Chapter II:
A Singular Opportunity

The following day, Ciel Phantomhive was awoken by the soft and cheery voices of robins that had nested under his bedroom window as his adept butler gently opened the curtain, and rays of warm sunshine danced upon the sheets where the boy lay.

"If you'll pardon me, my young master—it is now morning," Sebastian proclaimed in a nonchalant voice as he rested a tea tray on the table beside Ciel's luxuriant bed. "It is time to wake up.

"For today's breakfast, I have prepared a traditional Parisian omelet, with a side of fresh bacon and white toast smeared with butter, served with only the finest Darjeeling tea available. Should you decide that you crave something more sweet, I have taken the liberty of providing you with two selections of homemade preserves."

The words all sounded foggy as Ciel adjusted himself in bed and rubbed his tired eyes. In all honesty, everything had seemed foggy to the young lord lately. Why did everything seem so strange to him as of late? The only sense of familiarity that echoed through the emptiness he felt was the presence of his loyal butler.

"Sebastian…" Ciel called out in a weary tone as his butler silently smoothed out the blankets and rested the bed food tray over the young lord's lap.

Immediately, the demon became alert, and bowed at the waist to his master. "Yes, my lord?"

"You… seem rather pensive. That is unlike you," he noted, shifting his gaze away from Sebastian as he took the floral teacup before him and sipped his morning tea.

"How very gracious of you to notice, my lord."

"Enough of that nonsense—if I have noticed that you are not your usual self, then that means you are slipping in your duties as my butler. You are not focused—that much is obvious. Did we not agree that no emotion was to be shown before me? You are my butler, Sebastian… and I do not wish to be bothered by your petty, trifling affairs." He took another sip of his tea, purposely avoiding Sebastian's gaze. Although attempting to sound cold and strict, he knew that his butler would see through the veneer: that Ciel was, in actuality, offended by the fact that he had not confided in him. However, that would soon be remedied.

Clearly taken aback, Sebastian placed a gloved hand to his mouth, and, closing his eyes, gently cleared his throat. "My apologies, my lord. Now, with your leave, what has been troubling me will be of the utmost interest to you, I believe."

Ciel furrowed a brow. "Oh, really?" Apparently, he did plan to tell me what was pre-occupying him. I should not have misjudged him so readily.

"Yes," the butler replied: removing a small white envelope from his breast pocket: the same envelope that Claude Faustus had presented him only just the night before. "It would appear that we have received an invitation to stay at the Trancy estate for a time."

"Hmmph," Ciel returned, seemingly unimpressed, as he took the envelope from Sebastian, opening it and reading the contents of the letter contained within. His eye scanned the invitation slowly. "Earl Trancy certainly is a most peculiar fellow. Nevertheless…" His voice trailed off. "…Perhaps accepting this invitation would be wise. It would give us ample opportunity to investigate the credibility of Alois Trancy as the heir to the Trancy estate, and delve into the possibility of this family's involvement in my parent's murders."

"That sounds quite reasonable, master."

"Then… that settles it," Ciel returned curtly. "Sebastian… I have a new assignment for you."

Sebastian knelt before the bed, inclining his ear expectantly.

"Tell the servants to ready my suitcases, and then, see to it that all my appointments for today have been cancelled." Little lord Phantomhive set aside the breakfast tray before Sebastian had a chance to move it, and flung back the blankets. "To hell with breakfast. As soon as I am bathed and dressed, we shall depart for the Trancy estate. Understood?"

Placing a hand delicately on his chest, Sebastian replied in a hushed whisper: "Yes, my lord."

… And, thank you, my lord. Now, I shall be free… free to pursue that treasured elixir, to woo it, and take it into my being, and, get ahead of Claude Faustus.

Pomegranates and vanilla never smelled so wondrous as they did now. The game was set. The pieces were moving… and the hunt to locate the purest soul was officially on.

Sebastian Michaelis smiled menacingly. He was ahead of Claude, and that was a beautiful feeling. Indeed… I certainly am… one hell of a butler.

AN./ Thank you for your reviews! Please, keep them coming! I hope to update this quite frequently until it is concluded. God bless! And, please... don't forget to R&R!