Chapter 10
Sorry about the wait, please review. please if you are interested read my other black butler stories mainly "Angel Wings" and review and tell me what you think.
I stirred, groaning as I sat up, my mind was hazy and my thoughts clouded.
W-where am I? I thought, looking around groggily, trying to make sense of my new surroundings. But it was so dark, I couldn't see a thing. The ground was cold beneath me and my hands bound behind my back but I couldn't make out anything else in the dark abyss. It was only a moment before I heard footsteps approach me and a smooth soothing voice of the treacherous Vi-count Druitt.
"Has my little dove awakened?" he asked, and I could just imagine the smug smile he must have been wearing, the very thought made me sick. I tried to lash out, however I merely collided with cold metal, greeted with no more than the ear piercing scrape of steel against stone.
"Calm down my dove, the bidding will begin soon...with a pretty face like yours I am sure it won't take too long." he said, patting the top of whatever I was in.
Let me go! I scream, however it came out as no more than a muffled groan under my cloth gag. The count chuckled lightly, as if I were some amusing child placed here solely for his entertainment. I struggled, attempting to pry my hands free of the rope but to no avail, receiving only a few stinging scrapes to my wrists.
How could this have happened? I wondered. I was the one tricking him! I was supposed to be the winner! ...not this...
"Good evening gentlemen." Druitt's voice interrupted my thoughts, the echo of his commanding voice sending chills down my spine. What was going on out there? "This evening we have no mere lady, instead we hold a prize. behold." he said, and I could hear him place a hand on my container. "The face of an angel." he threw a cloak off of my prison with a whoosh, and my eyes widened in shock as I realized I was trapped, no more than a bird in a cage. Golden bars surrounded me, and beyond them, an entire audience of men, potential buyers as I am sure the Count would call them.
The count started off high, and the price on me grew quickly as I screamed and struggled against my restraints, barely making a scene compared to Druitt who was standing center stage, waving his arms and gesturing as he urged the men on. His voice commanding of attention and his tone light hearted as if this were a mere game.
This isn't fair! I thought, my body finally slumping in defeat. I can't be sold off like this; it's not right...inhumane! My gaze rose to meet Druitt's as tears brimmed my eyes, he was smiling and talking away to his audience and I was filled with a fierce intense loathing. Humans, they're all despicable...aren't they? I thought. Giving up as a single tear slid down my cheek.
"Very well good sir!" The Count called, waving his arms to silence the crowd as he announced the winner. The footsteps grew louder and louder as Druitt reached down, unlocking the door with the help of his questionably dressed assistant, allowing it to swing open on its hinges and pulling me to my feet. I struggled against them, ignoring his poisonous words as they tried to calm me. He was pulling at my arm roughly but no matter how I pulled and struggled I couldn't pull away, tears blinded me as I fought until I felt a sharp pain in my side, looking down to see the handle of a syringe sticking out of my flesh, the image blurry as I blinked away tears. My eyelids grew heavy as Druitt led me away, and before I knew it, I was asleep again, floating in the unending darkness of unconsciousness.
When I awoke everything was black. My hands were folded neatly on my chest in an X and I physically cringed, when I realized I was laying corpse style. I groaned as I pushed the top open, it only took me a moment to realize that I was lying in a coffin, one of many that littered the floor.
What the he-
My head swiveled at the sound of footsteps, I leapt to my feet, positioning myself away from the door, watching a pale hand wrap around the doorway, followed shortly by a grinning face covered by long grey/white hair.
"Hello my dear, good to see you're awake." he said, chuckling madly to himself at some unspoken joke. I hesitated, catching glimpse of a long scar stretching across his face, barely visible under his long bangs.
"What do you want?" I asked, taking a few protective steps away, staggering as I struggled to regain my balance as I stumbled over one of the coffins that littered the floor like a graveyard. The man laughed, grinning as he answered.
"It seemed that you were in need of assistance, so I brought you here, and I believe a thanks is in order for saving you from that...unsavory situation. " he said, throwing his head back in laughter as he bounced on the balls of his feet, rocking almost in circles. I hesitated a moment, glancing around carefully before responding.
"Maybe," I said cautiously, turning my gaze back to the strange man and my...strange circumstances. "I still haven't decided." the man chuckled as if at some unspoken joke before finally introducing himself.
"I am the Undertaker." he told me, "This is my shop, and that is my coffin." he said motioning at the coffin I was now standing in. do I look dead to you? I thought shaking the sarcasm from my head. Never mind, I wouldn't want him to answer that. I almost shuddered as I stepped carefully over the edge, taking my place on the floor.
"And what a lovely coffin it is." I said kindly, forcing a smile as I dusted off my dress, curtsying politely. "My name is Crystal." I told him. "The pleasure is mine." my smile fading into a frown as his shoulders heaved with laughter. "Can you take anything seriously?" I snapped, growing frustrated with his constant giggling.
"Of course I can." He said his giggling quieting slowly. "I take the matter of the soul sword very seriously." I froze his grin widening silently as he watched my irises grow with shock.
"But how do you-"
"I am not quite as clueless as I seem it would appear." he said his smile growing in silent laughter. "And from the looks of it, it is a problem you are in need of help with."
"I think I know where it is." I pouted, crossing my arms, unable to meet his unseen eyes. How did he know about this? Could this man possibly be...my thoughts trailed off as I examined the crazy old man before me. Impossible...he's just insane.
"Where?" he asked with a sly grin though I had a bad feeling he knew more than he was letting on.
"It's in Vi-Count Druitt's mansion." I said simply, but was answered only by his disapproving shake of head. "What?" I asked curiously, almost uncertain.
"Honestly, the count would never hide such a powerful item somewhere so plain." he said almost disappointed in me. "The Count is stupid but he is far from dumb."
"Then where is it?" I asked eagerly, confused and desperate.
"Well you see." The Undertaker declared, raising his long fingers to his chin. "I'm afraid that information is going to come with a price.
"Anything," I said quickly, seriously.
"I require the gift of...laughter!" he cried out his grin spreading. "Tell me a funny joke and I will tell you all I know about the soul sword." I paused, was he serious?
"Shouldn't be so hard with all of your giggling and all." The Undertaker smiled, tilting his head, yet he did not laugh.
"Try me." I paused for a second, noting the challenge in the man's voice. There was definitely something different about him, he laughed a lot, constantly...yet I couldn't help but feel there was another side to him...and a dark one at that.
"Alright then," I said with a deep breath. "I am afraid I don't know any good jokes however there must be something and old man like yourself would find funny." I bashed causing the slightest of smirks at my empty insult. At that moment I was struck by an idea and crossed my arms, I was never really considered "Funny" in the traditional sense, however sometimes you don't need to be.
"I mean it's not like you're giving me much to work with here." I told the stranger. "All I've got are coffins and deaths, I mean seriously? It's not like one of them are going to just reach up and say 'Hello! Inspiration is here!'" The Undertaker barely smirked until a voice called out behind me, an arm shooting up from one of the, what I assumed to be empty coffins.
"Hello!" it called and I could only shriek, jumping back and almost hiding behind the grave keeper beside me. The Undertaker burst into a fit of laughter at the irony, grasping his sides in pain as he laughed feverishly.
"WHAT THE HE-"
"Oh Crystal nice to see you again." the voice continued, cutting me off as a man stood from the coffin, his red hair falling to his lower back. He flapped his red coat once, straightening it out before examining me through his crimson glasses.
"GRELL!" I cried out startled. "What are you doing here!?" I said ignoring the laughing Undertaker as I stepped forward, placing a hand over my heart.
"I'm a reaper darling." The man said with a wink, flashing his pointed teeth. "It's what I do." he glanced over at the undertaker and smiled. "It appears I seemed to have helped you with your little dilemma...perhaps you could return the favor?"
"What do you want?" I asked curiously, squinting uncertainly at the man.
"I WANT TO SEE MY DEAR SEBASTIAN AGAIN!" he cried out, placing a hand over his heart as he leapt into the air excitedly.
"Well actually I-...sure." I gave in with a sigh. Sebastian always seemed to find me why not let Grell tag along for a little while.
"My, my." The Undertaker said, wiping a tear from his eye. "It's been quite a while since I've laughed like that."
"Good." I told him with a deep breath, straightening myself up. "Now tell me what you know about the soul sword." The Undertaker opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by the ringing of the doorbell as Sebastian and Ciel stepped into the funeral home.
"BASSY!" Grell cried out as he lunged at the butler who merely sidestepped the reaper.
"Sebastian, Ciel." I exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I got a call from the Undertaker after you vanished from the party." the young boy told. "And since you are still my guest I needed to make sure you had a safe trip home." I glanced back at the Undertaker almost panicked, I had to go with them but I needed to know what he knew. Ciel thanked the chuckling Undertaker before turning to lead the way out as Sebastian was forced to push Grell away again, this time throwing him into a standing coffin and locking the red haired man inside, his eyes examined me quickly before turning to follow his young master. The Undertaker grabbed me, pulling me back by the hand quietly whispering his knowledge into my ear.
"What you seek is in the place where angel's weep." my eyes widened in shock but he merely pushed me forward and I stumbled after the boys, glancing back only once for a final look at the crazy man, ignoring Grell's constant pounding and screaming. "Good luck dearie." the man called after me. "I hope you find what you seek."