Chapter 3: Sebastian's new attraction
"You lost your mansion, you lost your parents, and this time, will you lose Lady Elizabeth?" Sebastian's outline could be seen. The curtain blew away to reveal Sebastian sitting on the windowsill.
"Take that back, Sebastian."
"Take what back?"
"That jeer!"
"Young master, you told me you would be taking care of some trifling business. Was that 'business' to dotingly savour your wretched past and wallow in the pleasures of humiliation? Didn't you say at the frost fair that your body and your ring had already been shattered and reborn? That you were far past afraid of being shattered?"
"That's right. Don't recite my words back to me." Ciel said. "Wait a second… where's Lily?"
"Lily?"
A few seconds later, Lily burst into the room, carrying her jackknife, the switchblade open and ready.
"Not good… Ciel, they're catching up." She said, out of breath. She brushed the hair out of her eyes and her gaze fell on Sebastian. Suddenly, both of them straightened up, as if an electric shock had passed through them. Suddenly, Sebastian could not take his eyes off her. Oh no… not again. He thought desperately as he tried to look the other way. Drocell's voice echoed through the door.
"Build it up with iron and steel, iron and steel, iron and steel; build it up with iron and steel, my fair lady." Ciel ran around to face the door. Lily kept a firm grip on her switchblade knife. The door opened, and several rows of dolls marched forwards.
"Was Grell defeated?" Ciel asked in shock.
"I see… he's controlling them with his voice." Sebastian said, and walked forwards.
"That's right!" Lily said, and began to sing in the same tone. Her voice was beautiful and unearthly. "Iron and steel will bend and bow, bend and bow, bend and bow; iron and steel will bend and bow, my fair lady." Sebastian joined her. The dolls moved their heads to the music, and the steel cracked and their heads teetered to the side. At 'my fair lady' Sebastian walked over to stand beside Ciel.
"Who are you calling a lady?" Ciel asked angrily.
"Let us depart, young master."
"No. Ciel Phantomhive is my master's possession now. As is that young woman, though she is unnecessary to me."
"I am not-"
"The proof is the ring on your finger… and on yours too…" Lily looked down in shock to see another hope diamond ring, settled on her finger. "That hope diamond is a gift from my master to those who will be made into dolls." Lily seized the ring on her finger and tried to pull it off. No use, it was stuck fast. It wasn't a real ring, it was just a copy.
"Master?" Sebastian asked, confused.
"Ciel Phantomhive will be made into a doll… as will Lily Middleford. Dolls made of silver and gold." Sebastian smiled.
"Silver and gold will be stolen away, stolen away, stolen away; silver and gold will be stolen away, my fair lady." He grabbed Ciel and took Lily by the hand, ignoring the little spark when he grabbed it. He jumped, keeping a hold on both, and sailed out the window. They landed neatly on the back of the house.
"He was stolen away." Drocell sat on the floor. "So I thought to myself; Ciel Phantomhive will return."
Lily dusted herself off and let go of Sebastian's hand. Sebastian put Ciel down.
"Goodness me…" Sebastian said. Ciel brought his hand around and slapped him. Lily's head moved, as if she had been slapped and not Sebastian. A big red mark had formed on Sebastian's cheek.
"Ciel?" Lily asked, outraged.
"Don't tell me how to treat my servants, Lily." Ciel said, before turning his attention to Sebastian. "What about Lizzie? You still haven't saved her? I thought I ordered you to solve the kidnappings. Saving Lizzie, who fell victim to the kidnappings, is first-"
"An order is not the same as a contract." Sebastian interrupted, keeping his voice low so that Lily wouldn't hear. "Just as you give first priority to orders from the queen, I prioritize your life. I have devoted myself to your service and protection all this time. I couldn't stand for you to be stolen from me now."
"You had no bond to Lily. Why did you save her?"
"Simply because you would have punished me if I hadn't" Sebastian said, before turning his attention to Lily. "I do believe we haven't met. My name is Sebastian Michaelis. I am the butler of the Phantomhive family."
Lily smiled. It was a pleasant, sweet smile. It brought back painful memories of Catherine for him. "It's nice to meet you. I am Lily Middleford. I'm Elizabeth's older cousin."
"Enough talk, let's get going." Ciel said, looking at the ring. "He said that this ring is the mark of a next victim. And now I have two. Protecting me now will no doubt require some effort."
"Nevertheless, I shall…" A howl pierced through the night.
"Pluto" Ciel said. Lily looked around.
"I searched every corner of the mansion, but there was no sign of Lady Elizabeth. The only place left is that sealed off tower." The three of them ran towards the tower, where Pluto was barking, on a leash, with Grell restraining him.
"Hey, now, what's the matter with you?" Grell asked, fighting to keep a grip on Pluto.
"You two are alive?" Ciel asked. Grell saw Sebastian and a pink blush faded over his cheeks.
"Sebas-chan!" He launched himself towards Sebastian, but Pluto got there first. "Excuse me?" Grell paused. "Wait… could that be… a demon hound?"
"You just noticed?" Ciel asked.
"Oh la la, a passionate night with a beast, how immoral!"
"You're so wanton…" Sebastian said with a look of disgust on his face. Lily had to laugh. He looked at Lily.
"My Lady, are you sure you want to come with us? It's going to get dangerous." He said.
"That's my little cousin in there. I am going and no one is going to stop me." She said, flicking out her knife again.
"Pluto, I've been waiting for you." Sebastian said and walked forwards, with Pluto hanging on his neck. "Once the seal of the underworld has been placed on a door, only a hellhound can open it." Pluto's collar lit up, and he dropped to the ground, clawing at it.
"His collar is shining?"
"So is the door." Grell pointed out. Pluto changed into a dog and howled. The door opened with a creak, and Pluto bounded forwards.
"He did it again" Ciel said, outraged.
"It's all right." Sebastian said. "Let him be our guide." They followed into the dark tower.
