One hell of an adventure

by Ebony'n'Ivory Angel

From street rat to noble to maid. Alice has lost her sister and friends in the blink of an eye. Then she is adopted by a noble woman whose nephew happens to be Earl Ciel Phantomhive. His butler, Sebastian is dark, flirtatious and frightening. When disaster strikes, she is taken under the wing of the Phantomhive family as a maid. Alice is about to head onto one hell of an adventure!

12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12 – That bastard!

Sorry for the long wait! When is saw that this fanfic had 31 followers and 28 favourites, I squealed and rolled around with joy~ Thank you sooooo much for this! I never thought that my story would get this many followers and favourites as well as views and I thank you all so much for this feeling! I can't express my happiness and gratitude in this way so I will update and dedicate this chapter to you guys!

I DO NOT OWN BLACK BUTLER!

Alice: Nice… I guess this was because of me. I'm the star here after all!

Me: Think what you want but it is thanks to the people who have stuck with us and read this fanfic.

Sebastian: I believe that it is I that has brought you this joy. After all, I'm one hell of a butler~

Me: Guys can I get on with the story-

Ciel: You are mistaken, if I wasn't for me, Sebastian wouldn't have been included and Alice would have been thrown back onto the streets. So I am the true star.

Me: Guys-

Alice: For once I disagree with you Ciel! IT WAS ME!

Ciel: No ME!

Sebastian: I believe that it is ME!

ME: OH SHUT UP!

…..

Me: Thank you!

I was still crushed that Sebastian was dead. It felt like the joy of living had just vanished into thin air. We sat in the lounge, discussing what we should do next to solve this mystery and find the murderer.

"We should check on the bodies to see if the Butler still has the key as that means that they are the murderer!"

Grimsby, Irene, Lau, Ran Mau and Woodley stayed behind because obviously they didn't want to look at dead bodies.

We went down to the cellar where the bodies were left. After a walk down some creepy ass stairs, we arrived in the cellar where three lumps lay on the ground. The middle one was Sebastian as he was the tallest one there.

"Put these gloves on as you touch the corpses,"

"Right!"

As much as I loved Sebastian, it felt wrong to touch his dead body so I stood back and watch. Wordworth lifted up the cloth that covered Sebastian and his body was wet.

"Looks like there is a leak in the roof that probably caused it…"

"We should move him before his body decays!"

Finny looked at us horrified and jumped in to stop us from poking and prodding his body.

"STOP! DON'T TREAT MR SEBASTIAN'S BODY LIKE SOME TEST SUBJECT!"

"Finny! If you're going to continue this pointless conversation, leave."

Ciel's voice was strict, cold and harsh and Finny back off but his faced displayed that he was hurt that Sebastian was being treated that way.

In the end, Sebastian didn't have the key on him, but we needed to check his room.

We searched everywhere for the key but strangely, it was nowhere to be found. The last place was his wardrobe though. Ciel went up to the wardrobe and slowly opened it. Suddenly dozens of cats jumped out and flooded the room. Ciel who was allergic to cats jumped back. A black kitten with white paws jumped onto me, nudging my face as I scratched it's chin.

The cats swarmed around me as they nudged me gently and meowed at me to stroke them. I had a very strange connection with animals. Maybe I smelt like one?

"That bastard! He hid these from me! Ha-Ha-HATCHOO!"

Ciel screamed at us to keep the beasts away from him. I sat on the bed to keep them away as the others continued to search.

Some of the cats got a bit too curious as they began to slip under my skirt. I jumped back as they leapt on my and licked my face. Their soft fur and sweet voices pressed against my body as I couldn't help but cuddle them all.

After all that the key was still MIA and we decided to go and search through each other's belongings. Women with women and men with men.

We searched through Irene's stuff after we searched through mine and Mey-Rin's. We were looking in her laggague when Ran Mau put Irene's drawers on her head.

"Argh! Miss that is not something that you wear on her head!"

We went down to the kitchen to prepare for the next meal.

"We don't have food because that Bastard Charles has eaten it all!"

Suddenly, the back door rattled as someone or something smashed the door. But then it went silent. I pulled out a knife and approached the door. In one quick movement, I opened the door and threw the knife. Whoever was there deflected the knife away as I jumped back.

We tied up the guy and I ran up to inform Ciel.

"Young Master! There is some guy at our door. We've caught him though!"

We brought him up to Ciel. He was an old guy in a black suit and neatly combed back hair. He looked like some horrifying teacher or something. Definitely suspicious.

"What!?"

Lau stood up and smugly chuckled. He went up to the old man and placed his hand on his shoulder,

"To think the 13th guest would show up this soon…Who are you again?!"

The old man finally spoke and his voice was surprisingly familiar.

"My name?"

Ciel and the man made eye contact and then Ciel spoke,

"It's been a while…Jeremy."

Lau as well as everyone else looked at him curiously,

"Earl is this old guy a friend of yours?"

"Yeah…This man is Father Jeremy Rathbone. He is a popular advisor to the local church and somewhat is a famous person…"

Local church? Because I was a street rat, I knew this area really well and I have never heard of this Father Jeremy. But then again, Ciel owns this area so he would know more about this place then I would.

Woodley immediately questioned Father Jeremy as obviously, no one would instantly trust some suspicious old church guy who showed up out of nowhere in the storm of the century.

He asked Bard to open his bag and inside was the owl that Sebastian had told me to release at Dawn before he died. Attached to it was a note. Ciel opened it and had a look.

"Young Master what does it say?"

Ciel looked at it for a bit, then scrunched it up in his hands.

"It seems that he anticipated that he would be killed and sent a letter to father Jeremy…"

Woodley wasn't the only person who didn't trust Father Jeremy, as did I.

"BUT YOU CAN'T PROVE THAT HE ISN'T THE MURDERER BECAUSE OF ONE PIECE OF PAPER! IF HE CAME FROM THE OUTSIDE, HE COULD HAVE WELL COMMITTED THE MURDER LAST NIGHT!"

Father Jeremy just sighed and calmly replied,

"Actually I have the answer to that. In my coat pocket."

Finny pulled out a ticket to a play,

Ciel asked what the date was and indeed it was yesterday.

"It says yesterday. An evening show of March the 12th. The place and program is um..The…L…A…D-"

"The Lady of the Lake at the Lyceum Theatre!"

Irene confirmed that the play was on yesterday. Finally after lots of questions, Father Jeremy was released.

Father Jeremy ordered us to move the bodies into the rooms in separate room because it had something to do with the smell of the bodies or something. So we moved the bodies into their rooms and Father Jeremy began his operation.

First was Lord Siemens.

"The only external trauma is the wound on his chest. A single stab with a blade it seems. There is a strong smell of alcohol which is proof that he was gulping down strong liquor up until the moment of his death. Also there is a faint smell of the sea…"

"The sea?"

"May I borrow a handkerchief?"

When Wordsworth handed Father Jeremy the handkerchief, he stuffed it into Siemen's mouth and inspected it. Then he gave it back to Wordsworth and continued onto the next body.

Next was Phelps.

He was the only one who had a different death to the others.

"I thought that it was likely due to the wounds on his neck that he had been poisoned. At the timeof the murder the only exits and entrances were locked. Making this a perfect locked room situation."

Father Jeremy stared at the wound for a bit.

"May I see the room where he was killed?"

Ciel, Charles Grey, Wordsworth and I led Father Jeremy to Ciel's bedroom. We turned aroundafter reaching the 2nd floor and Father Jeremy was not behind us.

"Hey, the old guy isn't following!"

But soon after that Father Jeremy was panting and sweating as he walked up the stairs. I guess old age does that to you.

We entered Ciel's room and everything was left as it was. Father Jeremy stared at the crime scene closely.

"It seems that there are several killers in this crime. In order to avoid further victims, we need to catch this criminal. In order to catch Mr Phelp's killer, we need two things. Night fall and your cooperation, Earl."

"My cooperation?"

"Yes, yours…"

Lastly was Sebastian.

We entered the room and just as Father Jeremy lifted up the, Ciel began to gag and everyone's attention turned to Ciel.

"The Butler was killed in a very simple way actually."

"You done?"

"Yes, I've seen enough…"

Everyone was getting hungry so we all left. I walked with Charles Grey as Ciel and Wordsworth went off first.

Suddenly he turned and ran back in the direction we came in. I ran after him just in case and he slammed opened the door and flipped up the blanket. There lay sebastian's body like it was before.

"What? What's wrong?"

"As if…There's no way…"

Then he stomped on Sebastian's face and I shoved him off.

"Hey! Could you not?!"

"What? He's dead already…It's not like he can feel pain."

"Just stop ok!? It's already hard enough that he's dead. I don't want you abusing him!"

"Fine! Let's go, I'm hungry…"

We leave the room and I look back once at Sebastian, tears fill my eyes but they don't fall.

Today, I didn't help with cooking. I stayed with Ciel. It was half between sulking and frustration. Obviously Charles Grey had multiple plates and finished them all. the plan to catch Phelp's killer was to have Ciel as bait to catch this person as obviously they were targeting Ciel. But everyone knew we couldn't do that so I was his dummy.

They made me wear his tiny clothes and get in his bed as bait.

"Jeez do I have to do this?"

Father Jeremy smirked at me and I felt a hint of familiarity as I stared at him for a bit before giving in and hiding under the blanket.

My orders were to stay absolutely still, do not speak, do not open my eyes because I would see death itself.

Father Jeremy, Wordsworth and Charles Grey sat at the door as I lay under the blanket.

I made my breathe shallow to hide the fact that I was terrified. Then I slowly heard a sort of sliding sound as it approached closer and closer. I continued to lie there hoping that I was going to be saved by a priest, a maniac and a writer.

Then I felt it's presence as Father Jeremy told me to jump out of the bed. I flicked the blanket up and surrounded the 'killer' and everyone surrounded the blanket. Using the poker, he held the killer and we all peered down to the twisting shape.

My eyes widened as I stared at the killer as Father Jeremy picked it up and took it to the rest of the guests.

"We have caught the killer."

I walked in wearing Ciel's clothing as everyone stared at me and at the killer.

In Father Jeremy's hands was a snake. It's jaws opened wide as it hissed and squirmed, it's huge fangs gleamed in the light as I shuddered. Poor Phelps.

"It's hard to believe that it really came to get the Maid who is wearing the Earl's clothing."

"To compensate for their lack of sight, snakes have a highly developed sense of smell and hearing. That's why they can find their prey in the dark through vibrations and smell. In other words, the snake was most likely trained by being fed right after it was exposed to the Earl's scent…Besides, this snake is a Black Mamba. They inhabit South Africa and possess a very strong neurotoxin. The victim will surely die after n hour of being bitten. Also they are the world's fastest moving snake and are excellent in tree climbing. This is the perfect snake for a murder."

"Wait, so that means…"

"Yes, young maid… It probably thought that Mr Phelps was the Earl as he was the one in his bed and that's why he was killed instead of the Earl."

"Although it's illegal to transport poisonous snakes onto trading ships."

"Which means it was smuggled. Bribing a privately managed freight ship is porbably the easiest way."

Ciel glances at Wordsworth.

"Indeed, you'd need close connections with an African business…"

"If you're talking about Africa, imported items would be gold or dia-"

Instantly, Woodley retaliates.

"IT WASN'T ME! Trading is Kun Lun's thing isn't it?"

Lau shrugged and chuckled slightly,

"We don't do business with African Companies!"

"WHAT?! NO WAY! IT WASN'T ME! THAT'S JUST A FALSE ACCUSATION."

Grimsby attacked back,

"THEN SHOW US!"

So Father Jeremy looked inside the fireplace after Grimsby had put out the fire. Inside was glass shards. It was impossible for anyone to prove that it was once a bottle of poison. And of course Father Jeremy went up to it and put it back to pieces.

No matter how hard he tired, Woodley was proven guilty. Charles Grey points hit rapier at Woodley's neck to shut up Woodley.

Ciel pulled out the same chains that were used to tie him up when he was suspected as Siemen's killer.

So Charles Grey took Woodley away and left the mansion. The storm had also cleared up so everyone was safe to go home.

One by one everyone left. Father Jeremy went outside to farewell the guests.

"Ciel, aren't you sad that Sebastian is gone?"

"No, at least now I can live in peace without some demon harassing me."

"Earl, that is horribly mean of you. After all hasent he looked after you well?"

I looked down hoping that it was Sebastian because it sound exactly like him only to see Father Jeremy walk up the stairs.

Suddenly Wordsworth burst through the door.

"Why so flustered? Did you forget something?"

"I came back to confirm the truth, Father Jeremy, no….Butler Sebastian…"

I looked at him like wtf but now that I think about it, everything made total sense. Father Jeremy appearing at the right time, knowing everything perfectly. It was something only Sebastian could do but I still have my doubts.

I looked up at Father Jeremy to see him smirk just like Sebastian would.

"Excellent… Seems we underrated you a little or should I say underestimated you. Shame that Alice couldn't figure it out, although as was quite surprise that you would cry for me though…"

He tore off a mask and Sebastian's beautiful and sexy face lied underneath.

"Seb-Sebastian?!"

"I'm back Alice~"

WOrdsowrth was taken back to the garden for some tea as Sebastian and Ciel explained everything.

Sebastian pretending to die and working backstage, the appearance of Father Jeremy and ultimately, the real killer.

"No way! That glutton was the Killer?! Just wait until I get my hands on him! I will KILL HIM and ENJOY IT!"

I tightened my fist and Sebastian chuckles.

"Don't get too over yourself Alice, it would cause a problem if you killed the Queen's butler!"

"well then, Mr Wordsworth. Now you know, that I am not human. If you tell anyone, I will come for you and I will kill you. We are always, always watching you."

Wordsworth ran out of the mansion, terrified and about to wet his pants.

Ciel sighed and rolls his eyes at Sebastian,

"Did you have to do that?"

"just for fun I guess, but he definitely won't tell anyone now."

I stood up and went to Sebastian, I punched him in the shoulder hard, casuing him to stumble abit.

"YOU BASTARD! Why? Why did you do that? DID you know how much I cried?! DO you know how much my heart ached because of you?! I don't understand why I feel this way? Why?!"

I dropped to my knees, crying and sobbing at his feet as Sebastian chuckled and cupped my chin.

"It was my tactic in winning you, after all, this reaction seems like you must have missed me a lot~"

I went red as I kicked his shin and ran into my room. as I left, I heard Sebastian say something about finding something, or should I say someone interesting but didn't stick around long enough to know who.

I collapsed on my bed and I pressed my face into the pillow. Suddenly I heard a quiet noise coming from under my bed.

I looked underneath to see the black kitten with the white paws that had jumped onto me when we searched Sebastian's room. Tied to it's neck was a huge red bow and I knew that it was Sebastian, I cuddled it as it licked my fingers and laughed.

"That bastard, making me worry so much. I-"

The door swang open as Sebastian walked in.

"Do you like the present?"

"What made you choose this one, Sebastian?"

"I smelt you on her. Besides, I saw what happened in my room."

"Jeez, you really are one hell of a butler,"

"Yes, but I can also be one hell of a lover~"

I blushed slightly as I stroked the kitten as it meowed in my hands.

"Next time, I'll make you worry even more than I did. Then let's see who has the last laugh!"

Sebastian stared at me for a bit, then he smirked at me and planted a quick kiss on my cheek. He turned and walked to the doorway, then he looked back and held his finger to his mouth.

"I look forward to it, Alice~"

End of chapter

SO? HOW WAS IT? SORT OF A OCXSEBASTIAN MOMENT! Anyway, I hope that I can update soon. The next chapter will probably continue on from the main story. And the next arc will be the Green Witch Arc. I'm really excited for it!

Anyway, I really do hope you enjoyed it and please Review! I would like to know what you think of my fanfic. STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER!