Author's Note: I have no acceptable excuses for my long hiatus, so to be brief, I'll just offer this new chapter as a peace offering...it's been a long time so I think I've gotten rusty, I hope you don't mind ^_^'

Disclaimer: Same as the previous ones, Kuroshitsuji is NOT mine.

XXX

Robin and Tutor

Chapter 20: Luxuria

"This sure isn't one of the things I expect to see in a convent..."

Bard said with a low whistle as his eyes scanned the area that he, Maylene and Finny had discovered in their investigation. Who would have thought that beneath the dormitories were dungeons whose origins can be traced back to the Dark Ages? But the dungeons themselves weren't the most shocking in their discovery...it was what's inside of them: Girls. Girls ranging from their early teens to their late twenties. Girls in all colours, shapes and sizes; their only common traits a faded loveliness and glassy eyes that blankly stares as if transfixed at something in the far distance, though obviously seeing nothing. Dirty rags that were remnants of clothes resembling a nun's holy garments clung to frames that would have been desirable to men's eyes long ago, but were now revolting to look upon. The mixture of blood, excrement and who knows what other filth foul the air, hinting quite strongly at the miserable conditions the wretched souls were living in.

"How horrible; they remind me of the time when I was still a test subject..." Finny said sadly, his gaze on the girls utterly sympathetic.

"What do you make of this, Bard?" Maylene grimly asked as she wiped her glasses that had been fogged by the fetid fumes swirling about that godforsaken place.

"I don't know, but this sight does remind me of an infamous bawdy house in America I was unfortunate enough to set foot in..." Bard replied just as gravely, yanking his cigarette from his mouth and crushing it beneath his boot. "They have the same look as the women there...the same sightless eyes, the same bruised body, the same everything..."

"Are you saying that these girls here are being marketed as prostitutes?!" Finny exclaimed, aghast.

"Judging by their condition, I would say they were, Finny; and by their garb, or what we suppose was their garb by the remnants they were wearing, we can assume that they are not the usual peasant girls who sell their body to earn extra money..." Maylene calmly replied, setting her glasses atop her head.

"The missing nuns...the lost village girls..."

Maylene and Finny looked at Bard who had voiced out their matching thoughts, the silence that enveloped them palpable even amidst the eerie moans and wails of hopelessness surrounding them.

Ciel went down on his knees and knocked on the chapel's floorboards once, twice, then looked at Sebastian gravely.

"So, the demonic energy is from here, you say? Indeed, this hollowness could only mean that a room must be located underneath, and judging by the resounding emptiness, it must be cavernous..."

"Uh...would anyone please tell me what is going on?"

Ignoring the confused query of Lord Roland, the young earl got up from his kneeling position and began pacing thoughtfully around the area he had just been observing...after being assisted to his feet, and having his robes dusted by the demon butler, of course. "Now, the only thing we need to do is find the entrance...for there certainly is an entrance, is there not? I highly doubt they enter by prying the floorboards open..."

Frustrated at Ciel's apparent disinterest in enlightening him about their current situation, Lord Roland tried his luck with the boy's servant.

" ...?"

"You need not concern yourself with this matter, Lord Roland." Sebastian said with his usual deceptively pleasant smile. He then turned his attention to Ciel. "Now, if the young mistress will please allow me to handle the matter at hand...?"

"Go on ahead." Ciel permitted with a dismissive flick of his hand, a gesture that Sebastian reciprocated with a respectful bow. The demon butler then approached the altar and fiddled with the religious artefacts spread out on top of it, giving particular attention to two golden candlesticks with curious etchings on one surface that were seemingly attached to the outer edges of the structure itself. With his trademark smirk, the demon butler twisted the candlesticks so that the areas with the peculiar engravings are facing each other-a sound resembling a click but more otherworldly was then heard, and the floorboards mysteriously rearranged themselves to form a long stairway leading to a pitch-black darkness below.

Sebastian surveyed his handiwork with a shake of his head and a few clicks of his tongue.

"This sure is disappointing, considering the fact that he bears the title of Prince. I was expecting him to have done better, and prove to be more challenging than Leviathan. But then again, if I remember correctly, he is known for acting on his emotions rather than his wits...which apparently, he has little of."

Ciel felt the first stirrings of annoyance at the implications of what his butler just said.

"Are you telling me that you already know the identity of the one plaguing these lands, Damian? Please say that you have been aware of it just recently, for I would really hate to know that you have been wasting my time in a wild goose chase when the prey had long since been sighted."

The demon just guilelessly smiled at the young boy, his face devoid of any awareness of his master's rising anger.

"Please be assured that I did no such thing, my lady, but I do admit that I already had an inkling as to who the culprit is from the very beginning..."

"Um, ? I think this is not the right time to be saying that to Lady Robin-" Roland interjected hesitatingly, cowering as Ciel turned redder and redder in front of him before finally exploding.

"If that was the case, then why did you not tell me anything back then?!"

"Well, because "back then" my lady, I was still not sure if my hunch was correct. If I had told you and my guess was in fact wrong, then I would have "wasted your time in a wild goose chase", which, as you have voiced out just now, you dislike much so." Sebastian went on calmly, his placid expression never wavering even before the explosive visage that has taken over the young earl's angelic face.

Ciel, seeing the impossibility in making the demon even a bit reasonable, forced himself to calm down and focus on the more urgent situation at hand.

"Hmph, let us stop this talk before you could annoy me further, and just investigate wherever this enchanted staircase lead to."

Sebastian smirked, a silent but obvious gesture of basking in his victory at his master's words, before falling to his knees, right hand over left breast, in his usual gesture of supplication.

"Yes, my lady."

Ciel acknowledged the butler's actions with a curt nod, and then sent a stern sidelong glance towards Roland.

"Be warned that you are about to enter a world entirely different from the one you have always known, Lord Roland...a world that you never know existed, and has been existing way back even before you were born. It is a world where only shadows and who knows what worse tread, a world where the difference between truth and lies is but a blur. Even after hearing all this things, are you still willing to come with us?" The young earl's gaze in Roland's eyes was piercing. "I will not guarantee that you will be the same as you are now when we get back; your life might change completely, most likely for the worse..."

Roland returned Ciel's stare with as much conviction as he could muster.

"This all happened because I was too cowardly to accept Lady Elizabeth's love in the first place. When I decided to accompany you in her rescue, I vowed never to falter on the way. My life already changed completely when I met her...I am no longer just Lord Roland Rainsworth, second son and thus unable to inherit the title Marquis of Hillcrest; I have become the Lord Roland Rainsworth, Lady Elizabeth Middleford's beloved, and there is no other title that I would rather have in the whole world." He smiled softly at Ciel. "Whatever changes that will occur in my life because of Lady Elizabeth will never be for worse, because meeting her is probably the best change in my life."

Ciel smirked at Roland's passionate words, and then turned his back towards him.

"Such strong words...let us see if you can live up to them, then."

And the three began their descent to the depths of the dark unknown.

No sooner had Ciel's feet left the last rung of the ladder when he felt Sebastian quickly assume a protective stance before him, his body taught with heightened alertness.

"It seems that they have detected our presence, my lady. We should leave immediately."

Ciel just impatiently brushed the demon butler aside as he took a few determined steps forward, bravely facing the direction of the faint torchlight and approaching footsteps that announce a number of unseen presences in the pitch-black darkness.

"No, leave if you want to Damian, but I am staying. If getting caught will lead me to Lizzy, then so be it."

"I am sorry but I cannot allow that, young master." Sebastian said icily in a volume intended for only the young count's ears to hear. "Remember, you are now mine to command, and I will not permit you to endanger yourself just because of some whiny, human girl who would have not been captured in the first place if she was not so flighty."

"I must request that you retract your derogatory remarks regarding Lizzy, Sebastian, if you do not wish to anger me." Ciel replied flatly in equally hushed tones, the glare he directed at his butler palpable even in the deep gloom.

Sebastian took a deep, exasperated breath and massaged his aching temples with his gloved hands.

"I cannot fathom why you are getting so riled about her, young master; did you not use to find her annoying past the point of tolerance?" The demon's crimson eyes then narrowed and glowed in unearthly malevolence as he sneered at his young master. "Or are you telling me that despite the plague that she is to your everyday life, you somehow managed to fall in love with her?"

Ciel countered Sebastian's leering gaze with a steadfast, cerulean stare.

"...Yes, I love her, Sebastian. She is my cousin, my childhood friend, my betrothed; how could I not love her? My love may not be that of a lover, but it is still love, nonetheless. I care for her, and thus wish only the best for her. She once considered me as the best for her, but I killed that possibility with my own selfish desire for revenge. The only thing that I can now do for her is help her achieve happiness without me by her side. She deserves that much. At least allow me this one indulgence, Sebastian."

The demon butler exhaled resignedly at the young boy's words.

"...Very well, but I am telling you, this will be the last time that I will allow you to act upon your affections towards other people. After this, all of you-your body, heart and soul, even your very essence and existence-they all belong to me."

He leaned closer towards Ciel so that his lips lightly brush the outer shell of the young earl's ear. "These ears shall only heed my voice..."

He tilted Ciel's face towards him so that that their eyes meet, smouldering scarlet boring into clear, cobalt blue.

"These eyes should only have me in sight..."

He let the tips of their noses touch so that their breaths mingle together in heated synchrony. "This nose should only breathe in air for my sake..."

He bent his head a little lower so that his lips hovers a mere centimetre above the boy's own. "And this lips should only utter my name."

Sebastian then moved away from a very flushed Ciel, his fingers trailing down the slope of the young earl's cheek as he did so.

"You belong to me now, to do as I please and as I see fit...as it should have been when your side of the contract has ended and mine has begun."

Much to his consternation, Ciel felt Sebastian's words turn his blush two shades redder instead of invoking his anger. He then stole a quick glance in Roland's direction to see if he had witnessed the interlude, but judging from his shadowed form, it seemed that the young man was preoccupied in the approaching individuals and didn't took notice of his companions' suspicious actions.

Ciel's thoughts were interrupted by the warning tone in Sebastian's voice.

"They are coming closer, young master. Will you really not change your mind?"

"No." Ciel was quick to reply.

Sebastian sighed in resignation, and then bowed respectfully.

"If that is how it is, then please allow me to stay by your side, as protection to say so the least."

Ciel felt a vein in his temple throb at the insinuation in his butler's remark

"Are you implying that I could not protect myself, Sebastian?"

The demon just gave him his infamous, trademark fox smile.

"Oh no, young master; I am merely addressing the fact that I am far more capable in the protection business than you will ever be, as attested by the innumerable instances I end up rescuing you when you were supposed to be "protecting" yourself."

"Why you cocky-"

Ciel then proceeded on attacking his butler, but before his punch could connect, it was stopped by Sebastian's hand.

"Shh, please be still young master, for here they come."

The three watched anxiously as the dim torchlight drew nearer and nearer until finally revealing the identity of its bearers.

"Oh, it is only you three." Sebastian said in a bored manner, relaxing his stance.

"Mr. Damian! Lady Robin! Lord Roland!" Bard, Maylene, and Finny chorused as soon as they caught sight of the trio.

"What are you doing here? Were you not supposed to be investigating the dormitories?" Ciel promptly asked as soon as the excitement of the reunion died out.

It was Bard who answered his query.

"We were, Lady Robin, and somehow, we managed to end up here. If you three are here, then that just means we are currently under the chapel, is that right?"

"Yes, you are right." Ciel replied, and then he grew thoughtful. "So this means that the chapel and the dormitories are actually connected. Would you care to tell us what you managed to find in the dormitories?"

Bard, Maylene and Finny exchanged uneasy glances at the young earl's request. Maylene was the one who responded, her eyes grave.

"Regarding that matter, I think it would be more appropriate to show rather than tell you, Lady Robin. Do come this way."

"Dear Lord...what in heaven's name is this?"

Lord Roland could only stare in horrified shock at the deplorable condition of the inhabitants of the underground dungeons that Bard, Maylene and Finny led them into.

"Is this your first glimpse of the Underworld, Lord Roland? I do pity you; it can be quite harsh on first-timers."

The steadfast calm in Ciel's voice made Lord Roland regard him in a stunned manner-a reaction that the young boy took no notice of as he slowly approached the dungeon cells.

"The Underworld-the world hidden beneath the pomp and elegance of English High Society. It is a world where the respectable ones dare not tread; a world of darkness, crimes, and immoralities. Ironically though, aristocrats were also the ones tasked by the queen to manage the Underworld, to make sure that none of its corruption will be exposed to the ignorant lot that remained of the ton."

Slightly recovered from his appalled initial reaction, Lord Roland watched as Ciel wrap a hand around one of the heavy, iron bars that confined the unfortunate females and emotionlessly observe them as they grovelled at his feet.

"You do not seem to be the least bit affected, Lady Robin. Could it possibly be that you are already used to such sights?"

Ciel tore his eyes away from the pitiful creatures on the other side of the iron bar he's holding and turned his head to face Lord Roland.

"The Merryweathers are close kin to the Phantomhives, whose head is always appointed as the "Queen's Watchdog", caretaker of the English Underworld, Lord Roland. It is only understandable that I had been exposed to such scenarios more than a few times throughout my lifetime."

"Does this also mean that Lady Elizabeth...?"

Ciel returned his gaze to the ill-fated girls once more.

"Well, she was betrothed to the last Earl of Phantomhive, and even with that aside, her mother was a Phantomhive before she married Sir Middleford. With these factors to consider, I would not be surprised if she knows certain things...and believe me, the things she is knowledgeable of can be quite shocking, but I highly doubt that she had witnessed even just a bit of the horror that is the Underworld seeing the kind of person she is. Even now, I am still hoping that she has not been able to see any of this; for it would surely destroy the "her" that we know so well..."

Both of them fell into a contemplative silence...only to be broken by an excited cry from the servant trio.

"Lady Robin, please come over here! I think we have discovered a hidden door!"

Ciel and his companions rushed to where the servant trio was...and were welcomed by an ancient oak door exposed from its stone-wall disguise. The young boy then incredulously stared at the rusted padlock that kept it shut.

"Do you think we can open it?"

"Please do not worry yourself over such a trivial matter, my lady." Sebastian was quick to reply as he stepped forward to perform his duty. "Miss Maylene, one of your hair pins, if you please?"

Maylene floundered for a bit at Sebastian's mere mention of her name, before finally producing the item that was asked of her.

"O-Oh! Here it is, Mr. Damian."

"Thank you, Miss Maylene." Sebastian said, his smile rendering the maid into a furiously flustered, blushing heap in Bard and Finny's arms. He then proceeded on his task of picking the lock, which, almost as soon as he fiddled with it, clicked open effortlessly,

"Are you some kind of a master thief or something?" Ciel scornfully remarked, annoyed at his butler's latest achievement. Sebastian just answered his master's grumpy query with his pasted and patented smile.

"Well, as a tutor to the Merryweather household, should it not only to be expected that I can pick a lock or two?"

Ciel just contemptuously snorted at Sebastian's words, then pushed open the heavy, creaking oak door. What is on the other side could only make them stare. It was a corridor worlds apart from the dungeons they came from, so much that it is hard to imagine that the only thing that divides the two was a broad piece of swinging wood. While the other side of the oak door is a picture of destituteness, the side they are currently in is a paragon of opulence: scarlet, Persian rugs with elaborate markings carpeted the floor, their bold beauty garishly clashing with the gold, satin draperies that hang from the ceiling and trail to the ground. White marble statues of naked women in seductive poses stood side by side on the walls with gold-framed oil paintings depicting the passionate adventures of lusty Greek gods, heroes, and other amorous creatures. The crystal-laden chandeliers completed the image, the glow of their candles casting an erotic blanket on everything it touches.

Bard let out a low whistle.

"Now, this here is exactly how I imagine a high-class brothel would look like."

"An astute observation, ." Sebastian said pleasantly, reaching out to caress a marble statue of a woman whose face is contorted in ecstasy. "Only brothels would have the audacity to display ornaments such as these, and judging by the quality of the materials, these are very expensive indeed." He then withdrew his hand from the vulgar decor and thoughtfully touched his chin. "And wealthy surroundings could only mean wealthy clients. It would be interesting to know the patrons of this establishment, do you not agree, my lady?"

"Indeed." Ciel concurred with a haughty raise of his aristocratic chin." "And I am sure that the queen will be very interested as well."

Their conversation was halted by the sound of a rattling wooden door followed by muffled, desperate female voices.

"Is anyone out there? Please let us out!"

Ciel ran to the source of the sound, and was confronted by a large expanse of wall.

Another hidden door?

"Lizzy? Are you in there?" The young boy yelled, kneeling before the wall and pounding it. He then began to search the smooth surface in an attempt to find anything that might betray the hidden door's presence to him.

A female voice once again let itself be heard.

"Lizzy? Are you talking about Lady Elizabeth Middleford? She had just been taken along with several other girls to be auctioned off tonight. If you will be quick, you might still be able to save her."

The young earl wished no more than to speed off and rescue Lizzy right then and there, but he knew that he must do something for the captive girls first.

"Thank you very much! Will you care to tell me your name? It would please me very much to know."

"Serena. Serena Winterton"

"Well Miss Winterton, I am Lady Robin Merryweather-"

He heard a gasp from the other side of the wall, followed by scuffling sounds representative of one doing a curtsy.

"My liege!"

Ciel sighed exasperatedly and willed his patience to lengthen.

"Please, this is not the time for formalities. Miss Winterton, I am designating you as the one in-charge of all of you. Take care of everyone, and in no circumstance should you leave this room unless it is life-threatening, for it can get dangerous. I promise that I will come and pick you up as soon as everything is over, do you understand?"

The girl's voice was a breathless whisper of excitement and nervousness when she answered.

"Yes."

The young boy was then assisted to his feet by Sebastian.

"Very well, we need to go; I leave everything in your hands."

"Please do take care, my lady!"

"Sebastian."

It was just one quiet word, but the demon butler understood.

"There is only one other room in this hall, my lord, which leaves no doubt to its purpose."

Ciel nodded his head in reply, and then wasted no time in running toward the auction hall as if the devil himself was at his heels.

"...And the next item is a lovely young lady with blood the bluest of blue. Generations of the Middleford and Phantomhive families produced this blonde gem. She is no other than the only daughter of the Head Knight of the Queen, Lady Elizabeth CordeliaMiddleford! You do not believe me? Just look at her emerald eyes! Do they not remind you of Lady Frances' beautiful green orbs, minus the fierceness? And her skin! So flawless and creamy, produced only by the finest upbringing! So what are you waiting for? Start the bidding now! I am sure she will be the highest quality virgin you will ever taste in your entire life!"

The gleaming mahogany double doors were loudly swung open, and all heads turned to the breathless, exquisitely beautiful young girl with golden curls dressed in nun's robes responsible for the deed. The girl's lovely lapis lazuli orbs widened as her eyes fell upon the current offering being auctioned, and she stumblingly ran towards her.

"Lizzy!"

"What about her, is she being auctioned too?" A short man with a balding head and jewel-encrusted fingers imperiously asked the one in-charge.

"I want that girl! Name any price!" A distinguished-looking elderly gentleman with a magnificent white moustache equally demanded.

"Give me that cute little morsel to eat! I will pay you as much money as you want!" A disgustingly fat man, his fine, tailored suit stained with the mountains of food and drink surrounding him, bellowed.

Ciel stopped in his tracks and eyed the men hungrily appraising him with undisguised disdain.

"Lord Floyd of Nottingham...Baron Kendrick of Stalworth...Sir Desmond of the Royal Guard...and over there, the merchant brothers Lonegrine...I also see a couple of marquises, knights, and earls...I wonder how your mothers, wives, and daughters would react when they will be made to know that you are actually fond of this degraded pastime? I intend to inform them of this incident, you see. It would certainly put an end to your domestic bliss, not to mention cause quite a scandal because I do not plan to limit myself to just telling your family members. There are eager ears everywhere, and I would be very much willing to supply them with this juicy news...though gossip would be the more suitable word."

Baron Kendrick of Stalworth, the distinguished-looking elderly gentleman with the magnificent white moustache, rose from his seat with wine goblet in hand and slowly swirled it as he regarded Ciel thoughtfully.

"I must say that I am impressed that you know our names, young lady, but who do you think you are to be threatening us? You are just a nun from an obscure hospice...a very beautiful nun I must say, but not exactly someone important. We, on the other hand, are men belonging to the highest echelons of society. Who do you think will the people believe in?"

Ciel's offered him a sickeningly sweet smile, but his voice was dripping with poison when he spoke.

"I have heard that you are a very intellectual man, Lord Kendrick, so you must know of the old adage, "looks can be deceiving", do you not? Well, it seems that I have deceived you, gentlemen."

With one swift motion, Ciel removed his nun's cowl and blonde curls, making his blue-gray wig tumble in waves behind his back.

"I am Lady Robin Merryweather, Duchess of Devilshire. As far as I know, my title ranks higher than any of you within this hall. Who do you think has more power to make the people believe now?" His eyes narrowed and his voice lowered to a hiss. "I will make you all pay dearly for sexually abusing my young, female constituents, so you now better find some dark .place to hide into and make sure I will not be able to find you...for if I did, hell would seem like paradise compared to the punishment I will deal you."

Ciel smiled with sadistic satisfaction as the perverted gentlemen scrambled and fought amongst themselves to be able to get out of the auction hall, only to have Sebastian, Lord Roland, and the servant trio block their exit. They were then promptly beaten, tied up and gagged, ready to be transported to London and face the wrath of the queen. He then proceeded on attending to the needs of Lizzy, but was beaten to it by Lord Roland. He tenderly looked on as Lord Roland worriedly fussed over Lizzy's heavily-drugged form, and assured himself that his beloved cousin was in capable hands.

"Bard, Finny, Maylene; please go ahead and rescue those girls in the locked room earlier. We will meet you aboveground. Oh, and bring these scum as well." The last was said by the young boy with a well-aimed kick at Baron Kendrick's behind.

"Well now...slinking away will do you no good."

Sebastian's smooth voice halted the one in-charge who was thinking to make his escape in a secret trapdoor at the back of the stage.

Ciel approached the culprit, regarding him with all the haughtiness of his supposed title.

"Remove your mask and state your name."

The man slowly got up, and then casually ran his fingers through his dark, almost maroon, red waves that reached past his shoulders.

"Ah, it has been a long time since we have last seen each other, have we not, Naberius?"

Sebastian remained aloof even at the striking familiarity of the man's words.

"Be silent and just do as my young master tells you to."

The man laughed, the husky quality of his voice surprisingly sexy and enticing.

"Oh, so you have become one of those loyal dog types eh? What a pity, you really had the potential of becoming a Prince if you put your mind into it..."

He then turned to Ciel and removed the mask covering his whole face: a wooden article painted white with thin slits for the eyes and a vertical gold filigree design on the left cheek. The visage revealed was as handsome as Sebastian's own, only that it gives off a somewhat more alarming allure and seductiveness. Winged eyebrows a shade darker than his hair sits atop hazel eyes that are more golden than brown. His nose was thin, aristocratic and nicely flaring, situated between high, chiselled cheekbones and above softly curving lips that invites passionate kisses. A slight dusting of beard adorned his chin, giving his appearance a languid, rugged quality.

"The name's Asmodeus, my lady...or should it be my lord, CielPhantomhive?"

Lord Roland turned confused eyes at the young earl.

"Ciel...Phantomhive...?"

The red-haired man's hand flew to his mouth in mock mortification.

"Ooops! Do pardon me for my slip CielPhantomhive; I have carelessly mentioned that you are now passing yourself as your dead second cousin...Lady Merryweather, am I not right? Poor dear...so young and quite beautiful, too. Such a pity she died a virgin and did not have the chance to experience the delights of the flesh."

"It is a long story, Lord Roland. I shall tell you everything later." Ciel said curtly at Lord Roland's continued stare of disbelief. He then turned his attentions to the red-haired man who was now leering at him. "You are Asmodeus, the demon of... Lust, am I correct?"

The red-haired man's smirk widened, showing rows of sharp, pointed teeth. He acknowledged Ciel's query with an elegant, deep bow.

"Precisely, I am the one and only Asmodeus, demon of sexual desires. If you want the best erotic experience, just approach me. I really do love helping humans and watching them drown in their own lust; it just means more souls to drag into my territory in the second level of hell. We have a quota to fill, you see, and any extra are very much welcome for they mean rewards."

Straightening, Asmodeus proudly puffed out his chest.

"Not meaning to brag, which is Lucifer's manner by the way, but my level of hell has the most number of souls in it. Humans are very lustful, do you not think so? This is probably because lust is the most...pleasurable, among the seven deadly sins. All the better for me, because among all demon princes, I usually get the most prizes; is not that just wonderful?"

In spite of himself, Ciel felt a growing interest at the content of Asmodeus' words.

"And these prizes...what would they be?"

"Oh, there is actually a lot of variety." Asmodeus replied with a thoughtful furrow in his brow. "For example, new boots from dragon hide, a rare commodity seeing that the dragon is the most difficult creature of hell to kill, even for a demon of Prince status. In fact, it takes at least three Prince-level demons to kill a dragon, and the reward is the softest, sturdiest, and most supple hide ever known to exist. Just ask your butler, he is quite fond of it; all his garments are entirely made of the material."

Ciel turned sardonically intrigued eyes to Sebastian, a gesture that the demon butler reciprocated with an affronted sniff.

"I do not see anything wrong with that, young master. Anyone is entitled to see to his own comforts, including clothes, is it not?"

Ciel's eyebrows quirked up.

"I wonder what is it you have done to be rewarded with enough dragon hide to create your entire wardrobe with."

Sebastian's answering smile was his usual, deceptively guileless one.

"Some of the dragon hide are indeed rewards, young master, but most I procured myself."

The thin, but definitely existing arrogance of his butler's reply made the young earl snort.

"And with whose help, I wonder?"

The demon butler's smirk widened, showing his sharp canines.

"Why, I required no one's help, young master. I slew all those dragons all by my lonesome."

"And the first among demons to do so."Asmodeus added with a grin, shaking his head wryly. "Really Naberius, I grieve for your ill-used prowess. If I had your aptitude, why, I would have overthrown Lucifer a millennia ago!"

Sebastian just smiled complacently at Asmodeus' words.

"That is what makes me different from your lot, Ass. I abhor any form of responsibility. I wish to live as I please, free from any restrictions. And do start calling me Sebastian; it is the name I currently go by."

Asmodeus scoffed at the demon butler's reply, his voice laced with slight annoyance when he spoke.

"I do not see why I need to call you by your present name when you change monikers as often as a snake sheds its skin. And do stop calling me "Ass"; Devil help me, but I hate that nickname!"

"Well, it suits you, and your fondness for the orifice of that particular body part is widely known." Sebastian said with much amusement, obviously enjoying the demon of lust's chagrin.

Asmodeus let out a theatre-worthy, melodramatic sigh.

"Indeed, I cannot argue with that. Few people know of the pleasures that can be derived from that certain opening, why I-"

"Enough!" Ciel yelled in interruption, his cheeks and ears burning from the vulgarity of the demons' conversation. "Stop twittering like a pair of old ladies! You are supposed to be battling like the adversaries that you are, not chatting like old friends who have not met for some time!"

"But we are old friends." Asmodeus said candidly, turning to face the young earl.

"And we have not met for some time either, so a desire for chatting is understandable, no?" Sebastian added, also facing Ciel with equally guileless expression as the other demon.

The young boy seemingly forgotten for the moment, the two demons returned their attention to each other.

"So, how is hell, Ass? Is it as scorching as it has always been?"

"Well, it is getting a bit stuffy so I decided to cool myself here for a while. And I told you to stop calling me Ass!"

And Ciel finally exploded.

"Stop it, you two! How long do you intend to continue this way?!"

Asmodeus jumped in surprise at Ciel's outburst, and then spread out his hands before him in a pacifying gesture.

"Now, now, calm down Phantomhive, were merely exchanging pleasantries, are we not, Naberius?"

Sebastian sighed and shook his head.

"Well, the young master was never known for his patience." He began taking off his gloves. "So Ass, shall we begin with the matter at hand?"

Asmodeus let out a yawn and scratched his head in exasperation.

"Truth be told, I would rather not face you in a fight, Naberius, but I guess I have no choice."

An unholy gleam appeared in the demon of Lust's eyes, and he disappeared in a puff of magenta smoke.

A sleek, black cat with golden eyes appeared in his place.

Sebastian took a comically shocked form.

"How dare-that is cheating!"

The black cat began purring and rubbing itself on Sebastian's legs.

"Sebastian! What do you think are you doing? Start attacking it!" Ciel yelled, annoyed at the sight of Sebastian just standing still at the cat's "onslaught".

"I…" Sebastian took out his silver utensils from the inside of his suit and prepared to throw them at the cat, but then it stood on its hind legs, clutched at his pants, and looked up at him with large, watery, beseeching eyes.

The demon butler put down his weapons in defeat.

"I…can't."

Ciel swore he saw the cat broke into a devious grin.

"If you choose to be useless right now, then I shall take matters in my own hands!"

Ciel ran to take the cat from Sebastian's legs, but as soon as he's taken a whiff of the cat's fur, he dropped it and burst in a fit of sneezing. Then, he suddenly found himself lightly lifted and dropped in a vicinity safely away from the allergy-causing cat hairs. He was surprised the inflammation of his nasal passages was miraculously cleared as well.

"Are you feeling better?"

Ciel looked up to the most serene face he had ever seen in a man. The stranger's silver hair had a widow's peak and fell a little below his chin, slightly curling inwards in some sort of bob style. Eyes of baby blue were kindly peering down at him, subtly assessing his condition. But the most noticeable about him was the pair of large, snowy wings protruding from his equally white-clad back, raining feathers and green sparks that miraculously fade away as soon as they touch the ground.

"An…angel?"

"My name is Raphael, Lord Phantomhive." The angel said as he placed a hand upon his chest and bowed only slightly since he still held Ciel in one arm. "I had come as summoned."

"I summoned you?"

Raphael nodded and pointed to the young boy's hand that had accidentally clutched the holy pendant while he was in throes of his histamine attacks.

"Oh."

Ciel extricated himself from Raphael's grasp and stood on his feet, regarding the angel thoughtfully.

"You said your name is Raphael...the angel of healing?"

Raphael's lips stretched into a kind smile.

"I am indeed known as such, Lord Phantomhive."

"You may go back to where you came from, Raphael; you are not needed."Sebastian interjected in annoyance, Asmodeus'cat form now being strangled by him in one hand.

Raphael lightly laughed as he stood from the kneeling position he was in after rescuing Ciel.

"How rude of you, Sama-" At Sebastian's warning glare, Raphael hastily corrected himself. "-Naberius; is that how you greet a friend you have not seen in a long while?"

Sebastian raised his chin haughtily at the angel's words.

"It is you angels who are rude, meddling with other's affairs that do not concern you."

The cat, all this time frantically struggling from Sebastian's vise-like grip on its neck, finally shape-shifted to its human form.

"Na-Naberius, please-"

Sebastian let go of the demon with a sound of disgust. Ciel raised a sardonic brow at his actions.

"Well now, that didn't seem too difficult; has your love for felines lessened somehow?"

"That is not at all the case, young master." Sebastian replied, his voice still ringing with irritation. "I just have to repeatedly remind myself that what was before me was not what it seemed."

Then he regarded Raphael with utmost disdain.

"As I have said before, your presence here is unnecessary."

Raphael chuckled as he settled in a sitting position in mid-air with one leg crossed atop another, his lightly flapping wings keeping him afloat.

"And if I was not here, what would you have done with Lord Phantomhive's allergy, hmm? Should you not instead be grateful that I am present to relieve him of his ailment?"

The gaze Sebastian directed towards him was full of scorn.

"As long as I am here, he has no need of any of you."

Raphael tried to stifle his mirth with one hand, and performed placating flapping gestures with the other

"Oh please, Naberius, control your jealous tendencies for once. You know Lord Phantomhive's well-being is one of Heaven's primary concerns; after all, he is- " Catching himself about to reveal a big secret, Raphael instead cleared his throat before continuing brightly "-Well then, what seems to be the matter here?"

"How amusing that you should ask-"Ciel managed to got out through gritted teeth, thoroughly annoyed from the fact they're still leaving him in the dark. "-When we had once again did your job for you!"

He impatiently inclined his head to indicate the pitiful heap on the floor that was Asmodeus.

"Oh! So you caught another one, I see."

Raphael blithely landed on the ground and made his way towards the demon of lust, surveying him with ill-suppressed humour once he got near enough.

"It was pathetic how you lost so easily, Asmodeus, quite shameful for a demon of Prince status such as yourself."

Asmodeus moaned and rolled to his other side, presenting his back to the angel of healing.

"Do me a favour and keep your mouth shut, Raphael. Fighting was never my forte; I am someone so used to carnal pleasure that I cannot stand physical pain, unless inflicted with erotic intentions, of course."

Raphael chuckled and once again faced Ciel.

"It seems that I am no longer needed here; Naberius is eager to see me go as well." He chortled once more. "I trust you know how to properly handle this, Naberius?"

"Do not insult me, Raphael; I know you are aware of the full extent of my capabilities-escorting a Demon Prince to hell is just one of them, the tip of the iceberg, so to speak."

"Of course, I expect nothing less from you."

Raphael spread out his wings to their full splendour in preparation for leaving, but Ciel's voice halted him.

"How about the mastermind? Are you not interested in capturing her as well?"

Raphael just flicked his fingers in a dismissive gesture at the young earl.

"Seize her if you will; now that Asmodeus had been captured, the affairs of humans is none of our concern."

The angel once again made a move as if about to leave, but Ciel stopped him once more.

"Wait!"

Raphael turned to face him, both brows raised in attentive awareness.

"Considering the fact that I had my histamine attack and you were the one who came to aid me…it is not mere coincidence, is it?"

The angel's face maintained its tranquil appearance as he answered.

"As I have said before, we put your welfare first and foremost, Lord Phantomhive. It is only logical that the angel who could assist you the most is the one sent to you, no?" He once again spread his wings and began flapping them. "I will be taking my leave then."

"I said, wai-"

And Raphael was gone in a whirlwind of white feathers and green sparks.

"At last, he finally left." Sebastian said with much relish as he made his way towards Ciel, dragging Asmodeus by the back of his shirt behind him.

"And just like the first two, he left without saying anything useful."Ciel muttered in frustration, folding his arms then glaring at Sebastian. "But then again, you can do me the favour of lessening my frustration by telling me everything you know."

"There is a right time for everything, young master." The demon butler replied with his trademark fox smile. "Though unfortunately, that "right time" is not now."

"Tsk. Of course, I was a fool to ask you." Ciel huffed, before peering down at Asmodeus.

"So demon, would you care to tell us who your mistress is?"

Asmodeus chuckled, and met Ciel's piercing stare with an amused one.

"And what made you so sure that what I have is a mistress, Ciel Phantomhive? Do you think a female can stomach the sins that I am responsible for?"

Ciel haughtily raised his chin an inch.

"Do not be absurd; where we currently are is a convent, what else could the culprit be but a female? And besides, I have been raised to never underestimate women, what with Marchioness Middleford as my aunt."

Asmodeus just leaned back towards Sebastian's grip and even managed to fold his arms behind his head in a carefree gesture.

"Very well, and your guess is?"

Ciel closed his eyes then took a deep breath. It took a few moments before he opened them again.

"Sister Cecilia."

XXX

Author's Note: Progress on Chapter 21 has been smooth so far, so hopefully, I can post it soon *crosses fingers*. For those interested to know, my visual reference for Asmodeus is Johnny Rayflo of Vassalord, while Raphael is loosely based on Makai Ouji's Kevin Cecil (even though Kevin is actually Uriel=P) .

A little info on Raphael from angelfocuscom (just add a period between focus and com):

Raphael

Also known:

Labbiel

Meaning - "Healing power of God", "The Divine has healed", "God heals"

Hebrew word rapha means "doctor" or "healer". Raphael is a powerful healer and assists with all forms of healing - humans and animals. He helps to rapidly heal body, mind and spirit if called upon, as in the biblical story of Abraham and the pain he felt after being circumcised as an adult. You may call upon Raphael in behalf of someone else, but he can't interfere with that person's free will. If they refuse spiritual treatment, it can't be forced.

The chummiest and funniest of all Angels, Raphael is often pictured chatting merrily with mortal beings. He's very sweet, loving, kind and gentle and you know that he's around when you see sparkles or flashes of green light.

Part of Raphael's healing work involves spirit releasement and space clearing. He often works with Michael to exorcise discarnate entities and escort away lower energies from people and places.

As well as a healer, Raphael is known as the "Patron of Travelers" because of his help with Tobias and his travels. Call upon Raphael when you are traveling, to assure safe travel. In addition, he assures that all your transportation, lodging and luggage details go miraculously well. Raphael also helps with inward spiritual journeys, assisting in searches for truth and guidance.

Raphael taught Tobias how to make balms and ointments from a fish which cured Tobias' father blindness. Raphael can be called upon to help healers such as doctors, therapist and surgeons. Call on Raphael if you're a student entering the healing field and you're looking for the right school and/or are in need of help with studies, as well as getting the time and money for school. He also assists with establishing healing practices when your schooling is finished. Raphael not only helps you to heal from physical, emotional and mental pain, he also heals wounds from past lives.

Other areas Raphael helps with is finding lost pets, reducing and eliminating addictions and cravings, clairvoyance, bringing unity to your life, if you feel out of touch with your spirituality, if you've lost a partner and/or your soul/body doesn't feel "whole".