:5:
The Phantomhive twins were not particularly happy about their current situation, if for different reasons. They had had a plan to catch (kill) the murderer Dr. Crippen upon their return to London, however that plan was not playing out as hoped. Upon the surprise engagement of their mother to the large burly Scotsman - their mother had insisted they take Margaret along with them to London to show her the other side of the family business. Warren had fought with her and argued that this was not the right time to introduce Margaret to something so disturbing, that she was too innocent and would not understand the violent yet discreet purpose of the watchdog. Their mother in turn had stated with a heavy heart that 'innocence does not last' and that now was as good as ever.
Ceceila had no problem showing the sickly sweet girl the darker side of her family, perhaps then the little cretin would relay the information to her father and then they would leave. Ceceila wanted them as far away from Warren and her mother as they could possibly be.
So as it was the three young nobles were sat in what had to be the most unpleasant and awkward carriage ride ever experienced.
At the start it had not been so bad, but Warren, despite his charms had given up on lightening the mood about 30 minutes into the ride due to Ceceila's death glares when Margaret had started asking questions about the file their mother had given her. Margaret was not deterred however and kept asking questions determined to be of some help the next day. It was at this point that Ceceila snapped the folder from her hands, set it on fire, threw it out of the carriage and proceeded to climb out the window onto the roof. All without saying a single word. Warren's attempts at smoothing over the situation were less than successful, but to his surprise Margaret stated she did not need an explanation and simply said smiling she would help in any way she could. The rest of the ride went in silence, Ceceila only returned back inside when rain began, followed by the start of ominous thunder and lightning.
By the time the 3 reached the Phantomhive townhouse the weather had turned from bad rain into a full-blown storm. They rushed to get inside and Snake and some other servants brought everything down from the hansom as fast as they could. Even the short run from the gate to the door had soaked their clothes through and the wind had thoroughly mussed their appearances.
Warren removed the wet cigarette from his mouth and placed it in the ashtray in the townhouse foyer. He shook his arms and large spats of water flew onto the floor.
"God I'm utterly soaked! How is it that the English weather can be sun and roses in the morning and the bloody rapture by the evening?" he proceeded to light up a fresh cigarette and offered one to Margaret who politely declined by shaking her head.
Margaret laughed "This is nothing, when you visit our home in Caithness you will see a true storm. Our castle is right on the sea and the winds fair batter the walls come winter. But I tell you Warren tis a beautiful thing to look out the tower window in a gale knowing you are safe from the power of the sea and the wind. And when the lightning occasionally lights up the waves you can swear you would see the Selkies beckoning you out to sea never to return." She made a wriggling with her fingers in the air in an attempt at a scary gesture and Warren just laughed.
"Sounds terrifying I'm sure." He said voice dripping with sarcasm. "Let's get out of these clothes and warm up by the fire. What do you say Ceceila?" he looked around for his sister who had vanished. "Ceceila?"
Ceceila had locked herself in the library and was looking for a book to calm her down. Really she was quite furious. This whole thing was a giant mess, she had had a very good plan that involved ripping Crippen to pieces like he did to his victims then have Warren pay for a corpse from bedlams morgue to be dressed and placed at the crime scene Then the two would set the scene up as a revenge suicide by a former lover and allow Scotland Yard to find it. After all the infamous doctor did have many lovers, it was a good plan. Now, however, that plan was impossible. Ceceila and Warren now had to babysit a pure hearted girl and protect her from harm yet at the same time introduce her to the duties of the watchdog? It was stupid. She had no idea what her mother was thinking, but whatever it was it was stupid. She kicked the table leg in childish retaliation, when the doorbell suddenly rang and thunder crashed loud overhead. Ceceila ignored it and knew Snake would answer.
She was just settling into a chair when she heard a loud exclamation and something falling over in the foyer. She dashed out with her inhuman speed only to stop immediately in confusion. Snake had wrapped several of his snakes around the body of a man pining him to the floor rendering him unable to move. The confusing part was that this man was smiling
"You have no business here says Webster" Snake looked exceedingly angry and Ceceila had never seen the usually calm butler so irate.
"On the contrary Snake I have every business here, in fact I am here at my Lady's behest. I am surprised the Countess did not mention my imminent return to serving the oh-so-noble house of Phantomhive." As he said these words he slipped with ease out of the snakes bonds, stood up and straightened his clothing.
He wore black tailcoats, with matching black trousers, a maroon waistcoat, a white shirt, black shoes and pristine white gloves. His skin was deathly pale and his hair jet black and straight, but despite his immaculate appearance that was not what Ceceila was looking at. His eyes seemed incredibly familiar, but she could not place where from.
"Forgive me, my young lady this is hardly how I wished to introduce myself." He walked over to Ceceila with an air and presence she could not quite describe. "My name is Sebastian Michaelis former head butler of the house of Phantomhive and former personal butler to the late Earl Ciel Phantomhive." He raised Ceceila's hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on the back, his eyes never once leaving hers.
Her mind was blank she couldn't think, normally no one would be able to get so close yet here was this man being far too familiar with her. A rally of emotion stormed around in her chest and her mind was clouded what was this feeling.
"Ceceila!" In haste Warren pulled a small gun from his jacket and pointed it directly at Sebastian's head. "You will get away from her and explain yourself sir, lest I shoot you in the head." His words were said with and icy coldness that matched his piercing blue eyes and in response the man smiled a peculiar smile and walked calmly towards him until the barrel of the gun was directly against his forehead.
"My, my we are rash aren't we." His expression had changed to one of mild annoyance. "You do not even know my intent yet you point a gun at my head."
"Am I foolish to do so sir? I think not when you barge so familiarly into my home, threaten my sister and escape the confines of 6 tropical snakes." Warren was keeping his calm although he knew something about this man was not right.
"Well then you should think young Phantomhive, that if I can escape the confines of 6 tropical snakes, how far will a bullet go in stopping me?" Sebastian then took the gun in his hand and crushed it in a single squeeze.
Warren panicked. This man was not human, like Snake he was some form of supernatural being, he racked his brain for a comeback and strangely could think of nothing. The comeback however came form an unlikely source.
"You said you were here at Countess Phantomhive's request correct? If that is indeed true I doubt she would like you threatening her children." Margaret timidly crept out from behind the drawing room door where she had witnessed everything.
Sebastian stepped away from Warren and turned to the girl. "Quite right I do hope you will forgive me. My behaviour was not befitting that of a servant of Phantomhive. I will behave as I should have from the start." He got down on one knee in front of Warren and bowed his head with his right hand over his chest. "I, Sebastian Michaelis, humbly re-instate myself, by order of the Countess, as the personal butler to the young master of the Phantomhive family. I am yours to command my Lord."
"No thank you I already have a butler and he's quite able. I will write to my mother explaining you are not needed and you will be reimbursed any travel fees, my apologies for pointing a gun at you, you can go now." And with that he took out and lit a cigarette, then put an arm around the timid girl in the corner by the door and they walked towards the drawing room.
Sebastian eyes shot up and he stood and stared at the young man who had point blank refused him. He had never been denied like that.
"Warren wait, he used to serve father as his butler." The rare apprehension in Ceceila's voice stopped Warren in his tracks. He turned back to look at Ceceila and then the butler in question. He ushered Margaret back to the drawing room before speaking.
"Snake served father too, as did Bardroy, Finny and Mei-Rin, so I see no reason to take on another servant" he was goading the butler to see how he would answer and what he really wanted. "Also forgive me Mr. Michaelis was it? But you seem far too young to have served my father as his butler, if you are indeed who you say you are, you would be well into your forties by now and you do not look a day over twenty one." Warren was becoming confident this man was a fraud.
"I am older than I look young master, and I wish only to serve the Phantomhive family and provide perfection in every order carried out. If you doubt my credentials why not ask Snake here, he knew me as your fathers loyal butler and I'm sure he would speak only praise of my work." Sebastian glared at Snake the familiar glare that was used to strike fear into the hearts of the Phantomhive servants.
Suddenly all eyes were on Snake and he felt that whatever was said here would influence master Warren's decision in whether Sebastian stayed or went. He needed to tell the truth, but with Miss Ceceila present it was impossible without creating further problems. After Earl Ciel's death him and the rest of the servants found what had happened, Tanaka had told them all on his deathbed. The kidnapping, the contract, the murders, the demon, the affair, and Ceceila. He was under strict instruction never to tell Ceceila anything and he certainly could not do that now. He looked at his beloved snakes and suddenly felt like he was back in the cage at the freak show, trapped and helpless. Lady Elizabeth had been so good to him he could not betray her trust like this, but then letting Sebastian back into the house of Phantomhive could be an even bigger mistake. He realised someone was calling his name.
"..ake, Snake can you answer me please?" It was Warren.
"Sorry I did not hear you says Wordsworth." Snake was trembling he did not know what to say.
"I asked you to recount what Mr. Michaelis' behaviour was like as butler to my father, if he was ever in that position" Warren scoffed through his cigarette.
Snake paused for a long time before speaking. "He was the perfect butler, everything Mr. Sebastian did he did to perfection, he never lied to Master Ciel and was loyal to him until the end says Bronte. A true servant of the Phantomhive name says Webster."
"Then why did you try to choke him Snake?" asked Ceceila
"You must not concern yourself with the trivialities of us mere servants my young mistress, it was merely that the last time we spoke I said some rather cruel things to Snake, which I of course have reflected upon and now take back with recompense, you will accept my apology will you not Snake?" Sebastian smiled his crow's smile and Snake merely nodded, his eyes downcast.
Warren stood in silence weighing the situation. Yes snake had given this Sebastian Michaelis a glowing recommendation, but his intuition was screaming at him not to trust this man, everything about him seemed devious. While it was not uncommon for his family to hire unusual servants, this one seemed downright strange, also why if he was such an amazing butler did he not stay on after his father's death. He had too many questions and not enough answers, so he made a decision.
"You can stay, but I am to contact my mother as soon as possible to make sure she did actually enlist your help and this is not just some ruse for whatever your true siliceous intent is." Warren said.
"You wound me young master I would never go against My Lady, as I said I live to serve this family and is she not its matriarch?"
"Hmph. Snake set a room in servants quarters for Michaelis here."
"No need young master I know this place like the back of my hand" he chuckled as he held up his gloved left hand and waved it. He walked away and surprisingly Snake followed after him like a puppy with his tail between his legs. Warren thought this was odd but gave it no further thought.
The whole time throughout Ceceila had been unable to help, simply because she did not want this man-no this person to go. She was sure he was not human that much was obvious, but her real curiosity came from his familiarity. For once in her life she felt utterly comfortable around someone even more so than Warren, Ceceila did not want to let go of that feeling and although she knew it was selfish she would do everything she could to keep Sebastian here.
"Ceceila? If you do not want him here I will send him-"
"No." Warren's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "I want him to stay Warren." Ceceila's voice was firm yet her blank expression was back in place.
"You do not trust him either" he nodded "I am glad we are of the same mind. Listen he knows I distrust him, but you are harder to read, find out his true intent then we will take whatever steps necessary with the outcome presented to us." He sighed. "In the meantime I have to find a credible, believable way to spin this to Margaret, I will tell you what the official story is once I have created it." With that he made his way to find Margaret leaving Ceceila alone in the foyer.
Well that was convenient, Warren believes she wants Sebastian to stay because she distrusts him. It was unlike Warren to miscalculate like this but she was pleased. Make no mistake she would find out his true intent, whether she would share it with Warren that was another question entirely.
A/N Sebby is back! And mouthing off like a smart-ass as usual. What do you think Sebastian's motive to come back is, what is our darling demon after? And what do you think about Elizabeth allowing him back (more on that in the next chapter). Be a dear and give the story a follow and review please. They make me update faster.
Peace.