Her Butler, Forever Graceful
Ciel felt her gut wrench at the thought of Lord Druitt knowing about the nightmares, meaning he could know her secret. As the dance ended she heard a familiar voice calling out to her, and for once she was grateful that the annoying lad was here.
"Lady Ciel! Eh, Ciel!" Ciel smirked at Lord Druitt's shocked face as she spun around, smiling to the young Prince. Soma embraced her in a very friendly way that normally she hated but she was too worried about Sebastian at the moment to care.
"Hello Prince Soma, how are you?" Tilting her head past Soma she nodded her head to his servant. "And hello to you as well Agni." Agni smiled as he bowed gracefully, while Soma just seemed to death glare at Lord Druitt.
"I am fine, Ciel who is this man?" Ciel was about to answer when Lord Druitt wrapped his hand around her waist, which she promptly tried to slap away only for him to grab onto her harder. She winced and saw that Agni was already on high alert while Soma was still glaring the man down.
"I am the well-known Viscount Lord Druitt, you'd do well to remember the name. My little robin and I were just about to go for a bit of a walk if you don't mind." Ciel gave Soma her most pleading look while mouthing "help", of which Soma seemed oblivious to but Agni caught on immediately, he politely smiled to the man.
"How convenient, the Young Prince and I were about to walk as well, shall we accompany you two?" Before Lord Druitt had a chance to rebuttal Ciel practically shouted.
"Yes!" The three men turned to her a bit stunned as she cleared her throat. "I mean yes, the company would be enjoyable." She heard Lord Druitt curse under his breath as he led her towards the hall of roses with Soma and Agni following right behind.
Sebastian growled at the succubus when she nearly caught him on her razor edged fan. She easily spun around, landed a heeled kick to Sebastian's rib-cage. He coughed and flipped away from her, landing perfectly on his feet while she stumbled a bit, not realizing that Sebastian had gotten a few cuts upon her legs.
"I must say Sebastian you seem to have gotten more practice, how many souls have you claimed recently?" Sebastian scoffed, his eyes glowing at the woman.
"Even if I did claim souls it would be none of your concern, but as for now the only soul I want is that of my Young Mistress." Leana pouted before blinking, looking around.
"What the f-" She leaped to the side, tumbling as a chainsaw came crashing down where she had been. Sebastian smirked as he shook his head, spying the red cladded reaper following after his favorite weapon.
"I was wondering when you would join us Grell, William." Grell was already making poses until he was stomped upon by the black cladded reaper, who gracefully adjusted his glasses.
"Hello Sebastian, I'm sorry to interrupt your fight but," He paused to point at Leana, who was staring at the three confused. "this, thing, has been claiming souls that were not on the schedule to die." Leana laughed before standing, hiding her face behind her fan as she battered her eyelashes at Will.
"Oh my how popular I am tonight, two good-looking men already after me, oh whatever shall a woman do?" Grell picked himself up, glaring at the woman practically spewing fire while shaking his chainsaw at her.
"How dare you say that about my Will and Sebby! Go find your own men you hussy!" Leana smirked at Grell, closing her fan with a snap. She turned her face away, nose high in the air while shaking her fan at Grell.
"You, you can go. And dear," She turned back to him, her slitted eyes showing her anger. "Don't insult the color red by wearing it, the little bitch has done that enough tonight wearing it." Grell screamed at the insult before swinging his chainsaw at her, which she narrowly ducked, allowing Sebastian to run in and get a kick straight to her face causing her to go rolling to the edge of the roof.
"You bitch, the only one who has insulted the color is you!" Leana laughed before lunging at the men, not realizing what she had gotten herself into.
Ciel was unhappy in her current situation, she was being black mailed by the Lord Druitt but Sebastian was no where in sight and she had to rely on Soma and Agni to help her. As the browsed the many flowers, Lord Druitt kept pointed them out to Ciel, giving some cheesy speech about how each compared to her. She was growing bored quickly, looking over her shoulder to see Soma with his arms crossed in a seeming pout, Agni whispering something to him while motioning towards her and Lord Druitt. Ciel gave a shout when Lord Druitt suddenly spun her to him, his smile looking like that of a crazed man.
"Ah Ciel, my love, my robin we are here at last!" Ciel placed her hands on his chest and tried pushing him away. She turned her face, giving the most pleading look she could to Soma and Agni, Soma seemed to be furious seeing her in this position.
"What are you doing, that is no way to respect a woman!" Lord Druitt laughed, leaning in closer to Ciel as she kept trying to push away, her face still turned away from him.
"She is not just a woman, she is a goddess among the others. Aphrodite had nothing upon this beautiful woman, one whom I plan to make my wife." CIel gagged at the word, Agni and Soma stood there wide-eyed. "All I need is a yes from you Ciel, one simple yes or I motion to my men!" Everyone gasped at the man, Ciel felt herself screaming inwardly for Sebastian.
Sebastian growled, hearing Ciel's call to him and yet knowing he couldn't go to her until Leana was taken care of. He spun out-of-the-way as Leana threw Grell once more into the roof. Will was already upon her, his pruner piercing Leana's right arm. She gave a horrible howl, attempting to pull the weapon from her arm, her neat hair began falling as her eyes grew darker.
"You bastard, you'd dare hurt a woman?" Will scoffed as he lifted her from the ground, causing her to scream more.
"A woman, this charade is anything but a woman. Grell, you should take this opportunity seriously." Grell was instantly there, his smile wide as he swung at her.
"Now we'll see what you really under your fake skin!" They both blinked when she disappeared, Sebastian already lunging upward. The two reapers stopped, watching Sebastian being engulfed into a shadow while attacking the hovering woman.
CIel looked around, searching for any sign of a hidden assassin or Sebastian but finding no one. She couldn't help herself as she laughed, Lord Druitt's brow furrowed in confusion as she shoved him away, catching herself on a chair when she nearly fell.
"You fool, you think you can give false threats and be taken seriously?" She looked to him, Lord Druitt grinding his teeth when she stood, holding her head high. "I am Ciel Phantomhive, you sir are below me. You should know better than to try and test a woman's patience." Lord Druitt seemed to snap as he ran towards her.
"You little Bitch how dare you!?" Soma was already shouting something before pointing towards Lord Druitt when he began running.
"Agni, stop that horrible man!" Agni was already lunging when he spoke.
"Yes my Prince!" Lord Druitt fell under Agni's first hit to his arm, Agni stood in front of Ciel protectively, Soma already by her side with her hand between his.
"Lady Ciel are you alright?" His face showed his concern clearly, Ciel nodded and turned back to Lord Druitt when he began laughing again.
"My my this was to be a simple gathering of my robin, but if this world continue to forsake our love then I shall have us married in Heaven!" He used his left hand to rip away at his collar, Ciel gasped at the mark upon his neck. It was a pentagram like hers but with a black lip mark on its center, he covered it while glaring at them. "Leana my love, my forsaken raven, the unnatural beauty in my world come to me!"
Sebastian had allowed himself to partially transform, not caring if the reapers saw his full form at this point. All he knew is that Ciel needed him and Leana was part of her pain that he was going to remove. He had easily laid many blows upon her before she gave a howl, her body seemed to glow before being slammed into the roof, causing the building to shake. Sebastian gracefully landed, keeping himself shadowed between the feathers and darkness. He heard Grell in the background making comments about his appearance being sexy as Sebastian calmly walked towards the incapacitated succubus, her body withering. SHe looked to Sebastian and gave a pained smile, knowing her time had come.
"This is what happens to Succubuses when we bind ourselves to a human and yet can't leave what we're still in the middle of their first order to us." Sebastian stood over her, pausing only to ask the one question he needed to.
"Will do you need this one alive?" Will used his weapon to adjust his glasses once more before looking in his book.
"Let me check, no we do not. Feel free to do as you wish." That was all he needed to hear before unleashing his true form upon Leana, whos screams were only that of terror.
Lord Druitt cried out in pain as the mark on his neck seemed to glow a burning red, Ciel blinked not understanding what was happening. She gasped when she saw it disappear, the realization hit her that Sebastian must've played some role in his mark disappearing. The man stood clumsily, glaring at the trio as Ciel called out, already lifting her skirts.
"Prince Soma, Agni come let us get back to the others!" The three ran out of the hall and into the party, startling the crowd. Lizzie immediately came to her cousin, her face full of concern.
"Ciel! We were all looking for you, what happened?" Ciel coughed before waving her hand towards the hall.
"Lord Druitt, he tried dragging me down that hall alone but Soma and Agni luckily caught us in time and went with us. He threatened to kill me unless I agreed to become his wife." She heard the gasps around her, the angry muttering among the other suitors. Lizzie gave a shout, making Ciel turn around to find Lord Druitt with a gun pointed straight at her.
"Ciel Phantomhive you will be mine or no ones!" Ciel felt her heart skip a beat, watching Lord Druitt's finger almost pull the trigger. Almost instantly everyone heard a low growl, the room turning pitch black with a scream heard, then suddenly light flooded the room with Sebastian standing in front of Lord Druitt, the gun on the ground and his arm twisted. Whispers seem to flood the room as Sebastian calmly turned and walked to Ciel, kneeling in front of her.
"Young Mistress, are you alright?" Ciel gave a relieved sigh before smiling to him, her eye the only thing showing her bit of anger towards him not being them sooner. Where the hell were you? She wanted to shout the words at him, to slap him or something, yet she was just happy that he was here now.
"I am fine Sebastian, thank you." He nodded before standing, the crowd became an uproar when everyone saw the Queen's royal guard come running, instantly everyone cleared a path, Ciel gasped when her Majesty began her walk towards the scene. Even though she still dressed in mourning for her husband, it seemed as though this dress was different. Ciel realized it had a bit of violet, yet she had a black veiled hat upon her head still. When the Queen stopped next to Ciel, she turned to her and lifted the veil, a warm smile upon her face.
"My most loyal subject, Miss. Ciel Phantomhive. My how beautiful you look tonight." Ciel gave the queen a low curtsey before placing her hands in front of her, an honest smile upon her face.
"My Queen, to what do I owe the honor?" Queen Victoria turned to the scene her guards were cleaning up, Ciel blushed when she realized quite clearly the Queen was showing her favor. Ciel blinked when the Queen's servant, John Brown, casually strolled up to them, still donning his sunglasses.
"Queen Victoria as you know is partially sponsoring this event in your honor. Our guards caught on to trouble when Lord Druitt was reported being spied inside when they had instructions to keep him out. She immediately wanted to make sure none of her subjects were in trouble and decided to act upon her feelings, of which were very correct by the look of things." John stepped up to Lord Druitt, who was now in shackles and gagged while trying to fight off the guards yet his arms still grotesquely twisted out-of-place, and cleared his throat before speaking.
"Lord Aleister Chamber, Viscount of Druitt you are hereby stripped of your title by our beloved Queen Victoria, and sentenced to live the remainder of your days imprisoned." Aleister seemed enraged by this and continued kicking, swinging his head wildly as he was led out of the party. Everyone stood still, not quite sure what to do until John Brown snapped his fingers, causing a red carpet to be rolled to the seat for the Queen, of which she headed for. Once she sat everyone sang the "God save the Queen" and waited to see what she would want. The Queen smiled to the crowd before calling out.
"Ciel, please won't you join me by my side? Everyone, go back to the festivities." Ciel felt herself blush as she made her way to the Queen's side, a small stool had been pulled up for her to sit at. She caught Sebastian walking back into the hall of roses as she stepped upon the stage, sitting upon the stool like a proper lady. She looked over the crowd by the Queen's side, enjoying the feeling of power yet at the same time annoyed by feeling like a doll on display for the world to see. She knew she had the nickname the Queen's Watchdog but she personally disliked the name. Ciel's eye grew wide when she saw Sebastian return but this time followed by two very familiar reapers, Will who was in a suit with tails and Grell, who had obviously been forced into a black dress, a red sash around the middle of his dress, though Ciel was confused at how Grell seemed to have bosom. The three easily mingled into the crowd but never separated from one another.
Ciel blinked when she felt a hand upon her shoulder, and turned to see the Queen smiling directly at her.
"My sweet girl, would you do me one thing?" Ciel blushed, the Queen was giving her a choice, out of the corner of her eye she saw everyone staring at the two.
"I would be honored your Majesty, what can I do for you?" John scoffed, opening his mouth to say something until the Queen quietly looked at him, shutting him up quickly. She looked back to Ciel and motioned to the piano.
"There was a song your mother once sang to me when I visited the manor, it was a beautiful song and I was wondering if I might ask you to sing it here." The Queen hummed the tune and Ciel nearly felt herself crumble, knowing the song quite well. Almost instantly Sebastian was in front of the Queen, on one knee bowing in front of them.
"If I may your Majesty-" Ciel stood, interrupting Sebastian, who looked at her curiously.
"I will gladly sing that for you Your Highness, I just need three to accompany me. Sebastian, take up the violin. Will, Grell?" Will seemed annoyed at being called out but was promptly pulled ahead by a very excited Grell. "Will are you capable of playing the piano?" He adjusted his glasses with a smirk before nodding, Grell was fanning himself, smiling at Ciel awaiting his command. "Grell, the flute?" Grell nodded eagerly, taking Will by the hand and pulling him to their respective places, Sebastian seemed to be studying Ciel as he walked by. She waited for them all to tune, testing her voice a bit.
By the time they had all prepared everyone had surrounded them, Lizzie up front and center. Ciel took a deep breath before closing her eyes, listening to Grell as he began the song so beautifully, she placed her hands together as she began the song:
Tell me the tales that to me once so dear
Long long ago - long long ago,
Sing me the songs I delighted to hear,
Long long ago, long ago.
Now you have come all my grief is removed.
Let me forget just as long as I could
Let me believe that you always be near.
Long long ago - long ago
Ciel opened her eyes as she breathed, surprised to see everyone smiling in glee at her. Her mind flashed back to the last time she had sung this song, with Lizzie and her mother when they were just children. Looking down Ciel caught Lizzie almost in tears, she smiled but looked back to nod when the second choir struck up.
Do you remember that path where we met
Long long ago, long long ago.
Ah, yes you told me you'll never forget.
Long long ago, long ago.
Into our love is my smile your prefer
Laugh when you spoke with a joy to each word.
Still my heart treasures the praises I heard
Long long ago, long ago.
Now you have come all my grief is removed.
Let me forget just as long as I could
Let me believe that you always be near.
Long long ago - long ago
Ciel took a step back, placing her hands upon her heart, she had felt as if her soul was shining when she sang. She had sworn to herself that she would never sing again and yet, if her Majesty had requested it of her she would never refuse. Turning to the Queen Ciel was shocked to see her with a tissue, beaming proudly at her.
"Ciel Phantomhive that was the most beautiful rendition of the song I've ever heard! Oh if only Albert could hear it too!" The Queen began crying, John was immediately kneeling beside her, a doll in his hand as he attempted to comfort the Queen.
Ciel cleared her throat before turning, she jumped a bit when she saw the trio all staring at her in awe, though her face turned red when Lizzie hugged her.
"Oh Ciel that was just wonderful! You shined so brightly, I swear you had a glow about you!" Ciel's face grew even hotter as she hugged her cousin before sighing, the sudden feeling of being drained washed over her.
"I thank you Lizzie, and I do thank everyone for coming tonight but this... this took a bit out of me and I shall be retiring for the night." Lizzie pouted before shaking her head.
"No way, you must have at least one dance besides the one with that monster! Lizzie turned and grabbed Sebastian, promptly pulling him over. "You two, go dance now!" Sebastian smirked before promptly offering Ciel his hand.
"Shall we, my Young Mistress?" Ciel sighed and was about to lay her hand in his when she felt herself being pulled away, turning she found herself being pulled to the floor with Soma. She heard Lizzie squeal before saying something to the others.
Soma turned and began leading through the dance, Ciel was honestly surprised that Soma had learned the proper way of dancing at a party. Soma was smiling brightly at her as they danced, the music finally striking up again.
"I must say Lady Ciel you are full of surprises, I have never heard such a lovely tune in all my life. You are as that man said, a goddess upon this earth." Ciel scoffed, seeking Sebastian to see him playing once more with Grell and Will. Soma noticed her looking and frowned when he saw her looking at Sebastian. "I think your butler is upset with me." Ciel couldn't help but laugh, looking at the naïve boy.
"Soma you may have turned twenty but you're still a bit naïve, I was about to dance with him when you stole me away. I'm sure any man would be more than annoyed if their dance partner was stolen right before they danced." Soma laughed, spinning Ciel once, making her nearly trip but he was there catching her.
"I suppose you are right, I just wanted one dance with you as gratitude for saving you earlier." Ciel looked at him sharply and was going to protest when she realized he was right, if Agni and him hadn't been there no telling what would've happened to her. She swallowed her pride and forced a smile upon her face.
"Yes... thank you for that Prince Soma, and please give Agni my gratitude as well."
Sebastian glared at the young prince, even though he was playing his violin his mind was thinking of at least sixty ways to remove him from the picture. He had almost been able to get a dance with his Ciel but that damnable boy had snatched her at the last-minute. Sebastian looked to his side when Grell leaned against him, smiling that wretched smile.
"I must say that she actually flatters the color red so well, and her voice tonight was absolutely amazing." Grell blinked when he saw Sebastian frown never falter, he pouted when he realized that Sebastian was in a wretched mood. "I know you work so hard and yet hardly get any time to play with her, on the bright side you did get to kill your ex girlfriend." He cowered instantly when Sebastian glared at him, though almost instantly Grell was hugging himself, making some comment about vigorous activities. Sebastian turned his eyes back on his Mistress, he too admitted that she had such a voice that it made her soul shine. It was as if her soul had shined just to let everyone hear the beauty that he saw within her, and yet it was still tarnished but the hatred she would never let go of.
Finally after the ball had ended, Ciel again left only with Sebastian by her side. As they approached the carriage Ciel sighed and rubbed her temples.
"I think we need a vacation for a while Sebastian, I can't keep wasting my time with these silly get-togethers... especially if I'm going to be singing for the Queen again." Sebastian smiled to her.
"But my Lady you have such a beautiful voice, I'm surprised you have not sung before." Ciel glared at him until he opened her carriage, she stood gaping at the scene within. "My Lady?" Sebastian looked into it to growl, inside of her carriage had been filled to nearly the brim with flowers, chocolates, and all kinds of presents for her. Ciel groaned as Sebastian made quick work of the gifts, making plenty of room for her to enter. Once she was inside he climbed to the front, muttering to himself. "I hate suitors..." Before cracking the whip and beginning the journey home.