Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji...

Their Persephone, Enigma

Chapter Three

Ciel gave his guest a dark, brooding look with his single eye. His voice was soft, sweet and dripped with sinister implications as he declared, "Very well, Miss Darling. From today onwards you shall be my newest pawn."

While Ciel Phantomhive was a great deal intimidating to many, especially when he spoke like that; his guest looked completely nonchalant. In fact, right after those words had but spilled from the young earl's lips, his leashed demon eyed the young woman in question as if she were a tasty little morsel just presented to him on a silver platter. The smiled that stretched upon his lips while seductive would still freeze the blood of any man upon witnessing. Yet Persephone Darling looked unperturbed.

She looked like a smug and very satisfied cat. She gave the earl a mischievous little smile which made the earl feel a little uncomfortable to be honest. He was used to females who were far more reserved and were almost always intimidated by him, with the exception of his aunts and his Queen. She was a change that he would need to get used to, he concurred.

She clutched a hand to her chest and let out a loud dramatic gasp, which promptly made Ciel's cheeks turn a delicate shade of pink. Her eyes twinkled merrily as she dramatically proclaimed, "Oh be still my rampant heart! My lord, I am ever so grateful for your generosity."

There was a responding and quite audible chuckle from his butler which only agitated the young lord further. He scowled at the swooning girl fiercely, "You will also behave according to the manners as expected from an employee of the Phantomhive family. Your peculiar behavior is absolutely unacceptable."

There was an amused smirk etched upon the lady's full pink lips, but the manner in which said lady's glasses glinted at him promised her next words to be something of a menace. He was proven correct when the lady questioned, prodded and picked apart his household and him in the most condescending and factitious manner Ciel had ever experienced, "Unacceptable, is it? Which part, dare I ask? My blatant honesty, my observations, my audacity at calling things as how they are or my ability to look right into your eyes, not flinch and tell you exactly what needs to be said?

Then again, are my traits as peculiar as say a maid who purposefully keeps herself partially blind and is so incompetent at her job yet so very competent at aiming firearms? Am I stranger than a certain pseudo-chef who is entirely too obsessed with making things go boom? Could my oddities even compare to the little happy-go-lucky boy who is deceptively and monstrously strong enough to level this mansion if he so wished? Do tell me, my lord, am I really that unacceptable?"

Her words each had the edge of a sharpened dagger and managed to cut both master and butler in the quickest and shallowest manner. Her words were not insulting or threatening. But the fact that she possessed such detailed knowledge about some of their best kept secrets left them feeling bare. That was something both the males detested. Her words had the right impression on them however. She had a point. She was merely defending herself and explaining herself to him. She clearly held a strong level of self-respect, pride and a backbone of steel. There was nothing meek about her and she certainly did not mince her words or swallow down her opinions, not even in the face of dangerous individuals.

Ciel believed her to be either surprisingly courageous or blindingly stupid; he hadn't decided she was which yet. Ciel was not about to accept her words, no matter how much he might agree, neither was he going to take back his own words and give in to her and give her a leeway. He glared at her and bit out, "You will keep yourself in check, Miss Darling if you wish to have my protection and resources at your disposal."

Her captivating eyes, narrowed at him behind those glasses. She deduced, playfully and with the softest sweetest voice she chimed, "Hmm…the loophole being that there is no way in hell I am leaving your grasp. I just have to play the good girl to get my hands on certain accommodations, luxuries and perks."

That wasn't an insult or a criticism in any manner. If anything she was both complimenting him and acknowledging his superiority and his authority over her. So, Ciel was pleased accordingly. For now her behavior was somewhat acceptable and in future if she did get out of hand, he was sure he could correct her. After all she needed him.

Ciel gave her a dark cynical smirk and countered dryly, "How astute of you, Miss Darling. You clearly were not boasting when you mentioned your observation skills and blatant honesty."

She let out a tinkling laugh. Looking utterly pleased, she teased back, countering him with her own logic, solutions and pledges, "See, you do enjoy my peculiarities, my lord. Really there was no need for the subtle threats or promises of penalties; while most of my behavior and personality traits can be very easily blamed on my origins. My American roots are more than enough explanation for my personality and eccentricities. But I promise you one thing; I am quite capable of handling myself. I will not be an inconvenience to you."

She might have been keeping a cheery and teasing tone, but her eyes spoke of great intensity and determination. She meant every word that let her lips; that much Ciel was sure of. His eyes never left her eyes, penetrating whatever air or appearance she was putting on; he brushed a finger slowly and pensively over the bright blue diamond ring on his finger, he told her solemnly, half a warning and half an order, "See that you keep your word, Miss Darling."

It pleased the young earl though he would never admit it to see the willful and intelligent individual before him gracefully accept his words. This unique woman before him, this Persephone Darling looked surprisingly obedient and graceful as she ducked her head in the merest hint of a bow, her long dark lashes fanning down upon her cheeks demurely and her lips tilted ever so slightly up in a small but meaningful smile. She had accepted his terms and a contract between them formed. She was his newest pawn and he was eager to see how she would fit in to his life.

The moment of silent acceptance did not last long though. Because the very next moment, Ciel Phantomhive's newest pawn looked up at him and scrunched up her nose at him. That was unexpected, thought a stunned and owlishly blinking earl. She proceeded to roll her vivid green eyes at him in the most insolent manner and quipped awkwardly, "But seriously, call me by my first name. My last name just sounds weird."

There was a visible tick on the earl's forehead. She was nothing if not tenacious, like a dog with a bone, thought Ciel viciously. A derisive snort left him as he spat out haughtily, "It would be unacceptable for someone of my station to call someone like you by their first name."

The insult didn't quite hit the mark. Instead of looking offended, hurt or even showing the slightest bit of bruised pride, Persephone looked amused. In the most unladylike manner, she let out a short slow whistle. She smiled at Ciel and dramatically mouthed off, "Wow. First of all, ease up on the arrogance. A little charm and humility goes a long way with women, my lord. Trust me on that and work on it for your future connections. Secondly, you use the word 'unacceptable' way too much. It's like you are daring me to do the same thing you deem unacceptable. Thirdly, I was asking you to call me by my first name for your own benefit."

She was far too impertinent. Who the hell did she think she was telling him, Ciel Phantomhive on what he should say or do? Irritation bubbled in him and annoyance fizzled. Controlling his temper as much as he could, he coldly gritted out, "I am perfectly charming when the need calls for it. On you however, those charms are clearly unnecessary. What could I possibly want from you? And I say 'unacceptable' when things are unacceptable. What do you mean by my benefit?"

He was blunt and completely ungentlemanly, but whoever cared? She needed to know her place and he was more than happy to show it to her. He watched with morbid fascination at the woman before him. If it was any other woman, she would have been gravely insulted and rightly so. But this woman had far thicker skin, if anything, her confidence was astonishing. She strongly faced everything he threw at her head on and without even batting an eyelash. His insults flowed over her like water and she looked as amused as ever and as engaged in their conversation as ever.

Not deterred at all she continued to make her point by retorting dramatically, the sunlight glinting on her glasses harshly, "Ouch. Harsh much? How about wanting to know your future? That calls for certain charms, doesn't it? Then again, you might turn your demon butler on me for that particular task. He seems like the type who likes that sort of interrogation. No offense, Mr. Michaelis."

She didn't even so much as spare a glance at the demon in question and even though she said otherwise, the offense was most certainly intended and that much Ciel could read oh-so clearly. Sebastian on the other hand, graced the lady with a wide smile and with gleaming maroon eyes steadfast upon her he answered, "None taken, Miss Darling."

Finally, she acknowledged the demon in the room. For the briefest moment she looked straight into his eyes, as candidly as ever and gave him a single order, not even a request, "Yeah, you keep calling me that."

She looked back at the young lord, leaning forward she informed him with great assurance, "But you my lord, should really call me by my first name. You are going to be embarrassed if I do explain it to you. Trust me it has happened to many a people before you so I am quite assured that it might happen to you too."

Ciel snapped at her, "What might happen to me? Stop speaking in circles, woman."

She rolled her eyes once more. She did that a lot, thought Ciel glaring at her. With a delicate fist placed near her mouth she cleared her throat once, then in a very audible and somewhat heavier voice she spouted, "Fine. Miss Darling. My guest Miss Darling. Miss my Darling. This is my lovely guest Miss Darling. I miss my lovely Darling. Miss Darling. My Darling…"

The point was made with a great deal of intensity, flustering both master and butler. While Ciel turned darker shades of pink and then red by the second, fuming, embarrassed and stunned by the innuendos and implications and complete vulgarity, Sebastian had a barely noticeable flush on his face and looked at the woman in question in the most lecherous manner actually thinking of all the scenarios in which those terms of 'endearments' would be used.

She continued on and then deadpanned, "Only a misspoken word or a slip of a tongue when it comes to my last name, that's all it takes. Need I go on, my lord?"

Ciel banged his fist on the handle of his chair, red and flustered; he barely managed to growl out, "Enough. This is silly."

Miss Darling or as Ciel was now supposed to call her, Miss Persephone, looked at him sternly, her green eyes staring him down and her face impassive, she told him monotonously, "No, it is not. It has happened before and it might happen to you too. Let's say you don't have a slip of tongue. What about when someone refers to me as your Miss Darling? What then? Innocent words or subtle innuendos?"

Ciel scowled and rested his cheek on a closed fist. He grumbled out, "Fine. Miss Persephone, it is."

That familiarly dark silky voice crept up on the young lord and the mysterious lady, speaking in sweet tones and loaded with heavier and well hidden meanings, "Forgive my impertinence, Miss Darling. But does this mean you wish for me to address you by your last name even after explaining quite thoroughly the implications and innuendos resulting from it?"

There was a sharp intake of breath from the young earl present in the room and clearly the sudden interest from his leashed demon directed at his newest pawn unsettled him. Ciel wouldn't admit it out loud and if he did it would only make Sebastian toy with Persephone Darling even more than before. It was very disturbing how Sebastian's eyes never once wavered from the young woman and how he seemed so very fascinated with her. It was without a doubt that the lady in question was very much indeed fascinating.

But the demon's interest in her was about more than her mysterious habit of falling into his bed and her questionable origins. There had been so many females that came and went, Ciel had never before seen Sebastian so much as take a second glance at them with any amount of interest. Now witnessing Sebastian looking at Miss Persephone with that much curiosity and with what Ciel guessed politely, hunger was completely disconcerting.

Ciel slowly turned his head towards his newest pawn to see her reaction. He needed to assess the situation and the players in question, fast. Her reaction both shocked him and amused him. While the lights reflected sharply on Miss Persephone Darling's glasses, hiding her eyes completely, her expression was that of cool detachment. If anything she looked at Sebastian as if he were the most insignificant thing in the room and a moment later the small quirk of a smile on her lips indicated that she was merely humoring him.

As she slowly and with great poise and panache, uncrossed her long legs and then crossed them again the other way around, she commented lightly her voice the coldest of silks, "Indeed impertinent you certainly are, Mr. Michaelis. That was not a concern on your behalf regarding me. You are teasing me with your subtle innuendos hidden under your concern about implied innuendos. Clever but painfully clear."

Ciel blinked once and blanched. She was toying right back. Hell, she was putting Sebastian in his place. She tilted her head the slightest bit, meeting Sebastian's maroon eyes with her oh-so green eyes. Such an intense look would have so easily intimidated a lesser man, thought Ciel. She both ordered and criticized in the most primly voice Ciel had ever heard and yet her words were like the sweetest of poison to the ears, "I prefer not to get on first name basis with demons, hence why you and I shall maintain decorum. You shall address me by my last name just as I do you with yours. As for your concerns about slips of tongue, it would be amusing to anyone if the butler of the house addresses the guest of the house in any intimate manner."

By then, his butler had the biggest fake smile on his lips and Ciel himself had one of great genuine enjoyment on his lips. She was good and there was no doubt about it. She finished with a fetchingly demure smile on her lips, which Ciel was sure she had used on many dazzled men as she landed the finishing blow. She asked him innocently, "Tell me, Mr. Michaelis, can a hell of a butler not manage to speak accurately and without a blunder and manage to keep the dignity of the house guests intact, hmm?"

For Ciel it was irresistible. There was no waiting for an answer from the demon butler as his master let out a dark chuckle and pitched in his own taunt as well, "A Phantomhive butler isn't worth his salt if he couldn't manage that, isn't that right, Sebastian?"

What could the butler do but swallow the bitter medicine? He would but wait patiently like the true demon he was for his own retribution and both the humans in the room knew that he would pay back in spades. But how could they possible resist one of the rare moments where they could put the demon in his place and leave him speechless?

Sebastian smiled wide, his eyes flickering with the faintest of pink glows and merely said, "Yes, my lord."

It became a fact for Ciel. He would rarely be bored now that Miss Persephone Darling had joined his household. She had great promise for games of his kind and he was looking forward to what little shocks and surprises she might deliver along with her skills and uses.

At this, one pleased young lord with a Cheshire-grin spread upon his lips shared a knowing glance with a smug green-eyed lady who had a Mona Lisa smile on her lips. Ciel pronounce with relish, "Well, Miss Persephone, it seems like you and I might get along after all."

She bowed her head demurely and said coyly, "I concur, my lord."