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To say a friendship was unexpected was an understatement. Ciel truly had no Idea when Alois had crossed the threshold from stranger to companion. He never called anyone by that title, Prince Soma and the little witch were acquaintances at most, nothing but pawns on his board. Those peers he had during his time at Weston college, who often sent him Christmas cards and random letters, meant nothing to him. Elizabeth was his betrothed and while her loyalty extended much farther than most, she was his duty. He would cater to her safety and happiness as any good husband would. Even his most trusted shadow of a companion, Sebastian was nothing more than his knight and, eventually, his death. Never a friend.
Though, by some twist of fate, he sat now in the middle of a game of high card, sitting across Earl Alois Trancy, in nothing more than his nightshirt, eyebatch tossed aside. His contract in full view, but it didn't matter, Alois also had a contract with a demon, hidden in plain sight under the guise of a butler waiting to be called upon. Maybe that's why they became friends.
It became common occurrence to visit each others estates and even spend the night there. Most of the the servants at each abode were already accustomed to the other boy. Some of Ciel’s servants already knew what snacks to prepare for the Earl Trancy and vice versa. Today Ciel and his butler would be spending the night at the Trancy estate.
Though on Ciel’s hosting nights Alois would come alone. His butler Claude, who follows Alois just as Sebastian does Ciel , was not allowed inside the Phantomhive manor. Not for any particular reason of his own, but mostly out of the request of Alois and at the demand of Sebastian.
Yes, demand.
Sebastian was always one to be vocal about his opinions even if it was in a sarcastic comment or two. It was always hidden behind a charming smile, was more blunt when he was alone with his master but it was always restrained. Sebastian knew his place as a butler and took pride in his perfectly crafted facade. But it wasn't until he started visiting the trancy manor more frequently did Ciel notice the change. His butler never smiled at the Trancy manor. Sebastian loomed closer to him to the point where Ciel had to order the butler away for some space.
Ciel was well aware that Sebastian was not fond of Claude and to be completely frank, neither was the boy. He never could place it, Claude was just unsettling. His fight or flight would activity whenever he was in the room. Whenever the Trancy butler would try to serve him, Sebastian would step in between them and take on the serving duties himself. And without fail Sebastian would stand at the foot of his bed whenever he slept over, or if he was sharing a room with Alois, he'd stand outside the door all night.
This occasion was no different, Alois sat across from Ciel, he shuffled cards as Ciel watched and the thought came to him. He looked at the door and Alois followed the gaze. “He can come in if he wants, I don't mind” Alois said blankly.
“Its fine. Its not that. Ive just never like this at my manor.”
“Scary?”
“Please…I mean… angry. I wonder why”
Alois stopped shuffling, pondered a bit “Ciel, have you ever tried to take food away from a hungry dog?”
Ciel looked back “no…”
“It's a nasty bite” Alois dealt the cards. “He's being possessive over his prey. He's in a home with five other predators of course he's a bit more angry as you put it”
“Yours doesn’t act like that”
“Claude’s well fed, not hungry”
“Still, its not like I don’t have a choice. Sebastian should know that I will not waver. I have no interest in backing out of my contract, nor to start a new one”
“You were manipulated into one. what makes you think you won't again?”
“Pardon?”
“If you actually sacrificed your brother you wouldn't have taken his name, yet you decided to give him back to the world as you call it.”
“So sure, are you?”
“Listen, I didn’t become an earl through a contract. I snuck my way to the top, I wasn’t even the old man's favorite at first, but I wormed myself into his thoughts until I had my way. If me, a child was able to manipulate a grown man I don’t think it would hard for a demon to influence a ten year old in the middle of a psychotic melt”
Ciel starred at the cards. “Regardless of whether or not the demon appeared; My brother was not meant to see that sunrise. You can't climb out of hell without a local guide. Sebastian is my most loyal pawn, it matters not how I got him”
“hm funny how we share the same curse but not the same blessing”
After another round, Ciel won. Alois stretched a bit and looked at the door. “You think he heard all of that?”
“Absolutely .” Ciel didn't even look up as he shuffled the cards for one final round.
—--
Their next visit was held at the Phantomhive estate. The servants had prepared the room and food the earl trancy would fancy and the night went on as routine. At night the both laid on the bed and read books, Alois was not the strongest reader so Ciel provided guidance whenever requested. At one point alois looked at him a pressed his finger to his lip. And quietly went to his bag. He fetched a book and rejoined ciel. The book as old and frail it had no text on its covers or spine. Alois opened it up to a page it looked like a journal entry it was cryptic and hard to comprehend but the title was crystal clear “breaking a faustian contract”
Ciel furrowed his eyebrows, of course he could not read this out loud. Not with a faustian contractor in the home. The boy brought his own journal and a pen and wrote down “why?”
Alois wrote back “I want to break mine”
“Why?”
“Claude will betray me soon”
Ciel slumped his shoulders, perturbed but not surprised. He wrote “how do you know this will work?”
“I do not”
“So you will try and do this ritual?”
“Not me. A special witch has to do it but I do not know where to find them”
They pondered, Ciel had no idea why he wanted to help and he felt pulled to do so “undertaker.”
“Will you come with me?”
Suddenly all air was sucked out of the room, as the fire crackled they stared at each other. Alois was well aware of what he was asking of Ciel. The boy in question looked at the door. Somewhere through that door and down the hall was his loyal demon who’d tear him apart if he knew what they were talking about. In front of him was his only friend, one he had grown to love without fear.
“Yes”
—------
They would take a break for a few months and on one October morning, Ciel received a letter. One he read in private and burned, once for insurance, and then twice to make sure the ash was beyond help. Alois had gotten the information, had gotten in contact with the witches and they were being expected. Next to tell his shadow. “I’ll be taking a trip out of town for a couple of days”
“Of course, master, I shall prepare travel arrangements, where are we going?”
“You are going to stay here and look after my estate”
The butler blinked “young master?”
“I am perfectly capable of traveling on my own. You will stay here. That is an order”
He explained no further. While the butler was perplexed to say the least, he couldn't disobey. He handled the preparations himself and packed his own bag, he’d only be gone a few days. He only had Sebastian call for a cab into London. Where, unbeknownst to the butler, Ciel would be meeting with Alois at the Undertaker’s parlor. They met up and took a train down to Southampton.
They both decided to stay in the dining hall for the food of course, but mostly to not be cramped in a single space for too long. They would be there for a few hours. Though he tried not to show it Ciel felt his stomach turn with excitement. This was his first trip alone. Usually he had Sebastian following him around everywhere and while there was a practical reason for that it did stifle his sense of independence. “ you actually believe you found real witches”
“The undertaker found them” alois shrugged
“Yes but witches don’t exist. Even Sullivan turned out just be a scientist”
“You’ve met death gods and both of us have devils as servants, but you draw the line at witches?”
“…fair enough”
“Undertaker said these women are immigrants from the Americas they specialize in light practice and sometimes black magic. They were the only ones Undertaker found to have the abilities to break contacts, at a handsome price though”
“Money is no object”
“It is not . I've more than I know what to do with”
“How did you find out about Claude”
“One of the triplets let it slip. Claude told me he’d help me take revenge on Luka’s killer and gave me the wrong name”
“Who did kill Luka?”
“That’s not important and if I’m completely honest, I want to let Luka rest… My brothers dying words were that he just wanted me to be happy. So that’s what I’ll try to do. It’s pretty indecisive of me but so is Claude. If he’s planning on breaking the terms of our contract why shouldn’t I?” He locked eyes with Ciel “ why don’t you lay your brother to rest?”
“Well… because Ciel Phantomhive is still very much alive” he sipped his tea, purposely avoiding the question.
Alois accepted it.
They got to their destination and took a cab as far as it was willing to take them and continued the rest of the way through a forest on foot. They reached a cabin and a woman in her late twenties was outside chopping fire wood. She stopped when the two boys got closer “you the two the mortician said would come” she said in an accent that was rare around these parts Ciel only heard it once when he met a diplomat from Spain.
Alois nodded. “You can break Faustian contracts?”
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise “you look a little young to be playing with devils, boy. They are very dangerous”
“So I’ve learned” Alois flashed a smile.
“And you, Lord phantomhive?”
Alarmed, Ciel narrowed his eyes “how do you know who I am?”
“How many child noblemen do you reckon wear eyepatches?”
Fair point. Ciel sighed and unhooked his patch. His seal is in full view for the witch to see. She had no grandiose reaction. She looked at him with pity more than anything. “Two contracts, will be a heavy price”
Alois nodded.
They walked closer to the home and they were told to wait outside. The witch and her companion came out and wacked them with herbs and drenched them with a concoction of spices as they chanted. According to them this was just a general cleaning to be able to enter they’re home “we take as many precautions as we need. You boys are tainted, marked by beasts”
“Hm. Aren’t witches supposed to get their powers through devil worship. You are just as mar-OW”
“Mind your tongue Do not speak about what you don’t know” the witch said. “You may enter”
——-
After a few hours Ciel sat outside the cabin with a cup of tea in his hands, still drenched. Alois was in the middle of his ‘procedure’ he thought about everything they were told as they were briefed they would have to be under constant protection just in case the demon decided to take revenge on the broken contract. There was also a chance the demon themselves could arrive at any moment to stop them. Should that happen the witch would have no choice but to perform an exorcism. Alois was fairly certain Claude would be bothered to show up.
They had All the ingredients necessary but there was one piece of the ritual they needed that took a bit of meditation to get. The demon's name. Claude Faustus and Sebastian Michaelis were names given by their masters not their true names ,but according to the witches. The masters do know the true names. It is inscribed on their contracts hidden behind the veil the unspeakable bond between master and contractor. And much to Ciel’s surprise Alois was able to decipher his demon’s name almost instantly.
He sat outside, eyes closed as he tried to find it but every time he opened his eyes he came up short. He paced around, frustrated at his own shortcomings and anxious about his friend's ritual.
“Master.” The voice was soft, yet it felt like a tight grip around his neck. Ciel felt the pull of his infernal bond flare. Though he couldn’t admit the fear that froze his entire body in place, he simply turned to face his butler.
Sebastian stood dutifully at the treeline, he took cautious steps as he looked around the property, with the expression he only bared at the Trancy manor. Ciel knew Sebastian was more than aware of where he was. “Master, I think you should go back to your chambers, you’re due for a bath”
“I’ll return soon enough, go back home”
The butler did not move. In fact, He stepped forward.
“What is Lord Trancy doing?”
“He’s breaking his…he’s breaking his contract. Nevermind that you left my home unattended”
“I did not, the servants all have their duties. Master, what is your business here”
“Nothing of consequence. Now go!”
“You’re prepped for a ritual”
“Sebastian, this is an -“
In an instant Sebastian had him a hold. He covered the boy's mouth before he could let out a proper order “my young lord we should return home” it was not a request. Sebastian's eyes shone a deep magenta. Ciel pulled on his hand and kicked and thrashed as much as he could against the demon's grip. Sebastian was hurting him. Already his sleeve had torn under the sharpened nails. In his fear and desperation he thought of ways out. Thought of anything ,thought of anyone. And suddenly it can to him like an epiphany. He pulled on his butler's finger at least just enough to let out a single sound. The name. His true name. He screamed it he wasn’t even sure if he pronounced it correctly or he even said it. The demon let him go. Ciel walked a few paces back.
“You dare call me that, boy”
“Shut up!” Ciel caught his breath and glared at his loyal companion. “ you dare treat your master like that …I’M NOT…breaking my…my contact” he coughed. “Only Alois is Claude mean to betray him soon. Only He is breaking his contract. He asked me to. he wanted me to , but I won’t”
Sebastian gripped his face roughly and forced him to look up at him.
“You will get what is owed to you. I’m as loyal to you as you are to me. Trust me. Trust that I want my revenge as much as you want my soul. You are my sword, Sebastian”
“You are never to call me by my true name, do you understand, Master” the honorific came with a lot more venom than respect.
The door opened and the witch came out with alois tucked under her arm, he looked exhausted. “Everything alright here?” she asked sternly. She looked at Sebastian with an icy glare. “The ritual was a success. Are you sure you don’t want to participate, lord Phantomhive?”
Ciel winced when Sebastian tightened the grip on his arm. “I’m okay”
“Him being here would only make things easier you don’t have to be afraid” she smirked “besides it would not be the first time I’ve broken one of his contracts”
Ciel looked up at his butler, stoic, infuriated. “New face, same offending smell”
Sebastian yelled something he couldn’t understand, he only assumed it was in her native tongue. She only smiled and replied in her language as well then addressed him again “if you ever change your mind my lord you know where to find us”
They passed Alois along. Even in his delirium he looked like a massive weight was taken off his shoulder. They walked together, Sebastian held the grip on Ciel until the train station. The ride back to London was awkward and silent. Ciel took solace in watching the country go by; he didn't want to face his butler at the moment. Ciel himself struggled with his emotions. For one he was happy for Alois for getting out of his metaphorical spiderwebs; on the other hand he wondered how long it would be before Sebastian calmed down and things went back to normal.
The silence was unbearable, the tension could cut diamonds and Alois was suffering so he decided to break the silence . He smiled and spoke “Sorry, Sebastian, it was my idea to go see the witches, but I knew Ciel wasn’t going to follow me inside sorry if I made you worry”
Sebastian was not amused at all; he stared at the boy with a deadly stare “Lord trancy, have you ever tried to take food away from a hungry dog?”
Both boys stiffened. The question alone was enough to drop Alois’ smile and confidence“…yes I have”
“Should you try to intervene with my contract again, I’ll leave more than a nasty bite”