Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack. Clickety-clack.
Those who stood in the streets parted for the nobleman's carriage driven by footman known only as Snake. None of them missed the silver, crest (a pair of doors wearing a crown and framed with magnificent wings) on the side of the black carriage that read: Potentia regere, and they made sure to keep their distance. Anyone who lived in London knew that crest; everyone knew that family.
It was the Phantomhives- -the family of the Queen's guard-dogs.
Nothing but their famed mystery was known to the people of England. They were a well-known, prestigious family directly controlled by Queen Victoria herself, and quite often were they named: "The Aristocrats of Evil". Beneath the veil of their dark countenance was the truth of a family that was tasked to conceal all of the Royal Family's wrongdoings, to eliminate every thread linking back to the Family, and to destroy every thing that threatened England. With this great responsibility came the power to control all of England's underworld and the ability to maintain the fine line between the normal and the supernatural. When one threatens to overthrow this balance, it is the Phantomhives that eliminate the threat- -no matter the cost or method.
It was the rumors of their evil-doings and manipulation of England herself that lead to the overall apprehension of the family, despite the new head of household- -Earl Ciel Phantomhive. No one knew much of the new earl, as not many saw him in or out of his mansion and lived to tell the tale. Nevertheless, what was known among many noblemen and women was that he was nothing more than a mere child who had a deep dependence of sorts on his butler.
No one had ever heard anything of this butler named "Sebastian" before, but when one saw him, many saw him as very enigmatical and dark. Sebastian did not seem like a very trustworthy person, and he was exceptionally clandestine, but there was no doubt of his loyalty and skill (not to mention his rather devilishly handsome appearance).
In the carriage riding down the streets of London with Snake at the helm, who else would be inside but the Earl Phantomhive himself and his black butler?
"I see..." Sebastian nodded with a small smirk, crimson eyes trailing over the smaller form of his employer clad in a top hat and blue bow of ribbon around his neck. Hanging from his shoulders and covering the sight of a black waistcoat and white dress shirt was his blue frock coat adorned with several golden buttons. "Forgive me, young master, for my inquiry; however, I question whether or not the involvement of Miss Elizabeth is wise. You you recall the incident with the dolls, don't you?"
A single blue narrowed and glared at the coat-bearing demon who smiled lightly back at him with little fear of reprimand. "The threatre of our investigation is to be run by two managers as stated in the contract. I would have preferred you undercover as my equal, but it would not have seemed that way to the public, nor been favorable with the noblemen who know you as a butler. Elizabeth is both nobility and easily manipulated. I can run the theatre on my own with little interference from a partner. I entrust you with her security. I trust you will not fail me."
The demon's smirk grew a little with a small nod. His eyes traveled to the envelope branded with the queen's insignia before gazing back up to his master. Ciel must have caught this glance for he opened the letter and handed it to Sebastian. "Our mission is quite clear, Sebastian. Her majesty fears for the security of our upper class who attend the Savoy Theatre with rumors of the Opera Ghost, also known as the Silver Phantom. There have been two recent murders before attention outside the theatre was gained. Apparently, two of the security guards were found lynched from the rafters over the stage last week. Rumors of it being the ghost's doing and of previous deeds done by the ghosts have been surfacing."
"Previous deeds, young master?"
"The tale says that there has been a ghost living in the Theatre for several decades, maybe centuries. When someone acts out of the ghost's wishes or breaks his "rules" they are said to have been murdered days later, usually at the theatre itself. Look for any previous accounts of murder, Sebastian. I want to see how much of this tale is true, if any of it is."
With a nod, Sebastian placed a hand over his chest as the carriage slowed to a stop. "Yes, my lord."
A black cane topped with a golden handle hit the cobblestone streets once Sebastian opened the door and stood outside, followed by the knee-high boots of its owner. There, a blue eye trailed up the side of the brick building and its grand, white balconies and saw-milled oaken doors that were painted with the finest polish in all of London. Two sconces framed the entrance, directly below the grand balcony in which was designed with antique angel and demon murals. Naked children with harps decorated another of the balconies, as did a series of other fantastical and whimsical images. It was a sight to behold, one of the best theatres of the 19th century indeed. New and made only four years ago, they featured some of the best comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan.
It was the England-renowned theatre, now under his temporary control in this investigation. Well, with the not-so-helpful-Li...
"CIEL~!"
The Earl of Phantomhive was nearly knocked over on the street with a gasp, eyes wide in his skull as he was assaulted by a world of pink and frills. "LI-LIZZY!?"
"I came here early so that I can see you~!" Elizabeth squealed, holding him close as Paula giggled in the background. "I'm so excited~! We're going to get to work together~!"
"Li-Lizzy!" he cried, trying not to rudely push her away but at least get her off.
Sebastian was the one to save poor Ciel from the clutches of his betrothed. He tapped Elizabeth's shoulder, gaining the blonde's attention as she released Ciel with a curious expression. "It is time to meet the cast and the past directors inside, Miss Midford. Surely you must be eager to meet them yourselves."
"Oh yes! Come on, Ciel~! Let's go meet everybody!" she giggled, hugging Ciel's arm before starting to drag the earl through the grand doors of the Savoy. Ciel had to hold his hat as he cried out in protest, Sebastian following with a small smirk.
"Lady Elizabeth! Wait for me!" called Paul after her mistress as she gathered her skirts and ran after them, beginning their next grand adventure the moment they all stepped through that door.
Xxx
"Hurry, hurry~! We're going to be late~!" Grell pouted, looking at the tangle of black gloves in his magnificent, red tresses. His arms were crossed, lips caught in a scowl and hands straightening out the dress he wore. The dress he wore was an extravagent one at that with its lacy cuffs, frills, and ribbons. After all, an actress's beauty and glamour was always decided by the quality of her dress! And buying these dresses was quite hard to do since he was only paid a salary of 50 pounds a day and only on those in which he performed...which was only three or four weeks of the year twice (the spring and fall performances). It was only a mere two thousand and eight pounds a year, hardly enough to get buy and still buy this kind of dress that took up a seventh of his salary for the year...per dress. At least he had an expert hair dresser...!
"Oi! I'm going as fast as I can!" Ronald snapped through pressed lips that held a bobby pin between them, tugging Grell's hair slightly in mock punishment. "Don't rush me unless you want a mess!"
Huffing, Grell rested his cheek against the heel of his palm, skin wrinkled around his hand from the force between the two surfaces. His green eyes stared blankly at his reflection in the mirror, making sure the padding that acted like breasts were there. Of course, it was rather small as he dare not risk the chance that one may fall or shift during his performance. No one could know his secret. Should they discover his true gender, he would be hanged for sodomy most likely. Only Ronald knew this truth, and Grell had faith that his favorite little blonde wouldn't divulge his secret to anyone.
At that thought, his red-painted lips curved upward into a small smile.
"All right, there we are! All done!" chirped the younger, letting go of the messy red bun done up that framed the powdered face reflected in the vanity's mirror. "How does it look?"
"It's beautiful!" giggled the redhead quickly jumping up and tackling the blonde with a hug. "You're such a darling!"
Awkwardly, the blonde hugged the man that was a full two inches shorter than he, made up only an inch by the red high heel he wore. "Um, no problem..."
Sighing, Grell let go of Ronald and sauntered back to his vanity to spray on his favorite perfume, Fougère Royale; and afterward, he basked in the richness of amber and oakmoss. "Ah~ Now I'm ready," he chuckled, a dainty, gloved hand lightly held over his lips to stifle his miniscule laughter.
"About time. Do you think they've started without us?" Ronald asked, his hands in his trouser pockets as he looked toward the door. Even if Grell wasn't the star of the Savoy, he was good enough to have his own little dressing room (no matter how small it really was).
"Without me~?" Grell put that delicate hand over his fake bosom, raising that trimmed, ginger eyebrow in his mockery of Ronald's question. "As long as they have the 'star of the show' in their midst, it doesn't matter who they leave behind. You know that as well as I do, Ronnie-darling."
Ronald sighed and laced his gloved hands together behind his head. "I suppose. Knowing that diva, she'd do anything to start without us." With that said, he lowered his arms and offered one to his mentor with a polite smile. "Coming?"
"Of course I am! I'm eager to meet our new managers~! I knew this day would come soon~!" Grell beamed, blushing as Ronald walked him from his room and down the wooden, steel-railed stairs toward backstage where the other performers, chorus boys and girls, and other members of the theatre were pouring out onto the stage for the meeting beginning to take place there. "Oh, I hope they're handsome!"
Rolling his eyes and shaking his head, Ronald laughed all the way down the stairs and through the maze of different props to be used for the up and coming opera in a week and a half. His mentor was an odd one, he knew, but he wouldn't trade that for all the gold in the world.
And he'd protect him just as ferociously as a mother grizzly. No matter how desperate times got. Or so he thought at the time.
Nothing could have prepared them for what the near future would bring.
Nothing.
Xxx
Author's Note:
Hey guys! Guess who's back~? It's me, your author. Your Grimm. It's been a while, i admit, and I figured that a little greeting from my side of things was needed. Yes, Grell is our beloved Christine Daae, I bet you didn't see that coming, did you? Well, I suppose those who have read my other work and saw the note that said Grell would be playing this part would know that XD. This is my first (published) co-written story, written with a help of a good friend of mine in the real world. Perhaps she too will be writing an author's note with me in the future, and her code name will be revealed as we really haven't decided on one. Recently, my replies have been scarce thanks to the testing at the end of the year, and I put most of my time into studying instead of writing. Therefore, I apologize, and I hope that my lovely fans out there forgive me. However, I promise more updates toward the end of the school year once testing is over, and the release of a new co-written fanfic that was written with my long-time fanfiction friend: crazigrl. We've been working on it since last June, and I'll really eager to have finally published it. The name...well, it's not fully decided yet, but I'll let you know.
So how about a deal? I love deals, hehe. If I manage to gain 10 replies in this story within two weeks, then I will post a new chapter to the continuation of A Foolish Figure. And spoiler alert: Grell and William kiss. SO if you really want that chapter soon, tell all your friends, and get them to write a review! I love hearing the input of my fans, and I look forward to those reviews! See you next time, my cute little fans! I love you to DEATH~!
