It was early in the morning, the sun just beginning to rise over London. Ciel and spoke with his aunt and Lau, explaining another body had been found in Whitechapel. This time, the body was found in the cemetery.
"In the cemetery?" Madame Red asked. "That's an odd place to find a body."
"Fitting though." Chimed in Lau.
"The most recent victim is an unidentified woman." Sebastian explained. "While the level of violence was not quite as severe, many of the marks match those of the other victims. It almost seems as if something interrupted the attacker and had to make quick work of the victim."
"No one has come forward to identify her?" Madame Red questioned sadly. "Poor girl." Madame Red sipped her tea as she watch Lau stand and speak with her nephew. She cast a quick glance to her butler. Who on earth had he gone after?
Their time at the crime scene was short, and after learning Scotland Yard had little information to offer, Ciel quickly turned and left. Lau and Madame Red questioned this, confused as to why he was giving up so quickly. He corrected them.
"Now we go see someone who is useful." Ciel explained. "Besides, perhaps he still has the body. It would be beneficial to see the wounds."
"My lord!" Lau exclaimed. Everyone stood to look at him. "You don't mean!" Ciel smirked at him and continued walking. Ciel continued to walk until he stopped in front of a small shop with the word Undertaker hanging above the door. They paused and looked at the quaint little shop.
"So…where are we?" Lau asked. Madame Red shouted at him for his antics before Sebastian began to explain.
"It's a funeral parlor run by an acquaintance of my lord's." He spoke calmly and opened the door. He followed everyone in and they took in the sight of the room. It was dimly lit and appeared empty. There was a hallway that lead to another open room. In it, they could see a table. They peeked around the corner and saw someone laying there, covered in a white sheet. They only saw the silhouette of the head and shoulders, stained with blood.
A creaking sound startled the group as a voice spoke.
"I was wondering when you would be seeking my services, hehe." A man spoke as the lid of a coffin slid open, revealing the undertaker. "Do I finally have the pleasure of fitting you for one of my coffins?" He asked as he stepped out of the coffin. Grell, Madame Red, and Lau were so terrified they couldn't scream but watched the odd man in horror.
"No, that isn't why I am here." Ciel said, already tired of the man's antics. "I wanted-" The Undertaker lifted his fingers to the boy's mouth, silencing him.
"You don't have to tell me, I already know what you seek." The Undertaker explained. "My most recent customer is most unusual." He drawled. "Even more unusual than the others." This sparked everyone's interest. "So unusual. I was so startled by my discovery, that I haven't even had the time to properly address her, make her beautiful."
"May we see her?" Ciel asked.
"I see now." Lau interjected. "The funeral parlor is a front. Your main business is information. How much do you charge for the information, anyway?" Undertaker grinned wickedly and dashed over to the man, invading his personal space, making him very uncomfortable once more.
"I have no use for the Queen's coins." He then latches on to Ciel, begging. "Please my lord, give it me, give me what I seek." Ciel looked irritated by the man. "Give me a good laugh!" He began laughing to himself and rocking on his feet. Lunatic. Everyone thought together. Sebastian stepped forward.
"Leave it it me." He spoke confidently but the Undertaker paused. His usual smile fell and he seemed to be thinking of something.
"Perhaps we should wait on payment for now." He said, startling everyone. "You wanted to see her, yes? Well there is something I don't want you to miss. I'm sure your reactions will cover the price fully." He said, his smile back. He turned away from his guests and walked back to the hall. He looked over his shoulder and menacingly said "Follow me." The group looked at each other, unsure, but followed him. The followed him down the dark hall and into the open room.
It was a morgue. The windows were covered, blocking out most of the light. There were several slabs to rest bodies on and coffins along one wall. There were shelves of books and a small movable table that held the tools for the morticians job. Barrels ran along one wall, who knows what they contained. A sink and washing station was also present. It smelled of antiseptic in the room, harsh on everyone's senses.
There was only one body at the time. They could see where the blood had seeped through the sheets. One stain was near her neck and the other was on her lower abdomen. The undertaker moved to a window and opened the curtain before opening the window itself.
"A little fresh air never hurt anyone." He chuckled to himself. Ciel neared the body, looking at the cloth. Was he really prepared to see this? His mind raced with all the gruesome and gory possibilities of what could be under the sheet. Then he noticed something. His blood ran cold.
There was a curve in the sheet where her mouth was open. The sheet was being pulled in gently, and then pushed up, as though someone was breathing. Ciel opened his mouth to speak but was startled when the sheet was ripped away from the body, revealing the dead woman underneath. Ciel was silent as he took her in. She was dead. There was nothing to dispute that now. Her skin was ashen and a large cut on her throat showed the probable cause of death. Undertaker had taken the time to stich it up. He continued to look. She was dressed but barely. He blushed slightly and stepped back.
"You didn't think to cover her properly before we came here?" Sebastian asked, exasperated.
"I already told you, I was a little preoccupied with some other tasks." He explained. Ciel continued to look at the woman. She was mostly in tact. She was wearing an evening gown that hung off her shoulders. It was a dark green. It would have been pretty however there was a large tear in the front. If she had been standing, there was no doubt that something would have been exposed. Her skirt was torn in the front revealing her underthings. Her garter belt latched onto thigh high socks and lead into knee high boots that had a slight heel. It was odd considering her dress. Most women don't wear boots such as these in the evenings. There was dirt on her knees and leaves in her hair. Her hair was fanned around her, coated in blood and dirt. It would have been curly were it not so tangled. Ciel inspected her hands. They were slightly calloused and her nails were a little long. Some were filed and some were jagged. Underneath appeared to be blood or dirt. Had she tried to fight. A finger flexed and Ciel jerked back, startled.
"What is it my lord?" Sebastian asked, stepping forward calmly. Ciel paused and looked at him before sighing.
"It was nothing." He told him.
"So what is so special about this one?" Madame Red asked as she loomed over the corpse, unimpressed. "I thought they were all mangled."
"They were, except this one." Undertaker giggled and stood across from Madame Red. "Each one of them have had their valuable uterus taken and this one was no exception. Only, this one seemed interrupted, rushed."
"Could there be a copy cat?" Ciel asked. Undertaker looked up and smiled wickedly. A far off a howling began.
"Is that wind?" Lau asked.
"There was no wind today." Madame Red told him. It seemed to come closer to the shop and grow louder. The howling seemed to fade to a scream. A young woman's scream. Madame Red gasped and leapt back from the body as it began convulsing. As the screaming grew louder and louder, the Undertaker chuckled and stepped back slowly. The screaming grew louder and sounded as though it was coming from somewhere in the room. The woman's mouth stretched open painfully as a strangled and pained scream came from her. The howling was coming from her.
"What's happening?" Ciel hissed as Sebastian pulled him away from the body. Its convulsing grew to a violent thrashing. The table she was one shook violently and she thrashed off the table into a standing position. Her pained screaming turned to screams of rage as she kicked at the barrels on the walls and threw the table across the room. She paused and there was a moment of silence before she bent over and vomited. Ciel gagged as blood and insects spewed from her mouth.
"That insufferable little slut!" She shrieked in a rough voice. "That-that hussy! I curse her! I spit on her grave. That absolute bitch! Shredding my dressing and scaring them away." She brought her fist down on the floor and shattered the tile. She coughed and heaved. She choked out another bug and paled. "I'm going to rip out every hair from that slut's head. Every infuriating red strand." Her voice was hoarse and strained.
"What on earth?" Madame Red gasped. Grell screamed.
"How?" Ciel asked the question everyone was wondering. Sebastian narrowed his eyes. He has his suspicions. The woman stood. She was rather short and had curves barely covered by her dress. She turned and faced everyone and stumbled into an awkward curtsey. She was scowling and tried to take a step forward. Her anger had dissipated and pain covered her body. It's not everyday you are ripped from death's sweet grip. She fell to the floor in a crouch, panting from the pain. No one moved. No one really new quite what to do. Well, on person did.
Undertaker wrapped one of his grey sash's around her shoulders, giving her some cover. He helped her up. She seemed faint. For all the rage and wrath she woke with, he was surprised to find her so tame. But perhaps it would be easier to ask her questions.
Before they all knew it, they were back in the main room of the shop, the young woman sitting tiredly in a chair, sipping tea. Her throat burned and her hand idly traced the stiches on her neck. She would need to return home soon. She needed to create a medicine to ease the pain and quicken the healing. Maybe she can lessen the scaring. Someone cleared her throat and she blinked away the haze. Her eyes still hadn't adjusted to being alive yet. How long had she been dead?
"I apologize." She said quietly. "What was your question?" Sebastian smiled understandingly.
"It is no trouble. It is quite understandable." He assured her. "I simply asked your name, Madam."
"My name." She repeated, looking at him warily. Sebastian picked up on the hesitation.
"Do you not remember?" He asked, feigning sympathy. She glared at him.
"Cecilia Lechance." She answered hoarsely. She took another sip only to cough it back up into her hand. When she looked, she saw there was blood. Cecilia scowled at her hand, growing tired of seeing it. Something white appeared next to her head and she looked up. The Undertake was handing her a handkerchief. She took it gratefully and cleaned her hand idly.
"Miss Lachance," Sebastian continued, "You gave us quite a start. May I inquire as to how you are still alive?" She continued to thoroughly clean her fingers, seeming oblivious to the question. "Miss Lachance?" He asked again.
"Isn't it obvious?" She asked, not bothering to look up from her hand. "It was a miracle." Her unimpressed tone alone gave away her lack of belief in the divine.
"Do you remember how you were killed?" Lau asked quietly.
"Part of it." She responded and set the cloth in her lap. She picked up her drink once more. Cecilia kept up a mask of absolute calm, as though this happened to her every day. "I assume you are searching for my murderer." She sipped her tea and tried to clear her throat. "Might I ask you return another day? My voice is growing tired."
"That is not an option." Ciel stated firmly and for the first time, Cecilia looked at Ciel. Her eyes held an absolute hatred for the boy. It was clear. "As you may know, the murderer Jack the Ripper is still at large. As of now, you are our best lead. We need your information. We must stop him before another woman is killed." She closed her eyes and took another sip. She absolutely hated nobles.
"I am afraid I cannot tell you much." She told him honestly. "Whoever they were, they slit my throat from behind. I assume they next began to remove my….organs." She hesitated, trying to remain some semblance of humanity. This never bothered her, but a child?
"Who is this whore you mentioned earlier?" Ciel asked, referring to her fit. She closed her eyes and sipped her tea.
"I have no clue as to who you are referring to." She told him calmly. "I am a simple candle maker. I do not associate with such people."
"It sounded otherwise earlier." Ciel pushed. She shrugged and met his gaze. Her eyes were a dark, deep brown that seemed to pin him to his seat.
"Ramblings of hysteria." She told him and sipped her tea more. It felt wonderful on her throat. She tried to clear her throat one more time after finishing her drink. "Now, if you don't mind. I would like to return home and find myself proper coverings." She explained as she stood. Cecilia was able to stand and kept a firm hand on the counter next to her. She leaned ever so slightly on it. She let her head drop forward and she inhaled sharply, trying to push away the pain. Everyone looked at her, waiting for the odd woman's next move. She didn't.
"Everything alright, dear?" Lau asked, watching her just stand there. She nodded and her face was covered by her wild mane of hair.
"I thought you were leaving, Miss Lechance." Sebastian asked, a light hint of amusement in his voice. Cecilia took a step forward before falling to her knees, her forehead pressed against the cold tile. She fell silently and startled Ciel, Lau, Grell, and Madam Red.
"Poor dear!" Madam Red exclaimed coming forward to her. She crouched next to her with her hands on Cecilia's shoulders. "Have an organ removed is painful enough, but to have it done by some murder would be hell on the body." She looked up to the Undertaker. "Is it possible for her to remain here, as your guest?" The undertaker looked a little startled. "She is in no position to be moving, much less going home on her own. Besides, her manner of dress would surely draw unwanted attention."
"I agree," Sebastian stated. "I assume she would be safe here. If the killer found her walking around again, surely he would make a second attempt." He explained with an almost cheery voice. Cecilia lifted her head to glare at him and he met her with a smile.
"If it is alright with you, Undertaker, we will leave her here for now." Ciel stated, standing. "I will send for her tomorrow. She can remain at the estate until this issue is resolved." Cecilia sat there, listening to them plan out how to handle her.
"Of course!" The Undertake exclaimed. "I would be most happy to have a guest, it does get so lonely. And the mouth on her surely covered any cost of staying." He laughed manically. Madam Red looked as though she was having second thoughts.
"Very well," Ciel said and moved to leave. "Sebastian, go and purchase her appropriate clothes. She will need something until she can return home." The butler bowed and followed his master out. Lau, Grell, and Madam Red followed, leaving her with the odd man.
Undertaker gently helped her up without a word and gently lead her upstairs to his small guest room. He set her gently in a soft chair. He still had that smile. Cecilia panted from the pain and leaned back into the chair. She looked up at the tall man before her.
"I quite enjoy seeing you panting." He told her with a laugh and headed to the bathroom. "Much better than seeing you on the table." He called. She heard water begin to run. He was drawing her a bath. She pulled the sash tighter around her when he returned. He knelt infront of her and began unlacing her boots. He slipped them off one by one and she was grateful for not having to bend down to do it. She froze when his long black nails grazed the skin on her thigh. He was going to unclasp the garter holding up the socks. Was he going to undress all of her? Cecilia swatted his hands away and forced herself into a stand.
"I can undress myself!" She grunted and almost doubled over again but Undertaker stood and grabbed her by the arms. He gave her a slight shake to get her attention. She looked up at him and he pulled her against his chest. Cecilia felt his arms wrap lazily over her, trapping her there. She realized she was leaning most of her weight against him. He was helping her stand. Undertaker giggled.
"Fiesty little creature, aren't you." He giggled and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Don't be shy" He cooed and she heard the strings of her torn dress being undone. "It isn't as though I haven't seen you naked before." Now, Cecilia was no virgin, but there was something unsettling thinking about this man seeing her dead and seeing her alive. Or perhaps there was something unsettling about him.
He held her back gently and let the dress and corset drop to her feet. He continued to help remove her underclothes and she stood there before him, nude. She wasn't blushing, but her skin felt warm. It had been a while since she had been with someone satisfying. She had been close enough to smell him, his hair, his clothes, and he smelled nothing like other undertakers. Rather than death and chemicals, he smelled of fresh dirt and wood. He was an odd man, and perhaps that was what made her so curious.
"This way, my dear." He said in a gleeful tone, gently leading her to the bathroom. He helped her into the porcelain tub and she relaxed into the warm water. Cecelia heard him move away and assumed he was giving her privacy now. She looked at her stomach and was met with a wide smile of a cut. It was thoroughly stitched and she was sure it would not come undone easily. Her skin crawled at the memory of seeing it happen. She had seem most of her killer. She watched, still alive as they cut into her skin and removed her uterus.
Cecilia had experience much pain and horror in her life, it came as an occupational hazard, but this was new. She swallowed and remembered what it had been that had killed her. Her fingers idly felt the stiches on her neck.
"Some of my best work." The undertaker giggled as he returned with soaps and a cloth in his hand. Cecilia flicked her eyes to him before returning to the cut on her stomach. "Shame someone left such ugly things on such a pretty woman." He hummed idly as he sat on a stool next to her. He had left his coats in the other room and sat before her in a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbow. The collar was quite high and buttoned. His pants were black with odd shoes and buckles up over his knees. His long grey hair was loosely tied back so as to not fall into the water. What a shame. She thought to herself. He began to put soap on a cloth and she reached out to take it but he tsked and waggled a finger at her. "Ah, ah. I fear Lord Phantomhive would be quite displeased if I did not provide the utmost hospitality for my guest." He told her as he began to rub the clothe over her arm. The dirt and dried blood on her skin was quickly wiped away as he gently cleaned her. Undertaker cleaned her arms and shoulders before guiding her to sit up gently. He slowly washed her back and she closed her eyes as he let her lean back. The water was warm and he had dropped in a few oils. The smell was rich and calming. She immediately recognized lavender. He gently cleaned her neck, careful of the stitching. She felt his long black nails gently graze her skin and goosebumps rose on her body. She lay there, head back, letting this strange man clean her. She'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it.
He wiped the blood and dirt from her face, leaving it feeling fresh and bare. He had removed the makeup in the process and she felt as though her skin could breathe once more. She froze when she felt the cloth gently rest on her chest. He started on her sternum and she froze as he dragged the cloth over her chest, moving over each breast. She shot him a look and he only smiled. He was making sure to be very thorough it seemed. Cecilia watched him as the cloth trailed down over her stomach and sides, making her shiver. The undertaker smirked but was polite enough not to say anything or laugh at her.
Cecilia hissed and lifted her leg a bit, making her stomach twinge in pain. Something on her leg stung when he brought the cloth over it. He gently placed a hand under her thigh and lifted it, taking a close look at the culprit.
"Ah, looks as though you have another scratch on you." He said, almost sounding disappointed, and he gently began to clean the area much to her discomfort. "You'll live." He teased and giggled at his own joke. He continued to run the cloth down her thigh and over her knee, even being sure to scrub her feet. They both knew she could do it, so she wondered why he was being so kind.
"I assure you, I can clean myself." Cecilia insisted and the undertaker just giggled.
"Ah, but I don't thing the young Lord would find it funny to see you dead a second time if you tear those stiches" He told her, gently washing the other foot. "You gave them all quite the start earlier." He giggled and moved over her ankle and calf. "Besides," He cooed, his voice lowered as the cloth ran over her knee slowly and he began to rub her thigh. "I think you are quite enjoying this." He jested as he moved the cloth slowly up her inner thigh. He had noticed something when he cleaned her other thigh. It seemed as though her inner thighs were quite sensitive. He let his fingernails gently scrape the skin there in an experiment.
To Cecilia's embarrassment, her head snapped back and a moan slipped from her lips. Undertaker watched her with a smirk and leaned over to her ear.
"If you don't mind." She panted, irritated with the man. She gasped when the cloth was pressed against her groin. He began to rub the cloth against her and she shook, soft moans coming from her mouth. She covered her mouth with her hand.
"I do love watching you pant." He told her in a low whisper and a shiver shook her body. She hated how good this felt. Her head began to swim as she felt his breath against her ear. Cecilia was snapped out of her haze when the cloth was quickly removed. "Almost done." He all but sang. She looked at him with a look mixed of rage and indignation. "Lean forward now," He cooed and helped her sit. "Lean your head back for me, dearie." She did as she was told and he gently poured water over her hair. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of the warm water running through her hair. She was startled but kept her eyes closed as he ran his hands through her hair, lathering shampoo and removing leaves and debris. Once more warm water ran through her hair and she sighed at the feeling of his fingers running through her hair.
His hands left her body and she snapped her eyes open. She found him standing before her, hands outstretched and a towel tucked under his arms. She looked up at him and felt the need to cover her chest with her arms. He grinned down at her and gently grabbed her, pulling her up.
"Now, don't be shy." He cooed as she stood. He helped her out of the tub and set to work drying her. Once more he ran a towel over her body, being sure to move extra slow over her inner thighs. She gasped as she felt him brush against her groin again and pushed him away, trying to cover herself.
"Excuse me!" She exclaimed and he giggled, lazily using his wrist to cover his smile. He wrapped her in the towel and giggled as he turned to a small closet. He pulled out a plush grey bathrobe and helped her into it.
"Perhaps this will help you to feel more comfortable." He told her as she tied it at the waist. Having something to cover her did actually provide her comfort. She smelled the robe and was pleased to find his smell on it. For an undertaker, he smelled nice.
Arms wrapped around her, startling her. The Undertaker guided her out of the warm bathroom and into the guest room. It was simple. The walls were a dull grey and one window allowed in light. A small bed was across from them with a simple white blanket. A small night stand stood next to it with a small lamp on it. Near the window sat the chair she had sat in previously. This is where he sat her once more. He took her hands in his, swinging them gently.
"Now then, you must be famished." He sang and giggled. "I shall fetch something for you to eat. The butler should be here soon with some proper clothes for you." He informed her before leaning in close and deepening his voice. "Although I much prefer you without them." She blushed and he walked away giggling. "Don't move, dearie. Don't want you bleeding out again do we?" He sang and Ceclia watched him leave. His mood swings made her dizzy.
Feel free to leave a review! Hope you like this. Don't worry we will learn more about her in the next chapter.
