CHAPTER 22 - "TRUTH AND LIES"

The Undertaker watched as Ciel Phantomhive's carriage strolled away. He saw it leave going east, gazing out a small window in the front of his shop. The window was tinted so he could look out but no one could look in. He then turned when he heard footsteps coming from the backroom.

Lukas Phantomhive stood at the threshold of the room, holding the pistol that he had brought with him from the pair belonging to his father. He had spent most of the night in the coffin, only emerging early this morning, and just before his brother came knocking at the door of the shop. He had scurried away, hiding in a secret compartment in the wall that the Undertaker had for just such occasions to avoid his whereabouts being known. Lukas did not want his brother to know that he was in the shop. And it proved to be very helpful.

He was only half dressed, but he had seen through a small peephole in the wall that his brother had found his stocking on the floor that was accidentally dropped, and that Ciel had suspected that he had been in the Undertaker's shop at some point during the night.

"They have left," the Undertaker said. "You are safe."

Safe. The word sounded hollow. He would never be safe, Lukas knew. Not with everything he now knew that his amnesia had lifted. And he wanted vengeance. His father and mother had committed a horrible sin, and it was unforgivable!

But even his hands were smeared with blood that may never be washed clean.

He had no knowledge of what his parents had done before, when he committed his unspeakable acts under the brainwashing of Bryon Kelvin. But he had no remorse of the things he did, not after what he learned during his bath during his "vision". Everything had been made clear.

The Undertaker had pushed him towards the brink of death to now return stronger with more clarity.

His history over the last seven years according to the cinematic record shown to him induced by the chemical compounds inside the coffin - they were to open his mind - had consisted of many facets.

First, Bryon Kelvin kidnapping him with help from the twins Sasha and Samuel Ironstadt, who had aided in the kidnapping of many other children over the years. Second, the Doctor who had carved his face up and altered it to look like his brother's eliminating a deformity, erstwhile lying to Vincent and Rachel Phantomhive that he had died during surgery. Third, the Inner Circle, a group of political sociopaths, men bent on usurping the Crown to install their own political regime and programming him to murder his brother and to replace him as head of the house of Phantomhive to help them in their plight. Four, he had been trained as an assassin, to murder people, even members of Vincent's secret sect of aristocrats in revenge because they rejected his father - Bryon Kelvin - from joining because he was socially and physically unacceptable. And five, to being purposely set free from his imprisonment, to become reunited with his brother, by Mathu Kelvin and his associates, so Mathu Kelvin could implement his own plans of instability, and to create chaos with Ciel Phantomhive.

His life before this was forgettable and he didn't care about it. The memories he had of a father and mother who cared nothing for him, who had no second thoughts of discarding him, were worthless. And all because he looked different. He was glad they were dead. And now Ciel was the only one left of the Phantomhive proud legacy. Except for him, of course.

But he hated the name Phantomhive, and no longer did he consider himself a Phantomhive after everything he had seen.

And he vowed it would all end. The so-called proud lineage of the Phantomhive line will die.

He began to get fully dressed, minus a stocking, fitting the pistol behind his back of his belt; he buttoned his vest. "Thank you Undertaker for everything you have given me. My mind is no longer in turmoil."

"I opened your mind, but do not be so hasty in setting blame upon others, there is still much to decipher before action can be taken. Vengeance upon your brother has no course for what your parents did to you."

"I have every recourse to take action," Lukas said firmly. "If not on my brother, them on whom? Mmm?"

"There are others to contend with first. Those who wish you harm, for one."

Lukas nodded. "Those twins, Sasha and Samuel Ironstadt, and the Inner Circle. Yes, I agree."

"The last of the Inner Circle have been wiped away. I received word from a reliable source while you were in the coffin having your vision. Mathu Kelvin, nephew of Bryon Kelvin, a woman by the name of Savannah, a powerful fortune-teller, and the twins, murdered them the night before last. They have their own agenda, and they are very dangerous."

"Kelvin?"

"But not Kelvin," the Undertaker said.

"Explain."

"They are Fallen Reapers. Supernatural beings that have fallen from grace. Their bodies are removed and their spirits are set to wander without substance for all eternity for their crimes. But these Fallen Reapers have found a way to inhabit human bodies and have transversed through time looking for their saving grace. You. They believe you have something that they need to restore their bodies back to solid form."

"And how do you know this?"

"I am not only an Undertaker, and I am also a Reaper, a being of death, a go-between for humans from this life to the afterlife. In the last moments of their lives, I show them the cinematic record of their life. That is what you saw in your vision; I took you to the edge of death to lift your amnesia by putting you in that coffin, and had you breath in certain chemical compounds. Be it merely a very relaxing bath."

"You relaxed me to the point of almost my giving into sleeping for all eternally, and I am grateful to you. Ironic that you would chose death as your profession."

The Undertaker cocked his head slightly. "You are accepting of what I've just told you?"

"I have no reason to doubt you. I have been reborn. You opened my eyes as if I were blind. You are my guardian angel." Lukas laughed. "Or should I call you my angel of death?"

"Either one would suffice," the Undertaker said. "And neither."

"Noted."

Lukas picked up his pack with his provisions and buttoned his coat and put on a cap, bring the rim down close to his eyes, so he could hide his identity while out in public. He crossed the shop and opened the front door, and was temporarily blinded by the bright sunshine that invaded the dark shop only illuminated by candle light. The Undertaker liked it dark.

"Where will you be going?" the Undertaker asked.

"To finish what I started," Lukas said.

"You are free of the programming the Inner Circle installed in you, and yet you insist to continue to act on their behalf? It was not your fault, you were not in your rightful mind that night."

"I am not entirely to blame, but I must take the brunt of it. But what my parents did to me is unforgivable. The Inner Circle is finished, but I have my own reasons to return to the mansion and to face my brother."

"And to do what exactly? He had no hand in your kidnapping, no hand in what yours parents did to you. He is a victim in all of this too, and I doubt you can do anything with that butler of his."

"You mean the demon?"

The Undertaker was taken aback. "How do you know that?"

"I smelt evil radiating off him. I felt he was unpure from the moment I lain eyes on him, as is my brother. I do not know what other form of association my brother and Sebastian Michaelis have together, but I wager it is of a sinister intent, and the only thing I can think of is they are bonded by a contract. My brother is so bent on avenging our parents' deaths that I believe he summoned Sebastian for this very purpose."

"You are jumping to conclusions filled with fabrications." The Undertaker sighed. "But you are essentially correct. The Inner Circle, a group of insidious but influential men in elite society, had planned to sacrifice your brother to appease other worldly spirits in exchange for secrets beyond the ages, but instead, they pulled a demon so rapacious that it became their undoing. He made a deal with Ciel for his soul. Once all who have done Ciel wrong are dead, Sebastian will devour your brother's soul. I have been watching Sebastian Michealis since his appearance, more than two years prior. Beneath that eye patch your brother wears holds the covenant between them. The Fallen Reapers may have murdered the remaining members, those who were not at the ceremony that night but who still conspired against your parents and the "Aristocrats of Evil", but these Reapers in particular are more dangerous than the Inner Circle ever were, and even Sebastian Michaelis. Be mindful of all of them, Lukas. But more so Sebastian; he is only out for himself. I can not help you, nor can any other Reaper. But we will be observing."

"Noted."

"For your brother's sake, you must not allow Sebastian to know about your involvement on the night when you parents died, for he will kill you, take your soul, and then devour your brother's soul, feasting off it for decades. But take heart, Sebastian will have to murder everyone involved to fulfill your brother's covenant with him."

Lukas nodded, knowing a handful of people this demon will need to kill to take his brother's soul, including other children who were there who set the Phantomhive mansion ablaze to cover up the murder of Vincent and Rachel Phantomhive. Unless they were already dead? He would need to try to make contact them to make sure.

The Undertaker went to the backroom and then returned with an object attached to a chain. "Take this with you, it many help defend you against the Fallen Reapers' dark magic." He explained that it was a Triad, and it was used to penetrate through spirit barriers summoned by chants.

Lukas slipped it into his right coat pocket. "Thank you again, Undertaker. For the time being, I will play dumb when I return to the mansion, abating that I am still afflicted by amnesia. I will tell them I ran away to think, because I felt self-conscious by the fact I humiliated by brother in a duel in front of his servants."

"You can trust Tanaka. He was a member of your father's secret sect of aristocrats, albeit only a butler. Trust no one else."

Lukas nodded. "I have always felt he was trustworthy. He has that aura about him."

"And your brother?"

Lukas mused for a moment. "We will see."

"Would you kill your brother to save your own life?"

"I asked myself this when we dueled. I shot the pistol out of Ciel's hand out of instinct because of my training, but I could not stop him from firing at me. But I believe Sebastian had something to do with my brother missing. I wager he would not allow Ciel to kill me. I think Sebastian wants my soul as well."

"Indeed. He would do anything to keep his own agenda, and if he wants you as well, I concur. He has been cultivating your brother's soul for the last two years, and when the time is right, he will relish and feed off Ciel's dark soul that has been festering with vengeance, hate and loathing for a long time."

"If I can prevent it, I will. But one problem at a time. There is much afoot here, and I have a lot of work to do. I thank you once more for your help."

"My pleasure, my lord Phantomhive."

"Call me Lukas. Only."

Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford, or as Ciel liked to call her, Lizzie, sat in her horse and carriage with her maid and confidante, Paula, as they moved through London's midtown. They had just spent a morning shopping and she had bought some new dresses, shoes and a lovely hat, but she felt melancholy because despite all these wonderful purchases, she had no one to show then off too. And the one person she most wanted to show them to was Ciel, seeing that he was her fiancée, and he appreciated quality.

But lately, Ciel had had been too busy to spend any time with her. Lukas, his long lost brother, had made a sudden reappearance after being presumed dead after the Phantomhive's had taken him to a cosmic surgeon so he could have facial deformities removed. But the surgeon had said the stress had been too much for Lukas and he had dead on the operating table.

Ciel had written a comprehensive newspaper article that detailed the lie told to his parents about Lukas's dead and that those responsible will be found and tried in a court of law.

Ciel was probably spending time with Lukas to catch up lost time, but she nonetheless felt a little jealous towards Lukas for stealing what little affection Ciel gave. Ciel acted staunch to the ways of his family name, and kept his emotions inward, but she knew his loyalty was more than just duty. They were cousins, their families meeting at cross-purposes and married at some time in the past. But royals married royals, that was the way of things, and as Ciel was - or was thought to be - the last of his family lineage, so it was agreed a pre-arranged marriage, despite family, be made by their parents. It was made when they were very young, but Ciel, honor-bound, accepted it despite showing very little affection towards her.

She wondered where Ciel was now.

Then, as if her eyes deceived her, she thought she saw him exiting from the Undertaker's shop, as the carriage passed by. He was wearing a coat, wrapped around him, and a commoner's cap, fitted low to his brow, as if trying to hide. But Sebastian was not with him. Ciel never went anywhere without his butler.

"Stop!" she ordered the driver.

"What is it, my lady?" Paula asked.

The carriage came to a stop, and Lizzie stuck her head out the open window and called out to him as Ciel walked along the sidewalk in her direction. "Ciel?"

The boy stopped and looked up at her, but it wasn't Ciel. It was Lukas.

"Oh, Lukas…" She was a little disappointed, but tried not to show it. The last time she had seen him was at the Phantonhive mansion about one week prior where hundreds of people attended and were invited for Lukas's homecoming. It was much fanfare and a glorious event.

"Lady Elizabeth?" he said surprised, but smiled. He approached the carriage, lifting his cap up slightly. "And distinguished company," acknowledging Paula. "Fancy meeting you here." He took a glimpse above and probably saw the packages strapped to the roof, then looked back at her. "Shopping I see."

"Yes." She smiled. "What were you doing coming from the Undertaker's shop?" she asked openly. "And where is Ciel?" She swallowed, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry, that was rude. I am pleased to see you."

"And I you, Lady Elizabeth."

"Please, call me Lizzie, like Ciel does."

He smiled. "Very well. I was gathering information," he answered her first question. "And I believe Ciel is back home. I was on my way back to the mansion. If I can request a ride, I can tell you what I found."

She beckoned him in, and he sat down. "Thank you, I do appreciate this."

"Driver, to the Phantomhive mansion," she said, and the carriage moved. "Gathering information?"

"How did you get all the way out here without transportation?" Paula asked, before he could answer Lizzie's question.

"I am ashamed to admit it especially with my new station in life being a Phantomhive, but I walked. There was no other option. None of the horses were prepped. But the exercise did me good."

"It must have been a long and tiresome walk?" Paula added.

"Indeed, but important." He laughed. "Another folly, I was playing detective, and I wanted to be secretive. For some time now, Ciel has suspected a gang somewhere in town have been counterfeiting his goods and selling them on the black market for half or quarter cost, but claiming they are authentic. As I am but learning the business trade, I wanted to help my brother out by gathering some information on possible suspects, and the Undertaker is a wonderful source of information as he knows much about everything."

"I have heard that," Lizzie agreed. "And Ciel has spoken and is quite upset about these counterfeit goods. But he has never been able to acquire information on the thieves. He must be happy to have your help."

"Indeed. But it is exhausting work and I'm afraid the problem stems much deeper than even anyone thought and countless levels of thievery is afoot. I was on my way home to give this information to my brother when you came along. How fortuitous for me." He smiled thinly.

"Yes," Lizzie smiled broadly. "And it will give us time to get to know each other better."

"Quite."

Inside the Undertaker's shop, the dark gloominess of his inner sanctum returned, and the Undertaker suddenly felt retrospective of his time spent with Lukas Phantomhive. The boy was just like his father, now that he had his complete memory restored. But he was worried what he would do with all the new information he had learned of his past.

Vincent Phantomhive was, for the most part, a kind and considerate man. But at other times, he was just as conceited and nasty as most of the English elite, especially when it came to "perfection". On the façade, Vincent Phantomhive had been a well respected and intelligent man with close ties with the Queen; her royal guard dog, and sent on missions to usurp anyone who threatened the throne. But privately, there was a certain disrespect the Undertaker held for his former friend that he had kept secret, until now.

The truth about Lukas's disappearance was tragic, but if it hadn't been for Vincent Phantomhive's pride for not only his social standing but also as a father and his own conceited notion of beauty, the boy would have been fine, and not kidnapped by Bryon Kelvin for his own sinister means. In fact, for as long as he had know the Phantomhive's - and that had been ages - they had always been "cursed", bad things had always befallen them, including their own deaths. Save for the piece of the Hope Diamond in a ring Ciel inherited from his father which was cursed in its own rite, according to history. It was too large for Ciel to wear around his third finger, so he wore it around his thumb.

Now Ciel was indebted to a demon whom he promised his soul for revenge against those who had murdered Vincent and his wife, and it saddened him that indeed these two boys, the sons of Vincent Phantomhive, may perhaps been the last of the family line.

But he could not get anymore involved than he already had, to do so would be precautious and opposed to policy. Reapers were not supposed to dabble in human affairs. They were go-betweens between life and death, and that was it. The Fallen Reapers had superseded this mandate and had fallen. He needed to be weary of himself now with the Fallen Reapers on the loose, despite in possession of human hosts, they were still dangerous, especially Mathu Kelvin, who was a master of dark magic, and Savannah, his wife, who could call upon other Fallen Reaper spirits to aid them. Even Reapers were not infinite and could be killed.

He suddenly sensed two entities emerge inside his shop as he organized a near-by table. He knew who they were without having to turn around. He could sense their auras.

"Gentlemen," he said gruffly, turning around. Grell Sutcliff and Ronald Knox stood next to a coffin on the floor, the very same coffin the Undertaker had used to restore Lukas Phantomhive's memory by using bath salts and scents. All the chemical compounds he poured into the water were natural, they did not hurt him, and he told Lukas such afterwards. They were blended to help open the mind and restore cognition. "To what do I own the pleasure of your company, hmm?"

"You told him too much, Salem," Knox said. "Will is unhappy."

"Will is always unhappy."

"You gave a human very classified and highly privileged Reaper information. You violated policy. Will is asking for an explanation."

"Tell him it was my prerogative to tell Lukas Phantomhive. Will is a stickler for rules, so tell him, under Directive 9, Section 4.1, Subsection 7.8., paragraph 4 of the Reaper codebook: 'When it comes to third party entities, information can and will be shared among those worthy, if it is deemed necessary to safeguard a Reaper's continued existence to perform his duties.'"

"Lukas Phantomhive is a human. You told him you were a Reaper. What's to say he doesn't tell someone?"

"And who will believe him?"

"How were you threatened by Lukas Phantomive?"

"Is this an inquisition? He told me he'd kill me if I didn't tell him what he wanted to know." A smirk broadened the Undertaker's face. "And besides, the boy's mind is so messed up, he needed to be told some truth. He has been fed lies for so many years, to him, the sky in the ground, and vice versa."

"But you can't be killed by a human," Grell said. "His threat was meaningless."

"The boy was adamant," his tone firm, as if to argue further was unwise. The Undertaker returned to organizing items on a near-by table. "And in any case, I outrank Will, despite he is head of Reaper Affairs. If he is so concerned with rules, have him speak to me personally. So, anything else Will is complaining about? I am a busy man and I need to return to my own affairs. Humans bodies just to bury themselves."

"Um, nothing else," Knox said less-confident. "That was it, I suppose."

The Undertaken stopped, and was thoughtful for a moment. "One thing I ask, however," he said, then turning to the pair. "Watch over the boy. There is something special about him."

"Lukas Phantomhive? In what way?" asked Knox.

The Undertaker mused for a moment, gazing deep into his inner-self, then back at the pair of Reapers. "There is a war coming," he said solemnly. "And I believe he is instrumental in defusing it."

To be continued…