Chapter 16: Danny POV
I sat on my bed, facing the door. I couldn't sleep. I had seen the Demon. In his form. I took my notebook out and flipped to a new page. He was a Class S. I shuttered. I had only worked a few cases that had Class S's, and I had lost a Reaper to one. I bit the top of my pen, again wondering if the paperwork could be justified if I went ahead and killed the Demon. He was kind, but he was a Demon, and kindness was only shown for the benefit of others. I looked at the door and pushed the chair in front of it. Even as I was doing it, I knew it would make no difference. If a Demon wanted you dead, it would find you, take your Soul, feast on it. You prayed you were dead before it did any of that - especially Class S Demons.
I laid on the bed as the clock chimed two. I closed my eyes, not sure what else I saw in the sudden becoming of the Demon revealing itself. I had felt a tug on my arm and had turned, expecting to see the Demon, taking the child in his arms, but instead I witnessed what no other being at the Manor saw. I saw the two inky Demons fight, yet the Phantomhive demon seemed stronger, and had dug in deep, had done serious damage. I had turned and fled, placing the young Master on one of the seatees and was relieved when he woke with a start. Colour came back to his cheeks and his breathing slowed to normal.
I opened my notebook again and noted a few more observations. It looked like the other Demon was a possible Class A, which would explain how and why the Phantomhive Demon was able to rip it apart.
I got up and shrugged out of my fine jacket and hung it up. I folded my pants up as well and slipped on my sleepwear. If I had to fight the Demon, I would. I just didn't want to have my finest clothes ruined in the process.
Finally sleep must have taken me under, because I woke with a start as a sunray hit my face. I stretched my arm over my face and squinted. A new day. It was after Christmas. It was after the Winter Ball. It was - I sat up. I had to get to the Society to report what I saw about the Demon. My body was stiff as I moved out of the bed. I rubbed my temples and walked into the bathroom. Filling the tub with a bit of water, I pulled out the usual attire: white shirt, black pants and a matching vest. Stopping the water, I shed my clothes and sank into the tub, rubbing my sore feet. I had not danced like that since… perhaps when I still was Human? After a quick rinse, I got out of the tub and wrapped myself in a towel, glancing at the doorway.
It had only been a week and half since the Demon discovered I was hiding my gender. I was trusting him to keep my secret. Never had I trusted anyone since my family died in the house fire. A Class S, I reminded myself, the Demon was dangerous with untold amounts of power.
I pushed the chair back from the door and opened it, tucking my pocketwatch into my vest after checking the time - 7:14. Surely at least the Earl would be up so I could ask to take a few days leave. A few days asked, and perhaps my time was done. I smiled a little; I had wrapped up the Tanaka File in a little over a month. Wonderful! Didn't Willam say the paperwork usually took about that long to process for retirement? I smiled as I entered the dining room.
"Thinking of all the women who were begging for a dance with you last night?" the Demon asked, startling me. I gasped and turned around. There he stood in a corner, dressed in his usual black tailcoat, clasping his hands in front of him. He looked amused.
"It was embarrassing, actually," I said, walking past him to pick up a plate. I eyed the empty room and the limited choice of food. "Where is the family?"
"Asleep," he said simply. "I had hoped some of the guests were early risers and would wish to leave early to get back to their homes," he sighed. "It was a late night. The revelry went on for hours past when you retired."
"I imagine you are quite tired as well."
He chuckled a bit and I turned to sit down. He pulled my seat out and I looked at him. He let the chair go and I sat down, pushing it in myself. I ate in silence, aware of his looming body back in the corner, surveying and ready. The door opened and in came the Earl, rubbing his hands over his chin and smiling when he saw me.
"Good morning, Mr. Hyde," he said, loading his plate. "I must say, I wish I had you as a dance tutor. You were able to keep up with all the eager woman," he chuckled and sat at the head of the table, his Demon standing beside him to his right. "I think a few were quite disappointed when you retired to bed. But," he added, pointing a fork at me, "a good decision. Lizzie is still fast asleep, and I imagine Vincent is as well. Sebastian?"
"I shall check, my Lord." And he swept out of the room.
As the door closed I put my own fork and knife down. "Sir? If I may ask for a few days off to visit some friends who are in London for a brief Holiday?"
He looked up and nodded. "Of course. You have a week if you wish to take it all. I think some time off for Vincent to also enjoy playing in the snow and maybe riding around with me as I survey the land, would do us all good. You have been a wonderful addition to our staff, and dare I say, our family, Mr. Hyde. Vincent is, well, not acting out as much, wouldn't you say?"
I thought back to the prone body of the boy, how the Phantomhive Demon picked him up and then there was another Demon - and he had attacked the other Demon without thought, with savageness. I focused back on the Earl and smiled. "It has been my privilege so far."
"Tell you what, when you come back from Holiday, we shall discuss extending this three month term to the end of the school year," he said. He picked up his fork and knife and gave a firm nod, closing the discussion. "Ah! Here is the expert little dancer!" he exclaimed as the door opened and in came the young Master and the Demon.
Vincent smiled at me and walked over and stood beside me. "Mr. Hyde? I'd like to thank you for teaching me to dance and allowing me to dance last night."
My heart, my female, emotional heart, gushed as his tiny arms wound around me and he squeezed softly. His green eyes turned up and they were clear, for perhaps the first time since I met him. I looked up at the Earl who was smiling and watching.
"Vincent, sit down," he said after a moment. "Let Mr. Hyde eat and perhaps you can have one last lesson before he leaves."
He looked at me as he climbed into his chair. "Leave?"
"For a short Holiday," I said. He picked up his fork and frowned and then looked at me.
"Okay, you can go."
Myself, the Earl, and I swear the Demon all laughed. Part of me hated to leave, but as the Demon moved to collect the Earl's plate, I imagined him collecting his Soul in the same manner he destroyed the other Demon.
Vincent and I walked back to the library, our usual routine for one last time, I thought as he opened the door and stepped in, going to his desk that had been set up and standing beside it. He frowned as he looked at the desk and then outside.
"I want to play."
I stoked the fire and looked out the window as well. I agreed, a snowball fight seemed very appropriate. There had been days when we could not work in the orchid so we made applesauce and other goods that we would take into the town and sell. When Mama was alive we would bake cakes and rolls, pastries and other goods. After she passed, my brother and I would slice the apples and dry them over the fire, making them into snacks as we worked around the farm.
"Can we play?"
I looked down at the young Master and shook my head softly. "Not yet. Let's review some of the dance moves instead, shall we?"
"No! I want to play in the snow, not dance!"
I looked at him and I frowned, seeing the defiance creeping back into his eyes. "Vincent," I said slowly.
He shoved me and tried to dodge to the door. I grabbed his arm as he almost smashed through the plate of glass and held him back. He screamed, a deep, hellish, scream and swung around. I held his chin firmly in my grip and gasped.
His eyes. His eyes were not the pure green I had seen earlier, they weren't even green anymore, but a shade of dark red. Like the Demon's.
Vincent was possessed by a Demon. I let go of his chin as the door behind me banged open and I stumbled back, barely registering the flash of black coat who now knelt before the young Master. I looked on, terror gripping me, and then hatred. My hand plunged into my vest pocket and drew out my pen. I twirled it as the Demon slowly straightened.
"He is fine," he said softly. "Please, allow me to take care of the young Master."
I exhaled and gave a nod, the pen still in my hand. "Best if I have an early start to London with this weather."
He nodded and picked up the young Master in his arms, once more seeming to be limp like a doll. Like how I saw him lying in the snow that previous night. I turned and bit my lip. The other Demon had appeared after Vincent collapsed, and now, I saw the flash of a Demon still inside the boy. Had he been possessed by two Demons? Could that even be possible for a boy of 8 to have two in him?
I hurried up the stairs. I had paperwork to fill out - I had to exorcise the Demon out. It was not uncommon for Humans to call upon their religious organizations to do such things, but since it was a Demon possession, usually someone from a Specialized Branch would be notified and do the paperwork. They would then come to the Human and perform the ritual, "cleansing" the Human, and we got to take out one more Demon who was praying on Humans.
Never did I know of a Reaper finding a possession themselves and requesting to do it. I closed the door to my room and gathered my small case from under the bed. Of course most Reapers worked from Lists, they were not staying on the Human side, tracking Demons, infiltrating and tagging them. That was my Department's job and we only had five Reapers. I threw in a few necessary items I would not wish to leave behind, and closed the case. I leaned my head against the wall as my hand rested on the door handle.
If I could have opened a Portal to the Society within the house, I would have, but the Demon was satisfied a bit and would recognize an opening being made to the Other Realm. And if I wasn't careful, he could follow me. No, I would ride to London, where it was safe, and would report. I had so much to report, as I once more fumbled with my notebook.
Walking down the stairs I saw the young Master and the Gardener looking at the tree. The Gardener took in my case and looked at me, a sadness in his eyes.
"Mister Sebastian said you were leaving for a Holiday," he said.
"Yes, just for a few days I think," I said. "Is my horse ready?"
He nodded. "All brushed and ready."
"Thank you, most efficient," I said. I turned to walk to the door and paused. "Ah, my coat," I said, suddenly realizing what I was missing.
The Demon came with it and handed it to me. I placed my case down and put it on, looking over the entry. It was warm and light, reminding me of my own home growing up. I was a poor orchid farmer's daughter and this Manor in the countryside of England was so far removed from my small house, I smiled at the comparison.
"Your hat!" the young Master said, suddenly running around the corner. He had my hat in his hand and I held out my hand to take it. "No, I can put it on you," he said. So I bent down and he placed it on my head. I was about to stand when he giggled and gripped the sides and yanked down.
The force of me moving up, and him yanking down, caused the hat to slide further over my head and I moved backwards, away from his grip and tried to work it off, my glasses now at the bottom of my nose. My glasses were lifted off my nose, making it easier to breath, and I was able to lift the hat a bit better. It got stuck on my hair as I tried to get it off.
"Please, let me," the Demon said. I stiffened and let him gently take my hair out of the hat. He got it off and I turned, taking the hat and glasses from him and left, confused as well as angry. I settled on my horse and urged him to quickly leave the grounds, putting distance between my beating heart and the Demon - both the Phantomhive one and the one that was possessing the young Master. I could not let myself fall for the very Human emotions I was having as tears welled up and I raced into London.