I darted downstairs and got to the door the same time Claude and Alois got there. The was a man in a top hat with a large coat on him, covering his entire body. He carried a brown suitcase with him. He was soaking wet with black hair. He looked...familiar. I looked him over.
"A storm has blown in," he said to us.
I froze and felt my heart stop. That was no stranger. That was Sebastian Michealis.
"What brings you to our door at this late hour?" Claude asked.
"I've been caught outside in this wicked storm. I was hoping I might trouble you for lodgings for the night,"Sebastian said, still pretending to be a mere poor man caught in the storm.
Alois shoved me aside and looked at Sebastian, excited.
"Look at you! You're so filthy! You look just like a drowned rat! But still," the boy paused, sniffing Sebastian," You do smell rather nice, so what's you name hmm? This man will be staying with us! Understood Claude?"
We invited the guest in and I was ordered to cook the man a meal. I cooked Sebastian one of my best meals, even though I knew he wouldn't eat it. I felt that pit in my stomach grow with guilt for taking Ciel. I shoved it down and let Claude fix Sebastian the his plate of food. Claude took it out and I followed him, hands folded together and looking polite. Alois sat down next to the guest.
"Try this one! Avril's cooking is simply delicious,"Alois said, holding up a plate of my bread.
"Yes I'm sure it taste's quiet nice. However, please observe the speck of sauce on the rim of the plate. I assume it would have been too great an inconvenience to dab it with a cloth," Sebastian said, matter-of-factly like.
"My apologizes sir. I'll clear this. I didn't realize a man who doesn't remove his coat from the dinning table would have such delicate sensibilities,"Claude said, calmly.
"You flatter me," Sebastian said blankly.
Alois laughed.
"Avril, please show this man to his room at once. I want our guest comfortable," Lord Trancy ordered me.
"Yes, your highness," I told him.
Thunder clashed and I fought back a shiver.
'Of course Sebastian had to come on a night of a thunderstorm.'
"Right this way, sir," I told Sebastian kindly, putting on a smile.
He stood up and followed me while I led him to our finest guest bedroom.
"Please enjoy your stay here at the Trancy Manor, sir," I said, curtsying.
"It seems that you have settled in perfectly here. However, despite me being the one out in the rain, you smell quiet terrible. Like a prostitute almost. Tell me are you used for the pleasure's of your master? Do you enjoy it? "Sebastian said, looking me in the eyes.
I fought back the swell in my throat and looked him in the eyes, frowning. He was truly angry. He had been betrayed by me. I knew it. He just didn't know the extent of my betrayal. And I intended to keep it that way.
"What is it to you? I am a mere servant in this household. Bound by a contract that keeps me here. I am required to do anything in my power to keep my master's happiness well above my own. Enjoyment for myself is utterly out of the question. Whatever would it matter my pleasure as long as my master is happy?"I said empty to Sebastian.
I saw his eyes widen and in them was almost pity. I ignored it and put on my smile and curtsied again.
"Pleasant dreams good sir. I shall see you again, I presume,"i said kindly before shutting the door.
I walked down the halls and passed Hannah on the way. I looked to her and smiled.
"Hannah would you be so kind to change the water in our guest's bedroom? Its unsuited for the standards of the Trancy hospitality,"i ordered her.
She nodded and left to go fetch more water. I saw Claude on my way.
"What are you're order's master? Continue to pretend Sebastian Michealis is another guest?" I asked my master.
"Go down to the cellar. There is a box of New Moon Drop. Inside should be a blue dimnond ring. You'll regonize it. Hide it. Understood?" my master told me, blankly.
"Yes my lord,"i said, then turned to leave for the cellar.
Once i got down there I had to search for the box and once I found it, I dropped it. Ciel's soul...It was still here. He was still alive... I stared at the ring and trembled slightly.
'All this time he was down here. Hidden. And I never knew. He could have been saved. And I didn't save him.'
I heard people coming down the steps and I, without thinking, shoved the ring back into the box and shoved it on the shelf, amongst the others, hoping it would be enough of a disguise, then hide behind the shelves.
"Just follow me," I heard Alois say.
There were more footsteps and I saw the candlelight get closer to me.
"There, that's it," I heard Sebastian say.
'Oh crap. They got the box. Damn it all I'm going to defiantly get whipped for this one.'
"What this? It's just tea!"Alois said surprised as he took the box off the shelf.
"It's New Moon Drop. People say that tea leaves plucked at the night of the Full Moon give off a clear sweet smell. These are the opposite, however. Being plucked at the New Moon, their aroma can bring a mind to total bottomless darkness. It has another name. It is called the Soul's Temperature," Sebastian explained, reaching for the tea box.
"Not quiet yet!"Alois said, holding the box away from Sebastian.
"Oh?"Sebastian questioned.
"No need to get prickly I promise I'll show it to you. But one thing first,"Alois said, grinning.
"That's right. First you will hand over that trunk," Claude said, then threw butter knives at Sebastian, removing his coat and revealing his true identity," Sebastian Michealis,"
As Claude threw the remainder of his butter knives at Sebastian, Sebastian threw his coat off and grabbed the tea form Alois and started to run. I popped out from my hiding place and stood beside Alois, holding knives myself./
"He's getting away! Catch him Claude! Avril you help too! Don't kill him! I want him alive!"Alois ordered.
I ran after Sebastian with Claude. We both threw our knives at him, some for the trunk, some for him. He threw the trunk behind him and took every knife blow that hit him.
"Do you value that trunk above your own life? Pity!" Claude said while throwing dinner plates at Sebastian.
Sebastian grabbed the trunk, dodging the plates, and started to run again when the trunk came open. Inside was...
Ciel's body.
He was folded perfectly inside there. He looked like he was fast asleep. I froze. Every ounce of guilt and regret swelled within me.
"Ciel Phantomhive? I finally have you! You're mine!"Alois said happily.
I couldn't move, numb to what was going on, until then I realized Sebastian was ready to throw the knives stuck inside his chest. He threw the knives and I caught them.
"You're wrong about that. I would never let the likes of you touch him. Someone as vulgar as yourself isn't worthy to come anywhere near this trunk nor will you ever be. Your mere touch would defile my young master,"Sebastian said with a smile.
"What?"Alois said, angered.
Sebastian lept onto a dining cart and sped away.
"You put your feet on something that was meant to carry food. What kind of butler are you?"Claude said as he ran out.
I stayed behind with Alois. I could follow anymore.
"Avril are you alright? You seem ill!"Alois said, almost panicked.
I turned to him and smiled.
"Everything is alright my lord. I just feel bad that I could catch Ciel Phantomhive for you,"i said sadly.
"What do you mean? Claude will catch-"Alois started to say, but then we heard the shattering of glass and the lights went out in the main hall.
Alois ran, with my following close behind him, and then saw it was dark. He screamed. The chandelier had been knocked down by Sebastian.
"It's dark! Claude I'm scared! Avril!"Alois whimpered.
"Lights!"Claude ordered.
The triplets and Hannah came into the room with candle sticks. Suddenly we heard more glass shatter. and Alois' head shot up.
"Go after him! Quickly!"Alois shouted at the other servants," No Claude not you! You can't go! Avril stay where you are,"
Alois said to both of us, as we both started running. Claude looked about as surprised as I felt.
"Master?"We both said, surprised.
"Don't leave! Don't leave me. You can't leave me all alone too please Claude, Avril. Don't go,"the boy said, tears falling down his face.
I stared at him in shock. This boy, the marvoliously insane boy, continued to surprise me again and again.
"Of course highness,"Claude said while kneeling down to Alois' face, looking him right in the eyes,"We're companion's; I'm not going anywhere. Day into night, sugar into salt, creature into corpse, defiled into demacilious,"Claude said to the sad boy.
"No! I know that old man was right. I'm only a brat, foul and vulgar,"Alois said, more tears falling.
"You are more than that, you are my master,"Claude said kindly,a first for him, while putting his glasses back on.
"Oh be quiet. I know you feel the same way. Both of you,"Alois said, sad.
I merely shook my head. Claude took the boys head between his hands and tilted it up./
"Look at me. I'm still your loyal servant. There's no need to convince me of your worth. I grow hungrier each day. You'll make one hell of a feast," Claude said, almost hungrily.
"Oh just forget it! All of you! You can be swallowed by the darkness," Alois said, wiping his eyes," Claude ready me for bed! I'm tired,"
"Yes, your highness," Claude said, standing up.
He helped the young lord up and led him upstairs.
'Avril you disappointed me. We'll see if I punish you or not,'
My master thought to me. I sighed. I knew full well he was angry. However...he surprised me.
'You'll make one hell of a feast,'
He was hungry. He wanted a human's soul. I wonder what made it so special. And Alois. He had suffered so much. He felt all alone, and that he needed to own us. It put a knot in my stomach. He'd been alone for so long. He felt he had no one. I sighed and shook my head. Too many thoughts running throughout my head. On top of it I could still hear the thunder and it making my senses run wild. I walked upstairs, on my way to my room when I past Claude.
"The young highness would like to see you. Take care of the mansion while I am gone. I need to go take a visit to my ladies downstairs. I'll deal with you later," my master said , and then vanished.
I sighed.
"Yes my lord. What else do I have but to serve you?" I said bitterly.
I walked up to the lord's door.
'Poor boy. I hope maybe I can sooth him,'/em/p