Sebastian and Claude learn that the book is missing; however the book isn't just a book. It's a powerful tome which is not only able to summon demons but could reek havoc on humanity. Alex learns the dark truth about the two demons, yet she doesn't run away. In fact she feels safer around them.

Ronald has been fallowing the stench and come across an interesting location in the middle of the city where it smells the most. Only to see a transaction taking place.

Claude is drowning in work, yet he still can't get the facts out of his mind. All three of his previous cases are connected together but a strand of transactions which he can't prove took place. That's not the only thing plaguing him; Hannah has disappeared for an entire afternoon and returns wearing a different perfume.

I hope you enjoy,

~The Dark Ringmaster

I do not own Kuroshitsuji.


Chapter 12: The Missing Tome

"It's alright," whispered Sebastian as he gave her a hug. She may have seemed tough on the outside but the truth was that she was a cute and innocent kid. Once she had calm down she asked, "What does a book have to do with any of this?"

Claude pushed his glasses up his nose and replied, "Do you know what a tome is?" Alex nodded and responded, "It's a book which is made up of several smaller works put together." Claude leaned on Sebastian's desk and crossed his arms. "That is the proper definition but far from the true definition of what a tome is," responded Claude. Alex had finally stopped trembling and was very interested in what Claude spoke of. "In the world of demons a Tome is a collection of rituals and secrets, which should never be reveled to mankind," Claude said and Sebastian left her side. He stood beside Claude, "The book may be used for a number of different things, however it's most prominently known for a summoning ritual," said Claude. Sebastian nodded and Alex asked curiously, "There are summoning rituals in books all over the place why don't those work?" Sebastian smirked and asked, "Do you really think demons would reveal all of their secrets to people who may not even be worthy?" he asked. Alex paused, he was right it didn't make any sense to have the information available to everyone when you thought that way. Sure demons needed to eat however they would be at risk for being slaughtered if they were in the wrong hands. "So it's quality control?" asked Alex cautiously, Sebastian had wrapped his arm around his lover's shoulders. "Yes and no," responded Claude. She disliked the fact that he was being so damn cryptic, "Then what else is there to it?" she asked her voice held a note of agitation. The two demons looked at one another, "You would never understand," said Sebastian.

Alex glared she hated it when people took it upon themselves to decide what she could and couldn't understand. Her eyes narrowed and she challenged, "Try me." Claude was speechless and Sebastian smirked. That strong will of hers hadn't disappeared, it had just been sleeping. "It makes sure that when contracts are made that they are impossible to break," said Sebastian smoothly. Alex turned her attention to the smirking demon, "In times of need a human may make a contract with a demon, in return for their soul the demon must do as the human wishes. These demands are stipulated in an unbreakable contract between the demon and human," said Sebastian. Claude nodded and added, "The tome allows only for those who can to summon us, it's tricky business. On occasion the master of the ceremony or it's participants aren't the ones we make a contract with." Alex became slightly confused and asked, "Then who?" Sebastian smiled his eyes flickered purple and he answered, "The sacrifice."

Alex shivered and stumbled backward, a look of terror spread across her face. Claude and Sebastian looked at her tenderly and Claude said, "We aren't going to force you to sign a contract with one of us." Sebastian gave him a sideways glance as if to say, speak for yourself. Alex relaxed and took a seat in one of the chairs, "If the tome is as important as your saying, then who would be able to steal it?" she asked after a moment. Sebastian looked up at Claude who was expressionless again; he could tell that Claude was deep in thought. He honestly had no idea, other than Sebastian and himself there was no one else who could break into the safe. They would require Sebastian's blood and the one of a kind key. "Is there any other way to open the safe?" she asked. Sebastian shook his head and replied, "No, only that silver key and my blood will open it, if one were to use a different key or someone else's blood, the safe would release a toxin. This toxin would knock out a demon and kill a human." Sebastian couldn't think of a single person who was connected enough to be able to get both the key and his blood.

Claude's eyes snapped open when he heard his cell phone ring; he looked it and answered it. "I'm on my way, inform our client that he may be armed with an attorney but I'm not some attack dog he can blow the whistle and sick on the person pissing him off," said Claude with a hint of agitation. Sebastian snickered; Claude was anything but an attack dog. Claude hung up and looked over at the snickering Sebastian and smiling Alex. "What?" he asked after a moment. Sebastian smirked and said, "You as an attack dog, you're nothing like a Doberman." He slowly approached Claude and placed a hand on the side of his face. "You are and will always be a spider," said Sebastian, "Calm, calculating, methodical, my beautiful spider." Alex felt her heart skip a beat as Claude leaned down and kissed the smaller demon on the lips. "See you tonight," he said softly before parting.

Sebastian turned to Alex who was blushing, "Jodi told me you had crashed on her sofa, and didn't want to go back to your apartment," said Sebastian. Alex froze and remembered staying with Jodi. "Yeah I was scared," Alex responded. In truth she had forgotten about staying with Jodi and what had happened at her apartment. She looked at the floor and Sebastian asked, "Do you want to stay with Jodi or return home?" Alex looked up at him, in reality the option she wanted to hear he didn't offer. She would love to stay with them however she was aware that it would only be uncomfortable. Sebastian smirked and asked, "You want to stay here don't you?" Alex jumped and nodded.

Sebastian snickered and ruffled her hair, "Okay you can but you need more clothing than just that," he said. Alex was ecstatic and then she remembered one minor detail, a week ago she had taken her cat to the vet's to get declawed, it wasn't that she didn't like her cat having claws, it was the deal she made with the land lord so she could keep her. "Um," she mumbled and began to fidget. Sebastian looked at her and asked, "Yes?" Alex looked up at him and asked, "Is it okay if my pet comes, she's been at the vet's since last week."

Sebastian froze, now he wished Claude were here. "What do you own?" he asked. He was secretly praying she didn't own a dog. It wasn't that Sebastian couldn't train dogs, it was more of that he simply loathed them. "A cat," said Alex softly. Sebastian's eyes sparkled and his eyes softened. "You have a cat?" he asked softly, he looked like a curious child as he did so. "Yeah I have a tuxedo name Lin," Alex said happily. Sebastian looked even happier, "After I get my things I'll grab her too," said Alex. Sebastian was beaming, Claude wasn't happy when he brought a cat back the last time, however he had a feeling if it was her cat, it would have to stay. "I'll drive you," said Sebastian happily. Alex giggled and watched the demon gain a spring in his step.

Ronald had been fallowing the scent of decaying souls since that morning, however he had never run across something so disturbing in his life. For hours he had chased the scent along the streets of East London; however he didn't think he would end up back at the epicenter of London. He was sitting on the roof of a building when he noticed a dark skinned woman with silver hair enter. She held a box in her hands, and looked exceedingly confident. "Wow she's pretty," he whispered. Ronald attempted to get a better look only to hit a barrier created by a demon. He fell backward and cursed when he realized he had lost his glasses. Usually William was the one to loose them, however this time it was entirely his own stupidity. "Who was that?" he wondered as he searched for them.

Documents were sprawled every where the eye could see, on the chair, the floor the desk and so much more. Amidst the chaos was Claude, "Documents, Document's ever where but not a drop of useful information," he muttered. The Baxton case had taken a turn for the worst and he had been called over another case. How could he help Baxton if he couldn't legally provide evidence. "Hannah," he called, if anyone could help it would be Hannah. He continued flipping through the documents, several minutes had passed. Claude stood up and called again, "Hannah." She still didn't arrive. He looked at the clock and muttered, "Lunch has been over for an hour, where is she?" he asked. Claude was about to call her when his cell phone rang, "Sebastian is taking Alex to the apartment, should I still keep out?" asked William. Claude sighed he honestly had been hoping it was Hannah. "No go in as well but inform Sebastian you're there," said Claude he looked about to see if she had left a note. "Will do," he responded before hanging up. Claude waited for a few more minutes and realized something very usual was going on.

The red car pulled up to her apartment and Alex felt a chill rundown her spine. Her eyes narrowed and she turned around for some reason she could feel someone's eyes on her. "What is it?" asked Sebastian and Alex continued to study the street. "Nothing," she responded. Standing by the door of her apartment was William and Grell. Sebastian sighed as the redhead ran up to him and attempted to hug him. Sebastain doge him and was about to say something when he noticed the daze Alex was in as she opened the door to the complex. William and Grell fallowed Sebastian into the building. "Whoa that's strong," said Grell, William nodded. They began to wonder what on earth was in this building which made it reek so badly. Sebastian fallowed Alex closely as she climbed the stairs. She was cautious and alert. The door opened easily and she took a step inside.

It was as she had left it everything was just as it had always been. "Well then let's see what the source of that scent is," said William. Alex entered her bedroom only to be fallowed by Grell. "You hardly have anything in red," he cried as he skimmed through her closet. "Grell what are you?" she asked, Grell had been admiring a hand bag she owned and looked at her. "I'm a shigami," he answered, part of him hoped that she didn't know what that meant. "A death god," she whispered as she closed her suite case. Grell was puzzled by her reaction most people ran from him. "Grell is it possible for a soul to reside in an item?" she asked slowly. Grell paused, "It the item was important to the owner yes, rings, watches and cuff links are like that," said Grell. Sebastian was in the kitchen when he heard Alex behind him. "I know what's causing all of the issues."

Alex opened the refrigerator doors and out came that pungent odor. William darted to the fridge and stared, Alex's hands were trembling. Sebastian stood behind her and glared. Grell walked over and slowly pulled it out, "Well someone needs a hand, ne?" he asked. William glared and said, "This isn't simply a rotting soul, there's something else at work here. Hands don't keep souls; we can't view the cinematic records with out a body." Sebastian placed a hand on Alex's shoulder, "This isn't the work of a demon either," he said. Grell noticed how Alex had turned pale, "Let's get this thing out of here," said Sebastian as he took the jar. "A friend of mine works at the yard, I'll see if he can help," said William as he extended his hand for the jar. "Since when do shigami make friends with humans?" asked Sebastian. William glared and asked, "Where else would he go? He is retired now." Sebastian knew instantly who they were talking about, and nodded. "He certainly is an expert," he said and then looked back down at Alex. She was still trembling, "Have you packed everything you need?" he asked. Alex nodded and Sebastian noticed something was missing. "Won't you bring your camera?" he asked. Alex looked up at him and noticed how sincere he was. She nodded and walked over to her desk, Sebastian stared at the cameras she pulled. He was aware that she had the Digital SLR however he had no idea how many film cameras she had. Alex began packing one film and a digital; he slowly reached down and touched one of them. He had seen each and every one of these models over the years however he didn't expect her to have them. "You really love photography," he commented. Alex looked at him and replied, "They were my brother's I just couldn't stop shooting photos after he died." Sebastian felt a twinge of sorrow, "Forgive me I was being intrusive," he said. Alex shook her head and replied, "No, it's been a long time since I told anyone."

Sebastian nodded, for some reason he was simply happy to be standing there next to her. It was a strange feeling, it wasn't love like he felt for Claude but it was just as important. He wanted to protect her and watch her smile. "I don't understand," he whispered and turned away. "I'm off to see him, I'll take Grell with me," said William. Sebastian nodded and Alex was standing behind him, "That's all I have," she said after a moment.

She was aware that she was going to be living with them temporarily until they could catch who ever was doing this, yet she couldn't help but feel a little happy. "Now to the vet's," she chimed. Sebastian nodded and picked up one of her camera bags. He noticed her suite case was covered in steamer trunk stickers. He grinned it had been a long time since he had seen a trunk like that. In fact there was only one which he could remember all of the stickers that covered his trunk, Ciel Phantomhive. It had been a long time since he had seen them. He opened the car doors and loaded her luggage in, "Now then for the cat," he chimed. Alex snickered he was so excited over her cat coming. "You really like cats don't you?" she asked. Sebastian nodded and grinned, "They're wonderful."

Hannah entered Claude's office and he glared at her. "Where were you?" he asked. Hannah placed a stack of files on his desk and responded, "I was gathering these." Claude stared at the stack and sighed, he was never going to get home. "I need you to get more information for me," said Claude. Hannah nodded and was about to leave when Claude commented, "I like your normal perfume better, this one smells too masculine." Hannah jumped a little and asked, "Does it?" Claude was looking down at the files and he said, "Yeah." Hannah nodded and replied, "I apologize I won't wear it again." She was quick to leave the room when Claude slowly got up. Something defiantly wasn't right, she never acted like that around him. His golden eyes narrowed when he heard a voice on the other side of the door, he listened intently, "I'll meet you at seven, did you catch the pest?" she asked. He continued to listen and she chimed, "Okay honey I will, how does chicken sound tonight?" He sighed and muttered, "No I'm being paranoid."