Chapter Twenty-Three
Butler, Caring. Bride, Listener
Ciel tossed and turned in his bed, his mind trapped back when the mansion was burning down…
"Isn't anyone here?" called Ciel.
He ran and found the figure of his father, sat in a chair in the parlour.
"Father!"
Running out the room, the boy continued to cry out for help.
"Someone!"
His dream shifted to when he was seen for the first time by one of the cult members…
He sat in a cage when the curtains before him opened slightly, and a man peeked inside.
"Oh, I say! He's worth more than two children!"
The sound of coins changing hands echoed in his ears.
He remembered when they pinned him down and placed their mark upon him…
Ciel screamed as multiple men held his arms and legs. The back of his shirt was lifted up so they could press the brand into his flesh.
The pain… It hurt so much…
"Why? Why are we…?" he asked himself as he curled his arms around his knees. "No one will save us."
His fear… His pain… They burned hot like the blood that spilled from his lips that day.
The cult member raised the dagger above his head, Marianne screaming at him to stop. Ciel coughed an explosion of blood when the metal sank into his flesh…
"There is no God."
All those laughing, jeering faces…
"Kill them… Kill them… Kill them… Kill them… Kill them… Kill them…!"
And then, Sebastian emerged from the summoning.
"Goodness! What a tiny master you are," the demon laughed. "You have summoned me here. That can never be changed, and nothing sacrificed can be regained."
He took the small boy's hand in his.
"Now choose."
Ciel's right eye bled painfully as he accepted the contract…
"I…"
Marianne, who stayed by his side as he slept, stroked her hand against his forehead.
"It's alright… I'm here. I'll always be here."
Her whispers were soft, but they seemed to reach him as he stopped struggling in his sleep.
Outside, William observed Sebastian after the demon had dodged his Death Scythe.
"And where are you off to?" he asked. "I believe I told you not to wander about without your master."
Sebastian smirked.
"I'm afraid my master is indisposed, so I must do his errands."
The Reaper shook his head.
"Return to the tent at once. I cannot allow you to act independently."
He aimed his Scythe again, which Sebastian evaded with ease. As the butler dodged his blows, William continued to speak.
"Small mistakes can lead to extreme overtime, you see."
Sebastian gritted his teeth. He'd had just about enough of this. When William aimed the Scythe, he caught it with one hand. Two droplets of blood fell onto the ground.
"I'm sorry, but I have my duties as a butler," he said. "I cannot allow you to disturb my master's sleep, nor can I allow you to interrupt my darling Marianne from her attentive care of him."
He glanced at his hand. The white glove was stained with dripping blood as the blade sat against the skin of his fingers.
"And you don't really want to cause a scene here, do you?" he asked. "Why don't you and I make a deal? If you give me one hour of freedom, I'll swear never to eat a soul in your territory again. Just one hour."
William shook his head. His answer was immediate.
"No, thank you. Seducing your prey into darkness with sweet words…" He removed the blades from Sebastian's hand. Swiped the Scythe in empty air to flick the blood away. It splattered in an arc of red. "…is the demonic cliché."
Sebastian shrugged.
"I was afraid you would say no," he sighed. He removed his bloodied glove. "Oh, well. I'll explore other means then."
His tongue licked the blood from his unblemished hand.
Marianne left Ciel's bedside for a moment as she assisted Doc move his medicine bottles from the crate on the floor to the table. She looked up when Doll, in her Freckles persona, came into the tent with a bowl of
"How is Smile, Doc?" she asked.
"Asleep. Seemed to be having a bit of a nightmare earlier, but Kitten soothed him so he is peaceful right now." Doc answered.
With Marianne's absence from his side, Ciel's dream shifted from the peacefulness she offered, to the start of another nightmare. His mind drifted back to an old memory…
He was sat in the parlour of the manor, a chess board in front of him and Madame Red sat in an armchair opposite.
"Why?" she asked. "You must've had other choices in life besides being the Underworld's Guard Dog. Your mother must have wanted something else for you, too. And yet…"
Ciel smirked.
"I did it for me."
Sebastian, who had been looking out the window, smirked. Marianne, standing by the demon's side, only accepted his answer with a quiet nod of her head.
"Revenge won't bring the dead back, and it certainly won't make them happy. I just want to make the people who betrayed and defiled my family suffer the same humiliation and pain that I suffered."
The scene changed to the last night Madame Red was alive…
Madame Red stood in the rain.
"This is unfortunate, my beloved nephew Ciel… If you hadn't figured it out, we could have played chess together again."
He watched as Marianne used her own body to shield him from Madame Red's knife. How it sank into her flesh over and over again… How she went down and Madame Red wrapped her hand around his throat…
"You… should never have been born!"
Marianne had slammed her bleeding body into Madame Red to stop the strike. He remembered Sebastian's eyes glowing red as he prepared to strike the woman down.
"Stop, Sebastian!"
The knife clattered to the floor. Madame Red sighed heavily.
"I can't do it after all. I can't kill him."
She tried to turn away, but Grell was swift. He shoved his Death Scythe through her chest…
The dream shifted again, to when they stood in the graveyard after Madame Red's funeral…
Ciel, Sebastian and Marianne stood among the tombstones.
"One wrong move costs a person her life. It's just like chess," said Ciel. "She hesitated and lost sight of her next move. That's all there is to it."
He turned and walked away.
"So, I won't hesitate."
Sebastian's eyes widened at those words. The demon smirked with pride.
"That's what I like to hear," he said. "Always skilfully manipulate your chess pieces, and survive. Use me, Madame Red, and even Marianne should the need call for it… Even if the bodies pile up at the foot of your throne, you must never fall. Because if the king falls, this game is over."
Ciel nodded his head.
"I won't stop moving, and I won't regret the steps I've taken." He turned to Sebastian. "So, this is an order: you two are the only ones who must not betray me. Don't leave my side. Ever."
Sebastian bowed on his knee.
"Yes, My Lord."
Marianne bowed her head beside him.
"As you wish, Ciel."
The memory faded away, burning away like a piece of film. Ciel's eyelid fluttered before he opened his eye. He saw Marianne sat in front of him.
"Marianne?" he whispered.
She nodded her head and removed the cold compress from his forehead.
"Sebastian?" he asked.
Marianne shook her head.
"You should know, Doll is sleeping behind you," she said softly.
The boy rolled over and saw Doll, then rolled back to look at Marianne. He then remembered what he told Sebastian.
"That's right, I ordered him to identify the man with the signet ring." He scowled into his pillow. "Silly to dream about that now."
He then noticed Marianne glancing towards the exit. She was fidgeting in her seat, but was unwilling to leave.
"Why don't you go back to your tent? You're exhausted, and need your sleep," he told her.
Marianne smiled, almost relieved. She kissed his forehead and smoothed his hair.
"I'll be back in the morning. Goodnight, Ciel."
She waited until he had fallen asleep again before she left the tent.
Once outside, the first person she encountered was Sebastian. She looked at the demon in surprise and hurried over to him. A gasp slipped through her lips when she saw the blood that covered his hand.
"Sebastian, what happened?" she cried.
He licked the blood off his hand.
"Just a run-in with that Reaper. He wasn't particularly willing to allow me to leave without the Young Master. He doesn't want me to have too long a leash." Sebastian explained.
Marianne took the bloodied hand in his. Her tongue emerged from her lips, and she trailed it over his middle finger. Sebastian watched her with glowing eyes. He licked his lips.
"How are you going to find out about the signet ring if you can't leave?" she asked.
His ears pricked up at the sound of movement. Footsteps, one pair following after another. Sebastian grabbed her by the hand.
"Come with me."
She allowed him to pull her along as they went to their destination.
Joker walked through the tents, his beige scarf wrapped loosely around his neck, over the top of his black cloak. He stopped when someone called out his name.
"Joker."
He turned around and saw Beast standing behind him, dressed in a grey jacket.
"What's wrong? Can't 'ee sleep?" he asked.
Beast folded her arms and closed her eyes.
"Let's stop this."
Joker stared at her as she continued to speak.
"We have this circus. I know we can make a living!" She walked towards him. "So, let's wash our hands of this and run someplace where Father can't touch us!"
The man tilted his head.
"'Over the hills and far away,' eh?" he said. "We can't. And I ain't got no time to talk about it."
He made to walk away, but Beast launched herself towards him, and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Wait!" she cried, clinging to him desperately.
Joker was surprised for a moment, before a small smile crept across his lips.
"'Ee alright? This ain't like 'ee," he said. "Didn't we decide together? We said we'd do whatever it takes to protect what's dear to us."
Tears stung her eyes. Her voice trembled as she spoke.
"But… I can't stand to watch you suffer anymore!" she cried. "Because I…!"
Joker snapped.
"Hast 'ee forgotten?!"
He spun around and grabbed hold of Beast's arms.
"We can't go back now."
Beast stared up at him quietly. Her heart pounded in her chest. She could almost hear it cracking into pieces… Silent tears built up in her eyes as she continued to look at him. Joker sighed softly, and gave her a smile. He wrapped his scarf around her neck.
"The night air's bad for 'ee."
Beast bit her dark red lip.
"Joker…"
"Good night."
He waved at her and walked away.
She fell to her knees, the dirt hard and gritty against her skin. Beast allowed the tears she had been holding back to spill from her eyes.
"Are you alright, Miss Beast?"
Beast looked up and saw Marianne standing nearby.
"I-It's nothing! Go back to your tent!" she snapped.
She ran off and gripped a nearby railing. Marianne ignored her anger and stepped towards her.
"I don't like the idea of leaving you in such a state. Do you want me to help you back to your tent? I'm a good listener. You can vent all you like to me."
The girl stood by the woman's side, toying with her loose brown hair.
"It is often hard to tell when men like you as more than a friend. Pursuing men who don't feel the same as you, it only leaves your heart broken. When it comes to your friends, if they can't return your feelings, they decide to be kind instead." Marianne told her, looking up to the night sky. "Sometimes, they don't know it only makes you hurt even more, right?"
Beast bit her lip and looked away from her. Marianne only continued to speak.
"How long have you been crying these tears over him? How long has he been making you feel this way?"
"What do you know about it?!" snarled Beast.
There was silence for a moment.
"I once believed the man I love, would never feel the same way. Yet he proved me wrong." Marianne answered. "And I have never been as complete as I have been with him."
Beast looked at her in disbelief. Marianne smiled at her.
"Do you want to talk about it? Talking it through with someone impartial can be a form of relief, because they won't judge you on your feelings," the girl offered.
The animal tamer considered her offer.
"Are you serious?" she asked.
"You need to talk about it, and I am willing to listen." Marianne said. "What use is it holding onto this burden when it only causes you sadness?"
Beast's mind flashed back…
She approached Joker as he stood in front of a fireplace, a knife in his hand, stained with blood…
"You can't move forward and backwards like that. You can shout all you want. But when someone doesn't see you that way, you can't change their mind. Only they can do that."
Marianne's words rang in the woman's ear.
"I can't make you forget him. But I can at least take some of your pain. Just release it all, and let yourself have the satisfaction of not having to wallow in your self-pity, if only for one night."
Sebastian watched and listened from afar with a smirk on his face. It pleased him to see his mate get the information they needed. To see her exploiting the gentleness Beast treats her with, and extracting what they need with the same delicacy she uses when turning the pages of a book; he was… aroused by the subtle darkness she exuded. He licked his lips over his elongated canine teeth.
William observed them it all with a clinical look on his face.
"You seduce your prey into darkness with sweet words," he said. "Cleverly, sweetly, softly, so that it won't notice the monster behind your mask."
He stared at Sebastian.
"What have you done to this human? What has she done to gain your… favour?" he asked. "She is speaking those words with the skill of a demon. What poison have you filled her with?"
Sebastian looked at the Reaper through drooped lids, a lazy smile stretched across his lips.
"I don't expect you to understand the innermost thoughts of a demon. Just know that I am… rather fond of my Marianne."
His eyes glowed when he said those words.
Joker rode through the streets of London on the back of a brown horse.
Marianne and Beast were in the first-stringer's tent. Beast lay on her side on her bed. Marianne sat at a chair beside her.
"He's always been that way. He never says the words I want from him," the woman explained while she removed her boots and stockings.
Marianne took the boots from her and placed them on the floor.
"He grew distant from us when Father put him in charge of the circus."
"'Father'?" asked Marianne as she took the stockings, folded them, and put them in the chest.
Beast ran a hand through her curly black hair.
"Our patron. He paid to develop our prosthetics. He gave us new bodies."
Marianne pointed to the seal on the beast tamer's thigh.
"That's Father's seal, then?" she asked.
Beast rolled onto her side and sighed.
"Yes. We all belong to Father…"
"What is his name?" Marianne asked.
The woman rolled onto her front and allowed Marianne to assist in untying the laces of her corset.
"Why do you care?"
"I can't pay my respects if I don't know his name." Marianne smiled at her gently. "And we're friends, aren't we? What's the harm in telling me?"
She walked away to retrieve a robe for Beast while the woman removed her corset. Beast pondered her words quietly.
"F-Father is…"
Marianne left not long after she got the answers she needed, and managed to answer Beast's questions to her satisfaction, while not really revealing anything. She was pleased to know Sebastian's lessons had worked. Although, the two of them had been up talking for most of the night, so the sun was just rising by the time Marianne left the tent. She yawned loudly and rubbed her eyes, but focused on what needed to be done next.
Her first job was to find Sebastian. He was found easily enough. The demon was waiting for her outside the medical tent.
"You have what we need?" he asked.
"Yes, I have it," she said with a yawn. "I am going to sleep for the rest of the day, just so you know."
Sebastian smirked.
"Of course, you look positively exhausted. What kind of mate would I be if I didn't make sure you are well-rested?"
Marianne smiled.
"Let's go back to Ciel."
Ciel lay asleep in his bed. His brow furrowed when Sebastian reached down with his bare right hand and stroked his forehead, his nails a dull black against the pallor of his skin. The boy blinked awake.
"Sebas…?" he whispered.
"Good morning," greeted the demon with a shit-eating smile.
Ciel then saw Marianne standing behind him.
"Marianne…?"
"Good morning, sweet boy," she smiled.
"Your fever seems to have come down." Sebastian commented. "How are you feeling?"
Ciel looked over his shoulder, and saw Doll was gone.
She must have gone to breakfast. He thought to himself.
"Not well, but… better than yesterday." Ciel answered.
Marianne gave him a glass of water.
"Drink this. It will help soothe your throat."
He took a silent sip. Marianne saw Sebastian's left hand, took it in hers, and traced her fingers over his contract seal. Ciel noticed the demon's bare hands and raised a brow.
"Where are your gloves?" he asked. "Your nails and the seal of our contract are on display."
Sebastian smiled.
"I got them a bit dirty, I'm afraid."
They moved onto their task.
"More importantly, I assume you got my errand done?" Ciel inquired.
Sebastian nodded his head.
"Yes, of course. Marianne was of great help to me, and got the information we needed."
Marianne looked at him in confusion, wondering why he didn't mention they got the information from Beast. The demon continued speaking as he removed the bedsheet.
"No need to stay here any longer. Let's leave while everyone is at breakfast."
He gathered Ciel into his arms.
"Ah, that reminds me…" Sebastian smirked. "Not to worry, I'll be sure not to tell Lady Elizabeth that you shared your bed with another young lady."
"Wha…?" gasped Ciel.
"Sebastian!" chastised Marianne.
Sebastian chuckled while looping the girl's arm through his free one.
"We'll speak more once we're home."
He gathered up Ciel's clothes without another word, despite Ciel's continued protests.
They walked out of the medical tent. As they stood in the shadows, William was standing in front of them in the sunlight. Ciel quietly napped in Sebastian's arms while the demon held Marianne close to his side, unwilling to relinquish her arm in front of the Reaper.
"We've finished our business here, so we'll be taking our leave," said Sebastian.
William looked at him down his nose.
"Feel free. I don't care where you go, as long as your master is with you."
The couple, with their sleeping load, moved to walk past him, but Spears placed the tip of his Death Scythe upon Marianne's shoulder.
"You have been on the brink of death, when you should be on the To-Die List, yet your name has never emerged," he said. "You are definitely human, but there is something very unusual about you…"
Marianne breathed deeply, trying to ignore the pressure of the blades against her shoulder. Her grip tightened on Sebastian's arm as she spoke.
"Mr Spears… There will come a time when you will know who I am, but now is not that time. Please, let us leave so we may get out of each other's way."
His reaction was slow, but the Reaper eventually removed the shears from her shoulder.
"Very well."
The demon, his mate, and his contract walked away.
William watched them leave the circus. He pulled a black book out of his suit jacket and began to read.
"Now I can finally move with ease as well."
When the trio arrived back at the town house, the person who greeted them was a very irate Soma.
"Ciel!" he bellowed. "Where have you been?! You left for two days without a word!"
Agni was completely unfazed.
"Welcome home," he greeted.
Ciel, having awoken during the trip home, moaned.
"That's none of your affair."
He coughed as Sebastian took him inside, Marianne on the demon's arm and stroking Ciel's hair through her fingers.
"What's wrong? You look pale!" Soma cried.
"It's nothing serious. Just leave me be." Ciel said.
The prince gasped.
"It is serious!"
He hurried after them as they climbed the stairs.
"You've obviously caught a cold! You probably have a fever…"
"No, my temperature is normal." Ciel replied.
"You're lying!"
"No, I'm not!"
Ciel coughed again.
"Ciel!"
Sebastian closed the door in his face with a smile.
The demon placed Ciel down on his bed. Marianne sat down at the boy's bedside and watched Sebastian put a pair of clean white gloves on.
"You are fond of secrets and lies, aren't you, Young Master?" said Sebastian. "You've been chronically ill since infancy, and I had no idea. Why did you never tell me?"
He poured some warm water into a basin. Marianne took Ciel's scarf from around his neck.
"You never asked, so I didn't answer." Ciel answered. "Besides, I grew out of it."
Marianne shook her head, and took the cloth Sebastian had soaked in the basin.
"Is that so?" she remarked. "My mother had the same condition for years, even as a child, and she still suffered. The right conditions can easily cause a relapse. There is no harm in being cautious when something like this happens."
Sebastian nodded his head in agreement.
"I'll read a medical text on asthma, just in case."
Ciel snorted.
"Part of your aesthetic?" he asked.
The demon sat his master upright, and got to work removing his jacket.
"A proper butler is prepared for any situation." Sebastian told him as he removed the boy's waistcoat.
"Never mind that, just report your findings at the heraldic authorities." Ciel ordered.
Marianne, who had turned away from the disrobing, spoke up.
"The coat of arms matching that seal belongs to the Baron Kelvin."
Ciel was surprised.
"Kelvin?"
"Do you know him?" Sebastian asked, pausing from his work of wiping down Ciel's bared arms and torso.
As the demon wiped the brand on his back, Ciel explained.
"Not personally, since I don't fancy 'philanthropists,' but I think we may have said hello at a party the previous Earl took me to…"
A little while later, Ciel was dressed in the clothes of his true station. As Sebastian tied a blue tie around his neck, he continued to speak.
"Well, no matter. His name is all we need."
His rings were slipped onto his left thumb and right middle finger. A black cloak was wrapped around him.
"We're going out."
His cane slammed down on the carpet. Sebastian bowed slightly with a smile.
"Yes, My Lord."
Marianne, realising what they were about to do, grabbed Ciel by the shoulders and stopped him in his tracks.
"No! You shouldn't be going out when you're still suffering with your asthma! You need to stay inside and get well! Going out will only make it worse!" she cried.
Ciel scowled up at her.
"We have no time to lose. It will have to wait."
He brushed her hands off his shoulders and headed for the door.
"If I have to manually restrain you, I will do it until you get better!" she snapped.
Ciel ignored her and opened the door.
Standing on the other side, Agni stood as a barricade; determination was written across his face.
"Huh?"
Ciel arched a brow in confusion. The trio heard laughter from behind the Indian butler.
"Not so fast, Ciel!" Soma smiled as he emerged from his hiding place. "Don't assume you'll have an easy time escaping the town house I protect!"
The boy groaned quietly.
"I know you've caught a cold." Soma strode into the room. "As the viceroy of this estate and your dear friend, I cannot allow it!"
"Who made you my 'dear friend'? Don't be daft!" Ciel snapped.
He moved past Soma towards the door again.
"Agni! Don't let Ciel past you!" ordered Soma.
"Jo aagyaa." Agni acknowledged, peeling away the bandages on his right hand.
Ciel shook his head.
"Listen, you lot… I have work to do! I haven't got time to play games with you!" he shouted. He coughed again. "Step aside!"
Soma was quick to retort.
"A sick person's job is to stay in bed and be looked after!"
"I'm not like you! I can manage…"
Ciel continued to cough.
Marianne was determined to make him stay. She hurried forward and wrapped her arms around him.
"Ciel! You need to go back to bed!" she cried.
Deftly, she removed his top hat and cloak, and took the cane out of his hands.
"Asthma is not a condition you can simply brush off! People have died because of it! You are by no means well enough to go about as you want!"
Ciel glared up at Marianne, but directed his order to Sebastian.
"Sebastian, get these two out of my way!"
The demon smiled.
"Very good, My Lord."
He was about to do so, but his mate's voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Sebastian, don't you dare!"
Agni was also quick to agree with her.
"Sebastian, you ought to be ashamed of yourself!" he bellowed. "And you call yourself Lord Phantomhive's khan-sama?!"
Sebastian only stared at him.
"Pardon?"
"As a fellow khan-sama… no, as your friend, I must speak my mind!" Agni cried. "The health of our masters is our first concern! Don't you think you should stop Lord Phantomhive for the sake of his health, even if it goes against his orders? We ensure our masters are always in good spirits and good health. We stake our lives to do it! That's the butler's aesthetic, is it not?!"
Sebastian's eyes were wide. Those words had struck him cold. Marianne's thoughts then drifted into his mind as she gazed up at him with those dark blue eyes he adored.
How do you think I would feel if I had to watch Ciel suffer even more than he was at the circus? Not taking care of him, you would be hurting me. We need to protect and care for our precious charge, our precious boy. Please, help me look after him.
He had never truly considered how much of a family unit they had become. When had he and Ciel become more than simply demon and contractor?
Sebastian turned away and put on an act of contemplation.
"I consider my role to be fulfilling my master's wishes, but there's something to be said for your way of thinking," he said.
The demon then turned to Marianne.
You care for him as if he was our own child. I can never deny you or the love in your heart. As you wish, my darling mate. We shall care for him together.
Marianne gifted him with the most beautiful smile.
Ciel watched the proceedings around him, his anger rising steadily.
"Hey! Don't let him turn you! My orders…" he cried.
Marianne shook her head and grasped hold of his shoulders.
"No. You are going straight to bed."
Her tone brooked no argument. Soma pulled Ciel out of her arms and hugged him.
"I'll personally nurse you back to health, so be grateful." He turned to Agni. "Agni! Porridge and an herbal infusion!"
Agni bowed his head.
"Certainly."
Soma turned to Sebastian.
"Ciel's khan-sama, bring nightclothes and ice packs!"
"At once." Sebastian said, following Agni out of the room.
"Oi!" Ciel cried out as he struggled against Soma's embrace.
Marianne shook her head and prepared the bed for him. There was no chance he was going to get out of this.
A while later, Ciel was in bed, dressed in his nightshirt, and a white medical patch over his eye. A thermometer stuck out of his scowling mouth.
"Right, that's a load off our minds." Soma sighed.
"Indeed." Agni agreed.
Sebastian and Marianne stood to one side, observing the care being lavished on their charge by the Indian men. Ciel lay back against his pillows. Sebastian removed the thermometer from his mouth.
"I'm telling you, I'm busy…" Ciel complained.
Soma and Agni left the room, and Sebastian and Marianne resumed their care. The girl pulled the sheets over Ciel while Sebastian spoke.
"We've made good progress on the case, so I believe you can afford to take their suggestion and rest for a day."
The demon reached out and pressed a hand to Ciel's burning forehead.
"Goodness, what a fever."
Marianne stroked the boy's hair and smiled.
"Get some sleep now, Ciel."
Sebastian nodded his head.
"Let's do it all tomorrow."
At the circus, Doll was struck to the ground by Peter.
"I told you not to trust strangers!" he bellowed.
Doll held her reddened cheek.
"But… He's just a boy, and he said he's got no place else to go… He didn't want to get separated from his sister again… And he promised me!"
She glared defiantly up at the rest of the first-stringers, excluding Snake and Joker. Peter shook his head in irritation.
"This is why I call you a twerp!"
He made to strike her again.
"Peter."
But Jumbo stopped his hand.
"Jumbo…"
"Smile isn't the only one who's gone. Suit, Black and Kitten are missing, too."
Beast was stunned by Jumbo's statement. She remembered her conversation with Kitten. She didn't understand what was going on…
"If they work for the Yard, then it's dangerous for us to stay here." Jumbo concluded.
Dagger then added his part.
"What should we do? Joker's gone to see Father…"
Peter snapped his head towards him.
"We already decided to do it without Joker if we had to!" he snarled.
Jumbo nodded his head.
"Father said this target was special. If we fail, he's sure to be angry."
"Jumbo's right." Peter agreed. "This boy's place isn't near any towns, and we gotta do it before we leave London. But we can't go now, it's almost morning."
He turned to the rest of the troupe.
"Fine. We strike tomorrow night!"
They all nodded in agreement.
"Anyway, we better report this to Joker."
Beast stepped forward.
"I'll go."
Wendy didn't agree.
"Without you, we're down a fighter we might need." She turned to Doll. "Doll, you go."
Doll bowed her head despondently.
"Alright," she sighed.
Beast looked at her with sadness in her eyes. She extended a hand to the girl.
"Come with me. I'll get you a horse.
Outside, Beast helped lever Doll up onto a dark brown horse. Doll was wrapped in a brown cloak against the winter chill. She looked down at Beast with apologetic eyes.
"Sorry, Miss. It's my fault…" she whispered.
Beast bowed her head.
"You're not to blame," she said. Doll looked at her in surprise, and Beast shook her head with a strained smile. "Never mind. Go on, off to see Joker."
"Right."
Doll tapped her ankles against the horse's sides. The horse took off in a gallop through the circus gates.
William observed the snow dusted night atop a stone pillar.
Peter was tending Wendy's bandaged ankle.
Jumbo was reading a book.
Dagger presented a small rose bud to Beast with a smile.
Doll was riding off to Joker's destination.
Joker walked towards a silent mansion.
"Well! Not only do I have to clean up after a colleague, this job is outside the scope of my administrative duties…" the Reaper sighed. "Not to mention I've been forced into over a month of night duty unsuitable for a civil servant. Good grief."
His glasses glinted under the light of the moon.
"Still, it all ends tomorrow."
Inside the mansion, Sebastian was tending to Ciel's clothes in front of a burning fireplace.
"Everything will be tomorrow…" he sighed.
As he brushed over a pocket of the boy's peasant clothes, he felt something inside it. He reached inside, and plucked out a Phantomhive candy. Without preamble, the demon tossed it into the fire. Sebastian turned away, and saw Marianne asleep in a nearby armchair. They had come down to the parlour after they tucked Ciel into bed for the night. Marianne chose a chair to curl up in, and watched Sebastian work with a soft smile on her face. But now, she was asleep. Sebastian leant down and brushed her hair away from her face. He pressed his lips to her forehead. Marianne smiled in her sleep.
"Let's end this tomorrow."
Hope everyone had a Happy New Year!
Many of you have asked what I had planned for this chapter because of how Sebastian would seduce Beast for the information he needed. One of the reasons I developed a sort of friendship between Marianne and Beast was so that Beast would be comfortable with answering her questions, and that Marianne was supposedly far too innocent to wilfully deceive her.
Also, I wanted to use this chapter for Sebastian to see that he and Marianne have become Ciel's guardians, a family. I wanted Marianne to hit him with a statement where she knew it would hurt the most: the idea that he would hurt her, when it goes against all of his instincts to do so.
Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Please read and review!