Chapter Ten: His Butler, On Ice.

The winter had come and with it snow. The rivers had frozen and everyone was chilled to the bone. People gathered around their fires and didn't dare to venture outside without heavy coats. The nights were worse which made it strange as to why a man was running in the middle of this snowy night. This man had a pistol in hand and looked back frequently at the three men chasing him.

The leader of the three was the first to speak in the cold night. "Shit! Don't let him get away! Does Tim even get how hard we worked to steal that thing?!" He barked at the other two.

Tim was very far away from the three and stopped momentarily on the bridge. He opened his clenched hand to reveal a ring with a blue diamond. He began to laugh manically. "It's mine now. I won't let anyone else have it." He said looking down at the ring greedily.

The thief jumped as another man spoke behind him. "You are not suited to that ring." When Tim went to look at the culprit his whole body seemed to be paralyzed like strings made of iron had grasped his body. He couldn't even turn his hand that held his gun. "The Hope piece is searching for a worthy master, you see." Tim moved his eyes so he could look back and saw the outline of a man with a top hat, somehow this man managed to tilt his head to the side in a very unnatural way.

There was a quick yank of the strings that suspended Tim, he screamed in pain and he was dead, his limp body falling over the side of the bridge. The other three watched him fall into the ice and plummet down into the river below. "He jumped…" One said in shock.

"Damned fool…" Their leader murmured.

Back in a warm manor all the servants where finishing up the daily chorus so they could retire for the night. Scarlett was sweeping the foyer and Sebastian was heading up the central stairs, heading for his office. They were the only two servants in close proximities. There was silence. The only thing that was heard was the ticking of the clock. Scarlett was mumbling songs under her breath.

"London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, my fair la- Ah!" She couldn't finish the verse before the front doors swung open and burst of cold air flew into the mansion. Sebastian stopped in his tracks and looked at the door, his hand was dug into his pocket and grasping a kitchen knife. Scarlett had raised her hands in front of her to brace the cold.

No one was there; the door had opened of its own accord. Scarlett approached it and pushed the doors shut. Her back pressed against the door in an instinctive way to hold it shut. The maid looked up at the butler who stood there, his eyes radiating their demonic glow. Could it have been that they both sensed an enemy trying to break in with such headstrong force?

The next day Sebastian and Ciel had gone out into the city to the frozen lake. Shops had been set up and sales people had been sitting around shouting and yelling to draw customers in. "Ladies and gents, this hasn't happened in eighty years! You can't pass up this chance! Come on by!" People played games, others cooked meals and some where just strolling about.

"I see. "Frost fair" is an appropriate name." Sebastian said. He was walking with Ciel across the ice.

"I'm told this is the first frost fair on this scale to be held on the frozen Thames at the foot of the London Bridge," Ciel said and came to a stop, "since the year 1814." Sebastian couldn't help but cock an eyebrow.

"Please wait, my lady!" the maid called after Elizabeth. The blonde lady stopped and looked back.

"Paula, you'll crack the ice if you run so heavily." The brunet maid with the honor of serving the little lady froze in her tracks frightened suddenly.

The maid began to mind her footing. "My lady, I'll be scolded for this." she said, "If your parents found out we were taking such a detour…"

"But Harrods and Liberty were both utterly hopeless!" Elizabeth exclaimed not taking well to this sense of failure. Paula accidently put her foot down hard. She jumped and panicked about it. Elizabeth chuckled at the squirming maid. "I was kidding about the ice cracking." Elizabeth explained feeling slightly guilty for making that joke.

Paula sighed. "My lady it seems you are searching for something… Would you tell me what?" Paula asked trying to be helpful and then noticed the rosy blush that had spread across Elizabeth's cheeks.

"Well… well, it's almost Ciel's birthday! I want him to be pleased with his present. No… I must please him with it!" Elizabeth said with a determined look.

The burnet squealed with happiness. "Oh, oh, oh! I could just eat you up!" She grasped Elizabeth's hands. "I understand, my lady. I, Paula, will do everything I can to help!"

"Thank you, Paula." Elizabeth said, smiling warmly.

"What about that swine Tim?" The gang leader from yesterday asked.

"They found his body, but apparently he didn't have the ring on him." The shorter men of the three answered.

"Then it's…" The gang leader began narrowing his eyes a little.

"Yes. The ring is in the river."

Back that the market place, Ciel looked around at what was being sold. "Roll up, roll up!" A man shouted clapping his hands. "I'm selling these cheap enough to blow even Jack Frost away!" He shouted, "Why not buy one for Christmas?"

Ciel smirked, "What is it, my lord?"

Ciel had his eyes locked on a boat today that was there. "Those are all inferior goods." He said, "If the river freezes again next year, Funtom could set up shop. For example, that's-" He pointed at it with his cane.

The salesperson, who noticed that Ciel's wealth and his interest in the boat, butted in. "Ah, hello there, my noble lad! You have a good eye. That is a fine piece from Funtom Workshop. In other words, from when the popular Funtom Company was still a craft studio."

"A blatant fake of one, you mean." Ciel said, "The Funtom Arks are rare- only three sets were ever made, by an artist my predecessor patronized who used the finest technology. Since our mansion burned down even we no longer have one." Ciel thought about his childhood with Elizabeth for a moment. "They certainly wouldn't turn up here."

"Noah's Ark… it's like this nation itself."

Ciel looked up at Sebastian who had spoken, "What?" He questioned the butler.

"A boat led by a single skipper. The only ones saved are a selected few. It's an arrogant idea." Sebastian smiled at Ciel who couldn't help but scowl back.

Ciel's irritation was interrupted by a familiar man. "You're…" the red head man said. He was an inspector by the clothes he wore and this presence irritated Ciel even further.

"If a Scotland Yar inspector has time to frivol about here, I suppose there must be peace in London… for today." Ciel remarked, crudely.

"I'm not frivolling!" The man exclaimed defensively. "I'm on duty!"

"Oh, my. Well, then, Inspector, earn your wages in faithful service to Queen and country." Ciel turned and began to walk, Sebastian closely behind him.

"Wait! I have some questions for you, Ciel!" the Inspector said. He reached out to grab Ciel's shoulder to stop him but he was stopped instead as Sebastian slapping his hand away.

"Pardon me, but as you can see my master is fragile—" Ciel glared at the butler to cut off that air in his tone, especially on the word fragile. "I mean, sensitive," Sebastian corrected himself and then bowed slightly, "so I'll have to ask you not to be so rough." Sebastian said with the upmost respect to this member of Scotland Yard.

Both the boy and inspector moved on to a teashop that had set up on the ice. A cute waitress, who's skirt barely covered her, set their tea cups in front of them. Ciel took a sip from his and then the in the inspector. Ciel reached out and took the biscuit that was served to them into his hand. "Well? What's a detective from the Yard doing here, Inspector Abberline?" He asked.

The man put his cup down and began to explain the situation to the boy. "This morning, a man's corpse was discovered underneath this ice." Ciel took a bit of the food, "He was a member of a certain criminal organization. We're looking for his killer and for the ring he stole. There's a blue diamond set in the ring that's supposedly worth 2,000 quid." Abberline said with a grave expression.

"The diamond… the gemstone that gleams in eternal radiance… legend has it that those bewitched by its sparkle are compelled to pursue it even when they know only destruction awaits." Ciel and Abberline looked to their side to see the Chinese man, Lau, speaking cryptically about the matter at hand.

Abberline stood shocked, "Why do you know about the Hope piece?!"

The name of the stone was what grabbed Ciel's attention. "The Hope piece?!" He said gasping.

"Hmm? What's this? So there really is such a jewel!" Lau said holding Ranmao in his arms. The sheer stupidity of the man once again made Ciel sigh but it wasn't only him but also the inspector.

"What?! But you just said-!" Abberline exclaimed, confused.

"He was just blathering. Don't give him any attention." Ciel advised. "Never mind that, Lau, what are you doing here?" Ciel asked.

"I own this place." Lau said, innocently. Ciel and Abberline glanced over at the waitresses who were dressed provocatively. "Say, this "Hope" thing sound interesting, my lord. Will you tell me more?"

Ciel put his tea down. "You've never heard of the blue diamond that we call the Hope because it was part of Henry Philip Hope's collection?" Ciel asked.

"Nope!" Lau answered sheepishly.

Ciel began to tell the history of the blue diamond and its importance. "Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette… It's known as a diabolical stone that's passed through the hands of many owners and driven all to ruin. Then, after being stolen yet again, the diamond was cut to disguise it, producing smaller pieces." The ring on Ciel's thumb glistened as if it recognized its own story, like it had a mind of its own and its own memories. "They say two pieces of the Hope diamond exist. Is one of them what you're searching for, Abberline?"

"Explosives were used on the carriage transporting evidence, and it was stolen." Abberline said, in defeat.

"Interesting." Ciel said, leaning in. His childish side kicked in immediately at the prospect of this, "Give me the details. I'll lend you a hand on this." Abberline was shocked. "Naturally I won't force you. But if you refuse, your superior Sir Arthur might find himself in a very awkward position." Ciel threatened with a terrible smile. Suddenly, Abberline found himself between a rock and the game of a child.

"My lady! Aren't these wonderful?!" Paula asked as she leaned over a table at the market place.

Elizabeth looked back at the maid who had picked up two jingle bells. Paula had a large smile on her face and waited for the reaction of the little lady. "No, those aren't cute at all!" She said.

Paula was shocked and her smile dropped a little. "Oh? I-Is that so, my lady? I think they are…" She said. "I think they are wonderful… Jingle, jingle."

"Paula, you don't understand at all." Elizabeth said and began to turn around. "Never mind, I'll look on my own!"

"Please wait, my lady!" Paula shouted and followed after Elizabeth.

A man passed by then cracking a music box that played London Bridges they walked right by him. He watched them to the point that his head made a 180. His purple eyes glared at the back of Elizabeth's golden hair.

Ciel squirmed uncomfortably. He turned his head to Abberline, "Is this really the place?" He asked.

"Yes. He says he set up shop because lots of people freeze to death during the frost fair." Abberline shrugged.

"My lord, don't tell me this shop is…" Lau began.

Ciel let it sink in that he was standing in front of the Undertaker's shop. "You lot wait outside. You're lucky I let you accompany me at all." Abberline stepped in without realizing the door wasn't actually a door it was more of a tent, so he fell into the shop.

"So foolhardy…" Ciel said under his breath.

"It's one of the privileges of youth." Lau said, smiling. "So, what is this place?" He asked cheer.

"The Undertaker's funeral parlor!" Ciel shouted, agitated. "You met him during the Jack the Ripper case!" Lau smiled and finally remembered, "Abberline should come crying for help any minute." Ciel said thinking that the Inspector was too uptight to make the white haired man laugh. To Ciel's dismay the whole tent echoed with the Undertaker's laughter.

Ciel approached the tent and entered. He found Abberline standing confused and the Undertaker on his back dealing with the aftermath of his cackling. The Undertaker finally rose to his feet. "You're amazing! I tell you, you're in the wrong business! You could rule the world of comedy!" He chuckled again.

Ciel stood next to Abberline. "What did you do?!" He asked.

"I was just conversing normally. But out of nowhere he…." The Undertaker cackled some more.

Ciel scoffed. "Abberline, you're a man to be feared."

Sebastian glared at Abberline. "It appears you are rather skilled, Inspector."

"I didn't…" The flames quickly rose between them.

Ciel slammed his hands onto a coffin. "Tell me about the ring, Undertaker!" He shouted. The Undertaker giggled a little. "We're told a frozen corpse you took care of this morning had it."

"It might be buried near where the body was found. As an upstanding citizen of London, I call on you to cooperate with us." Abberline said.

"I am profoundly impressed, Inspector… I'll tell you all about it. The ring is…" He brought them to the ice sculpture of the queen. "…right there, see?" He said and pointed at the finger of the sculpture.

Abberline cried out in dismay. "It looks like the artisan happened to find the frozen ring and designed a sculpture to complement it." Lau explained.

"Collect it! Right now!" Abberline cried out to other policemen. The rushed in to get the ice off it but were interrupted.

"What are you doing, you fiend?!" The judges of a new competition were all standing there… the judges and the Viscount.

"That is the sacred lady bestowed on the victor. You must not touch it." The blonde man told the group.

Ciel shuddered and skin broke out. "Lord Druitt!" He said in a strained voice. "Judging a contest? Why him?"

Lau tilted his head confused. "Wasn't he arrested by the Yard for human trafficking?" Lau asked Abberline.

"He was released the other day." Abberline replied to the Asian man.

"Money, eh?" Ciel muttered her his breath and Abberline got a vicious scowl on his face.

The Inspector stepped forward. "Excuse me, but Scotland Yard will be taking charge of this sculpture." He explained as gentle as possible.

The man in charge snapped at the man. "Absolutely not! This frost fair is a festival for the citizens! Even Scotland Yard can't ride roughshod over it!"

"Beauty is something to be admired," said the Viscount in his dramatic way, "You mean to violate this noble lady?"

"Hypocrite." Ciel snapped.

"If you insist on having her, offer something of suitable beauty."

:Just what I would expect from Lord Druitt, lover of art, beauty and food! He's quite right! If you want this sculpture, win it in the contest!" The head of the contest said.

"I see, there's merit in that. The ring belongs to the winner." Ciel said smiling in his own devilish way again. "I like the simplicity of it."

"Ciel?" Abberline said turning to the young earl.

"I'll get that ring." He said innocently to the man.

"That's stolen property!" Abberline defended, "And key evidence in the serial kidnappings of young girls!" Abberline gasped and covered his mouth.

Ciel smirked. "Aha, I can see why the Yard would be searching so frantically for it."

"But it's the truth that each owner of the ring disappears! It really is a cursed stone, but you're—"

Abberline backed off a bit when Ciel raised his head. "Cursed, eh? Then it suits me all the more." Ciel said, lifting the blue diamond ring close to his lips.

"Come to think of it, I seem to recall your ring had a pretty blue stone!" The undertaker said. Ciel answered him. "You should take care. Diamonds are hard. But because you are hard, they are brittle. If you go too far, you may be shattered as well." The Undertaker advised.

"What of it?" Ciel said with a grimace. "This body and this ring…" Ciel smiled wickedly before kissing it. "… have already been shattered and then reborn. I'm far past being afraid of shattering."

Sebastian smirked.

"Win the contest." He was ordered soon after.

"Yes, my lord."

Scarlett finished placing the last flowers in the vase since a shipment of the flowers that were in season came in. Scarlett thought back to this morning about how Sebastian and Ciel had gone out to go to the Frost Fair. She could hear Pluto chasing Finnian outside and tried to react to it.

She had an unusual gloomy expression. She stepped back to examine the flowers, she sighed stepped closer and began to rearrange them again. There was silence all around her, which was strange to her. She jolted when she heard laughter of a child. She twisted around accidently knocking over the pot with flowers.

Scarlett felt the same chill as last night. "Oh no…" She whispered.

Mey-Rin saw her and dropped the towels that she was holding. She dashed to her fellow maid and grabbed her to hold her steady. Only at that point did Scarlett realize that she was shaking. "Scarlett, you have a fever. Maybe you should rest."

"I should go find Sebastian…" She whispered her sight going fuzzy, hearing the laughter the child giggling joyously in her ears yet again.

The contest was begun with the sound of noise. "I now open the frost fair's customary snow and ice sculpture contest! You have until 3:00!" the announcer said. "And now please begin."

Paula heard the commotion and jingled the bells she had in her hand. "My lady, there seems to be a lively event happening over there." Paula stopped when she realized that Elizabeth was deep in thought.

Ciel… his name rang through her head along with the memory of her shattering his precious ring. I'm sorry, Ciel. I'm so sorry. But to make up for it, I'll find you a lovely present! She gasped and saw the ship, the toy Noah's Ark. "Show me that!" She shouted, joyous to see it.

The Big Ben rang at three. "Now we will begin judging! First, we have team Scotland Yard and Its Merry Men, with "Guardian of London"!" the man gestured towards the sculpture of the head of Scotland Yard. The Viscount shook his head. "Your scores, please!" the announcer said to the judges. The poor police officers received only five points.

"Next we have an entry from team All Chinese Dresses Should Be Minis…" the sculpture was a nude Ranmao. "But I'm afraid that for various reasons I'm disqualifying it."

"Why?" Lau asked tilting his head to the side.

"How could you think it was all right to exhibit that here?!" Ciel shouted at his ally.

"I think hiding the bits like that makes it even more erotic…" Lau mumbled.

All judges had denied the scoring except for the Viscount who had given the sculpture a ten. "Can you win?" Ciel asked Sebastian.

"Of course. You have ordered me to do it; I will not fail."

"And next, from team Queen's Puppy, "Noah's Ark"!"

"What a grand scale it's at!" the head of the judges said. "This is true ice art!" the sculpture glistened in the sunlight that escaped from the clouds.

"Most amazing! Let's see how many points—"

"Please wait one moment." Sebastian interrupted. "You haven't seen it all yet." Sebastian snapped his fingers and on cue the top of the ship cracked in two to reveal another sculpture of all the animals that were on the ship at the time.

"It's like it's alive!" A man in the crowd commented and Ciel smirked in response.

"I see!" the head of the judges exclaimed once more. "He deliberately made the seam of the roof weak so that it would melt over time and slip apart!"

The Viscount began to gasp beginning a spiel. "The man who stood bravely against the relentless storm of God's wrath! His name, Noah! And a pair of beasts he led rocked on the waves, waiting for their rebirth."

"Bravo, young man! I mark you as a skilled ice sculptor…"

"No, sir." Sebasitan said smirking his usual seductive smirk, "I am merely one hell of a butler."

"Let's see the scores!" the announcer said.

"Hold it right there!" the gang leader interrupted, pulling out a gun from his coat. "Sorry, but this ring belongs to us. We're taking it back."

Abberline jumped. "What? Don't tell me you're—"

"We're the team of bombers thieves that all of London is talking about." The rest of the team and him got out the explosives. The gang leader pulled out a lighter from his pocket after revealing the dynamite on him. "I'll count down from ten." He said with a smile holding some dynamite on his hand. "If you don't want to die, get the hell out of here. Ten!"

People began to flee, with the exception of the police force and Ciel and Sebastian. "Young master." Sebastian said.

"Nine."

"My orders remain the same." Ciel said. "Do it, Sebastian."

"Yes, my lord."

"Eight!"

"What are you waiting for?! Hurry up and run, Ciel!" Abberline shouted.

"Seven!"

"You can run if you want to. Forget about me." Ciel responded.

"Six!"

"I can't do that!" Ciel, now shocked, turned his head to look at the Inspector. "I joined the police to protect the citizens!"

"Five!"

"To protect everyone!" Abberline concluded raising in his fist triumphantly. He rushed out towards Ciel.

Ciel smirked. "Fool." He muttered under his breath.

"Four!" The man shot at Abberline's feet. "Stay away!" he warned and pointed the gun from the Inspector to the Earl. "Only three left. You sure you don't want to run, little nobleman?"

"There's no need." Ciel said, nonchalant.

The man was shocked and slightly frightened by Ciel's ease. Seemingly out of nowhere Sebastian jumped from his side and kicked the gun out of the man's hand with ice skates. The other two men that were there began to shoot at Sebastian. The butler jumped into the air and did four twists before landing back down to his feet. The judges who were watching from afar gasped. "It's the mythical quadruple jump!"

"A noble black swan flying through a silvery-white world! Lured by that devlish smile, the maiden is embraced by his wings in flurry of ecstasy." Ciel shivered as he realized that Lord Druitt was speaking about him. Sebastian knocked down the other men and the judges raised straight tens.

The gang leader grabbed one of the dynamites on him and put it to the fire. Once the string was on fire he tossed it towards the earl. "Get blown to smithereens!" He shouted. Ciel couldn't move in time to avoid it. However all was well, as the butler grabbed him and lifted him into the air with only one hand. Ciel was in a border line panic. The dynamite exploded with no harm being done. "Damn this monster!"

The bomber began tossing dynamite towards Sebastian but the man elegantly dodged. After a few the other bomber came rushing forward. "Boss, stop! Have you forgotten?! We're standing on ice!" He shouted realizing that he had made a enough holes in the ice that they formed a circle. The ice around them cracked.

"Sebastian!" Ciel said, not liking the sight of the ice. Sebastian lowered him and began to spin Ciel The young earl watching his butler as his feet dangled in the air, his cloak flying off. He was confused before Sebastian gave him a quick projection into the air. Ciel gawked at the butler's devilish smirk. When the ice crumbled into the water underneath them Ciel and Sebastian landed on the Noah's Ark that Sebastian had made. Ciel placed his hand on his hips slightly agitated.

The Viscount began a speech. "The ship sails on, leaving human despair behind!" He shouted into the rays that peeked through the grey clouds. "The ship sails on, along with the future of the world!" He shouted making the two women there swoon. "Carrying the chosen pair's hope, the ship sails on towards a rapturous dream!"

"It's Noah… it's truly Noah's Ark. A Bibical miracle has happened on the Thames!" A judge said with tears in his eyes.

With the silence they had Ciel began the criticism. "Your methods were very violent."

Sebastian bowed his head. "I apologize, my lord. When baggage drags one down, it's best to toss it."

Ciel's gaze went from Sebastian to the water. "The hope piece will sleep at the bottom of the Thames… I suppose that end has its own charm."

"'London, be cursed'?" Sebastian asked. The ice in and around the ring crumbled freeing the stone and metal letting it dance its way silently back towards the surface.

"If that's all it takes to destroy this city or this nation, they were never meant to survive. After all…" Ciel looked down at his ring, " the Phantomhives have always… Sebastian, you said Noah was arrogant, but you don't think it's more arrogant and foolish to think you can save everyone – to want to do that?"

Sebastian closed his eyes and bowed his head. "So it would seem."

Ciel smirked. "But an idiot of that sort every now and then might not be so bad."

Just who are you, Ciel? Abberline thought to himself as he looked out at the Thames at the young earl floating in his icy boat.

At home the young Elizabeth, upset and frustrated threw the gift she had purchased for Ciel onto the ground, breaking the boat into two and the animals scattering onto the floor. Paula gasped and called Elizebeth's name out in concern. "Father said it was a blatant fake! It's so cruel! I thought…. I thought I would be able to please Ciel!" In the midst of her frustration Elizabeth told Paula to leave the room. The young girl sank to her knees. "Ciel, I'm sorry. I wanted to give you a wonderful gift…." As she began to cry her eyes caught something sparkling.

She picked up a ring from the boat… a ring with a blue stone, the sister of Ciel's ring.

"And so I thought to myself that the Hope piece has found a new keeper on its own, my master." The puppet man bowed as the moonlight hit him. There was silence in the room except for the humming of an old and familiar tune. "London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady."