Warning: There is some slight violence in this chapter

My chest aches, it's tight and constricting around my heart and I stagger over to the desk. I brace myself against it and my nails dig into the wood as I pant, trying to catch my breath. My mind is whirling and for the first time in my career – I don't know what to do.

I've lost him.

I cast my eyes across the desk and I can tell that the blood is still fresh, so they can't have gone far. It's a long shot but maybe he's still somewhere in the house.

I frantically comb, scour and search up and down the manor but he is nowhere to be seen. Where could he have gone? Maybe they've taken him somewhere outside? I quickly rush to the back, going through the kitchen and out the rear door as I cast my eyes across the field in the back but there is nothing.

"Is everything all right Sebastian?" Finnian asks me from behind. I turn to him and see his bright eyes look up at me. I don't reply straight away, as I don't wish to raise any suspicions or alarm. Instead, I plaster on a smile and nod my head.

"Everything is fine Finnian, the garden is looking very well these days."

"Oh, thank you!"

"You haven't happened to have seen the young master out here, have you?"

"The young master? No, I haven't seen him."

"Splendid." I grin and turn to walk back into the manor.

An hour has passed and he's not in the house nor is he anywhere outside, I am officially worried but I also have guests to attend to and they mustn't know that their host has completely disappeared. Especially as these guests are heads of gangs that wouldn't mind hearing news that something has happened to Ciel.

As I stride down the hall, I can hear the shuffle of footsteps following close behind me.

"Sebastian!" Mey-Rin calls out as she pads down the hall after me. I stop and turn to see her barreling towards me with something flashing in her hand. "Mr. Sebastian wait!"

"What is it Mey-Rin?"

"Your mobile is ringing."

"My mobile?" I blurt out. Considering that I just got that phone and I, as Sebastian Michaelis, don't really exist, this confuses me, especially as no one else knows my number. She nods her head and hands me my phone. I look at the caller ID and it's from Ciel, it seems that he's trying to video phone me.

"Thank you Mey-Rin, can you give me a moment?" I ask her and she nods again, turning on her heels and going back down the hall. I slide my thumb across the glass surface to answer the call and I hold it in front of my face. The screen is black as though someone is covering the camera but I can hear breathing. "Young master, where are you? Are you all right?"

"We've taken the boy." States a familiar voice on the other end with a dry chuckle.

"What do you want with him?"

"It's simple. We want control of the West."

Azzurro.

He must have taken him when I went into the kitchen to prepare the tea. When I get my hands on him, he'll wish he never crossed me.

"And if he doesn't grant it?" I ask.

"If he can't grant that then we'll hand him over to the Syndicate, they've already given us a very good offer."

"Let me see him."

"Fine."

He uncovers the phone and flips the camera around so I can I see him. He's bound tightly and lying on his side with his back to them. He doesn't move, not even a muscle twitch, he's so still that I can't tell if he's even breathing. All I can see is that his head is lying in a small pool of blood. I swallow hard to choke down the bile that is rising in my throat, as the sight of him like this is making me sick. However, I must remain completely calm, I haven't forgotten what he said to me.

"If you don't get this little cocksucker to comply to our request, we'll end him." He threatens.

"I'm sorry but I only obey my masters' orders and if he doesn't wish to comply, he doesn't comply."

"How can you dare to be so cavalier with his life like this?" He asks and I ignore him.

"Well young master, what do you want me to do?"

"Why are you asking him when I have the power here?"

"Oh? You think so?" I smirk. "Come now master – your orders."

The room goes silent as we wait for Ciel to say something, anything, but he doesn't reply, an empty gesture that causes Azzurro to roar with laughter.

"You see? Your master is in no position to do anything." He chortles and then starts to quiet down as his amusement with himself starts to fade.

Azzurro turns the camera towards his face, as the room is quiet again. His lips part as he readies himself to speak again but there is the faint sound of rustling fabric from behind him.

"Woof." We both hear Ciel utter and I know that it's my cue.

"Very well master, I'll come get you immediately."

I can see a slightly terrified look cross over Azzurros' face just before he starts to chuckle to defuse his fear.

"Come get him? How? You don't even know where we are!" He muses and I hang up on him, I don't have time to fuck about with this game anymore. Gripping the mobile tightly in my hand, I think about my next steps and it comes to me, there is someone I need to see.

"Mey-Rin!" I call out as I start to march back down the hallway towards the kitchen. "Mey-Rin!" I holler again as I look around for her. She pokes her head out of the doorway and adjusts her glasses.

"Yes?" She replies politely.

"I need to leave on a quick errand can you please ensure that our guests are taken care of for the rest of the afternoon?" I instruct as she looks at me blankly.

"Y-yes, of course but-"

"I won't be long." I interrupt with a smile before I turn and storm back down the hallway.

Rounding the corner, I march into my room and throw open the doors to my wardrobe. Crouching down, I reach behind the back and pull out a large black duffle bag. As I wrestle it down to the ground I look for the zipper, smiling as I pull it back, reveling what is hidden underneath.

Ah, how I've missed you – my arsenal.

A twinge of excitement races through me, and my pulse starts to rise as I run my fingers over the cold steel of each barrel. I don't know which one I'm going to use yet but I'm more than eager to decide. No, actually, the decision is simple; for something like this, I know I'm going to use my trusty Colt .45. Selecting it and a fist full of magazines, I toss them onto the bed. As I stand, I get another vest from a hanger and set it down next to them. I quickly take off the one I'm wearing and I slip this on, fastening it into place. It's much thicker and heavier than other but of course, it serves a purpose.

Once I've finished with that, I grab my black double breasted trench coat from off of the hook at the back of the door. There are concealed pockets in this coat that can hide my kit and allow for easy access to them. I slide my coat on over my shoulders, button it and grab the keys to the car off of the dresser.

I'm ready.

…

I arrive at my first destination after racing through the busy streets of London.

There is only one person I know who may have some idea as to where Ciel is being kept.

Going into the building, I look around – it's quiet and empty, not that this place is ever full to the rafters but there seems to be a haunting silence that has come over it. I walk to the middle of the room and look around, there doesn't appear to be anyone here.

"Undertaker!" I shout but there is nothing. "Undertaker!" I try again.

"Now, now, kitty – there's no need to shout." He responds from behind a curtained doorway. Long slender fingers push them back as he appears from behind.

"Where is he?" I demand, well, this wasn't a social visit after all.

"Where is who?"

"Ciel, the Ferro family took him."

Undertaker leans against the doorway and folds his arms across his chest.

"Oh dear kitty, looks like you fucked up." He teases.

"Excuse me?"

"It seems you didn't heed my warning from earlier. I did tell you to watch him, didn't I?"

"Cut the shit Undertaker and tell me where he is."

"Now that would be telling, wouldn't it?" He winks.

I lunge at him, grabbing him roughly by the collar and thrusting him against a coffin-lined wall. He chuckles at me and taps the tops of my hands with his fingertips.

"You would be wise to let me go or else you won't get anything from me." He says sharply. I ease my grip on him but I still hold him firmly. "I warned you to watch him and what happened?"

"Please." I breathe out, I am loathed to show this man any weakness but unfortunately for me, Ciel is my weakness. "Please, I need to know where he is. If you know something-"

"Luckily for you, I do know where he is." He sings.

"Then tell me." I sigh as I release him.

He straightens up and pulls down his vest. He smiles at me as he over exaggerates the motion of dusting off the tops of his shoulders.

"He's being held in a storage facility off of the Old Kent Road but it's heavily guarded."

"It's fine, I've come prepared."

"I don't think knives and forks will cut it like last time."

"Maybe not but I have other weapons at my disposal." I shrug.

"You'd better hurry kitty, the syndicate have already put a price on his head and there's no telling what they will do to him if the Ferro family hand him over." He warns with a grin.

"Just who are the Syndicate? Surely you must know who they are."

"Alas, I do not. All I know is that they are powerful. Very powerful"

"Who's in it?"

He shrugs as he walks over to the table in the middle of the room. "No one really knows." He replies as he inhales the perfume of the white lilies in the vase on the table.

"So it could be anyone?" He nods, "You could even be a part of it."

He shakes his head as he giggles. "No, no, I'm far too loyal to the boy to align myself with them. Not that I've been asked, mind."

"How do I find them?"

"You don't, they usually find you. But in this instance, this may be of help." He hands me a scrap of paper with a postcode scribbled on it.

I want say something more but I'm running out of time, I need to get to Ciel.

"Thank you for your help Undertaker."

"You're most welcome kitty." He giggles as I start to leave the room. "Until next time."

…

After plugging the postcode into the GPS, I make it to the warehouse just off of the Old Kent Road in South East London.

I park the car around the back and wander over to the site. I can see that it isn't guarded on the outside, which is perfect for me; however, it means that whatever isn't on the outside, is on the inside. I quickly assess the area, there are a lot of industrial warehouses around and it would be easy for me to sneak in but finding exactly where he's being kept will be tricky.

I spy a rickety metal staircase leading up to a door, along the back. Going over to it, I tentatively climb up the steps and crack open the door to look in. There are several guards just below, I know I may not make it in unheard but I can try to be unseen. I slip though the sliver in the door and softly close it behind me. Keeping my back to the wall and elevating to the balls of my feet, I slide along the wall aiming to stay in the shadows caused by the dimly lit florescent lamps from above.

My toes mutely tap down on the metal grating of the landing as I glide across. I keep my cool as I move to the end of the wall and glance down; there are five of them, just standing around. Reaching back and pulling out my gun, I dip into my right side pocket and bring out a long cylinder silencer. I carefully screw the attachment on to the barrel of my gun and bend forward.

Tick follows tock follows tick follows tock.

Tick.

I scan the room and see that the five are guarding a door. This place is big, so logically that door must lead to another hallway. Fine, then I need to get behind that door. I crouch down and lay out on the cold metal, trying to make myself flat as I slow my breathing and take my aim. I point at the first guy and pull the trigger. One, two, three, four and five shots fired rapidly into the backs of their heads and they each fall to the ground like dominos. Getting up, I quickly run down the stairs and over to the door they were protecting, opening it, I look around and it is swarming, there must be at least fifteen or twenty of them. There is no way I could shoot all of these men in one go. What to do, what to do? Oh fuck it; let's just go for it.

Tock.

I sprint into the room and grab the head of the first man in front of me, turning it to the side sharply, breaking his neck. He goes limp and I use his lifeless body as a shield as I rush the room, barreling into three others, sending them crashing down. Aiming, I pull my trigger and chuckle to myself as the blood splatters all over the floor.

Shots are fired and bullets ricochet off of the steel bars that encase the room.

Tick.

I duck down, quickly running along the side of the wall, weaving in and out of the gathering mass of men. Taking a shot, I hit someone straight through the temple causing blood to spray over everything.

As I fight, I can't help but enjoy myself, I'm in my element.

This is what I was built for – what I was created to do. I never mind the hunt but it's the kill I love. The care I take in selecting my weapon, loading my gun, taking aim and discharging it into someone's skull. Watching as the bullet blunts and detonates into the body, the breaking and shattering of bones – that sound they make when they do. I love it all, including the artful and glorious patterns the blood makes as it hits the air and disseminates, scattering droplets everywhere like rain. Then there is the smell, death has a particular scent – I would describe it as rich, potent iron, musk and maraschino cherries. It lingers in the air like a warm summer breeze on a hot day, just wafting around you.

With every move I make and every swipe I take, it's almost as though I am outside of myself, I am just completely taken over by my instinct and it's powerful – I am powerful. I don't feel invincible, no, I feel pain just like anyone but my endorphins run so high that in this moment, I can't feel a thing.

Tock.

My right arm launches forward as I punch someone square in the jaw, his head snaps back and he lands to the ground. I slam my foot down on his head, shattering his skull all over the concrete. I am not afraid of anything and I am strong. I don't feel guilt or sadness, just an all-encompassing bloodlust that takes over me as I tackle someone to the ground and fire two direct shots into his forehead.

Finally, I stand to my feet and I am facing in front of one remaining man. His whole body quakes with fear as he holds his gun towards my chest. Mine is lowered towards the ground as I pant slightly, trying to catch my breath but I smile at him, it's a reassuring, albeit, false smile, which seems to unnerve him.

"Let's play a little game." I suggest casually. He doesn't reply, he just stands there, quivering like a leaf in the wind. "All right, I'll go first then." Raising my gun slightly, I shoot him in the shin, blowing a chunk out of it and he collapses.

"Oh God, please don't kill me." He begs, how utterly pathetic.

"Where's the boy?"

"I don't – oh God, I don't know." He splutters. I sigh and blow out his kneecap. Holding on to his leg tightly, he shakes frantically and starts to vomit from the pain. I rub my temple with my index finger as I watch this man fall apart.

"I can do this all day."

"Th-the room at th-the back." He cries.

"Are there any more of you?"

"No!"

"Don't lie to me again."

"I swear!."

"Fine. Now that wasn't so hard, was it?" I taunt as I start to leave him and run towards the back.

After a while, I finally make it to my destination and without a second thought, I open the door.

The first thing I see is Azzurro standing in front of a large mahogany desk; his arms are outstretched as he holds a gun firmly out in front of him. Behind the desk, I see Ciel, still lying on his side. His slate hair is matted with drying blood and his body is bound and tied tightly by ropes, with his wrists behind his back.

My heart thumps ferociously in my chest as I see him like this but I must wait for his command.

As I walk towards Azzurro, he stares at me blankly and staggers back. The back of his knees hit his desk and he lowers his weapon to brace himself against it, as I step closer to him.

"H-how did you-"

"You should think about getting better protection Azzurro, I just waltzed right in here." I remark sarcastically. I watch his Adam's apple bob as he swallows hard and I run my hand through my hair. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be taking the young master and-"

"Now!" He shouts as he hastily ducks behind the desk and I quickly turn my head to see three men aiming at my torso. They release their bullets, which go flying into my chest and send me crashing down to the ground.

I lay here, motionless, as I struggle to breath and I close my eyes.

I hear the shuffling of movement as Azzurro grabs Ciel and marches him over to me. There is a heavy thud as he is slammed down on to his knees and Azzurro starts to laugh almost triumphantly.

"You see? No one can defeat me!" He brays loudly. There is a long silence that descends over the room as Azzurro takes pride in the fact that they won. "You would have thought that he would put up much more of a fight." He snorts.

They watch me for a moment as I lay still, Azzurro still laughing like a hyena.

"All right, Sebastian, you've played dead long enough. Get up." Ciel commands, his voice clear and controlled which silences Azzurro within an instant.

"Very well young master." I smirk as my eyes open into narrow slits. I roll my head over to the side to see the men who shot me, and they look delightfully horrified. "If you're going to kill someone – always aim for the head." I advise with a smile as I lift my arm, firing three rounds into air, hitting my targets squarely in the forehead. Beautiful sanguine blood trickles down from the holes and they crumple to their knees and fall to the floor with a heavy thud.

"How are you-"

"Alive? Your men may be amateurs but I'm not." I shift and struggle to get up. Once I stand to my feet, I shrug off my coat, revealing the bulletproof vest I had put on earlier.

"Puta….!" He screams at me. I take off the vest and drop it to the floor, rubbing my hands over my chest; I grimace slightly as my fingers graze the fresh bruises the bullets left behind.

My eyes glance over towards Ciel who is looking at me slightly worriedly and I grin.

"My my, master, don't you look cute and helpless, all tied up like that." I beam and the look of worry is now replaced with a deeply embedded scowl.

"Shut up you pervert and just get me out of here." He grumbles.

"Of course." I nod but Azzurro swiftly grabs him and thrusts his gun straight into his mouth.

"Move and I swear to God, I'll blow this brats' brains out!"

"You won't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because he's too important to you alive." I growl lowly. He starts to tremble as I approach him. I lower my eyes and bare a devilish smile as I hover right above him. I know he must smell it, I reek of death, it's all over my hands and the fibers of my clothes. The stench must be so strong that it frightens him; he's too scared to move a muscle and I place my hand on top of his, removing the gun from Ciels' mouth. I take the gun and toss it to the other end of the room as he wobbles and shudders.

Tilting my head to the side, I regard him curiously "Are you scared of me?" I wonder.

He doesn't reply but I can hear his breathing become short and labored – all good signs, as they are signs of fear.

I reach out and firmly grab his left wrist and twist his arm sharply, holding it still behind his back. Using my other hand, I press firmly on the top of his shoulder. He squeals under the weight of my palm but he hasn't felt any real pain, yet.

"Tell me something, who are the Syndicate?" I ask as I lean into him, applying a little more pressure.

"I-I don't know."

"Earlier you said that they gave you a good offer for Ciel, so surely, you've been in contact with somebody?"

"N-no I h-haven't, just a broker, I swear it on my mommas grave." He cries, how unattractive.

"A broker? Interesting." I twist his arm further until I hear his shoulder pop and crack under the strain. He screams out to the mother of his God, which only causes me to smile. "Well master, what shall I do with him?"

"Let him live." Ciel states coldly and I release his arm with a small pout – I really could have done with killing him, it would have been so very satisfying but alas, I obey my instruction and release him, watching as drops to his knees.

Through his pathetic sobs, Azzurro grabs onto his shoulder and tries to drag himself over towards me as I pick up Ciel and carry him to a nearby chair, placing him down delicately. I can see that he is injured, his face is battered and there is blood staining through his shirt on his side, I'll have to check that once we get back to the manor.

"Wait!" Azzurro calls out.

"Yes?" I ask, bending down and undoing the knots of the ropes that wrap around Ciels' thin frame.

"Come and work for me."

"As you can clearly see, I already have a job."

"I can give you more than he can, all of the money, booze and women you could ever want." He offers.

"Tempting as that is, there is only one thing I want." I admit as I scoop Ciel up, cradling him in my arms and holding him closely against me. I can feel his gaze firmly on me as I stare at Azzurro.

"What is it you want and I'll get it for you."

I shake my head as I hold Ciel tighter. "I'm afraid that what I want is nothing you could ever give me."

His mouth drops open to speak but no words come out. I smile at him as we make our way out of the room.

"Azzurro." Ciel says sweetly, which causes me to stop just at the doorway. "I suggest you go back to the Syndicate and let them know that if they want me, they'll have to come get me." He taunts and we walk out of the room.

Walking down the hallway, we remain quiet as I step over the bodies of the men I took out earlier. Ciels' eye darts around as he sees the carnage and I can feel his whole body shudder at the sight. His eye flicks up at me and then back to the battered bodies around us.

"You did all of this?" His tone is even but I can tell he is clearly surprised.

"I did."

"You're more formidable then I thought."

"Young master, is that a compliment?" I jest and he folds his arms over his chest in a light huff.

"Shut up and take me home." He snaps. As I round the corner and start to walk back up the metal stairs, he loosens up slightly and emits a little snort. "I must admit, the game wasn't as fun as I thought it would be."

"You knew you were going to be kidnapped?" He nods. "Honestly, that's all you seem to be good for." I chuckle and he elbows me hard in the chest, right where one of my bruises formed. I maintain my cool composure but I have half a mind to drop the little brat for that.

...

We get back to the manor and it's late.

I pull up to the drive and switch off the engine, resting my head on the headrest and sighing loudly. My eyes look over to the rear view mirror to see Ciel fast asleep in the back. I can't help but smile to myself as I'm glad to have him back home, safe and sound. Getting out of the car, I go to the back and, taking great care not to wake him; I lift Ciel out and make my way inside.

"Mr. Sebastian!" Mey-Rin sounds out like a foghorn as she comes barreling towards us just outside the front door. Seeing Ciel, she stops dead in her tracks. "The young master, what happened?" She exhales nervously. I smile at her to ease her concern and carry on walking into the house.

"The young master is fine, you needn't worry."

"O-okay." She hesitates.

"Have the guests all gone?"

"Yes, that's what I came to tell you. You would have been proud of me; I took care of everything, just like you asked." She beams brightly. Well, we'll see.

"Excellent."

Entering the manor, I start to make my way down the hall and towards Ciels' room and Mey-Rin, obviously still concerned, follows behind me. He starts to stir and wakes up as we carry on.

"Sebastian?" He mumbles with his eye half open.

"Yes young master?"

"Where are we?"

"Home."

"That's good." He smiles slightly as he rests his head against my shoulder.

"Oh, he looks so adorable when you carry him like that." Mey-Rin coos from behind and Ciel jolts up instantly.

"That's it, put me down." He barks as he fidgets and squirms. I bend over, dropping him to his feet and he then storms off into his bedroom.

As the evening wears on, I can feel myself becoming absolutely exhausted. I didn't think I would be so tired but the events of the day have really drained me. Still, I struggle on to make sure that Ciel is prepared for the night. After his bath, I tend to his wounds and he slips into his nightshirt. He sits on the bed and waits patiently as I crouch down in front of him to button it up. My nimble fingers work diligently and quickly as he leans back to yawn.

"Sebastian?" He says mid yawn.

"Yes young master?" I now work my way up to the last remaining buttons.

"Earlier, when Azzurro was offering you all of those things and you declined him, you said that you only wanted one thing."

"I did."

"What is it?"

"Sorry?" I stumble as I finish his last button just underneath his neck.

"That one thing you want, what is it?" He looks at me imploringly as I take a little step back.

"I'll go and prepare you a nice pot of chamomile tea, it's been a trying day and you need to relax." I attempt to shrug off his question and he frowns at me.

"The tea can wait, I asked you a question."

"It'll only be a moment." I suggest.

"Sebastian, answer me. What is the one thing you want?"

I bow my head slightly as I really don't wish to say. Why, why would you try to get this out of me?

"Please don't ask me that." I reply.

"Why not?"

"Because you know I cannot lie to you."

"Then you'll have to tell me."

"Why do you want to know?"

"It was something that he couldn't give you but I wonder... Is it something I can?"

"Ciel, I…." I utter with a half whisper but I don't continue my sentence.

He stares at me for a moment, and then averts his gaze as he chews on his bottom lip, thinking. It is such a simple question but it's asking so very much of me and I don't wish to tell him.

We stay like this for a while, neither of us not knowing what to say to one another. Finally, I decide that I should say something before this gets any more uncomfortable then it already is.

"I'll go make that tea now."

"No. Come here." He instructs me and I hesitate. "Sebastian, come here." He repeats firmly and this time I nod as I take a step towards him. "Sit down." He motions for me to sit down in front of him and I obey. The bed shifts slightly behind me and I can hear the rustling of sheets as he scoots himself back. After a long moment passes, a pair of hands rests on my shoulders as they gently pull me back, and my head lands on top of his thighs. Peering down at me, he ever so delicately sweeps the hair from my forehead and strokes my cheek. He is quiet and contemplative as he looks down on me.

"Did it hurt?" He speaks so softly that it is almost hard to hear him.

"Did what hurt, young master?"

"Did it hurt when you were shot?"

"A little but I had my vest on."

He nods as he reaches over and slides his small hand through the open slits of my shirt, where the gaps in the buttons are. He runs his fingers over my bruises and I wince slightly from the pain. Slender fingers feel the warmth of my skin and the little dips in my flesh caused by the bullets blunting into the vest. He hums softly as he strokes my chest, feeling each muscle as it clenches and tightens under his touch as he keeps his other hand on my forehead. I try to keep my breathing slow and even to steady my heartbeat so he doesn't feel it.

"What are you doing young master?" I breathe out as I try to stifle a smile, I don't know why but he seems to be comforting me.

"I don't know." He replies simply as he removes his hand from underneath my shirt and places it on the side of my face, holding it still. He leans over, his hair brushes across my cheeks causing me to shudder. Long, sweeping eyelashes land on my skin as he closes his eyes and hovers just above me.

He is so close to me, I can feel his hot breath wash over me as he just stays here, right above me. All I need to do is tilt my head up ever so slightly... but I don't, he has to come to me. He must know that he holds all of the cards here; he is the one in control – not me.

As I wait for him to make some kind of move, my eyelids become heavy and I can't keep them open any longer, so I let them close. I feel my whole body start to relax under his touch and I'm calm, he calms me with such ease and grace under a single stroke. I can't help it, there is nothing more I can do to fight it, my body is restful and tranquil. I melt into his lap as I drift off to sleep.