Chapter Twenty-Five
Butler, Sneering. Bride, Remorseless
Grell stood before a panel of senior Reapers, dressed in a respectable fashion, without Madame Red's coat, and his long red hair tied back with a matching ribbon.
"Temp worker Grell Sutcliff."
"Yes?" he replied, appearing meek with his hands pressed together as though in prayer.
"We release you from confinement as of midnight today, for a temporary situation. See that you mend your attitude towards your job so that you don't break regulations again, and apply yourself even more to your work."
Grell bowed over the table and sighed heavily.
When he left the court room, the doors closed behind him with a definitive thud. Bit by bit, his laughter grew louder. Grell removed the ribbon from his hair, making it as wild as his snarling, sharp teeth, and retrieved his personally modified Death Scythe.
"I'm back!"
His laughter rang all through London when he stood at the top of Big Ben. He danced with his Scythe, uncaring of whoever saw him. The black and blond haired Reaper stood beside him with a smile on his face.
"Senior Sutcliff, you're really keyed up."
Grell continued to spin happily.
"Obviously! They made me clean and do chores for my whole confinement, only letting me out to collect the anomalies on the To-Die List with a pathetic excuse of a Death Scythe when mine was confiscated," he exclaimed. "Do you realise how I've longed for this day?! Oh, it feels so good back in my hands! This really is the best Death Scythe. I am going to be heartbroken when I have to return it again."
The other Reaper arched a brow acerbically.
"It wasn't easy getting you permission to use that, you know," he said. "Seriously, if I hadn't asked that girl in General Affairs…"
"I know. You don't have to harp on about it." Grell responded quickly. "I'll pay you back in hard work."
His grin then widened.
"Besides, this mission is special." He licked his teeth. "This should be a fun night. I'm coming, my darling Bassy!"
Grell leapt down from Big Ben and ran across the rooftops, laughing all the while.
At Kelvin's manor, the trio was being lead through the basement of the Baron's home. Sebastian had a knife to Joker's throat, while Marianne kept as close to Ciel as possible.
"I've been filled with regret ever since that day." Kelvin said. "I keep thinking, 'Why couldn't I be by your side then?'"
Ciel's brow furrowed as he held his gun to Kelvin's head.
"'That day'? 'By my side'? What are you on about?" he asked.
They stopped in front of a large set of double doors. Kelvin continued to speak as though no one had spoken.
"No amount of regret can turn back time. But I realised something: If we can't go back, we'll just do it again!" the man gestured into the room as the two children pushed the doors open. "Here, look!"
Marianne barely managed to hold back a hoarse cry. Ciel's eye widened and a pained gasp came out of his contracting throat.
Staring back at him was an exact replica of the warehouse room he had stayed in during his month in captivity.
"I'm afraid it took me over two years to get ready."
Candles flickered around the room, casting shadows over the children in their cages. Marianne noticed small scars on their temples that stretched up into their hairlines. She didn't dare think about what had been done to make them drift through life without knowing what was really going on around them. Her ears perked up when she heard Kelvin start to speak again.
"You know, My Lord, I remember perfectly the first day we met." Kelvin turned to Ciel with a smile that stretched too far across his face. "Yes, it all started that day five years ago!"
Gathered in a ballroom, men and women and children moved around talking and laughing.
"Lord and Lady Kelvin, I'm delighted you came!" Lord Burton greeted exuberantly.
Lord Kelvin, a slightly portly man with brown hair, sideburns and a moustache smiled at his fellow peer, staring at him through owlish glasses balanced on the bridge of his nose. His wife, an elder woman with distinguished features and dark hair stood at his side.
"Lord Burton, what a grand soiree you've put on!" Kelvin replied. "I look forward to chatting later about philanthropic efforts."
Burton nodded his head.
"As do I." He then began searching for someone in the crush of people. "Oh, yes, there's someone I'd like to introduce you to. Let's see… Ah, there he is! The Earl Phantomhive!"
Off to the side of the room, staring out of the large windows, stood Vincent Phantomhive, with a young Ciel clinging to his hand. Vincent looked over his shoulder, his handsome features on display for all to see, a beauty mark danced under his left eye. Kelvin gasped at the sight of him. He extended a hand to him with reddened cheeks.
"Allow me to introduce the Baron Kelvin." Burton said.
"P-Pleased to meet you." Kelvin stammered.
Vincent was undeterred by this, and shook his hand.
"Pleased to meet you."
Ciel watched the introductions quietly, and smiled when his father stroked the top of his head.
"Go on, you introduce yourself first."
"Right!" said Ciel.
Kelvin's eyes widened even further.
"Pleased to meet you, Lord Kelvin. I'm Ciel." Ciel smiled.
The boy then ducked behind Vincent, peeking out for a moment before hiding again.
"I'm sorry, he's shy with strangers." Vincent explained. "His health is a bit fragile, you see, so I don't bring him many places."
Ciel then saw a familiar face.
"Oh, it's Uncle Chlaus!" he cried, running out to hug the man in question.
"Well, Ciel! Guten tag! Good to see you again." Chlaus laughed.
He picked up the boy in his arms as Ciel laughed happily. Vincent was quick to join the greetings.
"Chlaus! You're back?"
"Vincent! Are you all together today? That's rare." Chlaus greeted.
"He insisted on coming with us. He's still weak from his illness, though." Vincent stroked his son's head again. "Well? You took quite a long trip this time."
"Those German beauties are a chaste lot. Perhaps it's the German way?"
Vincent laughed.
"Shall I take a crack at them myself?"
Chlaus laughed.
"You always look like you're having fun at times like this."
As their conversation was going on, Burton was speaking with Kelvin.
"He's very sympathetic to philanthropic causes for such a young man. He invites my orphans to his estate on Guy Fawkes Night and Christmas…" He then saw the look on Kelvin's face. "Lord Kelvin?"
"I couldn't take my eyes off the three of them. As quietly beautiful as the moon in the coal-dark night… I understood instantly that they were special."
His carriage pulled up outside the Phantomhive manor. Kelvin climbed out and walked inside.
"After that, I devoted myself to investigating the Phantomhives. I wanted to know what made them so special."
He entered a darkened parlour, where a group of noblemen and women were gathering around a billiards table. Earl Phantomhive sat on a large armchair silhouetted by the fireplace, his eyes focused on the balls as they sank into the pockets.
"And so, I found out their true nature, that of the 'villainous nobles.' Beautiful roses have thorns. I felt a helpless yearning for their sub rosa life."
Vincent watched his friend pick up a sandwich out of the corner of his eye, a slight smile touching his lips.
"What was so important that you decided to call me back from Germany?" the man asked.
"There's a little job I'd like your help with." Vincent answered.
"Not one of your jobs has ever been 'little'!"
The Earl smirked.
"Well, I believe you owe me for that matter in Windsor two years ago… You'll at least hear me out, won't you?"
His friend stuffed another sandwich into his mouth.
"Fine, let's hear it."
Kelvin couldn't hold back any longer, and issued a greeting.
"L-Lord Phantomhive! It's good to see you again."
Vincent looked at him in surprise, and then gave a polite smile.
"Hello."
The man then got to his feet.
"We'll only be interrupted here. Let's go somewhere else."
He then walked away. Vincent followed suit by rising from his chair.
"Diederich, you shouldn't be so testy." Turning to Kelvin, he smiled. "Please excuse me."
Kelvin could only watch them walk away and listen to their words as they drifted to his ears.
"Who the devil was that?"
"Hmm?"
"Someone you know?"
"Well, he did strike up a conversation, so… probably?"
"Humph! I thought as much."
Kelvin sighed to himself.
I see… Special people are untouchable by those who aren't special.
Back at his home, young children looked up at him.
"Father?"
"Why are you up so late?"
Kelvin snarled at them.
"Don't come near me!"
His anger knocked them to the ground. He stared agape into a pane of glass, breathing heavily.
I-I'm so ugly, I can never even touch them!
Out in the gardens, he surrounded himself with red roses.
A man like me can't wrap himself in that velvety-beautiful world of night!
Kelvin reached out for one of the roses and pricked his finger. A string of red trickled out of the hole.
Will he one day be an evil bloom clad in beautiful thorns, too? Will be become the peerlessly cold moon in that world of night? One forever out of reach…
"Oh, God!"
I want to touch him!
Time moved forward to when he decided to go under the knife…
Kelvin lay in a hospital bed, glasses off and waiting for Doc to begin the procedure.
I want to be…
"I can't change everything at once," said Doc. "But you can be your ideal. Just leave it to me."
…someone special.
His face brightened at the thought of what he wanted.
Like a bisque doll, with porcelain skin, big jewel-like eyes, a youthful body… I will be one!
He sat covered in bandages at his home, staring at nothing with wide eyes. His wife peeked through the door without him seeing, her face saddened and aged as her head bowed, walking away from him.
I don't care if my ugly wife leaves me.
As the orphans, he cared for grew older, one by one, they became the first-stringers of the Noah's Ark Circus.
I'll grow more beautiful by leading a beautiful life!
Kelvin was exhilarated as he danced with his beloved charges.
I'll be a man worthy of him!
It was while he was sat in his bed when he received the devastating news…
"Father, I've come to report that someone attacked the Phantomhive mansion last night." Joker told him the day after Ciel's eleventh birthday.
"What?! Who was hurt?!" Kelvin gasped.
"Everyone was killed; the Earl, and his wife and child along with him."
The moon has vanished from my night. And with no warning!
Clouds encroached on his life. His days continued with a lack of life and soul.
What was it all for? My life had no meaning. My days were dust and ashes.
But then…
"What?!" Kelvin gasped in shock.
"Shh! You're shouting." A man chastised as he stood beside Joker in Kelvin's bedchamber.
"Is it true?" asked Kelvin.
The man smirked, showing off his golden tooth.
"Yes, it's the genuine Phantomhive boy. Apparently, our purchaser found him the other day," he laughed. "A chance to make the Phantomhive heir one of our lambs, everyone's having fits!"
Kelvin reached out to him with a shaking hand.
"I'm going too!" he cried.
"Lord Kelvin?"
My lost moon had come back to me. And to a place within my reach.
"But…" the man stammered.
"You mustn't!" Joker shouted. "You've only just had surgery. The doctor prescribed a month of bed rest!"
Kelvin continued to reach out for the man while Joker restrained him.
"Please, take me with you! I'm begging you!"
The man shook his head.
"Now, no need to get so excited. You were just unlucky this time…"
"Wait! Please, wait!" Kelvin cried.
The man tipped his hat in farewell.
"Our comrades and I will play with him extra thoroughly for you. Now, if you'll excuse me…"
The door closed behind him.
"Please, take me…" Kelvin continued to beg, even after he was long gone.
"Father, you're not well enough!" Joker snapped.
Kelvin ignored him as he managed to escape Joker's grasp and landed on the floor, using his arms to drag himself across the floor.
The bandages around him had extended down to his legs, where they had been cut off at the knees.
Marianne continued to grip Ciel's shoulders as the boy kept his gun aimed at Kelvin as his story finally came to an end. Sebastian stood at their side with his knife still against Joker's raggedly moving throat.
"I've never been able to forget that pain." Kelvin concluded. "I, who gave up everything to meet you, was the only one who couldn't. 'Why is fate so bent on keeping us apart?' I wondered. And then, on that day, they were all gone. It was you who killed them, wasn't it, My Lord?"
Ciel remembered the bloodied bodies that had scattered the warehouse floor once Sebastian had slaughtered them all. How the demon's hand had stilled when it was but a millimetre from Marianne's face…
Kelvin smiled blissfully.
"How I envy them. A beautiful end, with the cold moon at their deathbeds…" he sighed. "Please, make me one of them."
He spread his arms over his accomplishment.
"Look! I've prepared everything just as it was then! This ritual chamber… and the lambs… And finally, My Lord, you!"
Ciel's thoughts drifted to when he was laid on the sacrificial altar. When the dagger sank into his stomach and blood exploded from his mouth…
BANG!
Kelvin's white shirt was stained red as the bullet entered his chest. The barrel of Ciel's gun was smoking. The boy's body was shaking, so Marianne drew him closer to her, though her eyes remained on the large bullet wound in front of her. Joker cried out.
"Father!"
He managed to escape Sebastian's grasp, but not before the demon removed the skeletal hand from the wrist down. Joker pulled a blade out of the wrist joint, and was charging towards Ciel and Marianne's turned backs.
A vicious slice entered the air. Silent blades cut through the flesh of Joker's armed hand. Blood spurted out of the limb as the hand and blade fell to the floor with a resounding thump. Sebastian turned his knife over in his hand.
"Stay out of my Master's way, please," he said.
Marianne glanced over her shoulder at the blood and gore, looked down at Joker as he writhed in agony. Her eyes met Sebastian's for a moment before turning back to Kelvin.
Kelvin slumped to the floor, falling from his wheelchair. He used his arms to keep himself at least upright; blood spilled from the corners of his mouth.
"It hurts, My Lord… It's agony!" he moaned. He crawled to Ciel's feet and grabbed onto one of his feet. "Please, if you're going to kill me, please give me the death they had!"
Ciel was silent as Marianne rubbed soothing circles into his shoulders.
"The death they had?" he asked.
He slammed his freed foot down onto the back of Kelvin's head, and held him there.
"Then you'd best prostate yourself like the worm you are, and beg a demon."
The boy aimed his gun at the disgusting man again.
Joker wriggled helplessly towards them from behind.
"Please, don't kill him!" he pleaded. "Whatever else he may be, he's our saviour!"
He remembered a time before he and his friends had met Baron Kelvin…
Huddled together in the freezing cold, their eyes dead and staring at nothing. Joker sat with Beast at his side, Jumbo holding Doll in his arms, Peter and Wendy held together, and Dagger beside them. The only solace that they had was that they were together…
"Abandoned by our parents, abandoned by the State… He saved us from a daily fear of starvation! We have lots of brothers and sisters back at the workhouse who are still young! They can't live without him! So…"
Ciel cut off his passionate speech.
"So, that's why you kidnapped all those children?" he asked. "To save your own skins, you obeyed him and sacrificed others."
Joker bowed his head.
"That's right."
As the rain poured over them, they all did their best to keep dry underneath a thin blanket.
"England is a living hell for people born like us. We had nothing. No money for bread, no arms to shield our friends with." Joker wept. "But Father rescued us from the streets, gave us hands and feet to protect those we care about. That's why we decided to live. Even if another hell is waiting for us…"
He sighed heavily.
"I've known all along that what we're doing is wrong. But I…"
Ciel's eye narrowed.
"You aren't wrong. You fought to protect your world. What's wrong with that?" he said. "In the end, 'justice' is just an official line taken by those in power to serve their own ends. No one's looking out for others. If you're careless, you'll be robbed. There are only two kinds of people in this world. Those who steal, and those who are stolen from."
He toyed with the trigger of his gun.
"And today, I steal your futures." Ciel concluded. "That's all there is."
Joker bowed his head, fell backwards, and started laughing. Marianne could only stare at him during his hysterics.
"Yeah, you're right," he laughed. "But guess what? You three will lose something precious tonight, too. The troupe is on its way to your mansion!"
Ciel gasped.
Elizabeth! He realised, remembering she was at the manor.
"How do you think we captured all those kids without getting caught?" Joker asked.
Marianne bit her lip and answered the question.
"All the witnesses disappear."
Outside the Phantomhive mansion, the first-stringers observed the large building in the darkness.
"So, this is the place? It's big!" Dagger gasped.
"Looks like we'll have a job of it just finding the target's room." Peter commented.
Jumbo nodded his head.
"Let's split up."
Wendy took Peter by the hand and they walked away.
"We'll go in from above then."
Dagger agreed with the plan.
"Miss and I will take this side."
Beast bowed her head and nuzzled her cheek against Joker's scarf around her neck.
"Miss!" called Dagger.
She jolted.
"Coming!"
Jumbo started making his way to the other side of the mansion.
"It really is big," he murmured. "We have to find him fast, and get out before the sun rises."
Just then, he heard a voice, along with loud, pounding footsteps.
"Huh? A guest, this late at night?"
Jumbo turned and saw Finny approaching him, the gardener rubbing his eyes sleepily as Pluto strolled in his Demon Hound form by his side.
"I'm sorry," said Finny. "My orders are not to let strangers in when the Master is away. Could you come visit another time?"
Pluto growled. His fur stood on end and his red eyes glared at the intruder. Jumbo immediately set to attack Finny…
Joker smirked up at the trio.
"We're pros," he sneered. "If anyone crosses our paths for any reason, we eliminate them."
He focused on Ciel.
"You're the target. I wonder how many will be killed while they search for you?" he mocked.
Ciel snorted imperiously.
"Killed?" he said.
Joker smiled.
"Yes. Everyone, even the servants."
"My servants?"
It was then that Sebastian started laughing. Joker looked at him in confusion.
"What's so funny?" he asked.
Ciel tapped his cane against the floor.
"Who do you take them for? Those are Phantomhive servants."
Marianne smiled slightly as she sweatdropped, just thinking about the mess they were going to leave behind…
Finny lay on the ground, blood leaking into the grass as he remained completely still. Jumbo stared down at him emotionlessly.
"Forgive me," he muttered before turning his back.
Finny reached out and latched onto the man's ankle. Jumbo was startled by the way Finny crawled towards him.
"You can't do that. I'll get in trouble!"
He hoisted himself to his feet using Jumbo's clothes as leverage.
"The Young Master ordered me, and I have strict instructions from Sebastian…" Finny stared up at the man with wide green eyes, almost possessed, and blood dripping down his face. "…Not to let anyone in."
There was a deafening sound, like someone's life had been crushed out of them, and Pluto's howl resonated through the air. Grell looked around at his surroundings.
"Oh, dear, has it already started? I didn't expect you to be so impatient," said the Reaper. He continued his mad dash towards the manor. "I'm on my way, my Bassy!"
Jumbo lay in a pool of his own blood, his body smashed against a stone wall. The dent where his head had impacted the rock was impressive, and blood exploded from his head thanks to his shattered skull. Finny walked towards him without a care, wiping the blood from his face with his wrist.
"Aw, look at all this blood!" he cried out. "That was so mean. I hate being hurt, you know."
Jumbo's hand twitched. He lifted up his head and tried to sound the alarm.
"Peter, Wendy, run! This mansion isn't normal!"
Peter and Wendy moved through the branches of the trees with as much ease as they did if they were on the trapeze.
"Jumbo!" Peter called.
"What happened?!" cried Wendy.
From the treeline, they stopped and saw the enormous hole Finny had created, using Jumbo as a battering ram.
"Don't tell me he got Jumbo…?"
Finny shook his head and stroked Pluto's flank.
"Please don't shout at night. You'll wake Lady Elizabeth…"
Peter shot an arrow at the gardener and captured his hat.
"Dammit, you'll pay! How dare you kill Jumbo!" he snarled.
He continued to shoot arrows at Finny, who managed to dodge every one of them.
"How could you? I liked that hat!"
With a vicious display of strength, he dented the tree trunk with a single punch. On the back of his bare neck was a black tattoo with the words 'S-012'.
"Now I can't hide it anymore."
His punch cracked the trunk all the way through, and sent it toppling to the ground.
"The Young Master gave that to me!" he shouted.
Peter and Wendy fell out of the tree, and shoot grappling hooks out of their wrist shooters. They wrapped around one of the chimneys of the manor.
"What the Hell?!" bellowed Peter.
Finny chased after them as they swung through the air. The trapeze duo somersaulted away as quickly as possible when they landed on the ground.
"The Young Master never locks me up."
Peter and Wendy stopped at the backdoors of the mansion.
"He never makes me fight death matches with my friends."
Finny punched through the stone wall leading up the stairs to the door.
"I love this place!"
Wendy could only stare at him incredulously.
"What is he, a monster?!" she gasped.
She shot another grappling hook at the roof.
"He's slower than we are, though!" Peter answered quickly, following suit.
Finny only smiled.
"So, I made up my mind to protect it."
The two performers continued with their aerial attack on Finny until they landed on the roof. Finny charged forward and used his strength to propel himself into the air and jump up after them. Pluto sat on the ground and observed the proceedings. Peter smirked down at Finny during his ascent.
"Let's go!"
He tossed a grappling hook to Wendy, and together, they jumped down towards Finny.
"We'll cut you in half!"
A shot rang out.
A bullet passed through Wendy's head from one side to the other. The explosion of blood made Peter gasp.
"Wendy!"
They landed on the ground with a thud. Wendy lay limp and bloody. Peter tried to run towards her when another shot was heard. He dodged bullet after bullet as they chased after him.
"Damn it!"
He glanced around and searched for the source of the shots.
"From the roof to the west? Bloody Hell, how big an army does he have?!" Peter shook his head. "I'm sorry, Wendy, but the brat will have to wait."
Peter shot a grappling hook to the roof in question, and found himself staring at an arsenal of rifles, but with no snipers in sight.
"What is this?!" he cried.
He picked up one that lay on the ground.
"These rifles don't have scopes." Peter realised, looking over to where Wendy's body lay. "But they still got her in one shot at this distance?"
Pacing the length of the rooftop with the rifle in hand, he wondered what he was in for next…
Just then, there was a gleam of yellow light on the east rooftop. Peter hunkered down and waited.
On the other rooftop, MeyRin pushed her glasses up and away from her face.
"Always follow the Young Master's instructions," she said. "Welcome the Master every day with a nice, clean mansion… That is a maid's job."
She armed herself with two of her rifles, her brown eyes honing in on her target.
"When there's filth here… I get rid of it!"
She fired. One bullet caught Peter's shoulder.
"I missed."
MeyRin tossed the rifles aside and swiftly moved to the next ones.
Firing bullet after bullet, she never let up on her onslaught. Peter was reduced to rolling out of the way of her shots, which resulted in him tumbling off the roof and being forced to use his grappling hook to prevent his fall. He dangled from the roof by his wrist. MeyRin continued to fire at the support holding him up in the air. Peter was in awe at the swiftness of the shots.
"I can't get close! How many shooters can they have?!" he cried.
He managed to twist himself around and peek around its corner. In the distance, he spotted MeyRin.
"One… One?!" He remembered the hundreds of rifles assembled on the rooftop. "Then all those rifles were there to cut loading time?"
She fired at him again, and he ducked out the way. This was getting far too dangerous…
Jumbo was right, we gotta clear out for now!
Aiming another grappling hook, he shot and watched it coil around another chimney. Peter swung from the hook.
These people are crazy! He thought to himself. Crazy? No, that's not it…
Putting the pieces together in his head, he came to one conclusion.
Roof full of rifles or not, random shooting couldn't hit Wendy at that range. Don't tell me…
He glanced behind him with wide eyes.
MeyRin's eyes honed in on their target.
"It's useless," she said, aiming her rifle. "No matter how far a little rat runs, I can see it clear as day."
Her last shot rang true.
There was a smashing of glass. Elizabeth stirred from her slumber, holding a Phantomhive Bitter Bunny close to her chest. Through bleary eyes, she looked around.
"What was that noise?" she asked sleepily.
She climbed out of bed and walked on bare feet across the cold wooden floor. The bedroom door opened, revealing a fully-grown Tanaka holding a candelabra lit with glowing candles.
"Lady Elizabeth, what's the matter?" he asked.
"Tanaka," she said. "Did you hear a loud noise just now?"
The old man chuckled at her question.
"I'm sure you dreamed it, my lady."
Lizzie blinked her wide green eyes.
"Really? Maybe I was half-asleep…?" she muttered.
Tanaka nodded his head.
"Now, my lady, please go back to bed before you catch cold."
In the darkness behind him, Peter lay on the floor. Blood covered his body as he bled from his wounds. A broken window stood behind them, curtains fluttering in the night's breeze.
Not a lot of our trio, I'm afraid. For the reasons behind the title, Marianne understands the ruthless nature Ciel has to take on, so she feels no remorse for the monsters he ends up slaying. She accepts and cares for him despite all this, just as a mother would.
Admittedly, it was also very fun writing about how the servants defend the manor, especially since I have so far only written about their mishaps and hijinks.
Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Please read and review!
