Chapter Forty-Two

Beacon Butler. Bewitching Bride

After what happened with Ash, snow had fallen over London in a soft white blanket. The people were queuing for food and supplies. Soma and Agni were handing out curry buns.

"Here!" Soma smiled, hanging a man one of the buns.

"Thank you very much," said the man.

"Agni's curry buns are nutritious and tasty. I'm certain you will enjoy it."

The prince handed out some more buns as Sebastian approached, leaving footprints in the snow.

"Careful. It's hot!" Soma warned a woman.

"Thank you very much."

Soma turned to Sebastian and stared at him with wide-eyes.

"You…"

Agni bowed his head.

"Sebastian."

Sebastian gave a brief explanation of what happened to Ciel, but it was enough to cause the Indian prince to stagger, sending several curry buns to the ground. People immediately starting taking them, but Soma paid them no heed, keeping his eyes solely on the butler.

"It's really true?" he asked. "Ciel… Ciel has lost his memory?"


Soma sat in a carriage and stared at the invitation in his hand.

"Earl Trancy?" he asked Agni. "Just who is this fellow? And is Ciel really going to attend as well?"

"Yes." Agni replied.

"This is sudden. I've tried to visit him many number of times, why now?" the prince sighed heavily.

His butler nodded his head.

"Sebastian said Lord Phantomhive wouldn't understand if you and I showed up at his door out of nowhere," he explained. "Although, Miss Marianne has been kind enough to keep us informed of his progress. His memories have alined themselves, but they are still scrambled, so there will be times when he will know us, but others when he won't. We must bear that in mind should we see him."

"And I am thankful for her. But it makes sense though, given what Ciel's khansama told us. He said he had no memory of the recent past, including when we met. Sebastian said that to keep from hurting Ciel, we must act as if nothing has happened, should he not remember us." Soma said, his head drooping.


Sebastian visited the servant trio in the hospital, and told them the same thing. As he explained, all of them had tears in their eyes. Bard, Finny and MeyRin saluted him as streams trickled down their cheeks.


"Apparently, he made the same request of everyone else who knows Ciel while Miss Marianne was caring for him."


Sebastian held Tanaka's diary in his hands as he presented it to the old steward, standing full-bodied in the room he had been retiring himself to. Tanaka accepted it with a sad smile and a nod of his head.


"There are times when he is doing better, but it is a constant struggle, made all the more difficult when he is aware that his memories have been disturbed."


Elizabeth fell into tears when she was told. Paula did her best to comfort her in her distress. Sebastian only watched them with drooped eyelids and a soft frown on his lips.


Soma sighed.

"However far I fall, so long as there is a thread left to me, I will use it to climb. I'll take hold of it and refuse to give up. I'm still human, I can do that much. Ciel told me that."

"Highness…" Agni whispered reverently.

"I will not give up either!" the prince proclaimed. "I'm going to play my part perfectly for Ciel! No matter what, he cannot catch onto us! Do you understand, Agni?"

The butler bowed his head.

"Jo ajna, Highness."


Bard sat at the driver's seat of a carriage, MeyRin and Finny at his sides as he steered the horse.

"A ball! A ball!" Finny cheered. "We're going to a ball! A costume ball tonight! We're going to a ball!"

"I'm so excited." MeyRin said with a smile.

"Yeah, even us servants are allowed to come too, as long as we wear costumes." Bard explained. "Now that's a nice fellow. Um, now what was that bloke's name again? Tr… Tr… Trumpet or something?"

"No, it was Lord Trancy!" MeyRin corrected.


Inside the carriage, Ciel was staring out the window while Sebastian and Marianne watched him.

"Alois Trancy, eh?" Ciel said. "And the previous Earl Trancy, you said he died questionably two years ago. Is that right?"

"Yes." Sebastian answered.

"Two years ago…"

The boy remembered the flames that consumed his home, left his mother and father's mutilated body in ashes. He remembered the cult and their groping hands, and how they ignored his pleas of them to stop… He shook his head and turned his eyes forward.

"Alois's mother committed suicide. He was kidnapped when he was very young. But then, he returned shortly before his father passed away, along with a mysterious new butler." Ciel went on. "Is that the whole of it?"

"That's right. There's something incredibly familiar about that story, isn't there?" Marianne replied.

"Indeed, it's a common one." Ciel said, looking away.


They pulled up outside the Trancy mansion. Sebastian stepped out first, followed by Ciel, and the demon assisted his wife out before closing the door behind them. Bard looked at them over his shoulder and spoke.

"Right, we servants got to come in through the back entrance," he said.

"See you this evening, Master!" MeyRin smiled.

"We've got some brilliant costumes! Just wait 'til you see them, Sir!" Finny laughed.


The carriage then drove off round the back of the mansion. The trio stood silently before the front door. Sebastian made to knock his knuckles on the wood, but the door opened before he could do so. Claude stared at them.

"The Right Honourable Earl, Ciel Phantomhive," he said, bowing his head. "We've been expecting you. Claude Faustus: the butler of this estate."

He stepped aside and opened the door wider.

"Please, come in."

They moved to walk inside, but Marianne stopped when she saw something tucked in the corner of the doorframe.

"What's that?" Ciel asked.

They followed her gaze, and saw the spider tucked in its web.

"Ah, yes." Claude smiled. "The Trancy coat of arms bears a spider, so out of respect, we preserve their lives."

"But of course." Sebastian agreed. "Besides, when it comes to spiders, the harder you try to kill them, the faster they cling."

Never trust a spider. Marianne thought to herself.

The demon's lip curled upwards slightly at her thoughts.

Claude gestured them inside again.

"Do come in."


The three of them walked in and stared up at the ceiling. Ciel's eye wavered slightly, his vision blurring in and out. The chandelier… the candles' flames dancing… It was too much. He took a step back and found himself braced in Sebastian's arms. The boy grasped his arm tightly, and leant back into him as he panted.

"Are you alright, Master?" Sebastian asked, bracing him. "What is it?"

Marianne drew a handkerchief out of her pocket and handed it to Ciel. Ciel took it without a word and wiped the sweat from his brow.

"It's nothing!" he snapped, pushing himself away from the demon. "Might my butlers come with me?"

Claude bowed his head.

"Certainly, Sir."

"Let's go," said Ciel.

"Quite so." Sebastian replied.

"As you wish." Marianne added.


The three of them made to walk away, but were stopped by Claude.

"Do forgive me though," he said. "I'm afraid my master is currently away on business. He shall return in time for the ball."

Ciel kept his face impassive.

"Very well."

Claude turned to them after closing the front door.

"I've laid out tea and refreshments for you in the drawing room. Everyone else has already arrived, Sir," he explained.

Ciel arched a brow.

"Who is everyone?" he asked.


Sebastian pushed open the drawing room door. They stepped inside and Lizzie immediately came rushing towards them.

"Ciel!" she cried, wrapping her arms around Ciel.

"Elizabeth!" he gasped.

The girl shook her head.

"Ciel, it's just Lizzie!"

Paula smiled and curtsied behind her.

"We'd expected you sooner, My Lord," a voice said.

They all turned to see Lau lounging on one of the sofas, with Ran Mao straddling him.

"Lau… So, you two were invited to the ball as well?" Ciel asked. "Then surely…"

He looked around for a moment before shaking his head.

"Who do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.

"For a moment, I thought I would see Madame Red, but then I remembered she is dead." Ciel answered. "She was the kind of person who would do anything to participate in such an event."

The group looked at him with weary eyes. He was better than they'd hoped, but there was still much that needed to be done before he fully recovered his memory.

Elizabeth waved her hands and smiled at him before getting cut off by someone calling out.

"Please Lady Elizabeth, do try to calm yourself!" Sebastian chastised.


From the door, they saw Soma run into the room, and wrapped his arms around Ciel while tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Ciel! Ciel!" Soma wept. "It is so good to see you, Ciel!"

"P-Prince Soma! What the blazes are you doing?! Let me go!" Ciel demanded, struggling to get free.

The prince loosened his grip and stared at the boy's face.

"You remember me… You remember me!" he embraced Ciel again.

"I told you to unhand me!"

Lizzie stared at them.

"Oh dear, is that who I think it is…?" she asked.

"Prince Soma?" Marianne answered. "Yes. And it seems Ciel at least knows who he is."

"But this way, he will ruin everything!" Elizabeth gasped.

Sebastian leant down and whispered into her ear.

"Oh, there's no need to worry. The prince has a very capable butler to help him," he assured her.

Agni moved over to remove the prince from Ciel.

"Your Highness, you mustn't!"

Soma resisted for a moment as he was lifted away.

"No! Ciel… He remembers me!" he cried.

"Did he have to be so exhuberent?" Ciel asked Agni.

Agni shared a look with Sebastian and Marianne before bowing to the boy.

"My apologies, My Lord. When he heard about your memories, it grieved him to think you had forgotten him."

As he was talking, Soma took a moment to compose himself, and even then, he didn't wipe away his tears or his dripping nose.

"Ciel! Even though we have finally met…"

He tried to reach for Ciel again, but Agni stopped him.

"He is truly moved by your rememberence of him. I fear he cannot restrain himself."

"Our memories will never vanish!" Soma proclaimed. "The world may change, but our friendship will never fade!"

Agni then burst into tears.

"It would have been truly tragic if he didn't remember, Prince!"

They fell into an embrace and wept.

"Agni!"


The group watched the two Indian men cry for a while. Marianne leant over to Sebastian and whispered into his ear.

"This is getting awkward now," she said.

The demon sighed.

"I fear there is nothing we can do for them now."

He turned to Ciel.

"Young Master, I suggest we retire," he said. "We need to prepare ourselves for the ball. Come along now."

The trio left the room soon afterwards, hearing the faint cries of Ciel's name.


They were led through the corridors by the trio of purple-haired butlers.

"What strange men." Ciel commented, watching as the three men walked in complete unison.

"Are you talking about Agni and Soma, or these butlers?" Marianne asked.

The boy didn't answer. He glanced around and felt his gaze going hazy again. The paintings along the corridor blurred into a fathomless mess of colour. He shook his head and carried on once it settled. Sebastian's eyes narrowed as he watched the boy. Ciel turned to Sebastian.

"Sebastian, search this mansion from top to bottom. Understood?" he ordered.

The demon nodded his head.

"Yes."


Meanwhile, Alois was going through the collection of costumes strewn about on top of his bed. He cast a critical eye over the first item; a black captain's jacket.

"That's shit!" he said, tossing it aside. He examined a white and navy lietenant's uniform, and threw it behind him. "And so is that!"

He continued in this fashion for a few more items.

"This one too! And this!"

Hannah watched on quietly, her blue eye impassive as it trailed over the boy as he bowed his head and wandered over to a king's crown sat on the low table. Alois picked it up.

"You have got to be joking!" he shouted, throwing it at the maid.

It hit her in the head. She barely let out a whimper as she clutched her forehead. Blood trickled down from above her uncovered eye.

Claude then stepped into the room.

"Is he here?" Alois asked.

"Lord Phantomhive has arrived," the butler said with a bow.

The boy strolled back over to the bed.

"I was choosing a costume. You should do the same." He picked up a lady's pink dress and placed it on Claude's shoulder. "Perhaps this one?"

He clapped his hands together.

"Ole!"

Claude stared down at him without expression. Alois saw it and sighed, his smile fading almost instantly. He snatched the dress away and turned to Hannah.

"All of these costumes are bloody useless!" he snapped.

An idea then came to him.

"Now strip, Hannah."

Hannah did as she was told, starting with undoing the buttons at the back of her purple dress. She untied the ribbon of her apron and pulled it over her head before dropping it to the floor. Then went the lilac ribbon around her neck, and then finished unbuttoning her dress. She pulled the sleeves down, and let it pool around her feet before stepping out of it. Hannah was then left in a small chemise and underbust corset, her arm was placed over her abundant breasts. She lowered her arm when Alois turned back to Claude.

"Claude, I assume everything is in order?" he asked.

"Yes." Claude replied. "I transformed them. Day into night, pleasure to pain, and waltzes into requiems. That's what makes me a Trancy butler."

Alois's face darkened as a large smirk spread across his lips.

"Welcome to my home, Ciel Phantomhive. I will show you a lovely time."


At the ball that night, things were in full swing. Couples were dressed in their costumes and happily dancing. Elizabeth, dressed as a Native Indian, approached Ciel with one of her costumes feathers.

"Ciel!" she called out. "You wear one of these too, okay?"

Ciel, wearing a traditional pirate captain's costume, sipped from his mug.

"Fine," he sighed.

She stuck the feather in his hat.

"Now we match!" she giggled.

He was disgruntled, but didn't comment.

Paula then turned towards them, her white Egyptian dress swaying around her and the light gleaming from her gold bangles and cobra tiara.

"Jingle, jingle!"

Elizabeth then caught sight of Soma and Agni.

"You're not wearing a costume, Highness?" she asked.

Soma stood wearing a deerstalker coat and hat, a meerschaum pipe rested in his hand.

"Of course I am, Sherlock Holmes at your service," he said.


They were then interrupted by the servant trio.

"Look, Master!"

They turned to see Finny dressed as a monkey guardian, Bard as a bird, and MeyRin as a pig.

"We're the three creatures from the Journey to the West." Bard declared.

"I'm the Magic Monkey!" Finny smiled.

"Do you like it? Pretty neat, eh!" MeyRin added.

"We even made a costume for you."

They revealed the costume of a buddhist priest. Ciel caught sight of the shiny bald cap.

"It's not happening."

"Awww!"

"Maybe just this part of it?"


As they argued back and forth, Lau, dressed as a Japanese samurai, sat smoking his hookah, stroking his hand against Ran Mao's exposed legs.

"Tonight's party promises to be an amusing affair, don't you think, Ran Mao?" he said.

She nodded her head and smoothed the fabric of her elaborate kimono; her makeup was in the style of a geisha.


Meanwhile, Sebastian was upstairs searching through the rooms. He was rifling through one of the many drawers when the door behind him opened.

"This is an immaculate room," he said, turning round to see Claude at the door. "Everything is perfect, from the neatness of the bedclothes to the placement of the artwork. I can tell how much care you took to properly prepare it. I find it most educational."

Claude snorted.

"I'm pleased to be of help," he replied. "Though I find your willingness to stoop to petty thievery in service to your Master to be more impressive."

Sebastian smiled.

"You flatter me."

He moved to walk out of the room, but stopped just at Claude's shoulder. His face was stern and unyielding as he spoke.

"I will not let you have my Master. I am his butler. Come Hell or high water, that remains."

"My master's orders are absolute. You see, I am one Hell of a butler too." Claude retorted.

Sebastian smirked.

"If you'll excuse me."

He slid around the butler and walked out the room.


Back in the ballroom, the three purple-haired butlers were serving the guests. Bard, MeyRin and Finny watched from the sidelines.

"Maybe we should be helping out too." Finny suggested. "I mean, we are servants after all."

"That's a good idea." MeyRin said with a nod of her head.

Bard held his cigarette in his beak and smirked behind his mask.

"We'll show them what the Phantomhive household is made of! Are you lot with me?"

Moments later, there was a loud crash. Bard had chopped a table in half with his dao. He scratched his head, his face flushed.

"I-It was the meat, I was choppin' it, you see," he explained.

There was another smash outside in the corridor. Finny was on his knees crying. A large crate of wine bottles was smashed on the floor beside him.

"I just wanted to help carry it!"

Back inside, MeyRin was carrying a tower of plates. She swayed back and forth, barely able to keep her balance, but it looked like the plates were going to topple at any moment.

Seeing the disasters, the butlers got to work. One of them cleared the broken table and food and replaced it with a new one and a collection of fresh delicacies. Another mopped up the damaged crate and rolled away the stained carpet before a new one was put in its place. And the third butler managed to catch all the plates just as MeyRin fell to the floor in a heap. The guests applauded the butlers for their feats and bowed. Bard apologised and watched as the one in front of him walked off.

"Those blokes are quite good," he said.

Out in the corridor, Finny was marvelling the unstained carpet. MeyRin bowed to the butler.

"Thank you very much," she said.


Just then, Marianne stepped into the ballroom. She was dressed in a floaty white gown that trailed along the floor. Tangled around the dress were black thorned stems that trailed down her mostly exposed back. One strap was pinned with a collection of red roses, where the petals trailed down her body and blended into her skirts. The half-made bodice was black and peeked out behind a collection of more roses. More thorny stems twisted down her arms and around her wrists, her choker gleamed against her throat and her ring shone on her finger. Her brown hair flowed in loose curls down to her shoulders and a diadem of roses sat upon her head. She was Persephone, goddess of the Underworld.

"What have you three been doing since you've been out of our sight?" she asked, tapping her heeled foot against the floor.

There was no mistaking the aura that surrounded her. The servant trio shivered under her stern gaze. It seemed she had taken lessons from Sebastian. They felt they were standing before a demonic goddess, about to suffer her wrath.


Ciel watched on, a slight upturn of his lip suggested he enjoyed watching the spectacle. He didn't notice a blond-haired maid bump into him, spilling a glass of dark red wine onto his jacket.

"I-I'm terribly sorry!" she cried.

He held up a hand.

"It's nothing. Don't worry about it," he assured her.

"Oh, I'd hate it if I left a stain," she protested.

Ciel met her bright blue eyes, and barely managed to suppress a gasp. She smiled and led him out of the room.

"Please, follow me."


She dabbed at Ciel's jacket quietly, her face cast in eerie shadow as she worked. Ciel sat on the bed, removed his hat, and watched her in silence.

"All finished," she said, getting to her feet.

Ciel rose from his seat and stared at the jacket. There was still a large red stain.

"Finished?" he protested.

But before he could continue, she grasped his hand and stared at the Hope Diamond ring on his thumb.

"Lovely blue ring. I wonder, does your soul turn this colour when you die?" she said with a smile.

"What now?" he asked.

She saw her reflection staring back at her in his visible eye.

"That same blue…" Her hands cupped his cheeks. "The same lovely blue as your ring."

Her fingers massaged his temples. He tried to shake his head.

"What are you on about?"

The maid merely smiled.

"I wonder, if we were one, if we were, could I have that same elusive blue for my soul?" she asked.

Leaning forward, she traced her tongue along the lobe of his ear. Ciel jolted, and she removed herself from him, taking his eye patch with her. When he saw what she had taken, he immediately clamped his hand over his eye.

"Hiding a little secret, were we?" she teased.

She scampered out the room, giggling away.

He ran after her, and found himself in an empty corridor. His gaze faltered again, the room swirling around him like a whirlpool. He could hear the girl's laughter taunting him. Ciel looked behind him and saw her run around the next corner. He gave chase.


Marianne shook her head at the servant trio. Their small party had gathered around them.

"Honestly, what am I going to do with the three of you? You're lucky it's not Sebastian you're dealing with right now," she said.

"Well, we are sorry." Bard apologised.

"Very, very sorry." MeyRin added.

Just then, Agni approached them from behind, Soma in tow and carrying a silver tray with a lid.

"Ah Watson!" the prince laughed. "They're done?"

Agni bowed his head, smiling behind his fake moustache.

"Who's Watson?" Finny asked.

"Me." Agni answered, lifting the lid of the tray. Beneath it were some curry buns.

Everyone was happy at the sight of them.

"The famous curry buns." Lau smiled.

"But how were you able to make them?" Paula asked.

"Earlier, I took the liberty of borrowing the mansion's kitchen." Agni explained.

Soma nodded his head.

"If Ciel takes a taste of some of these, maybe it will help with his memory. At least, I hope so."

They looked at one another at those words.

"We can help him." Finny realised.

"We can try and show the Master such a good time, that all his memories will come back and get in order! Yes, we can!" MeyRin cried.

Lizzie was quick to agree.

"Excellent, we can all work together then." Agni said.

Lau nodded his head.

"Yes… Wait, what's this I'm hearing? The Earl had amnesia? My goodness, where was I?" he asked.

Marianne sweatdropped.

"I believe you fell off a boat and disappeared for a while before coming back as though nothing had happened."

The woman then turned to Elizabeth, who was looking around the ballroom with a confused look on her face.

"What's the matter?" she asked.

"Where did Ciel run off to anyway?" Lizzie replied.

Marianne smiled at her, despite the blossoming abyss forming in her stomach.

"Why don't you keep an eye on things here with Prince Soma and Agni? I need to find Sebastian."

As soon as Lizzie nodded her head and looked away, Marianne slipped out of the ballroom and into the corridor.


Ciel found himself in the kitchens. The darkness blurred around the edges of his vision and blended the lights and colours like a grotesque canvas.

That's strange… I feel like I've been here before. Strange…

He spotted an open door on the opposite side of the room. Walking over to it, he stared down the stairs before him, watched the shadows move as though a phantom was strolling down them, right down to the sound of soft footsteps beating against the wood.

"Sebastian…" he whispered.

A pang went through his head.

"It's New Moon Drop. People say the tea leaves plucked at the full moon give off a clear, sweet smell. These are the opposite however. When plucked at the new moon, the distinct aroma can bring a mind to total, bottomless darkness."

Ciel shook himself and went down the stairs and into the cellar.

He followed the phantom through the aisles, saw it crouch down on the ground at the far end of the room before getting to its feet.

"It has another name. It is called the Soul's Temperature."

Ciel blinked and ran forward.

"Father?" he called out.

The phantom faded as soon as he stepped into its place. He stared up at the box of tea sitting on the shelf. His vision blurred once again as another voice entered his ears.

"Not quite yet. No need to get prickly, I promise I'll show you. But one thing first…"

He slapped his hand over his mouth as sludge and bile crept painfully up his throat. The voice of Claude erupted in his ears.

"That's right. First, you'll hand over that trunk… Sebastian Michaelis."

Struggling feebly against the urge to vomit, Ciel knocked over a few crates and bottles on the shelves. He fell to his knees and emptied the contents of his stomach onto the floor; a drop of spittle hung from the corner of his mouth. He heard the sound of clicking heels against the stairs, the soft sweep of fabric swirling; he looked up and sighed when he found himself staring at Marianne.

"Mother… How did you find me?" he asked softly.

She walked into the aisle and knelt down beside him, taking a handkerchief from her dress pocket and wiping his mouth.

"A mother always knows when something is wrong with their child. Finding them is as instinctive to them as breathing."

Marianne placed a hand on his back and helped him to his feet.

"Let's get out of here. This place… I feel like everything is watching us. The ghosts and shadows are waiting for us to walk into their trap."

He took her hand and they walked out of the cellar together.


"I keep hearing voices." Ciel told her as they stepped out into the corridor. "I hear Father, that butler Claude, and a boy I've never heard before…"

Marianne bit her lip, wondering whether she should say anything.

"You are mostly likely remembering things from when you were comatose. Going to the places where they occurred must have triggered the memories. It's likely you are suffering the backlash of them coming all at once," she explained.

It was the only possible option. She couldn't lie to him. Not about this. Ciel stared at her and nodded his head. His contract seal burned brightly in his eye.

"In that case, I better get my eye patch back and face them head on," he said determinedly. "You go back to the ballroom and watch things there. I don't trust them to not pull anything while I'm out of the room."

Marianne reached out and stroked his hair.

"As you wish, my child."


He took off running down the corridors, all the while he heard the conversation between the three voices ringing in his ears. Ciel didn't stop until he was outside. The cold air was biting against his thin shirt. Sweat beaded on his brow as he leant back against a nearby tree to catch his breath.

"What's wrong?"

His eyes snapped open and stared at the shadows lurking in front of him. Out of them stepped the blond maid.

"Trouble breathing?" she asked. "Does it hurt? If you'd like, I'd be happy to lick it all better for you."

She licked her lips almost gleefully.

"Let me lick your…"

"I've had enough!" Ciel interrupted. "Stop this farce, Alois Trancy!"

Alois glared at him before a smile spread across his face.

"So, you figured it out," he said, removing the blond wig and tossing it to the ground. "What a bore!"

Ciel's eyes narrowed.

"I figured if you got me alone, you'd find the courage to make a move."

"That's why you followed me?" Alois asked. "Really?"

Claude emerged from behind him, followed by the three butlers leaping down from the trees. Ciel eyed them all for a moment before smirking.

"Well, I can't allow you to underestimate me."


Sebastian's voice then rang out over the silence.

"My Young Master is quite right."

He stepped out from behind the tree Ciel was leaning against.

"Claude, I do believe I gave you a warning earlier. Do you recall?" he asked calmly.

Alois shook his head.

"Now, now, we only wanted to chat someplace quieter," he replied.

"Must be important to do all this." Ciel retorted. "You're dressed up like a woman, and a poorly done one at that. What could you possibly want so badly?"

Alois smiled.

"Simple, I want you."

Ciel scowled.

"What's that mean, you want me?"

"It means precisely what I said. I want you, Ciel Phantomhive. You're mine. And if you refuse…" Alois smirked as his eyes turned towards the mansion. "Everyone in there will be killed."

There was silence as Ciel and Sebastian exchanged a look.

"I've arranged a small performance." Alois explained. "If that performance begins, then they will die. Every last one of them."


Marianne watched silently as Finny spun Bard and MeyRin around on the dance floor. Her face gave nothing away as Sebastian linked her through to the conversation between them and Alois and his group. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Soma eyeing the curry bun they had set aside for Ciel.


"So, what will it be?"

A cool breeze brushed over Ciel, his hair ruffling under its slivery hands. He parted his lips and gave his answer.

"You may do as you wish."

Alois looked at him in surprise. Claude's face remained blank while Sebastian smirked.

"You're sure about that?" Alois asked.

Ciel sneered in response.

"Yes, you can try, of course. Now, there is something I would like to ask of you."

"Is there? I will be happy to oblige." Alois turned his back to him. "Right after you bend down and kiss my arse that is!"

"I don't think it will be your arse that will be kissed." Ciel answered back.

Alois smiled.

"Very confident, aren't we?" He straightened his back and strolled over to press his body against Claude. "Getting cocky because your butler has a little talent?"

His smile only widened.

"That's a mistake!"

Grabbing Claude's necktie, he licked his lips.

"I have my Claude here, you're not alone."

He stuck out his tongue. Emblazed on the muscle was a burnt orange contract seal, its pentagram framed in a spider web at its points.

Ciel remained undeterred by the revelation.

"Yes, I expected as much."

His own seal glowed as he spoke to his father.

"You will abide by our contract, Sebastian. You will serve me. You will protect me. You will see that I stay alive until I have achieved my ultimate goal."

Sebastian smirked.

"Of course. I have been your loyal servant since the day our pact was made, Master. I will do anything you ask, grant any wish you make…" He glanced down at Ciel out of the corner of his eye. "Until the day our contract is fulfilled, and the final terms are met."

Ciel smiled up at him devilishly.

"An excellent answer."

"Hoheo Taralna. Rondero Tarel."

They looked over to Alois as he spoke those words. The boy turned to his butler.

"Now Claude, you will get Ciel for me," he ordered.

Ciel glared at him.

"Sebastian, this is an order. You must do whatever it takes to protect me. Do not fail."

Claude gave his assent.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Sebastian smirked.

"Yes, My Lord."


Marianne sighed and cast her eyes to the window, staring out into the night. She looked down at her black painted nails, and touched where the paint ended and the grown nail began.


I would like to thank Shiningstar Girl 777 for suggesting Marianne's costume for the ball in this chapter. When she suggested the dress and the idea, after looking at the picture she mentioned, I fell in love with it. Persephone is really fitting because of being the bride of the prince of Hell, as she kindly pointed out.

I am happy to say that I have found another site for English dubbed episodes, and thank you everyone who suggested the different sites I could use. I never expected there to be so many!

I also wanted to give my thanks to mew mew 124 for her artwork on deviantart, and showing what Marianne looks like in her drawings. They are truly lovely.

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

Please read and review!