Chapter 3: Through Traitor's Gate

Ciel looked towards the end of the garden, past the weeping willows whose branches dangled lifelessly towards the ground. They flittered over the grass and over the wild flowers, untouched by Finnian's hands. At the end of the garden there is a stable, which carries a few interesting commodities. A few pure bread horses and the first of its kind, an automobile.

"My dear, shall we venture beyond these gates and see if the world is truly frightening as you claim?"

Elsie looked down at the automobile. It was large and black and its wheels were the size of the top of a barrel. She's seen them in the city of London when she's traveled with her father, but never has she ever ridden in one before. The thought of her and Ciel running away from the manor sent her face blushing. "Earl, what would her Majesty say when she hears you lying to a young maiden?"

Ciel smiled, the corner of his mouth rising like the sun, as he outreached his hand. "I believe one wise girl once said that she would raise the tax on milk and sugar. But I did not lie to you."

"You must wish to go penniless," Elsie said, disbelieving. "Or eat pancakes without jam." The breeze shifted through the air, dancing through tree branches, flower petals, and even Elsie's hair. She brushed a hand through her wavy, dark locks; keeping them in place or at least trying to.

"Pancakes without jam." Ciel mumbled back. He looked at Elsie and her hair flying against the current of the wind. There was a single lock of hair drifting in front of her nose, and suddenly he felt the wildest urge to tuck it behind her ear. Sadly, before he could act, she quickly secured the lock when the wind calmed. Ciel internally scorned himself for thinking of such a repulsive thought. Although he made sure it didn't show on his face. Instead, he produced a sound from the vast amount of skills he has excellently acquired over the years through the art of deception, manipulation, and thievery.

He laughed. "That would be a most cruel and unusual punishment."

"Well, the punishment does suits the crime." Elsie hummed in agreement.

"I'd like to think the punishment suits the person who committed the crime. Not just the crime itself."

"Oh my," Elsie feigned an exaggerated gasp. "Earl, I fear for you. I truly do. What a brave soul you must be to never eat a single, sweet pastry till the end of your days. Tea without sugar, bread without jam, fruit without cream. How will you manage?"

"Endurance, my dear," Ciel mused, then parted his lips then back again. Tilting his head to the side, "I'd endure for as long as my mind and body are able…. about a day, no more, no less. Then I'd beg for pardon on my hands and knees before our lovely Queen Victoria. In all modesty." As what the Queen's royal hound would do. Ciel would rather spend the rest of his days idly in a prison cell with a slice of cake than live the rest of his days without it. As was the allure and captivation of sweet, sweet temptation. Ciel cannot and absolutely would not live his life without the three C's. ( A.K.A, cakes and cookies and candy, everything dear that matters to the Earl) Plus, prison cells for the elite weren't too shabby either. If he bested on good behavior, mustering the best of his ability to conjure up such traits that ill-suited the Earl such as himself, he can have a bed and blankets and books in his cell and make it quite cozy for day to day living. Butlers were also permitted, much to Sebastian's dismay. Not too bad for prison life.

"Why not moderation or self-restraint? The human heart can endure even the most gruesome tasks."

Ciel huffed, humorously. Self-restraint was a nice way of putting things for the poor who only dream of tantalizing luxuries, but have the inability to grasp it. When given the chance, humans will do anything to overcome the dread in their lives that seeps through their skin like hot tar. They forsake everything they hold dear, friends, family, and pride all for that one slither of hope dangling in front of their face. He should know better than anybody else. "You truly believe the heart can endure?"

"Yes, I do. One just needs to have faith."

"Or a bit of magic."

Elsie smiled and wonderful smile that that made Ciel want to bottle up in a jar. Or have on a painting. He told himself to look away, but he couldn't. "If one will allow themselves to do. Anything is possible if they let allow their hearts to be open to it."

Ciel's cane tapped against the dirt pathway leading towards the vehicle, Elsie followed. "I do believe the heart is capable of many things, but faith…" Ciel stood in front of the contraption, opening its door. "I wouldn't like the Queen to hear me lie again. What do you say Elsie? Let's see what lies beyond these boring and mundane walls."

"And where would we be going?" Elsie procured with a questioning look. "There are many promising twists and turns and forks in the road that only prove to be deceiving. I shan't want to travel down one of those."

"Elsie," Ciel murmured as he tossed his camera into the back seat. Turning on the headlights of the car. They were shined spotless by a dutiful gardener, but the lights were dulled by the sunlight of the day. "I didn't take you for the unimaginative type."

Unimaginative? Elsie? No. Ciel was saying this to the girl who tied ribbons around the posts of her bed and placed wild flowers all around the cushions and sheets pretending it was the Fairy Queen's almighty castle when she was a little girl. Her mother scorned her was leaving a trail of weeds and dirt and petals through the kitchen and up the stairs.

Elsie rounded the front of the car, feeling the smooth, metallic hood underneath her fingertips. It was warm to the touch as she pulled her hand away gently. "I beg to differ, I thought the same of you. And I have quite the imagination. Thank you very much."

"Me? Now, you're calling me unimaginative?"

"Yes." Elsie said, bluntly.

"I design toys for a living. That takes up a lot of imagination."

Elsie tilted her head from one side to the other. "Yes, but some of the newest release of toys were, how would I say, flat."

"How so? Explain."

"You're customer service now?"

"As it would seem. Yes. Apparently, my company is in jeopardy. I must change my ways, so go on, tell me your ailment."

"Well, the children in Cottingley have taken up an interest in fairy dolls, I can't say for the rest of England."

Ciel tapped his thumb against the steering wheel, thinking. As it pained him, he decided that he must appeal to a wider audience. Including the country kids. "I will consult my cabinet and hear what they have to say. No doubt they will agree with you. Come, I know the perfect place to peak the imagination."

Elsie looked back at the manor and saw her family strolling through the garden. Then Frances trampling over the grass, chasing a butterfly. They looked busy and wouldn't know or mind her absence.

And so, Ciel and Elsie excused themselves from the manor through the back of the garden, unnoticed.

Unnoticed as they were to the gardener and maid and head chef and guests. One individual did notice their absence.

Sebastian excused himself, politely, and placed Tanaka in charge of seeing to the guests' needs.

After all, Sebastian Michaelis, head butler of the Phantomhive family couldn't let the queen's royal dog roam the streets of London without his leash. Who knows what havoc would arise if he let such a disaster walk free from the gates.

Aside from overseeing Ciel, there was another task assigned to him by the young master of the house. As butler of the Phantomhive Family, Sebastian went to work. Without complaint.

It was against Elsie's better judgement.

She knew better. From all the rumors and dark stories told to her by her school friends whispering in between the aisles when the teacher wasn't looking.

It was against her better judgement, yet she took one step past traitor's gate (dubbed by the visitors) and entered the dreaded, the eerie, the most fearsome place in all of Great Britain. This was no place to spark the imagination. It was The Tower of London.

Immediately, when she stepped one foot in, she was handed a balloon in the shape of a giraffe. Most unexpected.

All around her, she did not see filthy torture chambers or vile criminals wrapped in chains or the hunchback ghost of Richard the III, who supposedly murdered his nephews, hovering above the tower. Instead, Elsie saw parents and children laughing with balloons in their hands. Vendors selling roasted pecans and kettle corn around every corner with smiles on their faces. Animals of all kinds, such as penguins and kangaroos and lions, put on display for visitors to admire. This was not the evil Tower of London she has heard extensive and frightening tales about. She looked towards Ciel who exchanged coins and bought a bag of kettle corn from a vendor. He unwrapped the bag with the red ribbon dangling from the paper bag and plopped one piece of the caramel treat in his mouth. Then he offered some towards Elsie, nonchalantly. Being the gentleman that he is.

Elsie simply shrugged her shoulders. This was a lot to take in. The Tower of London has practically turned into a cheerful petting zoo.

Ciel swallowed, already reaching for another piece. "Did the tower not meet your expectations?"

They passed a group of children huddled near a caged pen. They were giggling happily when they saw the honey colored tiger pounce throughout its pen. They cheered when it rolled over and licked its paws. Finally yawning peacefully under the shade of an oak tree.

"Far from it," Elsie said. "I wasn't even expecting any of this. I thought the Tower of London was a prison, but instead it's a zoo." Elsie was also expecting to hear screams and cries within the stone walls, but all she heard was laughter and cheers. Which wasn't a bad thing. It was nice surprise.

"It still is," Ciel stated, bluntly. "The Tower of London has stood as the symbol of power throughout England for centuries. It was made to send our enemies running away with their tails between their legs back home, so they know who they were going up against, if they even dared to. See those structures up there, piercing into into the sky. Kings, Queens, nobles and criminals have all stayed in these towers as guests and prisoners. Recently, with the abundance of animals sent to Queen Victoria as gifts, she has allowed the outer grounds to be converted into a public venue and made for visitors. For leisurely purposes. She wants her citizens to enjoy the marvels of the tower which was, for a long time, kept from them."

Elsie looked to her right and saw a barbary lion behind a large, metal cage. It opened its jaws, revealing a wide set of white teeth as sharp of knives. Or Ciel's gaze. "The Queen turned the most feard tower in all of London into a petting zoo."

"Just a zoo," Ciel walked near the lion's cage with a sign plastered to the side of it with big, bold letters. It was heavily gesturing not to stick one's fingers within the cage. Heaven knows they don't need another guest losing a finger, or a hand, or arm, or any other vitals. Or life. "One may pet the occupants of the cage, but that would be ill-advised."

Elsie tucked her hands safely behind her back. Not that she was going to pet any the animals anyway. It wasn't just large and furry animals like lions that made her uncomfortable, even her neighbor's toy poodle sent shivers down her spine. The beady look in its eyes was enough to even make a naval officer retreat to his ship. Although, the penguins looked cute with their black flippers and orange beaks. "I once heard that the crown jewels were almost stolen from the tower a long time ago. Is that true?"

"Yes, I believe it was under Charles II reign. Colonel Thomas Blood concocted a dastardly plot in an attempt to steal the crown jewels. The plan would have worked if he was able to adequately subdue the master of the jewels."

"By subdue you mean?"

"Hit him on the head with a mallet."

Elsie nodded, "That would do it."

"Anyway, Blood was pardoned from his crime by the King. He was even awarded an estate in Ireland."

"For attempting to steal the crown jewels? That's mad."

"Not to King Charles II, apparently. When Charles proclaimed the jewels were worth ten thousand pounds, Blood offered to pay six thousand pounds. He was lucky to leave a rich man, considering the King loved a good joke."

The royals are bonkers. God save the Queen. Elsie thought. Then she spoke, "Why venture here of all places?"

Ciel wrapped up the bag of kettle corn and licked the small traces of caramel off his fingers. Then he eyed the stand across from where they were. The stand was full of toys and candies, specifically Phuntom toys and candies. He smiled as another one of his lion stuffed toys, with a signature top hat and eyepatch, was bought by a young lad. The owner had to put a sign in front of the empty space where there used to be a plethora of lion toys; causing an eruption of whines and cries from the litter children yet to buy them. They were officially sold out. That meant more orders must be placed for a shipment of goods.

Nothing could make the Earl happier.

He spoke, with a voice stronger than a lion's roar but soft as the wind. "I think it serves as a reminder. To not overstep boundaries and become comfortable in one's standing. As we entered through the main gates, we arrived as guests. Cordially welcomed with all the pompous of it. Then there are others who are scorned and laughed at. The prisoners and convicts and cheats of the world. We enter through the same gates."

"What's to say who's who through the gates."

"Exactly. Today we are guests, but tomorrow we can be prisoner's. Our status is not set in stone. It's written in dust and can change any day. Will we be in the Queen's favor today, tomorrow, or the day after. Who knows."

"Then you must always be in the Queen's favor. Is that how you feel, Earl?"

"Of course, don't be swayed by my pride and pompous. Like every citizen of Britain, I live to serve the Queen. If the wind changes course and I am not in her favor, I may be swiftly tucked away in the dark corners of this tower. Escorted personally by the Scotland Yard." Lord Arthur Randall, police commissioner of the Scotland Yard, would certainly get a kick out of that. Seeing a wretched dog finally be caged for being naughty.

"Without cake, I presume."

"Definitely without cake." Ciel indulged with Elsie. "Those thoughts aside, I also wanted to show you where your precious fairies will take up occupancy. Hopefully, they won't be placed next to the barbary lions. We don't want to confuse your precious creatures as their afternoon snack."

Elsie felt the air shift uneasily. It almost felt like he purposely brought her here to show her where she would be taking up occupancy, if convicted as a lair and cheat of the world. She will be known as the girl who deceived her Majesty. The Queen will have her locked away in the tower. Without cake. "I cannot allow that."

"I know," Ciel nodded. "I doubt fairies make decent sized treats."

"What I mean to say, is that I cannot let the Cottingley Fairies take up residence here."

"Miss Elsie, you have garnered the Queen's attention. From my standpoint, it would be ill-advised to disappoint her Majesty."

"But," Elsie stammered, "it would be cruelling to the fairies to take them away from their home."

"Did you know the Queen has taken up the hobby of reading tabloids. Yes, she degraded herself to such a thing, to glimpse and awe at all the hand me down pictures of your so-called fairies. It brings not just the entirety of England, but it too brings her boundless joy to believe in magic again."

"I'm flattered by her Majesty's grace, but I think-"

"Then don't refuse." Ciel's voice trailed off, as soft as dandelion petals. "Elsie, if not for her majesty. Will you bring one fairy for my sake. You see, the Queen is like a grandmother to me and I wish for her happiness. If not, it would bring me more pain than her to deny her of such an extraordinary gift. Unless, you find that you are unable to aid her Majesty in this simple request."

Elsie folded her hands over her lap as her eyes traveled across the sky, searching for answers that weren't there. A cloud passed revealing blue sky behind it. She looked back at Ciel, his features were soft and well defined, yet menacing all the same. "I'll see what I can do."

His smile was a brilliant as the sun, "Thank you Elsie."

Elsie felt the insides of her hands. They were clammy. And she felt that if she was about to speak her voice would quiver. In a panicked state, she mustered a smile and quick curtsy. "Excuse me." She went off to find a restroom. Surely, there was at least one renovated bathroom that used to be a dungeon somewhere.

As soon as Elie's silhouette disappeared within the crowd, Ciel looked over his shoulder and scowled. "I know it's where your kind frolics, but I order you to quit loitering in the shadows."

As ordered, Sebastian emerged from the dark shadows of the tower. On his shoulder was a raven. They were not as believed as cats, but he did find some allure in them. Their feathers are slick and look to be well-polished. Even their talons are thoroughly sharpened. It was too bad their wings are clipped. Forbidding the birds to leave the towers.

Sebastian spoke, "I heard from one of the tour guides that six ravens must stay within the property or else the tower will collapse and ruin. I have seen strand things in my existence, but this is far the most peculiar. Is it true?" He petted the raven's beak as it titled its head towards the demon.

"Only the delusional believe superstition." It was also Charles II whom made that ridiculous law. Six ravens must protect The Tower of London or it will crumble to dust. The tower was more likely to crumble from the erosion and wearing down of the stones, not from some birds.

Sebastian smirked, "and you dare to believe you are above them? How complacent of you, master."

"You're right," Ciel narrowed his eyes. "Deep down I am no better than these delusionists and charlatans. We all play the same game in life."

"Some play better than others."

"And that is why I am no ordinary charlatan." Ciel mused, "Tell me, what are your findings. Or have you've been observing the lions all day."

On the contrary, Sebastian had time to acquire all the information Ciel wanted and see the lions. (He mostly saw the lions though) What majestic, feline creatures they are. He'd take one home with him if he could, but a lion wouldn't fit in his coat like a regular alley cat would. He'd wouldn't even make it past the front gate unnoticed. Anyway, the raven flew away as Sebastian pulled a piece of paper from his coat. It was a single pair of cut out paper, in the shape of wings.

Ciel walked over to Sebastian and twirled the paper wing in-between his fingers. He smiled, menacingly. "It seems as if Elsie has been garnering secrets from us."

"Indeed, she has."

"The little con artist." Ciel laughed only once, as bitterness overwhelmed his mouth.

Ciel shifted the weight on his cane. Could he make her confess the truth now? Make her reveal all her lies that captivated all of England with her fabrication of mythical fairies. No, Queen Victoria demanded he bring her a fairy. And he was going to give it to her or have Elsie beg on her knees in the palace. Begging for forgiveness. Undignified and crying with snot dribbling from her nose. The country girl that she is.

He looked again towards the stand selling Phuntom toys. There was a stack of duck plushies in striped suits and hats, but children were skipping towards the stand next to it. One that was selling fairy themed dolls. Ciel grimaced as a child picked a red-haired doll with silver wings, wearing a flower dress rather than his stuffed duck toy.

How could he forgive the girl who stole the front page from him? The girl stealing his business with all this fairy mumbo-jumbo.

"I await your orders, but I am afraid that we will not be able to give her Majesty the fairy she expects from us."

"No," Ciel murmured. "Her demands are not optional. They are followed swiftly and without complaint."

"There is no one else such as yourself who is better suited as her watch dog."

"Here," Ciel tossed his bag of kettle corn at the butler, who caught with ease. Ciel will be saving his caramel snacks for later. "You'll be driving when Elsie returns."

"Yes, my lord." Sebastian bowed.

But Sebastian did wonder how far the girl will go with the act. Humans always did have the capacity to endlessly strew tall-tales. To the point of drowning themselves in all their fabricated lies. Claiming to be honest and sincere until their last breath. No matter, he thought, that was something all humans do.

Truth becomes lies, and lies become truth.

Sebastian has lived long enough to know that.

After all, a butler knows best.

Thank you so much for reading!

Elsie has a hidden secret and Ciel is hot on the case. What do you think will happen? Do you think Elsie is telling the truth about the fairies or are you skeptical like Ciel? Tell me what you thought in the reviews!

Bye!