-Chapter 9-

Meanwhile…

The minute Ciel stepped into the Lancaster Mansion, he could feel the ominous shadow of death surrounding him. The mansion was quiet, too quiet. The butler had let them into parlor and went to summon his master. Glancing at Sebastian's stillness, Ciel tried to calm himself. Yet no matter what, he could not stop pacing. Lau, on the other hand, had made himself quite at home. Lounging on the parlor sofa with Ran Mao on his lap, it was as though this was his own house.

As Ciel continued pacing, Lau smiled almost reassuringly as he fondled Ran Mao.

"No need to be so restless, Earl. I'm sure everything is al-"

Suddenly, a scream echoed throughout the mansion. Ciel, already on his feet, rushed out of the parlor with Sebastian, Lau and Ran Mao close behind. Heading towards what he assumed to be the study, Ciel burst upon the scene. The room was a gigantic library consisting of rows and rows of books. However, what caught Ciel's attention was not the exotic books but the thick blood that was slowly seeping into the paneled wood floor.

In the midst of the scene, the Lancaster butler was clutching onto the reading chair as he stared in horror at his dying master lying barely two inches away from him. Ciel quickly concluded that the butler must have been the source of the scream. However, that was hardly important in the present situation. Running over to the body, Ciel discovered that Lord Jonathon Lancaster was not yet dead. He had been shot in the chest, puncturing a lung. With every breath he took, more blood spilled out. Pulling out his handkerchief, Ciel tried desperately to stem the blood. His hands bloody with the effort, Ciel dimly realized that he would not be able to save the man.

"Sebastian, help him!" Ciel ordered, desperate as Lord Lancaster's life slowly slipped away.

"I'm sorry my lord but-"

Sebastian never got to finish his sentence, as Lord Lancaster chose at that moment to make one last attempt at speech.

"I never meant to…" He gurgled, blood leaking out of his mouth. Ciel could barely make out the words even as Lancaster struggled.

"The books…" Lancaster continued, fixing his feverish gray eyes onto Ciel as though willing him to understand.

"Yes, go on." Ciel urged. If he could not save Lancaster, he would help him get his revenge. "Tell me, who did this to you?"

With an almost imperceptible shake of his head, Lancaster opened his mouth one last time.

"Save… Princess…"

Blood spilled from his mouth as Lord Lancaster gave one last bloody gurgle before finally going limp. In the silence that followed, Ciel could hear the sound of blood slowly trickling onto the floor. Stunned, Ciel barely breathed. The silence sounded deafening.

"My Lord." Sebastian spoke, helping Ciel up. Gently carrying him back to the parlor, Sebastian placed him onto the plush sofa. It was a while before Ciel came back to his senses. That red, it had reminded him of something… Something he once knew. He tried as hard as he could to remember it, but all he saw was that shade of red before his eyes - the color of blood. His head began to hurt terribly. It was as though his skull was shrinking, compressing him. Suddenly, an image flashed before his eyes.

Madam… Red...

"Earl, look what I've found!" Lau's loud voice broke into his thoughts, shattering the image. What about Madam Red? Come to think of it, Ciel had not seen Madam Red for some time. Normally, she would come to visit him every fortnight or so. He would have to ask Sebastian about it later.

Pulling himself back to the present, Ciel looked up to what Lau was holding. It was a stack of journals, each one religiously filled with miniscule handwriting.

"It seems dear Lord Lancaster was a very astute and organized man." Lau remarked flipping through the journals. "It would seem we have all the evidence right here."

"Let me see that" Ciel demanded. His blue eyes filled with determination. Now was not the time to worry about his aunt, he wanted to get to the bottom of this matter. Quickly skimming through the journals, he read the latest entry.

12 November 1889

I can't go through with this. No matter what they have on me, I cannot commit murder! I am prepared to turn in my journals to the Princess for her to do as she sees fit. I am guilty of plotting against the crown and I am fully prepared to accept the consequences. Yet come what may, I would prefer to die honorably at the hands of my English brethren than at the hands of those French dogs!

Ciel stared in growing horror as he read the words from the journal. The date, 12 November, that was yesterday; and today Lancaster lay dead in his own blood. The murderer may already have the princess.

Ciel's blue eyes were lit with icy flames as he flung the journal aside in impotent rage, striding quickly towards the door.

"Sebastian, get the carriage ready! We leave for Buckingham Palace!"