Half Complete

Secrets and Lies

" Ciel " I screamed , jumping up. " What's happening? " Lydia asked, coming inside.
She sighed, seeing Ciel on the floor. She glared at Will. He was subdued, staring at the floor .

" Carry the boy onto the bed , sire" She glared at Will." And please try not to agitate the boy. His ribs are bruised and has a slight head injury. " she turned to me. " And what are you doing up on your bad ankle, child? " her voice was calm but really scary. I gulped and sat down."Sorry ma'am".

Steffan picked Ciel up from the floor with startling ease and gently put him on the bed. His face was worried. Lydia wrapped up my ankle, silent. Finally Will spoke up, he wasn't meeting my eyes. "I'm sorry . We didn't expect them to escape in the beginning. And Ciel attacked Gerad in the darkness, that man can't stand someone hitting him,he didn't mean to bruise him up so badly. And Ciaran wanted to test these two. It's been a long time since we last recruited someone and he wanted to make sure that they were worthy."

Steffan rubbed his forehead. He looked tired. " Well Ciaran went a little too far this time. And even I did it seems. I am sorry, Clarie. I shouldn't have asked you especially after how much emotional turmoil you two had the last few days. " He took a deep breath and glanced at my sister. "And I can't let you join them, it's too dangerous. Ciel can work with the army when he recovers and you'll assist your sister ."

"What do you mean?" I asked. No, I can't believe he would do that. They may have been scary but was interesting. Call me a masochist but I wanted to join them. Ciel would too, "after everything that's happened you can't just take back your words. What's the honour in that Steffan? "

"Honour alone cannot rule kingdoms. Truth alone isn't enough. You are my fiancé's sister. People will try to take advantage of you",

"And that is precisely why the girl must be allowed to join us, oh mighty king" Ciaran said in his monotonous voice
...startling everyone as he entered.

Steffan's eyes narrowed and he glared at Ciaran. " What were you thinking? You  can't change everything so easily.  Just because you're the head now doesn't mean you can do what you please. "

          "Where am I?  Clarie? Steffan? And.... and who is that new voice?" Ciel had opened his eyes. "Ciel" I almost screamed with relief. "You're okay!".

         " I think I am, Clarie.  But what happened? How did we get out? The last thing I remember is hitting a wall."

       My sister stood up. She ran her hands through my hair and gave me a kiss on the forehead. "I think it's best for me to leave. Don't exert yourself ,sister." She mumered and walked daintily away not before exchanging a look with Steffan.

           " Oh, I see why you're trying to protect the boy" Ciaran jeered . He laughed but it was anything but humorous.  " Where did you hide him all this time, oh king?Or  Did you not know?I am sure you've realised it now.... but the boy and girl are already under my cluthes. I won't give them back.... unless you want to discontinue my services. "

        Steffan looking murderous.  "You scum! You belong to the lowest of the low. I can't let you have them." He seethed.

    " You aristocrats were always very selfish , posing behind that mask of self - righteousness. Don't you know that I have complete control over you. The previous head was an incompetent fool.... that's why he died so early.  I know what the monarchy is like.  And if you keep these two in the castle ,they will only be ridiculed and harassed . They can never live a normal life".
  
         " Who are you to say? Steffan's the kimg and you don't have any right to boss over him!" Ciel raged. He was sitting on the bed now.... face flushed and sweaty. He was obviously sick. I desperately wished for Lydia to come back. This was so strange.  Who is this burnt man, exactly?

    He moved closer to Ciel and grabbed a lock of his black hair. Ciel stiffened. " Such dark,  straight locks. They remind me of someone else's.The eyes just need to be a creulean blue and you'll be that man's absolute clone."

      "Ciaran,  stop this tomfoolery at once! "Steffan interupted. He grabbed Ciaran's arm roughly and pulled him away. "The boy is sick thanks to your minions. Now let him rest . Do not poison his head like you've done with others".

          " They don't know, do they? "He sneered. " The boy is absolutely clueless of his heritage, heh? "

    "What do you mean?  I am an orphan. My foster father died a few days back. I trained with the soldiers.  That's all I need to know about my heritage."

      Suddenly it became clear to me. The way Steffan seemed to care for Ciel and how the minister looked scared when he say him."He's related to Steffan,  isn't he? " I said, my voice dry.

    Steffan seemed to almost deflate.  He had this weary aura around him. "Ciel is..... he is my younger brother" he mumbled.

    " What?" I felt my stomach lurch. Ciel was the king's brother then that meant that the late king was his father. I gasped  remembering a conversation with Dorian.

                  It was a day after a gruelling practice and I was resting under a tree. I heard someone being shoved roughly to the ground ."Ya think y'are above us, eh bastard? Cursed scum.... you aren't worth a rats arse".

       It was Ciel. Some soldiers were beating him up. And he didn't utter a word as they kicked him. I was frozen in place with horror. " The brat thinks he's special. ... acting chummy with the commander and the Lord's daughter." They jeered and hooted."Are you dumb as well as blind you half complete imbecile? " One asked, pulling on Ciel's hair.

    That did it. I had  stormed forward and stood before them.They cowered and tried to act like the boot lickers they were . Finally they ran away with some mumbled apologies. I had grabbed  Ciel and pulled him up. " I'm sorry" he had said and run off.

    I had been surprised and had gone in search of Dorian.I told him everything and his face had darkened." Ciel has suffered too much misfortune in his life. His mother died when he was born and his father went mad with grief. Ciel belonged to a noble family.  But he had his mother's eyes. His father was drunk out of his mind and one day he beat the child badly. It was after then that Ciel turned blind. When the other nobles came to know of the child's defect they forced his father to abandon him."

         I was jolted back to the present.  That meant the king.... He was so cruel. " Why didn't you tell me?  Are you ashamed,  Steffan? "

     Steffan stood helplessly.  " It's not that Ciel.I didn't know that Dorian had rescued you.I didn't realise.... I'm sorry"

     "Oh quit the lovefest. It's  sickening." Ciaran strutted to the door. "These children will join the black hoods if you want your reign to continue" he dictated as the doors finally closed behind him...

    Hi! How was the chapter?  Please vote and comment.  I'd like to thank anyone who's taken time time to read this story.  It means so much to me.

    The ch is dedicated to two friends: my ladyatroXity  and the poet EdwinJohnA