A young woman walked blithely down the cobblestone streets. Her short blonde hair danced through the air as her quick light steps disturbed the long rats beside her. The dark brown eyes peering through searched for the institution whose name slipped her mind. Although this should bother her, on a day as cold as it was, not a shred of ill feeling could touch her. Today she was free.
A brisk wind blew past her as she stopped before the Undertaker's listening to the cackle come within the shop. Only a fool would give up a chance to listen to the information inside.
"Now lets get to business. There have been a string of kidnappings of young women. None of them are royal or have any connections to power," a young boy's voice echoed within.
Traces of amusement still lay in the Undertakers voice, "so why does this interest you young earl? Is the Queen sending her watchdog out on ordinary missions now?"
"Though they hold no connection of power all of these women have been sought after and sold in the black market for very high prices. It is rumored they have special abilities though none of this is proven," the young voice continued patiently.
A smile spread across her lips as she entered through the threshold. That smile quickly flickered away as she saw three people in the room instead of two as she had expected. A tall man in a suit with black hair and red eyes seemed to pierce right through her. He must have been that child's butler, and a strange one at that.
"Acacia have you changed your mind about the funeral?" the Undertaker asked.
The boy in the room was younger than she thought. Since when were children allowed to become earls?
"I came to pay off my debt," she stated placidly.
Instead of the disgust emanating from the boy's eyes as she expected from a royal Acacia only saw calculation.
In what apologetic tone Acacia could muster, "oh I'm sorry am I interrupting something?"
"Nothing to do now but wait," the earl mumbled.
She continued without concern, "do you want your laugh?"
Flashing a toothy smile the Undertaker replied, "no I have had quite a nice laugh today. I think you will be able to help me in another way though."
"I won't succumb to your twisted fantasies of me playing dead," she retorted.
"I wasn't going to ask that of you today. I wanted to know if you have heard of young women being sold on the black market with unusual abilities," he continued.
A fierce glare closed around the lanky man in black, "why would I know of such things?"
The butler appeared before Acacia with a soft smile and threatening eyes. His glove caressed her cheek as his velvet voice emerged, "please I know this must be a hard time for you with losing someone you love so recently, but if you do know of any information it is imperative you tell it. A young woman such as yourself might be the next target for such treacherous deeds."
A tingle raced through Acacia's spine, "you assume too much. I know full well how to take care of myself in these streets. The last thing we need here are some royals running around trying to exploit us. My future is in my own hands."
On that note Acacia walked out of the shop intrigued and perturbed by the butler. He was like no other man she had seen before. His eyes had such depth...too much. He had seen too much for one lifetime. The soft crunching of snow stopped below Acacia's feet as she turned the street corner. The earl was too much like him.
She shook her head and continued onward through the alleyways twisting and turning. The rats her only companions as she entered through the wooden door in a musty room. A silhouetted figure sat in the thick sweet smoke filling the pathetic enclosure she called home.
"You took too long. I'm getting too eager for your own good. Almost had to call one of the other girls," a croaking voice called from the couch.
Acacia cooed suppressing the vomit her churning stomach threatened to let up, "just a few moments longer; I promise you a much better time."
Before he could respond she retreated upstairs to the small stone room. She slipped into some lingerie revealing the deep gashes covering her body. Acacia avoided the broken mirror that stood before her.
While walking down the stairs Acacia took each step with deliberation. Her heart thrummed against her rib cage. Everything in her wanted no more than to run back upstairs an jump from the window to escape this. The man sat on his couch half naked already greedily eyeing her.
Her lips grazed against his skin as she whispered in his ear, "why don't you bite the rest off?"
Instead of the saliva touching Acacia's shoulder and pelvis a strong arm wrapped around her pulling her away from the dreadful couch. She sat on the floor as she looked at the butler from earlier growling at him.
"That is no way to treat a lady. Why don't you learn some manners?" The man in black snarled.
A crack rang throughout the smoke filled room and the man on the couch moved no more. The small earl walked in eyeing the place without a trace of surprise in his eyes. Acacia managed to find a silk blanket and wrap it around her waist. The butler walked over calmly toward her leaving Acacia wishing she had a knife somewhere near by.
The butler started to take off his coat now and while he was distracted Acacia tried to land a punch. Without his attention moving from the buttons his hand grabbed hers with such ease and placed it at her side. He finally took off his coat and took put her arms through the sleeves buttoning up the shirt without a stray glance.
"Sebastian are we ready for the carriage ride home?" The earl inquired.
"Yes I believe the lady is somewhat decent enough to join us," he affirmed.
"Why would I come with you?!" Acacia challenged infuriated.
The boy walked right to her, "we spared you from that so now it's time you do us some favors and answer our questions. I know you are not some normal girl."
"Spared me?!" she retorted, "I told you I am not going to help you royal bustards."
"Even if it means destroying those who torment you?" he chided.
"I am no longer theirs."
"Then why whore yourself to the likes of him?"
"I'll have my own revenge. I don't need your help!" Acacia yelled with tears brimming unexpectedly upon her eyes.
Materializing before her the soft white glove soaked up the tear, "young master haven't I taught you better than to make ladies cry?"
Her heart skipped a beat as her body stiffened in his presence, "I'll go."
Instead of trying to clean up the mess the earl left the body exposed on the couch as the butler started escorting Acacia outside.
"Don't you need to clean up? Or does royalty always get their way?" Acacia challenged while in the carriage.
"Something like that," the boy muttered.
The carriage thrust forward as the butler drove.
"I still don't know your name earl," she started.
The boy let a smile cross his lips, "I am Ceil Phantomhive."