Chapter 3: Good news? That's horrible news.
A/N: I just found out that I actually have followers to this story *squeals with joy*
Sebastian: It's only two followers, my lady.
So? It's still something! Anyway I don't own black butler, enjoy the chapter and hold on for more exciting trickery!
Good news? That's horrible news.
As the night progressed the only being that did not sleep was Sebastian, he was still in his new master's room watching her. Ciel was fast asleep and having peaceful dreams for once after two years. Baldroy, Finnian, Tanaka and Mey-Rin were snoring as they slept without a care in the world, unaware of their new master and what trouble she would bring.
Alice was the only one that was not sleeping peacefully, and Sebastian noticed this because she kept tossing and turning with sweat glistening on her forehead. The one thing he didn't notice was the single tear that escaped her closed eyes.
"My lady, wake up." Sebastian said standing from the windowsill and stepping closer to the bed. Alice did not wake up. When he was close enough Sebastian leaned over the bed to shake her awake, only to freeze as Alice's right hand flew up and grabbed him by the neck. He looked into her bright blue eyes for what seemed like eternity.
After a few seconds Alice blinked and her eyes were their normal brown and blue again. As she regained her bearings and noticed that it was Sebastian in her grasp she narrowed her eyes and started squeezing harder, making it increasingly difficult for the demon to breathe. "I thought I told you to leave, Sebastian." She took a quick glance at the watch in the room that read quite clearly 4:30 in the morning. "What the fuck are you doing here?" She hissed letting him go and sitting up in the bed.
Sebastian stepped back and tried to get air into his lungs since she crushed his windpipe. Finally able to breathe again he stared at Alice with wide eyes and a hand on his neck that was bruised but slowly healing. Alice crossed her arms over her chest and waited patiently for an explanation. Finding enough courage to speak and also step back more in case she tried to choke him again, Sebastian gave his answer. "I-I was watching you, my lady."
Alice narrowed her eyes. "Why and for how long?"
He didn't have a real reason why, but he did know the answer to the other question. "Since you went to sleep at 11, my lady." Alice was silent for a few minutes, her eyes still narrowed.
"And why were you watching me for five and a half hours, Sebastian?"
Letting out a sigh, Sebastian dropped his hand back to his side. "I was trying to figure out what game it is you're playing, my lady."
Alice relaxed and waved her hand to dismiss him. "That is none of your business; you'll only figure it out when the game is finished. Now unless there's something else, go and prepare breakfast, I won't be going back to sleep." Sebastian bowed but hesitated.
"You were having a nightmare, my lady." She raised a brow then scoffed.
"What about it?"
"What was it about?" Sebastian had a question mark over his head and concern in his eyes.
"Nothing important. Now go." Alice moved to the side of the bed and just sat there.
"Yes, my lady."
When he left she let her shoulders drop and a sigh escaped her lips. She would never tell anyone of the side-effects of that poultice that she gave Ciel, even if she had to take it to her grave. "Now I know what you've been feeling every night since that day." Running a hand over her face and then through her hair, the images of flames and Ciel's mother and father dying still flashed in her mind. "What's done is done; I can't take it back now." With a sigh she got up and flicked her fingers. A black wardrobe appeared in the place of the one that occupied Elizabeth's clothing. "What to wear?" Floor-length dresses of varying shades of blue and black as well as knee-length ones filled the wardrobe. There were many pairs of heels to accompany them as well as a few skirts, pants and shirts. Pulling a random dress on its hanger out, she held it up to study it.
It was a knee-length aquamarine dress with obsidian stones on the bodice. The dress was strapless and flared out at the hips with a black corset.
"This one will do for today." Making her mind up, Alice began to put the dress on. The only thing she struggled with was the corset since it laced up in the back. Letting out an irritated grumble she turned to the door. "I know you're there, come and help me with this thing." As if on cue Sebastian opened the door with a smile, acting as if he hadn't been there the whole time.
"Of course, my lady." Sebastian walked over to Alice and waited for her to turn around so that he could lace up the corset. She scowled at him a little but turned around.
"Next time you want to take a peak let me know." Alice said suddenly when Sebastian was finished. She turned to face him again with narrowed eyes.
"I don't know what you're talking about, my lady." He said innocently. Alice narrowed her eyes more and they flashed blue for a second.
"Trying to act innocent won't spare your life, butler." She stepped around him to get her heels for the day. A bright blue to accompany the aquamarine of the dress. When she bent down to put them on, she purposefully didn't hold the back of her dress down so Sebastian had a full view of her black laced underwear.
He froze upon seeing it, not daring to move or make a sound, but his eyes were wide.
As she finished putting the heels on she turned to head to the desk so that she could brush her hair and place it in a braid. Without looking at him she spoke. "Did you enjoy the view, pervert?" Sebastian hastily left the room to occupy himself with making breakfast. The images going through his head would make other demons scowl; he dared not to think any thoughts in case Alice was already listening.
Alice chuckled as the images flashed through her mind as well. "Silly demon, whatever goes through your head goes through mine as well; it's part of the mindreading." Letting another chuckle escape she finished with her hair and looked herself over. "Be you demon or mortal, no man can resist lust. No matter how hard you try, I always win in the end." A blue rose appeared in her hand; she sniffed it before placing it by her ear on the right while the braid hung over her left shoulder. A few strands of loose hair framed the left side of her face. To anyone that didn't really know her she looked like an innocent woman. Alice was everything but innocent.
Leaving her new room with a smile to light up her face, she slowly walked to the dining hall that was not far away. Sebastian was waiting for her with a tray of tea on the table.
"What tea do you have for me Sebastian?"
He poured the tea while speaking to her, the events of earlier still fresh in his mind; however he did not let it falter his work. "This morning I have prepared a special brew of camomile with a hint of lemon. For breakfast there is pancakes topped with fresh strawberries, scones filled with cream and croissants."
Alice took the tea as he set it next to her. "I'll have the pancakes, and I do believe it's almost time to wake up Ciel. Tell him that I'm waiting for him here." She sipped the tea, leaning back in the chair and crossing her legs.
"Yes, my lady." Sebastian bowed and placed the plate of pancakes before her, afterwards he stood to the side waiting until it was time to wake up the young earl. The room was filled with silence for half an hour while Alice ate her food slowly. The time was now 6 in the morning, the sun having begun rising not long ago.
"He's waking up, I suggest you go now." Alice sipped her tea still, not touching her food again so that she could enjoy some of it with Ciel present. Sebastian bowed and left. He's in for a surprise. I do hope that demon can keep up, lest he wants the game to rip him apart. Hiding her smile with the cup, Alice continued looking at the wall in thought. My games are worse than that of the earl. I've brought gods to tears with them. Vampires to their knees and reapers before their maker. You can try to figure it out, but I doubt you'll be able to unless I tell you. Kudos for trying though.
Fifteen minutes later Ciel entered the room with Sebastian not far behind. "Good morning Alice." He smiled, which was something that Alice was grateful for.
She returned his smile. "Morning Ciel, I trust that you slept well?" He nodded and took his seat at the head of the table.
"Did you sleep well?" Sebastian handed Ciel his scones and tea, standing to the side after refilling Alice's cup. He wanted to know what her nightmare was about; maybe she would tell the young earl.
"Indeed I did, albeit with some minor discomfort and a pair of prying eyes, I did sleep well." Alice finished her pancakes while Ciel started on his scones, a question mark over his head before he noticed the displeased look on Sebastian's face.
"Who did the prying eyes belong to?"
"I think you know that without having to ask me, Ciel." Alice chuckled and turned to look at Sebastian. "If you do it again I won't be so kind as to just crush your windpipe."
Ciel's eyes nearly dropped from his skull in shock. "It was Sebastian?! And you crushed his windpipe?!"
"Naturally. You don't spy on a witch while she's sleeping without suffering from minor injuries. He's only lucky that he can heal, otherwise we would be without a butler." She sipped her tea with a smile, as if she had not just threatened a demon. "Next time I'll relieve you of your very soul, Sebastian."
Sebastian shook in discomfort at the threat. Dreadlines around him. "Yes, my lady." He said hesitantly with a panicked look on his face.
"Good, good. Please go wake up the other four that are still sound asleep, if I'm not mistaken Tanaka should have woken up when you woke Ciel. I would like to introduce myself as soon as possible. Do hurry, I have a lot to discuss today and forms to sign." Alice stood from her seat and turned to Ciel that was a bit in shock.
"How did you...?" Sebastian didn't know what he wanted to ask, or how to word it.
Alice licked her lips, looking over her shoulder at the butler. "Blood doesn't only taste good, Sebastian." He shivered at the memory when she had drunk his blood; the feeling was still there for some reason. "Hurry now." Sebastian tried walking gracefully from the room with his pride still intact; that faded away quickly when Alice began chuckling.
Ciel looked amused at the little display. "Not even I've been able to get under his skin like that before. You surprise me, Alice."
"Well I should be able to; I did kill the demon lord after all." Alice placed a finger to her chin in thought for a moment. "He should get use to it soon, unless he has something that he's hiding even from me. Anyway, let's forget about that for now and go to the study room." She smiled and helped Ciel from his seat.
Ciel laughed a little at that and followed to the room that he frequented. Upon entering the room Alice relaxed on the couch.
"Ah, now we can get started. First of all I need to say something that will be of great importance to anyone that comes by." Ciel nodded for her to continue as he sat behind the desk, still wearing a small smile. "To anyone, even the staff, I'm to be known as your aunt that only recently found out you were still alive as I've been travelling around."
"I think they would believe it."
From nowhere Alice pulled a stack of papers. "But we need to make it believable. That's why I have these legal documents for both of us to sign to make it both formal and official." A look of reasoning dawned on the young earl's face when she levitated them to him. "Naturally people will want to see these documents to be sure that I'm not a fraud or something, so that's why there are two other signatures on there that you shouldn't get worked up about. They are genuine, Ciel." He understood what she meant when he saw the signatures of his parents on the papers. "I managed to get them the night before the fire, it took a great deal of effort to convince them that I would be able to look after you in their absence, but they accepted. I didn't know why I did it back then, but after meeting you yesterday I understood what my instincts were doing. How I got to this realm then is beyond me as I've not yet been here at the time." Getting over his initial shock, Ciel nodded and signed the papers.
"Is there anything else?" He inquired when the papers vanished.
Alice nodded and straightened herself. "There is a lot more to the murder of your parents than you think. Though that is not something for me to tell you now, you will understand when I have helped you dispose of the people responsible. For now you just have to believe me that I'll do everything in my power to help and protect you and London." She smiled at him with her eyes closed.
With only a moment's hesitation, Ciel accepted what she had said. "I trust you Alice; after all you took my nightmares away."
"I would do anything to make my charge happy, even if it means dressing up like a jester." The image of that made both of them burst out laughing. Alice was the first to recover. "Ah, are there any particular questions you would like to ask today, Ciel?"
He looked very eager now. "Where is the Faustian mark for the contract? I know I saw it yesterday."
"Oh that, I did a simple glamour spell to hide it before I left for breakfast." Alice moved her right hand over her breast to dispel the glamour, showing the mark hidden beneath, before returning it.
"Wow, can you do that to your entire body?"
"Definitely, I wouldn't be a strong witch if I couldn't. Want to see an example?" Ciel nodded eagerly. Before his eyes Alice changed into Sebastian. "I can be anyone at any given time, it comes in handy when I killed someone and have to act like them for a while." Then she changed into him. "Or for when I want to confuse someone." Then a very beautiful older woman with pitch black hair and wondrous curves in a tight red dress. "Or undercover work." Ciel looked amazed at the display. "Though I wouldn't tell Sebastian about the glamour, I really do enjoy messing with his mind."
"I agree with that. I think messing with him gives us a lot of entertainment." Alice nodded and sat back on the couch when there was a knock at the door.
"Young master, I have the others here for you." Sebastian opened the door and a panicking trio entered along with a chibi Tanaka.
They froze a bit at seeing Alice, confusion clear on their faces. Baldroy was the first to speak with a wolf-whistle. "Well hello there my lady, you're a right pretty thing aren't ya?"
Alice glared at him. "Before you say such things learn who it is you're speaking to, Baldroy." He instantly stood on attention along with the other three.
Ciel chuckled at the display. "Baldroy, Finnian, Mey-Rin and Tanaka, this is my aunt, Alice."
Reactions were instantaneous. "YOUR AUNT?!" "HOW THE BLOODY HELL DO YOU HAVE AN AUNT THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT?!" Baldroy and Mey-Rin yelled in shock. Finnian was happy instead of shocked. "It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Alice!"
Sebastian just stood by the door not wanting to be in the room at all. Alice looked at him in warning to stay put before addressing the others. "Yes, I'm Ciel's aunt. I do admit that I haven't been around, but that's because I've been travelling around for years. I've only returned now because the news of the tragedy that took place two years ago took a long time to reach me and it took even longer for me to return. In my absence I hope you all have been looking after my nephew?" Ciel was surprised that her acting skills were so good; she even looked like a worried aunt.
"But I thought Madam Red was the master's only relative left?" Mey-Rin said confused again.
"Alice is indeed the young master's legal aunt." Tanaka said in his normal form. "It's good to see you again my lady, it has been a long time since you've graced me with your presence."
Good, Tanaka remembers what I was doing at the manor two years ago. I'm glad I let him in on the plan so long ago; otherwise everything will go to hell. Alice smiled at him. "It's good to see you again too Tanaka, you look well."
Ciel was confused by the display but didn't show it. Why does he know to play along? He knew Alice was reading his mind, but that she couldn't answer yet. She merely tapped her right hand on the couch twice to let him know they'll talk later. Finnian was acting a bit funny right then; he had a blush on his face and was fidgeting.
"Master?"
Ciel decided he would give in just this once. "Yes Finny, what is it?"
He looked very hesitant to ask. "Can I bring Lady Alice some of the roses in the garden? The blue ones?"
Alice smiled at him, noticing the look that Sebastian was giving him behind his back. The look read something along the lines of 'don't do it! She'll kill you!' "Of course you can, Finnian, I will be living here from now on."
"WHAT?!" Everyone turned to Sebastian at his little outburst. His mouth was hanging open with his eyes wide in fear. The smile that Alice gave him made him shiver.
"You don't have a say in this, Sebastian. Oh and Ciel, this will be news to you too seeing as I haven't told you yet, but I am the head of this estate from this moment on." She said with an even brighter smile, her eyes closing and looking at everyone present.
While everyone else was ecstatic at the news Sebastian sat in the emo-corner. Fuck, just kill me now.
A new voice entered his head and he froze at the words. Don't give me any ideas, little demon. After all, I managed to cause chaos in hell, why wouldn't I take your very soul from you? You may have been able to escape me back then, but now you're bound to me by your contract and I still haven't told you what the terms are. As I see it you can't escape me no matter how far you run, although if you do I'll make the torture very...exquisite. An evil chuckle followed after the voice faded.
"Sebastian? What are you moping about? You should be preparing a party for our lady!" Baldroy said dragging the depressed butler from his corner and into the view of the others. Alice was smiling at him with her eyes open this time, although he could tell the smile was a fake.
"Why do you look so depressed Sebastian?" She faked concern which made him scowl and her smile widen a little, just enough for only him to notice.
Sebastian swallowed at the attention that was placed on him at that moment by everyone present in the room. He took a moment to think of a reply; Alice would kill him if he told the truth. Finally after a few minutes he had an answer. "I forgot that we don't have anything for a party or for food, my lady. We didn't get any decor last time we went to town."
Alice's fake smile slipped from her face and she raised an eyebrow along with Ciel. "That can't be all, Sebastian. You look like you just lost a very big bet." Sebastian looked at Ciel with shock; he was practically throwing him into the fire.
"It is, my young master. We cannot have a proper Phantomhive party without it." He bowed slightly.
"Nonsense Sebastian, we don't have to throw a party just for me. We can just have a nice lunch outside to celebrate, because I don't want a party that will just waste money thrown for me in a manor that will have very few guests or none at all." Alice was smiling a lot more kindly now than when she knew what was really bothering the butler.
Sebastian, Ciel and the other four looked at Alice in amazement at her decision. Not throwing a party for new guests was unheard of in that era. It was new, and relaxing for everyone since now they didn't have to prepare anything except food. A simple picnic. Most of the new lords and ladies would find that atrocious to their welcomed guests, but the Phantomhive manor did the strangest things lately that they wouldn't question it at all.
When the shock of her words was wearing off Alice stood from the couch and bowed to the servants before her with a small curtsey as well. "It will be an honour to live in the glorious manor alongside such noble servants and lord. It pleases me greatly that all of you accept me with open arms. I will try my very best to keep the Phantomhive name in its graces and in the highest parts of the underground hierarchy."
The words only made the four servants look in awe at their new mistress that they would have the pleasure of serving as she rose from her bow. Finnian was starting to bounce around in joy after a few minutes.
"Master Ciel?" Finnian asked quickly just in case he lost his bit of courage. Ciel, who was silent this whole time with a smile on his face, turned to face the gardener in acknowledgement. "Might I be excused to go pick some of those lovely blue roses for our new mistress and for the picnic?" A blush started creeping across his young cheeks.
Finnian, you're too sweet, but you're not my type. The lust is meant to be only for Sebastian so that I can torture the crap out of him while he's near me. Now I've got to think of a way to let this poor kid down without hurting his feelings. What an absolute pain in my ass.
"Of course you can Finnian, but don't be gone for too long. Sebastian go and prepare a lunch for us." Ciel ordered and waved the servants out of his study. The five bowed and left without a word, although Finnian ran from the room before the rest could look up from their bow so that he could get the roses for the mistress that his heart now desired even though he felt it odd since she looked a lot older than him.
Once the last four left Alice turned to Ciel with a bright smile and burst out laughing. "Oh my gosh, I never thought that I could make him that depressed. His face said everything that his mind didn't. I'm seriously going to enjoy this." A demonic grin stretched across her lips at the thought of severely tormenting a demon that was eons older than her by simply making the life he has now a living hell.
"I'm glad to see that you're enjoying yourself Alice, his face was indeed hilarious." Ciel agreed standing from behind his desk so that he could stand next to Alice with a hint of shyness at what he wanted to do. He didn't have to say anything because she pulled into a tight hug. With a little bit of hesitance Ciel returned the hug and relaxed into it after a while.
"You don't have to ask for a hug, Ciel. Just give me one when you want one or I'll just give you one."
A/N: Such a sweet ending to this chapter. I do hope you all enjoyed it, I certainly did.
Sebastian: You're a wicked woman I'll give you that. Why do you insist on tormenting me to no end?
Because I can and I want to make your fictional life a living hell. *smiles sweetly*
Please review my gracious followers!