A Soul's Tourniquet
Inhuman
Shadows: Whaaaaaaaah! Gomenasai! Gomenasai!
Edward: What are you complaining about now?
Shadows: I let down all of my readers! I didn't update like I said I would! And then when I went to update on Sunday the Doc Manager was all messed up and then I wasn't able to update yesterday because of schoolwork! T^T
Alphonse: Don't worry Shadows, I'm sure they'll forgive you.
Shadows: *sniff* Are you sure Al?
Alphonse: I'm positive.
Edward: Don't get her hopes up Alphonse. She'll just start crying again once she gets all those hate messages from her readers.
Shadows: *vein* Why don't you shut yer mouth, shrimp!
Alphonse: 0x0
Edward: *angrily* DON'T CALL ME SMALL! I'LL BREAK DOWN YOUR FEET AND STICK 'EM ON YER HEAD!
Shadows: Hey FullMetal! Mustang called, he wants his mini-skirt back!*
Alphonse: *trying not to laugh* Th-That's mean.
Shadows: *straight face* I wasn't joking…
Alphonse: 0o0''
Shadows: *bursts out laugh* XD That… That look on yer face was priceless Al! It just… It just made my day!
Alphonse: *holding back a raging Ed so Shadows doesn't get killed* Y-your welcome! Ah, brother stop it! You'll get in trouble with Colonel Mustang again!
Edward: I DON'T CARE! I'M GONNA BEAT HER TO A PULP!
Shadows: Calm down pipsqueak! Oh yeah… Hughes wanted me to pass something along to you the last time I saw him.
Edward: *instantly calms down* Wait, Hughes?
Shadows: Yep *tries to remember what Hughes said* Let's see here… 'Thank you for taking care of my darling Elicia since I'm gone. And remember Ed to drink your milk so you can grow a bit more. Oh, and tell Mustang that I'll be helping him as Fuher from here.'
Edward: Bleh! I hate milk!
Alphonse: Hold on, how did you speak with Hughes?
Shadows: I have my ways, young Elric. *Turns to reader* I apologize again for not updating yesterday like I should have. *bows deeply* However, in return for my tardiness, I will be updating with two chapters this Saturday, possibly even a three chapters, depending on how quickly I can finish my project for my 3D design course. Oh, I almost forgot, *turns to Ed and Al* can you guys help me with the disclaimer?
Edward: What are we suppose to say?
Shadows: Just read what's written on the teleprompter!
Alphonse: Shadows does not own Kuroshitsuji or any characters associated with the series.
Edward: All rights belong to Toboso Yana.
Shadows: And naturally, all OC's belong to me… Oh and Ed, could you read the last line for me?
Edward: Hmph, Fine… Before the story begins… I would like to say one thing… Colonel Roy Mustang looks dead sexy… HEY!
Shadows: Keep reading you idiot!
Edward: *grumbles angrily, quickly looks at last line* Pfft! Colonel Roy Mustang looks dead sexy… pfft, in a mini-skirt! *starts laughing*
Shadows: *smiles triumphantly* And that's how I get myself off the hook for calling Ed short… Enjoy. Oh, and don't forget to review!
KAISHI!
Rebecca stared at the under canopy of the bed, unable to fall back asleep. Thanks to that butler, she was just barely able to get enough sleep last night. And Benjamin's obnoxious sleep talking in the next room hadn't helped her much either.
Though she and the dirty blonde male had been traveling together for close to four months now… Not once had she ever heard the teen talk in his sleep. Of course, had that not woken her up in the middle of the night, then someone's wailing sure had.
The ebony haired teen rolled on to her side, facing towards the window. Streams of sunlight bleed through the crack between the two curtains, illuminating only a thin line of the comforter she was sleeping under. Sighing, Rebecca finally tossed off the fabric and swung her legs over the side of the bed, stretching her arms over her head. Today was going to be a very, VERY long day.
"Mornin', everyone." Bard yawned, walking into the kitchen with the rest of the Phantomhive servants and Benjamin.
"Too early… need sleep." Ben groaned tiredly. Thanks to his nightmare last night, the male had been unable to get the sleep he wanted, for fear of becoming the demon hounds next victim.
He however, wasn't the only one who looked worse for wear. Finny appeared to have hardly slept at all what with the dark circles under his eyes. Benjamin had noticed, but was far too tired to comment.
"Ah, good morning." Angela smiled happily, walking into the kitchen with a drink tray for the others. "Where's Rebecca?" She added, noticing the lack of people on the kitchen.
"She's talkin' with th' Earl 'bout somethin'…" The dirty blonde male explained, shoulders slouched forward and chin resting on the table.
"Oh, are you sure you should be outta bed?" Bard asked, not wanting to question why that Rebecca girl was talking to the young Master. It didn't appear to the chief that Benjamin knew anyway.
"Yes. I apologize for causing trouble." Angela nodded, placing the tray down on the table. "And when my master always told me not to break courtesy in front of quests…" The white haired maid looked way, almost appearing to be embarrassed by her previous actions. Truthfully, the Angela couldn't have been happier that that demon hound finally did away with that pig of a human. They were truly fowl beings easily corrupted by the idea of power. From the corner of her eye, Angela noticed the slight sickly color to the Phantomhive gardener's skin. As much as she wanted to drop this human façade and continue on with her real objective, until the Earl left, she couldn't move as much as a feather.
"Oh, Finny, you look pale…" Carefully, she reached out to touch the boy's forehead, but he quickly scurried to the wall behind him, back firmly pressed against the concrete.
"Um, I'm, uh, I'm sick!" He panicked, waving his arms up and down like he was attempting to fly. "If you touch me, you'll catch my… germs! Right, germs! I-I'm sorry!" And with that, the strawberry blonde booked out of the kitchen, faster than Angela had seen any human run.
'That boy is by far the strangest human I have ever had the discourtesy to meet while here.' The Angel mused mentally.
"He sure doesn't seem sick." Bard stated.
"That's an understatement…" Ben agreed.
"A reason Her Majesty sent you?" Ciel asked, slightly amused that his butler had caught on so quickly.
"Yes… From the way your butler spoke made it clear to me that Her Majesty, Queen Victoria, doesn't send others to help you with investigations, Earl Phantomhive. Quite frankly I'm interested in your actual motives for wanting my companion and I here." Rebecca stated, staring down the young male.
Ciel smirked. "You are right, Her Majesty rarely sends anyone to aid me in her orders. As the Queen's Guard Dog I always care out her orders without fail. For this reason, I am not surprised that Sebastian has already begun to suspect something."
"The reputation of the 'Evil Noblemen' precedes your family name quite well. Granted that I myself have no true knowledge of your family's involvement with the Underworld's affairs, when you walk among the lower classes, word about certain nobles spread like the plague. Regardless of that fact… the problem of your servant's curiosity could create an issue for Benjamin and namely myself. How do you propose we handle this?" The ebony haired teen wasn't willing to risk anyone finding out about her identity. And the fact that Ciel had convinced everyone that she and Benjamin were working under the Queen would get them into large amounts of trouble.
The bluenette sighed. He understood what the teen was worried about, and even HE himself would not be able to help her should she be found and tried for impersonating someone of the crown. "I will deal with Sebastian and the other servants myself should they begin to question your credibility. Play your role perfectly and you should have nothing to worry about."
"You are quite confident that your servants, rather, that your butler will no longer try to dig deeper into the situation."
"Sebastian has been taught to strictly follow any order I give him. If I tell him to forget about your credibility as one who works under the Queen, then he has no choice but to follow that order."
Rebecca smirked. "Sounds like he's nothing more than an obedient mutt to the Queen's own Guard Dog. If you say that I have nothing to worry about, then I will trust your judgment for the time being… However, if he begins to question more, for our own safety, Benjamin and I will leave without forewarning."
"If that is your choice, then you are free to do as you wish should that time come." Ciel agreed.
The teen nodded once and took her leave of the room before the Earl's butler could return. She knew that the young Phantomhive was hiding something that undoubtedly involved her, but the current moment seemed far too risky to question that hidden fact. For now, she was content with what she had been told. The rest of her questions would have to go unanswered till a later time.
"Today's tea features cabinet pudding made with local blackberries." Sebastian explained, setting the dessert down in front of the Earl.
"You're certainly carefree." Ciel scoffed.
"There is no need to rush."
The bluenette merely rolled his eyes, quickly glancing at the two teenagers that sat next to him. Neither had said a word since being invited to join him for afternoon tea, and truthfully, it made the young Phantomhive wonder what it was exactly that seemed to have the two on edge.
One of the outside doors that lead into the room slammed open, with a frantic Mey-Rin standing in the doorway. "Mister Sebastian!"
Ciel smirked internally. Sebastian could be a reason for that… Having been around the demon for so long usually caused him to forget how others tended to view his butler.
"What is it? You're making a fuss." Sebastian groaned, slightly annoyed at how much noise the maid and gardener were making.
"We can't find Angela anywhere!" Finny shouted franticly.
"Oh, she said there was some medicinal herbs growing by the fen, so she was going to go pick some." Bard explained.
"I don't like where this is goin'…" Benjamin mumbled.
Rebecca glanced at the Earl. The look in his eyes seemed to explain it all to her.
He knew this was going to happen.
Finny's voice was a mixture of sadness and worry. "She went to the fen by herself?"
"When there might really be a demon hound lurking about?" Mey-Rin add incredulously.
"Oh, hell!"
"Hold on a second! You don't honestly believe that do ya?" Rebecca groaned. This demon hound thing was becoming real old real fast.
"Why would she be picking herbs at a time like this?" The strawberry blonde frowned.
"Apparently you do…" The ebony haired teen deadpanned. How dense could someone actually be? It was the nineteenth century for god sake!
"Oh, well, it looked like she was worried about how pale you were." Bard stated.
Finny feature's looked pained at what Bard had just told him. "She did it for me…?" Without a second thought, he turned and ran back out the door.
Bard grabbed Rebecca by the hand, forcing her out of her seat as he ran passed Sebastian. "Let's go, Rebecca, Sebastian!"
"Wha! Why me?" The teen snapped, finally coming out of her momentarily daze.
Sebastian sighed, causing the dirty blonde chief to turn and stare at him like he had two heads.
"What's wrong with you? Are you a red-blooded man or what? Nevermind! Let's go, Mey-Rin!"
"Yes, Sir!" The red haired maid grinned.
Rebecca tried to pry Bard's hand off her wrist but to no avail. "Let go o' me ya bloody twit!" She hissed, glaring up at the male.
"Where's old man Tanaka?" Bard asked, oblivious to the struggling teen.
The elderly servant stood next to them, dressed in old hunting attire, a double barrel shotgun resting on his shoulder.
The ebony haired teen sweat dropped.
"He's on board. Right, let's go, men!" The chief cheered.
"Yes, Sir!" Mey-Rin saluted.
"H-Hold on a second! Why am I—Whoa!" Rebecca's protests fell on deaf ears as she was dragged with the other three outside and after Finny.
Benjamin stared at the spot his companion had been standing in a moment ago; unsure of what it was that just happened. "I… betta make sure they don't kill 'er." Standing from his chair, the dirty blonde male made his way outside, closing the door behind him.
Ciel ate a piece of his dessert while the trio of idiots and the two teens went looking for the Barrymore maid, leaving himself and Sebastian in a momentary peace. The young Phantomhive wiped his mouth before turning to his demonic servant. "Well, what color is your blood?"
Sebastian didn't reply.
"It looks as though we've developed a need to rush." The young Phantomhive grinned. Things like this always seemed to irk the ever stoic butler.
The demon sighed as his master took a sip of the tea that had been prepared.
"Put on a first rate show for me, Sebastian."
"Yes, my Lord."
Rebecca glowered to herself as the small group walked through the fog, muttering words under her breath that would probably give her a good whipping if her mother ever found out. She didn't like the Barrymore maid and yet somehow she had been dragged into looking for her.
She and Benjamin trailed behind the Phantomhive servants as they shouted out the maid's name. Neither was too enthusiastic about looking for someone they hardly knew, yet here they were, doing just that.
"This is utterly stupid." Rebecca hissed.
"Can't argue there… She's probably back at th' manor by now." The dirty blonde male sighed. This had turned into a bloody goose chase and frankly, Benjamin was getting annoyed. "Th' damn fog ain't 'elpin' us either!"
Mey-Rin's scream cut off Rebecca before a word could leave her tongue and both teens quickly rushed to aid the Phantomhive maid with whatever it was that may have happened to her.
"What is it?" Bard panicked, running over to his co-worker along with Tanaka, Finny, Rebecca and Benjamin.
"You alright?" Ben asked, confused why the red haired female might have screamed.
Mey-Rin pointed out in front of her, her arm shaking like the rest of her body from fear.
The fog in front of them began clearing out, revealing the mass graveyard of rotting limbs they had stumbled upon.
Benjamin quickly wrapped an arm around Rebecca's waist and held the teens face into his chest. "Bloody 'ell!"
The teen was grateful her friend was trying to spare her the nightmares, but the stink of rotting flesh filled the air around them, making her want to gag.
"Wh-what are those?" Bard had lived through many battles in his time serving in the military, but in all those years, he had never seen anything remotely CLOSE to this.
"Another thrilling scene the very next morning!" Mey-Rin shrieked. But from the tone of her voice, she seemed more excited than scared.
Finny's eyes scanned the grave yard, catching sight of something shiny that stuck out of one of the mounds. Squinting his eyes, he was able to make out what looked like a ring still attached to its owners hand. "Say, isn't that ring…"
"…Lord Henry's?"
"Guess 'e wasn't th' first…" Ben concluded, surveying the other rotting limbs that surrounded Barrymore's arm.
A loud howl rippled through the fog, catching everyone by surprise and causing them to hide behind a large boulder not far from where they stood.
The group of six peered out from behind the rock, carefully watching as the form of a man dissolved from the mist. Rather, a very naked man.
"Who's that?" Bard wondered.
Rebecca kept her eyes locked on the back of the silver haired male's head, forcing herself to keep from looking downward as he walked over to the dirt mound were the late Lord Barrymore's hand was partially buried.
The silver haired male sniffed at it a few times before grabbing the arm and moving it to another spot, sniffing it again for some reason unknown to the six.
It was when the male grabbed the arm that Rebecca noticed his black nails which appeared to have grown naturally like that.
"That arm… It wasn't the demon hound who killed Lord Henry after all. So it was a human?" Bard concluded.
The Phantomhive chief's conclusion suddenly didn't sit well with the ebony haired teen. Something in the back of her head was screaming 'inhuman' and 'dangerous' the longer she watched the silver haired male. "Ben…"
"Yeah… I saw 'em too…"
Rebecca felt her heart race against her chest. Benjamin had seen the man's nails as well and was undoubtedly feeling the same way at the moment. Both teens tuned out the Phantomhive servants as the silently observed the abnormal silver haired male. "I've got a bad feelin' 'bout this…"
"He's right!" Finny scolded, loud enough to once again grab both teens attentions, as well as the attention of the male.
"Finny!" Bard warned
The strawberry blonde ignored him as he continued to scold Mey-Rin for her earlier comment. "Angela has nothing to do with it! You shouldn't suspect people!"
"Shh!" Bard and Mey-Rin growled, instantly quieting their younger.
"Damn, 'e 'eard us!" Ben spat, shrinking back behind the rock.
The silver haired male turned his gaze towards the noise he had just heard, sniffing the air twice before licking his lips.
Finny froze momentarily, remembering what he and Mey-Rin had seen the other night when they went to check on Angela. The strawberry blonde stared at the male, trying to make sense of things when the sound of running feet became evident as it closed in on them.
The group of six finally tore their attention away from the silver haired male to the large mass of villagers and dogs that descended upon them. Each dressed in bathing garments, save for the dogs naturally.
"What are you guys doin' dressed like that?" Bard asked, slightly surprised by the mass of people and canines.
"We're all going to stand under the waterfall to ease the demon hound's wrath!" One exclaimed.
"The great demon hound's voice echoed in the air last night!" An elder woman added.
"He howled all night long!"
"Howled?" Mey-Rin questioned, tilting her head to the side. All she remembered was Finny's wailing after he ran out of the manor.
At the mention of the demon hound, the strawberry blonde's gaze darted back over to where he had last seen the silver haired male, only to find the area empty. Once again he darted off, catching his companions by surprise.
"Hey, Finny, wait!" Bard shouted, chasing after the gardener. Mey-Rin, Tanaka, Rebecca and Benjamin followed suit.
"That boy's mental!" Ben groaned.
"That's what love does ta ya!" Rebecca sighed. She had seen the look Finny had once before on her brother. Love in her opinion made men daft idiots.
The fog seemed to thicken as the group of six made their way farther from the main part of the village, stumbling onto what appeared to have once been a bath house that now lay in ruins.
Another howl ripped through the air, causing everyone to freeze out of fear.
"Th-This voice…!" Finny's eyes widened as a dark shadow formed in the mist before them.
"What the bloody 'ell is that?" Ben gapped, unable to decide whether he was just seeing things.
Rebecca stared at the somewhat visible mass, appearing captivated by the beast's eyes. Where had she seen eyes like that before? Bardroy's gruff voice pulled her out of her trance in time for her to hear the two words she was dreading to hear.
"Hey, is that…"
As the fog lifted, a large mass of silver fur stood before the group. Piercing red eyes staring angrily back at them.
"It's the demon hound!" The three Phantomhive servants shrieked.
Benjamin and Rebecca were at a loss for words as they stared at the monster before them.
The air around its mouth cackled with heat as it finally charged forward, throwing everyone into a full blown panic mode.
"I DON'T WANNA DIE!" Ben cried, causing the ebony haired teen next to him to jump from the sudden sound.
A slew of thoughts rushed through Rebecca's head, rendering her limbs useless as she tried to comprehend what the hell was exactly happening. Was this really going to be her end?
While the other's panicked at the sight of the demon hound charging after them, Finny noticed the piece of fabric attached to one of the canines claws, sending the strawberry blonde's blood boiling. "That's… It's Angela's…!" The realization caused the gardener to meet the hound half way, running forward and latching on to the hounds leg despite his friends warns.
"Is he daft?" Rebecca shouted, finally snapping out of her momentary paralysis.
The hound stopped running after noticing the unwanted human holding onto its front leg and tried to fling it off, giving Finny whiplash as the beast swung its paw frantically in the air.
"Oh, hell! Let me borrow that thing!" Bard growled, grabbing the shotgun from Tanaka and taking aim. "I'll show you what I can do." He pulled the trigger, causing confetti and streamers to fly out of the barrel. "Huh? Why did you bring a party favor?" Bard freaked.
Unable to hold on any longer, Finny fell to the ground, landing on his back. The Phantomhive servant sat up as best he could and watched in horror as the demon hound swung one of its paws down on him.
"FINNY!" Rebecca shrieked.
Finny screwed his eyes shut, not wanting to see the hounds paw crush him. When the sound of crushing bone failed to reach his ears, the young gardener opened his eyes, only to see the back of the Phantomhive butler standing in front of him.
"Dear me, you're quit good at 'shake hands'."
"Mister Sebastian!" The strawberry blonde stared at the black clad male with mild surprise as he held up the demon hound's paw. Nothing surprised the Phantomhive servants when it came to Sebastian.
Rebecca and Benjamin on the other hand, could hardly believe what they were seeing.
"Where did 'e…?" Ben gapped. It was as if the butler materialized out of thin air.
"Though you are a bit heavy." Sebastian grinned, flipping the demon hound into the air.
The silver furred canine landed against one of the ruins walls, causing it to crumble upon impact. Rebecca stared wide eyed at Earl Phantomhive's butler. 'Th-There's just… N-no way…!'
"Come, this is no time to be romping around together!" Ciel scolded, walking up to stand next to the stunned ebony haired teen.
"Young Master!"
"Of course not. I shall take care of everything at once." Sebastian replied.
Everyone watched as the demon hound slowly stood and cautiously sniffed the air before turning into a begging puppy that knows it's getting a treat.
"Smells irresistible, doesn't it? This is what you want, am I right?" Sebastian smirked, pulling out a box of dog treats from behind his back. "It's what dogs make a beeline for: Inukko, the treat you want every day."
"Inukko?" Everyone questioned.
Ciel looked on quietly, knowing that whatever Sebastian did would be interesting enough.
Drool fell from the canine's mouth as it howled happily and charged towards Sebastian.
"L-Look out!" Mey-Rin shouted.
The demon ignored the clumsy Phantomhive maid. "The best way to tame a dog is to bend its will and force obedience… In other words, rewards and punishments!" He explained.
"First, reward." Jumping into the air, Sebastian landed on the demon hound's muzzle and started biting its nose. The hound landed on the ground, whimpering happily as the Phantomhive Household, Rebecca and Benjamin watched completely dumbfounded and slightly disgusted.
"M-Mister Sebastian…" Mey-Rin frowned.
"And then…" Releasing the canine momentarily, Sebastian launched himself back into the air before harshly kicking the animal in the side of its muzzle, once again causing it to fall against the ruins.
The demon continued with his so called 'rewards and punishments' as the others looked on with amazement. Except for Rebecca. As she looked on with the other's, only one sentence kept appearing at the forefront of her mind, and it wouldn't leave no matter what she thought about. 'He… He isn't human…'
The ebony haired teen hadn't noticed when the Phantomhive butler created a large hole after slamming the poor silver furred canine into the ground. Or when Ciel had walked passed her and over to the edge of said hole. It wasn't until the feel of hot water on her skin that she noticed that anything had actually happened.
"I say, where is Sebastian?" Finny worried.
"What a resort needs is a tourist attraction to be its centerpiece. A way to luxuriate in abundant hot water and soothe the fatigue of everyday life. That is what we have here: a hot spring." Sebastian exclaimed, jumping down from the top of the water spire with the silver haired male Rebecca and the other's had seen while looking for Angela. "A Phantomhive butler who can't strike a hot spring or two, isn't worth his salt." He added, glaring at the naked male when it licked his face.
"Pluto!" A familiar feminine voice called, causing everyone to turn and face the Barrymore maid.
"'Pluto'?" Bard questioned as 'Pluto' jumped out of Sebastian's arms and ran over to the approaching Angela.
"Good boy. Good boy." She smiled, petting Pluto on the head as he licked her check.
"I found him last month. I love dogs, and he was so adorable I just had to feed him." Angela explained, petting the now sleeping demon hounds head.
Finny and Mey-Rin looked to each other. "'Adorable'?"
"He has a bad habit of turning human when he gets too excited, but…"
"Don't just brush it off as a 'habit'!" Bard shouted.
"And so you kept him without telling anyone?" Sebastian inquired, already knowing what the Angel's answer already was.
"Yes. Lord Barrymore was using the legend of the demon hound, but in truth he feared the hound more than anymore. When I thought of what might happen to him if my lord found him… I see I was too indulgent. I never thought the little fellow would hurt Lord Barrymore…" Angela smiled at Pluto as he snuggled into her lap. "Please! Would you be kind enough to keep him at your estate, my Lord?" She begged.
Sebastian blanched.
"K-Keep him at the estate?" Bard stuttered, not sure of what to think.
"At Sebastian's side, perhaps even Pluto could become a good, faithful dog!"
"No, you see, I am merely one hell of a butler…"
"Why not?" Ciel interrupted, knowing that he couldn't pass up the opportunity to torture the demonic being.
Everyone turned to the young Earl, slightly surprised. Although they had yet to say something about the idea of Pluto, Benjamin and Rebecca didn't seem to mind the demon hound considering that they would be living with it in the coming days.
Sebastian narrowed his eyes at the boy. "Do you mean that, young master?"
"Yes. It sounds amusing… in several ways." Ciel grinned.
The demon butler sighed.
"Hey, you alright?" Benjamin asked in a hushed voice, turning to his companion.
"Y-yeah… It's nothing important." Rebecca hesitated, looking away from the dirty blonde.
The sound of running feet caused everyone to turn toward the stampede of villagers as they advanced on the small group.
"The great demon hound's curse is lifted!" They cheered.
"Thank goodness! Thank goodness!" One of the males cried, kneeling in front of Ciel along with the mass of others behind him.
"What's this about?" The young Phantomhive demanded.
"My Lord, there's a legend in this village that when the sins of our ancestors against dogs are fully atoned for, the land will weep tears of forgiveness." Angela explained.
"These are tears of blessing!" An elderly woman cried.
Rebecca looked towards the geyser of water that stood before the setting sun. Though it was a tranquil sight, the ebony haired teen could not help but notice an ominous shadow that seemed to now lurk over them.
"This village had this hot spring all along, though." Sebastian sighed.
Ciel shook his head. "Well, no matter. We've accomplished our goal."
"Finally!" Benjamin grinned, stretching his arms over his head.
Rebecca smiled, nodding in agreement.
"Shouldn't you declare now that line you so clumsily let slip earlier?" The black clad butler grinned, knowing how much his young Master hated to be in the wrong.
The young Earl glared at his butler, a vein mark clearly visible on his head. "You do it."
"Case closed!" Sebastian declared.
Rebecca quickly surveyed the room before nodding to herself. This had been by far an eventful week and she was glad to be rid of this village once and for all. Grabbing the canvas bag, the ebony haired teen slung the strap over her shoulder and grabbed the envelope addressed to her parents off of the bed before leaving the room, closing the door behind her.
"Another letter to yer parents?" Ben asked, noticing the envelope in the teen's hand.
"If we stay with Earl Phantomhive, there's no need for them to send us extra money and such. I told Ciel that we would meet up with them at the village entrance once I deliver this." She explained.
The dirty blonde male nodded once and followed his companion outside as they quickly headed back into the heart of the village.
"Don't forget me, Pluto." Angela smiled, adjusting the collar around the demon hounds neck.
"Pluto! If you're goin' into town, put some clothes on! Don't just swing in the breeze!" Bard yelled
Ciel ignored his servants as he watched down the road, wondering what was taking those two so long.
"Is something wrong, my Lord?" Sebastian inquired.
Before the Earl could answer, he spotted both teens running towards them. "It's nothing." He smirked.
"Hey! Wait fer us!" Benjamin shouted, waving down the Phantomhive household.
"Huh? You guys are leaving too?" Finny asked once the two teens were close enough for them to hear.
"Yeah… Gotta get ta London 'fore th' snow." Rebecca grinned, adjusting the messenger boy's cap on her head.
"By the way,…" Ciel began, getting his servants attentions. "I forgot to mention, Her Majesty sent these two here for another reason besides helping with the previous case. She asked that I hire them as servants for the time being until another case they're involved in is resolved."
"R-really?" Mey-Rin smiled, happy that she wouldn't be the only female servant at the manor anymore.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed at the Earl. He should have seen this coming from the start.
Bard helped the two teens into the carriage while Finny said his goodbye to Angela, getting a kiss on the cheek in return.
"Well then, shall we be off?" Sebastian asked, trying to hide his irritation from the others.
"I'll certainly come to visit Pluto one day." The former Barrymore maid smiled.
"I wish I could refuse." The butler responded quickly, catching Rebecca's attention.
Angela's smile fell. "What?"
"Not many people could tame a demon hound. You seem to have a talent for making lesser beings eat out of your hand."
Rebecca watched both servants as they stared each other down, clearly disagreeing with one another's presence. Something about those two even being near each other didn't seem like the best of ideas to the ebony haired teen.
"Let's go, Sebastian." Ciel ordered, ready to return home and put this whole Houndsworth mess behind him.
The black clad male bowed to Angela before walking towards the front of the Earl's carriage and taking hold of the horse's reigns as he sat down.
With a snap of the reigns, both carriages jolted forward and started down the dirt road back to London.
"See you, Angela!" Finny shouted, waving to the white haired female with the others as she waved back.
The angel grinned, finally relieved that she could continue with her original plan. "One day, certainly."
Finally! *wipes sweat off forehead* This is by far the longest chapter I've written yet! I'm so proud of myself^^
I hope this makes it up to you, if only a little bit.
Thank you to Noface, Snookens5, I Am Pandora, and Chasing-Shad0ws for reviewing last chapter. And thank you to everyone who added my story to your favorites/subscription list^^ It means a lot to me.
Remember, the more reviews I get sooner I update!
Ciao for now^^