Hello readersss,
BEGINNING OF MURDER ARC STARTS NOW, WOOHOO! LOL
I hope this chapter is satisfying enough for y'all, lot more of Rina's action than anything honestly. I'm not sure if I portrayed PTSD right in this chapter, so I am sorry if I got it wrong, I did my best to describe this moment.
ANYWHO, so I may have started a new Discord server if anyone is interested (I know some of you were). Not sure if I'll be active 24/7 but I'll try my best. I think I have most of the basics set up on there right now. But if someone wants to help me and be a member of staff I'd appreciate that. It'll be a server mainly focused around Black Butler and Anime, but also a hangout spot. Not to mention, you can ask me questions there if you like. Here is the link: /NSf9YkS (let me know if this does not work, thanks)
Someone had a question in the reviews, Im'a just answer that here:
Question from MzAkumaGore: Also quick question, You said Sebastian is somewhat not aware of their relationship, I wonder what does that mean? Does he feel like when Rina is somewhat compromised, does he get like "jealous" her attention is not on him or what?
A: What Rina feels right now is more one-sided than anything. But he does feel this attachment for her and slowly his feelings become very mixed about her. I shouldn't have said unaware, I should have said something more like he is trying his best to ignore it. He does a fairly good job of doing this too for the most part. You could even call it denial. He does get jealous but can't identify he is jealous because he refuses to think that he is. Again, sounds like denial, yes? XD Plus, he isn't used to what he is gradually starting to feel for Rina. I don't plan for attachments to be a norm in demon society. I hope that answers your question somewhat.
0o0o0o0o
Being back at the manor is very refreshing in a way. Despite its attendants, it is still home for me. The circus and the debutante ball weigh heavily on my mind from time to time. At least, most of it had a positive and negative side to it. Well, now that I think about it, the circus was all negative. I sweatdrop at the thought of all the things that happened during that mission. Best to leave it alone before I dwell on it for too long. The last thing I need is to put myself into a depressive hole. Agreeing with that thought, I resume the book I am reading in my hands.
I'm really happy that Jane Austen exists. Call me an oldie all you want; old books capture my attention the most. Perhaps, that is why I enjoy novels and books from this time period. I often find myself comparing the two different eras. It's probably not healthy, but it is a habit I do unconsciously; not only to literature but what I see too. I feel a frown stretch on my lips and sigh softly. I am caught with what to do if I ever get the opportunity to go back. It would probably be best to. I mean, it's not like Ciel will live long anyways...
I slam my book shut at the thought, not wanting to think about that topic either. Seriously, I am surrounded by death and danger. How do I handle it? I must be an amazing person, I realize. I wonder if Sebastian finds me entertaining because of that. I glance outside the window, no longer interested in the book. The clouds turn grayer by the minute and I already know a storm is slowly approaching. Once you live in London, every day is practically cloudy. Of course, to fit the atmosphere of this mansion and family, everything is surrounded by gloomy weather half the time.
I notice a carriage making its way toward the mansion in the distance. I briefly forgot that we were having a small party tonight. It's...weird. I questioned Ciel about it plenty of times, but he never really gave me a straight answer.
"Just do as I say and put on an act if you need to." I can hear his voice drill into my mind. Such bullshit, I'm so exhausted from all this action. I mean, it's only been a month since the ball. I still want more time to myself before I must play nice hostess with strangers. I don't even know the people he invited! I feel my eyebrow twitch in frustration. Seriously, this is ridiculous. How hard is it for him to tell me what he has planned? I'm always in the dark, I think with a pout.
I watch as the carriage pulls up and some people exit it. A woman and man walk up to the stairs and disappear from my sight. I spot another carriage coming in and I stand up from the couch. I am already dressed for this dinner party; I am not ready to go down there though. I sigh loudly and grumble my way to the door. This is such a drag. Maybe I should fake sickness, I ponder as I walk out into the hallway. But an image of Sebastian stuffing cough syrup down my throat with a sadistic look doesn't seem so appealing either. There seems to be no way out of this one.
I scratch the back of my neck, feeling a small bundle of nerves builds up in my stomach. I shouldn't be nervous but I am. I don't know what the party is for nor what my brother is up to. It's all a big mystery. I slowly make my way to the front foyer, dragging my feet as I go. I don't care if I'm late, I feel too moody. Maybe my period is coming, I think with a scowl directed at the ground. By the time I make it to the front foyer, I find it the rain came. It pelts the windows as I make my way down the stairs. There is no one around, but I can hear a bunch of voices coming from the dining hall.
I head towards the doors and push one open slowly. I peek inside and find there are not as many guests as I previously thought. There are only 10-12 people inside altogether I believe. I slide inside, trying to not cause any attention. I tiptoe around until I hear someone call my name, "Rina." Ciel calls out flatly.
I wince and twirl around with a smile, "Hello, dear brother of mine." I greet. He raises an eyebrow at me and glides closer to me. "You are late."
I scratch the top of my head with a chuckle, "I, er, fell asleep." I lie. He shakes his head, "Right. Sure, you did."
I purse my lips and look away, "Mmm, now, you wanna tell me the purpose for this party or not?" I ask abruptly. If I don't need to be here, I will gladly retire to my room for the night. He taps his walking cane against the tile with a serious gaze, "Not particularly. You'll find out sooner or later, just follow along and don't spill any unnecessary information, got it?"
"Whatever you say." I say sarcastically and cross my arms. He rolls his eyes and begins to walk away, "Why don't you try to mingle, hn?"
I don't reply as he walks over to someone and begins a conversation. I uncross my arms and walk around the dining hall. I notice Lau and saunter up to him. "Hey, Lau." I greet with a small wave.
He smiles at me and bows his head, "Hello, little lady. How are you this evening?" he asks.
"Frustrated and irritated. Two emotions that will never disappear." I answer as I survey more of the dining hall. I spot a nervous younger looking guy near the corner. He sits in a chair and is simply scanning everyone as well. I tilt my head curiously, wondering what his purpose is here. He seems...innocent. I point at the man, "Hold on, I'm gonna go talk to that guy over there." I say and drift off toward him.
He does not notice me until I am literally right next to him. I clear my throat loudly and his head whips up to peer at mine. He jumps in his seat and I take a step back in alarm. Is he okay? I ponder and he begins to stutter words I can't make out. I snicker after a minute and his face blooms red. I put a hand on his shoulder and give it comforting pat, "Relax, I don't bite." I tell him with a smile.
He calms down a little and I sit down next to him. "H-Hello." he greets shyly. I reach my hand out, waiting for him to take it. "Hi, my name's Rina."
He stares oddly at my hand before he takes it and shakes it. "My name's Arthur." he says with an awkward grin. I nod at my head him, "Every time I hear that name, I remember the tale of Sword in the Stone." I mention.
"Do you like to read, Ms. Rina?" he asks curiously.
"Eh, how did you know?"
He laughs lightly and I blink at him, confounded. "Writer's intuition?" he offers. I stare at him in awe and grab one of his hands, "Oh my God, you're a writer?!" I ask with a squeal. He leans back, looking a bit uncomfortable or embarrassed, I can't tell. "Uh, I do write." he confirms.
I scoot closer to him, feeling like I just won the lottery. "What do you write?!" I shout him, excited to know more about this man. I've never met a writer! I want to learn to write well, maybe he can help me. "I-Uh, recently just published a novel in a Christmas annual—"
"Woo-hoo!" I cry with the biggest grin I haven't felt in the longest of times. "That's so amazing! Congrats!" I cheer. He blushes a little and coughs, "I-It's not that big of a deal..."
"Oh, it so is. I applaud you for your hard work!"
"T...Thank you." he smiles.
I nod happily as I feel a dark cloud slowly approach us. I glance over to find Sebastian walking toward us with a tray with two glasses of champagne I presume. He practically puts an arm wall between me and Arthur abruptly with a fake smile. "Would you two like a glass?" he asks us.
Arthur takes one and I grab the other, "Thanks." we both say. I take a sip of mine when he walks away, I watch his back as he goes. He does appear to be a bit unhappy but whatever, not my problem. "The servants are top class too, huh." Arthur comments.
I feel my eyebrow rise at his thought, "Something like that."
I find Ciel coming over here too now. I sweatdrop at both of their presences. These two...must they bug me when I'm finally talking to someone. "Is it okay if I sit next to you?" Ciel asks but Arthur isn't paying attention.
"Of course, pleas—" Arthur begins and glances over at my brother after a pause. "Earl!?" he shouts in shock and stands up. I snicker silently to myself at his reaction. This man is quite jumpy, it's cute. "Are you enjoying yourself?" Ciel asks Arthur.
"Y-Yes!" Arthur stutters with a blush. "Please sit-down, Mr. Wordsmith." Ciel suggests with a soft look, his smile pleasant. I narrow my eyes at the look, he wants something from this writer guy. He even gave him such a name, Ciel must think highly of him. Arthur blushes more, becoming more flustered. "I'm really not at the level worthy of being called 'Wordsmith' yet..."
"I want to call you this, so isn't it okay?" Ciel asks.
"Please just call me Arthur."
"Do you dislike it? 'Wordsmith' that is." Ciel smirks slightly. "Ah...no. That is..." Arthur mumbles bashfully while scratching the back of his head.
I laugh at him and smack his back, "One day you will be worthy of the title I'm sure of it." I encourage with a grin. "I mean, if you captured my brother's attention, it means your worth something or can be."
"Y-Your brother?!" Arthur gasps and whips his head back and forth between us. I snicker at his reaction; this man is funny to mess with. "She has a point. I invited you here because I read your work the other day." Ciel states and holds his chin thought.
"I'm curious about his work now." I hum. Arthur makes a shocked noise and my brother glances at him. "It was a novel that appeared in Beeton's Christmas annual." Ciel mentions.
"What?! You read such a minor magazine?!" Arthur shouts. I am a bit surprised too, but that's because I did not know he read from those kinds of things. All I ever see him read is the damn newspaper.
"As an entrepreneur who likes to keep track of the latest fashionables, I see many things..." Ciel trails off when noticing an amazed look appear on Arthur's face. "What's wrong?" he asks in confusion.
"So, a magazine like that is even read by people with a high social status including the Earl." Arthur thinks out loud. I find his statement amusing and so did my brother. "It has nothing to do with my social status, right? Besides my business partners are common people. I also read Punch." Ciel informs casually. "The main character in your work is full of wit and very charming. A new kind of character that's never been seen before."
"R-Really?!" Arthur sputters with a blush. He calms down after a minute with a soft smile directed to the floor. I take a sip of my champagne in thought. It's rare to see Ciel compliment anyone on anything. I am really curious about this guy now. "But it seems it really wasn't popular. I have no intention of writing again." Arthur sighs.
I gawk at him in disbelief, "You can't give up so quick!" I cry. "You must try even harder!"
Arthur gives me a weak smile and it almost breaks my heart. "You'd think that the people of an advanced country would acknowledge this freshness of writing." Ciel says with a distant look.
"On the contrary, it's just a pretentious bit of writing done outside my own specialty. I'm swept aside by specialists in the field of writing, saying that my content is too light or that the way I use their tools is wrong." Arthur counters.
"It's fine if they're the ones saying it. Your target audience was the common people, right? So long as the common people enjoy it, it's fine." Ciel advises.
"I really want to write a historical novel, but I've been turned down by countless companies saying that it wouldn't sell."
"Isn't it best to do those kinds of things after you make a name for yourself?" Ciel asks rhetorically. "If you've got authority, you're praised into the high heavens even though your writing may be rubbish, which is often the case. Increasing your returns basically involves having lots of money, reputation, and contacts." Ciel elaborates.
"Also, if you plan on doing history, why not mix up the genres a bit? A story can become more appealing with more than one focus!" I offer with a smile. "Not to mention, older people often don't like change, even if the piece being presented is something totally new and brilliant."
"Right, exactly!" someone shouts near us. A man walks closer and his face is red with alcohol. A glass of champagne sits in his hand. Oh boy, must be nice to drink. On that thought, I take a sip of mine happily. "I really can't stand for it." the man says, joining in on the conversation. "Even in our line of business the stubborn old people causing problems take over! I really can't allow it!" he shouts again and leans closer to us with a single finger in the air. We all lean back unconsciously, and I sweatdrop at the man's line, "Even an amateur can read a script out loud! Don't you think so too?"
I can smell the man's alcohol breath from this range. "C-Certainly..." we all say at once.
Ciel and Arthur continue to talk to the man. I end up blocking out their conversation in boredom. I know it's rude, but I don't care about fashion so much. I scan the room and find Sebastian working at the buffet table. He appears a bit bored too. This party is boring, Victoria era parties a pretty much that though. Alcohol is the only fun part. No cool music to dance to, unfortunately. Sebastian meets my gaze and I toss him a small lazy wave. His lips quirk up a little and I find mine doing the same.
"I told you to stop!" a woman cries loudly, and all of our attention is shifted to her. She is being manhandled basically by some bigger guy who seems to be very drunk. She forces her arm out of his grip and hugs her chest. "To have you all over me with your disgusting hands...I can't take it anymore!" she shouts at him.
"Whaa...at?" the drunk man asks. His face is very red I analyze. "You're at fault for wearing those clothes!" he argues. I stare at him in disgust now, how dare he say that. A woman can wear what she wants just like a man can. "You really want to be touched, don't you? Don't pretend to be sweet and innocent now."
I gag at what he says and start to stand when I watch her slap the drunk man abruptly. "Insolent jerk! Have some shame!" she shouts back him. I whistle, impressed by this woman. She is pretty cool. The man is so drunk he ends up falling and I start to laugh silent. I wheeze at the look on his face. "Why you..." he grumbles. "Like I'll let you say that to me!"
I did not expect him to toss his mug of beer (?) at her though. When I find Ciel abruptly in between the man and the woman, he is showered in the substance. A small gasp flies past my lips as I did not expect that. How on Earth did he get over there so fast?! I look at the distance between where he was next to me and where is now. Damn, he is a lot faster than I thought. "Earl!" many of the guests shout in shock. I stare at him in disbelief, I mean, when does Ciel ever do such a kind act? Oh yeah, never. This makes me think about what the importance of this mission is. He really is putting all his effort to be a gentleman.
"This is a dining hall. In any case, that will be enough from you two today." Ciel frowns. He is literally soaking wet; I'm surprised he is keeping a straight face.
"You old pervert!" the man we were talking to earlier roars and strides toward the drunk man. "Don't touch my woman so—" he pauses briefly to grab a wine bottle out of a bucket. "...easily!" he shouts angrily and hurls the bottle at the drunk man. What looks like a black blur to most, rushes toward the bottle which flies in the air. It's almost like slow motion. I watch as Sebastian grabs the bottle in a high backflip and flies over to a glass tower. Literally a tower made of wine glasses and he lands perfectly on top of the ladder. The bottle cap pops off and he pours it at the tippy top of the tower.
Sparkles decorate the air and a wonderful smell permits the air, the scent of alcohol, and an indescribable sweetness. I watch in awe of the whole action he just did. Sebastian's pretty amazing, I need to remember that more often. "It's a fantastic wine from the village of Purcari in South-Eastern Moldova. Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy it." Sebastian expresses with a smile.
"Beautiful, it's like a Christmas tree!" I hear someone say in the crowd.
I lean back in my chair, finding there will be much excitement tonight. Everyone asks for a glass and I take a deep breath. I really like the smell of this wine. I want a perfume of it. Ciel walks back toward us, drenched in the smell of beer mostly. I stand up and meet him. I notice a drop of it trailing down his cheek and I reach up to get rid of it. He lets me, all the while staring up into my eyes. What is he trying to tell me? "Really, did you really have to go and do that?" I scold him lightly.
Sebastian comes over with a towel right after I said that. I take it from him and begin to scrub Ciel down. "Are you okay, young master?" Sebastian asks after a second.
"Yeah." he confirms and casts a side look at the guests. "Even so," he says but then begins to talk in French with Sebastian and I stand there cluelessly. I only knew English really. I just concentrate on fluffing Ciel down until I am done. I wrap it around his shoulders and mess with his hair a little until it's smoothed out. I feel like a nanny again, I think with a warm smile.
Apparently, the two boys said something funny because Arthur laughed. I pout at being left out and Ciel notices. He flicks my nose and I swat his hand away. I rub it with a glare directed at him. His smirk is all I got in return. I let Arthur and Ciel continue their conversation; I follow Sebastian back to the buffet to get rid of my empty glass. I search the buffet for something good to eat. I find a slice of chocolate cake on the table. I lick my lips at the thought of having some of Sebastian's chocolate cake. His recipe is divine.
As I reach for it, he smacks my hand away and I pull back with a whine. "My lady, you have not yet eaten dinner." he points down.
"B-But—" I protest, and he snatches the dish away from me. I let out a cry at the loss as he shoves a plate of some fancy meat towards me. "No buts." he declares with a smirk.
I give him my best set of puppy dog eyes, still fighting for my favorite dessert. "Pleaseee, Sebastian. You know how much I like your cake." I sniff pathetically. His smirk broadens, enjoying my torture. "Eat something healthy first. Then I may consider giving you a slice."
I drop my façade, knowing he wasn't going to let up. "Fine," I say, and grab the dish aggressively. "but if my cake is gone before I come back, I'll kill you." I threaten.
He chuckles deeply, "Better eat fast."
I scowl at him and stuff a large piece of chicken in my mouth. I know it's not ladylike but this time I do not care. He pisses me off too much. However, I will not tell him that this chicken he made is so good it practically melts off my tongue. I moan lowly at the texture and saunter over to the wine tower. Mey-Rin hands me one with a grin and I take it with an appreciative nod. I walk back over to Arthur and find Ciel is gone. I don't really feel like talking to anyone else tonight anyway.
I plop back down next to him and set my glass on the seat next to me. "Oh, that looks good!" Arthur comments. "It is," I admit and take another bite. "you should try some of Sebastian's dishes. I swear, it'll take you to a new world."
He laughs at my statement, "From the way you are praising it, it seems I need to grab some soon before it is gone."
"Deeply encourage you to."
We make small chitchat for most of the time. Mostly about writing and I become increasingly interested in what he describes and his favorite authors currently. I chime in from time to time when he mentions someone I also read. I really like Arthur; he is very smart. I hope we can remain friends after Ciel's mission is over. I am on my second glass of wine already. I can feel it's contents swim in my stomach. I better watch how much I drink.
"I'm very sorry, but I will be excusing myself as well." I hear Ciel announce.
"Ciel!" I call out to him. He glances over at me with a semi-sleepy eye. "Good night!" I tell him.
He smiles with a nod, "Good night, Rina."
I watch Sebastian and Ciel leave with the drunk man who sleeps on Sebastian's back. What is the point of this party? Nothing suspicious has happened yet. The rest of the night is slow, but many are becoming tipsy. I know I am. We were all hanging out in the billiards room.
"Lady Rina, perhaps it would be best if you slowed down—" Arthur says.
"Nope! Don't wanna!" I laugh. "I'm too happy to stop."
I hear him sigh, "It's not like I can stop you."
I frown at that and set my half-full glass down on the table next to me. "Fine, fine. I shall stop. I'm happy where I am right now." I smile.
"Well, that's good then." Arthur says and scratches his cheek.
I watch the guests play pool, some of them getting angry when they lose. My head is swimming quite a bit, I can't think straight. "Say, Arthur," I hum.
"What is it?" he asks, also watching the game.
"What's your last name?" I ask curiously. I wonder if he is going to be famous in the future. He appears taken aback by my question and a small blush dusts his cheeks. He coughs embarrassingly, "It's uh, Conan-Doyle."
"Conan...Doyle?" I ask, repeating his name on my tongue. Why does that sound so familiar?
"That's it. But why did you ask, lady Rina?" Arthur questions, appearing confused. I frown at that too, his last name bothering me now. I smack my head for the reason why. Conan Doyle...Arthur Conan Doyle. "Arthur Conan Doyle." I repeat out loud, trying to get my brain to function.
"My lady?" he asks, looking a little weirded out. I ignore him and stand up from my chair. I pace back in forth, but my balance is kind of bad. The carpet is a bunch of swirls, but I opt to ignore them temporarily. "You're a writer...and your name is Arthur Conan Doyle." I say and knock my head a couple of times. I just can't think of why it sounds so familiar. It's on the tip of my tongue, who he is.
I'm so concentrated on my thoughts; I do not even see Arthur leave his seat. I feel someone grab my elbows abruptly and I jump in my spot. "Lady Rina, I think it would be best to retire for the night." Arthur suggests.
"It's not that, it's not that..." I mumble, not realizing he is directing me toward the door. He opens it and I find a wall of black in front of me. I peer up and find a displeased Sebastian. I smile at him, breaking my concentration immediately. He peers behind me, "What is going on?" Sebastian asks.
"Ah, I thought she needs to retire to her room. She is having a hard time walking." Arthur says behind me. I turn my head around, "No! I'm fine!" I protest.
He sweatdrops and pushes me toward Sebastian, "Please take care of her."
"I will, thank you." Sebastian states with a bow.
"Noooo," I whine at Arthur. "don't leave me with the devi—"
Sebastian's white-gloved hand slams on top of my mouth before I can finish my sentence. He shuts the door in Arthur's face and holds me still suddenly. "My lady, remind me to keep a careful eye on you when you are intoxicated."
I grumble into his hand and he lifts it off my mouth cautiously. "I don't want to sleep." I complain.
"You must, or else I will make you." he threatens.
I shrink in his hold, knowing he will do as he says. He grabs my wrist and drags me away from the door. I follow him reluctantly. I fumble multiple times in my steps, and he becomes irritated. He stops mid-step and pulls me closer behind him. I blush at the action, not expecting that. He practically lifts me onto his back, and I squeal. "You're giving me a piggy-back ride?" I ask with a hiccup.
"You cannot walk properly. Seriously, the things I deal with." he sighs and stalks down the hallway.
I giggle and wrap my arms around his neck. I nuzzle my head into his shoulder and his scent makes me grin. "Mmm...Sebastian." I murmur tiredly suddenly.
"What is it?" he asks. I can feel his voice rumble in his back and throat. What a weird sensation.
"That cake was good earlier." I mention.
His hands tighten around my knees, "I am glad you enjoyed it."
Silence develops between us and I begin to doze off on his shoulder. Until all of a sudden, an image of a Sherlock Holmes novel flashes in my thoughts. I gasp and sit upon his back. I pull his shoulders back and he lurches to a stop. "Must you do that?" he complains.
"Oh my god, oh my god, Sebastian, we have to go back!" I screech loudly.
"You are not going back; you need to sleep."
I kick at his sides, trying to fight his iron grip with all I can. He does not bulge despite how strong I am. "He is thee, Arthur Conon Doyle!" I shriek at him. "I have to go back and get his autograph. Holy shit!"
Sebastian does not turn around and instead keeps walking forward. "No, wait until morning."
I grab his hair and yank back on it, "No! We are going back this instant, you hear me!?"
"Stop shouting." he snarls. I glare at him because I will fight this. I need to meet this man with a whole new light. "No!"
"I am not taking you back there just so you can see a man one more time before morning." he growls lightly but I can barely hear it nor care to.
"Sebastian, I don't think you understand how famous this man is." I try to reason. He continues to walk towards my bedroom. I need to convince him quick. "He is so famous; his books will be off the charts. People will make things due to his stories."
"You sound very convinced by the young master's praises. I did not think they would make you sound so ridiculous."
"No, stop writing me off as crazy. I am telling the truth." I grumble. I should probably stop fighting this. He won't let me go back tonight, asshole. I slouch against his shoulder again with a pout. I'm such a baby when I'm intoxicated. At least, I'm not full-on wasted, that's a highlight.
"I can tell you are, which is why I am confused..." I hear him say. I perk up at what he says, "Really?" I ask in amazement.
"Either way I do not care about some human." he reasons.
I pout again and cling onto his back, "I do." I mutter.
He stops mid-step and I continue to lie on his back. I am in that state where I am sleepy, and my brain is fuzzy. It's a very weird feeling. "Please do not say that, my lady."
"Hm? Why?"
"...to care about people, you do not know is dangerous. You should know this already." he advises and begins to walk again.
"I know you though..." I yawn. I feel him stiffen but he continues his path. "It would be best you didn't." he whispers.
I can feel the darkness closing in on me, my eyes closing rapidly. It's hard to stay awake. "Too bad, I'm here now and not going anywhere...deal with it."
The darkness is all I see last and sleep pulls me under.
0o0o0o0o
A scream and a bang awaken me. I lurch out of bed as lightning flashes through my curtains. I listen for more voices and I hear them. But another crack of thunder makes my bedroom shake. I feel my heart pound so hard in my chest, it hurts. I grasp at my chemise and tug on it as I begin to hyperventilate. I can't breathe. I can't breathe! A blood-curdling scream echoes around me and I release a yelp. I slam my hands on top of my ears, trying to block out the sounds of people dying.
I can hear people being stabbed too. I start to cry, and my body feels numb. I look down and find my clothes are drenched blood. I stare at it for a split second before I release another shout. I spring out of the bed and I find blood everywhere on the ground. I grab my head, as I rush toward my door. The minute I open it, I find Vincent's dying body in front of me. More tears prick my eyes and I fall onto my knees. "Vincent...Vincent...oh my God..." I sob and his hand comes up to touch my cheek.
"Find...the twins." he gasps breathlessly. He winces and squeezes his arm tighter around his stomach. There is so much blood, it's everywhere. Why is he dying!? I look over and find Rachel's judging cold eyes staring lifelessly into my own. I freeze on the ground and sob louder. I need to...find the twins... where are they?
"Rina!" I hear someone say. Who is calling me? I look back at Vincent and find he is already dead. I sob and crawl away from his body but my back slams into something sturdy. I shake my head as I can't stop the tears. I can't breathe. Someone help me, someone help them! I scream in my mind. "Rina!" the voice shouts again.
Ciel's face enters my sight, overly concerned, and dare I say scared. I stare at him and feel surprised, he's here, he's safe. Where's the other one? "Ciel!" I cry out and wrap him into a hug. He hugs me back and I cry into his shoulder. "Where were you!? I thought you died!" I sob.
I peer up and find a man in black standing above us. His face is blurry because of my tears, who is that? Is that Tanaka? Or the enemy? No one is taking him away from me. "Rina? Rina. You need to calm down." Ciel whispers in my ear and rubs my back.
"I can't calm down! They're all dead, Ciel. I'm so sorry." I cry.
"Who is?" I hear him ask, mostly confused.
I shove him away from me and point where his parents lie dead. "Over there! How can you not see them?"
He looks in that general direction, "Rina," he says, his eye closes. "There is no one there."
I stare at him in shock and turn to look over at the spot. All the blood is gone, and his parents no longer lay there. I find my gaze on the floor, trying to understand what just happened. "They're gone?" I whisper with a rasp.
"That's right," Ciel confirms.
Then what did I just see? I grip my hair, very confused. I hear people whisper around me and I glance up at them. Who are they again? Most of them seemed concerned. I'm at the mansion, right? I look around me and find out that I am. My head hurts. A man steps forward, in his suit, "Lady Rina, are you alright?" he asks.
I try to figure him out, not too sure if I am. "I heard screaming?" I question.
"Yes, Master Siemans has been murdered." the man informs. "Siemans?" I ask, not sure who that is either. "The man who was drunk at the beginning of the party."
Like a floodgate, everything returns to me at once. The party, Arthur, and Sebastian taking me back to my bedroom. Oh god, I forgot Sebastian existed there for a second. I turn to look at Ciel to find him still looking at me with concern and worry. I bow my head, feeling embarrassed. I think I just experienced some PTSD. "Sorry," I mumble to everyone. "I woke up from a nightmare." I lie.
Arthur smiles down at me and starts to offer a hand to me. But Sebastian beats him to it, and I take it gratefully. I feel weak, not so good. I got one hell of a headache for sure. Sebastian holds me still and I relax in his grasp. "We were worried about where you were. Since you did not come out the whole time." Arthur insinuates.
I rub my eyes tiredly and to clear up tears, "Yeah, sorry, like I said I was in the middle of a nightmare and woke up without even realizing it."
"While that may be true, we do not know who the murderer is yet. So, you and the Earl will be sleeping next to each other for the night; as he did not have an alibi either." Arthur frowns.
I glance at Ciel, knowing there's more to this. This is all planned, gee. I'm too exhausted to care. "That's fine..." I murmur.
Arthur nods and Sebastian leads us to a random bedroom in the mansion. The guests go back to their rooms to sleep, appearing scared, and stressed. I can't blame them. I am not concerned about some murderer personally. Since Sebastian is here, I know nothing will touch my brother or me. Even if this is planned, it's not like Ciel can die anyway. Arthur ends up following us to the bedroom. "What is Arthur doing here?" I ask.
"He has to sleep with us so we can't escape." Ciel informs.
Sebastian leaves temporarily and I sit down in a chair. I rub my temples, the ache increasing. "Makes sense." I admit.
"Rina, are you sure you're fine?" Ciel asks behind me. I feel him grab my shoulder to comfort me. I glance up at him tiredly, "No, I am not. Maybe sleep will help."
"What did you see?" he asks curiously.
I frown, the scene very realistic to the real memory, "I don't want to talk about it."
He frowns as well, his grip becoming more of a squeeze. "You can tell me if you want. I have a feeling..."
"Yeah, and you can tell me things too. But you choose not to." I growl at him and shake my shoulder out his grasp. "Why can't you just tell me about your plans?" I ask in a whisper.
"Because I need it to be real." he whispers seriously back. I hear Sebastian coming back and he enters the bedroom. Ciel separates from me, ending our conversation. What does he need to be real? I glance at Sebastian to find a stack of clothes tucked into his arm and chains dangling in his other hand. We are going to be chained to the bed?
He sets the chains down on the bed and Ciel goes to stand on the other side. Arthur sits down on the opposite side with his head in his hands. "Sheesh, what an annoying turn of events." Ciel complains.
"Do you expect me to sleep with a random man?" I ask curiously, not that I had a problem with it really. "Even though he's famous..." I mumble to myself.
"...I didn't think about that." Ciel sweat drops. Arthur stands up with a panicked look, "Oh dear, oh no. I can't do that to a noblewoman." he cries with a red blush exploding on his face. All I notice is a crack in the air and Sebastian freezing for a second before resuming his tasks. I narrow my eyes at him, as he doesn't show any care. I can't feel anything coming from him either. It's like he's closed off.
I lift my feet to rest on the coffee table and cross my arms. "So, what do we do?" I ask them. "I mean, I personally don't care about sleeping next to someone. As long as you don't invade my personal bubble."
Ciel and Arthur gawk at me, "How can you say that?!" they ask in sync.
I shrug and lean back in my seat with a yawn. Their cracking voices is hurting my head more. "My lady," Sebastian says and looms over me with a scary fake smile. I feel my face pale at the look. "I can chain you down to this chair instead. Please do not worry about escaping as I will make sure these chains are secured."
I shrink into the chair, not liking his mood. Should I tease him? I hum in my thoughts. Might be best if I did not because it will sound very sexual. I hold back a wince at my stupid flirt. Yeah, best not. "I won't be comfy, Sebastian."
"That's not the whole point of this whole process, is it?"
"I rather sleep in a bed with a man than being strapped down to a stiff chair with chains wrapped around me tightly." I inform him with an innocent smile. I watch a tick mark pulse against his forehead suddenly, "My lady, I greatly advise you do not."
I smirk and stand up; I march past him toward the bed. "I call dibs on the middle!" I shout. A strong hand lands on my shoulder and I feel my face pale once again. "Do as I say, I'll give you a whole cake for yourself when this is over with." he whispers in my ear.
I turn around with the brightest grin, "Wow, to think you'd stoop so low to entice me with cake is quite naughty but affective of you." I sit my ass back into the seat with a yawn. "Tie me up, Sebastian."
"What...is wrong with those two?" I hear Arthur whisper.
"Everything," Ciel whispers back to him with a sigh.
"I can hear you!" I shout at them. Sebastian begins to chain me to the chair, and I feel myself slowly nodding off. The chain bracelets wrap around my wrists and go under my chair. It keeps me locked in place. When he is finished, I squirm in my seat and wonder if the cake is worth this. Sebastian chains my brother and Arthur to the bed next. I hear some ruffling of clothes, everyone's behind me so I can't see them without craning my neck painfully. Arthur sighs loudly and I wonder if he's okay. Then again, he's sleeping next to suspected murderers. I know I wouldn't be.
"By the way, the room that I prepared for Mr. Phelps was the room next to the aforementioned one. He refused to sleep in there though." Sebastian mentions.
"So, I heard." Ciel murmurs.
"I wanted to assign him a room immediately but only the young master's and my ladies. But I thought it would be best to not place him in a woman's room. So, I took him to the young masters." Sebastian informs. "Please forgive me."
"Ah, thank you for that. I don't want that weasel in my bedroom." I say.
"It can't be helped." Ciel states. I hear him hop onto the bed with a small sigh. "It should be cold tonight. Don't let the coke*(the smoke) in the rooms go out." Ciel orders Sebastian. "Even though I won't be around, be sure to give our guests perfect service."
"Yes, my lord." Sebastian understands. "Well then, please excuse me."
The minute the demon leaves the bedroom, an awkward silence overtakes the bedroom. However, I close my eyes for a second and find I can't open them once more. I am too sleepy to listen in on them. Earlier, it was all too much for my head. I never wish to experience that again. I felt like I went back in time. It's so scary. I feel my head hang to the side as I nod off into my thoughts. I miss Vincent..., the headache still pulses loudly in my head but somehow, I manage to fall asleep.
