Chapter 8: Dealings
"Let me explain about angels of vengeance," Alena said as she sat with Ciel in the drawing room later that afternoon as she and Ciel played a game of chess. "During times of crisis and need, a watcher's role changes and they become angels of vengeance."
"And how can they help those in need?" Ciel asked.
"The same way a demon does, except protecting a soul and not devouring it."
"So that was what Sebastian meant by there are fights for souls."
Alena nodded. "Sometimes there are, other times there are not."
"Then why are you fighting for a demon's soul?"
"Watchers are required to take mates. Usually we are reunited with our love ones from our lives on earth since we retain our memories. Yet mine made a deal with Satan for revenge."
"So why not take another mate?" Ciel said as he moved a black chess piece across the board.
"Easier said then done when you retain the memories of the one you love."
"Even after hundreds of years?"
Alena nodded once again, moving one of her chess pieces in response.
A knock on the drawing room door, signaled that Sebastian was bringing in the afternoon tea and a snack. Alena and Ciel stopped their chess game, as Sebastian rolled the trolley with the afternoon snack into the room. A small smile spread across Alena's face as she watched how attentive Sebastian was towards Ciel – was this boy's soul really worth all this effort? There had to be something that she could entice him with…something to get him to feel once again.
"Today I prepared a vanilla sponge cake with fresh berries and some Twining's Afternoon Tea. I hope it is to your liking young master." Sebastian said drawing Alena out of her musings as he offered a plate of cake to Ciel.
"I'm sure it is," Ciel said as he took the plate from Sebastian.
Sebastian turned to look at Alena who was sitting in the chair next to Ciel. "Would you like some?"
"No thank you," she said with a smile. "But I would love some tea."
With a smile, Sebastian poured two cups of tea, and placing them on the small table then went to leave and return the afternoon tea and left over snack to the kitchen.
"Wait Sebastian, this concerns you as well." Ciel said, setting his fork down on his plate and looking up at his butler's back. Sebastian turned around and looked at his young master then at his beloved who had a puzzled look on her face.
"What is it, young master?" he asked.
"Last night, you expressed that you can not loose Alena to the ninth circle of hell, yet you do not know how to stop that from happening since demons cannot love. And in response I ordered you to not fail."
"That is true, my lord." Sebastian responded with a smile on his face.
"Yet I believe that Alena needs to be involved with this plan to succeeded as well."
"That would be a good idea." Alena chimed in.
"So what I am suggesting is that Alena becomes the Phantomhive physician. Then she would be at the manor fulltime and the two of you could spend much more time together. More time then you would with this current arrangement."
"That could work," Sebastian thought aloud for a moment. "Besides, I am always worrying about your health ever since the Noah's Ark Circus and your asthma flare up then. Then there are the local lands that are in need of a doctor."
"Just remember that I do not like to loose, Sebastian. Make sure of that."
"Yes my lord. I will make sure that Alena does not loose in her agreement since you are betting on her as well."
Alena cleared her throat.
Sebastian and Ciel turned to look at her. "Don't I get a say in any of this?" she asked.
"No!" they both said at the same time.
She raised an eyebrow at them and crossed her arms as she stood up. The room suddenly went bright white as they both turned and focused on her again. She was glaring directly at both of them. Her eyes were bright white and she seemed to be taller. "I do NOT take orders except from archangels, the son and the father," she said, her voice echoing.
The room's lights returned back to normal as Alena sat back down in the chair she had been previously seated in. Ciel and Sebastian looked at each other then at her. She simply smiled.
"Understand?" she asked, again.
Ciel nodded, while Sebastian smiled. He understood perfectly. She was a lot like him, except on the other side of the spectrum.
"Good," she said. "Now I will agree to move to Phantomhive Manor, simply to facilitate things between Sebastian and myself easier."
"Now for the manner of the relationship between the two of you," Ciel said standing up and beginning to pace the room. "What should that be?"
"Why not the truth?" Alena asked. "Husband and wife?"
"Not with this lot," Sebastian said. "It will raise far too many questions."
"Exactly." Ciel added. "So how about a shadow of the truth."
"The young Master is back!" Mey-Rin happily cheered as she, Finny, Baldroy, Snake and Tanaka all lined up outside of the front entranced steps of the Phantomhive Manor steps to welcome their young master and Sebastian home. They all happily waved as the carriage came to a stop in front of the stairs.
It had been several days since the young master had been home and they were ever so thankful that Agni and Prince Soma had recently left to return to London. They knew that the Prince and his butler were nice, but they were nothing compared to their own master.
The smiles on the Phantomhive servants' faces grew as Sebastian emerged from the carriage first, then Ciel emerged.
"Welcome home young Master!" they all said at once.
"Thank you," he said before turning and watching as Sebastian helped someone else out of the carriage.
Everyone watched as Sebastian helped out a young woman with light brown hair and vivid blue eyes along with a smile that could light up a room. "Thank you," she said caressing his cheek softly before he kissed the palm of her hand. She moved to stand next to Ciel, with Sebastian moving behind her.
"Everyone, this is Dr. Alena Martel. She is Sebastian's fiancée. She has just returned from obtaining her medical degree in the United States and has agreed to become the Phantomhive physician and she is also going to serve to outlying communities around the estate."
AN: I really should be in bed….but I am not….ugh….oh well. Enjoy!
