(A/N: There is an.. implied mention(?) of sexual assault towards the bottom of this chapter, purely for background reasons (it's just insinuated that it happened in the past). This entire chapter will probably be mostly backstory - if you think the implication will be triggering or discomforting for you in any way, don't be afraid to skip this chapter. You won't be missing much!)
Maxwell finally regains his composure and rises from his bed, looking anxiously between the two fallen cultists before settling his gaze on us. "How did you know they would be he-" His gaze falls on me a moment, and he stops. "Detective... I thought you'd given up the case."
"Never." I snarl in reply, angrily straightening my coat. "You bastards honestly brought him back. I can't fuckin' believe you, was what happened last time not enough for you people?"
"Now don't go lumping me in with them, I left!" The older man huffs, as if his departure rids him of his past grievances.
"Is someone going to bring us up to speed, or are we supposed to be left guessing?" Ciel pipes up, tapping his finger on his cane impatiently. "I've been willing to put up with secrets, Ms. O'Kelly, but the events of tonight do beg an explanation."
Mr. White picks his head up, eyes cloudy with memory. "Years ago, when I was still in this damned cult, we actually performed a demon summoning." He begins, very dramatically. He sits on his bed and rubs the balding spot on his head, like he's trying to think. "What was the bastard's name... Kenneth? Caldry?"
"Kerrith." I mutter, swallowing down my rising nerves.
"Ah, right. We had only performed part of the summoning, but he enticed us. Promised us fame, riches, all that we desired if we set him loose. Something about.. er.. revenge, perhaps? He was a right angry lad."
To my surprise, the young earl and his butler seem to be paying attention.
"So you continued with this... summoning." Ciel shoots Sebastian a glance, earning a smirk from the taller gentleman. "What happened then, and that still doesn't explain how you know the detective."
Maxwell's jaw tightens, and averts everyone's gaze, staring instead at the floor.
I sigh, and cross my arms. "Before we get into this, tell me, Phantomhive - why are ya takin' this so well?"
The teen blinks in surprise, and clears his throat. "Well... let's say my family has had its fair share of.. supernatural experiences." The corner of Sebastian's mouth twitches, but I decide to leave it alone.
"In that case... this goes back farther than the cult summoning. When we met, I told you two my father sailed here from Ireland. Well, while he was there, he got mixed up in... an organization who handles these types of messes. While in this organization, he was sent to take care of a demon - Kerrith. He sent the bastard back to hell and went on livin his bloody life, sailed here to England, started a family. Kerrith.. didn't take too kindly to bein' banished back home. So yes, Kerrith did come back for revenge."
"At least we have a motive, and a bit of explanation." Ciel mutters, rubbing his temples. "This is... lovely. Everything is lovely. Is that all?"
Maxwell White, who has been silent for the duration of the explanation, looks expectantly at me. I merely shake my head. "Not really, but.. the rest isn't important."
"If you're somehow involved with this demon, it is." Sebastian finally breaks his silence, taking a step towards me. "Didn't I hear him say something about young Samuel, your son?" The mood of the room shifts, and I swear I feel something akin to claws at my brain. "What is your role in all of this, detective? Unfortunately, we've heard everyone's story - except yours."
My chest starts to feel tight again, and I find myself unable to look away from him. That look... I don't like the way he's looking at me. It reminds me too much of.. of him. Taking a deep breath, my voice manages to break through the anxiety. "Assumptions are a dangerous game, lad."
"I hate to assume, Miss, but I'm afraid I have no other choice until you explain your situation."
Please... please don't make me talk about it. "Kerrith... came back, when I was about sixteen. He was looking for my father, but he had gone away on business for the shipping company he worked for. So he.. he took his anger out on my mother and I. He slaughtered my mother in front of me, and he... he..." I bite my lip and finally manage to look away, fighting the tears welling in my eyes. "Look, I... I didn't ask him to, alright? I'm not in league with a fuckin' demon, I.. I just fell victim to one."
Sebastian blinks, seems to ponder my answer for a moment, and then bows. "My sincerest apologies, madame. I... seem to have made a grave assumption, I do beg your pardon." The energy in the room seems to lighten, and my head clears of the claws I felt before.
Ciel clears his throat, and nods to the bodies of the cultists. "We'll have the Yard come clean this up, and decide what to do with Mr. White. Detective, if you've still got time, I'd like to talk with you more at my manor."
The carriage ride to the Phantomhive manor is quiet, at first. I just keep my gaze focused on the outside, wanting to avoid any more awkward conversation. After a time, however, the young earl speaks up.
"A demon hunter, then?"
I tense in my seat, slowly looking over to the boy. "What?"
"You're a demon hunter." He replies plainly, as if completely unsurprised by the notion. "Your father before you, as well. Are you involved in the same 'organization' as him?"
Shaking my head, I let out a heavy sigh. "Look - you're not exactly supposed to know anything about that, and they'll have my hide and my son's if they find out you know anything. I'd prefer to leave out as much detail as possible, for your sake and mine."
He nods in response, shooting Sebastian a glance. "Very well."
The rest of the ride is silent, thankfully, and the carriage soon pulls up to the entrance of the manor. Sebastian steps out first, followed by Ciel and then myself. Both seem relieved the manor is still standing. Ciel leads us up to his study, and I sigh with exhaustion after reclining in one of the adjacent chairs. "I'm sorry." I mutter after a moment. "I never meant to drag you into all of this."
"Don't be ridiculous. This is the type of mess the Phantomhives are accustomed to cleaning up." Ciel yawns, leaning forward in his seat. "However, this does make things significantly more difficult. Do you know where this Kerrith might be hiding out, or what his plans are?"
"So far, it appears he's trying to regain strength. It doesn't look like the whole summoning was completed to bring the bastard back, so it's more or less like he's partly in our world, and partly in his. I'd say he's hiding out with a group of cultists somewhere, trying to get the poor sods to complete what they started."
"Hm... very likely. Sebastian, do a bit of digging and see what you can find on any current cult locations. We've got quite the case ahead of us."
