Chapter 34:
"Is it really necessary for us to dress like this? I mean, wouldn't it be easier to just go in and find what we need and get out?"
I faced Sebastian with an irked look. The attire that I was forced to wear by him consisted of an uncomfortable black peasant dress that had small ruffles on the shoulders of the sleeves. An apron as long as my body was worn as an extra layer. An armband that held the hospital cross was tied around my arm and the oddly shaped hat was placed on my untamed curly hair. The black heels that came with the outfit making my feet feel uncomfortable with the lack of ventilation my other shoes provided.
Sebastian stood in front of me in better attire. His face was framed with glasses while his hair was slightly parted differently. He wore the same dress pants and dress shirt that he always wore but with the difference of a doctor's coat replacing the suit jacket. On his hands were black gloves instead of white.
Sebastian faced me with a smug coating his features. He was teasing me with his eyes over my discomfited position. I glared at him as he fixed his glove.
"It is very much necessary. We will not be able to get any information without being direct."
"It shouldn't be considered discreet if we're just waltzing in there. What if someone sees us in a few days and recognizes us?"
"That is where you will use you will create an illusion and make them think they are seeing something that they are really not," he said matter-of-factly.
I sighed in defeat. I wasn't a big fan of the plan but I did trust Sebastian's judgement for this case. I would follow along with his actions without question.
"Are you ready to leave, my assistant?"
I grabbed his arm as we looked at each other. Sebastian giving me a closed-eye smirk while I raised my brows in anticipation. My stomach doing summersaults out of fear. I pushed the fear aside, my complete and utter attention on the task at hand. Without a moment more of hesitation I answered.
"Of course, doctor."
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Sebastian and I both ran there seeing as if I flew I would have shown up much later than time allowed.
We walked up to the front doors of Karnstein Hospital and walked in. No one suspected anything as we walked in and passed the main waiting room of the hospital. We walked into different rooms, each holding the sick beds with little to no nurses or doctors. Syringes and cups littered the tables that were situated next to the beds. Everything seemed dreary and the atmosphere dark. The whole hospital smelled of death and sickness. While searching on the surface of things, Sebastian and I found nothing of the unusual while searching the first floor of the hospital.
"Do you think this hospital has a basement?" I whispered.
"I would only suspect that it should. How else would the doctors be able to do illegal experiments?" It was a rhetorical question but I still knew he was right.
I walked in front of Sebastian, leading the way to where I felt the entrance to a basement could be. He followed quietly, not a single word of protest for the choice of direction.
As we walked, the nurses and very few doctors that were there were running around tending to people or collecting items requested of them. We came upon an old door at the end of a hallway that was dark and barely lit. Its wood was marked and splinters were scattered around the edges of the door. The handle was cold as I placed my hand upon it. I looked down and noticed the key hole.
"It needs a key..." I muttered. I turned around and faced Sebastian.
His hand was placed on his chin in thought. Humming as he thought of what to do next.
"We will need to talk to someone. Preferably a nurse..."
"Why a nurse?" I asked, my brows furrowed in confusion.
"If we were to ask a doctor they will most likely become suspicious. We cannot risk being exposed."
There was something in me that was against talking to someone, let alone a nurse. It made me feel a bitter bubbly feeling in my stomach.
"We are not seducing," I began, and memory of Sebastian in Beast's tent playing in my head as I remembered the sounds he made her make. "I will use my powers the best that I can but I will not have my supposed mate flirting with another woman."
He smirked at the statement, smug about me verbally stating that he was my mate. I huffed and walked away in search of a nurse that was alone. A lone maid was by herself on the second floor of the building, fixing the bedding of the hospital beds and not noticing that Sebastian and I were walking in.
I walked behind her, Sebastian still by the stairs, and cleared my throat. She turned around with small jump and placed a dainty hand to her heart.
"Hello! Blimey, you scared me!"
I grabbed her shoulder in faux worry. "I'm sorry," I said in a fake accent. "I must have scared your knickers off."
Her eyes widened at the choice of language. "No, it's quite alright. Was there something that you wanted?"
"Actually, there is something that I need you to help me with..."
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"That was very interesting to watch..." Sebastian said as we stood outside of the hospital, our orders of getting information competed.
Sebastian and I had finally managed to get the information that we needed. An awkward pledge that allowed us into what was known as the "Aurora Society" meeting. The nurse that we found was very helpful. Though the task to get the deed done was not very helpful. To prevent Sebastian from seducing her I had to manipulate her mind into thinking that Sebastian was flirting with her. Standing off to the side and watching my work made the atmosphere cloud with awkwardness as I stood there watching. Sebastian snickered to himself at my uneasiness but said nothing as we got information without having to do anything.
She handed us the key to the basement. It was a dark and secluded place. The room wasn't as moldy as a basement normally is, but it was creepy and dark. The lanterns on the walls were dimly lit and the small amount of leaks trailing down the walls made the atmosphere even darker. The nurse had come with us thinking that we were one of the top-notch doctor and nurse and allowed us to roam around, her eyes still on Sebastian.
There were glass jars placed on shelves right next to the staircase. Each one held a different human organ but stayed consistent in the category.
Shaking my head of the recent activities I followed Sebastian to a place where we could begin running without causing too much attention to be drawn to us.
As we ran back the images of the basement and the previous events littered the fore front of my mind. I noticed a carriage in front of the mansion, the person inside yelling from the window. Lady Elizabeth was dangling her torso out of her body as she waved and yelled. The window to the headmaster's study was partly open as he looked out the window. I noticed a small blush that coated his cheeks.
Sebastian jumped up to the window as the young master turned his back. I flew up to the window and stayed in the air, the lack of space next to Sebastian causing me to stay behind him.
"What are you grinning for?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.
The Ear jumped away in fright, his face mixed with embarrassment and anger.
"Don't surprise like that! And what's with that outfit?!"
"Well as they say, 'Do as the Romans do.'"
"Moreover, we have information, Ciel."
"Well, what are you dawdling out there for? Come inside."
Sebastian stepped out of the way. It gave me ample space to crouch on the ledge and put my wings away before stepping inside of the room. The young master sat at his desk and Sebastian and I stood facing him. Sebastian took out his clipboard and began looking at the information that we gathered. He had taken it with him to make our roles seem more believable.
"It seems," I began, "it seems that the upper-rank doctors of Karnstein hospital, including the director Ryan Stoker, have opened an association called the "Aurora Society." According to one of the nurses the society holds presentations form their successful experiments and takes donations from wealthy nobles. The Aurora Society is a secret association that goes by the motto 'The complete salvation of mankind through medicine' and has been confirmed that they do illegal experiments within the hospital daily."
"There was no sign of slaves inside the hospital and there was nothing pertaining to human experiments or the revival of the dead."
"It couldn't get any fishier than this, hmm?" Ciel asked.
"Yes. I'm sure there is some definite clue to be found in this "Aurora Society."
"When is there next meeting?"
"April 17th. The location is on a passenger ship departing from the southampton port," I answered.
The young master scoffed. He closed his eye in distain. "Hmph. Meeting on a ship... sounds like something nobles would... hmm? April 17th?"
Ciel's eye widened, causing me to raise a brow in question. He stood up from his chair suddenly and roughly planted his hands on the desk.
"What is the name of that boat?!"
Sebastian looked down at the paper attached to the clipboard. "The Blue Star Lines Luxury Ship..."
"Damn it!"
"What's wrong, Ciel?"
"Elizabeth and her family will be on that ship... I told her that I wouldn't be able to attend because of business. I don't know what I will tell her if she sees me there..."
I placed my hand on my chin in thought. "Maybe you could tell her that you wanted to surprise her?"
"Hmm. That is the most reasonable explanation that I could give Lizzie..."
"Then it's settled. She won't hate you just because you wanted to surprise her. If anything she will be even happier that you decided to show up for her honor," I mocked, placing a hand on my heart and bowing slightly to show my exaggeration.
The Earl narrowed his eye, the dislike for being mocked clear as day. I chuckled as I watched his reaction.
"But on a serious note, young master," I continued, "there is a pledge that must be done before we can enter the meeting."
"What are you going on about?"
"I mean, like any other secret association, there is the secret password to get into this meeting. Only the members know it..."
"And what is the secret word to get in?"
My face contorted into one of disgust. "It isn't a word, young master. It's more like lie sad alongside a stupid pose..."
"And how do you know about this?"
"The nurse squealed like a little pig," I said.
The young Earl sighed, his features becoming more tired as he stood behind his desk.
"We'll carry on with this tomorrow. My head is starting to bother me. Sebastian, prepare some tea for me. Celesta, I would like something sweet."
"Yes, my lord."
"Of course."
We left Ciel's study, still in our hospital attire. The Aurora Society seemed stranger than the circus. We kidnapped children and kill police officers. We weren't reviving the dead or giving false hope. I knew that I had no right to compare the Aurora Society's activities with the circus' but there was something deep down inside of my gut telling me that it was worse than what we did to those children.