Eloise could count six days since she was left by Ciel and Sebastian, six days since she had travelled the Countryside with her former Cirque companions and found herself increasingly unhappy.

"Hello, I'm enquiring about transport that would take myself and a companion to London?"

Eloise leant over the wooden bench asking for quiet directions from a shop in the town of Preston. She had managed to escape the clutches of Joker and the others, by 'disappearing' into the crowds of the Market Street.

The woman looked at her dumbfounded before she looked around her shop before saying, "Well, I do know of the trams that travel from here to London, they are horse drawn though so it might take a few days to get there."

"Oh I don't mind about the days" Eloise said, quickly glancing behind her, "Can you tell me where the station is? I just need to know the times that's all."

The woman started to look uncertain about Eloise's situation before pulling out a scrap of parchment and scratching out some directions to the station. "Here" she muttered, "These are the times, I will write you out a note. My husband is one of the drivers, if you give him this I am sure he will make a special night time trip and get you to London as quick as possible."

"Thank you so much" Eloise whispered taking the paper and hiding it in the folds of her dress, "You don't understand how much this means to me. " She gave the woman a grateful smile before brandishing a large crutch and hobbling back, "I am in your debt with this. Goodbye."

She turned heel and left the shop, melting back into the crowds outside closing the door behind her and leaving no trace that she was ever there, except for one. The woman stared down at the bench where a small card fluttered down onto the hardwood.

The woman only scanned the card to know who Eloise was and who she dealt with, 'Funtom Company.'

"There you are Princess, where did you disappear off to?"

Joker and Doll waved Eloise down as she tried to look around the stalls for Dagger. She stopped and plastered a grin on her face, she waved back, "Sorry" she called "I got caught up looking at something and you guys left me behind!"

"I'm sorry" Joker smiled, draping his skeletal arm around her. "Just sing out next time, I'm sure I will hear you." He pulled her along the street full of people and Eloise couldn't help but notice every time Doll pickpocketed somebody.

About halfway down the street, Eloise pulled away and stared at them both with exasperation. "If you want something, just tell me and I will buy it for you."

"Buy?" Joker looked incredulous, "When have you ever bought something?" he stepped back and Eloise frowned, "Ever since I started living with Ciel Phantomhive. He caught me being a pickpocket at an Ice Fair and told me off about it. After that, he started to trust me with money and I saved it thank you very much."

"All you talk about is Ciel," Joker growled, "Don't you remember it was him that destroyed our entire way of life Eloise? Singlehandedly killed off half of our troupe and destroyed our Circus."

"Our way of life?" Eloise spat, "You stole children Joker, you were known as the Pied Piper. What we did in the past was wrong and it sickens me that I allowed myself to associate with it for so long."

She ignored the pointed glances that she got from people milling about her before pushing through them and stumbling along the stalls. "Why!" she grumbled "Why am I even bothering with this nonsense anyway?"

She wrapped her arms around herself against the chill of the wind and pushed through the crowd before she heard her name being called, but not from the person she was avoiding. "Ellie? Is everything alright?"

Dagger emerged from a stall holding a small bag, his caramel hair swaying in the wind. His eyes fell on her frame as she was trying to shield herself. "Are you cold?" he asked, "Here…" he shrugged off the coat he had and handed it out to her, "I just bought it, it's really warm."

Eloise sent an exasperated glance to the sad looking Dagger before taking the offered coat before pushing him back in between the stalls and shielding them from view from the main street.

"Wha-…" Dagger went to exclaim, but Eloise slapped her free hand over his mouth and hushed him. "I got directions and a note that can get us to London tonight. We just need to shake Joker and Doll and then we can get out of here."

Dagger's eyes widened before he moved Eloise's hand, "London?" he whispered, "Ellie, you want to go back to London? Back to them?"

Eloise nodded sincerely, "Dagger, if we go back to the Manor everything will go back to the way we liked it, in all its messed up ways with Angel's and Demons, Grim Reapers and every other Supernatural Creature of the Crime Underworld."

Dagger looked unsure, "Is this what you want Eloise? You will leave Joker after all the tears you shed over his death. What are you thinking?" He tried to struggle away from her but Eloise kept him in an iron embrace.

"I'm not going back to the way I was" she hissed, "I have looked at things from a different light and Joker isn't the same man I had fallen in love with all those years ago, This isn't what I want anymore and I have decided what I want and that's to go back to London."

Dagger stared at her with wide green eyes, "London…wh…"

Before he could even finish his sentence, Eloise crushed her lips against his. It was soft and gentle as if were to comfort him into the fact that she was going back to London to continue to give them a chance.

She pulled away and leant her forehead against his, "This is where I am happy" she whispered, "With Oscar McKinley, we will go back to the Manor and Ciel will help us for as long as we need it. Even the jerk Sebastian will given the right…leverage."

"Are you certain about this" Dagger said hushed, "You are aware of what Joker is capable of. He was the Leader of the Noah's Ark Circus and we knew not to cross him. He is a Master Assassin, he will hunt us down in no time."

Eloise tapped her nose, "Sebastian… that is all I am going to say. I'm more than certain that he will keep quite an eye out, especially if Ciel will be the target."

"You will use him as bait?" Dagger quirked an eyebrow and Eloise shrugged, "He's done it to me numerous times. It wouldn't hurt him if I turn the tables just this once."

"How do you suggest we get away from them?" Dagger peered around her to the street beyond, "We don't exactly look like the average Joe, Ellie. We stick out like a sore thumb." Eloise sighed before looking at the coat that Dagger had offered her, "Maybe it would help if we wear coats and buy hats to hide our hair. We might be able to get away unnoticed."

They crept out from the stalls, Eloise clutching at her cane and looking around for any sign of the Joker before easing on Dagger as he ushered her to a stall that sold clothing and head attire.

Eloise purchased a coat and a hat and Dagger did the same before slipping them on and obscuring their hair. Eloise hid her cane underneath the coat and Dagger stood close to her lame side to try and hide the fact she would be hobbling.

"It's going to be difficult to hide the fact that you're missing a foot Ellie," Dagger muttered, "All Joker has to do is search everybody's feet and he can find you right away." They struggled down the street and Eloise said grimly, "You forget my prowess Dagger; I wasn't an Illusionist for nothing."

Silver dust fell about them and Eloise muttered, sending a glance around the street, "This should be enough to get away and so that we can hide." They kept their faces downcast as Eloise followed the directions to the tram station.

On the way, Eloise kept a watchful eye out before her eyes fell on a Candy Stall at the end of the Market Street. "Oh wow," she said with sparkling eyes, "I haven't sweets for a long time, Dagger can we stop for a quick second?"

Dagger reluctantly stopped and they went over to the stall, Eloise grabbed a medium sized paper bag and began to stuff handfuls of sweets into it eagerly. She looked up at the Stall Keeper who looked somewhat nervous and sending her calculating gazes before she asked, "You don't happen to have products from 'Funtom' do you?"

The man seemed to relax slightly before sending shift gazes around the stall before coming out with a tiny bag filled with red wrapped sweets. "This is what I have gotten from 'Funtom' recently," he said in a hushed voice, "Its newly exported and goes by the name of Lady Blanc."

Eloise took the small bag and gave the Stall Keeper a smile, "Thanks for that, Funtom's renowned for their product. It's really popular, you should keep selling it, you will make a lot of money."

She pocketed the sweets before paying the Stall Keeper and hobbling around the corner, shoving a toffee in her mouth. Dagger sighed, "It's almost as if you have been deprived of sweets Eloise, Ciel Phantomhive owns 'Funtom' just ask him to work in the factory."

"But he knows that I will eat it all" Eloise said prying her jaws apart from the chewy caramel, "He wouldn't let me leave the Manor and travel to London every day."

They walked down a much quieter road, with Dagger casting the occasional, paranoid glance around them so Doll or Joker wouldn't catch them. As much as he knew they were family, Joker had changed and there was no way Dagger wanted to trust him again, especially with Eloise.

Back in Market Street, Joker had come to quickly realise that both Eloise and Dagger had disappeared and caught onto their plan within minutes. He walked angrily down the street, his long cloak billowing out behind him.

He turned back to snarl at an uncertain and frightened looking Doll, "They will be heading to the nearest station, Eloise will be making a dash back to London, going back to Phantomhive."

"Oh no."

Eloise slammed back against the brick of the wall, bringing Dagger with her. "I knew we shouldn't have taken a stroll through the park, Joker is at the station. He's found us out!"

Dagger looked around the building cautiously before looking back to Eloise with wide green eyes, "So what do we do? He'll be waiting there until he catches any sign of us. We're trapped!"

Eloise rubbed her face in frustration, "That's not the Joker I know," she growled, jabbing a thumb in the direction of the station. "Why do you think I was so desperate to get away? Dagger, he's changed and I sense a shadow in him. I'm getting really frightened on what could happen."

Dagger sent a gaze down the road before pointing out a police station, "Look" he said, "Let's go to the Station, they will be guaranteed to have some communication. Maybe we can reach London?"

"I can call Ciel and he can get Sebastian here to save our backsides from bloody Joker," she hissed, pushing away from the wall and hurrying down the cobblestone, "Come on Dagger hurry up. I have to get out of this town; it's too easy to track somebody down."

The pair strode down the street and walked in the doors of the Police Station before Eloise slammed her hands down on the counter and said desperately, "Please, I need to use a telephone so I can reach London. It's very urgent, please help me."

The officer glanced at her wearily before he connected several lines and asked, "Who do you need to contact?"

Eloise hesitated slightly before she rushed on, "I need to contact Ciel Phantomhive. Its personal business and I have to speak to him."

The Officer connected the phone and then put it on the counter and Eloise snatched up the receiver and waited for the dial to connect. After a moment, there was a click and Sebastian's audible voice came over, "Phantomhive Residence?"

Eloise almost crumbled at hearing the voice; she never thought that she would be so happy to hear that demon again. "S-Sebastian" she gushed into the phone, "I-Its Eloise, I have to speak to Ciel, are you able to put him on?"

"Where are you calling from" Sebastian asked, his voice growing serious and Eloise sent a glance behind her before clutching the receiver to her ear, "From the police station in Preston, we were going to catch the trams back to London but Joker has us cornered. I think we're in danger."

"I'll put the Young Master on," Sebastian said before the line went silent. Eloise waited anxiously, afraid that the unstable line would disconnect and she would get hold of the person she wanted to speak to.

"Yes?"

Eloise burst into tears at hearing the Earl's voice, "C-Ciel" she blubbered, "Ciel you have to help me, I'm stuck in Preston. Joker has gone insane and has Dagger and I cornered, there is only one station and he is keeping watch for us."

"Eloise, you and Mr McKinley are stuck in Preston?" Ciel sounded uninterested over the phone and Eloise had the passing fear that he wouldn't help her. "Please" she whispered, "Ciel, we were coming home. I made a stupid mistake and all Joker does is hurt me, he's hurt Dagger and I don't trust him anymore."

"Alright…" Ciel went silent for a moment before he came back, "Sebastian will be with you momentarily, wait for him at the West Entrance of Preston, he will be there tonight so be ready. I expect you both to be in working order when you return to the Manor."

Then Ciel hung up.

Eloise put the receiver back in its holder before pushing the telephone back over the counter and giving it back to the Officer, "Thank you" she said gratefully bowing her head, "You have helped me a lot."

"If there is an individual out there that can harm civilians, you should report him right now," the man said seriously, "It's an offence if you don't."

"He is no danger to civilians" Eloise reassured him, "What goes on is between myself and Ciel Phantomhive. We will have it fixed shortly. Thank you again." She hobbled from the station, readjusting her cane and striding to the door.

"Come on Dagger, we have to meet Sebastian."

Ciel hung up the phone and sent a smirk up at Sebastian.

"All we had to was wait" Sebastian smirked back, "She would have come back sooner or later. Everything is going back to the way you want it Young Master?"

"I didn't expect her to say that Joker had harmed her" Ciel said darkly, "He knows that her weakness would be to go for Dagger and he must have already done that. For her to be as distressed as she was; she was obviously hiding from him and he blocked her only escape route."

"You are aware that Joker would know that she would be returning to London," Sebastian asked, stepping back with the telephone on the tray. "He would be following her back here momentarily; she won't be very safe for long."

Ciel folded his hands underneath his chin, his one cerulean eye gleaming. "I was aware that she would use me as bait, but she knows that being in the Manor, Joker no matter his expertise will not be able to penetrate our barriers. Now, prepare and get there as quickly as possible. I do not care how you get there; just bring them back to the Manor. I will finish off this Lady Blanc rubbish momentarily."

"As you wish my Young Lord."

"If he said that Sebastian will be here at nightfall, why are we here so early?" Dagger looked down the path as Eloise paced back and forth anxiously, her large silver wings flickering in agitation.

"I'm not going back into that town, Joker and Doll are experienced trackers and they will catch us. It'll be a miracle if they don't find us before Sebastian comes. Its why we are so far out of the West Entrance. I don't want to risk it."

"I thought this is what you wanted" Dagger said, leaning back against the trunk of a tree and taking off his coat. "You always wanted to leave the Manor and go find the Circus again, you wanted to find the love of your life and be happy. What changed?"

Eloise hovered back and forth agitatedly; she unwrapped another lolly and shoved it in her mouth and eating it before looking back down to Dagger. "I've been thinking about it all week, were our lives really that great?"

Dagger hesitated as she ranted on, "We performed for children, made them laugh and glimpse into another world completely. Wasn't it the best feeling knowing that you brought wonder and delight to these innocent souls… only to find them dead later on that night or days after that? We were filthy kidnappers and murderers Dagger. I was an Angel and yet I stood back and did nothing."

She shook her head forlornly, "Nothing, it will be enough to condemn me for my sins at the atrocity. I will never say that I was proud of what that Circus did and Joker…?" she flung her hand out back towards Preston. "That is not the man I fell in love with, would he ever go out of his way to physically harm a person that was a part of his family?"

"Well…" Dagger looked thoughtful for a moment before gazing back up to Eloise, the rim of his hat casting a shadow over his eyes, "If I found out that another man was screwin' my missus, somebody would get hurt. I wouldn't be able to control myself."

Eloise blushed at Dagger's crude words before trying to rephrase what she said, "He's gone out of his way to hurt you to get to me. He's looking for a reaction so he can hit me or something, he's not happy because I'm not his little follow around slave anymore."

"He wants everything to go back to normal, the way he wants it and it's not going to stop. He'll be wanting to punish me!"

Eloise did another pace of the path, her wings faltering before she sighed in frustration and tried to stop her shaking hands. She was so on edge and she didn't know why, it was driving her almost mental, she was seriously about to snap.

"What have you been eating" Dagger frowned up at her, "You're more agitated than usual, gimme' a look." Eloise fished through her pockets and threw down a red wrapper to Dagger, who snatched it up and read the small writing on the wrapper.

"This is the Lady Blanc, how much have you eaten?"

"I don't know Eloise snapped down to her companion, "Check the bloody cloak! They're only lollies!"

Dagger fished through Eloise's cloak and pulled out the small bag with the red lollies in them only to find three left. He pulled one out and unwrapped it to see a little white ball, contradicting what the wrapper said of 'Toffee.'

"Oh no" he muttered, taking the ball off the wrapper and sniffing it. It gave off a potent odour and Dagger knew right away what it was, "Ellie" he shouted up at the Angel, "These aint sweets, they're drugs! It's Opium!"

"Drugs?" Eloise screeched, "Why would Ciel import drugs? I don't believe you, you liar!"

"Did the bloody things turn to powder in your mouth Ellie?" Dagger shouted back, "I'm telling you, Opium! Somebody may be using Funtom as a way to traffic it. You have eaten a full bag of it! You may have over dosed!"

He threw the bad away and crushed the remaining drugs underneath his boots, "This is why you're probably about to tear somebodies face off Eloise. Are you feeling numb, tell me what you're feeling."

Eloise looked over the horizon before a sense of euphoria came over her. She put her hand on her forehead before muttering, "I-I feel dizzy" her wings fell out from beneath her and she plummeted back to earth.

Dagger rushed forward and caught her; he felt her clammy skin and her face was pale. She was out cold before cursing to himself, "So its hit her all at once, great this is the last thing I need. How am I going to tell Sebastian that she overdosed on drugs?"

Dagger was mortified at the way Sebastian turned up at dusk.

He knew from Eloise that Sebastian was a demon, the polar opposite of an Angel. So when he turned up in a smoking black carriage led by massive horses with their manes alight with crackling fire. Dagger was almost too terrified to move forward, let alone relinquish his death hold on Eloise.

Sebastian sensed his fear before jumping down and walking past the horses, "Demon steeds" he said almost maliciously, "They are five times stronger than regular horses and since the Young Master needed me to return as quickly as possible, this was the best way."

He approached them and noticed Eloise passed out in Dagger's arms, he didn't even need to ask, he accidentally stepped on a sweets wrapper and saw the Lady Blanc and sighed, "How did she manage to get one of these?"

"She bought a whole bag actually" Dagger said cautiously, "She thought they were sweets and she was eating them one after the other without even realising what it was. She was scared about Joker finding us."

Sebastian sighed, "She'll be alright I will assure you, she is a divine being, they are a lot harder to kill than letting them overdose on simple human creations." He held out his hand, "Come now, we don't have all evening, the Young Master needs us. She'll wake up along the way. It's going to be simply one hell of a ride."