* Author's note: I'm really sorry for not updating sooner but its half term now so I have time to write this. A massive thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed, I really appreciate it :) also as much as I would like to own Black butler or Kuroshitsuji I never have or never will. With that out of the way, on we go... *
He caught up, we ate and returned home quickly with little speech between us. Ben was more company than Sebastian was and I was glad that I had Ben with me. I had attempted to 'forget' about Benny but he had ran down the mud track with a bag larger than him to catch us up. We all walked in silence. Complete and utter silence. I was so glad to see my house. It was a nice home, it wasn't much but I had worked hard on it. The small garden was neatly kept and ivy embraced the front of the house, offering a welcoming view to the odd few wanderers who passed through. My house was the first people would see as they entered the tiny dysfunctional village.
When we got in I found that the others had awoken and were sitting around the table. I sent Benny to unpack his clothes, he was going to share my cupboard for clothes.
"Good morning, sorry we just had to pop out and get some things for breakfast. Who wants breakfast cookies? It's my own recipe. Oh! Here's your orange, Earl." I reached into the basket. I had covered it with a crochet blanket to protect the food from Ben's drool. I loved the pup dearly but I don't want to eat food tainted with his slobber.
"Thank you, Cat." I smiled at him and patted him on the head. I received a scowl in return.
"So everyone for cookies?" They all nodded apart from Sebastian. Something seems off with him, he won't eat or sleep. He didn't even take me up on the offer of a scone and a cup of tea, something isn't right. I began to make the cookies and I hummed to myself happily, I loved making things. Before long there was some hushed voices in the background, I looked at Ben silently telling him to listen in on their conversation. I could understand Ben really well, as a child I had heard of men holding conversations with snakes so I thought why not dogs? I basically taught myself the language and Ben served as a basic human when it came to companionship. However it was really hard to understand what he was saying specifically, I'll try find out later what they were talking about.
The cookies were soon in the stove cooking nicely. I sat down on the bench and looked at them. The whispers stopped. "Oh don't mind me, carry on your conversation. I probably won't understand this anyway, I'm a girl after all." I said the last part bitterly, men always thought women shouldn't worry their pretty little heads about anything important. It really bugged me.
"...Okay. Actually maybe you can help us with our business. We were getting reports of strange occurrences in the neighbouring towns. It's had some villagers terrified and she wants the problems fixed. Do you know anything?" Ciel asked me. I had a feeling it was happening again. I had been dreaming of villages... actually they were nightmares. Benny walked in, I looked at him and he shook his head.
"No, I haven't heard anything. I don't really go out much and... oh the cookies are done." I pulled the tray from the oven. Each was perfectly formed and healthy. They were in the shape of stars, it was the only cookie cutters I owned. I placed them on a rack to cool. I wafted them with a fan to cool them faster. "Who wants Icing?!" I randomly shouted. I didn't wait for answer, I pulled on my goggles which I hadn't removed. I meant business. Serious business. After a flurry of mixing and stirring, the icing was finished. It was chocolate flavoured, I put it on the cookies and poured out milk. I served everyone and pushed the goggles back onto my forehead. I only received strange stares from everyone, and a curious eyebrow from Sebastian. Benny whistled. "Well dig in everyone. They are oat and dried cherry cookies, the chocolate icing just adds an extra layer of flavour. I've giving everyone milk, its the only way to eat these." Ben licked my hand. "I didn't forget you, how could you think that?! Yes I made some the other day. They are in the cupboard." I waggled my finger at him. He tugged on the rope I had tied onto the cupboards for easy dog access. He retrieved the jar and I opened it for him and emptied the contents in his bowl. "You can finish them off, I got stuff to make more today." I patted his head and looked up at everyone. Oops I forgot they were there. And only Benny knows I can somewhat hold a conversation with my dog. I began to much my cookies. "Eat up while their still warm and soft. They taste better this way."
Ciel was the first to take a bite. "These are nearly as good as Sebastian's sweets, I'm impressed. Perhaps you should come and work for me." Following Ciel's example the others also took bites.
"You'll have to give me the recipe Miss Catherine ~eheheh~" said Undertaker. That grin was creepy and I wanna see those eyes under that fringe...
Grell said nothing. He... she... it hugged me suddenly. I swear I saw sparkles fall off into the background. Judging from the reaction I'll go against my original instinct and say Grell is a woman. A really ugly woman. I coughed and pushed Grell off gently.
"Well from those reactions I'll say that I'm good at baking. That's one thing ticked off of the list. Well since I've finished my cookies, I'm going to get to work. If you need anything, I'll be in my studio." I clicked at Ben grinned at everyone then went to my studio, I need to burn off this creative energy. I'm in that mood.
I was stuck into painting. It was a landscape, a jagged, lone, rocky island sat in the middle of a ocean. It was night time in the painting, beautiful constellations and nebula floated in the clear sky. It was one of my better landscapes, I actually had a reference to work off of in my mind. I stood up to get a drink of water when as I turned around I came only inches from bumping into Sebastian. He looked a little irritated.
"What's wrong Sebastian? And how long have to been there?" I stood with my hands on my hips, he could have at least knocked.
"I don't think you've been telling us the truth." He said calmly.
"I-I don't know what you mea-" A hand thumped onto my bench, rattling the many glass jars that lived there. I looked up only to be met with glowing pink eyes with a slitted pupil. His fangs were enlarged and poking out of his mouth. Demon. "Okay... okay I get it. Sit down. Ask all you want to know." I gestured to the other stool in the room. I sat back down on the one by the easel. His features returned to their normal... goodness (?)."What do you want to know, demon?" He looked a little confused. "I know what a demon looks like in its human form, you just proved it. Being as you've taken the time show me yourself, I'll tell you about myself. Ask away."
"What is this?" He held up a cube slightly larger than a die. A blue light flashed across in numerous lines creating a nexus pattern. I sighed, Benny was that stupid.
"That is a soul trap."
"I thought so, but the question is what was your friend doing with a soul trap?" I rubbed my temples. It doesn't really matter if he finds out, I know his secret so I suppose its only fair to tell him a voice echoed in my mind.
"I-I made it for a customer. It was supposed to be kept under the desk with the other special orders, but Benny can be an idiot." I looked up at him, his face was yearning for more information. "You see although I am human, I have the ability or talent to make anything that comes to my mind, even if it doesn't exist, out of nothing. Of course it takes energy and a bit of time to complete but in essence it takes no other ingredients. The original cult I came from called my type a Cause. Normally we are immortal, but the others got killed. By a demon." By a demon I made I silently added. I smiled when I remembered the cult members being killed, it was well worth the energy to see the look on their faces. I shook the dark look from my eyes. "You wanted to see what was under my bandage." I unravelled the off white material from my wrist. Hidden under the fabric was a circular purple mark, similar to a stamp. It was a pentacle, with an old elemental symbol at each point sitting just outside the circle. The star itself was intricately designed, similar to a celtic knot. The same pattern was on the circumference of the circle encasing the star. It was pretty, but ladies shouldn't have tattoos. "This is the mark of the Cause, and the mark of my cult."
"Why do you make these contraptions?" his thumb and finger cradled his chin. "Also it seems as though you resent being a Cause."
"It's the only way for me to stay alive, if I don't make them they will slaughter me like the others. I never chose to become a Cause. I was forced to, like scientist experiment on small animals, they experimented on me." I looked over at Ben, sleeping in the corner peacefully. "However, I'm happy I was made to become one. I was able to make Ben, he's my pride and joy. Want to know anything else?"
"No, for the moment that will be ample information. However I must warn you I take care of my young master and I do not take well to those who interfere. I'm assuming you aren't a threat as you would have harmed him already if you were. I will only tell the young master about you." I nodded and looked down at my feet. When I looked up he was gone.
-o0o-
No one's P.O.V.
"Got any 4's Earl~ eheh"
"Go fish" Ciel said slyly. He was going to win this game. He would have preferred to play poker or black jack, but that thing couldn't understand anything apart from 'Go fish'.
"Got any 9's." Grell sighed.
"Go fish." Both Undertaker and Ciel replied in unison. As it turned out everyone was lying about which cards they had, the game had been going on for nearly a hour.
Sebastian walked in on the trio huddled around Cat's small kitchen table playing cards. He smiled to himself, the young master must have been bored to pay with these two.
"BASSY! Fancy a game of strip poker?" Grell grinned at him. Ciel almost crushed his cards, he had to lower himself to play this child's game when that buffoon knew how to play poker all along. He had spent nearly fifteen minutes attempting to teach the idiot.
"Do you have to be so vulgar? Also I am on duty, the same as any time you have or will ask me." As he walked past Grell's chair he hit him on the head causing a few bumps on his head. As always Sebastian's smile was blinding, sparkles shimmered off him. Undertaker giggled and even Ciel gave the ghost of a smile.
Cat looked in through the window, smiling to herself. The demon doesn't seem that dangerous, I should be scared or at least intimidated but I'm not... she thought. She shuffled back into the shed that she called a studio and flopped on the stool. Clicking to Ben she attempted to interpret the information about the group's conversation. Cat was lazy and couldn't be bothered, then she face palmed. She looked at Ben and wondered why she put in the effort to learn how speak the language of hounds, she had made Ben and could improve him at any point... a little telepathy and improved intellect couldn't hurt. Could it?
Wow I wish I was faster at typing. I quite enjoyed writing this chapter but it was a bit hard going at times... Recently I've gotten into Noragami, if you people haven't watched or read the manga you totally should. It is so awesome :) Anyways I hope you enjoyed reading this. Any reads and reviews will be given rainbows forged by a unicorn.
~ Muncher out
