the sea of anger, "Sterling trusted you, why would you betray him?" called another. Claude closed his eyes, he hadn't betrayed Sterling, he lost the game. He was paying dearly for it, for attempting to protect Sebastian. "Is it true that Artistry's President has refused to continue using your firm?" Claude resisted the urge to lash out and scream he was innocent, no one would hear him. No one could him.
He could remember opening the letter in William and Ronald's flat, a long with several others. They had frozen his accounts, summoned him to court, he wasn't able to leave the country and had received tons of hate mail. On top of the letter which weighed more than he could bear, he was fired officially from the firm he had dedicated the last eleven years of his life to. "Tonoin Kei is rallying for your innocence, are you innocent?" asked another sharp voice. He finally reached the door, "No comment," he whispered before pushing the door open, thankfully the security guards kept the reporters out. "Thanks," he whispered after a moment, it took everything he had to stop his voice from breaking and falling to the floor in agony. His face was on every channel, his name slandered in every way possible and even now he could never hope to recover his reputation. Even his demonic contacts refused to get involved.
It was ten in the morning when Ronald handed Claude his mail. The blond shinigami looked exhausted; he had been working overtime to keep up with the new demands placed on him by Dispatch. William was late since he had to deal with a mishap with Grell. Claude picked up the golden letter opener and watched the shinigami walk into their bedroom, he had taken it upon himself to clean and cook for the pair. After all they were allowing him to stay with them. He sifted through the male and froze after seeing the all too familiar address of his employer, his name had been hand written on the front. His chest tightened as he slipped the blade under the lip and sliced it open with ease. He had hoped he would simply be asked to take a vacation, however, this letter was something else. He stared at the letter head, he couldn't breath as his eyes looked over the content.
Dear Mr. Claude Faustus,
You have served this firm for 11 years with excellent skill and clean record. However, in reaction to this incident, a number of partners including myself have made the decision to terminate your employment with us. We admire your skill and knowledge of the law as well as you previous wins in cases. Yet, this firm can not house someone who has broken the law, you may come Monday to clean out your office. You will be escorted by security both in and out of the building.
Please understand that this reflects poorly on not only you Faustus, but the entire firm. We wish you the best.
Sincerely,
Yorik Steinman
Senior Partner of Steinman and Hotchner
The letter slipped out of his fingers and fluttered to the floor, he had lost his job. It was over, "Faustus?" asked William with concern as he entered the apartment. Something in Claude died in that moment; he now realized that everything he had worked so hard for was gone, like smoke through a keyhole. "Claude?" called William again, this time there was more concern in his once stone cold voice. He hadn't moved, he didn't want to, nothing mattered now. He had lost it all. "I've lost everything," he whispered as he looked at the letter on the floor. William was silent as Claude opened another letter, this one was from an unfamiliar law office, his face twisted in agony, and he felt his rage bubble up from the bottom of his black soul. "We would like to inform you that Mr. Micahelis would like your name removed from the deed of Shadowpont," he read allowed, "As well as the rest of the estates in which you had joint ownership. Please submit a list of properties which you would like to keep. We will take these in consideration as we break up the estate in question." There was another from Sebastian's attorney, asking for him to be removed from the deed to Shadowpont. "Fuck," he hissed as he felt his heart being ripped out of his chest. "Why can't they just kill me? Why do I have to suffer?" he asked as he cradled his head in his hands. He scattered the rest of the mail on the floor and looked up at William.
"I'm losing everything, and now I may not have a chance to tell the truth. That I didn't do it," he choked. His throat burned and he honestly needed the knife to take his pain away. William's eyes widened as Claude looked at him, "What have I done, William? What do I do?" he asked, his voice was pleasing for someone to save him. Yet he knew William didn't possess that power. The shinigami looked at Claude and responded honestly, "Fight," he said slowly. Claude glared at him, his chest was aching again, "With what? I have nothing left! You are letting me stay here out of pity! Nothing else! Tell me what cards do I have left to play!" he shouted with irritation. Ronald was out of their room in moments, wide awake and looking at the pair with concern. His blond hair was a mess, and it was clear Claude had woken him. "I have no idea! You did this Claude! You thought you could win and now you lost big time!" responded William, his tone was cold and Claude looked at the Shinigami. He was right, he had been right since the auction, he should have never played this game. "I need air," said Claude slowly as he got up and walked toward the door. He didn't return until that evening, William and Ronald were in bed, it was clear that he wasn't wanted anywhere.
That same piece of paper from his employer now weighted a ton, "Mr. Faustus we were instructed to take you upstairs so you could clean out your office," stated one of the guards. The room which was filled with the chat of holiday plans and sports events fell silent at the mention of his name. he could feel everyone's eyes bore into him as though he had murdered someone. No that wasn't right he had killed Sterling, but Sterling was trying to kill Alex and his lover as well as himself. He was already paying for that, he nearly lost Sebastian. Now he was losing him, and there was nothing holding them together but their bond. Which was slowly getting looser, he tried his best to hold on, he was in so much pain. He couldn't just let go, it was all the hope he had left.
Claude followed the guards into the elevator and took a ride up to the floor he worked, his coworkers glared at him and whispered of what he had allegedly done. His name was already scraped off his office door, and he paused, it should have been blank. "Mister Bartholomew?" he asked in confusion as he read the name. He had never heard it, and he knew every attorney in his field, he had fought against them and won. He slowly walked into his office and his eyes widened, sitting behind his desk was a gentleman with ocean blue eyes, coffee brown hair and rather muscular. Golden eyes widened as he stared at the man, there was a teardrop mole on his left side, and his suit was tailored perfectly. "Richard Bartholomew, the new attorney, I was told to move in immediately, your stuff is in a box over there," he commented as he pointed to the box sitting on the white sofa. His books, photos, and other personal effects were sitting in it. "Don't worry I didn't take your stapler, Faustus," he jeered with a smirk. There was something familiar about this man, yet he couldn't place it.
"Thanks," whispered Claude as he picked up the white box, it amazed him that his entire career fit in a single white box. One box was all it took to carry his life out the door. It was amazing how now it occurred to him that all he owned was in it. He had lost everything else, "Well then I have to read up on all your accounts and such, I wish you luck," Richard said with a grin. Claude nodded and walked out of the office in silence, to begin his walk of shame. No one would shed a tear for him as he left, there would be no one to tell him they believed in him, he was alone and his life fit neatly in a white cardboard box. He walked into the foyer and paused, he had been escorted the entire way with guards on him, "Please spare me the humiliation, I want to leave through the back door." The guards looked at one another and then to Claude, "Sir, Mr. Steinman had specific orders to have you escorted out the front door of the building with your possessions," said one of them. Claude wasn't about to beg, yet he just couldn't walk out the front door, "Please, let me leave with what little dignity I have left," he pleaded. He wasn't ready to face the reporters that swarmed like sharks. The guards slowly looked at him sympathetically and then at one another. He knew they couldn't disobey, "Sir, we can't allow you out the back, however we can escort you to your car," said one of them slowly.
Claude looked at the man in a black suit and realized he was attempting to make it so they could shield him from the viewfinder of the cameras. He smiled a little and nodded, "Thanks. That would be a great deal of help." The guards nodded and looked at the box, "That's all of it?" asked one of them curiously. Claude simply nodded, he knew it wasn't much, however he also knew he wasn't wanted which made things all the more difficult. After he mustered up what he could he slipped his sunglasses on and prepared himself for the march out the door. "Ready when you are," said one of the guards gruffly. Claude nodded as the larger one of the two opened the door, and he was assaulted with flashes from cameras, there were even more reporters than before. Suddenly purgatory looked nicer than this.
Sebastian was leaning against one of the massive windows of his office, he was moving on, no matter how badly it hurt to cut Claude out of himself. The only thing left to sever was their bond, his left hand rested on the glass, and he looked at the platinum band around his ring finger. He had thought about taking it off a number of times, but part of him just couldn't do it. He couldn't throw out what was left of his lover, he was going to slice up the estate, give Claude his stuff back and had gone as far to change the locks not only on Shadowpont but every were else, including his office. He sighed as he felt another wave of pain smash into him, it wasn't his, it was Claude's. He could hear Claude pleading to be killed, yet he wouldn't bend. He was a prince and Claude was simply a powerful Mage. He wasn't going to bow, he couldn't it was time he played his proper role.
There was a faint knock on the door of Sebastian's office, he slowly turned his head and glanced over his shoulder. The office was different after the incident, there wasn't light left it was gloomy, yet their designs sang of glory and victory. He was earning contract after contract, his designers were altering the perceptions of advertising. "Sir, I have your mail," said the familiar voice of one of the triplets. His purple hair was still a little messy and he wore a light brown suit, "Thank you Canterbury, place it on the desk," he instructed as he turned his attention to the view outside his window. The demon crossed the floor and placed the pile of letters on his desk, with one note remaining in his hands. "There is a letter from Steinman and Hotchner Law Firm, addressed to you," he said. Sebastian perked up after hearing the name, he had requested to change attorneys after the incident, he considered it a clean break.
"I'll take it," he said as he held his hand out for the letter, Canterbury nodded and placed the letter in Sebastian's hand. Crimson eyes fell on the thick parchment envelope, it wasn't the official parchment of the firm, which confused him. He tore the letter open, his eyes were locked on the handwriting that sprawled across the page, it was elegant and demanded his attention. His lips parted and he stared at the contents of the page, Claude had been fired and his contract was given to his replacement, Richard Bartholomew, a new hire from Oxford. He sighed and tossed the letter on the desk, he shouldn't have cared that Claude was fired, but there was this ache in his chest, an emptiness which seemed to grow. "He was fired," breathed Sebastian as he fought tears which threatened to cripple him.
"Sir, he's on the news," Canterbury stated. Sebastian pivoted and stared at him, "It's probably just another piece of the case," he stated. Canterbury shook his head and turned on the flat panel hanging on the wall on the other side of the room. It was used for presenting commercials and such, he had the basic package installed in case of emergencies. The room was filled with the clamor of reporters, "Is it true that the President of Artistry, Sebastian Michaelis is your lover?" shouted a young woman, Sebastian's eyes widened as he spun around and looked at the screen. Claude was walking with a pair of security guards, escorting him out and a box in his hands. A pair of sunglasses resting on his nose, he looked paler than he usually was and somehow looked thinner. Claude halted and looked at the young woman, "Was, he was my lover," responded Claude. His voice was laced with agony which caused silence to sweep through the crowd. "If you're listening Sebastian, please know that I will always love you, even if you don't want me," he stated firmly. The press went wild as he made this statement and Sebastian gripped his desk to prevent himself from collapsing to the floor.
There was no way Claude still loved him, he was the one who had stolen from Sebastian. Claude was the reason his world was falling apart, "I push him away and yet he says he loved me," he whispered as he covered his eyes with a hand and stifled the urge to cry. He felt as though his life rode the ties, always shifting and nothing was stable. "Turn it off," said Sebastian after a moment. Canterbury was about to comply only to comment, "Sir, there's something I should," he began. Sebastian's red eyes narrowed and he roared, "Turn it off! I don't want to see this!"
"Claude Faustus?" asked another young man with a baseball cap on. Claude turned and looked at the young man, "You betrayed Sterling, die," he stated. There was a loud bang which shook through the air, the press panicked to move as the pair of guards attempted to find the shooter. Sebastian's eyes widened in terror as he watched what played out before him. His lips hung open after hearing the shot, it rang in his ears and echoed through his body. One camera man managed to keep an eye on Claude, the demon was clutching his side and bright red seeped through his fingers. His sunglasses fell on the ground and Sebastian stared in terror at the lifelessness in the man's eyes. He stumbled backward as he felt the pain rip through him. Claude was weak he could feel all the sadness, and darkness which was engulfing him. "He's been shot! Call a medic!" cried a number of people as Claude fall to his knees.
The shot seemed to ring through the office as Alex stared at the images on screen, she paled as Jodi asked, "Hey, isn't that the man who stole from Sebastian?" Alex ignored her and got up from her desk, her feet carried her to Sebastian's office and she stared at the mess of an employer before her. "I can't do this," whispered Sebastian, his eyes were locked on the screen. A number of medics swarmed Claude and pulled him off the street, he hung his head and shook with terror, she could tell he could feel all of Claude's pain. "Sebastian?" she asked after a moment. He looked at her sadly and hissed, "I've had enough," he breathed. He slipped his fingers around his ring finger, he didn't want to hear anymore, he couldn't bear to hear Claude's cries and pleading voice. "I can't do this," he whimpered as he caressed the silver band, "I've had enough," he whispered as he slipped the silver band off his finger. He shook his head and stopped himself before looking at Canterbury, "Find out which hospital he went to, I need to see him," he barked.
Canterbury disappeared quickly and Alex stared at him, Sebastian looked beyond conflicted. "I'm going out, finish your design," he said slowly as he went to walk away. The door opened again and Timber said, "Sir, Richard Bartholomew is here to see you." Sebastian grumbled and was about to tell him to leave when he was confronted with the man from the photos. Those ocean blue eyes pierced him, and he looked over at Alex, "Alexandra, please finish your design, I want to speak with," he paused and asked, "What was it again?" A smile curved his lips as he asked, he was feigning to be forgetful, however Alex could tell Sebastian was putting something together in his mind. "Mister Richard Bartholomew," he responded smoothly. Alex nodded before vanishing, she could feel the tension between the two and closed the glass door. A chill ran down her spine, suddenly the desire to call Kei came to her. She sighed as she pulled out her mobile, she could only hope that he would answer this time of day.