Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Black Butler world which is owned by Yana Toboso. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes and the events which happen in this story are not canon. I am not profiting financially from this story. I only own the idea of the plot and my own original characters. Thank you Yana Toboso for thinking up such a world as wonderful as Black Butler.
Chapter #3
"Miss Geneva, I'm back!" I called, my voice clearly echoing and ringing off the walls of the long corridors in the Elinton Manor.
I received no response.
How strange, is Miss Geneva taking a mid-afternoon nap? Usually, she responds with some sort of snarky comment or whimsical demand.
I walked down the corridors and through the manor, peering into each and every room I passed by. Eventually, as I closed the door of yet another empty room, I heard a quiet weeping sound. It was coming from the next room over.
As I peered into the room from which I heard the weeping sound coming from, I saw Helen, one the maids, crying as Miss Geneva held her and shed tears with her. I gently pried the door open, and walked quietly into the room.
Miss Geneva looked up and saw me. "Celia, it's horrible. Helen's dear sister was…murdered," Miss Geneva whispered the last part to me once I've walked within whispering range.
I paused, freezing. Helen's sister was murdered? Oh dear… I'd met Helen's sister once, her younger sister named Clara. She was very sweet and kind, a lovely young lady. I can't believe…Clara…was murdered…
"…Helen… I must leave at once," I decided. "Helen, I'm so sorry about your sister, Clara was truly a sweet and wonderful girl, she didn't deserve such a thing," I gave Helen a hug before turning around to leave.
"Wait, Celia, where are you going?" Miss Geneva asked.
"I must consult an acquaintance straight away," I ambiguously explained, rushing off to look for Charles to prepare a carriage.
The carriage ride seemed long, though in reality, it probably wasn't too long a trip. I arrived at my destination and was greeted by their maid, Mey-Rin. I stepped out of the carriage, Mey-Rin stuttering a little ways off to the side.
"W-Welcome, Lady C-Celia. W-We weren't e-expecting you," Mey-Rin stuttered, timid and a bit awkward.
"Yes, I'm so sorry to intrude like this. If Sebastian isn't too busy, I'd like a bit of his time, please," I hesitantly asked. Now that I think about it, it was kind of sudden of me to just show up here without any warning. What if Lord Phantomhive is with a guest? I'd be disrupting and it'd be awfully rude.
"S-Sebastian? Um, alright. If you'd follow me, please," Mey-Rin nervously and awkwardly said, kind of fidgety.
I followed Mey-Rin into the Manor. The sky was an angry shade of dark blue-grey; a storm was brewing. I'd better make this trip quick if I don't wish to be caught in the oncoming storm.
"P-Please wait here," Mey-Rin said, leaving me seated on the sofa in their living room.
"…Mey-Rin, there's no need to be so nervous around me. Please, calm down," I tried to reassure Mey-Rin, using a gentle tone.
"U-Uh, o-of course, Lady Celia!" Mey-Rin practically saluted me. I think I just made her feel more nervous and awkward than before…
Sebastian arrived soon enough, he was alone.
"You wished to see me, Lady Celia?" the demon-butler asked, his voice smooth and silky as usual.
"Yes," I said, standing up from my previous sitting position on the couch, "One of Miss Geneva's maids' sister has been murdered. Although it hasn't been confirmed, I have a feeling this murder is related to your current case that you and Lord Phantomhive are investigating. Miss Geneva's horribly upset, as well as the maid, Helen. I was wondering if you have any new leads?" I asked, pausing every now and then and talking slowly. I believe my sadness very apparently seeped into my voice.
"…Yes, we do have some new leads we're looking into. I'm terribly sorry about Lady Helen's sister…," Sebastian said politely. "I hope you realize, I must disclose this information with my Master."
"Oh, of course. I didn't know if Lord Phantomhive was busy or not, so I didn't want to bother him. I apologize for disrupting you, as well. You surely must be terribly busy," I bowed my head in apology.
"I assure you, my lady, it was no trouble at all," Sebastian courteously bowed.
I breathed a sigh of relief, which surprised me. I didn't even know why I felt relieved. "I -," a clap of thunder rang out, interrupting me. Lightning followed subsequently thereafter, as well as the heavy pattering rain.
I looked out the large French windows on the wall, seeing the unleashed storm having developed so quickly left me in a state of mild disbelief.
"…My lady, we would be more than welcome to have you stay the night at the manor. We couldn't possibly let you travel back to your home in a fierce storm such as this," the demon-butler offered kindly.
Sebastian was right, I couldn't possibly travel back to Elinton Manor in this kind of storm. Technically I could, but that would make circumstances suspicious. After all, only Miss Geneva, Sebatian, and Lord Phantomhive know of my demon status. What would the maids and butlers of Elinton Manor think if I just suddenly arrived back home without even a carriage? Not to mention the Phantomhive Manor workers, they'd question why on Earth Lord Phantomhive and Sebastian let me go home in such weather.
"I'm afraid that'd probably be best, thank you. I'm so sorry to be of trouble. Would Lord Phantomhive approve of this idea?" I reluctantly agreed.
"Yes. In fact, it was his idea. He thought ahead and foretold this situation," Sebastian explained, that 'charming' demon smile on his lips. That allegedly 'charming' demon smile of his only creeped me out - nothing more, nothing less.
"If you would follow me to your room," Sebastian waited for me to walked over to him before turning around and leading me to my room.
After I was showed my room, I was left to myself to call Miss Geneva to let her know of the situation. Right before Sebastian left, I whispered, "I truly do wish you wouldn't smile that crooked smile around me."
Sebastian paused in the doorway, stepped back, and shut the door. "Lady Celia, isn't it unbecoming of a lady to be so straightforward?" the demon-butler smirked, quite fitting of a demon. His eyes lit up, glowing a bright scarlet crimson.
It created quite a mysterious, dark, and demonic effect. The room was dim, illuminated by candlelight, and it was dark and stormy outside. The atmosphere was quite ominous now, perhaps even more so because both Sebastian and I are demons.
"That's a rule of society in this day and age. But I think the rule is nullified if I am speaking to a demon one-on-one," I disclosed my thoughts.
The demon-butler chuckled. "I suppose that's true in a sense. Well, my lady," he started in a mocking tone, "please do tell. Just what is it that you don't like about my smile?" Sebastian took several slow, deliberate steps closer to me.
I stood my ground. "It's calculative, demonic, fake. It's irritating," I said, straight to the point.
"And what of you? Is your smile not the same?" Sebastian countered.
"My smile isn't fake. It's not calculative, or manipulative. And it most certainly isn't demonic," I firmly stated.
"I think the fact you're a demon automatically makes your smile demonic," Sebastian muttered rhetorically.
"Excuse me?" my eyes narrowed, taking on a similar bright, glowing scarlet crimson colour as Sebastian's.
The demon-butler coughed, "Nothing. Ahem, I don't believe that's the case from what I've seen."
"I don't know what you mean," my eyes narrowed even more, turning into glowing red slits.
"Each and every time I've seen you smile, it's always been fake. I don't think you're in any position to talk about others' smile," Sebastian frowned.
"Those smiles are simply to show courtesy," I frowned also.
"That's exactly what my smiles are for," Sebastian countered.
"…Touché. Fine then, but there's no need to smile courteously at me. I have no need for demonic false smiles, thank you," I frowned, annoyed. I widened my eyes a bit so that my eyes weren't quite slits anymore. I turned around to the phone on the desk in the guest room I was staying in and walked over to it, indicating the conversation was over.
"…So, you're saying you don't want my fake smiles?" Sebastian asked.
"Yeah, sure," I replied, a bit confused. I picked up the handset part of the phone.
"So, you're saying you only want my real smiles? My real expressions?" Sebastian came up behind me, snaking his left arm around my waist, his right hand grabbing the handset out of my hand and setting it back in its place. His right arm then joined its counterpart around my waist. He rested his chin on my shoulder, and whispered into my ear, "Hm?" blowing into my ear afterwards. A vibrant blush dusted my cheeks.
…I was exceptionally irritated now - a little flustered, not that I'd ever admit it - but irritated. I attempted to jab the damned demon-butler in his ribs with my elbow. Note: the key word in the previous sentence was 'attempted'. Sebastian easily caught my elbow, as expected. I then whirled around and attempted to kick Sebastian in his stomach. Sebastian didn't dodge. I messed up my kick. Due to my long skirt that doesn't allow enough mobility for me to stretch my leg up and kick. I lost my balance and fell, nearly hitting my head on the desk. Sebastian caught me before I could hurt myself though, that bastard.
The damned prick had a smug, amused look on his face. "Honestly my lady, whatever were you trying to do?"
I ground my teeth together, a low growl-like sound emerging from the depth of my throat. "Shut up, you damned smug bastard," I ground out, growling as I was helped up.
"You should be more grateful to those who help you, my lady," the demon-butler mocked.
"Oh? And should I be more grateful to those who sexually harass me as well?" I retorted.
"I'm truly wounded, my lady. To think, you thought of my feelings as sexual harassment," the demon-butler pretended to be hurt, a sad and hurt expression on his face. It wasn't a real expression though, that much was apparent.
"Sebastian," I used his name to show him I was serious, "I don't know what game you're playing, but I don't wish to play with you. So please stop it, you shrewd bastard. Good night, I'm sure you have many responsibilities to attend to," I turned to the phone on the desk again.
"…Yes. Good night, my lady," and with that, Sebastian left and closed the door behind him, leaving me to my own business.
I quickly called Miss Geneva, telling her of the situation and how I was to stay the night at Phantomhive Manor. She sounded relieved when I called, I suppose she was rather worried.
The storm continued on through the night, the thunder occasionally woke me up. For the most part, I had a good night's sleep. I expected to go home the following morning, but during breakfast with Lord Phantomhive, I was offered to go to town to investigate with Sebastian. As reluctant as I was, I felt an obligation to Helen and Miss Geneva to help find the perpetrator of these heinous crimes, and so I agreed.