Chapter 9

Another Butler

By; CherryPoPzzz

(Katherine P.O.V)

It had been a week since the kidnapping and I was once again in Mothers mansion. She had reculantly agreed to introduce me to the new butler. I had only caught a glimpse of him previously and I could feel a energy I recognised radiating off of him. But I had to be sure before jumping to conclusions.

And so here I was waiting for Mother in the sitting room. I had been waiting for twenty minutes already and I was starting to get a little irritated. I knew that the butler was a shinigami and that he probably was the one helping Mother with killing off prostitutes. Maybe that's why she didn't want me to meet him?

I don't know and I don't care.

When the door finally opened I was almost asleep. Marching in came mother and a brown haired glasses wearing man. It was him after all.

Grell Sutcliff.

For a shinigami to help a human kill people, he should be ashamed of himself. Shinigami were supposed to be neutral being. creating some sort of balance between the angels and demons. Then again, there was always some shinigami that went rouge every hundred year. They were usually either killed off or returned to work in the end. Then there was the retired ones. Scattered across the world living peacefully with the humans.

The man looked me up and down then seemed to murmur something underneath his breath. I stood up from my seated position and stood in front of him. I could see him switching persona. There in front of me the man had gone from proud shinigami to timid butler.

How amusing.

I stretched my hand out for him to shake.

"Hello" I smiled brightly "I'm Katherine"

"I'm Grell, my lady" he spoke without taking my hand.

I was kind of offended but didn't take note of it. He was only a boy after all. He would learn some manners with time. William had so I'm assuming Grell could too. It only takes some near death experiences to scare some sense into new shinigami. They thought themselves all high and mighty because they had a weapon.

I sighed slightly and retracted my hand. If he didn't like me then so be it. I had other things to worry about. I knew that if Mother continued to kill prostitutes the queen's guars dog would get involved. I had no idea how to stop this , and with a shinigami involved I would probably fail anyway. I knew that Mother's mind was slightly deranged from all the trauma she had gone through and I knew that I would be unable to do anything about it. Her days were counted, I would have to prepare myself for losing another human dear to me. Damn them and their fragile life. There was no way to stop death so I just had to take whatever time left and enjoy it the best I could.

I sighed.

Well this sucks. I told Mother and Grell that I would be in the library reading if they needed me. With that I left the room.

It became more and more obvious that Grell had absolutely no knowledge of how to act as a butler when the days went by. He always messed up in some way so Mother asked Ciel for help. He said yes and I suspect that Mother played a little dirty. But I didn't mind since I could go too. I liked it better at the Phantomhive manor anyway. It was cosier than it was here. I usually divided my sleeping arrangements evenly between Lau, Ciel and Mother. That usually made everyone happy.

So I packed a small bag and loaded it into the carriage Grell would drive. I didn't want to ride with him since he still obviously disliked me. Instead I took the white mare I had taken from that Azuro guy. Moonlight was already in Ciel's stables so I was not going to have to leave him anywhere. It had become a tradition for me to ride between the mansions since all of them had stables to keep the horse in. I had named the mare Snow because of her fur. She was faster than Moonlight and her gallop was soft. In the few days I have had her I have come to lover like I love Moonlight.

I grabbed her mane and mounted her. I was planning to take my time to get to the mansion, It was after all a nice day. Snow was tapping her hove on the ground anxiously, she wanted to get going. I waved at Mother and then took off trotting down the street. I had tied bells in both Snows and Moonlights manes to show anyone that might come upon them that they were mine. The horses didn't seem bothered by it. The bells jingled lightly when Snow begun galloping. I was riding like a man so I had no problem staying on. That was another thing that was considered scandalous so I made a habit of doing it only when I was going long distances and I had to go someplace before going to Ciel's. I was picking something up.

When we reached a field quite some hours from London I urged Snow to slow down. In the middle of the field stood a massive oak tree. I smiled fondly at it and got off Snow, letting her run free for the time being.

If there was going to be shinigami and demons around I was going to have some of my old weapons readily available. Not to forget that fallen angel that has yet to reveal itself. That's what the sapphire is for after all. I walked up to the tree and touched the bark. The ground beside me opened and a stair case could be seen leading underground. I pinned back my hair and took a candle I had in my pocket, lighting it I proceeded to walk down the stairs underground. The room was just like I left it all those years ago. I have one in every country I've been in and that includes everyone that exist. I walked along one of the walls looking at all the different weapons lining it, wondering what I should use this lifetime. I always had my scythes available but I needed something that didn't reveal me as a shinigami. The katanas I currently wore wouldn't be able to kill any supernatural being if I didn't engrave it, I mused. And I didn't really feel like going to the Himalaya mountains anytime soon. I had a couple unused ones in Greece but I didn't feel like going there either. It ended with me picking out a pair of daggers. They would be less suspicious for a lady to wear and If I kept one of the katanas I had hidden on my body I wouldn't be vulnerable to attacks depending on who it was that I was battling.

I hurried out of the underground room after taking the daggers. They were quite long, almost short swords with silver blades. They were double edged and in the middle of both of the blades small shards of a sapphire like stone were engraved. The handle was short, meant to be held by one hand The handles was also engraved with shards of the blue stone looking like miniature flowers.

I whistled and Snow came trotting up to me. I mounted her and we were off to the Phantomhive estate, but not before closing the entrance to the hidden room. One might wonder how I can do all the things I do but it's simple really, I'm old. Like ancient old, I lived long before Jesus came to earth. Shinigami have existed since humans evolved. Only few of the Ancients live today, but that's not important, for now.

When we arrived at the manor it was almost nightfall and Ciel himself was out front searching for me with his gaze. He must have been worried. That was proved when I caught his gaze and I could see in his eyes that he was relieved to see me. I waved at him and Sebastian then dismounted Snow and leading her to the stables where Moonlight stood. When Snow had gotten some hay and water I made my way up to Ciel and ruffled his hair, he gave a disgruntled look and slapped my hand away. I took no offence, this was after all the Ciel way. I smiled and nodded at Sebastian and asked if he could get a bath ready for me. He nodded and left to fulfil his duty. I turned to Ciel only to see him looking irritated. This wasn't new since he often looked irritated but I got the vibe that he was going to ask me to do something. And right I was when he asked me a question.

"Can you get Grell out of my house?" He asked.

I snorted a laugh and shook my head.

"It was you that accepted Mother's request. I can keep him from doing overly stupid things, but I can't kill him even if I wanted too Mother would not be pleased. " I answered tiredly.

"Cant Sebastian fix him in some way?" I asked.

"He's too stupid to be fixed, I'm afraid." He answered.

I giggled lightly before shivering slightly. Ciel noticed and stated that we should go inside. I agreed and followed him inside. Inside Sebastian waited and told me that the bath was ready and I should go to my room before it got cold. I thanked him and went to my room and stripped before immersing myself in the hot water of the tub. As per usual the water was scented and I smiled to myself, Sebastian knew exactly how I wanted it done. I scrubbed myself clean and used the oils that stood lined up on the edge of the tub and massaged them into my hair. When I finished cleaning myself I stood up and wrapped a towel around myself, drying myself off and putting on a light green short nightgown only just reaching mid thigh I walked into my room. There I found dinner served on a plate on my nightstand. I sighed and smiled.

How nice.

I woke up the following morning to a big crash. I jumped out of bed, grabbed a pair of glasses and ran outside the room and down to the entrance hall to see what happened. The servants stood lined up with Ciel standing in front of them, looking angry. I crossed my arms over my chest and sighed. This seemed to catch everyone's attention and suddenly I was the centre of attention. Standing at the top of the stairs in a short night gown and bangs falling messily around my face, only obscuring one eye even if the light was reflecting on the glass of the glasses making it impossible to see my uncovered eye. I blushed lightly before whipping around, hair flying, bells chiming and fled the scene. Leaving five blushing males and one female behind. I'm sure some of them caught sight of the curving scar curling around my right leg, A battle injury against a demon, If I had stayed any longer I'm sure Sebastian would notice that it was made by a demon and we didn't want that, now did we?

I hurried to put on a blue dress and took off my glasses, I only ever used them on the mornings when I hadn't really woken up. Otherwise I had no need for them. I entered the dining room just in time to catch the tray Grell was about to drop on Ciel. Grell looked embarrassed and Ciel threw me a thankful look before looking anywhere but at me.

I chuckled to myself when I noticed that everyone else was doing the same, even the unemotional Sebastian!

In the end I was lying on the floor in a laughing heap with everyone looking at me like I was crazy. Heh, how amusing. I stood up and grinned at them all then walking out of the room and laughing lightly to myself. I went to the kitchen, preparing breakfast for myself.

After eating I made my way to the dining room again only to be met with the sight of Grell pointing a knife at his own throat. Sebastian laid a hand on Grell's shoulder.

"There is no need for you to kill yourself, it would only get bloodstains everywhere." He said.

"Sebastian yore so kind!" Grell proclaimed

I held back a snort, but couldn't stop myself from smiling in amusement. That was not kind at all.

"But if you do decide to end your pitiful existence make sure to do it outside." Sebastian deadpanned.

"Sebastian, What kindness" Grell said tears streaming down his face.

I shook my head slightly, who would have guessed. Sebastian attracts men. Now that was golden. I turned to Ciel who told me that he would be going to London to get his new cane that he had ordered.

I waved them off when they left and went out to the gardens. I sat there reading a book I had hidden in the dress before suddenly a carriage came rolling onto the courtyard. It seemed like Elizabeth had come for a surprise visit. She Got the servants to decorate the mansion for when Ciel came home while I watched entertained. While the servants decorated, Lizzie made frilly little head pieces for everyone.

When Ciel came home he looked horrified, Lizzie though mistook it for that he was surprised. Or she just ignored it. Sebastian cut the rope that was holding Grell up by the throat and Lizzie complained that she had decorated him so nicely. She then gave Sebastian a pink and frilly head piece, All the other servants were also wearing something similar.

I almost fell to the floor laughing again. Sebastian glared at me and I just laughed harder. When I had calmed myself I spoke.

"Sorry, Sebastian. I'm sure you're the only man that can look manly in a pink headband."

Sebastian looked kind of satisfied at that.

Lizzie suggested that we have a ball and Ciel had no choice but to agree.

I went to my room and changed into a proper dress and braiding my hair before going down only to see Ciel almost slapping Lizzie. I could see the Phantomhive family ring laying on the floor. Sebastian intercepted the hit before it could land and whispered something to Ciel. Then he explain to Lizzie that the ring means much to Ciel. Lizzie apologize repeatedly before Ciel takes the ring from the floor and throwing it out though the window. He tells Lizzie that it doesn't matter and that he is still Ciel Phantomhive without the ring. Then Sebastian plays the violin while Grell sings, surprisingly good and Ciel and Lizzie dance the night away. It was kind of endearing to see the two teenagers dance together.

When the night was over Grell left to drive Lizzie home then go back to Mother. I stayed at Ciel's a day more before riding for Lau's to live with him for a couple of days.

Chapter 9 is done!

I'm planning to Introduce Undertaker in the next chapter.

R&R people!

Love

CherryPoPzzz