Ciel moved quietly through the hall toward Lizzy's room. He hoped whatever was down there wasn't smart enough to climb the stairs,though a part of him knew that eventually they would meet. The thought terrified him, to think of an unknown being in his home, hunting his children and Ciel himself unable to do much of anything to protect them.
"What are you doing out here, are you mad?" Alois whispered from beside him suddenly.
"I could ask you the same thing, you're out here." Ciel replied
"Yeah,, I saw you come out so I followed, you can't expect me to just let you go off on your own?"
"Why not, it's not like-"
"Because, you're my best friend Ciel. If I can help, I will. What are you up to?" A series of banging and breaking glass startled the two and they froze, turning their attention to the darkened stairs.
"We're going to die aren't we?" Alois asked as Ciel recovered from his initial fright and began pulling his friend by his sleeve into the room next to his cousin's.
"Preferably not. Right now we're alive, let's try to stay that way alright?" Alois nodded.
"Right, good idea, I just-"
"You're scared, so am I, but we have to keep it together for our children, like I said before." They entered the room and turned to the door inside. Ciel stood close to it.
"Lizzy, can you hear me?" He called softly tapping on the door.
"She's in the closet?"
"No. This door will take you right into her room, it's always locked from her side and she has the only key." After a moment of silence, Ciel received an answer.
"Ciel, what's happening?" Lizzy called, her voice trembling.
"It's going to be alright, you need to leave that room. Come through this way."He instructed. softly. He could hear the muffled sound of the room's occupants moving carefully inside.
"This would be much easier if we had Hannah's sword, she said that thing can kill anything, we'd have more of a chance at least." Alois said.
"We have one, we put it away so the children didn't see it." Ciel said with a sigh.
"That's great, it's something to-"
"It's down there." The young prince replied. Alois leaned back against the wall.
"Of course it is, that's how these things always play out isn't it?" He complained. Ciel rolled his eyes.
"You could always go get it if you're feeling brave." Alois scoffed.
"I'd like to live thank you very much."
"Wouldn't we all, stop complaining, Lizzy's scared enough without you talking like that." The door handle began to turn slowly, prompting the boys to step back. Instantly, Ciel found himself in a tight embrace with Lizzy soft sobbing in his ear.
"It's alright, We have to get to my room, Sebastian's in there with the children. I'm not going to let anything hurt you, I promise." Ciel said returning the hug.
"I know you won't. I'm so scared though, I don't want to lose you again." She sobbed.
"Please don't worry Lady Elizabeth, We're not going to let the young master get hurt." Finny reassured the girl.
"Or Mr. Sebastian, and the little masters and mistresses, no we won't." Mey-Rin added.
"And I'm here, I can help look after them too." Alois said placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"See, I'll be alright, there's no need to worry." As they parted, Lizzy reached her hand out to her cousin who took it with a faint smile.
"Trust me." Ciel said holding her hands lovingly, allowing her to look into his blue eyes for the assurance she needed so desperately. His life with her had shown him that no matter what anyone else would tell Lizzy, Ciel's words were the ones she put the most faith in.
"I do trust you, always." She said, Ciel reached out and wiped the tears from her eyes gently.
"Come on then, let's go." Lizzy nodded and followed closely, still holding onto Ciel's hand.
Inside the master bedroom, Sebastian had begun pacing in front of the closet where his children remained.
Come now Ciel, come back to me quickly. I am unable to leave our children and to know that you are out there-please my love, just be safe. He wanted so much to go after his mate but know that to do so would be to leave their demonlings unprotected.
He thought back to a promise he had made.
If Something happens to me, promise that you'll be there for them. They'll still need their father." Sebastian shook his head.
"Please Ciel, don't force me to do this without you." He whispered. His heart was sinking and he could feel himself beginning to shake. In the closet, The Michaelis children were unaware of what was happening.
"Brothers, sisters, I hope we will win the game. Mommy said it will be a good thing." Rachel said hugging Kathryn carefully. The younger princess snuggled into her sister, patting Rachel's arm lovingly.
"You are so happy baby Kathryn, I love you very much, and I love our brothers and baby Angel too. I am loving all of you."
"We love you too sister, you are a happy thing to have, we will win." Vincent replied. Rowan sat close to Evian who was attempting to comfort Angelina.
"Do not cry baby, Mama will come back soon and Cousin Lizzy will come. Do you remember Cousin Lizzy, she is the one that likes to play with us. I love Cousin Lizzy and she loves us. Mama does too, and Dad. Why are you still unhappy?" He sniffled, he too was afraid but tried to follow his mother's example.
"Brother, Mum's really coming to get us?" Rowan asked hopefully.
"Yes, Mama will come. Mama always comes to us. Even when we are afraid. We have to be brave like Mama now do not worry I will protect you because I am the biggest of Mama and Dad's babies. I will do it."
"You are a very good brother Evian, You are the very best one ever, you are nice to us." Rachel said.
"Yes, Brother Evian is so brave, I love brother Evian." Vincent said.
"We love you brother Evian." The younger three said in unison. Evian smiled.
"I love you too Brothers and Sisters." He said, he hoped they could get out of their hiding place soon. It was only a moment longer when they heard their mother's voice faintly as his group entered the room. The sound was followed by Sebastian's voice, clearly relieved to see his mate.
"Ciel, are you alright, and you lady Elizabeth?" He said quietly.
"We're fine. But I don't think we should stay here. I won't have them near my children, they're getting closer." Ciel informed him.
"There is no way out from here, we would have to go down-"
"That's what scares me. I can't protect them from seeing those things or from being seen."
"What about that tree outside Evian's room?" Alois asked. "We could climb down and-"
"It's branch would never hold us. Do you not realize how thin they actually are, stupid boy." Cynna growled.
"That's enough, I'll have no bickering from any of you. This is still my home and I-" The group gasped. They could hear the heavy thuds as the creatures made their way up the stairs, shrieking and growling. Sebastian wrapped his arms around Ciel silently.
"Now what?"Ciel whispered in his ear. "The children-"
"Get them, quietly. We have to try to leave now. Apparently my father...we can't take the risk." Ciel nodded and moved to the closet quietly opening the door. The children smiled upon seeing their mother.
"M-mama, I thought the monsters were going to-"
"We have to be very quiet now, remember, we're still playing our game." Ciel told them motioning them to come out.
"this part is finding our way outside."
"We are being sneaky?" Rachel asked shifting her sister carefully.
"That's right, I need you to be very sneaky. Remember, your father and I are right here and we're not going to let anything happen, even if it looks scary." He took hold of Kathryn and passed her to Sebastian, allowing Rachel to lead Vincent and Rowan from their spot. He then removed Angelina and suddenly felt Evian grab onto him.
"Up Mama, please, I was brave and took care of everyone, please, can I have up now. Only for a little bit?"
" I know you were Evian, but I need you to keep being brave, your sister can't walk, she's only a baby and needs-" Lizzy tapped him on the shoulder.
"I can take Angelina. I know how much this must bother you to see him like this, he needs his mother." Ciel nodded handing his infant daughter to his cousin.
"Thank you." He said, Lizzy gave a faint smile, watching the child lift his arms to his mother and being held tight.
"Us too Mum, please?"
"My little ones, I know you want held but I can't hold you all at once. As much as I'd like to." His heart was breaking. The attempt at calling it a game was wearing thin and he could do little to fix the situation.
"Miss Rachel, you can come with me." Finny offered holding out his arms to her. Immediately the little princess ran to him, hiding her face in his chest.
"Ciel, I need to get to my family, I can't just wait here while whatever's out there finds them." Alois said nervously.
"I know, we'll get them, it's going to be alright, we'll have to figure out how to get there."Rowan had made his way to /bard and Vincent to Cynna.
"Everyone stay calm, I know this is a difficult situation but we will figure it out." Sebastian said.
"I have an idea, and even if it doesn't work...it could give you some time." Mey-Rin said causing everyone to turn to her. The maid stood with her glasses now clipped onto her uniform, in her hand, ready to be fired, were her weapons.
"I'll push them back away from the stairs, we can get Mr. Naveen and miss Lenora. I'll cover you as long as I can. Young Master, if this doesn't work as I hope, Thank you for bringing me in to serve you and your family, I've been honored to have such a wonderful opportunity and I wish you all the best, each one of you. I love you all." She said calmly, moving closer to the door. As she began to pull it open, and everyone readied themselves to leave, Sebastian and Ciel called out to her.
She turned.
"Mey-Rin, you're my maid and as such, you will do as is expected of you. I expect you to finish with them...and return to us." Ciel said.
"Don't make me come looking for you later, I promise you you won't like the consequences." Sebastian added in the same stern tone in which she had always received her orders.
"Yes, of course. Please be careful." Tanaka stepped up beside her.
"It's my duty to oversee the performance of our staff, and be of service when I can. I will be sure to send Mey-Rin along when the task is completed." He said. Ciel nodded.
"Just make sure you're with her. Come find us when you've finished, I'm not sure where we'll end up but-"
"We'll find you young master." The old man promised. Ciel tightened his grip on Evian, who did the same.
"Ready?" the maid called over her shoulder.
"yes, I need to get next door." Alois said again, this time more urgently.
"Then come stand behind me, I'll push them back, you stay close and we'll get your family." She said. She took a deep breath and stepped into the hall, seconds later, the hail of gunfire could be heard echoing throughout the castle.