Glittering with gold and silver.
Aila's heartbeat was erratic as she looked over her shoulder again, writing as quickly as her trembling hand would let her. The wind whistled in her "room", which was a sterile, freezing room that was a nauseating shade of gray. She sat cross-legged on her musty futon, feeling the stitches in her back pull on her skin as she hunched over the paper she wrote on.
She set her makeshift pencil own, scrutinizing her letter for help. Some words were smudged from the sweat on the side of her palm, but other than that, it was legible. Reaching under her pillow, she grabbed her last shoestring, rolling up the paper as quietly as possible and tying the shoelace around it. She stood, walking to the wall that she knew faced the village below the castle she was imprisoned in.
"One last time," she whispered.
She gripped the rolled up paper tightly in her fist, then punched through the wall, feeling the chilled autumn air against her forearm. She let the letter go, praying that the air current would take it somewhere useful. The door opened as she pulled her forearm back inside the "room", and Aila froze, trembling. Her eyes widened as she turned to see a young man with short, platinum hair, an athletic build, pale skin and dark, piercing eyes. They narrowed.
"Aila," The young man said, his voice dangerously low as he approached the young woman, who was backing away from him, her makeshift pencil hidden up her sleeve. "What are you doing?"
"Ah, good evening," she greeted with a silvery voice and delicate smile. She gave a small wave. He stared at her for a moment, then glanced at her right arm.
"Are you hiding something from me, Aila?"
Aila furiously shook her head. "No, not all."
She kept smiling brightly as she slowly pressed her makeshift pencil into her inner forearm, blood trickling down her wrist and hand.
"This is so bothersome," Ciel said, staring out of the carriage window. "Why do I have to go to some filthy Irish village just because the Queen wants some more potatoes?"
Sebastian gave him a shit-eating grin. "It's not all bad, Young Master. Ireland has plenty of beautiful scenery– especially in this time of the month."
Ciel scoffed. "I don't care about scenery. I just crossed an ocean so I can tell a village of people that a monster isn't in their closet."
"I suppose so, Young Master."
Soon, the carriage was riding down a lonely road, thick forest on either side. Although it was difficult, Ciel could see the outline of the Kiernan manor in the distance. Ciel stared up at the yellowing leaves with one cerulean eye. Luckily, he didn't have to stay in the pitiful village, thanks to Lady Kiernan. He slightly furrowed his eyebrows. He'd heard stories of how the Queen knighted her for valiant acts, mostly because he wanted to know who he was staying with, but he also knew of her much more...insidious deeds to the Queen. He didn't want to be in Ireland for long, especially with someone as unpredictable and odd as her.
"We've arrived, Young Master," Sebastian said, snapping the boy out of his reverie.
A pale man with graying brown hair and a shockingly tall stature opened the carriage door, a warm smile on his face. He bowed as they both got out.
"Welcome, Lord Phantomhive. It's an honor to welcome you here," he said, his voice possessing an Irish lilt. "I am the head butler of this manor, Ronan."
Ciel gave a stiff nod of acknowledgment. Ronan kept a pleasant smile, walking ahead.
"Now, if you could follow me…"
Ronan was cut off by a loud, thundering gunshot. He let out a faint sigh.
"Please forgive me," he said, looking back at Ciel with apologetic eyes. "It seems Lady Kiernan has forgotten you were coming today." He pulled out a whistle from his pocket and blowed into it, it made a loud, ear-splitting whistle. Ciel covered his ears, scowling.
Soon another whistle sounded from the forest, and soon enough, the sound of horse hooves beating against the ground was heard, growing closer every second. Then, a large chestnut stallion stood before them, a red-haired, rosy-cheeked young woman on its back, a rifle in her hand. She was smiling widely as she dismounted, not paying any attention to Ciel or Sebastian. Her vibrant blue eyes flared as she raved to Ronan.
"Ronan, I got three birds, two rabbits, and one deer— well, maybe a doe. I was right– it's far more enjoyable to make more sound." She gave her butler a devious grin. "Harder to catch."
Ronan cleared his throat, gesturing to the duo. She frowned, looking to them.
"Huh–oh fuck!" She said in realization. "You're the Earl, aren't you?"
Ciel wearily nodded. This was going to be a tiring endeavor. "Earl Phantomhive, it's a pleasure to meet you," he said, holding out his hand. She took his hand, gripping it tightly and shaking it vigorously.
"Eilish Kiernan, at your service!"
"So," Eilish began setting down her teacup, "As you probably already know, people have been disappearing from their homes."
Ciel nodded, taking a bite out of a scone. "Yes, I am aware. The killings don't seem to be focused on any certain class, age, or gender."
"Yes. And it's rumored that it has something to do with the castle on Rhys Hill."
Ciel paused, furrowing his eyebrows. "Huh?"
Eilish seemed to become serious, her smile fading a tad bit. "You haven't heard about it yet? I suppose I'll just flat out say it then.."
Ciel and Sebastian leaned forward, awaiting her words. She looked to the pair, the brightness in her eyes seemingly gone.
"It's cursed."
Ciel choked on his tea. "I'm...I'm sorry? Did you just say it's cursed?"
Eilish dryly chuckled. "I know. I didn't believe it at first either. Until I witnessed it myself, of course. Anyone who goes near that castle– or even near that hill– disappears, and never comes back. The ones who do...well."
Ronan handed Ciel a photo, which made the color leave his face. It showed a young woman, the freckled skin on her face grotesquely scarred. Eilish spread more pictures on the table. Sebastian picked one up, looking at it closely.
"Her name was Aoife Boyle. Went into the castle, and came out unscathed." Eilish's fiery locks shadowed her eyes. "At least, on the outside."
"In a time span of no less than three hours, she had dug into her face with her bare hands, hacked into her abdomen with a farming scythe, and.."
Eilish slid Ciel another picture. "Took a chunk out of her mother's neck with her teeth."
"Afterwards, she bashed her own head in on the wall, and died."
Ciel looked to Eilish, swallowing when he saw her face. A smirk had graced her lips, making her look a lot like Sebastian.
"So tell me, young earl," she said, a certain smugness in her voice. "Do you still not believe in curses?"
"Ah, mon dieu, madame." A woman walked into the drawing room. Her brown eyes slightly widened when they set on Sebastian, and she gave him a smile. She was in a maid's uniform, with a noticeably longer skirt than normal. She wore a colorful head wrap and gave off a calming aura as she stopped next to Eilish, bowing. "Bonjour, young earl. I am Mirabelle, Eilish's maid."
Ciel nodded, noticing her french accent. "Where are you from?"
"Why don't you guess? Colony, or country?" Mirabelle said. She laughed after, but there was a certain hardness in her eyes that suggested she wasn't joking. "Well, please excuse me."
Bowing again, she left the drawing room, which was silent, a faint tension in the air. Ciel looked to Eilish and Ronan, swallowing again. Luckily, Eilish seemed to return to her cheerful, nonchalant, demeanor.
"Please excuse us, we have some errands to take care of." She said, standing. Ciel noticed how tall she was, almost above Ronan's shoulder. "Make yourselves at home while we're gone."
They then left, leaving Sebastian and Ciel looking at the door. Ciel cleared his throat, and Sebastian leaned down to listen to Ciel.
"Sebastian, I want you to investigate this 'Cursed Castle'. That's an order."
Sebastian nodded. "Yes, My Lord. And what about the people of this manor?"
"What about them?"
Sebastian nodded in understanding. "Very well."
Soon, the devilish butler was gone as well, leaving Ciel alone. He silently sipped some of his tea, hearing the faint slurping sounds.
Aila stared at the ceiling, laying on her musty futon. She watched as a drop of water fell from a crack in the ceiling, and onto her hand. Grimacing, she wiped it off, sitting up. Her right inner forearm stung terribly, but she barely acknowledged it. How long was she going to be kept here?
She used to daydream about breaking out, but that was a month ago. She tried it once, but her accomplice was killed and she was punished. Ever since they were rougher when dealing with her.
Aila used to dream about coming to Kovi— or as they seemed to currently call it, Earth. She wanted to see everything she learned about in the history books. But so far, it wasn't going so well. Her captors, of course, would die long before she could, but they weren't dying anytime soon.
She sighed, laying back down and curling into a ball. How bothersome humans can be…
Aila shot up as the sound of crinkling paper came from the other side of her door. Her heart dropped. They found it.
"It seems you need another session, Aila."
The door opened, and two stocky men stormed in, holding shackles with gloved hands. Aila looked at the iridescent shine, and her heart began to race. She shook her head.
"No..please! I'm sorry!"
Night had fallen once Sebastian had finally gotten to the castle. He'd asked around, but only a few seemed to want to talk about the 'Cursed Castle'. The ones who did talk were vague and confusing, seemingly dodging every question he asked. And then, of course…
"Meow!"
He had gotten a little held up. He surveyed the castle first and found there were no guards, there were no closed doors, and was seemingly vacant.
"Well then, let's make this quick." He muttered, opening the door to the lower level.
The moment his foot touched the first step, a strong presence immediately appeared, making the hairs on his neck stand. He straightened himself out, and closed the door behind him, going downstairs.
'It seems the dungeons are in use.'
He walked past cells that were filled with people, or more accurately, creatures. Some were shackled, some had limbs cut off, some were muzzled, others were dead. Their eyes followed him as he stopped, sensing the same presence from before, laced with a vaguely familiar scent.
His lips curved into a devilish smirk.
"It seems there is more to this place than I thought."
Sebastian followed the scent, eager to see what he would find.
Sebastian was deep into a shadowed, narrow, cobblestone corridor, lined with mahogany doors. He was surprised at how strong the smell was here, and he could only assume that they the same kinds of creatures were behind these doors.
'How peculiar..'
The sound of crackling energy echoed throughout the corridor, a scream following close after.
"Stop! Stop it! Please!" A feminine voice begged. Another crackle of energy.
Sebastian quickly ran towards the sounds. He stopped at an iridescent door, reaching for the doorknob when he suddenly became dizzy, an intense migraine following, his ears began ringing, and he backed away from the door, holding his head and groaning.
Aila lost control. The glass broke, and she turned her head away, not wanting to see what she had done to them. She heard screaming, gunshots, and knew why. The pain was unbearable as if her head was seconds away from exploding.
"Kill her! Full charge!" A woman ordered. She only got a pained groan in return. "What did I ju-" she let out a strangled cry, the speaker only giving out static before it burst.
Aila gritted her teeth, before she went stiff, her head pounding. Her body went limp, her muscles relaxing. She wasn't in control of her body anymore, her restrained limbs jerking and twisting. A low, throaty, groan left her dry, blistered, lips. Black spots began to appear in her blurred vision, and she lost consciousness, salty tears falling from her wide, blank eyes.
The pain had abruptly stopped. Sebastian dragged himself to his feet, quickly recovering. Hearing only ragged breaths on the other side of the door, he kicked it open, not wanting to have another unpleasant surprise. He couldn't help but be confused with what he saw.
Instead of some gargantuan or god, which was what he was expecting, he only saw a limp girl, her wrists and ankles restrained with chains made of a dark, iridescent metal he didn't recognize. As far as he could tell, she was unconscious, her dark, matted curls covering her face. He noticed the gruesome infection that was on her right inner forearm, the discoloration contrasting against her golden brown skin. She seemed to have a rather lean build, but clearly had been underfed, from how skinny she was. He sighed, looking to the chains. He tried to break them, but failed, getting burn marks that resembled the electrical burns on the young woman's arms.
Taking out a knife, he picked the lock on the right shackle, which held her arm up. After a few tries, it finally unlocked, her right arm dropping along with the rest of her bare upper body. He soon had freed the girl, and picked her up, seeing she was surprisingly light. Her dead honey eyes stared at him.
"Well then," he began, leaving the room. "I shall take you to my young master."
The moonlight reflected on the golden slits that riddled her torso as they returned to the Kiernan Manor.