Chapter 4

Their Butler's, Battle

-Raven-

I stood there in shock as I stared down at a god of death surprised. 'Aren't you a lucky girl?' a familiar voice whispered in my ears as a smile spread on to my face. 'Indeed I am,' I answered back before I stepped forward and reached my hand out to touch the reapers short blond hair and smiled at him sweetly. "Of course I'll have you. Maybe I won't feel as lonely as I use to be with you near me." I chimed happily to him, I could feel his eyes lock on me as if he was seeing someone else before him other than me. "Now get up, I need you to check me out of this place because I don't like being here anymore. It's morbid, boring, and lonely and full of death," I was blunt as I grabbed hold of his arm and pulled him up, "Besides, I don't want to miss the Masquerade ball that Ciel kids throwing. I'd feel bad if I let my sister attend it alone," I said turning my back to him and made my way over to my hospital bed picking up a metal puzzle that the Earl's butler had brought in as a request from his master and started to put it back together.

"Ball? Uh Lady Raven I don't think attending a ball would be such a good idea for you after you just got shot a few days ago and had a heart relapse. Rest would be the best thing for you."

"I thought you were my servant now?"

"I am, but-"

"Then you're supposed to do as I say aren't you?"

"I am, but it's my duty to also do what I think is best fo-"

"Then I order you to get the hospital to discharge me so that I can get ready for tonight's ball."

"But lady Raven?"

"NO buts, get a move on!" I demanded as I looked up at him and looked over his clothes, "Besides I have to get you some new clothes,"

"What's wrong with my clothes?"

"They're black and white- it's depressing to even look at. I mean my sister's butler's a demon and he wears white. It's not as depressing as your clothes." I watched as a vain started to throb on Lucians head as I critiqued his clothes. Guess he was never talked to about colors. Calming himself he took a deep breath and sighed before turning and walking out of the door.

I sat there on the bed smirking to myself, I am so going to reap all the benefits of having a reaper as a butler.

Eventually Lucian had returned an outfit in hand. "They're getting your discharge papers ready as we speak Lady Raven, but I thought I'd go and take the liberty and pick you up some clothes. It's unlady like to wonder about in a hospital gown let alone very disrespectful im sure." He said as he walked over and held out a box to me. I looked at the box for a long moment before setting down one of the metal puzzles I was given beside me and took it from him. "Is it something girlie?" I question as I inspected the box. "Girlie? If by girlie you mean you're asking if it's a dress then yes. You're one of the daughters of a duke and duchess you have a role to play and with that role you must dress the part." I groaned.

I wasn't a dress person, in fact all my dresses at home were either ripped, torn, dirty, or cut to my liking because I didn't like dresses and I don't know how much more I could stress that. After a few "Accidental mishaps" Demetri had given up on having our tailor create dresses for me. I'm sure it was awkward for him to have gone in and ask for boy clothes in my size to be made.

"Is something the matter?"

"Yes- I hate wearing dresses couldn't you have gotten me something other than a dress?" He blinked a few times.

"Forgive me, but I grabbed what I could find. Beside ladies shouldn't be wear men's clothes its disrespectful especially in your level of the social ladder."

I mocked him quietly as I rolled my eyes and opened the box to find a navy blue dress with a white apron inside and sighed. Well I guess I couldn't complain at least it was plain and didn't make me stick out like a sore thumb. I hated when people would stare at me and my sister as we ran arens in town. It was as if they never saw people like us before. Then again, now that I think about it, the Valentines were the only royalty in the town and after our father and mother died Melody and I hardly ever made appearance in town unless it was absolutely needed. So I can't blame the town's people for staring at us.

Any who's, jumping off the bed holding the dress and apron in hand I made my way towards the room divider to dress myself but Lucian stepped in front of me. "I believe you'll be needing help with this contraption," he chimed gleefully as he held up a corset. My eyes widen in shock and horror. A dress was one thing but a corset- now he was taking it too far. Who ever thought corsets were smart to put on women must have been insane because they would have been better off used as torture devices for prisoners rather than to keep us looking respectable. I actually wish I had the power to travel to the past and shoot the person who invited such a device.

Hesitantly I took a step back and quickly made a run for my hospital room door but just as I reached the knob and turned it I felt something wrap around me tight. "And where do you think you are going?" Lucian chimed darkly as he held me tightly so I couldn't escape. "HEY LET GO OF ME! I DON'T WANT TO WEAR THAT STUPID THING- IT'S A DEATH TRAP!" I screamed at the top of my lungs as he began to pull me behind the divider.

"No one has ever died from wearing a corset, I'm a reaper I should know now hold still I promise this'll only take a few minutes."

"NO! I don't want to!" I screamed as I fought with him without realizing the whole time I tried to fight he had slipped the corset over my gown so I didn't have to strip in front of him, then removed the gown after he tightened it enough so it wouldn't slid down when he removed the gown and finally tightened it enough to not only look respectable but also gave me enough room to breathe like a normal human being.

"You can stop flailing about now, the deed is done," he said with a huff as I stopped my yelling and looked down to see that he was right about the corset. I blinked surprised, "How- when did you?"

"I did it while you were fighting with me about it, luckily you have natural curves like your mother so I didn't have to tighten the corset to tight. Besides you humans are stupid if you actually go as far as to tighten it so tight to where you can't breathe just to look pretty. Beauty isn't in the looks, it is what's on the insides that count. Your kind is just too shallow to see it," I stared at him with a blank expression. Did he just insult me and the rest of the human race? I wondered letting my mind slip into lala land as he finished helping me dress.

Once he was finished a nurse had arrived with the discharge paper and the two of us went on our way.

-Phantomhive Manor-

-Ciel-

I sat in my study going through a set of paper work which had just came in early this morning. I was still tiered from my sleep and could feel my eye lids were heavy as I forced myself to stay awake. I had a very long day ahead of me not to mention a party I had to host tonight which even though I had set it up I wasn't looking forward to it at all. Of course the only reason I had done it in the first place was because even I had to make appearances every once in a while.

I groaned softly at the thought as I spun around in my chair and stared out my study window at the bright sunny day outside before hearing the screams of my servants. What were they doing now? Please tell me they aren't trying to exterminate another rat. Honestly sometimes I wonder why I even let them stay with me, they do more damage than help. I sighed and eventually the noise died down. 'Finally," I thought, 'some peace and quiet.' But the silence hadn't lasted too long because there was a knock at the door. "Yes, what is it?" I called my back still turned to the door as I heard the click of the knob being turned and the familiar clicking of heels against wood.

"Forgive me for interrupting young master but the mail has arrived," my butler, Sebastian chimed as he made his way over to me. Hesitantly I spun around and faced him leaning one of my arms on the desk as I took the mail with my free hand. "Anything of importance to me?" I asked boredly as he handed me a few envelopes.

"Most are party invites from other nobles but there are a few that might be of importance to you."

"Unless its something from one of my companies or her majesty herself I doubt it'll interest me at all," I said quietly as I started to flip through each letter staring at them as if nothing new had come in. "it's all rubbish-" I grumbled as I tossed the letters I didn't fancy into the nearest trash bin annoyed by all the party invites It wasn't until my eyes fell on to a familiar calligraphy that I became interested by what was inside.

"A letter from her majesty? Why didn't you tell me she sent a letter Sebastian?"

"If you had listened to me, you would have figured out that I did hint towards you getting a letter from the queen. Although I don't think it's a usual case letter you always get from her young master. That envelope is a little bigger than normal."

"I can see that," I said as I took my letter opener and sliced it open pulling out a bunch of papers and unfolded them. The first one being a letter from her majesty herself to me.

My Dearest Earl:

It has been such a long time since I have sent you a message. Of course there hasn't been much reason for it up until now. I have been hearing around that you are looking into information about two young girls with the last name Valentine. It's been such a long time since I've heard that name. Their father Duke Jaiden Valentine use to work under me with your father. In fact he like you had a title as my bird. Most would call him my song bird because of what he did but now's not the time to talk about that. I am writing you this letter because I had thought that Jaiden had only a wife. When I heard you had been looking into these two girls past it had caught my curiosity and I myself had started to search for their relation to Jaiden when I had dug deep enough it had all come together and I was shocked to have found out that Jaiden had two daughters about your age. Of course I should have known long ago, Jaiden was a very secretive and over protective young man and even I hadn't know where his manor was and had to send his letters to another carrier where I was sure he would get it. To this day I am still wondering where the valentine Manor is hidden.

Which brings me to why I had sent you this message. Forgive me for my ongoing babbling. In this envelope you will find some file papers on the whole valentine family, including the little I could put together on the daughters. There is also a letter in here for them I would like for you to deliver to them the next time you see them. I would enjoy to meet my Birds children I believe it's time they know about their family's history.

Sincerely,

Her Majesty

Queen Victoria,

Setting down the letter from the queen I started to look through the paper work the queen had sent to me. My eyes widen as I began to let this information seep into my brain. "The Valentine sisters are the daughters of the Queens bird." I said out loud as if to inform Sebastian even though that wasn't what I had planned to do in the first place it just slipped out. A smirk lit my face.

"This should be one very interesting ball tonight."

-Raven-

I returned home in a rented carriage and was helped out by Lucian. The two of us stared at the two double doors of the front of our house. Taking a deep breath I made my way up the stairs to the front door then stopped and looked back Lucian was still staring at the front doors. "Is everything okay Lucian? You look like you've seen a ghost or something?" I called, he shook his head and looked at me. "Forgive me, but this manor- there's a strong darkness around it."

"Oh you can feel it too, huh? Don't worry about it- I learned a long time ago that that's Demetri. Don't worry he won't hurt you- unless you hurt him or threaten my sister in anyway." I replied reaching for the door knob before something smashed through the doors and was only inches from hitting my face. My eyes widen in surprised as I paled as my eyes lingered to the scene inside to see what had happened only to see our family tailor trying to force our male servants to be his models. I sweat dropped before staring at the table that had been tossed through the door outside. When our tailor got aggravated on his design's he would lose it and somehow managed to destroy something on the inside and get off Scot-free without having to pay for damages. I don't know if I've said this before but Melody was a softie.

"Let us go! We aren't girls- of course your outfits won't look right on us."

"Yes- please, maybe Jazzy would be a better model for you Mr. Tyler."

"Jazzy is busy with chores so you two are all I have left to work with because Lady Melody is busy which means you two aren't going anywhere!" Mr. Tyler barked as his eyes flashed red as he forced our gardener and cook down on their butts. He was insane- he should have been admitted in to an asylum long ago.

"Someone mind telling me what's going on here?!" I called out as I stepped inside all eyes turned to me. "Awe! Lady Raven you're home! Just what I needed a girl model." Mr. Tyler said gleefully as he ran over to hug me but I stepped out of the way just in time making him fall on the hard tile floor. He laid there for what seemed like forever because before I knew it our cook and gardener were hugging my legs, crying rivers as they both started talking at the same time. "Okay everyone quiet!" I yelled everyone went quiet, Mr. Tyler still lying face first on the floor.

"Mika what's going on here?"

"Mr. Demetri hired Mr. Tyler to make a dress for your sister Lady Melody for tonight's ball at the Phantomhive manor and he's using us as the models."

"And where is my sister?"

"She's up stairs doing business."

"And Demetri?"

"He's out on arens for Lady Melody," I sighed before being grabbed away by Mr. Tyler and held tightly. My eye began to twitch. "Hmmmm- yeeesssss and your butler made me head of the mansion while He was out because I was ordered here to make a dress for your sister. I heard you were in the hospital because of your heart condition are you feeling well my lovely little black Gem?" he chimed as he wrapped his arms around me even tighter and nuzzled his head against my neck. I shivered. "LUCIAN!" I screeched and in a flash I was on the other side of the room Mr. Tyler blinking confused. "Can I ask why there's such a ruckus down here? I'm busy doing paperwork which needs all my concentration right now," A sweet melodious voice chimed from atop the stair case and all eyes turned up wards to where my sister gave her presence. I watched her eyes widen and a gasp slip from between her lips as she covered her mouth.

"Raven? What are you doing here you're supposed to be in the hospital be resting," I groaned rolling my eyes. "There's nothing to worry about melody- for your information- I am 100% fine if I wasn't I wouldn't be out of the hospital. Now would I?"

"But Ciel's aunt-"

"Knows nothing- I'm fine, really. I've lived through worse."

"Oh Joy!" he blurted out as stars sparkled in his eyes," I can make not just one dress but two. Oh Ill make you the loveliest dress in the world. One that will make everyone in the ball turn and look at you." Melody and I both looked at Mr. Tyler Sweat dropping. Is that all he cares about? His dresses? I shook my head. I think I'm starting to get a headache now from being around all of this idiocy in one room. Rubbing my forehead I started up the stairs to speak to my sister; Lucian in toe behind me

"Weren't you making two dresses in the first place?" I asked as I ascended the stairs then stopped mid walk and leaned against the railing looking down at the two male servants and Mr. Tyler.

"Yes, but that was only because I wanted your sister to have a choice out of what she wore- but now I can see it the dresses I can make for you two that'll make you look like queens. Even more so than her majesty herself."

"I doubt it- your dresses are lovely but not that lovely. Didn't you dream to be a famous clothing designer a few years ago?"

"Indeed my dearest," he chimed sprinting up the stair case at surprising speed and pulling me closer to him and rubbing his cheek against mine, "and that dream still shines. You and your sister are what gives me hope on that dream. Now let's begin again and get you out of those disgusting clothes."

"Disgusting?! I think they're quiet fitting for me! They don't make me stick out like a noble" I screamed before being dragged away from the servants.

"Yes but dear those are clothes a commoner would wear which you are not and its demeaning to be before a noble dressed that way. If anyone on your social standing saw you that way you'd probably lose your family's title as dukedom. DO you really want that?"

"You're starting to sound like someone I've known my whole life," I mumbled annoyed as an image of Demetri lecturing me about the clothes I wore popped into my head. God he had a bad habit of washing off on people. "So annoying," I grumbled before pulling away from him, "And you're gonna have to make do with the servants for now there's business matters I have to speak to my sister about. "I started to ascend the stairs again.

"B-But I need a girl model. The male servants aren't helping my design ideas."

"Then use Jazzy- I'm sure she wouldn't mind being your mannequin for a few hours. Or try putting a wig on Mika- either way I'm sure you can make do. Oh- I have another favor to ask of you." I said as I got to the top if the stair case and stared down at Mr. Tyler. "I need you to take our new servants, Lucian, measurements and make him a new butler uniform, something not quite as bleak and depressing as he's wearing now. DO you think you can manage that?" I asked pointing at Lucian as I watched Mr. Tyler turn his attention to him and looked him up and down. "It'll be a challenge, but for you my dearest I shall do it!" And with that our Taylor snatched away Lucian and Mika and was off to do as he pleased with the material we gave him to work with.

If you aren't getting where I going with this, I'll tell you straight out now. He's a strange, strange man but he's also like family so I can't really say much about him. Like Mika we've know Mr. Tyler since he was a 10 year old apprentice to his mother and we were two. When you have nothing you make the closest thing to you family. In our case it's all our servants.

I sighed reviled once he was gone and looked over at my sister who stared at the big gaping hole in the wall. "Did Tyler do that mess?" she asked obliviously as if the conversation we just had with him hadn't just happened.

"Yea- but I'm sure once Demetri comes back from his aren runs you sent him on He'll have it fixed in no time like nothing had ever happened."

"I do hope so. I really don't want to leave tonight knowing there's a huge hole in the wall. It'll make me worry about our servants."

"Aw- don't worry about em, our servants can all hold their own. They would be fine if any intrudes found our home. Which hardly ever happens. "

"I guess you're right- I'll ask him when he returns to fix. Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about and who was the man you brought with you?" She questioned me as she turned on her heels and started back to her study to go back to doing her work. I followed after.

"He said his names Lucian Demew. He wants to be our butler."

"But we already have a butler."

"No- Technically you have a butler. Demetri just plan out hates me," I answered as we entered her study and closed the door so not to be interrupted. Fat luck that'll help us. I wish the rooms in our manor were sound proof sometimes. Melody took her seat back behind her desk and went back to working. "Now we both knows that's not true, He likes us both equally," I snickered at her reply and rolled my eyes.

"The only reason he would like us equally is because of our souls and that's about it. To him where nothing but food. I'm surprised he has put up with both of us this long."

"I'm surprised he put up with you this long. With everything you've done in the past I half expected him to actually walk out on us."

"He couldn't do it even if he wanted to. You two are contracted to each other- It would void your contract if he walked out on us and I doubt he'll go as far as giving up supper for himself because of one person making his life a living hell. Anyways, I think Lucian would make a great addition to our team."

"Oh? And what's your argument on that?"

"No argument if I tell you what he is." I smirked as I heard my sister drop the papers she were holding and stared me down in surprise. "Raven please tell me you didn't-" Wow to think she'd go straight to the thought of him being a demon. I mean even if he was, what harm could it be to have another one around? She was the one who made a contract with a demon before me anyways. SO why would she care if I did? I looked up with a smile. "Calm down Sis- I'm not that crazy to do that. Lucian isn't a demon," she untensed and looked at me.

"If he isn't a demon then what could be possibly be?"

"Now see that's what I really wanted to tell you about. How do you think Demetri will react to having a reaper in our midst as a second butler to me?" She looked at me as if I was crazy. In fact it's the same face I gave Lucian when he told me he was a reaper. Wow, did I really look that stupid? "A reaper? As in

Death itself? Raven are you sure you heard him correctly. I mean there is no possible way death could be a person let alone one that looks soooo- "nice."

"See that's exactly what I said but he kept saying he was."

"And you met this man in the hospital?"

"Yes?"

"Sure he wasn't from the asylum part of the hospital?" I groaned.

"First of all what's with the 20 questions? And second you don't think I have thought up all of this. The only reason I actually believed him is that fact that I saw him move as fast as Demetri does."

"Please Melody- just trust me this once. It's all I ask of you and you know I never ask you for anything," I begged as my sister let out a deep sigh and sat down the papers she was looking over. "Okay Raven, Well give him a trail but if he messes it up by doing something out of the ordinary or threatens us in any way he's gone do you hear me?" She said seriously without missing a beat and without even a thought I jumped across the desk and pulled her in to a tight hug. It almost felt like we switched personalities for a second. "Thank you melody I promise you won't regret this-" I said before there was a loud explosion below the shook the mansion- or at least it felt that way.

Without missing a beat the two of us rushed down stairs just in time to see not just our family butler, but also our new one Lucian have a standoff. Yet another gaping hole in the wall to our home expect this one was directed into the dining room. Can we never have nice things? I swear it's like no matter how much we try to keep a clean mansion it ends up being destroyed somehow. I stood there sweat dropping watching the scene.

"You have never showing your face here reaper. I don't take to kindly to your kind stepping in to my territory."

"Territory? I don't remember vile vermin like you given the right to claim any piece of the earth as territory. It's bad enough you're kind steal souls that don't even belong to you." Lucian hissed back as he dusted of his suite and glared at Demetri. "Although it's a pleasure to finally meet the infamous Demetri Vetis- I've heard a lot about you- over a thousand years of stealing the innocent souls of the Valentine family. Your one of the most wanted beings in my realm. "

"Yes- I know, I've killed many of your kind because you're all insolent and come looking for me. And I took joy in killing each and every one of them. Just like I'll take joy in destroying you." Demetri retaliated and I watched as something glistened in the light toward Lucian who just deflected it with what looked like a set of gauntlet with claws attached to them then ran towards him slicing every which way he could as Demetri dodged. Sparks flew as Demetri grabbed a shield off the wall and clashed with Lucian's claws then knocked him away and threw it in his direction like a flying disk (Frisbee). Like he predicted it, Lucian did a back flip high in the air and landed on the shield now embedded in the wall like it was nothing.

"Is that all you have? Boy I feel disappointed that my ancestors died by your hands. I felt like I was playing with a child." Demetri growled as Lucian his eyes turning red and not just with blood lust like we usually see when he's protecting Me and my sister. I watched as he swiftly took something out of his pocket and tossed it at Lucian and quickly I ran down the stairs and between the two.

"STOOOP! / NO RAVEN DON'T!" Me and my sister screamed in unison as I closed my eyes in fear of dying. Demetri and Lucian's eyes widen in surprise. All went quiet and all I could hear was the thump of something sharp and metal enter something and when my eyes opened I was being shielded by Demetri, Lucian shielding him before he fell to his knees and hunched over in pain. I could hear the clicking of heels run down the stairs and over to the three of us.

"Are you three okay?"

"We're fine- Lady Raven what were you thinking?! You could have died!" Demetri yelled at me glaring as if he was a parent trying to discipline a child. "For your information I was trying to stop you from killing each other," I defended as I pushed away from him and ran to Lucian's side. I could feel Demetri look over and stare at me awkwardly.

"Oh my god, Lucian are you okay?"

"I'm fine Lady Raven, just a bit of a flesh wound is all. By tomorrow I'll be fine-" He said trying hard not to show any pain in his voice as he reached back and started to pull the knives that had embedded themselves in his back. I looked over and glared at Demetri.

"The nerve of you, what's your problem Demetri?! You could have killed him!"

"Killed him? Why do you care for that thing? He's a reaper."

"He's our new Butler!"

"Our what?"

"Our butler- He's Raven's at least. She hired him without my permission when she was in the hospital." Demetri's eyes widen, "Hospital?" He questioned looking at me then turned his eyes to Lucian, "You were sent to reap her soul weren't you?" Lucian was now sitting up rubbing his lower back before he looked up at Demetri and Melody sympathetically as I took off to the next room to grab our first aid kit.

"Yes that was the official reason why I was sent to the hospital but I couldn't exactly do it. It just didn't feel right to me."

"What do you mean?"

"You see- Raven didn't exactly have a very good life as a child and having to die so young I just don't think is right. Which was why I asked to be her butler. I know this makes me sound weak but I thought maybe if I let her live I could keep her happy and protect her till I thought it was the right time for her to go."

"A reaper have remorse for a human soul? Wont that make you rouge?"

"Yes- but I don't care. I just hadn't expected you to be around because I heard stories that you only came around when the end for the one you were contracted to was coming to their end. Then you appeared and this happened. Look I'm sorry to have stepped on your territory but I am only here to be Lady Raven's servant nothing more than that," He finished as I returned and kneeled down tending to his injuries. No one spoke at all for a bit then Demetri broke the silence.

"Humph- I know my mistress's wishes and will do as she say, but I will be watching you closely," he huffed then turned to my sister," Mistress it's getting late we must get you ready for tonight's ball." And with that the two were off on their way.