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Memento Mori	By : zoni Category: > Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji ???) Views: 2931 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji and do not profit from my fan fiction.

Chapter List
- 2
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Chapter Three

Sebastian Michaelis stared at the body of his young master. While the form and shape were very clearly Ciel Phantomhive, whatever consciousness was now speaking through his lips was not. Sebastian asked, "Who are you?"

"Send the servants away, demon," the voice hissed coldly, "and then we shall talk."

Half a second passed before Sebastian stood and crossed the room to face the door. Outside of the bedroom, he could clearly hear MeyRin and Bard in the hallway. They were both shouting their worries. Sliding the door open, he sent them away with the barest excuse of nothing being wrong. He waited long enough to make certain that they would go back to their duties and then turned to face the room. The door slid shut silently behind him as he walked back to face the bed. He stared down at the young boy that was not what he seemed. Sebastian rephrased his question. "What are you?"

"Many names have I, yet I have none. I existed before time, and so I have no age. I am nothing and everything at once. I am the Beast. You should bow before me and tremble, demon," said the voice that was not Ciel. As it spoke, Ciel's body shivered and only his gaze remained steady. "Your creator was not even a whisper when I was born, and you not even a though. Yet you, not even a child in my eyes, believe that you can keep this boy from me by his very own will."

Sebastian's eyes were dark, his face dangerously neutral as he watched. He was very much unsettled by this turn of events. "What is it that you want from my young master?"

"His soul." The words were paper-thin as they fell from the boy's lips, every bit as cold as ice. "While we may be different creatures, our appetites are not that different. I was the first to claim him. I wish only to enjoy my meal. This is something that even your kind should be able to comprehend."

"If you wished to devour him, Beast, you would most certainly have done so by now," Sebastian said. "As it stands, I do not appreciate you defiling my young master's body with your presence."

Laughter like knives came from his master's body as the creature laughed. The sound was piercing and hollow, only the shadow of mirth. "Had I acted decisively and greedily devoured his soul in the moment between his earthly death and your own, I might," it agreed. Disgust colored its voice as it continued, "However, I am willing to admit my mistakes. I did not, and I now find myself in such a position that I must bargain with you... you, who calls itself a demon but who is no more powerful to me than an insect in this child's palm."

"Bargain?" Sebastian's frown darkened, uncomprehending.

"You and I both desire the same thing, I believe. We both hunger for this child's soul. Yet, we find ourselves at an impasse. Neither of us may have what we want without the other's consent, for I will not allow you to take his soul and you are incapable of destroying me. You also will not allow me to take his soul. This is problematic, but not impossible. We can help one another and each have something we desire," the Beast purred.

"Forgive my bluntness, but if you are so powerful then why is it that you need my consent to take something that you claim is already yours?" Sebastian asked.

A wheezing sigh came from the Beast's lips. "Humans, despite their fragility, have power that even I cannot surpass."

Sebastian regarded it silently, not responding. Whatever this Beast was that had laid claim to his young master's soul and body, Sebastian could devise no way to confront it more directly. If it were any ordinary threat, knives or claws would have been more than ample to dispatch it. In this case, only the menacing look in his master's eyes and the cold voice told Sebastian that this was not Ciel Phantomhive. Nothing else had changed. For all intents and purposes, Ciel Phantomhive still looked, smelled and felt the same. All of this talk of bargains and humans possessing power meant little to Sebastian, though he studied each word. There was only one meaning to be gleaned from all of this; the Beast was a threat.

When Sebastian did not respond, the Beast smiled, drawing pale lips into a sweet expression that the boy would himself never have worn. "Your contract is, in its own way, a lie. It does not guarantee you his soul. After all, his soul was never yours to take. It is a sort of petty illusion, guaranteeing you nothing more or less than your own ability to follow him if he were ever to flee. This is true?"

"More or less," Sebastian allowed. "It is the same for all demons."

"He does not believe so. In fact, so honest is his fervent belief that his soul and his very existence belong to you that... to some minor extent, it does," The beast told him, turning the last of the words into a faint hiss of sound. "Demons such as yourself work to seduce humans. You lure them into your confidence and endear them to you. You make them love and desire you so that they will not leave and take away your meal. In that, you have done well. Of all the many truths that Ciel Phantomhive holds dear, the most important is your own presence. You are the one constant in his turbulent life. He is very attached to you, in more ways than one. Until you depart or destroy his confidence in you, I will not be able to devour him. Moreover, by my own claim to him, neither shall you. We appear to be at an impasse unless a bargain may be met."

"It is a demon's nature to seduce humans, just as you have said. However, my young master is also correct," Sebastian said. He leaned almost imperceptibly toward the body of the boy that sat on the bed. "I will not leave his side. I am afraid there is no bargain that you could offer that I would be tempted to accept. The only thing that I desire is my young master. I do not intend to give up any part of him, body or soul. Leave and find easier prey elsewhere."

At that, the Beast burst into a fit of hideous cackling. He laughed so hard that the boy's body actually fell back onto the blankets, shaking with the effort. Sebastian watched in silence. The laughter cut off suddenly and the creature sat back up, smiling brightly. The effect was unsettling. "What right do you think you have, asking me to do anything?"

"I have every right so long as you continue to pollute my young master's body. Leave, or be destroyed," Sebastian told the Beast, eyes glowing with the threat behind the words. "I will not allow you to continue to defile his body with your presence."

"Alas, it would seem that the diplomatic route has failed. Next time, things shall not be as pleasant," the Beast said. Tilting its head slightly, it continued, "I will destroy the bond between the two of you and take my prize without your consent, then. There is something that I should tell you, though... something that even you, who spends nearly every waking moment with him, do not know."

"What is that?"

"This child, your master, is not nearly as ignorant of you as you would like to believe," the Beast hissed. The words slid easily from the boy's lips, taunting Sebastian with a smile. "By your very own doing, you have already begun what I intend to finish; Ciel Phantomhive has begun to hate you, Sebastian Michaelis. That hatred will tear you both to pieces."

As soon as the words left his lips, Ciel's body collapsed on the blankets. Sebastian bent over instantly, reaching out for him. As his gloved hands touched the boy's shoulder, blue eyes fluttered open. Sebastian let out an audible sigh of relief as Ciel whispered his name. This was his master, not the creature that violated his body. With Sebastian's help, Ciel sat up on the top of the bed. For a long moment, all he did was breathe. The room as utterly silent until he spoke, his words soft, "What happened?"

"I now know why I was unable to devour your soul, young master," Sebastian said, kneeling at the side of the bed. "You were possessed by the thing that has laid claim to your soul."

  Ciel looked up at him sharply. "Possessed?"

"Yes. It temporarily took over your body."

"Exactly what happened, Sebastian?" Ciel asked as he watched the butler.

Sebastian returned his gaze evenly. "You collapsed, young master. When you woke, it was not you with who I was speaking. A creature calling itself the Beast told me, using your mouth, that it had laid claim to your soul before I found you. According to what it told me, it is very old and believed that it would be... polite... to speak to me rather than simply doing what it wishes. It wishes to devour you."

"Then why has it not done so?"

"It seems to believe that your own mental and emotional attachment to me is preventing it from devouring your soul. Likewise, I am unable to devour your soul because of the claim that it has staked," Sebastian replied, waiting to see his master's reaction. He waited for the words to leave his master's mouth, the denial of any attachment. He expected it to come. After all, Sebastian was nothing more than a chess piece to the game master. He was a pawn to be used to the best advantage.

No denial came. Instead, Ciel pressed a palm to his face, covering the seal in his right eye. The expression on his face made it clear that he was utterly disgusted by the thought of what had happened. "It was using my body?"

"Yes, young master."

For a long moment, the two of them sat in silence, neither one moving. Taking a deep breath, Ciel asked, "Is this... Beast as powerful as it claimed?"

"I am uncertain," Sebastian replied. "I cannot detect its presence aside from the incident of possession, which suggests that it is strong enough to hide itself. However, if it were as powerful as it had claimed, I do not see why it would be unable to overcome your resistance in order to do as it pleases."

"Get rid of it," Ciel whispered harshly, the hand in his hair tightening. His knuckles were white. "I want it gone."

"There are certainly avenues that we might try, young master," Sebastian murmured.

"You did mention that. Baptism, exorcism and blessings from a priest, right? Are there any other options?" Ciel looked up at him then, his eyes piercing as he regarded the demon. "Can you do it? Can you get rid of it?"

"Young master, I will do anything that you order me to do," Sebastian said, looking at the boy. "However, in this case, I fear that I may be of little use. The Beast has no body for me to destroy other than your own, as far as I can tell. I have no desire to kill you simply to get rid of a pest. Prayers and passages from a bible would likely be useless when spoken from my lips. I fear that we must look at other options, though I do not enjoy placing your well-being in the hands of others.

"Unfortunately, many of the options available are also dangerous to you. At least, that is my understanding. I cannot say that I have ever been subjected to the processes that you may have to undergo to get rid of your unwanted guest. While I agree that we must dispose of the creature, I do not wish you to be put into additional danger simply for that purpose."

Leaning back, Ciel thought about what the butler had told him. Slowly, he asked, "Are there options outside of the Church that we might pursue, ones which might pose less of a threat to me?"

"There are methods of more traditional beliefs which have been practiced in the shadows of this country for far longer than even the Church can remember," Sebastian said, voice low. "You may find these to be helpful if you wish to avoid the path of a more organized religion."

  Ciel sighed heavily and stared at the sunlight that filtered through the windows. None of the options available appealed to him. While he did not have an inherent dislike of religion, he did not put any faith in it. After all, it was not really something that concerned him. His fate was sealed. Then, a thought occurred to him. "Sebastian, what effect will this have on you? If I have this... creature taken care of, will it injure you?"

"It would be unlikely to do any real damage," Sebastian replied.

  Ciel stared at him, sensing more to the statement. Clarifying, he asked once more, "Sebastian, you are being vague. Answer me clearly. Is it possible that trying to get rid of the creature would do damage to more than just the Beast?"

"Yes," Sebastian said as he stood, though he did not move away. "There is the chance that I or the contract might be damaged, though I cannot honestly say for certain. However, I feel the need to remind you that it would not be the first time that I have been injured in your service, young master."

"How is it possible to damage the contract? You said it was just an agreement, right? How can it be damaged?"

Very simply, Sebastian replied, "It is possible."

  Ciel Phantomhive watched the demon for a long moment, studying Sebastian's face in the morning light that shone through the windows of his room. Finally, he looked away. "Finish bandaging and dressing me. I will have to think about how to proceed. I will decide by tonight."

"As you wish."

Morning turned into afternoon, and afternoon into evening, entirely without incident. The day passed much as any other day with no visible changes. Even though he had no lessons to attend to and the work for Funtom Company had been minimal, Ciel felt exhausted. He finished his duties in the office without complaint. Dinner was eaten in silence. When Sebastian led the way to his quarters, Ciel barely registered the fact that MeyRin wished him a good night. For the first time in a very long while, Ciel Phantomhive was having trouble processing everything that occupied his mind. His mind felt full in a way that he had never experienced before.

Possession. He had heard the word used several times in his life with this particular connotation. It was what people said afflicted some people who were simply insane. It was also considered the primary territory of demons; few would have believed the reality of dealing with such beings. Ciel's eyes flicked toward Sebastian as the butler lead the way down the hall towards the master bedroom. Theirs was a strange partnership, one that should have already been concluded. According to Sebastian, the Beast believed that Ciel's attachment to the demonic butler was preventing it from devouring his soul.

The attachment that the earl felt for the butler was a mystery, even to him. He knew only that Sebastian had sworn to never leave his side or betray him. After the time that he had spent with Sebastian, he knew that the demon would follow through with his promise. He trusted Sebastian. The demon's presence at his side was something to which he had grown accustomed. It was something that he expected. On some level, one he did not care to examine in detail, he enjoyed Sebastian's presence. Beyond that, he was never truly certain what he thought of the man. Or, perhaps, that was something that he did not want to think on too hard.

The bond that he had with Sebastian was more than just an agreement and a seal on his eyes. Regardless of what Sebastian said of their contract, Ciel knew that much. If he needed Sebastian enough, or if he purposefully tried to summon him, Sebastian would come to his side at once. That was true whether or not he had spoken the words aloud.

While he was quite certain that Sebastian could not read his thoughts, the same could not be said of the Beast. After all, Sebastian had never been inside of his head. It was possible, Ciel realized, that the Beast was listening to his examination of the man in front of him. The thought of someone being privy to his private thoughts was chilling. As they walked into the bedroom, Ciel shivered. For the briefest moment, he thought that he could hear the echoes of laughter. It ceased nearly as soon as he noticed it.

Once inside of Ciel's chambers, Sebastian lit two oil lamps. One was placed on the sideboard nearest the door, and then Sebastian carried the second over to his master's nightstand. Even with these new sources of light, the room was cast in heavy shadows. Ciel paced across the room to stand next to Sebastian. He untied the eye patch that he was wearing and placed both the patch and his rings on the stand beside the bed. He looked at them for only a moment, silently admiring the way the light from the oil lamp caught the metal. Then, he turned and followed Sebastian as the butler silently lead the way from the bedchamber into the bathroom.

Once again, Sebastian lit two lamps. The difference from the bedroom was startling as soft light bounced off the walls, making the room surprisingly bright. Ciel squinted at the brightness for a moment. Then, he watched without really seeing as Sebastian drew the bath, pouring hot water from pails into the tub and tempering it with cold water from the tap.

Even though the terms of the contract had been met, Sebastian had kept his word. He had neither attempted to take Ciel's soul nor ceased to serve as his butler. It was as if Ciel's idea of revenge had never been achieved. Sebastian did not behave any differently, even though some part of Ciel's mind had expected him to. After all, what did Sebastian gain from going through mundane routines like this? He was already guaranteed his master's soul. Ciel found it hard to believe that a creature such as a demon might actually enjoy doing things like...

Ciel jumped, shouting and stepping backward as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he found Sebastian watching him, one eyebrow raised quizzically. "Young master?"

"It's alright. You just... startled me," Ciel said. He looked away, unable to meet Sebastian's direct gaze. Even out of the corner of his eye, he could see the motions as Sebastian began to unfasten his shirt. The fabric pulled at his skin while the man worked. Blue eyes drifted down to watch as slender fingers worked on the buttons that held the garment closed. Sebastian had already removed his gloves. Black-tipped fingers moved easily down the line of buttons. Every motion was smooth and practiced, deceptively artful as he worked.

Inexplicably, the graceful motions of those hands seemed to take on a menacing quality for Ciel. It was all too easy for him to picture those very hands taking his life. With only a subtle movement, Sebastian could easily break his neck instead of removing his cravat. On the occasions when the butler had carried him to bed, how easy it would be for the man to crush him in his arms. Bones were brittle and Sebastian was immeasurably strong. Even in the bathroom, as Sebastian kneeled before him and undressed him for a bath, those fingers could so easily slip and pierce his skin. Though he knew the nails on Sebastian's hands were dull and harmless, he could almost feel the edges of sharp claws against the skin of his stomach. He trembled. At the tremors, Sebastian looked up at him questioningly but said nothing. The butler set the boy's clothing aside and helped him into the bath.

The sounds of the water lapping at the sides of the tub captured Ciel's ears as he tried to relax. At his back, Sebastian's hands rubbed soothing circles on his skin with the washcloth. Ciel was certain that the butler could tell just how uneasy he felt, as if his stomach might sour. The slow, measured strokes over his skin were obviously intended to try to calm him down even as they cleaned his skin. Ciel tried not to focus on the butler, staring instead at his own faint reflection in the bath water. Ripples chased the lamplight across the water, creating a rhythm that seemed to match his thoughts. His mind no longer dwelled in the inherent danger of keeping a demon at his side. The fear itself had been irrational, as Ciel had never actually found himself afraid of Sebastian. Even so, he had no idea why the butler would think it necessary to try to soothe him. The warm hand at his back kept pulling him away from the things that truly bothered him, the creature that had claimed him even before his butler. The Beast.

"Sit back, please, young master," Sebastian said, his voice soft. Ciel did as he was asked, leaning his head back on the porcelain tub and closing his eyes. Sebastian's hand over his face blocked his eyes as water was poured through his hair. Sebastian pulled him forward slightly, reaching up to rub soap through the darkened strands of his master's locks. Sebastian allowed the soap to sit for a moment before he once again covered the boy's eyes and rinsed his hair, working his fingers gently across his master's scalp. When he had finished and picked up the washcloth to finish cleaning Ciel's body, the boy stared at the water once more. Droplets from the hair that had fallen across his face broke the smooth surface of the bath.

The air in this room always smelled like lavender and lemons, the scent of French-milled soap mixing together with whatever it was that MeyRin used to clean. With his hair freshly washed, the aroma was stronger than usual. Something about it was wrong, though. He sniffed, trying to figure out what the problem was. "Sebastian, do you smell something burning?"

If Sebastian answered, Ciel did not hear the response. At that moment, he looked down and saw the reflection in the bathwater. Flames. The mansion was burning. Ciel screamed as pieces of the ceiling came tumbling down, crashing all around him. All-consuming smoke and black flames were everywhere that he looked. They licked at his fingers as he tried to scrabble out of the tub. Ash clouded the air, flying down his throat as he tried to breathe and causing him to choke. Plaster blocks the size of cider barrels fell from the ceiling, cracking into the floor as the house began to fall apart. Ciel struggled, fighting against the water and slipping on the porcelain of the tub as he tried to get out of the bath.

Ciel looked to Sebastian for help, shouting the butler's name. Instead of his butler, however, there was a demon. A monster. Smooth black leather and sharp heels added to the otherworldly feel of the creature that stood before him. Black feathers filled the air, twining with ash and turning the entire world to darkness. This was not Sebastian. This was a true devil, an incarnation of evil that would tear him apart and eat him without a second thought. Murder, blood and gluttony dripped from its lips as it whispered Ciel's name and reached out for him. Glowing red eyes focused on him even as Ciel stumbled backwards, falling in his effort to get away from the demon. He had to escape, he had to run, and he had to--

Sebastian's hands fastened firmly around Ciel's arms, pulling him out of the tub. The instant that the butler's fingers touched his skin, it stopped. Everything stopped. The house was not burning. The air did not smell of cinders and flame. Ciel struggled for a moment longer before realizing that he could not pull himself out of the grip that held him.

Startled, terrified and shocked, he looked up at Sebastian. The butler was holding him halfway out of the tub, rested against his own chest. There were no glowing eyes or sharp teeth waiting for him in the face that looked down at him. Instead, Sebastian was looking at him with the utmost concern. His eyes were a deep brown, not red. He wore a dress shirt and waistcoat. His shoes were surely no more sharply heeled than Ciel's own daily pair. This was his butler. This was a demon, yes, but one that Ciel knew and trusted. Sebastian would not hurt him. Even though he knew that, the illusion that he had just woken from clung to the edges of his mind. Ciel was afraid. Struggling back toward the tub, he shouted, "Let me go!"

"Young master," Sebastian said, his voice even, "you are going to hurt yourself. You must calm down."

"You were trying to kill me!" Ciel shouted, fighting as best he could when Sebastian reached for him once more.

Sebastian's hands tightened around his master's body, lifting him out of the water despite the struggle. "Young master, I am not trying to kill you. I am trying to help you. Please calm down and stop trying to injure yourself."

Ciel's hands fisted against the man's chest, beating to try to drive him away. "You're a demon! You were going to--"

"I will not harm you," Sebastian repeated, his voice gentle but firm. He kept his hold on the boy as he sat down on the floor and pulled the teen against his chest to get a better hold on him. "Young master, I do not know what just happened but, regardless of what may have happened in the past few days, I have no desire to see you come to harm. Nor do I have any desire to see you try to drown yourself or dash your head on the tiles, no matter how much you seem to think that it might help the situation. Please, calm down."

In his chest, Ciel's heart was beating a mile a minute. Even so, he slowly stopped struggling against Sebastian's arms. His breath came in heavy pants. Minutes passed before he was collected enough to completely still. Water dripped off his body, the sound dimming the silence around them. Sebastian's presence no longer seemed threatening. The butler was still patiently holding him half-seated in his lap as he knelt beside the bathtub. That was when Ciel realized it. Sebastian was holding him. The thought did not bother him, even though it probably should have come as an embarrassment. The position itself was not what caught his notice, though. Instead, Ciel felt Sebastian's hand. Sebastian's arm was wrapped around him to hold him still, hand pressed firmly to his back and directly over the brand... and the brand did not hurt. In fact, it felt quite cool. "Sebastian..."

The hands that held Ciel in place loosened as Sebastian sat back slightly, looking down at the boy in his lap. "Would you care to tell me what that was all about, young master?"

"I thought... the house was burning. I could see it burning and falling apart," Ciel said, not looking at the butler. "When I turned to you, you were... the way you were when I first met you, and you were trying to kill me. You wanted to kill me."

Sebastian watched him carefully, frowning when Ciel shivered in his arms. He could feel the heat of the boy's body even through the damp material of his own clothing. "You saw all of this just now?"

"Yes." Slowly, Ciel turned his face to look up at Sebastian. Every muscle in his body tensed as he did so, expecting to see the sharp, hungry features of the devil from his waking nightmare. Instead, the only thing that he could see was Sebastian. The butler's face was colored with concern, worry clear in his expression. Ciel studied the unexpectedly soft eyes, fighting the temptation to look away. That look reminded him forcibly of the garden, of Sebastian trying to take his soul. They reminded him of the soft eyes and soft lips caressing his own before the end. The last thing he needed to think about was the kiss that he had not yet addressed. He felt dizzy and confused. His mind had gone from fear and hatred to confusion and thoughts of such things as the garden in only a few moments, and he could not understand why. This time, Sebastian looked away.

"I do not know what you might have seen, though I could theorize the why. However, know that I will not harm you or devour your soul until the current matter is resolved. All things considered, this incident is probably related," Sebastian turned back to look at him once more and said, "We should bandage your brand before you go to bed, young master. Since it was hurting you quite badly earlier, it must be worse after all that fuss."

"It doesn't hurt right now," Ciel said.

"Oh?"

"It usually hurts when you're in the room, but the pain goes away when you're not there," Ciel said, "but it isn't hurting right now."

"You did not tell me this, young master," Sebastian said disapprovingly.

  Ciel shrugged, looking away. "I didn't think it mattered."

Sebastian sighed, the tone of it clearly questioning the logic in not mentioning something like that. After a long moment he said, "We should get you dried off and dressed for bed, young master."

  Ciel nodded and then realized that he was still sitting in Sebastian's lap. Not only was he naked, but both he and Sebastian were soaked through with water. Sebastian did not complain. He simply helped his master to stand and then reached for a towel. Too tired to protest, Ciel simply stood on the tile floor while Sebastian dried him off and then toweled himself off so as not to drip on the bedroom floor. Wrapped in a towel, Ciel let himself be escorted to the bedroom where he was quickly dressed in a nightshirt and tucked into bed. Sebastian put out the lamps in the bathroom and bedroom, cleaned up the water in the bathroom and lit a candle to take with him. Walking to the side of the bed, the butler pulled the covers a little higher over his master. "Rest well, young master. I will return in the morning."

Sebastian turned and walked toward the door. Very quietly, Ciel murmured, "Sebastian, wait."

"Yes, young master?"

"In the morning, you can arrange for a priest or someone to that effect. I don't want to deal with this any longer than I absolutely must," Ciel said, exhaustion evident in his voice. The words were heavy, a weight on the air.

"Very well. I will see that it is done," Sebastian said. Turning once more, he headed to the door.

"Sebastian."

The demon turned once more. "Yes, young master?"

"Stay here," Ciel murmured, "by my bed."

"My clothes are damp. I wouldn't want to damage th--"

"Just stay."

"As you wish," Sebastian replied quietly. He pulled up a chair and sat next to his master's bed, blowing out the candle that he had in his hand. Light extinguished, he placed the candlestick on the stand beside the bed. With only the moonlight drifting through the windows of the room, Sebastian watched the boy that lay only a few feet away.

The silence was as deep as shadows in the room as Sebastian considered what he had just witnessed. His young master had been unusually quiet and withdrawn, staring at nothing throughout his bath. He had asked Sebastian if the demon could smell something burning. Then, it was as if he had been seized by madness. Sebastian had watched as Ciel had screamed in a way that the butler had never heard before, true terror echoing throughout the room as he tried to escape the hallucination that had captured him.

In his effort to evade whatever unseen attacker had terrified him, the boy had pushed himself under the water and tried to throw himself at the stone floor of the bathroom. Sebastian had felt the slightest tinge of fear for his master as he had reached out to grab the boy. That fear had doubled when the boy's screams had only intensified at Sebastian's own touch. It was a situation that, at the time, Sebastian had not been able to comprehend. The situation had been out of his control. That thought unnerved him, nearly as much as his master's pitiful struggles had. Regardless of the current situation, Ciel Phantomhive had no reason to fear his demon.

In his three years of service to the earl, Sebastian had done everything in his power to instill an unshakeable trust between them. His master would never question his loyalty, never need to fear him or his actions. Yet, that very night, Ciel had been terrified of him. Terror was a pale description for the look that had been on his master's face. Ciel Phantomhive had truly believed that Sebastian had tried to kill him.

The expression on Sebastian's face darkened as he thought about that fact. Fear was the last thing that he wanted his master to feel, and never because of himself. The Beast had known that much. Ciel Phantomhive was not a child who was easily frightened. In Sebastian's consideration, the boy was hardly a child at all. The fact that he had witnessed such a blatant display of fear from him was disturbing to Sebastian. He did not know the details of the vision that Ciel had seen, driving him to fear his butler, but Sebastian did know the reason for it. The Beast.

In his mind, Sebastian turned over the conversation that he had held with the abomination that controlled his master's body. The Beast had told him that his master was not as ignorant of Sebastian as he would like to believe. The creature had also told him that his master was beginning to hate him.

Sebastian had never once supposed his master to be ignorant. Uninformed, perhaps, at Sebastian's own choosing. More than once, the demon had opted not to disclose information about a person or a situation. When it had little bearing on Ciel Phantomhive, there was no need. Privacy and discretion were vital parts of being an excellent butler.

As for the subject of hatred... Sebastian looked at the shape of the young boy that was sleeping peacefully only a few feet away. His fine features betrayed none of the fright from earlier in the night. Mouth slightly open and hair drifting across his forehead, he looked like a china doll. Until the incident in the bathroom, Sebastian had never considered the possibility that Ciel might harbor any sort of animosity toward him. To a very strong extent, Sebastian still considered it ridiculous. If his master truly relied on him, trusted him and needed him the way that Sebastian thought the boy did... No illusion should have been able to drive the fear of him into Ciel Phantomhive the way that he had just witnessed.

Demons, by their nature, seduced humans. Though sexual seduction often followed, that was not the goal. Ultimately, a complete seduction of the mind was what they desired. Humans would cling so easily to something that could offer them comfort, even if that comfort was an illusion. A demon would earn their trust, love and admiration. Then, and only then, could they be certain that their prey was fully theirs. The seal of a contract would allow a demon to track down their prey if the prey fled. By making that prey dependent on them, they eliminated the need to chase their prey at all. When their master desired their presence, desired the demon itself, that demon was assured their meal in a way that not even their own seal could guarantee.

Sebastian did not believe that Ciel Phantomhive hated him. By all appearances, the boy was completely dependent on his butler. He could not even dress himself properly without Sebastian's assistance. Despite himself, Sebastian found himself smiling at the thought. In the course of their contract, he had become rather fond of his little master. No other human had ever managed to catch him off guard the way that his master could. The dependence that Ciel placed on him had surprised Sebastian more than once. What sort of foolish human became surprised or worried if their pawn, their willing slave, was injured? Ciel was well aware that Sebastian was nearly impossible to kill. By all accounts, to his master's understanding, Sebastian was immortal. Yet, Sebastian had watched on several occasions as the boy had cried out for him or expressed fear for him when he had been injured in the natural progression of a fight.

That care and concern was confusing for the butler. On one level, Sebastian was greatly pleased. However, now more than ever, he was also aware of what he truly should be to the earl who served the Queen. Sebastian was, or at least should have been, nothing more or less than a pawn to be used. He was a tool, one that Ciel Phantomhive could use to achieve his goals. There was no reason that the boy should care about Sebastian in any sense.

In the darkness, Ciel turned on the bed and flopped one arm out over the covers. Sebastian's eyes drifted over the boy's fine features in the darkness. Just as demons wished for the loyalty and faith of their master, so Sebastian was equally faithful to his master in turn. He did not appreciate the fact that something had dared to lay claim to the boy's soul. Adding insult to injury, it had also gone so far to use his master's body like a puppet. Sebastian knew that it would be difficult to fight something that could not be seen. Difficult, but not impossible. The fact that the creature could use Ciel's own mind to torture him was utterly unacceptable. Sebastian had never cared to see his master injured. He took his duties to the boy very seriously, and to know that he had not been able to prevent the earlier problems was troubling. Sebastian was very uneasy with anyone else daring to claim the boy as his own.

Reaching out across the bed, Sebastian brushed several strands of slate hair off Ciel's face. In his sleep, Ciel frowned and then let out a sigh. Sebastian smiled. Speaking to no one in particular, he whispered, "He is mine."

To be continued...

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Author's Note: My apologies for the formatting on this third chapter, and for all of them being uploaded at once. AFFN has decided that it hates formatting, and it's refusing to let me format this chapter properly regardless of what I do. So, unfortunately, it's going to look like this until I find a solution. Sorry! AFFN's generally a pain to upload on. For faster updates, I highly recommend keeping an eye on my DA page (http://thezoni.deviantart.com) or my FFN page (http://www.fanfiction.net/~zoni). Thank you!
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Memento Mori