The White, Sticky Thread Of The Spider

chapter 5

(Ciel's birthday begins at 12:00 midnight. The current time is 8:00.)

The guests, one by one, stepped into the house of Phantomhive after coming from various stagecoaches and led out by various servants. As they entered the manor, each and every one was astounded by how finely decorated the mansion was; from the beautiful tapestries to the golden-lined rugs, the gorgeously tiled floor and the expensive diamond chandelier. The murmur of amazement coming from the nobles was unmistakable; and even Ciel was astonished by the decor.

"S-Sebastian..." He gasped, looking about the room. "How did you..."

The butler smirked deviously and bowed deeply. "If I couldn't do this much for my young master, then what kind of a butler would I be...?"

Ciel chuckled slightly and walked off somewhere; probably to stuff his face in the sweets Sebastian had prepared.

The demon looked around, surveying the room. To the right of the table filled with food was Lord Alliester Druitt seducing a young lady like a pedophile; which was normal; to the left of him was Lau and his personal stalker Ran-Mao gambling like mad; also normal; and ahead of them was Lizzie trying to eat a little girl with a dress like fluffy cotton candy. Normal yet again. But where was Claude and Alois...? Sebastian scanned the room for the two, but they were nowhere to be seen. Hmm... perhaps they haven't arrived yet...? He shook his head. No... the spider butler does not tolerate lateness. Suddenly a deadly voice of silk sounded behind him.

"Sebastian Michealis... and may I ask why exactly we were invited to this party...?"

Sebastian could feel Claude's hot breath on his ear, sending a tingle through him Without turning around, Sebastian smirked. "Because my master ordered me to do so. You see, it is his birthday tomorrow." He answered smoothly.

Before Claude could reply, Alois skipped out from behind him and smiled at the other demon. "His birthday, eh?" Wiggling his tongue playfully, he poked Sebastian, much to his distaste. "Are you going to give Ciel a present then?" Smirking almost deviously, Alois's eyes flashed daringly. "I know I will..." Suddenly the look vanished. "Well Claude! Let's dance then!" He reached behind Sebastian and pulled Claude's arm. The butler was forced to follow. Giggling mischievously, Alois winked at his butler and attempted to dance with him. "Comon Claude! Work those legs!"

Sighing, Sebastian turned away. Such a troublesome child... Now, where was his master? Looking around, he spotted his bochan horking down some raspberry cream cookies. Sighing yet again, he headed towards the group surrounding Ciel. They were cheering him on, and the clapping and exited shouts got louder the more cookies his master devoured. "Excuse me-" Sebastian began, but the crowd's voices grew. Shaking his head disappointingly, the demon snapped his fingers. All the candles illuminating the room flicked out in a mere second, and all at once.

Gasps could be heard, and the party grew silent.

Clearing his throat, the dark butler smirked deviously. The group was in his attention now.

"Excuse me. I am the butler of the Phantomhive family, and I humbly request silence for the time being. Please enjoy the meal." The candles flickered back on, and everyone gasped, excepting Ciel.

The dining table was filled to burst with wonderful food.

(9:30)

After the majority of the people at the ball had eaten, the food cleared away and the lights dimmed, It was time to dance.

And dance they shall.

For hours, the guests entertained themselves with the flow of the fine orchestra music. Waltz, Foxtrot, you name it. The night before Ciel's birthday was a fine night indeed.

"My Lord... it is your birthday; you simply cannot be a wallflower the whole time." Sebastian approached his master, who was sulking and leaning on a wall.

The butler put a hand to his chin thoughtfully. "Look, there, even Alois is dancing."

Ciel looked up to see the platinum-blond boy attempting to dance with his butler. Claude showed no expression, and Alois was tugging on his arm.

"Claude! This is a ball! Let's put on a wonderful dance for Ciel!" Alois poked Claude.

No response.

"Oh come now. Wipe that grim look off your face and smile!" With that, Alois reached up and tugged on his butler's cheeks, much to the amusement of the guests.

"Come... on..." The boy kept pulling on his face, stretching Claude's pale cheeks until they turned a slight shade of dark pink from his tugging. "What's that Claude? Are you... BLUSHING?!" The onlookers burst into laughter, and Alois released Claude's face.

A teasing smirk played on the boy's lips, and he danced playfully about his butler. "Someone's BLUSHING! So Claude, why you so embarrassed? Or maybe you're getting hard?"

Claude's left eyebrow twitched, but he made no comment.

Ciel let out a long sigh of exasperation, and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please ignore them." Sebastian said with a smile as Alois continued to jeer at his butler. He held his hand out to Ciel. "Please, young master, just dance the night away..." Ciel rolled his eyes and pushed the hand away. "Don't be a fool. I only agreed to the stupid dance in the first place because Lizzy-" Suddenly Sebastian lunged forward and covered his bochan's mouth. He leaned close to his ear. "My Lord... I have been restraining myself for weeks... at least grant me this dance as a small reward for my hard work." Ciel struggled beneath the demon. "After all... I wish so very strongly to make you mine when the clock strikes *media nocte..." Sebastian released his hold on his bochan and smirked deviously. If only time could go faster... Ciel gasped and took a few moments to catch his breath. "F-Fine! I'll dance with you, you damn demon..." The butler licked his lips. "Very well. Shall we dance...?"

(10:00)

At two hours 'till twelve o'clock, a wonderful slow song began to play on the orchestra. The candles dimmed even more, and turned a curious crimson color. So like his.. Ciel thought as he stared uncertainly into Sebastian's eyes. The deep shade of red light made the dance floor shine with romantic elegance and passion; and as if it was calling the two, Ciel and his butler made their way into the dance.

"S-Sebastian... I might have forgotten how to d-dance..." The young earl said nervously.

"Please, My Lord. Just follow my lead." Sebastian took Ciel's hand in his and began the dance. Suddenly he shuddered as he felt his butler's hand rest on his lower back. "W-why in the world am I dancing as the LADY?!" Ciel seethed under his breath, painfully aware that many onlookers were watching curiously. "I believe you mentioned beforehand that dancing as the female partner was more to your liking, so I took your opinion into consideration and took the lead." The demon replied smugly. "Alright alright, keep it down will you?" The young master said hurriedly, face turning a soft shade of pink at the chuckles of the guests. Suddenly he gasped as he felt his butler's hand slip dangerously low, and even lower... "W-W-What in the world do you think you're doing?! Save it for later!" Sebastian only smirked wider. "I apologize. Is there something that the young master is concerned of...?" He pressed Ciel closer to him, and Ciel turned a darker shade of pink as he felt the hard muscles rippling under the black tailcoat. "I said to lay it off until later..." Ciel hissed softly. Sebastian chuckled, and squeezed his hand. "Oh...? The young master would like me to postpone any activity until we reach the bed? Does that mean he really does want to do it then...?" The demon twirled Ciel around, and leaned close. "Answer me, bochan..."

"Comon Ciel! Answer the man! Are you gonna have FUNNNN in bed tonight?"

"GAHHH!"Ciel let out a surprised outcry, and fell onto the floor as the song ended. Sebastian disappeared.

"What do you want..." Ciel slowly looked up to see long, shapely legs, short shorts, platinum blond hair, and piercing ice-blue eyes. "...Alois Trancy?"

"You heard me! Are you gonna do t-h-a-t then? With him?" Alois crossed his arms and grinned mischievously.

"Excuse me?!" Ciel jumped up from the floor.

"Well look who's a grumpy-pants tonight. Is it because I interrupted your love dance?"

"Shut up!"

Alois giggled and extended his hand to Ciel. "Comon. I wanna give you something." Ciel cautiously took the hand, and Alois helped him up. "Follow me!" He said cheerily before running off. "Hey! Alois! WAIT UP!" Ciel chased after him, all the while looking around for Sebastian. Damn demon... he got me all hot and then just leaves... sighing, Ciel rubbed his member slightly. Thank god, he wasn't as exited anymore. Alois led him to a small hallway in his manor. Where the hell are we going..? "Alois!" Ciel called, struggling to catch up. "Where are you taking me?" Alois didn't reply, just giggled some more and kept running. Suddenly the earl of Trancy rounded a corner, and the earl of Phantomhive lost sight of him. "What is he playing at...?" Ciel murmured before rounding the corner.

Then everything went black.

(10:30)

When Ciel opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was chains. Wait... WHAT. Chains?! He frantically turned his head to and fro, trying to get a good look at the room he was in.

The space that he was currently imprisoned in was small; and bleak-looking at that. Chains bordered the edges of the room and wrapped around his ankles and wrists. His ankles were chained to the floor, and his wrists were bound behind his back and attached to the wall. Briefly Ciel tried to get loose of them, but the shackles were tight. Suddenly he gasped. Something wasn't right. He hesitantly looked down at himself. His shirt had been ripped off, and there were cuts and bruises on his chest. Thankfully Ciel still had his pants, but they were ripped and frayed at the edges, and some cuts on his legs were visible. Narrowing his eyes, Ciel knew it was time to call Sebastian. But as he prepared to open his eye with the contract seal on it, Ciel realized that he couldn't open it. And... he couldn't open his mouth either. "MPPPHHHHHHHH! MPHHH! MMMMMPHHH!" Ciel thrashed in his his chains and attempted to rip off the thing keeping him from opening his pentagram eye.

"I see you have awoken~" Called a voice.

Ciel gasped for breath; as it was difficult to breathe through whatever was covering his mouth.

"So... Ciel..." A figure wrapped in darkness began to move.

"...How do you like your birthday present...?" Long, shapely legs stepped gracefully out of the shadows, and ice-blue eyes gleamed at him.

Alois...Trancy...

(10: 45)

Back at the ball, Sebastian was busy clearing away the dining table for a game of poker when suddenly he heard- no, sensed, his master in trouble. "Bochan..." He murmured. Stepping back, he attempted to trace his master. Ahh... but.. what was this...? Sebastian thought for a moment on what it could be. Wait...

Something was blocking Ciel from communicating with him.

Gasping, the demon tried to focus on the distress signal his master was giving out. I bet the Spider has somehow gotten hold of him... Suddenly Sebastian sensed TWO different calls; one fainter than the other. Assuming that Ciel's was the stronger call, the dark butler followed it down a hallway normally unused by the Phantomhives, out a back door, and through a tunnel underground. He sped through the roundabout labyrinth and through the confusing paths. Bochan... my bochan...! Hesitating for a slight moment, Sebastian was met with two corridors. Shaking his head, he chose the one to the right. He took another right and saw a grey door at the end. Opening it, Sebastian rushed inside. My bochan is in trouble!

Suddenly, a large weight crashed on top of him, and behind Sebastian a voice of deadly silk sounded.

"Sebastian Michealis. It seems you have chosen the incorrect door."

Damn you Claude Faustus.

"It appears as much. And may I ask why you are currently on top of me...?"

The weight on Sebastian shifted, and he felt a hot breath slip down his neck. "Me and my master have devised a plan to get back at you two for what you did at OUR ball..." The captured raven felt teeth nip gently on his earlobe, and he shuddered. "From the moment you invited us to this party, you and your master have been entwined in the spider's web." Sebastian widened his eyes, and gasped when Claude trailed a finger down his back, lower, lower... "There is no longer any escape for the foolish butterfly."