Someone has mentioned in one of their reviews that I don't need to give disclaimers for every chapter. I shall heed their words from this point on. Also I've removed the text advice, since you should all be used to it now.
Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Chapter Two
Butler, Strongest. Bride, Kidnapped
Marianne was curled up safely in her bed late one night. Her body shivered under her covers, trembling as she tossed and turned in restless sleep. Trapped in the depths of a dark dream, sweat streaming from her pores and making her nightshirt cling desperately to her body.
Surrounded by white light, Marianne struggled against many grasping hands, all of them trying to pin her down, moving over her bare body as it writhed beneath a swath of white cloth.
"Let me go!" she cried out, tearing her wrists out of their grasping hold.
They only reached out again and pinned her down. Another set of hands grabbed onto her knees and forced them apart, spreading herself to the world.
"Stop! No! Let me go!"
Another light seemed to float towards her, heading in the direction of her parted legs.
"Don't touch me, you bastard! I won't let you!"
The screams of her dreams came out of her mouth as soft mutters, but they were easily heard by a certain demon…
Sebastian stood in the darkness of her room, watching her sleep. He had started sneaking into her room while she slept to watch over her, an instinct telling him not to let her out of his sight even for a moment. He could tell she was having a nightmare. Slowly, silently, he stalked forward and touched a finger to her wet cheek. He closed his eyes and reached into her mind.
Marianne struggled to close her legs.
"You failed the first time you did this! What makes you think the same won't happen again?!" she screamed.
Just then, the light was extinguished and consumed by overwhelming darkness. She felt the hands around her wither and die. Once she was free from their grasp, she felt the cloth fall from her body as she was picked up into a dark being's arms. They wrapped a cloak of raven feathers over her shoulders, ran their clawed fingers through her soft hair, pressed warm lips to her forehead and cheeks.
"I will always protect you, my mate."
Sebastian moved away from her when she was peaceful once again. He watched her try to nuzzle his retreating hand.
"Good girl. You need your sleep. You know I will take care of you."
He considered stealing a kiss from her parted lips, but decided against it. He would rather her be awake and willing, knowing that he had taken it, rather than her left to the unknown. When he was satisfied that she wouldn't wake until morning, he crept back into the shadows, disappearing into the night.
The following afternoon, Bard, MeyRin and Finny were sat on the floor in one of the many corridors of Phantomhive manor. A compartment in the floor was wide open, and the cook was inspecting the state of the wiring.
"Bloody Hell!" he groaned. "This wire's done for!"
"Not the rats again!" MeyRin moaned.
"This is ridiculous! I know there's been problems with them plaguing London lately, but I never expected them to be a problem so far out of the city."
A grey rat ran out in front of them. They shrieked at the sight. Finny was the first to act by grabbing a marble bust and threw it down onto where he thought the rat was.
"I've got you!" he cried.
Bard and MeyRin's protests were ignored as the large object slammed down onto the floor.
"Oops! Looks like it got away!"
The cook snapped at him.
"What the Hell are you laughing for?! Are you trying to kill us too, you idiot!?"
MeyRin scratched her head while Tanaka sat and sipped his tea.
Meanwhile, in the billiards room, Ciel was entertaining a group of guests. One man, middle-aged with brown hair, sideburns and moustache, and glasses balanced on the bridge of his nose, glanced up at the sound of the servants.
"Quite the commotion going on out there. It seems you're experiencing a rat problem as well."
He moved away from the billiard table, giving the chance for another man to take his shot. This one was blond with a large scar going from his forehead down over the bridge of his nose, and ending on the other cheek. There was a slight goatee on his chin, and four piercings in his left eyebrow. A third man, portly in stature, looked up from his sandwich.
"Speaking of which, how long will you let the vermin run wild? The filthy creatures," he said. "Someone really ought to take care of them, don't you think?"
Another man, of Asian descent, sat on a chaise with a young woman of the same descent straddled on his lap.
"And someone will," he smirked, completely calm despite the position he was in. "He is just waiting for the right moment."
A woman, dressed completely in red, with scarlet hair cut in a short bob and red eyes, gave a smile from her red painted lips.
"Indeed. He prefers to settle things with one blow."
Ciel surveyed them all, hand nonchalantly holding his billiard cue, dressed in a black and red ensemble. He smirked when the woman directed a question at him.
"Will you be passing this turn too, Lord Phantomhive?"
"I'll pass. It's my policy not to shoot if I know I'll miss," he said.
The first man looked at him across the room.
"That's all well and good, but when will you handle the problem?" he asked.
"Whenever you like. It won't be long before they come out in search of their forbidden cheese. And I'm the one with the key to the storehouse." Ciel smirked.
The scarred man glanced at him, gritted his cigar between his teeth. He bit the cue ball, but failed his shot.
"Even so," Ciel continued. "Locating the nest and eliminating the vermin promises to be a tedious task. You should concentrate on preparing me a suitable reward.
The first man glared at the boy.
"You're a vulture!"
Ciel's eye narrowed.
"Sir Randall, I'd be very careful how you smear my family name."
The blond man chuckled at Randall's misfortune.
"So, what's next, Lord Phantomhive?" he asked.
The young Earl got to his feet and made his way to the billiard table, cue in hand and ready to strike the white ball.
"I think it's time to put an end to this stupid game, don't you think?"
He brushed past Sir Randall and spoke.
"How soon can you make the payment?"
Randall sighed.
"Tonight, I'll have it by then."
Ciel nodded his head, climbed up and sat on the edge of the table, and took aim.
"Excellent. I shall send a carriage for you later. We can even prepare some light entertainment for you."
The portly man gasped and what the boy was doing.
"You skipped your turn twice, and now you're going to take them all in one go?!" he gasped, his sandwich falling out the corner of his mouth.
"Naturally." Ciel smirked.
"Careful, or your greed will undo you." Randall advised.
Ciel only smirked and took his shot. The ball hit both the red and the black, sending them into separate pockets of the table.
"Tell me, am I undone?"
Later, when the carriages had departed with Randall and the other two men, Ciel sat in his study, where Sebastian and Marianne were serving his afternoon tea.
"Today we have a special Darjeeling blend to offer from Bolton and Mason." Sebastian explained, pouring it into teacups.
The Asian man and his companion were given their cups by Marianne. The man in question took a sniff of the brew.
"Wonderful, it can be truly delicious when it has been brewed well," he complimented.
The demon only continued to pour another cup. Marianne glanced behind him and saw another butler, whose dark brown hair was tied back with a red ribbon, and his green eyes were tucked behind a pair of glasses. She arched an eyebrow as she watched him blush, completely in awe with Sebastian.
"Grell," his mistress called out.
He turned to the red woman.
"Learn something from Sebastian," she ordered.
He sighed heavily.
"Yes, my Lady."
The woman turned to the demon butler.
"I mean, just look at him."
She did something that astounded everyone in the room. Her hand ran up and down Sebastian's back, as well as his backside. The only comparison to be made was that he had just got molested. Marianne stared at the scene with wide eyes, a gaping mouth, and somehow she was able to not drop anything, (she could multitask when the need called for it).
"This physique! You should quit this country job and come and work for me in the city!" the woman proclaimed.
A surge of something rushed through the girl, her heart hammering in her chest. A point on the small of her back was burning, burning like her heart as it was consumed by the raging flames inside her.
To both her and Sebastian's mercy, Ciel coughed to interrupt her.
"Madame Red, kindly behave yourself."
Madame Red had the decency to blush.
"Oh sorry, couldn't help it. It looked like he needed a physical. Just a doctor's habit, I suppose."
But she's not the least bit sorry for doing it in public? She practically molested the man, dammit! Marianne thought.
Unbeknownst to her, Sebastian smirked, knowing the emotions rushing through her. It seemed his mate was jealous of the attention. He would make sure to remedy that later. It wouldn't do to have her unhappy.
The silent exchange was interrupted by the Asian man.
"So, do you think the drug trafficker you're after was one of your guests today?" he asked as Ciel put down his tea.
"Perhaps." Ciel answered.
Madame Red shook her head.
"Why don't you leave the extermination to Lau?" she sighed. Her red eyes watched him as Lau got to his feet and walked around behind Ciel's chair. "After all, a rat knows best where a rats' nest is."
Lau only smiled.
"I am but a tame guinea pig devoted to the service of my Lord."
He placed a hand on Ciel's head, causing a scowl to go across his face.
"If the Earl instructs me not to act, I am bound to do nothing."
Quick as a flash, Madame Red tore Ciel out of his grasp.
"Watch it! You best keep your filthy paws off my darling nephew!" she snapped, fire practically spurting from her mouth.
Lau clapped a hand to his chest as though pained.
"You wound me, Madame. I would never paw at him in his own home," he said.
Ciel was all but tossed aside as the woman's temper continued to flare. Luckily for him, Marianne was there to catch him before he fell.
"Are you saying you would if you were elsewhere? Careful, you're on thin ice now, Sir!" she bellowed.
As they were arguing, Ciel looked up at Marianne as she held him in her arms, and leant to whisper in her ear.
"I wish to adjourn to my study. Take me there, please."
The girl smiled and nodded her head, running her hand discreetly through his hair.
"Of course, I need to inform you of when I'll be taking my day off this month."
With her arm wrapped around his shoulders, she escorted him out the room, both of them unknowing of Sebastian's stare following them.
They walked down the corridor to his study, ignoring the chaos as Finny ran past in a cat costume while holding an actual cat, which was attacking him, all the while being chased by MeyRin with her fingers caught in a pair of mousetraps, followed by Bard. The pair were stopped by Sebastian calling out to them.
"Young Master, Edward, today's dessert is a deep dish pie prepared with fresh apples and raisins. It will be ready soon, would you like to eat with your guests?" he asked.
Ciel shook his head, glaring at him.
"Take it to my study. I'm done here. Edward will tend to me before dinner."
Sebastian bowed.
"Certainly, my Lord."
When they had disappeared from his view, the demon decided that enough was enough. It was time to sort out the three idiots' mess. With superior reflexes, he snatched all the rats off the floor in one fell swoop, and dropped them into Tanaka's net.
"That's enough of that. Stop messing around and get back to work," he ordered.
The three servants only stared at his back as he walked away.
Inside Ciel's study, Marianne closed the door behind them and watched as Ciel leaned back against the wood.
"Finally," he sighed. "Some peace and quiet."
He started to make his way to his desk.
"What day did you want off again…?"
He didn't get to finish his question, because out of the darkness, a hand shot out and clamped a cloth drenched in chloroform over his nose and mouth. Marianne had been facing away from him, so as she turned around, she saw him struggling with his attacker.
"Ciel!" she cried. "Let go of him, you…!"
The attacker gritted his teeth.
"Damn! We'll have to take this one too!"
Soon enough, she was attacked in a similar manner, mouth and nose covered with cloth dosed with chloroform; Marianne was down for the count in a matter of seconds. The world faded to black as she closed her eyes…
Sebastian knocked on the door of the study, a tea trolley in front of him.
"Young Master, I've brought your pie and afternoon tea."
There was no answer so he opened the door, finding the room in complete disarray. Papers scattered to the wind, furniture overturned and books tossed to the floor. The window was wide open, curtains billowing ominously in the breeze. The demon sighed.
"Oh dear, this is terrible. The refreshments will all be wasted now."
As he was about to leave the room, he caught hold of a scent he was more than familiar with. A growl crawled up his throat and rumbled in his chest.
Marianne... So you've been taken as well. It would seem I now have to kill each and every one of your kidnappers.
Meanwhile, tucked away in the East End, a large mansion stood proud, watching over the slums like a glowing white guard. Many men stood outside guarding the fortress, because what lay within was very precious indeed…
"The policemen of England's Underworld, one of the families that have been doing the royals' dirty work for generations; the Queen's Guard Dog, tasked with disposing of anyone who disagrees with her."
Marianne heard a man's Italian accent as she slowly roused herself from her unconscious state, the scent of expensive cigars stung the insides of her nose. She wriggled slightly, heard the chinking of chains. Her eyes focused, and saw the chained cuffs wrapped around her ankles, and the collection of belts keeping her arms tightly pressed against her torso. Next to her, she saw Ciel in a similar state, his head bowed down as though he was still unconscious.
"Just how many names do you have? And how many families have you crushed, Ciel Phantomhive?" the man continued.
Marianne started when Ciel lifted his head, her eyes widened at the state of him. There were cuts and bruises all over his face, but there was still a ferocious fire burning in his eye.
"I should have known it was you. You have ashamed your family, Azzuro Vanel," he said.
She recognised the scarred man as one of the guests leaving the manor only that afternoon. Azzuro merely smirked at his words, his cigar between his teeth and smoke billowing out the end.
"Now, now, my little Lord Phantomhive. Do you know how hard it is for the Italian mafia, eh?" he complained.
The Italian mafia? That was not good. She shuddered at what they could do to them, especially in her disguise. Although it looked like they didn't know she was female…
"You Englishmen have nothing but tea on the brain!"
Well, she did like tea… Marianne shook her head, knowing that she had got distracted again.
"It's difficult to penetrate the minds of you people, so we have to think outside the box to make money. So we found the drug trade."
She wrinkled her nose. The smell of opiates and other substances always clung to Lau, so it was often that she had to resist holding her nose just to keep it out of her head.
Her thoughts were interrupted once again by Ciel speaking.
"The Pharmacy Act 1868 listed opium as a restricted substance. It is the Queen's decree, and I will eliminate those drugs and the vermin who sell them."
Azzuro sighed heavily.
"This is why I hate all you Englishmen! The Queen this! The Queen that! You act like this woman is your own mother!"
He grabbed hold of the boy's chin, forcing him to stare back at him.
"You line your pockets the whole time while you think you're better than us. But in the end, we're no better than each other."
Marianne couldn't stand it any longer.
"Get your filthy paws off him! He is worth a thousand of you!" she snapped.
Azzuro glared at her. His hand swung back and his fist drove into her jaw. Her head smacked against the wall, her teeth jarring in her skull. The taste of copper filled her mouth and ran from her lips.
"You keep your mouth shut, you little bastard! You're just a servant brought along for the ride, so learn to be silent, unless you want me to cut out that tongue of yours!" he growled.
Marianne glared at him, but kept her mouth shut. Ciel, drawing attention back to him, spoke.
"I've left orders about your key. If I don't come back, my servants will make sure the authorities get it."
He smirked.
"I'm sorry, but I have no interest in getting along with someone like you."
Azzuro drew a gun out of his pocket, aimed it at the boy's head. It gleamed silver in the light.
"You brat! Don't underestimate me! My men are already waiting at your estate. Where is the key? Spit it out soon, or your servants will start dying one by one." He turned the gun on Marianne. "I may even start on this one, just so you know I'm serious."
Ciel smirked.
"Oh, I think they'll be alright. But you had best hope your lapdogs know how to fetch."
It happened so quickly. The mafia man punched the boy in the face, sending him sprawling to the floor. Marianne cried out, tried to go over to him, but Azzuro gripped the back of her collar and held her in place. She could feel the gun press against the back of her neck, a cold weight that served to tell her not to move even a muscle. Azzuro's free hand held a phone to his ear.
"Did you hear that? The time for talk is over."
He slammed down the phone.
Sebastian walked through the corridors of Phantomhive manor, the pie in hand.
"Oh dear, it is most troubling, where could the Young Master and Marianne have been taken?" he asked himself.
His thoughts were interrupted by MeyRin screaming for him at the other end of the corridor. He saw her running towards him, a letter grasped in her hand.
"Sebastian! I just found a letter, yes I did!"
His expression didn't change.
"Addressed to whom?" he asked.
"To the servants of the Earl of Phantomhive!"
Watching the demon through a sniper scope, where he stood in plain view in front of a window, a man was ready to take aim. Sebastian glanced out the window, spotted the marksman, and waited. His eyes flashed briefly.
As she was running, MeyRin tripped on the shoelaces of her brown boots. She went soaring into the air, skirts flying around her, and the sniper outside readied himself for the shot. He pulled the trigger.
So many things happened at once.
The pie went up into the air.
MeyRin fell on top of Sebastian.
Sebastian pulled her out the way of the bullet.
The bullet went through the window and hit a vase behind them.
Glass exploded all around them, Sebastian kept a straight face as the shards landed all around them. His eyes were to the ceiling, watching the pie as it made its descent. He lifted the tray in his hand, and caught it without a single spill.
"MeyRin," he deadpanned to the woman on top of him. "The letter, please."
The maid, with her face bright red, gave him the letter when she remembered it in her hand.
Sebastian stood reading the letter.
"If you want to return of your Master safely, along with your fellow servant, come to Nova Garden Bethnal Green as soon as possible."
He sighed heavily.
"What a dreadfully written letter."
He and MeyRin were joined by the rest of the servants and the guests of the household, a smile immediately spread across his face.
"What's going on here?" Madame Red asked.
"Apologies for the noise, my Lady. Please don't concern yourself," he replied.
Madame Red glanced to the broken window.
"Nothing? Are you sure?"
Sebastian ignored her and turned to his subordinates.
"Everyone, I have some business to attend to. Would you mind cleaning this up?"
He handed Bard the pie and walked away.
Bard stared at the pie.
"So, when you say clean, that means we can eat it, right?" he asked.
As he turned around to the direction Sebastian had walked in, his eyes widened when he saw the butler nowhere in sight.
Somewhere on the back roads between the Phantomhive manor and London, an automobile was driving through the trees. Two men were inside, and one of them was talking on the car phone.
"Sorry, I missed!" he said.
Azzuro answered from the other end of the line, his gun aimed at Marianne's head.
"What do you mean, you missed?! You are complete idiots! I never should have hired scum like you!" he bellowed. "Just get back here!"
The men glanced behind them, the dust clouds blooming like explosions behind them. Something wasn't right, like there was something following them…
"Sir, something's off…"
Through the dust, a lone figure seemed to be running towards them at top speed. They were faster than the automobile at high speed. That wasn't natural!
"I see something!"
The boss laughed.
"What's the matter? You little girls see a bear in the woods?"
There was a scream on the other end of the line, following by a crackling of static.
"What's going on? Talk to me!"
Sending the automobile into overdrive, they hoped to outrun what was following them. But the black figure only moved even faster, they could even see the gruesome smirk spread across their face as it closed in on them.
"It's coming! It's coming!" one of the men cried.
Sebastian, through the dust, allowed him smirked to become even wider.
Azzuro was getting worried.
"That's it! I've had enough of your games!"
He could only listen to their screams, unseeing of what was happening to them. The sounds of metal crashing into something painfully hard was unmistakable. Sweat was dripping down his face, his teeth grinding together almost to the point of pain. There was static.
Marianne glanced down and saw Ciel smirk at her, despite the blood dripping from his lip and nose. He soon begun to laugh.
"Oh dear, it looks like your little game of fetch is over."
The man lost his temper. He started to punch and kick the boy. Marianne was close to screaming.
"Stop it! Stop it! STOP IT!"
Her final sentence was a shrill screech, similar to a banshee. It disorientated Azzuro for a moment before he picked up the phone again.
"You listen to me! If one of you doesn't answer right now, I swear I will kill you!" he roared.
There was silence for a while. And then, a voice came through, clear and deep; it filled Marianne with a sense of warmth that ran straight to her chest.
"Hello."
Azzuro paused.
"Who is this?" he asked.
"Pardon me, but I represent the Phantomhive estate. I was wondering if my Master might be available, or perhaps my young associate?"
Marianne breathed slowly, waited for Ciel to make the first move. She hoped he hadn't been knocked unconscious after his beating. Azzuro remained silent. It was as though he was waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the guillotine to drop. One word entered the silent room.
"Woof."
The look on Azzuro's face could only be described as that he had just seen death. Marianne glanced down at her Master, breathed a sigh of relief, and allowed herself to speak.
"Sebastian. Get. Here. Now."
On the other end of the line, Sebastian smiled, his eyelids drooped in pleasure.
"Very good, Young Master. I will come to get you and Edward momentarily. And Edward, make sure to take care of him."
He ended the call by snapping the cord connecting it to the automobile. The demon then looked up at the two passengers.
"Thank you for the use of your field telephone. Now, there are a few things I need to ask you about, if that's alright."
Given their current position, the men could only comply. They were balanced over a cliff, with Sebastian sitting on the bonnet, being the only weight that was keeping them from toppling over the edge.
"Firstly, I'd like to know who you work for," smirked Sebastian. "Hurry up now, I'm not exactly a patient man. And you do remember what happened to Humpty Dumpty, don't you?"
Under the pressure, and the sheer magnitude of their situation, one of the men finally cracked.
"Our employer's name is Azzuro Vanel. He has a hideout up in the city, in the East End. Please, we just work for him!"
Sebastian got to his feet, his movements barely disrupting the balancing of the automobile.
"I understand," he smiled. "I apologise for interrupting your work, gentlemen. I'll let you go now."
He bowed in farewell, jumped off the car bonnet and tossed the phone back to the two passengers.
"Have a safe trip."
The smirk on his face only widened as he watched them fall over the cliff, plummeting down to the rocks and trees below. Their screams were delicious to his ears. Sebastian glanced at his silver pocket watch.
"Oh dear, look at how late it's gotten."
He remained oblivious, or pretended to be, to the explosion that erupted behind him.
"If I don't move quickly, we won't have dinner ready in time."
Walking away with the tray under his arm, the demon set off to fetch his master and his mate.
Meanwhile, Lau, his girl Ran Mao, and Madame Red were sat in a carriage departing from Phantomhive manor. The red lady pursed her lips in worry.
"Are we sure everything's alright?" she asked.
"If that butler says that everything's fine, I'm inclined to believe him." He looked out the window, Ran Mao leaning against his shoulder. "He's been in the Earl's service for so long, along with that little apprentice of his, and it's plain to see that there's some unbreakable bond between those three. You can always find him at the Earl's side, while the apprentice stands behind them. They are like shadows to him."
Madame Red became confused.
"So long? But Sebastian and Edward only arrived two years ago. That's not much time at all."
Lau only smiled.
"Oh really? How odd. My memory is so unreliable. Isn't that right, Ran Mao?"
The girl only looked at him.
"Useless!" Madame Red growled.
Back at the mafia hideout, Azzuro gave the order for his henchmen to defeat the place.
"Hurry up! The Phantomhive brat has help on the way! Move it! Tighten security at the gate! Don't let so much as a single rat get through!"
One after the other, the security detail got into position, all of them holding a gun to defend themselves and the house.
It was silent for a moment before a pair of footsteps started going up the stairs towards the house.
"My, my, what a splendid house." Sebastian said.
Many of the men around him were startled.
"Who the Hell is this guy?!" one shouted.
All the guns turned on the demon. Sebastian smiled deviously.
"Ah, you see, I represent the Phantomhive household."
Inside the house, things were growing more and more unpleasant, especially for Marianne. She was thrown back to the floor, and barely managed to get herself into a sitting position against the wall when Azzuro turned his gun on her.
"I need to get rid of you, you little brat!" he shouted, aiming between her parted legs. "I think I'll start with your most precious possession. You don't seem to have even used it, and I'm going to make sure you never will."
The girl didn't even blink as a shot rang out against the silence. She expected pain, but there was nothing…
Sebastian dealt with the men cleanly and efficiently. At least, as cleanly as a killing spree can be. There was blood spattered all over the ground, bodies twisted into impossible shapes thanks to their many broken bones, and bullet casings glittered gold in the seas of crimson pooling around their victims.
"Pardon me," said the demon. "But I'm in a bit of a hurry."
He checked his pocket watch.
"5:34."
Barely anyone breathed. Azzuro and Ciel stared at Marianne with wide eyes. Marianne only stared at the smoking barrel, and took a shuddering breath. Slowly, her eyes turned down her body, to look at where the bullet had landed. A gulp ran down the length of her throat. There, in the low hanging seat of her trousers, the silver bullet was lodged in the floor, easily seen through the gaping hole where something decidedly male should have been…
Sebastian entered the house, glanced over the dining room setting. From up above, men popped up from their hiding places along the balcony and began to fire. The demon dodged them with ease, then through the tray like a discus, knocking them out in one fell swoop. More bullets rained down on him, so as he ran across the long table, he picked up the plates set upon it and used them like shuriken to take out even more of the guards.
"Oh dear, an entire swarm of rats…" sighed Sebastian. He checked his watch again. "I'll get nowhere at this rate."
Azzuro stared at the girl, slowly comprehending that he in fact had a female captive rather than a male. A smirk spread across his face.
"Well, well, so you're a little lady, eh? Should've known, you've got too much of a pretty face to be a boy. Let's see what else you're hiding, shall we?"
Marianne stared at him fearfully as he reached towards her head and yanked off her wig. With her brown hair tumbling down to her shoulders, she spoke.
"G-Get away from me!"
Sebastian! Help us!
Throwing the Phantomhive silverware at enemies was an effective way of taking care of the rats. Sebastian was saddened that he would have to clean the blood off them when he was done. He had heard Marianne's plea, and was in no mood to waste time. His aim was accurate, and deadly. There was no need for him to worry. One of the men cried out.
"Who the Hell is he?!"
This was before a knife became embedded in his skull, an explosion of blood oozing from his fatal wound. Sebastian smirked, and gazed around him through hooded eyes.
"Now, now. If I couldn't be this at least, what kind of butler would I be?"
He continued to release his silver weapons at his targets.
Once the job was finished, the entire room could only be compared to a massacre. Blood and glass and bullets splattered the room like an artist's grotesque masterpiece. Sebastian was positioned on the chandelier, hanging upside down like a great bat. He sighed in distaste.
"Oh dear, that took longer than I thought."
Allowing himself to fall to the ground, he landed on his feet and checked his watch again.
"Already 5:43."
Marianne was dragged by her hair away from the wall. She struggled helplessly against Azzuro's grasp, but he was much stronger than her.
"Quit squirming, you little bitch! You and I are going to have a little fun!" he laughed.
He slammed the girl down on his desk, where she writhed and kicked back against him, even landing a foot into the family jewels. Somehow she managed to get onto her back despite her restraints.
"I should think you would be more worried about who is coming here. He certainly has no quells at disposing of rats like you," she snapped.
Footsteps were heard outside. Azzuro's eyes widened at the realisation that someone had got through his security. He aimed his gun at the door, hand trembling with every echoing step.
Sebastian came through the double doors. Took in the room before him. Azzuro was pointing a gun at him. The Young Master was prostate on the floor. But the sight that made his blood boil was the state of his mate. Marianne was lying on her back on the desk, her body bound and her wig tossed to the floor. He even saw the bullet hole in the crotch area of her trousers. The arousal coming from the man was sickening. He would be dead within minutes if he had his way, but he had to wait for his Master's orders. Sebastian bowed, retaining his composure as only a Phantomhive butler could.
"I have come to retrieve my Master and companion."
Azzuro's brow arched.
"Is this some kind of joke? I was expecting a giant. But instead I get some scrawny dandy in a tailcoat."
More like a demon so handsome, he's walking sin. Sebastian heard Marianne think. A smirk curled on his lips at her words.
"Who are you anyway?" Azzuro asked. "There's no way you're just a butler."
"No, Sir. Indeed, I'm just one Hell of a butler." Sebastian responded with a smile.
"It doesn't matter anyway. I have no intention of fighting. In fact, I am let you watch me take your pretty little girl. But there are a few things that need to be done first."
The mafia man went over to Ciel and dragged him up by his hair. He then knelt at his side and held the gun to his head. Marianne writhed around on the desk until she could actually see what was happening.
"Let him go!" she cried out.
Azzuro ignored her.
"You better have what I asked for!" he shouted at Sebastian.
"I do." Sebastian responded, pulling the object in question out from the inside of his tailcoat.
A bullet sounded through the air. It passed straight through Sebastian's head. Blood erupted from his skull. Marianne screamed.
"NOOOO! SEBASTIAN!"
Tears sprung to her eyes, streamed down her face and mixed with the blood stuck to her skin. Ciel opened his eye and watched as a rain of bullets struck his butler. The girl's screams were bloodcurdling. Sebastian fell to the ground with a thud. Azzuro laughed.
"So sorry, dandy. But this round is mine."
Some men with guns emerged from their hiding place behind a portrait.
"There was no way I was going against Phantomhive, Lord of Games without a trump card hidden. I damaged the goods a little, but that's alright. I'm sure I can catch a pretty price even in this condition."
He used his gun to move Ciel's eye patch away, but the boy kept his eye shut.
"Don't worry though, you have so many enemies. I doubt you'll be alive for much longer."
Ciel, despite showing no expression on his face, felt for Marianne. In the two years they had been together, he had never heard her cry. It was a sound that ripped through his cold heart, and threatened to break the icy resolve he held tightly to his chest. He would never admit it, but he couldn't stand to hear her in such pain. Enough was enough. There would be no more of this foolishness.
"Alright, I'm tired of messing around. How much longer are you planning to play dead?" he asked stonily.
Marianne froze when she heard the voice that made her insides melt and her heart tremble.
"Not long."
Sebastian's dead body twitched, starting from his gloved hand. Slowly his feet planted themselves on the floor, his back arched painfully as though he was without a spine, before eventually pulling himself forward, his body slightly bowed as though he was about to spit something out.
"Guns are so much more efficient than they used to be. They can shoot so many more bullets now."
Upon his word, a handful of bloody bullets came out of his mouth, splattering his pristine white gloves with flecks of crimson. He smirked wickedly.
"Perhaps you would like these back?"
Azzuro was terrified. He ordered his men to kill the demon, but Sebastian was much faster. He threw the bullets he had retrieved from his body and hit them with enough force that they flew as fast as they did when they were shot from their guns. All of the henchmen were dead within seconds. Sebastian was nonchalant of the bodies he had created, simply glanced at the tattered state of his tailcoat.
"Oh dear, what an awful thing to do to a perfectly good tailcoat," he sighed wistfully.
Ciel glared at him.
"You could have avoided that, idiot."
The demon merely smiled, making his way over to Marianne, who had been silent until that point.
"There is no need for your tears now, Marianne, although I cannot help but be pleased that you would shed such things for a being such as me," he whispered.
Marianne looked up at him as he used his clean hand to wipe her tears and blood from her cheeks with his thumb.
"You may claim that there is no need. But I'm glad you're not dead, so despite being what you are as you say, I will still shed tears for you."
Sebastian licked the tears and blood off his thumb and smirked, causing a red blush to spread across her cheeks.
"Then I shall make sure not to waste them."
His eyes flashed with those words.
He then turned back to Ciel and Azzuro.
"Master, how unfortunate, they don't seem to have taken very good care of you."
Sebastian then began walking towards them.
"No!" Azzuro cried, pressing the barrel of the gun to the boy's head. "Stay back!"
The demon sneered.
"You look like a helpless little child, all bound up like that. But I guess that is appropriate."
"If you come any closer, I will shoot him!"
Sebastian stopped. Ciel glared at him.
"Can we move this along?" he asked. "His breath smells awful."
Marianne rolled onto her back again to watch them. Sebastian smiled.
"But if I come any closer, he might kill you," he said.
Ciel was getting angry.
"Well then, are you saying you're going to break the contract?" he snapped.
Sebastian merely bowed.
"Of course not. Nothing has changed. I still remain your faithful servant."
Azzuro looked between them.
"What the Hell are you two talking about?"
"Young Master," continued Sebastian, tilting his head mischievously. "You know what you have to do. Now just say the words."
Ciel opened his eyes slowly, revealing the pentagram in his eye.
"This is an order. Save me, now."
The pentagram flashed.
Azzuro pulled the trigger. But once the deed was done, Ciel only looked at him with blank eyes. The mafia man was suddenly very afraid.
"But that's impossible!" he shouted.
"Are you looking for this?" Sebastian asked, dropping the bullet in the man's jacket pocket. "Let me give it back to you."
Not only that, but Azzuro's arm was completely twisted, multiple times. He screamed and released Ciel in favour of cradling his destroyed limb. As he writhed in pain, Sebastian picked up the boy like the child he truly was.
"I must say, the game wasn't as much fun this time, Sebastian." Ciel sighed. "Sorry you got dragged into this one, Marianne."
"Let's just get this sorted so we can go back home." Marianne smiled awkwardly.
As Sebastian placed his master down on a grey armchair and removed his bonds, Azzuro cried out to him.
"Please, come back! Work for me!"
The demon ignored him and moved to lift Marianne into a princess carry. She didn't notice him scent her hair with a smirk on his face.
"Whatever he's paying you, I'll pay ten times that! Twenty times even! You can have all the liquor and women you want too!"
Sebastian smiled while he removed his mate's bonds.
"Thank you for the attractive offer, but I have no interest in such materialistic things," he sneered. "And as to the women, there's only one woman I hold at any true value."
He let his hand linger on Marianne's shoulder from the place he had set her, on the floor beside Ciel, and turned to Azzuro.
"You see, I am simply one Hell of a butler."
His eyes glowed and his pupils became slits.
The man backed away in terror. The room seemed to blacken as the shadows of raven feathers rained down around them.
"As long as my master holds the contract, I am his loyal servant." Sebastian explained, removing his left glove with his teeth. "A wish, a sacrifice, and this."
He showed the glowing purple pentagram on the back of his hand.
"All of these things keep me bound to Lord Phantomhive. Until the day I swallow his soul."
Ciel sneered at him.
"You not only interfered with me, but you threatened my servant in the crudest of manners. You will not live to regret what you tried to do. So, unfortunately for you, this game is over."
Marianne shut her eyes tightly when the screaming began. Ciel placed a hand on her head, stroked her hair as she had done to him so many times before.
Later, the trio were walking away from the house. Sebastian held Ciel in his arms, while Marianne, her wig back on her head, rode on his back. While the demon would have preferred to have her in his arms instead of the master, it wouldn't do to have her gender exposed when her trousers were in such a state. Looking at the manor in the distance, the sunset made it appear to be in flames. An unnerving sight indeed. Despite all that had happened, Ciel was actually asleep, and as Marianne looked down at him over Sebastian's shoulder, she watched his uncovered eye flutter open and catch sight of what he thought was the manor up in flames like it was two years ago. He appeared shaken, so she reached down and rubbed the back of her hand against his cheek to comfort him. Sebastian then spoke up.
"I see you are awake at last, Master."
Down the road towards the manor, the sky above their heads was a darkened orange colour, filled with rosy clouds with violet shadows. Ciel blinked and the flames surrounding his home had vanished into the sunset.
Once they were back on the grounds, the servants rushed towards them.
"Master, you're home!" Finny cried. "And Edward, where have you been?"
MeyRin gasped at the pair's injuries.
"Oh dear, what happened?"
They looked up at them with blushing pink cheeks. Ciel snorted in exasperation.
"I just tripped and fell. It's nothing to worry about. Edward got his from looking for me," he sighed. A vein throbbed when they continued to stare at them. "What? You don't believe what your Master tells you?"
"Oh no we do!" MeyRin cried.
"It's just… you all look so cute. You being carried like a baby, my Lord." Finny added.
Ciel started for a moment and glared up at Sebastian.
"Put me down!" he ordered.
Sebastian obliged and placed the boy back on his feet. He made no move to dislodge Marianne from her place.
"Stop looking at me like that!" Ciel snapped.
The two of them then glanced back to Marianne.
"And you look so adorable on Sebastian's back, Edward!" said Finny.
"Just like a couple, oh yes!" MeyRin sighed dreamily, blood dripping from her nose slightly.
Marianne's face flushed a deep red.
"S-Sebastian, you can put me down too now…" she whispered.
Sebastian didn't look completely pleased at the idea, but complied with her request, allowing her to slide off his back. She was startled when the demon went down on one knee and pressed a hand to his heart, bowing his head as he spoke.
"Forgive me, Master. I am so terribly sorry. I have committed a blunder unsuitable to a Phantomhive butler. How can I ever atone?"
He apologised so profusely, everyone wondered what the Hell he was talking about. Marianne thought for a moment it was how close he had cut their rescue…
"I hang my head in shame," he continued. "Dinner is not ready."
The only thing she could do in response to that was sweatdrop, and face palm.
Of course he'd apologise for that… She thought wistfully. He prides himself on being one Hell of a butler.
When the Young Master's injuries were tended to and he was safely tucked in his bed, Sebastian was taking care of Marianne's injuries. They were sat together in Marianne's private bathroom (a luxury of being in her own quarters like Sebastian), and the demon was rubbing ointment on the bruises Azzuro had dealt to her, namely on her arms and ankles from her bonds. Her lip was also split so he cleaned it, and placed a small bandage over the top.
"You get into such a mess sometimes, Marianne. I should start getting worried." Sebastian sighed as he packed away the medical supplies.
The girl merely smiled, even if she did feel awkward exposing her legs to him up to the knees. There was a towel wrapped around her waist because he still had to repair the hole in her trousers.
"You did tell me to look after Ciel, and what was better than putting myself as a shield between him and Vanel," she shrugged. "I only started to get worried when my gender became exposed. What he had in mind for me when he realised wasn't going to be death, if the way he looked at me was anything to go by."
She was startled when he gripped her by the shoulders and glared at her.
"If he had tried such a thing, he would have had a death even more painful."
"I kicked him in the balls if that makes it any better."
"Slightly."
There was a lull in the conversation.
"He didn't touch anything in that way. He only managed to get me up on the desk before you got there." Marianne said softly. "Thank you for getting there so quickly."
Sebastian sighed wistfully, brought her hand to his lips, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.
"You are welcome, my dear Marianne," he replied. He dropped her hand and went over to the bedroom. "I'll get your nightclothes. I won't be long."
He returned with her nightshirt in hand.
"Get changed. I'll be in the bedroom."
He left her alone.
After she had changed into her nightshirt, Marianne padded into the bedroom and saw Sebastian placing a small black vase on her bedside table. She gasped when she saw what was inside it; a single white rose, pure and beautiful, fully open in an elegant bud.
"It's beautiful…" she whispered.
The demon smiled. It was rare, but she always felt her heart beat faster when he gave her a genuine smile; she vaguely recalled that he gave her more of these than anyone in the manor, and that had been happening more and more since the incident when he caught her barely covered. He then escorted her to the bed and tucked her in with care.
"Consider it a reward for your good work today," he said. "And a special gift from me."
As he made to leave the room, Sebastian turned back for a moment.
"Oh, and Marianne," he brought a finger to his lips. "Shhh… This is our secret."
And then, he was gone, the door closing behind him with a soft click.
Marianne rolled over in her bed and stared at the white rose. On impulse, she leaned over and pressed her lips to the petals.
"Goodnight Sebastian."
She curled up under the covers, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Sebastian stood outside the door. Felt the brush of her lips on the petals as if she had kissed his cheek.
My dear mate, born as pure as snow, and as virginal as a newlywed bride. Allow yourself to watch your rose darken as we become one. Watch your soul blacken as you become completely mine.
He smiled as he walked away, already planning for the new day, and how to nurture the love he knew she felt for him. He would continue his endeavours in the morning.
I'm only going to expose bits and pieces about Marianne at the start, but more will be revealed as it goes on. The rose will play a significant part as the series goes on.
Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Please read and review!
