Alois' POV
We reach town within an hour. Ciel's butler stops the carriage about a block away from where Ciel says the man we're meeting is currently at. It strikes me as a bit odd, but I don't question it. I'm sure he has his reasons. A bit of walking doesn't bother me at all. What's bothering me is what Claude said to me last night. Doe he think he owns me or something? I glance at the blue-haired boy walking beside me and smile. There's something about Ciel that makes me feel warm inside, happy even. And I wasn't lying when I said he's cute, but what's with the eye patch? Did something happen to his eye?
"Is something the matter Alois?" Ciel ask me.
"Nothing," I say, averting my eyes from him, "I just don't come to town very often is all. It makes me a little uneasy."
Ok, that's not entirely a lie, I don't come to town much because it makes me feel uncomfortable. There's just so many people around and they always give me some kind of look. Like, they're judging me, and some even give me the same look the old Trancy head would give me before he would-. I stop my thought there, not wanting to relive the way the old man would touch me, I always felt so unclean after he had used me for his pleasure.
"There's nothing to worry about," Ciel tells me before reaching out to grab my hand, "Sebastian won't let anything...no. I won't let anything happen to you."
I smile and feel my face turn red, the simple act of holding my hand is enough for Ciel to make me feel better. To make me feel as if nothing in the world can hurt me. Ciel continues to hold my hand the whole way to the shop. Once we arrive, he stops in front of the door and looks at me.
"This is the Undertaker's shop," Ciel explains, "I should warn you, there are some weird and creepy things in there. So if you get frightened, feel free to come wait out here. As you can see," he says as he gestures to the empty streets around the shop, "People try to avoid getting close to this place. They believe it carries a curse."
"Ok," I tell him, "I'll keep that in mind."
Ciel releases my hand and pushes the door to the shop. We walk in and I take a look around. What the hell?
Ciel's POV
We walk into the Undertaker's shop and I notice Alois' take one look around the place and freeze up. I had a feeling this would happen. Scattered around the shop are coffins of various sizes, some empty, some not. Also in the room are various bottles filled with oddly colored liquids and skulls. The Undertaker's shop is far from inviting, so I reach out and reclaim Alois' hand. I can feel him trembling against me, poor thing is terrified.
"Ah, good day Lord Phantomhive," I hear a scratchy voice say. Out of the back room walks the Undertaker, his long silver hair brushing the shoulders of his black cloak.
"Good day to you as well, Undertaker," I tell him warmly.
"And it seems you've brought a friend to my humble shop today," the Undertaker says, turning his gaze to Alois.
"Yes, this is Lord Alois Trancy," I say to him, "I asked him if he would like to accompany me today."
"So what brings you here?"
"I was informed you had some interesting information regarding the cut off the hand killer. Would you care to elaborate?"
"Normally, I'd negotiate some trade with you, but it seems your friend is downright terrified of this place so I'll cut to the chase. Please, follow me."
The Undertaker starts to head to the back room and I turn to face Alois.
"Wait here with Sebastian," I tell him.
"What?" Alois says weakly, "But-"
"No buts," I say, cutting him off, "I know you're scared Alois, but this is for your own good. You're so scared that you're shaking now, I don't think you'd be able to handle seeing a horribly mutilated body."
Alois doesn't say anything. He just drops my hand and looks down at the floor, knowing I'm right. He wouldn't be able to handle it. I run my fingers lightly under his jaw and tilt his head up to look into his beautiful blue eyes.
"I'll make this as quick as I can, I promise," I tell Alois before walking away. The Undertaker leads me to the back room where he embalms the bodies that are sent to him and stops me at a table with a sheet covering the body. He runs a hand under the sheet and pulls the arm out from beneath it. The hand's gone, but that's no surprise. This killer always take a hand.
"Look closely at the wound, Lord Phantomhive," he tells me, "The skin is torn, not cut. But the bone showed no sign of being able to resist the attackers cut. It took a really powerful weapon to make a wound like this. No normal knife could do the job."
"Then what did," I ask.
"Something with a moving blade," the Undertaker tells me slyly, "And who do we know with a weapon like that?"
Suddenly it hits me. That redhead Grim Reaper did this. Was being Jack the Ripper not enough for him?
"I'll stop him," I tell the Undertaker, "All the victims were attacked at around midnight on Sunday, I'll be waiting for him."
"I wish you luck in that feat, Lord Phantomhive," the Undertaker says, "Until we meet again."
I exit the back room and walk over to where Alois and Sebastian are waiting.
"Let's go," I tell them, "When we get back it'll be time to start getting ready for the party."
We leave the shop and start to walk back to where we left the carriage. As we walk by an alley, we hear a strange noise.
"Meow!"
Shortly after, a ragged looking cat with gray fur walks out and starts rubbing his body on Alois' leg. Alois freezes up, unsure of what to do. It's like he's never seen a cat before. Sebastian bends down and picks up the cat and starts to stroke his fur. That butler has a weird infatuation with cats.
"It's ok Lord Trancy," Sebastian tells him, "The cat is just looking for some attention."
Not even a minute after Sebastian finishes his sentence, three more cats come out of the alley and start to beg Alois for more attention. Cats like him, I guess.
"You seem to be a magnet for these cats," I tell him.
"Yeah," Alois says, blushing slightly, "Luka said the same thing. In our old town, the same thing would happen. Luka always wanted to take a cat with us as a pet, but I always had to tell him no. We could barely keep ourselves alive let alone a cat."
"Maybe they see you as one of them," I tell him, "Alleycat."
"What?" Alois says, staring at me in shock.
"You heard me," I tell him. Alleycat. I like it, it seems to fit Alois' personality. He was abandoned, and although he acts tough he just wants to be loved. Out of nowhere, a fourth cat comes bumbling up to Alois. This one is a lot smaller than the other cats, and dark red spots of dried blood stain it's black and white spotted fur. As the creature draws close the other cats turn and attack it. Alois looks in horror before picking the smaller cat out of the fray.
"Stop it!" he yells at the other cats, "He's no different than any of you, leave him alone!"
Alois holds the small cat close to his body and looks at me in horror. Of course, he must've seen himself in the poor creature. Always the one that would be rejected. The cat pushes it's head close to Alois'.
"Look at that," I say, "He likes you."
"I'm taking him with me," Alois says softly, "I know what it's like to be the one on the receiving end of everyone else's abuse."
"If that's what you want. Do you know what you're gonna call him."
"Yes. Luka always told me that if he could have a cat, he would name him Orphan. Then he'd be no different than us. So that's what I'm gonna call him."
Alois continues walking to where the carriage is waiting and I follow. Sebastian pauses to put down the gray cat he was holding and follows behind us. We reach the carriage in no time and get in. The whole ride back to the Trancy manor, I watch Alois pet Orphan and smile. He found someone that understands his pain, even if that someone isn't human.