A/N: Here you go! Chapter 8! And I have a tip for you all, if you've never done track before, then don't run 1,500 meters as your first try. You'll regret it. Trust me.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Black Butler/Kuroshitsuji in any way, shape, or form.
"A queen's sacrifice? How did I miss such a crucial move when I was planning this out earlier?" I leaned closer to the board slightly as I thought over the strategy I've practiced for the past hours. How could I have missed something so important? Rather than being concerned, Alois just snickered as he held a hand up to his mouth in a failed attempt to muffle his laughter. I snapped my head to the side, glaring at him. "What do you find so funny Trancy? I wouldn't think you'd be laughing when it's your life that's at risk." Sadly, that didn't shut him up.
"I'm just thinking about the idiotic expression Claude will have when he finds out that his meal has been killed by the very creature he despises so greatly. Imagine Claude, standing there with an expression of pure bewilderment on his boring face. It'd be hilarious! He'd look like Sebastian if you told him you just murdered a kitten!" He burst into a fit of senseless giggles, not even bothering to cover it up at this point. For someone to be laughing so hysterically only moments after finding out about their upcoming demise, something must've snapped in their minds or they're just delusional. He was probably both.
I just shook my head and continued studying the chess board. He was right, the only way we'd be able to proceed with have any chance of winning would be if we were to make a queen's sacrifice which, considering the fact that our opposing king was an angel, would mean the end of his life indefinitely unless he was struck with a sudden bout of luck. Although I seriously doubted he'd be so lucky. Before I could think into this situation more thoroughly, Sebastian made his way out of the kitchen with the breakfast trolley following him, interrupting Alois' fit of laughter as well.
"Apologies for the delay my lord, Bardroy decided to make you a flaming crêpe for breakfast but that resulted in all other edible options being set alight as well. This morning for my lord I have prepared a poached salmon served with a mint salad and jam scones, if it is to your liking." He presented the dishes before me after a curt nod of agreement. I zoned out what else he said after words, scraping the silver fork I had against the plate subconsciously as I thought.
'A queens sacrifice means another plan. It has to be convincing if we want it to work, and it has to be something Alois can can do perfectly.' This plan had to be flawless, and I pondered the possibilities as I ate slowly. I stood once finished, announcing my departure like any noble gentleman would, and made my way to the study where Sebastian had my papers already stacked neatly for me in the center of the desk.
Hours of paperwork followed, document after document, signature after signature. Business as always. While sifting through the stacks, one letter caught my attention. The paper wasn't crisp and clean, it was an aged yellow color andwas creased severely as if someone had balled it use hundreds of times. It even felt fragile as I examined it. The letters weren't in cursive, but instead in a sloppy print that looked like they tried to write it out with their non dominate hand. It looked as though it was in Latin, and although I was able to read it, most of it was unreadable by even the best scholars. The only words I was able to make out were 'Watching, eyes, Ciel Phantomhive' and 'No escape'. I made sure I showed no reaction to the mysterious note as I hid it under the stack of paper I had next to me. I'd be sure to show Sebastian this once we're out of the view of any windows. So, the angel decided to step it up a notch and begin taunting me? I guess we'll see how well that goes for him in the end.
Nothing else interesting happened for the rest of the day however, just paperwork and silence. Alois and Claude had left hours earlier to go into town for some meeting whilst I planned out our next step, luring out the angel. Her majesty wanted this murderer gone, so we had to be quick and precise so we made sure it left no marks behind that would concern her. Our next step was to anger the angel by claiming we caught the killer and arresting someone else instead. I knew it wouldn't be happy and strike again, we would just have to wait and beat it there. I had planned to go out while it was dark, and in disguise, capture our fake culprit. We planned to use a man named James Fristine, a known thief and possible murder on several occasions. When we made his arrest, we would claim he was the Noble killer and set London's fright to ease, while angering the real killer in the process.
Sebastian interrupted my thoughts once again with three knocks against my study door. "My lord, I have cleaned and pressed the disguise you requested. I suggest getting changed and into the carriage before soon, the carriage ride is not one too short. We will be out for quite some time." I nodded and set the papers down and stood, following Sebastian out into the corridor to my bedroom. I had a long sleepless night ahead of me, that wasn't hard to tell.
The carriage ride took two hours as we had to leave London to visit a nearby village in order to find out the location of our fake culprit. Currently he was down in the filthier side of London visiting family, information given to us by a friend of his after bribing him with what he thought was a large sum of money, despite it barely being any at all. Thanks to that information, I now leaned against an exterior wall of a pub with my arms crossed and cap tipped down to cover my eyes as I waited. It was rather late, close to midnight, but I wasn't able to go into the pub due to the heavy smoke that filled it being a threat to my asthma. Cursed disease. Sebastian was hidden somehow, waiting for a signal given by me when I was ready for the man to be taken away. I must've stood there for half an hour before he finally walked out, I had to shake the drowsiness out of my vision before focusing on him.
"James, quite risky of you to be out this late when you have quite a sum of money over your head." I didn't bother faking an accent, not like he was going to tell that there was a noble hiding in the slums. He runs, Sebastian captures him. He yells, Sebastian will scare him into silence. Simple as that.
He spit to the side before grimacing. "What's a brat like you doing out past his bedtime?" He snarled, going to walk passed me before I moved off the wall and in front of him suddenly. "Move, I don't have time to deal with kids." He went to shove me, but I moved and caused him to stumble forward.
"You comply with the proposition I have for you and you can stay unharmed, but I don't suggest you use violence James. It could be quite dangerous on your part." He just sneered trying to move past me again until I continued to block his path and trying to be just a general nuisance.
"If you don't move brat then I'll be forced too. I could always get a sum of money for your corpse if it comes to that." He threatened, shoving me harshly before continuing forward and getting even more frustrated when I proceeded to block his path once again. "I said move!"
"Apologies Sir, but my young master doesn't take orders from filth like you." Both me and James looked at Sebastian. What was he thinking? I never gave out the signal! James turned to quickly grabbed onto me and made no haste to point his gun to me.
"Move closer and I kill the noble. Brats like him need to learn respect." I could see Sebastian laugh at his attempt at a threat.
"Tsk, it seems that all you're ever good for is getting yourself into trouble my lord."
"Shut up Sebastian. Hurry up and get him to the yard before he gets me even dirtier." I growled, glare set in place towards him. He just gave off his ever famous, "Yes my lord" and pried the man's grip off of me in no time. I could hear him attempt to fight off Sebastian as I simply brushed dirt off of my sleeve. Step one, complete. Now for step two, wait for the headline in the morning paper, sit back and watch as everything plays out.