A/N: I apologize if there is any OOC (Out Of Character) ness in this chapter I think I got Bard's character pretty good, maybe, I don't know I feel like I could've done better but at the same time not so much ya know? Well anyway, enjoy!
Ch.17
What did he mean by that?
"Stonewell? Stonewell? Miss Clarissa Stonewell!?"
"Huh?! Oh um-"
"Enough, what's going on with you? You're at the top of the class; you shouldn't be lost in your thoughts!"
"S-Sorry about that." I muttered.
"I guess it can't be helped, just pay attention."
"Yes."
It's been weeks, maybe even more, since I'd last seen Undertaker, Ciel, Sebastian and I returned to Westen, since we came back from the break I haven't focused too much on studies. Not much word has gone around about my new 'status' then again I didn't expect it to anyway. The teachers are giving me a hard time for not paying attention, Ciel doesn't seem to have a hard time, and Sebastian is playing his role as usual as well. Derrick, well I have no information on his whereabouts, who knows? He might not even be on campus. After constant nagging from all three of them, I got my eyesight checked so now I have to wear reading glasses during class. Luckily I don't need to wear them every single moment of the day so that's a plus.
"Oh Clarissa just the person I wanted to see would you mind coming by my office to help me with some students? I also need you to inform Mr. Phantomhive as well." Sebastian asked.
"Sure, Seba-Prof. Michaelis, you wouldn't happen to know where Phantomhive is would you?" I asked.
"Ah yes, he was heading to the auditorium." Sebastian replied softly.
"Thank you very much." I professed.
"I'd be careful." Sebastian quickly whispered and disappeared into the crowd of people.
I wonder what that was about anyway.
I made my way to the auditorium to see many people swarming around the back entrance. The majority, were the few girls admitted to the school, even with so little quantity, they made a large commotion.
"What's going on over there?" I said to myself and continued to walk towards the building.
Ciel was nowhere in sight, but there were some people moving things in and out of the auditorium. They all seemed to be from the Blue House and Green House; I wonder what they're doing though. Almost being swallowed by the crowd was Ciel carrying a big, dusty, and tattered box.
"Oh the seniors of Blue House are so smart!" One girl shrieked.
"The Green House seniors are so handsome as well!" Another shouted.
"Please do not crowd around the entrance; it can be disastrous if someone were to get hurt." The head of the Green House, Greenhill, exclaimed with an unwavering tone.
The crowd slowly disbanded with sighs of disappointment. In a matter of minutes they were all gone.
"That goes the same for you." Greenhill directed at me.
"O-Oh um I'm looking for Mr. Phantomhive, I heard that I could find him here?" I stuttered.
"I'm a bit busy what is it that you need?" Ciel replied putting down the box he was carrying.
"Prof. Michaelis is asking for you." I said.
"I see, Greenhill, do you mind telling Bluer that I'd gone with Prof. Michaelis?" Ciel asked.
"You'd better not be slacking off. I'll tell him but if he finds out you decided to skip this tasks then it's out of my hands." Greenhill replied, his expression had obviously changed to annoyance.
"I wouldn't worry about that." Ciel smirked lightly.
"So exactly what's going on here?" I asked mainly to Ciel but happened to catch Greenhill's attention.
"Regular tasks for the underclassmen, to be specific, the Prefects' fags are doing some work." Greenhill explained.
"I see, that must be tough. Are you taking part in it too?" I asked.
"Only when it's necessary, not everyone has great strength as I do." Greenhill boasted.
"Of course, well we must be off." Ciel complained dragging me along.
He continued to tug at me when I was falling behind; the whole way there it was silent. Classes were over for the time being, but even so there were many people still in the halls and classrooms. Many stole a glance in our direction but I took little notice of that. Either way did it really matter to them?
"Professor Michaelis? Are you there?" Ciel asked knocking on the door to Sebastian's office.
"Yes, come in I have prepared some work for you two." Sebastian called out.
Ciel opened the door hastily and began looking around behind him before shutting the door.
"Geez, what's your problem?" I asked.
"It's just simple precautions, you should do the same considering your situation, you are drawing in a lot of attention just conversing with me." Ciel expressed.
"Okay?" I replied, he isn't in such a 'good' mood now is he.
"The reason I called you two in here is that there are some strange things happening in an academy located in Brighton. I've received notifications from the Queen and she would like for you to investigate. Although there is one problem." Sebastian began.
"Well what's the problem?" I blurted.
"Maybe I should save that for later." Sebastian smirked lightly.
"None the less, I see no problem in investigating this." Ciel added.
"A bit too hasty to accept, maybe you'd change your mind with the certain details of this case." Sebastian queered.
"You've heard my answer, now I'd like to hear the rest as soon as possible." Ciel continued.
"Now, now, classes are still taking place; it would be quite the scene to see the Earl of Phantomhive skip the rest of his classes now wouldn't it? You just have to be patient, until then I won't say a word." Sebastian teased.
"Tch! Fine, let's go Clary." Ciel growled.
"C-Come on Ciel there isn't any reason to act like that." I stammered.
Ciel stormed out of the room and I followed closely behind.
Geez, he doesn't have to be so stubborn. It was his fault and he is too easily bothered if he doesn't get his way. I wonder what he meant by not wanting to take up the offer anyway. Why would they give us a task that they knew we would refuse?
"Hey watch where you're going." Ciel pulled me away from a post I was walking head-first into.
"What's gotten into you? You've been spacing out half the time during classes, not to mention outside of class." Ciel pointed out.
"I've just been thinking, and what does it matter? It isn't like I'm drawing attention to myself, if anything I'm becoming more and more invisible every day." I mumbled.
"It might just be the opposite." Someone from behind said.
Said person placed the spine of a book lightly on the top of my head, but hard enough to startle both Ciel and I.
"Oh, Derrick showed up." Ciel said calmly.
"That didn't hurt at all thanks for asking." I grudged
"About what you were discussing earlier, you should try to pay attention during classes. Although, I don't understand why you avert your thoughts on everyday tasks, a bit simple-minded isn't it?" Derrick teased.
"I'm sorry, but I'm going to be late to class, so if you'd excuse me." I replied hastily.
"You do understand that classes don't start until another 15 minutes right?" Ciel asked.
"Then I'll read to pass the time!" I yelled back.
Those damn assholes!
The ride back was uncomfortably quiet, though it was my fault for not replying to any of the attempted conversations that either Derrick or Ciel wanted to discuss. Though I could see the anxiousness in his eyes, even the slightest bit of tension in his movements, he wanted to know what the Queen's orders were, and he wasn't going to waste time any longer.
"Well, go on." Ciel said impatiently as I walked into the manor.
Ciel stormed up to his study quickening his pace each step.
"I've never seen the young master so beaming before." Finny gleamed.
"He must be expecting some good news I guess." Derrick shrugged.
"It might just be the opposite." Sebastian included, grinning coldly.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, my voice wavering.
"It won't take too long to find out, though the letter was shockingly vague, so we don't know all the details. I think it's the perfect amount of information on my part." Sebastian continued, walking steadily towards the door.
"If it were vague, then how would you know enough information to provoke Ciel?" I asked.
"Trust me you don't need much to provoke Shorty." Derrick joked.
"Well considering the way you address him I guess it's a bit too easy for you to get on his nerves." I muttered walking into the study.
"I don't see anything out of the ordinary that would cause me to reject this request." Ciel stated, his facial expression was a mixture of apathy but had a tinge of annoyance.
"What is it?" Derrick asked taking the paper and holding it close to his face.
"Hey! I could've just told you!" Ciel roared.
"Derrick can you just get along for once?" I sighed.
"Fine, but it seems a bit too simple, what was the big deal of this anyway? Other than the countless victims but other than that I see no significance." Derrick pestered.
"So what exactly are we dealing with? I just want an answer so that I can start working on the solution already." I said.
"An academy down in Brighton, there has been several cases involving missing children, and young adults. All of which no bodies but one were found, the problem is this body was brutally mutilated to the point where it is unrecognizable." Ciel began.
"These acts have gone on for 2 months, because of the lack of information on cases; it was pushed aside for the time being, though the people of Brighton take caution. Now that we have our orders when can we start?" Ciel finished.
"No later than the day after tomorrow, I will notify the school and your fiancée of your departure." Sebastian confirmed.
"For the time being what do we do?" I asked.
"Whatever we can do, gather as much knowledge we can, and by we, I mean you." Ciel smirked.
"Why me? You have as much authority and responsibility to take action as well." I whined.
"I have paperwork to handle, last time I checked you have no idea whatsoever how to compile them the way I prefer." Ciel snickered.
"Fine, if any of you need me I'll be in the library, maybe I should ask the locals as well. At least they will be of some help." I replied my tone strong and firm but my actions faltering each step I took.
"Good luck with that, try not to give away your identity, that's one thing I wish to avoid." Ciel explained.
"I won't I can actually behave like a good pup." I teased.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ciel questioned.
"Don't worry your little head over it, it's nothing. A meaningless reply is all." I continued my way out the door.
"Ah Clary!" Finny yelled from behind.
Not exactly who I'd want to see but then again, who would I want to see?
"Good afternoon Finny." I replied turning around to face him.
"Where are you heading?" Finny asked with a big and bright smile.
"…May I ask, should you really be inside with, dirt covering most of you?" I stated, the boy in front of me looked confused until he stared down at his shirt stained with trails of dirt and grass.
"It's fine, I didn't cause quite a ruckus anyhow. Thank goodness you finally agreed to see a doctor, I'm glad all you needed were a pair of glasses, but you're so stubborn it could've been worse." Finny stressed.
"I suppose so, and to answer your previous question, I'm on my way to the library, I've got to do some research." I pouted.
"Aw, that doesn't seem fun at all! Come on how about we go do something else!" Finny whined.
"U-Uh I'm not sure Ciel would like that." I stammered.
"You haven't even met the rest of the Phantomhive family yet." Finny persisted.
"'Phantomhive family'?" I questioned.
"The rest of the servants here silly come on let's go!" Finny ranted and dashed off with my wrist in his hand.
Dear god Ciel will have my head if he finds out about this.
Not a moment too soon Finny stopped in front of the kitchen where a loud sound came from.
"A-Are you sure about this? I mean it sounds a bit dangerous." I asked.
"It's alright, Bard always works like this." Finny grinned.
Once the door opened a puff of black smoke entered the hallway and a figure was barely visible.
"Are you—positive this is—okay?" I asked choking on some of the smoke.
It smells of something burning, not meat, at least I think. What the hell is this anyway? What kind of job would anyone have to set a kitchen on fire?
"It's fine, you'll get used to it." Finny replied, he seemed entirely unaffected by the smoke.
"Damn this! Why does it always end up like this? Now Mr. Sebastian is going to yell at me again." I heard a voice complain from within the black cloud.
"Are you okay?" I asked choking a bit.
"Huh? Yea, just a bit, charred." The voice replied.
Slowly the smoke drifted off and revealed a tall man wearing a white, well not so white anymore coat. I couldn't tell if his hair was naturally that puffy and, big, but that's his first appearance so far.
"Aren't you a surprise? I haven't seen you since you first came to the manor! Even though we weren't that far to begin with but I guess we never crossed paths at the time, the name's Bard, nice to properly meet ya." Bard smiled genuinely.
"So you were one of the people that I'd seen the first night huh? Thank you for your help by the way I really appreciate it." I smiled back.
"There is no need to thank me Clary." Bard began.
"Oh yea, Finny over here never stops talkin' bout you so I kind of have an idea of what you're like." he finished.
"I see, well I hope you got a good image of what I'm like I look forward to get better acquainted with you." I stated.
"I don't usually look like this by the way you see I just thought that if I cooked the food like this it would be faster and it ended up backfiring…again." Bard sighed.
"I can tell you don't have the best of luck, well I have something to do for right now so I guess I'll see you later." I brushed some smoke off my face and turned to the door.
I was able to kill some time but now I'm not sure if it was a good thing. Yeah I did get out of doing work, but, I kind of have to do that work. Well it shouldn't take that long if I choose the right information I should have an idea in no time.
I opened the library door to be greeted by the familiar fur ball; he seemed to enjoy staying in the library even if I wasn't with him. At least he didn't cause any trouble; I grabbed a stool and brought down some books from the shelves.
"They said that it was supposed to be an academy in Brighton right? Well that narrows it down, to like, 60 different locations." I muttered to myself.
"I know I'm exaggerating a bit but, this is too little information." I mumbled on.
Think, think of where these took place, think of where it could be, open your mind a bit, imagine, think, think! Okay, most of the kidnappings took place around this area…so that would mean that it would most likely be—
"No." I gazed in awe at the book I was too shocked to believe the information in my hands.
"No it can't be. This is too, well it would explain but, I highly doubt this is the place!"
But this would explain Sebastian's teasing, it would explain his doubt that Ciel would take up this offer, I still can't believe this though. Does Sebastian know about this? Of course he does, why else would he say that to Ciel, but why would he hide it.
Sebastian, you really are a demon, but I have to say, this is the best plan you've ever thought of.
"This academy, is an 'All Girls School'"
A/N: Yea! Test week is coming up! *sobs quietly* Wish me luck on that situation and PM me comment anything if you have questions reccomendations(stories, a way to grasp the character better etc.) And for god's sake harass me to do what you want okay? If you want me to update faster I don't care if you're mean to me! If anything it will make me get off my lazy butt and do something. Enjoy and review!
｡◕ ‿ ◕｡ -KurohNeko69