Ciel stayed locked in his study for a few days after. I'd see him for most meal times but there was something running through his mind he wasn't telling me. He would tell me how Funtom, the company he was running, was doing and other things. Still, something was nagging his mind and he wasn't confessing.

I wanted to tell him that I had to go see Alois soon and I didn't want to go alone. I wanted Ciel to go with me just so Alois had divided attention. I wanted to avoid anything with Alois. The less contact the better, I thought as I looked to Ciel to the left of me.

"Ciel, are you doing anything tomorrow besides being in your study?" I asked as innocently as I could, trying to make it as unset up as I possibly could.

"No," Ciel asked as he looked up to face me.

"I was wondering if you would accompany me somewhere tomorrow," I said as I tried to keep my cheeks from getting redder and hotter.

Ciel placed his fork on his plate. "Oh, where?"

I looked to my plate. "To Alois Trancy's manor. I don't want to go there alone, and I would be much more at ease if you were with me, Ciel."

"You want me to go to Trancy's manor with you?" Ciel asked.

"Yes, if you want to," I said. I wanted to somehow let him know I wasn't trying to pressure him into coming with me for my own safety. "I could get Sebastian to stay with me."

"No, I will go with you," Ciel said as he gave his plate to Sebastian. "I don't want Alois to get his hands on you like last time."

The weird thing is that I never really told him what happened. He knows the gyst of what happened but I didn't want to tell him anything else.

I gave him a sincere smile. "Thank you, Ciel."

I didn't think Ciel was serious when he said he wanted to come with me. So, he sure as hell surprised me when he was in the carriage before I was. He looked so dignified while he sat in the carriage waiting for me. I smiled, happy he was actually holding up to his word. I got in and the carriage took off.

"I've been meaning to see Alois sicne we met," Ciel told me as he looked out the window at the passing scenery.

I looked at him oddly. I had a feeling they met before. Okay, I knew they met before; I just wondered what happened between them that made Alois snap at me like that. Lord, it seems so long ago when that happened between Alois and I.

"Oh, maybe this is a good reason for you to see him again," I said as I looked out the window on the other side of the carriage.

"This is a brilliant reason for me to see him again. I'm glad you invited me along," he said as he turned to me with a slight smile on his face. It reminded me of the smile he gave me when we were at the Kierton gala looking for that killer.

"You're welcome," I told him and returned to my thoughts.

I wondered if there was any way I could detect other demons or people under contract with demons. I read it once when I was home in that book I loved so much. Sometimes, in some instances, the people under contracts with demons could sense the presence of some other person like them, or other demons. I just wondered if what I read was true in any way.

"Selena," Ciel said in a low, soothing voice. "I get that seeing Alois is something you dread, but listen, he won't touch you. I won't let anything like that happen."

He knew my mind was on something but that wasn't it.

"I know," I said as I flashed him a smile. "Thank you."

The manor was soon in sight after that. Ciel and I sat in the carriage in silence. I watched as the manor grew larger and larger as my anticipation grew bigger. Ciel's muscles became tense. I kind of shrugged it off. Maybe he was nervous for me. Why would I be conceided like that?

Claude met Ciel and I when the carriage stopped. I got out of the carriage first and Ciel followed. Ciel could have fooled me. His muscles were no longer tense and looked as dignified as ever. I turned to Claude, who looked like the semi-tensed one. I wondered if he'd seen Ciel or Sebastian before.

"Miss Selena, you've arrived," Claude said. He looked at Ciel standing next to me. "And you have brought a guest with you."

I smiled. "Yes," I said as I stepped back to be even with Ciel. "This is Ciel Phantomhive, a friend of mine and my twin's betrothed."

Claude bowed. "Welcome, Master Ciel. I will be sure to tell His Highness you are here as well."

Claude turned around and started walking in. After a reassuring look, Ciel and I followed. I tried not to look around the place. It looked like it had changed since the last time I was here and it wasn't all that long ago.

"Mistress Selena, he is waiting for you in the dining room. Will your guest be joining you?" Claude asked as we took a left onto another corridor.

"Of course, Claude," I said as I looked to Ciel and back at Claude with wonder.

"I will set another plate," he said. Something in his voice told me that he wasn't too happy about that. When we reached a door, Claude stopped and turned to Ciel and I. "His Highness is waiting for you in here until the meal is done."

"Thank you, Claude," I said as hek opened the door and allowed Ciel and I to pass through it.

After the door was shut, I felt my stomach drop. This was it. This was the time for Ciel and Alois to meet. I took in a deep breath as Ciel grabbed my hand, reassuring me he was here and not leaving my side.

Alois was seated in his own sofa, pretending to read. It wasn't like he was a big reader like I was. Hell, I didn't think he knew how to read. Something about him was just off. When Claude announced us and left, Alois looked up from the book he was "reading" to see Ciel and I standing before him.

"Selena, you came," Alois said as he stood up and pranced to me. I don't think Alois knows how to run properly. I know how to run properly. He held my hands. "I am so happy you decided to join me." He caught a glace at Ciel, who was rolling his eyes with his arms crossed. "Selena, you didn't come alone?"

"No, Ciel wanted to join me today," I said, careful not to tell him I asked him to come with me because I was scared he was going to snap like he did last time.

"Phantomhive," Alois said stiffly.

"Trancy," Ciel said in the same stiff tone.

What sort of bad blood is between them?

I could feel the tenstion radiating from both of them. I stepped away, scared of them and what they might do to each other.

"So, you're the one engaged to Selena," Ciel said, trying to keep his tone civil. It wasn't going to last long as long as Ciel and Alois talk to each other.

"Yes I am," Alois said proudly.

I sat on the sofa and started to read whatever was around me. It was soon after that Claude came in and announced dinner. I got up and walked behind Claude as Ciel and Alois walked behind me. The hate between the two of them stabbed me in the back. Why did they hate each other, and am I the cause of it?

During dinner, Alois and Ciel stared at each other. I tried to ignore it and eat but I couldn't. After some silence, Alois stood up, his silverware clanked with the dishes. He stared Ciel down before saying, "Ciel, we need to talk... now."

Without any other word, Ciel got up and walked with Alois out of the dining room. I sighed a little with relief and continued eating. I wondered a little what they were talking about. Then, I figured that Ciel would call for Sebastian if he needed help.

"Mistress Selena, where is Lord Phantomhive and His Highness?"

I looked to Claude, trying to form the words in my head into a sentence. "They are talking everything out." I gently set my sinverware on my empty plate. "I'll go and find them, Claude. I need to discover the manor for myself anyway."

I stood up, the chair barely scrapping on the wood. "Excuse me."

I walked out of the dining room, listening for some sign of the two of them. I walked back to the study, hoping I would hear them. When there was nothing, I started for the library. As I passed the billiard room, I could hear a voice.

"You don't get it do you? If you hurt Selena, I will kill you. I was already planning on it," Ciel's voice said from behind the door.

"Oh, Ciel, when are you going to get it that I am engaged to her? As soon as we can, she will be mine forever. Just like Elizabeth Midford will be yours."

Alois talks about me like I am his property. I felt my blood start to boil.

There was a small pause before Alois went on. "Besides, Ciel, you couldn't kill me. Claude wouldn't allow it, and neither would Hanna."

Hanna Annafellows. She had long, flowing, white hair that reminded me of snow blowing in the wind and a bandage over her eye like an eye patch. I had a feeling I knew what happened to her: Alois's temper.

"Have you ever played billiards or fenced?" Ciel asked. I was surprised he didn't mention chess.

There was a pause.

I cracked the door to watch them. Maybe they wouldn't know I was watching them.

"No, but I have played chess. I love the strategy and the challenge," Alois said. "But this strategy is going to end with Selena in my arms and you out of the picture, Ciel."