Why does that sound so familiar?
Evelyn struggled to recall where she'd heard the name before, failing miserably at the task as a voice caught her attention. "Joker, who's this you've brought with you...? Oh! Beast, my dear, so good to see you..." Father smiled as it occurred to Evelyn she was still enveloped in darkness. Gulping, she stood frozen in fear, her panicked eyes flitting towards Joker's in an attempt at finding out what to do. Joker cleared his throat, before turning back to Father, opening his mouth to speak.
"That's... not Beast, Father," the redhead said slowly, as Evelyn stepped into the light of the lantern, giving a small, clumsy curtsy as she came into view. "This is..."
"Evelyn Anne Glassow... sir," Evelyn stuttered, uncertain of how to address the man. "I'm the official illusionist of Noah's Ark. I was hired about a year ago, and made my way up to the first tier..." She trailed off, clasping her hands in front of her and glancing back towards Joker.
"Glassow... yes, that's a familiar name. But, tell me, Joker..." The Baron's voice was still dangerously cheery as he directed his next question towards the redhead. "Why is she listening in on our conversation?" Evelyn swallowed, feeling a lump grow in her throat as she struggled to find an answer.
"Because she... recently found out about Noah's Ark's activities, and understands the gravity of the situation. I thought that you may want to meet your newest... supplier." Joker replied quietly, his eyes downcast as he set his lips in a thin line.
"And how did she find out?"
"I... told her, Father."
The tense silence that followed was deafening, pressing into Evelyn and making her feel nauseous. The illusionist shifted uncomfortably, feeling extremely anxious as she waited for a reaction - good, bad, she didn't care. Just something rather than silence. The girl squeezed her hands together tightly, feeling smaller by the minute under Baron Kelvin's judgmental gaze. Finally the old man cleared his throat, his eyes never leaving the young woman as he spoke. "Very well, then. Off to bed with you, child. But you, Joker, stay here."
Fearing for her loved one's safety, Evelyn exited the room, shooting one final glance at Joker before gently shutting the door, allowing two small children to lead her to a spare bedroom for the night. It might be strange... Evelyn thought worriedly, sitting on the edge of the guest bed and pulling off her shoes. But somehow, I'm absolutely sure this isn't going to go well.
"Tom, he was a piper's son..."
Evelyn woke to a muffled, quiet voice singing singing in the morning air. Confused, as well as curious to find the source, she slowly rose, opening the door to the guest bedroom she'd been settled in and wandering into the hall.
"He learnt to play when he was young..."
The illusionist carefully crept towards the heart of the noise, hearing it grow louder as she reached the door across from her own. Slowly she twisted the doorknob, peering through the crack at the sight of Joker meticulously pinning back his hair. "And all the tune that he could play, was over the hills and far away..." He sang softly, tying a bright yellow bow around his neck and picking up a small makeup brush, dipping it into a small container of blue paint. "Over the hills and a great way off..." The ringleader's voice faltered as he brushed the paint into the shape of a teardrop under his eye, placing the utensil back on the vanity table and glancing towards a small photograph placed beside it.
"The wind shall blow my top knot off..." Joker trailed off, picking the picture up and staring down at it, looking almost... guilty as he sighed quietly. "Over the hills and far away, eh?" He wondered aloud, seemingly lost in his thoughts. Shaking his head, he picked up a book from the table, placing the photograph inside of it before pressing it shut.
"Well, I never would've thought," Evelyn said in a hushed tone, smiling sleepily at Joker as the man jumped, clearly startled. "You have a very lovely voice," she noted, padding across the wooden floors to wrap her arms around the man, leaning up and brushing her lips against his. Pulling away for air, Evelyn rested her head against his chest, feeling the warmth of the ringleader's skin against her cheek as she closed her eyes.
The two stood like that for only a moment, before Joker leaned down, mumbling quietly into the woman's ear. "We talked for quite a while last night," He muttered, reaching a hand up to play with the illusionist's tangled, unkempt morning hair. "He's anticipating the Earl Phantomhive to call on us tonight. We have to be ready." His hand dropped from Evelyn's hair to rest on her shoulder as Joker looked seriously into her eyes. Feeling rather sick to her stomach, Evelyn nodded, pulling away and straightening her nightdress as she spoke.
"Yes," she agreed, before heading into her own room, pulling on her dress from the day before and combing her hair to appear somewhat respectable. Pulling a small strap from an inside pocket of her dress, she wrapped it around her thigh, placing a small knife in the sheath it provided. Straightening up, Evelyn turned to stare at her reflection in a mirror hung on the wall facing her bed.
"We have to be ready."
"Welcome to the manor. We've been expecting you, Lord Phantomhive."
Joker's voice rang out as he pulled open one door to the mansion, Evelyn taking the other. The redheaded ringleader placed a skeletal hand over his heart, giving a steep bow as Evelyn curtsied, her green eyes never leaving the sight of the young lord.
"Joker... Illusion..." The fancily dressed boy standing in front of them replied, his voice sounding dull. Joker gave a small, bitter smile, pulling the doors open further.
"Please, come in," Evelyn said, gesturing towards the darkness inside of the mansion. Joker took the lead, the young Earl and his butler following close behind as the man snapped his fingers, the sound setting off a music box and lighting mechanism. Evelyn shivered as the music chimed through the hall. This is too creepy, she thought uneasily, quickly matching Joker's pace and walking alongside him as planned.
Evelyn heard the Earl give a small gasp as the room was illuminated, dolls and figurines becoming visible as the room became lit. "What is this...?" He asked, sounding thoroughly disturbed.
"This way, please," Joker said, gesturing in front of the pair and disregarding the young lord's question. The group of four walked for a while, the two performers completely silent, as the Earl Phantomhive and his butler shared a series of hushed whispers. Before long, Joker stopped, laughing quietly as a thought came to mind.
"It really is true, ye can't judge people by appearances," The redhead smiled, his eyes downcast. "A little tacker like you has the stage names 'Queen's guard dog' and 'villainous noble?'" Eventually the man's laughter died down, and he looked towards the boy, a sympathetic smile on his face. "I reckon that's hard, Smile."
The young boy's eyes narrowed as he began to speak. "I am Ciel, Earl Phantomhive. I don't tolerate servants speaking to me so familiarly." At that, Evelyn's eyes widened in offense, her heart filling with rage as she stepped forward, mouth open to retort. Joker threw his hand out, shushing the girl and throwing her a warning glance as he raised his hands in defeat.
"Ye be a noble, all right," was all he said before bowing slightly to the Earl. "Dinner is ready," he informed the two, turning and pulling open a set of wooden doors. How the hell is he so calm about this? I want to kill the child! Evelyn thought angrily, her eyes dark as she allowed the noble to pass.
Joker made a beeline towards a chair, pulling it out and allowing the Earl to sit down before heading off towards a set of doors at the end of the dining room, opening them and allowing Baron Kelvin inside. The old man sounded breathless as his eyes widened at the sight of the Earl. "L-Lord Phantomhive, you came!" He stammered, a smile growing on his face as he placed a hand over his heart. "Oh, it's like a dream, having you so close to me!" The man practically moaned, before beginning to twiddle his fingers. "I'm embarrassed to meet you, looking like this..." He said shyly, as Joker cleared a spot at the table for the man.
"You're Lord Kelvin?" Ciel asked, looking rather startled.
"That's right! Ah, that formality makes me feel a bit shy," the Baron admitted. "I've prepared a feast for you!" He grinned, picking up a small bell and ringing it. Immediately Evelyn and Joker disappeared into the kitchens, reappearing within minutes with food and wine, followed by children dressed in servant's uniforms. Joker began to pour a deep amethyst wine for the young noble, as the Baron chattered on senselessly about it, acting extremely modest.
The boy's butler took the wine into his own hand, sipping it - to test for poison, no doubt. I don't blame him, Evelyn thought. If I'd known he was this much of a bastard, I definitely would have poisoned it. Smiling slightly at her inward joke, Evelyn straightened up, listening as the Earl proclaimed that he had no interest in eating.
"Oh, I know!" The Baron practically shouted, holding an entire lobster in his fingers as he faced the young lord. "A meal without entertainment will bore you, won't it, my Lord?" He asked excitedly, as Joker visibly paled, his eyes widening. Entertainment? But we haven't set anything up, Evelyn wondered, looking worriedly to the redhead as the Baron turned to him. "Joker! Put on your show."
"What? B-but-" Joker protested weakly. Kelvin turned to him with a nasty look in his eye, ravenously eating the lobster in a disgusting manner.
"Just do it," the Baron grinned, chewing loudly.
Joker hesitated a moment, before bowing once more, letting out a quiet sound of agreement. Walking up to an elevated platform in the room, he spun to face his audience, twirling his decorated walking stick for emphasis before throwing his hand to the side, a bitter smile on his face. "Welcome, Lord Phantomhive! Tonight we'll take ye to a world of thrilling enchantment!" He cried, as a curtain behind him began to rise, revealing a row of costumed and masked children. Baron Kelvin began to clap excitedly at the scene, as Evelyn's breath hitched in her chest, her shocked eyes locking with Joker's for only a second before he looked away.
"First, our tightrope walker!" The ringleader announced, gesturing up towards the ceiling, where a young girl stood on a platform, holding a baton. "No safety net tonight, me lovelies! It's a bona fide-" Joker began to announce, as the girl stepped onto the rope, almost immediately falling.
In horror Evelyn watched as the girl's body slammed to the floor, blood beginning to pool from her head and leaving streaks on the floor as two other children dragged her lifeless body away. "Oh, my god!" The illusionist cried, covering her gaping mouth with a violently shaking hand as she looked to Joker, unable to believe what she had just seen. The man was slightly bent over, his face twisted into an expression of pain and guilt as he made half-sobbing noises towards the floor while the Baron laughed hysterically.
He composed himself.
Straightening up, Joker's eyes were dark as he forced a cynical grin onto his face, spreading his arms once again as a small cage was wheeled onstage. "Next, our lion tamer!" He choked out, weakly. "Watch as he masters the savage beast!"
The lion instantly jumped on the child, chilling wet sounds coming from the animal as it tore into the young boy's flesh. Evelyn felt as if she couldn't breathe as she watched the animal strip away bits of skin, chewing noisily on them as the cage was wheeled away. Tears burned down her cheeks as she witnessed the savagery, sobs beginning to wrack her body as she watched the dreadful sight before her. All the while, Kelvin laughed maniacally, clapping wildly with wonder.
"And now," Joker announced, pointing towards a girl tied to a target. "Our knife-thrower! What will become of this maiden on the cross?" He spat out, immediately looking away as tears pricked his eyes. He covered his face as one of the children wielded a knife, then forcefully throwing it -
-Straight at the girl's head.
Evelyn shut her eyes, hearing a yell from the Earl as she did so. "Stop him!" The young noble screamed, as Evelyn prepared to hear the sound of knife slicing flesh. The whole show was causing her to rock back and forth, painful images of her own parent's deaths intermixing with the grotesque pictures of the dead children as she suffered a mental breakdown. The room was terribly silent, unbelievably quiet - and as Evelyn slowly opened one eye, she understood why.
The boy's butler had the knife in his hands, and was looking back and forth from a small file to the girl on the target. "Elary Nixon, who went missing in Cornwall." He said briskly, closing the file and turning towards the Earl. "That settles it. Right as always, young master." He frowned. "Forcing children you abducted to perform... Yes, I suppose this is one way to enjoy the circus." Evelyn stared at the black-clad butler in disbelief, tears still streaming down her face as she slowly lowered her hands from her mouth. How can he be so calm? She wondered again, hugging herself tightly and feeling extremely frightened.
The Baron looked frantically back and forth from Ciel to the stage. "S-sorry!" He stuttered, looking panicked. "You didn't like this, either?" He asked worriedly, before turning to the redhead once again. "Joker! Clean up at once!" He cried, before turning back to the Earl.
"I'm done here," Earl Phantomhive snapped, hitting the table as he abruptly stood. The wine glass at his spot tipped over, spilling dark purple liquid onto the pristine tablecloth. "I'm not in the habit of sharing a table with riffraff who are lower than farm animals." He glared at the Baron, who continued to stammer out questions and apologies. Slowly he began to near the old man, his head slightly lowered as he spoke. "This will do for my report to the Queen: 'I found the foul, vulgar, unsightly, perverted brute-" His eyes glinted with rage as he came to stand in front of the Baron. "And I disposed of him." The Earl finished, and with the end of his speech came a chaotic mix of events.
The boy whipped a gun out from under his cloak, pointing it straight at the Baron, his finger settled on the trigger. This caused Joker to whip a dagger out from seemingly nowhere, pointing it straight at the child's throat, a feral look in his eyes. In retaliation the boy's butler pulled out a knife of his own, pressing the cold metal against the ringleader's throat. Evelyn immediately went for her own knife, running at the butler with the intent to kill, but as she raised her hand to bring down her weapon the butler caught her wrist in his hand, gripping it tightly and causing Evelyn to drop the blade. The group's eyes all flitted towards each other, nobody quite knowing what move to make first.
With a cry of despair, the Baron looked towards Joker, his eyes tracing his weapon from the man's hand to the boy's throat. "Joker!" He cried out in alarm. "Don't point that dangerous thing at the Earl!"
"But-" Joker began, only for the butler to smirk slyly, pressing the blade to his throat with more pressure than before.
"Do you disobey me?" The Baron shouted, causing Joker to hesitate, and slowly bring the weapon away from the boy as his butler came around to pry it from his fingers. As the butler did so, the Earl's eyes narrowed, and he pressed the barrel of the gun to the Baron's head.
"Lord Kelvin, where are the children you kidnapped?" The young noble demanded, somehow causing the Baron to grin.
"Oh, you want to meet them?" He smiled nervously, sweat falling from his skin in showers. "They're in the cellar - I'll take you there right now. There's something I want to show you down there, anyhow." The man looked undoubtedly psychotic as he spoke to the Earl.
"Take me there," was the boy's simple reply. Within moments the group was on an elevator, clattering towards the cellar as Kelvin desperately tried to make conversation with the Earl. Meanwhile, the noble's butler kept a firm grasp on Evelyn's wrists with one hand, the other still pressing his blade to Joker's throat. Fear caused Evelyn to shake, but of what, she didn't know - the prospect of having both of her wrists broken? The idea of blood spilling from her lover's throat? Maybe it was a mix of the two.
"But I'm just so happy," Kelvin rambled, casting a glance towards the young Earl. "I've been filled with regret ever since that day. I keep thinking, 'Why couldn't I be there by your side then?'"
"That day? By my side? What are you on about?" The young nobleman scrutinized the Baron, looking at him as if he was mad.
"No amount of regret can turn back time." The group stopped in front of a large set of doors, which two small children leaned on in order to open. Blindingly bright light shone in their faces as the doors opened, and the Earl made a strangled noise at the sight before him, his face going oddly blank with horror as he gazed upon the scene. "But I realized something: If we can't go back..." The Baron gleefully gestured towards the ceremonial area before him. "Then we'll just do it again!"
Earl Phantomhive began to shake as Kelvin continued. "I'm afraid it took me three years to get ready." As the Baron continued, Evelyn watched the young noble, who looked as if he was having a heart attack. His eye was wide, his mouth forming a small 'o', and his forehead beaded with sweat as he began to hyperventilate - or at least, that's what it sounded like, to Evelyn.
"Now, Lord Phantomhive - let's repeat that day three years ago!"
Oho! It begins to get juicy!
Two chapters in one day? What a treat! (or possibly not - that depends on what you think of the chapters.) I've had a lot of time to write today, so I've been going at it for hours. I think I'll stop here for tonight - it's 10 o'clock where I am, and I think I'd better quit while I'm ahead. I'll be writing a lot tomorrow and Monday though, so look forward to it! (Though, that's depending if I post what I write.)
Anywho, see you in chapter 15!