I own nothing but my OC's
Sebastian drove the carriage through London. Ciel and Nyra sat across from each other inside the carriage. Nyra wore her usual dress along with her black fur lined coat. The witch had noticed that Sebastian was keeping a much closer eye on her. Even though Nyra had hid her injuries with makeup, the butler was lingering behind her every spare moment he had. It had been almost sweet at first but after a few days it truly began to get on her nerves. She had kicked him out of her room once it was time for bed though it wouldn't surprise her if the demon snuck in after she fell asleep to continue his vigil and watch her sleep. Shivering at the disturbing thought, Nyra turned her gaze towards the window to watch the people pass.
The three were on their way to the town house in London. Nyra was bringing a bag, which was full of things required to tutor Ciel, and her puzzle box. When they arrived at the town house Sebastian brought out the steps and opened the carriage door.
"Young master, it's been a while since you last went out, isn't it?" Sebastian said.
"I couldn't care less who sent that letter... I hate going to crowded places." Ciel said.
"It'll do you good to get out of the mansion every once in a while." Nyra said, smiling fondly down at Ciel.
"Besides, isn't it much more peaceful without those four by your side?" Sebastian asked with his butler's smile. Ciel grimaced.
Nyra smacked Sebastian on the shoulder, looking torn between disapproving and amusement. "Easier for you, you mean, Birdbrain?"
Sebastian smirked but did not deny Nyra's claim. When Sebastian opened the door to the sitting room, he, along with Nyra and Ciel, saw that Madam Red, her butler and Lau had arrived before them. The three visitors had torn the room apart; pillows strewn about and books laying everywhere.
"Jeez, where did they put the tea leaves in this house?" Madam Red asked as she looked in a cupboard.
"I can't find them either..." Lau said, looking in a pot.
The idea of peace and quiet shriveled up and died in the minds of Ciel and his servants.
"Madam Red?! Lau?! Why are you here?" Ciel asked, glaring at the two intrusive guests.
"Oh! You got here so quickly." Madam Red said before smirking. "Since my cute little nephew is in London, how could I not come and visit him while I'm here?"
"Hey, Earl. I've heard that many interesting things happen here." Lau said.
"We had no idea guests were coming," Sebastian said with his butler smile as he placed his hand where his heart would be. "I apologize for not accommodating you earlier. I'll go prepare tea for you immediately."
"Of all of the people I didn't want to see," Ciel grumbled. "All of them are here." Nyra patted Ciel's shoulder sympathetically.
At ten thirty, Sebastian had returned with tea. The room had been cleaned up and everyone was settled in. As expected, the guests were praising Sebastian's tea.
"The aroma is nice." "What a unique way of steeping."
"Today's tea is a 'Jackson's Earl Grey.'" Sebastian said, holding the teapot.
"It's the same kind of tea, yet the way you make it makes such a difference." Madam Red said after taking a sip. "Grell, you should follow his example."
"Y...Yes..." Grell said, looking down.
"Anyways." Madam Red said, catching Sebastian's attention. Sebastian was so startled he nearly dropped his serving tray when the Baroness began to stroke his rear. "No matter what, every time I see you, you're still so handsome..." Madam Red giggled while Nyra was outright laughing. "Why don't you simply quit working here and some serve me?"
Nyra caught the double meaning in the last sentence and had to firmly grip Ciel's chair to prevent her legs from giving out. Ciel looked highly disturbed by everything that was happening. He coughed. "Madam Red..." He said with a warning tone and a vein popping in his forehead. The Baroness apologized shyly.
Nyra was able to pull herself back together. She walked over to Sebastian, still giggling a little. "Not everyday that you're the one being sexually harassed, is it, Feathers?" Nyra asked with a smirk. She then wrapped her arms around his and pulled his slightly away from Madam Red. "Don't worry, I'll protect you from scary Madam Red." Said Madam giggled and playfully growled at the butler.
"Let's talk seriously now!" Ciel said, a larger vein popping in his forehead. Nyra giggled but let the butler go so as to not set Ciel off. "I've heard about the case of prostitutes being murdered on the streets lately."
"You mean what's on the news nonstop lately? I know of it." Madam Red said. "However...what are you planning?"
"This isn't just some ordinary case." Ciel said as Sebastian placed down some snacks and took the empty teacups. "The killer's ways are very special- no, I should say abnormal. That's why 'she' is so concerned about it."
"What do you mean?" Asked Lau.
"The murdered prostitute was called Mary Anne Nichols. The wounds looked like they were from some kind of sharp tool, using quick cuts, with a painful death." Ciel said before taking a bite of his snack. "The police and other prostitutes call the murderer 'Jack the Ripper.'" Ciel leaned back in his chair. "I just wanted to know the circumstances sooner, so I rushed to London as well."
Lau chuckled. "The Queen's Watchdogs have already been dispatched but I'm not interested." He took a sip of his tea. "However... do you have the guts to go to the crime scene?"
"...What do you mean?" Ciel asked.
Lau stood up and began to walk towards the young Earl. "I smelled a wild beast at the crime scene. This murderer is definitely an abnormal madman. Will you...be scared?" Lau cupped Ciel's cheek. "Earl of Phantomhive?"
"I came because I was worried about my fiancé. I don't need to answer your pointless questions." Ciel said with a glare.
"...Not bad." Lau smirked. "That look in your eyes is good." He then grabbed Ciel and dragged him out of his chair. "Then come take a stroll with me!"
"Wait a minute!" Madam Red snapped. "Seriously! I rarely get to have some afternoons tea with the Earl, but I can't even enjoy it in peace? I want to go, too. Lau, where is this crime scene?"
Lau shrugged. "Don't you know, Madam?" When she didn't respond he sighed. "Don't ask me... I don't know either."
"You talk so arrogantly, yet you don't even know where it is?" Madam Red yelled.
"Calm down..." Ciel grumbled, looking tired. "I know there has to be at least one person that's been to the crime scene. At the time, many people gathered to see what was going on. But it's too troublesome for me to ask the police."
"Then what should we do?" Madam Red asked.
"Earl...you couldn't be..." Lau said.
"There's no other way..." Ciel sighed. "It's bothersome in the middle of this case... But I can find someone who works on this case."
"...So, what is this place?" Lau asked as everyone stood in front of a dingy looking building with tomb stones and coffins sitting out front.
"Why are you familiar with this kind of place?!" Madam Red yelled as Grell tried to calm her down.
"Because the person the young master knows works as an Undertaker." Sebastian said.
"An undertaker?" Madam Red asked.
Sebastian opened the door and Ciel stepped in. The room was dark, only a few candles illuminating the space. Coffins were placed randomly throughout the room and some lay propped up against the wall. "Are you there, Undertaker?"
"Hi...hi..." A mysterious voice giggled from somewhere in the parlor. "I knew that you would come... Welcome, Earl..." A man with long silver hair, spiky bangs which covered his eyes, long and square black nails and eccentric black clothes opened the lid of one of the coffins and peaked out from inside. This caused Madam Red and Lau to gape at the man and Grell even fell over. "Do you want to see how it feels to sleep in my custom-made coffins?"
"I didn't come here to play today." The Undertaker held up a hand for Ciel to stop.
"You don't need to tell me. I know why you came. With just one look I can tell what's on your mind." The Undertaker began to click his fingernails together. "Since the Earl went out of his way to visit me, I'll certainly do everything I can to help."
"You know something?" Ciel asked.
"Please take a seat first, I'll have Terra make some tea." The Undertaker said while everyone looked around for a chair before realizing that the silver haired man had meant the coffins. The Undertaker chuckled. "Terra always insist on making the tea for guests. She always says her's is better than mine."
"Now darlin'," A sweet southern voice called out from the back of the shop. Out stepped Terra, a curvaceous southern woman with golden hair pulled back in a low bun, lightly tanned skin and icy blue eyes that were lightly lined with black eyeliner. She wore a black bustle dress, a black cropped jacket and an ear cuff in her right ear that looked like a vine of thorns with golden crystals dangling from a couple of thorns.
"I never say that my tea is better than yours." She said to the Undertaker before smirking teasingly. "But I do think it mighty loudly." Undertaker giggled at his assistants sass as she walked into the back of the shop once again.
Soon after, once everyone had been given some tea and had sat down on a coffin, the Undertaker took a bone shaped biscuit out of an earn. "Now then, you wanted to know about Jack the Ripper? Everyone's been scared because of the disturbance..." He took a bite of his biscuit. "But this isn't the first time I've handled this kind of thing."
"This isn't the first time?" Madam Red asked. "What do you mean?"
"It's happened before," Undertaker said around a biscuit. "A case where prostitutes were killed." Undertaker offered some biscuits to Ciel, who refused while looking a little disgusted. "In fact, the way they were killed was very similar too. But in the beginning, the police didn't think much of these cases. Though the murdered prostitutes had something in common."
"Something in common?" Ciel asked.
"What is it?" Nyra asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Well now, I wonder what, I wonder what it is indeed." Undertaker closed the lid of his biscuit urn. "Is it bothering you."
"I see, so that's how it is." Lau said. "You're very good at doing business, Undertaker. How much money do you want for this information?"
"How much money!?" The Undertaker ran over to Lau until he was a mere inches from the stunned Chinese man's face. "I don't want any of the Queen's money!" Undertaker turned to face Ciel, who paled. "Now then, Earl..." Undertaker put his hands, hidden by his sleeves, on either side of Ciel's face. "I only have one requirement...show me a first rate laugh. If you do, no matter what you want to know, I'll tell you!" Undertaker dissolved into a giggling mess, drooling on the counter. Terra stepped in with a handkerchief and gently wiped Undertaker's face.
Lau stepped forward, chuckling. "Earl, if that's the case, let me handle this. The sleeping tiger of the Shanghai New Year's party, also referred to as my soul. This should satisfy you! Do you like it?" The parlor was dead silent, no pun intended.
"It looks like he still won't talk, Lau... It can't be helped." Madam Red said, stepping forward. "Then I, Madam Red, a beauty of high society, shall make my appearance now." Madam Red struck a pose while Grell basked in her lady's brilliance. "If I ask him, he'll be sure to tell us!"
Madam Red proceeded to tell a disgustingly dirty joke. Sebastian covered Ciel's ears before he could hear anything. He was confused, but based on Nyra's reaction he supposed her should have been great full. An hour later, Undertaker had had enough and had Terra gag Lau and Madam Red.
"You're the only one left, sugar cube." Terra said, turning towards Ciel. The young Earl did not appreciate the nickname but Undertaker spoke before he could.
"I've helped you many times in the past...can't you be nice to me just this once?" Undertaker asked.
Ciel grumbled. "Damn..." Sebastian stepped forward smoothly.
"It can't be helped." The butler said adjusting his gloves before Nyra motioned for him to take a step back.
"Whatever happened to ladies first, feather brain?" Nyra asked.
Sebastian gestured for her to continue with a smirk on his face. "If you think you can."
"I know I can." Nyra said, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"Ooh, confident aren't we, darlin'?" Terra asked.
Nyra smirked. "Is there any style of joke you prefer, Undertaker?" The witch asked.
"Anything is fine, dear." Undertaker giggled. "I laugh at even the most basic of jokes."
Nyra gestured towards Sebastian in a 'ta da' fashion. There were a few moments of silence before it clicked in everybody's head.
Sebastian...the most basic of jokes.
Undertaker's laughing was the loudest of all, but everyone else was shaking with glee as well. Sebastian narrowed his eyes at the governess while Undertaker struggled to get back to his feet. Nyra smiled at him.
"Problem?" She asked.
"Whatever you want to know is fine..." Undertaker said, drooling a little and still shaking. Terra smiled fondly as she wiped his face again.
"Actually... I've always thought, that there weren't enough 'guests'." Undertaker said, giggling.
"Not enough?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes, not enough." The Undertaker said.
"Internal organs, honey." Terra said, handing Undertaker a mannequin that showed muscles and organs.
The humans started and Lau and Madam Red looked nervously down at their beakers filled with tea. Grell was shaking, sweating and very pale.
"Don't you think that the eternally sleeping 'guests' that lay in coffins are so cute?" Undertaker asked as he wiped off a smudge on the mannequin. "My hobby is to take out the organs for research."
"I just wish you wouldn't leave those jars in the kitchen cabinets." Terra grumbled, crossing her arms.
"That was one time." The Undertaker said with a cheery smile, giggling at the memory of his assistant's reaction to finding an organ jar next to the flour.
"This could have stored a kidney before, right?" Lau asked. "A criminal could've given it to a loan shark..."
"It also could've come from the slums of China." Undertaker's comment caused Lau to bristle. "That prostitute isn't a whole woman anymore. Because her womb is gone."
"A lot of our recent guests have had this problem." Terra said, tucking a loose strand of golden hair behind a cuffed ear. "They've made us mighty busy."
"Wouldn't it require special skills to remove a woman's uterus?" Nyra asked.
"You're a smart one governess, I feel this way too." Undertaker said. He then walked over to stand next to Terra, who flushed slightly when he put his arm around her. "If he had to act within such a short time, he should slit the throat. And proceed to cut open the stomach. It's easier to succeed this way. From the looks of he culprit's work, that cruel accuracy definitely wasn't carried out by a normal person. It had to have been someone experienced." The Undertaker grinned towards Ciel. "You should've been able to figure that out too, Earl."
Ciel sighed and the Undertaker continued. "It's very likely that the murderer is an expert. Maybe if he knew you were here, it could lure him out. He will keep committing crimes, he definitely will, unless someone stopes him. Can you stop him?" Undertaker asked as Ciel stood. "'The Notorious Noble,' Earl of Phantomhive."
Sebastian helped Ciel back into his coat while Nyra stood by. "The world of darkness has the world of darkness' rules. He wouldn't murder random people for no reason. There must be an influence manipulating him from behind." Ciel said. "I won't be scared, no matter what tricks the Queen's lackeys want to use, I will solve them all. Sorry for intruding, Undertaker." Ciel said as Sebastian opened the door.
Later they were all back in the carriage. There was really only room for four so Nyra was forced to sit in Sebastian's lap. The demon was quite amused by the witch's petulant expression and crossed arms.
"What do you think after hearing that?" Ciel asked.
"I've been thinking-" Sebastian began.
"Don't hurt yourself." Nyra said with a smirk before wincing when Sebastian pinched her as revenge.
"The murderer should be an anatomical expert, but also know where the police are when they commit the crime." Sebastian said. "The culprit could be taking away the organs for some kind of ceremony or because they're with a black magic cult." Nyra nodded in agreement.
"Then right now...where do we start from?" Madam Red said. "It's the season right now, there's so many people gathered in the capital! Not only are London doctors suspects, there's also head physicians that aristocrats from all over could have brought. And not just doctors, students of medical schools could also be the culprit. Like Lau there are many foreigners that brought weapons. But if we wait a week, the season's events will be over and many doctors will go home."
"We'll wait until then to investigate." Sebastian said.
"Why?" Lau asked.
"There's no way we can investigate clearly during the season." Sebastian smirked.
"Let's just say we can't investigate clearly...shouldn't we at least be able to compile a report on the suspects?!" Madam Red asked.
"Please wait a moment. As the Earl of Phantomhive's butler, how could I not be able to accomplish such a small matter ?" Sebastian said, hand over his heart.
Ciel looked out the window with a smirk on his face. "Then, I'll immediately go investigate, and quickly research all the suspects' reports." Sebastian said, opening the carriage door. He then grabbed the poor unsuspecting Nyra. Said witch yelped in surprise and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
"What the hell, feather brain!?" Nyra yelled in shock.
Sebastian turned to Grell with a bright smile. "Grell, is it? Please drive the horse carriage back safely."
"Ah, yes!?" Grell said, shocked by the other butler's appearance.
Ciel made shooing motions with his hand.
"Then please excuse us, we have to leave now." Sebastian said as he let go of the carriage.
"Wait a minute!? Isn't this horse carriage is still running!?" Madam Red asked as she and Lau ran to look out the back window only to see that the two were gone. Grell was just as mystified.
"Hey, you have to look ahead!" Madam Red scolded her butler.
"Ah, right! Sorry!" Grell said.
"Let's forget about Sebastian and Nyra." Ciel said. "Since they said they'd do it, they'll definetly do it. But they'll arrive home before us. And Sebastian will have tea prepared for us."
"You have that much confidence in him?" Madam Red asked.
"Of course." Ciel said. "Because he never lies, they'll accomplish it."
Lau sighed. "It must be because since a long time ago, they've always been by the earl's side. Never leaving the Earl, like shadows. Just like shadows."
"You do realize that they haven't been serving me for even two years yet, right?" Ciel asked.
"Ah, is that so?" Lau asked with a smile.
They (Sebastian) finished investigating in fifteen minutes. The demon had written up a compilation of everyone they had interviewed along with their alibis. After the task was complete the butler leapt across rooftops with Nyra in his arms. About half way through gathering suspects, the witch had stopped struggling and more or less accepted her situation.
When they returned to the house Sebastian took her to the sitting room and sat on a couch, placing Nyra on his lap. The witch couldn't resist the tiny smirk that crept onto her face. She chuckled and draped her her arms around his neck. Seeing this as permissions, Sebastian wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Haven't you had enough of this?" Nyra asked. The demon's eyes glowed.
"I can never have enough of you." Sebastian said.
Nyra laughed at the cheesiness of the statement but quieted down to chuckles when Sebastian kissed the underside of her jaw. The witch ran her fingers through the demon's hair and giggled quietly when he found a ticklish spot on the corner of her jaw. He started to move down her neck and and she felt him squeeze her hip. Nyra thought about making him stop. Sebastian must have noticed that because he smirked up at her and playfully nipped at her chin.
The witch giggled and decided to indulge. As exasperating as Sebastian could be, Nyra couldn't help but sometimes find him adorable. She shifted until she was straddling him and then kissed him. She hummed when he ran his fingers through her hair, a gesture that she always enjoyed.
When Sebastian began to work his way down her neck again, he grumbled in irritation when he reached her choker. He began to undo a few buttons of Nyra's dress. She tensed but he shushed her. He undid all the buttons down to the one that rested in the middle of her breasts.
"I won't undo anything beyond this point, unless you ask nicely." Sebastian smirked, tugging at the collar of Nyra's dress to reveal both her shoulders.
Nyra rolled her eyes before she sighed in pleasure and tilted her head back as Sebastian kissed her shoulder. She didn't like being a selfish lover, so she leaned forward and pressed kisses to Sebastian's head and his temple. She couldn't reach much else from her position. When the demon began working his way back up her neck.
"Hm?" Sebastian said.
Nyra was about to ask him what was wrong before she heard a familiar click. Sebastian had opened the emerald in her choker because he had realized it was a locket. Inside were two pictures. One was of Nyra who was smiling with a small girl in her lap. The girl appeared to be around eight years old. She had long, wavy blonde hair and a bright smile. It looked like it was from over a hundred years ago, perhaps even two hundred. The other picture was just the girl by herself.
Nyra realized what had happened and quickly closed the locket. She stood up and began shakily buttoning her dress back up. Her heart pounded and she felt sorrow grip her entire being.
"Who was that?" Sebastian asked.
"No one." She said and then mentally cursing herself when her voice shook.
"If you're going to lie than at least try to do so convincingly." Sebastian said, standing up.
"Ciel and the others will be back soon." Nyra said. She turned away so that the demon couldn't see how wet her eyes were. "We should get ready and-"
Sebastian grabbed her wrist tightly to keep her from leaving. "It's rude to walk away."
"Leave me alone!" Nyra said, snatching her wrist away. She glared at the butler, eyes shining with unshed tears. "I don't want to talk about it!"
She marched out of the room and felt tears slide down her cheeks. As the water slid over her skin, it removed bits of makeup that hid the small remains of the burns that Nyra had sustained from her encounter with the witch hunter. When her bottom lip began to tremble, she slowly picked up the pace until she sprinted back to her room. She slammed the door behind her before leaning against the wood. Her breaths were shaky as she felt grief close in on her. Covering her mouth to muffle her sobs, she slowly slid down the door and buried her face in her knees. She didn't leave her room for hours.