CHAPTER 6 - "SECRETS ABOUND"

In Abberline's home, Maria, Abberline's fiancée handed Spencer Von Strauss a cup of hot tea as he sat on a couch in the living room, with Frederick Abberline sitting in a chair adjacent to him.

Spencer Von Strauss accepted it with appreciation and took a sip. Abberline observed the lad as he took pleasure in its taste and noticed how the teen's fingers flexed and wrapped around the cup as if to get warm. The lad had on leather gloves when Abberline first saw him which did not insulate against the cold very well and he must have been outside for quite a while waiting to follow Abberline.

Abberline knew of the Von Strauss finally. They were the largest importer/exporter of leather goods, wools, and meats in the British Commonwealth and its colonies, with a multitude of animal farms in Germany, England, France, Denmark, and other places - which may have accounted for the boy's leather gloves, made of rawhide from the animals the farm's slaughtered. And yet, they were better than no gloves, for which Abberline didn't have this night.

He had invited Spencer back to his home because of what the boy had told him in the alleyway after Abberline had pinned him against the wall; he said that Abberline was in grave danger. Here, at home, he was hoping to become further clued in to what the boy meant.

"Thank you," Spencer said again. "It is a very cold night."

"Please start again," Abberline said, "about what you said to me in the alleyway."

"I was waiting until you left the office to speak with you, unfortunately I did not realize how late you were going to be and I was under-dressed," he said instead in response, briefly glancing at Maria. He wrapped his hands more tightly around the hot cup, and Abberline could see this. The boy also wore thin material trousers and a dark colored dress shirt. Around his neck was something that looked like a dog collar with a crucifix. He knew Spencer's older brother wore a similar "collar" which was something of both a fashion statement and symbolic of their religious beliefs.

Maria excused herself, knowing Abberline would prefer to speak with Spencer alone. Spencer thanked her for the tea once more.

"I had some important reports to finish," Abberline said when she was gone, not saying anything further. "Now, in conjunction with what you told me in the alleyway - why were you following me, and why am I in grave danger?"

Spencer nodded, settling the cup in his lap. "My older brother is a member of a secret cult called the Illuminati, and they have learned of your covert investigation into the boy, Lukas Phantomhive, and his re-emergence into society after seven years, kidnapped and kept by the now famous child kidnapper of London, and they are displeased about it."

Abberline sat momentarily shocked. "H-how…"

"My brother has spies everywhere, even in Scotland Yard, Inspector. I do not know the manner in how he learned of your investigation, only that he knows, and that he entered Scotland Yard soon after you left."

"He entered Scotland Yard? But the night watchman would have prevented him from entry."

"Money speaks, Mr. Abberline. And the Von Strauss family is very wealthy. And in these uncertain economical times, any manner of wealth received is a blessing to those in need, even police officers."

Abberline couldn't argue with that. "Who was he going to see?"

"Your police commissioner, Sir Arthur Randall. He and my brother are acquaintances, but they have not been for long. They met by accident during a case late last year and have struck up an accord. Although, I am aware that your police commissioner does not like my brother, as in so, tolerates their association."

Abberline was pleased to hear that. If Sir Randall was involved with this Illuminati cult, he would seriously have to change his perception of the police commissioner.

"Displeased in what way?" Abberline then addressed something pervious Spencer had said.

"As mentioned, Thann, my brother and his associates - for which I greatly dislike their practices but I am privy to, notwithstanding my father being one of their elite members - do not like your investigation into the boy, Lukas Phantomhive. They believe Scotland Yard should remain neutral, that Sir Randall closed the case to his satisfaction, and to allow the issue to settle as it is. And I believe this is why my brother is visiting your police commissioner now, to have him stop you. From my understanding, Ciel Phantomhive even asked that the case be closed?"

Abberline acknowledged this. Ciel had asked that the case be closed. Abberline had only recently deduced that the family wanted to catch the child kidnapper of London on their own, to revenge for what he had done to Lukas. But Abberline seriously condemned this. "This is something I am engaged in of my own free will," he said. "I am dedicated to helping parents with children gone missing. And Lukas Phantomhive is a large part of the case. I plan on having a family of my own someday and I do not believe the case is officially closed, just put on ice, so to speak, until more information is forthcoming."

"Your dedication to safety and security of London is commendable, Inspector, but you are forcing issues to the surface that should remain buried."

"What is this cult?"

"The Illuminati are a powerful group of people with political and economic ties in some, if not all, of London's institutions and indeed around the known world. Without an in depth history, they were formed many years prior by certain men who felt the world needed to be orderly - their order. Thus, throughout the years, they have coordinated with others around the world who hold their values in trust. And to those who are aware of them, they put their stamp in places to announce their presence in social circles, meeting to discuss their methods in secret, engaging in ceremonies of a somewhat despicable manner, and sometimes participate in orgies with girls that have been supposedly possessed by malevolent spirits for greater pleasure, who willfully give their bodies over to them. This they believe brings them closer to their gods. Furthermore - "

"Enough!" Abberline said. "I fail to believe that men of a civilized society behave in such a way."

"Then you are naïve, Inspector," Spencer said flatly. "I have seen and -" he cleared his throat, "- have participated in one of these orgasmic ceremonies with these girls later sacrificed to demonic entities for knowledge beyond the ages. But this happened when I was younger and when I was stupid, believing it was commonplace because I was brought up with my father and brother involved. Only when my sister became one of these sacrifices did I forsake the Illuminati and discredit them. I suppose I have not been killed because I keep quiet and I am the son of an elite member, but I can stay quiet no longer. Therefore your life and mine will be in danger after everything I will tell you, and there is a lot."

The unfortunate mention of the word son struck Abberline with a familiar cord. In this day and age, women were often looked upon as secondary citizens and were not deemed as important as males, because males could provide a direct linage; daughters could not, their last names changed to their suitors. Spencer's sister raped and this killed in this orgy by the Illuminati was proof of this, and Abberline gathered Spencer's morality trumped that more than his father's association with this cult, and maybe was the reason why he had come to Abberline. The lad probably wanted to stop the slaughter of the innocent and give justice to his sister, since Abberline was conducting his own investigation into similar facets of illegality.

"But what does Lukas Phantomhive and the child kidnapper of London have to do with the Illuminati?"

"A great deal, Inspector. A great deal."

When the servants had learned of Sebastian taking ill, after they had awaken to begin their duties, in the early hours of the morning, they aided where they could, providing comfort to the unconscious butler - a pillow under the his head and a blanket to cover his body. But Sebastian was not moved from Lukas's bedchambers. He was dutifully cared for, a complete roll reversal in regards to Sebastian's duties.

But Ciel and Lukas didn't tell them of the real reason Sebastian was laid out, only that he had fainted from being overworked. This was Lukas's idea and Ciel could feel a lot of unfavorable eyes looking at the back of his head. Ciel was indeed a "warmonger" when it came to completing one's daily duties and the entire staff knew it, working hard and receiving little respect for their efforts, as if it were expected.

Lukas knew Ciel didn't care what the staff thought of him; he was their master. Nothing more, nothing less. Lukas was also their master now, but he and his brother often fought on issues, especially when it came to the staff and doing things independently without relaying so much on the staff. This philosophy of independence, Lukas assumed, was inbred in him by Bryon Kelvin, who often ordered him to undertake missions of assassination - and in doing so, Lukas had to think on his feet and do things on his own to complete the mission. So in a sense, Bryon Kelvin infused this deep sense of independence in him that he often tried to infuse in his brother, without success.

Lately, Lukas had laid off on arguing, and he vowed it would be one of his new years resolutions. Fighting in front of the staff caused a loss of respect - and an unhappy house was a less productive house. So Lukas had decided to be the better person and concede to Ciel for the most part, and if they strongly disagreed on something, he decided to summarily come up with alternatives to aid in the most suitable and logical solution to the problem, albeit his brother's stubbornness that his word is divine.

"Oh dear, Sebastian really has been working hard - yes, he has; he never seems to get any rest," Mey-Rin said, fully dressed in her maid uniform.

She was a ditzy sort of woman, but loyal to the Phantomhive household. She tried her best in her duties but often broke things and screwed up in her duties, but she was an excellent marksman and protector of the family when called upon. The maid façade was merely that. And the glasses Sebastian had given her - although she always claimed Ciel did - emphasized her fake persona, like a spell.

She lifted the blanket to Sebastian's shoulders that she had brought out from Lukas's linen closet, then stood up and fixed her big, round glasses. "I hope he feels better."

"Yes, I always see him moving about," Finny agreed, as he and Bardroy stood at the bed chambers door. "Why won't see wake up, masters'?

Finnian, or Finny as the house called him, was a young Irish gardener that was super strong. It was still unclear how he acquired his strength, enough to lift large heavy objects and throw them long distances, but it was speculated that it may have been chemically induced. If so, it should have worn off without further doses, but it had not, and was forever a part of him in a repeated cycle of regeneration. He was exceptionally loyal to the Phantomhive household, because from what he remembered, he was always caged or trapped and was unable to go outside, so as the gardener, and him being a somewhat inept one, he was able to spend a great deal outside, which made him happy, and when called upon, he would use his super strength to help defend the mansion from invader or intruders.

And the same thing could be said about Bardroy, the cook. However inept in cooking, he was a former infantry man who defied orders from a military commander. He remained back in the trenches, while his commander and others marched forwards during a battle he never named. For this, he was court marshaled for dereliction of duty, but he was the only one that survived a vicious onslaught of bombs and artillery. Sebastian brought him to the mansion for his skills and also made him cook. Some of his meals were very good, other times, especially when he was pressed for time, were burnt beyond edible.

Lukas gave a brief glance to Ciel, then said, "We don't know, Finny," he lied. "But it is best to watch out for him and keep him comfortable until he finds his way back."

"Back from where, sir?" Finny asked.

Lukas observed a curious expression on the young gardener's face when he looked back at him and cursed himself mentally for saying: "…until he finds his way back." Renfrew Phantomhive had caused Sebastian to fall into an unconsciousness to "…learn the error of his ways." The ghost never explained this statement.

Lukas had not seen the ghost since he had chided it back into the hollow darkness from which it came.

"He means when Sebastian awakes from his rest," Ciel said plainly, nodding at Lukas. Lukas returned the nod, thanking his brother mentally for saving him from explaining himself in his momentary mistake. "Sebastian will be well in good order. In the meantime, return to your duties. We will inform you of his condition when information becomes available. Dismissed." They did so. "Tanaka, you stay."

Tanaka turned back to face them. "Can I be of any service, young lords?" The elderly butler stood tall. "Should I call a physician to attend the mansion?"

"A physician will not be necessary, but we do require the Undertaker," Lukas said.

"Oh my, is he…"

Lukas shook his hand in a quick gesture as he saw the elder butler's reaction to his mention of the Undertaker, in another a faux pas he made. "He isn't dying, Tanaka, but we do need his services in another regard, and he may be able to help revive Sebastian, as well."

"Is Sebastian really that bad?"

"Please have the Undertaker attend at his earliest convenience, Tanaka," Ciel said, without explanation.

Tanaka slightly bowed, then left the chambers to make a phone call.

Ciel said, "Do you believe that what the Undertaker did for you, helping you restore a good portion of your memory with bringing you close to death, may heed to Sebastian's case?"

Lukas nodded. "You knew what I was thinking, brother."

"But he is a Reaper with an obsession with death, Sebastian is a demon - they hate each other."

"That is correct, but I believe the Undertaker will come. Salem owns me a favor." Lukas smiled smugly.

"A favor? If I am to understand, you owe him a favor."

"When I was Bryon Kelvin's assassin, Number Six - let's just say, I could have killed him. But did not. Like Fallen Reapers and angelic beings, I know how to kill them. I was taught so. But the Undertaker said if I attempted to fulfill my mission, he would murder Father,using his Reaper powers, thus granting Bryon Kelvin and all his associates clemency for as long as I was alive."

"By whom were you taught this?" Ciel's left eye widened, stunned with surprise but also intrigued.

"I know what you are thinking, brother. Once Sebastian has fulfilled his contract to you, you could kill him with the knowledge I possess and continue to live."

"Do not make assumptions, Lukas. I merely inquired." Ciel narrowed his right eye, as if to hide a truth. "Notwithstanding, you did tell me that the ghost mentioned you placed his old master into hibernation, saving him, releasing Renfrew's spirit. He is now indebted to you. Do you remember now how this occurred and for what reason?"

"No."

"I would like to speak with this spirit and ask him this."

"So you can trap Sebastian?"

"Once more you assume I have malicious intentions, Lukas. I only wish to know so we may use it against Renfrew unless he restores Sebastian back to us."

Lukas nodded. It was a good plan in theory, but he was still suspicious of his brother's intentions. "I cast him away, but he did say that he would be watching. When Salem arrives, I will attempt to summon Renfrew and hopefully we can broker some questions from him."

"And what could we possibly broker a ghost with?"

"Think brother, what does everyone eventually desire in the end?"

Ciel thought for a moment. "Release from wrecked damnation?"

Lukas smiled.

Ironic, he thought, that that would be your answer. Much like you are damned to the Faustian covenant for which you entered in with Sebastian to have revenge on all those who did you wrong, you secretly desire to be free of it, and live after the covenant has been fulfilled.

"You and I are sometimes of one mind, brother, and that is frightening of its own rite," he said, continuing to smile. "You are correct. And I can grant Renfrew Phantomhive this wish, if he so desires it. He says he has vowed to protect me and is guardian to a secret hidden deep inside my mind, that he says isso important that he has rendered Sebastian unconscious because Sebastian attempted to release it. I will ask Salem to pluck the pass-phrase from my unconscious mind and open this door, releasing this hidden secret. Then Renfrew will be free and his power over Sebastian will be gone."

"What of this old master that Renfrew said you put into hibernation? Perhaps this secret refers to him?"

"I believe this is a farce, but if it is true, then we will deal with it - him - when the situation arises."

To be continued...