"Young master." Sebastian seems to have all but appeared from thin air in the Earl's study. With his hand crossing his chest, he bows, a look of pure determination in his crimson eyes.
"What did you find, Sebastian?" Ciel looks up from the book he had been reading, a tired look gracing his expression, as traversing London always takes a toll on him.
"One of my own kind - I assume - has laid claim to the brothel. It would be foolish of us not to believe that they are behind the deaths of the nobles, as well, if not at the very least orchestrating them."
"And did any nobles enter the brothel tonight?" Ciel raises an eyebrow at the demon, who seems to have forgotten the most important part of his orders.
"Yes, my lord. One is still there now. However, I fear for Miss Hawthorne's safety."
"The florist? What business could she possibly have…" Ciel pauses, his face flaring red. "Never mind. Why do you fear for her safety?"
"The one who I am to presume has been poisoning your fellow nobles carried her into the brothel earlier this evening. Since she awoke, the only thing I could sense from her was fear. You did not order me to intervene, so I am here to simply report my findings." It was times such as this that the demon wished that the child he had dealt with ten years ago had not been so clever. He would have more room to move about freely - though, Sebastian's highest priority is not the girl.
No, it is simply the earl's soul he cares for.
Ciel stands from his chair, hands slamming on the desk. "Damn it, Sebastian! We are leaving. Now." Stalking from behind the desk, the man passes his butler with a fury to his step.
"My lord, might I suggest - "
"No, you may not. We are taking action tonight. If what you say is true, we have two people in need of saving right now."
"Yes, my lord."
-Unbridled Suits-
"No, darling. I am simply one hell of a whore."
Millicent shakes her head, only causing the headache she had been staving off to come crawling closer. "That isn't possible. None of this is possible. I'm going to wake up in my own bed, with Beatrice telling me I'm crazy, and-" Millicent is silenced by the feeling of the woman's body pressed against her own. Nicole slips the gloves from her slim fingers, producing long black nails, and what could only be described by Millicent as an occult tattoo adorning the back of her hand.
"If this form does not please you…" The shadows fall over the room once more, blacking out Millie's vision, "I could produce any that you find pleasing." Replaced by the woman that was once positioned above her is a man with curled blonde hair falling around a chiseled jaw, crimson eyes staring down at Millicent as if they could devour her by sight alone.
Crimson eyes, just like that butler.
Millicent's jaw hangs down at the sight of the man, exasperation in her voice as she tries to find the right words. "How did you… what did you… where did… what happened to Nicole?"
"I am the same, darling. Just more to your taste I hope." Fingers tangle in Millicent's hair, lips teasing against her own as the man breathes heavily against her. "What is it you desire, Miss Hawthorne? Status? Power? Wealth? I could give it all to you, at just a small price."
The world whirls around the small woman's thoughts. What price could she possibly have to pay for her wildest dreams… and even then, none of those things are what she wants.
"I want to find my parents." Millicent stares at the man above her, a fierceness to her gaze that replaces the once feeble state she was held in.
A wicked grin crosses his lips. He lifts her chin with his finger, a sigh of satisfaction leaving his chest. "And are you not curious about my price?"
"Spit it out."
"Your soul, darling."
Her eyes shoot wide as she tries, foolishly, to slink away from the overbearing presence once more. "My… my soul?"
The man merely nods, crawling on the bed until her back is pinned against the headboard. "You see, I - " but his words are cut short.
He falls forward, his forehead slamming against the headboard as a knife is embedded in the back of his skull.
Millicent can't help but scream at the sight, as the blood drips down his head and onto her clothes. Looking around frantically, she spies the butler from before, holding knives between his fingers. Behind him stands the earl with a furious gaze.
"How long do you intend on playing dead?" Ciel shouts after a moment at the man, stepping forward until Sebastian holds his arm out before his master.
A low chuckle is all that could be heard throughout the room as arms slink around Millicent's body, a vice-like grip making it near impossible for the black haired woman to move.
"Lord… Lord Phantomhive!" Millicent struggles against the grip of the demon. He turns to sit on the bed with the woman perched against his lap, glowing crimson eyes staring at the pair.
"Sebastian. So good to see you again. I'm surprised you hadn't come down to say hello earlier." The demon chimes as he nuzzles his face into her hair, never letting his eyes leave their every move.
"I do apologize for my rudeness - I would not dare wish to tread on another's territory… However." Sebastian's eyes begin to glow as he leaps forward, "You have tread on mine!"
Abandoning Millicent on the bed, the demon leaps forward to meet Sebastian's clash in the air. With the knife from his skull, a wide grin shows pointed teeth and a determination to bring the elder down. "Do not believe you can just traipse in here and take what's mine!" The demon howls.
Ciel rushes forward to the bedside and grabs Millicent's hand, pulling her from her shock and to her feet. Her eyes dart across the room as she follows the fight between the two demons. "How can they move like that?" She exclaims as claws meet metal.
"Now is not the time! Sebastian, take care of him!" Ciel pulls her from the room and down the stairs of the home that has begun to settle due to the oppressive air of the fighting. Just outside the townhouse sits a carriage that Ciel all but shoves Millicent into before banging on the ceiling, the driver taking off at an incredible speed.
Millicent attempts to catch her breath once settled into the seat as she stares at the all too calm earl. "My lord?"
"Are you injured, Miss Hawthorne?" Ciel leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees with an extended hand.
"No, I - no, I do not believe so." She shakes her head, only for the woozy feeling to wash over Millicent once more. She steadies herself by gripping onto the seat.
"I must insist that you return to my estate this evening - for your own safety." All the young earl receives is another nod, leading him to question if she truly understood him. "Please tell me everything you encountered. Did you go with that man willingly?"
Millicent snaps her attention to the man across from her, "Does it appear that I did? I can assure you, I was not there by choice. I was abducted on my way home from the store." Her tone is sour with disbelief that he could even consider such a thing.
"My apologies, Miss -"
"Millicent. There is no explanation for you to be so formal with me, my lord."
"You have just experienced a traumatic event, miss. There is no need to shock you even further." A smirk touches on the lips of the earl at her suggestion as his gaze traverses her appearance. "Now, if you would please tell me what happened before we arrived, I would be grateful."