Thank you to Zero Andreasen for your follow and favorite! Hope you enjoy the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Black Butler
2
"Do we seriously have to do this?" Stella asked as she and Elizabeth looked around a clothing store.
"Yes!" Elizabeth responded, pulling out a blue dress with frills along the edges of the collar, sleeves, and bottom. "Let's get this one!"
"But it'll look better on you!" Stella protested.
"I already have this dress!" Elizabeth retorted. Stella paused.
"Then why are you suggesting I have it?" She asked.
"Because I think you'd look adorable in it!" Stella blushed.
"Adorable?" She looked away. "F-Fine. I'll get it!"
"Yay!" Elizabeth cheered. "Let's go find another one!"
"A-Another?" Stella half yelled. An hour or so later, Elizabeth had bought Stella at least five new dresses. "How can pay for all that?" Stella asked in amazement as Elizabeth's maid, Paula, opened the carriage door for the two.
"I'm a noble, silly." Elizabeth giggled. "Aren't you?"
"I wasn't the last time I checked…" Stella admitted as the carriage began riding back to the Phantomhive Manor.
"You're not?" Elizabeth asked. "Then why were you in Ciel's manor?"
"I'm just staying there for a while." Stella looked away. "No big deal, right?"
"I suppose…" Elizabeth shrugged. "But, I know you'll look great in those dresses!"
"I don't know about that..." Stella trailed off, not wanting to talk anymore.
"Hey, Stella?" Elizabeth spoke.
"Yeah?" Stella looked at Elizabeth.
"I know you said what happened to your eye is a secret," Elizabeth started. "but, I want to know what that secret is." Stella shuddered at the memory, then lifted her eye patch to reveal her pink-colored eye to Elizabeth, who gasped. "What happened?" She asked, concerned.
"I don't know." Stella admitted. "I was born with it. I don't know why, but I know it's bad. There was one accident where… I think I killed someone, but I'm still not sure. They were trying to hurt me, so…" She stopped, seeing Elizabeth's frightened expression. "Sorry! I won't hurt you, though. I promise!" She flipped her eye patch back down as she recognized the entrance to the manor.
"Promise?" Elizabeth asked.
"Promise." Stella nodded as Sebastian opened the door.
"My lady." He bowed as Elizabeth stepped out of the carriage, then ran to Ciel excitedly.
"Thank you, Mr. Sebastian." Stella nodded as she stepped out.
"Did you two find any dresses?" Ciel asked.
"Yes, we did!" Elizabeth smiled as Paula came over, carrying the dresses.
"Excellent." Ciel smiled, then turned to Stella. "Stella, I would like to speak with you in a moment."
"Okay." Stella nodded, curious about what Ciel would like to discuss.
A while later, Elizabeth had gone, and Sebastian had escorted Stella to Ciel's study. "Have a seat."
"Alright." Stella sat down in front of Ciel. "What's wrong, Ciel?"
"The Viscount Druitt is hosting a ball tonight." Ciel began explaining. "We have reason to believe that he is the culprit behind the Jack the Ripper murders."
"Okay." Stella nodded. "How do I roll with this?"
"What do you mean 'roll with this'?" Ciel asked, confused.
"I mean, like, how am I involved?" Stella corrected.
"The Viscount is interested in young girls." Ciel explained. "I apologize that we have to do this, but, we will use you to get closer to the Viscount."
"So, you're using me as shark bait, is what you're saying." Stella grimaced.
"Essentially, yes." Ciel frowned. "I would rather not, but the alternative is… me." Stella paused.
"I'm not sure how that would work." Stella shrugged. "But if you don't want to do it, I might as well."
"Alright, then." Ciel stood. "Come. There are some acquaintances of mine I would like you to meet."
"Okay." Stella nodded, following Ciel to another room, where a woman in red was looking through a bookshelf.
"Where do they keep the tea here?" The woman asked.
"Madame Red? Lau?" Ciel asked. "What the blazes are you doing?"
"Oh, hello, Ciel." The woman in red turned to Ciel. "Oh? Who's this?"
"I'm Stella." Stella nodded. "Stella Gray. Nice to meet you, Miss…"
"Oh, call me Madame Red, dear!" Madame Red smiled. "Stella is such a beautiful name!"
"Th-Thanks…" Stella blushed. "How are you and Ciel acquainted?"
"I'm his aunt, dear." Madame Red explained.
"Oh, okay." Stella nodded, looking at the man with a woman in his lap. "Are you Mr. Lau, sir?"
"Yes, indeed." Lau smirked. "And this is Ran-Mao."
"Hello." Ran-Mao said in a flat voice.
"Hi." Stella waved. She saw a man with brown hair pulled into a ponytail by a red ribbon. "Who are you, sir?"
"M-Me?" The man gasped, as if afraid. "I-I'm Grell… Miss Gray."
"I like your hair." Stella smiled, trying to get Grell to calm down.
"Oh…" Grell gave a small smile. "Thank you."
"Now, if the introductions are out of the way." Ciel spoke up. "Miss Gray has agreed to be 'shark bait', as she called it."
"I'm so sorry, dear." Madame Red looked apologetic.
"It's fine." Stella smiled. "I should be okay, I think."
"If she survives this," Lau smirked. "Who knows what else she could live through." Stella felt the color drain from her face.
"Survive?" She repeated, slightly afraid.
"Don't worry, Stella." Ciel smiled. "According to your story, you might very well be able to protect yourself."
"If you say so…" Stella frowned.
"In any case." Madame Red frowned. "The ball is in a few hours. I'll help Stella get ready."
Stella stepped out of the room, followed by Madame Red. Stella looked down at her black high heels and red-frilled dress. "You look marvelous!" Madame Red exclaimed.
"Th-Thanks…" Stella blushed. "Are we going, yet?"
"Yes." Madame Red, nodded, leading Stella out to a carriage in the front of Ciel's manor.
"Ah, Stella." Ciel smirked when he saw Stella. "What a lovely gown you have."
"Thanks…" Stella looked down as Sebastian helped her into the carriage. "So, what do I have to do?" Stella asked Ciel as the carriage began moving.
"You need to get as close to the Viscount as you can." Ciel explained. "Keep in mind that this is very dangerous." He paused, seeing Stella's fright. "Don't worry. Call for Sebastian if you need."
"I'll try and remember that." Stella said as calmly as she could. The rest of the ride was silent.
A good while had passed at the ball, and Stella was practically shaking in her heels. "Excuse me, miss." Stella looked to her right to see a blonde man with violet eyes. "May I have this dance?"
"Y-Yes, sir." Stella forced a small smile as the man took her out onto the dance floor. As the two danced, Stella heard a few whispers.
"Isn't that the Viscount Druitt?" Someone asked his or her partner.
"Who is that girl he's dancing with?" Another one asked. Stella paled. This was the guy.
"Are you alright, my little robin?" The Viscount asked.
"Y-Yes, sir." Stella hesitated.
"Shall we go somewhere more private?" The Viscount smirked. Here goes nothing.
"If that's alright…" Stella looked around as the Viscount led her to a side room. She saw Ciel whisper something to Sebastian before she walked inside. Once inside, Stella began to feel drowsy and extremely dizzy. The world around her began spinning and her head was throbbing.
When Stella awoke, she could see nothing. Her hands were tied, and her legs felt cold metal. Where am I? She thought worriedly. Oh god, I shouldn't have agreed to this!
"This next girl is a very special one, indeed." Stella stiffened. That's the Viscount. Oh, Jesus… "As you will soon see, her eyes are two different colors!" Stella felt a throbbing in her right eye. Oh, no. Not now. I need to be awake for this! I need… to… As the blindfold was taken off, Stella fell unconscious. "Oh, dear." The Viscount frowned. All of a sudden, the girl rose, standing.
"Eh?" She spoke in a much different voice than the Viscount remembered. "Don't tell me Stelly got in trouble again!" She sighed. "This cage is soooo small! Why don't I let myself out now?" The girl grabbed two iron bars in front of her and moved them out of her way, bending the iron. The bidders and the Viscount stared on in horror. "What?" The girl asked, rather rudely. "Haven't you seen an Other before?" She sighed again. "Well, looks like I'll have to introduce myself." She grinned, a black and blue sword with an odd design appeared in her hand as if from nowhere. "My name's Nana Gray! Other to Stella Gray! I serve as her protector!" This girl, Nana, gently tapped the curved tip of the sword with her finger. "Now, then… Since you hurt my little Stelly." She swung the sword at the Viscount. "DIE!" She screeched like a harpy as she lunged at the man. Someone from the crowd shot at her, hitting her in the left shoulder.
"That's enough, Miss Gray." A familiar voice said as the light blew out. The lights soon came back on to reveal everyone around fallen, save for a raven-haired man and Nana. Nana jumped as she turned around, taking a defensive stance.
"I was beginning to suspect an Other here." Sebastian frowned.
"Oh, a demon." Nana frowned. "I remember you. You're the one who's taking care of my Stella." The sword disappeared. "Well, since you're here, I guess I won't be needed anymore tonight. Goodbye." Before Sebastian could react, Nana's eyes closed as she collapsed to the floor.
A/N: Well, sorry that this chapter was short, but I hope you enjoyed anyway! See you all next time!
