The Web is Cast
Moving on.
xxx
Winter nights shadowing England display a common ambiance. The rings spanning from the full moon projecting the luminescent glow upon the British lands. Stars twinkling so bright in the clear navy sky it rivaled the mornings. Beautiful to behold, if not a regular occurrence often ignored. Seldom noticed are the clouds coasting along idly. The massive cloud slinking at its own leisurely pace, teasing to temporarily block the moon.
Pale fingers traced the ornate window panes of the tile windows. Sapphire eyes rippling in the moonlight. Alliahnna brushed fingers to where a sword healed sword wound etched on her skin. No blemishing scar to serve as an obsession to occupy the stroking digits. Neither were there flowing thoughts of the culprit who tore her cheek. Long forgiven, if anyone asked. What mindlessly perturbed the fingers and cheek, forever etched into the pail skin reflecting the full moon light, was the sensation of a long pink tongue relentlessly haunting her skin.
That look in his eye...Claude's golden irises shimmering dauntingly fresh on the forefront of her troubles. I know that look. It was the same as when he tasted Ciel's blood. Euphoric bliss sending waves of ecstasy lapping to his chilling skin. Muscles from torso to nether regions tightening and needlings. That is the same look Sebastian has when he's been teased by a taste of what he covets. And...how Alliahnna looked when she spied souls she could devour. Alois...he saw that look in his eye. As the boy's pooling blood brought him to the brink of unconsciousness, he was entranced by Claude's stare. The abject disgust and hurt highlighting his face was not unfamiliar. That was the face of someone who is a stranger to longing.
Claude Faustus, after experiencing the tiniest taste of Ciel, no longer wished for a broken Master. Thus he killed him. But why? Why kill him? Ciel is the goal, obviously. But the terms of the pact he made with Sebastian were that Ciel was to obtain his revenge. Alois and Claude being the target of that revenge. Once it is obtained, Claude and Sebastian will fight to the death. The winner - Sebastian - will claim Ciel's soul. So why kill Alois? That goes against what they agreed. At the very least it infringes upon Ciel's goal and will ultimately complicate things.
"Claude…" Alliahnna's fingers balled to an irked fist. Her glare sharpened under her knit brow. "What are you up to?"
"Possibly sleeping, as you should be." Alliahnna jumped out of her skin. She turned around, laughing meekly. Ciel stood behind her in his oversized night shirt, hands on his hips with a disappointed stare. "There is much work to be done tomorrow. You need your rest."
"Sorry, Ciel." She lost all track of time. It was falling on ten o'clock. Not that tomorrow is truly worth waking up for. Business meetings, lessons, a dull social gathering with the president of a company - the tedious norm. "But you need more rest than me." She protested. "As the Phantomhive Head, you can't afford to be seen weary or fatigued." Ciel was willing to grant her that. "Come on. I'll walk you back to your room."
"Alliahnna…" Ciel spun, stopping her at the door. He wrapped restrictive arms around himself, turning his pink cheeks to hide by his hair, "May I...may I stay...with you tonight?" He swallowed. Alliahnna was surprised by the request. She answered with a warm smile.
The hour coasted to 15 minutes after 11. Ciel and Alliahnna were wide awake in the bed, sniggering like little imps at their childish escapades from long ago. Waking up before the sun rose to break into the desert pantry. Hiding in the gardens for hours before anyone found them. Then there was that one time they changed hair styles and played an almost never ending prank on guests. What originally started as a game to pass the time - catch the Ciel - turned into an all out manhunt with Alliahnna dressing up and pretending to be Ciel on the opposite side of the manor. The end result was better than they hoped. They won their pick of treats for a week.
"Remember sneaking into each other's rooms as children." Alliahnna chortled.
"Mother and father scolded us the next morning. Saying we'd never grow into respectable adults if we keep sleeping together."
"Guess we showed them."
"Yep!" Ciel beamed. An uncontrollable fit of laughter had them fidgeting. Their sneaking around hasn't lost charm, just challenge. Without Rachael and Vincent around to catch them, it was a feat of ease. Maybe one day they'll pull the wool over Sebastian's eye. That would be fun.
Ciel and Alliahnna lied on their back, gazing to the stars beyond the ceiling. So much has happened in such a short amount of time. The twins felt another year older with each case they solved, or the defeats of enemies. In their young age, they have accomplished so much, and yet left much undone. "Do you think they'd be proud of us?" Alliahnna asked somberly. "Mom and Dad?"
"I think they'd be stunned." Ciel replied bluntly. He propped his head on an elbow. "Nevertheless, they would be proud of us for how we turned out. Especially since we've set aside past grievances."
"True." Alliahnna propped onto her elbow. "That alone would win us our pick of treats for decades." Ciel would have an endless array of parfaits. The dream was enough to make his stomach growl.
The creak of Alliahnna's door startled them. Sebastian entered the room with a candelabra in hand. He was mildly caught off guard by the gaping Ciel and Alliahnna in the same bed. The pair blinked mortified at him, silent in their embarrassment. "Pardon me, My Lord and Lady!" Sebastian quickly excused himself, proceeding to enter. As he closed the door, Ciel and Alliahnna scrambled to sit on the edge of the bed. Both were beet red. Sebastian chuckled, "How adorable."
"Did you need something?" Ciel snarled.
"I merely wondered where my two masters have gone." Sebastian curled fingers to his teasing smirk. "I never imagined would come to be envious when I discovered you both under the sheets."
Ciel and Alliahnna clawed his collar, bringing him within inches of their rabid snarls, "DO NOT MAKE US SOUND LICENTIOUS!" Oh it was too easy at times, and therefore eliminated the fun.
"Honestly!" Ciel grudgingly released Sebastian's collar. "This is the person who spirited my sister into his arms." He patted her shoulder sympathetically. "You have my sincerest condolences." Alliahnna and Sebastian couldn't help exchanging snickers. That is indeed one way to put it.
"Jests aside…" Sebastian approached the flushed pair, "Are you both having trouble sleeping?"
"Are we that transparent?" Alliahnna cursed herself. Books for Sebastian - that's what they are.
"If that is the case, there is no use in hiding it." Ciel decreed resignedly. He folded his elbows to his knees, dropping his head despondently. "It's...this business of killing someone. It doesn't play out as one expects." His grotesque feelings on the matter are apparent in his hesitation. Ciel is no stranger to death or killing. It is the state of mind and lack of integrity needed to accomplish the task.
"It rarely does." Alliahnna admitted as the expert on the subject.
"I thought the process would be an easy one. But I cannot kill like the two of you." He glanced to Alliahnna, "Without the slightest hesitation," Then he glared to Sebastian, "Or honor."
"I consider that a high compliment, My Lord." Sebastian acquiesced. Alliahnna wasn't so flattered. Is that how he see's us?
Ciel hadn't meant for it to be a compliment. In Alliahnna's case, it wasn't meant as an insult to her either. An observation into his own moral weakness. "You were right to stop me, Alliahnna." He stunned her. "I...I'm not prepared to take someone's life like I almost did." He stared at his palm unfavorably. The imprint of the sword hilt fresh in his skin. The blade hovering inches above Alois's black heart. "That strange feeling. The god like power that I held. In one moment I could decide if Alois lived or died. In turn…" He closed the palm, bringing in the shame he was crushing to his chest, "I almost lost myself. Turned into something I'm not. You have my thanks for stopping me."
"Of course. That's why I'm here." She stroked hairs behind his ear. "It was never my intention to thwart you. I just didn't want you to become what you have been fighting." And for that he would be eternally grateful. Grateful or no, it was getting late. Alliahnna tucked him in, hoping the cleared air would help him sleep. Not likely. "Would you like to hear a story so you can sleep?"
Ciel pulled the covers higher to mask his childish desire. "Just a chapter…" He muttered.
"Well…" Sebastian extracted a letter from his coat. "Would a letter from Her Majesty suffice?" Ciel and Alliahnna gaped at him.
xxx
From atop the Phantomhive Manor roof, standing firm against the turbulent night wind, Zanosuke and Jasper spanned glares rancorously to the curving horizon. Beyond what the initial blush permitted, the winds gathering to their coats were but the shuddered breath of a storm swiftly approaching. Carried on that wind was the putrid stench of a spider. Dancing spindle legs crawling within the blanketed shadows, spinning its vile web that would ensnare its victims in an unbreakable cocoon. Whether or not the victims of the webs will be able to escape will depend entirely upon them.
"The end is drawing near…" Zanosuke whispered.
"Indeed. This will be their greatest trial." Jasper lowered his head.
"Are you certain we should stand idly by?"
"What would you have us do?" Jasper quizzed him sternly. "Ciel's soul rekindled a revenge lost when it was stolen. Claude and Alois are at the forefront. The latter being gone." He grimly reminded his hasty son. "The only aid we can offer will likely result in denying him the revenge he craves. Then his soul will be moot to Sebastian." Zanosuke can agree. although, he doesn't like it. He wishes he can do more for them. "Sebastian, Alliahnna, and Claude are in a pact. Regardless if one has violated it, it is not our place to hinder what is in motion."
"Even if what's in motion could cost Sebastian, Ciel, and Alliahnna everything?"
"Even then…" Jasper reluctantly answered. Ciel's gaol for achieving his revenge stems on the cooperation of Sebastian and Alliahnna. Two figures he's come to rely on. Ciel's soul is in such a fragile state. If he comes to rely on too many demons at once, like Alois, his achievement for revenge will not ultimately be his. Therefore, it will sunder him. "I do promise this, though." Zanosuke brightened. "Should the rest of the demons of House Trancy try to disturb their path, you and I may clear them from the finish line." He grinned, licking his lips. Zanosuke accepted that option. As it was the only one available to him. In the end, as he is slowly coming to accept, this is a battle started by the Phantomhive and their Butler. It should be finished by them.
xxx
The Queen's correspondences with Ciel and Alliahnna usually contain their theme of macabre and depravity. An occurrence they've become fond of. This letter, though similar in theme, carried an air of omnimity. Chills traveled their spines. If ever they were thankful to travel by carriage, Ciel and Alliahnna appreciated it now.
As strange as a spate of crimes can be, this one was second to none. An assailant was terrorizing the local London area, gouging out the eyes of his victims. None of the victims thus far have been of the same class. They have, however, been linked together by their ages. Young boys. Presumably no older than 10 or 13. The recent victim Alliahnna, Ciel, and Sebastian were on their way to see was one so young.
"The young man we are soon to meet was released from the hospital just this morning." Sebastian informed his masters. "With the exception of his eyes, he is expected to make a full recovery."
"And here I thought Toe Collector from Paris's bronx was unnerving." Alliahnna remarked, crossing her arms and legs. "Gouging out young boys' eyes. That's a new one for me."
"And quite perverse!" Ciel snarled. Brutish tactics by another who is lapsing in mental capacity. How disgusting the human race can be.
Ciel turned his attention to the window. The passing scenery carried his troubled mind to another plain. This revolting talk of eye gouging and depraved means of attack brought on thoughts of Alois. How he was the victim of Ciel's own depravity, quibbling on the floor like a slobbering child. His pitiable and weak appearance unraveling at the very seams he fought to sow. That dying boy has been on his mind for days. And the words he professed...they bothered him to no foreseeable end.
'Wait, no! Listen to me! You don't understand!' Crawling up Ciel's body with hands stained in his own spilling blood. 'You're being tricked by a demon!' Tricked by a demon. What does he mean by that? Were Sebastian and Alliahnna tricking him? No. They couldn't be. They wouldn't. And yet still the doubts hover. 'Can't you see that we're basically the same?' The same...The idea was absolutely ridiculous. But if what Alois said is true, and demons are tricking him, how long has this trickery been going on?
"Ciel." Alliahnna's gentle tone brought him back to them.
"Is there something the matter?" Sebastian voiced the concern.
"It's nothing." He glared ahead, because that is all that mattered at the moment. He said nothing while confessing everything. Alliahnna and Sebastian could smell it wafting off his skin. He's thinking about Alois. The time he discovers the boy is dead was drawing nigh.
As the Phantomhive carriage disappeared around a curve in the streets, a figure loomed on the rooftops, watching his intended targets elude his reach momentarily.
xxx
The mother of the injured boy welcomed Ciel, Sebastian, and Alliahnna into their humble home. Her son was sitting at the small kitchen table. Bandages were wrapped tightly to his eyes, blood soaked circles were marked the former place of his eyes. The boy that was described was presumed to be someone of 13 or younger. Like the other victims. The boy at the table had to be close in age to Ciel and Alliahnna. Thinking of the passages within The Queen's letter, it was safe to assume the others are similar in age as well.
"We apologize for disturbing you. Especially after this ordeal." Alliahnna slowly approached the young man. He flinched when he felt her draw close. She was careful not to grow too close. She needed him to trust her, and feel comfortable around her. Sebastian and Ciel watched her develop rapport with the boy. "But can you tell us why you were attacked?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" Alliahnna flinched when he slapped his hands to the table. "He just up and stuck his fingers in me eyes!" He clawed at his bandages, succumbing to a hysterical frenzy. "Now I can't see nuffin! Nuffin!" He shook his head, unable to resign himself to his fate. Alliahnna knew right then and there she wouldn't be able to coax him to calm down. She nodded to Ciel.
"Can you describe your attacker?"
"He was barely older than I am! But he looked plenty rich!" Ciel and Alliahnna were surprised by the description. They expected someone far older. "The bastard…" Salty tears stung fire as he cried.
Alliahnna could offer no words of condolences. There is nothing she can say that would pacify him or his mother. "We will find the monster that did this! You have my word!" She bowed.
"You'd better!" The mother hugged her son. "You'd better."
Sebastian excused his masters and himself. There is much work they need to get done. Now that they have a description of the attacker, they must confirm the assailant with the other previous victims. Then a game plan can be hatched.
xxx
Meanwhile, in the gardens of the Trancy Manor, a serene silence engulfed the estate. Absolutely lovely. The manor has never felt so calm in all its ancestry. Always so rampant with boisterous nobles, rambunctious demons, and the pitiful wailings of a dearly departed master. The silence was a symphony to stressed ears. The happily chirping birds flocked to the vibrantly glistening flowers blooming along the arched vinery of the maze. An orchestra of serenity.
Freshly brewed tea, and snacks sat idly on a round table as gloved hands skillfully wove a hooked stick, lacing links within a pearl white thread. Not the slightest misstep or hesitation in the next several lacings. Claude's hardened gold eyes transfixed in the stitches. The delicateness of the links he forged, how easily they can be cut. Refashioning a new link would be a tiresome means of reforging what is disastrously cut. But, for one skilled in weaving the threads that bind, woven threads can be loosened, and stitched together in an all new pattern, creating something else as equally magnificent.
"The demon has spent much time building up those souls stitch-by-stitch." He recited to himself, minding to not ruin his stitches. "And now I intend to steal them. But I must do so respectfully...stitch-by-stitch." On purpose he tangling a link of knots to follow the links. "One soul that has been sown, however, has not been woven by mere, flimsy thread. Therefore will not be easy to unstitch." Knot after knot, the second set of stitchings formed. Strongly were they sown, uninterfered by the weaker stitches. "This soul is secured by a stronger weaving. One that cannot be cut so hastily. Only by loosening the stitch can I be allowed to steal it." On the next knot, Claude left loose strands protruding. The knots steadily loosened on the next few, creating an all new link. "By loosening the old stitch, I shall form a new one. And should it break, I shall rebuild it. Stitch...by...stitch."
xxx
The better part of the day was spent visiting the victims of the Eye Gouging Attacker. Their suspicions were confirmed. The few interviewed told the same tale but with different settings. Be they in the market, in their homes, or wandering the streets. A richly dressed boy around his 20's attacked them in the middle of the night and gouged their eyes out. No rhyme or reason behind the attacks. The man just pounced and claimed their eyes as his prize.
Ciel, Alliahnna, and Sebastian found respite in the local market in the village. Ciel went over what they gathered in his head, all the while putting pieces together on a map he dimly gazed up.
"We have several witness reports." Sebastian informed them. Witnesses that are not the victims have eliminated doubts for the first portion of their investigation. "With that exception, they have described the attacker as a rich, young Noble."
Alliahnna flipped Ciel's top hat onto her head, winking impishly, "You aren't secretly stealing eyes, are you Little Brother?"
"If I am, I wouldn't be so obvious. I learn from the best on how to be discreet." Alliahnna put hands on her hips, puffing out her chest with pride. "That aside," Ciel collected his hat, "I'm being mocked." The proclamation baffled her.
"Mocked by whom, Master?" Sebastian asked.
"Look!" He set the map on his lap, and drew a pen from his pocket. Sebastian and Alliahnna towered of him. "I'll draw a line between the Trancy and Phantomhive Estates. Then connect the lines to the various scenes of the crime." A hexagonal webb stretched across London's terrain. "A spiderweb. Obviously HE'S behind this!" Alois. Alliahnna silently choked on a lump in her throat. She stepped away so Ciel wouldn't see her falter.
"It may be possible his butler is acting on his own." Sebastian proposed. It's not a possibility. It's a damn fact! But they can't tell him that!
"Butlers tend to act in shadows…" Alliahnna mumbled under her breath. Sebastian heard her, and caught sight of her glare.
"So he survived. He's persistent, I'll give him that much." Alliahnna gaped at Ciel's response. "Trancy...he is still alive!" The fires within him burned with a vengeance. The monster behind his wounded pride and the death of his parents lives. Or so he believes. Because of his weakness and incompetence, the Trancy Heir lives. But this discussion of butler got him thinking. "A butler always answers his Master TRUTHFULLY and without hesitation. Is that correct?"
"Quite right, My Lord." Sebastian answered.
Ciel narrowed his stare. "You're not hiding anything about Alois from me are you?" Alliahnna with her back turned held her flipping stomach.
Sebastian admired his master's perception. He smiled charismatically. "No." The reply struck Alliahnna like lightening. "I'm not hiding anything about Alois." Technically that is not a lie. Sebastian isn't hiding a thing. Claude is. While that minor semantic is all that serves Sebastian from divulging more, the noose is tightening.
"Alliahnna." She cringed. She meandered to him. She hoped he couldn't' see the sweat on her brow. "I am not your master. But I would hope our relationship harbors a similar loyalty." He's just needling at her guilt now. Either he knows something, or he's trying to get her to admit she knows something and tell him. "You aren't hiding anything from me either, are you?"
Everything! I'm hiding everything from you! Her heart screamed. Including that candy from Hallow's Eve when we were six! That's probably gone bad by now being buried in smoldered ash. But she's willing to admit to anything right now. "You know me, Ciel." She scoffed, hugging hands to her elbows. "I only hide what I feel guilty about." And I don't feel guilty keeping this from you. I wonder why. Sebastian hid his relief at her subterfuge.
"Good." Ciel was satisfied. Much to Sebastian and Alliahnna's relief. "In that case-" A merchant's stand a foot away exploded to dust and splinters. Sebastian scooped up Ciel, he and Alliahnna jumping to a nearby stage. Alliahnna drew her sword, guarding Sebastian as he cared for Ciel. Ciel was trapped in shock. That came out of nowhere. He and the others were careless. "THE SPIDER BUTLER!"
Sebastian and Alliahnna scanned the area. "No. Not now." Sebastian declared. It was far too soon. Only just now did Ciel become wise to him. Claude wouldn't move so early in the game.
The attacker was fast. Sebastian and Alliahnna don't see anyone out of character lurking nearby. That doesn't mean they've gone away. Alliahnna was baffled by the sudden attack. As out of the blue as attacks come, this one was by far the strangest. Yes, it is too early for Claude to launch any sort of offensive. But then who is it that's come for them? And why? Why might be one of those standard, yet very idiotic, questions to ask.
Alliahnna was disrupted from her train of thought catching Sebastian putting her brother in a box for Indian Tea. "Umm…" Bad time to want to enact shipping him off, isn't it? Not that she hasn't want to in the past.
"Please stay in here!" Sebastian set him down.
Ciel removed his hat. "Why?" He protested curtly.
"It's just for a bit! You mustn;t set a single foot outside of this box!" Sebastian ordered him. He immediately added, "Please. Lord."
"Fine…" Ciel surrendered. Not that if he ordered otherwise Sebastian wouldn't find somewhere else to hide him.
Alliahnna joined Sebastian as he closed the crate. She was silently enjoying her brother being in a box, but found the impulse odd. "Care to explain?"
"I must go investigate! I need you to safeguard the young lord." Sebastian urgently requested.
"Sebastian, what's happening?" She whispered agitated, dragging him away by the arm. "If this isn't Claude, then who attacked us?"
"I promise to explain later! But I must see to this!" He roughly grasped her by the shoulders, veering her back toward the crate. He pressed her thighs to it, forcing her to sit on it. "No matter what, you must stay with your brother! Do you hear?!"
"Y-Yes, but-" Sebastian, on another strange impulse, kissed her forehead. She's always so obedient to him. He jumped over her head, springing to the rooftops. "SEBASTIAN!" He was gone. Alliahnna stood with her mouth gaped in disbelief. He just blew her off. Left her alone to play babysitter. She grunted venomously, crossing her legs. "Dammit! What the Hell is happening?" Sebastian knows something she doesn't. Or, to be accurate, she hasn't pieced together what he has. Maybe when she does that she can better assess how to deal with this turn of events.
A shadow darted over her. "Huh?" Alliahnna twisted around. A man leapt the buildings in a single bound, adjusting a pair of glasses on the landing. "Will? Reapers are here?" There's only one reason a Reaper would be running around. And she doubts it's because kids are losing their eyes. It has to be related to Alois. "Ciel! Don't move! I'll be back!"
"What is going on?" He growled.
"I'll explain later! I promise! Don't move!" He groaned in acquiescence of her request. He can so obedient at times too. That is if I can figure out what's going on around here! She raced after Will, launching onto the rooftops.
xxx
Ciel sat irately within the crate, thumping a foot to the side. His brow bounced with a vein popping. He growled in the back of his throat. "She finally got her wish."Ciel snarled. "She's sealed me inside a box." If he gets lifted onto a ship and starts sailing to another country, there's going to be Hell to pay.
xxx
Alliahnna skipped off her toes, leaping hundreds of yards at her top speed. She tried to stay within distance of Ciel, but was being driven further and further trying to pick up on Will's trail. The Reaper was faster than she could ever hope to be. He eluded her almost instantly after she began chasing him. Alliahnna stopped on the roof of a production company. Workers hauling crates of fruit and goods were unaware of her presence. She didn't pay them any mind either.
"Damn! Where'd he go?" Alliahnna snarled. She furrowed her brow, squinting to see if she can spot him. Will's fast, but he doesn't necessarily vanish. "Where are you, Will?" He's not in on whatever's happening, of that she's confident. He will, however, be able to clear the haze. She just needs to find him. "HM!"
The air was splitting behind her. Alliahnna rocketed in the air. Sheers shattered a brick walling to rubble. Alliahnna flipped around, landing to a pole. The familiar set of sheers chomped for her, tearing the air in half. Alliahnna landed to the sheers. Their blades cut clean through the pole's head. Alliahnna dart along the extended sheers, drawing her sword back and thrusting it for the middle of the forehead of Will Spears.
Will shot a hand, clutched the blade inches before it touched his flesh. He stared impassively at the tip. Alliahnna meager strength put a humorous nuance to him. "Oh look, the demon stray." He nonchalantly regarded the stone faced girl. She hated how he can easily brush her off. "I should have known you vermin would be involved with this."
"Will. Charming as ever." She snarled, crouched with an extended leg to his sheers. "Any particular reason you're causing wanton destruction? Or as Grell finally pushed you over the edge?"
"While the latter is a viable possibility…" Will began retracting his sheers, "There is a method to the madness in which I brew!" He yanked the last foot of his sheer out from under her. Alliahnna threw herself in a flip to recover. Will connected a foot with her stomach as she landed, sending her crashing into gaggle of crates below. She groaned dazedly. She's going to feel that in the morning. The wind returned to her lungs as she tried to sit up. A crowd of people gathered to see what was wrong. Will landed with BOOM, blowing the plethora of people away like flies. His feet on either of Alliahnna, he aimed his sheers to her neck. Alliahnna offered no fight. Will would mop the floor with her anyway. "Alois Trancy. He has been eliminated."
"So I've heard…" Alliahnna grunted against the splintering pain. She snickered obstinately at the irked reaper. "How's the paperwork backlashing treating you?"
Will touched the sheers to her flesh, silencing her usual insolence. "The backlash is horrendously out of control." He adjusted his spectacles, fixing his glare to the depths of her filthy soul. If it indeed still exists. "I do not know what possessed you or that mongrel, but you both have officially overstepped your bounds!"
Alliahnna hummed confused. Then it dawned on her. "Wait! You aren't insinuating…" He was. He blames Sebastian and Alliahnna for Alois death. She propped herself on her elbows, minding the sheers threatening to sever her arteries. She knows that even demons can be killed by a reaper's death scythe. "We never touched Alois! We were in Paris when he died!"
"Then why is his soul missing, and is not able to be collected?!" He challenged her. Alliahnna felt a lump lodge in her throat. That's a tricky one. Claude is the culprit of that offence, but she can't explain how that is possible. Or prove it. Therefore, Will would never believe her. The realist that he is. "He was slated to die three nights ago. Reaper Sutcliff was sent to collect him!" Grell? Grell was aware of what became of Alois. Of course he chose not to disclose what became of him. Not even to Sebastian. Which means Grell was following his own volitions during the time. "Explain yourself, Stray!"
"Sebastian and I never touched Alois. As I said, we were in Paris at the time!" She's growing weary of having to repeat herself. "But Claude is the reason he was slated to die!"
"Claude?"
"Claude Faustus - the demon of Trancy Manor!" She's amazed he doesn't know about him. Guess his vision is tunnel as well as near sighted. "If you can't find his soul, why not confront the Spider Butler himself?"
"Perhaps I will. But first thing's first…" Her breath hitched at the tip puncturing her skin. A thin trickle of blood ran down her neck. BOOM! Smoke erupted into the air from a distance. Sebastian? Will groaned irritably. "It would seem Ronald is running amuck again."
"Ronald?" That name was familiar on the tongue. Much to her relief, Will removed the sheers.
"Yes. Our newest employee recently graduated. I believe you and he have met." It's fuzzy, but Alliahnna remembers punching someone who called himself Ronald. It was during her frenzy. "If you will pardon me." Will disappeared into thin air, no doubt heading for Sebastian and Ronald.
"Ever the delight." Alliahnna dusted herself off, climbing to her feet. She wasn't too concerned for Sbeatsain. He's smart. He knows he can't handle two reapers at once and will likely come back for Ciel. In that case, it must have been a Reaper that attacked them. And all because they can't find Alois. If that's the case, things are about to get dangerous around here. "OH NO! CIEL!" She nearly forgot about him.
xxx
When Alliahnna returned to the box he was left in, she discovered it empty. "Oh no!" Ciel was nowhere in sight. A group of angry kids were lingering nearby. "Pardon me! I'm sorry to bother you. Have you seen a young noble boy? Yay high, eyepatch, blue eye."
"Yes! He went off that way!" The eldest boy snarled.
"Bastard told us to go play at home!" The youngest girl hissed.
"Children shouldn't speak like that! But thank you!" Alliahnna handed them each four pounds. "This area is going to get dangerous soon. You should head home."
"Yes, Ma'am! And thanks!" The children ran off, cheering about getting candy. Alliahnna was glad someone was having a good day. Hers, Sebastian's, and now Ciel's has taken a turn for the worst.
"Ciel, where are you?"
To be continued