CE: 25
A/N: Sorry for the delay! This laptop is really weird. It's just not the same! *weeps*
SubMe: *opens door, with suitcase in hand* I'm back- you're crying? *narrows eyes*
Me: *sniffs* Yeah.
SubMe:…Well See ya! *Turns and flees*
Disclaimer: *for all the past chapters* I do not own.
Word of the Chapter: Beamed
Chapter 25: A Reason to Stay3
"Interesting, I shall allow this duel! Agni, in the name of Kali the Goddess you cannot lose!" Soma smiled with pride he obviously had yet to truly earn.
The butler leaned into a perfect stance, something Felix wasn't expecting from the Indian man. Luna watched with disinterest while Hespera blatantly ignored it, she wasn't one for fights. Sol was right up front, watching the whole scene with Lau.
"Jo Ajna." Agni said.
Luna and Sol looked to Hespera for a translation. She sighed and drawled out the answer.
"As you command…"
"Ah." Luna nodded.
Kurt looked to Ciel, he'd never seen his friend so ticked off at one person in particular before. The look didn't really suit him. Ciel should always have a devilish air about him that was playful yet dark, a familiar smirk on his face so like his father's portrait that the Kurt had secretly discovered hidden away in the basement; away from the young earl's pain-stricken eyes. Kurt could understand, considering he'd burned every portrait of his father and covered every sign of his mother…the mother that he'd killed.
"Sebastian, this is an order! Silence that brat!" Ciel growled.
"Yes my lord." Sebastian smiled, confidence shining in his eyes.
Agni's were dark with severity. He was serious about doing as his prince ordered, not to mention if he lost, he'd be defying his Goddess's name.
"Now then," Sebastian brought up his saber in a defense position, signaling that Agni would be making the first move, "Please kindly go easy on me."
Felix rolled his eyes at Sebastian's comment. Really, he should go easy on the poor Indian man…
"Here I go!" Agni announced as he charged forward.
The publisher sighed as he prepared for Sebastian's gloating as he won the fight without much effort; it was obvious that Felix would be pummeled with Sebastian's overwhelming demonic pride. It was starting to irritate him really…
Once again the question came up: If he hated it here so much, then…why did he stay?
His thoughts were disrupted by Kurt's exclamation.
"Wow…!"
Felix looked up and his eyes widened. Agni blocked Sebastian's attack, and was managing to attempt many quick blows himself. They moved like lightning. Sebastian dodged again, his hair falling out of place, a drop of sweat on his neck, but Felix assumed he was the only one to catch it. The black butler aimed for Agni's head, Kurt jumped when the Indian butler dropped into a crouch to avoid the blow, before immediately coming back up to aim for Sebastian in the same place.
Ciel looked just as surprised, him and Kurt could be twins with how excited and wide their eyes were. Sebastian twisted out of the way, and Felix followed the movement with his surprisingly quick eyes; another mystery about himself brought to light by the strange happenings in the manor.
Sebastian brought back the saber to attack again, but Agni blocked it swiftly, his eyes never leaving his opponent's weapon. Felix jolted as he saw a slight glow in Sebastian's eyes, his pupils were diamonds; slits like a cat's eyes. They quickly reverted back before Agni saw. The black butler stepped forward again, his speed that of the creature he truly was. It seemed Sebastian wasn't going to hold back on the human before him.
That action led to Agni's mirror form, causing the two to perform the same attack towards each other's forehead. Kurt gasped and Felix's eyes widened as he saw them both bend backwards to avoid the hit. In the publisher's eyes it was almost beautiful, the grace and poise of the two men in battle, both with no desire to lose. They looked like dancers amidst their most attractive pose, or actors in the climax of their portrayal of someone's tale.
The scenic moment was broken as both drew back before going at it again. Soma looked on eagerly, obviously beaming with the thrill of the battle. Ciel looked on, astonished while the Coven kept straight faces. Felix looked thoughtful while Lau was looking like he was trying not to laugh.
"This is going to cost some money…" Sol murmured.
Felix stood up when he realized what was going to happen, Luna looked fully interested now, she was leaning forward a little in her seat while Hespera had turned to look with interest, but still dislike for the violence between comrades. The two sabers met; tip to tip as a wave of force vibrated around them all. It was amazing what power was beneath the skin of these two men. Felix caught the three idiots peeking out from behind the kitchen door, Mayrene flushing like a love struck ninny and Bard's masculine jaw taut with the intensity of the fight. Finny looked so bright and cheery that it lightened the situation a bit.
The sabers bent into arches, both weapons trying desperately to remain intact with the force flowing through them, but failing. There was a loud dual snap. Both front ends of the sabers flew up into the air, flying at least ten feet before clattering to the floor, snapping everyone out of their trance.
"Oh my…" Lau chuckled.
"The sword is broken…" Felix echoed the words going through everyone's head.
It was the face of Ciel that seemed the most surprised, though Kurt took an easy second. The ex-theif's right eye twitched with the shock of it all, and Felix was sure that if Kurt hadn't been speechless some foul language would've spewed from that mouth of his.
"This means that it will be impossible to compete anymore." Agni stated.
"So this match ends…as a draw?" Felix asked in awe, "A tie?"
"It's such a pity…" Lau pouted, Sol agreed, she'd betted on Sebastian.
It's actually a draw? But the opponent is Sebastian! That guy…Ciel thought as he looked towards Agni, Is on par with a demon!
"I'm impressed Ciel's butler! Seeing that you are so skilled, we shall stop for today." Soma grinned.
It sounds like he is allowing us to stop for today. Felix thought a bit angrily.
Soma was turning out to be a rude brat, thinking he owned the whole damn manor. He reminded Felix of Lord Greenwood's son, feeling entitled to everything he received. He bet that Soma thought he was gracious and wise, not the fool that everyone else saw him as…except Agni of course.
"What a royal pain in the arse…" Kurt murmured.
"No kidding." Felix found himself replying in a hushed tone before he could stop himself.
"Though I agree with you both, I should warn you not to voice your opinions too loud-" Ciel started.
"Earl Ciel! I'm sorry for just now. Does your arm still hurt?" Agni approached with worry in his tone.
Ciel shrunk back by Felix, "No…It doesn't…"
The young earl was obviously feeling a bit insecure about the man before him. Felix noticed this and gestured to Lau.
"Agni, I'm sure Lau would love to hear of your culture back in India. He could tell you some tales about Shanghai as well I'm sure."
"What a fine idea! I shall do so!" Agni smiled and walked over to the Chinese man.
Ciel looked up at Kurt's butler with a curious eyebrow, "How did you know Lau used to live in Shanghai?"
Felix smirked back, "I didn't, but it got him far away enough."
Sebastian walked over, obviously amused, Felix would've thought the demon's pride would be shook by this.
"Sebastian, what is he? Don't tell me it's "that kind" again…" Ciel sighed.
"What do you mean by "that kind"?" Kurt asked.
"…Death Gods…Shinigami as they are referred to in japanese culture." Sebastian explained, "But no my lord, he is human."
Kurt froze. The disgust in Ciel's voice had been from discussing shinigami? Discussing his own kind? He felt a little sick at the thought.
"Oh really…" Ciel sighed in relief.
It was short lived when Kurt and Ciel were both glomped by the over-excited Prince.
"Hey Kurt! We should compete too! Ciel can keep score!" Soma sang and dragged them away, leaving Sebastian and Felix temporarily alone in the corner.
"So are you sure he is a mortal Sebastian?" Felix readdressed the question.
Sebastian nodded, "He is just a normal human, however he possesses abilities that we do not have, that is what I presume."
"Sure it isn't just the fact that you were humiliated by a human?" Felix raised an eyebrow, "Sure the agility and all, but the Lady H can do that just as easily. It doesn't mean there are any special abilities behind that."
"I wasn't humiliated." Sebastian frowned.
"Sure, you didn't lose. But for you a tie is just as degrading." Felix smirked and walked off.
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Sebastian ignored Bard's childish complaints about not being able to "show-up" Agni when it came to cooking. His thoughts were with Felix at the moment, and how brave he'd gotten after the large writer of Indian heritage slit his throat. Perhaps there was a second reasoning to the woman's actions? Felix was starting to act more like "himself" or "Cain". Sebastian couldn't be too sure.
"Are you listening?" Bard hollered.
"Really now, can you please be quiet?" Sebastian sighed.
"Mr. Sebastian? I hope you don't mind the interruption." Agni poked his head in, grasping Sebastian's attention, "I was just thinking, if there was anything I could help you out with…"
"Mr. Agni, there is really no reason for you to-" Sebastian tried to tell him no out of courtesy.
"Two pairs of hands are always better than one! Feel free to order me around!" Agni smiled.
"In that case, may I trouble you with the preparation of the berry sauce for tonight's fish dish as well as the cottage pie?" Sebastian asked as Bard's jaw hit the floor.
"Sure!" Agni beamed.
Sebastian smiled and walked over to the drawer with his recipes in it. Felix didn't keep recipes, claiming that he didn't need to use them because he had to change the food up once in a while to serve Kurt's attitude that day or his health, but Sebastian knew that the publisher just hid them in his pockets.
"The recipe is placed here, we shall substitute the meat in the cottage pie with chicken." Sebastian smiled and explained, pointing out where things were.
"Thank you for being so thoughtful!" Agni beamed with gratitude.
"Hey! Why are you letting him help out and calling me a nuisance?" Bard growled.
"You'll just get in the way." Sebastian sighed as the chef clicked his tongue.
"I have other things to attend to, so try not to be a bother to Mr. Agni." He sighed before walking out.
Xxxcxxxcccxxxcxxxx
"Brat, listen we like you and all…but this is kind of our thing." Luna sighed as she felt Kurt's head peeking over her shoulder, "And what's with the horrid headpiece? Take it off!"
Kurt pouted, his bandanna placed where it should always be; on his head. The doors had been locked by Felix, Hespera and Sol had out-voted Luna in Kurt's favor when the young boy asked to stay and see the three write.
"It's not horrid! It's my bandanna, a signature of a strong man!" Kurt huffed.
"Then you should not wear such things, for you are anything but." Sol informed him as she scribbled down another masterpiece of the Choppy Enquirer.
"Hmph! What are you writing about?" He asked.
"We are discussing the so-called 'skinwalkers', the 'Yeti', and the 'Strigoi Vampire'." Hespera explained, "Each of us is assigned a topic based off of our own dreams or on dreams Brother has had."
"What's a skinwalker?"
"It's a man who can transform into animals by wearing their furs, but they tend to change into wolves and coyotes the most." Hespera told him and made creepy noises in a failed attempt to frighten the boy.
"I have the Yeti." Sol pointed out, "It's like big-foot in the Americas, but this new creature is becoming popular in Russia as well."
"The Strigoi Vampire is unlike other vampires. You can't kill it from merely a stake in the heart." Luna smirked, "They can change form, become invisible, and they have superstrength and super speed; all the weapons to kill their prey and suck the blood out of them. Brother, Felix I mean, had a dream about one a few months ago."
"Felix had a dream like that? What happened?" Kurt asked curiously.
"He was killed by a vampire in his dreams, the blood being sucked dry from him, he woke up when he ended up back by the 'GATE'." Sol told him.
"You shouldn't talk about the 'GATE' without Brother around, it's not right." Hespera scolded.
"You're right. I'm sorry." Sol nodded.
Luna scoffed, "I don't see what the big deal is. Felix should've told him already anyway, Kurt is like a son to him."
"I want to know…what's the 'GATE'?" Kurt asked, making weird quotations with his hands as he said the word 'gate'. They had said it so weird.
"Don't-" Hespera warned.
"The 'GATE' is what we refer to as the vision Felix has whenever he starts and finishes a dream or when he has flashbacks from his past." Luna ignored her sister.
"Felix told me that his past is locked away…" Kurt murmured.
"It is. Felix experienced something traumatic as a child. Though Felix says his parents disappeared when he was three and he got sent to an orphanage, there is a shadow of himself…no a second-self that's at the 'GATE'." Luna tried to explain this.
"It's really complicated." Sol sighed.
"I can't believe you guys are doing this. Trust is something important to all of us…" Hespera frowned.
"Bite me H." Luna snapped, "Anyway…this Second-self always calls Felix by his real name, Cain Summet, and tells him that he had a different past. A very different past that Felix locked away inside himself."
"This 'GATE' is the reason I think Brother should stay here at the Phantomhive Manor, you too of course." Hespera sighed.
"What does the 'GATE' have to do with Felix's reason for staying here?" Kurt asked, his brows furrowed.
"Because since he's entered this manor, the 'GATE' has finally begun to open, revealing to Felix what he truly is." Luna sighed.
"That's good…wait, did you say for what he truly is?" Kurt frowned, "Don't you mean who?"
"…" The three paused for a moment.
"…of course. My mistake." Luna smiled, and went back to writing.
A/N: Dun dun dun. Now we're getting somewhere! What is Felix? What happened in his past? Why am I asking you all so many questions while I'm hyped up on sugar at 10:22 PM?