Chapter 20 – Funtom Music Hall is open for business

Guess who's back? Back again? It is I! I'm sorry but I was focusing on my KNB fanfic and totally forgot that I also had my Black Butler one still so here is the long awaited update! Hope you all enjoy!

I DO NOT OWN BLACK BUTLER! LOVE TO TOBOSO YANA 33

We arrived back at Sphere Music Hall and people began pouring out. This meant that Ciel was probably waiting for us to pick him up. Sebastian told me to stay with the carriage as he went to get Ciel. I watched as the people leaving were all happily chattering away, unaware of the real reason they were there.

I stared at the giant sign on top of the building and wondered, what is going on in this place?

"Alice."

I snapped out of my thoughts and looked down to see Sebastian walking with Ciel who was carrying lots of gift bags.

"What's with the gift bags?"

"Violet insisted I take them."

"Who's Violet?"

They both sighed and didn't reply to my irritation. I tried remembering back to that crazy performance. Hm… it wasn't the blondie that looked like the Viscount…Urgh. Probably wasn't the one with glasses either. Oh wait! It was the funky looking one with the strange hair and dark eyes. Pft….

"So then, what happened? It appears that you were enjoying a nap."

"Tsk! The P4 started singing and then there was this fragrance which was probably some sleep inducing drug and passed out. I don't remember much that happened after. Although no one was harmed."

I laughed,

"So you got presents for sleeping?"

"Shut it Alice!"

"So what happened on your ends?"

I kept quiet as Sebastian explained how we ran into Inspector Abberline who had told us about the corpses that had been found recently with no signs of visible wounds or post-mortem lividity and how they were "beautiful". Sounds like something Undertaker would say.

"Also, the victims had no relation or anything common to each other at all, from their status to their occupation. They seem to be tearing themselves apart because they seem to be getting nowhere in the investigation. They asked if we could share any information that we receive."

Ciel scoffed and smirked,

"To think that the Yard has come begging at our feet and swallowing their pride. I wonder if it is going to start raining cats and dogs tomorrow."

I rolled my eyes,

"Yeah, and then your allergies will be the death of us all."

Ciel glared at me and I quickly turned away and looked outside.

"Anyhow, Alice and I went for a lovely stroll around London and discovered 18 bodies. I wasn't able to determine if any sort of decomposition was occurring but 5 of those bodies matched the special features and status of the "beautiful corpses". These were found in the Epping Forest to the west of London."

"WAIT ALL 5 BODIES?!"

"Yep, all 5."

"It appears we have a serial killer who is hiding his motives. Sebastian retrieve those bodies and get them examined."

I knew Sebastian was thinking the same thing I was so I said it first,

"Um, sorry to interrupt but who is going to check the bodies? Because, if you recall, Undertaker is currently somewhere we don't know."

Ciel paused and then slumped back against the carriage,

"Oh, that's right…I guess we will have to tell Abberline and ask him to do the examining."

Sebastian got up and was about to head out when he stopped abruptly and his eyes widened.

"What's wrong Sebastian?"

Then in the blink of an eye, Sebastian grabbed Ciel's arm and began to unbutton Ciel's shirt. It took me a few seconds to realise that Ciel was being savagely stripped by Sebastian and I turned away. Jeez Sebastian is such an animal, bloody weirdo.

"I smell blood."

"What?! I haven't been injured anywhere!"

"No, there. Remnants of a needle prick."

My ears perked up.

"I apologise for my incredible negligence! I failed to take this situation seriously because I assumed I would be able to sense if you had been harmed or wounded! Alice, get on my back."

"Wait What?!"

"HURRY UP!"

I could hear the genuine worry in his voice and leapt on as he covered Ciel with his cloak and jumped out of the carriage with me on his back and Ciel in his arms. After some intense running, we arrived at Sieglinde and Wolfram's place.

I knocked on the door and a few seconds later I heard the loud barking.

"IT'S THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! WHO DARES TO KNOCK AT THIS HOUR!?"

I whispered into Sebastian's ear,

"Honestly, he really is like a dog. You can hear his bark from miles away."

Sadly, Sebastian was not in the mood to joke around with me and didn't reply so I kept my trap shut.

"Jeez, it's just you three. What do you want?"

"Sorry to wake you Mr Wolfy, but our young master needs to see Lady Sullivan right now."

Wolfram growled at me as I called him Wolfy but before he could say anything, Lady Sullivan appeared looking like a mix of little Miss Muffet and the Spider. Her English had gotten a lot better so now I was able to understand her clearly.

"Oh Ciel! If you'd like to steal into a woman's house at night, shouldn't you be more discreet?"

I finally remembered why I loved this girl and that was her cute yet mature sense of humour.

"WHAT THE HELL?!"

"Ah this is my brand new invention! Spider legs! It allows me to walk even on rough ground."

"Lady Sullivan, we think that the young master has been drugged?"

Instantly her attitude became serious and she rushed us to her office to get him checked up. When we arrived, I felt my jaw drop and my eyes widen as I gazed upon the incredible sight of her office. It was like a film set or something with incredible gadgets. It blew my mind and I wasn't the only one feeling this way.

"Oh the Old Lady Queen got all of this for me…She comes over occasionally."

"WAIT SHE COMES IN PERSON?!"

"Anyway, hurry and undress so I can examine you, after all we know each other very well so don't be shy!"

"URGH! DON'T SAY SUCH THINGS!"

Lady Sullivan continued to examine Ciel and to her surprise she found that there was nothing wrong. She explained that it didn't look like poison had been injected into Ciel because it would have probably started to work already.

"So…if it wasn't poison, then what?"

"AH!"

I jumped in shock as Wolfram's loud voice pounded against my ear.

"What if something was taken out instead of put in."

We all stared at him in confusion.

"Sorry, let me explain. Perhaps the young master didn't have anything injected into him but rather had his blood taken out which would explain the anemia."

"Even if that was the case, what would they do with that blood? There's no way for them to put it to any use-"

"Actually you are incorrect. It can be used for blood transfusions."

As Wolfram and the others unravelled ideas and possibilities I began to see how it would make sense. A whole lot of people gathered together, their blood taken for possible use in the future. And their blood would have been classified by what "star" they fell under. But the question was, who was this blood for?

"Sebastian, Alice, Let's go. We are going to find hard evidence of their wrong doings and exploit their vile plot no matter what!"

We left Sullivan's place and I could see the little gears inside Sebastian and Ciel's head working furiously to collect the current evidence and come up with ideas. I knew it the moment I saw that crazy fortune teller, Bravat. There was something shady going on, people like that weren't to be trusted. But so is Ciel and Sebastian and even me so…

"Alice you are rather quiet…"

"I knew there was something wrong with that fortune teller and that place. I knew it the moment I saw his face, call it instincts or a woman's intuition."

Sebastian didn't say anything but I could from the look on his face that he was amused, too amused.

"What?"

"Oh it's nothing."

"It's not nothing when you look at people like that."

"like what?"

I hmpfed and turned away to see Ciel roll his eyes at us in disgust.

Later that night, as I was climbing into bed, I suddenly felt dizzy and blacked out. Then I saw a bright light and saw Elizabeth sobbing.

"I'm sorry Ciel, but I can't go back."

Then lots of bright images of the P4 or whoever they were flashed by, unidentifiable chattering of people and the smug face of Bravat. Then that stupid 'carol' started to play in my head and the P4 began to sing and dance, however, their faces were completely black with no features but only a large hole where their mouths would have been. They began singing but I could hear chanting and a voice calling out,

"Alice…my treasure…..take care of it….."

Then Madame Red appeared but was drenched in blood,

"Alice….beware of the dark….it consumes everything…..it leaves nothing behind…"

Then her face changed into agony as she began screeching and screaming, dropping to her knees before her lips curled into a dark and sinister grin, her voice scratchy and distorted, her fingers became bone and the skin on her face and hands began melting away, revealing the white skeleton underneath,

"IT'S COMING! THE DARKNESS! DESTROY IT BEFORE IT CONSUMES YOU!"

I jolted with a scream and woke to find myself on the bed instead of the floor, my night gown clung to be body from the sweat and tears were pouring down my face. I wiped the tears away and went to clean my face. I looked into the mirror and screamed, falling backwards as I didn't see my reflection but a dark figure with blood running down their face and a sinister grin on its face,

"ALICE! DESTROY IT BEFORE IT DESTROYS YOU!"

My heart began racing, my body began to tremble and it froze with genuine fear. The door opened and Sebastian walked in with a candle and a raised eyebrow.

"I could feel your terror from my room. I could hear your heart beat as I got to the door. What's the matter-"

Without a second thought I leapt into Sebastian's arms and sobbed. The tears began to gush down my face and I clung to Sebastian's tailcoat.

"What's wrong Alice? Scared of your own reflection?"

"SHUT UP! I had a bad dream that's all."

"Oh? Now what kind of a dream was it to have you white as a ghost and cling onto me like this?"

I could hear the smugness in his voice and shoved him away, wiping my tears. But Sebastian pulled me into a tight embrace as he began to stroke my head gently,

"Come now, tell me."

So I told him about what happened, from the images to the messages from Madame Red, the unknown but familiar voice and the strange figure.

"Hm, it seems like a very terrifying dream, especially since Madame Red was very close with you."

"Yeah, but what scares me was what she said about the darkness consuming me. It was just like what Bravat said when he did Ciel and my fortune. To be honest, I'm scared shitless."

With the constant stroking, I began to calm down and my heart began to return to normal and my trembling stopped.

"That's a good girl. It is still quite late, so would you like to go back to bed?"

"yeah."

I tried to get up but my legs were still shaking with fear and my legs caved in, as a reflex I grabbed onto Sebastian's sleeve. He effortlessly caught me, his eyes glowed magenta as they gazed at mine with a hungry expression. He licked his lips slowing, running his tongue over his impeccably white teeth, his warm breath tickled my face.

"Come now Alice, if you wanted me to carry you to your bed, you could have just asked."

I huffed and glared at him as he gently lowered me to the bed, pinning me.

"As a matter of fact, I didn't want you to carry me to my bed, so if you don't mind, I would like to go back to sleep. Goodnight."

I pushed him away and faced the other way as I plonked myself onto the soft mattress.

"Goodnight my dear, if you need me to stay with you until you sleep, I'd happily oblige."

"Yeah, no."

The last thing I heard before my eyes shut completely was Sebastian's soft chuckling which was kinda soothing but I instantly winced at that thought. Urgh, I've finally fallen into such a disgusting state for thinking that.

For some reason, Sebastian told me to go clean the cabinets while he and Ciel discussed things with Inspector Abberline which was totally unfair. I wanted to know what was going on and that damn demon sends me to clean plates and cups. However, being me, I was not going to stay here for long. Motivated by the urge to eavesdrop on their conversation, I quickly (and definitely horribly) dust the cabinet and all the delicate china displayed inside.

As soon I as I finished, I crept to the office and made sure to keep my breathing to a minimum and leaned against the door quietly so Sebastian could not hear me.

"This is a music hall that charges nothing for their activities and meals, hands out pure silver bracelets on a whim, furthermore, they carry out blood transfusion experiments. To do this they must have support of some patron with substantial wealth."

"So what are you saying?"

I could hear the uneasiness in Abberline's voice but Ciel continued confidently,

"The Military, the House of Lords and even the Scotland Yard…we've compiled a list of top brass from those three organisations that frequent the music hall. Considering your position and your thoughts, if you were to read this list, your enthusiasm may wane a bit. Do you wish to read it though, Mr Underline?"

I covered my mouth with my hand to avoid sniggering to loudly,

"IT'S ABBERLINE! YOU SAID MY NAME WRONG ON PURPOSE DIDN'T YOU?!"

After he had calmed down a bit he asked to look at the list. There was a short silence before,

"THIS MANY!?"

"It makes the House of Lords and the Scotland Yard look like a demon's den doesn't it? Although I must say that if you were to make a bold public movement of any kind, you will be erased and silenced but also the perpetrators will be able to escape."

"Is it possible to receive the assistance of Her Majesty?"

"The King reigns but does not govern. It is a rule of thumb that the King does not get involved with domestic disturbances."

Holy hell, I did not know that.

"THEN WHAT IN BLAZES DO WE DO?!"

Ciel's reply came confidently, almost as if he was proud to do the Queen's dirty work,

"This is why I, the Queen's Watchdog, exist. Anyhow, just sit back and enjoy the show, I will have their tails pinned in my fangs long before they have a chance to flee."

I heard Sebastian and Ciel's footsteps approach and I made a mad dash for the kitchen, at the same time taking the lightest steps to avoid detection when I heard a sharp,

"Alice, next time do not listen in to private discussions like that."

I stopped in my tracks as I turned to see Ciel stare at me with disapproving eyes and Sebastian smirking at me like a child who got their younger sibling in trouble.

"Well, I wouldn't have eavesdropped if you let me in on your conversations too!"

"I do not want others to know that you are involved in this too, it would make sneaking around much more difficult. Besides, you are a maid not a companion."

I pouted and put my hand on my heart, my expression changing into one of mock pain,

"Ouch Ciel, you hurt me. My heart feels like it has crumbled into tiny pieces that could never be put together again. OH THE AGONY!"

Ciel rolled his eyes and glared at me with a distasteful look, while Sebastian hid his laughter with a cough,

"Alice, you should be an actress if you ever get bored of being a maid."

"Yes, I should…shouldn't I? I think I'll be quite successful don't you think Ciel?"

"Alice, because you are a relative of mine, I have allowed you certain privileges but let me remind you that you work for me as my maid and as much as I love a snarky and sarcastic remark from you at times, now is not the time!"

I stood there in shock, I must have really pissed him off my listening in to his conversation.

"Alright, alright. I'm sorry for overstepping my boundaries, however, as your older cousin, I believe that I have a duty to protect you as a maid and a relative."

Ciel sighed deeply, his mysterious and beautiful blue eyes locked onto mine, challenging me,

"Fine, Sebastian and I are heading to Sphere Music Hall because we saw Nina there. She must be creating costumes for the hall and I plan to get the necessary information from her. I will allow you to come along but if you say something out of place, I will kick you out and you can walk yourself home, understood?"

"Perfectly."

"Good, let's go."

"Oh by the way Ciel, you're pretty cute when you get angry."

"Alice…"

I held my hands up in surrender and Ciel sighed while shaking his head at me. We went on some more errands before we went to pick up Miss Nina. It was evening when we headed there and saw her and her companions leaving. We moved the carriage to travel right alongside her.

"Your luggage appears to be quite heavy, may I offer you a ride, miss?"

Miss Nina turned her head away until Ciel peeked his head out from behind the curtains and Miss Nina's face lit up like a light bulb. She told her companions to head home and she got into the carriage.

"AH Miss Maid! It's so lovely to see you! I see that the outfit I have made for you fits you perfectly! You look so adorable I just want to take you home and keep you for myself!"

"It's always a pleasure to see you again Nina! And thank you again for the outfit, it fits like a glove and is so comfortable, I am often tempted to wear it to bed."

"OH you! You say the cutest things!"

Her eyes shined like gems when she talked to Ciel and I but they turned into daggers every time she spoke to Sebastian.

"Yes, it is correct. All of the costumes and outfits worn at Sphere Music Hall are all made by Yours Truly at Hopkin's Tailor Shop! Just between you and me, I am not particularly fond of making clothes for boys older than 15. But I was so moved by the passion and energy that I decided to accept their request. All of the songs and clothing for the Starlight 4 are created by Mr Bravat."

"Even the clothing?"

"Of Course! He always comes to give feedback on the fittings and such. UNLIKE A CERTAIN STUBBORN SOMEONE WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS…" All of us knew who she was referring to as I turned to see Sebastian who was trying very hard to keep a straight face, "Mr Bravat provide an endless flow of bold and creative ideas."

I sniggered as I could tell that the insults did have an effect on Sebastian as Miss Nina was the only person I knew, other than Madame Red, who could insult and tease Sebastian and actually have an effect on him. Oh wait and there was also the Marchioness, so I guess just really powerful and strong willed women.

"If the Earl has taken his time to ask me about him, then I believe that there must be something important about him. But in all honesty, I do not know much about them other than the measurements of Mr Bravat and the S4, along with the other great stars I suppose."

"Wait are you saying that the 'Great Stars' aren't the S4?!"

"What are you talking about? The Ones Who Hold the Names of the Great Stars are on a much higher rank than the S4."

This was starting to get interesting.

"Nina, you wouldn't happen to know the names of these Great Stars do you?"

She turned to me with a smile, then tilted her head to the side to have a think.

"Hm…I believe Mr Bravat said that they were like physical manifestations of the four guardian stars or something. Master Sirius, Master Canopus, Master Vega and Master Polaris."

As soon as Sebastian asked, "And where are those persons now?"

Miss Nina growled at him,

"That's what I'd like to know! Whenever I come for their fittings, he always told me to stay right where I was and he would walk through those fancy doors decorated with constellations."

Ciel nodded, as if knowing what she was talking about,

"Hm… That's where I had my blood drawn out. Which probably means that each star representative must be beyond their respective door."

"Oh Earl, did you not know?" There are 4 doors but they all lead to the same room."

"I see, then Nina, when is your next schedule visited to the music hall?"

"Today we matched outfits with their new song and performance and completed the preliminary sewing, so I would say my next visit would be in a week's time."

"Please allow Sebastian to accompany you, I'll make it worth your while."

"Of course….NOT! IN YOUR DREAMS!"

Her face turned vicious at the thought of having Sebastian around,

"WHY NOT MISS MAID?! MY TAILOR SHOP IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF CUTTING-EDGE LONDON FASHION! I WOULD NOT BE CAUGHT DEAD WITH SOMEONE WHO DRESSES LIKE HE CAME FROM A CENTURY AGO! IT WOULD AFFECT MY BRAND NAME TERRIBLY! IF YOU WANT TO SNEAK SOMEONE IN, SEND MISS MAID!"

I laughed so hard at her rant, there were only a few people who would speak like that in Ciel's presence and actually go against his request. Sebastian went to say something but Miss Nina cut him off again,

"I DON'T WANT YO HEAR IT! IF YOU WANT TO ACCOMPANY ME THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO CHANGE INTO MOMRE SUITABLE ATTAIR, I WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS RIFF RAFF!"

I laughed even harder at her insult to Sebastian's taste in fashion. But I had to agree with her, he was so old school.

"Then you are free to go ahead and choose his clothing for him."

"Young Master?!"

This was my third round of laughter as I saw the reluctant look on Sebastian's face turn almost worried and he, for the first time in a while, glared at me with pure anger.

We headed to her shop and she got Ciel and I to sit and wait as Sebastian tried on a plethora of incredibly fashionable and modern clothing.

"Pales colours may be in the range this year, but they absolutely clash with you for some reason?"

I couldn't hold back my comment,

"Maybe it's because he's just one hell of a butler!"

Everyone looked at me and there was an awkward silence,

"or maybe he just doesn't suit it."

Then I kept my mouth shut.

One after the other, Sebastian was forced to try on a range of different clothing. All of which didn't suit him at all but still he looked good in them, except he was so stiff which was strange because he wasn't like this at the Noah's Ark Circus or any of his other missions.

Ciel and Sebastian began talking as Sebastian walked into the change room,

"I hear your words but I can't help feel that you are really enjoying putting me through this."

I smiled at Ciel and commented aloud,

"I don't know about you Ciel, but I sure am."

I could hear Sebastian groan with distaste,

"Of course you are."

After a few more items of clothing, Miss Nina was finally happy with a nice striped suit finished off with a fedora.

"Ciel, I wanna go too."

"No, you will stay with me, after all, didn't you say that your role was to protect me as my cousin?"

"Don't turn my words against me Ciel…. Tsk. Fine! I'll let Sebastian have all the fun this time!"

As we headed home, I was still sulking about not going, but I knew that if I went, I probably would mess everything up, so as we got home, I stopped sulking and accepted that I was going to stay at home.

~Sebastian's P.O.V.~

The next morning, I left Alice and the other servants to take care of the Young Master and the manor, although I had a bad feeling that when I got back, the place would be a complete and utter mess.

As Miss Hopkins and I arrived at Sphere Music Hall, she hissed at me,

"I'm allowing you to accompany me because it was the Earl's wish but do what you came here to do and don't get in the way!"

"Understood."

After this, I knew that Miss Hopkins and I were definitely never going to get along. As Miss Hopkins got to the entrance of the music hall, we all struck out poses as practiced,

"We have come to deliver the apparel and costumes! We are from the prestigious Hopkins Tailor Shop!"

The man standing at the door instantly noticed me,

"Oh, A new employee?"

"Yes, but carrying bags and being a gopher is all he's good for at the moment."

After the man allowed us in, he closed the door behind him and returned to his post outside.

Miss Hopkins showed me to the hall,

"Alright, then I will part with you here. I will leave Mr Bravat to you Miss Hopkins."

I headed inside the room. The room was spherical with a large fire pit in the centre and very luxurious chairs were evenly spread around the room. The roof was domed shape with twinkling stars dotted across it. But the most noticeable feature were the 4 large doors, Sirius, Canopus, Vega and Polaris. I went with the door closest to where I was.

As I opened the door, I noticed that there was a very long corridor with checked floor tiles, barely lit by the sunlight from outside. I was awfully confused for a moment and as I took a step into the corridor, I noticed an intent and managed to barely dodge an attack.

I turned to face my attacker only to find Lady Elizabeth.

End of Chapter

Hi All, I hope you enjoyed that chapter! I am kinda jumping between fanfics right now, my Kuroko no Basket one and this one. But I am 80% sure that I will be able to update soon, just after exams. So I hope you guys liked that chapter and I'll see you guys in the next one!

LOVE YOU ALL!