TWO BODIES FOUND IN THE ALLEYWAY NEAR THE DOCKS OF LONDON
The headline read boldly, there was a small picture of the covered bodies, Commissioner Arthur Randall and officer Fred Abberline were captured standing over them. A small coward gathered around, that wasn't what set an upsetting rush through Ciel sitting up in bed. It was the insigma in the far corner of the today's paper that rattled him a bit.
Constatine.
The damn...company now had ties in the paper too? Disgusted to hide his own anger, scuffs with an eye roll. Sebastian couldn't help but smile, as he poured morning tea, at the young boy's dislike for competition and rivalry. Such a spoil boy. Continuing reading the rest of the article that continued to the next page, finding in one of the paragraphs a count. A body count, so far fifteen. That has been found, but Ciel felt there might be more, just not yet found. Each found either by the docks or in the alleys. Not really a smart way to dispose of the bodies, where they doing it internally? Clearly it seem so, why would they allow them to be found? If one was to kill, then they would at least be less sloppy about it. From the last few bodies and information he knew, each body was nothing but merely a husk of its former self, mummified. Wrapped up, sometimes clothed. One had that silver ring, there were a few with discolor skin. They came from Bacchus, then there was were few wrapped in robes, burnt orange robes.
Those in the robes were oddly stitched and discolored. Not to mention a rather pungent smell mixed with a tinge of sickening sweet. Mixed with soiled water. It was hardly able to be stomached. The body count was rising, there was discrimation between the gender or age. Whether it be an adult, teen, or child. The youngest was Harmony's age, fact that always left Ciel's mouth dry. An observation Sebastian noticed the way Ciel eye flit around for a minute, longer when Harmony happen to appear, he kept his attention away. The demon had a sense his master was trying hard not visualizing the thought of finding Harmony in such a manner.
Standing over her body, identifying it was indeed the young girl. As the coroner covered her lifeless body.
The silent shutter trembling through the young lord, even if he remained unfazed. "My lord." Sebastian presents his tea. Taking the paper Ciel tossed aside, there was a sense of distraction the demon noticed. "Is everything alright?"
Lips paused on the edge of the fine china for a moment. "Yes." He murmured between sips. That was a lie, but Sebastian didn't press. "The case is causing more of a turmoil, it's unsettling. Whomever this individual maybe. I would say they are becoming careless, then again it could just another tactic. These bodies that suddenly appearing seems like an endless sort. There must be a sort location, a focal point in which they are coming from." He holds out his hand for the paper.
Turning it to the front page, studies the bodies. Their position. They were a slight forty-five degrees, lapsed over each other. And there was something else...bringing the paper closer, squinting his eye barely made it out. But, he was sure it was there.
Noticing his struggle, Sebastian offered his assistance. "Look here." Ciel points to the body on the left. "Look closely. What do you see?"
It took a second for Sebastian, but he found it. There was something faintly indented on the upper part of the forearm, a light brand. A very light one. "Look at the other one." Ciel orders.
Doing so as he was told Sebastian's eyes move to the other body.
Harmony sat up in her bed, shoulders stooped with a downturn expression weighing on her face. A heavy sigh leaves her lips, normally she'd be bouncing out from bed and welcoming the new day. Her face pressed to the window with a cookie halfway eaten and hanging out of her mouth. Awwing over the white covered ground and hoping to see Finnian who always had a message written in snow for her or a sign. Mainly a heart was drawn. With the small amount of strength she had, would open the window and the two waving and yelling good morning. She would be careful because a few times she nearly slipped out from leaning out too far. Thank goodness Sebastian always seem to be walking by and snatched her back, just in time.
She hadn't done gone to the window to see Finnian's morning message nor had she touched her cookies waiting next on the nightstand by her bed. She wasn't in the mood for them, not right now.
A light knock came to her door. "Lady Harmony, are you still here?" Sebastian asked opening it, surprised to find her still in bed. He steps inside, quickly glancing at her laid out clothes and untouched cookies. Which he was sure would have eaten, by now at least. Within a minute those cookies would be no more, it was now going on...checking his pocket watch, fifteen minutes. Cookies untouched. "Are you alright, Lady Harmony?" He noticed her sullen look.
She didn't respond, remained looking at her hands. Walking over puts his wrist on her forehead. Checking her temperature, it seem normal. There was no rise. Then what was it?
He called to her a few times, there was no response only muffled whimpers she tried to hold in. "Lady Harmony, what is it?" He crouches lower to her level, his voice softening.
Her lips press together refusing to say a single word. Shaking her head. Her eyes began to mist, quickly she shuts her eyes pressing it back down. Opening them after a minute, no more mist in her eyes. They were clear of it. They were hard, growing harder with each passing second. To kept those tears from rising, the strain trembled through her body. Huffing, puffs out her cheeks like a chipmunk and holds her breath counting down. Mentally.
Slowly releases a breath, for a second he saw her go pale as a corpse for moment. A sharp breath silently slipped by, turned back to normal. Her smile returned both on face and in her eyes. Blinking a few times, rubbing them she looks around quizzingly, till her eyes meet Sebastian's knotted brows, which she mirrored in return.
"Mr. Sebastian? Why do you look silly?" She giggled trying to sound serious.
He could ask the same question, but let it be and smiles lightly. "No reason, Lady Harmony." He said standing, picking up the small plate of cookies, offering one to her. "Would you like one?"
Her hand answered for her, right away she snatched one and popped it in her mouth. She ate quickly and grabbed another one. He never understood why Ciel allowed her to eat sweets in the morning, at the start he understood. It was a way to control her at the beginning, but now what was it used for? With each cookie Harmony ate her smile beamed more. His face softens slightly, now he saw.
Ciel.
Shaking his head slightly, his eyes noticed something on her vanity. A small rectangle gift wrapped in black with a grey bow, walking over he reads it. It was addressed to Harmony, odd. He didn't remember this with the other gifts, having cleaned up after everyone holiday. It wasn't in her room a week ago either. How did it get here? Picking it up carefully, examining it.
"Lady Harmony, when you receive this?" He asked casual narrowing his eyes.
After a few more munching and swallowing she answers. "My friend. My friend gave it to me."
Friend? "What friend? The young Lord Miguel?"
Hearing her climb out of bed and walk over giggling shaking her head. She appears by his side. "No. He didn't."
"Then who did?"
"My friend." She laughs lightly behind her hands. Sebastian was surely acting silly. "I said it already, my friend gave it to me." She held out her hand for it. "I didn't open it yet."
Before he could say a word she jumps up and snatches it from him. Tearing off the paper, finds a flat black velvet box. Remaining intently silent Sebastian watched steadily at the gift Harmony received. Opening the top she nearly shrills if not for the gasp that escaped first. Her eyes glittered at the orange-oval translucent gem attached in the center on a thin silver cuff.
A bracelet.
It was a bracelet.
With smaller orange gems acceding the side. In the right light it did give a slight sparkle. Reflected in Harmony's eyes. It held a spell over her, they way her eyes held it.
"It's so...beautiful." Her words came out memorized. Taking it out puts it on her wrist, it was either the light or the glare but Sebastian was sure he saw flicker of a flash. Not just from the bracelet but from Harmony's eyes.
That rose concerns. "Come, now," he reaches for it. "it is time to take bath, why don't we take it off."
He beings to remove it. "No!" Harmony snaps snatching her hand away, holding it close glaring at him. "It's mine. I don't want to take it off!"
Stun for a moment by her behavior, Sebastian wasn't sure what to make of it. The way her eyes glared darkly like knifes, felt cut him, he'd never seen such a look before. Such a dark and deadly look from a child, especially Harmony. Those amber eyes went cold, nearly mirroring a demon. The way she bared her teeth at him, clenching the bracelet close.
Knowing the situation needed to remain calm, he allows it. "Alright." He said. Holding out a hand. "You can bathe with it on."
Her face quickly returned to what it once was before. Smiling and cheerful. She takes his hand to go wash up. He kept his smile on and his thoughts secret. Looking back at the grey bow.
You stood before the window in your room, absently looking out over the acres of land to the beyond. Nothing but an ocean of frosted trees, bleakness. Was all your eyes saw, raising a hand rest it on the window. It was cold, as it should be. It was winter after all. Was it this cold...years ago? When you and Harmony..arrived. It was thick and foggy. You knew that much. Wet too. Muddy. Or was it murky?
It was silent, despite your body aching with burning pain. The smell of burning flesh and hair, that later formed into blisters, the violent crackling jolts of that proceed to follow. Harmony was unaffected from the severity of it all, only came out with minor burns and scars. You cradled her close to your chest with one arm as they two of you laid...laid on the cold dark ground. Not even its cooling touch soothed the pain. Every ounce of you flared from pain, but you endured. Clenching Harmony close to your heart, your thoughts on her as your body weakened. As long as she was safe, in your free hand clench the light metal rod that slowly began to crack...it was done...your eyes weakly watch as the cracks move further up. Blinking slowly, fade away.
Everything went black.
Except for those hazed faces...a handsome one. A gentle and beautiful one. Whisked by.
Harmony...Miwa was all your thoughts could think about. Whatever you had transferred it to her, to keep her well. If she lived then...something wet. What? Yes, you remembered, there was something wet and a gentle stroke caressing your cheek that opened your eyes slightly. Vision blurry, barely able to make out the figure that stood over you an intrigued and curious vibe resonated off them, along with this twisted darkness that engulfed. You flinched from their touch, enraged. They hold you back with their cold and stringy touch.
Clicking their tongue disappointingly. With a warning, your body tensed up from your clenched fist ready to strike, freeze at the sound of Miwa's cries. She was here...in this place of..death. Her cries were so far, yet close. She needed you. She needed to hear your voice, where was she? Your eyes tried to search for her...but your vision had yet to fully return, all you could focus on was the dark figure that walked away. It leaned over and picked up something small...walks back over.
Miwa. It was Miwa! You'd know that touch anywhere. It had her and she wasn't crying! Panicked now shoot up ignoring the rush of pain that shot through you like fire and swing a mighty strike, to have it caught. Easily.
Dangle you by one hand. You could feel their eyes trail slowly along your body a few times, as if examining. A pleased smile curled on their lips. A wicked one. Feel their breath on your neck that made your skin crawl and whispered in your ear. Release you when done.
They released you and Miwa. Finding yourself in the bed of a hospital and...Madam Red's kind and warm eyes gladly welcoming you. With tender words.
It seem so long ago, it did. The past. Yet, the cold...brought it back. A memory...a time that was nothing but a stain that could not removed. But, you prayed and hoped it could buried. To be reminded it was not so. Clenching the gift in your trembling hands, feel your heart beating so fast it nearly made you faint but made you breathless. You nearly had to gasp for air.
This..gift was a reminder. A horrible one, to ensure Harmony's and your own life. To ensure Harmony's more than your own. A reminder how precious time was, opening your clenched hands stare the reminder...at the gift horror in your eyes that demanded you produce the scream welling up inside. It burned, holding the gift it burned as it did back...then.
How did they even? Clenching it again, this time adding more strength hear it slightly crack. Just a bit more pressure, a bit more and it would all go...away. Harmony would have her life and you would...you'd both be...she'd be and...Ciel he wouldn't...Just one more squeeze...
"Baroness?" A knock from Sebastian brought you back. Outside he knocks a second time, he knew you were there hearing a sharp gasp from the other side. Pressing an ear to the door, calls again. "Baroness, it is nearly running late for breakfast. Is everything alright?"
Hearing soft shuffling, a draw open and shut softly. Footsteps approach and the door opens. Though you didn't look it, he saw the winded look in your eyes, you try to hide it by blinking and looking elsewhere.
"Yes?"
What was going on with the sisters today? Taking out his pocket watch he reads the time. "It is nearly forty minutes pass, you should have promptly been down at breakfast by-"
"Yes, thank you." You slip by him, with a small bow. "I apologize." Picking up the corners of your dark blue skirt hurry down the hall, the wrong way again.
He sighs, pinching his brow. Counting to himself you come back in seven seconds. "The other way, Baroness." He stresses.
Softly chuckling apologize again and hurry to the table. He stays behind for a moment and slips in your room. It took just a few minutes for you to reach the table, finding Harmony (dressed in coral pink dress with cream lacing) and Ciel (his typical dark blue outfit) there. They had started eating already. Ciel's eye shots towards you, tempted to say something, but lets it be. You stand waiting, he nods allowing you to join. With a thank you nod, hurry over and take your seat. Mey-Rin pulls out your chair, she notices you wearing the silver flower necklace with the golden gem in the center, again. You seem to wear quite a lot, it was clear you fancied. It hugged your neck well. With its extra golden gems that decorated it.
"Thank you, Mey-Rin."
She smiles. Blushing.
Coughing Ciel gets your attention, just as Sebastian enters and comes over to fill your plate. While Harmony began feeding Snake's friends. "Enough." Ciel tells her, she stops and gives her attention. Everyone does. Finnian and the others.
The room feel a hush from seriousness in his voice. That made him somewhat uneasy. You noticed. "Ciel? What is it?" You sliced through the thickness.
His eye moves Harmony to you, which it lingered on longer, then back to Harmony. Shutting his eye for a few seconds, he composes himself and relaxes his body. Clearing his throat speaks.
"Her Majesty would like for Phantomhive and Burnetts to join her for this coming New Year."
