No more boring time-travel explanations from now on (I promise!) Just read and enjoy!
III. That Butler, So Quick
"And then, Sebastian, when the Ripper appears you will- "
"Oh yes…yes…What an alluring voice…"
Ciel almost popped a nerve. "Sebastian! Were you even listening?!"
The stray tabby, who was only a moment ago purring loudly and shamelessly into the crook the butler's neck, stopped to glare at the young earl. It shook its tail and hopped out of the demons arms. Ciel was rewarded with rare glimpse of Sebastian looking rather …rejected? If he didn't know better, he'd say that the demon-butler was practically pouting. But that was impossible. Demons don't pout.
The tall manservant noticed Ciel starring at him and curled his lips into a small smile. He stood and brushed off his waist coat.
"Ah… I apologize, my lord. You don't find such rare beauties-"
Ciel grimaced and massaged his temples. The thought that the demon had a feline fetish disturbed him more than seeing Elizabeth running at him with a Ciel-sized corset and a maid's costume.
"Sebastian, I order you to capture the culprit alive. In all other respects- you will engage on sight!" the young earl commanded coldly.
Sebastian knelt. "Yes, my lord."
Somewhere nearby the tabby gave a warning yowl. The consistency of the air changed.
Sebastian felt it before his young master did. In one swift motion the demon butler grabbed Ciel by his collar and tossed him out of harm's way. The earl of Phantomhive had one glimpse of a weird, pulsing light as he sailed through the air before part of the building above where he just was exploded into dust. Sebastian was instantaneously by his side, shielding him from debris with his body.
Almost simultaneously, a gut-wrenching scream erupted from inside Mary Shelly's room.
A large figure appeared out of the settling dust.
*****
Something was very very wrong.
It was something that did not happen very often to Artemis, so of course he recognized it right away.
During the trip, Artemis' own molecules had pulsated rather vigorously compared to his large companion's.…and the effects were just now becoming clear.
Artemis could barely breathe. There was something-no! Somethings new
… and something lost.
Butler was too concentrated on the figures of a child standing next to a dark haired man, the only people on the deserted street, to notice his employer's uncharacteristic silence. He was already getting some feeling back in his arms, although the nerves were still tingling. Butler knew they only had a few seconds before the dust cleared and he and Artemis were out for the world to see.
He couldn't make out the pair very well, but something, maybe their quiet reactions and lack of screaming after witnessing two people appearing out of nowhere, warned him these were not normal civilians.
"B-Butler-"
"Quiet, Artemis."
"Butler!"
He had never heard his employer sound so desperate or… so high pitched? Butler looked to see what the matter was. Artemis was nowhere in sight. Instead, a long, raven-haired girl stood where Artemis should have been standing…wearing Artemis' clothes…about Artemis' height…
The girl was trembling furiously and tears leaked out of her eyes.
"I'm. Going. To kill. Foaly."
*****
Ciel gritted his teeth. Sebastian's protective arms prevented him from rushing headlong into Mary Shelly's residence. He decided to ignore the scream-It was too late anyways. The culprit had obviously finished his work and was trying to make his escape.
"So. You finally showed yourself, RIPPER," Ciel announced with a dangerous smile. "Sebastian, go!"
"Yes!"
The Phantomhive demon was already drawing his silverware. Butler barely had time to draw his own weapon before he was assaulted with a lethal variety of dessert forks all projected at his vital organs.
A seemingly unassuming English man was launching himself at him at an impossible speed.
Butler knocked one aside and dodged the rest. He pushed Artemis far behind him.
"Too slow!"
The Phantomhive butler's empty-handed blow connected solidly with Butler's left shoulder. Butler heard bone snap. If that hand had been carrying anymore silverware, Butler knew full well he would've lost that arm.
He had no more illusions about the force behind the lean man's attacks. This was no mere human.
A well-polished steak knife thudded into the wall inches from Artemis' elbow. He found himself being shoved back even further by Butler's protective bulk. He opened his mouth to protest.
The suited man was suddenly right next to him. A pair of unnatural, amber eyes burned into youth's pale face. Artemis' brain shut down. He couldn't look away. Far away Butler was shouting something.
The eyes darted to the side and broke their gaze. Artemis stumbled back.
"Wait! I have a proposition for you!"
Butler was emptying his own supply of throwing knives at the target, forcing Sebastian to retreat with several Olympian-worthy back flips. The demon butler responded by unfurling one of his signature side kicks. Butler deftly blocked it and put himself between the two again. Painfully, with his left hand, Butler drew a second pistol and cocked it threateningly.
One pistol was locked on the other butler. The other was aimed straight at Ciel. This made Sebastian pause.
"Hmph." Sebastian landed back at Ciel's side. He continued to regard Artemis' condition with an amused smile.
Artemis breathed harshly. The two youths eyed death-glares at each other and Ciel wondered briefly why a girl was dressed in trousers. For some reason the way Sebastian was starring at the young girl bothered him.
"Who are you!?" Ciel demanded.
Artemis' mind was racing. Things were not going as planned. First, he had this, this humiliating physical appearance to deal with. And then there was the boy who was addressing them with an air of authority that annoyingly reminded Artemis of himself.
The costume itself was pathetic. One look at the boy's well-groomed appearance and crisp accent told him that this was hardly a real-life Oliver Twist. But the companion, a butler for certain, was a mystery. If it wasn't for those eyes, Artemis would've suspected that the man was one of Butler's own ancestors.
"You're… not death reapers?" Artemis said at last, slowly.
Ciel never had a chance to reply. The door to Mary Shelly's suite swung open. Inside, the shadows were dyed with red and tainted by a glimpse of a very familiar crimson dress. Ciel's voice died in his throat as a very amused Grelle Sutcliffe sauntered out.
"Well isn't this cozy? Tehe! "
Ahhh...So fanfic won't let me insert any heart symbols for Grelle...
Venusgal100: Thank you for making my story an "exception." I hope you will review again! :)
Anon: "Keep it coming" right? Thanks for your support! I'll try to update every week or so…