Starting to just prior to the manga/anime series, for the most part. (Hints of Noah arch at the beginning)
Ciel Phantomhive and his butler Sebastian come across The King of the Cats circus, in the pursuit of missing children.
Although they find no trace of the missing children, they come across the Matchka family, the head of the circus, in more ways than one.
After taking in the daughter of the circus owner to work at Phantomhive manor, the butler becomes entangled in this peculiar families past, present and future. Since her arrival, a mysterious shadow has begun to be seen more frequently around the Phantomhive estate.
Who is this girl? What secrets does her family hold? And what does it have to do with the emerging shadow?
Doing this story with TheLadyofMusic on archive of our own please go read her other stories their really good just not her early work she went through a incest phase
O.o *thinks that TheLadyofMusic might read this* whi said that her stories are works of art *runs before i can be killed*
Lilith Matchka inwardly groaned as she made her way towards the main tent, sliding on her mask, tying it on, tucking the string under her hair. She nodded to the other performers, awaiting her cue, smoothing out her costume, her tail swaying with her slight movements. She poked her head through, just enough to see the turn out, only for her stomach to sink. It was a rather spacious crowd.
"Still," she thought, "less people means less creeps…"
Her eyes scanned over the crowd, the usual lower classes sat, larger families, relatively shabby clothing, children torn between squabbling and watching the performance. She sniggered slightly, till she caught sight of a finely dressed young boy, couldn't be much older than ten at a push, she thought. Beside him sat a very tall black haired man, whose skin was rather pale, especially compared to his hair and suit, but his eyes… She couldn't tear her attention from him.
Sebastian Michaelis sat beside his young master within the large circus tent. They had been tracking the route of two particular troupes, The King of the Cats circus, and Noah's Arks circus. The latter had altered its route last minute, leaving The King of the cats circus the only one to enter London.
Initially it had only been the name which had caught the butlers amused attention, this only increased when they had arrived. True to its name, near enough every aspect of the circus, and its performers, was related to cats. This put Sebastian in a rather pleasant mood, ebing on jovial, especially when he saw the various species of big cats put on show.
Ciel rolled his eyes at the whole thing, not only was there no seeming trace of the missing children, but nothing seemed to be unusual, other than the absurd obsession with cats.
Sebastian led his young master to their seats, though with how empty the benches were the fact that there was assigned seats seemed either overly hopeful, or a ghost of a most successful past.
The show began, only confirming what they had seen outside, each troop members attire was a version of a big cat, with the link to their talent being rather tenuous. Ciel turned to speak to Sebastian, only to see his eyes locked onto something. He followed his butlers gaze, only to see the slightest move of the back curtain.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Her aunt screeched at her, just about keeping her voice as a whisper, catching Lily off guard as she was dragged back.
"There's a fancy pair in the audience."
"Fancy..?" She repeated, peaking out briefly, "where?" Lily pointed out the two who had caught her eye. Once her auntie picked them out she gasped, drawing back.
"My God, do you know who that is?"
"No, why, should I?" She asked, getting a sneer of disgust from her aunt, before she shook her head, not overly surprised.
"That is Earl Ciel Phantomhive,"
"What, the toy company guy?" Lily asked, looking out again, tilting her head slightly, "hmm, I always heard he was only a child…"
"Wha… He is!"
"But he's so tall, and…" Her aunt swatted the back of her head.
"That's his butler, you ninny! Ciel is the boy beside him." She pushed her aside, "now go get ready, you're on next."
"Yes yes…" Lily sighed, going to where she would begin her climb once the lights dimmed.
"Sebastian, are you even listening to me." Ciel snapped at his butler, who slowly turned his attention back to him.
"My apologies, my lord, I believe I got rather caught up in that last act…"
"Yes, the act… Let us see if you can remember why we are here." Ciel muttered, his eyes going to the ring, as the ringleader walked out.
"I shall certainly try, my young master," he said, a small smirk on his lips as he looked back again.
The ringleader was a rather broad, round lady, who wore all white, with trimming and lace of black.
"Now, I ask you to direct your attention the wire," she pointed her cane up towards the high wire, the spotlight flowing up, "as our dear Kitten performs a ballet, I assure you you shan't see the likes of again…"
In the centre of the light stood a petite young lady, dressed in a rather revealing white leotard, wearing a matching cat mask, which covered all of her face bar below her nose. The first piece from act two of swan lake began to play, as Kitten began her act.
Sebastian found his eyes fixed upon her, as she did not just walk across the wire, but seem to carry herself primarily on the tip of her shoes, her various moves earning gasps from the crowd, yet she seemed to not hear or notice them. He tilted his head back, breathing in deeply through his nose.
"Interesting…" He murmured.
"What is?"
"Nothing, my young Lord…"
Once the final act had finished, Ciel found himself practically pounced upon by the ringleader.
"My Lord, I had no idea that you would be gracing our little show with your presence… I insist you join me in my tent for some wine. The finest there is, from what I know, and I know my wine…"
"I am sorry, but my Master has…"
"Nothing I would rather do more, thank you madam."
The ringleader smiled sweetly at him, looking to his butler, brow creasing slightly.
"I am not sure I have enough for three…"
"With your permission, madam, I am sure Sebastian may prove helpful tidying up, or perhaps a tour of your grounds."
"Well… If you are sure, that would be lovely, let me get someone to guide him…" She turned, eyes scanning. "Lily! Abe… No point calling him…" She cleared her throat, flashing a fiercely charming smile, before turning back to the entrance of the tent, "LILY!" She screamed, before composing herself. "Where are you girl?!" She called, earning no response. She sighed, hanging her head before turning back to them. "My apologies, my Lord, my niece is usually on hand…"
"Perhaps I could find her, for you ma'am?" Sebastian asked, earning an approving nod.
"If you wouldn't mind, she should be in the tent three along to your right dear. My tent is just five to your left, should your master need you."
"Thank you, I shall leave my lord in your very capable hands." Sebastian smirked, bowing slightly before making his way in the given direction, as Ciel was led to the ringleaders tent.
"God damn this…" Lily muttered, snarling to herself as she fought with her costume. Someone had seemingly tied it tighter than usual, causing it to become stuck on her head and arms. She was stumbling around her tent, trying to squirm and wiggle out of it, to no success.
This was how Sebastian found her, upon entering her tent. He stood for a moment, smirking as ever at the sight that greeted him, her back to him, though he saw how stuck she was.
"My, my, gotten into quite a binding mess, haven't we?" He asked, making her still before turning to face him, giving him a full view of her under garments, with her rather generous figure.
"Well, if you're planning on photographing me it won't turn out great, so either take it now, or help me." She snapped, making the butler chuckle.
"Well, you are certainly a feisty little kitten, aren't you?" He said, approaching her.
"Call me that again, and you'll see how feisty I can be." She said, feeling him reach around, tugging on the laces, "they better be the right ones, or Mrs Butler won't be having any more children, from you at least…" She said, muttering the last bit. She felt him stroking the ears of her mask. "Oi… That costs extra…" She said, smirking to herself.
"I see… I shall keep that in mind…" He said, his voice in her ear.
She soon felt the material loosen, before it was pulled up and off of her. She fluttered her eyes, the sudden direct lantern lights blinding. She blinked hard a couple of times, not seeing the sudden intent attention she was getting from the butler, primarily upon her eyes.
"Thanks," she said, once her eyes had adjusted, smiling softly at him. "I'm Lilith Matchka, but everyone calls me Lily."
"I much prefer Lilith,"
"Yeah, well, what if I don't?"
"Now, I highly doubt that," he leaned down, his head beside hers, "Lilith." He said in her ear.
"Well… You really think you're something, don't you?" She tutted, stepping back, arms crossed. "Now, what did my aunt send you in here to do? I highly doubt it was to perve on me, so go on, what?"
"I asked to locate you, in the hopes of a tour while your aunt speaks with my master," he explained, watching as she slid a loose black top and skirt on, the length of which fell above her knees.
Sebastian took the chance to have a glance around her tent. It was rather large, spacious, while seemingly split in half. A makeshift curtain hung mostly open down the middle, on the side opposite to Lilith was another bed, chest and other possessions.
"She doesn't sleep alone…"
"Hmm, you can't stand her already? I understand. Sure, follow me… Erm, what's your name?
"My apologies, I am Sebastian Michaelis," his hand instinctively going over his chest, eyes closing as he bowed his head slightly. "Earl Phant…" His eyes shot open as he felt her grasp his gloved hand, a small giggle escaping her.
"I asked your name, hon, not your blooming life story, come on then. Useless thing." She said, leading him out of her tent. He couldn't help but smirk at her, following her obediently, easily keeping up with her pace.
As they walked, his eyes examined her. She was rather tall for a human, though the unusual aroma he picked up begged to differ on that point.
" If not a human, then what is she? " He thought.
As their initial interaction had shown she was rather gifted in the chest area, with a slender waist.
" It's a wonder she can keep her balance on the ground, never mind on such a thin wire ,"
She was greeted pleasantly by everyone they passed, earning more than a few appreciative glances from the men, who glowered slightly at Sebastian when they were sure he couldn't see.
" Popular, very much so with the males… Yet no sign of a claim on her… This being a rather downtrodden place, I wonder if… " His thought was interrupted when a rather muscular man pulled her aside, pinning her between his arms and the side of a tent.
"Who's this then, Lil?" He asked, giving Sebastian a dirty look. She rolled her eyes at him, tilting her head slightly back to look at him.
"What do you want, Jacob?" She asked, hands on her hips.
"I want to know who this posh git is, who you're acting all chummy with…"
"What business is it of yours?" He grabbed a handful of her hair, his grip tight.
"Don't push me Lil, you know…"
"I do beg your pardon, but if you woul…" Sebastian began, only to see Jacob fall to the floor, curling up into a ball, slight whimpers escaping him. He looked at him, brow creased, slightly confused, he hadn't laid a hand on him yet...
"Meat-head… Never learns…" Lily said, gaining the butler's attention. "Busy acting the hard man, forgets to protect himself…" She said, flipping her hair back out of her face, smirking at Sebastian. "Sorry you had to see that, Seb. Shall we carry on?" She asked, before taking his hand again, leading him away.
The two walked in silence, bar Lily's titbits of information.
"If I may ask, Lilith, who was that?"
"Who was who?"
"Jacob, I believe…"
"Oh… Some idiot who's convinced I'm his, mostly due to my aunts interfering…" A small grin came to her lips, "dad'd kill him if he saw him touching me, never mind grabbin me like that… Abe'd try to help but… I can take care of myself… You saw that."
"Ah, so that is what happened to Mr. Jacob… Does it happen often?"
"Second mention of an Abe… Another member of the family…"
"More than I'd like, as would his privates if I'm honest." She sighed, her pace slowing slightly as they approached her aunts tent, her back stiffening up, eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"You don't like your aunt, do you?" He asked, catching her off guard somewhat. She sighed, about to protest when she shook her head.
"No, I do not. She is my mothers sister, so is family, yet I feel no love for her. She lives to be seen, ironic since she seems to have no talents… Well, none that anyone'd pay to watch at least…" She looked up at him, "I wonder, if it is obvious to you, Seb, a stranger, how obvious is it to her?"
"I wouldn't worry about it, too much, Lilith. Working for my young master requires a high level of observational skills, especially when it comes to those with whom he interacts with. If I was unable to pick up on the slightest of hesitations, or hints of disdain held by them, well, what kind of butler would I be?"
"A less egotistical one?" She asked, teasing, a small smirk on her lips as she walked on, "either way, I like the way you think, Seb… You must have to bite your tongue a hell of a lot I imagine, if your wit is as sharp as it seems to be."
"You have no idea…" He said, giving her a sideways glance.
"Oh, I'm sure I don't…" She said, walking in, bowing her head to her aunts guest, before taking a seat as far from her aunt as she could.
The four remained in each others company for a further hour, Ciel carrying conversation with Lily's aunt, Yuki, while her niece and his butler seemed to be trying to stare each other out. Though if one was to look closer, it was clear a different kind of "standoff" was occuring.
Towards the end of the hour, Yuki caught her niece flutter her lashes at Sebastian, her blood boiling. She bowed her head, before looking to Ciel, a bright smile painted on.
"I beg your pardon, my lord, but I must call it a night. My niece and I have a lot of work to do tomorrow, so…"
"Of course, I hope I didn't keep you too long."
"Not at all, sir, by all means, do come see us again tomorrow. We are here for the week, and in that time I extend to you, and your butler, an open invitation." This was followed by a heavy sigh from Lily, her aunt shooting her a glare before composing herself.
"That is very kind of you, Madam Matchka, and I intend you take you up on it." Ciel said, rising to his feet, "come Sebastian. Goodnight Madam Matchka," he turned to face Lily, "Miss Matchka."
"My Lord," Lily said, nodding her head at him, "bye Sebastian…" She said, biting the inside of her lip, knowing full well her aunt would see.
"Goodnight, Miss Lilith, Madam Machka." He said, as he and his Master left the tent.
Once the two were alone, Yuki struck the back of her nieces head, earning a slight yelp from her.
"You foolish brat! Of all people to flirt with, you choose the bloody help! What am I going to do with you?!"
"How about not hit me?" Lily offered, only to receive another strike, "I'll take that as a no…" Another strike, "yep… Definitely a no"