A/N: Yeah new chapter! Anyway updates are going to be as quick as I can make them on this one. The end is actually coming very near if I stick to the plan. I'll be breaking away from the manga story line shortly after the circus ending, which is next chapter ;). After that I reintroduce our shadow man and his origins, along with a familiar face who is causing some problems for our dear Queen. So look forward to the finale few arcs (arcs consist of a good four or so chapters so the end isn't all THAT close yet) of this story.

poison1234: Thank you I'm glad you're enjoying it so far; and I hadn't uploaded in over a month so your not the only one XD. As for the Baron, the version of scans I was reading named him as the Baron Gelwin (I wasn't paying much attention to when I was writing it, but it had seemed funny). Like you I'm more used to seeing it as Kelvin, so I did go back and switch that. Thank you for pointing it out though, because I forgot what the other translation of the name was though I knew I preferred it over Gelwin.

Chapter Twenty-Two

I flipped the page over and just refrained from releasing a very unladylike yawn from my mouth. The book was rather dry but most of the interesting ones had already been consumed by me and now lay scattered about the floor of my chambers; the first few novels having belonged to Poe, an author who's works Ciel apparently adored, laid closest to the door at the start of the piles. There were well over a hundred novels and collections of poetry laying in the room, but this was not to be unexpected when I was held back from the excitement that had been promised yesterday. Though I couldn't blame Ciel for getting ill, I could however blame that foreign prince and his servant for being so meddlesome.

The wait was painful.

I sighed and dropped the book down onto another pile nearest to me. Usually I would have brought them back to the library downstairs myself, but giving Sebastian more work while I was allowed to do so was an appealing notion. The excuse of being the lady of the house was both useful as it was annoying. There were plenty of things that could have kept me entertained, but were off limits thanks to the false title.

Down the hall I could hear the quiet whisper of Sebastian's footsteps followed by a pair that was only slightly louder, meaning it could only be Agni. The Indian was rather close in comparison to a demon with his 'goddess' given gifts; his strength and silent movements only a few of these likenesses.

Feeling that they might hold some brief relief for my restless mind, I hurried for the door and into the hallway. Passing down the hall towards the entrance stairwell, Agni brought up the rear of the group with a slumbering Soma resting on his back. Sebastian either didn't notice my presence or choose to ignore it, instead continuing with the discussion he was having with Agni or rather Soma- so much for my thought that he was asleep.

"Ciel is still a child! He's at the age where you want to be fawned over and cuddled by your parents all day when you have a cold."

The very mental image of Ciel asking to be cuddled made me nearly burst into a fit of uncontrollably giggles. The picture of him, straight faced and asking very seriously for that was simply too much. Ciel was proud and it was his pride that would never allow him to even considered being coddled.

By the time I had willed the giggles to stop, I had missed much of the passing conversation. Suddenly Soma's head popped up from his servant's shoulder to regard Sebastian. Though I couldn't see his expression, I knew it had to be strictly serious for once just from the scolding tone of his voice.

"You should be nice to him and fawn over him with all your might," he stated. "Okay, be nice!"

With the words he wanted to say out, Soma hopped off Agni's back and turned to dart away. My guess was that he was afraid of Sebastian's wrath, the poor boy had already been a victim to it once before and I doubted he wanted another scolding like that again. However, I wasn't about to let him slip away just yet. Where would be the entertainment in that?

Reaching out, I snatched a hold of his clothing. He was yanked to a stop and turned ever so slowly to face me, probably expecting Sebastian with the size his eyes had grown to. When he noticed it was just me, his expression relaxed slightly.

"Oh... Tessa," he stumbled out.

I released my grip and forced a small smile on to my face. "Forgive me, but I couldn't help but to overheard your conversation."

Soma's brows furrowed and he glanced to Sebastian who looked equally curious as I stood perfectly tranquil and collected before them with the smallest of polite smiles on my face. I was sure that I looked every inch the daughter of nobility I had been raised to be when I had been reincarnated, but I knew if someone glanced deeper into my eyes they'd see the glimpse of twisted glee in my eyes. I was being superficially polite, I had the selfish motives of being entertained spurring me on however.

I narrowed my eyes on Soma ever so slightly, "And I was not prepared to sit by while you scolded our family butler."

Both Soma's and Agni's eyes widened at my sudden harsher tone, but Sebastian's face made it worth while. At first he could only merely gape in surprise that I had taken his side, which made me feel a twinge of guilt for having taken advantage of every situation in the past to tease him endlessly- but only a twinge- before it melted into a smug smile that was directed at the foreigners'.

"I have no deep knowledge on the customs of your country," -a lie- "but I do know that here in England, our butlers, or servant for that matter, are not handed the tasks of being 'nice' to their masters."

Soma looked like he was about to argue, but I held up a hand for him to wait for me to finish because I was far from done. His expression had yet to sink into anything satisfactory and I wouldn't quit until I got something from it.

"Here servants are expected to be only respectful and faithful to their masters, coddling their family heads or heirs would be a direct insult to the family name they serve," I explained sternly, as if I were scolding a child for saying something naughty. "Asking Sebastian to be nice to Ciel is both an insult to him as the Phantomhive butler and Ciel as the head of the family. Also there's the point that both are males and if they where to cuddle and be 'nice', even if Ciel were sick, it would still illicit gossip that would tarnish the family name and reputation. If such gossip was caught by her majesty or the yard, Ciel and Sebastian both could be imprisoned for indecent acts that were never committed but only talked about because Sebastian was accepting your advice."

With each word Soma flinched back before hanging his head altogether. I stopped in my rant then, smug and satisfied with the conclusion. All I had spoken was the truth, though granted it had been a bit exaggerated. Overall the satisfaction of baring down on Soma was enough to relieve the edge of my boredom for the time being. I certainly tended to be sadistic when my mind was restless.

In this sense I truly was a full demon, mind and body.

"Forgive me," Soma apologized lowly. "I was only trying to think of what was best for Ciel."

I sighed softly, "I understand. You simply do not fully understand our culture yet."

He perked up slightly, looking up at me with large golden eyes. "So for servants and men such familiarity is wrong in London?"

I nodded, "According to society, it is wrong for anyone who is not family to do so."

He frowned thoughtfully for a moment, tapping his forefinger against his bottom lip. His mind was either trying to digest this new policy or he was thinking of a new scheme to get around this unspoken law of refined behavior. Within moments he snapped his fingers and pointed a finger directly at me.

"But family members can cuddle and comfort their ill loved ones, right?"

I blinked slowly, understanding yet not at the same time. My mind wasn't fully comprehending what it was he was exactly trying to do with this knowledge. There didn't seem to be any obvious connection.

"Yes... it would be," I stated as I nodded wearily.

He grinned triumphantly and for some reason this served to tighten the uneasy knot currently building in my stomach.

"Agni!"

The white haired Indian bowed at the waist. "Yes, my prince?"

Soma turned his body so that he was half facing Agni and half turned to me. With a large smile on his face, he gestured to me. "I order you to take the little earl's sister to him so that she can comfort him while he is sick."

"Wha-!" I was abruptly cut off from protesting when I was scooped up in a rather unseemly fashion and whisked back down the hall towards Ciel's chambers. Honestly I was too surprised at first to fight my way free and by the time it had fully sunken in, I was roughly deposited onto the center of Ciel's large bed. Upon my weight falling onto the mattress, Ciel started awake; large mismatched orbs darting around in confusion.

"Forgive me, my lady and little lord," Agni apologized quickly as he bowed to both of us. "But I must follow my prince's orders."

"Hold on a mome-"

The door clicked shut behind him.

"Damn that royal brat!" I swore crossly.

"Tessa, would you mind explaining to me what the meaning of this is?" Ciel demanded, still staring in confusion at the door.

I sighed, "Soma seems to be under the impression that you secretly desire to be pampered like a child while you lay ill. He first tried to convince Sebastian that he was mean and needed to be fawn over you. I suppose my mouth got me into this mess when I corrected him and informed him that it would be improper for Sebastian to do so. Soma seemed led to believe that a family member would be the perfect replacement then."

"I suppose my decision to lie about you being my sister became more of a bother than it would have been to explain why my parlor maid was wearing an expensive gown," Ciel grumbled as he fell back into the pile of pillows. "Though it's too late to change that decision now."

I smiled softly and shook my head, "Indeed it is rather late for that."

Ciel peeked through his blue eye up at me. "Is it possible to leave without them preventing us?"

I bit my lip thoughtfully and stared at the door. My ears could pick up the sounds all around the house. None of the other servants were lingering around, having been sent back to the main mansion, so there were no large distracting noises to prevent me from finding who I sought. Sebastian's light movements were quick to pick up near the parlor, probably tending to the dying fire inside the hearth there. Soma and Agni however were much nearer.

"Unfortunately at this time it would be impossible," I finally concluded, not bothering to hide the bitterness in my tone. "We'll likely have to wait until they turn in for the evening."

Ciel's eye slid shut as he released a faint scoff, "Troublesome idiots."

I chuckled softly, "Why don't you continue resting? I'll wake you when the time is right."

Both mismatched eyes opened fully to regard me in a suspicious stare that could very well have pierced through many people's facades to their true intentions. They were clouded with uncertainty and a degree of mistrust that deeply offended me.

"Can I trust that you won't try anything?"

I nearly groaned aloud, but bit it back at the last second. "Ciel, just because I am a succubus does not mean that I have no dignity and succumb to lust at every wakening moment. I have a more refined taste than to take anyone and anything to bed with me. Besides, I like my men a little older and more experienced."

Ciel's face colored slightly and he quickly rolled over onto his side, putting his back to me. I couldn't help but to chuckle lightly at the action. For someone who appeared so mature he sure had a funny reaction to such a topic. It wasn't as if I had even put it bluntly, there were plenty of other more vulgar terms I could have used, and yet he still acted like an innocent child when he heard it.

I suppose in that sense he was innocent though.

"Tch," he grumbled, much to my amusement.

Feeling slightly mischievous, and unable to resist the urge to tease, I moved to lean over him. As I drew closer I felt him tense up, but before he could order me away I swooped down and placed my lips by his ear.

"Your soul belongs to Sebastian anyway," I whispered, giggling as he shivered when my breath fanned over the side of his neck. "Though it's very tempting."

Ciel flinched and sensing he was about to shoot up, I giggled and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before jumping away. Mismatched eyes glared sharply at me as I settled on the edge of his bed with a board smirk playing on my lips. It was hard to hate Soma for having me locked in here now. I was having too much fun.

"Hn... Dark...?" Ciel mumbled incoherently as he shuffled about under the covers. Suddenly he shot upright, a panicked looked on his face. "What time is it now?"

I couldn't help but giggle at the distressed appearance as the other occupant of the room decided to make his presence known in time to placate the young earl.

"It is seven fourteen in the evening," Sebastian stated with a smile as he clicked the pocket watch shut. "You finally woke up I see."

It was hard to refrain from relapsing into a fresh bout of giggles when the words took their time to take root in Ciel's mind. He scowled upon hearing my muffled laughter, his sapphire eye narrowed onto my face.

"Why didn't you wake me?" He accused.

I lifted my shoulder in a small shrug, it wasn't as if I would tell him that he had simply looked too adorable to disturb, that would have landed me in even more hot water. With nothing more coming from me he turned to regard Sebastian.

Sebastian gave a small polite smile as he placed a coat over Ciel's shoulders. "It was a decision based on the fact that butlers should think about their master's health first."

My eyebrows shot upwards as Ciel's face fell into confusion.

"Huh?"

Without addressing either of our confusions, Sebastian rambled off Ciel's dinner for the evening. The dish was revealed from under the silver tray before the earl, revealing a grand array of the finest dishes made in England. The aroma that wafted into the room from the food was enough to make my mouth water even though I had no need for it.

Taking the dish, Sebastian scooped up some food and held it out to Ciel with a closed eye smile.

"Say 'ahh'."

That was my undoing.

I fell off the bed clutching my sides the moment Ciel jumped ten feet off the mattress like a scared alley cat. I could not believe that Sebastian had taken Soma's advice at all... unless he had decided to use it as a good excuse to tease Ciel some more. In which case I was completely behind the whole charade. The young earl's expression was priceless.

"Stop it right now, that's an order," Ciel demanded, bristling with goosebumps as he continued to glare at Sebastian.

Sebastian paused in his ministrations, his smile almost condescending as he regarded his young master. "Master Soma said patients are things to fawn over completely and to be nice to. Does it not please you?"

Ciel scowled darkly, his aura reading murderous intents. I would not wish to be Soma when he finally had the chance to get his hands on him. The poor foreign prince would have another thing coming to him.

"I don't need your 'fawning'," Ciel retorted. "It's disgusting."

"Is that so?" Sebastian gave a falsely apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about that then."

I rolled my eyes as I moved to sit back on the bed, straightening my skirts after my eruption of very unladylike behavior. Neither male paid me any mind as I took a seat with my legs tucked under me while they went about their usual routine. Ciel was brought over to the wardrobe where he was stripped of his nightgown and dressed into something more suitable for going out; my eye adverted until Sebastian informed me that it was suitable for me to look once more. All the while they proceeded to discuss the call Sebastian received about an unexpected visitor at the mansion.

"It seems Miss Elizabeth has no intentions of going home before seeing you," Sebastian explained calmly.

I frowned softly trying not to appear too prying as I leaned forward, resting my forearms across the foot board at the end of the bed.

"Miss Elizabeth? Would this be the Lady Elizabeth Middleford?" I angled my head to the side slightly as I tried to recall any information I'd heard of Elizabeths that associated with the house of Phantomhive, but she was the only one I could remember though I'd never heard either Sebastian or Ciel speak a word of her before.

Sebastian gave me a tight lipped smile. "Miss Elizabeth is the young master's fiancee."

My lips formed the word 'oh' as I tried to prevent my eyes from widening any further. That was unexpected. I'd heard she was his cousin, but while it wasn't uncommon for this era I hadn't altogether seen it coming. I suppose it made sense though, to keep the bloodlines pure, but from the expression Ciel wore it didn't look like he was pleased with this particular arrangement.

Ciel gave an exasperated sigh, "Jeez... You've researched Baron Kelvin's house, right?"

Sebastian chuckled softly as he reached for the top hat sitting at the top of the wardrobe. Apparently he knew that Ciel wasn't fond of the topic either, and with the way Ciel had redirected the conversation in another direction it was hard not to. I didn't know much about this girl, but once I met her I'd be careful to take notes on what Ciel might not be so fond of about her.

"Yes, seeing as there was plenty of time to do so," Sebastian informed Ciel, as he handed the hat over. "It's a place that's about a one days drive by coach or railroad from London."

Ciel smirked dryly. "If it's you, we will be able to get there in one hour right? If it's an order."

"Let's end this quickly and return to the main house."

Sebastian placed a hand over his heart and smiled, "Yes, my lord."