Chapter 15
~ASC~
Sebastian landed in front of the house; he released my waist and gently placed Ciel to the ground. "This is his mansion?" Ciel said.
"Yes." Sebastian said.
I looked around, there was someone supernatural here, I could feel it. "Let's be on guard Sebastian." I held my book in one hand, and my hand was already bleeding, all I had to do was irritate it to bleed it some more. "No spells that require you to speak it." Sebastian ordered me. I nodded to him and we looked to the mansion, it looked dark and eerie, my heart felt like it was being pushed as if something wanted to come out. I lightly pressed on my sternum and looked back at Ciel.
"How is it? Can either of you pick up any kind of scent or presence?" He asked.
"Yes." We both said as we stared at the pigeon flying in the sky. I sensed the presence coming up on the roof, but it didn't look like it was moving any time soon.
"I'm not sure if all of them are here. But it seems some are safe." Sebastian said.
"Some?" I said. He shrugged; it wasn't like he could tell who was safe and who wasn't.
We walked to the door, me in the front in case of an attack, and Sebastian in the back, to protect Ciel. Before I could touch the door handle, they opened up and a familiar voice spoke from the darkness, "Welcome to the home." Joker stepped from the shadow and he gave a light bow to us, "We've been waiting. Earl Phantomhive."
His eyes held anger; the playful Joker was no longer there.
"Joker..." Ciel said.
He moved to the side and pointed to the darkness, "Please come inside." We entered the room, on guard, and Sebastian closed the door. Joker walked forward and I heard him snap his fingers. I jumped when the candles lit themselves, and I stumbled backwards, my back hitting Sebastian's chest as Ciel and I gasped at the broken dolls scattered across the room. This room was a nothing more but a web of broken and useless marionettes. "This is...!" Ciel stared at everything, unable to express what he was seeing.
"This way." Joker called to us, he was near a set of stairs, and even more dolls were suspended near it. We walked up the stairs and my hand behind my back, holding my blade. "What do you want to do? Kill him right away and rescues the children?" Sebastian whispered.
"Wait." Ciel ordered. Put it away for now. Sebastian softly spoke in my mind. I slipped the knife back into my sleeve, my thoughts were getting muddled, and all I could think about was killing and causing pain and suffering to Joker. Right now wasn't the time for me to be acting so strange, I have to pay attention.
We passed the dolls, how horrid they looked, suspended by their strings, looking like helpless victims of a terrifying spider, their bodies mangled, and missing some or all limbs. "If the kids are still alive, isn't it better if we catch them red handed? Also if we don't understand the situation or his goals completely, we can't report it to the queen." Ciel whispered.
"Understood." We said.
I paused when I saw Joker's shoulders shaking. Then he started to chuckle, "Well they say don't judge a book by its cover, you're a good example." He turned and looked at Ciel, "That such a little body...lives under stage names such as 'The Watchdog of the Queen,' and 'The Evil Nobleman.' That's some hardship, Smile."
"Show some respect, someone of your-" Ciel placed a hand on my elbow, signaling me to silence. "My name is Earl Ciel Phantomhive. A servant shall not speak to me with such familiarities." Joker smirked and shrugged as he continued to walk, "Exactly...you are a nobleman after all." We stopped at some double doors and he turned to look as us, one hand opening the door, "We have prepared dinner for you." He held it open for us and said, "This way." Joker grabbed the chair at the end of the long table and Ciel sat himself on it, and Joker pushed the seat in. We stood by his side, and Joker walked to the end of the table, till he was beside the opposite doors. "He has arrived." He called out.
The door opened and a man in a wheelchair came through the doors followed by three children. "You came to see me, Earl Phantomhive." The man smiled at Ciel, his bandaged face disturbed me, but that wasn't what made me scared, it was the fact that Damien was by his side, a small boy and a girl as well were next to him. They're eyes were hollowed; Damien's though, were full of fear, too afraid to even look up. "Ahh. It's like a dream! To have you so close to me!" He started to tremble, his eye down casted, "Though, I feel so ashamed to meet you while looking this way..."
"Damian." I called out quietly, the boy flinched and that pressing feeling came back to my heart.
"...You are Baron Kelvin?" Ciel asked, he refused to look at me as well, already knowing what was going on. "That's right, but it makes me feel awkward to be all formal with you." The doors opened and little girls came through the door, carting trays of food, and Joker wheeling over a bottle of wine. "For you, I have prepared a feast." Joker grabbed the wine and started to pour it as Baron started to speak, "The wine is from 1875. It's a wine from the year you were born. I might sound as though I'm showing off a little." Joker placed the wine glass near Ciel and before Sebastian could reach to taste it, I grabbed it and took a sip.
"It's not poisoned, but anything from here is filthy." I whispered.
"Hmm. I have no intention of touching food served by a rat, so there is no need to warn me Matthew, nor is there a need to taste for poison. Moreover...those children..." We started at the three girls that carried a large platter of food to the table. "It looks like there are more victims that weren't included in the police info."
I looked to Damian, he was still shaking in fear, looking ready to cry any minute, I noticed a big purplish black bruise from beneath his collar, and my hand tighten around the blade. Kill him, or will you allow him to make the child suffer. My body trembled at the murderous thoughts, and my body felt like it wanted to move on its own.
"But their appearance..."
"That's it..." Baron shouted, "Just merely having a meal, Earl, you also feel bored right? Joker...prepare 'that' for me."
Joker's face turned from stoic to shock in less than a second. "Eh. B...but..."
"Just do it!" The man glared at Joker. A drop of sweat trailed down Joker's face, "...Yes..." We looked at him in question and he smirked at us, as he grabbed Damian and forced him into a line of children wearing mask.
There was a vice grip on my heart as I stared at another child, a big mask covered his face, but could not cover his eyes, Edward's eyes. Joker spun his cane around and announced, "Welcome Earl Phantomhive. Tonight, I will accompany you to a world of pleasure that will leave you dazzled." The Baron clapped his hand, pure amusement on his face as the two children fed him.
The lights went up to a small girl holding a balancing stick, her foot hovering over the tightrope, "First we have a tightrope walker." Joker announced, his eyes refused to look up at her, trying hard to look straight ahead, pretending he was back in his circus. The girl took a small step on the rope, "With no lifeline or anything, this is the real deal," The girl fell and I tried to rush forward, but a sharp pain to my heart paralyzed my entire body, and against my will, I watched and heard the sickening crack of bones, as blood pooled around the body.
"Wh..." Ciel stared in horror and my body shook, I couldn't move. There was loud clapping and laughter as the Baron looked overjoyed at the display of death.
Two boys wheeled out a cage with a large lion in the cage. My eyes prickled with tears as I stared at another child, a whip in his hand, and in front of the cage with the large male lion waiting to be freed. The cage opened and I wanted to scream for child to run, instead the child stood still as the beast came forward, "A fierce lion will..." The lion growled and its teeth sunk into the child's neck, a strangled cry came from him and I watched as he was ripped to pieces. I couldn't breathe, Damian stared at me, begging me to help, but I couldn't move no matter what, what was wrong with me! Why can't I move, Sebastian please do something! He didn't respond, was he blocking my thoughts again? Or was it me this time? None of that mattered as the man laughed louder; I just wanted him to shut up, to slit his throat so his horrible laughing can stop.
"Then..." Joker face was contorted, he couldn't stand this either, but he continued, "Next is a knife-thrower!" A girl was strapped to a large board, a big grin on her mask as a boy, Edward, held knives.
"The fate of the crucifix girl is!" Edward started to shake, but against his own will, he raised the knife and threw one at the girl. "Stop." It was a whisper compared to Ciel's shouting, "Stop it Sebastian!" The knife neared the girl's forehead, and Sebastian caught it. I fell to my knees, tears running down my face as I looked to Damien, he was on the ground just like me, and his eyes were wide in shock, after seeing his best friend almost kill someone, after seeing the boy that was ripped apart, he cried in relief as this girl was at least spared of the death.
Sebastian removed the mask to reveal the girl's face, which looked very familiar, "Ellery Nickson who disappeared in the Cornwall area..." Right, she was from the missing children report. "There is no mistake. As you expected Young master." Sebastian said, he looked to Edward and walked forward, removing the mask. There was a large slash on his cheek, fresh, and his eyes held fear as Sebastian laid a hand on his back, trying to comfort him by being near him.
Joker looked dazed, terrified, and frozen. "Kidnapped children are put into the show without any training. I see, this is just another way of enjoying a circus." My voice was not my own, "You disgusting sniveling creature." The man stared, wide eyed at me. Ciel gripped my arm and I didn't give him a glance.
"Sorry, so you don't like this method? Joker! Clean up right away." The man ordered.
"I shall put a stop to this." Ciel climbed the table, the man stared at him, "I have no desire to sit at a table with a beast that is more despicable than an animal."
"Eh eh, what's wrong?"
Ciel started walking towards him, "This is enough for a report to the Queen." His steps made a clopping sound as he came nearer and nearer, "Vulgar. Ugly. Perverted. The lowest form of human life is what I, the watchdog of the Queen, has gotten rid of!" I was beside Ciel and I saw Joker pull the top part of his cane out, revealing a blade. Sebastian moved to throw the dagger that was meant to kill the girl, at Joker and everything slowed down for me, I could hear my heart beat slowly as it was being crushed by the weight of grief and my eyes looked up at Joker.
Ciel pulled out a gun and pointed it at the Baron's temple, Sebastian had the knife at Joker's neck, and my hand dripped with blood as I clutched the blade that was going near Ciel's neck and forced it away by a few inches.
"E...earl?" He didn't seem to comprehend the situation till he noticed my blood sliding down the tip of the blade, only to drip on Ciel's gun that pointed at his head, "Joker! Stop the Earl from pointing that dangerous thing at me!" He demanded. Joker was stuck between Sebastian and me, "But..." He tugged on his blade, but my hand was tight around the blade, not caring if the wound was being cut even deeper.
"You won't listen to me!" Joker tsked and I released the blade as he pulled it away and moved back. Sebastian held the knife steady to his neck and Ciel, gun straight and even, said to the vile Baron, "Baron Kelvin. Where are all the kidnapped children?"
The man grew a huge smile and looked at Ciel with eagerness, "What! You want to meet those children? They are in the basement. I can take you there right away."
Something grabbed my sides and my knife was hovering over Damien's face, Edward behind him, clutching his shirt, and shaking in fear. They buried their faces into my side and I patted both their heads, neither didn't seem to care that my blood was caking their hair.
"Besides there was something I wanted to show you in the basement." The Baron said. Ciel stared at him in confusion.
We found ourselves going down stone stairs, they seem to fold for the Baron, but went back to normal for our steps. "To walk beside you is like a dream come true!" The man said, "But I'm glad, since that day, I have regretted it." We stopped at wooden doors and Edward started to tremble, "Please be alive." Damien whimpered.
"Why couldn't I be at your side that day in that place?" Kelvin said.
"That day? My...side? What are you actually talking about?" Ciel said, his hand still holding the gun to the Baron. The two children by the Baron's side went forward and opened the double doors for him. "No matter how much I regretted it, time wouldn't turn back. But I realized. If I can't turn it back, then I should just do it once again." I saw Sebastian's eyes turn to slits and Ciel looked forward, "Look!" The Baron shouted as we stared at something that looked like one of those old surgical stadiums, except there was three cages full of children. One of them held Toby, who was clutching her side, hands stained red with blood. There was a stone table in the center, blood still fresh on it, etched on the ground was a six point star with rings circling around it. "It took me three years to prepare it." Ciel froze, his eyes wide and his mouth fell open, "So, let's redo it Earl Phantomhive. Just like that day 3 years ago!"
~The past of Baron Kelvin~
Yeah, everything started that day, 5 years ago.
In a room full of partygoers, the Baron Kelvin walked around and spotted someone, "Oh! Thanks for coming, Mr. and Mrs. Baron Kelvin."
"Earl Barton!" A man said as he approached the two.
"What a magnificent and wonderful evening party this is. I look forward to talk with you about philanthropy activities."
"So do I hehe." The old men laughed together and the older gentleman spun on his heel, as he looked around the room, "Oh that's right, I have someone I would like to introduce to you. Where did he go? It's weird; he was here just a second ago. Ah. There he is." He pointed to a man with dark bluish hair and a small child next to him.
"Earl Phantomhive!" The man turned around upon hearing his name, and he smiled. He was handsome, from his odd colored hair, to the marble like skin, only the slight flaw of a freckled below his right eye, yet even that seemed to magnify his beauty even more. And by the Earl's side was a child clutching his arm. The Earl and his child went to them, and shook the Baron Kelvin's hand, "Let me introduce you. This is Baron Kelvin." The Earl smiled and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you." He patted the young child's head and told him, "Here, you should introduce yourself first. Yes?"
The Baron stared in amazement at the beautiful child, same odd hair, and skin tone, but his eyes were large and wide as they stared at him. "It's very nice to meet you Baron Kelvin. I'm Ciel." The small Ciel said his eyes full of innocence, never once tainted with any kind of evil. The boy then hid behind his father, still scared of the strangers. "I'm sorry; my child is a bit shy around strangers. His health is poor so he doesn't venture outside much." Earl Phantomhive said, lightly chuckling as he patted his child's head.
The boy turned his head and spotted someone in a black tailcoat. "Ah! Uncle Klaus!" He shouted as he rushed over to his Uncle. "Oh Ciel!" The man shouted, "Guten tag. Long time no see, you sure have grown alto." He lifted the happy boy up and the Earl passed the Baron, walking over to the two.
"Klaus! You're back!" The Earl said, he too happy to see the man.
"Ah..." The Baron uttered, he didn't want the Earl to leave him behind as well.
"Vincent!" Both men gave each other a hug and Klaus said, "Both of you are here today. What a rare occasion!" The Earl smirked as he patted Ciel's head, "Ciel asked to come along, even though he hasn't really recovered from his sickness yet. So, how's life, you were gone for quite a long time."
The man chuckled, "German beauties are so cold. I think it's a national characteristic." The Earl titled his head to the side and placed his knuckles on his chin, "Oh yeah, hmm. Maybe I should go along sometime and attempt to break that ice with you?" He joked.
The Baron didn't pay attention to his friend as he spoke to him, "He is a young man that loves charity events. On Guy Fawkes day, and Christmas day, he invites children from the orphanage to his manor...Baron Kelvin?"
The Baron stared at the beautiful people in front of him.
I just couldn't really take my eyes off of those three. In the dark night they were like a silently rising moon floating in the sky. I understood at that moment...that these people were special people.
It was the middle of the night as he stepped out of his carriage; an older Japanese butler led him inside the Phantomhive mansion.
Since then I desperately researched the Phantomhive family. I wanted to know exactly why they were so special. Then I knew.
He looked at the people around him, all of them were associated with something illegal, and in the center of them was the Earl.
The true face of... the evil noblemen.
The Baron stared at them, once more amazed. Each one was beautiful in their own ways, one had long silver hair, his features hidden by his bangs, another was a German fellow, his cold calculating eyes kept focused on the Earl's. And there were many more speaking with said Earl, all underworld demons. All amazing.
Underneath beautiful flowers there are thorns. I couldn't help falling in love with what was under the rose.
The Earl looked to the German man to his right, dark haired, wearing a uniform and a cross necklace. "I wonder what it could be that would have you call me all the way back from Germany." The man said. "There's a job I need your help with. I did you a pretty huge favor about two years ago on the Windsor case, so I guess you will listen to my request." The Earl said, smirking, since he knew the man could not deny his request.
The man tsk'ed and grabbed a sandwich from a severing tray, "Jeez, alright I will listen." The man stuffed the sandwich into his mouth and Baron Kelvin stuttered, "Pha...Earl Phantomhive long...long time no see!" He shouted, surprising the Earl. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked towards the Baron. The Earl smiled to him and said, "Why, hello there."
"Oi!" The German man shouted, as he stood up from the plushed chair, "If we talk here people are going to hear, shall we change rooms?"
The Earl gave his friend an incredulous look, "Diederich, you are so impatient." The man once more tsked in anger and stood up to leave. Baron reached a hand forward to shake hands with Diederich, but the man passed him by without a second look. "Err." He was lost, he didn't know what to say, and now, even the Earl walked after Diederich and looked quickly to Baron.
"Excuse us." He said.
The Baron watched them walked away and Diederich huffed in annoyance, "Who the hell is that old guy? Your acquaintance?"
"Hm?" Earl looked to his friend, "It seems he came here to talk to you... did he not?" He smirked, so use to so many people coming to see him for something, "I guess so." He replied.
The Baron held his hand to his chest, 'Oh. I get it now. Special people can only be touched by other special people.' He thought.
He found himself back in the workhouse and in a fit of anger he struck the children. He pushed them away and he went to the mirror, his own reflection looking him in the face. He gripped his face in horror and thought, 'I'm too ugly to even think about touching them. My wish to be wrapped in that velvety world of darkness would never be granted.' He sobbed into his hands and he was lost in a daze, only to awake at the rose garden, having wandered around.
He looked at the beautiful flowers, in full bloom and full of life, just like the Earl and his friends. He reached forward and tried to grab one, only to wince as a thorn pricked his finger. He looked at the drop of blood and held it up to the moon; his thoughts went to the young Ciel then. 'He will also be wrapped up in beautiful thorns and become an evil flower...won't he. In that world of darkness would he become the only great cold moon? Completely out of reach...' Blood dripped down his face and he shook in anger, 'No! I want to touch...him.'
Lord Baron then set to work on finding someone who can destroy his image and recreate something akin to the Earl's and Ciel's beauty.
He laid there on the table and he looked to the doctor that was there to help him, a man with large shaggy hair, and small glasses on the bridge of his nose, "I can't do it all at once...but please just relax and leave it to me." The doctor came close to him and looked down at him, a scalpel in his hand, "You will have the desired appearance."
A special person...white porcelain skin like a bisque doll. Beautiful hair. Big eyes like diamonds, a youthful body. I will become something else. It doesn't matter if my ugly wife leaves me. I will be beautiful with a beautiful life. I will be suitable for him. But...
The Baron looked at Joker who had abruptly came into his room, his whole body was bandaged, and it pained him to even lift his head up, but the urgent look on Joker told him he had to pay attention, "I have something to report. Last night someone attacked the Earl of Phantomhive and his family. The Earl along with his wife and son were killed." Shock filled the Baron.
Day after day, the Baron hardly tried to do anything, nothing more than a defeated old man.
The moon was eliminated from my night too suddenly. Without him, what exactly was all this...my life lost all meaning, days passed and I might as well have been dead...
And then one day.
"What did you say?" The Baron shouted, his friend looked from side to side as he shushed him. "Shh! Your voice is so loud Baron!"
"Is it true?"
The man grinned at him, "Yep, it's definitely the real Phantomhive boy. Our buyer found him just recently. I can't believe that the son of the Phantomhive Family will be used as a sacrificial lamb. Everyone is ready hahaha."
The Baron's fist trembled as they clutched his bed sheets.
"Baron?"
"I will come also!" He cried.
The stolen moon danced back into my night. And he was in my reach.
"But..." His friend said.
"No you can't! You just had an operation; you need to rest for at least a month." Joker shouted.
The Baron tried to scramble out of his bed and he grabbed his friend's suit, "Please I beg you! Let me go also! Please!"
"No need to get so excited." His friend pulled away and he started to leave, "I guess this time you just had no luck. Don't worry; we will give him extra affection to make up for your absence."
"Wait!"
"You'll excuse me."
"Wait a minute!" He pulled the covers that had fallen with him, completely off, "Please! Me too! Ah!" He fell to the ground and tried to crawl, "Father!" Joker shouted.
"I will go!"
"Father it's impossible with your body like this!"
"Me too!" He cried, his stumped legs flailed behind him, as he screamed "Let me go!"
"Even now I can't forget the pain I felt back then. Only I, who gave up everything to meet you, couldn't meet you." Ciel's bangs covered his eyes, I couldn't read his emotions. All I wanted was to get Damien, Edward, and Toby out of here.
The Baron turned around and looked at Ciel, "I wonder why fate must constantly separate us. After that day...everyone was gone." He smiled at Ciel, "All of them."
I had a strange vision of massacred bodies scattered across the room, I shook my head and stared at the Baron. "It was you right, Earl? You were the one that killed them all." Neither denying, nor confirming this Ciel just kept his gaze at the Baron. The Baron started to tremble with excitement. "Ah! I'm so jealous! Such beautiful ends dealt by the one and only cold moon himself." He turned his wheelchair full around and spread his arms wide, "Please, I beg you! Let me be a part of it all!"
Joker pulled against Sebastian, a look of worry on his face. "Everything is exactly the same as that day. Look, I have prepared everything! The room of the ceremony. The sacrificial lambs. And the last piece, Earl...is you! Actually intended to come and invite you myse-Bang" The bullet from Ciel's gun, struck the man in his stomach, blood came oozing out as Ciel shook with anger.
"Father!" Joker shouted, he removed his prosthetic hand and pulled at the bone, revealing another dagger. He rushed forward and screamed as he tried to run at Ciel.
His hand was gone, blood ascending to the sky, only to fall from gravity and he stared in confusion. He then fell to the ground, and he screamed when the pain suddenly hit him. He stared at Sebastian who held his arm, the other hand wielded the dagger, coated in blood.
"Please do not disturb my master." He said, his fangs peeking out.
Both father and son filled the stadium with their screams and Baron looked up at Ciel, "It hurts Earl! It's so painful!" He crawled to Ciel and clutched his leg, "Please...I beg you if you're going to kill me, do it just like you did to everyone else on that day."
"The same as them?" Ciel stomped his foot into the guy's head, "Gah!" He screamed.
"Kneel down like a worm then..." Sebastian smirked and Damian held my hand as he stared coldly at the man, and Edward disappeared from my side. Ciel pointed his gun to him and with harsh eyes staring down at the Baron, he said, "And beg the demon to do it."
Damian tugged my hand and he led me to the cages. Toby looked up at me, breathing hard and she smiled, "You came. Like Damian said."
"Please don't kill him!" Joker shouted as he tried to crawl over to his fallen father. "Despite what he is, he saved us!" I stab the lock on the cage and it opened. I picked her up and I heard Joker's shout getting desperate. "We were abandoned by our parents and our country. He saved us from the fear of starvation. Many brothers and sisters of ours are still at the workhouse. If he dies," He struggled up to his feet and I bit my palm to make the blood flow again, I called for Lilith, "We can't live on. And that's why-"
"You kidnapped those children?" Ciel said.
Lilith stared in horror at everything around her and I snapped my fingers for her to heal Toby's wound.
"You have obeyed this man in order to survive...by sacrificing others?"
"Ah...yeah." Joker said. "For kids like us, England was a living hell. We didn't have money to buy food or power to protect our friends. We had nothing. However, father saved us from that pile of rubbish. He gave us hands and legs allowing us to protect what are most precious to us. That's why we decided to live. Even though it meant living in another kind of hell." Joker panted, growing paler by the second, "I knew from the start that it was wrong but-"
"You are not wrong." Ciel interrupted.
"Huh?" Joker said.
I looked up at Ciel, wondering what he meant. "You fought to protect your world. Isn't that good enough? After all justice in this world is just a bunch of principles made by those with power to suit themselves. No one really thinks of others, you will lose everything if you can't keep up. Only two kinds of people exist in this world. Those who steal and those who are stolen from." His eye focused on Joker, "So then, today I just stole your future. That's all."
Joker looked down and started laughing and he rolled on to his back. "Exactly!" He laughed. "However. You will also have some important things stolen from you tonight." He looked at Ciel, eyes wild and he said, "My fellow circus members are paying a visit to your manor tonight."
Ciel froze, Elizabeth!
"Ha. Do you know why we have never been caught while kidnapping all those children? It's because every witness has been killed."
Quickly, I did the sign for my portal and I saw Edward picking up a blade that lay besides the stone table. I stared at him, then at the open portal to go to the main mansion and Ciel stopped me with a raised hand. My hand fell to my side and I nodded. Edward started picking at the locks, trying to open the other cages. I left Toby's side and went to him, his hands were bleeding from banging the knife on the lock, only to have it bounce off and cut him instead, and he looked up at me, tears falling down, "We can save them, can't we? Right?" My eyes refused to meet his, and he received his answer right away as he stared at the hollow eyes, even if we did rescue them...whatever hell they've been put through, has completely broken them. They were nothing more than broken dolls...
I took him by the shoulders and lead him back to the other two. My thoughts weren't on the other children though, they were only on everyone in the mansion, as I wished for them to do their best to protect the mansion, and to for them to be safe.
~ASC~
They group looked at the mansion in front of them. Dagger looked at it in awe, "This is it? It's so big." Peter was by his side and he nodded, "Seems it may be a tough job to find the room of our target."
"Let's split up then." Peter ran to Missy Wendy and Dagger grouped with Beast, Jumbo was all by himself. "We will start from the top." Peter said.
"Mm yeah, then me and big sis will start from over there." Dagger said pointing the opposite direction. Beast touched her scarf, guilty for what she had done. "Big sis?" She snapped to attention and looked at Dagger, "Ah yep, I'm coming." Beast said. They all ran off in different directions.
Jumbo crossed the courtyard and his eyes roamed the garden, Seriously...this place is massive. And we must finish before dawn.
"Ah hmm." Jumbo froze when he heard the yawning; he looked to his right and saw a sleepy Finny coming over. "Guests at this hour?" He rubbed his eye of the sleep and Jumbo frowned. "Sorry but...I was told not to let any strangers go inside while our Young master is away. Please come again some other time-" Jumbo's hand shoot out and gripped Finny's head till there was a loud bone crushing crunch in the middle of the night.
~ASC~
"We circus members are professionals. We eliminate anyone who crosses our path while on a mission, no matter who or what." Joker rolled over onto his back once more, he was breathing heavily, the loss of blood affecting him. "I wonder how many people will be killed while they search the manor for you Earl."
"Killed huh?" Ciel said.
"Yeah, even your servants won't be spared."
Ciel stood silent for a second and he said, "My servants?" He started to giggle, and even Sebastian had a smirk to his face. "What's so darn funny?" Joker shouted. Ciel struck the ground with his cane, "Just who do you think you are dealing with? They are servants of Phantomhive!" My eyes slightly widen, I was being foolish for even thinking that way, and then I smirked, after all, only the best for Phantomhive, there is nothing to worry about.
~ASC~
Jumbo looked down at the fallen Finny, blood coming from his head and dying his strawberry blonde hair with crimson. "It can't be helped. Forgive me." Jumbo turned around and started to walk away.
There was a rustle of clothing and bones cracking back into place, and Jumbo froze and he heard this, "Aw nah, I'd be in trouble~ They'd get mad at me wouldn't they." Jumbo turned his head, "The Young master told me." Finny clutched Jumbo's coat with a surprisingly strong grip, "And Sebastian also..." Blood dripped down Finny's forehead, his eyes wide and almost deranged, "To never, ever let someone go inside while they are away."
In the darkness of the night there was a crack, and it echoed in to the night.
Jumbo groaned in pain, blood coming from the back of his head, and a cracked wall behind him where his head met it. "Ooh~" Finny said, as he walked over, "Lots of blood came out huh?" He looked troubled by it as he came closer, "How horrible. I hate painful things."
Jumbo's hand twitched and he shouted, "Bro, Sis, please get away! This mansion is strange!"
Peter and Missy gasped when they heard the shout, "Jumbo!" Missy shouted, "Peter!"
"Let's go!" Peter said as he hopped off of tree branches. He looked down to where Jumbo should be and he gasped in shock. Finny was standing there looking at a huge hole in one foot thick stone wall, and two legs were hanging out of it. They belong to Jumbo. Peter and Missy body froze, "No way...Jumbo was..." Peter didn't finish the sentence, it was impossible, and yet the truth was right in front of him.
Finny stared at the body, "Please don't yell this late at night...you'll wake Lady Elizabeth." Finny's hat was impaled and the weapon was pulled out of it, "Ah!" He shouted as he turned his head to see Peter retract the sharp star shape weapon. "How dare you!" He shouted. He shot another one from his cuff and it wrapped around a tree. He jumped off the branch and swung at Finny, shooting another two stars at him, "How dare you kill Jumbo!"
"Wah!" Finny shouted as he dodged the stars.
"What are you doing?" Finny screamed as he punched the tree. Peter jumped out of the way, and stared at the inhuman strength Finny exposed.
Finny's eyes grew sharp, almost predator like and he turned his head, and saw his hat was gone. "Now I can't hide it anymore." He whispered. On his neck was a serial number tattooed to his neck, S-012. Finny frowned and chased after Peter, "Also, it was given to me by the Young master," Missy jumped over onto a statue and Finny grabbed the tree, ripping it out of the ground, "The Young master..." He threw the tree at them and shouted, "Doesn't give me injections every day!" The two dodged and they landed closer to a window. "The Young master doesn't kill my friends!" Finny ran after them and slammed his fist into the wall, breaking the floor, and causing them, once again, to dodge. "The Young master doesn't lock me up. I love it here. That's why..." Finny panted softly, "I decided...I'd protect them!"
Peter and Missy jumped on the mansion and Peter shouted, "Is he a monster!"
"But he's such a moron compared to us!" Missy shouted back. Peter shot another star, this time at Missy, who caught it and he said, "Let's go Wendy!"
"Yeah!"
The rope that connected the star was pulled till it was tightened and they fell to the ground, "Right in half! They shouted as the wire went near Finny's neck. There was a muffled shot and Missy Wendy fell to the side, blood gushing from her head.
The wire slackened and Peter looked to his side, as Missy's body hit the ground. "Wendy!" Peter shouted as he ran to her. Finny saw this and he aimed a punch at Peter. Peter flipped backwards to avoid it and there was more gunshots and he performed several more backflips to dodge the bullets. He hid behind a wall, a bullet nicked the stone, and he panted, his heart beating wildly in his chest, "Shit, a sniper!" He peeked over the corner trying to spot the sniper, "From the Western rooftop! That many shots...exactly how many people are employed here?"
He raised his hand and shot another star at one of the many chimneys. It wrapped around and he was pulled up by it, "I'll leave the kid for later." He said as he looked down at Finny. He quickly looked back up, nervous, If I don't bring down the sniper first... He didn't finish the thought.
In the shadows of the rooftop, the moon shown down on a figure, light bouncing off glasses as she removed them.
Peter landed on the roof and he looked around, "Now where is the sniper...!" He gasped as he look at the rows of rifles, a few scattered on the ground, and no one insight. Wha...what the hell is this? He walked over to one of the rifles and picked it up. There was no scope on the gun and he looked down, From this distance...in one shot?
"I'll keep...to what the Young master has told me." Maylene said as she took her glasses off, "To face the master with a clean mansion every day. That is a maid's job." The wind blew hard and it ruffled her maid outfit. "I wipe away..." She hoisted up to rifles and pointed it at Peter, her eyes narrowed, sharp like a hawks, "the mansions dirt!" She shouted as she shot at Peter.
Peter ran when he heard the guns. One of the bullets ripped through his cape, the other had cut his shoulder. "Tch!" Maylene tsked and threw the empty guns away, "I missed!" She jumped off and landed to the racks of guns. Snatching up two more, she fired at the running Peter. "Shit!" Peter shouted as he tried to run as fast as he could. He ran behind a stone column and he panted as he peeked over the side, "I can't get closer this way. Just how many people are...One!" He stared at the lone sniper, "Just one!" He then gasped in realization. No way! That insane amount of rifles...was to simply shorten the reload time! He pulled at one of his wires, "Shit, it's like Jumbo said." He shoot it at one of the towers on the mansion, "We'll have to temporarily split up. But if I don't tell Dagger and the others." He jumped off as he was pulled away from the roof. "What the hell is up with these random people!" He froze, Random? It sure is weird. Even if they have a huge amount of rifles, how come they can fire so accurately, and with such speed? They are using these rifles as though they are handguns! No way. He looked back to Maylene, her eyes on him.
"It useless. A tiny mouse can run anywhere, but they...are always in my sight." She lifted one of the rifles up, a scope on this one and she aimed at the distant Peter
~ASC~.
Inside the mansion Elizabeth woke up when she heard a strange noise, "What's that sound?" She yawned. Tanaka came in, not his usual small self, and he said, "What appears to be the problem, Lady Elizabeth?"
"Mr. Tanaka." She crawled out of bed, clutching her bunny, and walked over to him. "Wasn't there a huge sound just now?"
"Hohoho, surely you must have heard it within your dreams." A cold breeze passed Tanaka, "You'll get cold. Please return to bed." He said, as he held the door tightly, not wanting Elizabeth to see the broken window, and a dead Peter behind him.
~ASC
Beast and Dagger looked behind them, "There seems to be...a body guard."
"Yeah."
"This really is the kind of place you'd expect of a filthy rich noble. Let's leave the rest to our siblings; we'll look for the target." Dagger said. They climbed up the stairs of the living room, "Yo, I was waiting for you." Their heads snapped up, Bard was looking down at them, leaning on the stair rails. He smirked, "The backyard, and the side are being entertained by Finny, and Maylene. If you want to enter, aside from right here..." He opened his eyes, "There's...WOAH!" He saw the daggers coming at him and he held up a frying pan, blocking them with it. "That's dangerous! I was in the middle of talking!"
Beast grabbed her whip and sent it straight at Bard, who dodged by a few inches, "Hey! I'm not into those kinda things you know!" Bard tsked, Finny came down the stairs to him, and Bard shook his head at the two intruders, "Jeez, everyone wants to live fast like Solomon Grundy. What a disgrace. Hey Finny. Take...one round of cannon!" He ordered. Finny grabbed some of the bust and pedestals and he chucked it at the two. They jumped out of the way and ran down the stairs as Finny continued to throw, "Wai...is this even possible!" Dagger shouted.
Beast barely dodged as one of the statues landed near her feet. Dagger threw some of his knives, but Bard and Finny hid behind one of the statues. "Good." Bard said as he looked at the mess.
Dagger and Beast ran to a door, "We'll deal with them later! First we need to get the target." Beast shouted. "Gotcha. Why don't we search for the room from each side?" Dagger grabbed the door handle and opened it, a rope was tied to the other end of it and Dagger gasped as he heard bells.
Bard looked at the ringing bell, he was in the bell room and he smirked as he opened up one of the pipes, "Maylene, the intruders are in the reception room, surround them from the Western building." He called from the pipe.
"Yes sir!" She said.
He looked to Finny and said, "Finny, you surround them from the center. Don't hesitate."
"Yes sir!" Finny ran off to do what he was told.
"It's a trap!" Beast shouted as she and Dagger ran.
"Big sis, I'm sorry!"
They ran down a hallway, full of paintings and Beast eyes widen when she heard something click. "Put your head down!"
"Eh!" Beast threw her whip, it wrapped around a painting and she flung it forward to them. Bullets penetrated the painting, and none struck the two. They looked forward to see who the shooter was, and their eyes widen. Smoke circled around Maylene, guns in her hands, and her fingers on the triggers.
Dagger flung some of his knives at her, "What the hell do the maids carry in this place!"
Maylene hid behind a wall, the daggers bounced off, and she appeared again, her guns pointing at them. They ran, avoiding the gunshots, and Beast shouted, "Let's get back Dagger!"
There was loud stomps coming at them in the dark hallway and Finny was in front of them, wielding another statue. "Fouuuund the mice!" He shouted. They stared in shock, Dagger almost froze and Beast grabbed his arm, "There he is again!" He shouted.
"We'll go down!" She dragged him down the steps and Finny flung the statue at them. The stairs were left with piles of broken statues, and it was completely destroyed.
"What the hell are they? No matter how you go about it, this place is strange!" Dagger said to Beast as they went down some stairs. "Yeah, with all this, the Earl must be hiding somewhere." Beast said, "This time we'd better retreat. Let's meet up with big bro and the rest." Dagger panted as the continued to run.
"We didn't have Joker with us today either..." Beast touched her scarf, "Joker..."
They stepped into a room and noticed dishes, food, and sacks of sugar and flour. "Getting down the stairs sure was hard huh, Mr. and Mrs. Goose." They froze when they saw Bard, holding a dish of flour, over a bowl. "This is the end of the Earth. Welcome to the kitchen." He said as he chopped the flour up.
Beast whipped at him, and Bard dodged, "Like you can afford to say that, facing us unarmed!"
Dagger threw his knives at Bard, "Idiots." Bard said as he dodged them. "The kitchen is the Chef's holy place where even the butler can't raise his voice to him. There are also a lot of tools that the butler doesn't know about." Bard went near a large object, covered by a tarp and he ripped it off, knocking the knives away, "For example." The tarp flew away to reveal a large machine, with chains of bullets hanging off the side. He smirked as he pointed at them, they gasped and he fired at them. "What the hell is that!" Dagger shouted as he pushed Beast away from the bullets. "It's the latest weapon Mr. Higham brought back from America." Bard shouted, his cigarette falling from his mouth, only to be caught real quick by his teeth.
"Let's go. Big sis!" Dagger shouted. They ran, trying to head to the exit, but Bard kept on their tails. The bullets pierced the bags of flour as Dagger tackled Beast out of the way. "Since the days I was involved, war sure has changed!" He smirked at the firepower from his weapon, "Chefs most of all have to be good at using their hands. So savor it well!" The empty shells hit the ground and Bard scratched the back of his head as he looked at the kitchen, it was a tattered mess, bullet holes riddled the walls and ceiling, and the food was destroyed and scattered around, "It has exceptional strength but its systematics could use some work... I'll have to tell the Young master it's too early for mass production just yet."
Beast groaned in pain and she felt something heavy on her. She opened her eyes and they widen in shock, "Dagger!" The over-enthusiastic knife thrower had been shot by the bullets, protecting Beast. She laid him down, cradling his head and she shouted at him, "Dagger! You idiot..."
"Goo...d...safe...big sis...run to Jo...ker..." He looked at her, tears falling from his face, "I had...wanted to...take...big sis...over...the hill..." His eyes rolled back and his entire body slackened in Beast hands. "Dagger!" She shouted once more wishing he would wake up.
Bard walked over to her, "I would've liked to meet a beauty like you while drinking lukewarm beer in a pub." Beast looked at him tears in her eyes, and shouted, "I won't forgive you!" She whipped at him again, cutting a bag of flour, kicking up more dust, and Bard duck, "Oops!" He said as Beast pulled the whip back to her.
"You plan on fleeing in this state!" She shouted, wanting him to face her, wanting badly to get revenge.
"Nope. Finny!" He shouted as he ducked another attack, the ceiling broke opened and she looked up. "Wha..."
"I'm done with the pre-cooking." Bard said as he climbed a rope up to Finny. "I told you from the start right? The kitchen holds many secrets. I'll tell you one. The finer flour is cut, the better it burns." The dust spread through the whole room as he continued to talk, "If the concentration of flour in the air is really high, it's the same as exploding gas." Bard looked down at Beast, "Do you know the story of the Minnesota wheat flour mill that blew 18 people into the afterlife?"
Beast gasped and Bard turn his back to her as he lit a match up, "Sorry miss. But these are our jobs."
~ASC~
"They are the private army me and Sebastian picked for employment."
Joker gasped, "Wha-"
"To protect the Phantomhive family's secrets and pride. Those..."
Bard threw the match down the hole, Finny and Maylene behind him as they watched with cold eyes.
"Are the Phantomhive family servants."
Beast stared at the lit match as it fell, a tear slid down her cheek, "Jo-"
A loud explosion shook the mansion as the fire spread, destroying anything in its way.
"A...private army?" Joker said silently, his eyes went to Sebastian, unable to believe what he was told. "The Phantomhive house is a Phantom that exists solely for the purpose of eradicating the Queen's distresses. If you step into that den, you can never return into the light." Sebastian said.
Joker flipped over to his stomach and he glared at him, "Those guys are pro's don't think you can easily-"
"You're free to believe it or not however..." Sebastian waved the dagger around, amused at the situation, "Don't forget that these are capable people selected by me."
Joker winced in pain, Please, please live. He wished, Even if it's just you guys! He strained to move and he said, "I wonder...what we should have done. Like the Nursery rhyme...we were 'capable of playing only one song.' But if...if we had been born in another country...ourselves...our bodies...wouldn't have been like this...like this..." Joker started to cry, and it sickened me.
I slipped my knife out and walked over to him, my knife hovered above his body, waiting for Ciel to order me. I looked to Damian and his eyes were hollowed, nothing in them as he held Toby's hand, Edward holding the other, her healing was almost complete but her face was still pale.
"Don't cry so shamefully." Ciel said, "Crying won't change a thing. The world is not kind to anyone."
"Smile..."
Ciel turned his head to him, "My name is Ciel Phantomhive. And that alone." He nodded to me and I raised my knife to plunge it into Joker's back.
There was a loud creak and the doors opened, we all stopped and looked at who entered. "Sorry to make you wait for the supplemen..." The doctor came in, his eyes widen when he saw us, "Huh? You're...Black, Feather, and Smile. Ah, I see." His feet touched the ground, and he stood up with great ease! "So what Joker said was true. But even worse than cops that can't be bought; we have the rumored Queen's lapdog." He walked down the steps and Joker stared at him in shock.
"Doctor...your legs...you're walking..."
Doc laughed, "My legs? Ah, there's actually nothing wrong with me. Hahaha kids like you wouldn't get all jumpy if I just sat down." He looked down and he noticed Baron on the ground, "Baron Kelvin!" He rushed over and touched the bullet wound from the Baron's body. "This is bad. How awful and I had finally met a patron who could understand my ideals."
"Ideals?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes, for a very long time I was searching for the perfect artificial limb and wanted to continue its development. After all of my research I was able to make the finest materials possible!" He stood up and waved his hands around as he explained, "It was lighter and sturdier than wood, and more beautiful than the mineral characteristics of ceramics. I had made something that no one had ever made before. However, gathering the materials was a difficult task."
A smile grew on Sebastian, "Indeed, your handmade artificial limbs have an enchanting feel to them. Like Chinese-made bone porcelain tableware." I was confused by this, What do you mean by that Sebastian?
"Ah Black, you understand this beauty! But I'm really sorry!" He ran his fingers through his curly hair, "Can you not put it in the same league as bone porcelain made from mixed cow bones?"
I looked at Joker's forgotten prosthetic and my eyes widen, No...it... I felt sick to my stomach and Sebastian pulled Ciel behind him, "That's right; you said it was made from special materials?" Doctor bent down to look at Baron, he was still alive, but wasn't speaking, he probably fainted from shock. "Yes, yes. I can't get them anywhere else but here." He walked over to the cage near Damien and Toby, "No...Way." Ciel's eyes widen as Doctor leaned on the cage, "This way we don't have to put any effort into throwing them away somewhere. Don't you think it's the best recycling ever?" My hand shook, and I wanted to slash the smile off his face.
"No way." I looked down at Joker, he was in shock as well, and he repeated, "No way...no way!" As the realization hit him he vomited in disgust, "Wha…what did you see us...as..." He coughed and stared at Doc in horror. "See, I only get rejected like that. As long as they don't know the truth, everyone is always praising me about how wonderful they are." He grabbed Toby and pushed Damien and Edward away, "Toby!" I shouted. I ran to her, but I tripped. I turned my head and saw Joker was clutching my ankle, even if he didn't want to believe what was being done to the children; he still had his loyalty to Baron. "But the Baron was different. Searching for beauty was his highest motivation. He sponsored me with an abundance of materials and money the best thinkable patron. Don't you think it's normal to need the best materials in order to get the best products?" He dragged her to the table and laid her on it, "As far as society's idiots are concerned, there's no such thing as success without sacrifice." She tried to kick him away, Lilith pulled at his hair, but he swatted her away, and she hit the cages, and didn't fly back up.
"Get away from her!" I shouted as I tried to kick Joker away. Sebastian looked to me and then to Ciel, who clutched his hand, not wanting him to leave him as he stared in horror. "Young Master, you must give me an order." He whispered to Ciel.
"A cow's bones are fine, but a human's aren't?"
Sebastian... I whispered in my mind, my hand went to my fallen knife, but Joker grabbed it with his mouth and he released me. Before I could even get to my feet, he plunged it into my stomach. I screamed in pain and fell on my back, my eyes stared at the shocked Damien, who stood as still as rock, and then at Edward who was shaking, moving closer. My hand tried to trace a symbol for Tigre, but it came out as scribbles, my arm was shaking, and something refused to let it move within me. "Sebastian...please." I called out as Joker stabbed me once more in the stomach. I punched him in the face and grabbed my blade away from him.
Ciel started to breath hard, his eyes darting to me, then to Toby as he remembered his torture, being forced onto the table, calling for someone to save him, anyone and he remembered the pain that ripped through him as the knife plunged into his chest, "Master." Sebastian hissed, unable to do anything without an order from Ciel, who continued to hold him.
"Who decided on that?" Doc shouted hysterically.
"No!" I screamed.
The knife descended down to her, and Edward tackled him, "You bastard!" Edward shouted. He and Doc struggled and I tried to move forward, the wounds hurting and I looked to Sebastian. He wanted to move, but Ciel wouldn't release him, gripping him as he now started to quake in fear, "Edward get away from him! Ed-" Blood gushed out of my mouth, and pain erupted from my chest. I stumbled away from Dagger's form and choked on my words.
Doc easily pushed Edward away and grabbed the knife from the ground… He stabbed Edward and I heard Edward gasped as he tried to breathe, but his lungs filled with blood and he collapsed. "Ed...ward..." He had a smile on his face, as his eyes stared at me. But why? I knew why though, as I saw Damien, finally able to move, made a grab for Toby, and he helped her get away from Doc.
Ciel started a bloodcurdling scream and Sebastian grabbed him. Ciel covered his mouth and he couldn't control the bile that rose up and his hands were soon coated with vomit. He reached out at no one and Sebastian gripped his outstretched hand. "Young master." He whispered calmly, "Is there something you are afraid of?" Ciel shook and he pulled the frightened boy into his arms, "You're outside of the cage right now. My lord." He touched Ciel's chin, Sebastian looked to me, he was angry, he wanted to blood, but as Ciel's butler, he had no choice but to wait for his command. He leaned closed to Ciel, "Come. Call my name." He urged.
"Se..." Sebastian pulled the tie from Ciel's eye patch as the boy stuttered, "Se ...stia...Sebastian...Sebastian...Sebastian!" His eyes opened up, pure hatred in them and he shouted, "Kill these guys!" In a matter of seconds Ciel was clutching Sebastian's neck, and Sebastian's hand had stabbed into the Doc's chest, and said physician gasped in shock as blood came from his mouth and he fell to the ground. Sebastian shook the blood of his hand and he went to the Baron and stomped his head in.
I looked down to Joker, anger filling me in, and the pain inside me demanded me to shed his blood for Edward, to kill this man, to defy death and destroy everything. He was in shock and my hand grabbed the back of his head and I slit his throat, not enough to kill him, but enough to make him bleed to death, probably the most painless compared to Sebastian's, but a slow painful torture, but nothing, compared to the feeling of having failed to protect those he loves, just like I have. "It's done." Sebastian said.
"Burn it."
We stared at Ciel, "Burn it? This place?" Sebastian asked.
"That's right."
I stared at the children in the cage, expecting them to shout their objections, but they were already dead inside, death would be granting them mercy, if they even get it. I looked to Edward's body and I walked over to him, "Edward..." I whispered as I closed his eyes. I tried to make the symbol for Uroboros, but my body froze and it pained me even more just thinking of reviving him. Why was it happening now, I need to call his spirit back!
"However, Young master. If I recall correctly from her majesty the Queen's letter, wasn't this time's mission to find the criminals and rescue the children? The criminals are now..."
"Shut up!" Ciel clutched Sebastian's coat, "Don't leave anything! Turn everything here to ash! Did you forget your job?" He clutched Sebastian's head, a look of surprise on the demon's face, "It's an order!" He panted and buried his head into his chest. Sebastian frowned, and bit his glove off. He walked over to the lit candles and the fire twitched, responding to his command and the fire grew to unimaginable heights, coating the entire place in fire "Yes, my lord." He said as he forced the fire to grow bigger. I walked over to Toby and carried her bridle-style, "Edward saved me. Why?" She cried, her eyes looked ready to roll back any minute for her to pass out, "He knows that...that I..." She couldn't finish whatever she was going to say as the tears continued to fall.
"Because he loves his family." I whispered. She clutched my neck and buried her head in. I felt weak, and ready to faint from my own wounds, but instead, I kicked one of the other torches and the fire spread from there as well. We walked out of the stadium, Damian following behind, not caring for the burning around him, nor did I care for it as the smell of charred flesh, and burning dolls as we came closer to the outside. And we saw William there, standing in the middle of the hallway as he collected the souls, he read one in particular out loud, "Son of the prostitute Karen Taylor. No entries on his real name. Cause of death: blood loss...today the 9th February 1889." We knew he was talking about Joker, and I wondered if this is what he meant. He looked to me and flipped another page, "Edward Rosenberg..." He didn't finish it, I didn't know out of respect, or because we were there, but he stamped the book. My breath started to come out ragged, and I wanted to scream, because I knew for sure, there was no way to get him back, now that William collected his soul. He was gone...forever. I set Toby down and went to him, "You knew all along didn't you. You bastard! I hate you!" I coughed, blood started coming out, and I almost fell to the ground.
William couldn't look me in the eyes as he said, "There's one more..."
I looked to him and felt something tugging on my sleeve, I looked down and Damian was there. Something spoke to me, wanting to wring his little neck, just to watch him die because it was his entire fault. I shook my head, It wasn't his fault! What is wrong with me! I picked him up and wondered what William meant. My thoughts went to Toby and I turned my head, she was on her knees, looking at me and she gave me a weary smile. I sighed in relief and felt something sharp go in my chest, only to be pulled out and replaced with something squirming and trying to crawl out of me.
I looked at Damian, he was crying, in his small hand was my hunting knife, the other hand clutching his wrist, as if trying to hold it down. The knife, it seemed, had plunged into my chest, blood oozed out, some of it black, and my knees gave out and I held on to him, not wanting to drop him. "I'm sorry." He whispered, "I tried to stop myself, but...but." He clutched his head and I smiled at him.
"It's...okay." I whispered.
Sebastian rushed over to me and touched the wound, I gasped at the pain, my heart was still beating, I don't know how. Something squirmed in my chest again, and a black worm, smaller than the one I had a year ago, came out, it was dying, having been pierced by the blade. My eyes looked at it in horror, and Damian grabbed the knife. "St-" My voiced chocked, I had tried to call Damien, but my voice couldn't go through, this really is the end for me, and I couldn't do anything to stop Damien. Sebastian turned to grab Damien from doing what I knew he was going to do, but... he was too late, and Damien stabbed himself in the chest, his eyes widen, then they shut as he fell backwards.
"Damien!" Toby shouted as she fell to the ground and tried to crawl over to us. I pulled the knife away and called Lilith over for her to stop the bleeding. She tried her best, but something was interfering with her healing. Another black worm came out, this one large, bigger than my old one, probably an adult and it tried to escape his body and head to me. I grabbed my knife, in spite of my body wanting to give up and die, I screamed and with great fury, I stabbed it over and over, tears falling from my eyes. It squealed in agony, and it shriveled up and died. I looked to Damien and pushed Sebastian away.
"Damnit don't die!" I shouted as I grabbed Damien and tried to bring him back to life. I drew for Uroboros, and even started the chant. "He's dead." William said. I ignored him, and continued, my blood pooling and mingling with Damien's own. Sebastian grabbed my hand, and he begged me to stop, but I couldn't hear him, all I could think about was trying to save him, trying to bring everyone back. Hands wrapped around my waist, I looked down and Toby had buried her head into my waist. Ciel came to my side as well, his small hands shaking as he tried to speak, and I couldn't look at him. My blood continued to flow from my chest, I didn't care if I died right then and there, it should have been me after all. "Give him back." I glared at William as he collected Damien's soul, "Give him back, give him back! Give them all back!" Sebastian held me still, as I screamed at William, cursing his existence. Cursing my own for living.
Toby passed out, her face growing paler by the second and Lilith rushed over to my side, trying her hardest to heal my wounds. "Is she going to die as well?" I shouted at William.
He looked at me and down at his binder, "No particular further notes. Judgment complete." He stamped the book and I looked to him in shock. He turned his back to me and Sebastian pulled me up to my feet, taking me away from Damian, I slapped, scratched, and punched him, wanting to go back, wanting to take Damien back, wanting so badly to call Uroboros and to switch my soul, but... He forced me to walk, I didn't want to, but when Lilith pointed to Toby, I knew, I had to get up. I had to. I couldn't stop looking at William, as he left the room with his binder, he knew all, and he refused to tell. I took a hesitant step, feeling woozy from the blood loss, but my arms tight around Toby's body, Ciel clutching Sebastian's coat, he was lost to us right now, scared at his memories, and my promise to him came to my mind once more. I couldn't, even if I wanted to, leave Ciel alone, I had promised to give my life to him, no matter what, even if it hurts me.
Because in the end, I was only a servant of Phantomhive manor. I must live for my master. Even if it means losing everyone I love, that was the promise I had made, and I damn myself for ever bringing myself to this world, and ruining these innocent children's lives.
One last tear fell down, as we came near the exit, the fire parted for us as the building crumbled apart, and in my mind, I repeated over and over.
...I'm so sorry...
~ASC~
"Sheesh, what is personal affairs thinking." William said as he stared at the hundreds of cinematic records, "There's no way anyone can deal with this on their own. Right about now...however, to send you as extra personnel is..."
"My~ Looks like you took offence after all." A man with blonde hair and black framed glasses look down at William. "Ronald Knox." William said. Ronald looked at his watch and sighed, "Even though I tried to get here really fast. Still..." He hopped down the building, "Perhaps you are just disappointed that it was me?"
"No. I had a bad feeling that I'd have to look after that thing today as well...I'm lucky that it wasn't him." William shuddered at that thought. Ronald landed on the ceiling and he tapped his chin, "Come to think of it, Sutcliff went on another mission looking very excited...hmm what was it?"
"Was it the Phantomhive family?" William said.
"Yes yes, that's it!" Ronald's grabbed his notebook and flipped it open, "It seems a lot easier, huh~"
William adjusted his glasses, "That's a pity. For you and for him. Sheesh, bringing emotions into your job is a waste of time. Our job as shinigami is to judge and collect souls according to the list dispatched by our superiors. Nothing more." He closed his binder and tapped it against his hip, "Although in regards to the judgment, there are some formalities...if the target is 'a person whose existence will be beneficial to the world,' then they will be excluded from the list. However, the amount of humans who have such value is next to nothing. So, to avoid potential mistakes, shinigami should always complete the confirmation procedures. Faintly...calmly."
Ronald's smirked, "You allowed the other one to live, and he wouldn't benefit mankind. That's against the rules." William looked away; he didn't reap Matthew's soul because he had owed the boy for saving him from his own death. Ronald's yawned and stretched, "Well let's finish up that investigation work then. I have a party with the secretarial section today. And also, from the start... I've never been one to do overtime." William's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "The cause of death for most of the people scheduled for investigation is 'burnt to death' but the trigger of all this was a demon."
"No way!"
"He's not the type to feast, but we can't be careless. If the souls have been stolen, we'll settle it with a written apology and explanation." Ronald's touched his death scythe mower, "Understood. I'll do my best," He started the lawnmower, it roared to life and he smiled at William, "On the principle of not doing overtime work."
William glared at Ronald's, "Ronald's Knox...that death scythe..."
"I filled in the application form okay...I'm friends with a girl at the general affairs department." William huffed and swung his death scythe "Then, until the set time, hurry and collect souls." He and William jumped off the building and Ronald's shouted, "Roger!" As they set to work.
"Don't leave a single one."
~ASC~
A horse ran up to the burning building and Doll stared in shock at it, "What is this..." She jumped off the horse and rushed to the burning building. "Brother! Brother Joker!" She shouted and stopped the flames too hot for her to go nearer. She coughed and tried to call out to Joker again, "Bro..."
She saw something moving from the flames she waited there, wondering if it was Joker. The shadow came closer and she realized it was Sebastian, Matthew, and Ciel.
~ASC
I was the first to spot her. She was calling out screaming for Joker, it was hard to miss it really. But no one cared, everyone just wanted to leave this place. We stopped in front of her, I didn't want to, but Ciel was looking at her, maybe he was regretting something, or maybe he just wasn't there still, either way, we waited for his order.
"Black...Smile...Feather?" She walked up to us and shouted, "Why are you guys here...what happened? Brother is-"
"Dead." Sebastian interrupted a smirk on his face. She froze, the words slowly processing in her mind. "Eh..." She suddenly grabbed Sebastian, "What are you saying Black! Hey! Smile, say something!" She grabbed Ciel, and Ciel slapped her hand away. "Don't touch me so freely!" Ciel shouted. She stared at him in shock. Ciel clutched Sebastian's body, burying in head into his neck and I cradled Toby with one arm, the other softly running through Ciel's hair, trying to calm him down. It worked somewhat.
"We were sent after you on her majesty the Queen's orders. To find the whereabouts of a series of missing children." She flinched, fear overtaking her, "So you guys really were with the yard! To capture us..."
"No, that's not right." Sebastian's eyes turned to slits and his fangs peeked from his mouth, "We came to eradicate you."
She shook and muttered, "The Queen's watchdog, Phantomhive. The Queen's...watchdog. Phantom...hive." Her eyes widen in shock, "No way...is Smile...you're Phantomhive? Are you saying it was all a lie? Everything...everything!" She demanded.
"That's right. My name is Ciel Phantomhive. My job is just one to clear the Queen's worries. That's why I killed them. Kelvin...Joker. I killed them." He looked at her, Sebastian's contract glowing in his right eye.
Joker looked at everyone and he tapped his chin. "If we're going to do a circus, then we need stage names. You'll be Beast, you'll be Dagger." He said as he pointed to the two. Beast and Dagger looked at Joker in surprised and they said, "Eh?"
Joker chuckled and said, "t's easy to understand so it's good."
A small girl with a burned mark over her eye looked up at him, "Hey, hey, give me one too!"
Joker looked down at her and he thought about it carefully, "Hmmm okay, you're doll."
"Ehh? I don't want a girly name like that. It doesn't fit me." She touched her eye, and looked away from him. Joker smiles softly at her and he softly told her, "Of course it fits you, because you're our cute little sister..."
Doll fell to her knees and screamed out her rage, fear, and sadness. "...give...I won't...forgive...I won't...forgive." She hit the ground and then looked up to us, "I won't forgive! I won't forgive you!" She screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks. She grabbed a knife from her bag and rushed at Ciel, "Smile!"
Ciel stared at her, tired of the killing, tired of the death, and yet he uttered just one more order, "Sebastian..."
~ASC~
Faraway from the burning mansion, Undertaker bit into a cookie and he laughed, "Even though I told them to hold each and every soul dear. Because you hold great power you gradually fail to understand the importance of things that cannot be recovered, Earl. When it is realized and you lose your support...how many times have I given you and the others the same warning?" He touched the funeral pendants on his chain, "And what of you, Matthew. I've warned you that you will receive more scars, and I even warned you back then too. Hopefully you can keep what little remains left." He chuckled and bit the rest of his cookies.
~ASC~
The opposite side of the mansion, two men were standing on a cliff watching the burning mansion through binoculars. "Ahh what shall we do?" The shorter blonde said. "We are just supposed to report while watching."
He smirked as he lowered the binoculars, "How pitiful. Maybe we're being punished."
"It's not for us to decide. All that matters is her majesty the Queen's will."