"Goodbye, young master. I hope you have a nice trip, yes," Mey-Rin said as Ciel, Sebastian, and Lilliana prepared to board a train.
"Right, he said.
"See that you behave yourselves while we're away," Sebastian said.
"Oh, a train trip sounds marvelous! I want to try it sometime," Finnian said as he ran around the train station like a little child. After all, he hasn't done much outside of the manor, so whenever he had the oppritunity to go anywhere, he would enjoy every minute of it.
"Finny, quit running about like that," Baldroy warned, but it was too late. Finny accidentally bumped into one of the men loading the cargo cart, causing him to lose his balance and drop the large heavy crate . . . onto his right hand. He yelled in pain as he tried to get his hand out and Finny looked in horror and guilt.
"I'm so sorry," he said in genuine remorse.
"Are you all right," Mey-Rin asked as she tried to help the man free his hand.
"Don't touch that! That's a valuable scholarly resource. Do you have any idea how much it's worth," a man with a cigar said as he approached the servants. They noticed that the man was finally able to get his hand away from being further squished, but they also saw that the crate was open. They took a peek and saw it was a sarcophagus with a real mummy inside. The servants looked with fright, except for Mey-Rin, who loved this kind of stuff.
"A mummy, eh," Ciel said.
"I believe there's been somewhat of an Egyptian antiquities boom amongst the moneyed classes recently. A mummy would be a valuable collector's item," Lilliana said. However, they noticed someone approaching the mummy and it was someone that Lilliana absolutely hated.
"Forgive us, O Lord," a priest said as he made the sign of the cross. Lilliana couldn't help, but be angry, but she had to keep calm, at least, until they got inside the train.
"Pack it up this instant and be gentle about it," the man said as the two porters, including the one who was just injured, quickly picked up the open crate.
"I pray no calamity shall befall you," the priest said as he made yet another sign of the cross. Suddenly, a whistle rang through the area and Lilliana sighed in relief.
"Let's get on the train before I decide to devour another holy soul again," Lilliana said to Sebastian as she started boarding the train. He couldn't stop himself from grinning at her comment, but waited until his young master boarded the train before entering. Soon, they arrived to their private passenger cart and sat down and not too long after, the train started moving. Lilliana couldn't help, but admire the landscapes. She hadn't really traveled too far from home, so she enjoyed every chance she got to travel with her young master. As a Grim Reaper, she felt trap since if she tried to leave London, even as a vacation, she feared that the Reaper Association would track her down and charge her with leaving her Reaper duties. Going to Paris last year was the only real vacation she had.
"Would you like your tea, young master," Sebastian said as he finished preparing tea with his mobile tea set. "I find that the aroma of Williamson & Major's summer Darjeeling perfectly suited to the sight of greenery through a train window." However, Ciel was unresponsive as he continued to stare at the scenery around him. If anything, he seemed to be bored.
"Young master, we're meant to seem as if we're on holiday. The criminal will spot us like this. Please try to look a bit . . . pleasanter," Lilliana said.
"I know, I know," Ciel responded.
"Are you really that preoccupied with the Trancys, my lord," Sebastian asked.
"No. I am curious, of course, but for the moment, that's all. Right now, the Queen's orders take priority." Ciel then looked toward the hallway of the train. He noticed that there was a man in a frantic state holding a briefcase very close to him. He showed his servants the man and said, "That's Lord Ackroyd, then? And the boy kidnapped was his only son."
"Yes. If the police find out, the hostage will be killed. He was instructed to bring the ransom of 5,000 pounds aboard this train."
"I take it that's the price humans set for their own souls," Sebastain joked, but still sounding serious.
"The kidnapper must be somewhere on this train. We'll find him, capture him, and safely rescue the hostage. That's the only way to dispel Her Majesty's distress."
After about an hour or so, Ciel decided that it was time to stretch his legs and walk around the train. As they entered a passenger cart filled with high class people, including the man they met before, discussing random topics. However, they couldn't help but hear about the man's success of retrieving the mummy. Everyone around him was so amazed by his story, but the trio was not impressed. "It's so crass to brag about robbing a grave," Lilliana said.
"I met him once during his lifetime. He was an affable man of great virtue," Sebastian said, talking about the mummy.
"Wait, how old are you," she asked in shock.
"Old enough," he said before continuing, "Still . . . even taking the desiccation into account, his face really seems quite different."
"Then he's a fake," Ciel asked. "Do you mean that the archeologist is the kidnapper?"
"I couldn't say, my lord."
"The train that left St. Pancras station st exactly 9 o'clock with crowds the Cambridge-bound route at Bedford at 10:18. Oh, this is thrilling! This is not to be missed! We'll pull in to Derby Station at 1:05. Oh, we'll have a time lag! Considering the weather, the porters will have a hard time of it! It'll be about seven minutes, I'd wager," one man said with excitement as he was reading something in a book, but he had so many of them.
"Is he reading the timetables," Lilliana asked.
"Yes, he seems to have a bizarre obsession with railways," Sebastian said. Ciel started to walk toward the other side of the cart, but accidentally bumped into a bag in the middle of the aisle.
"What do you think you're doing, you damn brat," an old, but short angry man said to him.
"I see you're from Japan. The scrollwork on that furoshiki wrapping cloth is lovely," Sebastian said with a smile as he tried to pick it up and put it out of the way, but was stopped.
"Don't touch it! This is a precious family heirloom," he said as he hurried to grab it and pull it close to his chest. What was he hiding in there?
"I'm so sorry, my boy. He's just so stubborn," a kind, little, old woman said as she approached them. "Here, take this as a token of our apologies," she said as she presented him with rice balls, but Ciel was not the only one suspicious of the kind gesture since everyone else seemed to stay away from her and her rice balls.
"No thank you, Ma'am," Lilliana said with a smile.
"Oh, I see. Well then, would anyone else like one? I have plenty. There are some with bonito flakes and some with pickled plums. Here, have some," she said as she presented the dish to other passengers, but none would take it out of fear.
"I don't want any of your bloody Oriental food. Everyone says cholera is rampant in Asia," one passenger said as politely as he could, but it still came off as rude.
"That's an outrageous falsehood," the old man said as he rushed toward the man who insulted his wife.
"Stop that. Don't you think it's rude for you to take that attitude with traveled who have come all this way," the priest said as he got up and faced the scene behind him. Lilliana tried to leave the room so that she could calm down. Especially after she remembered what one priest did to her when she was human, she was furious at priests. Even if they seem to be genuine men of God (what a joke), she always believed that they were either brainwashed or corrupt. However, before she could open the door, a man suddenly walked into her and they both fell, her on her back and his face right in the middle of her chest.
"I-I'm so sorry, miss! I-I-It was an accident," he said as he got up, but Sebastian wasn't far behind to give a earful to the man, but he looked all too familiar to them both.
"Inspector Abberline? I didn't expect you to be here," Ciel said, but Abberline was too distracted by the still rambunctious crowd to respond to Ciel.
"Everyone please calm down! I can understand your uneasiness. Yes, were transporting an assassin on this train. However, he is being kept under strict armed guard, unable to move about. So, there is nothing to worry ab-," he tried to finish, but every passenger was more terrified and angry than they were before he arrived. However, each one had the same reaction: get the fuck out away from the cargo car, even managing to trample the one man who was suppose to keep them safe. However, as Abberline began to stand up, he finally got a good look at the trio still around. "Why, it's you; Ciel Phantomhive and his servants."
"Hello, Abberline. We were just on our way to the dining car, but I suppose you're too busy to-," Sebastian said, but was interrupted.
"I have time to eat and chat. I am rather peckish," he said with a smile, much to the dismay of everyone.
The four of them arrive to the dining car and were served a meal fit for a first class passenger: eel pie and mash. However, Lilliana checked in her pocket for something, but noticed it missing and said, "Excuse me, young master, but I'm afraid I left something at our lounge car. I shall return momentarily."
"What do you need to-," Ciel tried to say, but she already started heading back before he had the chance to finish.
"What could she possible have forgotten?"
"Her Death Scythe, perhaps," Sebastian said.
"You and I both know that a Grim Reaper wouldn't leave something so powerful and important behind. She didn't bring anything with her on the train, so what she could she possibly have forgotten?"
"Ah, this really brings back memories! This was just like what Mum used to make when we were kids. I say, that was quite a fuss back there, wasn't it," Abberline said, trying to have a conversation with Ciel.
"And who's fault is that," he asked rhetorically. "At any rate, Sir Arthur will call you on the carpet for dining with me."
"Pish posh; I've wanted to get better acquainted with you. You see, my twin brother talked so much about you. Yes, I wish he could have tasted this."
However, the duo noticed that another passenger has come to the dining cart, but instead of ordering something, he just pulled out his mobile tea set and started making tea. He was wearing a trench coat and a top hat, but it was clear that he was of noble worth due to his tuxedo. Sebastian eyes the man with suspicion and the man did the same with his golden eyes and spectacles. "What is it," Ciel asked.
"Nothing, young master," he said. However, Lilliana returned and was on her way back to sit with Ciel and Sebastian, but before she could reach them, the train made a sharp turn, causing her to fall, but out of all the places to fall, she landed on the man's lap. However, she recognized the man too and quickly got off his lap. The man tried to grab her and push her to sit down, but lucky for her, Sebastian was there to help her. "I apologize for her fall, sir, but she belongs with us," he said rather sternly, making the man scowl. As the two of them returned to their young master, he continued with, "Should we leave, young master."
"I suppose," Ciel said as he got up and started heading back to their lounge car.
"Wait, Ciel! If you don't take a rest after meals, you'll ruin your stomach," Abberline said with a mouthful of food before he started to choke.
As soon as they were away from earshot anyone, Lilliana said, "I must say, there are quite a few suspicious character on this train."
"Yes; a priest with a tattoo, a sham archeologist, a surly Japanese man, a man with a frenzy over timetables. They are all too blantantly suspicious."
"And don't forget there is an assassin onboard as well," Sebastian said, but was bumped by a passenger trying to squeeze pass them. However, he was trying to hide his face from them with his hat, but they wouldn't help but see the injuries on his hand; the same ones that resulted in his hand being squished earlier.
Ciel grabbed him and said, "You're the porter from the station. What are you doing on this train dressed like a traveler?" However, instead of an answer, the porter started running for his life. "He's the kidnapper!" They both ran toward him, hoping to catch him before he did anything drastic, but he seemed to fast for him, or really, Ciel, but the two deities had to follow him. Eventually, they reached him, but he had already pulled the latch that held the two train cars together to lose them. "Don't let him get away, Sebastian," Ciel ordered.
"Very well," he said as he jumped to the entrance of the car with ease.
Lilliana was about to follow him, but Ciel stopped her, saying, "I need you to protect me." She was not used to this. Last year, he trusted Grell more than her to protect her. She was so glad he lost his memories.
"Of course, my lord," she said as the two of them ran back inside the train to figure out where the child hostage was. However, they had to run into someone: Abberline.
"Ciel, what are you two doing in such a hurry," he asked.
"There is no time, but I have to go to the goods wagon," he responded as they started running that direction.
"What do you mean you're going to the goods wagon?"
"We can leave the kidnapper to Sebastian. What's left is the child. The only piece of luggage big enough to hide a child is that mummy's coffin," Lilliana said.
"What," the archeologist said in disbelief, but before anyone could say anything else, they heard Abberline falls to his knees in agonizing pain.
"What happened?"
"My stomach . . . it hurts! This isn't right! I know I rested enough after I ate," Abberline said, but they could also hear the old woman in agonizing pain too.
"You don't suppose it's cholera, do you? Stay away," a passenger said, terrifying the rest of the people around them.
"How dare you bastards treat my wife that way," the old man said.
"Did you eat one of those rice balls," Ciel asked Abbelrine, who was still on the floor in pain.
"It was delicious," he said almost with no regret, but it was clear he was full of it.
"Lilliana, I want you to stay with these two until they get better," Ciel said as he started to run off by himself.
"Wait, young master, I thought you said you wanted me to protect you," she said in confusion.
"I'll be fine. The kidnapper is being taken care of and the only thing left is to find the child."
"They aren't going to die, you know," she said.
"Still, I want you to stay here with them. Once they seem healthy enough, you can come find me," Ciel said as he left her side, making her sigh in dissapoitnment.
"Do I have to remind him that there is an assassin on board? Nah," she said as she helped Abberline to a seat, away from the floor where he could easily get trampled. She made sure that the two victims were "all right", or as much as they could be in a situation like this, but she didn't have stay for long as Sbeastian ran into the car, looking for Ciel.
"Where is our young master," he asked as he looked around for him.
"I don't even get a 'hello Lilliana'," she teased, but answered, "He went to the goods wagon to save the child."
"I-I have an announcement to make! The points have just been changed and we're now bound for a different destination," the conductor said frantically as he entered the car. "We'll be passing over a bridge no longer in use. It won't be able to bear the weight of this train and, therefore, our final stop . . . will most likely be Heaven!" Everyone screamed in horror in fear for their lives at the news and started to panic.
"Then we'd better stop the train fast," a voice said from the other side of the car, but not just any voice; it was the assassin and in his arms, held hostage by a knife, was Ciel.
"A hostage again, young master? I do believe you enjoy being captured," Sebastian teased, which made Ciel scowl at his comment.
"So, it was you then: Bloodbath Johnny," the priest said as he looked at the assassin in the face.
"Well, if it isn't Jackknife Heyward. You ought to know what'll happen to the kid if you don't stop the train."
"I told he the priest was up to no good," Lilliana said, more happy than angry at the fact that she was right, but not by much difference.
"I would love to stop it myself, but I'm afraid there is a bomb onboard that will explode if we stop," Sebastian said.
"N-Not to mention we have a cholera outbreak in this carriage. You may already be infected," Abberline said, trying to scare the assassin.
"You're saying that a train with a bomb onboard is headed for a run-down bridge and there's cholera," the assassin said for clarification. He couldn't believe his bad luck with this train.
"It's certainly a full-course menu of crises," Lilliana said.
"Enough of this farce. Sebastian and Lilliana, hurry up and do something about this. That's an order," Ciel said in a calm tone. Despite being held hostage, he wasn't afraid. After all, a demon and a Grim Reaper were on his side.
"Yes, my lord," they said in unison.
"Forget it! To hell with your cholera and bombs! I'm getting out of here," the assassin yelled before leaving the car. Sebastian and Lilliana tried following him, but Abberline stopped them yet again.
"Not so fast! This is too much for an ordinary butler and maid to handle. At times like these, we get assistance from various professionals who just happen to be onboard. We'll all band together to take a stand against evil!"
"What wishful thinking," Lilliana said under breath.
"Not necessarily," the priest said before unbuttoning his shirt. "I used to be in the killing business myself, but after he killed someone precious to me, I went straight and became a priest. As the Holy Book tells us, 'Ye are your own enemies'." He removed his shirt to reveal the large tattoos he had on him from his assassin days. "It's time to settle the score, but right now, I don't have a weapon to face with."
"Use this," the old man as he took off the cloth around his prized possession to reveal a katana. Much to Lilliana's surprise, it looked eerily close to Katia's, but that was a Death Scythe, not a real katana. "This is the family treasure passed down for generations: the Zantomaru! I brought it here to give it to my son, but I'm sure this katana would be happier being useful here."
"In that case, leave the bomb to me," the archeologist said. "I've used time bombs in my excavations. They generally have two wires: a black one and a red one, but one is a dummy. If you cut there right one, you can disable it, but if you pick the wrong one, boom! Still, do we have enough time to find the bomb?"
"We should be fine," the man obsessed with timetables said. "This pict up ahead is crucial. Change the point and enter the High Peak Railway and if we change the next point too, we can gain twenty whole minutes of extra time!" All the passengers cheered at the good news and felt safer than they did a few minutes ago.
"Brilliant! We'll all join forces and find our way out of this," Abberline said, as if preparing men for a battle.
However, Sebastian said, "I do appreciate the thought, but we can handle this ourselves." The passengers looked at them with confusion, but they soon saw the him and Lilliana manage to not only climb out of a train window, but manage to swing themselves to the top of the train, a skill impossible for humans. Eventually, the two of them reached the Jack and he looked at them with surprise. How the hell did they get up here so fast?
"You two pests are sure stubborn," he said.
"Hand over our young master," Lilliana said as she showed him her Death Scythe and though he looked scared . . . for a second, he saw something from behind them and smiled.
"Sure, you just wait there. I'll be right back," he said before a bridge was closely approaching them. It wasn't hearts tall enough for them, so if they didn't want to get hurt, they would have to duck. However, as soon as it reached their way, Jack yelled as he ducked, "I win!" Lilliana followed suit, but Sebastian didn't and his head collided with the stone bridge, but instead of being found from the train, he managed to stay in the same place and instead damaged the bridge with his head. Eventually, they reached the end and Sebastian passed through without a scratch on his head. Jack looked at him with horror and let go of Ciel.
"Come here, young master," Lilliana said motherly.
"You're a monster," Jack yelled before he was grabbed at the throat by Sebastian.
"Now, then, Mr. Assassin, have a nice trip," he said before throwing him all the way to the first cars of the train. "Next, the bomb." He then proceeded to lift the top of the train off its hinges with just his hands, amazing both Ciel and Lilliana. "Sure, there are only the black and red wire, but there's certainly no need for me to choose one." He then threw the roof in the air, causing a mass explosion in the distance.
"Hey, if there were passengers in that carriage-," Ciel said in worry, but was stopped.
"Not to worry, my lord. That was the roof of the dining car," Lilliana said as she examined the inside of the car. She saw tables and food stations, but no . . . people. However, there was still one more thing to worry about: the train is heading for the run-down bridge. There was only one thing to do. Both deities jumped down from the roof of the train and ran some distance from it. How were they going to stop it? With their hands, of course! Well, she used her Death Scythe to put some pressure off of her hands. The train finally arrived and pushed them back with a force, but they stood their ground as they managed to slow down the train until it finally reached a stop a few feet away from the bridge.
"That was close, but you two managed," Ciel said from the top of the train.
"If we couldn't handle this little full-course menu of crises, then what kind of servants would we be," Lilliana said as Sebastian helped Ciel off the train. Eventually, all the passengers disembarked the train and started chatting amongst themselves on the grassy fields, either about what the hell just happened, cholera, or just trivial things. Even Abberline managed to get himself off the train. He was still in pain, but enough to walk around.
"That was magnificent, you two," he said as he approached them.
"Oh, that's right. What about the cholera? The whole train should be infected by now," Ciel said.
"Not to worry. Those who stomachs ail them should take this," Sebastian said as he pulled out a vial of a liquid out of his pocket.
"I don't recall there being an instant cure for cholera."
"Oh, no, this is just a digestive tonic. Japanese tradition has always held certain food pairings to be harmful, such as watermelon and tempura, and eel and picketed plum. I imagine his stomachache is from eating a rice ball with pickled plum deplore Gavin been served eel pie in the dining car."
Lilliana gave the tonic to Abberline and the old woman for them to drink and sure enough, they became healthy in an instant. Abberline was the most excited about being cured and said to her, "You and that butler are no ordinary servants."
"No, we are merely one hell of pair," she said as she looked back at Sebastian. He gave her a smile and she returned one to him.
After a few hours, another train arrived to their location and gathered the passengers to take them to their destinations. Everyone seemed to be happy about how things resolved, but while Ciel and Sebastian began to board the new train, Lilliana couldn't help, but notice one individual in particular. He approached her and handed her a napkin with something spilled on it. "Here, my tea spilled in all the commotion. A true butler and maid should have been able to sort that out without the slightest rocking of the train."
"My apologies, but I have no control over Sebastian's actions. After all, we are not on the best terms, are we, Claude," she asked before noticing blood on his cheek. "Oh dear, you seem to have took some damage as well."
He scoffed, but he presented her with an envelope. She was hesitant to take it, but he said, "If you wish to interrogate my master, march into the Trancy mansion right through the front gate. You want to help Ciel Phantomhive and take his revenge, don't you? Or is it for Michealis' sake?" She thought about it, but then accepted the envelope. Before leaving her side, he then said, "By the way, you dropped this on my lap," he said as he threw her ring to her. She carefully caught it and placed it on her finger with care. After all, this is the only thing she has left of Bastille. "Be careful of the company you keep."
"What are you talking about," she asked angrily.
"That isn't just a ring, Lily. That stone is demonic and you and I both know it, but who's stone it is should scare you."
"It's a ring that my brother picked out," she said, insulted by what he's been saying.
"A blue demonic stone is the work of Lucille Mirasuka, the daughter of Lucifer. She is a conniving woman who plays with people's emotions for her own desires."
"Unlike you, I know her personally and I can tell you that she's not like that."
"I'm not sure how you know her personally, but watch what happens when you become her latest pawn in her game. Be careful."
Are there bad intentions with the ring? What could Lucille possibly do? What was Claude planning? Reviews are appreciated.