A/N: Hellllooooooooooo, everyone! I hope you all are having a fabulous day! I will be posting two chapters today! I had some time off from work and was able to type up some chapters! I hope you all are ready for meeting Alois Trancy, Claude Faustus, Hannah Annafellows, Timber, Thompson, and Canterbury, and getting some Sebastian Michaelis action (Well, more than the previous three chapters lol!). Enjoy!
Chapter Three: Meeting the Spider, Clawed Butler
The following day after breakfast, Baldroy and Frances left to the Trancy's estate. It was a long ride which Frances spent reading. They arrived around ten thirty in the morning. Frances had finished her book. She closed it. She looked up and gasped. The estate was a dark long height golden brown building with a grey blue roof. The top half had rectangular windows while the doorway and bottom half were arched. It was as long as Phantomhive Manor.
"Wow." She whispered in awe.
Baldroy stopped in front of the manor. He stepped down from the driver's seat, walked around to the side, and opened the door. He assisted Frances out of the carriage.
"Thank you, Bard." She said, once she was safely on the ground.
"You're welcome, my Lady."
They walked towards the entrance. Bard knocked on the door which promptly opened a second later. Frances' eyes widened. A spider demon stood before them. His sharp golden eyes narrowed at her behind rectangular rimless glasses. He stood 6'0". He had purple black hair, which stuck up and looked messy yet neat. His face was more narrow and sharper than Sebastian's, especially his nose and chin. He wore a black tailcoat with black slacks, a white shirt, and a tie that merely crossed around his neck. She saw surprise, confusion, and wonder enter his eyes after a moment.
"Lady Harkness, we have been expecting you. I am Claude Faustus, the butler of this house. Please, do come in."
She and Bard walked inside. They looked around. There were two stairs on either side that met in the center, the stairs were a white color with golden designs. The walls were half gold on top with brown on the bottom half. He led them down the entryway to a hallway that changed to white with brown trimmings. He stopped. He turned to Bard and gestured to the door on his right, their left.
"This is the servants' room. You may wait here for your Mistress."
"Thank you." Bard said.
He moved to the door and opened it, disappearing through the doorway and closing the door behind him. Claude gestured her forward.
"This way, my Lady."
She nodded. He led her back down the hallway to the left side of the staircase which they climbed up. He led her down the hall to the right and stopped in front of the brown door on the left about halfway down the hall. He knocked.
"Pardon me." He called.
He opened the door and led her inside. A boy with blond hair and sky blue eyes sat behind a brown desk. He looked bored for a split second before his face brightened as he looked at Claude then her then back at Claude. There was a spider web with a spider in the left corner of the room.
"Claude!" He exclaimed.
"Lady Harkness has arrived." Claude stated, bowing.
"Good afternoon, Lord Trancy. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." Frances said, curtsying.
As she straightened, he came out from behind his desk. He wore a long sleeved white shirt with a light green vest and black slacks with black ankle boots. He also wore a thin red ribbon tied in a bow around his neck. He circled around her, looking her up and down. She followed him with her eyes, though she did not turn as he circled behind her. He stopped in front of her. A smile grew on his lips.
"Nice to make your acquaintance, Lady Harkness. Take a seat and we'll discuss my proposition." He said, waving a hand at the seat.
"I shall return to my duties, your Highness." Claude said, excusing himself.
Alois giggled childishly and nodded.
"KKKKKaaayyyy!" He said.
Claude left the room. Alois made his way to his seat. He sat in his chair. Frances sat after he had. He simply stared at her in silence, a serious look upon his face. Frances stared back, waiting. Another smile broke across his face.
"So, I was thinking you and I could work together." He laughed, "You see, I run a cleaning service. We use the best of the best to get a thorough clean. You could use our services to clean your stores and hotels. Of course, our services aren't free." He said with a smirk.
"How much do you want for your service?" She asked, calmly.
The boy's smirk grew.
"Each store would be forty pounds while hotels will be one-hundred pounds."
She looked away as she thought it over.
They had cleaners already. Not only that, she was still wary about what she discovered and the fact that a spider demon had confirmed the eerily similar story. She looked back at Alois to see he was watching her.
"I'm afraid I must decline."
He frowned.
"May I ask why?"
"We have cleaners already." She explained.
His frown deepened.
"I see."
There was a pause.
Suddenly, he clapped his hands. A smile brightening his face once again.
"I know! How about we play a game of chess! (She tilted her head to the side, her eyebrows furrowed slightly wondering where he was going with this.) If you win, then you get to say no. If I win (A smirk grew on his face.), you get to think about it some more and come back with your answer, deal?"
She looked at him with a smile. She nodded.
"Very well. However, I've never played the game before."
He shrugged as he waved an expressive hand.
"No worries! I can teach you."
He rang a bell. A few seconds later, a knock sounded on the door.
"Pardon me." Claude's emotionless tone called as he opened the door, "You called, Master?"
"Yes. Take us to the game room." He ordered.
Claude bowed.
"Yes, Sir."
He straightened and gestured out. Frances followed Alois out the door. Claude closed the door behind them. He quickened his pace to move ahead of them. He led them down a few doors towards the stairs and opened the door on the left. He gestured them in. They complied. Frances looked around. The room was big, but rather empty. A table sat in the center on the wall next to them, a fireplace on the wall opposite them with two white vases with bluebells in them, a painting of a forest hung above it. On the wall to the left of them was a bookcase with various board games and on the wall to the right was a small nightstand with a drawer with a clear vase full of more bluebells. She spotted another few spider webs in two corners of the room with different color spiders in them.
"Come on!" Alois shouted at her, pulling her by the arm, excitedly.
She smiled and allowed him to pull her along.
"You sit here." He said, dragging her to the chair closest to the door.
"All right." She said.
He sat in the other seat. Once again, she sat after he did. He looked up at Claude.
"Claude, the chess board."
Claude bowed again.
"Yes, Sir." He said.
He went to the bookshelf with the games. He took out the chessboard and a brown wooden box with the pieces. He approached the table and placed it on the table, moving the box to the side. Frances looked up and smiled politely.
"Thank you, Claude."
Claude's eyes widened in slight surprise, though his facial expression didn't change.
"Claude."
Claude turned to his Master, eyes returning to look at him monotonously. The boy was glaring at him.
"Tea."
"Yes, Sir." He said, bowing once again.
Claude then left the room. Alois glared at her. After a moment, he turned to look at the box. He opened it. Within it, were the chess pieces. Alois set them up.
"Now," He said once he had finished, "the object of the game is to checkmate (or capture) the opponent's King. The King can move one square horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, the Queen can move any number of vacant squares diagonally, horizontally, or vertically, the Rook can move any number of vacant squares vertically or horizontally, the Bishop can move any number of vacant squares in any diagonal direction, Knights can move one square along any rank or file and then at an angle, and last, but not least, Pawns, they can move forward to one unoccupied square, however, at the start of the game you can move two squares forward, but that's it, after that, you can move one square at a time. Get it?"
She nodded.
"I think so." She said.
"Great!" Alois said, clapping his hands, "Let's play. White moves first."
"Got it."
Frances moved a pawn two spaces forward and the game began. Three moves later, Claude returned with the tea. She thanked him once again as he set the cup down after announcing it to be Earl Grey of Jackson. He added a tiny bit of honey at her request. However, as she looked at it, the feeling that she shouldn't drink it came over her. She took a pretend sip. Alois took his own sip. Claude stood in the room with them along the fireplace in case they needed anything. As they played, Frances spoke to the boy.
"So, Lord Alois."
"Hm?" The boy asked as he moved his piece.
"How is your day going so far?"
He jerked. From the corner of her eye, she saw Claude did as well. They both looked at her surprised.
"You wish to know how I'm doing?" He asked in a whisper.
"You don't have to answer, if you don't want to." She said.
"That wasn't my question." He snapped, irritably at her.
Frances' eyebrows rose in surprise.
"There is no need to take that tone with me, young man." She said, sternly, "But to answer your question, yes, I do."
His body shook. Anger was evident in his eyes. He stood up, the chair scrapping against the wood. He stalked towards her, raised his hand, and… started laughing? Frances tilted her head, her eyebrows furrowed, confusion evident in her eyes. He calmed himself, still chuckling slightly.
"You are so different than I thought you would be. It's refreshing. Much better than other stuck-up nobles only after money or servants who are so bland."
He sat back down, moving his pawn.
"Not all servants are bland. Everyone has their own personality, it's what makes everyone unique. Though, you are correct about nobles lusting after money. (She paused.) Though, I suppose not every noble lusts after money."
Alois laughed once again. Claude gave an amused smirk.
"To answer your question, my day has been rather boring until you showed up. In fact, this whole manor is boring with no one to share it with." He said.
Frances made another move on the chess board.
"But, you have Claude." She pointed out.
He smiled and nodded.
"Yes! (He frowned suddenly.) But, he doesn't know how to have fun." He said, glaring at said butler.
He turned back to her with a smile. He moved his piece. He looked back up at her.
"I think I would have liked a sister or brother, if I wasn't kidnapped and… my Mother hadn't died."
Frances paused on grabbing her piece. She looked up at him. A sad, understanding look within her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Alois." She said.
He stared at her in stunned silence. It wasn't the pity that he often got when he told his story or suspicion. He smiled a little.
"I did have someone who was like a little brother to me (Frances noticed the way Claude's eyes widened then narrowed at the boy by the tiniest amount. A sad, melodic melody* played as he told his story.) We were forced to work in the same village, not even allowed to go outside. (The melody stopped.) Then… one day… one night… I lost him as well. In the writhing flames, in the midst of those frantic screams, lay a silent darkness… I found him… (The melody began again where it left off.) lying there in the grass…"
Frances could feel his sadness. It was extremely strong, but only when he talked about this person who was like a little brother to him as well, which made her think, there was more to this story. The melody starting and stopping at certain parts of his story also confirmed it.
"I'm so sorry, Alois." She whispered, sincerely.
He gave her a watery smile.
"May I?" She asked, holding her arms out.
He looked at her shocked before he shook his head no, stubbornly. She nodded.
"Very well." She said, lowering her arms.
She moved her piece. The game continued for another ten minutes with Alois as the victor.
"Checkmate!" He shouted, excitedly.
Frances smiled.
"Good game. That was fun."
He laughed.
"It was fun indeed. And now, per our agreement. You have to think about my proposal."
She nodded.
"Yes, Lord Alois."
"You can call me Alois. There's no need for titles." He said, stretching his arms above his head.
Frances was surprised. A smile graced her lips.
"Very well, Alois. Then you may call me Frances without my title."
Alois clapped his hands excitedly.
"Yay!" He exclaimed.
"Well, I should probably be on my way."
He let out a sigh.
"Very well." He said. He turned to Claude, "Claude, see her out, please."
"Yes, Master." Claude stated with a hand on his chest and a small bow.
He began to walk to the door.
"Have a good rest of your day, Alois. Try to keep the boring away." She said, standing from her chair.
"I'll try." He said, waving both hands at her, "Byyyyyyeeeeee!"
"Goodbye, Alois." Frances said with a smile.
She turned and walked out the door that was held open by Claude, giving a quiet thanks to Claude. After Claude closed the door behind them, he led her towards the servants' area. Frances walked by his side this time. They made their way down the stairs.
Suddenly, Frances saw movement in her peripheral vision. Her eyes widened. She ducked down as Claude lunged for her! She raced down a few steps as he stood in the spot she was standing in a moment ago. She spun around. He was directly in front of her now. He sent punch after punch, however, she was able to block each of them and threw a punch of her own which made contact with his face, now noticing his glasses were off. His eyes flashed fuchsia as his head snapped back from the punch. His golden eyes narrowed. He reached into his pocket. She grabbed his shoulder and edge of his slacks, lifting him with a loud war cry and threw him through the concrete railing. He plunged through the railing. The concrete falling into bits and pieces along the staircase and the floor below. She ran down the rest of the stairs, jumping off the last three. Suddenly, she slammed into the wall, hitting her face.
"Ah!" She shrieked in surprise and pain.
She tried to move from the wall, but something cut into her left wrist. She hissed in pain as she looked up. Sharp spider threads were wrapped around her wrist. Suddenly, she stiffened. She felt him close behind her. Too close. She tried to kick him, however, his long legs moved to block her, preventing her from doing so. He grabbed her other hand at the same time. She turned her head to glare at him sideways.
"Let. Me. Go." She snarled.
He smirked at her, golden eyes glinting in anger and amusement.
"You're such a feisty soul." He murmured. His nose skimmed down her neck. She felt him inhale deeply. He let out a shaky breath, "You have a sweet scent with a sharp tartness from the darkness in your life. And yet…"
He released her wrist that he held to grip her hair. She hissed in pain as he tugged it sharply so she would meet his eyes. That was all she needed. She brought her elbow back, hitting him square in the chest. He staggered back in surprise. She summoned a knife to her hand. She quickly cut through the web threads on her wrist. She spun and threw the knife at the spider demon. He rolled to the right, avoiding it. Her knife landed in one of the steps of the stairs. Frances ran past him towards the servants' room. She could hear him running behind her. She got to the door, placed a hand on the knob, took a deep breath to steady her nerves then opened the door. The demon butler stood behind and to the left of her, calm, cool, and collected.
Baldroy quickly sat up and looked towards the door. He looked between Frances and the butler. What was his name again? Claude, right?
Frances coughed lightly.
"Time to go, Baldroy."
He stood and nodded.
"Yes, my Lady." He said.
He walked out the room following after her. Claude thankfully did nothing else as he escorted them to the door. Once outside the door, Frances turned to the Trancy butler.
"Have a good day, Claude." She said, curtsying.
The demon butler was taken by surprise. Even after enduring all that, she still wished him a good day?
*What an… intriguing human.*
"You as well, Lady Frances." He said with a bow.
He straightened. She smiled, turned, and walked away. Baldroy assisted her into the carriage. She gave her thanks. He climbed onto the driver's seat and took off.
When they arrived home, it was nighttime. After Baldroy helped her down from the carriage, he glanced at her. She hid so much from them, including her sadness, but he could see some of it appear in the frown of her lips. The fact that she barely sang showed her sadness and even when she did sing… He lightly cringed. Whatever happened with that butler caused her to show her sadness… He didn't trust that butler neither.
"My Lady."
She sighed; her eyes looked at him with a light reprimand.
"My apologies. Frances?"
"Yes, Baldroy?"
"If I may be so bold to ask, what happened between you and the Trancy butler?"
"It's not bold when we're friends, Baldroy. It's called caring. And… it's nothing. He was just being a pest…"
He frowned.
"I see…" He said.
They went inside the manor. After dinner and doing a bit of paperwork, Frances went to bed.
Alois walked out into the courtyard, the bright sun shining down on him as the carriage that carried their guests continued down the road. A woman with bluish-white hair in a dark blue maid dress with a white apron and a white bonnet with a dark blue bow and ribbon to hold it in place, a white bandage over her left eye, triplets that looked exactly the same with purple hair, red eyes, with white shirts and tan vests outlined in black with black ties around their necks, black slacks, and black shoes walked out into the courtyard behind their Master. Their fringes were the only difference between them. The one on the left had his fringe to the right, the one in the middle had his fringe in the middle, and the one on the right had his fringe to the left.
"What was with all that noise, Claude?" He asked, a hand on his hip.
"She gave me more trouble than I anticipated she would." Claude stated, emotionlessly.
Alois let out a boisterous laugh. He hung over Claude's arm, a hand on Claude's chest as he looked up at his spider demon.
"She gave you the slip, eh? You should have known better and made your trap stickier."
Claude stared at his Master with no expression. The boy sighed and got off him with a huff. He walked forward a few paces.
"Hoheo taralna, rondero tarel."
Alois stuck out his tongue. An orange star with a purple center within a circle with lines leading to the indentions of the star glowed brightly in time with the same marking on Claude's left hand as his eyes glowed. Claude bowed before his Master.
"I want her also to be mine. Taking his contractee and his lover will surely make Sebastian Michaelis writher in agony. You can do that right, Claude?"
Claude lifted his head. His eyes glowing fuchsia with cat eye slits. A small devilish smirk upon his lips.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Frances awoke with a jolt. She looked around. She relaxed as she realized she was still in Phantomhive Manor.
The day continued with her paperwork, making her oils and potions, checking reports, and her Latin lesson that she started this week. Though, she was a bit more… sadder and lonely. That night, as she was getting ready for bed, she jolted. Someone is coming. With a sigh, she changed into a black dress with a red ribbon around the waist. She slipped on her black heels and left her hair down. She made her way out the front door of the manor. She closed it quietly behind her. She began to walk to the left of the manor. It wasn't long when a shadow fell over her, a slight breeze blew through her hair. Landing on the grass a few feet in front of her, she inclined her head in greeting.
"Good evening, Claude."
"Good evening, Lady Frances."
"May I inquire what you are doing here at such a late hour? It is just past my bedtime."
A hint of a smirk appeared on his face.
"Then what are you doing out here?"
She shrugged, crossing her arms.
"Couldn't sleep." She lied.
The smirk grew more pronounced.
"What are you?" He asked her.
She lowered her arms, tilting her head, eyebrows furrowed.
"What do yo—"
She gasped as he threw a spider's web around her right wrist, hitting the back of her head against the manor's wall rather hard. She heard two more hisses and looked down to see her legs attached to the wall as well. She looked up with a glare as Claude's shadow fell over her. He gripped her free hand in his. She snarled and broke the grip several times. Suddenly, she felt something sticky in the palm of her hand and found she could no longer remove her hand. His other gloved hand caressed her cheek, lifting her chin up to look at him. She glared at him. A dark smirk spread across his lips.
"You are a beautiful creature… for a human. Though, I sense there is more to you. While human enough, you do have something… small deep inside you. Hard to notice if one isn't close. Won't you tell me what it is, my dear?" He asked in a seductive voice.
"I am NOT your dear." She snarled darkly, "Remove your hands at once!"
"Hmmm…" He hummed, "You truly are a fiery spirit. There are numerous ways to find out what you are (His hand slid down her side as his other hand ran over her fingers. She shivered as she felt spider legs crawling over her skin. She tried to break free, however, she was unable to do so.). Won't you allow me a taste?"
She saw him lick his lips, heard the slickness of his tongue. She was disgusted.
"Just a lick?" He murmured, leaning closer.
She fought against her bonds. He drew closer still, his eyes closed. He was just a breath away from her neck.
Suddenly, a shot rang out. He jerked backwards, eyes wide. Another shot rang out. He flipped backwards a few feet, landing in a crouch. He stood back up, adjusting his tailcoat. As he tightened his gloves, he looked at her with his expressionless look.
"It appears I've run out of time. I suppose I shall have to find out another time. I will return soon, Lady Frances." He bowed.
He straightened. In the next second, he was gone.
Bard, Mey-rin, and Finny came running out.
"Frances!" Mey-rin and Finny called out.
"Are you al'right?" Bard asked as they all approached her.
Frances nodded.
"Yes, I'm fine. Thank you." She said, looking meaningfully at them.
"You're welcome, yes." Mey-rin said.
"You're welcome." Finny said at the same time.
"Mey-rin, in my dress pocket, on the right is a knife. Can you cut me loose, please?" She asked.
"Of course, my Lady." She said.
She quickly reached into her pocket and pulled out the knife she mentioned. She quickly sliced through the webs on her legs and wrist. Frances took the spider's web from her right hand. Mey-rin handed Frances her knife which she accepted with a "Thank you.". As she cut off the webs from the wall, she spoke,
"Baldroy."
"Yes, my Lady?"
"Do you have your flame thrower?"
"No, but I can go get it."
She cut off the last webs from the wall. She turned to look at him with a nod.
"Please do." She ordered.
He nodded. He left to go retrieve the weapon. The other two watched curiously as she walked to the forests' edge. She threw down the webs. Or rather… attempted to before using her knife to scrape them off her hand and onto the dirt. Bard returned with the flame thrower.
"My Lady." He said, announcing his presence.
She straightened. She turned to Bard and pointed at the webs.
"Fire away." She ordered.
The man smirked. He let out a cackle as he pressed the trigger. The flames licked and burned the webs. After a few minutes, he pulled away, taking his finger off the trigger, a proud smirk upon his face. The webs were burnt to a crisp. The dirt black and scorched. Frances gave a firm nod. No spiders came out of it as she suspected they might. She covered the scorched earth with the dirt beside it. After that was done, she turned to the others. She smiled slightly.
"Let's get to bed. Thank you again, my friends." She said.
They smiled.
"You're welcome." They said, cheerfully.
They walked into Phantomhive Manor to return to sleep.
Another day passed, with it the servants noticed something odd about their friend/Mistress. She seemed more… withdrawn to herself. She was always a quiet person, had been since she started working at the manor. Over time though, she slowly opened up, still quiet when there wasn't much to say, but still she talked and sang. She sang all the time, but now… Now she was just quiet and walking around absently. Perhaps this thing with Claude bothered her more, or… they frowned slightly with their own sadness. She knew Sebastian and the Young Master weren't coming back. However, if that was the case, she wouldn't be walking around absently... Perhaps she just missed them?
That evening, a thunderstorm blew in. Frances stopped to look out the window, watching as it approached. She could feel Sebastian's smugness.
*A storm has come.* She could practically hear him say.
At the Trancy Manor
The stranger was dressed in a black top hat that covered his eyes, his black hair barely visible underneath, a black jacket with a collar that covered the bottom half of his face, white gloves, black slacks, and black shoes. In his left hand, he held a red suitcase. The rain poured, battering against the stranger. Claude stared at the man, the light from the flames on the candelabra flickered against his face.
"What brings you here at this time of night?"
"I was caught in the storm… Might I trouble you for a night's lodgings?"
Having heard the knock and curious about who might be at the door, Alois walked down the hall and made his way to Claude. He looked around the butler, a gasp escaping his lips.
"Wow! (He looked the stranger up and down.) He's just so filthy! He's like a drowned rat! But… (Alois placed his hands on the stranger's shoulders. He used them as leverage to lean closer to the stranger's face. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply through his nose.) you smell nice. (He opened his eyes.) What's your name?"
The stranger did not answer. Alois returned to his normal stance. He turned to Claude.
"I'll allow him to stay. Got that, Claude?"
Claude's eyes narrowed slightly. Lightning flashed.
"Very well. Please, this way."
Claude gestured the stranger forward. Alois walked back into his mansion. The stranger followed after him. Claude closed the door before walking quickly past them to get to the front to lead them. Claude led them to the dining room. He gestured to the middle seat. The stranger sat down. Alois sat down next to him.
"Pardon me, I shall go make something to eat for our guest."
Claude walked away. There was silence between the stranger and Alois. A few moments later, Claude approached with a plate that had sliced meat covered in a sauce, a small scoop of mashed potatoes, with asparagus, carrots, and a stem of parsley leaves for presentation. A plate of warm bread sat on the side. Claude placed the plate down. He stepped back. Alois picked up the plate of bread.
"Try this too. Claude's cooking is disgustingly good!"
"Yes, it's quite magnificent. However… (The stranger dipped his head slightly. Alois followed his gaze to the plate.) there's a tiny speck of sauce on the rim of the plate. (On the edge of the plate, there was indeed, a very tiny speck of sauce.) A simple wipe would have been sufficient to clean it, yet no one bothered. This shows a lack of consideration."
Claude bowed.
"My apologies, I'll clear this away. (He leaned down and picked up the plate. He lowered his head to the stranger's ear.) I didn't realize a man who doesn't remove his coat at the dining table would have such delicate sensibilities."
"You flatter me." The stranger said.
Alois gave a huff of a laugh.
A few moments later, Claude returned with a clean plate full of the same food. Once the stranger finished eating, Claude led him to the guest bedroom he would be staying in. Claude opened the door for him.
"Thank you." The stranger said.
Claude inclined his head.
"Good night."
He closed the door. The stranger walked to the white covered bed. He placed his suitcase to the left of him. He sat down on the bed's edge. He let his mind wander to his mate. His hand tingling as he thought of her. He hadn't felt too much from her besides her missing him ever so greatly that they were able to communicate for the first time. It filled him with so much happiness to be able to hear her thoughts. The bond between the two of them would be unbreakable. He would never let her go. He knew she was keeping her emotions hidden in order to not distract him, however, he wanted to return to her sooner than later so she wouldn't hide them any longer. It had been almost a month since he last seen her. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He looked up as the door opened revealing a woman with bluish-white hair with a white cap with a blue bow and blue ribbon to hold it in place on her head, dark blue eye, a bandage over her left eye in a dark blue long sleeved dress with a white apron over it, a light purple bow tied around her neck, black boots upon her feet. In her hands, she held a pitcher of water.
"Excuse me." She said.
She entered the room. She placed the new pitcher down. She picked up the old one.
"What happened to your eye?" The "stranger" inquired.
The woman jumped. She lowered her head slightly. She glanced away from him.
"Nothing."
"I'm impressed you can still perform your duties."
"Hannah." Alois' sharp voice rang out.
Hannah visibly stiffened. A quiet gasp escaped her lips. She trembled fiercely.
Alois stood in the doorway. He began making his way towards her.
"What are you doing here, Hannah?"
Hannah turned slightly towards him, keeping her gaze to the ground.
"I… came to change the water, my Lord."
Alois continued making his way towards her.
"Hmm. Are you sure you weren't trying to arouse this traveler's interest (He had finally approached her. He glanced back at the "stranger" before turning back to her.) by wearing that silly bandage and acting pathetic? (He slapped her. The pitcher fell to the floor. Glass shattered and the water spilled onto the floor. He grabbed her by her neck and began to roughly push her to the door.) Get out of here, you tart!"
He pushed her to the ground. He kicked her. Hannah made a small noise of pain. She quickly stood. She turned to him and bowed. She quickly left the room, closing the door behind her. Alois watched her leave with glaring anger. Once she was gone, he softened his gaze to look at the "stranger".
"Sorry, Sir."
"Is she all right?"
Alois turned his head to the door.
"Don't ask me. She's so creepy. I never know what she's thinking. (He looked up at the ceiling.) Actually… I don't know what anyone is thinking. (He turned to the "stranger" with a bright smile.) Say, what's in that trunk of yours? Clothes? Sweets? (He ran to the suitcase, leaning down and placing his hands on it. The "stranger" watched him carefully.) I'm jealous. It must be fun to travel around and see many places. I want to try traveling, too. This mansion is so boring."
"Boring?" The "stranger" asked. A sly smirk upon his lips. Alois turned to look at him, "But I've been told there's something interesting within this mansion."
Alois gasped, eyes wide with excitement.
"Really?!"
"If you show it to me, I'll show you what's in this trunk."
The boy began to giggle loudly. He looked back at the trunk and caressed it. The "stranger's" smirk turned into an annoyed frown at the child's obnoxiousness.
"Well?" The "stranger" asked.
The boy nodded. He stood. He began making his way out of the room. The "stranger" picked up the suitcase. He followed after the boy. The boy led him through the manor aimlessly. They entered every room with the boy shaking his head then exiting. This continued on with every room as they toured the mansion. The "stranger" was slowly getting agitated, though, he never showed it. They stopped in the kitchen. Alois turned to the "stranger" and shrugged his shoulders.
"I don't believe anything is really interesting in this boring manor…" He stated, "What did you hear that said my mansion was interesting?"
The "stranger" remained silent for a moment, contemplating what to say. He was irritated he couldn't sense what he was looking for.
"Something special."
"Special, you say?" Alois asked, "Perhaps it will be revealed to you, but first…"
"But first, give me that trunk." Claude said from behind the "stranger".
The "stranger" turned with a small grunt to see Claude holding three golden knives. He brought his arm back and flung them at the "stranger". The knives knocked his top hat off and lowered his collar to reveal the angry red eyes of…
"Sebastian Michaelis!"
Sebastian staggered back a step. Claude readied six knives, three in each hand. Sebastian grabbed onto his coat. Claude flung his knives. Sebastian flung off his coat and used it as a shield as he ran past the demon butler. He threw his coat over Claude's face.
"He's getting away!" Alois exclaimed.
Sebastian ran to his left. Claude tossed the coat off him and ran after him. He threw more golden knives. Sebastian avoided each of them.
"Don't kill him! You mustn't kill him!" Alois ordered.
Claude pulled off his glasses, quickly yet carefully, pocketing them.
"Catch him, Claude!"
Claude threw three more knives close to the trunk. Sebastian threw the trunk behind himself and took the knives into his body. Two into his right shoulder, one into his left. He felt his mate's worry. He glared at Claude. He was almost at the door. It was just beside him with a shelving unit to his left that held various things for cooking.
"You value the trunk above your own life? (Sebastian gritted his teeth.) Well, then!"
Claude held two dinner plates in his hand suddenly. A crazed look in his eyes. He threw them at the demon. Sebastian quickly turned and picked up the suitcase by the handle and held it in front of him as he ran out the door. The sound of glass shattering against the wall met his ears. He raced down the hall. Claude hot on his trail. Alois used a secret passageway to get to the front door. Sebastian jumped on the banister of the staircase on the right. Claude was right behind him and jumped on the banister of the staircase on the left. Sebastian had a greater lead and was more than halfway down.
"Sebastian Michaelis!" Claude exclaimed, glaring at the black-haired demon.
Sebastian smirked. Once he was at the bottom, he jumped. He landed in the middle of the chandelier. Claude leapt off the banister about halfway down. He landed on the floor a few feet away from the chandelier. He glared up at Sebastian. Sebastian gave a sinister dark smirk as he looked down at Claude.
"This is your way, is it not? "Day into night, sugar into salt, and navy into golden.". (He raised a hand to his chest.) Well then, I shall transform golden (He paused.) into black."
He used his silver knife to cut through the top of the chandelier. Alois burst from the side door as the chandelier crashed down and shattered directly in front of Claude. Darkness engulfing everything. Alois gave a frightened scream. Sebastian's lips curled into a smirk at the fearful scream as he raced away.
"It's dark… Claude, I'm scared!"
"Light!" Claude ordered.
The candles lit with their flames. Hannah and the triplets approached the cowering boy who was on all fours, heaving with panicked breaths. Claude stood behind him. Sebastian covered his face as he used his body to break through a window. Alois looked up with a gasp at the sound. Anger showed on his face.
"After him! Quickly!"
The four of them turned to chase after Sebastian. Claude made his way as well, however…
"No, not you, Claude! Don't go!"
Claude looked down to see his Master holding his leg.
"But…"
He saw the fear in the boy's eyes. He could taste it in the air. The boy lowered his gaze.
"Don't leave me… (He lowered his head against the demon's leg.) Don't leave me alone, Claude. Please."
"Master." He sighed. He looked at his Master with a softened gaze, "We are constant companions. Day and night, sugar and salt (He lowered to kneel on one knee.), creature and corpse, defiled and immaculate."
Alois looked angrily at Claude.
"No! (He lowered his gaze, eyes filled with tears.) He was right… I'm nothing but a foul little brat."
He was thinking of his disgusting uncle who said those words earlier that day. Claude pulled out his glasses. He flung them so the temples opened. He placed them on his face.
"You are my Master."
"Forget it. I know you're the same…"
Claude gently cupped the boy's face. He lifted it so the boy had to look at him.
"I am your loyal servant. You needn't set out to arouse my interest. (He gently caressed his Master's cheeks.) I intend to make one hell of a feast out of you."
Alois gasped slightly. He pushed him away, rubbing the tears from his eyes.
"Forget it! Everyone can just… get swallowed up by the darkness."
Sebastian was long gone, deep in the forest. The other servants couldn't catch up to him. Anger seeped in his bones as he couldn't find what he was looking for. He stopped at the forest's edge to contemplate his next move. There was only one thing he could do. She would be able to help. A wide sharp tooth grin spread across his lips.
*The melody is 'The Slightly Chipped Full Moon' by Taku Iwasaki and Yucca