Thin Ice

The dismal bystreet they were stood in was solitary and, in spite of the low growl of London from all around, very silent. Even the smallest of sounds carried out of the surrounding houses, clearly audible on either side of the narrow road - and the echo of footsteps proceeded their owner by a long time. A thin layer of snow had begun to smother the cobblestones and the sound of a pelting wind howled in Blaire's ears. It was like some district of a city in a nightmare.

Her face was visibly paler and there had come a blackness around her eyes as she frantically shrugged off Ciel's grip of her shoulders and staggered several steps away from him. "We need Grell..." She murmured with a note of urgency. Even if Pluto wasn't here, the red-clad reaper should be around. He would be investigating the mysterious case of Drossel Keinz - the very man (or, otherwise inhuman entity) responsible for Elizabeth's disappearance. Therefore, Grell could lead them to the right place. He might not go out of his way to encounter them without the presence of Pluto but surely, if she could call out to him he might hear her? She would be disturbing the otherwise tranquil street and drawing attention to herself but this was now a matter of life and death. If anything happened to Lizzie she would bore the brunt of the blame, no doubt about it.

Ciel glanced at her incredulously. "Grell the reaper? You know him?"

She rolled her eyes, pointedly tapping her head. Before he could retort, the brunette took in an almighty breath of air, lifting her hands up by her mouth and yelling at the top of her lungs: "Greeeeeeeell! Grell Sutcliffe!"

Ciel looked affronted. "What in God's name do you think you're doing?!" He whispered harshly, stomping over towards the woman.

She paid him no mind, finding his embarrassment quite comical and with the intake of another breath, she began to shout again: "Greeeee-!"

A gloved hand was abruptly clamped over her mouth and a sharp glare from the young Earl silenced her. "Shut up wench!" He hissed in her face, glancing around warily. Had they not been in public, he would have taken great pleasure in slapping her.

She only looked at him flatly, prying his hand away from her face. "We need him! Lizzie's life - no, our lives depend on it!"

Ciel peered at her for a moment, before a sudden voice permeated the tense silence.

"Is this man botherin' ya, miss?"

The two turned to see a poorly dressed boy with a scrawny frame who was stood breathing heavily, a hand clutching his chest and a concerned frown creasing his brow. Neither Blaire nor Ciel had noticed his frantically approaching footsteps.

Oh, you don't know the half of it. She thought.

However externally, she merely shook her head, sending the stranger a plastic smile. "Uh yeah...everything's fine. Sorry about the disturbance." She tried sheepishly, feeling her cheeks beginning to heat up. While embarrassing Ciel had seemed appealing at the moment - she had failed to consider the secondary consequences.

That's a recurring theme, huh Blaire?

Taking matters into his own hands, Ciel sent the younger boy a disarming smile, stepping forward to extend his hand. "Everything is quite alright here. I'm Ciel Phantomhive." The last thing he needed was some pauper sticking their nose in where it didn't belong - the sooner he could get rid of him the better.

The unnamed boy stared at Ciel's extended hand incredulously, his murky green eyes flickered back to the young woman stood behind the earl, before he asked hesitantly: "Are ya sure, miss? I can call for the constable if ya want."

Blaire went to answer, though Ciel cut her off as he lowered his arm to rest by his side. "There's no need for that. If you'll excuse us, we must be on our way." He said with a slither of ice in his tone, turning and grabbing Blaire by the arm.

She sent the boy a fleeting smile, being touched that someone actually seemed to care for her well being. However, as she turned, she caught a glimpse of his limp body suddenly collapsing to the ragged stone tiles with a distinct thud.

Both Ciel and Blaire whipped fully around with wide eyes, staring at the now-still body on the ground and the unmistakable silhouette standing over him.

Vibrant green eyes peered into brown, a toothy grin adorning the familiar face.

"A mister: Marcus Meechan. Died of heart failure pertaining to over-exertion." He brandished his chainsaw-esque death scythe and brought it down into Marcus with a sickening hack and the sounds of tearing flesh. Blaire watched moon-eyed, her voice left her completely as the empty body's spine arched and blood spattered the cobblestones in a macabre puddle.

Overwhelming guilt descended upon her as she realised that Marcus had come running at the sound of her screeching - he looked malnourished enough to have suffered from a weakened heart. She shut her eyes, squaring her jaw.

Why is it, that the more I try to fix things, the more I seem to fuck up? He wasn't supposed to die! He wouldn't have died if I wasn't here!

When her eyes opened again, she found that she was unable to steer her gaze away from the bloodied ground.

"You've created quite the disturbance, young lady." The reaper continued, stepping over the mangled corpse and stalking towards the pair.

"Grell Sutcliffe." Ciel acknowledged with a stiff nod, his face set like stone.

"First time seeing a dead body?" Grell acknowledged, glancing at Blaire with an uninterested expression.

All she could offer was a mute nod.

"Well, dear there's a first time for everything. Come on then - out with it. What's all the ruckus about, hm?"

She managed to lift her gaze to meet that of the famous character who now stood before her in the flesh. His ginger hair fell to his elbows and there was something androgynous about his pale face. The use of cosmetics was clear as day and his eyes shone an unnaturally bright shade of emerald green. Finding her voice again, Blaire managed to choke out: "W-we need you."

He quirked a filled-in eyebrow. "Oh? Do I know you?" His scrutinising orbs flickered to Ciel, then back to the brunette.

"No, but I know you. And we need you to lead us to...uh, Drossel Keinz." She chewed on the inside of her cheek, hoping that she had remembered the name correctly.

She didn't need to wonder for long, as his eyes immediately widened. Ciel glanced between the two with an impatient frown on his face.

Grell came further towards them until he was stood towering right over her. "How do you know that name, hm?" He firmly grasped her face in his gloved hand, causing her lips to pucker but she held her own and met his piercing stare with a look of equal intensity. "You aren't a reaper, are you?" He turned her face from side to side, leaning in and audibly sniffing. "No. You're definitely human."

"Stop wasting time!" Ciel snapped. "Grell. If you help us I'll give you Sebastian for a day to do whatever you please."

Grell abruptly paused in his scrutiny of Blaire, looking thoroughly intrigued with the prospect of what the earl had promised. "Anything?" He repeated, his voice raising an octave. "Even... kissing?!"

Blaire observed the scene with interest. This should have happened at the toy store already.

Grell really must raise his standards.

"You can do whatever you want with him," Ciel repeated, a smirk gracing his features at the idea of tormenting his demonic butler.

Grell licked his lips, his eyes glazing over momentarily before he sprung to action, striding down the street with the two humans hurriedly following suit. "As it happens, Sir Drossel Keinz is indeed on the To Die list. A very curious case indeed." He glanced over his shoulder towards Blaire, adjusting the red spectacles perched on his nose. "How did you know to call on me - what was your name?"

The young woman had already fallen behind the two males and was struggling to intake enough air as she hobbled after them. Before she could respond, Ciel spoke for her.

"This is Blaire. And I ordered her to."

Her eyes snapped to the back of his head.

No, he didn't! Why's he lying?

"Did you now? And Drossel Keinz? How did you know that name, Blaire? Did Phantomhive junior tell you that too?" He asked with a hint of mockery. "I had just been ordered to look into his case not even an hour ago."

They turned down a darkened alleyway. Although a fog rolled over the city, the night was cloudless and the alley was brilliantly lit by the full moon. There was a tense moment of silence where Blaire tried to think of a response that wouldn't raise any more suspicion of her. The last thing she needed was the reapers trying to take her away for investigation.

Well actually...

Would that be such a bad thing? It couldn't possibly be worse than being trapped with a demon and a selfish young earl who hated her guts, could it?

When Ciel failed to speak for her a second time, she sighed, trying to ignore how her leg muscles ached and strained under the pressure of the restricting garments.

"I just...know things." She began, a hand moving to massage her aching side. "Some people think I have a gift."

She caught Ciel glaring at her from the corner of his eye. "And yet, you failed to locate a simple toy shop." He reminded.

"I knew we were looking for a toy store, didn't I? It gave us a starting point!"

"Keep your voice down, hornswoggler." Came the Lord's flippant response.

Blaire barked out a laugh. "Horns- what? What does that even mean?"

"How is someone who claims to have psychic ability so clueless about the modern day?" Ciel wondered aloud, a hint of mirth in his tone.

Blaire audibly snorted, before glaring at the back of his head. More like ancient history. Where I come from, you're already dead. Better yet, you never even existed.

"If I may interject-" started Grell. "You knew I was within earshot. And you also happened to know the name Drossel Keinz." There was no way a human could have the information she did. And yet, there was no doubt in his mind that she was entirely human. Something wasn't adding up.

She stuck her tongue out at Ciel. Although she wouldn't admit that she didn't, in fact, know that Grell was in earshot - it made her seem more believable. That was the first stroke of luck she'd had since ending up here.

A happy accident.

"What's your full name, Blaire? My superiors would be highly interested in a human as gifted as you seem to be." He turned, briefly catching her eye. She noted the strange expression on his innocent-seeming face and a flash of fear instantly tore through her.

This version of Grell seemed oddly down to earth compared to his fictional counterpart. Almost worryingly so - if this was Grell, what would Will be like?

...Perhaps not a happy accident.

Sebastian had already made a big deal out of what he believed her to be - a genuinely psychic human must have been a rarity - if such a thing even really existed. If a demon was willing to go against his masters better wishes to get his claws into her, what would the reapers do?

She swallowed the lump in her throat.

Someone has it out for me I swear to God.

"Blaire Robbie Coleman." She finally answered, figuring she had little choice but to be truthful. It wouldn't matter if she lied - she would be easily found as long as she was connected to Ciel and Sebastian. And there was no way that fending for herself was an option.

She missed Grell stopping to take note of her name as she became aware of the approaching amber lights in the shadowy distance and as they approached, it became apparent that the light was emitting from a large window. She squinted, wondering why there were people staring at them from inside.

Ciel too, seemed to had noticed the line of people, for his footsteps quickened in pace.

Stood in a line, the silhouettes were completely motionless, all gazing at the approaching trio with vacant expressions.

It wasn't until they got closer that Blaire realised that the window was connected to yet another toy store - and this one resembled the one shown in the animation perfectly. She sighed - realising that they weren't that far off the entire time.

Then that means...

She stole another glance towards the people in the window - a feeling of unease settling in her stomach with the realisation that those were "dolls". Dolls that were once people, and they looked the part. Like a human taxidermy. Or an embalmed corpse.

Are they still conscious? She wondered, suddenly feeling quite sick.

As they approached the entranceway, Blaire was unable to take her eyes from the still figures. Their glassy eyes seemed to follow her - tracing her every movement. Their ghastly white faces didn't once twitch, though she couldn't help but feel as though she was unwelcome. Like some unseen force was compelling her to run as far away as possible.

Ciel glanced back at her, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. "Is this the correct establishment?"

Without hesitation, she nodded.

"You weren't too far off," Grell observed with a thoughtful frown, pushing open the olive painted door with a foreboding creak.

Blaire swallowed, shoving her reservations to the side. All she could do was hope that Elizabeth was still savable - and that they even made it past the army of the dead.

Still, the silence is soft

Where the sentences stop

Hornswoggle - to trick or deceive someone.