Disclaimer: I do not own Black Butler or its characters.
Original Post Date: 9/2/2018
Grammar editing: 9/27/2018
Story Editing: 11/15/2018
Editing: 08/21/2019
Editing: 07/21/2020
Updates for this story on my profile, otherwise enjoy, and please review/follow/favorite.
Chapter 12
Sebastian, Ciel, and I were currently in London on request by the Queen. Retrieving the files needed for the case was the priority for Ciel. I had stayed in the carriage while they did their thing, which was stealing said files according to the manga. Commisonnor Randall didn't like to share. Though I supposed, that is to be expected. Ciel was basically the cowboy cop that was on the payroll.
I should probably slip away at some point to see Undertaker, alone, that is. I know we will see him next, but I can't say what I need to with Ciel there, let alone Sebastian. I needed to confront him about whether or not he knew of the potential deadliness to me his blood would do. I was Interrupted from my musing do to Ciel opening the door as he spoke to Sebastian.
"That may be true of the world on the surface, but..." Ciel, along with Sebastian, sat down, Sebastian took the space next to me with Ciel across from him. "In the underworld, there's the possibility that they may already be..." Ciel looked at the envelope with the case details from the Queen.
"Dead," I said bluntly, "Or they are worse off." Ciel glared at me, pulling out the letter and re-reading it as I leaned my head on Sebastian's shoulder. Neither of them seemed to care about my closeness.
"Young Master, if this deals with the underworld, will we be revisiting his place?" I lifted my head to peer at Sebastian. He had a pinched expression.
"To be honest, I want to avoid it, but..." Ciel looked like whatever he was imagining was enough to exhaust him. "Let's go!"
"Sir..." Sebastian sighed, annoyed.
"Why don't you want to see Undertaker?" I asked Ciel.
"Honestly, he's not my cup of tea." Ciel huffed.
"And you, Sebastian?" Sebastian didn't answer, glancing away from me.
"Fine, don't answer." Granted, I could guess why already. While he didn't know about Undertaker being a grim reaper or the source of the reaper blood at this moment in time, it doesn't change the fact that I got in trouble while in his care.
It was quiet for the rest of the trip to Undertakers. Which I was glad for. I was tired and seemed to be oddly cranky. When the carriage we were in pulled up to Undertakers Sebastian got out first, followed by Ciel. Ciel didn't wait for Sebastian to help me out of the carriage so that I wouldn't trip over my dress. My Mood became far more foul by merely looking at Ciel's self-righteous face as he barged right into Undertakers shop. As Sebastian and I caught up to Ciel, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.
"Are you here? Undertaker!" I sighed because I already knew Adrian would be creepy about answering.
" ... Hee Hee ... Well, ~~~Come... Earl." A skull went rolling by startling Ciel. Really? Stupid, Crazy person... Okay, so I was critical today. I can't help it.
"Did you finally want to get into one of my special coffins...?" Undertaker used his creepy as hell crackle voice.
"You..." Ciel sounded annoyed.
"Hee Hee ... Well, have a seat. I've just baked a cake." I tossed a random book at Undertaker.
"Stop being a creep." I narrowed my eyes at him. Okay, maybe more than critical.
"Mafdet... My little bird... so pleasingly cruel."
"Shut it" I felt my brow tick. "Just tell us about the kids."
"Children's corpses, hmm." I glanced at the coffin Ciel was sitting on. If he only knew...
"In the underworld, children's corpses are an everyday occurrence, after all, which the earl knows ve~~~ry well, doesn't he?" Ciel gave a hard expression before speaking.
"We've brought you the documents, are these any of the children you've 'tidied up' amongst them?" Sebastian, who had been silent till now, handed the papers to Undertaker.
"I~~~ Wonder~~~ were they there~~~?" I crossed my arms over my chest.
"Undertaker, don't make me throw another book at you." Undertaker giggled in response.
"Sebastian..." I looked over at him. "I wonder if the butler isn't here is the Earl, just a child who can't do anything?" Undertaker slumped over his counter.
"I'll do it!" Ciel deadpanned.
"You'll do it?" Sebastian questioned
"Leave" This is stupid. Ciel fell for Adrian's goading ... Okay, take it down there cranky. "Don't you dare peek, that's an order." Though I'll admit, Ciel being all serious like that is cute.
" ... Yes, my Lord."
"That means you too." Ciel glared right at me while pointing.
"Sure, 'Ciel' ..." I bowed to him mockingly. I couldn't help but glance at the coffin Ciel was sitting on. I didn't let my gaze linger too long on it. I didn't want Sebastian to notice. Walking outside with Sebastian, I leaned against the building letting out a deep breath.
"You seem distracted." Sebastian slid his eyes my way as he stood next to me. He wasn't leaning on the building like I was. Sebastian was standing far too straight and hadn't bothered to appear as if he were breathing normally. It was these subtle things that gave away the fact that he wasn't human. No matter the delicate skin, he wore.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I looked away, pivoting my head down, so my face was hidden. Sebastian growled low.
"Does his mear presence affect you to the point of stupidity?" My face was turned away from him so I couldn't see his face, but if I had to guess his face was more of a question. The tone, however, that he used to go along with it? That ruffled my feathers.
"Sebastian ... You're on your own!" Granted, he is somewhat right; he's just wrong on the who. Gathering my skirts, I vaulted up onto the rooftop, not supplying Sebastian any time to grab me.
"Mafdet!" Sebastian shouted up at me.
"See you soon," I shouted out to him, propelling forward across the rooftops, summoning forth my death scythe. I knew there were reapers throughout the city, so being safe rather than sorry was what I was going for — having my Scythe at the ready. Plus, if Sebastian followed me, I'd take a swing at him too. While I'm here, I should check to see if there are any inquiries. Mind made up; I headed that way.
When I got to my 'job' location, I checked to see if any jobs I could take while here in London had come in. My Job location was a vacancy in an abandoned warehouse. I have it set up like an office, which makes the nobles feel better about hiring me. They were always ones for looks. They needed it to seem as if they weren't doing anything wrong.
Opening my door was met with some resistance as the door had gotten snagged on a collection of request letters that appeared to have been jostled through the correspondence slot, prompting them to become bunched up on the other side of the door. Putting my Scythe away, I bent down, plucking the request letters up to open the door fully. Stepping into my workspace, I finally started to go through the request letters as I made my way to my desk. One with a crest similar to my own back in my world caught my eye.
"Cuz that's not creepy ..." Plopping into the soft desk chair, inclining back, peering over the outside of the letter. "Hmm," I opened it, bringing out the message as I settled my feet up on my desk.
'Dear Miss Akume (my name in the underworld)
I want to request your services to gain information on one, Sebastian Michaelis. '
"Sebastian?" To say I was surprised was an understatement.
'We wish to make sure he is a good match for our lady before offering him our blessing and title. He is currently in the employ of the Earl Ciel Phantomhive.
Sincerely, Lord Bourbon'
"The Hell!" I darted up from my seat, dumbfounded. Bourbon is my last name. Forget dealing with anything else. There is a person in this world with my name and a similar crest?
"Fuck it." I flung off my clothes, pulling a change of clothes out from below my desk in a duffle bag. I put on my white bodysuit that was high necked and long-sleeved—followed by the white fitted, high necked, a long-sleeved blouse that button down the front. It had frills down the bosom. My black garter belt, skin-tight high waisted shorts that came just passed my ass with skull buttons in the front and black thigh highs were next to be put on — grabbing my shoes, which were mid-calf high black boots with no heel. I put them on and pinned up my hair into an untidy bun. Putting on my gloves as I grabbed the letter, effectively running out the door.
It was faster to take the rooftops here in London, so I leaped up and ran in the records building's direction. The records building would have crests and family information. It would also give me the names and ages of the family under the said crest.
It didn't take me long to get to the records building. It was quite easy to sneak in too. Honestly, the ease of it has me challenging the intelligence of the police. Moving over to the file cabinets, I began opening drawers looking for the name Bourbon.
"I know it's here somewhere..." Removing files out one at a time. When done with one, I'd put it back neatly so that no one would discern someone had been here.
"Hmm ..." There wasn't anything here for Bourbon. Wait, didn't Sebastian state it was the name of the Spanish royal family? It couldn't be that historically similar to my world's history, could it? Examining further through the documents, I discovered a division marked visiting aristocracy.
"Okay, that's a start." Flipping through the records under visiting aristocracy, there it was. Removing out the file, I opened it. The report accounted for three members of the Bourbon royal family that were visiting London. Taking a mental photo of the information, I put it all back. Their names, ages, and addresses were all recorded. They were in London, which was good for me. I dought Sebastian would let me wander off too far. Absentmindedly I rubbed my belly. No, not at all.
"Okay ... Next stop the library." Sneaking back out of the records building, I peered around to make sure no one noticed me before I leaped up onto the rooftops to get to the library quicker. This way of traveling around London reminded me of par core back in my realm. Sebastian had continued waking up more and more of my demon nature, bouncing around from rooftop to rooftop had been much more accessible. About to drop down to the ground in the alleyway next to the institution, I was startled into wavering a bit on the edge when a chuckle echoed from behind me. Though I knew that chuckle anywhere, it didn't change that I wasn't anticipating it to be directly behind me as I was vaulting around.
"What do you want, Adrian?" I coolly asked him.
"You didn't stay" I heard his footsteps get closer to me. Annoyed, I whirled around, baring my Scythe at him. Adrian raised his palms in surrender. "Little Bird ..."
"You poisoned me, Adrian!" I snarled out. I was striving to be calm. I absolutely was. Never let them see you sweat, right? Well, I was wrong. Today wasn't my day, and I felt like I had an extreme case of PMS. Something I didn't habitually endure at all, but I'm assuming aforementioned is what it wholeheartedly felt like. Calm to volcanic eruptions in less than an instant.
"Poison?" He looked like he was starting to panic, but if there was one thing I acknowledged, it's that he can tell absolute lies. He doesn't ordinarily. But just like everyone else, he most assuredly does.
"Don't play stupid, Undertaker! You know that Reaper Blood is lethal to demons. You additionally comprehend that I am a demon. Half or less, the reality remains I am one." I seized the hilt of my Scythe so hard my knuckles were becoming white as I growled at Undertaker.
"Mafdet... I-" Undertaker tried advancing toward me, but I cut the reaper off not only in his mid-step but mid start of his reply by pushing the blade of my weapon against his larynx.
"I don't want your excuses!" I exploded.
"Mafdet, I simply wanted to stop the butler should he try something." I felt my canines lengthen at my ferocity. Shaking my head to clear it, I lowered my weapon. Get a grip, woman! Why the hell are you so irritable?
"Leave, I'll visit him... before I go back. right now I have a job." I was attempting so desperately to stay within my rational mind and not respond at all. It was proving challenging.
"Mafdet..." Undertaker guided his hand up to touch my face, but I knocked his hand away. I didn't want to, but at the same time, I was hurt by his willingness to possibly hurt me. While I usually wouldn't have reacted, It was like something inside me made me react at base instinct.
"I'm hurt, Undertaker, give me time." I gave him my back deliberating for only a second before plunging into the alleyway. He had looked hurt, I can't deal with that presently. I thrust all the personal bull shit to the back of my consciousness while I entered the library from the back, avoiding being detected. I had other things I needed to focus on right now.
It didn't take me long to locate the History texts on the Bourbon family. Good thing, London realized that libraries were essential. This one had been around since eighteen forty-five. There was even a family tree. Bourbon's house is in France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and the kingdom of Navarre.
In my world and time, I know the house of Bourbon-Anjou is the current Spanish royal family. Of course, that doesn't make it accurate here in the future, nor does that suggest this world and mine will have the same history. I really should have paid more attention to all the Family history classes. But that's neither here nor there, Sighing I glanced back at the ledgers and commenced reading. I made mental notes of some of the history like this section, 'Bourbon-Anjou, Royal Family, motto Further beyond, founded November sixteenth, seventeen hundred.'
It's currently eighteen eighty-nine so one hundred eighty-nine years old at the moment. Under deposition, it says from eighteen oh eight to eighteen thirteen abdications of Bayonne, eighteen seventy to eighteen seventy-four Glorious Revolution.
Remarks here parent house is Bourbon, Founded twelve hundred seventy-two. The founder Robert, Count of Clermont, the sixth son of King Louis IX of France, married Beatrix of Bourbon, Final rulers were France and Navarre: Charles X eighteen twenty-four to eighteen thirty. Of the French: Louis Philippe I eighteen thirty to eighteen forty-eight. Parma: Roberto I eighteen fifty-four to eighteen fifty-nine. Two Sicilies: Francis II eighteen fifty-nine to eighteen sixty-one. They were overthrown in the July Revolution of eighteen thirty. Their cadet branch ruled for eighteen years.
According to this, most of the prominent lines died out by eighteen thirty, leaving descendants that were part of other houses. Basically, they have remained unwilling to say down. They were restored in eighteen seventy-five in Spain. Shifting through some news articles, I spotted a recent one about the Brazilian Branch. They were abolished by a coup d'etat this year. Okay, so then is the sender of the letter a Bourbon from the first house or a cadet family? The records only showed them listed as Bourbon. Sighing, I closed the books.
"Guess I should just show up." But first...
OoO
I got to the townhouse around midnight, putting my Scythe back into its charm, I entered through one of the guest rooms windows.
"Miss Cara?" Hearing the voice startled me into tripping. I closed my eyes, expecting to hit the ground only to be caught by strong arms.
"Why are you entering through the window?"
"Oh, um..." I looked up to see Agni staring back at me. "Avoiding Sebastian?" I didn't know what else to say. Agni, let me go soon as I Righted myself. He must have just noticed what I was wearing because he refused to look right at me anymore.
"Oh ... why are you avoiding Sebastian?"
"Cuz he's a demon," I said flatly. Agni must have thought I was joking because he chuckled.
"You two seem close."
"Well, he is basically my husband, so, yeah, I guess we are." I shrugged, heading to the door.
"Huh! Husband!" Agni's feathers were definitely ruffled.
"Did he not say anything?"
"N...N...NO!"
"Shh, Agni, you'll wake the house." I put a finger over my lips, but it was too late because just then the door opened.
"Well, here you are, Miss Cara." I stiffened at the way to cheery tone Sebastian was Using.
"Yup... Here I am..." Nervous laughter followed.
"Come, it's time for bed, for troublesome little assistants." Sebastian grabbed my shoulder and promptly dragged me from the room.
"Wait, Sebastian~" I tried getting away from him, but Sebastian just threw me over his shoulder.
"No waiting, 'wife'" Lord, help me, for the punishment will be long and painful...