I opened the gate for the circus slowly, feeling drained as I crept in. One of my boots was missing its heel but it didn't bother me. My tights were ripped to my knee, but I couldn't feel it. It had been mentioned by a woman I had walked past, and she had said it like it was a scandal. I locked the gates behind me, hearing the circus pre-show was on and music was playing.

I looked to the sky and saw it was dark, the moon was beginning to make its appearance in. I bet the haven would look oddly romantic right now, and I started to walk towards it when I saw a lantern raised. Someone was doing rounds, and I didn't want to be found just yet. I crept to my tent and crawled under it, seeing Mei was where I had left her. The handyman Darryl was sitting nearby, his head resting on his shoulder as he slept. Mei was licking her paws as if to count time.

"Mei Day!" I whispered and she turned to look at me, her eyes glowed before she jumped off my bed.

The springs bounced and made an odd sound, freezing both Mei and I in place as we watched to see if Darryl would wake up. He mumbled before turning, his head now resting on the back of the straight back chair. It looked painful, but should I try to fix it, he could wake up and alert the others that I was back.

Mei sighed before returning her attention to me, and I raised the side of my tent for her to crawl under. I stood up outside and watched as she shook herself out and sniffed my legs. She then gave me a look, one that suggested she was worried, before I gave her a smile and saw anyone else, I wanted a wash. During the shows, no one would be in the showers so I could wash up, get clean clothes and then see Joker. I could also tend to Mei and redress her bandages.

I walked to the supply tent and grabbed a towel, bandages, soap and some house slippers before heading to the showers. As I had thought, no one was in there so I locked the door behind Mei and set down my supplies on a bench. Mei sat down near them and meowed, attempting to get my attention as I stripped. Once my clothes were in a pile by the door, I sat down on a bench and grabbed the cloth by the bucket to wipe myself with the freezing water.

"Mei," I whispered as I picked up the soap and lathered it in my hand before running it through my hair, "I had to go out for a little bit."

She didn't look impressed and ran her paw along the ground, claws out, so it scratched the floor. She didn't do anything else as I grabbed a bucket and poured cold water over myself, gasping as the chill ran down me. I picked up another bucket and poured it over my head before I could stop myself and then ran the soap over me. The skin tights were perfect and unblemished, but I washed them as I had before. Once I had finished, another bucket of water was poured over me before I wrapped the towel around my chest, where it covered to mid-thigh, and got onto my knees.

I looked at Mei as I unwrapped her bandages from yesterday, seeing the cuts had started to scab over but some broke once I pulled the bandages free. She growled under her breath, but did nothing else. She was simply vocalising her annoyance. I got the water and washed her cuts before grabbing my old dress to dry her. I picked up the bandages and wrapped them around her, before leaning away.

"I am sorry, Mei Day," I whispered and she put her head on my shoulder, "Betty would have killed Sebastian…"

She purred by my ear, making it feel like my body was vibrating. She then pulled away to watch me stand and dust down my knees. I stuck my feet in the house slippers and placed the soap on a small shelf by the door for someone else's use. I put my finger to my lips for Mei who followed me to the door, her tail hitting the benches before she reached me. She looked tired, and I knew how she felt.

I walked around the back, near the forest, avoiding two more lanterns before I heard voices. There shouldn't be anyone out here, let alone performers. I pressed myself against some crates and felt Mei take my side. I glanced over, seeing the sides of two second-stringers. I recognised them, Sebastian and Suit. Sebastian seemed to be wearing the same outfit as before, although he now had a top hat on his head and make-up on his face. I'd have to ask what his new name was…before I addressed him anyway. Suit, who I knew was a man named William, was someone I didn't wish to speak to again. He had scared a few of the new recruits over the last week, talking about souls and death. Some people had taken it to heart and began contemplating how much time they had left.

But something bothered me. Why were the two of them out here, together? They didn't strike me as a pair of friends who had decided to have a conversation. It looked hostile from here, like two enemies…

I put my hand down on Mei's head and turned so I could hear them as they spoke. I needed to know if they were a threat…and if they were, was Finnian a threat as well?

"Why am I here, you ask?" Suit said, his voice reminded me of a monotone, "to think I, an administrator, would be impressed into field duty to clean up after a certain prat in Collections while he's missing! I curse my luck. I didn't think graduating with him entailed traveling round fixing his mistakes."

"I assume that a grim reaper personally doing undercover work implies special circumstances?" Sebastian questioned.

What the hell were they talking about? Weren't grim reapers normally in long black cloaks, a skeleton with a scythe? I looked towards them, and didn't see anyone matching that description in my head.

"Do you really think I'd reveal soul-related information to a demon?" Suit asked Sebastian, "that would be like setting rabbits loose before a wolf."

A demon? Didn't they normally have pitchforks and pointed horns on their heads? I couldn't see cloven feet either, which made me wonder if we had recruited two lunatics. The problem I was having with my theory was, they both were talking with straight faces, as if calling each other demon or reaper was common enough. It was like me calling Joker and him calling me Angel.

"I'm afraid I have no interest in cheap souls," Sebastian replied. I didn't think a demon would pass up any soul…no matter how "cheap" it was. Was he talking to Suit about buying them off him?

"Fine words for a starving demon. I know you're half-mad with hunger," Suit commented dryly. That didn't sound too good, a half-mad demon walking around a circus who was hungry for souls. It wasn't something I could order a vendor to give me…and if I were to ask, I was certain people would demand we vacate the premises.

"I've long since tired of ripping into every soul I see," Sebastian replied, his lips turned up in a smile, "the hungrier one is, the more satisfying one's dinner."

"How perverse," Suit commented, and he sounded angry from here.

"You can rest easy. I'm on a lead at the moment," Sebastian stated calmly, removing his glove to show his hand was glowing purple. Was he sick with something? Or was he taking this demon bit to new levels?

"Very well," Suit stated, clearly relaxing at the sight of this light, "I'll speak plainly. In the next few days, we plan to review a large number of souls in this area. This is a very special case, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't interfere."

"That sounds very taxing," Sebastian commented, sounding like he was sympathetic to Suit's plight, "why don't I assist you?"

It happened so fast, and had I not been watching them both, I would have missed it. Suit had taken to carrying around a pair of gardening sheers, a gag I assumed. It had seemed odd at the time, considering he told us he was a civil servant. I had asked about the sheers and he had blanked me, refusing to answer any of my questions about them. Now, I watched as he aimed for Sebastian's head, who ducked in time. I covered a scream by putting my hand over my mouth and nose. The sheers extended towards the tops of the tents, Sebastian's hat resting between the teeth. Had Suit just tried to kill Sebastian?

"I can't abide unpaid overtime. If you interfere, I'll cut you down," Suit threatened, before restoring the sheers to their original size. Sebastian's hat floated down through the air like a newspaper on the street.

"I don't associate with reapers for the fun of it in any case," Sebastian stated as he put his hand back and caught the hat without looking at it, "particularly as I have no interest in cheap souls."

"Oi! The show's about to start. That obnoxious knife-thrower wants you," another familiar voice commented, and I leaned back into the crates, holding my mouth so they wouldn't hear me. I glanced over to see who had joined the group when I spotted Finnian. He was dressed in a costume, and no longer seemed shy. Had that been part of an act?

"He doesn't look very choice to me," Suit commented, looking Finnian over, "really, I'll never understand demons."

"Don't call him that here," Finnian snapped, "they took it for a joke earlier, but still. If you can't blend in with humans, you're no good here."

"Indeed. Now, we won't interfere with your work and you won't interfere with ours, agreed?" Sebastian said, making it sound like the fact that Suit had tried to kill him had never happened.

"Excellent, since I despise the very sight of you," Suit replied.

"Perfect. Then it's decided: we'll stay far out of each other's way," Finnian concluded.

"Well then, Smile," Suit looked towards Finnian, "please keep your little dog firmly reined in."

What dog? Finnian hadn't arrived with a dog. He'd arrived with…Sebastian. Was Sebastian his dog? What the hell was going on?

"I don't want to hear that from a man who can't even go properly undercover, Four-Eyes," Finnian replied, clearly not a fan of Suit either.

"I'm not Four-Eyes. I'm Suit," Suit stated plainly, before turning away from the pair to adjust his glasses.

"Let's go, Sebastian," Finnian said simply, as if he had control over the man.

"Certainly," Sebastian replied and walked off with him and past my hiding spot.

I stayed there, not sure what I had heard or what I had seen. I was only truly certain about one thing, and that was the three of them: Sebastian, Finnian and William, were undercover at this circus. I needed to know why they were here, and what they wanted before I could act. But the fact that Sebastian was supposedly a half-mad hungry demon and William was a grim reaper with a pair of gardening sheers, bothered me. I would need to do some research before I confronted them…


I had gotten dressed and left the property once more, running through Whitechapel until I found a bookshop which was getting ready to close. I hit the door with my hands, seeing the disgruntled shopkeeper inside, a key posed to lock up for the night.

"Sorry miss, we're closing," he said to me.

"Please, I'm looking for a particular book. I'll pay you double!" I said and he froze before sighing.

"You have ten minutes," he said as he opened the door for me to step inside before locking it behind me.

I walked through the bookcases, seeing fiction and factual books. But they were disordered and I couldn't comprehend how the shopkeeper had organised them…well, not in ten minutes.

"Can you help me?" I asked him.

"What are you looking for?" he questioned as he walked towards me.

"A book on demons and grim reapers," I replied and he raised an eyebrow, "for my father's research."

"Your father a priest?"

"Yeah," I replied, "he's trying to write a paper on it and had limited references…can you help him?"

"We have a few religious books in stock, but not many have reference to demons or grim reapers. I'll ask my wife and get back to you."

He walked behind the counter and up a set of stairs, leaving me downstairs alone. I was starting to feel uncomfortable, not wanting to spend any longer than necessary in Whitechapel. I had run into a mugger last time, what if I ran into Jack this time? I could see a few prostitutes outside, under streetlights with some men. I wished I had dressed better, considering I was wearing a pair of costume shorts and a loose blouse over it. My boots were still missing one heel which would make it harder to run should Jack decide to chase me.

"My wife says there's one book," the shopkeeper said, making me jump. He stopped to look at me, no doubt thinking I was insane.

"Sorry…I was looking at the women outside…" I whispered and he nodded as he went down one aisle and scanned the books.

"All the shops close up around now…to avoid the Ripper, you know?" the man said as he put a finger on a book, "never know when he'll take his next victim."

"Hopefully there are no more," I whispered as he took the book off the shelf and walked to the register.

"I'll pray for that, miss," he said as he took down the book's details and price, "that'll be two shillings."

I looked the book over, seeing it was a large encyclopaedia size book with a ribbon bookmark. I couldn't make out the title but figured the man wouldn't lie to me. I found my purse and took out the money before handing it over to him. He put it in his lockbox before handing over the book to me. It was heavier than I thought it would be as the shopkeeper guided me to the door and opened it for me to leave.

"Goodnight, miss," he said as he locked the door behind me.

I watched as the blinds came down and the lanterns were unlit. I felt alone in the dark as I hefted the book up and walked back to the circus, staying in the well-lit areas as I crossed the street.

"Vanessa? Is that you?" a voice called and I turned to see Fred Abberline, a lantern in his hands and lifted to see me.

"Inspector Abberline?" I said as he walked towards me, "what are you doing patrolling?"

"My boss heard someone went through the file room…so I'm out here now," he mumbled, "why are you out?"

I lifted the book for him to see and he nodded.

"I'll walk you back to the circus," he said with a smile.

"Thanks," I said and we walked in companionable silence.

"Are you performing tomorrow?" he asked me as I reached the gate.

"Yeah, you said you bought tickets," I said and he nodded, "I'll keep my eyes out for you then."

"Can't wait to see you perform. You're the talk of the town at the moment," he said, "well, the nicer talk of the town."

He turned to leave but it occurred to me that maybe Abberline knew why the three people were undercover in the circus.

"Abberline?" I called and he turned to look at me, "has anything…strange happened lately?"

"Sure, the Ripper has been around and there's some children that went missing," he said with a sigh, "it was in the newspaper recently."

"No one delivers the paper here," I whispered.

"Children are going missing from all over the country, and they leave no trace of where they went to. I think someone said it was like the Pied Piper was leading them away in the middle of the night."

"Did you have any leads?" I asked and he looked up at me.

"A few, but nothing panned out. You remember Randall, right?" he asked me and I must have looked puzzled, "my boss."

"Oh, him," I said with a sigh.

"He suggested that the Piper was following your circus, isn't that strange?" Abberline said and laughed.

I laughed with him, hoping it didn't sound forced.

"Would, if that were the case, someone decide to…I don't know, go undercover?" I asked and now he did look suspicious.

"Maybe, but not one of Scotland Yard. We've been pulled off the case by message of the Queen. I don't know if she's abandoned hope or not, but something tells me that strange boy is involved."

"Strange boy?" I whispered, and I thought about Smile, "did he happen to have one blue eye, an eyepatch, navy hair…?"

"Yeah, that sounds about right. He was with his butler, a tall man who seemed to favour the colour black," Abberline said with a smile, "tried to pay me off for my forced cooperation. That's why I'm out patrolling now."

I smiled at him and watched as he looked down the street. He was clearly suspicious of my line of questioning, so I needed to bid goodnight to him before he asked for further information.

"Thank you for walking with me," I said as I stood on my toes and kissed him on the cheek, "I feel safer knowing you're out there."

He nodded before giving me a wave and walking away. I stood still for a moment before remembering why I had left to begin with. I stepped through the gates and to the crates once more, seeing Mei was pacing near there. When she saw me, she walked towards me and sniffed the book.

"A strange boy and his butler clad in black…" I whispered as I looked down at the book, "a demon and a reaper…" Mei sniffed my hands as I looked into her eyes, "what has the circus done?"


I knew when everyone was leaving, the show was finished and I was still sitting behind the crates. The book had been opened and I had read all I could on demons and reapers. I had also determine that demons couldn't truly hold a corporal form without the aid of a human, by way of signing a contract with them. But the book had mentioned that the human had to be both in a bad place as well as have no belief in God for a demon to be summoned in the first place.

Grim Reapers were creatures that walked between death and life. Their job was to determine who got to live and who died. The book didn't explain how this was decided, but that Reapers need not be the stuff of legends. There had been other creatures mentioned but those were the only two I was interested in…and all it served to do was worry me. No wonder Sebastian and William had been at odds with each other, they both wanted souls. But Sebastian's earlier words caught me off.

"What did he mean by cheap souls?" I whispered to Mei, who had curled herself around me to sleep.

There had been no mention of the price of a soul, and for a moment, I wondered what mine was like. But that was a different matter altogether and could be pondered on later. I touched Mei's head and she opened her eyes gently before yawning. I stood slowly and stretched, not sure how long I had been resting against the crates.

"I'll keep this to myself for now…" I whispered, "I won't tell the others. But I need to speak to the three of them…soon."

I led the way down one of the aisles to the tents, thinking I could find out where they were sleeping when a voice caught my attention. Joker was standing in front of four people, one of which I recognised as Doll only without her make-up. She couldn't sleep on her own, and often slept in the second-stringer tents. She had done her rounds with the first-stringers, but never managed to sleep through the night.

"And now, the moment you've all been waiting for!" Joker called as he held up my crudely drawn map. I was in luck, he hadn't given them their rooms yet.

"It's the tent assignments," he concluded and I spotted Dagger nearby, smiling like a fool.

I walked out of the shadows and into their view. Doll spotted me first but didn't comment, knowing it would reveal that she knew me. Dagger's mouth opened as he pointed at me, forcing Joker to also look. Both of them walked towards me, their eyes taking me in.

"Angel?" Dagger asked as he touched my face, "are you alright?"

"Yeah, just needed some air," I mumbled as Joker pulled me forward for a hug.

"Don't run off like that again," he whispered at my ear, and I felt I was seeing the man without the make-up again.

"I promise, Joker," I whispered as I wrapped one arm around his back, "I won't leave again without letting you know."

Once Joker had pulled away, I looked at the four others. Doll gave me a quick smile before returning to her previous expression. Finnian looked tired and worn out, while Sebastian and William looked calm and collected. Joker brought me over to them, Mei trailing behind me. How was I supposed to broach this subject with them?

"Angel, we added these two to the circus!" Joker said with a smile as he pointed to Sebastian and Finnian, "Sebastian is Black now."

"Nice to meet you, Angel," Black said as he bowed to me.

"And Finnian is now Smile," he continued as Finnian raised his head to give me a nod before looking down at the ground again.

"You remember Suit?" Dagger asked.

"Unfortunately," I muttered, "were you giving them their tents now?"

"Yes," Joker said with a smile.

"Mind if I take over?" I asked, "I didn't get a chance to meet them after they joined. And you should tell the others I'm back now."

Joker looked perplexed before he nodded his head and motioned for Dagger to follow him. Dagger looked over his shoulder at me, wondering what was happening. I knew they wouldn't have left me had Doll not been there. I gave her a glance as she sighed. She was dressed like a young boy, and as I looked down at my map, I knew she would be bunking with Finnian.

"The results of our impartial lottery," I said as I looked down at the map, "Smile, you'll be in tent eight. Your roommate will be…Freckles. Black," and I looked to Sebastian, "you'll be in tent nine."

"Seba-" Smile started, telling me he didn't want to be separated from his accomplice, "Black isn't rooming with me?"

Smile actually looked surprised, as if sharing a room with Black had been the plan all along. I thought it was nice to put a spanner in the works, even for one of them.

"No," I said, making sure I smiled at him, "why? I think it's high time you got some independence and lived on your own."

"Th-That's not what I-" Smile started but I put a hand up to stop him.

He looked annoyed, which I knew was something I didn't want, but right now, they were liars and I wanted to know why. If they were separated, it might make it harder for them to work undercover at this circus. Mei nudged my hip before resting against it, and I looked down to see her bandages were pale red. She must have broken a scab recently.

"I'd really rather Black—" Finnian started but I shook my head.

"Black's roommate is Suit," I stated simply.

I watched as the pair came to grasps with that concept before giving each other a glare. I wanted to laugh, to make them understand how much I knew…but that would come with time. I would have them talking soon, all three of them. Mei and I could be persuasive when we wanted to be.

"Don't they look so happy to be together?" I asked Smile, "you wouldn't want to split such a perfect pair, now would you?"

I watched as Smile slouched, his mood clearly hitting the floor as I folded the map up and stuck it in one of my pockets. Mei watched everyone, sensing my mood had changed and glowered at all of them in turn. Her teeth bared for Finnian, before she turned away to follow me.

"Follow me," I said as Doll gathered her bag and followed behind me. Mei sniffed her hand before licking it, recognising her as a friend. Doll smiled at me, and I touched her shoulder.

"You'll be fine here," I said to her, "just work hard and you'll reach the top."

"Thanks Angel," she replied as the others shuffled behind us.

I brought Finnian and Doll to tent eight, opening it for the pair to step inside. I then moved next door to nine and let the other two step in. They would be the only ones in the tents, no one else would be put with them. It would make it easier to gather them later. I tapped my hip for Mei to follow me. I would change her bandages and work out a plan for the threesome.


I stayed up the whole night, researching everything I could on demons, their humans and grim reapers. Making lists of pros and cons of having one in the circus…with the cons constantly outweighing the pros. Their humans were people who had lost their hope in God, and I could understand that. I had faced my own trials and worked through them, not allowing myself to be bogged down. Mei had helped me in later years, but at the start…it had been a tough time for me. Especially when I had first met Joker.

Now we could laugh and say he had saved me, but I remembered something darker. Cages lined around a table, people gathered as I watched. I shook my head slowly, thinking I must have repressed it to save myself. I looked down at the book I had bought, thinking I couldn't find any more information out unless I asked the sources. I looked around my tent as the sun rose, not sure how long I had been awake for. What day was it anyway?

"It's Wednesday," I whispered to Mei who had put herself on my bed to sleep, "people will expect their money for the week."

I grabbed my list of employees, scratching down Sebastian and Finnian before counting it out. There were thirty people, not including the first tiers…so I added them to the list. At least forty satchels would have to be located so I ran out of my tent, dressed in my clothes from last night, and went to the storage tent. I often bought the satchels early and gave them out each week with the request they be returned to me. But they never were so the circus took on another cost.

I gathered forty and returned to my tent to retrieve the lock box I kept under my mattress. There was a couple of pound in there in notes, pennies scattered like brooches but it was the shillings I focused on. Everyone got one shilling, with the first-tiers getting one shilling and five pence.

I set them out and put the first-stringers money aside to be given out later. I put the second-stringers money in a small box and gathered my list before deciding the best time to pay a person would be during breakfast. I yawned as I made my way to the dining tent and saw people had gathered. I realised I had gotten up earlier than the other first-stringers, now seeing the others making food. I blushed but kept walking, Mei at my side. I should make sure nothing was wasted.

"Hey Angel," Freckles said with a smile, and I gave Doll her proper wage.

"Your pay for the week," I said and she nodded, sticking it in her pocket.

"Thanks," she whispered, but she looked down. What had happened since yesterday to make her mood change?

I gave out the satchels slowly, ticking everyone's name off as I did. A few men looked guilty while others looked excited. I reached the final three as I stuck the box in the supply tent. Suit was minding his own business stirring soup so I gave him a satchel which he stuck in his pocket, no questions asked. I then turned to see Smile and Black, though Smile looked exhausted and oddly dressed.

"Smile! How do you plan to use those potatoes? You "peeled" them to bits!" Black said clearly and I wandered closer to see what he meant.

"Smile, what's wrong with you?!" Freckles said, having walked over to see what was happening.

I walked past them to look into the buckets. I picked up one skin and then one piece of potato, surprised anyone could peel it this finely. I could see the outline of my finger through it! I stood slowly, wondering what could be done with these. I'd have to buy more potatoes, since it seemed someone had given Smile the whole supply.

"I'm sorry!" Smile said quickly.

"I don't even know which part to eat," Freckles mumbled, clearly as confused as I was.

"Well, no help for it. I know I saw some fish, so let's fry these up and make fish and chips," Black said calmly as I dropped my pieces back in the bucket.

"Oh, I love that!" Freckles commented, clearly impressed about that meal option.

"I'm glad to hear it," Black replied, a smile on his face.

"Smile," I said, my voice pitched low, "you will be going into town with me to get new supplies."

"Yes Angel," Smile said, clearly not impressed.

"If Black hadn't suggested chips, you would have destroyed the supply!" I snapped at him, feeling angry for the first time in a long while, "it would have been your fault no one would have eaten for a few days!"

"I said I was sorry…" Smile said, clearly not sure how to answer me.

"The front gate at ten," I said slowly, "meet me there."

I walked away from him, forgetting about the satchels I had been holding. I wasn't sure why I had been annoyed with him, not sure why the potatoes had set me off. I went back to my tent and sat in front of one of my many mirrors and looked at my reflection. This wasn't a girl I recognised, this girl had gotten angry at someone for something so small. I felt tears on my eyelashes before they rolled down my cheeks. I stood up, holding onto the sides of the mirror before I hit it, making it shatter into a hundred pieces. When I looked again, there appeared to be hundreds of versions of me staring back. I rested my hand over the broken glass, only to see I had cut my hand.

I ran my finger along the glass until I had spelt out 'MONSTER' in red and stepped back, my hand by my side. It summed me up, this new persona of mine. What had gotten into me?


I sat there on my bed staring at that mirror, my eyes taking in the words. I had broken every mirror, writing words on the glass that said various things about me. Each word covered a persona, an image of me. It was what I was nowadays, I was something not human anymore. I looked to my clock and saw it was nearly ten so I changed my clothes and wrapped my hand in some bandages. I then looked to Mei who sat on my bed, her eyes wary.

"I'll be back soon," I whispered to her as I retrieved a few pounds and my hood, "be good while I'm gone."

I got my basket and fastened my cloak around me and lifted my hood. I walked out of my tent and went to the front gate. I spotted Smile there, his shoe scuffing the dirt as he waited for me. How long had he stood there? I took a deep breath, prepared to apologise for what I said. It wasn't fair to take out my anger with him, he didn't deserve it. I'd have to treat him while we were in town.

"Hi," I said as I got closer.

"Hi," he replied, keeping his head down.

"Are you ready to go?" I asked and he nodded, "let's go then."

I opened the gates and he stepped out before I locked them and walked out into London. I wanted to speak to the shopkeeper again and buy a few more books, I needed to buy potatoes and some other treats…I also needed to speak to the prostitutes, who should be heading home now.

I heard gasps around us as people held the paper up, their eyes on what was in front of them. I couldn't see so I bought a paper. It was splattered across the front. "THE RIPPER STRIKES AGAIN!" Smile seemed annoyed when he saw this as I read through the article. There were pictures of mutilated women, and when I saw their names…I recognised them as my contacts.

"Catherine Eddowes and Elizabeth Stride," I whispered as I read through it, "he took two victims last night."

I saw a smaller headline that mentioned a girl was reported missing by her mother last night. Police officers had been brutally murdered as well, with no clear connection to the girl and the officers. I gave the paper to Smile who read through it as I went to Whitechapel, needing to know if the two women were really dead. It was there I spotted Alice, leaning against a wall.

"Alice!" I called and her body stiffened before she looked over at me, and glared.

"Don't come any closer!" she shouted at me, "you brought bad luck!"

"What?" I asked as she stepped closer to me, "I swear I didn't do anything."

"Then why are they dead?!" she snapped, pulling a sharp nail file from her pocket and brandished it, "you told him, didn't you?! You helped him!"

"What…?"

"You helped old Jack!" Alice snapped, catching the attention of a few passing people.

"No, I would never do that!" I said to her as she walked closer, the nail file still held up.

"Don't talk to me ever again! I'll cut you if you do!" and she ran away.

I put my hand out, as if I could stop her. But she disappeared and I knew, the other two would be thinking the same thing. There was no more help for me, and I would have to locate these children on my own. Smile stood at my side, clearly confused as I walked to the bookshop, now open for business.

"Hello miss," the shopkeeper said as I stepped in, "I didn't think I would see you so soon. Is this your brother?"

"Yeah," I replied as I walked to the books and scanned through them, "do you have any other books like the one I bought?"

"My wife found four this morning," he replied as he left his seat and retrieved them from a backroom, "an odd topic for a priest to be reading about. I also found a small pamphlet about exorcisms if that's any good to you, the church had a few to spare last week and I put it aside."

"Sure, how much for it?" I asked as he looked over the books, one slightly larger than the others.

"A shilling will be fine," he replied as I handed him the money, "these books are out of date."

"Thanks," I said as I put them in my basket, "I'll be back."

"Thank you," he called as I left the shop and looked down the street.

"Exorcisms?" Smile questioned but I didn't answer him as I pointed to a vendor.

"He sells potatoes," I said gently and led the way, buying enough potatoes for the month. With that done, I didn't know what I wanted to do anymore.

"Did you hurt your hand?" Smile asked as I started walking towards a café, needing a cup of tea.

"Hmm?" I asked as I looked down and saw the bandages, "cut it on some glass."

I opened the café door for him to go in ahead of me and waved to the woman inside. It was the same woman as before when I had been here with Dagger. She came over once we had both settled in our chairs and I was looking out the window.

"What can I get you both?" the woman asked as I looked over the menu.

"Can I have an Earl Grey with some vanilla cake?" I asked her and she nodded, scratching down my order as I looked to Smile.

He looked hungry, but he had the expression of one who didn't want to order anything.

"I'm not-"

"Another of my order for him," I said quickly and the woman nodded before leaving us.

"Why did you order that?" he asked me after a moment and I sighed.

"Because you look like you need something sweet," I whispered as the woman brought the cakes over, "and they have the best cakes here. Earl Grey…I think you'll like it. It's weak but when complimented with a cake, can do wonders."

He nodded as the tea was poured and I sipped my cup while nibbling the cake. He ate some of his cake before drinking the tea, smiled and continued like that. I pushed my cake in front of him when he had finished his and sipped my tea while I watched him. Once he had finished, I poured him another cup and he sipped it, clearly happy with the food in his stomach now.

"Smile…I'm sorry about earlier," I said as I put my cup down, "I didn't sleep very well last night, but that is no excuse to get angry at you over potatoes."

"It's alright," he replied, sipping more tea, "why do you want a pamphlet on exorcisms?"

"Research," I said slowly, "a friend of mine is in London doing research on exorcisms."

"Oh," Smile replied, obviously not the answer he was hoping for.

"Smile…Finnian," I said and he looked up at me, "what was your old master like?"

"A bastard," Smile replied, "made us work ourselves until we were exhausted. But there were times…when it wasn't too bad."

"Like how?"

"Well, one day he was going through his books and threw out Mother Goose. Sebastian found it and gave it to me, and he found out. Said I could keep it, that it wasn't a good book to begin with," Smile replied.

"You and Sebastian are pretty close," I whispered and Smile nodded, "how long have you been together?"

"Three years this year," Smile replied.

"Really? You two act like you've been together so much longer! That's impressive!"

"What about you? Where did you come from?"

"I'm from London," I replied, "why did you want to know?"

"Joker told us you weren't an original first-stringer," Smile replied.

"Oh…that…" I whispered, "no, I joined the circus later."

"Joker said he found you…?"

"Yeah, he did," I didn't say anything else, not wanting to remember.

"Will we head back now?" Smile asked, probably guessing I wasn't in the mood to be questioned.

"Sure, is there anything you want to see?" I asked him and he shook his head, and I remembered Doll's safety line, "I have to pick up some rope."

"Rope?"

"The safety line from your test seems to have frayed," I replied as I paid for our food and left the café, "don't want Doll getting hurt while she's practising."

I bought the rope and a bottle of brandy, one we could have once the week was finished. It was a tradition among the circus members. A drink after your first successful week…around a fire so we could talk.


I unlocked the gates and saw Doll was waiting there with Sebastian. Smile walked ahead of me to speak to them as I locked up and walked into the camp grounds.

"Do you need me for anything else, Angel?" Smile asked and I shook my head, "I'll be practising then."

"Good luck," I replied to the three of them as they left, not casting me another glance before disappearing around a corner.

I had nothing else to do, so I went to my tent and saw Mei was still lying on my bed, her head on her paws as she viewed the shattered mirrors around me. She then looked to me as I put my basket down and took out the books to read.


I decided to take a break an hour later, and knew a walk around the property would help me think. I had learned more on demons, even a small story about a woman who had summoned a demon to see if she could. Each book had the same basic concept about demons (since Reapers had next to nothing written about them) which was made up of three things. Those three things were important to sign a contract with them.

"You need to sacrifice your soul, knowing it will never see Heaven. The human must make a wish, one they are willing to trade their soul for. Finally, they are marked by the demon, to say they belong to them…"

If Sebastian was a demon (and the more I read, the more I believed he was) then he had to have a human. The only person I could think of was Smile, who had arrived here with him, as well as told him they were leaving. It was like he had a power over the man, one that belonged among servants and their master. I doubt a pageboy would face something that required a demon, unless Smile hadn't been a pageboy to begin with. I had seen him before, his face at least. I had recognised it when he had been in his costume, with the leather eye-patch. I just couldn't remember where I had seen him…

"Wait," I whispered as I stopped near the carriages, "I gave a boy tickets for the circus, as compensation…Smile looks like that boy."

No way a master would allow his pageboy to do errands using his carriage, or dress him in such finery. Unless he was one very twisted individual…I couldn't see that. What if Smile had been someone in power, the strange boy Abberline had said had gone through the file room. Sebastian had told us he was a butler, and Abberline had said the boy had been in Scotland Yard with his butler. It seemed too odd a pair to dismiss easily.

"Angel!" someone called and I turned to see a soaked Doll, her eyes panicked.

"What's wrong?" I asked her and she glanced around me.

"Have you seen Smile?" she asked, "I brought him to the showers and well, he didn't want to undress. I thought he was shy…and then I saw this mark on his back…and he ran away! I need to find him!"

"I'll look for him, you prepare for tonight," I said gently to her.

"Thank you, Angel. Tell him I'm sorry!" she said as she ran back the way she came.

I walked beside the carriages, wondering where the boy could be when I heard sniffling. I put my back against the carriages and saw a soaked boy on the floor, his arms wrapped around his legs. He was shivering, which was most likely from the cold shower water we had available. He would catch his death out here if he didn't dry off soon. I was about to suggest that much to him when I spotted Black, who stopped beside him, holding a towel.

"You'll catch a cold, my lord," Black stated simply, throwing a towel over him, "I've brought a change of clothes."

"Enough," Smile said.

"Pardon?"

"I've had enough!" Smile snapped, "I'll go mad if I keep living like this."

"Goodness me. Giving up already? Your fortitude ran dry fast. It's not like you to let such trifles drive you mad, young master."

"Not like me, eh?" Smile asked, now sounding under control. What had changed?

"Quite right," Smile commented as he stood up, the towel now resting on his shoulder, "I'm head of the house of Phantomhive. Naturally it's not like me to live this way. We'll get this over with and leave at once!"

"Very good," Sebastian replied, putting a hand over his heart.

Sebastian moved a few feet into a more secluded section behind the carriages, making it so I only saw his back. By the way his shoulders were moving, I could only assume he was changing the clothes of his young master.

"Now if we can just search the first-stringers' tents, we can go home. I'd planned to quietly work our way up the ladder, but I can't spend that much time under these circumstances. We also have to catch the murderer before he strikes again! I'm at my limit," Smile said plainly.

"Personally, I'd find brute force easier than infiltration, since reaper keeps me from moving freely at night," Sebastian replied, clearly acting as though I wasn't there. Had neither of them noticed me already?

"The reaper's presence doesn't prove them guilty, Behave yourself," Smile said to Sebastian.

"Very good," was the butler's reply.

"The time to strike is during a show, while they're all away from their tents," Smile stated, "first I need a way to slip free of the freckled chap who tails me everywhere…"

That wouldn't be a problem. Doll only took on the Freckles persona before and after a show. She would be too busy getting her make-up ready to stay with him every moment of the day. I saw Smile move away from his cover to sit on a crate, where Sebastian followed him to dry him off.

"If I can't go, there's no point," Smile continued, clearly not having seen me just yet, "I want to get home and eat something sweet. The small cakes Angel bought did nothing to satisfy my sweet tooth."

"I'll prepare you some nice hot tea as well," Sebastian stated.

I put my back against the carriage and tried to process what I had just heard. Smile was the head of the Phantomhive family, and he was here undercover with Sebastian. Sebastian, by the looks of it, was his butler. I looked around me, and found I was alone. What was I supposed to do with this new information?

I closed my eyes, trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I couldn't tell Joker about this, he wouldn't believe me. That meant none of the others could be spoken with. I decided I would go to my tent and mull this over.


(Ciel's POV)

I pointed to the legs I could now see against a carriage in front of us. Sebastian nodded and jumped onto the roof, as the legs began running. Sebastian stood there and watched as the person disappeared, before jumping down to join me.

"Who was listening?" I asked him, wondering if it was Freckles.

"Angel," Sebastian replied, "and I can't be certain how much she heard…"

"Well then, we'll have to work faster…that…or get rid of Angel before she alerts the others…you can do that, can't you?"

"Yes, my young lord."


So what do you think? Ciel might have to get rid of Angel if she talks...but do you think she will? Angel also knows about reapers and demons, which can't be helpful to Ciel or Sebastian, what do you think they'll do? I hope you like this chapter and I'll post an update soon :) Remember to leave a review to let me know what you think so far and if you have any questions, PM me :)