Chapter Twenty

My breath caught in my throat. This was not how this was supposed to have went, but when do things like this ever? In what would have been only fractions of a second for the human woman staring in shock at me, I shifted through a thousand different ways to get out of this situation. Changing forms nor using charms was going to work, I was already caught and I had a feeling this woman was not susceptible to being swayed so easily.

It was hopeless.

"Your unbinding will be the gateway to more paths."

Undertaker...

I swallowed, I suppose now was as good of an opportunity to try out the knowledge he had provided me with as any; though my pervious fears still lurked behind that thought. Doubts, the what if's and could be's. Who really knew what I would become if I tapped into that side? I certainly didn't and neither had the Undertaker completely understood it, or if he had he certainly hadn't offered any clear information on it.

My decision was made as soon as Beast opened her mouth.

Forcing my eyes shut, I dove into the deepest parts of my subconscious mind. Mortals only can use a certain amount of their mind, it's one of the things that separate us from them, our ability to tap into our entire abilities. There was a certain part of myself though that I had kept locked away and well away from until now; until I became curious about it. I had Undertaker to partially thank for that. With only minimal hesitation I prodded through it curiously, before I summoned enough strength in myself to submerge myself completely.

What I found was both surprising and not entirely unwelcome.

A sensation of warmth spread through my body quickly growing to an almost intolerable level, before cooling down till it was a low hum of energy mixing with my blood and essence.

White mixed with black.

Sin with purity.

Angel with demon.

Instincts drove me to reach out and press my hand to Beast's forehead. Her dark eyes grew, a mixture of confusion and fury swirling in the depths. Her mouth opened, but nothing had a chance to escape. Focusing on the building haze in my mind I pushed forward. Slowly, her mouth fell closed as her eyes grew hazy as if a layer of fog had descended upon her. As if entering a trance her body lost it's rigidness and she stood up, moving like a doll out of the tent.

I didn't dare move until she was completely out of sight. Once she was both out of sight and sound, I released the breath I'd been holding and wiggled my way from under her makeshift cot just as Sebastian propped the trunk open, releasing both himself and Ciel from the small space.

One glance at me and I knew he knew what had happened. His gaze darkened ever so slightly, just enough that even Ciel noted the change in demeanor of his demon.

"You've awoken that bloodline," the disgust in his voice was just as chilling at the tone he used.

Ciel scowled, "We don't have time to discuss whatever she did or didn't do, leave this for a later date. We have an investigation to complete."

I gave Ciel a sheepish smile as I smoothed the dirt from my clothing, avoiding Sebastian's gaze as best as I could. I had no idea what I exactly did or if I even had truly awoken that side, but if I had he did truly have an excuse to be disgusted. Demon did not take lightly the blood of angels, they scorned those holy viewing them as advisories. If I had tapped into that bloodline then my blood would be tainted, neither damned nor holy. A mutt if I dared used human terms. But could I truly have such a side if my father was fallen?

Time could only tell.

When I finally grounded my thoughts from their far away drifting, I caught Ciel's last comment to Sebastian.

"When the encore is over, return here ahead of the troupe members and release the snakes. Alright?" He commanded, already moving towards the last section.

Sebastian crossed his hand over his heart, "Yes, my lord."

"If it is alright I shall assist," I stated quietly, keeping my head bowed.

Ciel gave a short nod, before hurrying off and disappearing behind the last flap. I moved to follow, but my arm was caught. Forced to stop, I turned slowly to lift my face to Sebastian's. His face was set in a stern manner, which did more then frighten me a little. The natural instinct to cower before a demon of his status was great, but I forced my chin higher as I locked gazes with him. I would not show fear physically, even if internally I was shaking like a leaf in the wind. He might be a stronger demon, but that did not make him a stronger being overall- though I held no doubt he was stronger then me even with any added variables.

"Yes?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice even and happy that I had succeeded in at least that much.

"Ubi sanguis praebitus terrae vermiculus velut suscitat nubes flebunt."

My eyes slowly grew as Sebastian released his hold and moved away, leaving me planted in place. I worked my lips, but my tongue couldn't seem to muster enough strength to utter any intellectual syllable. It wasn't the words that bothered me, the cryptic nature of the words did not bother me in the least, his expression did however. The earlier sternness had changed into a look of mild...could it truly have been even slightly mournful? Surely not! Sebastian was not the type of demon to ever feel such a thing, let alone show such an expression as that. My mind must be toying with me.

Rubbing two fingers against my temples, I forced my feet to follow in the direction Ciel had disappeared. If anything would be able to remove my mind from such disturbing thoughts surely whatever the young earl dug up could. That is if he had stumbled across anything of interest. We very well could have been following a wild goose chase this whole time. Which if that were the case I believe it would be safe to conclude that Ciel would be a very disgruntled earl.

"My name!"

The gasp was almost inaudible, but it was enough to draw my movement to a halt. Instantly my eyes fell on Ciel's kneeling form. His pale hands were clutching tightly onto a stack of papers, a barely visible tremble noticeable as he stared down at the pale sheets. Cautiously I eased my way up to him, peering over his shoulder at the paper.

And surely enough, Ciel Phantomhive was indeed scrawled across the page.

"Does this mean we've been discovered?" I mused out loud when Ciel said nothing.

My words seemed to have echoed his thoughts because his body went from stiff to rigid, bristling ever so slightly. His head turned stiffly so that his gaze met mine and through the depths of sapphire I could see the swarming questions.

"I find it highly unlikely, Ciel," I muttered, answering my own question and his unspoken one. "They would have acted should they have had reason to suspect us of being anything but what we claimed to be."

The rigid nature in his posture eased slightly, but he still seemed troubled. "Why would they have an entire profile about me here?"

I frowned, "Surely I could not answer that one, but it does answer one lingering question."

"Which is?"

"These people aren't as innocent as they make themselves out to be," I pointed to the paper. "There would be no need to carry such documentary about the Queen's watchdog unless they have something to hide and even should they have no knowledge of your work with the Queen, then for what other reason would a circus troupe carry a complete biography on a noble? Simple, there is no reason. They are hiding something, but I have no idea as to what that just may be. Further investigation will be needed to discover that much."

Ciel frowned thoughtfully, his eyebrows drawing together as his eyes scanned over the sheets one more time. Having already seen what I could of the black writing, I took a step back content with waiting for him to finish whatever reading he needed to do in order to be satisfied with it.

Our silent moment was disrupted by echoing laughter and the sound of approaching footsteps.

Ciel's eye widened, before he quickly stashed the papers back into an envelope and quickly shoved them back where he had discovered them.

"You go that way," I whispered, shoving him towards the edge of the tent. "It's better to be separate. Two people are more easily spotted then one."

Ciel silently nodded, pulling the flap up and slipping under it as I did the same with the opposite side. The cool rush of outside air was refreshing, unknowingly the tents had become stuffy without a flow of air through them. I breathed it in deeply before quickly, sliding around the back of the tent as shadows thrown from the various lamps around the camp alerted me to approaching troupe members.

The rest was simple and before I knew it I was safely back within the lower tier boundaries. I smiled to myself, proud that I slipped through without being detected or slipping up, which as of late was becoming more frequent then not.

"I thought the young master, who is greedy for games, would think the same," the bemused voice cut through the air clearly as I slipped past the tent flap.

Sebastian had his usual idiotic, yet somehow ever arrogant, grin plastered onto his face as he faced a rather put out Ciel. The young nobleman had his arms crossed over his chest as he stared daggers up at his demon. I smirked as I moved to the side of them to watched them banter it out. The relationship between Ciel and Sebastian was much more complex then I was willing to dive into and sometimes stepping aside while they held their battle of the wits was the best option.

Instead my eyes traveled over the sad existence of Sebastian's tent, before they rested upon the company I had not yet noticed. If possible my smirk blossomed into a larger grin. The reaper, upon noticing my attention, turned to glare at me with the tell tale sharp green eyes.

"As if it is bad enough that I have to deal with one of your kind," he muttered coldly. "Two is too much."

I pretended to pout and placed a hand over my bosom, "I'm offend by your harsh words, sir. Who's to say what kind I am?"

He grunted, pushing his glass up the bridge of his nose with his scythe, "Your blood brands you for your kind."

I laughed dryly, "Really...Then I suppose I'm quiet the mess, aren't I?"

My words grew into little more then a sigh as I finished, addressing myself at the end more than I was the reaper on the other end of the tent. He did seem to realize this though as he delivered another grunt as he turned his attention to the notebook in his hand, flipping over a page before he snapped his scythe outwards.

"You," he snapped icily, delivering Ciel a glare. "Are intruding on my private property by three centimeters."

"Huh?" Ciel cried as he leap back from the object.

I chuckled, only slightly impressed that the reaper was so anal that he could tell the exact distance.

"Incapable of staying apart as you both decided...," he stated. "Exactly like a dog and it's owner."

Ciel visible ground his teeth together to prevent himself from saying anything. As much as I was sure he would have loved to have given the reaper a verbal boxing, our current situation called for him to show a little respect of the other. He, just as much as us, only kept from giving the other trouble because of a silent agreement not to bother the other. If someone crossed the line there was no telling what might or might not occur.

Ciel coughed roughly into his hand, loud enough that it troubled me slightly, as he turned towards the entrance of the tent. "Sebastian, let's go outside."

"Yes."

Another cough echoed behind them as they both disappeared outside the tent, troubling me deeply. I frowned after them, but made no move to follow. Ciel, no matter what condition he was in, would fill Sebastian in on what had been discovered in the Joker's tent as well as what we both had concluded from the findings. I only hoped whatever it was that ailed him wasn't too serious, but something told me that not everything was alright with him.

"Aren't you meant to join them?" The unfriendly tone cut through my thoughts, drawing me back to the tent.

I lifted my shoulder's in a small shrug, "It is not necessary for me to be with them at the moment."

"Tch'," Will scoffed. "So you aren't tied to that human child?"

My grin softened, "No I am not, but I choose to be with him."

Slowly I removed my left glove to reveal the mark on the back of my hand. The black lines of my contract with Sebastian were just as darkly colored as the last time I had set eyes on them, each swirling line just as binding at the ties that formed them. Will's eyes scanned over them, disgust evident in his eyes as he finally let his gaze move back to his book.

"I'm currently bound by blood with Sebastian under an oath to protect Ciel Phantomhive until the end of his contract," I explained, carefully slipping the glove back into place. "Until then I am on a leash with one end in the hands of that devil."

I chuckled to myself, "But I can think of a few situations worse then this. Ciel is an interesting mortal, something to add a bit of spice to the boredom of an eternal life."

He scoffed in response.

"May I inquire of something from you?" I asked suddenly.

Will glared skeptically at me, "After what?"

"Do you know a reaper by the name of Ronald Knox?" Even as the name left my lips my finger curled inwards, nails bitting into the flesh of my palm.

His expression drifted towards suspicion. "Why are you asking?"

"Personal reasons," I shot back.

Silence then, "He is a trainee under the watch of Grell Sutcliff at the current moment."

I growled lowly to myself, committing the information to memory in case I should need it later. Even as I did so I noted the tone of dislike hidden in the usual flat tone William masked all his words in. It was clearly obvious that he held neither reaper in high esteem, which would make what I would do in the future that much easier to get away with.

"Thank-." My thanks was never completed as a sudden fit of coughing and gurgling broke the stillness of the camp around us.

"Smile!"

"Ciel," I mumbled, rushing for the tent entrance.

A/N: Sorry for the lateness and delay in this chapter. Personal issues are to blame. Anyway thank you for being patient with me. Also as a note for the future once I'm done finishing this arc of the manga I'm breaking away from it to follow the building of my own plot which will never end if I continue following the manga's story line; so expect that soon.

Also note weird language Sebastian uses in this chapter is latin and it means "When the blood awakens the skies shall weep as the ground is dyed crimson." Or at least that is what I hope it means -used an online translator-.