Hello readers! I'm truly sorry for the late update, I just got this laptop fixed! I hope everyone is doing well. I've also recently had my birthday! I turned fifteen, but did not have a quinceañera :(. Anyway, It's FRIDAY THE 13Th! BE CAREFUL :0 and tomorrow's Valentine's Day, again I am spending it alone with only my thoughts and imagination. Anyway, please enjoy the long awaited chapter 13!
As the carriage came to a stop Ciel let out a quiet groan, knowing that the deranged reaper will ask for 'payment' in exchange for information. As Sebastian stepped out of the carriage and helped his young master off, he noticed his master's expression knowing well what he was thinking about.
The two walked up to the shop in silence, Sebastian once again opened the door for the Earl. Once inside, Ciel saw no sign of the insane reaper. He let out a sigh before calling.
"Undertaker, are you in?" the boy called out sternly.
There was some shuffling from the back room before they received an answer, "Yes, milord! Be right there!" called the silver haired reaper, a tiny hint of stress in his voice.
Ciel held a confused expression, 'Odd, usually the creep would be hiding in a coffin.' He thought to himself. They heard some more shuffling and commotion from the back room, but this time there was another, more feminine voice.
"You can't just kick us out! You're the one who called us out here, in the first place!"
At first the two assumed it was their old acquaintance complaining, until they heard his voice, noticing the difference in the accents.
"Oh, is it the brat? That must mean my Bassy is here!" Grell called out as he stepped into the room the butler and Earl occupied. Sebastian let out a frustrated sigh, but kept a calm expression. Before Grell could tackle the demon in a one-sided hug, the red reaper was pulled back by an unknown force.
The two winced at the loud thud when the reaper landed harshly on his back side, "What the hell, Catarina! I was going to hug my Bassy!" the reaper yelled at cause of his fall as he rubbed his sore bottom.
Both the Earl and butler looked up to see who he was addressing. There, in front of them stood a woman with long black hair, the tips a shade of red, with long side bangs covering her right eye; a scowl on her pale skinned face. Her left eyebrow twitched in what appeared to be annoyance; the one visible eye glimmering emerald with a ring of amber. She wore a plain white, long sleeved dress shirt under a reddish brown leather bustier with several latches, buttons and pockets, which enhanced her hour glass figure. The layered pinstripe black skirt that began around her middle area, draped gracefully down as the front of the skirt was held up by ties, exposing her long legs that where adorned with white stockings. Her feet were clad in short black ankle laced boots. Finally, to top off her unique outfit she wore a dark red, hooded bolero over her attire. The girl let out a growl then a calming sigh. She carefully kneeled down and patted the red reaper apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Grell, but you have to behave when there is company." She said in a soft voice. This all seemed rather unusual to the young Phantomhive and the demon butler, for they knew naught who this woman was nor her relation with the reaper. Though one thing was certain, 'She's reaper,' Sebastian thought as his eyes narrowed, 'though I've never encountered a female reaper before.'
Suddenly, the one person the Earl was in need of appeared behind the girl. The Undertaker looked towards the earl and held one long-nailed finger up to indicate that he would be with him in a moment.
Grell stood up from his place on the ground, pushing the girl away and launched himself to Sebastian once more, "Oh, Bassy," he exclaimed loudly, "You've returned, my sweet Bassy!" But the demon was quick to dodge the gesture. With another loud thud the red reaper landed on his face into an open coffin.
"Oh, Bassy, you're so cruel!" he exclaimed in a whiny voice.
"Enough of this, what is going on?" the now annoyed Ciel demanded. Undertaker let out a creepy chuckle while the young girl rolled her eyes and made her way towards Grell.
"My apologies, milord, I was just finishing up some business with these two." The silver haired man explained, "Catarina, please take Grell and leave. I have a customer to attend to." He asked the woman. She simple clicked her tongue, sitting on one of the coffins with her nose raised to show her disobedience.
"You can't make me, old man!" she retorted. The two visitors felt very out of place not knowing exactly who she was.
"Ah, always so childish," the Undertaker teased, "if you'd like to stay then fine by me, but please, don't disturb while I'm discussing business." He warned. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Ciel received the attention he demanded.
"I do apologize, Lord Earl, this is Catarina, a recently employed reaper. She might be a little hard on the outside, but she's sweet. I'm guessing you're here about Käsien," The Undertaker proclaimed as he began to make his way behind the counter, "Please, have a seat. For having to make you wait, I will speak without payment."
Once Ciel was seated, next to the reaper girl who seemed to be interested in the topic as well, Undertaker began to explain the recent murders, "The most recent victims were very young indeed, and quiet beautiful. It's a shame how they left. The three other cases have similar standards as well, with their hands cut off. The first was a month ago on a train to Scotland. A twenty one year old woman, also blonde hair with blue eyes; the second victim was on the same train returning. This time a twenty-nine year old, American woman with similar feature, she was accompanied by two friends who left her for while when she disappeared. Third case had two young girls, about sixteen years of age, on a train to Wales. When the conductor had made the passenger count he discovered they were gone, only to find them in the caboose already mutilated and rotted." As the Undertaker said this, the female reaper fidgeted a bit while Ciel held in his expression of disgust.
"I see…we've also found this at the scene at the recent murders. It was clamped in one of the girl's severed hands." Ciel nodded as Sebastian handed him the crumbled piece of evidence. Undertaker examined the paper with care, letting out a low chuckle. Catarina, seeming eager to see, stood from her place to see the paper.
"This is bollocks; he's killing these women because some girl rejected him! The man's insane!" she exclaimed loudly, clearly unhappy with the killer's motivation.
"You seemed bothered by this, Miss Catarina, why?" Undertaker asked amused by her reaction. She glared in response and returned to her seat.
Ciel ignored the girl's comment for he already knew how she felt, "We've spoken with witnesses saying they saw a man in a trench coat on the trains. We suspect it's him, but we do not have an exact name." the earl explained.
"Well, then earl, I suggest you do what you do best to find this heartbroken killer. Use bait if you must. It's your duty as the Queen's Watchdog." The silver reaper chuckled. Catarina turned to the young earl next to her in surprise.
"You're the 'Queen's Watchdog', the earl of Phantomhive?" she asked quietly.
"That I am, is there a problem?" Ciel asked assuming the answer.
"No problem, my lord, it's just very admirable how far you've come at this age. You must be very courageous and strong." The female reaper smiled kindly as they both stood up. Ciel was surprised and flattered by her comment. "Well, then I would hope to see more of you, Earl. Please, enjoy the rest of your day. Grell, let us head out, the next person is about a mile away and it's almost time!" she called as she headed out of the shop.
The red reaper stood from his seat next to the demon and began running towards his partner, "I'll see you soon, my Bassy! Don't go missing me too much!" he departs after blowing the butler a farewell kiss.
Sebastian felt a shudder crawl up his spine at the action 'Oh, I won't' he thought to himself. Ignore the last gesture; he assisted his master with his coat and hat. 'Though, I am curious about this Catarina.' Sebastian finished in his mind.
"Goodbye, milord, I hope that all ends well, and pass my greetings too little Cecilia." The man chuckled darkly, but before Ciel turn and could ask how he knew the Spaniard girl, he was gone. He straightened his coat once more before exiting the death shop. 'How does he know Cecilia? Have they had past encounters?' Ciel thought to himself as he boarded the carriage, 'I must not think of this now, this heartbroken freak is still out there. I must catch him, by order of Her Majesty.'
Ooh~! Secrets! Uhm, for Catarina's outfit, I tired describing it best I could to mu abilities, but it's it like a steam punk look. No translations here, so yeah. I, out of boredom, uploaded a Hellsing Ultimate FanFic if any are interested. Any questions, comments, concerns please feel free to PM me or in the reviews! Thank you for reading and I hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day! AND OMG BOOK OF MURDER CAME OUT, I'M GONNA WATCH IT RIGHT NOW, BYES!
~Tomiko Hinamori