Chapter Three: A Deal is Made In Three Wishes
The demon smiled at the little girl who had grabbed his hand, the cultist murmured in dread when they realized what was happening. The demon was going for the sacrifice not to consume but to make a deal. Ciel gripped the hand of the demon tightly. Now was her chance. "Power!" She demanded. Her rage was clear in her voice.
Someone demanded that they silence her. But she wouldn't let them. No one would ever silence her again. "I want enough power to take revenge on everyone that did this! I want to make them suffer as I have. I want them to feel the pain they forced on me and my family. Please demon! I beg of you to give me the power to do so! I will make a contract with you!"
The demon smirked, turning into an inky black smoke that swirled around her cage, slipping from the little girl's grip. What an interesting little master. He thought. The fear she had in her eyes only moments before was gone. Replaces by anger. Hatred. With just a hint of desperation. He chuckled before he spoke. His voice echoed throughout the room. Almost like he was in the room. No matter where you were his voice rang clear as day. Surrounding and consuming everything forcing you to listen to him whether you wanted to or not. Everyone in that chamber would know what would transpire in only a few moments. "So, you have chosen to discard the light and traverse towards hell." he purred "Will little one, I will be more than happy to oblige." Ciel's eyes fell on her brother's lifeless corpse once more as the demon continued to speak. "Then let us engrave the contract on each of our bodies. The more conspicuous the location. The more power you will control. Now where shall.."
Ciel tore her angry blue eyes from her brother's corpse. screaming at the demon. "I don't care where! "The demon smirked. Oh, she was going to be an interesting one. "Such greed for one your size..." he purred. Within the ink black fog a clawed hand formed reaching for the girl. Ciel reached for him once more. "I just want the power to be strong enough to never lose to anyone ever again!"
"Alright, then my dear."
Ciel gasped as the demon grabbed her face. His beautiful claws dug into her flesh and for another agonizing moment all Ciel knew was pain, she felt like she couldn't breathe or move as she felt the contract take place. Yet she could feel herself screaming but could not hear her cries. All she heard was the demon's calming voice "Then we shall use the part of you that reflects the world as you see it with one of those beautiful eyes of yours." Hopeless."
Ciel let out a heart-wrenching scream as she felt the power of the seal course through. Finally, after what had felt like hours when in reality it had only been for a moment the demon let go of her face. Ciel stumbled back and fell. Clutching her right eye she whimpered as she felt a warm liquid trickle down her face. She looked down at her soon realizing the liquid was her own blood. The demon smiled at his prey. Her face twisted with a mix of anger and agony. The demon tilted her face up gently. Having her look in those Rudy red eyes as he spoke. "And now that you have obtained the power of a demon, you never have to bow down to anyone ever again unless you desire to."
Ciel looked at the cultist taking them all in. They now cowered in a corner. Frightened. Good. She thought Maybe now they would know at least a fraction of her suffering.The demon shifted into a lion and continued to speak "You may be as proud as a queen, as loud as a beast."He hovered over the girl's shoulder and smiled widely."Now my dear, release your inner desires. Fulfill your wildest dream. What is your first command." Ciel's eyes left the cultist and to her brother's corpse. "The flow of his river of blood had stopped turning from a lively bread to brown. She knew her first command.
"Kill them." Her eyes fell on the leader. The one who had forced himself between her legs. She pointed to him "Bring that one to me alive." Ciel felt a sick sense of satisfaction as she watched the demon power unfold. She reveled in it as she watched the demon tear their throats open with those sharp teeth, its sharp claws dig into their stomachs and rip them in two and break their necks with those healed shoes with ease. She thought at first she would have no problem with the gore at first after everything they had forced her to go through, but she still felt her stomach churn as the demon decapitated one of the monsters. Throwing his head carelessly in her direction. The sight of those lifeless eyes made her sick to her stomach. Before Ciel could stop it she threw up. Afterward, though she felt herself reveling in it. She found satisfaction in the demon's laughter as he tore them apart one by one with glee. By the time the deed was down. Only one was left. The demon grabbed him by the scruff of his robe and brought him to her. The demon ripped the cage open with ease with a single hand, the demon offered her hand that she accepted as she crawled out of her cage. She walked to her brother. Taking her hand and closing his eyes. Ciel wrapped her tiny fingers around that ceremonial knife, still in her brother's stomach, and pulled it out she turned back to the man who took her brother, her older twin. Her friend was away from her without a second thought. She now stood in front of him. That dagger in hand. She watched as the man pleaded for his life. "Pl-please" He begged. "You're a lady; A Phantomhive! "Please spare my life." He begged. "I like it when you beg. Do it again." She ordered, a satisfied look in her eyes "Please, my Lady, please, spare me! I only did as the Order required me! P-please, show mercy!" The man begged, tears sparking in his eyes. "You truly are pathetic." "We begged you." her voice barely a whisper. We both pleaded for you to stop. To let us go." Ciel glared at him. Did you stop when I cried? When my brother screamed in agony." She gripped the knife harder. Her knuckles turned white "Do you remember that?" The man who had reveled in her pain and suffering could only sob and beg. "Please! I beg of you! Spare me!" She cocked her head to the side. "You never answered my question. Did. You. Listen. To. Our. Pleas." She hissed. The man cowered. He already knew his answer. "No." He replied. "Exactly," Ciel said bitterly. Before she took that cursed knife and slit her tormentor's throat. The demon reveled in the little girl's violence, Her soul clearly enjoying her justice. Even injured and weak she took her prey's life without mercy.
As Ciel watched the life leave his eyes. The demon stepped in front of her, took her small hand, and asked her name. Ciel gulped. She knew it wasn't wise to tell creatures like this your name, but she was damned either way. "Ciel," she whispered. "My name is Ciel Phantomhive. The next in line for the house of Phantomhive." The demon smiled. shifting into the form of a man. "I see my dear, then I must take a form approbate as the servant of one of your position."
CielThe demon bowed to her gracefully. "I am at your command. My tiny little lady."
Ciel felt sick. The demon had shifted into a form so similar to that have her now-dead father in the attire of a butler. The demon sensed her dread and put on a façade of concern. "Is this form not to your liking?" He smiled at her shifting from the a butler to a French general to another uniform she wasn't quite sure about. Frankly, the content shutting made was giving her motion sickness. She waved her Hans. "The, it's alright the first one was fine!" She assured. She felt If she saw him shift into one more thing she was going to be sick.
The demon smiled and clapped his hands.
"Alright then, my lady"
A table appeared out of wisps of smoke and the demon pulled a chair for her and began to assist her to the to tall seat. Surely the demon knew she wouldn't have been able to climb in the chair that tall on her own. she thought with annoyance. "Shall we proceed to discuss the details of the contract?" Ciel would be lying to herself if she wasn't confused. She thought the deal had already been made. The demon clearly sensed her confusion and decided to go into more detail so she could get a better grasp of her new situation "You wished for power strong enough so that you would never lose to anyone and that's is just fine, however, I feel like we must go into more detail with a request like that."Ciel looked at the demon in confusion "More... detail?" she asked.
She could hear the demon's smile in his voice. She was starting to think he never stopped smiling. "No being with will ever enter a contract of eternal work with no concrete goal." His hands stayed on her shoulders. "Trades and deals only work because both sides have something to gain. Correct my little lady?"Ciel nodded. "After all. No one willingly enters a contract from which they only stand to lose from." The demon's eyes began to glow. His teeth grew sharper and he leaned over the little girl's shoulder giving her a predatory grin that sent a shiver of fear down her spine before he pushed her chair in. Ciel knew at that moment that she was not careful with her words. She would be doomed. "You understand, yes?" Ciel nodded.
The demon took a seat across from her, crossing his legs. "Oh yes. I must tell you in advance, that I cannot accept any uncertain or subjective clauses. Unreasonable conditions include phrases such as "until I am satisfied" or "For Eternity." I know that human greed knows no bounds after all."The demon watched the girl. She was clearly frightened. The wheels turning in her head. She was much younger than anyone else he had entered a contract with. So his usual payment wouldn't do. He'd figure out something soon though. Just like he was sure this child with. Though she was young her eyes were calculating his every movement. He watched as she tried to calm herself before she spoke. Putting on a mask of a brave face. "Th-this is very sudden, I don't think-" The demon interrupted her and his smile turned soft but his eyes still had a demonic glow. He raised a hand, holding up three of his fingers. "Then how about we do this? Three wishes. I shall grant you up to three wishes."
Ciel cocked her head to the side "They can be anything?" she asked. The demon gave her a kind smile. "Yes, of course. You could which to become a queen of a country, or obtain the love of a partner you couldn't before, or you can have all the treasure in the world. You can have whatever you wish."Ciel felt annoyed. Did that demon really think she was that materialistic? She clenched her fist. "If you can grant me anything then can you bring the dead back to life." The demon's smile fell. Honestly, he should d have known she would desire something like that. Ciel felt a sense of satisfaction getting a visible reaction from the demon. Even if it was for only a second. The demon regained his composure before he continued to speak. "So you desire your older brother Yes I should have expected that. Very well then. I shall promise you a peaceful time filled with happiness with your bro-"
"You're lying."
Now that. Made him pause. He stared at the small child in shock as she glared him down. "You told me earlier that "Once the price to cross over has been paid, it can never return," Ciel said bitterly. He lied to her. He was already trying to manipulate her if that was how he wanted then fine. She'll play too, "In other words. It's impossible to bring the dead back to life. You are incapable of turning back time." Ciel forced herself to not look at what had once been her brother just a few feet away from her. She would not show him any emotion Not anymore. She wouldn't give him anything to use against her.
"'Just make her believe the dead is alive' That is what you intended on doing isn't it? Is that the only thing you do? Parlor tricks?" She spat out.
Oh. She was smarter than he thought.
He chuckled. Once again giving her that sharp grin.I applaud you for figuring that out." His smile turned almost innocent and he leaned back into his chair. "You're a very calm and perceptive girl. I'd never guessed you were that same girl who was wailing like a babe just a few moments ago." Ciel felt her face flush with anger and snapped. How dare he. "Don't make fun of me!" She snapped.
There it is. The demon thought. Suppose she continued like that maybe he could get her to play rights in his hands. The more emotional humans got. The less clearly they thought. "But you know, as long as youbelieve your brother is still alive, then does it make any difference does it make if he's really here or not." Ciel felt her face flush with anger "It makes all the difference!" She screamed. She was slamming her tiny hands on the table. The demon only gave her a gentle smile. Studying her. Then it dawned on her.
He was never planning on making a fair contract from the start.Ciel could feel her mind going a million miles a second. He was making her second guess herself. What did she want? Her family. if she could get them back she would ask him for it in a heartbeat. It wouldn't really be them. Only an illusion for her to live in. He might be powerful, but he couldn't rewind time. He couldn't truly bring them back to her. Once something is truly gone. You never get it back. No matter how much your heart may want it.
So what else did she want? She knew what it was. She wanted power. She wanted revenge. She wouldn't let her brother's death be in vain. She had already lost everything. She was damned either way so she might as well get something out of it.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. What would her brother do if he was here right now instead of her?
She heard her brother's ever-cheerful voice in the back of her mind 'You're the only one who could match me in a game of chess along with father!'
Ciel looked up. Looking the demon in the eyes. Thats right. It's just like chess. Just think carefully. Think about how your opponent will move and how you can turn the tide in your favor. Think about what you need to do to keep this demon under control.Ciel took a deep breath and finally spoke. "I've made my decision for my first wish. Demon" With a wave of his hand he encouraged her to go on. "Go ahead little one, anything your heart desires."
She thought about her brother's broken promise to get out of there alive. Nothing more than a lie now. She placed a hand across her chest "You must never lie to me, no matter the circumstance." The demon paused for a second before he began to laugh loudly. As his laughter and became a chuckle he looks at the child in front of him. Giving him the most serious look on her face. "Well, that's an interesting tactic." He said. Ciel only narrowed her eyes and continued. "From now on you are only allowed to answer my questions truthfully and honestly." The demon let out another soft chuckle and removed a glove from his right hand. Revealing his one seal on the top of his hand "Alright my dear, I accept. Your first wish shall be granted. I shall not lie to the contractee." He placed his hand over his mouth and his mark began to glow and Ciel felt a searing pain in her right eye once more and screamed in vain. Clutching her eye once again. Once the pain ceased he gasped for air. trying to compose herself as the demo continued.
"You are able to restrain me by using the contract seal on your eye." He raised his hand showing her two fingers "You now have two wishes remaining."
Ciel took another breath. "Alright," she whispered. "My second wish is to help me find everyone who did this which means-" Before she could finish her thought the demon snapped his fingers. As he stood up a sharp appeared in the air "Understood, then I shall go kill everyone right-"
Ciel threw herself over the table grabbing his tailcoat. "No!" she screamed "Not yet!" Confused the demon paused. She looked at him like a child on the verge of a tantrum because she did not get away. "If you kill them where I can't see them there's no point!" The demon studied her. Realizing what she was actually trying to say. He smirked. Deciding to mess with her for a moment. They wanted to hear what she truly wanted to do to the ones who had wronged her fall from her words. She gripped his tailcoat defiantly. "I don't just want the ones who sold up to pay. I want the people who attacked my home. My family. I don't want you to be the one to kill them." She looked at him a dark look in her eyes. "I want to know who was in charge of it all. The mastermind. I want to know why they attacked us! Why did they feel like killing us wouldn't be enough? Why they targeted the house of Phantomhive and left it in ruins."
The demon pretended to ponder for a moment."Finding a mastermind behind all this is going to one difficult." He looked back at the girl. "How far back do you want to go? Do you wish to trace the list of the people who manufactured your humiliation?" Ciel sighed. Letting go of his tailcoat. "I do not want to kill random people that are only suspected. That's a no."
The demon let out a tired sigh and plopped back into his seat. "My goodness, you're making this contract more difficult than it has to be. Then what pray-tell will safely your thirst for revenge."
"I want to be the one to kill them."
There it was .
He propped his chin in his palm. "You would subject yourself to such a bothersome ordeal, If you say the word I can bring them all to you so that you would t need to trouble yourself with the extra work."
Ciel looked at the table. "I'm completely in the dark right now. I don't know why we had to go through this horrible treatment." Ciel whispered. Closing her legs tightly together. Feeling as if her hands were still grabbing her. "I don't even know the Tre perpetrator behind it all." She thought back to her family. "And I don't want to die without knowing. I want to see and confirm them with my own eyes. I want to kill them with my own two hands. You're going to be my pawn to carry it all out."
Alright,she thought. First I took away his ability to lie to me, next I need to seal hismovement.She latched her hands together and she continued to speak. "Demon this is my second wish. You must swear absolute obedience to me."
He hummed. A bored look on his face. "For how long?" he asked. Ciel narrowed her eyes. "Until I finish carrying out my revenge." The demon laughed softly. Raising his hand to his lips one more. "Alright, then your second wish is for me to obey your orders without fail."Ciel made sure to brace herself you pain this time and only hissed in main as she felt that searing in her eye once more.
"And what of your third wish?" he chirped. Ciel sighed. "Hang on." She mumbled. "Don't rush me I need a moment to rest."The demon grinned. "Understood." Ciel screeched as she felt herself being picked up by the demon's powers. Forcing her to lie down on the stairs. "What are you doing!" She snapped angrily. "Why I am merely obeying your orders to 'let you rest' Is there something wrong with that?" Ciel growled in annoyance. "That was not an order!" She screamed.
The demon tilted his head to the side. Oh is that so, well this is quite the conundrum. It seems I am having trouble telling the difference between orders and normalconversation."
Ciel let out an annoyed growl. Honestly, at the moment his new mistress reminded him of an angry kitten. The child flailed her legs. "Fine! I get it! Whenever I explicitly say 'This is an order' that's when you should obey!"
The demon smiled happily at her. Clapping his hands together placing Ciel back in her seat. "I see! That collateral condition will make things much easier to understand.!" Ciel only slated at him. She knew for a fact he had done that on purpose. The Demon went back to resting his chin on his palm. Fully taking the girl in. She was clearly sickly. Fragile even. More so than a normal human. Maybe he could use that at his disposal. "You know little one. even with the power of a demon at your disposal. You're very fragile. Do you really think you will be able to take revenge on your own? Even if you have a good head on those shoulders of yours."
Ciel clutched her ragged clothes.
"I know." She whispered. "I know that I'm just a child, but even for a child, I couldn't do anything on my own." Her eyes met the demons once more, "Demon. This is my last wish-"
His lies have been stopped. His movements were restrained. She just needed the assurance of one more thing."
"My third with. Until I've completed my revenge is that you just never betray me, but you protect me at all costs."
"Betray?" he asked. Now that was interesting.
Ciel crossed her arms "I only say this because I wouldn't put it past you to make a second contract at the same time with someone else."
Now he understood. What a clever girl he thought. "So if I were to enter another contract and they wished for your death tenths conditionwould guarantee your survival because it would be disloyal to your contract."
"That's correct," Ciel said. "I need that gaunt of your loyalty. After everything that has happened. I can't trust anyone anymore. I needto be able to trust you."
The demon's smile seems to become more genuine. "You need not worry, I make a point to not enter more than one contract at a time. Though others of my kind would not hesitate to do so due to their own greed. I personally find it unbecoming. It goes against myaesthetics"
"Demons have aesthetics?" She asked. The demon nodded. "Yes, even we have policies we like to stick to. But to protect you all cost. Guarding you from physical harm that isobvious. A simple one even. But do you wish to include protection from sickness as well?"
Ciel's breath hitched. "You can do that?" she whispered. The demon gestured to her "Have you not noticed it yet? You haven't coughed even once in our meeting. You've never even struggled to breathe even for a brief moment theentire time we've been talking even with your little tantrum earlier, but if you want to keep that you would have to retract one of your other wishes due to the fact I would be using my powers to make your body tough enough that it would be able to withstand those pesky human illnesses."Ciel felt her heart drop. She should have seen that coming. He was still trying to play her by using something she'd always hated about herself. Her weak immune system.
"No. I want to keep the contract as is. If I become ill we'll just have to cross that road when we get to it. That is my final wish. For you to keep me safe from physical harm."
Hold on in the first place your final with is not one but two wishes. To not betray and To protect. Even though making multiple contracts goes against my aesthetics. But in order to prove it to you. I'll let this one exception slide this once bit just know I'll want something else from you in return." Ciel scoffed. "Fine. why must you always dwell on the details? " She murmured.
The demon only smiled at her innocently. "Alright, my dear. So your third and final wish shall be that until your revenge is complete, I will not betray, but protect you at all costs."
As he raised his hand to his hand to his mouth Ciel couldn't brace herself for how much pain she would feel was the final wish was sealed. She felt like her body was on fire. The contract between the two clicked in place like a chain around her neck. As the pain ceased. Ciel followed on the table. Trying to catch her breath. She didn't notice that the demon had stood up and was walking behind her letting his hands rest on her arms. Slowly trailing them upward to grab her face and tilt her head back as he spoke.
"Now, with this contract, you have become my one and only mistress. I am your loyalservant. Cowing to protect young to never lie to you. This will continue until you have completed your revenge. In the meantime, you will bring me humans so I can retain my energy to serve you." He saw the panic in her eyes at those words and chuckled. "Do not worry I will not kill them unless you desire me to do so." Ciel felt relief wash over her for a brief moment before he finished his declaration "But once you have completed your revenge, the contract isfulfilled- "
His face was so close to hers now, that Ciel felt her heart thudding in her chest."I shall receive your soul as recompense."
Ciel gulped and only nodded. She had prayed for angels and heaven to save her. Yet her cries went unheard. A demon had rescued her from her cage and gave her three wishes. A promise of revenge, safety, and loyalty. He promised never to lie and always be by her side until the end and if he wanted her soul then it was done. If anything had wanted to save her soul before she promised it to the demon. Well...
They should have listened to her prayers