Hey guys, I wasn't able to finish all of this in time, but I got through about half of it. I'll update this chapter when I finish it. Enjoy!
EDIT: FINISHED! BTW read the whole thing I may have added new bits to it. :) Thanks to Hana13 for helping me out with some Seb/Ciel ideas.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Black Butler
Chapter 5: Her Butler, Carpricious
It all started when Sebastian brought the day's mail to her study and the stack hit her desk with a thump.
"Mistress, yet more letters have arrived today." He said it all with a smile, making her sour mood brought on by the letters even worse. She was fed up.
"The Season is nearly over, damned idlers. Yet they're all in search of guests for their silly balls…Nothing good happens in London." She began shifting through the letters quickly, wanting to get it over with, Sebastian making a list of declined invitations. Ordinarily, a woman was not allowed to decline an invitation, except under special circumstances. Being the only member of the Phantomhive family and having to deal with work that came with it and the Funtom Company was such a circumstance. She never went to parties unless Damion forced her to or it was beneficial to her company. "Earl Warwick, Baron Bath, Countess Gartland…" Goodness, she didn't even know most of these people. They had nothing to do with her company or her work as the Queen's guard dog. Most likely, they were acquaintances of her predecessor she had met at some parties he took her to. She paused when she saw the seal of one letter. "This is…" There was one more exception to her "no parties" rule and it lay in her hands at that very moment.
The English summer is brief. May through August, when the weather is at its best, is known as "The Season" and the aristocrats travel from their manors to their London town house to socialize. Big Ben rang as Sebastian drove the carriage down the busy streets of London. The young countess sat inside, turning a letter over in her hand. The letter was the reason she had left her manor for the city. The carriage pulled up in front of a large town house. Sebastian opened the carriage door and let her out.
"It has been a while since mistress came to the town house," he said. Cielle adjusted her hat.
"I hate this, there are too many people in London," she muttered. "I wouldn't be here if not for "that letter"," she said as Sebastian let them in.
"There is no helping it, my lady," he said as he shut the door and followed her up the stairs. "It's tradition for the nobility to migrate en masse to town from the country every season."
"The Season eh? A waste of time if you ask me," she replied.
"Getting away from the manor could prove a nice change of pace. It's a break from those four at least." He referred to her four other servants and while she would argue that Tanaka was alright, the other three were not worth defending. "We can enjoy a little peace and quiet for a time." They approached the study at the top of the stairs.
"Some peace and quiet does sound nice." Sebastian opened the door for her, only to find Madam Red, Grell, and Lau searching the room.
"Goodness sake, where do they keep the tea in this house?" Madam Red asked looking through shelves.
"I can't find it either," replied Lau looking in a vase.
"Don't be silly. Of course it's not in there. Ooh!" The older woman growled in frustration. Sebastian's previous words about peace and quiet seemed to die at the sight of their noisy guests.
The first thing going through both mistress and servant's heads was 'How did they get in here?', but neither said it.
"Madam Red? Lau? Why are you here?" the young countess asked. The three stopped their search.
"Cielle, you're early dear," replied her aunt.
"You're sudden appearance here in town, must mean…" Lau started.
"The Queen's guard dog has a new scent to follow," finished Madam Red. Cielle just looked at the three with disdain. Sebastian stepped forward.
"We apologize for not being able to greet out honorable guests. I will have elevenses ready momentarily, so please wait a while," he said. Twenty minutes later, after her aunt molested her butler's backside…again, the three nobles were having afternoon tea when Cielle brought up her reason for being there.
"He's struck again. Another prostitute was found gruesomely murdered in Whitechapel," she said.
"Ah, the incidents the papers have been making a fuss over, yes? I know of them," said Madam Red.
"But…there must be something more to them since you're here," added Lau.
"Yes, these are no simple murders. These killings are far from normal. The level of violence we're seeing is unprecedented. It is psychotic…better yet, abnormal. That's what concerns "her"," Sebastian, who stood behind his mistress as Grell stood behind his, spoke.
"The most recent victim was a woman named Mary Ann Nichols. It appears a special type of blade was used on her. She was torn up beyond recognition."
"The murder's distinctive style of killing has earned him a unique nickname from the press, Jack The Ripper."
"A frightening name, eh?" Lau commented.
"That's why I'm here earlier than expected. I hurried into town to look into this situation for myself." Lau put down his tea cup and smiled.
"But are you sure you'll be brave enough to stomach the crime scene?" he asked. She was used to this, Lau was always teasing her.
"What do you mean by that?"
"The sight of the dismembered body will certainly be horrific and one can only imagine the stench." He stood up and walked to the countess's chair. "Blood and gore everywhere, surely it would be more than enough to drive some men mad. Are you prepared to see such a thing?" He asked gripping her face. "You're just a young girl after all, Countess Phantomhive." She glared at him cold eyes.
"I am the head of the Phantomhives and service to my queen. Don't ask foolish questions." Both she and Sebastian were a bit uneasy, no t mention annoyed, at the other noble touching her face. Lau must have noticed.
"You're right. So sorry. " Madam Red just sipped her tea, not bothering to lecture Lau a second time. Lau grabbed Cielle's wrist and pulled her to the door. "Well, since that's been decided, let's be off, Lady Countess!" Madam Red slammed down her cup and stood.
"Now wait!" She sighed. "Really! Men have no patience! At least relax and finish your tea. Then I'll join you too. So where is this crime scene, Lau?" He turned back to her.
"Did you not know, madam?" He sighed. "Well, I never! Then I suppose we'll have to ask someone around here. Dear, oh dear."
'What was that long prologue for?' Cielle thought. However, she never got to voice it as Madam Red started yelling.
"You were babbling on when you didn't even know yourself!" Sebastian just straightened out Cielle's sleeve from Lau's previous grip.
In the streets of London, people gathered around an entryway being blocked by members of Scotland Yard. A young officer with a small red mustache looked up from his paper work as he saw Cielle and Sebastian draw closer.
"Sorry my girl, I'm afraid a crime scene like this is no place for a child. Now why don't you just run along home?" he said returning to his papers, clearly not knowing who Cielle was.
"I'm here to see the victim's body," she said bluntly. This startled him into paying attention to her.
"The body? Surely you're kidding me!"
"Abberline!" came a voice from behind him. Walking from the other side of the entrance was Lord Randall. "Well, if it isn't Lady Phantomhive. What are you doing here?" he asked with disdain.
"You know this kid sir?" What, did he think Sebastian was her father or something? Or was he simply utterly stupid?
"I'm here to help Sir Arthur. Seems your investigation is dragging a bit," she said with a smug smirk. She held up the Queen's letter. "You know who sent me of course." Lord Randall narrowed his glare while Abberline just stared in shock. She snatched the papers from his hands and glanced through them with Sebastian reading over her shoulder. "It seems you haven't found any major clues yet." The elder noble snatched them back.
"We at Scotland Yard are more than capable of handling this case, I assure you. There's no need for you to interfere." Cielle and Sebastian just smirked at him.
"Splendid, shall we go Sebastian?" she asked walking away.
"Yes, miss." He followed, as did their three companions as they passed them. Lord Randall simply glared at her more freely now that her back was turned.
"Now what, dear?" Madam Red asked.
"Now we go see someone who may prove useful," she replied. Lau flinched.
"My lady, you mean…"
"Yes, indeed." She looked uneasy as she spoke. "I'd like to avoid it myself, but that isn't an option. He is the most reliable source of information regarding crimes like these."
Sometime later, they stopped outside a creepy looking building.
"So, where are we?" asked Lau.
"You don't know? Then what was all that about?" Madam Red asked furiously, Grell attempting to keep her calm.
"It's a funeral pallor run by an acquaintance of my lady's," Sebastian explained.
"The Undertaker?" asked Madam Red reading the sign. Sebastian opened the door for them, the building's interior even creepier than its exterior.
"If we're looking for answers this is the place," Cielle said. The room was filled with coffins and urns. It was completely dark with only a few candles lit. "Are you in, Undertaker?" A creepy laugh ran throughout the pallor.
"Welcome, I thought I'd be seeing you before long," the voice said. Grell and the others looked quite uneasy, Grell most of all. They flinched at the sound of a coffin opening. A hand with long pale fingers and long black nails pushed open the lid of the one standing next to them. "My lady, it's so lovely to see you." The coffin revealed a man dressed completely in black with long white hair. "Do I finally have the pleasure of fitting you for one of me coffins today?" he asked with delight. The others were shocked with fright, Grell so much so that his legs gave out.
"No, that isn't why I'm here," the young countess replied "I wanted to…" she was cut off by a hand in her face.
"No need to say. I'm already aware, very well aware. One of my recent customers was a bit usual, shall we say. I helped though. I made her look beautiful again," he responded, taking his hand out of her face.
"I would like the details, please."
"Then let's have a chat. I'll make some tea or something. Won't you take a seat somewhere over there?" He pointed to a bunch of coffins.
'Over where?' the five thought. A bit later, they were sitting on coffins and drinking tea from beakers while The Undertaker spoke.
"Now then. You want to hear about Jack the Ripper, yesss?" Madam Red seemed a bit uneasy about drinking from a beaker. Under taker offered Cielle a bone shape biscut, but she gave it a pass. "All the prostitutes killed in Whitechapel had a little something in common."
"Something in common you say?" asked Cielle. Undertaker closed the lid of his biscuit jar with a smirk.
"Well, what could it be? Whatever could it be? Wouldn't you like to know?"
"I see now," said Lau, Madam Red and Grell turning to him. "So the funeral pallor is only your cover business. How much is it, for information?" The Undertaker was suddenly right in his face. The Chinese noble looked panicked.
"I have no need for the Queen's coins. There's only one thing that I want from you," he said and turned back to the youngest in the room, her face uneasy at how he stared at her. He was suddenly in her face. "Please, my lady. Give it to me and I'll tell you anything." Ew, he was drooling and breathing hard. Now he was really creeping her out. "Give me the extraordinary gift of true laughter! Just one joke and all me information is yours!" he started wiggling like a…
"Lunatic," she finished her own thought. For once Sebastian could not refute that statement. Everyone else seemed to be in agreement.
"Leave it to me, my lady." She turned to Lau who held a determined look on his face. "People have called me The Sleeping Tiger of New Year's Parties in Shanghai. And now, I shall demonstrate that in full. Here is my joke. It's a classic on which side does a tiger have the most stripes, on the outside." Everyone just stared at him with the same thought in their minds.
'What. Was. That.?'
"Get it? Ha ha?...ha ha." No one laughed. Madam Red stepped forward.
"You'll never do, Lau. Very well, my turn. I live for gossip, so this story will make you laugh so hard you'll simply curl up and die. I, Madam Red, star of social circles shall share with you my best tale!" she said. Grell had a worried look on his face. Sebastian covered his mistress's ears with his hands. Sixteen though she may be, she was still a bit young for Madam Red's lewd stories. "So Alice's bou gave the most extraordinary -for her birthday. It was -white and so- -with think veins running down - don't you see - could use a good…" That was when he stopped her. Moments later, both Madam Red and Lau had masks over their mouths to keep them from speaking. Grell looked freaked out.
"Now, my lady, it looks like you're the only one left," The Undertaker said looking as though he'd hoped this would happen. "I gave you a special discount last time, but I'm gonna do it again." She had been dreading this.
"Damn."That was when Sebastian stepped forward.
"It can't be helped," he said. His mistress looked up in surprised.
"Sebastian?" she hadn't been expecting that. She thought he'd enjoy seeing her squirm. The Undertaker just smirked.
"Ohhh…? Master Butler's having a go, now is he?" Sebastian tugged on his gloves, making sure they were perfectly in place.
"Everyone, please wait outside," he said. His charge was now worried about what he'd do to the other man.
"S-Sebastian…"
He turned turned to them and added darkly "No matter what happens do not attempt to listen to this." Moments later, the other four were outside, waiting. At first, there was silence, but suddenly out of nowhere, The Undertaker's laugh rang so loudly it could probably be heard by all of London. At the very least, it was powerful enough to knock his sign down. Sebastian opened the door. "Please do come back in now. I believe he'll tell us everything we want to know." The Undertaker's was resting on his desk, drooling even more than before and his hat was knocked off.
"What did you do?" Cielle asked.
"Nothing much."
"Oh my…I've now seen the face of ultimate bliss…Well…to get back to the matter at hand." The Undertaker let out another chuckle and got himself together. "An interesting pattern I've seen these days. I often get customers who are incomplete."
"Incomplete?" asked Sebastian, he and Grell standing behind the three nobles.
"Yes, quite lacking." he said holding a mannequin that showed innards. "Their innards, that is. Before my customers can rest easy on their beds, I must get them nice and clean, yes? Like putting back whatever might have spilled out. And examining them as I do my duty is a little hobby of mine, you see." Lau and Madam Red suddenly realized that the beakers their tea was in may have held bodily fluids. Lau pushed his away.
"So they were all lacking a kidney or somesuch? In that case, the killer is a loan shark or the like…" started Lau.
"Chinese cellar rats think up the most disturbing things! That's not what I meant. Ohh, how frightening. Frightening! It is something only a prostitute…a girl would possess." He looked at his mannequin. "This little one doesn't have it either." He stroked its abdomen. "The uterus is missing, which is quite odd." Cielle flinched, though only Sebastian noticed. The others gasped. "The killer makes a big mess of the body, but that particular part is always precisely excised. Lately, I've been seeing a rise in such "clientele" all of a sudden and their crimson "rouge" is becoming gaudier by the day. It's all keeping me very busy.
"He did it on a road that was public, though not high-traffic, in the dead of night. Wouldn't an amateur have a difficult time carrying out such a complicated procedure quickly enough?" Sebastian asked as The Undertaker put his mannequin down. He turned back to them.
"You're a clever one, butler. That is exactly what I was thinking," he said walking behind Cielle and leaning down to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You see, first he slits her throat with a sharp weapon." He put the hand on her shoulder near her throat and put his other hand near her abdomen. "Then he rips in to them right here…and takes her precious womanly part. The skill involved and the lack of hesitation points to a professional. And most likely, someone of the underworld at that. And that is why I knew you would come here, milady." He poked her face with a long nail. "If there were a possibility that the killer belonged to the underworld I expected you would be summoned here without fail." The young countess was obviously uneasy, more so because he was near her lower body. Sebastian pulled the man's hands away from the girl, startling the funeral director. "Possessive, aren't we butler," he said with a smirk. Sebastian just continued to give him a blank look as he released his hands. The Undertaker walked back to his desk. "There will be more slain, I'm certain. Sadistic killers like this one don't stop until someone makes them." He turned to Cielle. "Will you stop him? Can you sniff him out, like a good little guard dog? "Aristocrat of Evil," Countess Phantomhive?" Cielle stood and Sebastian began putting on her cloak.
"The underworld has its own rules. Its residents do not kill those on the other side without reason and they do not invade polite society using the powers of the underworld," she replied. "I am bound by the honor of my family, I eliminate any threat the Queen asks me to." She turned to him, giving him a glare. "By any means I find necessary." Sebastian opened the door for her. "Pardon our intrusion, Undertaker."
As they left The Undertaker's building, Sebastian stopped Cielle.
"My lady, may I speak to you in private for a moment?" he asked. Cielle knew that what he wanted to say was not for their companions' ears. She nodded and turned to the others.
"Go on to the carriage, we'll be there in a moment." The two walked into the alley next to the funeral pallor.
"I noticed that his words made you uneasy, my lady, possibly because of the subject of uterus?" Cielle flinched again, he had noticed. "Is it because of the damage that was done to your own womb before I saved you, my lady?" She nodded and looked to the ground.
"Yes." She placed a hand over her contract mark, covered by her sash. "Right before you came, they stabbed my abdomen. The blood wouldn't stop; I would have died had you not appeared." Sebastian placed his own contract mark over her hand. She raised her head to look him in the eye.
"That is why I placed the mark on your abdomen instead of somewhere such as your eye where the contract would have been more powerful. If I hadn't, you would have died shortly after you gave your first order. Instead I stopped the bleeding and used the mark to hold the wound together. Now, if the mark is removed or moved, the wound will reopen and you will die."
"I know, our contract is literally the only thing keeping me alive."
The carriage rolled down the streets as the four inside talked, Grell driving outside.
"His information narrows down our suspects," Cielle said.
"First of all, we look at those with the necessary skill set. Crossing out anyone with an alibi for the nights on which the murders occurred," Sebastian added. "Removal of the organs would suggest some kind of gruesome ritual. We should concentrate our investigation on people involved with secret societies."
"As if that "narrows the field"!" Madam Red exclaimed. Cielle simply sat there with a bored look on her face. "Just how many people do you think gather in London during the Season! Why even I would have the medical skills necessary for this! Not only must one consider the doctors of London, but also the family physicians that aristocrats have brought over from the countryside." It just popped into Cielle's head that Sebastian was technically her "family physician" "Furthermore, medical school graduates who never became doctors. Not to mention Orientals like Lau who are skilled in the use of needles and are familiar with human anatomy. Besides which the Season is ending soon. Any doctors who followed the nobles to the city will be returning to the country and the wha—"That was when Sebastian interrupted her.
"Then we'll have conclude the investigation quickly," he said with a smirk. "We need only pay a call to each individual and verify his alibi prior to the Season coming to a close.
"Impossible," said Lau. Sebastian placed a hand over his heart.
"I should be able to do this much at least. Otherwise what kind of butler would I be?" Cielle gave a small smirk at the other's stunned faces. It fell as Sebastian leaned towards her. "I'll make up a list of viable suspects and begin questioning them for you immediately, my lady." Madam Red and Lau looked in shock as he opened the carriage door, Grell turning around at the sound. "Grell, please drive safely back to the town house."
"Ah! Yes!" Grell blustered out, shocked.
The older butler turned to the nobles and placed his hand over his heart as Cielle waved her hand in a dismissing notion. "Now, if you will excuse me…" He let go of the door and disappeared. The door closed. The two older nobles moved to the window in the back of the carriage.
"He knows that we're moving, right?" Madam Red questioned, but when they looked behind the carriage Sebastian was gone. No one seemed to have seen him either. "H-He's gone…" Grell was blushing. The carriage began to sway. "Hey you! Watch where you're going! We're going to crash!" Grell quickly got the carriage under control.
"Y-Yes! Beg pardon," replied Grell.
"Sebastian made some rather lofty claims, but—" said Madam Red calming down.
"Sebastian will take care of it for now. He will not return empty handed. We can head home and have a cup of tea while we wait," said Cielle.
"You have great faith in him, hmm…?"
"No, that isn't it, really. It's just that he never lies." Her eyes narrowed. "Ever."
The carriage continued to the town house.
It took awhile, but they finally stepped out of the carriage.
"We've finally made it!" exclaimed Lau, clutching his aching back.
"We had to take the long way around because Grell got lost!" Madam Red yelled furiously.
Grell mumbled "beg pardon," over and over.
"Come come, Madam Red," Lau said the the fuming noblewoman. "Let us have a spot of afternoon tea and take a…break…" Lau opened the door, only for them to see Sebastian standing in the pallor, waiting for them.
"Welcome back, everyone," he said bowing. "I have awaited your return." Cielle handed him her hat as she entered the house. "The afternoon tea is ready for you in the drawing room. A cornmeal cake of pears and blackberries will be accompanying it today." The others just stood there in shock.
"Hold on!" Madam Red exclaimed. "How are you here?" Sebastian turned to them as Cielle proceeded up the stairs.
"I finished up that little errand, so I came home to edify you," he replied.
"You made the suspect list already?"
"Well…" He suddenly produced three bound scrolls. "Yes I made a list of names based on what we had discussed and then I contacted them all, then I asked them the relevant questions. However, it did take some time because I investigated the aristocracy's family physicians as well."
"Come now Sebastian, that's impossible even for you." Cielle at this point had turned to watch them. Sebastian unbound the scroll and began to proving himself.
"Richard Oswald, doctor of the Duke of Bailey, was at the White Horse pub with friends. He has no connection with secret societies. Madam Heavitt, surgeon at the Royal London Central Hospital, was with a man at the Stipple Inn. She has no connection to secret societies. William Somerset, doctor of the Earl Chambers, was at a party hosted by a Viscount Harwood…" The list went on. Cielle smirked, Madam Red was so shocked that her hat threatened to fall off her head. Grell just stood there in ah. Eventually, the last of the final scroll fell to the floor. "From this information, I have narrowed down our list to one possible suspect. Let us discuss the details after tea."
"How in the world did you manage such a thing, Sebastian? Are you certain you're just a butler, not a Secret Military Intelligence Officer?" Sebastian smirked and placed a hand on his chest.
"You see, my lady, I am simply one hell of a butler."
"Someone well-versed in medical science and anatomy. Someone with no alibi on the nights of the murders. And someone involved with a secret society or cult of black magic. Only one individual fulfills all of these conditions," Sebastian reported after tea was finished. "The Viscount Druitt, also known as Aleistor Chambers. He graduated from medical school, but has never gone into practice. Lately, he's thrown several parties at his home, but behind the scenes of these same soirees are secret gatherings that only his intimates may attend."
"The Viscount Druitt, hm..?" asked Madam Red. "Now that I think about it, I've heard that he's into black magic and those occult sorts of things."
"So your suspicion is that he's holding these parties to perform ritualistic sacrifices of noble prostitutes." Said Lau.
"Yes," Sebastian replied. "Tonight, there will be yet another party at the Viscount's residence beginning at 19:00. As the Season will soon be coming to an end it is safe to assume that this evening will be our final opportunity to steal in." Cielle turned her head to her aunt.
"Madam Red," the youngest noble said. "That is where we stand. Can you do something about it?" Madam Red smirked.
"Really. Who do you take me for?" she asked. "I'm quite popular with men, I'll have you know. Obtaining an invitation or two will be child's play."
"Then it's decided. We'll do whatever it takes to get into that "secret party", but makes certain to never use the Phantomhive name. We may fail to catch them otherwise." She stood. "Tonight is the last party of the Season, which means this is our last chance."
"I think not!"
"Really! Losing your nerve after coming this far is anything but womanly!"
"How can say that whilst holding that thing?" Cielle and Madam Red were arguing. It had been decided that Cielle had to dress as she normally wouldn't in order to disguise her so Madam Red had brought in the very things she despised, frilly girly dresses. At least Damion had the decency to make them colors she actually liked, these were…pink!
"Come, come. We have already decided upon our course of action, so there can be no turning back now," said Lau. "It is sometimes necessary to resign oneself to one's fate, my lady."
"Lau…you bastard," the younger replied.
"This is one of our creations." He held a blue china dress. "Incidentally, I am of the opinion that a china doll dress will be nice and fresh. What do you say?" She wanted to say that she'd rather have Sebastian eat her on the spot, but she refrained.
"Oh! Most certainly not!" argued Madam Red. "It goes without saying that an English lady of the upper class must wear address of the highest quality and heaviest silk to a ball! Not to mention, given her condition it would be the best choice." She mumbled that last part. The countess had to agree, she had a point with the latter statement.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Anyway, such rules exist, do they? I see…"
"Well, obviously. Where do you think we are? Blue, silver, and pale green predominate dress colors here and one must only wear pink at balls. Cielle is still young, so pink will good." Why? She had worn blue to balls previously. Any of those colors, but the latter would be fine with her.
"Ah yes, pink will be lovely." The two chuckled.
"ENOUGH!" She had had it up to here with those two.
"There is still more to prepare for." She turned to her butler and, oh no, he had his glasses on. Sebastian had gone into tutor mode. "All balls begin with a quadrille. Next, a waltz. In all, about eighteen to twenty four pieces are usually played."
"Well! That sounds about right!" agreed Madam Red, the queen of evening parties.
"Seven of those will be the quadrille, with three of them being lancers. Then seven waltzes, four gallops, and a polka are typical. The rest depends of the host." There were that many dances in a ball! She was glad she never danced. She was exhausted just thinking about it. "To put it plainly, you cannot get through the evening with the farce of a waltz you feigned before." She cringed. "The waltz was once called immoral because the man and woman must dance so closely to each other. But thanks to the Queen, it now resides within the main dance repertoire. Seducing the Viscount will be nigh on the impossible if you dance like you did last time. If I were he I would politely decline to accompany you."
"Sedu...!" Cielle couldn't even finish she was so shocked. She didn't know she'd have to do something like that. Sebastian smirked.
"From talking and walking to dancing, gesturing, and seduction. Why, Madam Red and I will be drilling them all into you over the course of just one day, my lady." Madam Red grinned and Cielle felt like there were two shadows looming ominously over her.
"N...! N...! NOOOO!" That was when they pounced.
"Do not raise your voice!"
"You have no waist!" That day was torture.
That evening, at the Viscount Druitt's manor, Madam Red and Lau entered the ballroom, followed by Grell.
"This is rather grand, isn't it?" She asked. "I wonder if indeed tonight marks the last night of the Season?"
"It would appear that this evening will be most delightful," agreed Lau.
"We're done for if we arouse their suspicions. Listen up." The adults turned as Cielle entered the room. "We did not come here to amuse ourselves. Do not let your guard down!" The young countess stood there in a long frilly pink dress with a matching hat and black gloves. Instead of her beautiful black hair, on her head lay shining blond hair pulled into a ponytail instead of a braid. Madam Red suddenly tackled the girl into a hug, not able to help herself.
"I understand!" she squealed in delight. "Oh my! You're just the cutest little thing, aren't you!"
"Let me go! Why must I wear something like this!" Madam Red released her with a sad face.
"Eh? What's this? Don't you like your Muslin drenched French dress? It's the latest style and everything, you know?" She couldn't care less about styles.
"How could I like this!"
"Now, now." Cielle turned to Sebastian as he entered. "A lady never raises her voice." He adjusted his glasses with a smirk.
"Sebastian, you bastard." Her butler seemed to enjoy this a bit too much.
"He's right, you hear? You have to follow the script," scolded Madam Red. "Lau will be my young lover."
"Lover, reporting for duty!" he replied.
"Cielle will be my…other niece, visiting from the country." Cielle pouted. "And Sebastian will be Cielle's tutor. Oh, and Grell will be my butler, per usual." Grell seemed a bit disappointed.
"And just why do I have to wear this horrid outfit!" Her niece asked.
"Because dear, I've always wanted a girl. A charming girl who likes wearing frilly dresses!" Madam Red laughed.
"You're kidding me!"
Sebastian adjusted his glasses mumbling "These will trouble me until I get used to them."
"It would be my reason if I were only joking, but you don't want them knowing you're a Phantomhive, now do you? In any case! If people were to see a beautiful black haired teenage girl with an equally attractive butler, they would know it was you on the spot!" It was true. Cielle and Sebastian were known for their looks. Some even swore that if Sebastian wasn't her butler, they'd mistake him for her fiancé. That notion always creeped Cielle out a bit. Sebastian seemed a bit surprised to be considered as attractive as his mistress. "So then it follows that this is the best disguise. Besides I've heard that Lord Druitt has an eye for any pretty little thing in a skirt and we do want to catch his eye, right?"
"Wouldn't it be a crime for him to lay a hand on the young countess?" asked Lau with a laugh. These two were going to get it one of these days.
""By any means necessary", you do remember saying that, do you not miss?" Sebastian asked. Make that three. Cielle just glared at him. Her butler, now tutor, smirked. "Then shall we go, my lady?" Thus, they began their search. "First thing's first, we need to locate this murderous Viscount."
"I wonder if the Viscount Druitt is a handsome fellow? If that's the case, I would be more than willing to do my part!" Madam Red mused. Cielle was not so excited.
"I'm uncomfortable. It's tight. This corset. They hurt. My feet. I want to go home," she mumbled. "At least Damion isn't here. I would never want him seeing me like this."
She could already her her fiancé going "Cielle, you're so cuuute!"
"No I suppose not," replied Sebastian. He seemed to be enjoying this. Out of all of them, he was the one who seemed to have the most fun in getting her like this.
"That hat of yours is lovely!"
"Oh, thank you! Do you really think so?" She could hear voices behind them. That first one…
"Oh no, I'm even imagining the sound of his voice now…" She was cut off when she heard it again.
"Oh that dress is so adorable!" She and Sebastian looked back to see Damion Midford converse with some ladies, meaning he was fawning over their outfits. "I adore all the dresses here! They're lovely!" The two turned their backs to him.
"Se-se-se-s-s-s-s-se…"
"Miss, mistress, please calm down," he whispered back to her. "Let's move quickly." They tried to sneak away, but…
"Ohh!" They were spotted. "You in the pink, your dress is just beautiful!" Sebastian just pushed her along.
"Moving this way now…" Finally, they lost him.
"Hmm, where is she?" Damion looked around and wondered off in another direction. At that time, the two peered out from behind a table holding a cake.
"Why is Damion here!" she asked. "Let's go join Madam Red..." She was cut off when she saw them. Madam Red was on a chair surrounded by men while Lau fanned her.
"You are such a dear," she laughed to them.
"Looks like she's having a grand old time."
"This isn't good. I didn't expect your fiancé here," said Sebastian.
"Even though I am disguised, if he were to catch a glimpse of my face…"
"…He would recognize you right away."
"If he finds out, it would spell the end of the investigation!"
"Moreover, everyone here would discover that my lady is the young mistress." Cielle paled at his words.
"If someone was to see the head of my family attempting to seduce someone who's not my fiancé, the Phantomhive name would be ruined for generations! I'd dare not show my face before her Majesty ever again!"
"You are overreacting." Sebastian tried to calm her. She turned to him.
"I would rather die than have that happen! So he must neve..." She didn't get finish as they heard someone talk.
"Lord Druitt looks as gorgeous as ever tonight! His hair shines like the sun." They looked towards where the women were. There was a young man, a bit younger than how Sebastian looked, with blond hair conversing with a guest.
"That's the Viscount Druitt," said Cielle
"Yes, he is quite young," replied Sebastian, though Cielle mumbled something about everyone being younger to him. He ignored her "We'll use a greeting as our front to get close to him." He lowered his voice as they crept from behind the table and closer the the Viscount. "I will observe from here because the presence of another man may make him wary." She wanted to comment that Sebastian was no man, but she let it slide. Though having Sebastian separated from her near a man like this made her nervous. "Please behave like a lady, as I have taught you."
"Yes, yes! All right!" she said as she approached the Viscount from behind. "G-Good evening, my lord Dru…"
"There!" She froze, Damion had found her.
"Bloody hell!" She yelled and ran, not noticing the Viscount turn around. "I was so close!" Damion was slowly catching up. Just then, Sebastian grabbed her arm.
"Come this way, my young mistress." He led her through the crowds away from her fiancé.
"You over there, wait!" Damion yelled after them. Sebastian stopped at a waiter.
" You man, that young man over there requires lemonade." He pointed over at Damion.
"Yes, certainly sir." The waiter turned to Damion as Cielle and Sebastian disappeared. "Lemonade, my lord?" The young lord stopped.
"Huh?" he asked. The duo finally stopped outside on a balcony.
"That was dangerously close. Why do these things always happen to me?" Cielle asked herself. Just then, music started playing and people began to dance between her and the Viscount.
"Damn, I'll never get close to him." She grumbled.
"We have no choice." She looked up at her servant. "We will have to dance our way over to the Viscount. You will be able to manage what you were taught, yes?" He pulled her by the arm onto the dance floor. The countess's face looked like a tomato, it was so flushed.
"You really expect me to dance in public, and with you?" They stopped and he turned to her with a hand on his heart.
"You already know young mistress, that I am one hell of a dancer. Besides, as your tutor, propriety allows me to dance with you at a public function such as this one." He kissed her hand. "Not as your butler, but as your tutor, who also numbers among the upper classes." As much as she hated to admit it, he had a point.
"Do-Do I have to?" He didn't answer, he just got her into position and smirked.
"Shall we dance now, young mistress?" They began to move. "Concentrate on the music. If you match your steps to its rhythm, I will take care of the rest." This was different from when he was teaching her before. This was more…she didn't know how to describe it. Enchanting, maybe? Intimate? It made her feel…very…warm…and light. Like nothing she'd ever felt before. She looked at his face as she was supposed to. His eyes, she could get lost in those ruby…what was she thinking! Cielle quickly shook her head to rid herself of those thoughts and continued dancing, now with another blush on her pretty face. She noticed him spot Damion in the crowd. "We cut across, like so…" He said, moving her in the opposite direction. At long last they had made it to the other side of the room.
'We've made it at last!...' Is what the young countess wanted to say, but she was too tired to do so. She collapsed onto the ground.
"How could you become exhausted so easily, my lady?" Sebastian asked as he helped her up. "I will get you some water forth wi…" He stopped when they heard the sound of clapping. They turned towards the sound.
"You're dancing is exquisite like a lovely little robin, my sweet lady." It was the Viscount Druitt.
'To think he would approach me first…' she thought to herself.
"Young mistress, allow me to fetch you something to drink." Sebastian bowed and left the two alone.
"Uh, good evening, my lord Druitt. I am most honored by your compliment." She turned from where Sebastian had been and curtsied just like he'd taught her. The viscount took her hand and kissed it. From somewhere, she heard Sebastian's footsteps, which she had been trying to keep track of to reassure herself, stop. Little did she know that Sebastian had glanced back at them with a glare.
"Pray tell, with whom did you come this evening, Miss. Robin?" he asked. With a small shudder of disgust, she pulled her hand back and wiped it on her dress.
"A-Auntie Angelina brought me here," she replied.
"Madam Red?" She heard Sebastian's footsteps start again. She hopped nothing was going wrong.
"I see…I do hope you're enjoying the party, dear robin."
"Oh yes, certainly. It's a wonderful party, but my lord, I've been waiting to speak with you all evening."
"Oh?"
"I'm bored to death of dancing and eating." The viscount smirked and placed his arm around her waist.
"What a spoiled princess you are, little robin. Looking for something more…entertaining?" She moved his hand down lower, making her shudder with disgust. She heard the shattering of glass and out of the corner of her eye she saw Sebastian with a shattered glass in his hand and a glare on his face directed at the viscount. Was that jealousy she saw? She didn't have time to tell. She had other things to worry about.
'Endure it, Cielle you can do this. You have no choice now, after all those horrible horrible lessons. You can handle it.' All those fittings, walking and etiquette lessons, all those tortures Sebastian and Madam Red put her through; she had to get through it. She turned her head to the viscount.
"You know of other amusements? I'd be most interested." He gently tilted her chin towards him. Now she could clearly see Sebastian trying not to kill him right there, his hand was shaking in a fist and she could almost see his eyes glowing. Was it jealousy? Or was it because the noble was getting too friendly with his meal? She couldn't tell. Most likely it was the latter.
"Of course, I'd be happy to show them to you robin, my sweet little thing." This was officially creeping her out. Was he the world's biggest pervert or something?
'ERRRRRRRR! WHEN THIS IS ALL OVER, I SWEAR I'M GOING TO KILL THIS CREEP!' She screamed on the inside.
"Oh really? Like what?"
'I have to find out his secret before this dance is over, but…' She looked glanced towards Damion on the other side of the dance floor. 'If he sees me…'
"You want to know?"
"Yes, I'm simply dying to, my lord." She glanced over towards her fiancé again.
'If Damion comes this way I'm doomed.'
"You might be a bit young, yet."
'Hurry!'
"Now don't tease me, my lord. I'm a lady, not a little girl."
'Hurry…' At moment, the music ended. 'The dance is over.'
"Can you keep a secret from the madam?" he asked.
'Don't be so pretentious!'
"Of course! I certainly can!" she quietly exclaimed with feigned excitement. She had, by this point, lost track of Sebastian. When she glanced over at Damion…
'He's coming' He was running across the dance floor towards her. The viscount gently turned her chin back to him.
"What has you so distracted, my delightful butterfly?"
"Uh, it's nothing, my lord." Damion was coming closer.
'This is it. My life is over.' Before Damion could reach her, a large cabinet was placed in between them, along with a figure with a white mask. The countess's eyes flew open wide. 'Sebastian!' Her butler stood before the crowd. Madam Red and Lau stopped what they were doing to watch.
"Ladies and gentlemen, now that the party is at its height, if everyone would all please gather round this evening's magic show will now begin." He turned to Lau who was standing nearby. "Pardon me, sir. Would you kindly assist me?"
"Assist you? Certainly." Lau put down the fan he was holding and walked over to him.
"I don't recall scheduling any pallor tricks this evening," the viscount said scratching his chin. Cielle narrowed her eyes.
'Now's my chance.' She turned to him and put on her best puppy dog eyes.
"My lord, I've seen more than enough pallor tricks. Can we go, please?" She couldn't believe she was doing this.
'Uh, this is awful.' He suddenly forgot about Sebastian's appearance and switched back to flirting with her.
"Yes, anything for you my sweet." She could feel goose bumps appearing all over her body. She had never been appalled by her own actions in her life. He led her to a curtain and pulled it back, revealing a secret door. "Right this way dear." Cielle clenched her fist and followed him inside. Everyone was so distracted by Sebastian and Lau that they didn't notice.
Sebastian, however, did notice them and though it was what they had hoped for, he didn't like the idea of what was his being alone with another man. In addition to Lord Damion getting closer to her, he could no longer stand seeing the viscount flirt with his mistress. Just the sight of her being touched and being alone with another man made him furious. No matter, if something happened his mistress would call for him. He had something to get back to.
"A normal cabinet. Once I've climbed inside, shut it tightly and bind it with these chains." He pointed one of the swords he'd brought at the cabinet. "Then, simply run it through with the swords." Everyone seemed a little distressed as to how he'd get out. "I shall emerge perfectly unharmed. This is no mere trick or illusion, prepare for a performance of true magic." He closed the door and waited.
Lau bind the door with the chains as instructed, picked a sword, and sighed.
"Well here goes nothing." Instead of stabbing the the side like one would expect, he jumped up and stabbed the sword into the very top of the cabinet.
The same thought ran through everyone's head. 'He aimed directly at the head first!' And he didn't stop, he just kept stabbing the swords in until there were none left.
"I suppose that will do," he said looking rather pleased with himself. "Well. What do you say? Is he alive?"
'He didn't hold back in the slightest!' ran through everyone's head as they gulped nervously. The swords and chains were removed and the door opened to reveal Sebastian, completely unharmed. The crowd cheered.
"Amazing, true magic!" They cheered and Sebastian and Lau left.
Madam Red approached them as Sebastian was putting his glasses back on.
"Sebastian, how incredible!" she exclaimed.
"Madam," Sebastian had almost forgotten about her.
"Indeed! The cabinet was like a pincushion. For a moment there I worried I'd kill you," said Lau, acting as those he had done nothing dangerous. Sebastian wiped a stray bit of sweat from his forehead.
"It actually hurt more than expected. I didn't think you'd aim straight for my head. Anyone else would have died."
"So what's the trick to it anyway?" Madam Red was mortified.
"You stabbed him that many times without knowing!" She turned towards Sebastian, suddenly worried for the butler. He turned to the two nobles with a smirk.
"Like I told you, there were no tricks or illusions. Just magic."
Cielle could hear the applause from the hallway they were walking down.
"The guests seem to be having fun in the hall," she said.
'What are they doing?' she wondered. The viscount didn't appear to hear her. He opened a door in front of them and let her through.
"You will have much more fun at the splendid place we are going to," he said. So he had heard her. "We're going somewhere I'm sure you'll find very amusing. I know I do." He gestured for her to follow him. "Please." An overwhelming scent filled her nose. It was getting hard to breathe. She put a hand to her face.
'What is that sweet smell? It's suffocating.'
"A splendid pla..." Cielle suddenly felt faint and started to sway as her vision began to wane.
'Damn him! I have to get out of here…' She slid down the door and blacked out. The last thing she saw was the viscount's smirk. 'Sebas…'
"See? Aren't you enjoying yourself, little robin?"
"Ah…Ah." It hurt. "…eh…uh." So much that she couldn't breathe "Se-Sebastian!"
"Now, please place your hands on the wall and relax your muscles a bit further." Her butler said from behind her. Her hands did as instructed as sweat gathered all around her body.
"…No! It hurts...!" She panted.
"Please hold on a little longer, miss. You can do it."
"Ah…Ah!" Cielle couldn't take it anymore. It was too much, what her butler's hands were doing to her, too much. She arched her back, threw back her head, and screamed. "That's it, you're going to kill me!"
"I doubt any woman has ever been killed by a corset alone." Sebastian pulled the strings, making the corset tighter around his mistress's body.
Her eyes snapped awake.
"A dream, huh…" she muttered. The first thing she noticed was that her neck, arms and hands were bound with some sort of rope. The second was that she couldn't see anything.
'It's dark…No, a blindfold? I've been restrained somehow.' She let out an annoyed sound. 'As if the corset wasn't bondage enough, now I've been bound further?' She was fed up. If how she was bound during the incident with Vanel made him all the more eager to claim her, how would Sebastian react to this? She could just remember how it was decided to put the infernal thing on her.
"Cielle!" Madam Red exclaimed with frustration. "You have no wasp waist! It is a must for any woman worth her salt!" Lau chuckled.
"Well, the countess looks like a boy after all. Ha ha ha!" It wasn't her fault her body refused to go through puberty! Sebastian just looked annoyed for some reason, though whether it was at her or them she couldn't tell.
'Just because it's not their problem…' That was when she remembered her dream/ memory. She felt her cheek flush with the thought of how much skin he had touched. It's not like he hadn't touched more before, he bathed her after all, but…wait, why did she care? She gave her head a quick shake to clear it. 'Anyway, where am I?' That was when she heard it. 'The sound of people conversing?'
"Quiet please, everyone. And now the featured item you've all been waiting for."
'The viscount's voice! Item? What is he talking about…?'
"Won't you please feast your eyes upon this! Tonight's crown jewel!" She heard a sheet being taken off of something around her, most likely a cage if she knew the underworld well enough. She could hear people whispering with delight. They all probably wore masks. "I'm sure she'd make a lovely decoration or sweet little pet. She would prove a glittering jewel at any ritual as well, would you not agree? You can keep her whole and healthy or sell her for parts if you'd like to."
"Wh...!" She was being sold off.
'Not again,' she thought to herself.
"A prize of this caliber is a very rare one indeed. There is a strange birthmark on her abdomen, but for the discerning collector that will add to her unique attraction." She could feel it now, her sash was gone, clearly showing her contract mark. Apparently the viscount was more of an idiot than she thought. Now she understood what happened to the girls.
'Black market auction.'
"The color of her eyes is a beautiful sapphire shade, lovelier than the most precious of gems. Now, allow me to show you." When she felt someone remove the blindfold, she closed her eyes.
"The bidding shall begin momentarily."
'So that's what he's doing. He removes the prostitutes' organs and sells them at his parties?' The blindfold slipped down her face, her sapphire eyes opening with a bored stare as the bidding began. It looked just as she pictured it.
"We'll start at a thousand guines."
"Two thousand."
"Three thousand."
"Thirty five hundred."
"Five thousand!" She'd had enough of this.
"Sebastian, come get me now." Her mark glowed as the candles went out. Everyone started to panic.
"What's this?" the viscount asked. All around the room she could hear bodies hit the floor accompanied by the sounds of bones breaking and cries of pain. The lights came back on and there was Sebastian, brushing his hands together, surrounded by dozens of unconscious scum.
"Really miss, are you good for nothing but getting yourself captured? How sad." He approached the stage her cage was on. "Do you not think you are too careless because you trust I will come when you call?" She gave him a small glare. She could see the hunger in his eyes at the sight of her.
"As long as the contract remains in place you'll follow me everywhere whether I ask you to or not. Won't you?" He paused for a moment in front of the cage, as if pondering her question, before letting out a smirk.
"…Of course. This type of contract is sealed by a mark a demon places on the one who enters into his agreement, his prey, so as not to lose sight of it. The more noticeably placed the mark is, the tighter the demon and prey are bound to one another. Ours, however, is special case because of the drastic action I had to take to keep you alive enough to give me your orders. The demon serves…" Her eyes narrowed.
"…And in exchange, the prey can never escape." Sebastian forced the bars of the cage open, bending them as if they were rubber, and bowed to her.
"Yes, I will be with you everywhere, until the end. I shall be at your side no matter what." He pulled her from the cage and set her on her feet. "Even should I perish in this world I'll still be there, in the very depths of hell, my lady. This is how I differ from humans, I do not lie." He, reluctantly by the looks of it, sliced off her rope bonds with a flick of his finger.
"Good," She said as the rope fell to the ground. "You will never lie to me no matter what. Understood?" He bowed.
"Yes, my young lady." He looked up at her with a hungry smirk. "And I must say you looked positively delicious tied up like that." She shivered a bit and turned away with a blush. Shaking it off, Cielle assessed what he did to everyone and felt a sort of glee seeing the viscount unconscious. "I have already contacted the Yard so I imagine they will be here before much longer," her butler said.
"Then let's not dawdle. The chaps at the Yard will be none too pleased to find us here." It was then she could see him trying not to laugh.
"Yes, especially with that appearance of yours, "My Pink Lady"." He chuckled a bit. The young countess was still mortified that she was wearing her most hated color.
"Th-That's right…! Anyway! I suppose this solves the Jack the Ripper case." She took another disgusted look at the viscount. "Well that was easier than I had expected." A noise came from outside.
"Chief Inspector, this way!" Cielle turned towards it. They were here.
"In any case, it would appear that the Yard has arrived. We should take our leave." Cielle was surprised when her butler picked her up into his arms and a small blush sprinkled across her cheeks. "Well, miss, are you ready?" He took off his glasses with a smirk. "Let us be off." Sebastian leapt out of the building and onto the roof below it. On a balcony below, Damion turned at the sound of their landing, but they disappeared as soon as he did.
"I could have sworn I saw something up there. Hmm, I guess I was wrong." He quickly brushed it off and returned to the party.
What was in the paper the next morning surprised every one of them.
"Jack the Ripper strikes again?" exclaimed Lau. "If it becomes seemingly impossible for our lone suspect to have commited the murder then it does beg the question of a possible copycat…no, or even of there been multiple culprits from the very start." His attempts to make sense of it were all but hopeless.
"In other words, the Viscount wasn't our man after all?" asked Madam Red. Cielle shook with anger. Sebastian merely stood there, unimpressed, as if he knew it all along.
YES! I Finally got this damn thing done! I'm SOOO sorry this took so long, but I had Disney, and play practice, the play itself, and just life in general...yeah I hate it too.
Later!