The headlines these days were filled with news about a new murderer, one they've deemed as "Robin Hood", because the targets are usually wealthy and important people, and all of the goods in their household would be looted. Wealthy people were moving quickly out of London and into their country homes for good. But everyone, poor and wealthy alike, was paranoid. Everyone.
All except the earl Phantomhive.
Ciel Phantomhive had inherited his parents' wealth, manor, and name after a deadly fire had broken out, and ever since then, he was determined to bring the Phantomhive name to fame once again, even though he was still considered young by society. He wasn't one to show fear, or rather, his emotions. At times, Ciel kept his emotions well kept, but some could see the hurt he suffered on the inside. One such person was his loyal butler, Sebastian.
Sebastian was like a father to the earl, and nothing more. He was meant to be his butler, one who would guard his master with his life. Well, more likely, his immortal life. Sebastian wasn't human.
It was the start of another, bland, boring day for Ciel. Sebastian would come in, change him into his clothes, serve him tea, and recite the schedule for the day.
"Today, you will be visiting lady Elizabeth's manor for a visit. She is expecting you at around high noon, and you will be there until late evening, after dinner is served," Sebastian recited to his young master, who nodded and took light sips of the tea that Sebastian had served him. Elizabeth was Ciel's fiancée, and was annoyingly clingy. Ciel wasn't fond at the fact that he was betrothed to her, out of all people, but felt that it was his duty to keep her happy, and with all of the "Robin Hood" killings, Elizabeth was probably worried.
"Is she concerned by the 'Robin Hood' killings? He's killed more people than Jack the Ripper, and the police still have no leads on anyone," Ciel asked, calmly sipping his tea on his well-kept bed.
"Lady Elizabeth knows about the murders, and seems very upset. This is why her parents have arranged the meeting. She thinks she's safe with you, or so I'm told," Sebastian informed his young master, who nodded and yawned.
"You are excused," he said, placing the empty tea-cup on the serving trey, and with this, his butler bowed obediently and took the trey with him.
After Sebastian had left, Ciel closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. Surely, today was going to be a long day.
XXXXX
The carriage ride to Elizabeth's manor was bumpy and long, and when the cart had come to a halt, Ciel was silently thanking the Lord. He had a slight headache from what his servants did earlier, and the ride certainly didn't help at all. They had believed that in order to kill a cockroach, you each had to take turns daintily swatting at it with your hand. When Sebastian had caught them, he killed off the vermin, and instructed them to go back to their usual posts. Ciel had watched the entire ordeal, and watching them only made him annoyed to the point where he got a minor headache.
Even before Ciel had even gotten to the door, Elizabeth came running out of the parlor with outstretched arms, tackling Ciel in a forced embrace. In these such hugs, Ciel was always left nearly gasping for air, for Elizabeth was strangely strong when it came to her fiancé.
"E-Elizabeth!" Ciel stuttered while trying to take in as much air as he could, "Please, your grip!"
"Oh, sorry Ciel! I'm just so glad that you're okay! I mean, that scary murderer man could have you as a target!" Elizabeth cried with joy as she let the scrawny earl go.
Sebastian was next to Ciel at a respectable distance, watching Elizabeth chatter on and on about "that scary murderer man". After a while, he suggested that they go inside, which Ciel gladly agreed to.
The rest of the visit was spent talking with Elizabeth about nearly every thing. Ciel let Elizabeth chatter away, agreeing to whatever nonsense she had to say, however, he had only one thing on his mind.
"Robin Hood".
He'd honestly rather have been at his manor, studying important documents on the case, or perhaps at the scene of one of the murders itself, trying to pry out any information he could get out of the police at the site.
For an unknown reason, he was interested in this mass murderer. Ciel didn't care if he knew, he was just... interested, simple as that.
After dinner had been served, and Elizabeth and Ciel said their good-byes, Ciel could go back to his manor. Finally.
"Ciel, please be careful! I don't want you to get killed by that scary murderer man!" Elizabeth had said to Ciel when it was time to go.
Ciel, as it was his duty to comfort Elizabeth, hugged her. Ciel didn't want to hug her, but she just looked so upset.
"Don't worry, I'll be all right, Elizabeth. I've got Sebastian to protect me, remember?" Ciel whispered, strangely trying to be soothing for his betrothed.
"Oh, yes, that butler of yours," Elizabeth smiled.
"So please, do not worry about me," Ciel said, pulling away from the hug.
"Young master, it is about time we get back to the manor," Sebastian told Ciel, who nodded and stepped into the carriage.
When the cart had started, Sebastian, who was inside the cart with Ciel, had a concerned look plastered upon his face.
"Young master, why did you comfort lady Elizabeth? That is unlike you," he asked.
"It is my duty to make Elizabeth feel safe. Someday, I will have to do this every day for the rest of my life, so I figured that I ought to get used to it."
Sebastian nodded slowly and resumed his normal position, and his face returned to normal. The rest of the ride back was silent. Even the horse didn't do so much as whinny, and Ciel appreciated the silence. He just looked out the window with a contemplating stare, as if thinking hard. Which, he was. If Sebastian would come in and save him when and if the mass murderer came to take his life, why was he so nervous all of the sudden?
XXXXX
Ciel lie in bed thinking about his visit to Elizabeth's. Elizabeth had been worried. Was it for her own life, or was she worried about... him? Even though they were betrothed, Ciel didn't find Elizabeth as a love interest, but more of an annoying sister. But he knew that Elizabeth loved him with all of her heart, and he didn't want to break her fragile feelings, so he tried his best to put up with her. Ciel sighed and ran his fingers through his blue tinted hair, feeling not the least bit tired. He sat up in his bed, and looked out the window, thinking momentarily that the window would give him some sort of answer. It didn't, yet, it did. But not in the way he'd wished.
There was a tree near the window that currently had Ciel's attention, and on it, Ciel thought he saw a flash of pale blonde hair. Feeling his heart speed up, Ciel stared more intensely at the window. He then saw the same pale blonde hair, but for a much longer time, and saw the face it belonged to. A boy around his age, with icy blue eyes and a purple coat.
'Who is that...?' Ciel thought with wide eyes as the boy somehow unlatched the window and came storming inside.
'No, no this is all my imagination. He can't possibly be there... this is all a dream, of course.'
The blonde came closer to him, and Ciel opened his mouth to scream his butler's name, but was interrupted when the other put a slender finger to Ciel's lips to silence him.
"Ah ah ah, Ciel Phantomhive. I know everything about you, and you know who I am. I'm who's deemed 'Robin Hood', but frankly, I don't like that name. But, oh well, when you're a mass murderer, what choices have you got?" the blonde said, leaving Ciel wide-eyed. Again, Ciel opened his mouth to speak, but the blonde had other ideas.
"Please, do not speak. Unlike the others, I'm not going to murder you. Instead, I'll find other uses for you, Ciel Phantomhive," he said, getting closer to the earl, "Speaking will just make it harder for you."
The boy got closer, hot breath ghosting over Ciel's face, and Ciel noticed that the boy was clearly smirking. A dark smirk, like Sebastian's. The boy took the slender finger away from Ciel's lips, and replaced it with his own. Ciel gasped, only to have the other take advantage and slip his wet tongue into his victim's mouth.
Ciel just stayed still, shocked and confused, not doing anything to help himself. Instead, his eyes started drooping, until they became completely shut. The earl didn't want to admit it, but he was almost enjoying the kiss. The other and slipped a hand into his pocket without Ciel's knowing, and took out a long piece of cloth. The blonde took his lips away, leaving a small strand of their saliva connecting them, then broke apart on Ciel. Before Ciel could even register what had happened, the murderer slipped the piece of cloth around the earl's mouth, and tied it.
"Have a good rest, Phantomhive. Tomorrow will be a big day for you," was the last thing Ciel heard before blacking out.