"And thus the art of literature has transcended to this work in front of us!"
Ciel sat still in his seat as the tutor assigned to him continued to droll on and on about the 'fascinations of literature and the spoken word'. He stared out the window behind the impossibly boisterous man to the gray clouds in the sky outside. It was by pure force that Olivia had nearly dragged him to the town to be tutored while she was the one who was conducting the search for the symbols. What was even more of a nuisance was having Olivia ordering Sebastian to join her rather than accompany him. Ciel hardened his gaze at the scene outside. If Sebastian were with him, he would have been tempted to have this man eliminated.
"Are you paying attention, Lord Phantomhive?" the tutor's deep voice resonated in the ornate room, "These novels will one day give you the creativity to charm anyone into your head only if you pay attention."
"I have better things to do than listen to his nonsense," Ciel stood up, "This session has finished, it's been an hour."
"The Lady Phantomhive has paid me for five hours of your time today, Lord Phantomhive," the tutor rubbed the temples on his head, "So I must as you to please take your seat so that we may review mathematics."
Ciel remained in his spot for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. This was becoming more of a problem than he realized. Disobeying an order would only place him in the role of a disobedient child. Olivia had had him cornered from the start, using societal rules to keep him at bay. Ciel sat back down in his chair as the tutor placed another text in front of him. He could feel as if the game of wits between himself and his sister had begun, and now it was turning into a competition that he was sorely losing.
However, the documents that Sebastian provided two days ago were useful enough for Ciel to review on a nightly basis in the seclusion of the locked guest room he resided in. By Ciel's conclusion, Olivia had been transferring money from the prime accounts of larger business locations to other accounts that even Sebastian had a difficult time cross-checking. He could easily accuse her of money laundering or even theft, but the accounts, that were traceable, weren't directed towards her benefit. The money was being placed elsewhere.
The young earl looked away from the text in front of him as he continued to look out the window. One objective Ciel knew without any doubt was that Olivia was keeping him out of the affairs for some reason. For now he didn't have any proof of what her reason may or may not be, but Ciel decided he would have to let this issue steep for some time before he acted.
"Pay attention, Lord Phantomhive!"
The symbols were burnt at this point in dead grass that held a distorted shape similar to the one of the Phantomhive family insignia. Olivia gazed onto the ground with gloved, crossed arms as Sebastian scanned the area for other signs. The darkening, gray clouds in the sky warned of a possible storm as a gust of wind tousled her hair into the breeze. All around her was silent, and she could even hear the man she had hired from the vast distance as he raised his voice to keep her brother from diverting his attention elsewhere. A small sacrifice to place in order to keep things relatively calm. Olivia turned and walked further into town where only a few members of the area loomed on the streets for their daily activities. She went to the second location where oil had been burned on floor, also burning the once-barn down. The insignia was harder to visually see this time as Olivia took off her glove to dust away the ashes and small bones covering the burned oil stain. After dusting off the excesses, the insignia was clearer and able to recognize as the family seal.
"The young master ought to be here as well."
Olivia remained silent as she turned to walk out the open area to see Sebastian standing in front of the exit. A smile crept onto her lips as she replied, "Ciel will get the information when I'm ready to disclose my findings. Why upset a child when it can be prevented?"
"A boy who survived the ordeal Ciel went through is no longer considered a child," Sebastian spoke sternly, "Even the Queen has recognized him as a capable adult at this point."
"Is a butler speaking sharply to me?" Olivia narrowed her gaze on Sebastian, "As I recall, you and I had made a deal, did we not?"
Sebastian remained silent as Olivia walked closer to him, feeling her hand caress his cheek. Olivia softened her eyes as she tilted her head up to look at Sebastian, "You have such a handsome face, my demon. I think this investigation is over, you may lead me back to Lady Chasity's home and prepare my room."
"The young master's lesson will be finishing in two hours, I will be preparing supper in a few minutes. I'll have Mei-rin prepare your room," Sebastian checked his pocket watch as he turned and left the burnt remnence of the barn.
"I don't want Mei-rin, I want you," Olivia followed Sebastian, "You've been avoiding me since we arrived here. Has Ciel been asking for you?"
Olivia felt the anticipation of wanting to know her demon lover had gone back to Ciel after she had instructed him not to. She balled her fists as Sebastian remained silent and a turmoil in her soul began to wave her anger throughout her body. Then, Sebastian stopped walking to turn to face her, his eyes cold and his physique frigid, "If you are going to rest, Lady Olivia, what tea shall I make for you?"
A smile curled onto her lips as she passed Sebastian, "Something bold. Be prompt."
It took only thirty minutes to arrive to the freezing manor. Lady Chasity was no where to be found and a chill air filled the manor as the cold days of Winter came upon the town. Olivia lifted her dress slightly to ascend the stairs a few floors before she made it to her room. She could hear Sebastian's footsteps enter the manor, but head towards the kitchen to prepare the tea. Just knowing he would be back in her reach once again gave her chills of satisfaction once more as she entered her room. Olivia went to close the curtains, glancing out the window for a moment to see the tutor she had hired taking Ciel around the village. At least the man bought her a few hours of peace without having to be constantly watched.
Something was missing. Not a feeling or a person, but she could sense the distrust clouding around her. Olivia shut the curtains completely before turning around to see Sebastian standing in front of the closed door with her cup of tea. Olivia pulled off her gloves as she approached the demon, "Has my brother been enjoying his stay here? I've noticed he's been calling upon you every moment he's been here."
"Your tea, Lady Olivia, is of Southern Asia creation. Bold with very little sweetness within the texture. I had an idea that this tea would identify most with you," Sebastian extended the porcelain cup of tea to Olivia.
"Sebastian," Olivia spoke softly, her eyes softening on the butler as his gaze hardened, "You of all creatures in this dwelling know that I see everything," the last three words were spoken so sharply that even Sebastian reacted slightly to her statement, "Nothing goes by without my knowing. I know Ciel still doesn't trust my actions. I haven't given him a reason to. And you are not helping."
From one demon to another creature of Hell, Sebastian could honestly say he was playing a game that may cost him more than he had originally anticipated. He stood in front of Olivia solemnly as the woman began to undress herself. Ciel… Sebastian didn't want to think what his lover would do if he were to find out how Sebastian came across those vital documents. Olivia hadn't threatened on telling her brother of his advances toward her, though for other reasons other than passion. But, he knew one consequence would be for Ciel to find out. Other consequences seemed more pleasant compared to losing Ciel's full trust and feelings. Sebastian turned his gaze to the bed as Olivia sat on the edge, motioning for him to join her.
During the act together, Sebastian glanced around the room to see nothing of use for Ciel. No papers, no evidence of Olivia's transactions, nothing. Sebastian's eyes widened when Olivia turned them over to where she sat on top of him. Sweat dripped from her pores as breathed heavily, her crimson eyes gazing down at him as she pressed her palms against his wrists. He gazed up at her, seeing the similarities between her and Ciel. Their eyes were the same shape, but different color. They each had that same defiant smile when they were up to something or knew something that maybe someone else didn't know.
"You're not as into this as you were before," Olivia murmured, Sebastian could hear the cold belief in her voice.
During her enjoyment, Sebastian caught himself of thinking of something, or someone, else. Sex was still sex no matter who the partner was for him. He sat up right, removing his wrists from her hands as he silenced her. He loved to hear the sounds Ciel would make, but this woman needed to remain quiet so he could continue thinking. The problem was that she made too much for his liking and moving around like Ciel that it was hard to think of his current lover when she squirmed like him.
After they finished, Sebastian began to dress himself as Olivia sat against the pillows. He didn't say anything, until the thought occurred to him when Ciel explained to him that Olivia had once wanted to be a wife and mother. The demon glanced over his shoulder to see Olivia grasping the tip of hair, staring off into the air. As sensual as she looked, Sebastian couldn't see this woman actually accomplishing a family lifestyle. There was a fire he could taste in her that was different from Ciel's. Unlike his young master, Olivia wasn't driven by revenge or hatred. There was something darker, but what could be darker than Ciel's desire for revenge? Where did her hatred lie?
"Sebastian," Olivia spoke up softly, "I need you to go somewhere for me tonight."
"I will be preparing supper shortly, Lady Olivia," Sebastian replied as he looked into the mirror to fix the details of his clothing, "If you need anything, I'll happily go in the morning."
"No, that will not do," Olivia stood up as she began to dress herself as well, "You will go after dinner. I need you to go to the next town over and look into a church. I have evidence that there is a person who raising a cult that Barnaby came from. Go there tonight and eliminate them."
Sebastian looked through the desecration without any luck of finding what Olivia was talking about. There was nothing around him in the burnt down mansion. A few ash piles, burnt books, but nothing that resembled anything actually of use. He stood still as he examined the area with a look of distaste. His thoughts traveled to Ciel alone in that household. The demon worried that maybe he should've been more adamant about someone going in his place. His next thought was of Ciel's possible reaction if he were to find out that he had been spending nights with his sister. Their latest encounter gave his young lover some peace of mind, but the look of mistrust in Ciel's eyes towards Sebastian was slowly eating away at the butler.
He had no intention for desiring his young master when he advanced on Ciel. The desire morphed into lust and now left Sebastian's demonic heart wanting to beat for Ciel. Such emotions were unbecoming of a demon who had agreed to Ciel's contract for his dark, hateful soul. Sebastian emitted a long sigh before continuing his search until he heard a stifled grunt. He turned slightly to see a cloaked, older man with a lantern that exposed his slightly wrinkled face. Sebastian straightened himself and turned towards the man, "My apologies if I am trespassing. I have been sent by my mistress to a particular item."
"You pitiful fool," the older man coughed gruffly into his sleeve, "If you're one of them then you better get the hell out of here. Your kind doesn't belong here."
"I'm afraid I cannot do that," Sebastian put his hand inside his coat pocket, "Surely you can understand why."
The old man shifted his stance as he noticed the malicious glint in Sebastian's eyes. He then took a step back, "I'm not looking for trouble from a Follower, but i'm warning you that others are here that are looking for your kind. If you're smart, you'll stop looking into trouble and find a new obsession."
This intrigued Sebastian. They were talking about two different items, but Sebastian lost interest in his original task. Sebastian took his hand out of his coat as he took a step towards the old man, "Perhaps we're communicating about different topics. I was simply searching for a certain person."
"So you're not one of them?" the old man seemed relieved as a made the sign of the trinity, "Thanks be to God. I pray that you find whomever you search for in the light of God."
"I'm sure I am cast in the shadows, but when you speak of 'the Vessel'...?" Sebastian inquired.
"You don't know? The signs are all clear," the old man pulled a book out from his sack and held it out for Sebastian, "All the signs are saying that Satan has stolen the body of person to walk amongst the good people. The Vatican has sent word of the news to the good parishes of the horror. As a good patron, i've kept my eyes clear for Followers and finding the Vessel to kill her."
Sebastian remained silent. Olivia and those that 'followed' her were burning down places like churches? He wanted to inquire about this new information, but it may hinder the trust he had wanted to keep with her. The butler glanced around the burnt manor before asking, "Then why are you here?"
The old man looked around for a moment as well before answering, "This was the latest attack on a holy home by the Vessel's followers. I was able to catch one a few days ago and asked him the same question you asked me. I'll never forget his answer. The followers are destroying parishes and priests one by one so that no one may be an idle threat to the Vessel's existence."
Still not an answer that was useful. Sebastian gave one last look around the burnt room before deciding it was time to leave. Right before he was going to give his pleasantries, the old man gruffly moved in front of Sebastian, "The Devil has many forms, lad, but he's still the same as ever. Greed and power is all he wants to start damning the whole world and he'll do absolutely anything to get his way. Look for the mark."
Sebastian gave a respectful bow before replying with a simple 'good evening'. As soon as he left the burnt manor, the signal he felt inside him hammered into his conscious. Ciel needed him.
Ciel scuttled into a corner of the closet as he clasped his hands over his mouth. Lady Chasity and the tutor had..had turned into monsters? These monsters were not like what he had seen before when Sebastian had shown his true form nor were they the kind that were from age-old stories. Ciel could hear his heart pounding in his head from fear. Where was Olivia? Did they kill her? Ciel dared not to even peak out from the closet doors to see if the coast was clear. He could still smell their foul, awful odor from their slimy, leather skin. Their beady, piss yellow eyes still bore into the back of his mind as he recalled how he ended up hiding for his life.
He had just entered the manor to find Sebastian when he had noticed the eery silence. The sound of a piercing scream from a woman drove Ciel to run up the stairs to find the two demons, wearing the tattered clothes of Lady Chasity and the tutor, cornered Olivia in Lady Chastiy's office. Ciel had just stood there as he watched them near Olivia before running for his own life, hearing sounds of something running at him trailing behind him before he made it back to his own room and inside the closet.
How could he have just left Olivia in that room to die? There was literally nothing for him to do to save her. Ciel closed his eyes tightly as he waited for Sebastian to hurry up and save him. The sound of a door creeping open made Ciel hold his breath and open his eyes. He waited. What was to happen? The closet door slowly creaked open to reveal Lady Chasity. Her eye sockets held nothing. Ciel could see her skull somewhat as he kept his mouth covered as to not yell. She couldn't see him. He sat perfectly still, not wanting to make a sound to give away his hiding spot. Ciel looked up at the coats hanging above him. He watched in horror as one coat started to slip off from it's hook slowly. Why of all times would his coat just fall!? Ciel felt his heart beat quicken as he realized that this may cause his death. The coat then fell off the hook and landed at his feet. Lady Chasity, or her body, snatched the top of Ciel's ankle and heaved him out of the closet until she found the bed. She placed him roughly on the bed, keeping a hold of his ankle so he wouldn't get away.
Ciel did all he could to try to get away. He kicked at her arm, pulled at nearby objects to free himself, twisted his leg to loosen her grip, but nothing was helping him. Panic overwhelmed him as he watched the possessed Chasity climb over him, moving her hands from his ankle to his arms to pin him down beneath her. Her flesh began flaking off as she opened her mouth to reveal the rotted teeth and blackened tongue. Ciel squirmed as sweat poured out of his pores, emitting a yell of horror as he tried to look away. Her lips cracked until they tore open as her face neared his, her dry tongue scraping the side of his mouth.
"Get off of me!" Ciel tried to shove her off, but her body was too heavy for him to fight off.
He turned his head towards the door, only to see the other demon, covered in blood, entering the room. The flesh was more so removed on the other demon as some of his organs dragged on the floor as he walked towards the bed. It's hands were mostly bone at this point as the skin and muscle layers had shed off. The bony hands went to Ciel's face; one to make Ciel look at the decaying woman as one of her skin flakes landed on Ciel's cheek, and the other to open his mouth. He struggled even more as he realized what was about to happen. Everything in the room began spinning as his vision turned to white, everything went silent, and the desire to close his eyes won him over.
Ciel woke up and sat up quickly, looking around to see if the demons had... He pushed the thought from his head when he saw the two demonic corpses laying on the ground beside his bed. In front of Ciel's bed was Sebastian, taking off the reddened gloves he wore. Ciel waited a moment as he then understood that he had been saved from a hellish fate. He tore from the bed he had been confined in and ran to Sebastian, clutching him tightly as hid his face against Sebastian.
"Why didn't you get here sooner?" Ciel's muffled voice could be heard.
"You only blacked-out for ten seconds. Nothing happened to you," Sebastian placed a hand on Ciel's head, "Shall I prepare the carriages for your return home?"
"Where's Olivia?" Ciel released Sebastian, "Did they kill her?"
"I did not take the liberty to check, young master," Sebastian answered as he followed Ciel out of the room.
Ciel rushed down the hall until he found the office where he had last seen Olivia cornered. He walked in to see the room torn apart in an odd manner. It looked more like an organized destruction than one of a fight. If Olivia was carrying such a powerful soul, and he had witnessed her abilities before, wouldn't she have one a small ordeal as this one had been? Ciel then went to the corner where Olivia laid. He bent down and held her wrist, she still lived.
"Sebastian, check on the others and prepare a small meal for everyone. We'll leave after we eat," Ciel ordered as he sat down in front of Olivia.
"Young master, you should allow me to move her," Sebastian offered.
"If I had wanted her moved, I would have ordered you to," Ciel stated as he kept a firm gaze on Olivia, "I wish to speak to her alone."
Sebastian felt uneasy about leaving Olivia and Ciel alone, but he had to trust his master's judgment. The demon left the room, Ciel remained seat in front of Olivia until he grasped her shoulder lightly and shook her until she woke. Olivia opened her eyes slowly, looking directly at Ciel as a small smile grew on her lips, "Ciel, you lived."
"I have bruises from where those demons grabbed me," Ciel pulled up his sleeves, "I have the stench of their fowl breath on me."
"My poor brother," Olivia raised herself up with one arm and the other arm reaching out to caress Ciel, "Let me-"
Ciel snatched her gloved arm, pulling off the gloves to reveal unmarred skin, "But you don't have a scratch on you. I heard you scream, one of the demons had blood on him, and you were unconscious. How come you don't have any marks on you?"
Olivia's eyes relaxed on Ciel as she retracted her ungloved arm from his grip. Ciel watched as she returned the glove back onto her arm as she sat up fully, "I want an answer, Olivia."
"Remember that I cannot be killed or hurt," Olivia reminded him as she stood up, "You may take that as your answer, dear, little brother. I'm at ease knowing you were not killed. My fear of your death was great."
"Why all of the secrets, sister?!" Ciel snapped as he quickly rose to his feet, "Why have you changed from who you once were when you were not here to experience the pain I felt!? How can you be cold to me one minute and the next the glimpse of the sister I had known before!?"
Olivia brushed the dirt and grime off of her dress before answering, "You will just have to trust me, Ciel. I have good things planned ahead for you and I that will benefit everyone involved. Now, come with me, lets leave this place behind us."
After eating the small meal, Ciel sat in the carriage with Olivia back to the Phantomhive manor. He didn't fully understand the reason behind this traveling to this certain town, but by the smile on Olivia's lips, Ciel had some notion that something was accomplished.