Chapter Thirty-Four

Butler, Dissolution. Bride, Alone

Maria sat in her home, knitting a pair of white booties. Her swollen belly pressed firmly against her thighs as she rocked back and forth in her rocking chair. She hummed a gentle tune. A hand went to rest against her shoulder. Maria looked up and smiled at Aberline. Aberline knelt down before her and cradled her pregnant stomach. She cupped his cheek, her pale blue eyes shining in the light.

"Aby, Maria, are you there?"

Aberline helped Maria out of her chair; they answered the front door.

"Oh, hello there, Ms Lurida." Maria said.

Ms Lurida smiled.

"I've brought you two some beef stew. It seems I've made far too much. Maybe you'll be sweet and help me finish the rest?" she asked. She looked down. "Oh, but what is this? Where did all of these gifts come from?"

Aberline and Maria followed her line of sight, and saw that their doorstep was covered with a large pile of gifts. Maria opened one of them, and pulled out a rattle shaped like a rabbit, wearing a black suit and top hat.

"Oh my, that looks like a baby's rattle!" Ms Lurida said. "Who could have sent you all of this?"

Aberline saw the letter inside, the bright red seal staring back at him like a bloodied wound. He took it out and read it, Maria leaning her head against his shoulder. The corner of his mouth curled up, and a watery shine filled his eyes.


At the Phantomhive manor, the servants were running around Ciel's chambers. A carriage stood waiting out the front.

"Finny, come help me with this!" Bard shouted.

"Okay!" Finny cried, dashing over to the rest of the suitcases.

"Oh, don't forget his underclothes!" MeyRin gasped.

The servant trio and Tanaka were hauling luggage out of the room; hat boxes and suitcases were being taken one after the other. Ciel, who had been standing at the window, spoke to Tanaka.

"How is it coming?" he asked.

The old steward bowed his head.

"Young Master, everything has been carried out to your specifications," he answered.

Just then, Sebastian called out from the doorway.

"My Lord. Pardon me, I've taken care of our lodgings."

Ciel nodded his head.

"Very well, Sebastian."

The demon could see the melancholy air surrounding the boy. His eyes drooped when Ciel didn't turn from the window to look at him. He wished Marianne would finish her packing so she could come help him with their child; she had a gift for keeping the brooding spirits at bay.

As Finny walked past with more luggage, he spoke up.

"I say, Young Master, where exactly are you three going on this trip of yours?" he asked.

Bard smacked his fist down on the gardener's head.

"You mean to tell me you've been helping out with the packing all this time without knowing that?" he said.

Ciel sighed.

"Paris."


The trio were on a ship for Paris. The sky was grey and filled with clouds, and the sea crashed violently against the sides of the ship. Ciel and Marianne were sat at a table with afternoon tea laid out for them. Sebastian stood at his mate's side with his hand on her shoulder. Marianne was dressed in a dark rose day dress with brown button boots and a matching hat with a small net veil over her eyes. Her choker stood proudly against the hollow of her throat.

"Her Majesty arrived in Paris three days ago. She should be viewing the exhibition now." Sebastian said. "I'm sure the hotel will be heavily guarded, so we…"

He noticed Ciel had been silent the whole time.

"Ciel?"

Ciel looked up at him.

"Yes, what is it?" he asked.

Marianne's brow furrowed.

"You seem distracted. We wondered if you were alright," she said.

"Sorry. It's just what Lau said, that the Queen wants to plunge Europe, no, the entire world into war." Ciel explained.

"Is that why you seek an audience with Her Majesty?" Sebastian asked.

"No."

"Well then… Is it because your heart was so moved by Aberline pulling you out of harm's way, and Marianne taking the blow for you?"

Ciel traced a finger along the rim of his teacup.

"No. Aberline is my pawn. That's all he was from the beginning. He was a disobedient pawn who didn't follow my orders. He kept sticking his nose in. The same goes for Lau. If you can't control your pawns, you can't play the game. That's all there is to it."

Marianne took a sip of her tea, eyeing the boy over the top of it.

"You don't see me as a pawn, do you?" she commented.

Ciel chuckled.

"No. You're the queen, you move as you please, and are defended by your knight when you need him. You both mean too much to me to simply be pawns."

Sebastian stared at Ciel, and for a moment, felt a slight waver coming from him.


They arrived in Paris, and stared at the Eiffel Tower from a great distance.

"The Eiffel Tower marks the entrance to the exhibition. And there is the Champ de Mars, which houses the Palace of Fine Arts. Then we have Machinery Hall, where one can see the pinnacle of modern technology. There's an exhibition on horticulture; the Place de la Concorde features a colonial exhibition. From what I have heard, it features a reproduction of the ruins of Angkor, along with some lively folk-dancing." Sebastian listed off the attractions with a shit-eating smile on his face.

Marianne considered his words. She had changed her clothes shortly after their arrival, and was dressed in her Edward persona once more. It was a while before she continued where her mate left off.

"Buffalo Bill's Wild West Cowboy show here from the States as well, if you want something with a few more flying bullets," she said. "This is quite the special occasion."

"Perhaps we should look around some more, Ciel?" Sebastian suggested. "As research for the company."

Ciel snorted.

Their ears pricked up when they heard two men going past them.

"You're sure?"

"Yes. They say there's a stuffed angel at the Palace of Wonders."

"That I must see."

The trio looked at one another when they heard those words. The girl shook her head.

"I don't believe that for a moment. As if an angel would let themselves be stuffed," she muttered.

"Still," said Ciel. "It may be worth a look."


They went to the exhibit in question. But it turned out to be only a stuffed white monkey with large white wings on its back. Ciel didn't hide his contempt.

"Pathetic," he groused. "It's nothing more than a stuffed monkey. What a bore. Let's move on."

He and Sebastian turned to walk away, but Marianne found herself staring into the creature's red eyes and snarling maw. There was a moment when she thought she saw its eyes flash. She found herself backing away slowly. Her heart slowly getting faster in her chest.

Sebastian!

She screamed for him mentally when the glass case around the stuffed monkey shattered as the creature came to life.


Sebastian gathered Ciel into his arms and held them low to the ground. The monkey swooped over their heads and soared towards the ceiling.

"What's happening?" Ciel demanded.

The monkey went around shattering the light fixtures, sending the room into complete darkness.

"What is that thing?" he asked.

The demon took hold of his hand.

"Calm yourself, Ciel. You're used to living in the darkness. There should be nothing. The lights have only dimmed a bit," he said.

Despite Sebastian's words, Ciel was still out of sorts. Marianne, thanks to her demon-blood-enhanced vision, managed to find them through the chaos surrounding them.

"Are you both alright?" she asked, checking the boy over for injuries.

"We're fine, darling." Sebastian answered. He glanced over his shoulder. "We should leave here now. Please, Ciel, entrust the situation to my care."

Ciel and Marianne took off running through the crowd.

He's right. He thought. I'm used to living in the darkness. My soul has been mired in this darkness for a long, long time.

He remembered the servants' smiles, how Aberline and Lizzie said his name with such fondness.

Since that day, and forever after, I've been running in the dark.


They ran out into the light of day; the Eiffel Tower stood before them. Doves fluttered by and danced in the blue sky. Marianne took a breath and turned to Ciel, who was gazing up at the sky as though he had never seen it before.

"It's so bright…" he muttered, bringing his hand up to his eye to shade his sight.

Can it be? Is this really the world I live in?

Marianne stared over at the fountain gushing water before them. Her hand reached out for Ciel's and took it firmly when she saw a figure clad in white. Angela stood watching them with that placid smile on her face.

"Come on," she said. "Let's go this way."


They ran towards the Eiffel Tower stairs, which were not yet open to the public, and began to make their way up. Eventually, they stopped inside a tram near the base. Ciel closed the door behind them and leaned back against it, panting for breath. Marianne checked him over, then glanced out of the window, being sure to keep him close.

"My, you're in a hurry, aren't you?"

She snapped her head around, and saw a black veiled figure sat at the far end of the tram.

"Is it you?" Ciel gasped.

"Ciel, it's been a while." The figure responded.

"Your Majesty."

The tram jolted, and began the slow journey upwards. Marianne quietly fingered her dagger in its holster, one eye on the window, the other on the Queen. She didn't move from her place behind Ciel. Ciel watched the Queen turned her head to the window.

"Quite the view, wouldn't you say?" she said. "As we face the next century, Europe is on the verge of change. However, we are stained. We are stagnating."

She pointed towards Ciel.

"We are unclean."

Ciel's eye widened. Those words, those wretched words. How many times had he heard them before? How he despised them.

"The state must be wiped clean." The Queen continued. "No creation without destruction. The new century must be pure. So, I have cleansed the House that has seen fit to sully our great country; the House of Phantomhive."

Marianne immediately pulled Ciel behind her, his body quickly going into shock. She rested her hand on her dagger, but kept it in its sheath. She didn't dare think if there were people ready to kill them if she pulled a weapon on the Queen. Queen Victoria had survived seven assassination attempts, and she wasn't particularly willing to become the eighth failure. Although the thought of putting an end to the person who had caused Ciel's pain was very tempting…


Sebastian came out of the Palace of Wonders with the winged monkey in hand. Fireworks were going off in broad daylight, and created beautiful white plumes of smoke in the sky.

"How very tasteless," the demon muttered.

He looked up and saw a single white feather float down towards him. Reaching up to catch it, he examined it closely.

"What's this?"

His head turned towards the Eiffel Tower.


The Queen hefted up her heavy black skirts, and started walking up the final set of stairs towards the top of the Tower. Marianne and Ciel followed behind the woman as she sang a familiar song.

London Bridge is falling down

Falling down

Falling down

London Bridge is falling down

My fair lady

Ciel glared up at her back, his hands clenched at his sides.

She's here. I know it now. It's her.

They followed the Queen up the Tower as she hummed the same tune. Marianne covered her ears as discreetly as she could, unwilling to listen to it much longer; she was already getting a headache from the irritable melody.


When they reached the observation deck, Ciel approached the Queen.

"Might I ask you something?" he said.

"What is it?" the Queen asked.

"You didn't simply kill them. Why did you have to make it a slaughter?"

They couldn't see it, but they felt the scowl she gave them.

"You should watch how you speak to your Queen, Ciel," she said firmly. "I cleansed them."

Rage slowly started to build inside Ciel's body.

"Burning your subjects alive, that's what you consider cleansing?" he bellowed.

The Queen tilted her head.

"And you don't?"

"Never!" Ciel snarled.

Marianne placed a hand on his shoulder; her breathing was slow and calculated, as though waiting for the right moment to speak.

"You call such a death cleansing, but there is nothing cleansing about the way they were killed. Someone has fed you lies and twisted fantasies, like the cult you asked Ciel to put a stop to," she said. "It's a disease that never stops, and you've taken it too far. You have accepted murder as a way to get what you want, there is nothing to save your precious soul from that."

The Queen covered her hidden face with her hands.

"But… I was only… only paying tribute to the Phantomhives for the loyalty they showed me for so long!" she cried.

Ciel gasped.

"You what?"

"That's not tribute! That's a damned sacrifice!" Marianne snapped.


The wind grew stronger. The force of it blew the Queen's veiled hat off her head, and allowed her long grey hair to blow freely around her. Her face was revealed to be that of a young girl's. Queen Victoria's turquoise eyes were filled with tears. Marianne gasped when she saw the facial features of her younger self staring back at her.


Just then, they heard laughter. Marianne's blood ran cold when she recognised it. It had haunted many of her nightmares. But to hear it again in the real world, which had been her escape for so long, it made her heart freeze inside her. She and Ciel slowly turned around, and saw Ash sitting on one of the observation deck's railings.

"Terribly surprised, aren't you?" he laughed. "Her Majesty is the absolute picture of youth."

He jumped down onto the deck.

"Ash." Ciel snarled.

"Her great loss." Ash continued. "The loss of her beloved husband ended her Majesty's happiness. She was a truly wretched creature; pained and mourning her husband's death to a degree that threatened even her own survival."


Queen Victoria, old and wrinkled as she was, held a dagger to her throat with trembling hands. Ash stared back at her from the end of her bed.


"Indeed, her grief was so great, that she tried to end her life." Ash told them.

He placed his hands on the young Queen's shoulders.

"In an attempt to save her, I joined his body with hers that they may live together forever."

Ciel remembered the grotesque creature that was made up of his parents' bodies.

"You what?!"

Victoria smiled.

"I can tell that my late husband is pleased with what I have done to keep us together," she said, pressing her hands to her heart. "I can feel his body still. His heart beats inside me. Thump. Thump. The throbbing of life. Truly, what greater joy can there be than being made one with the person that you love?"

Her eyes then turned to Ciel.

"I did the same for your parents, Ciel. They left this world, together as one. So, it wasn't such a ghastly death as you imagine," she said. "Come, Ciel, surely you must agree?"

Ash smirked.

"The Queen and her husband firmly intend to guide England to a world of perfect light. A world of beauty and harmony. That aim has purged Her Majesty of her impurities. And now, she is the chaste girl you see."

Marianne's nose wrinkled. She drew Ciel closer to her.

"You call that the picture of innocence? All I see is the mirror image of the little girl you failed to keep in your grasp: your beloved Virgin Mary when she was still a child."

The white butler glared at her.

"Yes, it is a shame my dear Mary perished in the flames of her home. I am sure she is singing with God's angels now. There is no one alive for me to avenge her death with though, a pity really." He turned his attention back to the matter at hand. "Her Majesty has a truly noble goal. She is indeed a most worthy master for an angel."

Ciel shook his head in disbelief.

"You? An angel? Surely, you're joking?" he sneered.

Victoria smiled.

"It's time, Ash. Unsheathe your blade. Our dear Ciel deserves to see the end of it."

Marianne pulled Ciel behind her.

"Over my dead body, you will!" she shouted.

The Queen merely continued to speak as though Marianne hadn't said anything.

"Ash's blade is a thing of true beauty. It will usher forth the brightness and purity of a new century."

Ash pulled his sword from its sheath.

"I shall draw my sword against thy wisdom. And I shall punish the beast within thee. And then I shall bring thee down into the Pit. May the great beauty of Heaven greet you, Ciel Phantomhive."


He lunged for them. Marianne pulled out her dagger and prepared to parry his strike. Sebastian pulled Ciel out of the way, and the girl deflected Ash's blow with a resounding scrape of her blade. She cried out when the force of the blow sent her onto her back. Marianne pulled herself to her feet and hurried over to Sebastian and Ciel.

"An impressive sword," said Sebastian. "But utterly useless if you're unable to land a blow."

He glanced at the boy out of the corner of his eye.

"Ciel, I think this may be the end of your revenge. Now, my orders?"

Ciel glared at Ash and the Queen.

"Ciel, no…" Victoria cried.

"F-Sebastian, kill Ash." Ciel said.

"Is that all, my boy?"

Ciel was silent for a moment. He clenched his fist.

"No. Also, kill the Queen."

Victoria gasped.

"Ciel!"

The demon smirked.

"Yes, my child."


Sebastian unleashed his silverware and threw them towards the Queen. Ash blocked them all with his sword. The two supernatural creatures leapt at one another, engaging in a battle of blades and blows.

"No, stop! This is dreadful!" Victoria cried. "Please stop him! Do something, please! Ciel!"

Marianne twirled her dagger and approached the girl Queen.

"Has your mind truly regressed as your body has? You cannot expect your actions to not have consequences! You have wrought this from your sins and grief! Accept what you have brought upon yourself!" she shouted.

She held the dagger to Victoria's throat, and kept it there as she watched the demon and the white butler duel.


Ash's blade sliced through the Tower's steel structure. Large pieces of scaffolding went crashing to the ground below. Ciel stared down at the chaos below. He turned around and shouted up at Sebastian.

"No! Sebastian, stop!" he ordered.

Sebastian quietly withdrew.

"Oh, why?" he asked.

"We're starting to attract attention." Ciel replied. "At this rate, the entire city will be out here soon."

"And why should we worry? They're only puny humans after all."

Marianne's head snapped up at those words. Her dagger wavered against the Queen's throat.

"No. We are withdrawing." Ciel ordered.

Sebastian stared at the boy with wide eyes.


While they were distracted, Ash shoved Marianne away from the Queen. He knocked her into the steel railing, her neck snapping backwards. Ash gathered Victoria up in his arms and chuckled. A pair of brilliant white wings spouted from his back, and he took off into the air. Marianne breathed heavily and brought her head upright again. Her wig had fallen off, and exposing her long brown hair, which swayed around her shoulders.

"So, it was you, all this time. It was you," she whispered.

There was a moment when Ash's violet eyes met hers. He froze for the briefest of moments, before he took off into the sky.


Ciel stared after the angel, unaware of Sebastian's narrowed eyes watching him at the edge of his periphery.


The streets of Paris were filled with distressed or angry civilians questioning the police officers that formed a barricade before them. The carriage that housed Ciel, Sebastian and Marianne drove past them without stopping.

"Ciel, why did you stop me?" Sebastian asked as he massaged the back of his mate's neck.

Marianne was sitting with her back to him, while they sat opposite Ciel. Her hair had been pulled over one shoulder as the demon worked his fingers over the sore flesh. Ciel didn't look at him, only stared out of the window.

"I told you, we were attracting too much attention. That's all."

Sebastian hmmed quietly.

"Oh right, I see."

"You want to say something?" Ciel asked.

The butler was silent for a moment before he answered.

"When our contract was first forged, what you wanted from me was vengeance against the ones who dragged you into Hell. That has not changed, even if the outcome has," he said. "Did it mean nothing, the vow you swore to me then?"


"You have summoned me here. That can never be changed. And nothing sacrificed can ever be regained. Now, choose." Sebastian said.

Ciel stared back at him with sapphire eyes.

"I order you…"

A contract mark blazed on his right eye.

"…Kill them!"

The dead bodies that Ciel stepped over with a steely resolve, Marianne following after him, were dealt with accordingly.

"I will become your sword," said Sebastian. "I will carry out your revenge. In exchange…"

"You want my soul?" Ciel asked. "You're welcome to it."

"You have no doubts?"

"None at all."


"On that day, I thought you had no doubt in your mind." Sebastian finished. "Will you maintain your loyalty to the Queen, even after learning the truth?"

Ciel huffed.

"I never even felt a scrap of loyalty to her to begin with," he said. "Never. I only acted as the head of the Phantomhive family, that's all."

The demon scowled, and placed a little bit more pressure on Marianne's neck.

"Very well. So, you value your soul now?" he asked. "You fear the final step before entering Hell?"

The boy let out a growl.

"My soul? What would I want with that? And I don't fear anything!" he said. "You're being stupid. Do you honestly think…?"

He stopped talking when he saw the dark expression on Sebastian's face. His eyes were narrowed and glowing. His lips pulled down into a look of disdain. Ciel shivered under his scrutiny, and bowed his head. Marianne felt the tension between them like a knife in the base of her spine. She tried to smile as she reached around to clasp Sebastian's hand.

"We're all stressed after everything that's happened. Let's go back to the hotel and get some rest. It will be a good idea to go to your room, wouldn't it, Ciel?" she said.

Ciel nodded his head, while Sebastian turned his head towards the carriage window.

"What a loathsome city," the demon muttered.


That night, in Ciel's hotel room, Sebastian buttoned up Ciel's nightshirt as the boy sat on the edge of the bed.

"Since that day," said Ciel. "You've spent your time buttoning my shirts. In the beginning, I never imagined having a demon for a butler, let alone having one become my father. But, you have done remarkably well."

Sebastian didn't falter in his movements.

"After all, what kind of butler would I be?"

Once he had finished, the demon got to his feet and bowed.

"That's quite enough for tonight, Ciel. Now, you really should get some sleep, my boy."

Ciel sat upright under the covers, and watched as Sebastian walked out of the room, candelabra in hand. Sebastian stopped at the door for a moment, and turned towards Ciel.

"Please let it all go. May your dreams be pleasant ones."

Sebastian's words caused the boy's eyes to widen. The demon came back and pressed his lips to Ciel's forehead. He gave a soft smile, and then left the room.


When Sebastian stepped out into the servants' chambers, he saw Marianne was waiting for him. And he knew from the look on her face, she had heard every word.

"You never say that. I am the one who says that," she said.

He turned to her, grasped her shoulders, and lowered his head to hers.

"My darling mate, there is something important I need to discuss with you."

Leading her towards the bed, he sat her down and leant his forehead against hers.

"You're leaving, aren't you?"

He pressed his lips to hers.


The following morning, Ciel fitfully awoke from slumber. His hair was bedraggled and covered his right eye.

"Father…"

He climbed out of bed and slammed open the doors.

"Father! Father, where are you?"

He searched throughout the suite and eventually found himself in the bathroom. Ciel caught sight of himself in the mirror and stared at his reflection. Lifting his hair out of his eye, he called out for the demon by his name.

"Sebastian!"

The contract seal didn't respond.

Marianne came in not long afterwards, woken up by his shouting.

"Ciel, why are you shouting?" she asked, rubbing her reddened eyes.

He turned to her, saw she was wearing one of Sebastian's shirts as a nightgown, and clung to her.

"Mother, where's Father? Where is he?" he demanded.

The girl wrapped her arms around him, and gently stroked his hair.

"Come now, love. Let's get you dressed."

Despite her not answering his questions, Ciel followed her without complaint.


They stood before the front desk together, Marianne in her butler's persona, and Ciel in his noble attire, albeit not as neatly had he been dressed by Sebastian.

"I'm the Earl Phantomhive. I'm in Room 702. Do you know where my butler is?" he asked.

The concierge checked the hotel register.

"One moment please, My Lord."

He glanced at Ciel and his slightly skewed necktie. Marianne blushed at the crookedness. She knew she should have taught him to tie it on his own; she made a note to fix it later.


The two of them stepped out of the hotel. Ciel walked ahead with Marianne as his faithful shadow. The boy's thoughts wondered.

His mark wasn't gone. But still…

He remembered Sebastian's words, and how the demon kissed him on the forehead. He rarely ever did that.

He would never wish me pleasant dreams. And then he said, 'let it all go'. Was that… a farewell?

Shaking his head, he glanced at Marianne out of the corner of his eye.

No. Even if he left me, he would never leave Mother.

He looked to the sky.

"London isn't that far. I'm certain we can get there without any trouble," he said.

Marianne looked at him blankly, and said nothing.


They approached a man loading barrels into a horse drawn cart.

"Take me to the Port of Calais." Ciel ordered.

The man turned to them.

"Huh? Really? And might I ask how much you're willing to pay?" he asked.

The boy weighed a pouch of coins in his hand.

"How much do you want?"

A smirk spread across the man's face. Marianne watched the exchange quietly, and fingered her own money pouch.


As they travelled through the French countryside, Ciel huddled into Marianne's side. She wrapped her arms around him from their place, squeezed in between the barrels. When they finally came to a halt, the man climbed out of the driver's seat and called out to them.

"Here we are!"

Ciel bolted upright.

"Pardon? I asked for the Port of Calais!" he snapped.

The man laughed.

"So sorry, but I live elsewhere."

Marianne climbed off the cart and lifted Ciel out afterwards, seeing as he wouldn't appreciate the man doing it for him instead.

"Well kids, I'm sure you'll hit the port that you need. That's assuming you keep walking straight, of course." The man sneered.

He made to drive away.

"Hey! Get back here and do what I paid you for, you bounder!" Ciel shouted.

The cart rode off into the distance.

Marianne shook her head and started to walk in the direction of the port.

"Come on, Ciel. Let's get to the port before it gets dark," she said.

Ciel scowled but did as he was told, seeing as there was no other option. And so, they walked. They walked as the sun was setting. They walked when the sky had turned dark blue.


Eventually, they arrived at a hotel. They walked into the reception, where the concierge sat asleep at his desk, a bottle of wine sat beside him. Ciel stepped up to the front desk.

"I would like a room for the night for me and my servant."

The concierge stared at him.

"You'll be paying?" he asked.

"I can't right now, but I'll be sending money from London later."

The man waved him away and turned back to his newspaper. Ciel stopped Marianne from reaching for her money bag. They would need it for their passage back to London.

"Are you toying with me?" Ciel snapped. "I am Ciel Phantomhive! Everyone knows that name! What kind of business are you running? Haven't you ever heard of my company?"

He lifted his left hand and showed the Hope Diamond ring on his thumb.

"Take a look at this ring. This ring has been passed down through generations!"

The concierge looked at him.

"Alright, I'll take that then," he said. "In exchange for the ring, I'll let you stay. The gem isn't bad, kid. So, I'll throw in breakfast too."

Ciel was barely able to hold back a snarl.

"Excuse me!"


He ran out of there as quick as he could. Marianne followed him sedately as he shouted back at the man.

"You honestly think I would give this to rubbish like you?"

The girl shook her head and took him by the hand. She led him to an alleyway, where a black cat was routing through the garbage.

"An alleyway will have to suffice for the night before we get the boat back to London," she told him, pulling out a bar of Funtom chocolate.

She broke off a few pieces and gave them to him.

"Normally, I wouldn't condone this so late, but we don't have anything else. It will settle your stomach for the time being."

Ciel huddled himself up against the wall, and quietly nibbled on the offering.

Marianne looked around, and saw the black cat had moved towards them.

"Come here, kitty. It's cold out here, do you want to bundle up with us for the night?" she asked.

Lowering her hand, she offered it up for the cat to sniff. The cat's wet nose tickled the palm of her hand. Marianne took the cat in her arms and sat down beside Ciel. She stroked the cat's fur with a slow and steady hand. Ciel watched her curiously, he reached out and attempted to do the same, but the cat hissed and took a swipe at him. It scrambled out of Marianne's arms and ran off. Ciel got to his feet and darted after it.

"Now, even you are trying to make a fool out of me?" he snapped. "Get back here!"

The girl followed him, making sure he never strayed out of her sight.


After following the cat through the alleys, they found themselves on an open street. Ciel turned his head, and saw the Port of Calais staring back at him at the end of the street.

"Oh," he said. "It was right here. It was this close."

Marianne facepalmed.

"I knew I should have looked at a map. And to think I thought I had a decent sense of direction."

He nodded his head quietly.

We wandered everywhere, unable to find it. But it was right here, all along. It was so close to us.

They stared at the moonlit sky together, the night's breeze ruffling their clothes.


Back in England, night had fallen over the Phantomhive Manor. Pluto was asleep outside when his collar began to glow. He woke up and struggled to get it off, but it forced his transition to his Demon Hound form. Letting out a loud roar, it reverberated around the mansion.


Bard awoke to orange light glowing outside the window. He, Finny, and Tanaka stared out to see flames consuming the trees surrounding the estate. They found MeyRin and hurried outside.

"Water! Get some water!" Bard ordered.

In the distance, they heard Pluto's echoing roar.


Pluto bounded through the trees, releasing torrents of fire from his maw. Ash sat astride him, brilliant white wings fully on display.


Ciel was curled up asleep between some crates at the port. Marianne had her arms wrapped around him as she stayed awake, looking out for anyone that dared to go by. Pressing a kiss to his hair, she didn't so much as blink, even as the need for sleep weighed down on her eyelids. The black cat they had chased earlier was staring at them. She stared into its dark red eyes. She called out to him through their link.

Sebastian?

She remembered that final night before he disappeared…


They entered their room together. Sebastian pinned her to the wall by the door once it was closed behind them. His lips pressed to hers desperately, almost as though he was saying farewell. Marianne responded to his kisses with just as much passion. When there was a moment between his fervent passion, she spoke.

"You're leaving."

Her statement gave the demon pause.

"Yes."

She took a breath through her nose.

"Why?"

He led her to the bed and sat her down. He went down on his knee before her.

"When the end of a contract draws near, they often waver in their resolve to go through with the final deed. Ciel is no different in this regard. I am simply removing myself from the situation until he regains what drew me to his soul in the first place."

Marianne bowed her head and covered her face with her hands. A sigh fell from her lips.

"You're abandoning our child, Sebastian. How can you think that's okay?" she asked.

Sebastian tilted her head up to meet his eyes with hers.

"My love, I will return. I would never abandon either of you, but our boy needs to learn that there are times when he can't hold back like he did today. Can you honestly say you would have stopped from slitting the Queen's throat if you hadn't been interrupted?" he asked.

She closed her eyes. She knew the answer.

"No."

"Exactly. He needs to gain that strength again. Which is why I am asking you this."

Marianne watched him as he pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened the lid. Gazing back at her was a ring; a dark gold band with a bloodstone matching the one around her neck stared back at her, surrounded by a nest of small white diamonds.

"From what I understand of your human customs, a man presents the woman he wishes to marry with a ring. Demons present their mates with such jewellery when they wish to be joined." Sebastian explained. "My dear Marianne, you have managed to make me, a demon, fall helpless to you, and I am forever happy for it. Would you honour me, by becoming my wife by your laws, and binding yourself to me as my mate by mine?"

She answered him with a kiss, and let him slip the ring onto her left hand.

"Yes, my beloved Sebastian."


Oh my God. It's the home straight for the first season. I can't believe I've come this far.

This ending really just came to me, and I couldn't resist it any longer. And apparently, neither could Sebastian. Still quite a bit to go though! Looking forward to writing the next chapters. It's so exciting!

Should you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Please read and review!