A/N: If any of you people out there want specific pairings then please write them in your reviews! (I take boyxboy candidates as well!)
Warning: lets see, hmm...hints to Felix's job in the newspaper? Not much, maybe some mild language in the future.
Chapter 8: A Battle of Wits
"Proposition?"Felix raised an eyebrow. His face showed his intelligence on deal making, and by the tone in the young earl's voice...this deal would come with hidden agreements.
Sebastian looked at Ciel with a slightly annoyed expression. The child didnt acknowledge his butler's irritation and stepped forward with dignity.
"I won't ask any more questions about the writers, and I will not pry you for answers..."Ciel's eyes glinted with mischief,"But on one condition, Felix Nhell..."
Felix gulped and his eyes darted to Sebastian, surprise filtered itself through the demon's gaze, making the publisher all the more confused.
"That condition being...?"
"That you, starting the day after tomorrow, serve the Phantomhive household."
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"My lord..."
"What is it Sebastian?"
Ciel sat on the side of his bed as Sebastian adjusted the buttons of his master's night shirt. The demon gave an almost in audible sigh as he checked the boy over before leaning back on his bent knees.
"Not to question your judgment young master, but do you believe that your decision was wise?"
Ciel frowned and his gaze became that of an apathetic child.
"What do you mean?"Ciel snapped. Sebastian smirked and placed a gloved hand over his heart. (or where his heart was supposed to be.)
"He publishes for a supernatural newspaper my lord, considering our current situation we will have to tread carefully."
Ciel narrowed his eyes in defiance before smirking at his butler.
"Are you saying that you couldn't handle keeping our secret from a mere human? Getting clumsy are we?"
"Of course not my lord, I'm after all, one hell of a butler."
"You also saw the same letter as I, Sebastian."Ciel stated with a scoff,"He's obviously close to the writers. And he will more than likely take the deal."
"You are correct with both statements sir, but I believe that the real reason he'll accept this deal is in favor of his past occupation."Sebastian smirked and tucked his young lord into bed. His sheets pulled up to his neck and the boy unconsciously snuggled into them childishly, the butler's inner demon growled at the innocence of such an action and a want to swallow his soul rose again.
Ciel lay in bed, not dismissing Sebastian, as he thought of the letter:
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"Dear Brother Cain,
How are you doing? We heard about the ink shortage at the factory and you can trust that we will take care of it.
Has Michael been good to you? We know he can be a bit uptight for a working man, but knowing you, you have already seen and admired his good points. You two make great partners for this reason, and I'm sure he's making you publish the papers on time.
We heard that Kurt Bell caught a cold in September and wish for you to give our best wishes. He's a charming child that we enjoy to see roaming the streets of London.
Now to business I'm afraid, we are aware that you are currently in the manor of Ciel Phantomhive. As L has predicted, the Queen must've sent her watchdog out to snuff us out. Your job is to find what we have done to upset her majesty and resolve it as soon as possible.
Lastly, are you taking your required two hours of sleep every week? If not, you must do so because we are running out of your ideas. The Italian branch is in a frenzy for a story and they can't use their bloody imaginations to get the job done.
L and H know it's hard for you to have these dreams, but S thinks you can handle it. We believe in your courage and wits to pull through with this requirement, and it also gives you some rest.
We can promise you that the latest idea you've submitted shall not be used considering the circumstances. Do everything in your power to find the real reason the Queen is looking for us. H had a feeling that there's something more than just confirmation of material here. It's got L all wired up, you know how she gets.
We'll send a carriage that should arrive at the mansion in the morning. Protect Kurt until then.
We send all our love and life Brother Cain,
L, H, S. Demon's de Pendragon."
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"I'm curious about what they called him, Brother Cain. Is he not Felix Nhell?"Ciel furrowed his brows. Sebastian chuckled and set down the candles, seeing as in the boy wanted to strike up a conversation.
"I think it's either his birth-given name, or his nickname, both suggest he had a darker past than even Mr. Bell is probably aware."Sebastian mused and slid into a demonic grin,"Cain killed his brother and was banished from the garden of Eden, the first murderer, anyone who dared touch him would be cursed seven-fold. Some say that Cain was banished under God's love for him, he allowed nobody to touch him because God was the only one allowed to do so. Others claim God wanted Cain to feel a deep loneliness as punishment. What do you think is the truth my lord?"
"By how the story goes, God is either insane or cruel. I believe either is possible. Considering the cruel darkness that surrounds us all."
Sebastian smiled,"My lord, may I offer you a bedtime story?"
"Why would I want you to do such a childish action?"Ciel asked, but after a few moments of silence, gave a sigh and turned over to face Sebastian,"Well, go on with it."
The demon smiled before beginning his tale,"It's called the Story of Darkened Timbers, my lord..."
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Felix knew what his answer had to be. He knew that he would have to accept this proposition, though he knew that Ciel Phantomhive was more dangerous than any grown man out there. Why would he want him as a servant?
The publisher remembered the fine clothes he'd worn to dinner. He'd felt so much more pride in wearing them, it was almost giving a starving dog his bone. Except he wasn't a dog. He was a human being.
"Just do it Felix."a small voice grumbled from beneath the sheets.
The red-head jolted from the bed and landed on the floor comically. His sides hurt from the impact, but he strained to look up at his charge.
"You obviously miss your old job, I've known you since I was a baby Felix, did you think I wouldn't notice?"Kurt yawned and stretched his arms about him,"Your so jealous of that demon that I can see a green aura surrounding you. You wouldn't want his job, but you would want to serve a household again."
"Have you forgotten about the Choppy Enquirer?"
"Isn't this the best for the Choppy Enquirer? Think of all the information you could get from living with a demon and his contracter!"Kurt said excitedly,"And you'd get payed better!"
"That's what really matters to you isn't it, the richer I get, the more sweets you recieve..."Felix smirked at him knowingly. Kurt blushed indignantly.
"T-that is so not true!"
Felix chuckled before standing and sitting down on the bed once more. He looked longingly at the pillow and felt his eyes droop. Kurt smirked and laughed evilly.
"Finally! I shall see the great beast sleep!"
"Shut up kid, for once I'm actually tired."Felix sighed and flopped himself into the covers and curled inward on himself like a cat.
Kurt swore he mumbled."Bloody demons slipping me drugs...", but it could've been his imagination.
"Good night Felix."
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It was fairly chilly. I blinked open my eyes to see the tanned grass beneath my bare feet and my body warmed only by the sun. I knew where I was. I turned around to see the manor looming above me not too far off and I sighed in relief. Despite that this was just a dream, the travel from conscious to subconscious made me tired.
It was tall and had a surrounding garden littered with pure white roses and pruned trees and bushes. I could both hear and smell the fountain in the driveway. It was so peaceful, but not the mansion in London. I was near the so called 'home' manor. I heard whistleing and I was pleasantly surprised to see the gardener Finny roaming about. But I frowned as he approached the bushes. It saddened me that I was unable to speak in these dreams because I would have warned him not to grab them like that-...too late. Damn.
The blond man cried and wailed about Sebastian scolding him when they returned, and I realized that this was a dream of the recent past. I liked these kind because there was nothing for me to expect when I woke up, only information gathered. And most fascinating was the Phantomhive dreams.
I walked over to the blond mess. So the demon and his master were gone? What for?
"The young master is going to be upset with me! I know he is! Then he wont be nice to me anymore!"
'He was nice to you in the first place?' I thought and patted the man's head. He stopped crying and whirled around to see who was there and I chuckled inside.
I was happy to know that for once I could touch here. I would make...use of the servants 'abilities' to get back at that demon. This was the past, but I could still reak havoc to the demon butler whilst here. He would feel the ache in his side and remember the mess he cleaned up, that I caused. In the morning I shall laugh everytime I see his face.
"Finny! Would you mind helpin me with the suppa?" a low Austrailian accent called from the manor. I grinned evilly. Yes, this would be fun. It might leave me exhausted in the morning, but nothing compared to the butler.
I nudged the blond man as he stood up, urging him forward. He squealed and went on a rampage throught the bushes and to the manor, ripping up flowers, roots, trees, and the like.
"Bard! Theres a ghost! The mansion is haunted!"
" A g-ghost?" Mayrene's squeaky voice hollered from the house. Again, Felix wished he could talk.
"Bloody hell Finny! Dont scare us like that!"Bard growled,"I got a turkey in the oven for when the master returns!"
"A turkey?"Finny asked in glee. I followed them inside and my demonic smirk became wider. An explosive was lodged within the turkey, replacing what should've been stuffing, but this was so much better.
"Oooh! Goody goody! A fine turkey for the master!"
I watched every miscalculation they did. The oven heated to 500 degrees, the table ware set up on the wrong sides. The tinders of the fire place left to catch fire to paper nearby. The only thing that confused me in this dream was how Tanaka kept staring directly at me, as if the old man could see me. I shook it off as my own misconception and carried on. I knew how to make them scared out of their wits even more.
Walking to Ciel's office, I opened the door and to my delight found chairs of to the side, waiting for a certain demonic butler to come set them up no doubt. I experimentally picked up one of them. I was surprised to see the chair actually move at my will. Perhaps this was God's gift to me, was I born to torment a demon whilst asleep?
'Who am I to deny such a gift?' I thought with an internal cackle. I once more grabbed the mahogany chair and picked it up. I grinned to Tanaka who just laughed, as if knowing my plans, and ran out the door with it towards the other servants. A chair floating in mid-air and chasing them should be enough.
"Oh no! I ruined the garden again!"
"It's okay Finny, I'll help you fix it up before the master arrives-Ah! Finny look behind you!"
I walked steadily behind the gardener and held the chair above my head. With an evil cackle that didn't leave my lips, I ran towards them, enjoying their terrified screams like an unruly child. And so the day went on, giving me great ideas and great pleasure.
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Kurt looked down at his sleeping guardian with piqued interest. The vicious cackles and demonic smiles made Kurt slightly disturbed, but greatly pleased.
"Felix must be having a great dream."
A/N:Ha ha ha. If anyone knows Chapter 14 in the manga, you'll remember the slight picture at the beginning of the chapter where the servants are outside and the mansion is in ruins behind them when Sebastian and Ciel return from the Jack the Ripper case. R&R please!