Chapter 1: The Earl Trancy

The early sun shone down on the Trancy estate.

"Master, this morning's tea is her majesty's blend from Ridgeway's." Claude said, pouring tea into a blue, gold and white china service. The blond haired boy sat up and stretched, his light blue eyes straining to see through the bright light of the room. Claude carefully laid out Alois' outfit on the bed, and opened the box that contained the Trancy ring. He carefully buttoned up Alois' shirt. Alois smirked and unbuttoned the two that Claude just did up.

"Did I irritate you?" Alois asked.

"No" Claude pushed his glasses back up on the bridge of his nose. "If you'll excuse me." He said after he had pulled out the rest of his outfit. Claude bowed and walked out of the room. As soon as he was out of earshot, Alois began laughing, falling on the purple covers to muffle his voice.

"Hannah… don't you think fried eggs are rather pitiful?" He asked his maid as she served him breakfast. "Shells broken, nakedly exposed for all to see…" He poked at the yolk with a knife. "They'll never grow into eyes or organs or wings… All their possibilities wiped out by me." He said. He intentionally spilled his glass of red juice.

"Hannah, pick it up." She bent down and he screamed. He then smiled as she looked up at him. He dug his fingers into her eye. "Claude's told you, hasn't he? Never look your master straight in the face. You'll have to forgive me." He said as blood ran down Hannah's face. "If I don't punish you, Claude will be outraged." He let go of her and Hannah fell on her knees, blood staining the floor. Claude opened this door. Alois smiled happily to see his favourite servant.

"Clean this up at once" Claude ordered the three servants while he himself cleaned the blood of Alois' fingers.

"Arnold Trancy will be dining with us today." Claude said as he faced Alois in his study.

"He just wants money…" Alois said, his face down on the desk.

"This time a priest will be joining him. It seems he has doubts about your time 'held hostage by the fairies'" Claude said. Alois' eyes went wide open and he jumped up, nearly overturning his chair.

"What shall I do, Claude?" He asked, panicking. "I changed all that old loon's decorating! The nasty curtains, the rugs with the odd patterns, the knick knacks…!"

"Not to worry… I'll take care of everything at once." Claude said.

"Really?"

"Yes, your highness."

Claude instantly got to work after a bit of ledge tap dancing, and within seconds, he had redecorated everything from the floors to the walls and the strange paintings hanging on them. Everything fell neatly into place. Claude's glasses fell back on his face with perfect precision.

"I transform day into night, sugar into salt, creatures into corpses and navy into golden…"

"That's what makes a Trancy butler.' That's your line, right?" Alois asked, playing with a rose on the table. "That's my Claude!" He said happily, fingering the bright pink rose in his hands. "As long as I have you, I don't need those useless clods. But… this is where I prefer to display my roses." He stuck the stem into Claude's mouth and danced around the room, laughing, pretending to dance. His expression then narrowed, and the lights cast scary shadows on his cheeks. "Eat shit."

The carriage pulled up to the manor.

"So there's no proof that he's Earl Trancy's legitimate son?" The priest asked.

"No. I know your eyes can discern the truth, father, and you Lord Druitt, had such deep ties to the previous Earl. I'd like you to expose that child for what he really is." Alois burst the door open.

"Uncle Arnold!" He cried, his face an angelic mask, smiling and laughing, the perfect picture of innocence.

"Oh, Alois!" Arnold Trancy said as Alois walked up to him, smiling.

"Oh, what a grievous mistake God has made!" Lord Druitt said. "How could such unsullied beauty dwell in the flesh of a young boy? Yet! I shall forgive thee lord! Amen!"

Claude walked carefully up and bowed as far as his glasses would let him without falling off his face. Unknown to them, Lily sat in the nearby tree, watching them. She knew Sebastian had made her promise to stay away from the manor. She watched curiously from the shelter of the tree. She was far enough away that the other demon couldn't sense her presence.

She stared at him. Tall…Jet black hair… narrow amber eyes… glasses… she had no idea why any demon would wear glasses. They had perfect vision. It wasn't like he needed glasses. For some reason, he reminded her of someone. So this was the jealous demon Sebastian had spoken of. She watched as the demon named Claude led them all into the manor. She waited until everyone was inside and then flitted away, her wings of fire carrying her soundlessly through the forest.

"Oh, it's just as it was when Uncle Trancy was still alive!" Druitt said. "The glittering gold of the mansion! The legend of Cipangu springs to life in its sublime gleam!"

"Yes, I haven't changed even the smallest thing from my father's time. I… don't want to lose my father's warmth or essence…" Alois said, and a false tear spilled down his cheek.

"That shows your love for him." The priest said.

"I lived a sickeningly long time in a certain village." Alois began as Claude served everyone soup. "I don't even know what the place was called… or how long I was there. I was worked like a slave, not even allowed to go outside."

"Goodness"

"There was just one boy in the same situation… I thought of him as a younger brother. But that day...that night… Inside the rippling flames, the broken off screams, just quietly lying there… darkness…" The viscount held a handkerchief to his teary eyes.

"What on earth happened to that village?" The priest asked.

"I don't know either. But… my father came to take me home! I thought 'I'm not alone! I finally have love!' But then he…"

"You poor child." The priest said.

"Oh lord, I cannot forgive you after all!" The viscount said.

"Despair is a sin" The priest said, shaking off the Viscount's grip. "You are one of God's beloved children. I'll help in any way I can."

"Thank you" Alois stood up. "But I'll be all right. For one thing, I have Uncle Arnold!" Alois said, running to hug his uncle.

"Uh… yes quite so"

"I say, Uncle Arnold" Alois whispered. "Don't lean too close to me. Your breath stinks." Arnold's face went pink.

At nightfall, the horses left. Only Arnold Trancy remained outside.

"That damn brat" He said, staring at the mansion, and turned to get inside.

"Wait, Uncle Arnold!" Arnold turned around to see Alois and Claude standing on the balcony. "You only want money, right?" He opened a trunk full of money. "Take these! These mouldy old notes aren't fit to feed a goat with!" Claude passed him a tray. "Here, deeds to land! I'll give you horses too!"

The papers fluttered around and Arnold scrambled to pick them up.

"You there!" He dragged the cab driver down. "Help me!" They ran around picking up the money.

"Look at him blustering around, Claude. It's like he's dancing! What a pitiful sight!" He kept laughing, and then stopped. "Claude"

"Yes?"

"You laugh too."

There was silence. A crack of thunder sounded in the distance. It was the storm Sebastian and Lily had been waiting for. Sebastian walked out into the rain and stood there for a few minutes, giving him the air of one who has walked for a very long time. His long wide brimmed hat kept the rain out of his eyes. He flexed his newly remade left hand. Lily. His little red flower. He had this arm to think of her. After he got that ring, he would get out as soon as possible. He walked forwards with Ciel's body in the suitcase and rang the doorbell.