AWESOME, another chapter. XD Things change drastically this chapter, so I really hope you guyz enjoy it. I know I did. XD

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Disclaimer: Kuroshitsuji © Yana Toboso

Claimer: everything else © me

Chapter Nine: Caught in a Spider's Web

It had been several days since the private ball at the Trancy Manor, and to be honest, Ciel was already hell-bent on revenge. However, due to the newfound knowledge of Anna's recent pregnancy, the young earl chose to bide his time a little more for the sake of taking some extra time to review over his strategy such that Anna and her child would not be risked. To Sebastian and Anna's surprise, since the confirmation of their second child's existence, they were unable to communicate through the Blood Contract. They speculated that it was likely due to the unborn child's power, and that they would likely be able to re-establish their mental communication following the child's birth.

For the time being though, despite the tension radiated by Ciel Phantomhive, the Phantomhive servants' spirits were not in dismay, as the revelation of Anna's second pregnancy brought them much joy, as it meant another new guest to their growing Phantomhive Manor family.

"Yay!" Finnian cheered, "It's so exciting! Tristan will be getting a new sibling!"

Meylene smiled widely. "Tristan looks so much like Mr. Sebastian," she noted, "If it's a girl, I wonder if the she will look more like Mrs. Anna?"

"That'd be one pretty baby," Bard said.

At once the idiot servant trio imagined up a beautiful little baby girl with short silver locks of hair and large, adorable azure eyes.

"WAHHH! THAT'S TOO CUTE!" Meylene and Finny exclaimed in unison.

"Ummm… what are you guys doing?"

"!" The trio was surprised to find that Head Maid Annabelle Michaelis had been standing behind them.

"A-Ah… sorry, Mrs. Anna," Finny apologized.

She merely smiled, tucking back a stray hair. "Don't neglect your duties, alright? You're lucky Sebastian's gone out to run a few errands, otherwise he would scold you three," she chided lightly, "Aside from that, have any of you seen Tristan?"

All three shook their heads.

"Hmmm…" she murmured as worry flashed in her azure eyes.

"Perhaps he's playing with the cats?" Bard suggested.

Anna nodded. "I'll try that, thank you," she agreed, "now no more dilly-dallying and get back to your duties, okay?"

With her dismissal, the trio scattered, and Anna headed to the library where she knew she would find Fang, Kylee, and their kits by the fireplace. As she thought, they were all lying on the carpet, grooming each other. Tristan was nowhere to be found.

"Ah, Anna," Fang greeted, rising to his paws as he raised his little white wings, flying up to nuzzle her cheek in greeting, "how are you? I hope your newest offspring isn't giving you any trouble."

The maid chuckled, touching her stomach lightly. "It's still too early for that," she responded in a teasing voice, "hopefully this child will be just as kind to my body as Tristan was, especially considering the dangers we are currently involved in."

"I'm sure everything will work out," the feline assured affectionately, touching back down on the ground before three of his kits tackled him. "Haha, these kits are getting more and more restless by the day. Luckily their wings haven't developed yet, otherwise it would be quite difficult for you to explain to the other servants why there are flying cats around the manor."

Anna laughed, "That's true. But I came to ask you if you or Kylee have seen Tristan."

The black cat looked at her mate and meowed once.

"She says she hasn't seen him all day," the angelic cat informed, "frankly for that matter, neither have I. Is everything alright, Annabelle? Do you want me to help you look for him?"

She shook her head. "It's alright, I'm sure he's just running about somewhere," she tried to assure, mainly to herself. "I'll see you later, okay?"

The cat dipped his head, and she left the library, wandering the manor in search of her son until finally, she found herself in the backyard overlooking the gardens, sighing heavily.

"I think I've searched every inch of this mansion for him…" Anna murmured to herself.

Suddenly, a dark feeling of dread spread within her as a sensation of fear and pain mingled with her senses.

Mommy, help me… Tristan's voice echoed vaguely in her head.

"Tristan!" Anna gasped, wings quickly unfurling from her back as she took off towards the skies towards where she sensed the source of the pain was coming from. I'm sorry, Sebastian, she apologized mentally, but if Tristan truly is in danger, I can't risk waiting until your return!

As she flew above the trees of the forest surrounding the manor, she strained to see through the dense growth for any signs of her beloved son. Suddenly-

"Ah, Tristan!" she exclaimed, spotting the young angel-demon child sitting in the middle of a thin path, loudly wailing as large, fat teardrops streamed down his cheeks. "It's alright, sweetie! Mommy's here now!"

Dropping her altitude, she carefully slid through the dense forest of leaves and branches towards where her son sat. Something didn't seem right… but by the time she realized that, it was already too late.

Anna felt yanked back, and she was surprised to find that she suddenly was unable to move, some sticky substance holding her firmly in place.

"W-What the…?!" she gasped, and upon closer inspection, found that she was trapped in a giant web!

Whirling her gaze back to where her son was sitting, the illusion suddenly faded, and it was only then that Anna realized that she had flew right into a trap.

"No!" she gasped.

Before she could utter another word, demonic electricity pulsed through the web, rendering her unconscious almost immediately before all fell silent. Seconds later the strands holding her were severed, and she dropped out of the sky into the awaiting arms of the Trancy Head Butler: Claude Faustus.

The bespectacled demon butler smiled, gently stroking the angel's silver hair.

"My, my, look what we have here," he said with a smile. "It seems I've snared a gorgeous butterfly in my web."

He licked his lips, grinning down at his prey. "I'll be enjoying this…"

xXxXxXxXxXxXxxXxXxXxXx

"Yay! We're home!"

Sebastian sighed as he put down his son upon their return to the Phantomhive Manor. Well… I would have finished my errands earlier had I not have a certain stowaway… he thought. Ah well… it's not every day I get to go do my errands with my son, hence, a pleasant trip.

"Daddy! Let's go find Mommy!" Tristan cheered.

"Sorry, Tristan," he began, "but I've got to keep up with my chores and the Young Master's orders, hence, I'm afraid you're going to have to look for your mother on your own. Give her a kiss for me too, please?"

Without awaiting a response, the child ran up into the manor with great enthusiasm, and Sebastian chuckled. Then he paused. Something just didn't feel right…

"Well… off to work."

xXxXxXxXxXxXxxXxXxXxXx

Hours later, Sebastian found it odd… he was unable to sense his wife's presence. He stood outside on the balcony, looking troubled.

"Daddy! Daddy!" Tristan cried, running to him, "I can't find Mommy!"

As the child leaped into his father's embrace, Sebastian hugged him close, acknowledging the fact that if even Tristan confirmed it, it had to be true. Annabelle was missing.

"This is bad…" Sebastian murmured, setting his son down, "We need to find your mother post-haste, especially in her current fragile state. Otherwise both your mother and your younger sibling's life could be placed in danger."

He whistled lightly, and a few seconds later barking could be heard as the tiny demon dog Pluto ran up to Sebastian and Tristan, licking the young angel-demon's face affectionately.

"Plu-Plu!" he cheered, hugging the dog.

"Pluto, I have a job for you," Sebastian instructed, looking down at the dog, "Find Annabelle."

The demon puppy wiggled from Tristan's embrace before lifting his nose into the air, sniffing for the angel's scent.

"Arooo…" he whimpered, lowering his head to the ground before covering his nose with both paws.

Sebastian frowned. "If even Pluto can't find him…" he murmured to himself. "Something must be wrong… Well… time for another approach then."

xXxXxXxXxXxXxxXxXxXxXx

Ding-dong.

Finny bounded to the door happily, opening it to reveal an upright, well-kempt suited man wearing glasses and a pair of garden trimmers, as well as a man dressed in red with matching red hair and red-rimmed glasses.

"Hello, we came at the request of a demon to search for an angel," William T. Spears greeted flatly.

The gardener was confused. "Umm… who?" he asked.

"It's alright, Finny, I'll take it from here," a smooth voice interrupted, and Finny looked behind him and suddenly found Sebastian there.

"S-Sebastian…" he murmured, "O-Okay."

After the gardener left to resume his duties, Sebastian offered a curt bow to the pair of Shinigami at the door.

"Greetings, gentlemen," he greeted respectfully. "Thank you for coming at such short notice."

"Se~bas~tian!" Grell Sutcliff exclaimed, leaping at the demon.

Sebastian merely took a step aside and allowed the enthusiastic Shinigami fall flat on his face. Will sighed.

"Do you planning on calling us every time Miss Annabelle goes missing?" he asked.

"You mean 'Mrs. Annabelle'," Sebastian corrected with an innocent smile. "And I called because I knew that you have great respect for my wife."

"Hence you automatically deduced that I would be so quick to try and help locate her," Will concluded as he narrowed neon green eyes at him. "Demon."

Sebastian's smile widened. "Why thank you. Now… let's get to work, shall we?"

xXxXxXxXxXxXxxXxXxXxXx

Two days later…

"Still no word on Annabelle?" Ciel asked, looking directly at his butler.

Sebastian shook his head. "Pluto, as well as two Shinigami were unable to detect any sign of her," he reported, "and according to Mr. Will, a demon may be at work causing Annabelle's disappearance."

The young earl nodded slowly in understanding. "How is Tristan holding up?"

"He is missing his mother terribly," the butler informed, "and I too, am deeply worried about Annabelle, especially in her current condition."

"Well… keep on the search then, Sebastian," Ciel ordered. "What of the mail today?"

Sebastian bowed, presenting a silver plate with a single letter on it. "This came in from the Trancy Mansion this morning."

Ciel was surprised. "I-Impossible… with an injury like that Alois Trancy should still be bedridden," he said, quickly taking the letter and breaking the wax seal, "unless his damn butler is plotting something."

'Dear Ciel Phantomhive:

On behalf of the Count Alois Trancy I write to Lord Ciel Phantomhive this day to request your most honoured presence for tea with my master this afternoon at three o'clock.

We hope you will be able to join us.

Sincerely yours,

Count Alois Trancy

As written by Claude Faustus

Butler of the Trancy'

"This doesn't make any sense," Ciel muttered, tossing down the letter on his desk. "There's no way he should be able to have teatime with us, especially considering our last encounter. Nevertheless, Sebastian, we will accept this invitation. We will use it as an opportunity to investigate what Alois Trancy is planning."

Sebastian bowed. "Understood, I will make preparations at once." I have a feeling… he mused. I pray that I'm wrong…

xXxXxXxXxXxXxxXxXxXxXx

Once more arriving at the Trancy Mansion, Ciel was surprised to see Alois Trancy bound up to him as if their last near-deadly encounter never happened. Claude stood nearby, offering a polite bow in greeting to their guests.

"Ciel!" Alois cheered happily. "I'm so happy to see you!"

Ciel politely bowed his head. "Hello, Alois. It seems your injuries have healed up already, huh?"

He nodded. "Yup, it's all thanks to my newest maid."

Claude dipped his head towards the open doorway. "Come and greet our guests, sweetheart."

At that moment, a beautiful angel with long silver hair and glittering azure eyes stepped out of the Trancy Mansion, dressed in the same maid outfit as Hannah Anafeloz. She smiled at them, and Sebastian could see it in her eyes that she no longer recognized them as the people she cared about. It was truly as if she was meeting them for the very first time.

No… he thought in horror. No… this… can't be…

"Hello," she greeted, "It's nice to meet you, I'm the newest addition to the Trancy servants: Annabelle Faustus."

OH S***! OAO Anna is now a baddie?! WHAAAAA?! NUUUU! How's Sebastian and Tristan gonna take this?! Their wife/mother is now working for the bad guys! Worse yet, she appears married to CLAUDE! Do you think Sebastian's going to take this hands down?!

Things DEFINITELY took a twist this chapter, and look, even guest appearances by Pluto, Will, and Grell. XD Probably will see those two Shinigami later in further chapters… likely, yeah. We'll see. XD

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter!

To be honest, I'm not sure when I'll be able to update the next chapter. This month (August) will be likely hell for me, and I swear I'm descending into madness, but… I guess you could already say I'm mad for coming up with such a radical twist. XD hahaha. Who knows?

ANYWAY, hope you guys liked this chapter! XD

PLEASE REVIEW!