Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Kuroshitsuji belongs to Yana Toboso
"Are you sure you want to make this contract. Your soul will the price of our services."
"Yes, yes I do."
"and what is your wish"
"Secure my daughter's safety against her heritage."
"Very well" He placed his hand over the old man's neck.
There was an agonizing scream.
"The contract has been sealed"
"Tch." Scoffed Ciel. "Where are we going and when are we going to get there? This is taking far to long."
"I apologize, young master," replied his butler. "I do believe I mentioned that we are going to the estate of Count Evans. Remember that he has summoned us."
It has been three years since Ciel became a demon. The had been traveling making contracts and eating poor unfortunate souls; they were walking to the house of there newest victim.
"What information do you have on the family? They cannot have any connections with anyone I know." Ciel had insisted on keeping his old look, causing trouble in case they ran into someone from his old life. He had to change his name, whereas Sebastian kept his name and identity.
"The Count owns a clothing manufacture. They make and design clothing." Lizzy crossed Ciel's mind. Her and her odd obsession with cute things, especially clothes. He shook his head trying to shake away the thought. He thought a lot about Lizzy, but he avoided it. It just hurt too much.
He had left her all alone. Again. She went through the pain of being a widow. Again. She lost her colorful clothes to the blackness of a widow's shroud. Again. It was a guilt Ciel had been carrying for the last few years.
"He has two children, a daughter who is nineteen and a six-year old son. As part of our cover, you will be his tutor."
"Pft, what if some one recognizes us?"
"You have never met these people. If someone you have met comes, I will simply say I had to find a new job. You, on the other hand, even though you have changed your name, you look the exact same. Your name will protect you if our new masters talk about us, but you will just have to be quick enough not to be seen." Ciel groaned. He hated having to conceal, but every time he complained, Sebastian would remind HE wanted to leave and HE wanted to keep his look.
"Ah, here we are." Sebastian announced. They stopped at a large manor house. The garden was full of thistles, nettles, and thorns everywhere. "My, this garden is a disaster. We'll have to do something about that."
"Looks like a witch's house." Ciel snickered.
"GO FASTER!" then a pause, "NO, NO, DON'T DROP ME, NO, NORA, OWWW, GOOD LORD! WHAT THE HELL!"
"..." Sebastian and Ciel's sweat dropped. "maybe a witch does live there."
"Well,let's proceed." Sebastian knocked and the door was opened by a maid dressed in a very conservative traditional maid uniform. She was middle-aged, about in her fifties, with short mousey-brown hair.
"Oh" she said sweetly and smiled. "The master said he was expecting two new staff" as she showed them in, a girl behind her was sprawled on the with her eyes closed. She wore a maroon dress, ending where her knee high boots began. Her long ink black hair was tied into a messy side braid.
"Get off the floor, Mallory, are you or are you not a proper lady?" The maid lost all the honey in her voice.
Mallory opened a single gray eye. "No, I am not a proper lady. I am a practical one."
"Well I'm sorry. I didn't know lying on the floor was so practical." The maid retorted sarcastically. "Quit sulking and get up."
"Nooora" Mallory whined "I won, you have to carry meeee. I can't believe you dropped a cripple. Cruel hag!"
"I don't think cripples are capable of kicking over tables and knocking down doors. Now, the new butler and tutor are here stop shut the hell up and get the hell up."
"But I didn't hire any new staff"
"Well, what do you want us to do? Just borrow your friends chef every meal? You're father decided to hire some staff himself."
"Ha ha, Nora, that's hilarious. Now, really."
Nora sighed and rolled her eyes. She turned to Sebastian and Ciel and gave them an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, the young mistress does not have in any faith in her father's abilities. She is rather arrogant in that way. Please excuse her."
"You know I have a point."
Nora ignored her, keeping her eyes on Sebastian and Ciel. "Now, I'll show you to your rooms then give you a tour of the manor."
Mallory sat up, "Wait, you're serious?" She got up and ran up to Sebastian and Ciel "I can see flaws in them already." She turned to Sebastian and shoved her finger into his nose, he widened his eyes but kept his straight face. "he is obviously letch, a pervert and a pedophile."
"Mallory, don't stereotype, he is obviously just unfortunate." Nora responded. Sebastian dead panned and winced as Ciel snorted, trying to suppress a laugh.
"And this shrimp," She said turning to Ciel. He stopped his snickering. "how could he possibly teach Lysander? I could do a much better job this child looks as if he could be Lysander's playmate! 'Sander needs some one to look up to. Literally and figuratively." Now it was Sebastian's turn to snicker.
"Molly, don't be rude," Nora said "Your father is not so incompetent to hire people with such poor qualities. Besides, every one has flaws. Especially you."
"Says you." Mallory retorted, smiling cheekily "I'm perfect.". She turned back to Ciel and Sebastian. "Come with me to the parlor." She said, swiftly turning her back. Sebastian and Ciel followed.
"Hey," Nora called out to Ciel and Sebastian " If she starts to go berserk, just throw water on her; it'll clam her down."
"You're hysterical, Nora."
"Not as much as you!"
"Oh," Mallory turned back and yelled, "CALL AND TELL LIZARD I EXPECT HER HERE TOMMORROW."
"What kind of name is Lizard?" Ciel spoke up.
"Nickname and code name. Deal with it." She spoke in a more harsh tone, as if he had just insulted her in the most rude way. Ciel recoiled.
Once they reached the parlor, Mallory dropped herself on to a cherry blossom patterned french couch. She picked up a note book and pen that had been set down on the Thai-style carved side table. She nodded her head motioning to Sebastian and Ciel to sit.
"So." She said opening to a new page in her note book, runs her fingers through her bangs and sighs. "I am Mallory Elspeth Everett. I really don't have time for this nonsense, so make this quick. Names?
"My name is Sebastian Michaelis and this is Camon Liephithe."
She gave him a weird look at Ciel's name, but ignored it. "Any letters of recommendation?"
Sebastian handed her a little white envelope with gold engraving. Using her nail as a letter opener, she tore it open and read the letter. As she read through the letter, her face got darker, and darker.
"Well," she finally said "From the Earl of Phantomhive, I suppose that can be seen as impressive." Mallory finally stood up. "I guess I have no choice but to hire you" She looked up to Sebastian and Ciel. She smiled, but it was more of creepy "I'm-gonna-screw-you-over-so-bad-smile" than a "I-have-accepted-you-smile".
She raised her hand and swung it. She hit the blue Chinese porcelain on a carved side table. Mallory waited for the sound of the the smash. When she didn't hear it she turned to look at the vase. She was shocked to she Sebastian, with the vase in hand and a his smug smile.
Mallory was speechless. She stood there for a second, but quickly recomposed herself. She smiled.
"I apologize,: She said. "I have a poor temper, and throw these childish tantrums." Mallory took the vase from Sebastian's hands.
SMASH!
Mallory had smashed the vase over Sebastian's head.
"I apologize." She told him. "I feel like such a failure is I don't break something during a tantrum." She turned her back and sat back down on the couch. "If your going to work here. You will have to learn to ignore my childishness. It's Nora's job to keep me in line."
Sebastian slowly stood up and bowed. "I apologize, Miss Everett. I shall know my place from now on." Although Sebastian had recovered quickly, Ciel was still shocked.
Mallory furiously scribbled a few more things in her little notebook.
"Molly," Nora's voice called from outside of the room. "What was that noise, are you alright?"
"Shit." Mallory cursed. She got up, lifted the Turkish carpet and stated to use her foot to sweep in all the piece of the under the carpet. Ciel just stared, while Sebastian suppressed a chuckle. The carpet was left lumpy, so she stomped on the pieces to flatten it out with a tinkling sound. She turned to Sebastian and Ciel.
"Not a word out of you two, if you want the job." She said. She held her aloof stance and tone, but her words suggested she was under Nora's thumb.
Ciel was about to object, how it was her father's choice, not her's, to make that decision, but Sebastian's gaze saying not to held him back.
Sebastian replied for them. "Of course, Miss Everett."
Mallory gave a nod. "Good, I don't like snitches."
Nora's head popped from the door. "Is everything OK over 'ere?"
Mallory became all composed, as if nothing had happened at all. "Nothing, Nora. Why don't you go and have some tea, you must be tired from carrying me. Why don't you take the rest of the day off?" Nora gave her a very skeptical look."What," Mallory asked, still trying to look as innocent as possible.
"You're being nice." Nora answered, leaning on the door. "You're only nice when did something wrong." She gave a big sigh and walked in to the room.
"Tell me what happened." She commanded. glares of the women, each demanding them to take a side. There was no neutrality, if they spoke, they were with Nora, but if they stayed silent. Mallory was the master's daughter.
Nora sighed a twirled around to Mallory, muttering how Sebastian and Ciel were spineless, useless bastards. "Wasn't there a vase right there?"
"Where?" Mallory, responding, her face switching from the traumatic glare to the innocent "what?-me-break-a-vase" face.
"Over there."
"There?"
"No, there."
"There?"
"No, there."
"There?"
"Oh, For the love of god Mallory, THERE!"
"There?"
Nora, obliviously familiar with this procedure, bent down and lifted the rug, reveling the little fragments of the vase.
"Oh," Mallory said nonchalantly, showing no remorse. "That vase."
Ciel face palmed as Nora took out a little note book "That is the 18th vase this month."
Her response was a snort as she crashed on the french armchair. Nora rolled her eyes.
"Come," she said, motioning her hands to the two demons, "I'll show you to your rooms." She turned to Mallory "And you don't cause any trouble young missy."
"Yeah, yeah, I gotcha." She responded dismissively. "I have work anyways."
Nora led them out the room, through a dark hall. They walked in silence until they reached a door at the end of the hall. The maid opened the door. Inside was a relatively large room with two twin beds. "here is where you will be staying." Sebastian brought in their luggage, as Ciel bowed and thanked her.
"It's nothin'" She shrugged. "Hey, I apologize for the mistress. I dropped her on her head many times as a baby." She chuckled. "Give her time, and she'll stop doing things like spreading marble on your floor and dropping bugs in your mouths while you sleep."
She left the room, closing the door behind you. Ciel crashed backwards onto the bed.
"This is going to be awful." He said.
"Now, young master, let's not be pessimist." Sebastian replied. "It could be a very good experience."
"But this wish is more complicated, it'll take too long." Ciel turned to Sebastian, "Do this one quickly, that girl annoys me."
"Yes, my lord."
Sebastian was in the kitchen preparing for the Everetts' dinner, as Ciel was sleeping in their room. The Count and his family have still not arrived, and Mallory hasn't bothered Sebastian since the conversation in the parlor. He stood there, preparing the blacked salmon, thinking. The Count was not very specific with his wish. He sighed. It would make it hard to finish the wish quickly when he didn't know exactly what the wish was. He would figure it out, though, he always did.
As Sebastian thought, Mallory walked into the kitchen. She completely ignored him, walking right past him and started ransacking the cupboard.
"Um, Miss Everett-" He began
"Ms Molly" She interrupted as she took out a tin of Funtom assorted cookies. "You will address me as Ms Molly."
"Ms Molly." Sebastian corrected himself. "Excuse me for asking, but what are you doing?"
"Is that really any of your concern?" Molly retorted. "Since we lost our last butler, who was the only person in the household who could cook, there has been nothing to eat. I have resorted to eating from these tins of cookies my friend brings me and the chef she lends us." She sat on top of the counter and started munching on a cookie. "Even then, I'm the only one who likes his cooking."
"Well, please do not start eating, or you will ruin appetite. I am preparing dinner, and It should be done within an hour."
"I never loose my appetite." Molly stared at Sebastian's hands as they prepared the food, while slowly putting more cookies in her mouth.
Sebastian was not quite in the mood for a fight so he ignored her. After a five minute silence, Molly spoke again.
"Do you hate me?" She asked.
"Now, why do you ask that?"
"I smashed a vase on your head."
"Yes, well.." Sebastian wasn't quite sure what to say.
As Sebastian tried to find the right words to tell her with out sparking another tantrum, there was knock at the front door.
"Ah, you must excuse me, there is some one at the door." He said giving her bow.
"No shit, Sherlock." She rolled her eyes. "I'm not deaf. I could hear the door knock." Mallory put the tin down and slid of of the counter "If he asks, I was the perfect little angel; I'll be in my room.
He opened the large wooden door where stood a total of five people. The one who stood out the most, which Sebastian recognized as the Count was in a wheelchair. He was attractive with hair the color of ripe wheat and eyes the same steely gray as his daughter's. His legs were missing leaving his pants looking empty and vacant. Despite his disabilities, he had wide grin on his face. Pushing his chair with one hand was a tall, pretty woman with platinum blond hair. In her other hand she held the hand of a little boy who chatted on and on. Behind them stood two maids, faces covered by large boxes they were carrying.
When the Count saw Sebastian, he smiled. "So you've come!" He seemed so excited, like little boy. "I was little worried you would skip out on me, actually."
"Of course, not my lord, we have contract."
The Count face faltered, but it seemed more from confusion than having regrets about the contract, but he quickly perked up again. "Of course, I apologize for not being here to receive you. Are you with your companion?"
"Yes, he is currently resting in our room."
The blond woman pushed the Count into the house, as the two maid brought in the boxes and disappeared into the mansion.
"Ari, darling." The woman, which Sebastian assumed to be the Duchess, "Please bring us some tea."
The brunette maid turned back and smiled. "Yes ma'am."
"I trust my daughter treated you well." There was titter from the maids in the kitchen.
One of the maids, the one called Ari, "Sorry Mr. Augustuszad, but if you hire men, she's not going to be very pleased."
The Count looked rather nervous, pushing his index fingers together, acting like a boy who just got caught stealing cookies. "Well I didn't think it would be that much of a problem..." He brightened up again. "Well, get your friend, I'd like to talk to you two privately." he turned to Ari, His young, bouncy young boy demeanor, his face dark. "Cancel that tea."
Well, I finally have posted it! This is my first fanfic! Hope you like it. Sorry about Ciel's name, I tried to make it an anagram of his original name and I couldn't make find one on the internet so I just tried to make one. And I came with an utterly pathetic anagram which I dearly hope sound like a name. T_T. I also apologize if there is any OCCness. And if Molly annoys you. And if there is any bad grammar. And I'm sorry if I am saying sorry too much. But please review with any comments, questions or suggestions.