Our little detective is at it again. The queen must've asked him to investigate the disappearance of a few students that had met with an accident involving a cricket bat. There were two things I really didn't get involving that incident. The first fact was the four prefects of the four student houses had killed their fellow students and the vice headmaster in order to protect the tradition of the school. I vaguely wondered if the school was just a cover for a cult with that level of devotion.
The second…just what the hell is cricket all about? I mean really…it was almost as confusing as rugby.
I made the mistake of asking that question out loud in the presence of the P4 as the prefects were known in the school, and the one dressed in all green proceeded to pull a chalkboard out of thin air and give me a very loud lecture that rivaled the one Grandpa gave me about not setting people on fire with my powers. I still shuddered over that talk with the angel. My lover was laughing the entire time this was going on.
The bastard….
The purple house prefect had finally hit the green house one after an hour of the lecture, and I gave the boy a hug with tears running down my face in thanks. That was a weird day, and I still didn't learn anything about the English gentlemen's sport. Anyhow…I'm getting off topic. Back to the pint sized Earl and his "charming" butler.
Adrian and I had arrived at the school in the middle of May, and we got to watch him subtly move around the school gathering information about the disappearances of the missing students. One of them must have been connected with a very high noble for the queen to send the navy haired child out here. I spent most of my time sitting in the plush chair by a large bay window observing the boy as he sniffed around for the truth, or meditating to explore my bond with Fenrir.
The retired reaper would join me some days Earl watching, but there were times when he would leave me here in the care of Agares to go off and visit some of his contacts. He told me the Underworld is a good way to keep track of the movements of our hunters, and he had several…people that keep tabs on things for us. The silver haired man also checked to see if William had sent another messenger on his frequent trips out.
When I bonded with him, his energy signature had changed, and it was easier for him to get around the city. My tiger was spying on the hunters making plans. He told me to concentrate on my training, and refused to tell me anymore. I tried every way I could think of to needle the information out of him, but he remained tight lipped. I knew he was right, but that didn't mean I had to like it.
Agares was keeping me up to date on Ciel and Sebastian. Both of them were looking into the disappearance of Derrick Arden and his friends. I pursed my lips when I thought about it. Those dolls weren't as advanced as Agares. The episodes containing their longing of the future were not of good quality, and they were unpredictable. As much as I wanted to, I couldn't order those dolls to act like humans before their craving for souls won out against my orders.
It was still funny to watch the two tiptoe their way around. I watched the boy outwit one of the other students that was causing trouble in the school. It was a very subtle plan that caused massive effects that touched the whole school. Ciel was very clever, and I thought about the favor he owed me. I couldn't help but think we will need his and Sebastian's help with the elders.
I wasn't quite sure how accomplish getting my favor without having it back fire on me. That navy haired child was brilliant and ruthless, and I know that I'm not on his playing field. The little Earl could easily turn my favor into his advantage, and I wanted to avoid that ever happening. Adrian would have no problem coming up with something. He's been dealing with the Phantomhive family for generations.
I shook my head clear of those thoughts. The days were getting warmer as May started to stretch into June, and I was getting distracted by the nice weather. I was leaning against the window watching the students mull about the court yards. The sound of the door opening made me look over to see Agares pushing a tea cart.
"You don't have to do that, dear," I said as I turned back to the window. The cadaver had been waiting on me hand and foot since we came to the school. The clattering of the dishes behind me told me the vice headmaster had ignored my words, and I wondered why the more sentient Bizarre Dolls were a bit resistant to my orders. They would obey if I pushed, but if it was a passing statement…not so much.
"Master requested me to take care of you, mistress. I intend to do everything in my power to make sure I carry out his orders. I have brought an earl grey tea and a lemon cake for tea time. Please, have a seat." I smiled at the devotion of my doll as I took a seat at the small table in the room. The corpse placed the cup and plate in front of me, and took a step back to await my questions.
"How has the young Earl been doing, Agares?" I asked as I cut a small bit of cake. "You told me he is determined to gain an audience with the headmaster of the school , am I right?" At his nod, I continued. "Has the child figured out a way yet? I'm sure he's about put out with the way things are run here." I giggled a bit into my cup as I took a sip.
"He has joined the cricket team for the annual tournament, mistress. I think he is trying to get invited to the midnight tea party. That is the only way for a student not of the four prefects to talk with the headmaster." I made a surprised sound at his decision. Ciel never struck me as the athletic type, but he must have something up his sleeve. I tapped my finger against the rim of my cup as I thought. Slowly a mischievous smile formed on my lips.
"Agares, tell me about the cricket tournament. Is the headmaster supposed to be there?" The doll paid no mind to my smile or my strange tone of voice. As the former human explained the tradition of the tournament, my smile just widened. If I played my cards just right, Adrian and I could corner the boy and his demon into helping us.
Adrian appeared as the cadaver of the late vice headmaster left our temporary chambers. The reaper swept me up in his arms and took my seat with me in his lap. I gave him a welcome home kiss, and he saw the sly look on my face when he pulled back. One of his eyebrows quirked up at me.
"You look like you got the cream, kitten. Caaaaaaaaaare to share?" I snickered a bit, and that just made him tilt his head as both eyebrows went up. I got myself under control as I looked the silver haired man up and down. I could sooooo see this working, and I knew my tiger would be onboard for the laughter if nothing else.
"Adrian," I smiled even wider as I pictured Ciel's face. "Do you feel up to conning a demon and his contract holder?" The curious look I got made me giggle, but he nodded with a good natured grin on his face. As I told him my plan, a down right evil smile bloomed on his face. The sharp tooth grin had me almost shivering when it was directed to me, but I repressed it. The sudden cackling coming from my lover notified me of his agreement.
"Oh, lovely. You are devious!~ This will be a prime laugh!~" The mad man snickered as he leapt to his feet and spun me around the room. My giggles joined his as I held onto my tiger's shoulders. He spun us around until he flopped down on a settee. The two of us were laughing so much that we couldn't untangle ourselves. After the third try, I just collapsed on the former mortician's chest in my fit of giggles.
"You'll….n-need to…get me a-a new…dress!" I managed to say in between my gasps and laughs. I pushed myself up from his chest to catch him nodding as he tried to catch his breath. Once the man got control over his legs again, he pushed both of us up so we were on the settee correctly. He brushed my bangs out of my face with a tender touch, and I leaned into the warmth of his hand.
"Aaaaaaah, you leave that to me, love. I'll make sure you'll be the belle of the ball! We don't have much time, but I'll find something." The dark smile was back on his face as he rested his head back on the cushion. "Oh! I can't wait to have another go at that demon!" The reaper's bloodlust was starting to rise as his thoughts turned darker. I shook my head at the man, as I finally stopped snickering.
"We need him alive, tiger. You can play with him like that another time." I got a pout at that, but he knew I was right. My next words cheered him up. "I'll let you at him for a bit otherwise I'll never get to talk to Ciel." I got cuddled for that, and my breath rushed out as he squeezed me. I swear, he's like a really big child some times, but then…Mother told me men were similar to children.
We spent the rest of the week fine tuning our plan while Agares watched the little Earl train for the cricket tournament. I thought Adrian would give our position away to Sebastian when I told him about the boy. I had to send him away from the school until he could think about the young aristocrat again without laughing hard enough to shake any building he was in at the time.
I finally allowed my reaper back to the school once he brought me a new dress. It was a bit different from the fashion around here, but I loved it anyway. The garment swished around my leg, and I felt like a child every time I spun around in the blue fabric.
( i01. . )
There was a party scheduled on the third of June, and family and friends of the students would arrive to watch the tournament.
Seeing so many people stream into the school made me wonder how big of a sport this way, but I had no intention of going through another lecture. After I had Agares do some digging, I found out the brother of Ciel's fiancé was also in the school. I just had to include her in my plan. This way, it'll be harder for Sebastian or Ciel to corner me if I was with the Lady Elizabeth Midford.
There was also the fact it would bother the young lord to no end!
"Mistress, it's time." The former vice headmaster was going to be my escort for the evening. I looked over myself one last time, making sure my hair was curled around my face to pull off elegant. I took a deep breath and walked with the cadaver into the room. I held a polite smile on my face as I scanned the room for the young Lady Elizabeth. I left the doll to do his own work as I finally spotted the girl and made my way to her. Whispers followed me, and I had to hide my pleased smile.
"Who is that young lady?"
"She doesn't look familiar."
"Is she related to the new student my brother was telling me about?"
"No, no. She is the headmaster's wife."
"What!? Isn't he a little old for her?"
"The headmaster isn't as old as you think he is he doesn't look his age."
I snickered in my hand over that last statement. Adrian definitely didn't look his age. A girlish squeal brought my attention to the blond child in front of me. She reminded me of the classes definition of sugar, spice, and everything nice kind of girl. The blue eyed young lady walked up to me with sparkles in her eyes.
"That dress is sooooo cute!" She circled around me a few times before she came to a stop in front of me. "My name is Elizabeth, but you can call me Lizzie! My brother and fiancé go to school here!" I smiled at the girl almost in disbelief at how trusting she was, but I caught sight of what had to be her mother watching us like a hawk.
Wow…the Marchioness was intimidating with that stern face.
"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Lizzie. My name is Calypso Crevan, but please call me Cal." The young lady just clapped her hands together as she pulled me along over to her parents. The Marchioness and I had a sudden bond when I subtly told her I had no idea how to keep up with cricket. Somehow this got me on her good side, and I didn't stop to question it.
We talked until the houses came out of their doors in almost absurd uniforms that had me twitching my eyebrow. The four prefects froze when they saw me, but I motioned for them to continue with their ceremony. I think my favorite entrance was the Violet Wolves with the lantern made with the wolf skull. It was all very grand, but I found myself very bored with the proceedings.
Until my dolly rolled down the stairs…. My eyebrow twitched again as I wondered how Adrian could fix that particular quirk. Lizzie waited next to me for Ciel to come over. Her exuberant cheer made up for the lack of fanfare at the blue house entrance. I caught sight of the boy being ambushed by some other noble women, and pointed it out to the blond girl.
She quickly scampered off to save her husband to be, and I slowly walked over once the drama was done. I watched the girl look around once she had the little lord with her. The four prefects watched my warily as I moved to catch the blond girl's eye. Her face lit up, and she beckoned me over to her. She started to chatter in the navy haired boy's ear as I came right up to the young couple.
"Why, hello there. You must be the dashing fiancé Lady Lizzie was talking about earlier." Ciel's face went through several ranges of shock as he saw me. I gave him a sweet smile as I inclined my head in greeting.
"Pleased to see you again, Ciel."
