It was raining. Cecilia heard it hitting the roofs of the buildings surrounding them and she heard it drain from the streets into the sewers. The three of them were leaning against a brick wall just around the corner from the target's apartment. Only the soft glow of the street lamp illuminated the area.
Cecilia was closest to the corner and had her head popped around, watching, waiting. She hoped the inscription she wrote on the doorframe and building would not wash away in the rain. So far, she could feel it holding strong.
Quietly behind her Ciel began talking about the similarities each victim had, trying to connect the pieces.
"I still don't understand why he would have had to kill them." He admitted.
"Sinfully loveable." Sebatian commented and Cecilia scowled. He may be a demon, but the lease he could do is show a little respect for the situation. Cecilia tuned him out and focused on the door. She had succeeded until Ciel's enraged shout broke her concentration and she whipped around.
"Listen when I'm talking to you!" He shouted irritably. When Cecilia turned she saw Sebastian kneeling down holding a solid black cat. She snorted at his behavior and found it oddly charming. Who knew demons could be so fond of a living creature. Cats are rather special, aren't they? She thought to herself with a small smile.
A woman's scream echoed throught the alley, catching all of their attention. Cecilia's blood froze and everyone turned.
"What the hell?" She shouted.
"I thought you said you'd know if someone tried to enter!" Ciel yelled at her accusingly.
"It should have! There must have been another way in!" Cecilia hissed at him. Ciel growled in frustration and ran towards the door, past Cecilia.
"Ciel, no!" She hissed quietly, "It's not safe!" She grabbed out but couldn't reach him. She and Sebastian ran after him. She could smell the blood before he opened the door. He swung it open just as Cecilia grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him back. "Ciel, don't look!" She shouted. Ciel stumbled back into Sebastian's chest, stunned. He covered Ciel's eyes and moved him away. Cecilia stood in the doorway and looked at the mess. The blood was oozing out the door and she backed up as well, not wanting the blood on her feet. She heard a retching noise behind her and turned to see the young Earl vomiting. She looked at him sadly. He was too young to have to face this. Cecilia walked over to the two of them and pressed something into his hand. Ciel clutched it. "Hang on to this for me." She told him quietly. The moment his hand wrapped around it, his shaking ceased. He could breathe a little easier. It felt as though his nerves were calmed just a bit.
"You've made quite a bloody mess in there," Sebastian spoke with a smirk on his face. Cecilia turned and watched as Grell the butler stepped out, covered in blood. Something about the blood red on his skin seemed familiar and she narrowed her eyes in thought. "Jack the Ripper, or should I say, Grell Sutcliff?"
"No, no, no you don't understand," He objected frantically. "I heard her scream and rushed here, but it was… I was too late." He explained. He almost sounded convincing and Cecilia took a step forward, placing herself just barely in front of Ciel. He may be an Earl and the Queen's Dog, but he was a child first and foremost.
"You can drop the innocent act, Grell." Sebastian told him calmly, as though he knew all a long. "It's over." He paused briefly before continuing. "You know this is actually the first time I've met someone like you in the human world." Cecilia looked at him in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" She asked him. Sebastian's eyes darted to her briefly, acknowledging her question and something told her all would be revealed shortly.
"You played the role of helpless butler well." He complimented the man in red. "Your act had almost everybody completely fooled.
"Really?" He asked quietly. "You think so?" Cecilia watched as a grin spread across his face, sharp teeth gleaming. "How kind!" His voice had shifted from a shy and meek tone, to one of humor and malevolence. His face was twisted into some nightmarish expression as the blood dripped down his face. "That's great to hear." He said as he let his long hair down. "I am an actress after all." He removed his round glasses and pulled out a comb. As he ran it through his hair, the hair turned a bright and brilliant red. "And quite a good one at that. But of course, you aren't really Sebastian, are you?"
"That is the name my master gave me." He explained calmly, "So yes, that is who I am."
"Ah, so you're playing the faithful dog character, aren't you?" Grell asked. Cecilia watched the entire exchange and her mind raced. What could he be? She couldn't think of a creature that fit his actions. Vampire? No, there would not be as much blood. Ghoul? No, the wounds wouldn't be so surgical. Definitely not a werewolf. A reaper? Possibly, but had he gone rouge? That wouldn't make sense since he still had on his glasses. And where was his scythe? No, he must be something else.
Cecilia listened to the conversation and cringed when he blew a kiss at Sebastian. She could see he was also uncomfortable.
"I must admit, I've never seen a demon playing butler to a human before." He explained, intrigued, with his hands on his face. "And associating with a witch, too. My, my, what odd company you keep."
"How did you know?" Cecilia asked, referring to herself. She tried to keep her aura toned down so she didn't attract dangerous creatures.
"Well, now, how many women do you see running around in men's clothes?" He pointed out, referencing the slacks and button up shirt she wore. She had stuffed her hair under a cap and tucked the pants into boots. At first glance, she looked like a young man.
"I could say the same for you." Sebastian continued the conversation. "I thought reapers were supposed to be the intermediary between man and God."
So he was a reaper. What is he doing here, then? Cecilia thought to herself.
"Perhaps I should just say I fell in love with a certain woman." He teased. Cecilia could hear footsteps behind Grell and looked past him. Her eyes narrowed at the woman dressed in red. This wasn't good.
"You don't really need to ask, do you?" She asked as she came into the light. Ciel slowly and calmly moved Sebastian's hand away, seeming unphased by the reveal.
"I didn't calculate anyone being able to see Grell for what he is." She admitted with a sad smile.
"Naturally you were on the suspect list from the very beginning, but your alibi was perfect." He explained. Cecilia looked at him as he stepped forward, standing next to her. How could he suspect his own Aunt? He was more like an adult that a child.
Cecilia watched the interaction between Ciel and Madam Red, but took the time to release her energy from the sigils on the wall. The energy returned to her and she gathered it in her palms, preparing for someone to make the first move. She looked around. What could she use to her advantage? It was still raining. The rain itself could be used, but water was such a fickle element to work with. It can amplify or wash away the magic. There was no wind and creating wind was difficult. She was still recovering and wasn't back at her full strength yet. Not all of her magic returned from the sigils. She looked to her feet. Brick. Not a bad defense but it would take a lot of energy to quickly create a wall like that in an emergency. She continued to weigh her options.
"You've taken everything!" Madam Red shouted in anger at Ciel. Cecilia was ripped out of her thoughts when some mechanical whirring sound flooded her ears. She knew that sound. She looked at Grell and at the machine in his hands. She could feel the skin on her neck being ripped and pulled by several small blades. It clicked.
"You, hussy!" She screamed, enraged, startling everyone who stood there. She pointed her finger accusingly at Grell. "You ruined my dress! It was my favorite!"
"Are you seriously more upset over that than him killing you?" Ceil asked her, incredulously. Grell lunged for them and Cecilia shoved him back as Sebastian stepped forward and caught the death scythe and pushed Grell and his weapon away.
"What is that thing?" Ciel asked, startled.
"Every reaper has a tool known as a death scythe to help them collect souls." Sebastian explained to him.
"That is the oddest scythe I have ever seen." Cecilia mentioned.
"You have no room to talk!" Grell shouted at her. "You clearly have no sense of style, besides do you know how much work went into this?" He complained. He then turned to Sebatian. "I am so out of shape, I've been so well behaved lately. So shall we play?" He asked flirtatiously. Cecilia cringed again.
"Would you mind not being so repugnant?" Sebastian asked, irritated. "I am on duty." Grell continued to gush over Sebastian and try to flirt.
"Now I see why they got along so well." Ceil mumbled under his breath in regards to Madam Red and Grell. Cecilia bit her lip, trying not to laugh at such a serious time. But Grell was quite a fool.
"Red is such a pretty color." He spoke. "It's perfect for hair, for clothes, for lipstick. So I painted all those ugly women with pretty pretty red." He turned to Cecilia and her stomach dropped.
"So little witch," He said to her and stood in a fighting stance. "How about I finish what I started?" He lunged at her then and Sebastian grabbed Ceil as Cecilia dashed away, trying to keep them away from the fight. She hadn't expected him to go straight for her seeing as Sebastian is the more obvious threat. She dodged his attacks and he lunged and swung. Cecilia slammed her hand on the wet pavement and swung the water at him. The water froze during its flight, forming small ice blades. He cut some, but a few passed him, tearing at his sleeves and drawing blood.
"Ouch you little bitch!" He cried. "How could you!"
"It's the least I could do after that nasty scar you gave me." She snapped at him.
"In my name and that of the queen, I order you, Sebastian." Cecilia and Grell looked. Ceil lifted his eyepatch and Cecilia could easily see the glowing sign of the contract. "Put an end to this." He ordered the demon. Cecilia felt a chill and she noticed his eyes glowing sinisterly in the dark.
"Yes, my lord." He said with a grin. Cecilia stepped back into the brick wall as Sebastian charged GRell. She watched briefly as the two began to fight. She moved away from the fray, pushing against the wall as Sebastian took her place, struggling to keep the death scythe at bay.
"Let's see you escape from this, Bassy." GRell growled teasingly. Cecilia broke her gaze away when she saw Madam Red lunge for Ciel. She winced as the woman's knife grazed his arm. He fell back against the wall.
"Get away from him!" Cecilia shouted, pulling the woman away. Madam Red slashed at her as she turned and Cecilia leaned away but Madam Red swung again, rushing Cecilia, and dragged the knife across her chest, just under the collar bone. Fortunately, the shirt took most of the damage, but she felt the sting as blood oozed into the fabric. Cecilia looked at the damage done briefly, thinking Madam Red was pausing. She rushed Cecilia again and Cecilia gasped in pain as the short blade penetrated her side. She gripped Madam Red's wrist, stopping her from going deeper of moving the blade to the side. Cecilia grunted and panted and Madam Red ripped the blade out of her stepping back. Cecilia fell to her knees, her hands at her side. Damnit, she shouldn't have been so careless.
"You're a doctor, how could you do such a thing?" Ciel shouted at her accusingly.
"You're just a child." She cried as she faced him. "You wouldn't understand if I told you!" She grabbed him by the throat and pinned him against the wall. Cecilia tried to stand but grunted and fell back to her knees in pain. She needed to get to him, to help him. She reached out a hand as Madam Red raised her knife.
"You were never even supposed to be born!" She screamed, enraged.
"Cogitatio," Cecilia whispered as she cast her spell. Ceil's face began to glow and changed into a woman's face similar to Madam Red. His hair shifted to a bright blond and fell around his shoulders. She watched as Madam Red froze. It worked. Her spell worked. She smiled in relief and heard the scythe hit the brick wall. Cecilia watched as Sebastian charged Madam Red.
"Don't kill her!" He ordered and Sebastian froze behind Madam Red, his hand only inches from her head. She watched as his shoulder bled profusely. He looked over to Grell who was standing there rather disappointed with the whole situation. Madam Red dropped the knife and stepped back, covering her crying face. Ciel took in the state of his butler who was covering the wound with his hand.
"How sweet," Grell cooed as he yanked his scythe out of the brick wall. "Sacrificing your own arm to save that kid. On the other hand Madam, you've become quite the disappointment."
"I can't do it." She wept quietly. "I can't kill him. I can't kill my sister's beloved child. He's my own-" Madam Red was silenced when Grell plunged his scythe into her chest. Cecilia stifled her gasp by covering her mouth. She may have spoken with the dead, but she hated how violently people could be ripped from the world of the living. The glow of her memories flowing out of it. She looked away, not wanting to intrude on something so private as a person's life. Their memories, thoughts, and feelings displayed for all to see. This was the one courtesy she could give the tormented woman.
"What a disappointment you turned out to be in the end." She heard Grell say to her. Cecilia looked and watched as he ripped the coat off her and slipping into it himself. "Your cheap little melodrama ends now. Good bye, Madam Red." She could almot hear sadness in his voice. Most likely a sadness he just killed his favorite toy. Grell began to walk away and Cecilia stood carefully. She shuffled over to the boy and the butler and watched Grell's retreating form.
"What are you waiting for?" Ceil asked Sebastian, looking up. "I told you to put an end to Jack the Ripper, stop standing there and kill him." He ordered with an indifference that unsettled Cecilia. Sebastian smirked.
"Certainly, my lord." And the fight continued. Cecilia watched as they took the fight to the roof. At some point the rain had stopped. He hadn't noticed. She looked away from the two fighting and turned her attention to Ciel. He sat on the wet brick walkway, looking at the body of hi dead aunt. She watched as he closed her eyes. She slowly crouched to her knees next to him and gently rested a hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Ciel." She offered to him quietly. He was silent for a while, not looking at her. She couldn't see his face past Sebastian's coat. "Ciel?"
"Who are you to speak to me so informally?" He asked her calmly. Cecilia was started by his bluntness and he turned to face her. His face was unamused and almost blank. It almost looked as though he was glaring at her.
"Please, just stop already." Whined Grell from above them. Cecilia gasped as Grell plummeted towards them and she grabbed Ciel's arm to push him out of the way but Sebastian kicked the reaper down the alley.
"My apologies." He told them as he landed gracecfully. "I miscalculated." The two of them stared at the bloody demon.
"You look pretty awful." Ciel told him and Cecelia snorted at his bluntness.
"I had a bit of trouble with this one." Sebastian explained with a smile. They heard Grell mumble something and Sebastian turned to him. "Oh dear, I suppose you can't kill a reaper with your bare fits." He explained as he grabbed the death scythe and ripped his coat out of the blades. The machine whirred to life once more. She heard Grell's cries and pleas for mercy. Sebastian smiled at him as he raised the machine above his head.
"Ceil, are you sure you want the weight of this on your soul?" Cecilia asked him hurriedly. The boy was silent. "Ciel, this is a holy being. Any chance at-"
"That is none of your concern." He told her coldly, interrupting her. She looked at him, concerned. What the hell had this boy been through?"
"I can tell you who killed the kid's parents!" Grell screamed and Sebastian brought down the scythe. She heard metal grinding against meta and almost covered her ears. The scythe had been stopped by a long metal pole. Ceclia followed the direction of it and saw a figure standing on the roof. It was another reaper. One she had been unfortunate enough to meet. She glared at him.
"Oh, for shit's sake." She swore and Ciel followed her gaze. The man jumped down and landed on Grells face.
"Do you know him?" He asked.
"Unfortunately, yes." She told him and grimaced as she forced herself to stand. She began walking towards the three men as William read off a list of charges against Grell. She stopped next to Sebastian as William apologized and offered him a card.
"I must say, I never thought I'd be apologizing to demon scum like you." He said matter of factly.
"That's quite rude of you to say, William." Cecilia spoke to him firmly. "After all, perhaps if you took better charge of your…" She trailed off and looked at GRell who was face down and ass up, "staff…you would not be in such an uncomfortable position."
"Cecilia," He addressed her coldly. "I had hoped we would not meet again. But I must say, I am not surprised to see you associating with such creatures."
"You could do without that spear up your ass, William." She told him and crossed her arms. "What do you want?" She asked him. He paused and Sebastian looked at her curiously.
"I am simply here to collect-"
"Stop lying." She cut him off. He stopped. "Lie again, William, and you'll lose your voice." She told him. He glared at her, his tongue starting to tingle. "This time, you won't get it back." Sebastian quirked an eyebrow. Was she going to curse him? He couldn't help but smirk at the short woman. Curses were tricky things. For her to be able to curse a reaper on such short notice spoke to her skill with them. William sighed.
"When I noticed you were in the area, I knew the situation would be too difficult for someone of a lower level." He explained. Cecelia waited to see if he was lying. "When you are involved, things always seem to be complicated." She smirked at him, knowing who she was referring to.
"Ah, but love is no fun if it isn't forbidden." She teased and winked. "How is he by the way?"
"I would have thought you wished him dead after your last meeting." William commented, avoiding the question. Cecilia's smirk fell.
"What happened between Adrian and I is none of your concern." She told him calmly. "Besides, it's more of a morbid curiosity."
"I am afraid I have no idea how he is." William told her as he turned on his heels. "Come with me, Grell." He grabbed the reaper by his hair and pulled him away. Sebastian threw the death scythe and William caught it between his fingers.
"I assume you'll want that." Sebastian explained.
"Yes, thank you." William said coolly and dropped it on Grell. "Now, if you'll excuse us." He excused himself and walked away. They stood ther for a moment until he disappeared.
"Nice throw." Cecilia told him quietly.
"Thank you." He responded. His voice was always cheery. "May I ask how you know him?"
"An unfortunate mutual acquaintance I shared with a former lover." She explained. Sebastian quirked an eyebrow.
"My, my, fornicating with a grim reaper?" He jested. "You really do have a love for the dead." Cecelia snorted.
"I knew him before he became a reaper." She explained as they turned and walked back to Ciel. "But that is a topic for later." She walked over to Ciel and knelt down, holding her side.
"Are you alright?" She asked him. He just stared at the body infront of him.
"Come master, you're chilled. Let's return to the townhouse. I'll make you some warm tea." He suggested.
"That's a good idea." He agreed and tried to stand. Ciel wavered and Sebastian reached out to catch him and Ciel smacked his hands away.
"Stay back, I can stand on my own!" He shouted. Sebastian and Cecilia shared a looked. "I'm fine, I can stand on my own." Ciel began to walk down the alley. The two followed behind quietly. She looked at him as they walked back to the townhome. Around him hung a darkness, clinging to his form and falling off him as vapors. As they walked, Cecilia could see just how dark of a path this boy had already taken, and she was sure his path would only grow darker.
After Sebastian ha served his young master tea, he lead Cecilia to the guest room she would be using. She hissed as she sat in the chair, still holding her side.
"And just how many times are you going to need to be patched up?" He asked her calmly as he revealed a small kit of medical supplies. "Honestly, someone of your talents should be able to protect themselves better than this."
"And what do you know of my skill?" She asked him as she lifted her shirt, allowing him to remove it fully so he could tend to her side.
"I know not many witches can speak to a grim reaper in such a manner you have and be able to walk away." He pointed out.
"I'm rusty." She explained. "Lately, I've been taking my time, avoiding trouble. I found work at the candle shop. I find the work relaxing and it provides me with a source of income as well as a source of free candles."
"Ah, yes, witchcraft is not as lucrative of a business as it used to be, is it?" He jested as he finished bandaging her side. "I will change that in the morning for you. Be sure to rest. You are invited to join us for the Madam's funeral tomorrow."
"Already?" She asked.
"Yes, I am to inform the Undertaker once I have tended to you." He explained. She nodded in understanding.
"Very well, I will leave you to your tasks." She told him. Sebastian bowed and smiled politely before turning. As he reached the door she spoke. "Thank you both for your kindness and hospitality. I wish the Earl pleasant dreams." Sebastian felt a chill and a soft breeze made the candles flicker, a sign of magic in use. He smiled wryly. Witches were such curious creatures. Many were kind and caring of those less fortunate. Their kindness often got them into trouble. He blew out the candles and closed the door.
Cecilia stood and walked over to the bed. She gently pulled back the covers and stripped from her clothes. She tossed them on the floor and fell face first into the bed. She was asleep the moment her face hit the pillow. She was met by the oddest dream.
Cecilia stood in white world. Everything was white. The sky, the grass the trees. Everything was white except for the hair of the girl. The girl was walking away from her and was dressed in a pretty white dress. A matching parasol rested on her shoulder. She could see the girl's blond hair but never saw her face. Cecilia heard singing.
"Hello?" She called out to the girl and walked towards her. "Little girl, can you hear me?" Cecilia reached out and turned the girl around. The singing wasn't coming from the girl. There was no way it could. Her lips were sewn shut and her eyelids were stitched open. There was stitching on her neck and arms and her once pale face turned to an ashy grey. Cecelia stepped back, startled.
Red rose petals fell around them and she turned, confused. Behind her stood the Phantomhive mansion, ablaze in the middle of the night. Smoke filled her lungs and she coughed. She tried to blink away tears and suddenly found herself inside, surrounded by fire. Before her sat two chairs. One a man, the other a woman. Both were dead.
"London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down," Cecilia turned and saw the girl in white walking closer. "London bridge is falling down, my fair lady."
"Who are you?" Cecilia asked quietly, realizing she could not hear the roar of the fire.
"London bridge is falling down," the girl continued to sing.
"Did you do this?" Cecilia asked, pointing to the two corpses. The girl just looked at her as the song came from her sewn mouth.
"London bridge is falling down," The girl sang as the fire roared around her, drowning out the song. The sound startled Cecilia and she whipped around only to find the corpses lunging at her.
Cecilia shot up in bed panting, startled. She looked around and it took her a moment to remember where she was. It was a guest room in the Phantomhive manor. She sat and breathed, letting her heart stop racing. Cecilia thought about what she saw. The small girl with her face stitched in such a way. The two adults laying in the chairs as the fire roared around them. The adults with familiar faces. Perhaps it was something about the house. She hadn't had such a morbid dream in years.
A soft knock came from her door and she pulled the covers up over her bare form as Sebastian entered with his usual smile. She noticed his arms were full of some black fabric.
"Ah, good morning." He greeted. "I am surprised to find you awake."
"Then why are you here?" She asked rather curtly. Cecilia disliked early mornings and judging from the light outside, she would be displeased to learn the time.
"I figured you would need assistance redressing your wound and yourself." He explained as he let the door close behind him. He walked over to the chair and set down what he was carrying. On the small table was a small box. Over the chair he draped a woman's dress all in black. She looked at it and marveled at the details. It was a lovely dress. Sebastian turned to her with a smirk. "There is no need for modesty here. I assure you I have seen my fair share of bare women, including yourself." He reminded her and she blushed a bit. Witch's were rather immodest by nature, but there was a line to be drawn somewhere. She glared at him but let the blanket drop. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and he approached with the box.
Cecilia appreciated his speed at cleaning and redressing her wound. I need to stop getting stabbed. She told herself. He extended his hands and helped her up off the bed. She let him dress her, finding it quicker to just let him do it. She couldn't help but to feel like a doll. When he finished, she turned to the mirror as he began styling her hair.
Cecilia could not look away from the dress. It was a beautiful black dress. It was crepe with velvet details. The blazer was fairly simply cut with sharp shoulders. On the front was a floral detail in velvet. On the cuffs of the blazer was the same detailing. The skirt was of the same material with the same detailing on the bottom as a thick border. However, the front of the skirt seemed gathered to the side and held by a black crepe flower. She looked quite elegant in the mourning dress and Sebastian had braided her hair and pinned it in a simple knot. She turned to him and saw his polite smile.
"This dress is beautiful." She mentioned. "Where did you get this on such short notice?"
"This dress actually belonged to the young master's mother." He explained his tone and smile never wavering. Cecilia opened her mouth, about to insist she wear a different dress or not attend at all. Sebastian raised his hand to stop her. "I assure you, it is quite alright. It was the young master's suggestion after all." This startled Cecilia and she closed her mouth. Odd. "Now, if you'll come with me, I will escort you to the dinning hall. I will have Mey-rin serve you breakfast. The young master usually takes his breakfast in his room." Sebastian explained as he handed her the hat to go with the dress. "Afterwards, please meet us in the main foyer." She accepted the hat and nodded. "Shall we?" He asked as he opened the door. She stepped out into the hall and he followed, closing the door.
The two walked down the hall silently. Cecilia studied Sebastian only briefly. She would not learn much from a mere glance at the demon. Instead she studied the paintings on the wall. There was one that made her freeze. It was a small photograph of three people and she recognized all of the faces.
Cecilia stopped and looked. Two women and one man sat in the photograph. They were outside on a sunny day. One woman was Madam Red. The other woman looked similar to her and her hair was blond. One of the corpses she saw the night prior. The man was also one of the corpses. However, now that she saw him smiling, she noticed he bore an unsettling resemblance to Sebastian.
"Something catch your eye?" Sebastian asked with his smile still on his face. Cecilia did not look at him but studied the picture. She could almost hear the song again.
"Who are these two with Madam Red?" Cecilia asked, leaning in for a better look.
"That would be the young master's late parents." She snapped her head to him. He looked at her and his smile fell to a look of slight confusion. "Is something the matter?" He asked. She looked back at the picture briefly before standing up straight again.
Cecilia closed her eyes, inhaled, and shook her head slowly.
"It's nothing, just a nightmare." She told him and began walking down the hall again.
Thanks all for reading! I really appreciate it and thank you for all of the reviews! Keep em coming! I love getting feedback. Take care and stay warm!