"Ciel I'm sorry, but you can't come with us and you know why."

Vincent and Rachel were standing in front of the doors to the manor, servants going in and out caring their master's trunks of clothes to load onto the carriage. The older Phantomhives were headed to France on the queen's orders, it seemed to have something to do with the missing children's case that Tanaka had mentioned yesterday. Sebastian couldn't help but think of this family, everyone saw them as lucky to be so close to the crown, rewarded with riches. Everyone wanted to be a Phantomhive but Sebastian saw what they really were; slaves to the crown. If the Queen said "fetch" the Phantomhives would stop everything and obey.

It Annoyed Sebastian but not as much as the idea of Ciel having to be a salve to the Queen one day. That thought alone made him tighten his jaw. Looking at the boy the butler saw Ciel's discomfort in the fact his parents were leaving. It was the kind of face a child give a parent when they are disappointed over and over again. Sebastian couldn't help but wonder just how often Vincent and Rachel left their son behind for these types of trips. From the look on Ciel's face, quite often.

"Sweetie we will bring you something back like always." Rachel tried to cheer up her son but it didn't seem to help, he was still staring blankly at his parents. When Tanaka informed Vincent all was ready, the father kissed his sons head and the mother hugged him then the two left the estate and got into the carriage. Ciel wasted no time he closed the door behind them and walked up to his room without saying a word.

Sebastian hated when Ciel was like this, they were prone to fight when the teen's mood was low. The butler chose not to follow Ciel just yet, he needed some time to cool down before Sebastian attempted to pick at his brain. In the meantime, he chose to read up on Ciel's illness, the boy had coughed throughout the night and although he hadn't coughed today or made any indication he was feeling un-well. Sebastian was worried however, so he made his way to the manors library, he wanted to look into medical books just so he could be prepared if Ciel's health took a turn.

When Sebastian found a few to his liking he sat down and began to go over the literature to see if there was anything he could find that would help him understand the boy more. Sebastian had wished he had asked Lady Anne more questions when she was there because this was tedious for someone who lacked knowledge in medical arenas. He searched for what seemed like forever but only found the information the woman in red had given him from the start. Something in Sebastian was yelling at him to look further, maybe it wasn't just asthma. Nose bleeds were not proven to be connected to asthma and neither was the changing of eye color. Just this moment the butler wished he was someone of prominent birth, as to have been able to become a doctor or at least have basic knowledge of this field. Call it instinct, but he had a feeling it wasn't just asthma effecting Ciel.

"Sebastian."

Turning his head, he saw multicolored eyes watching him.

"Do you need something master?" Sebastian placed the book he was observing down so that Ciel wouldn't be able to notice what it was but it was in vain. Ciel had seen the cover when he had come in.

"You can search all you want, no one has been able to find out what's wrong." The boy seemed unamused and sat down on the other side of the table that Sebastian had placed the book down onto.

"Surly someone would know, have you been seen by more than one doctor?" it was a rude thing to say, by saying this he was implying Lady Anne didn't know what she was doing but Sebastian didn't care if he sounded rude. luckily Ciel didn't seem to care about his lack of manners at the moment and replied "Yes, I've seen a few. They all say the same thing."

"And what Is that?"

"To prepare for the worst."

He said it with no emotion but Sebastian wasn't unaware that Ciel in fact did have a lot of emotions built up inside of him, the teens whole life he was told he was going to die. How does that effect someone? Sebastian imagined it might be similar to living on the streets and knowing that any moment you might be killed. It forces you to grow up far too early and not only that but It evokes feelings like lack of self-worth.

"the worst?"

Ciel then looked into his butler's crimson eyes "I'm fine Sebastian, I have not fallen seriously ill in a long time. I actually came looking for you because I want to sneak out."

That was a sudden switch in conversation that took Sebastian off guard, he couldn't understand why Ciel would go to him; the man in charge of making sure he doesn't sneak out, to tell him he is indeed doing the only thing he knows Sebastian isn't allowed to let him do. This boy was so unpredictable.

"Master-"

"Before you start complaining, I already planned everything so that we won't get caught."

"We?" how nice of his young master to include him in his horrible plans, a sigh escaped through Sebastian's lips.

"Yes, we. You wouldn't want to leave me defenseless and alone in London would you?"

"London?" Sebastian was shocked, that was a far place to sneak out too.

"My parents will be in France for a few days, meaning I could make it to London and back without them ever finding out."

"Master this is a horrible idea. Not only is it risking us being caught but it is also risking your health."

Ciel glared at him "We won't get caught, I have sneaked out many times before I know what I'm doing as for my health, I told you I'm fine."

"Let's say we do sneak out, who's to say a servant won't tell of our disappearance?"

"I already thought of that Sebastian, tomorrow is servant's day."

"Servants day?"

"Oh that right, you have never worked in a manor like this one." Ciel suddenly became calmer then before so that he could explain what tomorrow's day was. "One day out of the month, my father gives all the servants a day off. That includes you. Most wealthy families allow this but only some masters participate like my family does."

Sebastian found himself confused, how does a master participate in a servant day off? Do they take the day off too?

"So it's a day where you rest with servants?"

"A little more than that, we serve them. usually my father likes to take the servants to the lake and he and my mother serve them food and tea while the servants relax and enjoy their day but since he was suddenly called out, they will have the day alone without us."

Sebastian couldn't help but smirk, that meant tomorrow was his day, Ciel was to serve him. Somehow Ciel though he was going to get out of this however, Sebastian wasn't going to let him brush this off. When the boy saw Sebastian's smirk first came confusion but when he slowly understood his eyes widened in both disbelief and stubbornness.

"No Sebastian, I refuse."

His smirk was unaltered "Master you mean to tell me you're not true to your word?" Sebastian placed a hand over his heart as he faked a hurt expression.

"Shut up, I'm not going to serve you."

"How about if I agree to your sneaking out?"

That quieted the younger male as he pulled his attention to Sebastian giving him the opportunity to explain their new deal. Sebastian wasted no time "Well I'll only agree to helping you escape if you agree to be my servant for servant's day." The taller males smirk deepened while Ciel let an annoyed sound leave his throat.

"That's cheap Sebastian."

"Just like you skipping out on servant's day is cheap. What a cruel master." Once again he faked a hurt expression which gained him a scoff from the younger male.

"I hate you." It was all he could say in his defeat and Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle.

"Well then, its settled. Tomorrow I'll help you sneak out and you will serve me." it still was a risk and Sebastian knew that but the idea of the boy waiting on him hand and foot was too good to pass up, whatever punishment followed would be worth it, he hoped.

…..

The next morning Sebastian made his way to his master's room but when he looked into the sheets he was confused to find the boy was not in his bed. The memory of when Ciel sneaked out to the garden passed his mind making him look out the window to see if he saw the bluenette, but there was nothing to be seen.

Once again a small form of panic arouse in him, all the servants were gone already. He would imagine that the guards don't get this day off but he really didn't know. While thinking about it he realized this was probably the perfect time to kidnap the child of an earl.

Sebastian was speeding through the halls looking into all the rooms but to no avail, Ciel wasn't in any of them. As he searched and got close to Vincent's room he saw the door was ajar and found it strange since the couple that inhabited the chamber were gone. He could only think of one person that would want to go in there and when Sebastian went inside his hypostasis was found to be true. In the large bed that belonged to the parents lied Ciel, deep asleep cuddled up to one of the pillows.

The butler wanted to be mad, he wanted to throw his frustrations on the boy for worrying him but when he saw Ciel there, he couldn't. In fact, all those emotions left as he watched Ciel for the moment. Sebastian wondered how often Ciel slept in his parent's room when they left, was it his way of trying to stay close to them? Ciel was so mature for his age and acted much like an adult but it was moments like this that reminded him that he was still just a child…and a very lonely one.

Placing his hand on the youngers shoulder, he gently shook Ciel. "Young master, it is time to get ready."

Unlike all the other times when he woke the boy up, Ciel quickly awoke to Sebastian's voice and sat up almost instantly, he seemed to be mortified that Sebastian caught him in here. It was apparent the bluenette had planned to wake up before Sebastian came for him and go back into his own room, but failed to do so.

Not wanting to pick at Ciel's embarrassment the butler smiled one of his gentle smiles to calm the boy "Master we should get you ready if we plan to sneak out."

That seemed to help because Ciel got up and nodded.

Sebastian spent the next few minutes getting the teen ready, he made sure to dress Ciel in a warm coat that fit the teens body well, London was always quite cold and it being winter made the weather harsh. Once he had slipped and laced Ciel's shoes, the boy got up and lead him back to his room.

"Master why are we in your room, the best way would be to go through the back door to the kitchen."

Ciel ignored him and went to one of the large book shelfs that was placed up against his wall, the boy pulled one of the books out and Sebastian was surprised to find a button was behind it. Just then Ciel pressed it and moved out of the way as the bookshelf opened to a reveal a hidden tunnel. So it was true, there was hidden passages all over this place.

"Where does this tunnel lead to?" He asked the still unamused Ciel

"Its tunnels go underground and about a mile out from the estate, there are hidden passages and tunnels all over the manor. The tunnels were first created by my great grandfather as escape paths but he closed them all up a few years after he created them."

"Why would he spend all that effort on something just to close them off?" honestly an escape path sounded like a good idea for a family like the Phantomhives, maybe if the tunnels were not closed off Ciel would have never got burned back when the estate was attacked.

"His daughter was playing in the tunnels when she got lost, my great grandfather thought the rational thought of her being kidnapped. After a year they found her body in one of the tunnels. In his grief he sealed up all the tunnels and passages but he forgot this one. My father doesn't even know of it, I found it when I was eleven, and used it whenever I wanted to hide from the servants or sneak out."

"Are you not afraid to end up like your father's great aunt?" it was no doubt that if a child had died in the walls that Ciel himself could get lost as well.

"No, I mapped this one out by the time I was twelve." He motioned Sebastian to grab the candles and like an obedient servant he did so along with some extra candles just in case.

Once he lit the them Ciel closed the shelf behind them, Sebastian immediately noticed the stares that went down into the earth and took caution going down each step since they were quite steep, when they finally reached the bottom of the steps two tunnels were able to be seen. Without a thought Ciel choose the one on the left and Sebastian followed trusting the child fully.

Walking through the tunnels was an experience, suddenly it was a lot colder than the winter air, the floor was raw stone along with the walls and you could really see the age they held. Ciel didn't seemed bothered by any of this but to Sebastian it brought back memories of when he was enslaved.

Just like Ciel promised he knew exactly where he was going, there was marking on the walls made by what Sebastian assumed was a younger Ciel from the past, that lead them down the right path. the butler and master kept walking for what felt like a good while and when he looked at the candles it proved just what he was thinking, they were almost out so it had been at least thirty minutes. However, Sebastian didn't have to light anymore candles because Ciel had brought him to a old wooden door and struggled to open it. It seemed the frost from the winter had frozen it shut.

"Here." Sebastian handed the bluenette the candles and went to open the door, it only took a few tugs before it swung open, colder air hitting them causing Ciel to cough when it hit his lungs. Worry struck the butler and he looked at Ciel.

"I'm fine, just didn't expect that is all." The bluenette composed himself and walked through the door with Sebastian close behind his heels.

"Master maybe we should go back." It was unnerving when Ciel coughed.

"Sebastian please, I'm fine."

Sighing Sebastian could only accept his master's stubbornness, he knew the storm that might be unleashed in Ciel if he forced him to go back now. Nodding he followed the boy up some more stone steps that were hidden behind the door. When they got to the top Sebastian was surprised to find he was standing in a fifteenth century room. It looked like it used to be part of a tower but most of the stone walls had deteriorated. Leaving only a frame of what used to be with nature entangled with the structure from the past.

"What was this?" looking around he found that there was even some old ruined furnisher from a time period lost.

"Part of the old manor."

"Are you telling me the estate was even larger than it already is?" it was an unbelievable thought but another thought that was lingering in him was how old this place was, the Phantomhives must have been working for the royal house for far longer than just Ciel's grandfather.

"It was, but it has been attacked several times before even my father was born. So during rebuilding they chose not to keep this tear of the building." The bluenette walked out into the Forrest that surrounded the tower and as always he was right behind the teen after placing the candles down on one of the old pieces of furnisher.

Sebastian followed the boy till he lead him to a side road and to his surprise there waiting on the muddy road was a carriage waiting, did Ciel set this up? When the bluenette noticed his surprise he smirked "What you think my fathers the only one who knows how to pull strings?"

This made Sebastian chuckle, he was a Phantomhive alright, no matter how small.

When they got close enough the butler realized who was the one pulling the carriage, it was the man who had carried out Vincent's punishment of twenty lashed. It was the man who had charcoal black hair and gold eyes.

Immediately Sebastian stiffened, and allowed his eyebrow to twitch as his eyes locked with the golden orbs that belonged to the other man.

"Well look who it is." The man voiced but his face was emotionless.

"What a pleasure…" Sebastian couldn't hold his sarcasm.

Ciel seemed confused "Do you know each other?"

Sebastian said "No" at the exact same time the man said "Yes" irritating him further but luckily the teen brushed it off and opened and entered the carriage without waiting for Sebastian to open the door for him.

"he's so inpatient" Sebastian voiced under his breath then entered the carriage.

It was going to be a long ride.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

So first things first:

Servants day is a real thing from Victorian England.

Also just a little fun fact; most servants were female because they were a lot cheaper. Normally for wealthy families only one male servant was placed within the home because they got hire pay.

So families that housed more than one male servant were considered very wealthy.

So just take a moment to think of how many the Phantomhives have?

Alright guys I'll see you next chapter!