Clouds cluttered the sky like dishes crowded the sink in the Phantomhive estate. Bardroy tried to clean them with a hose he acquired from Finny, but Sebastian managed to stop him just in time.
"Ay I don't see the problem here! The more power the quicker it'll get done am I right?" He argued. Sebastian simply shook his head in dismay and closed the door. He had left a disaster in his wake and hadn't even managed to properly prepare a breakfast.
"What a mess. And lunch preparations must begin soon. The young master will awaken before long." He simply stated.
"Ho ho ho. " added Tanaka, sipping his tea. Sebastian began this next chore without a fuss. Swapping out his spotless white gloves for a pair of rubber ones, he got to work scrubbing the spotted and stained dishes. After several minutes of this tedious work, he stopped, replaced his ivory gloves and began to ascend the countless stairs to Ciel Phantomhive's bedchambers.
"Master, it is time for you to wake up. " The small boy of twelve snored on peacefully, unaware of his butlers presence. Sebastian smoothly pulled open the cobalt curtains to shed a little light, revealing the gloomy setting below. Fog began to infiltrate the grounds, as the young master began to stir. "For breakfast today, we have a lightly poached salmon accompanied by a delicate mint salad. I can also offer toast, scones, or pain de campagne. Which dish would you care for this morning?"
Ciel rubs his uncovered eye then carelessly replies "A scone." He was never a morning person. The butler begins to assemble the ironed button up cream colored shirt and eye patch, all his masters' clothes. His duties entailed anything and everything the young master ordered, and this was one of many prosaic tasks asked of him.
"Today you have a meeting with Mr. Hughes, the authority on the history of the Roman Empire. And this evening, Mr. Damiano of the Poseidon Company will be paying you a visit.
"Oh, is that the man I have in charge of stuffed animals at my factory in India?"
"Yes. I'm told he's Italian. We will of course offer him all the hospitality the estate can provide."
"I know this smell. Is this tea Earl Gray?"
"Yes, from Jackson's of Piccadilly." Their conversations never extended past formalities. "I shall wait for you at the dining table, Master." He gives a small bow and turns to exit; he was a man of courtesy after all. Just as Sebastian was about to exit, Ciel hopped up, snatched one of the darts and gave it a toss. Had it been anyone else, the dart would have struck right in the neck. But the butler simply smirked and caught the dart with ease.
"Well thrown, my lord. Even so, let's save the games for later."
"Yes, I suppose you're right, Sebastian." Ciel makes his way to his elaborately decorated dining room, taking his time as always. As he feasted on his breakfast, leisurely tossing darts at his servants, an unexpected knock echoed throughout the manor.
"Sebastian, when are we expecting Mr. Hughes?"
"Certainly not so early. " An unannounced caller at the Phantomhive residence was unheard of, you needed an appointment to meet with Ciel Phantomhive. As Sebastian strode over to the heavy oak doors, Finny can be heard complaining of his new wound.
"Ow! Ow ow ow ow ow ow! What was that for, Master? What did I do?"
"Nothing. I don't need to justify my actions." The brass handle clicked open to reveal a tall girl of fourteen. Her hair was in a bun, with a few wavy strands fallen out, that she tugged on. Her midnight blue eyes matched the azure dress she wore.
"My lady is here to call upon Ciel Phantomhive." Stated a low feminine voice. Sebastian's attention immediately turned to the lady behind the teenager and he was instantly captivated. Her onyx curls tumbled down to her chest, which revealed a bit of cleavage while retaining a tasteful manner. Her jade eyes had curves, her pupils almost slitted. She was laden in black lace and beryl.
"I am Alette Vamphina, representative of the Vamphina household. May I present my butler, Selima Lovelace." She bent her knee in a low bow.
"My lord." She nodded. For a moment Sebastian was speechless, He reaches for her gloved hand, pressing his cold lips to the fabric.
"Of course, we will show you every hospitality. I must go fetch the master. He is not used to unannounced visitors." The butler was confused. No mere mortal could this woman be, no one had ever had his cold heart flutter like this before.
"There you are!" Sebastian burst into the dining room. "We have guests, now get to work! Have you finished weeding the courtyard, Finny? Mey-Rin, have you washed all the beddings? Baldroy, shouldn't you be preparing for tonight's dinner? Tanaka... well, I suppose you're all right as you are. Now all of you, we have no time for thumb twiddling this morning. So get to work!"
"Yes, sir!" squealed Mey-Rin
"Simply hopeless." He sighed, exiting the room, returning to the guests.
"Right this way, my ladies." He gestured them into the next room, where Ciel usually took his tea. The room resembled a study with sturdy desks and wooden cabinets, a view of the whole courtyard and ornate decorations.
"Sebastian, you know I don't take unannounced callers." Ciel commented.
"I know young master, I truly am sorry. But this is Alette Vamphina of the Indicum Company. Surely you remember."
"Yes I recall. We were to do business with them. Send her in. And entertain her butler." He ordered.
"Yes young master." The young girl stepped forward confidently, and took a seat across from the boy.
"So, how long have you worked for your master?" Selima asked, trying to make small talk. '
"Around two years."
"I've been with Miss. Vamphina for about five years." She followed Sebastian down the halls, which reminded her of a maze, into the dining hall.
"The silver is polished to a spotless shine. The tablecloth is crisp, clean and wrinkle-free. There is not a single bruised blossom among Master's favorite white roses. And finally, the highest quality ingredients have been gathered to prepare a first-rate dinner. The table is perfection. This will be an elegant Phantomhive welcome."
"Indeed it will. Very Impressive." She praised. She watched him rush about, switching from one task to the next, never once complaining. A small ding echoes throughout the kitchen.
"Still so much to do and he calls me now." He sighs.
"Would you like some help?" she offers kindly
"No, you are a guest, you mustn't."
"Nonsense, these tasks are mundane to me now. I'll help you." She insists.
"If you say so, my lady." The butler ascends the stairs once more to find Ciel and Alette in the middle of an important conversation.
"I'm a bit hungry. We'd like something sweet to eat."
"You shouldn't eat now, Master. You don't want to spoil your appetite for dinner with your guest this evening."
"I don't care about that. Make me a parfait."
"I'm sorry, sir."
"Fine then. About the portrait in the hallway..."
"Yes."
"Take it down. I am Ciel Phantomhive, son of Vincent, and I am the head of the house now."
"Consider it done, my lord" As he leaves he hears the faint resonance of conversation
"My butler is the exact same way."
"They should get along then." Upon his arrival, there are three worried faces, all spilling out apologies.
"Now, how exactly did this happen?"
"I thought things would go faster if I used extra strength weed-killer on the garden." Finny answered
"I was trying to reach the tea set we use for guests, but I tripped and the cabinet fell!" Mey-Rin cried
"There was a lot of meat to be cooked for dinner, and it was gonna take a long time, so uh, I used me flamethrower. Don't worry though, that young lady there is fixin it right up!" Terrified of another blunder, Sebastian burst into the kitchen to find Selima chopping off the charred bits of meat.
"You don't have to look so mortified."
"I assure you I am just used to incompetence. What do you intend to do?"
"Make finely-sliced raw beef donburi."
"What a clever idea." In the distance, a carriage can be seen hurrying toward the Phantomhive demesne. Finny just finishes laying down the stones in time as Sebastian opens the carriage door for Mr. Damiano.
"Oh, how impressive!"
"Hello, welcome, sir. This is called a stone garden. It is a traditional feature in Japan."
"Ah, prodigioso! Wonderful! Truly an elegant garden." Relief floods through Sebastian's body. One thing to worry about down, he thought.
"We thought it appropriate to serve dinner al fresco this evening. Allow me to escort you inside until the meal is ready."
"Ha ha ha, I should have expected this from a Phantomhive. I cannot wait to see what else is in store!" The butler accompanies the man inside, leading him toward Alette and Ciel.
"Sebastian. Alette and her butler will be staying the night, prepare a room for them both."
"Very well, my lord."
"Let's play a game to break the ice, shall we? Suggests Ciel. They begin playing the game, while discussing their various franchises. Soon Alette is winning as Mr. Damiano falls further and further behind.
"The progress we've been making with the East India Factory is quite astonishing. We already have the makings of a top-notch staff." He lied
"Bewitched by the eyes of the dead. What terrible luck. It appears I lose a turn."
"My turn then." Alette spins the dial. "You find a short cut through the woods. Skip ahead five spaces."
"Right now is the perfect time. We should begin expanding the company and building a strong labor force, it would—"
"Go on. It's your turn." Ciel was never a patient man
"Oh, yes. I just spin this then. Okay there, five spaces. Now, what I wanted to ask you. Perhaps you could contribute another 12,000 pounds to support our expansion? I believe it will be quite a profitable venture for you, my lord, and I would consider it an honor to help expand the Funtom Company…"
"Lose a leg in the enchanted forest. And it's your turn again. I lost a turn, remember?"
" Oh, I see. Right, I move six."
"You don't. That's three."
"What? But…"
"You lost a leg, if you recall. Now you only move half the number of spaces."
" Oh my, ha ha ha ha. This is a gruesome-a board game, isn't it? Is there-a no way for me to restore my leg, then?"
"No of course not." Snaps Alette. She was growing tired of the man's ignorance.
"I'm afraid once something is truly lost, sir, that one can never get it back again.
Your body is burnt by raging flames."
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Sebastian chopped vegetables, out of the corner of his eye watching Selima as she prepared the dishes. She moved quickly, with grace that was near impossible by anyone other than her.
"It's done." She sighed.
"I'll fetch the young master." The butler enters the study into intense conversation, Both Alette and Ciel wore frowns and Mr. Damiano looked vaguely uncomfortable.
"Pardon the interruption, but dinner is served."
"Oh, dinning out in that exquisite stone garden? Shall we go, my lord?"
"Very well, we'll finish the game later."
"Oh, is there any real need to finish it? It's obvious I'ma going to lose."
"All the more reason to play." Added Alette, with a devilish smirk.
"I'm not in the habit of abandoning games halfway through."
"How childish.-Oh I, I mean that sometimes it takes a child's eyes to see what's really important. It's a true gift. Maybe that's what's made the Phantomhives the nation's foremost toy makers. It certainly impresses me!" he recovered. He hurriedly strode out of the room
"What a foolish man."
"I agree."
"He's obviously lying to you."
"I know."
"On tonight's menu is a dish of finely-sliced raw beef donburi courtesy of our guest Selima."
"A pile of raw beef. And this is dinner?"
"Only an uncultured swine would think of it as such." Spat Alette.
"Yes, but surely you have heard of it? This, good sir, is a traditional Japanese delicacy, a dish offered as a sign of gratitude to someone who has accomplished important work. That, sir, is the wonder of donburi!"
"Oh, donburi!"
"This is a token from our master, to show his thanks for all your hard work on the company's behalf. He wanted you to know that it's much appreciated"
"The vintage we are pouring tonight was specially selected to compliment the flavor of soy sauce." Informed Sebastian. Noticing how violently Mey-Rin was shaking, Selima swiftly takes the bottle of wine from her and Adroitly, she pours the wine into the cup smoothly, without spilling a drop.
"Ay the woman sure knows how to avoid a crisis. " Baldroy commented, they take a trembling Mey-Rin inside to recover.
"Me glasses is cracked that's what it was!" She told them.
"Your intervention was quite clever, my lady." Sebastian admits. The tablecloth stays pure as snow, untainted by the wine as the stars emerge from beneath the thick clouds.
After the meal, Alette and Ciel return to his study.
"He mocks me so, trying to play me for more money." Ciel bursts out.
"I know my lord and what a poor show. Shall Selima take care of him?"
"Yes and have Sebastian help!" he growls. Alette tosses her wavy brunette hair over a pale shoulder and takes a small silver bell from her black purse.
"Very well, Ciel." She rings the bell and in seconds the butler arrives, ready to serve her master.
"Take care of Mr. Damiano for the Phantomhives. Allow Sebastian to assist if necessary." A wicked smile creeps across the alabaster skinned girl, showing just a hint of her true nature. Her bottle green eyes glow and shimmer, a sight only Alette recognized as blood lust.
"I'm-a tired of-a babysitting this-a child earl. Yes, I've already sold off the factory. Now all that's left is to pocket the extra cash. I'm trying to squeeze more out of the brat right now. The employees? Who cares about them? Ah...! Never mind. The rest of the formalities are for you to deal with. No, it'll be easy. Please, he's only a child." complains Damiano. He takes a long sigh, and sees just a hint of something…strange. A wisp of something almost there, something watching him. "Ah...! Impossible… I'm seeing things."
There was something beautiful about fear. The heart racing, sweat dripping, adrenaline rushing through the body that Selima got a thrill out of. The uncertainty. As he cast worried glances over his shoulders, her excitement began to build. He kept reassuring himself, telling himself there was nothing to be afraid of. He really was a fool. He rushed down the stairs clumsily, giving her the perfect moment to strike. She reaches out, grabs a hold of the man's leg, and twists until she hears a satisfying crack. She hears the commotion and slips into it, a innocent smile splayed on her flawless face. He glances up at the woman and is terrified by the darkness she harbored within herself.
As he attempts to escape, Sebastian intervenes,
"Surly you aren't leaving the manor yet, sir? We haven't given you the full Phantomhive treatment yet. We still have to serve dessert. You've lost a leg, remember? Now you can only move half the number of spaces. So why not just relax a bit and make yourself at home?" He coaxes. Suddenly, they both hear footsteps ricocheting off the walls of the mansion. Selima appears, and they watch as the man scurries about, desperately searching for an exit.
"Sebastian. You know what we must do." She pauses, "Did that man just crawl into the incinerator?"
"I believe so."
"That was easy. The honor is yours." She bows
"What an impatient guest we have. You couldn't even restrain yourself until dessert was out of the oven?" He teases. "Perhaps the Italians aren't familiar with our customs. There's plum pudding, mincemeat pie. There are many traditional desserts here in England that make use of meat. I find them all quite tasty."
She giggles, but is soon surprised to be pinned down, under Sebastian. His lips are inches away from hers, warm breath colliding with skin…he leans in.
"What are you?" he whispers.
"Sir, I'm just one bloody good maiden." She answers.
He folded the blankets, stuffed the pillows, made evening tea, all the proper preparations for a guest.
"Were my orders carried out? Ciel demands.
"Yes, my lord. But—"
"What is it?"
"I'm afraid it's Ms. Lovelace."
"Yes, what about her?"
"She's certainly not human."