A thick white cloth hid Ciel's eyes from the light, rendering the boy completely blind. The slight hum of laughter seemed to intensify as one of his senses was cut off. The Lord was guided to one side of the table, his stomach touching the edge.

"Tonight the Earl Phantomhive will be the Stalker, and Lady Karnstein will take the role as the deer. Absolute silence is necessary for the game to be played, so I ask that everyone hush their voices and move not a muscle!"

Even the simple click of a heel had Ciel's head whipping towards the position.

"And now we start!"

An eery silence cut into the heart of the boy. He guided his hand around the edge of the table, the clicking of his heeled shoes making the only racket.

I need to lower the sound of my breathing. I need to hear any little sound she might make.

Despite his order to himself and the slowed rate of oxygen pumping into his lungs, the Lord could hear no sound from the friendly young lady. It was as silent as ever. He picked up the pace, perhaps hoping to catch the girl off guard.

After several minutes of fast walking, the Lord could be almost positive he had ran around the entire circle. Why hadn't he at least heard any sort of noise from the deer? It was almost as if she had disappeared altogether.

The Lord took another step, the clicking of his own heel snapping him into the fatal mistake he had made. His expression contorted to that of annoyance.

My shoes... She's been hearing me walk and avoiding where I had been. She must have taken off her heels before starting and I had just not noticed.

Ciel reached down, tearing the loud annoyances from his feet. He slid them to the side, focusing his mind back to the game. He began a small run, once again going the length of the table before running out of breath. He bent down slightly, clearing his throat.

If I cannot track her by click of her heels, and I cannot outrun her, I will need a better strategy in order to end this quickly... But what?

Ciel skimmed his fingers across the cloth of the table, feeling the fabric. He felt a small tug, causing him to furrow his brow.

What was that?

Another small tug moved the cloth, yet it seemed to come from a different direction. A sudden thought reached the boy, his fingers gripping the assumingly white cloth.

The tablecloth is smooth and silky, meaning that rather scratchy fabric of Lady's Karnstein's dress could be pulling at it. If these tugs are hers, that means I can track her movements.

He put his theory to test, moving to the side with rather loud strides. Upon stopping, the Lord Phantomhive held the cloth. Just as he had guessed, the tugs moved to a position directly across the table from him. A smirk spread across his lips.

And all I have to do now is trap her.
Ciel reached towards the rose tucked in his pocket. Judging the distance of the table, he threw the object to a soft landing that echoed in the silent hall. This action alerted the girl of his fast approached, causing her feet to flee the other way, right next to the position the Lord happened to be be in Ciel reached out his hands, looking for the woman.

"I have you!" He shouted in victory, nearly toppling forward when no individual sat to where his arms reached towards. The smirk was wiped off from his face before a soft giggle and heavy breath filled his ears.

"You'll have to be faster than that, Lord Phantomhive!" Lady Karnstein's run in the opposite direction had Ciel sprinting after her. His expression turned to a determined scowl, eyebrows tight and closed eyes yearning to be free. He ignored his hot breath, instead focusing on a run. Even the sudden murmur of voices did nothing to his jog. He needed to win.

A hand latched onto the boy from ahead, stopping his run. Ciel paused, heavy breaths and a confused stare littering his red face. The hand gripping his shoulder was that of a man's, not strength a lady such as Karnstein could summon.

The boy tugged at his blindfold, realizing there was a very sharp increase in words by the audience.

Upon seeing the light of the ball, the boy was revealed to maroon pupils and a full smirk. Ciel furrowed his brow.

"Sebastian? What is going on?" He looked around, seeing no apparent danger.

Without a word, the butler stepped aside. His movement provided the Earl with all the information he needed. His glare softened as he saw a fallen woman.

The pale face Karnstein wore reflected her shallow breathing. She smiled to her attendant, however. Her blindfold hung around her neck, the man at her side untying the cloth.

"There, there, my beautiful raven. It's all right." The Viscount Druitt knelt next to Karnstein, wearing a reassured smile to his face. His purple eyes rested onto the girl in the same squinting appreciative manor he did with Ciel not so long ago. Even with the shivers the Earl was receiving, he found it best to kneel next to the man and question Karnstein.

Her gentle blue eyes shifted over to Ciel with an apologetic smile.

"I apologize, My Lord. I'm afraid I just became a little tired." The whiteness of her face did not seem like such a mild thing to Ciel.

A hand was offered to the woman, the individual's slender fingers being the Viscount Druitt. With this hand, Lady Karnstein was able to stand. She leaned towards the man, shallow breaths slowing down. Aleister Chambers smiled with his usual arrogance.

"My dear Raven doesn't understand the strain exercise places on her fragile heart. You'll have to forgive her. How cruel is the blood flowing through her veins, a poison that gives her life. Rather poetic, If I do say." His words were sweet poison, as he had compared to the scarlet flowing through Karnstein's veins.

Ciel rose next to them, narrowing his eyes.

"What affliction does she possess?" It seemed rather serious in the way she had suddenly acted. However, the girl now seemed to be recovering. She smiled, laughing slightly.

"I've had anemia since I was a little girl. It's truly not that big of a problem, but-"

"But we should be leaving. My beautiful little Raven needs her rest." The Viscount interrupted her, sending pleading eyes his way.

"But we've only just arrived, Aleister-"

"And you've made it clear you're not well enough to continue. Do not worry, My Raven." He stroked her hair, wiping any expression of surprise from Ciel's face and replacing it with disgust.
Aleister guided her away.

"We can always go to another party. When you're well enough."

Despite the one-sided conversation she was having with the Viscount, the royal blue eyes so similar to Ciel's looked backwards. They locked pupils with the Earl, giving him a final gentle smile as a parting gift.

The beautiful black Raven disappeared into the darkness of the fragile night.