~Chapter 3~
Regretful
Eric walked silently down the streets of London, paying no mind to the people he passed since they couldn't see him anyway.
He clutched his scythe in one hand, he was lucky enough to have it next to him when he awoke.
The only thing on his mind at the moment was the earl Phantomhive and his butler. The last thing he remembered was being killed by that demon, being forced to bleed to death in misery after failing to save his closest friend. It was Phantomhive's fault, he knew it. If the boy and butler had not been there to stop them, he might have collected enough souls before it was too late.
And Alan wouldn't have-...
Eric had been given a second chance to live, and no matter how much it occurred to him that it was supposed to be impossible, the only thing keeping him going forward was the thought that maybe.. maybe if he killed Ciel Phantomhive.. He could finally bring Alan back...
As he passed an old castle in a crooked street, he became aware of eyes watching him. As silent as this observer was trying to be, it was clear to him that someone had seen him. Perhaps he would allow them the amusement, it would do absolutely no harm since he had the better weapon.
He ignored the presence that had begun to follow him, stopping for a moment to test if the person was going to attack. When nothing happened, he continued walking, set to only find his goal.
None of the people he passed looked like they would have any information to a noble's whereabouts.
It was only then that he came across a large building titled "Funtom Music Hall". Funtom was the name of Phantomhive's company wasn't it? He would find information there.
As he crossed the street, he noticed that the presence of the person following him stayed on the other side, not crossing after him. A smart move on their behalf, so as not to draw attention to themselves.
He was quite desperate, and as Eric approached the music hall, he caught sight of someone hanging posters on the door and walked up to them.
"Um... excuse me, do you know where to find-" Surprisingly, the person cut him off mid sentence .
"I don't work here." They said in a monotone voice.
They could see him? That was never a good sign.
"No, no, I'm sorry. I'm just wondering where Ciel Phantomhive has gone, I'm supposed to talk to him."
Eric hated to lie.
But it was for Alan.
He had to keep reminding himself that.
His fist clenched around the handle of his scythe as the thought crossed his mind again.
The person looked at him oddly, almost as if they were judging him to find out how much information they should give.
"Why do you carry a weapon?" They asked, still tilting their head like a curious animal. Something about the way their long dark hair and cloak shadowed their face in the slightest was extremely unsettling. Moreover, they could see him and they seemed to be deciding weather he was human or not.
"It's just for my job. I work as a... er.." He glanced at the saw. "a carpenter."
The other person eyed him suspiciously, their violet eyes showed that they were still doubting him, but they answered anyway.
"There was word of an attack on the grounds of a castle just west of here. If I know well enough, you will find him there."
The castle he had passed on his way there? Then who was it who followed him, and why?
He smiled at the mysterious person. "Thank you for your help." He held out his hand for the person to shake. "I'm Eric Slingby."
The person just stared at him.
"Gregory Violet." They murmured, turning back around to make more adjustments to the poster.
Eric lowered his hand awkwardly. "Erm.. thanks again!"
He could feel Violet's gaze boring into his back as he turned to leave, that same feeling followed him all the way across and along the street on the other side, only stopping as he turned a corner around the block and out of sight of the music hall. The presence of the person following him before had gone as well.
It seemed like those who could see him were staring into his soul as if they knew his motives. Perhaps he should have gotten some sort of disguise?
Eric was slightly annoyed that he had already passed the castle without knowing where Phantomhive was, it would take him an equally long amount of time to walk back.
...
"We haven't found anything today, perhaps we should return to the mansion." Sebastian stated.
"But-" Ciel began, but Sebastian picked him up and was already holding him like a baby.
"You need to rest, young master. If you could not take the break you wanted to, at least you could cut your work hours."
"Ugh fine." Ciel grumbled. "But put me down first."
"Sorry, this is the fastest way."
Grell and Sebastian laughed at Ciel's disgusted face.
Holding his master tightly, Sebastian leapt onto the wall of the castle with Grell following close behind. Together they sped off through London's rooftops in the direction of the Phantomhive Manor.
The demon took one last moment to glance back, his eyes flashing a menacing bright pink color as he locked eye contact with the reaper trio from a distance.
It was as if to say "Do not dare to follow us."
The message was clear to them, as they were to investigate elsewhere anyways.
...
"Damn." Eric growled under his breath upon seeing that there was no one in the courtyard.
He gripped his scythe and swung it into a nearby wall with such force that the stone crumbled slightly.
"Damn you Phantomhive! I should have known you wouldn't let yourself be found that easily."
He contemplated following the boy to his mansion, but decided otherwise upon remembering the servants. They would only cause more trouble for him.
He would try again the following day, this time however, he will not walk around carelessly. For some people could obviously see him, and it was best that he did not get spotted by the killer who lurks around here, let alone the dispatch-
"Eric Slingby."
Eric spun on his heels, holding his scythe steady in front of him.
There was no one there? But-
A sudden pain shot through his head, and he crumpled to the ground, releasing his grip on his weapon. He could barley catch a glimpse of the person's face before he blacked out.
Was it just the light? He couldn't recognize them at all.
Eric is alive too! But he believes that Alan is still dead and is only set on revenge. Will the two ever find each other again?
Who was it that knocked him out?
And of course, Ciel can not be hunted down quite so easily. . .
Headcannon of mine that Gregory Violet can actually see grim reapers. Certain humans like Ciel have the ability to see things not normally noticed by the average human and this is normally due to their lineage. Reapers can also reveal themselves to certain individuals if necessary, like Ronald did during the Campania Arc.
(After Blavat's arrest, the former S4 still hang around the Funtom Music Hall after the Sphere Music Hall went out of business. Violet was merely fixing a crooked advertising poster that bothered him.)
