Harmony flinched in Edward's arms, her little body began uncontrollably trembling. Edward's arms instantly began to tighten further around her, to shield her from the cold he believe was causing her to trembling in such a manner. But, it did little to ease it, even when he tucked her into his coat. It didn't help. Not even the rocking of the gentle waves in the lifeboat they sat in with the other passengers. Lizzy with them, he held her close with as well. She was still out, thanks to Sebastian. The butler had to knock her out, she had become rather hysterical urging to go with Ciel when he needed to finish something. If the butler hadn't done so to her, who knows what would have happened to her...with those horrible creatures...the thought was more than he could bear.
She was safe, that's all that mattered. Knowing she was by his side eased him a bit, he smiled softly at her. His smiled moved to Harmony who was still shaking. Snake who sat by him, loomed over the girl closely. His little friends too, one of them made their way and coiled carefully around Harmony, in hopes to help her stop shivering. Edward's smile remained but slowly began to fall. Harmony was safe too. Both precious sisters where safe, then why was his heart hurting?
He knew why, he knew why each beat of his heart felt like something sharp pierced it. Why it flamed, why he swelled with anger...no frustration. No...it was a mixture of something that ached him.
Harmony and Lizzy, he goes back to them, them where safe. They where here...his mother and father where safe. The people they managed to save, were safe. Everyone was safe.
Well, not everyone...one person was uncounted for. They decided to on their own accord for reason, undisclosed reasons they cared not to mention, remained behind. On the ship. Separated themselves from everyone, from being safe and returned back to the dangerous. The moment Lizzy and the others came, Edward's eyes instantly noticed the absent of May. Even though Lizzy had assured him along with Ciel and the others she was right behind them. An idiot move, he clenched his teeth, never have a lady behind you. They must remain in front, while the gentleman takes on the danger that should spring up out of nowhere.
That was Ciel's and Sebastian's mistake. Now, now...his clenched harder, May was on the ship God knows where. She was either alive or...his heart and stomach sunk at the notation.
NO!
He screamed such a horrid thought from his mind. That wouldn't happen, she could be fine. She was going to come back, alright! He assured himself. After all, his mother did train her, then again she did have other...skills. That would keep her safe, after all, the life she lived before this one she had to make sure to keep herself and Harmony safe. Living alone.
She was smart...no...intelligent to make sure she stayed a lived. She had Harmony to come back to, she had a family to come back to. Both Lizzy and Harmony would be heartbroken if she didn't. The poor girls...the poor girl. Harmony was too young to loose anyone else. Madam she already lost, it was clear how dear she held the woman and should she find out that May hadn't come back.
How much longer could they keep up this lie? What lie could anyone tell Harmony about her sister? Harmony would see straight through it and the tears would come. They wouldn't stop. Her cries for her sister to come and comfort her, who would not.
Harmony...would be all alone.
His arm holds squeezes Harmony tighter, Edward wouldn't allow that. If only he was there...with her..with May. He'd be able to help, to protect her. Whatever it was she needed to do. She wasn't alone, she had him.
She had him!
She always did!
Her smile he wanted to see that again, hear her voice call his name. To see her again, that was all he asked for. Prayed for, pleaded to the Heavens. For her safe return, no matter how upset he was with her actions. Her choice as long as she returned safely to him. To everyone. To Harmony, so his heart could fill with joy instead of despair and worry.
It was hard, keeping his head up. But, he had too. He had to remain strong for the girls, for May. Even in this cold...freezing water he'd dive in and swim back to the ship just to get her. Held Lizzy and Harmony closer. Ciel had better bring her back or he would never forgive him.
Never.
A word that echoed in your mind...never….Never did you want this...this life. Never did you Undertaker in your life. Never did...did you want to hurt...you didn't mean for it to happen. It just did...all you wanted was for Harmony to have a life...never did you mean for it to be stolen.
Ciel.
He wasn't suppose to know...he wasn't. No one was.
You didn't want to become this...Ebony Flower. It wasn't suppose to happen...but it did. Why? You questioned furiously, why did you listen those poisoning words of Undertaker? They where so sweet yet ill, but you could not see. All you saw, all your eyes saw was simple kindness that took you and Harmony in. Off the streets, gave you both a place to stay and to become accustom.
Even if the place was dark and morbid, it was...home a cold home. A twisted home. One you couldn't keep or raise Harmony in...not after what happened...you couldn't keep doing what Undertaker insisted and praised you to do. It was tainting, yet beautiful to that crazed man. You had to get away, far away. You couldn't live like that...the more you did...the more you did the angrier and disgusted you became that you it just...
Jumped out the way in time, avoiding the three way attack from Grell and the others. Grell's scythe nearly nicked you if didn't lean back at that second. "Whoa!" Ronald redirected his attack. Sighed relieved. "Sorry May."
You paid his apology no mind, actually you paid none of them any mind. Instead ran, jumped and using Ronald vaulted over them and rushed Undertaker. Who smiled.
Only rushed you with rage, Ciel was stunned for a moment at the flash of red he saw in your eyes. Like some sort of flamed arrow you shot across the floor, grabbing the sword, he wasn't sure how you managed to do it so swiftly in one motion. But you did. Those markings on you etched further, coiled around on you further. Even going as far as covering the sword.
That thrusted sharply at Undertaker, Ciel was sure it hit. Everyone thought it did, even you...the blade hit something solid. Instead of flesh. Chuckling with a light tsk of the tongue, Undertaker blocked the killer strike with a sotoba with ease.
Again.
That didn't stop you.
Nor with the others, just as you where about to strike again, they re-entered the battle. That was now four instead of three, each with a different objective.
Each slash. Each kick. Each attack delivered to Undertaker he simply and fluidly avoid each attack. Not thinking much of it the whole time. With his knives Sebastian attempts an attack, but Ronald intervenes, swinging his scythe at him. Forcing the demon to duck, earning an insincerely apology from Ronald. That it slipped.
Angered Sebastian mocked his eyesight being terrible and turns his attack on the Reaper. Hurling the knives at the young reaper, Ronald parries them, aiming them at Undertaker instead. Who simple blocked them, Grell suddenly appears behind him, slashed their scythe down. Undertaker blocked it with a sotoba. That Grell could cut through, left them bemused. They weren't able to before, then again they thought for a moment. When May attacked, she wasn't able to pierce through it, despite the strength she used. But they could? Was this the same sotoba? What the heck was going on?
Questions that would be answered later. Ronald charged forward, but Undertaker jumped and attacked him from above. Thrusted a sotoba, caused Ronald's glasses to be thrown off. Undertaker forcefully slammed his foot down on Ronald's head, chiding him on his dependence on his glasses. Jumped back avoided your slashed strike.
And again when you whirled around to strike again. He blocked it with a sotoba, swiped back. You blocked quickly, nearly lost your footing. Jumped and rushed him from the side this time.
Slashed down.
Blocked again.
Any attack thrown at him, he quickly dodged or blocked. With ease. It was alarming even though it shouldn't be. Still, there had to be some way to land some injury on him? And you would.
Rushed him once more. Swinging and slashing rapidly, it could barely be seen. Trying to follow it would leave one dizzy or disoriented, as it did for Ciel just a bit. The way you handled the sword...the way you fought was still astounding. Even though you didn't land a single hit on Undertaker, you switched it up. Right away. Footing and handing off. Parrying too. Your eyes followed each movement Undertaker did swiftly. Like a predator. Ciel saw it, the talon look you held in your eyes. The rush of blood that rose on your darkened face. There was no doubt about it, that intent to kill was written as clear as day in your eyes and every strike you produced. Dragged down with a hint of disgust and shame. That rose ever time Undertaker turned a smile to you. He was enjoying this, still comparing it to a dance. One the two of you shared many times.
Something that rose questions, along with other things Undertaker said. That you wished he didn't, there was something else...you hadn't bother to look in the direction of Ciel. And Ciel noticed, even when you came in...before all this started you stopped looking at him. For when Undertaker mentioned him, he saw you tense up for a moment and wince. Then become weighed down again...he was sure your heart clenched.
No matter how much you tired to push it down, you felt the guilt clawing you. Your movements where lagging. That didn't stop you from continuing. But it almost cost you. Sebastian hurled numerous knives at Undertaker, nearly grazed if you didn't deflect a few. Felt a sharp piercing in your forearm.
Undertaker simply blocked them with another sotoba. Questioned if the knives would be able to defeat. Which Sebastian agreed it wasn't durable like a death scythe, but it would have to do. With its top-grade sharpness. Caught one of the sotobas demonstrated the sharpness of the knives, sliced upward effectively slicing it.
"I see~" Undertaker acknowledged, threw a few sotoba. Creating distance between him and Sebastian, inquired. "Hey, hey what's up? You really can't do better than this the four of you? Weren't you going to hunt me down?" He repeated through bits of chuckling. Looked in the direction of sole female. "Though I am a bit disappointed," he tisked. "all that training. And this all you have to show, your master would be hurt."
Grunting from his comment, you pull out the knife from your forearm. Ignoring the shot of pain and river of red that began to roll down. Grip the utensil in one hand and your blade in the other.
Ronald finally had his glasses, put them on. "This is totally annoying."
"Let's hurry." Grell urges. Noticing a shift in the ship. "The's tilting badly. We're out of time."
"That's right." Ronald agreed.
Time was slipping away. Enough of this, both Reapers charge Undertaker not caring how it would look. Their scythes out attack, Undertaker blocks them...again. This time it didn't cut through the sotoba like before.
Appealing and shocking the two Reapers. "Again!" Grell yelled. "It can't be! There should be nothing a Death Scythe can't...How can it take on the Death Scythe?"
Undertaker lips pressed into a smile. "The Death Scythe that can cut everything."Remarked. "Don't you think that catchphrase is a little strange? Well, it's not like I care either way. There is one thing though isn't there? That it can't cut."
At those words Ronald realized what it was. "No way..."
With a mighty swing Undertaker sliced them both. In the abdomen. Servilely injuring them. Revealed his own Death Scythe. His silver Death Scythe longer than himself, with a curved sharp blade looking like it grew out the skull at the top of the end of the handle. It spoke death in volumes. Your limbs trembled slightly. Your eyes fall to the blade, linger on it.
It was nothing like the other...other ones who came. This one...you weren't sure if it was you or something but this feeling from it...what radiate off it...it sliced Grell and Ronald with ease...smooth simple ease...and...Harmony! You gasped. It could...you faded out...saw it for a moment...heard her screams as the curved blade plunged into her little body..blood...blood everywhere. Her blood spilled out...her amber eyes stared back lifeless...a trickle of blood in the corner...of her open mouth where her last breath escaped.
Just like...like...no...NO! You couldn't let it happen. Not again! You couldn't lose her! You couldn't lose anyone...You wouldn't let him! You grimaced, you wouldn't.
Raising his scythe Undertaker, murmured. "How about I hunt you guys now? Like the pitiful rabbit in a hunting game." Swung the scythe tumultuously, breaking a pillar caused the structure to collapses. The tables on top slide and fall off.
Quickly Sebastian caught and supported them upright. Lunged them at Undertaker, who cut them effortlessly. "It's not use," he said. "cutting a table with this takes no more effort than breaking a cookie." He gave a quick thought. "My little mouse loves cookies you know."
"She's not yours!" You suddenly appear overhead, swing a kick down at him. Miss. Rupture the floor, leave a deep crater of broken solid wood in the wake. Nearly shattered. Push off, rush Undertaker with another direct kick. Swipe right over the man, missing him again.
"Oh~" he chimed. Leaping back to get distance. "It seems you've got that fire back and..."he noticed a change. You hadn't the sword anymore...hand to hand you switched too with...one the knife that you had pulled out and there was something else. Your appearance...it was different.
The markings, there where more. No...that wasn't it, trailing his eyes to your hands, yes, there it was. That dark outline faintly crackling around those delicate and soft hands. That now where clawed and slightly sharp. As where another part of you, that bared at him. Your teeth. No longer normal, now sharper the small fangs could be seen and the pointiness of your ears.
The others weren't sure what they where looking at anymore, you nearly looked feral. But, Undertaker seem to know with the delight on his face. Nothing about you seem...the same. Though your eyes held its...it somewhat held its color, till it was pushed out and replaced with pitch black.
A demon?
No one was sure, Ronald had to rub remove his glasses for a moment to double check...this change. Just what the hell...happened? "Well, someone seems upset~" Undertaker said wistfully. Set his scythe down, leaned on it a bit. "You look lovely, my Ebony Flower." You hissed. "All that nature of love and care..why I'd say it did wonders. I wonder though," he tapped his chin. Slide his eyes to you. "how my little mouse fairs?"
You lost it!
Rushed him, slashed down hard. He leaped back and swiped up. Nearly getting you with the blade. If you didn't move back in time. Still, you felt the cut in the air. Flipping over, land, do it again. This time jump, come down with double kicks. Landing on the handle of his scythe he used to deflect and defend himself. No matter what strike you did...you gave. No matter the amount of kicks, he deflected them all.
"Why, are you even trying?" He teased. Butted you hard in the gut with the top of his scythe.
Nearly knocked the wind right out of you. Stunned you. He delivered another, this time twice as hard. Your body skid across the floor. He looked on disappointed and sighed. Shaking his head.
Shrugged. "I am very disappointed in you, my Flower. I expected more you, after all..." he clicked his tongue, began walking over to you, slowly raising his scythe. "you where so much more ruthless. Back then. I mean, after all..." His eyes look to Ciel quickly. "You took their lives. Now, you've been tamed. So sad. And here I told them you hadn't lost your spark. Guess time does that to a person. They will be quite upset, oh," he curled a mooning smirk. With his scythe held high. "I'm sure I'll think of something to tell my precious..Oh,"he chuckled stopping himself for a moment. "I mean our precious mouse. Poor thing, lost her mother, aunt and now...sister. Don't worry I'll let her know you went on a long trip. Does that sound?"
Struck the scythe down. "May!" Ronald shouted. Mixed with Ciel's frozen scream.
Harmony, jerked in Edward's arms. Started to tremble like crazy, clung to him so tight her nails began digging into his skin. He wasn't sure what was wrong, he tried calling out to her. Something, but there was no response but heavy cries and whimpers and one word she kept muttering through her trembles.
"May...May.."
