Chapter 4! I hope you all like it :)
I had been called into Ciel's office early that morning, before he was expected to have lessons. I clasped my hands tight in front of me, knowing no matter how many times I washed them; the image of the blood wouldn't leave. Bard had been helping me through the worry until I could think around the murders. Today was the first morning that a nightmare hadn't plagued me or made me wake up screaming. The effects of my sleepless nights had shown on poor Ciel over the last few days…
"I apologise again for waking you," I said sincerely.
"I didn't call you in here for that," he said as he waved the subject away, "we have a new case to work."
"One from her Majesty?" Sebastian asked from behind me as he poured tea.
"Yes," Ciel replied as I looked to Sebastian with confusion, "is there something wrong, Elena?"
"No sir," I replied as I looked back to him.
"I'll continue the discussion from where we left off, just before Elena came in," Sebastian said for a moment, "people being burned alive? Oh yes, that's to do with the rash of crimes in London. I'm told there was another one last night."
"There was," Ciel replied as he lifted a letter to look at, "and naturally, her Majesty grieves for those who have been afflicted and for the citizens who live in fear."
"Is there something else?" Sebastian asked as he put a cup of tea by Ciel.
Ciel lifted the letter for Sebastian to look at. Sebastian took it after he put down the tray and skimmed through the first section, which must have been what Ciel had read. Sebastian motioned for me to come closer and I looked down at the letter as well.
"This happened before," Ciel said as he sipped his tea.
"Yes sir, and who is this Spider?" Sebastian asked.
"A mysterious nickname," Ciel replied, "Spider…I can't recall of hearing someone with that name."
"There's no use sitting here anyway," Ciel said after a moment and placed his cup of tea down to view us, "we'll see to the Queen's concerns. That must always be our priority. We head for London."
"I'll begin the preparations," Sebastian replied, "Elena will stay with you while I do."
"One more thing, careful that Madam Red doesn't catch wind of what we are doing. This is the sort of thing she likes. We don't need her rubbing her nose in."
"I doubt there is any need to worry," Sebastian replied.
Ciel shrugged and I walked out of the office with him. He moved towards the stairs and then down another corridor before opening a new door. He stepped away and motioned for me to go first. I walked in, seeing only paradise.
"Sebastian mentioned that you loved to read. Feel free to use the library," Ciel said as he followed me into the room.
"Thank you," I whispered, "my father taught me to read and write. Lord Trancy wouldn't give me books; he said he didn't want to give me ideas."
"Ideas?" Ciel asked as I picked up a history book.
"On how to kill him, his demons or run away," I replied as I looked at the artwork.
"You know about demons?" Ciel asked, shock colouring his tone.
"Sebastian is a demon," I said as I closed the book, "I worked for Alois Trancy who had five demons on his pay roll."
"You know about demons…and you aren't worried?" he asked and I shrugged.
"There are worse things out there to be worried about," I said as I put the book back.
Sebastian found us after that, Ciel had grabbed a book and was sitting beside me as I read through the one in my hands.
"The carriage is ready, young master. Will Elena be joining us?" Sebastian asked and Ciel nodded.
Ciel helped me up and Sebastian got my coat. I wrapped up and followed Ciel out to the carriage. Sebastian helped Ciel up before putting his hand out to me. I got in and he followed. Sebastian sat beside me, both of us facing the young master as he used his walking stick to tap the roof.
"Tanaka is driving today," Sebastian explained to me as Ciel turned to look out the window.
"Is something bothering you, young master?" I asked.
"I don't like learning that there's a part of my family's past of which I know nothing," Ciel said as he looked back at us.
"It's only natural," Sebastian said simply, "you were forced to take the earldom at an early age, my lord. Surely, there was much your father didn't pass onto you."
"I guess I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity though," Ciel muttered, "if I can resolve a situation that my father was embroiled, word will spread throughout the Underworld like wildfire. That should be what I need to draw them out of hiding."
"You intend to use yourself as bait, my lord?" Sebastian asked as Ciel grimaced.
"They began this by hurting my pride," Ciel replied, "But I'm going to be the one to end it. I'll drag them all out into the open and make them pay. Nothing will stop me."
"And what do you do if it turns out the culprits have already perished?"
"Nothing changes," Ciel said simply, "I'll tear the truth from their buried rotten flesh if I have to. Simple as that."
"Now that's my master," Sebastian said with a smile, "a true Phantomhive."
I turned to look out the window, wondering who was going to be the target of Ciel's revenge. I had read the cinematic records, knew Angela Blanc, Ash Landers and Queen Victoria had been responsible. What do you do when the angels were dead and the Queen was an imposter? Sebastian should have left, I thought as I turned to look at the demon, the contract was concluded, the revenge finished.
"Are you alright, Elena?" Sebastian asked, "you seem to be shivering."
"It will pass," I whispered as I looked back out the window, "where are we going?"
"We are going to the crime scene of the latest burn victim," Ciel said, "we should be there soon."
The rest of the trip was silent, which gave me time to think. Not something I wanted so I blew my breath onto the glass and used my gloved hands to draw. I drew a balloon…a book…an eye. No sooner were they drawn that they were gone.
"I wasn't aware you could draw," Sebastian said as I put my hands back in my lap.
"I'm not very good at it," I replied, "I used to draw sketches for dresses or clothes for Lord Berrymore. But as with the somersaults, I am out of practise."
The carriage came to a stop and Ciel got out. Sebastian followed before turning to help me. I used his hand to brace myself before I fixed my skirts. Sebastian followed but stopped. I turned to see him looking at a cat and her kittens so I sighed and moved closer to Ciel.
"Having a little trouble are we, Sir Arthur?" Ciel asked.
"Ciel Phantomhive," I heard Sir Arthur mutter as Ciel lifted a letter for him to see.
"Let's hear about the investigation so far," Ciel said simply.
"There's no progress to mention as of yet," Sir Arthur replied as Ciel moved closer, and I followed to act as his bodyguard.
"So how do these differ from the previous incidents?" Ciel asked and I was certain I hadn't read that in the letter, "or perhaps everything happened exactly the same? There have been similar cases before."
"So then you do know," Sir Arthur answered and I looked to them like I would a tennis match.
"Actually, not until now. You confirmed it," Ciel said simply, "now that it is settled, show me the old case file."
"There's nothing left of it," Sir Arthur replied.
"Nothing?"
"Not a page," Sir Arthur said, "and even if there were, I couldn't show it to you. Scotland Yard will find out who is responsible for this and their motives. We'll determine how it's connected to the old cases as well. You are not needed here."
"I hope you're right sir. Let's go Elena…Sebastian," and Ciel turned, shock in his eyes.
"What is it sir?" I asked as I turned to see the problem, "Sebastian found some cats."
"Those round eyes so innocent of this world's filth. That tail childish but somehow noble. Those paws…pale pink and perfect."
I walked forward to touch Sebastian's shoulder, bringing him out of his trance. He blinked for a moment and looked up at me with a sigh. I had known before this that he was a lover of cats…
"Chief Inspector!" another man called out, getting Sir Arthur's attention, "we weren't able to find any notable evidence."
"Master, my apologies sir. I was distracted by these charming kittens. Shall we?" Sebastian asked with a hand over his heart.
"Say good day to your feline friends," Ciel muttered as he walked past us.
"Good day," Sebastian said calmly as I smiled at the kittens.
Sebastian ran off to catch up with Ciel, and I followed with a smile. Wherever Sebastian had originally come from, it obviously didn't have the cats that were here. I wondered what he had as a pet, had he some form of dog and that was why he hated them? It was something to ask, if nothing else.
Ciel was getting back into his carriage, Sebastian already speaking with him when I got to the door. They looked to me briefly and I smiled.
"We're going to the Undertaker's next," Ciel explained as Sebastian helped me into the carriage.
"Will he help us with the case?" I asked calmly.
"It is my belief he will," as Ciel looked out the window, bored out of his mind.
Sebastian smiled as he looked at the young earl. The carriage started moving again and stopped a few short minutes later at the bend to the Undertaker's. Ciel got out and Sebastian helped me before the carriage moved off to find a place to wait. We stood outside the parlour and I sighed.
"Is there a problem?" Ciel asked.
"No, I've met the Undertaker before," I replied as I looked up at the sign, "he buried my parents."
"Hopefully they weren't alive," Sebastian said sarcastically.
"They had burned to death, their bodies were beyond recognition," I replied.
Ciel nodded as Sebastian opened the door for him, and then the two of us followed him into the dark parlour. The Undertaker wasn't anywhere in sight so I walked further ahead. I looked to the back room and walked towards it.
"Elena, where are you going?" Ciel asked as I rounded the corner.
I found matches and then a candle before lighting it. I returned to Ciel to see him looking me over as I walked back to him.
"I couldn't see so I got a candle," I explained as I put it down on one of the coffins, "I thought the same would go for you, young master."
Ciel mumbled and I smiled as I turned to see what made him mumble before I jumped and screamed. I put my hand over my heart to feel it thump as I tried to catch my breath.
"What is with you?!" I demanded after a moment, "you scared me the first time I met you."
"Elena Hamilton, the blonde hair confused me," he said simply as he laughed.
"Why can't you be a normal man?" I asked as I put my hair behind my ears.
"Normal is overrated," he replied, "now, what can I do for you, little Earl?"
"We're looking into the cases that involved the victims burning to death. A rumour is going around suggesting they had drunk too much and self-combusted. I want to see the remains of the victim from last night."
"You know my price," Undertaker replied quickly as he took my hand and twirled me, "give me the gift of laughter."
"Sebastian," Ciel said with a sigh as the Undertaker released me and I moved back to Ciel.
"A man walked into a café and spotted a woman. He walked over to her before sitting down at her table. The woman looked up and gasped when she spotted him. Startled the woman dropped her copy of Bleak House. Careful she said, you scared the Dickens out of me. Thank you, that's all I have this evening," Sebastian said with a bow.
"That was brilliant! Everything from the words down to the delivery. You are truly a comic genius; the finest act I've seen in quite some time," Undertaker said around a giggle.
"That might have been the worst joke I've heard in my life," Ciel muttered as I giggled, "Elena's blushing."
"Making a bad joke is a skill," I replied honestly, "and that is coming from someone who can't tell one."
"That's something special. I shall have to keep my end of the bargain, shan't I?" Undertaker said calmly.
He took out a vial of grey powder from one of his pockets and put it on the coffin. It had an odd sparkle to it which did appear odd.
"What are you playing at? I asked for a corpse from the arson case," Ciel said as he looked at the powder.
"Indeed you did," Undertaker responded as he picked up the vial again, "and here it is, in this little vial. Well most of it, I scrapped up everything I could from the crime scene. After the fire was done with the victim, there was nothing left for me to collect but these ashes."
The Undertaker threw the vial to Ciel who caught it to look. That was all that remained of the victim; there was no personality in the ashes. I think being ash would be worse than being burned like my parents. There was nothing there to remind you of the person who left you behind.
"Thank you," Ciel replied in a monotone as he left with the vial, "Sebastian, Elena, it is time for us to leave."
"Until we meet again, little Earl," Undertaker said with a giggle, "and remember to bring your butler with you next time, his jokes are hilarious."
Sebastian opened the door for us before following. Ciel held out the vial to him and Sebastian took it before sticking it into his pocket.
"Look into the contents of this vial," Ciel ordered and they walked off.
I stayed where I was as I looked across the road. A man was standing there watching me. His hair was sandy blond and he was smiling. He beckoned me to follow him as he turned to go down the alley. I looked to my right to see Ciel and Sebastian hadn't looked back. They were returning to the carriage but this man…I had to know why he wanted me. I took a deep breath and crossed to follow the man. I followed the alley until I saw him leaning against one of the walls, his hands tucked under his shoulders, his head ducked.
"You've been busy," the man said simply as I leaned against the other wall, "your uncle told me you're having some problems."
"How much?" I asked as he waved the question away. I had contacted my uncle a few days ago about Trancy looking for me. He told me he would find someone to help me…but I knew that service would not come cheap.
"Your uncle paid my tab already," he explained.
"Do you have a name?" I asked and he laughed.
"In my business, names get people in trouble. Your uncle only told me he had a niece who was having some…issues with people trying to force her back to the Trancy Estate. But if you want a name, how about first only?"
"Elena," I put my hand out to him and he took it.
"Keith," he replied, "now, I'll tail you from here and make sure you aren't followed. If you are, I'll find their source and work from there."
"You know the boy I was walking with?" I asked and he laughed again.
"Who doesn't know the Earl Phantomhive has been living under a rock," Keith replied, "I'll make sure any news or reports goes directly to the manor. Now start moving before the boy comes looking."
I walked out of the alley and ran across the street to see Ciel was already looking for me; Sebastian was closer to me as he must have been retracing my footsteps.
"Sorry, I got distracted," I said lamely as I walked past the butler and towards my charge, "where are we going now?"
"Sebastian suggested we go to the funeral to see if anyone looks suspicious," Ciel replied.
"At least you both wore your dark coats today," Sebastian pointed out with a smile as he helped us into the carriage.
My spearmint dress with white lace detail was covered by a black coat. I looked out the window and spotted Keith, and he was speaking to a boy on the street. I wondered why my uncle had sent him…and I hoped Keith didn't get killed for doing this. If Claude saw a problem…it would be eradicated…
Ciel motioned for me to get out of the carriage first so I stood to the edge. I could understand that the man wanted to bury his wife…but what was there to bury when we had her ashes? Ciel came down beside me and I took his arm. We navigated the headstones, before we spotted a big group.
"That must be them," Ciel said calmly as we walked faster.
We arrived as they were lowering the lid on a shoe. That was all that remained of the woman they called Ellen. That was all that marked her existence, which was the true tragedy. There were memories but they would fade as Ciel had proven with his amnesia…but if all that went into that grave was a shoe…
"Look my lord," Sebastian said and I turned to see a couple moving towards the man looking lost. He must have been the husband.
The man and woman were big people, and the man had brown hair compared to her blonde. The man wore a bowler hat while she wore a fascinator and held an umbrella.
"Pardon me, I'm Turner, the photographer. Excuse the intrusion; I'm so sorry for your loss. I brought the last picture that was taken of your dear wife. Here you are sir," Turner said as he held out the picture of the woman.
She was very pretty and her smiled suggested she was very happy with her husband. I couldn't understand why she had died…she had so much life in her eyes.
"She seemed like a nice woman," the woman, whom I took to be Mrs Turner, said, "our condolences sir."
Turner held out the frame to the husband who reached for it with bandaged hands. I remembered the feeling of burnt hands, having the scars from my house burning to the ground. My hands tingling from the remembered pain and I sighed. The man had more problems than just his hands burning; he had lost someone he had cherished with every fibre in his body. His heart was breaking as he held the frame for a moment before it fell and shattered on the floor. The glass surrounding it taking away from the beauty of the wife.
"She was truly beautiful, such a great loss," Mrs Turner said calmly.
They bowed to the husband after a moment and they left. The Turners walked by us, and the wife's umbrella appeared to glitter. Ciel looked at it with confusion before looking to Sebastian as if he had the answer. I moved towards the husband as the ceremony ended and removed the picture of his wife from the broken frame.
"Here," I said softly as I held it out to him, "she looked very happy."
"We were only recently married," he said as tears dripped down his face, "my sweet Ellen."
"I shouldn't have brought her to the studio," the man continued in saying, "I should have stayed at home."
"Why shouldn't you have brought her there?"
"Shortly after this photo was taken, she died. I should have stayed home with her and got the photo taken somewhere else…some other time."
I touched his shoulder gently before I left. Ciel was waiting for me as I returned to him. Ciel took my arm and I looked back to see the man kissing the temporary headstone for his wife. Until death do we part…ironic and tragic. I doubt the man had thought he would never see his wife again after that night.
Night fell and the lights were lit in the manor. Dinner was a salad of some sort but Ciel had asked Sebastian to cook me something else. It was some sort of salmon dish and I had eaten it quickly, not favouring the smell of fish. Ciel had talked to me about Houndsworth for the entire dinner and I had to put in details I wasn't sure about anymore. I hadn't been to Houndsworth in over a year, spending my time in Low Row and London. A knock at the door made Sebastian leave us to answer it.
"Elena, there is a boy here to see you," Sebastian replied and I stood to go see. Sure enough it was the boy Keith had spoken to.
"Are you Elena?" the boy asked as I bent down to his level.
"I am, and what's your name?" I asked as the boy took a step closer.
"Tom," he said, "the man told me to give my first name only."
"I understand, did this man tell you anything else?" I asked and the boy took out a folded up letter in his hands.
"He told me to give you this, he said you were safe for now but…I'll be watching, that's what he said," Tom replied as I took the letter and kissed him on his forehead.
"Are you safe to go home?" I asked and the boy nodded.
"My grandfather brought me here," he said with a smile as I stood to look out.
"I'll walk you to him," I said as I put my hand out to the boy.
The boy smiled and took my hand as we left the manor. The grandfather was just at the gate and Sebastian had called for Finny to go out with me. I opened the gate for Tom to slip out before I waved at him. He waved back as I turned to return to the manor.
"What was that boy looking for?" Sebastian asked when I stepped back into the warmth the house offered.
"Just me," I said as I opened the letter to scan it, "hmm."
"What is it, Elena?" Finny asked.
"I was followed to the cemetery," I said plainly, "by a woman with black hair. But she didn't know who I was, let alone that I was Elena Hamilton."
"If you are done with the door," Ciel said as he left the dining room, "we need to prepare."
I nodded and followed Ciel up to his office with Sebastian. I closed the door for the office as Ciel went behind his desk and loaded a gun.
"My lord, I've identified the substance in the ashes. It matches the sample we gathered from the photographer and his wife. These are flecks of magnesium oxide, a by-product of photography. It's made from the flash powder that photographers use to capture their images."
"Photography? Huh," Ciel said.
"I was able to get information on the import of such products from Mr Lau. It was bound for a London studio named Turner's. Elena's uncle's boat 'Child Of Light' was used to import the magnesium. There was no room for passengers or other cargo."
"The Child Of Light is one of the bigger boats of my uncle's," I said with awe.
"Surely that's more than they would need for their flash powder," Ciel said as he looked to me.
"Quite. And in addition, the victims had something in common. I've taken a look at all of those who have been burned. There's a connection between the women, they had all had their wedding photos recently taken. Odd no?" Sebastian said as he showed us the list he had written on.
"Let me guess, at Turner's studio?" Ciel asked as he adjusted the clip in his gun.
"Should we make sure it is the case with them?" I asked.
"Isn't there enough proof?" Ciel asked as he stood.
"The Queen would not ask you to complete this task without enough proof. As you said earlier, you are going to use yourself as bait. Now, allow me to be the bait for this trap," I said calmly.
"The women were killed after their wedding photos were taken," Ciel pointed out, "so unless you recently married…"
"I believe she wants to go undercover sir," Sebastian said, "and she will be the new wife."
"Elena, are you married?" Ciel asked.
"No, but Lucy Michaelis is," Sebastian said, "the people of London would have heard about her attendance at the ceremony a week ago. Lady Elizabeth stated Lucy was my young wife."
"Young master," I said calmly, "we will just see if it is them or someone else. They will have to speak with us."
"You're going to get yourself burned alive," Ciel muttered.
"The others don't have the advantage that Lucy Michaelis does," I said simply, "she married a demon."
Ciel opened the carriage door while staying in the shadows. He sat back as I got out, my 'husband' helping me down before following me.
"Lucy, you have to be quick about this. I was able to phone in for a late appointment this evening. You have your story straight?" Ciel asked, looking worried.
"I was an au pair for a little girl named Shauna and Sebastian was her tutor. It is through my work as the au pair that I met him and we started to fall in love. Six months later, he purposed to me and we only recently got married. We are about to go to Calais for our honeymoon but our families insisted on wedding photos prior to the trip."
"Sebastian, this is an order, make sure Elena comes to no harm," Ciel said as he handed me a gold ring and Sebastian pulled one from his pocket, "Elena, don't put yourself in unnecessary danger."
"Don't worry," I said as I reached forward to hold his hand, "my job is to protect you, not get myself killed. Stay safe."
I stepped away as I undid the glove on my left hand to put the gold ring on it. It had a bright diamond in the middle and I had a feeling Ciel had given me something of his mother's. Sebastian took my arm and I leaned on his shoulder, feeling a smile spread on my face. My blonde hair was curled around my shoulders, with one side going down my back. The black coat hid the bodice while showing the deep blue of the first layer. The underskirt was visible at the bottom in black with a corset high black ruffle. The rest was a deep blue that went to my knees while the underskirt hid my booted feet.
"Are you ready?" Sebastian asked and I nodded as he opened the photographer's studio.
"Hello?" I called out as I stepped away from my husband, "Mr Turner?"
"Oh hello dear," Mrs Turner said as she rounded the corner, "you must be Mrs Michaelis."
"I am," I said as I leaned back into Sebastian.
"If you follow me, I'll set you up for your photo," she said a tad bitterly.
We followed her as she brought us to a low platform with a chair. It was the same set up as Ellen's photo had been.
"I was hoping to sit with my husband," I said and Mrs Turner sighed.
"Of course you were," she muttered as Sebastian raised my hand to kiss it, "I will organise that immediately."
Mr Turner appeared with a camera, and his wife whispered something to him before walking off.
"Hello," he said as he took Sebastian's hand before he kissed mine, "you definitely look like newly-weds."
"How is that?" Sebastian asked.
"She still has that blushing bride look about her, and you are very protective of her. I hope your marriage lasts longer than the others that have come into my shop."
"Oh, we heard about that young woman the other day. I felt so sorry for her husband," I said as I clutched Sebastian's hand tighter, "I don't want that to happen to us."
"It won't darling," Sebastian said calmly as he kissed me on both my eyelids.
"I set up the chair," Mrs Turner muttered as Sebastian led me up to the platform.
Mr Turner turned us slightly so we were half facing each other. Sebastian held both of my hands and Mr Turner nodded.
"Definitely newly-weds," he said as he set up the camera, "it will take ten seconds for the exposure to take. So if you can keep that pose…"
He lifted another object which I found to be the light and then he took the picture. He frowned when he put the light down.
"Is there a problem?" Sebastian asked.
"Your wife looks ready to leave," Mr Turner replied, "maybe my dear, if you took off your coat."
I undid the buttons and stood to hand it to Mrs Turner. She held it tight as I took my seat again. Mr Turner nodded as the light was lifted again. Mrs Turner moved forward to pull my skirts down a little to hide my shoes…but she was scowling. Mr Turner took the picture and then another for a spare, he said as he put my coat back on me.
"You look beautiful," Mr Turner said as I pulled my hair away from the coat, "I'm certain your husband will agree when he sees the finished result."
"I don't think anything will capture her beauty," Sebastian said as he kissed me lightly on my lips, "she has something about her. A photo can't seem to capture the sparkle in her eyes…but maybe you can do her justice."
"I will do my very best," Mr Turner said calmly, "my wife will show you out."
Mrs Turner led us to the front door where she touched Sebastian's back before rubbing mine. She then hugged me tight before telling me she would call the house when the pictures were fully developed.
"Thank you very much," I whispered back to her as Sebastian opened the door for me to leave the shop.
"Sebastian," I said in a low voice, "help me out of my coat."
"Is there a problem?" he asked as I undid the buttons.
He took it off me and I dropped it to the floor and walked on. We heard something spark and Sebastian pushed me into the building to shield me. My coat had caught fire and at the door was none other than Mrs Turner.
"She wiped my coat with the magnesium," I said to him, "are you alright?"
Sebastian didn't answer as I looked back to the photography studio. The Turner shop was the next thing lit as Sebastian brought me to Ciel's carriage. He sat up and looked at me.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"It's Mrs Turner," I said quickly, "she's the one burning people. She just tried to kill me."
Someone ran past us and we turned to see Mrs Turner throwing magnesium up in the air from a small barrel in her arms. Ciel jumped down to join us as we ran after her. I lifted my skirts quickly and charged forward, hearing my boots click on the cobbled streets.
"Oh yes! I'll find my happiness now!" Mrs Turner called out as she turned and used the camera to ignite the magnesium.
Sebastian tackled Ciel to protect him as I dropped down to the floor. I lifted my head to see her run as I looked back to see Ciel getting to his feet.
"That camera must be her ignition device, she has to be stopped! Capture her!" Ciel ordered.
"Yes indeed, my lord," Sebastian replied as he stood.
I reached back to hold Ciel's hand as we ran after Sebastian. I spotted Mrs Turner take a left into an alley as she hummed under her breath. Magnesium was thrown high as she twirled. Sebastian turned to follow and we came to a stop when I spotted Greil. He had dropped down to hit Sebastian with his chainsaw.
"I thought it was you," Sebastian said as he used silverware to block the chainsaw.
"I've been simply dying to see you, sweet Bassy," Greil said with a smile on his face.
"So Greil, you've been pulling the strings behind the scenes eh?" Sebastian asked as I used my body to shield Ciel.
"I've pulled nothing but the red strings of fate that connect our hearts together, Bassy," Greil replied as he hugged his chainsaw.
Sebastian surprised him by hitting the top of his head with his foot. Greil dropped his chainsaw to hold his sore head.
"How could you? I'm so dainty," Greil said as he clutched his skull.
"Now now, don't act so offended. You struck first," Sebastian pointed out as he fixed his suit.
"I merely took an affectionate swipe out of excitement. I didn't mean any harm by it, I was only following that pig," Greil said as he pointed in the direction Mrs Turner had taken.
"You're after her too?" Sebastian asked.
"You're acquainted with this freak then?" Ciel asked as he moved away from my back to take a step in front of me.
"Regrettably yes. His job is to collect souls of the deceased," Sebastian said calmly, "he's a Grim Reaper."
"A Grim Reaper? It sounds as if you and he have something in common."
"Really?" Greil asked as I walked forward, "oh Elena is here as well."
"You know my bodyguard?" Ciel asked as he looked me over.
"Greil," I said as I put my hand out, "it's been a while. What are you doing here?"
"There has been a recent spate of crime. I imagine that's what brought him here; the sudden increase in souls."
"I'm sure my workload will decrease with you on the case though, Se-bas-ti-an," Greil said as he poked Sebastian's chest, "at last our amorous adventure may begin anew."
Sebastian moved to the side which meant Greil fell to the floor. Greil got up to run circles around Sebastian. Ciel motioned for me to follow him as I pulled my skirts up. I heard Greil fall down again as I ran after Ciel. I ran down each street, making sure to stick close to the young master.
"Where are we going?" I asked him and he used his walking stick to point to a man burning to death.
"Follow the bodies," he said as I ran beside him.
The bodies stopped as we reached Big Ben and the police had gathered.
"Lead the citizens up wind of the fire," an order was bellowed as I stayed close to Ciel.
"Where is she?" I asked as there were no other bodies around us. Ciel turned his head to the right and I looked with him to see the shimmer of magnesium in the air.
"Up there. She'll burn everything," Ciel said as he snuck past the police.
"Oh no," I groaned and he turned to look at me.
"What is it?" he asked.
"The stairs," I said as I pulled my skirt up to start running.
"I swear I've heard you complain about stairs before," he said with awe as he ran ahead of me.
We reached a platform and I spotted magnesium on the glass.
"Master!" I yelled as the glass was blown by Mrs Turner's camera. Glass shot out and caught the edge of Ciel's eye patch while it cut my cheek and ripped my dress.
"Oh we are going to have words," I muttered, "I liked this dress."
Ciel shook his head as we continued up the stairs, staying away from the windows on the off-chance Mrs Turner decided to kill us that way. We reached the top and Ciel pulled out his gun to aim at her heart. She had been emptying magnesium barrels over London, and her little speech about showing us 'burning passion' wasn't going down well.
"Put down the barrel," Ciel ordered.
"So you're another interloper come to take away my happiness," Turner said as she lifted her camera.
"Have you taken leave of your senses?" Ciel asked, "how could you possibly find happiness from this?"
"I'll find it! My time has finally come! He told me so!" she yelled as she took the picture.
"Master!" I called as I pulled him away from her and the magnesium. It blew up to my left as I put Ciel behind me.
"You're that girl from earlier," Turner said as she looked me over, "I wanted to show you burning passion."
"By killing me?" I demanded, "who told you to do this?"
She ignored me as she advanced and I stepped back. She aimed at Ciel and I watched as he threw himself away from me, grabbing my back to pull me away as well. Ciel got me to my feet and we stepped back together.
"A little brat like you couldn't understand what it's like to be married to a man you don't even love. All I want is to feel burning passion for a man!" she exclaimed as Ciel's back hit a pillar, "I'll find that! And I'll fry anyone who stands in my way!"
"You're absolutely pathetic! Do something instead of whining! Regrets accomplish nothing! Wallowing in self-pity like that is despicable! You're no better than a filthy pig!" Ciel exclaimed.
"A pig? A pig, am I?" she demanded as she started losing her grip on the camera, "how dare you call me something so foul!"
The clock chimed to mark the hour as I pulled Ciel away from the estranged woman. I looked around as she lit more magnesium. It blew my skirts out as I held Ciel. I was his bodyguard, and I wouldn't let some pig kill him on my watch. I looked around the pillar to see her smiling as she threw more magnesium into the air.
"I'll roast anyone who calls me a pig," Turner said calmly, "I don't care if you are just a little boy and a lying girl."
"Pig!" I yelled back and Ciel smiled at me, "sorry, couldn't help it."
The magnesium ignited and blew Ciel's eye-patch off to reveal a purple eye. My skirts were blown around the pillar as I shielded my eyes from the smoke. I coughed as Ciel did, clearing our lungs of the horrid smoke.
"Your eye," I whispered as I look at him.
"It's the mark of my contract with Sebastian," Ciel replied and then he turned to look towards the railing, "how long am I supposed to wait on you? Come Sebastian!"
His right eye glowed a bright purple which I took to be an order been given to the demon. We looked towards the railing as a strange sound made it to our ears. I leaned over to see Greil sitting on his chainsaw with Sebastian following behind…as they ran up the side of Big Ben.
"Impossible," Turner said as she looked at the two men.
"That's my butler…and some freak," Ciel pointed out calmly.
"Deadly efficiency, that's my motto," Greil said as he climbed.
"Stay out of this whoever you are!" Turner yelled as she threw down magnesium at the pair and started taking pictures.
"What the devil!" she snapped as each picture only served to give Greil a dramatic smoky effect. That only made his annoying smile grow bit by bit, almost like a Cheshire cat grin. I sighed as it continued, "why haven't you caught fire!?"
"You're using the Grim Reaper as bait, eh? Very clever," Ciel said as we looked down at Sebastian.
Greil flew over and posed for photos, only the background catching fire. Turner looked annoyed as Sebastian joined our ledge to lick his lips.
"Well then, maybe I should bite you?" Sebastian said seductively, answering something that Greil must have said.
"Please! Please!" Greil begged which seemed amusing.
"I expected you sooner," Ciel said calmly as he brought us away from the pillars to stand in front of Sebastian.
"I'm sorry," Sebastian replied, "I believe Elena kept you safe."
"She did," Ciel said as he brought me to stand beside him.
"I'll burn you boy!" Turner yelled as Sebastian turned and kicked the camera away from her. She fell backwards and looked shocked as Sebastian fixed his suit.
"How could you?" the woman asked with confusion.
"I could have done much more had I wished. I have my orders to follow and follow them I shall," Sebastian explained.
"Where did you come from?" Turner asked, "who are you people?"
"I'm simply one hell of a butler," Sebastian replied.
"I'm the Queen of the Reapers; the ripest of fruit there is," Greil stated as he threw the camera up and caught it.
"Tell me everything; from start to finish," Ciel ordered and Turner looked so upset.
"It was him. He told me what to do and if I did, he said I would find true passion. He said the most gorgeous men would fight to the death over me," Turner sobbed.
"And he would be?" Sebastian asked.
"The man with the golden eyes. He said I would meet my final victim in the studio with hair the same colour as sand," she said calmly as magnesium ignited around her. I looked around and spotted a recently disturbed barrel of magnesium and another camera set up at the stairs. Someone had followed us up here while we were all distracted, "he promised me."
"I don't understand," Greil said, "her soul is burning like her victims did."
"Burning passion!" Turner said as she slumped against a pillar, "happiness!"
Sebastian grabbed Ciel and pulled him away as Greil caught my waist and we dropped over the edge of the building. Greil turned me so he landed on his feet, shielding me from the impact as the top level of the Big Ben exploded.
"This doesn't make sense," Greil said as he put me to my feet and looked through a book, "it was right here in the ledger. How is it that a soul I was supposed to collect just burned up? This can't be happening. It's fundamentally wrong."
Greil put the book away and picked up the camera to move to Sebastian. Sebastian sighed and turned his head away from the shot.
"Alas, I have to make my report to Will so this will have to be our last photo!" he said as he caught the image, "next time it will be a more intimate lovers' portrait, Bassy! Todalou!" he called as he left us.
"I'm sorry lord. I know you asked me to capture the Turner woman," Sebastian said as he moved to stand beside Ciel, "however."
In his hands was ash, coated with magnesium oxide. All that was left of the woman who had killed all of those recently married women.
"That's all that's left? Just a pile of ashes," Ciel said as the ashes blew out of Sebastian's hand, "I'll inform her Majesty that these murders were committed by a woman crazed with longing."
"I'm continually impressed. Humans are capable of anything when they are desperate for love," Sebastian said calmly.
"What a waste," Ciel muttered, "all that for some intangible concept of love."
"Laughable, isn't it sir?" Sebastian said with a smirk.
"Pathetic as well," Ciel chuckled as he picked up the remains of his eye-patch, "oh well. Not everything is burned away. Research this spider; it may have made a move during this case. I want to know everything there is to know."
"Yes my lord," Sebastian said as he placed his hand over his heart.
"It's a shame," I said as I looked up to Big Ben.
"What is?" Ciel asked as he stood beside me.
"I won't know how the picture developed," I said with a sigh as I turned away.
"You're concerned about a picture?!" Ciel demanded as he followed me.
"It's better than worrying," I said with a smile.
I knew I had been followed, and the man she had referred to was none other than Claude Faustus. He had found me…so what would I do now?
Hope you all liked it :) Elena has been found by Claude...what could that mean? Please remember to review and let me know what you thought. Oh, and if any of you are interested in Elena's first day at the Trancy Estate and what Alois thought about her, I have a short story up as well :)