Disclaimer: I do not own Black Butler or anything affiliated with it. Black Butler belongs to Yana Toboso. Original characters are mine.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed at the red headed creature. "So, Grell, been pulling the strings behind the scenes eh?" Of course Grell would be behind this mess, the demon thought.
Sebastian gathered enough strength to shove Grell away, angling his body away from the whirring blade as he moved to the other side of the alley.
All fighting seemed to cease as the creature named Grell hugged the base of his chainsaw, his eyes closed as he thought longingly of the demon.
"I've pulled nothing more than the red strings of fate that connect our hearts together, Bassy."
Bassy? Sera thought, an incredulous look on her face. Who was this male?
Since his eyes were closed, Grell didn't see it coming as Sebastian swung his leg up and slammed the heel of his foot down onto the creature's head.
Grell yelped and dropped his chainsaw to the ground, holding his head as he looked at Sebastian in disbelief. "How could you? I'm so dainty."
Sebastian fixed the lapels of his jacket. "Now now, don't act so offended. You struck first."
"I just took an affectionate swipe at you out of excitement! I didn't mean any harm by it; I was only following that pig." Grell pointed in the direction that Mrs. Turner ran as he finished his tirade.
"You're after her too?" Sebastian questioned, intrigued.
Sera looked off in the direction the red head was pointing, her eyes alighting on the burning buildings, faint explosions sounding in the distance. She followed Ciel as they walked closer, determining that the fight was now over.
"Are you going to introduce us to your friend, Sebastian?" Sera raised a curious brow towards her mate.
The chainsaw wielding male turned and looked behind him, his eyes landing on Ciel and Sera, a befuddled expression on his face. He was especially confounded as he looked at Sera, studying her with a puzzled look.
"Sera, this is Grell. He's a Grim Reaper." Sebastian introduced the red head.
Sera's eyes went alight, clapping her hands. "Ah, a grim reaper! How completely wonderful. I've not met many of you and when I did, it was never a pleasant encounter. You look at least somewhat friendly; how do you do?" Sera held out her hand towards the reaper.
"I'm sorry. Who are you?" Grell asked the female.
Ciel smirked, knowing he was going to enjoy the reaction from his next words. "Grell, this is Sera Michaelis, a demoness and my new housekeeper. She's also Sebastian's mate."
A pause in the air and suddenly the chainsaw was active once more.
"YOU LITTLE HUSSY! HOW DARE YOU TAKE MY BASSY FROM ME!"
Pushing Ciel out of the way, Sera jumped back as the chainsaw came slicing down towards her. A series of swipes and slices commended as Grell aggressively attacked the demoness. Sera was graceful in her defense, dodging each move with no difficulty. It wasn't until the blades of the weapon got a little too close to Sera's neck for Sebastian's liking that he intervened.
A rough tug on Grell's hair had him falling backwards onto the ground, the chainsaw dying down as it fell next to him.
"That's enough of that." Sebastian said, wiping his gloves together before reaching out a hand towards Sera, taking her dainty hand within his own and walking her over towards his master. "Grell I would appreciate it if you didn't try to end my mate's life. See our lives are intricately bound and I'm rather fond of her."
Grell burst into dramatic tears. "Sebastian, how could you? I thought what we had was special!"
"Your thoughts were more of a fantasy." Sebastian told him, turning away.
"You can still flirt with him," Sera addressed Grell encouragingly. "I don't have a problem with it. I find it rather funny seeing Sebastian so uncomfortable anyway," Sera grinned, poking at the frown on her mate's cheek at her words.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't encourage him." The demon grumbled. "Also, what about the spell you placed on your mark?" Sebastian asked. He remembered when she first placed her seal upon his chest how she included a fidelity spell. Should any person other than Sera attempt to touch him with less than honorable intentions, they'd be met with unimaginable pain, and on extreme occasions, death.
"Oh, don't worry about that," Sera said quietly, so as not to be overheard. "I can tell you're completely opposed to Grell's attentions; he doesn't seem to be able to get close to you anyway." Sera looked over and saw Grell frown as he stood, a dejected look on his face.
The demoness walked up to the grim reaper, wrapping an arm around his shoulder despite his previous attempts at murdering her. "Oh, chin up, Grell. He's all yours if you want him."
Grell's eyes shined as he looked at her. "You really mean that?"
Sera shrugged, "Of course. I couldn't imagine coming between you two."
"Enough of this mess," Ciel ordered. "Grell, what are you doing here anyway?"
"There's been a recent spate of crime," Sebastian interjected. "I imagine that's what brought him here; a sudden increase in souls."
Grell bounded up to the demon, in much higher spirits. "I'm sure my workload will decrease with you on the case though, Se-bas-tian," Grell poked at the demon's chest with each syllable of his name. "At last our amorous adventure can begin anew." He went to fall into Sebastian's arms but found himself face first on the ground as the demon side stepped him.
A loud explosion soon gathered the attention of the group.
"We don't have time to fool with him," Ciel ordered, ignoring Grell's attempts to latch onto his butler. "Let's go."
Ciel soon ran off, Sera close behind him. They exited the alleyway, finding the buildings aflame as well as debris that had fallen to the street. Ciel and his housekeeper dodged the flames on the ground as they ran.
Sebastian followed behind them but found his path soon blocked by the reaper as he landed on the street, fire spread around him.
"Leap through these flames, carry me in your arms, and hold me tight dearest one- AH!"
Sebastian jumped and landed on the reaper's head, bounding down the street after his master and mate. "Excuse me."
The streets were in utter chaos. People were running to escape the flames while members of Scotland Yard attempted to help them to safety. Not everyone was lucky though, as the screams of the dying could be heard all around.
Sebastian looked around, realizing he lost Sera and his master in the chaos. They must have gone a different way in search of Mrs. Turner, he thought.
Another anguished scream sounded through the night and Sebastian rounded another block just to find the mad woman walking away from one of her victims, the person's body quickly turning to ash.
"There she is." Sebastian chased after the woman, running down the road and turning into the alley she disappeared in just to find it completely empty. Puzzled, the demon stopped within the mouth of the alley.
"Oh, what a shame," Grell said appearing behind the butler, peeking into the darkness. "Did you let her get away?"
Sebastian sighed. "Hello again, Grell. Don't you have work to be attending to?"
"Mhmm," the reaper nodded, sidling up next to the demon. "I am a hunter of love seeking my favorite game. That's the only work I care about now, my darling. Besides it's a slow night; I only have one soul to reap."
Sebastian gave Grell a curious look. "One only?"
Pulling out a book from his jacket pocket, the reaper opened it up to that day's roster, letting Sebastian read over his shoulder. "Mhmm, Margaret Turner's time is up. At 5 past midnight it says that she goes on a killing spree of sorts, after which she burns herself to death. She's the only soul in the ledger. No one else is scheduled to be reaped by me tonight, so I'm as free as a bird."
"But what about all the people she's been setting on fire?"
"She uses fire of a very special sort," Grell explained. "When she kills people, their souls burn away with them."
Sebastian looked away, his eyes narrowing at this discovery.
Across town, Sera found herself at the base of the enormous clock the humans named "Big Ben". She was searching the crowds of citizens who were being maneuvered to safety by Scotland Yard, her and Ciel attempting to find the psychotic Mrs. Turner.
"You know, for such a big lady, she sure does move fast."
Ciel ignored the demoness, his eyes scanning the streets. "Where did you go Mrs. Turner."
Falling from above, Ciel caught site of the sparkling magnesium oxide floating on the wind, coming in the direction of a level above the clock on the tower. Sera saw it too, catching the dust on the palm of her hand.
"If I wanted to set an entire city on fire, what's the best vantage point I could take?"
Ciel gasped, "Up there. She'll burn everything."
Ciel ran off without hesitation, Sera hot on his heels. "Are you sure we shouldn't wait for Sebastian?"
"There's no time!" Ciel said, making his way into the clock tower. "We have to stop her!"
They ran up the stairs as fast as they could, before Sera took it upon herself to pull Ciel into her arms, racing faster up each flight.
As she passed a window, she saw another bought of dust, barely having time to shield the earl before the glass exploded into pieces, some of the shards slicing her violet dress, a piece cutting into the skin of her cheek. She felt a small rivulet of blood flow down her face but paid it no mind.
She did a quick assessment of the earl, making sure he was ok, his single eye wide on her own red orbs before she lifted him up once more and ran up the last flight of stairs.
Sera let Ciel down as they made it to the top, finding Mrs. Turner emptying barrels of the magnesium oxide onto the city below. The mad woman paused what she was doing as she caught site of them.
Pulling a gun from underneath his cloak, Ciel cocked and aimed it at Mrs. Turner. "Put down the barrel."
Mrs. Turner did just that but picked up her camera that was lying on the floor nearby, an angry look on her face. "Oh, so you're another interloper, come to take away my happiness?"
"If murdering a bunch of people makes you happy and if us stopping you makes us interlopers, then yeah, I guess you could say that's what's happening," Sera commented with an amused expression, a hand resting lazily on her hip.
"You." Mrs. Turner growled. "You're that woman who was in my studio with her husband; that disgustingly happy couple. Where's your beloved husband now? Has he lost all his passion for you?"
Sera smirked, her hair trailing attractively around her shoulders. "Oh, no, we have passion aplenty. As a matter of fact, once we stop your psychotic ass, my dear husband has promised to spoil me to my heart's content."
"I'll burn you! I'll destroy you! You don't deserve this happiness!" Mrs. Turner shouted.
Ciel aimed the gun more accurately. "Have you taken leave of your senses? How could you possibly find happiness from this?"
"I'll find it!" Mrs. Turner yelled, getting her camera ready to fire. "My time has finally come; He told me so!"
He? Sera thought. She looked at Ciel quickly and noticed that he caught the woman's words as well.
Down below, Sebastian and Grell finally made it to the base of Big Ben. An explosion erupted, smoke clogging the air, but Sebastian had no problem finding Sera and his master in the thick of it. He watched as his mate maneuvered the earl around the area, dodging the explosions as well as any debris that fell.
"Master, Sera!" Sebastian needed to get up there and quickly.
"Quite a development," Grell grinned. "Who knew pigs could fly so high. Looks like your side piece is doing splendidly at protecting the little brat as well," the reaper said referring to Sera.
Back above Big Ben, Mrs. Turner was relentless in her mission to destroy the earl and the housekeeper.
Sparkling dust flew towards them and Sera immediately leapt away, but not quickly enough that the blast didn't throw her off kilter. She fell to the ground with Ciel in her arms, but aimed herself so she would land first, keeping the earl safe from harm.
"A little rat and a filthy slut like you could never hope to understand what it's like to be married to a man you don't even love." Mrs. Turner yelled, walking towards the two.
Sera picked herself and Ciel from the floor, shielding the boy's body with hers, while Ciel held his gun out towards the mad woman.
"If you didn't love him, then why did you marry him?" Sera asked incredulously.
"Shut up! You don't know my circumstances! I bet you had the pick of the litter given how beautiful you are! You probably had your husband crawling at your feet!"
Sera laughed. "Trust me, lady. I promise you, I didn't pick my husband. It's more like he picked me."
"All I want is to feel burning passion for a man!" Mrs. Turner exclaimed, backing Ciel and Sera into a column. "I'll find that, and I'll fry anyone who stands in my way!"
Ciel stared incredulously at Mrs. Turner before he burst into laughter. Relaxing his stance, he came to stand by the demoness's side. "You're absolutely pathetic. Do something instead of whining!" The earl yelled. "Regrets accomplish nothing! Wallowing in self-pity like that's despicable! You're no better than a filthy pig!"
Sera stared with raised brows at Ciel. I can certainly see why Sebastian's so eager to eat his soul.
Mrs. Turner was shaking in rage. "A pig? A pig, am I? How dare you call me SOMETHING SO FOUL!"
The gigantic clock struck twelve, the hands pointing straight to the sky. The bells began their tolls, sending vibrations all throughout the tower, but that didn't stop Mrs. Turner from displaying her anger.
Sera barely had time to grab Ciel and throw them behind the nearest column before Mrs. Turner sent another explosion their way, other columns breaking around them, scattering rocks and debris throughout the area. Sera felt some of it strike her body as she shielded the young earl beneath her.
"I'll roast anyone who calls me a pig," Mrs. Turner proclaimed, throwing more dust towards them. "I don't care if you are just a boy."
Another blast went their way, and Sera shielded Ciel once more, the force of the blast tossing their clothes about.
Ciel felt his eyepatch loosen and fly away, revealing his glowing eye with the Faustian contract upon it. "How long am I supposed to wait on you?" Ciel growled into the air. "Come! Sebastian!"
Sera felt the air shift, feeling her mate's presence nearby.
"You think talking to yourself will help?" Mrs. Turner smirked. It faded from her face though when a faint noise steadily became louder. She walked to the side of the platform and looked over the ledge, her eyes widening in fright. "Impossible….who…" she mumbled in disbelief.
Sera and Ciel made their own way to the edge, a good distance from Mrs. Turner to stay safe. Sera peeked over the ledge quickly herself and almost laughed at the site. Running straight up the side of the clock of his own volition -nothing connected to him that could possibly explain this supernatural phenomenon- was her mate. Alongside the demon keeping pace, was Grell, riding his chainsaw up the building like a unicycle.
"That's my butler," Ciel smirked as he answered the woman's silent question. "And some freak," he added, referring to Grell.
"And that butler is my husband," Sera added. She then cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling down at the demon. "Darling! You're a bit late to the party!"
As the demon and reaper drew nearer, Mrs. Turner's fear grew. She dumped a whole barrel of dust on them and promptly threw it over the ledge once empty. "Stay out of this whoever you are!" She picked up her camera, aimed it, and fired. Her eyes widened in terror when the blast did nothing to deter them, the two creatures continuing their advancement up the side of the clock.
"What the devil?" Mrs. Turner gasped. "Why haven't you caught fire?"
She then sent blast after blast down at them, each one bouncing off of Grell with no incident. Sera almost laughed when she saw Sebastian keeping pace close behind Grell, using the reaper as a shield. Given that nothing but a death scythe could kill a reaper, it was a pretty ingenious idea.
Ciel smirked, "He's using the reaper as bait. How clever."
Making it to the top, Grell released his scythe from the wall, the momentum throwing him into a graceful summersault into the air and over Mrs. Turner's head. Thinking it a fun game, he did all sorts of poses for the woman, proclaiming how beautiful a subject he was the whole time while explosion after explosion hit the areas behind him. More and more fire erupted, creating an orange and red background.
While Mrs. Turner was distracted, trying to burn away the reaper with no success, Sebastian pulled himself over the ledge and quickly made his way over to his mate and master. His eyes immediately zoned in on the trail of blood that ran from the scratch on Sera's cheek.
"I expected you sooner." Ciel said, eyeing the butler.
Sebastian kneeled before Ciel, bowing his head. "I'm sorry." He stood and went to Sera, his hand reaching towards her cheek. "Are you alright?" His thumb stoked beneath the small cut, blood staining his glove.
Sera smiled, her eyes alight. "I'm fine. This has been so much fun."
Her mate smirked. "Your definition of fun and mine are very different, my pet." He leaned down to brush his lips across her cheek, his tongue flicking out to subtly lick at her wound.
A screech from Mrs. Turner gathered everyone's attention. Turning they saw her camera aimed at the earl and his servants. "I'll burn you all!"
Before anyone could blink, Sebastian zoomed across the area and kicked the camera straight from Mrs. Turner's hands.
Mrs. Turner fell back on her rear, gasping as she looked up at the butler. "How could you?"
"I could have done much more had I wished," the butler replied, straightening the lapels on his jacket. "I have my orders to follow and follow them I shall."
Mrs. Turner gasped heavy breaths, sweat running down her face. "Where did you come from? Who are you people?"
Sebastian smirked, his red eyes dark as blood. "I am simply one hell of a butler."
Sera scoffed, standing lazily next to Ciel with her arms crossed. "Does he say that all the time?"
Ciel rolled his eyes. "It's something like his catchphrase." He walked closer to the woman on the ground, coming to stand next to his butler. Sera followed close behind.
They all stood around a still sitting Mrs. Turner. Grell held her camera, jovially tossing it into the air and catching it.
"Tell me everything," Ciel ordered the woman. "From start to finish."
Mrs. Turner collapsed to the floor, hiding her face in her hands as tears streamed down her cheeks. "It was him; he was the one who told me what to do. And if I did, he said I'd find true passion! He said the most gorgeous men would fight to the death over me!"
"And 'he' would be?" Sebastian asked.
A sparkling substance formed around Mrs. Turner, a fire igniting from seemingly nowhere. "The man with the golden eyes, he promised me!" She said as the fire started to consume her.
Grell's eyes widened. "I don't understand. Her soul's burning like her victims did."
They all watched as Mrs. Turner stood and stumbled, the fire eating away at her. She wandered her way next to the barrels of magnesium oxide, the dust reacting to her proximity.
"Burning passion! HAPPINESS!" She screamed psychotically, her eyes filled with madness.
Ciel yelled, trying to run towards the woman. "Hold on! I want to know-,"
Sera reached forward and pulled Ciel back into her arms, sensing the explosion before it happened. Sebastian tucked his mate against him and threw the three of them off the clocktower and down to the streets below. The top of the clock tower was hit by a massive explosion, fire erupting and flying from the rooftop.
Sera landed gracefully on the ground holding Ciel against her, just as she was held against Sebastian. The housekeeper set Ciel onto his feet, dusting bits of debris from his cloak.
"My lord, are you hurt?" Sebastian asked the earl.
Ciel scoffed, brushing his butler and housekeeper's concern away. "I'm fine."
Grell landed on the ground next to them and looked at the clock tower in nervous despair. "This doesn't make sense. It was right here in the ledger; how can the soul I'm to collect just burn up? This can't be happening!" He pulled out his book and turned the pages till he landed on the entry with Mrs. Turner's name. "It's fundamentally wrong!"
Sebastian looked over at the reaper and smirked in amusement, nudging Sera next to him who also smiled at the exasperated reaper. The demon's expression dropped though as the reaper caught sight of him and skipped his way over to Sera and himself.
Grell came and snuggled himself up next to Sebastian's body, holding up Mrs. Turner's camera and aiming it towards himself and the demon. "I must make my report to Will so alas this will have to be our final photo." Before he took the shot, he glanced over at Sera. "Dear, do you mind? While I quite like you, you're still an opponent for my Bassy's affections."
"By all means." Sera said backing away and out of the shot, throwing her mate a playful wink when he frowned at her.
Sebastian just angled his head away from the camera and closed his eyes, sighing when he heard the shutter.
"Oh, that was wonderful. Dear, now it's me and you!" Grell pranced over to Sera and laughed in delight when she posed with him, a big smile on her face as she threw up a peace sign.
"Goodbye, friends! And goodbye my love," Grell addressed Sebastian. "While I'll cherish the photo of us, next time it'll be a more intimate lover's portrait, Bassy! Toot aloo! Bye bye!"
Sera laughed as she watched Grell leap away from building to building, disappearing into the night. "I liked him." She walked back over to her mate and looped her arm through his.
"That makes one of us." Sebastian said. He then turned to look at his master. "I'm sorry, my lord. I know you told me to capture the Turner woman. However," Holding out the arm not held by his mate, Sebastian opened his hand.
Cradled within his palm was a small pile of sparkly ashes.
Ciel stared at it incredulously. "That's all that's left?
A gust of wind rushed by and swept the ashes off the butler's glove, carrying them away.
"Nothing but a pile of ashes…" Ciel murmured. "I'll inform her majesty that these murders were the work of a woman crazed with longing."
After the chaos of the day, the silence of the city was disconcerting. Sera leaned her head against Sebastian's shoulder, looking out at the diminishing fires, the city of London getting ahold of the flames.
"I'm continually impressed," Sebastian commented. "Humans seem to be capable of anything when they are desperate for love."
Ciel scoffed. "What a ridiculous waste. All that for some intangible concept like love."
"Laughable isn't it?" Sera added.
Ciel looked over at the two. "Are you both not in love?"
Sera smirked, tapping her finger against the earl's nose, watching it wrinkle at her action. "What Sebastian and I are in is a different four letter 'L' word. Demon's do not have the ability to love."
The earl huffed, nodding his head. "Well, love is not only laughable, but it's pathetic as well." Ciel noticed his eyepatch had landed on the ground close to where they were standing. He walked over and picked it up. "Ah, well. Not everything is burned away." Turning back to his two servants, Ciel's eyes glinted, a new task set before him. "Research this Spider. It may have made a move during this case and I want to know everything there is to know."
Sebastian narrowed his eyes as he gently released Sera's grip from his arm and kneeled in compliance before his master. "Yes, my lord."
"Let's go." Ciel commanded, walking away. "It's late and I'm tired. We've had a busy day."
Sera looped her arm around Sebastian's once more as they walked behind the earl. She looked up at her mate, a troubled look on her face. "You and I both know who and what the Spider is, Sebastian. Is it wise for us to hunt him down?" She spoke quietly so as not to be overheard by the young master.
Sebastian put a comforting hand over hers, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. "I'll protect you, Sera, have no doubt. We follow the master's orders and we do what needs to be done. I'll keep you out of harm's way if need be."
"What about you though? Who will keep you out of harm's way?"
Sebastian smirked. "Is that concern for my well-being I hear?"
Sera scoffed, averting her head. "No. The only concern you hear is concern for my sex life. Who's to warm my bed if you suddenly find yourself six feet under?"
Sebastian chuckled. "Have no fear, my pet. I'm not going anywhere anytime soon." He focused in on her cheek, noticing her cut had healed over. "Your wound is gone. I'm glad."
Sera reached up and touched her cheek. "Oh… so it is." She reached down and fingered her dress. "My gown is torn to ribbons though. I really liked this dress."
"We'll fix it up. It will be good as new."
Sera pulled herself closer to Sebastian's side as they walked, her arms tightening around his bicep. "I had so much fun today, Seb. Going undercover, all the danger and explosions! I don't ever remember having such a grand time! Can we do this more often?"
Sebastian laughed. "If I can help it, no. The thought of you in danger and explosions is not my idea of fun." His brow then crinkled in thought. "Speaking of explosions and danger. Though I'm glad you kept your distance, you could have stopped Mrs. Turner at any time. Why didn't you?"
Sera shrugged. "Honestly, I wanted to see what would happen; that and Ciel never ordered me to do anything against her. If I can avoid doing anything more than the bare minimum for this kid, then I will. Also, why would I make your job any easier?"
Sebastian nodded his head, "Coming from you, that makes complete sense."
A/N: I think I'm spoiling ya'll with these regular updates XD
I loved, loved, loved writing this chapter! It was so much fun to put Sera into the thick of things! And also, GRELL! I love Grell so much. I don't know how everyone was expecting his and Sera's meeting to go, but I always planned for them to end up friends. Yeah, Grell's not too happy with Sebastian having a mate, but Sera's so charming he can't help but love her. Also, Sera's so fun and carefree, of course she's gonna be amused that someone like Grell has a crush on Sebastian.
Just wanted to let ya'll know, I did something I was hoping I wouldn't have to do; I had to go and edit a past chapter. So in season 2, Ciel has lost his memory due to reasons, but I told ya'll I was deviating a lot from what happened in the show. For example, Ciel is not going to have amnesia in my story. He remembers everything from season 1 and what not. I accidentally wrote a scene in chapter 7 where Ciel thinks Madame Red is still alive, when she is actually dead. All I did was tweak some sentences and such. It was no big change. Just thought I'd let you know.
As always, thank you to everyone who left a review on the last chapter/previous chapters! Your reviews give me life and so much inspiration! It's so wonderful being able to know your thoughts on the story. So thank you!
I had a Guest question for chapter 8:
Fifi: "I have never seen season two so I am confused as to why Grell is attacking Sebastian, did something happen in season two to make him attack him? Or is it just Grell attacking Sebastian this time, because sometimes he attacks him and sometimes he doesn't?"
Answer: Nothing happened for Grell to attack Sebastian. Grell just randomly does that; it's like his way of showing affection is by attacking people, Sebastian specifically. He does it in all the seasons I believe. But in this particular episode, he just flies out of nowhere and attacks Sebastian, but he means no harm.
Thank you again to everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
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XOXO Alyssa
