Prologue: Riddle Manor
"He killed everyone?" cried Tom Riddle as he paced in his huge mansion. "That's preposterous! They were armed- heavily armed! Maurice was in the Navy, for heaven's sakes! One man couldn't kill them all, not by a long ways." He felt a gentle tap on his shoulder, and nearly screamed when he saw a tall, dark man standing at his shoulder.
"Pardon my sudden arrival, sir, but I have some information that may be of interest to you. It concerns your friends, cult members, partners in crime, et cetera."
"What do you need from me?" pressed the skeptical man.
"You could call it a contract of sorts. Let me explain…" Well, you folks know the rest. Soul, mission, blah blah blah.
"And this information will help me avenge my friends?"
"Naturally."
"Do it."
Chapter 1: Phantomhive Manor
Ciel Phantomhive looked at the newspaper his butler had placed before him that sunny Tuesday morning that would unquestionably turn drizzly. HEIRLOOM STOLEN FROM RIDDLE MANOR was the headline. The slight smile on Sebastian's face told the Earl that he had a theory as to who stole it, when they stole it, and why they stole it.
"What do you suspect, Sebastian?" asked the slim boy.
"Well," the butler said slowly, "I have looked into it…" Sky blue eyes flashing, Ciel launched into a rant.
"Of course you have, you imbecile! Drop the ridiculous suspense act and get to the point. Do you really think I know you so poorly as to think you don't know what happened? You are a butler, anyway, not an entertainer. What is it?" Unfazed by the bitter child's outburst (he was used to them by now), Sebastian continued.
"Mr. Riddle seems to have acquired a new butler. But…" Sebastian unrolled a six-foot-long sheet of paper. "His financial records show no significant change. From this we may assume…" Sebastian's eyebrows rose expectantly.
"One of you?" guessed Ciel.
"So it would seem."
Chapter 2: Riddle Manor
Exactly forty-six minutes later, Ciel and Sebastian were bouncing down a dusty country road in a stagecoach. After arriving at the stately mansion, the coach dropped them off at the gates of the garden. Just before Sebastian turned the elaborately engraved handle of the great oak doors, someone opened it from the inside. Ciel found himself nose to nose with…
SEBASTIAN?
The boy couldn't believe his eyes. He had Sebastian to his left and Sebastian in front of him. But it couldn't be Sebastian. His Sebastian never allowed himself to become unhinged, and his doppelganger was standing like an idiot with his jaw dropped and eyes wide.
"Well," Sebastian intoned, "this is an interesting surprise. Young master, please meet my brother. He is now known as…"
"Owen," supplied Sebastian's brother. "I expect you're here about that infernal trophy. She has the case under control, so you may go." Just then, a girl's musical voice echoed through the halls.
"No fingerprints or anything?" the voice asked. "They either wore gloves or lived here." Ciel glanced at Owen, who was absently playing with his own gloves.
"Then, my lady, shall we go?" said a different, older, voice. A door in the three-story atrium opened and the owners of the voices stepped through. A silver-haired woman in a navy blue gown held the door for a girl of about twelve (the same age as Ciel). White-blond ringlets tumbled down her back, complementing the wild colors of her striped dress.
Ciel's jaw dropped (mentally, as physical show of 'weak' emotion was not his thing) when the girl smiled at Owen. At the same time, he felt a pang of jealousy. Why is she ignoring me? he thought.
"Lady Giana, please note that the servant in charge of polishing silver was ill that day, according to our records," said the older of the two.
"Count him off. Who was polishing in his place?" inquired the younger. The woman quietly said a name Ciel couldn't catch, and Giana nodded.
"Well!" she said cheerfully. "We'll be going, then! Oh, who's this?" When the girl jerked her head up, Ciel saw the misty blue eyes and knew that Giana wasn't ignoring him; she simply hadn't known he was there. He now recognized the slim black cane in her right hand and the way her companion had a hand on her elbow. Ciel cleared his throat.
"Lady Giana, my name is Ciel Phantomhive."
"And who is with you?"
"My butler, Sebastian Michaelis."
"I know the Phantomhive name, but only your parents. Since my own family passed in the road accident that took my sight, I have been the head of Everett and Company. When did you arrive?" Her voice was impersonal, but not cold.
"About five minutes ago, when you passed through that last door."
"My apologies. Shall we walk? I've heard much about you. Perhaps we have met. Bethany, please let me speak to him privately."
"Of course, Lady Giana."