Ciel had also noticed that there was something wrong with Eleanora. She wasn't her usual sassy self. When he dropped a pen and asked her to pick it up, she did so wordlessly, without asking if he had just lost his arms recently. He also noticed the frightened look on her face and the way that she always seemed to be jumping at everything.
Then Sebastian entered with the tea.
"Oh! Eleanora. I didn't know that you were here." He frowned at her. He hadn't known where she was all day. At first, he could have sworn that she was in her room, but then she arrived in the kitchen and the feeling faded. And then he couldn't tell where she was. It was very disorienting.
And then her arm started bleeding again and she quickly tugged down her sleeve to try to hide it. Sebastian made a mental note to ask her about it again, when everyone else would have gone to sleep. Maybe she cut herself somehow. He would have to tell her to be careful; her upper left arm was where the contract was, and if the contract was somehow removed, he wouldn't be able to find her…
His eyes widened and he almost spilled the young Master's tea.
"She didn't…"
Eleanora had blended into the shadows and was sticking to the wall, as if desperate to go unnoticed by him. But her arm really was bleeding, he could smell it; but why would she want to remove the sign of the contract? He would definitely ask her about it later.
He was so upset and confused that he looked at her as she passed; she seemed to wither under his gaze.
"Maybe she's not feeling well," he thought as he left the room, remembering that one time when she had fainted. "Overwork, probably. Maybe she's delusional. I'll allow her to go to bed early tonight, if she's really ill."
Eleanora waited until the demon was gone before leaving the safety of the wall. She clutched her left arm; it still hurt.
Meanwhile the young Master was studying her.
"I don't mean to be rude," he said, "but what was that all about?"
"What was what about, my Lord?" Eleanora said, trying to be innocent, which was difficult, considering that her voice was shaking. He had looked at her. He was probably thinking of ways to soil her—or kill her. She wasn't sure which was worse.
"Why did you avoid Sebastian like that?"
She forced a laugh.
"Don't I always try to avoid him?"
"Well, yes, but never like that." Ciel gazed at her suspiciously. "You two aren't fighting…are you?"
"N-No, sir…"
"Because Madam Red told me that she wants to see you two fighting, so if you are, I have to call her now."
"My Lord, we aren't fighting."
"Alright, if that's the way you want it," Ciel said, but still kept on looking at her.
Eleanora shuffled nervously and then finally dared to ask a question:
"My Lord, is the butler—I mean, is he really—You know—A…demon?"
"Oh, is that what this argument is about?" Ciel went back to his papers. "Yes, he's a demon. I'll call the Undertaker; he'll be glad that he told you; he's been on my back telling me to tell him to tell you; I'm glad it's over with."
Eleanora looked even sicker, if that was possible.
"So…he really is a demon?"
"Naturally."
"What is a demon doing here?"
"We have a contract."
Now she just looked horrified.
"You have a contract with a demon? Why?"
Ciel sighed and looked up at her.
"It's a long story. Would you like me to tell you now?"
Eleanora hesitated, then nodded.
"Alright," Ciel said, pushing aside his work. "I hope that you're comfortable standing, because this might take a while."