Thank you for all who are reading and favoring/liking/following this EPIC story. I am nearing the end(ish)? who knows with this muse/my friend... in my actual writing, and will be updating (hopefully trying in my busy schedule) once a day. :)

Chapter 8: Danny POV

The Manor from the front presented itself to visitors as a grand home, and one would imagine the inside would be filled with vasts amounts of worldly possessions, and entertained crowds of guests nightly. To run such a Manor, at least a dozen servants would have to be employed, and I could see how a child would grow up utterly spoiled and rotten in a Manor such as this. I slowed my horse down and trotted down the lane, taking in the fountain and flowers, the sweeping entry stairs, and the impressive strength that the three story home conveyed. The front lawn was well manicured and I could see the stables to the left, the same direction a young man with a hat on his back was coming from.

"Can I help you sir?" the young man asked, mopping his brow. He had a pair of striped pants and a loose shirt on, and was carrying pruning shears. The Gardener.

"Yes," I replied, dismounting. "My name is Mr. Hyde. I am the young Master's tutor."

He smiled and laughed. "The Master isn't very young anymore," he replied. "Not sure he needs a tutor anymore."

"Ah, pardon me, I wasn't clearer. The young Vincent Phantomhive is who I am here to tutor."

"Blimey, you sure?"

I raised an eyebrow. How bad was this child? "Indeed, I assure you I can handle the eight-year-old child. Even one who seems to not listen to his teachers. Now," I said, turning to the horse and pulling my bag off the straps from behind the saddle, "where can I house my horse so I can be seen to my room and meet the young Master?"

The Gardener blinked and pointed behind him. "Over there. I can take your horse so you can get on your way. You sound awfully interested in getting to meet young Master Vincent." The man took the reins from me and paused before leading the horse. "Mr. Hyde?"

"Yes?"

"The young Master isn't bad, he is just… he is loved. Very, very loved."

"Well, even a very loved child can have proper manners. Surely you know that very well," I said, eyeing him. I wished Grell had not spend so little time in giving me papers about the Phantomhive staff. From my Reap, I knew about the Cook - Baldroy - and saw two other servants. The pages on the servants mainly focused on Sebastian, which was why I was here, but the hearts around his name and the cupid arrows, and the rather poor sketch of Grell and another figure, I assumed was representing Sebastian, dotted the pages as well. The man seemed to blush and simply clicked his tongue and walked the horse to the stables.

I turned back to the Manor and sucked a deep breath. The survey of the front windows gave me nothing, and I straightened my back and adjusted my glasses. I was Mr. Danny Hyde, Tutor. I was also Ms. Daniella Hyde, Reaper. My disguises and duplicity never ceased to amuse me. But I was going to be disguising myself once more, a very knowledgeable, strict, classical tutor, which wasn't really hard to do. As I mounted the steps to the grand Manor, I thought back to my Human education, and memories of candles and Mama sitting beside me and my brother, helping us write our names, Papa reading to us as we sat by the fire on cold nights, telling stories of dragons and travels over the seas as we peeled and cored apples, mashing them into applesauce. We would sit in the orchid and rub our hands into the mud soothing them when we scraped them down the tree, we would hammer the nails into beams, creating ladders and Mama would spin threads of cotton and would sit by the fire, watching us watch my younger sisters because she was too weak to do it. I taught my sisters to read, my brother taught them to write, and then the four of us would tell stories, making them up, more fantastical as each one went along. After my family was killed, I went to the Army, marched and learned how to fight. I took to the knives and guns, making me as good as any of the male soldiers, all the while keeping my secret.

I had no choice but to do so. Until the day I had no choice and my secret was almost retched from me, even as I clung to my top, sobbing and begging…. I shook my head and found myself at the door. I looked at it and wondered if I should knock, even so I had a key. It was very rude to simply walk in, and so I took hold of the double headed eagle door knocker and laid two quick, firm, raps to the door. In the Human world, as a physical being, my hearing isn't as fine tuned as it is when I am in the world as a Reaper, so the door swinging open as I was about to knock again, took me aback.

"Mr. Hyde," the Demon replied in a curt manner. "Prompt, I see."

"I had nothing else on my calendar so might as well get started," I replied, pushing my glasses up a bit more.

"Well follow me. The Family has finished their breakfast and are getting ready for the day, so if you would follow me, I will show you to your room. Surely you can use some time to freshen up. I'll send some leftover pastries up as well."

"Thank you," I said. The Demon was trying to fatten me up? I was not a pig going to the slaughter, I was here to find out what his intent was, what made him take a Contract, and where he was going after it was completed. Demons roaming around attached and undocumented was the very worst kind of Demon. We walked up the wide staircase and I looked over the large portrait of the Phantomhives, affording me the first look at this child I was to tutor.

He had the same dark hair as his father's, a lean face and serious eyes that were a match to his mother's. As I turned up the next set of stairs, and another portrait showed an equally impressive man standing behind a woman sat on a ornate chair, her arm around a child. As I passed I read the plaque - Vincent, Rachel, and Ciel Phantomhive.

"The former Earl and Lady of the house," Sebastian said as we passed. He must have noticed I was looking. "A tragedy sadly took them away, leaving my Master when he was 10, to grow up very quickly." There was almost a remorsefulness lacing his words. I looked at the Demon and narrowed my eyes as he continued to lead me on. He was pleasant enough when I was in his company; many Demons were very hostile creatures, protecting their territory. Of course to the Demon, I must still appear to be Human. I imagined what he would do once my deception was found.

Down the long hall, we passed several more paintings, some of flowers, some of scenery, all displayed to show off the painting, and small, silver plaques noted the artist and the date it was painted. I smiled; some fine educational pieces I could begin with. Even so I was here to document the Demon, who was now pausing in front of a oak door, I was posing as a Tutor, and it seemed as if the family could benefit from some hard discipline. The child would, eventually, become the next head of the Phantomhive household, and it was a grand family, well respected, and connected to the King. Grell and William were tight lipped about how connected they were and I wasn't too sure how much I would be able to find out, or if it mattered.

"Will this room do?" he asked as he opened the door and stood to let me pass.

I walked in and tried not to let my heart leap. The room was a mix of silver and greens, a dark wooden bed, and wide windows. I crossed the room, taking it in, hoping to appear casually indifferent and looked out the window.

"The view from here is of the entire gardens. You can see the two conservatories, and the winter garden is in the middle. I am sure you will be teaching the young master much about biology, and will find we have a vast array of plants from all over the world." I nodded as the Demon crossed the room and stood beside me. "If I may, from one former tutor to another?"

I nodded and turned to him. He was standing facing the windows and continued. "The young Master is, as his parents noted, spoiled. However, I do advise you take his future position into account, which you no doubt take very seriously. The Master and the Lady do wish to have another child, but they have been unsuccessful."

"And not only will my presence help shape the young master, but perhaps ease some troubles that may be hindering their family?"

The Demon turned and looked at me. He smiled. "I'm glad we have an understanding. I shall bring some food up shortly. The en suite is through the door over there, and if you need any assistance placing items away, I can send the Maid, Mey-Rin, up."

I lifted my case and smiled. "I think I can managed my few items."

"Is that all you brought?" he asked, almost surprised. Did he himself tot several bags around with various garments? I frowned; should I?

"For now," I replied. "I just came back from Wales where I left much of my clothes. I'll be sending for them now that I have a position."

"Yes, very good." He stood still for a moment longer and turned, walking briskly out, and closed the door.

I was left to look at the room, and ran my hand over the fine wooden bed, the well crafted spindles that came up from the foot of the bed were covered in carved flowers. The soft green fabric glided under my fingers and I smiled as I spread my hands over them. I imagined curling up and sleeping so peacefully under the blankets, almost cradled in the downy pillows. The dresser were in the same finish as the bed, and the open space between the two, in front of the windows, sat a small desk and chair, and a stuffed chair I imagined sinking into as I read my reports. This was luxury none of my other infiltrations had provided.

A soft knock came and I got out of the chair, expecting the Demon to come in, but rather a mousy looking Maid peaked her head around the door as she opened it. "Mr. Hyde?" she asked. I frowned, her voice was very high and nasally, as if her glasses were too heavy. I knew a thing or two about glasses.

"Yes, come in," I replied. She smiled and looked down at the tray she held in both her hands. "You can set it on the table by the window," I said, watching her move slowly across the room. She set the tray down and sighed, as if the task was now done, and she was relieved.

"Sir? Will you be dining with us in the Kitchen or with the Master and his family?"

I frowned; I hadn't thought about meals in public. "Well, in some other posts, I dined with the family, and others with the servants. I will ask the Butler, or the Earl, should I find time to ask him."

She nodded. "My name is Mey-Rin and I will be taking care of your laundry and sweeping your rooms, so don't be alarmed if you see me walking out of your room."

"Thank you Mey-Rin, I can do my own laundry. I don't have many clothes at the moment so will be doing my own until my clothes arrive from Wales."

She nodded and smiled. "If you need anything, just ring. I do believe the young Master is going to be in the library soon, if you were waiting to meet him."

"Thank you. I will be down shortly."

I watched her scurry out and was once more alone. I looked over the selection of foods and ate a few bites of a scone, heaping it with jam and chasing it with fine tea. I smiled; my time would be in comfort and luxury. After putting my scare belongings away, tucking my feminine undergarments under my pants, I closed the dresser and ventured into the bathroom. There was a beautiful tub and a porcelain sink that stood by a full-length mirror.

"A girl could get used to this," I muttered as I washed my hands and splashed some on my face. The towels smelled of lavender and I breathed it in as I dabbed my face. "Oh if this could be my Retirement," I added, replacing it on the stand to dry.

I straightened my vest and checked my watch - 9:28. I walked out, I had a Human young Master to meet.