Chapter 4: His Child, Unsettled.
A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry this update has taken so long, college has been seriously busy and I've barely had time to sit down and think! I wanted to pop by and say thank you SO much for all the love on this story so far, and I hope you'll all stick around for the upcoming chapters. Thanks for reading, and I'll catch you in the next chapter!
January and Elizabeth arrived at the townhouse shortly after 4 o'clock, and to their surprise it was empty when they entered; no booming and excitable Indian prince in sight. It was strangely comforting to Lizzie, as she remembered this place as Soma and Agni's home more than Ciel's, even though he was the homeowner. They made their way into the lounge, noting the colourful decor that Soma had used to make the usually refined and sophisticated home his own. Cushions of vibrant blues, yellows and oranges lay scattered across the pale blue sofas, giving them a new breath of life and an enticing look into the colourful life that the Indian prince was used to back home. Gold decorative pieces such as intricate elephant statues and a golden clock sat exquisitely atop the pristine oak cupboard, and January marvelled at them from her spot on the plush sofa. Paula hurried in after Elizabeth, cooing at Arthur as she headed into the kitchen to prepare the ladies a pot of tea.
"He was a very eccentric prince, wasn't he?" January said happily, the bright decor brightening her mood substantially. She had to admit, she hadn't been thrilled to have to leave their home with a newborn baby, mere hours after birthing her. Her body was still in pain from the labour and she was still feeling a slight ache of tiredness. Even though she was a demon now, she was not a powerful one by any means and she still had yet to learn how to shake away the human part of her that still lingered. Scarlet cooed in her arms, the new surroundings seeming to intrigue her.
"Yes, he was a delight to have around. Ciel never seemed to like him much, or at least he pretended to dislike him." Elizabeth said in response, bouncing Arthur on her knee as they waited for Paula to return with their tea. She was still upset at having to leave her home so abruptly, and her anger at Ciel had subsided into a sorrowful quietness. January glanced at her, noticing the sad air about her cousin.
"Lizzie? Are you alright?" January asked quietly, gazing at the blonde woman sat across from her. Lizzie forced a small smile onto her face, and nodded in response.
"I'm fine, January, I'm just not too fond of having to leave home so...suddenly." January nodded in understanding. She stood up from her space on the smaller sofa, and moved across the floor to sit beside her favourite cousin.
"I see. I feel the same. I gave birth not even 48 hours ago, and here we are, in a new place already." She gestured to the content baby comfortably held in her arms, "She doesn't seem to mind though." Elizabeth smiled at the dark-haired baby, admiring how thick and curled it was.
"She has been so placid so far, I think you were very lucky." Lizzie said quietly, reaching up to stroke the baby's hair. It was soft under her dainty fingers, much like her own child's. She pulled Arthur closer into her chest, remembering how tiny he had been in her arms. Then, Paula came in with a tea tray in hand, and Lizzie was pulled from her solemn thoughts.
"I apologise for the wait, my lady, the driver needed a hand with the luggage." Paula said meekly, placing the tea tray down on the coffee table in front of the two women. She offered a small smile as she poured two steaming cups of tea, and rushed off again to fetch some biscuits. Elizabeth let Arthur wriggle out of her arms and onto some cushions arranged on the floor, and picked up her teacup. She stared wistfully into the rich, dark liquid.
I do hope you finish your work soon, Ciel.
Sebastian stood patiently beside the earl's desk as Ciel paced back and forth, occasionally muttering to himself.
"What do we do, if this is what we think it is?" Ciel said suddenly, stopping in front of Sebastian and staring at him, as though he was willing him to provide him with an answer immediately. Sebastian glanced at the man in front of him, before offering a simple. "I apologise, my lord, but I do not know as of yet."
Ciel sighed in frustration, before sending Sebastian to fetch his coat and prepare a carriage. He thought about that man they found, how the smell of blood clung to the air, how the scene was so horrific that the police still hadn't been able to open the area again. The blood had stained the cold concrete, and no amount of scrubbing would get rid of it. It… baffled Ciel. Before, they had been able to clean the area with ease, needing a few days at most before reopening it to the public again; but this time, the remnants of the horrific crime were lingering, as if that area was now cursed and would forever be marked as the spot where someone - something - had fiercely ripped open the chest of an innocent man who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and emptied him, reduced him down to a shell of blood and torn tissue.
Ciel felt his stomach turn, and the nausea hit him at the memory of the scene. He shook his head free of the hellish thoughts, and stood up from his chair. He walked into the coat that Sebastian held open for him, and with that the pair headed downstairs, and out of the door; into the carriage and on their way back into London, to try to track down this criminal.
Or, to at least entice them to come out again.
About an hour and a half later, Ciel and Sebastian have returned to the crime scene…
"God, this stench is foul." Ciel remarked as he stepped into the dark lane, the blood still attacking his senses. Sebastian stood just behind him, his crimson eyes analysing the area, looking for anything that might indicate a new lead. Then, he smelt it…
The smell of a demon.
It almost shocked him, that smell. It was so distinct, how could he have missed it before? It was sickly and sweet, like apples and cinnamon, if said apples were rotten and the cinnamon was being used to mask the expired scent, and failing largely. No other demon smelt like this, and anger flashed in his eyes as he spotted the swiftly moving shadow at the end of the lane as his suspect escaped the crime scene.
"Sebastian, what is it?" Ciel said, his tone slightly panicked at the demon's sudden change in demeanour. Sebastian said nothing, and burst into a sprint towards the end of the lane. He spotted his culprit, just as they glanced back over their shoulder before leaping from the bridge they were stood on, and disappearing into the darkness below.
Sebastian growled in anger as he watched their criminal get away, his eyes locked on the space where they had just been. Ciel ran up to Sebastian, and immediately swatted at him with his hand.
"Don't just leave me alone! I could have been hurt!" Ciel roared angrily, then stepped away to catch his breath. Sebastian bowed in apology.
"I do apologise, my lord. I believe I know who our criminal is." Ciel lifted a brow, and turned to look at the bridge Sebastian was staring at.
"I see. It is a demon we are dealing with, isn't it?" Sebastian's eyes flashed vermilion with anger at the very thought of their suspect.
"Oh, yes, my lord. And a formidable one at that." The memory of the demoness filled Sebastian's mind with a hatred even Ciel could never understand.
When I find you, I will finish you, for once and for all.
In the townhouse, Scarlet is upset, but no one knows why…
The tiny newborn had a set of lungs made of iron, it appeared, as she continued to scream the place down for another 30 minutes. January bounced her in her arms, cuddled her close to her chest, tried to feed her, wind her, and even bathe her gently in some warm water; but to no avail. Frustration mixed with a sense of defeat overcame January as she sat back down onto the sofa, trying to think of any other way she could calm down her wailing child.
"What is wrong, my little love? You are utterly restless!" She said, sighing as she did so. It was getting dark now, and she wondered if maybe Scarlet was homesick, but quickly banished the silly thought from her mind. She was hours old, there was little chance that she was upset because they were not at the manor. Then, the front door opened and in stepped Ciel, followed by Sebastian. Ciel looked immediately irked by the wailing baby, but said nothing as he searched for Elizabeth. Sebastian approached January, and she held out Scarlet to him. Much to her dismay, Scarlet's wails ceased as soon as she was comfortably placed into her father's arms.
"Has she been upset all night, my love?" Sebastian asked January, as she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.
"She was fine when we got here," She started, another sigh escaping her lips, "But she started crying about 40 minutes ago, and didn't stop until you arrived." Sebastian wrapped an arm around her, bringing her snugly into his side.
"I suppose she just wanted her papa." January said quietly, leaning into Sebastian. He looked down at her, and his expression told her all she needed to know.
"There's another demon in the area." He said quietly to her, and she scowled.
"That must be why she's so restless…" January said lowly, anger bubbling inside her. Sebastian nodded, and muttered something about babies knowing when danger is about. Scarlet was staring up at him, her eyes reflecting his. Sebastian found himself staring right back at her, and promised in that moment that he would destroy this mysterious criminal, no matter what it took.
I promise, if anyone were to ever pose a threat to you, I would end them...without hesitation.