A/N: Sorry this is a little late; I've been in Yellowstone with no internet connection. However, I now have a little more time to work on this fic, so I might start updating twice a week!
Disclaimer: I only own Faye.
Chapter 5: Information
Ciel's Tent
"Nothing," Ciel said darkly, staring out into space. "We found nothing except a piece of paper with my name on it. Why does this wretched circus have my name?"
"I don't know," Faye said worriedly. It was disheartening that they hadn't found any clues about the missing children and unnerving to find a letter mentioning Ciel. She couldn't imagine what ties anyone here might have with him.
"This is Sebastian's fault," Ciel muttered. "If he hadn't gotten himself placed in today's show, he might have found something more."
"It's not Sebastian's fault, and I don't think there was anything to find."
Ciel glared at Faye. Finding his name on the letter had truly put him in a foul mood. "Why are you defending him?"
"Because you're being childish, Ciel. I promise you, if there is blame to be laid on Sebastian for anything, I will be first in line to do so. We don't have time to sit here and stew. Besides, there are other ways to get information out of people than sneaking about their private quarters." Faye smiled secretively.
Ciel's eyes widened and he grabbed Faye's arm in concern. "You're not going to try to seduce a first tier member, are you?"
Faye stared at Ciel in surprise for a moment before bursting into laughter. "Me? Seduce someone? I suppose with my looks it could be done, but I'm much too skittish around men. I'd probably have a panic attack. And then stab the man. No, I meant magic, Ciel. Did you forget that I have other tools at my disposal?"
"How will your magic help us get the information we need?"
"You let me worry about that, Ciel. I'll let you know what I find." Faye went off in search of Dagger. She hoped he wouldn't be too tired after his performance to aid a fellow circus member.
She found a crowd of the first tier members and made her way through them. Technically speaking, they didn't know for sure that the circus was behind the kidnappings. There was no proof other than correlation. Wherever the circus went, children disappeared, but Faye was sure they were behind the disappearances. Faye's magic only worked on supernatural beings and those with impure souls. All the first tier members met the second criteria. There was something twisted about them, something dark that they strove to hide deep down.
Reaching Dagger, Faye tapped him on the shoulder. She clasped her hands together and looked earnest when he turned around. "Dagger, could you help me with my throwing skills? There's a trick Joker was telling me about that I can't quite get right. I was hoping you might be able to give me some advice on how to improve." Faye winced internally when she realized she was speaking far too properly. No maid would speak as she did.
Thankfully, Dagger seemed to overlook her slip. "Sure. From what I've seen, you don't seem to need any help, but I'd be happy to give you some tips."
"Thank you," Faye fawned. "I'm sure that with just a little more help I'll be able to get it."
Faye followed Dagger to a corner of the practice tent, next to the wooden wheel they often used for a target. There were too many people here.
"Actually, I was wondering if we could do it somewhere a little less crowded. It makes me nervous to have everyone watching."
Dagger frowned. "A circus is all about having everyone watch you. We're performers."
"Oh, I'm fine once I have a trick down," Faye assured Dagger, turning her back on the wheel and tossing two knives behind her, both striking the target. "It's just when I'm learning a new trick that I get nervous."
Dagger eyed her knives, clearly impressed. "Well, I guess it's all right just this once, but you need to get used to having other people watch you preform. Even when you're practicing."
"I'll work on it," Faye promised, relieved when Dagger walked out behind the tent and into some trees.
"Why don't you show my right here," he said, gesturing to the trunks around them. "You demonstrate the trick and I'll tell you what you're doing wrong."
"Absolutely," Faye agreed. She held up her right hand and chanted, "Horestm kit mic." Her voice resonated with power, as it always did when she used her spells. Brightly colored strings sprang from her fingertips towards Dagger. Half the strings sunk through his chest to attach to his heart while the other half attached to his brain. He was surprised for a moment and struggled to jump back before all movement ceased and his eyes took on a glazed look. This spell would make Dagger speak nothing but the truth.
"Is the circus stealing children everywhere they perform?" Faye asked.
"Yes."
"Where are the children being held?"
"At the Baron's mansion," Dagger responded woodenly, his eyes staring off into nothing.
"Where is the Baron's mansion?"
"In Glonshire."
"Are all the children still alive?"
"No."
Faye gritted her teeth in anger. She had expected nothing less, but it was still upsetting to hear. "What is being done to the children?" She asked through her clenched teeth.
"They act as a private circus for Baron Kelvin."
Faye knew Dagger's detached voice was a result of the spell, but it enraged her all the more to hear him talk of such things so flippantly. She was surprised when she realized she was gripping something hard in her hand. She looked down to see one of her knives clutched in her hand. She always went for her weapons when she was upset. She considered stabbing Dagger when this little interview was over with.
"Who is Baron Kelvin and why does he want children acting as a private circus for him?"
"He's the owner Noah's Ark Circus," Dagger answered. "And he likes children."
Faye's stomach started churning. What was being done to those poor children? "And what of Ciel Phantomhive? Why does Joker have a letter with Ciel's name? What connection does the Baron have to him?"
"The Baron wants Ciel."
"Why?" Faye demanded.
"Because he wants him."
Faye raised her knife above her head, her arm shaking with the effort of restraining herself. Faye didn't think of herself as a murderer. To date, she may or may not have the life of only one man on her conscious (she'd had bothered to stick around and find out if he was dead or alive), and she rather wanted things to stay that way. Admittedly, it was kind of cheating if you had your demon butler kill in your stead, which was probably what was going to happen here, but it still made Faye feel better.
She slowly lowered her arm and sheathed her knife. She lifted her knife-free hand and retracted the spells lines inside Dagger. Shortly after she chanted, "Frostin tuk rork." Dagger would remember nothing that had occurred today. Everything from the moment he woke up until now would be nothing but a blank. Faye turned on her heel and went in search of Ciel and Sebastian. Their career as circus performers was at an end.
Baron Kelvin's Mansion
"The Baron may have been warned of our coming," Sebastian cautioned. "Joker left before we did, and we don't know what made him come. It could be a routine visit, or he may have gotten wind of our true identities."
"A man as sick at this will either attack the moment we enter, in an attempt to protect his twisted circus, or will play at pleasantries first," Faye guessed.
"Very astute, my Lady," Sebastian said with a smile as he offered his hand to help her down from the carriage. He was standing so close that she was pressed up against him once on the ground. Something was definitely going on. Ever since their case with the circus had started, Sebastian hadn't outright touched Faye, but had arranged it so that they had to be touching, whether Faye was walking through a door, sitting down to eat, or being handed down from a carriage. If he wanted more attention from her, wouldn't it be easier to find excuses to touch her then to try and arrange these ridiculous situations? Faye pressed back against the carriage and side-stepped to get past Sebastian.
"I'm certain that your second guess will prove correct in this instance," Sebastian continued on. "We know that the Baron has an interest in my young Lord for some reason. I doubt he will attack Earl Phantomhive the moment he enters the estate."
"I don't care what the Baron may plan for this visit," Faye said. "I want to take him out the moment we enter the estate, before he can play any games or plan any attacks."
"And what of the children?" Sebastian asked airily. "Shouldn't we find out where they are before we make any moves?"
"Why bother when I'm sure we can make the Baron tell us all we wish to know?" She was not suggesting she use her truth spell on Baron Kelvin.
Sebastian grinned, his hand reaching for Faye's face before he paused and pulled it back. "Anger truly does suit you, my Lady," he said, his eyes gleaming.
Ciel cleared his throat, tossing a meaningful glare at Sebastian. "We have a job to do. Do you two plan to stay out here all day and talk, or are we going inside?"
"After you, my Lord," Sebastian said with a bow. Faye moved to follow when Sebastian held an arm out in front of her to stop her. Faye jerked to a stop and gave Sebastian a confused look. "I'm afraid you must be after me in situations such as this, my Lady. You do recall my master's orders for me to protect you, do you not?"
Faye gave Sebastian a disgruntled look, but followed along after him. Ciel, as the owner of Sebastian's contract, took priority over Faye. Shouldn't Sebastian also be in front of Ciel in that case? Sebastian seemed to derive pleasure over taking liberties with Ciel's safety that he would not do with Faye. She wondered if Sebastian would truly protect Ciel if a situation arose where he had to choose between Faye and Ciel. Would the love spell or his contract prove stronger?
Faye shook those thoughts from her mind as they entered the dim mansion. A light flickered on and Faye made out Joker standing at the top of an elaborate staircase holding a candelabra. "What are you three doin' here?" He asked uncertainly. "I thought…"
"Were you expecting the Earl Phantomhive?" Ciel asked. "That's exactly who's arrived. Let me properly introduce myself. I am Ciel Phantomhive, the Queen's Watchdog, along with my sister, Countess Faye Phantomhive and my butler, Sebastian."
Joker paled as he took them all in, then he hung his head with a small smile. "You sure 'ad me fooled. You really are as good as they say. This way." Joker descended the stairs and led them to a dining area. A man wrapped up in bandages sat at the head of the table. His eyes lit up when they entered the room.
"Ciel!" He exclaimed. "Ciel Phantomhive! It's so wonderful of you to come! You don't know how happy I am to see you."
"Sebastian," Faye murmured. Sebastian nodded his head once before he disappeared in a blur of movement. He reappeared behind the Baron, placing a knife at the Baron's throat.
Joker panicked and started for the Baron before turning and lifting a long, slim dagger towards Ciel. A hostage for a hostage, was his thought no doubt. Before he could get any closer, Faye yelled, "It mye noc!" Joker froze in place, his hands still lifted and holding his dagger. The spell to bind an evil soul was almost second nature to Faye, it being the one she used the most in her work with the Grim Reapers.
"What are you?" Joker asked fearfully. Faye generally preferred not to use her magic in her duty as the Queen's watchdog. Rumors about her abilities would eventually begin circulating, but as she was fairly sure neither Joker nor the Baron would survive the next few minutes, she felt safe in using her spells.
"Where are the children?" Ciel demanded.
"I'll take you to them!" Baron Kelvin promised. "I'll take you right to them. You can see whatever you like, Ciel. My home is completely open to you." The man seemed sincere, eager even, to please Ciel. "I've wanted to see you for a very long time now. I've been planning our meeting ever since I found out you were still alive. Please, come this way!"
"I don't believe we need the Baron alive," Faye said, keeping her attention locked on Joker. "All we need is a location. I see no reason why we should suffer his existence any longer than necessary."
Joker's eyes widened and he pulled against his restraints. "You can't! You can't kill 'im!" He babbled on desperately. "I dispatched the first tier members of the circus to the Phantomhive manor before coming 'ere. They went to retrieve Earl Phantomhive. Their orders were to kill anyone else they encountered." Joker smiled grimly. "Perhaps you ought to be more concerned with making your way home than staying 'ere."
Ciel burst into laughter. "Your circus performers against our servants? I can tell already tell you what the outcome will be. It's not in your favor."
Joker looked uncertain. "They're 'ighly trained," he argued. "We all are."
"Yet, you'll all still die," Faye said, wondering if this was why William had been hanging around the circus. She imagined he'd probably follow the first tier members to Phantomhive manor and then reap their souls as they were killed, one by one. A group like that would be a lot of work for just one Grim Reaper.
"Ciel," Faye prompted, wanting to hurry this along.
"Tell me where the children are," Ciel demanded.
"They're downstairs, but let me show you! I've been planning this meeting for over a year and have organized grand entertainment for you. Please, let me show you!"
"What entertainment?" Ciel asked. "Having the children perform circus acts? We already know that's why you took the children."
Joker winced at Ciel's words and looked at the ground. "Why does that upset you?" Faye demanded. "What has been done to the children?" When Joker didn't immediately respond, Faye chanted, "Horestm kit mic." She calmed down and repeated her question.
"The children do standard circus acts," Joker replied, "but they don't 'ave any training. Tightrope walkin', lion tamin'. They've been conditioned to follow orders, but they don't have trainin' or experience. They die."
"Enough," Ciel said darkly. "Sebastian, dispose of them, then we'll collect the children and leave."
Faye looked away as Sebastian severed the Baron's head. Afterwards, he gracefully leapt towards Joker and stabbed him in the heart. Faye released her bindings on Joker and he slumped to the floor, empty eyes staring at the wall.
"Sebastian," Ciel ordered, "find the basement and the children and then come get us. There's no need for all three of us to run around blindly."
"Yes, my Lord," Sebastian said with a bow before disappearing.
Ciel looked down at Joker coldly.
"I wonder why the circus members went along with the Baron's actions," Faye murmured. "Joker seemed so protective of Baron Kelvin, but I could feel his disgust towards the Baron's actions. Joker was torn between loyalty and horror. I don't think he wanted to be part of such things."
"Yet, he was," Ciel stated matter-of-factly. "Whatever morals he liked to believe he had, he held his loyalty to the Baron above them all. He was just like everyone else, pretending to hold morals to make himself feel better about the world. To believe that there's a common decency people adhere to. No one upholds to their morals for long. As soon as things become difficult, as soon as it's convenient, people toss their morals aside like so much garbage."
"Not everyone," Faye said as she stared down at Joker along with Ciel. "Detective Abbernathy is quite sincere in his moral code. We've never once seen him break it."
Faye saw Ciel smile out of the corner of her eye, but he quickly tried to hide it. Despite Ciel always referring to Abernathy as a fool, she knew he was fond of the detective.
Sebastian appeared looking…odd. "I have found the children. My Lady, if you would accompany me."
Ciel frowned. "And why wouldn't I be coming as well?"
"The children are quite afraid of men at this point," Sebastian said smoothly. "I'm sure a woman would put them much more at ease. We do not wish to put them through more difficulty than we have to after all they have already been through."
"I'm not a man," Ciel said, then glared at Sebastian's mocking look. "I doubt I would give the children much cause for concern. You are always commenting over how I look younger than I am."
"I'm afraid that's not a course of action I recommend," Sebastian said. "I think only Lady Faye should accompany me."
Faye also failed to understand why Ciel should not come with them. He wasn't all that much older than some of the children who had been taken. Surely they wouldn't view Ciel as a threat. Still, Sebastian never did anything without purpose, and Faye wanted to be done with this as quickly as possible. "Just stay here, Ciel," Faye said. "Sebastian and I will be back soon. Though, perhaps Sebastian should move the bodies before we bring the children through here…" Then again, perhaps seeing Joker and the Baron dead would bring comfort to the children after their months in captivity.
"Of course, my Lady," Sebastian agreed before doing just that. Faye then followed Sebastian through a hallway and down a flight of stairs. They entered a large, circular room. There were rows of seats all around the edges. In the center of the room were iron cages that held the children. "Is this room supposed to be a circus ring?" Faye asked in horror. "Was the Baron bringing others here and entertaining them with his…murder show?"
"I do not know, my Lady," Sebastian answered thoughtfully. "I suppose that could be the case. I had assumed the room merely looked like this to emulate the room your brother was taken to when he was kidnapped."
"What?" Faye whispered, staring at Sebastian in shock.
He was surveying the room with cool interest. "Yes, this room is an exact replica. It appears the Baron may have wished to reenact what happened to the young Lord three years ago. I assumed you would prefer it if I spare the young Lord this sight."
"How would the Baron know?" Faye demanded. "I thought the fallen angels Ash and Angela along with the Queen were behind all that befell the Phantomhive family."
"Oh?" Sebastian asked curiously, turning to look at Faye. "And were they responsible for the cult that held you along with several other young ladies?"
Faye opened her mouth to respond, then shut it. No. It had been normal men of this world behind the cult. Evil and depraved men, but normal.
Faye hurried down to the cages, but stopped short when she got a better look at the children. They were alive, but their eyes were dead. They didn't even acknowledge Faye's and Sebastian's presence. Faye closed her eyes in despair. How many of the children would recover from this? One? Two?
"Make sure you track down every last person involved in this and kill them," Faye said quietly.
"Yes, my Lady." They spent the next half hour ushering the children out of the house and into the carriage. They children moved, but had not response other than that. They huddled in the carriage, sitting on the floor and seats with their knees up, arms wrapped around them. If only Faye had a spell to erase memories.