Sebastian and his daughter arrived at the high society gathering roughly half an hour behind Ciel. As he had been ordered to, Sebastian was attending separately from his master. The demon was going to spend time acting as Aliya's father and not distracted by his duties as a butler. Aliya looked stunning; Sebastian had truly outdone himself with her attire. The girl couldn't wear white without having a panic attack so her dress was fashioned out of light gray, silver, and shades of purple with accents of black. Her outfit was stylish without being overly girly. After much persuasion, Aliya agreed to wear a few ribbons in her hair. The silver and purple cloth tied back her bangs and gave her short black hair the appearance of being longer than it was. Sebastian stood beside her in a new set of clothes. He wasn't acting as the Phantomhive butler or a tutor so he wore something new. However, he kept black mostly out of his clothes and styled it so the tailoring matched Aliya's outfit but not tackily so. Sebastian didn't wear his hair differently or the pair of glasses he put on sometimes.
Sebastian had instructed Aliya as to the proper behavior for this event but she was still nervous that she would mess up. The girl wanted nothing more then to spend time with her father and was scared to spoil it. Sebastian led her inside the expansive house. The social gathering was not of the most formal nature and several well-to-do families with children were in attendance.
"You look terrified," Sebastian informed her.
"Is it that obvious?" she asked timidly.
"Don't be so nervous. If you do something utterly embarrassing, everyone will just laugh and call you an amusing child," Sebastian said reassuringly. He left out the part where everyone would look at him disapprovingly for poor parenting.
"I suppose," Aliya muttered. Sebastian smiled and escorted her into the main ball room.
Aliya took a few moments to just marvel at her surroundings. Everything was so exquisite. Sebastian pointed around the room and explained the areas for dancing, where the refreshments were, and where social groups had formed to talk.
"How do you know all this?" Aliya asked with wonder.
"I was not always a butler, Aliya. I have watched human society for hundreds of years," he reminded her.
"There's Ciel, I mean, Earl Phantomhive," Aliya indicated one side of the room. Ciel stood talking with several men.
"Yes, he seems to be doing well. Look, a new song is starting." Sebastian turned his attention away from the boy. "May I have the honor of dancing with my beautiful daughter?" he bowed to Aliya.
"The honor is mine, Father," the girl curtsied. Sebastian offered her his hand and led her onto the dance floor. The orchestra played a slow tune as couples waltzed around the hall. Sebastian gave a distasteful glance to the violin player; he could do much better then that. Aliya just concentrated on remembering her steps.
They were not the only parent and child couple on the floor but they received a lot of attention. Guests at the party smiled at the demons. They whispered how much the girl resembled him. And wasn't it nice how fathers spent time with their children these days. Even with Aliya by his side Sebastian received admiring looks from single ladies. By the end of the first dance Aliya was starting to calm her nerves and smile. Sebastian complemented her on how quickly she had learned to dance. When a new song began the two stayed on the floor. But this song was faster and Aliya was having trouble keeping up. "Do you need to rest?" Sebastian asked when she stumbled.
"No," Aliya suddenly stepped onto his shoes. She placed one of her feet on top of each of his and balanced there.
"Don't be lazy," Sebastian remarked as he continued to dance with Aliya on his feet.
"Heh, this is fun," Aliya smiled as he carried her through the steps. The girl's childish and undeniably cute behavior caused even more people to glance their way.
At the end of the dance Sebastian lifted her off his shoes and placed her on the floor.
"Enough of that," he spoke without much harshness in his voice. Aliya smiled at him.
"Aww that was cute!" Lizzie ran towards the two of them, "Ciel said you would be here."
"Did he?" Sebastian guessed that Ciel had sent Lizzie after them to distract her from pestering him.
"I love your dress! And your outfits match, it's so perfect," Elizabeth complemented them.
"Thank you. You look very nice too," Aliya said with a smile, even though Lizzie's demanding personality still frightened her.
"Did you ever find my doll?" asked Lizzie. Aliya's back stiffened at the mention of it.
"Why don't you introduce Aliya to your friends?" Sebastian quickly changed the topic.
"That's a great idea. We're playing games in the back. You can join us," Lizzie offered.
"Should I?" Aliya asked.
"Word and puzzle games are very popular. I think you will find them fun," Sebastian nodded, "I'll join you shortly."
"Yay," Lizzie took a hold of Aliya's hand and dragged her off. Once they darted out of sight Sebastian returned to the dance floor. He would leave Aliya in the company of Lady Elizabeth for a little bit.
A gorgeous woman stood by the wall of the dance hall. She was acting as a beautiful wall flower and simply watching other guests. The pale skinned woman was quite tall and stood not much shorter than Sebastian. She had long blond hair that was styled in a complex system of twists. The yellow locks were wrapped around a comb in the back then trailed out in three elegant braids down her back. It was an exotic look, especially when combined with her long and lacy white dress. Her outfit was ostentatious with a scoop neck and many white and pink flowers, silver ribbons, and folds of lace. She held a pearl colored fan made of lace and metal in one delicate hand that was covered with a white, elbow-length silk glove. She didn't look to be over thirty years old and her creamy skin was neither blemished or sun burned. The woman was thin but her waist was thicker around from sheer muscle mass than most ladies would have liked. Despite the fact that she was slightly overweight, men, even married ones, stole glances towards this vision in white from across the room and wondered what lucky man held her hand in marriage. She had to be married; no woman that beautiful could remain single for long.
Sebastian approached this woman whom he had noticed while dancing with Aliya. "May I have your hand for this dance?" Sebastian addressed her politely.
"I am busy at the moment," the woman shrugged him off.
"Nonsense, you have been standing here all night. Come dance with me." Sebastian forcibly took her wrist and pulled her to the dance floor. The woman started to protest and attract attention. Sebastian quickly drew her into a dance hold. The woman stopped complaining but still looked at him sourly.
Sebastian and the woman were silent for a moment. The blond haired woman seemed immune to all his charm and continued to wear a bitter face. Sebastian waited until all the other couples were either out of hearing range or obviously not listening before speaking. "What are you doing here?" he asked icily.
"I am afraid that you are quite insane. I don't know you." The woman turned her face away.
"Tell me the truth, angel," Sebastian glared at the woman with his red eyes glowing.
"Oh?" the beautiful woman smiled thinly and allowed a supernatural glow to come to her blue eyes. "How ever did you guess? I'm sure that I have never shown you my face before."
"You were watching Aliya. And once I recognized the features you share with her, it became obvious," he explained. "Ariel, if I heard Drocell correctly."
"Yes, my name is fitting of a holy being. I gave Aliya a proper name. But she still turned into a rotten child," the angel scoffed. "Did you actually manage to see similar features between us? That is a surprise. The girl really looks nothing like me."
"That's your own fault," Sebastian pointed out.
"The summoning made her appearance random. I didn't make her look like a filthy demon on purpose. Then again, it might have been harder to ignore her pleas for mercy if she looked like me. So, I suppose everything turned out for the best," the woman considered. Sebastian's eyes narrowed menacingly.
"I repeat, what are you doing here?" he demanded.
"What do you think, hideous creature?" Ariel said rudely, "I came to see my little monster."
"Don't go near her. Aliya is having fun I will not allow you to take that away from her," Sebastian growled. The girl in question was still blissfully unaware of her mother's presence. She stood exchanging riddles with Elizabeth and her friends.
"You don't scare me. I made that child, she belongs to me," the angel said with cool confidence.
"Your mistake was using my blood to create her. Aliya is my daughter."
"It doesn't matter that Aliya was created with your blood. Flesh from any other powerful demon, even a female, would have worked," the angel said smugly.
"It matters to me," Sebastian answered simply. Ariel eyed him reproachfully.
"You have feelings for the little monster? The gray winged creature is my tool created for my purpose. Don't get attached or I'll be stealing another one of your limbs." Ariel smirked maliciously. In response to the angel's threat, Sebastian tightened his hold on her hand. He clenched his fist until all the bones in her fingers broke with a satisfying snap. Ariel flinched from pain but the injury would heal in a few minutes.
"Was that supposed to scare me?" the angel asked. "I already know you are a very powerful demon. That is why I tricked you into coming to Earth."
"What did you say?" Sebastian demanded. She had tricked him? How? Ariel smirked at him and refused to say anymore. She jerked her hand out of his hold and stepped away from him.
"I am bored with talking to you, filthy creature. I came here to remind that foolish child that she belongs to me. I don't want her getting rebellious ideas in her head before I collect her," she said with a malicious grin in Aliya's direction.
"I won't let you near her," Sebastian said evenly.
"You wouldn't cause a scene here, Sebastian Michaelis. That would shame the Phantomhive house, not to mention look bad to Bardroy, Tanaka, Maylene, and Finnian," she sneered. Sebastian's face showed his surprise. "Foolish demon. I know all about you and your little master. I have been keeping an eye on you ever since you accepted a contract with that pathetic human three years ago." She glanced across the room to Ciel. Ariel watched Sebastian's expression for a moment then spoke again. "I'm going to speak with my child now. If you want stop me, do so. But don't try it. I'm not above screaming rape and having you thrown out." She turned away from him and headed towards Aliya.
Sebastian glanced around the room, trying to figure his options. There were far too many humans around for him to start a fist fight with Ariel. Someone would see their supernatural fight. He was under orders to act human and the angel knew it. There was no way he could make her leave discreetly. If a pretty woman started screaming he would probably be arrested. He couldn't fight Ariel here but he couldn't let her get near Aliya either. So, Sebastian darted through the crowd of people. He reached the other side of the ball room before Ariel did. Aliya was standing near Lady Elizabeth and her friends and watching people dance. "Father?" she asked when she noticed his approach. Sebastian didn't hesitate to walk up to her and pull her into a protective embrace. "What is it?" Aliya stammered with bewilderment. Then she sensed her mother's presence. Instantly, the girl's body stiffened and her muscles trembled.
Ariel appeared from the throng of people and gave the little girl a cruel smile. Aliya huddled against Sebastian but couldn't stop herself from meeting her mother's stare. She shuddered with fear under the angel's gaze.
"Be brave, she can't hurt you here," Sebastian whispered to Aliya. Ariel took a few steps closer to them. The demon glared at her threateningly but she paid Sebastian no mind and just continued to grin sadistically at Aliya.
"It hurts," Aliya whimpered. She clung to the fabric of her father's suit for dear life as painful memories engulfed her.
Ariel reached out a hand as if to touch Aliya's face in a motherly gesture. However, Sebastian took a step backwards and wouldn't allow her to get any closer to the girl. The angel raised an eyebrow at the demon in amusement. She then abruptly turned around and walked away from the father and daughter. Sebastian wondered if she was going to leave then noticed that she was heading towards Ciel. "Damn." Sebastian quickly lifted Aliya into his arms and hurried to reach the earl. Inconveniently, there was a crowd between Sebastian and Ciel that slowed the demon down. Ariel easily walked towards the boy without concern. At some point Ciel had become aware of Ariel's presence. The boy watched Ariel walk towards him. He shot her a glare of pure hatred but didn't run away.
"Something wrong, earl?" a businessman that had been talking to Ciel, asked.
"Nothing of importance," Ciel responded. He was about to continue his conversation with the man but Ariel intervened.
"Aren't you just the most adorable little boy?" the angel patted him on the head. Ciel jerked away from her touch with surprise, he hadn't seen her sneak up behind him. The men nearby were shocked to see a woman address the Earl Phantomhive in such a way. "Where are you parents, boy? Do you think they would be proud of you? Would they approve how you have chosen to throw away the life they gave you?" Ariel said with fake kindness. Those words stabbed Ciel in the gut like a knife.
"Don't talk about my parents!" he ordered. Ariel just gave the boy a grin that made him shudder involuntarily. Some old memory came to life from the recesses of his mind. He suddenly remembered that cruel smile. Ariel had been one of the cultists who killed him. Ciel distinctly remembered the person who had branded him before his sacrificial death. He remembered because this person had given him a smile right before pressing the hot metal to his flesh. "Y…you…" he stared at the angel.
"Have you gotten over those night terrors, yet?" She reveled in the fear she made him feel.
"Madam, I suggest you leave," Sebastian finally stepped between Ciel and the angel.
"Leave? I haven't done anything wrong." she said with mock surprise. The earl stood behind Sebastian, having the demon nearby restored his confidence so he glared at the angel.
"You are disrupting my master," Sebastian said icily. He didn't mention the girl who still held the front of his jacket in a death grip.
"Yes, I suppose that I should leave. Your filthy boy isn't worth my time," Ariel nodded. Ciel gritted his teeth in furry. Ariel turned towards the door but still watched Aliya over her shoulder, "Mother will take you home soon, Aliya." The angel blew a kiss in the girl's direction. Aliya shivered. As Ariel walked to the door, Ciel took a step closer to Sebastian.
"What are you waiting for? Go after her!" he hissed at the demon.
"Yes, my lord." Sebastian set Aliya on the floor and pried her fingers off of his jacket.
"Father," Aliya whimpered. She latched onto his arm and refused to let go.
"Aliya, stay here," he tried to tell her but she didn't respond.
"Listen, you will be safer here," Ciel gently tugged on Aliya's sleeve to get her attention. The girl eventually obeyed and released her death grip on Sebastian. Ciel allowed her to burry her face in his shoulder while Sebastian made his way to the exit.