Hi everyone! Sorry it took so long but here it is, the next chapter :) Hope you all like it...
I sat at my vanity table again and braided my hair carefully before pulling it free again. It never seemed to look right to me, the braid always looked loose. I brushed my hair out as I tried to avoid looking at the purple shading under my eyes. I hadn't slept well, worrying about the young master, Claude's comment…
I dropped my gaze from the mirror to look at the contract rose. I lifted the purple rose to look at closer, certain I could see something white moving between the petals. I rubbed my eyes and looked again but the rose petals were the same as before. Their colour was beautiful and I wondered where someone could find a rose this colour…maybe I could ask Sebastian. But I sighed before pulling at a petal, still certain I had seen something white.
"I must be seeing things," I whispered as I repeated another braid, putting it into a bun and then decorating it with the rose. I pulled a few strands forward to frame my face before I stood and went to dress for the day. I pulled on a turquoise dress that complimented my blonde hair, but I started struggling with the top buttons.
A gloved hand brushed my hands away as the buttons were done up carefully, the ribbon tied and I was put on my bed. Sebastian put on my boots methodically before Ciel opened the door and walked in. I didn't mind the intrusion, I was his bodyguard after all.
"I bought this for you," he stated as he held out a small box, "to replace the baton."
I opened the box to find another baton which I quickly attached to the harness and then to my thigh. I could feel it through the skirts and petticoats, giving me a small sense of security. What type of bodyguard would I be if I couldn't defend Ciel Phantomhive?
"We will be going out," Ciel stated, "we have another crime to investigate."
Sebastian helped me up and I brushed down my skirt before following them. Sebastian helped me into a black coat that covered the dress completely. A carriage was waiting for us, and Ciel went up first. Sebastian put a hand out to me which I took before settling in opposite Ciel, and looked out the window. Ciel hit the roof of the carriage with a walking stick and the carriage lurched forward.
I noted absently that Sebastian took the seat beside Ciel, so I put my hands in my lap. More than that comment had bothered me. It was my request, the one to know something on my demon father. Sebastian hadn't gotten a chance to be alone recently so I wasn't sure if he knew anything. I shook my head to clear it; we were investigating a crime now. My demon father could wait…he was dead after all…
"There's been a spate of strange crimes in the London area recently, it seems that somebody has been gauging out people's eyes. The victims are not all of the same class; but every last one of them is a young boy," Sebastian explained.
"Eye gauging, how perverse," Ciel muttered.
Ciel looked out the window and from the reflection, you could tell something was bothering him. Had it been the funeral? Maiming Alois Trancy? All I knew was, I didn't like that look in his eyes.
"Is there something the matter, master?" Sebastian asked.
"It's nothing," Ciel answered calmly, taken away from his thoughts.
I looked back out the window, not sure what I was seeing…and then I saw a flicker, a memory…
"Father!" I called out loudly to Martin Hamilton.
"Ellie," he replied as he picked me up, holding me to his chest as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Did you forget about me?" Uncle asked and I put a hand out to him.
"Mother told me to come after you," I said with a giggle, "are you going to see Ciel?"
"Frank was," Father replied, "why? Did you want to see the boy?"
"He's one of my bestest friends!" I stated simply.
"I'll be with Andrea then," Father said to Uncle, "take care of her."
"As if I wouldn't," Uncle replied.
But we hadn't gone to see Ciel, Uncle had gone to Lau. He had wanted to buy property on the sly and didn't want Father to know. So one word, Ciel, was mentioned and Father left…but he brought me. Each time I thought I was meeting Ciel only to find myself in opium dens, or pawn shops…
"Not much of a childhood," I whispered as the carriage came to a stop.
"The victim lives here," Ciel said as Sebastian stepped out and opened the door for him.
Sebastian put a hand out for me and I took it, grasping it a little tighter than necessary. I stood by his side and sighed.
"Is there something bothering you, Elena?" Sebastian asked.
"Just remembering," I whispered, "we should go in."
The steps were dirty and two children moved to touch the back of the carriage. A man was braced against the steps on my right side but he turned to look at me, a smile on his face.
"What a pretty little thing," he said as he reached for my dress.
I kicked out and caught his nose where he cursed. I glared at him before he got the message and returned to his drink. Ciel was standing by the door and I knocked. A woman in her mid to late thirties answered and I smiled.
"Hello, my name is Elena and I am working with Scotland Yard on your son's case," I said simply.
"Oh," the woman stated, "my name is Angelina Houston."
"This is my brother James and my partner Sebastian," I said and the tension in her body slipped away, "do you mind if we speak to your son?"
"Sure, Jack is just in the kitchen," Angelina replied and led the way.
"Why am I your brother again?!" Ciel demanded.
"Because it's easier to explain then saying you're the Queen's Guard Dog," I replied as we came to the kitchen.
The décor was basic and simple, clearing not a family of means. That took away that motive, the criminal had not sought financial gain from harming the boy. The boy had blond hair cut similarly to Alois's and the clothes suggested they couldn't afford better. I wondered briefly what he did to earn money.
"Hello Jack," I said simply, "my name is Elena. My brother and I wanted to ask you a few questions about your attack. Do you know who did this?"
"I don't know!" Jack sobbed, "he just up and stuck his fingers in me eyes. Everything turned red…now I can't see nothing. Nothing."
"Can you describe your attacker?" Ciel asked
"He was just a kid, about the same age as I am. Only this boy looked plenty rich," Jack answered.
"A boy?" Ciel questioned.
"Bloody bastard," Jack supplied.
He dropped his head and sobbed, telling me it was time for us to leave. Angelina touched her son's shoulders. Jack was too distraught to say another word; the wounds were still too fresh.
"Thank you for answering our questions," I whispered, "it has greatly helped us in the investigation."
I put my hand on Ciel's shoulder and we left. Sebastian opened the door for us and we stepped out into the sunlit alley. The man was now too drunk to notice I was back and the children were touching the wheels of the carriage on a dare. I heard them whisper about the rich boy and his pretty friend. They turned to look at us before they ran off giggling.
"Sebastian," Ciel said simply.
"Yes," Sebastian answered, though it was almost like the end of a conversation. Had I missed the middle? Was I even involved?
"Where are we going now?" I asked the pair but they looked blankly at me, "so nowhere then."
I sighed before walking to the right, spotting the children before I waved to them. They stopped to view me before I dropped to my hunches to smile. The two boys looked less than eight years old and they looked worried.
"Hello," I said with a slight wave, "can you help me?"
"What do you want, miss?" a little boy asked.
"Did you hear about Jack Houston?" I asked them and the other little boy nodded, "do you know where it happened?"
"Mama told us never to go there," the other boy whispered.
"I wouldn't ask you to," I said sincerely, "but I want to help Jack and I was hoping you two could help me. Can you tell me where it happened?"
"That's Cindy," one of the boys said as he pointed to a young brunette, "if you walk past her and take the next right, you'll find the spot. Blood on the floor," and they shivered.
"Thank you so much," I whispered and they ran off to play.
I stood up and dusted down my skirts before returning to Ciel. He looked annoyed but I shook my head.
"We can go to the crime scene," I said simply, "the boys told me where it was."
They followed me as I brought them past Cindy who looked at me before one of the boys whispered in her ear. She nodded and ran forward to grab my hand. I looked down at her and she looked anxious.
"This way," she whispered and she brought me to the crime scene.
She let go of my hand and pointed to the small puddle of blood on the cobble stones, before she ran back to her friends. I walked towards the spot and then around. How could someone make this pattern? It was such an odd shape, and Jack had been lying face up…
"This doesn't seem right," I whispered as I took a step down the street, "Sebastian."
"Yes, Elena?" he asked.
"Walk forward and try to grab me, like Jack was grabbed," I whispered and he nodded.
Sebastian walked down the street a few paces before turning and walking for me. I kept my hands down as Sebastian caught my head and put me to the floor, but my hair was the only thing covering the blood. Sebastian put me standing again and I looked back the blood.
"He wasn't caught head on," I whispered, "but he saw his attacker. How would he have seen his attacker?"
I caught Sebastian's arm and put him so he was behind me and I looked around, not seeing a reflective surface.
"Not from behind," I commented, "and with the force it would take to knock him down and gauge his eyes out, it couldn't be from the side. So…"
"Up?" Sebastian asked.
"The boy could have dropped down to catch Jack?" I asked and Sebastian nodded, "that might work. He would see his attacker and there would be enough force to push him so he would hit the blood puddle perfectly."
"We need to see a map," Ciel stated, "I have a theory."
Sebastian pulled a map of the London area of his pocket and held it out to Ciel, followed by a pen. Ciel led the way to a crate and sat down, looking at the map carefully. Had he seen something I hadn't?
"We have several witness reports," Sebastian stated calmly, "without exception they describe the attacker as a richly dressed young noble."
"I'm being mocked, Sebastian," Ciel said with a smirk.
"Mocked by whom, master?" Sebastian asked.
"I was about to ask the same thing," I said with a smile.
"Look, I'll draw a line between the Phantomhive and Trancy Estates," Ciel said calmly as he drew on the map, "like so. Then connect the various scenes of the crimes, a Spider web. Obviously he is behind this," Ciel stated calmly, "or I would believe so had I not attended the funeral with Elena."
"Claude stated he did what he had to," I said as I clasped my hands in front of me, "which I summed up that he killed Alois."
"It might be possible that as Elena has said, the butler may be acting on his own," Sebastian suggested.
"Are we certain he indeed died?" Ciel asked, "the casket was closed after all."
"He was dead," I stated, "Claude admitted as much to me."
"A butler always answers his master's questions truthfully and without hesitation. Am I right?" Ciel asked, clearly ignoring me.
"Quite right, Lord," Sebastian answered.
"You aren't hiding anything about Alois from me, are you?" Ciel demanded.
"No, I'm not hiding anything about Alois," Sebastian answered honestly.
"In that case-" and a part of the alley exploded in shards of wood and the like. Sebastian picked Ciel up to hold him, leaving me below to try to seek out the danger. What could have caused that explosion?
"Please stay in here," Sebastian said and I turned my head to see him putting Ciel into a box. Had I missed them dropping down?
"Why?" Ciel asked as I got closer to them, he had removed his hat and was looking curiously at Sebastian.
"It's just for a bit," Sebastian replied shortly, "you mustn't take a single step outside of this box. Please Lord, stay put," Sebastian said as he lifted the lid to the box.
"Fine," Ciel muttered and the lid was brought down.
"Elena, I want you to stay with the young master. Make sure he doesn't leave your sight," Sebastian said as he put a hand on my shoulder before running off.
I sat down on another crate, reminding myself of the day Ciel and I had gone looking for the Port of Calais. I had watched him sleeping for a little while before I had gone to sleep myself. I wasn't immersed in the memory that I missed the five children who ran out and started singing, their smiles toxic and contagious.
"London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady," they called out, "London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady."
"Sod off, I'm nothing like you, you vile piece of filth!" I heard Ciel say through the box.
"Master?" I asked as I stood to touch the box.
"Bloody sod off!" Ciel snapped, "damn you! I'm the one who gives orders!"
The lid of the box came off quickly that I was pushed sideways by it. I landed onto piles of rope before I spotted Ciel climbing out, looking annoyed. What had happened?
"Go play at home kids!" Ciel snapped as he ran. The children all turned to glare at him as I stood and ran after the boy.
"You're a kid too!" one of the children called out.
"Yeah! Go home!" another snapped.
"Ciel!" I called out but he ignored me, "Ciel come back!"
"I must know the truth!" Ciel snapped as he pushed himself further away from me.
He stopped however and looked to his left before following that path. What had he seen to change his mind? A shiver ran up my spine, telling me to be on my guard. There was something wrong about this whole incident.
"Alois?" Ciel asked and I spotted a boy dressed and similar to Alois. It couldn't be possible, the boy was dead…his butler had killed him. Ciel turned again and I heard the sound of a barrel falling which resulted in Ciel running after the noise.
"Come back!" Ciel snapped.
"Ciel it's a trick!" I called out.
I remembered Claude's conversation, which served to send shivers up my spine. He wanted Ciel…but to get Ciel, he had to lure him away from Sebastian.
"You got the letter then," Claude said as way of introduction.
"I did," I said as I kept my face forward, "I'm surprised you didn't show your face at the manor."
"Why would I?" he said as he took off his glasses to clean.
"You should keep your distance," I said calmly.
"I have yet to complete my master's wish," he said as he put his glasses back on.
"In case you hadn't noticed, your master is dead. And from your story, I doubt he died in his sleep," I muttered to him, "so how did he really die?"
"I did what was necessary," Claude replied.
"You killed him," I summed up, "and he probably didn't expect it. He doted on you, Claude Faustus."
"Until his wish is complete…" and I shook my head.
"Sebastian told me what happened," I said as we entered the cemetery, "that you tasted Ciel's blood. He also told me you want his soul. Claude," and I kept my face forward, "I won't allow you to touch a hair on my master's head while I'm alive."
"Is that so?" Claude said with a smirk.
Ciel came to a stop by a fence which 'Alois' attempted to climb up. I walked up to stand beside Ciel, putting my hand on his shoulder.
"Please Ciel, come back with me!" I begged but Ciel shook my hold off.
"A dead end, that's as far as-" Ciel started.
"Alois Trancy!" a new voice called out, "there he is!"
"Idiots," Ciel muttered, "you're from Scotland Yard then? Well go after him, he's escaping!"
One of the men caught Ciel but I knocked them off. I turned to face the three men as a blond caught me to stop me. The other two turned to glare at me before slapping me away. I shook my head out before going to defend Ciel again. Another man, a burnet, caught me by my throat but I threw him away. The first man again hit me and I fell to the floor, not sure what was going on. But now I was sleepy, and I put a hand out to Ciel who was being held by both men. My head ached as I felt my eyes grow heavy.
"Ciel…" I whispered before I lost consciousness.
"Master?" I croaked as I opened my eyes, feeling the raindrops on my nose drip to my lips and then down.
My dress felt tight and constricting as I looked around where I was. The coat was ruined so I pulled it off solely before dropping it into a puddle beside me. I looked around my location, trying to spot some form of clue. The first thing I spotted was the top hat with blue ribbon, Ciel's. Near it was his eye-patch which I leaned forward to pick up. It was wet in my hands before I picked up the hat and then stood.
"I wonder how long I've been out," I whispered as I touched my head.
My head hurt a little which I took to be the impact from the stone wall. I walked down the alley and out onto the street, wondering what I should do now. Where could Ciel be?
"Miss?" a voice called out and I turned around to see a little boy holding a card, "you dropped this."
I returned to him and took the card from his hands. It was plain white and muddy around the edges but the name was still the same.
"St Genevieve's Sanatorium," I whispered before I returned to the street, "Ciel."
I started walking but it was uncomfortable. The dress hurt my ribs so I borrowed a knife from a window-sill and ripped through the material until I was in my underskirt and corset. I heard something drop behind me but I ignored it. I had to help Ciel…as his useless bodyguard.
"Why didn't he listen to me?!" I demanded.
"Because he couldn't," a familiar voice replied and I turned to see Sebastian standing there, water dripped down from his hair into his tailcoat. In his hand was the map which he barely looked at.
"Where were you?" I asked as I looked him over, "you could have stopped this."
"I was dealing with Grim Reapers," Sebastian answered before stepping away from me and pulling down a cloak, "put this on."
"I don't need it," I whispered but he wrapped me in it nonetheless.
"What happened?" he asked as I held out the card.
"Claude organised this," I whispered as we walked further out of London, "Ciel wouldn't listen to me…and they took him to a sanatorium."
"Under what pretence?" Sebastian asked.
"That he was Alois Trancy, that's what they called out before they grabbed him," I answered.
"What happened to you?"
"They pushed me away from defending Ciel…" I whispered.
"We need to get there quickly," Sebastian stated, "if you will allow me."
I looked back to see Sebastian was holding his arms out to me. I walked closer and he lifted me up, holding me tight to his chest. I held onto his lapels, not sure what else I could do.
"Wrap your arms around my neck," he said simply which I did and then he was running. Rain felt like bullets on my skin as he jumped up and landed skilfully on rooftops, just to continue running.
"What wasn't he listening to?" Sebastian asked after a moment.
"I told him it was a trick," I replied as I felt my heart race so I closed my eyes, "but he said he needed to know the truth."
"The truth?" Sebastian asked and I nodded, "we're nearly there. Have you ever been to a sanatorium?"
"Not in this lifetime," I replied as my teeth chattered.
The rest of the trip was quiet before Sebastian put me down by a drawbridge. It was still down which made it easier to transverse on. I walked forward, seeing only dead bodies. The men I recognised from the alley had golden knives in their hearts or heads…a doctor as well. I walked closer to take off his nametag and read it, seeing only "Dr F Henry" was visible.
"What happened here?" I asked Sebastian.
"The spider's web," he replied, "you should fit into a nurse's dress."
He looked over the dead bodies of the women, their clothes only wet with blood. He found a young brunette and took her dress off slowly before returning to me. There was blood on the neck which must be from the knife in her throat. Sebastian tied off the buttons and the apron before helping me put on the small headpiece. The rose held tight to my hair as we walked forward.
"I'm going to the roof, you find the young master," Sebastian said simply.
I nodded and ran off to the front doors. I closed them behind me and wondered where I should start looking. The reception area had a desk to my left with a single flickering light that cast a greenish glow over the dead secretary. He was wearing a white scrub set and a knife was buried into his heart from behind. To my right was a sitting area with chairs that had long since been cleaned. I doubted they had ever been washed since being made. I walked to the sitting area and spotted a small doorway.
I looked in and found it held a checker board, and two women leaning on it. I couldn't see any knives or other cutlery so I walked closer, only to regret it. Claude had been vicious to the pair, and I couldn't put into words what he had done. I covered my mouth and swallowed back the bile but it didn't help. I got sick by one set of chairs facing an aquarium. The aquarium was filled with dead fish and that made me sicker.
I wiped my mouth on my sleeve before I continued on, seeing more dead patients before I returned to the receptionist and with it, a map. The building was massive but there was only a few areas that were off limits. A small note attached to the map told me as much.
"The far left wing, the Madison floor and St Gertrude's are off limits due to structural issues while the Doyle Level has fallen wires. Please inform all staff that the patients there are off limits as well," I whispered, "signed by Dr F Henry."
He had wanted the patients to die because he couldn't be bothered to move them. I held the piece of paper tight before reaching down and grabbing a red pen. I marked off the areas on the map that were dangerous.
"That still leaves one hell of an area to cover," I sighed, "but I've covered the ground floor."
I ran up the stairs and looked up briefly only to see 'Madison' written in cursive. I stopped and looked down at the map before I cursed.
"There's no way around it," I groaned before putting the map in my pocket and walking forward, "wish it wasn't this dark."
I heard my heels on the floor as I touched the walls. They led me to different rooms where patients had been left to starve. Was I the first person to walk this way in weeks? By the looks of the bodies, it had been more like months. I blessed myself for them before walking on, stopping when I heard another set of footsteps. I put myself as close to the wall as I could and held my breath.
What passed me could never be associated with a human. It was a man by all accounts but his face had melted down one side. He turned in my direction and…I wanted to scream. I put my hand over my mouth to hold it back as he looked at me with no eyes. What had they done to him here?
"I was certain I heard a pretty lady," he whispered as he looked me over, "she smelt like fresh rain."
"Oh God, where's Sebastian when you want him?" I thought to myself…
He put a hand out to me and ran his fingers along my neck, my shoulders and then my arms. I wasn't sure what to do before I dropped my hand to pull my skirts up to grab the baton. I was so scared that I couldn't pull up the skirts quick enough. My hands became clumsy as he touched my hand covering my mouth and made a hissing sound.
"Do I repulse you?!" he snapped as he raised his other hand to hit me with.
I dropped so he hit the wall and I ran down the corridor. He followed me before I ran out into the light. I ripped at my skirts until I had the baton in my hands. Shakily, I extended it and faced the way I had come.
"Come out here!" I snapped, "show yourself!"
"You seem so beautiful," he called out, "the first person I've spoken with in such a long time."
"Show yourself!" I repeated with venom.
He stepped out into the light but then charged at me. I swung the baton, catching the back of his head before he fell to the floor with a thump. He didn't moved when I inched closer but then I stepped back quickly. The Penny Dreadfuls I had read were enough to tell me not to get closer. He may have been feigning the faint and if I got close enough, he would catch me.
I looked up for a moment to see I was at the entrance for the St. Gertrude's ward. If the far left wing was off Madison then…this whole level was ready to collapse. I doubted Claude would put Ciel in this place to die, he wanted his soul. The man started twitching before he turned over and laughed.
"You are a very angry lady," he chortled and I felt shivers run up my spine.
"How can I get up to the next level?" I asked him as I prodded the man with the baton.
"The only way to get higher is to go level by level, deary," a woman called out and I looked to my right to see she was smiling at me, "the next floor is only accessible by Gertrude's."
"So they left you," I whispered and the woman nodded, "why?"
"We are sent here because we are insane," she replied, "so why take care of the dead?"
"But you're alive!" I snapped and she shrugged her shoulders.
"It's not much of life to speak of. We are practically dead the moment we come here," she stood and walked over to me, "but you sound sane…why are you here?"
"I'm looking for a friend of mine, he's thirteen," I said to her, "he was brought here a few hours ago."
"The nurses sounded chatty downstairs earlier…oh yes, I saw your friend before they brought him up the next level," she caught my hand and held it tight, "stay in the light or you'll find things that no longer possess a shred of humanity. Here…you're just another pretty face, in a nurse's dress. So be quick."
"I don't-" and she shook her head.
"Forget about the dead," she whispered, "now go."
She pushed me towards the entrance of St. Gertrude's and the first thing I saw was the spark of blue. It made me jump before I walked further. The walls were crumbling as lightening shocked me again. My heart was racing as I ran, seeing shapes in the dark. I didn't dare rub my eyes because I knew what was there. Patients that were left to turn vicious…and possibly cannibals. I gulped as I ran my hands along the wall.
"The nurses have abandoned us!" a voice snapped and I hid deep into the darkness so two patients could walk by.
When the coast was clear, I moved into the light and spotted the stairs. They were decorated with bodies so I took a deep breath, (regretted it because I could taste the decay) and started walking up. I had to get to Ciel and then this house of nightmares would be over. I got to the next floor and looked over my head, seeing 'Angelina' written in cursive.
"Angels?" I whispered as I looked down the corridor, "this isn't a place for angels."
It was then I heard the scream, one that pierced me to my core and without hesitation, I knew it was Ciel. I ran through the darkness, following the sound but because of that…I missed the person running at me from my left.
I was thrown to the floor with enough force to bruise as I heard giggling. Not a childish sound but rather a lunatic's squeal. I kicked out and extended my baton to hit them hard.
"Not fair," the woman whispered, "you hit me."
"You attacked me!" I snapped as I got to my feet.
"You are far prettier than the other nurses," she said softly, "but I made the others so beautiful."
She pointed to wall behind her. Over her shoulder were women, wearing the same dress I was and decorated with that vile colour red. I retched and the woman went for me but I swung out at her. I then ran as fast as I could out of the ward and found myself at the entrance…or rather in the start of Doyle's.
"This place should burn," I whispered, "the patients are too far gone."
The light above gave me enough to see to get upstairs I had to get through Doyle's as there was no other path. The woman wouldn't enter Doyle's and was waiting for me to come back to her.
"I'm not going back," I said simply as I could hear the woman singing.
"Oh pretty nurse, you would look lovely once I finished with you," she sung.
I shook my head and decided to take my chances with Doyle's ward. The wires hung at odd angles and one knock sent my heart racing. I know this because a light was blocked so I missed two wires and caught my right arm. It were sore but the sound of Ciel screaming made me move forward. When I got out of hell, I made it to a new set of stairs and climbed them slowly. My arm was aching so I held it in my left hand while I moved up to the next level… 'Hamilton' written in blood.
"Father?" I asked as tears burned my eyes. Great, I was hallucinating now…
No, Father would never have written our name in blood. My brain was just shocked by all I had seen today. Claude had most likely wrote that for me to see. I wiped my eyes roughly before I started walking. There were no rooms down this way and only one door at the bottom.
"Please have Ciel," I begged as I made my way down it.
I opened the door slowly and saw Ciel, who was staring at the door as if it had caused him hell. I opened the door wider to see Claude standing close to him. I extended the baton once again and felt the tremors stop. What I had seen seem liked a distant nightmare compared to what I had to do now. I would kill Claude…
"You bastard!" I snapped as I moved forward with the intent of hurting the demon.
"Stop Elena!" Ciel ordered and I turned to look at him.
"Master?" I asked and he turned to face me fully.
"Did you know the truth?" he asked and I looked at him.
Ciel was soaked to the bone in something that smelled horrid. His eye-patch was still missing and he didn't seem to care. He looked me over as I held the baton tighter. The look in his eyes reminded me of what I had seen in France. This had probably been how Sebastian had felt, if he had been in my position.
"The truth?" I asked as I spotted the golden ring on his hand…Alois's ring.
"About Sebastian," Ciel answered, "that he killed my parents?"
"No sir," I replied, "but he did-"
"We are moving to the Trancy Estate, until I have ended Sebastian Michaelis," Ciel snapped, "and you will not attack any other member of that estate. You will be my bodyguard and protect me from Sebastian Michaelis."
"Yes…master," I replied as I glared at Claude before holstering the baton.
"I'm so weary," Ciel whispered, "I want to sleep."
"Yes indeed, my young Highness," Claude said with a smile on his face.
Ciel fainted and Claude held him tight. I glared at him as he fixed Ciel's hair and wrapped him some lace shawl.
"You are a piece of work, Faustus," I snapped.
"That's Mr Faustus to you," he answered.
"No, you're now and always will be Claude," and I walked out of the room…but not before I grabbed matches.
Claude walked out with Ciel in his arms and wrapped in the shawl that looked like a spider's web. Classy…and Claude made his way towards the banister.
"You dropping?" I asked him and he smiled before he did just that, "how the hell am I meant to get down?!"
"The same way you came up," he replied, "we'll be in the carriage waiting for you."
I watched as he left the hospital and wondered where Sebastian had gotten to. Had he seen Ciel?
A hand circled my waist and turned me so I was facing them. Another hand touched my sore arm before touching my right hand. I squeezed my eyes shut and sobbed. I had seen enough here…
"Elena," a voice whispered, "open your eyes."
"I don't want to see," I croaked, "I've seen enough."
"It's Sebastian," he said and I opened one of my eyes before the other.
"Sebastian?" and I leaned closer to hug him, "I was so scared."
"You saw the young master then?" he asked and I nodded against his chest, "you are to stay with him."
"I promise," I replied as I leaned back to look at him, "but please get me out of here. I can't go down there again. There's a woman waiting…she wants to paint me red…"
He nodded and lifted me into his arms before dropping as Claude had done. He settled easily and I moved out of his arms to survey the reception area again.
"Sebastian," I whispered, "make sure the gas is free flowing."
"Why?" he asked as he ran off and did just that.
"A woman told me, to forget the dead," and I took out the matches, "this isn't a place to live. There are monsters, cannibals…murderers. This isn't much of a life…and no one is going to help them."
I lit one match and threw it towards the pipe near the stairs and Sebastian pulled me to the entrance. The stairs combusted before it became an inferno. I waited a few moments longer, waiting for the explosions to finish, the windows to break out and the screams to die.
"Was that your humane side?" Sebastian asked.
"That was no life," I replied as I stuck the remaining matches into my pocket, "they were there to starve. That doctor by the gate ordered the staff to abandon them…"
"Elena, I will leave you," he said as he reached behind me, taking the rose from my hair.
"Why?" I asked and he held the rose tight.
"I was ordered to stay out of Ciel Phantomhive's sight," he replied as he squeezed the rose between his fingers, "and as of this moment, the contract is void."
"Did you break the contract?" I asked him but he shook his head.
"Will you be alright with Claude?" he asked as he dropped the mushed rose.
"I doubt Claude wants me there," I said as I looked at the carriage across the bridge, "so I'm going to show him how I should have treated him a very long time ago. He'll regret messing with me."
Sebastian touched my arm as I left to get into the carriage. Ciel was lying on Claude so I took the seat opposite and smirked. My face looked dirty, my hands were exposed and my hair was greasy. My arm was sore, but that was all manageable.
"I'm assuming you started the fire," Claude said in a monotone.
"Believe me, I can do far worse," and I took the matches out of my pocket, "and I have plenty of matches left."
He smirked which I didn't like before I put the matches back in my pocket. Curiosity got the best of me however…
"What exactly did you do?" I asked after a moment.
"I have changed navy into midnight blue. Their memories have similar twists…I merely joined them," Claude said with a smirk.
The rest of the carriage trip was quiet but a shiver told me I was back at the start. The Trancy Estate had never looked worse in my opinion, but no sooner had I voiced that complaint had Claude stepped down with Ciel in his arms. We walked into the main hall to see the triplets, of which one was dressed similarly to Alois with a blond wig in his hands. What a cheap joke! Hannah was on the end with a smile on her face, probably glad to have Alois back in some form.
"You've returned, welcome home," Hannah said calmly.
"Golden into navy and navy transformed into midnight blue. And next, Alois Trancy into Ciel Phantomhive. That makes… one hell of a butler," Claude stated.
"As unoriginal as ever, right Claude?" I muttered as I slapped his shoulder.
"Draw him a hot bath immediately," Claude ordered, clearly ignoring me.
"Yes sir," Hannah replied.
"He'll catch a cold like this," Claude explained, "we need to warm up the young Highness. No…young master. See to it."
I followed Claude and he glared at me before he started up the stairs. We reached the landing and he went into the steam filled bathroom. He put Ciel in a chair and lifted off the lace shawl before starting on his shirt.
"Elena?" Ciel asked and I moved closer, "I want Elena to stay with me."
"I'm here, Ciel," I whispered and he nodded, "Claude, it's time for you to leave."
"Master?" Claude asked, and for the first time he sounded worried.
"Elena stays, everyone else leaves!" Ciel snapped.
Claude left with Hannah and I helped unbutton his shirt. Once he was ready to get into the water, I helped him in and started pouring warm water on him. He faced away from me as I completed the task.
"He betrayed me," Ciel whispered.
I didn't answer as I washed him, helping him to stand when he was clean and wrapped him into a towel. I got him out and sat him down to dry his hair, humming softly under my breath. Once he was dry, I rummaged through the drawers and realised we were in Alois's old room. I found a blue nightdress…because it couldn't be classed as a nightshirt. I put it on Ciel and tied the ribbon around his neck before bringing him to bed.
"Stay with me?" Ciel asked as he snuggled under the bed-sheets.
"The whole night?" I asked and he nodded, "of course…Ciel."
I laid down on the bed and put my arm under my head to act as a pillow. I used my right arm which stung for a few moments before the pain ebbed away…for now. Ciel reached forward and caught my left hand between his and moved closer. He closed his eyes and within a few moments, he was sound asleep.
"I promise to protect you," I whispered into his ear, "and no demon will ever stop me from completing that task."
I closed my eyes, yawned and dreamt. But my dreams were not pleasant…they were memories of the sanatorium before I burnt it to the ground. The woman who painted the nurses, the man with no eyes and then the woman who had spoken to me like a grandmother would.
"Forget about the dead," echoed throughout my dream…reminding me that there are worse places than hell…
So what do you think? I re-watched this episode and wondered what happened to the patients. You don't see inside the hospital really and the only staff you see are the dead ones that Claude killed. So I added the characters...and made them crazy. Hope you liked the chapter and please review or PM me with your thoughts. Talk to you all soon :)