Despite the amusing scenario playing out in front of him in the form of his young master dressed as a proper young lady, Sebastian found it difficult to dismiss the unease that had gathered in his mind. It had been 6 months since that fateful morning where he discovered that he had a mate and yet nothing else had happened. Until this morning, that is, when he had accompanied his master to question the Yard about the most recent victim of Jack the Ripper. He had felt someone watching him from the moment they arrived at the crime scene. However, he had a duty as the Phantomhive butler to uphold the pristine image his master had created and he could not allow his eyes to roam or his attention to wander. Besides, he sensed no ill intent or unusual souls in the vicinity. During the short interaction his master had with the perpetually grumpy Sir Arthur, the eyes stayed on him. Sebastian was becoming extremely annoyed with whoever was watching him. As they were walking away, joined by Lao, Madam Red, and Grell, he berated himself for letting something so foolish distract him and forced the matter from his mind.
Now, with his young 'lady' in tow, Sebastian had no time to be distracted. This is the last party of the season and at the home of a potential mass murderer. He needed to be completely focused to keep his master safe and apprehend the suspect. Time was not on their side with this case. That meant he absolutely could not afford to be unfocused.
Sebastian stepped out of the carriage after his 'lady' and escorted her inside the Viscount Druitt's grand mansion. Almost immediately he felt eyes on him again. True, he was handsome by human standards and tended to attract the attention of various women, but this felt different. His eyes widened imperceptibly as he realized the similarity between now and earlier at the crime scene. Really, this is a bit too much, he thought sourly. He briefly scanned the room but could detect nothing unusual amongst the crowd of nobles with their fake smiles and obvious displays of their wealth. The overly painted faces of the ladies and the cloying perfume that surrounded them like a fog held no appeal to the demon butler, and he was rather repulsed. Humans, he internally growled.
Madam Red stepped away from conversing with his master to join the throng of overly dressed women off to the side of the room. He dutifully followed his young 'lady' through the crowded room.
"First things first, we need to locate this murderous Viscount," Sebastian stated.
"At least Elizabeth isn't here. I would never want her seeing me like this," Ciel grumbled.
From behind them came a bright voice. "Oh, that dress is so adorable!"
Ciel and Sebastian froze in horror before spinning around to find none other than Lady Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford standing with a group of young ladies.
In the minutes that followed, a graceful goose chase ensued with Sebastian dragging Ciel around the room to evade the hyperactive blonde in the red and pink dress. His master was horrified and panicked, leaving it up to Sebastian to keep him calm and control the situation. They experienced a few seconds of respite after escaping to the balcony before overhearing a lady speaking of Lord Druitt. They located him in the crowd and made to approach him when the orchestra began playing a tune, effectively blocking their path to the Viscount with countless dancing couples. Sebastian sighed and pulled his young 'lady' into the dance, still startlingly aware of the threat posed by Lady Elizabeth and the feeling of those eyes still watching him.
Lilliana had accompanied Lady Elizabeth to the party held at the Viscount Druitt's mansion and was grateful to discover that parties in London were not so different from parties she had attended in America. She met several ladies around her age that were fascinated about her trek across the ocean and they quickly pointed out the handsome young men they were all admiring from afar. At some point, Lady Elizabeth had run off with her endless reserves of energy to compliment every cute dress she saw, making Lilliana chuckle.
While retrieving a drink for herself, Lilliana suddenly sensed a demonic aura approaching and searched for the source, hopeful that it was the tall butler from earlier. Her breath caught as she saw who had just entered the mansion. It was him. "Sebastian," she whispered to herself, blushing at the sound of his name on her lips. She noticed the young lady at his side and was confused until she noticed that bright blue eye. Her hand rose to her mouth to cover her giggle. She was certain that young 'lady' at his side was the boy from earlier and Elizabeth's fiancé. Her suspicions were confirmed as she watched the pair desperately running away from Lady Elizabeth, her green eyes sparkling as she watched the butler's mild panic.
When the desperate duo escaped to the balcony, Lilliana rejoined the crowd and was surprised when a young man asked her to dance. It was then that she noticed the orchestra preparing for their first tune and the reemergence of the pair from the balcony. She accepted the man's invitation, as awkward as it felt, for she so loved to dance. I'll have to be careful not to let the music influence my magick, she thought. It really wouldn't do to suddenly have the candles flaring or a breeze to sweep through this closed room.
She and her partner, whose name she learned was Thomas, danced in the middle of the floor, her purple gown spinning and the light catching the tiny rhinestones sewn into the fabric. Her brilliant emerald green eyes shone with her happiness and, unbeknownst to her, she had captured a fair amount of eyes around the room.
As the dance ended she found herself looking for the butler, but found him performing parlor tricks for a large crowd. So much for dancing with him tonight, I guess. I should rejoin Lady Elizabeth anyway. She found the little lady at the front of the crowd and seemingly entranced with the parlor tricks. How does she not recognize her fiancé's butler? She wondered, shaking her head lightly. This was the first time Lilliana had heard him speak, however, and she found herself reddening as his smooth voice caressed her ears. Even from a distance and never having met, this demon has such an effect on me. He must be my soulmate! she thought. He really must be exceptionally powerful if our bond is strong enough for me to sense him without having to touch him or reveal my markings.
Though the crowd was horrified by the Asian man who drove what seemed like a hundred swords into the box the butler had walked into, Lilliana knew that his demonic nature would not allow any harm to come to him from such weak human weapons. She was proven right as the handsome butler emerged completely unscathed from the box, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. When the show was over, Lady Elizabeth rushed to her and went on and on about how brilliant and exciting it was, effectively blocking her path to the handsome trickster. Then she noticed Lady Elizabeth's eyes widen as she began to look around frantically.
"Lady Elizabeth, what are you looking for?" She asked.
"That girl in the pink dress! Where did she go? I didn't get to tell her how cute she looked!" Elizabeth looked devastated and Lilliana chuckled, though she also felt somewhat crestfallen at the fading demonic aura in the vicinity. It seemed that the butler and his 'lady' were leaving. After a couple more dances, both girls bid goodnight to their new friends and returned to the Midford Manor in Elizabeth's carriage.
After removing that gorgeous purple gown in a spare room Elizabeth had the maids prepare for her, Lilliana changed into her nightdress, released the spell concealing her mate markings, and sat at the vanity to brush her long black hair. It was her favorite evening ritual where she could connect with the fifth element of magick, spirit. She would thank her ancestors for the power of her bloodline and reflect upon all she had learned that day. Her magick was such an integral part of her. It had blessed her with these mate markings, and she would never be unappreciative. The simple treasure of seeing her skin covered in markings, already claimed by her mate, was enough to fill her heart with joy and anticipation. Hiding them felt so wrong, for she was already proud of and committed to her mysterious, powerful soulmate. Once finished brushing her hair, Lilliana found herself exhausted after such an eventful first day in London. She snuggled under the covers and dreamt of tall butlers, large black birds, and a stone mansion behind a dark forest path.