Hi, so here's the next chapter :) This has some of the original episode as well as some of my own thoughts. Hope you all like it :)
Hannah wanted us to play a game, dangling Ciel's body and soul as bait. What did Alois want? I turned to look over Sebastian's shoulder, seeing the ant figure that was Alois. Ciel's body was illuminated by the clock's face.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered as salt tears dripped down my cheeks, "I should have protected you."
"I must find some way to convince you to return my young master as himself," Sebastian stated rather calmly, "fortunately, I can be quite persuasive."
"I wouldn't advise killing me, if you do that…" Hannah replied in a monotone.
"I'll have to fall," Alois called out. How much could he hear?
"Couldn't you reach him before he died?" I asked Sebastian as he readjusted his hold on my waist.
"Claude and Hannah would not be easy to defeat, and then to move to catch the young master's body…" Sebastian whispered before he looked down at me, "it is not possible."
"If you hadn't noticed," Hannah said quickly, "or if Elena hasn't explained it correctly, Ciel Phantomhive's body now belongs to my master. Alois Trancy's soul was taken into Ciel Phantomhive, absorbed by him. It waited ever so quietly for the proper time to re-awaken."
"No kidding," I muttered as I lifted myself up.
I was reminded of seeing Ciel fainting and then start spasming. I had been so terrified, my hands holding down his shoulders. It showed me how powerless I was…and that had made me worry. Alois had then awoken and been more than annoyed with me…
"His soul took advantage of a weakness in Ciel Phantomhive's heart. It used this weakness to steal Phantomhive's body using his own eye," Hannah explained.
"The infinite darkness," I whispered as I started trembling.
"Only Ciel and Alois would have seen the eye," Hannah continued, looking over at me, "anyone else would have seen nothingness."
"The young master's body is now Alois's hostage," Claude summed up, "so our hands are tied."
"For the final time," I snapped, "he isn't your young master!"
"I'm going to fall," Alois called out, clearly not impressed that we were distracted, "I'm going to fall right off, Sebastian! Elena! Don't you care?!"
"There's more to the situation then that," Hannah continued, "your hands may be tied but your hearts aren't, are they? Prepare yourselves, I'm sending you all on a journey."
"How do you intend to make the game fair?" Claude asked as he looked over at us.
"Each of you will work alone, to prove yourselves worthy of Ciel Phantomhive's soul," Hannah explained.
"Indeed," Sebastian replied, clearing wanting this over. He must have been starving by now…if not before…
"Both of you butlers are eager to retrieve Ciel Phantomhive, while Elena wants to prove herself. To do so, and complete all your tasks, you must journey through the labyrinth of Alois Trancy's heart. You will each follow the painful twists and turns that comprise it," Hannah explained.
She pulled three small folders from behind her back and held them out to us. Claude took his and Sebastian took the last two, giving me the bottom one. I opened it to see spaces with patterns, for stamps was my belief.
"Elena is injured," Sebastian pointed out.
"That is why you have both been given twenty minutes before the game starts," Hannah stated, "the stamps will only be given if you answer a question correctly. Alois Trancy wants this to be fair."
Sebastian was handed a first aid kit by Hannah which he opened and pulled out bandages. He touched my head to make sure it wasn't cracked before he followed it down my neck to my shoulders. I whimpered when he touched my left shoulder which he undid the top for to wrap it. But it wasn't a simple wrapping situation…no, my shoulder was dislocated.
"I'm going to count to three, Elena," he whispered, "Claude, look elsewhere!"
I looked into his eyes as I took deep breaths, trying to steady my hammering heart as I put my other hand on his shoulder.
"One, two," and he pulled. I screamed, as the pain radiated down my arm and across my chest, "three."
He wrapped it quickly as I tried to catch my breath, and he continued checking for injuries. One of my ribs was cracked which he wrapped before he continued down my body until he found my right ankle. It was swollen so he wrapped it before putting my stocking on over it. My shoe no longer fit so he didn't force it on. He re-tied my top and touched my cheeks gently.
"I couldn't find anything else," he whispered to me, "but you are bruised."
"Your time is nearly up," Hannah stated, "line up for the game at the entrance of the maze."
Sebastian helped me to stand but I shook off his hold to make my way to the entrance. Pain lanced up my leg but I had something to prove. I wasn't some useless girl from Houndsworth; I was Ciel Phantomhive's bodyguard. I had done something to deserve that role, and now was my chance to prove it. I held the folder tight as I stood in the middle, Claude taking my left as Sebastian took my right.
"We're being sent to collect stamps hidden within the garden. Why, this is beneath our dignity," Claude muttered.
"Do you plan on quitting, Claude? Before the game has begun?" I asked him.
"Come to me! And you best be quick about it!" Alois called out, "unless you fancy the taste of defeat!"
"I suppose we must," Sebastian muttered.
"The only thing I'll be tasting will be the sweet flavour of Ciel Phantomhive's young soul," Claude stated as he licked his lips.
"Must you be so utterly distasteful?" Sebastian asked as a shiver ran down my spine.
I took a head start while both butlers were distracted. It was hard to run on my bad ankle, but I did it. I kept running until I found a left hand turn. Footsteps echoed behind me as the butlers caught up and I stopped to walk to a table. It was decorated with a single box, and I reached forward to open the latch. Inside was an envelope, which I opened to reveal a small piece of card.
"What have we here?" Claude asked as he came up behind me.
"Question number one, what is Alois Trancy's real name?" I said as I turned the card over to see if there was anything on the back. I sighed before I showed the card to the others, "I know the answer."
"I believe I can recall the answer to that, Alois's real name was Jim Macken," Sebastian stated and vines shot out to pull him closer. I shook my head at him.
"Wrong answer," Claude stated, "the garden is enchanted. It will repel those who don't belong. I'm glad to see it works well."
"No," I whispered, "Jim Macken isn't his real name. Alois's real name is Alois Trancy."
A bell chimed and the hedges parted to reveal a pair of stairs. I moved towards them as Claude stayed back at Sebastian's request.
"How so?" Sebastian asked, "I thought that was the name given to him by the former Earl Trancy, the man who defiled him."
"True, but however vile the old man might have been, Alois was still quite taken by his new name," Claude explained.
"Elena? How did you know?" Sebastian asked as I reached the desk at the top of the stairs.
"When you work here, it's hard not to know," I replied as I lifted the stamp and put it in the first slot of the folder. The first stamp was of a rose, like a child's design for their room.
"So that's how this game is played? The thing is true only if Alois Trancy thinks it is," Sebastian muttered, "that complicates matters."
"He was delusional," I replied as I closed the folder, "just think like him and you'll survive."
"I'll be on my way then," Claude muttered as he ran to the left.
"Good luck Sebastian," I whispered as I took the right.
I followed the path at a quick walk as I hummed to myself. I squeezed the folder tight as I found the way leading to a small table with a clock. On the pendulum was an envelope so I walked forward. I opened the door to the pendulum, remembering turning the hands of the clock face for Henry Berrymore. My hands were the smallest of the household so I was the only one able to reach the mechanism and not get hurt.
"How many times did I fix that clock?" I asked myself as I caught the envelope and pulled it off. I opened it to reveal a card with another question on it.
"Question number two, why does Alois hate Elena?" I asked as I looked down at it before I answered, "Alois hates me because on my first day, I judged his home…and in turn, I judged him. I also reminded him of a butterfly he had rescued the previous afternoon…"
The bell chimed above me and more hedges pulled away.
"Though that wasn't the case. The sun had blinded me and I couldn't see," I finished.
I stepped forward to get the stamp. The second one was of a butterfly which made me sigh. I closed the folder and moved on, taking my left this time. I put my hand on the maze wall to catch my breath before moving forward, finding myself at another table. The envelope was already open so I looked down at the question.
"Question number three, what is Alois Trancy's favourite thing to eat?" I asked as I looked up at the clock, "greasy fish and chips. You made me cook it on my first day."
The bell chimed and I nodded before putting the envelope down and moving up another set of stairs. I followed it up to a table with a stamp not yet inked. Who had gotten the question? Sebastian may not have known the answer but Claude would have.
I pulled up the stamp and put it through the ink before dropping it on the slot on my folder. It was of a bow that you would wrap around a child, or a girl's dress. My mother had loved putting bows on my dresses, saying it made me look older. The dress I was wearing didn't have a bow, and that was something I missed. I stamped my folder and moved on, taking my right this time and ran forward.
A new flight of stairs started and I ran up them, taking a moment for my ankle. When that moment had passed, I stood up and limbed on. I thought I was doing pretty well, for someone who had spent four months in Alois Trancy's company. Had he thought I had never listened to him?
I kept running, seeing a box ahead. I ran for it, ignoring the pain in my ankle as I came to a stop. The box was my old jewellery box from my time here. I touched my locket, and found the key hanging there as it used to. I had taken the key off shortly after I had returned to the Phantomhive manor, the box missing. I took off my necklace and opened the box.
Inside, nestled in front of the envelope was a silver bracelet with a diamond in the middle. I covered my mouth as I bit back a sob. I would always remember this bracelet, the one my father had given me when I was four. I lifted it out and remembered the smile on his face when I put it on. But I was certain it had disappeared, gone forever. Had Hannah returned it to its previous state?
"Daddy," I whispered as I tied it around my wrist and put my locket back on, "I know now."
A light breeze circled me before it lifted up and left me. A part of me wanted to believe Daddy was looking at me, making sure I was safe. I took out the envelope, catching the glow of the bracelet as I pulled the card out.
"Question number four," I whispered, "what is Alois Trancy's favourite flower?"
I looked up towards the clock tower, seeing the blue of Ciel's coat now in more detail. Images of my accident earlier, the one where Hannah pushed me down the stairs, floated through my mind. But Ciel had never done that, it had all been Alois.
"The answer is bluebells," I replied, "he and Luka used to pick them and put them in their hair when they were younger."
The bells chimed and led into an archway. I walked around the table and followed the path to another desk. This looked like the one that used to be in the library. Ink stained the edges as I picked up the stamp and put it in the ink. I stamped my folder and saw the image of a heart. I sighed before closing it over and moving on.
The path was straight from here on so I followed it, finding another table not that far from the ink station in the other one. I looked down at my bracelet before I looked up. Two doors were marked, one with an o while the other with a cross. They were the same colour and had it not been for the symbol on the outside, I wouldn't have been sure.
The box was pale pink with white detail on the lid. I opened it and music started to play. It was a song my mother had hummed to me as a little girl, one she had said her father had sung to her. His mother had song it to him…and it had been passed down. I opened the lid to see the mechanism for the song, a long cylinder with metal 'fingers' running along the bumps. It all resulted in making the tune I was hearing. The envelope was on the lid, where the mirror would have been.
"Question number five, true or false…Alois Trancy lived a short life full of promise, his love for his servants beyond words and he was greatly missed at his funeral."
The answer that rung through my head was no, but Alois would want to believe he had been amazing. I walked over to the crossed door and turned the handle. The bells chimed above me as I walked in. The door had opened easily and I spotted a desk. I walked to it and the other side exploded. I screamed as I was pushed into the hedges, the explosion rather bright. I rubbed my eyes afterwards and got to my feet.
"If that's what he wants to believe," I whispered as I walked to the desk.
I inked the stamp and put it in my folder, starting the new page. It was a clown, like a doll I had seen Ciel's company make. He had offered to give me one months ago as a present but he had disappeared…
"Five down, three to go. I'll be with you soon, Ciel, I promise," I whispered as I blew up a kiss to the body.
"Now Claude! Hurry up! I mean it!" Alois called out, "get up here! Stop dawdling! I gave you an advantage in this game! You're being beaten by the brat's bodyguard!"
I was glad to hear I was in the lead as I took my left and continued running, aware that I would need to stop again soon. There was only an empty path ahead put soon there were crossroads. I could continue forward or take my left or right. I looked down at my bracelet before looking up at the clock tower. The left would bring me back to the start, as could the straight route. I looked to my right and saw only darkness. I had no matches as they had tumbled from my pocket the moment I had started falling down the stairs…so I took a deep breath and went with the right.
My hand held tight to the hedges to make sure I didn't lose track of my position, keeping my eyes open wide. It was because of that, that I felt the ground shake. I held tight to the hedge, finding my hand going through so I landed painfully on the floor. I rubbed my side and looked around, seeing a new opening in front of me, and the path back was blocked.
"What happened?" I asked myself as I got up, "that wasn't there before."
I followed the new path and spotted a different table, it reminded me of the one at the Phantomhive manor. It usually stood in Ciel's office, with his reports on it. But this time, as well as having ink wells, it held a small horse. The horse was painted a brilliant white with a black mane.
"Vincent Phantomhive gave me that for Christmas…before Ciel was taken," I whispered as I lifted the horse to take the envelope from underneath, "does Ciel remember?"
I opened the envelope and pulled out the card, ready for the very worst. How did Alois like to be woken up? Did he love Claude with his whole heart? But what I saw was something different. I looked up at the clock tower to see Ciel's body was turned in my direction. I waved to him and with some struggle, he returned the gesture. Tears sprung from my eyes and I realised what that gesture meant.
"Ciel's up there," I sobbed as I waved with more enthusiasm, "I'm coming!"
"I know," I heard him call back and I looked down at the card.
"Question number six, what did Elena give Ciel the first time he met her as a promise?" I whispered as I wiped my eyes, "I gave you a bracelet that my friend James had spent weeks making for me. To promise I'll be back."
Bells chimed as I put the envelope down, stroked the horse's mane before moving on. I picked up the stamp, dropping it into the ink and marking my folder. I lifted it up to see it was a book. The title wasn't legible but I didn't care. Ciel was up there, taking control from Alois.
"I'll be with you shortly," I called up as I moved away from the desk and took my next right.
The path led to another set of stairs and snaked to my left which I followed. With Ciel in control, there was no game. Alois had tried to give Claude an advantage, now Ciel was trying to give Sebastian and I a chance. Questions about Alois were answered by chance, the moments I spent working for him. But the questions about Ciel…they were far easier to answer. I had watched the boy grow up, and saw his hardened shell crack over time. I knew I could never have that carefree boy again, but I was sure as hell returning my young master to where he belonged.
"And that's not here," I stated calmly, before screaming, "Ciel Phantomhive is my true master!"
I knew that would ruffle Alois's feathers as it had done at the stairs before Hannah had pushed. I was considered Trancy's property but no matter how many times I said, "yes, master," to Alois, I was wishing for Ciel. I knew where my alliances lay…where they would always lie.
The path ended with a new question, the table was my vanity from the Phantomhive manor. My brushes lined the mirror, as did a copy of my mother's locket. I touched it but it turned to dust, a mere illusion. What appeared odd was the book on the table, one I had read one day before Elizabeth had asked me to accompany her into town as her friend Chloe and then Lucy when Uncle had suggested the name.
I turned the page in my book, wondering what was going to happen next. Would the prince find the pauper girl before she left or would he marry the princess from the far away country? I read through and smiled when I pictured the prince in the scene…
"I simply couldn't decide. My love was pure for Evangeline but my parents wanted me to marry the sweet princess Ariana from France. Could I defy my parents and marry Evangeline or should I form a peace treaty with France and marry Princess Ariana? I walked slowly to the Juliet balcony to see the pauper girl putting the clothes out to dry and I lifted my eyes to see a golden carriage. The princess was here. I had to decide…"
"Choose Evangeline," I said as I turned the page, "you'll never love Ariana the way you love Evangeline."
"Who are you talking to?" a voice asked and I looked up to see Lady Elizabeth.
"Oh," I said as I closed the book, "no one, my lady."
"Who is Evangeline?" she asked as she walked closer.
"She's a character from the book I was reading," and I held the book out to her.
"Primrose Garden?" Lady Elizabeth asked and I nodded, "I read that book."
"Does he marry Evangeline?" I asked her and she smiled at me.
"Yes," she answered with a smile as I clutched the book closer to my chest.
"You knew I had read Primrose Garden?" I asked as I lifted the book up.
The pages inside contained the familiar words but the envelope was at the back. I took it up and underlined was how the story had ended. I hadn't made the marks myself…had Ciel?
I stood at the altar, waiting for the wedding march to commence and seal my fate with a woman I could never truly love. Ariana of France was beautiful but she was not what I wanted in a wife. Evangeline challenged me in ways I had never considered and I had spent many days with her in the fields. I heard the music start and turned to see Ariana at the door, her wedding dress too big on her tiny form. It was when I saw her that I knew I had made my decision. I turned and ran to one of the church's doors and kept running. My father called for me but I didn't stop. I unhitched one of the horses and used it to travel across the fields.
Evangeline would be picking the berries for the townspeople so I pushed the horse further. It came to a small hedge and I leaned close to the horse, getting ready for the jump. But the horse didn't want that. It was scared so it skidded to stop itself, sending me over its head into the next field.
My back ached as I closed my eyes against the sunlight, hearing screams before a soft hand touched my face. I lifted my own hand to hold hers, knowing it was my sweet Evangeline. I opened my eyes to look at her, seeing her beautiful green eyes that looked like summer leaves and her hair that looked blonde in one light while brunette in the other.
"My prince!" she cried out.
"Evangeline," I whispered to her, "I've made a mistake."
"What is that, sire?" she asked as she touched my head, checking for damage.
"I chose the wrong person," I replied and her hands stilled, "and now I'm here to change my fate. Evangeline…I chose you."
I opened the envelope and smiled. It seemed like a distant memory, reading that book and asking Elizabeth if he chose Evangeline. The card inside was light as I lifted it to look at. The question was written differently but it was Ciel's. That made me smile.
"Question number seven, did Ciel Phantomhive complete his revenge?" I whispered and looked up at the clock tower, "yes you did. We returned to London on my uncle's boat Destiny to see London was burning. You wanted to see the Queen, and denounce your title but she was already dead. She had combined her body to that of her dead husband, and he had rotted. You and I were both shot under the pretence that we had killed the Queen but Sebastian saved us. I wasn't with you for the rest of your revenge, but I believe you went after Angela Blanc or Ash Landers, killing them and completing your revenge."
The bells chimed around me and another set of stairs was made visible. I started the climb up and laughed.
"I remember telling you that Paris was going to end up killing me," I said loudly, "because of the stairs."
At the ink station, I touched the stamp and put it into my folder. One of Funtom's best-selling toys looked up at me, with an eye-patch covering one of the eyes. Sebastian had given me a Bitter Rabbit one evening when I had asked him about Funtom, but it had burnt away when the manor did. It was before the trip to France…and those dreaded stairs…
The lift came to a stop and as I had been standing in front, Ciel hit my back as I braced myself against the window and the chairs. Ciel opened the door and turned to watch me and then the Queen exit the lift. She looked dainty and child-like. Nothing like the portrait of her at the estate.
"Oh no," I muttered as she walked past me.
"What is it?" Ciel asked as I pointed to our left.
"More stairs," I muttered as Ciel started walking, "Paris is going to kill me."
I followed the path before the ground started shaking again. I kept still, having learned my lesson when I had fallen through one of the hedges. A new path lay to my right but the straight path and the left path were sealed up. I took the right path and found myself in a new area, one with the envelope already opened again. Who had gotten ahead of me? Or was Alois 'helping' Claude again? The card was set on the floor, the envelope discarded on the table. I dropped down, using the table to balance myself before standing.
"Final question, what a relief," I whispered, "answer this, why did Claude murder Alois Trancy?"
I turned the question over as I consider it. Alois had been murdered so Claude could possess his soul; fuse it with Ciel's so he could have a double meal. But Alois wouldn't want to hear that, he would want to believe Claude had loved him to the very end, using his death as something romantic.
"Claude murdered Alois…" I stated, "out of love. It was through his passion that he ended the very short life of Alois Trancy, to show his affection after many years of using that monotone response of his."
It took a moment, and I thought that perhaps I had failed, but the bells chimed. I had reached the end of the maze, I was closer to Ciel. I hadn't really noticed my surroundings so it was the sound of doors opening that told me where I was supposed to go. I walked towards them and climbed the stairs to the final ink station. The final picture was of a candle so I closed the folder.
An archway led to a grassy knoll which in turn led to a new door, one surrounded by thorns. But they moved out of the way when I got closer. The doors opened and showed me more stairs. I walked into the dimly lit area and looked around, not sure what I would find here.
By another flight of stairs was a basket, a note written above telling the racers to put their folders in it. I put mine down and started walking. The steps were worse than France, steeper and I stubbed my toes constantly. But I had answered the questions correctly. My folder had been the first one in the basket so I was the winner. I had proved myself; that was what I thought anyway.
"I've shown both boys that I know them," I said with a smile, "and yet I only wanted to impress one."
I put my hand along the wall as it slowly spiralled upwards. I felt the bracelet on my right wrist as it hung down my hand. It had been big when I had been given it, but I had still cherished it. For a time, I had double wrapped it around my wrist so my adoptive father wouldn't see it. Eventually however, the fit became too tight so when I was eight I had worn it normal. It had told me I was secure, even if I was reaching into ploughing equipment to unblock it. I remembered one day in particular…and my head ached only a little…
"Now Elena, I want you to clear the mud from the spikes. If you don't, they'll rust," Mr Roberts had said simply and I had nodded, "oh, my wife reminded me this morning to wish you a happy birthday."
"I'm ten now," I said with a smile as he nodded and walked off.
I bent down, using my navy dress as a cushion for my knees before looking at the machinery. Father…Martin Hamilton, had found out about this job so it was the first time I had done it. There were clods of mud holding the mechanism to the ground so I reached forward to start pulling. Once it was free, I stood and walked around to the wheels of the equipment.
Mr Roberts had sent for this special from Germany, and had paid a pretty penny for it. More than he'd pay me at least. I moved up onto the wheels which were unsteady and reached forward for a piece of mud hanging near the middle. I stepped forward, and lost my balance.
"Daddy!" I screamed, knowing the spikes would hurt.
I closed my eyes and missed when something caught the front of my dress. My hair ran along the spikes as I opened them, seeing the man from the night at the bonfire. His hair was pitch black that it reminded me of raven's feathers and his eyes were bright milk chocolate. His face was pale and he looked worried as he righted me.
When he put me on the ground, I hugged his waist and cried. I had been so certain…so very scared. It took a moment before he wrapped his arms around my shoulders.
"Elena, it's alright, you're safe now," he whispered, "I've got you."
"I was so scared!" I sobbed as he rubbed my hair, "I thought I was going to fall."
"I would never let that happen," he said simply, "you're just too precious."
I moved away and he dropped to his hunches to wipe my tears away with a handkerchief. He put the cloth over my nose and I blew before he folded it and put it in my pocket.
"I told you I'd be here for you," he said softly, "now and always."
Mr Roberts had come out ten minutes later to see if I had finished, which I had and he paid me. No one had noticed the man…my biological father when he had caught me. What would Mr Roberts have seen if he hadn't caught me? Would I be dead?
I reached a small platform and put my back against the stones. It was because of that, that I heard a door opening above me. Was Ciel the way he should be? I started the next set, my ankle throbbing but this was more important. I moved higher and higher, not sure where I was going or if Ciel would be the one greeting me. But I couldn't quit now, my parents wouldn't have approved.
"Father…Mother….Daddy…I hope you're all proud," I said calmly as I reached the next platform.
My thoughts turned to the bonfire of my eleventh year. It was another day I had met my father, an arranged visit. I had lied to my parents and said I was meeting James and Scott, when I was really meeting him. They wouldn't have approved otherwise. By this time, I knew the story…and that didn't change the roles. The man I was meeting was my Daddy but Martin Hamilton had been there since I was born.
A breeze circled me but I had left home without my coat. I had been in such a rush that such things were forgotten about. The bonfire was at the baiting pit, a place I had never been to before. Mother and Father had told me the day would come and I would have to be there.
But tonight, on All Hallows Eve, the rules could be forgotten. Father had insisted that I was old enough to attend the bonfire while Mother had protested. She had become more anxious with each passing day about me. But that didn't matter now, not when I was this close to seeing him again.
Daddy was leaning against the wall on the left of the baiting pit, a scarf wrapped around his throat and an old farmer's coat wrapped around him. He wanted to blend in, that's what he had told me. He spotted me and moved to hug me.
"Elena, you forgot your coat," he mumbled at my ear as he ran his hands down my arms and my back. I felt weighed down a few moments later in my favourite red coat with white buttons. Uncle had bought it for me when he had gone to London one day. He said a friend of his called Madam Red had suggested it.
"My favourite!" I said as I held him tighter.
"Let's go to the bonfire," he said as he took my hand and brought me near the flames.
The show went on for an hour as villagers gave something precious up to be burnt, to appease the spirits and the demon hound for another night. Daddy walked forward and took off a glove. He threw it into the flames and it glowed a bright blue before it faded to nothing. I took the sash from my coat and walked forward, Daddy holding my waist to make sure I didn't go too far. I threw the sash in and stepped back to lean against his legs.
"Good girl," he whispered as he rubbed my head, "I don't think the demon hound will bother you."
"Are you sure?" I asked him as I looked up.
"I'm certain," he whispered as he looked down at me, "I wouldn't let it."
"Pluto never really hurt me in Houndsworth. It was under the under of Angela Blanc that he came after me. But I knew you would protect me," I whispered as I reached a doorway.
The doorway was simple wood with a few cracks visible. It was because of this obstructed view that I could only see Ciel. I pushed the door open wide and walked towards him.
"Ciel," I said with a smile, "I made it."
"You're too late," Hannah said and it took a moment for me to see she had been near Ciel's body. The door had blocked her, making it so I could only see Ciel.
"Ciel?" I asked as I stumbled forward.
"Master!" Sebastian called out as he slammed open another door, further down.
Claude stood at his side as they both made their way into the room. Sebastian moved to me as I reached out a hand to fix Ciel's hair. But Alois shoved my hand away. He was crying as he turned to look at Hannah, and I noticed on the floor were two rings…the young master's and Alois's. The stones were dark, their colour missing. What did that mean?
"What happened?" I asked Hannah, "I was nearly there."
"Claude, you ensnared my heart in your deceptive spider threads," Alois stated calmly, "I wanted you to become my eternal highness. But more than anything, I wanted your love."
Ciel's eye changed from the purple I had come to recognise, to Claude's mark before it settled on a teal colour. I knew what he had done now; he had made a contract with another demon…Hannah.
"Elena, you ran away from me, made me hate you for abandoning me. But you were nice to me at the start…" and Ciel's eyes closed and Hannah caught him as he fell.
"The contract is complete," Hannah said softly as she held Ciel in her arms, "I have entered into an official contract with Jim Macken and Ciel Phantomhive along with him."
"How is that possible?" I asked her and she smirked.
"My master gained control of Ciel Phantomhive's body. By doing so, he was able to enter into a contract with me. Ciel Phantomhive's soul won't see the light of day; it's here, trapped and powerless within this body. And so it will remain until my master's soul is released and our contract is fulfilled."
So what do you think of the questions? And the flashbacks? Hope you all liked it and thank you for reading. The next chapter will be up soon :) Please review or PM with your thoughts :)