Break my suffering Bonds (kuroshitsuji season 3)

PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

A stray drop of blood hung suspended at the edge of a porcelain chin.

Slowly, a finger lifted the drop from its temporary resting place and traced a crimson trail up to full, cherry-red lips. The fingertip, complete with its ebony nail, slid between those plump lips so as to be sucked on until the small appendage was no longer stained. Then the mouth opened, and a puff of air bubbled up from lungs and out into the stale, foul-smelling atmosphere.

In an alleyway somewhere in London, a predator was feasting upon its prey. The night had closed in some time ago, shrouding their crimes in utmost secrecy. Sounds that had formerly rent the air—screaming, thrashing, and then tearing and chewing—now fell way to an utter silence. No one would know, in the morning; the crows would have worshipped upon their newest feast before the sun rose for a new day.

Tragic.

The dark-haired boy straightened up from a crouched position, sharp scarlet irises returning to their normal respective shades. He glanced over at his companion, who stood dutifully waiting, burgundy eyes impassive. "I miss eating sweets," the boy muttered forlornly, turning away from the mess in the alleyway. "At least they didn't leave such a foul taste in my mouth."

"Then perhaps the young master would like me to prepare a snack upon returning—"

"No." Frowning, hetossed his head back to stare at the polluted night sky. "Sebastian, you know it's pointless. I was merely reminiscing."

"Of course, Young Master."

"Stop calling me that." The pale blue head turned to glare at the demon companion. "I'm not your "Young Master" anymore. I don't consider you my servant. You're my teacher, and my companion."

"As you wish . . . Ciel." Sebastian Michaelis bowed stiffly, eyes flashing red for just a moment before returning to a shade that could pass as human. "Though I cannot help but to be plagued by those words you issued to me upon our leaving the Phantomhive Manor. I was to be your servant for all of etern—"

"I don't want that. I shouldn't have said those things. It was wrong of me to try and dictate your wishes. You are a demon; you don't like being bound."

"You know this all too well," Sebastian chuckled.

A pair of eyes, one a deep cerulean blue and the other a pale lavender, skirted their way back to the mess of blood and limbs and hair on the ground behind him. "I feel dirty . . . doing this. Is it always so hard?"

"I was born a demon, so I was already calloused to the process. I am sure you will grow used to it in time." Sebastian stepped forward and held out a hand in a gesture of kindness . . . a trait he showed to no one but his beloved master. Ciel knew this . . . he knew how Sebastian cared for him like a child. In a way, he supposed he was Sebastian's son. From day one of being a demon, the black-haired butler had tended to every problem. Instead of doing the job for him, he had shown him the proper way to execute each action. Of all of them, eating had been the toughest. The boy had literally starved himself for nigh on a year before giving in due to pure starvation.