Chapter Twenty-Five
"It certainly is impressive how far you've humans have come," I heard myself mumbling as I fanned my face under the brim of the large sun hat positioned on top of my curls.
Ciel shot me a glare that I just smirked at, however even he looked impressed by the massive steel monster before us. The Titanic certainly lived up to its reputation as the palace of the sea. It was huge, larger than any ship I'd ever seen before. However with the rate at which everything was growing, I wouldn't be surprised if in a month there was another ship even grander and larger than this. At the moment though, the Titanic held fast to its title as the crown jewel of the oceans and everyone wished to be apart of its maiden voyage. We happened to be either lucky enough or unfortunate enough to be a part of the history making.
"I fail to see the appeal of these things," Sebastian muttered crossly.
I giggled, coyly covering everything of my face except my eyes with my fan. "A servant shouldn't be mocking something superior to their class."
"If that was an insult directed at my class I should hope you are prepared to deal with the consequences in the near future," he threatened with a smile, his eyes flashing crimson in the bright sunlight.
"Both of you need to act as your status suggest," Ciel snapped. "Sebastian, did you finish delivering our luggage?"
Sebastian bowed as much as was allotted in the crowd on the gangplank up to the upper class deck. "Yes, my lord. They should be awaiting our arrival to our suite."
Ciel nodded curtly. "And our appointment?"
"Set and on the hour."
"Good," Ciel complimented with a mischievous grin. "You aren't as incapable of a servant as I was beginning to think you to be."
Sebastian appeared baffled. "Have I displeased you, my lord?"
Ciel hummed in response, not answering further as he moved ahead of our little group, his svelte form nearly vanishing from view. Sebastian blinked after him, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion at the young earl's comment. I, on the other hand, was having a hard time containing the bout of giggles that wanted to suddenly burst from my throat.
"If you are too dense to catch that, Mr. Michaelis, there is no helping you in the ways of relationships and love," I goaded playfully. "I believe that was our young Ciel's attempt at flirting."
If anything Sebastian's eyebrows drew together further. I sighed and snapped my fan closed, promptly delivering a blow to his arm with it. He didn't even flinch at the contact, but it certainly gained his attention.
"Really there is no helping you, Sebastian," I grumbled. "Are you blind?"
"No."
"Then please inform me of how you missed that expression of his?" I inquired.
Bewilderment was my response. "Expression?"
I sighed, pointing after the retreating form of Ciel. "I shall not explain any further, but I shall ask you this: what are you're intentions towards him?"
Sebastian's eyes moved from me to Ciel. I waited patiently for his response, knowing it could take a while. Demons aren't as cold hearted as humans rumored us to be, however emotions such as love are things we forget over our extensive lifetimes. It's why we are thought to be heartless, soulless things. Our existence is actually a sad one. Even should be we feel love, we do not necessarily know the signs of it or what name to place to the emotions. Few of us actually retain our ability to do so. Those that do are lucky.
I took one look at the expression on Sebastian's face before settling with his silence as an answer. In due time he'd figure it out, even should such a discovery be scandalous in the human world at this time. However only I was privy to this knowledge outside of them and I was not planning on letting a whisper of it pass my lips.
"Never mind, I can see these things are not for the simple minded," I teased.
Ahead of us Ciel turned to look over his shoulder with an impatient expression. I chuckled lowly before picking up my pace, or as much as my dress would allow, to catch up to him. Behind me I could hear Sebastian doing the same.
Ciel quirked an eyebrow, "You two-."
"CIEL!"
A blonde streak darted across the deck, startling the other passengers out of the way. Within moments Ciel was stumbling backwards, two arms intwined around his neck as a head of blonde curls nuzzled his neck. If I hadn't been too stunned I might have laughed at the situation, but as it stood I could only blink in confusion at the scene playing out before me.
"Oh, I didn't know you were going to be here too! Father will be so surprised and I'm sure mother will be glad to see you as well!" The girl gushed pulling away to reveal herself as none other than his fiance.
I stared at Elizabeth Middleford with wide eyes. She was certainly much more excitable then she had appeared through a window the other day. The complete opposite of Ciel with her large, unyielding smile and brightly colored persona. She practically glowed and, quite frankly, it was sickening.
"Elizabeth! Compose yourself!"
I flinched back at the voice that cut over the small murmur of onlookers cooing over the sight of the young couple. The source of the command came from a stately woman making her way over to our group. I took one look at her stern expression and critical gaze, before promptly shrinking back.
Elizabeth instantly pulled away from Ciel, taking two steps back till she stood besides the woman who's narrowed gaze was suddenly directed at Ciel and Sebastian.
"So Earl Phantomhive were you ever planning on informing us of your departure from England?" She asked, her cutting glare never leaving his face.
"The situation of our trip left us with little time for such things, Aunt Frances," Ciel responded stiffly.
She nodded, accepting this answer for the time being. Since she was Ciel's aunt and sister to his father by blood, I assumed she knew of the Phantomhive heir's job under the Queen. I doubted there would be any other reason for her to so quickly believe Ciel. She didn't seem like the type of woman to let people off so easily.
"I see you still haven't taken care of those indecently long fringes of yours," she critiqued her eyes narrowed on Sebastian now.
Sebastian's expression flinched and I actually had a hard time not giggling. The most threatening demon in hell actually cowering to a human woman? It made for the most grand sight and should I have been back in hell the stories I would have spread!
"And you," she began, quickly gaining my full attention. "Who are you and why is a young woman traveling unattended with two males?"
I had enough decency in me to blush at her comment. Casting my gaze to the ground, I thought of the most believable lie to spin. Certainly playing as Ciel's sister would not work with her and I was not fond of the idea of trying to fabricate false memories. I did not want to be worn tried for such silly reasons, especially if I were to need my energy later.
"My name is Teresa Michaelis, I'm Sebastian's younger sister," I explained, inventing my lie as went along while trying to play the role I was building.
"Our eldest brother had heard rumors that Sebastian had shown up in England under the service of an earl and wished to see if this was true. You see, three years ago he and our father had a falling out which resulted in his disappearance. Our father was distraught and blamed himself into an early grave. My eldest brother would have come here himself, but he was kept home with business. Sebastian and I had always been close and I was eager to see England, so it made me prime choice. On the way here my escort feel ill and the Earl Phantomhive was kind enough to permit him to stay with the servants when he invited me to join them, so that I could get to catch up with my dear brother."
"I am indebted to your nephew, my lady," I ended on a polite note, earning a wide eyed stare from Ciel and a water gaze from Elizabeth.
The young girl let out a loud wail and stunned me into silence as she wrapped her arms around my waist and cried into my side. "What a terrible story! How could you do that to your family, Sebastian?"
As she said this last part she turned her teary green eyes to Sebastian, who was looking rather stunned himself. He cleared his throat, composing himself as he put on an apologetic smile.
"Those were never my intentions, my lady, and had I known what had happened I would have returned home to my grieving family."
Elizabeth sniffled, "Did you ever miss them?"
He nodded, "Everyday, it tore me apart to be away from home, but at the time I was terribly upset and not thinking clearly."
"Why didn't you go back?" She asked, wiping her eyes.
Sebastian kneeled down and offered her a handkerchief. "Now would it have been fair of me to leave the young master without a butler?"
Elizabeth shook her head, taking the cloth from his gloved hands to wipe away the rest of her salty tears.
Marchioness Middleford looked less sold by my story, her scowl never straying from my face.
"How does the sister of a butler come to wear such finery?" She inquired, eyes taking in the black velvet and white lace gown I was wearing.
I smiled, having already prepared the answer for this question.
"Oh, my family is not without money if that is what you are trying to say, my lady. The Michaelis family is of noble peerage, my eldest brother holds the title of Earl Michaelis," I responded. "Which is why it came to us as such a surprise to learn that Sebastian served as a butler for an earl here just outside of London. We knew he would have had to come across some means of a living, but never had we thought it would be as a servant. I suppose that is how he evaded our search for him for so long."
She took my answer in stride, but from her expression I could tell there were more questions prepared to be launched at me and if it hadn't be for Ciel, I'm sure we would have been standing there until evening before she was fully satisfied.
"Aunty, can we continue this discussion at dinner? We have an appointment that must be made," Ciel interjected.
The marchioness sighed, "Very well, but we will see you at dinner, Earl."
Ciel nodded and offered a stiff smile as the Marchioness led Elizabeth away. I held my breath until the woman was completely out of sight, before releasing it in one large gush of air.
"I swear for a moment I was about to be skinned alive," I muttered crossly.
Sebastian chuckled, "That woman would make a terrifying demon."
"Let's hope she remains human then," I grumbled.
Ciel rolled his eye. "Nina will be waiting for us by now. She has a terrible habit of showing up early."
I heard Sebastian agree as Ciel led us down through the main lobby. From there it was hard to keep track of what the two were saying, probably silently finalizing their plans on how they were going to lure the Countess into giving up her secrets. My attention however was fully fixated on the interior of the ship, completely taken with every detail. The golden wood and gold embellishments, the arrays of colorful tiled mosaics and cream marble. I tried not to gawk too much at the sight of each detailed carving as we passed under the grand clock standing at the first landing of the grand stair well. The knowledge mortals possessed of the appeal of art and their abilities to implement it were truly astounding.
"If you would please step inside this minute we will be on time for the appointment with Miss Hopkins who so kindly agreed to help us when we offered her a free trip abroad the ship," Sebastian urged, his voice tight with his annoyance at my delay.
I broke my gaze from my surroundings and turned to shot a glare at the demon. "If you insist, brother dearest."
Sebastian chuckled at my antics as I strutted past him and into the main room of the suite. The area was decorated much like any mansion parlor room. Multiple love seats of a deep hunter green, dark wood side tables, Tiffany glass lamps, painted vases filled with fresh red roses, a mixture of green and gold threaded persian rugs, and a writing desk with an ink well and prepared parchment paper.
"I'm amazed, it's like a home away from home," I muttered, running my fingers along the furniture.
"They only want to give they're guests the best experience so that they'll come back," Ciel responded from one of the love seats. "It's all a ploy to gain the most profit."
I arched an eyebrow at him, "Are you sure you're only thirteen, Ciel?"
He smirked, a knock on the door preventing him from saying anything more. Sebastian was quick to answer it, swinging it open to reveal a woman carrying a large leather suitcase in one hand. Her expression upon seeing Sebastian was almost comical.
"So you're also abroad with the Earl, Mr. Stiff," she sneered.
Sebastian's face read of annoyance as he motioned for her to come in. "Please step inside, Miss Hopkins. The young master has a special request for you today."
She did as asked, promptly dropping her baggage beside one of the love seats as she regarded Ciel first. "The Earl is still a beautiful boy as always. It's amazing..."
Ciel cleared his throat and I had to giggle at the light dusting of pink coloring his cheeks. "Miss Nina, I need for you to tailor a dress for a costume masquerade to be held two nights from now."
If her eyes hadn't been glittering before, they certainly were now. "Oh! Another pink muslin gown! I've heard rumors of it, but I regret not ever being able to see it myself... There were even stories of twin tails..."
Ciel's face was even redder at this point. "No! Miss Nina, this dress will be for my associate! Miss Tessa has agreed to act as bait this time. We'll need her to look alluring as possible without her being indecent."
Nina turned her attention my way by following the gesture of Ciel's hand. It took her a full second to cross the parlor and squish me to her over embowed chest. I gasped and then gave a shrill cry of alarm when a hand groped my rear through the bustle of my dress.
Behind me, I heard both Ciel and Sebastian sigh.
"Miss Hopkins, can you please release my sister?" Sebastian sighed, sticking with our earlier story- I suspected this was in case the Middleford family and her were to ever meet in my presence.
The woman pouted, but complied and I quickly stepped two feet away, straightening my gown. I'd been groped by many males in my lifetime as a succubus, but I would have to admit that was the first attacked by a female.
"Who would have thought such a beautiful young woman would have such a man for a relation," she sighed, both managing to insult Sebastian and compliment me in the same sentence.
Ciel cleared his throat, "Miss Nina, if you please. We do need this dress down as soon as possible."
"Very well, Earl," Nina's eyes flashed and she grabbed the top edge of her skirt before tearing it off to reveal shorts and a scandalous amount of legs.
"Shorts?" I found myself muttering. "I like her already."
Besides me, Sebastian sighed. "Of course you would."
I grinned, "Miss Hopkins, if I may inquire, would it be possible for me to acquire a pair of those in the future?"
Nina's eyes came to life and before I could blink, I was once more being crushed to death. "Finally a woman who shares my ideals! I shall make you as many as you wish!"
"Miss Nina!" Ciel cut in, annoyance coloring his tone. "A dress?"
"Oh yes," she muttered. "I'll have to take her measurements, but I do believe I have the perfect design for her. She'll go as Persephone! The beauty that even Death himself could not escape the temptation of! It'll be perfect with silks of soft blues to match those pastel eyes! We'll need gold trimming and lots of it, to bring out the highlights in her hair and add a otherworldly beauty!"
"This will be Vienna all over again," I sighed softly, rubbing my temples.
Sebastian smirked and leaned in so that his mouth was beside my ear.
"Then I know what my costume shall be."
A/N: One more chapter down and only a few to go- Oh and this story has officially reached over 200 pages with this chapter. Hope you guys have enjoyed it so far. Also I hope you all are smart enough to guess Sebastian's costume, the Vienna reference shall be explained next chapter.