Those Gentle Slopes that Lead to Hell

by Severus divides into H

Proud. Unique. Determined. From the second Sebastian sensed Ciel Phantomhive's soul, he realized their contract would be different. He was ready for it. And so he waits. He hungers. He is getting obsessed. He will do anything to devour this soul, and the fragile attachment to the boy that has begun to spread its icy fingers in him will not stop him. He thinks. [SebaCiel].

17. Chapter 17: Dog Breeds

A/N: Replies are at the end)

Chapter Seventeen: Dog Breeds

Sebastian was testing his patience.

At first, Ciel didn't think much of it. With the mysterious and illogical way in which Sebastian's mind was working, he often had mood swings that only he could explain. But after three days filled with irritating mistakes and poorly hidden barbs, Ciel had to conclude that something was happening. Sebastian was throwing a tantrum, and a tantrum so childish that Ciel didn't know whether he should laugh or get angry.

It started with a cat. Ciel woke up one morning from the sensation of having trouble breathing, with snot running from his blocked nose right into his mouth. His eyes were itching so much that he nearly stabbed them with his own nails in a rush to scratch them. The culprit was lying on his bed, studying him with a disdainful yellow look.

"Out! Get out!" Ciel yelled, but the words turned into an incoherent mess when he sneezed loudly, with drops of snot falling on his hands. The cat continued to stare, and Ciel sneezed again, covering his nose and his mouth and crawling into the farthest corner of his bed.

"Sebastian!" he roared. "Get this thing out of my room or I'll have you drown it!"

As he'd expected, the door immediately swung open. Sebastian looked cold and impersonal, but the impression was ruined when he took the cat into his arms and began to coo over it.

"Such a sweet little thing," he murmured, his voice going higher. "I shall feed you before letting you out. Does that sound good? Would you like to have breakfast?"

"Not in my room!" Ciel rasped, sending them both a glare. His lungs were constricting painfully, and it felt like his nose was getting filled with more and more liquid as seconds trickled by. "What was it doing on my bed in the first place? Who gave you permission to let these things into my house!"

"I apologise, Young Master," Sebastian bowed, but he continued to pat the atrocious monster, so Ciel couldn't bring himself to believe his sincerity. "She must have slipped through when I was checking up on you during the night. I wanted to make sure you aren't having yet another nightmare."

Technically, the meaning of these words was caring, but the way they sounded… so belittling, so pitying — Ciel instantly bristled.

"I haven't had a nightmare in ages!" he growled. "I don't need you to 'check up' on me. Now go away and take your stupid cat with you!"

Sebastian bowed again before leaving, and Ciel sneezed once more, frustrated, sick, and miserable.

He'd assumed it was an accident, but it didn't stop there. The next day, Sebastian tried to boil him alive in a bath, as if he hadn't learned what temperature the water should be by now.

Not suspecting that anything was amiss, Ciel quickly stepped into the tub. The next second, with an undignified yelp, he jumped out of it, nearly slipping on the wet floor and managing to maintain his balance only by miracle.

"What is the meaning of this?" he shouted, wincing as his scalded feet began to ache, sending the tremors of pain up his legs and thighs. "Are you out of your mind? You're supposed to check the water!"

"I'm sorry, my lord," Sebastian clasped his hands together, the expression on his face so contrite that it immediately set off the warning bells in Ciel's head. "I'm afraid you rushed inside too early. I haven't told you that it's ready, have I?"

Ciel narrowed his eyes in suspicion, trying to recall everything Sebastian had told him.

True, he hadn't said that the bath was ready. But he definitely made it seem that way, not to mention that he hadn't stopped him from getting inside. An accident or a ploy?

The door suddenly opened and Mey-Rin stumbled inside.

"Is everything all right? I've heard screaming!" she exclaimed. Ciel's hands automatically jerked to his side in an attempt to cover the brand. He cursed himself for it a moment later, noticing how Sebastian's eyes followed his movement before lighting up with gleeful, vindictive fire.

"Everything is fine, you can go," Ciel snapped tersely. Flushing, Mey-Rin muttered an apology and escaped, slamming the door shut. For a while, there was silence, with Ciel and Sebastian measuring each other with cool gazes.

"I understand why you find your mark embarrassing, Young Master," Sebastian finally drawled. "But you have nothing to worry about. It's on your back, Mey-Rin couldn't have possibly seen it. Though it's a force of habit, I suppose. Humans depend on trivialities like this to a laughable extent."

"Mind the water," Ciel ordered icily. Something in him shrank under Sebastian's mockery, and while he knew he showed no outward reaction, an unpleasant warmth began to unfold in his chest.

Embarrassing. Of course he found it embarrassing — he'd been branded like some animal. Like a property. No one could see his shame, especially not the people he knew, the people he employed — this wasn't something he could ever allow. But for Sebastian to call him out on it… it made the sensation of shame burn stronger, scalding his insides as mercilessly as the water had his feet. Was he weak for hiding the mark this rigorously? But wearing it proudly for everyone to see… Ciel shuddered at the mere image of it.

No. The brand had to be hidden. But if Sebastian decided to raise this topic, let him struggle with it as much as Ciel did.

"It probably bothers you, too," he said casually. After Sebastian's blank look, he clarified, "The brand. The cult marked me first, your seal came second. I wouldn't have called for you if it weren't for them, so in a way, their claim over me is more important."

Sebastian went still, and all traces of malicious amusement faded from his face, leaving it vacant. But Ciel could still read it — he could see how his eyes flashed, flaring with redness that was far more demonic than human. He caught the smallest tightening of his lips, saw the tiniest twitch of his brow, and most importantly, he sensed the already familiar rage gathering just beneath Sebastian's skin, seeping through in an invisible yet suffocating cloud.

Oh, Sebastian hated it. Ciel could practically see how he considered the idea that another claim was stronger, remaining on Ciel's skin long after the death of people who'd put it there — and the more he considered it, the more maddening he found it. He flexed his fingers, looking dangerous and disturbed, emanating a wild kind of fury that left Ciel deeply satisfied.

Smirking, he tried the water again. It was sufficiently cool, so he dropped himself into the tub, pointedly ignoring Sebastian who kept standing like a statue, clearly failing to get over the thought that he was unwillingly sharing his claim with someone else.

What a fool.

"And this creature dared to call me laughable," Ciel muttered aloud, knowing Sebastian could hear him. "Honestly, it's like he's never looked in the mirror."

This finally snapped Sebastian out of his internal crisis. To Ciel's profound delight, his upper lip curled in a half-animalistic snarl, and there couldn't be a better demonstration of his point.

"Good pet," he said patronizingly. "I hope you learned your lesson. You can go now, I'll call you when I need you to fetch my towel."

For a second, he wondered if Sebastian was going to drown him in the tub — the outrage on his face was so vivid that its heat could be felt from here. But then he stormed out of the bathroom just like Mey-Rin had done a few minutes ago, and Ciel allowed himself a small laugh.

One more victory in his pocket. After the so-called draw of their last game, Sebastian was touchy, and Ciel rejoiced every time he managed to get an upper hand once again.

But the tantrums didn't end there. On the third day, the food began to suffer, and Ciel really had to draw the line there.

He hated every meal Sebastian cooked. It wasn't that they were unpalatable or ruined, but something about them just turned Ciel's stomach, leaving him bewildered and frustrated. Perhaps it was some new spices or a combination of flavours he disliked — he couldn't put his finger on it, and at this point, he had no doubt that it was deliberate. Sebastian was using dirty tricks to rattle him. His pride had taken a hit after the disaster with Taylor, so now he was trying to steal some dignity back.

Well, that just wouldn't do. Normally, Ciel would gladly enter the game, but not when it came to food — the food was sacred.

"Sebastian," he announced, pushing the plate away. "I think the level of your skills as a butler has dropped abysmally as of late. You need some training."

The smugness on Sebastian's face gave way to wariness.

"Training?" he repeated. He probably expected Ciel to start pondering over what made the food so distasteful, counting on his habit of figuring everything out before drawing conclusions. Not this time, though — after all, Ciel abhorred the idea of being predictable.

"Training," he confirmed. "I'm dissatisfied with your performance. The things you cooked for me today are subpar, and this isn't something I will stand for. You need guidance — I'm sure Bard will be happy to help you."

Sebastian blanched. He opened his mouth to say something — the words of denial, no doubt, but Ciel interrupted him.

"You will spend a week under his command in the kitchen. Go inform him about it. I expect better results from you by the end of it — if you cook something I dislike again, we will extend the term of training."

"Perhaps if you told me what you didn't like—" Sebastian began, and Ciel stalled him by raising his hand.

"It doesn't matter," he said pleasantly. "By now, you had to understand my preferences. If you somehow managed to lose this knowledge, for your sake, I hope you regain it. Otherwise, I will make Bard your superior for the entire year."

The colour of Sebastian's skin took on a fascinating green shade, and the stare he sent in Ciel's direction was downright eviscerating. But to his credit, he did bow, albeit stiffly, before leaving the dining room and walking towards the kitchen.

Ciel wished dearly he could witness the scene that was about to occur.

His idea worked — the annoying incidents stopped, although Sebastian still sulked and made insolent remarks whenever he could. The quality of food also increased substantially, and after spending a week with a preening Bard as his chef, Sebastian didn't risk putting even a toe out of line, not when it came to his kitchen duties.

"A slice of fruit cake with walnuts and sweet chestnuts," he presented, putting a plate before Ciel. Ciel hummed, choosing to focus on his tea first, although the sweet and fresh smell of the cake made his stomach growl in anticipation.

"Sebastian," he uttered, taking a small sip. "How do you feel about going on holiday?"

"A holiday?" Sebastian paused, blinking in what appeared to be genuine surprise. "In this season?"

An invisible smile tugged at Ciel's lips as he gazed at the letter with a royal seal lying on the top of his table.

Yes. A holiday indeed.

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Houndsworth was an unusual village. After reading the Queen's letter and studying the statistics of the dead and missing people there, Ciel was fully prepared for danger, but he didn't expect the tree decorated with heavy dogs' collars to greet them. He wasn't ready for the skulls and bones scattered everywhere, and he found himself stiffening at the gust of wind that threw the smell of death and decay right into his face.

But at least he was quiet about his reaction. Bard, Mey-Rin, and Finnie let out startled screams as soon as they realized what they were looking at, and Ciel instantly felt at ease.

"Oh yes, I forgot to mention something," he remarked. "The holiday resort is yet to be constructed here."

His words were met with incredulous groans, and Ciel exchanged a satisfied smirk with Sebastian. With how naïve and malleable their servants were, sometimes he found it difficult to believe that they had lived through any hardships. Their heartbreak at the realisation that Ciel had distorted the truth and there was no resort waiting was amusing, if not pathetic.

"Speed up," he told Sebastian quietly. "I don't want to be subjected to their moaning. Put some distance between us."

Sebastian readily pulled the reins, making the horses quicken their pace. It was a relief to be travelling in two separate wagons — Ciel would have exploded five minutes into the trip if he had to listen to the endless chatter. But leaving his hopeless excuses for servants behind completely was also not an option — he didn't know for how long they were going to be stuck in Houndsworth, not to mention the danger that could be waiting there. Having Sebastian by his side was enough in most cases, but who knew what they were going to face? They would only benefit from additional help and three more pairs of eyes. Well, four pairs: Tanaka was unlikely to sit idly either, at least not all the time.

For the next several minutes, Ciel enjoyed the relative silence. But of course, it couldn't last long.

"Oh! The first villager sighted!" Finnie cried out excitedly. "Tanaka, please stop here!"

Ciel exhaled angrily, about to snap that they had no time for chatter — an old woman with a stuck baby carriage was hardly someone he could extract information from, but Sebastian's slight head shake made him pause.

Interesting. So there was something about the woman that was worth stopping for? How could Sebastian know it?

"Here, let me help you!" Finnie jumped from the wagon, rushing to the baby carriage, and then, predictably, flinging it up with all his inhuman strength. Ciel cringed, expecting his ears to be assaulted by the child's wailing, but to his surprise, there was nothing. As if the carriage was empty… or the child was dead.

The blanket fell on the ground, revealing a dirty bundle and an animal skull peeking through it. Ciel stared at it before gazing back at Sebastian, unsure if he should be amused or disturbed. Sebastian looked just as taken aback, shrugging in response to his unvoiced question.

"There is no baby," the woman said softly, and Ciel turned to her again. "There is no baby anymore. The baby was eaten by it."

With these words, she stumbled towards the hills, muttering a quiet song under her breath. Ciel followed her with his eye as he tried to piece all information together.

First the tree with the collars that was meant to scare off the potential visitors; then the insane old woman who must have gone out of her mind with grief. And all that before even entering the village. Houndsworth sure had a fair share of secrets.

"There seems to be a lot of missing and murder cases here," he commented. "The population has been reduced to one third of its initial size in the last ten years. It's my task to find out why and to put an end to this problem." Likely by eliminating the current leader of the village and by taking it in his own possession.

Sebastian was silent, and when Ciel looked at him, he had to do a double take.

Incredulity and curiosity were wiped off Sebastian's face, replaced by intense wariness. The corners of his lips turned downward, and his posture gained a stiffness that screamed of danger, like he was about to attack or was preparing to fend off someone else's attack. His eyes were glued to the woman's retreating back, and though she had almost melted with the fog by now, the traces of her voice still slipped through it.

"The white dog is a good dog, the best dog. The black dog is a bad dog, the worst dog… He'll eat your flesh down to the bone. He'll gobble you up until you're gone."

It was… All right, the song was disturbing. Ciel couldn't deny the sensation of chill that gathered somewhere in his stomach. But ultimately, it was just a song. Why would it have such an impact on a demon?

"Scared of a song now, are we?" he murmured snidely. Sebastian didn't even look at him, still tense and distant, and Ciel bristled, the indignation spreading through his chest in a quick, hot wave.

He was being ignored. And in favour of what? Some silly song!

"Let's move," he ordered coldly. Sebastian hesitated — it was brief, but it was there, and the outrage flared hotter, blurring with resentment. Just what was happening? This trip was supposed to be exciting, it shouldn't have started with insubordination at such an early stage.

But fortunately, Sebastian snapped out of his odd state and focused on the road again, so with an effort, Ciel swallowed the anger down. He'd let it go — this time. For his own peace of mind.

In fifteen minutes, they finally arrived to Houndsworth, and he looked around carefully. This place was very… grey. The houses, the trees, the sky, even the grass — everything looked grey. The majority of people they were passing followed them with grim, distrustful gazes; the air was brimming with something so dark that it was impossible to relax.

And the dogs. The dogs were everywhere — running after their owners, being trained, eating something, jumping around in their cages and growling at the wagons. It was a like a small, duller version of animal circus.

"By manipulating the dog with treats and punishments, its owner receives its perfect obedience," Sebastian uttered. Ciel ignored him, just like he himself was being ignored for the last fifteen minutes. "It's an effective tactic. But the dog isn't blameless either — it follows the orders and welcomes the chain around its neck. I don't understand it."

He had initially assumed that this attempt at conversation was pointless, but the last words made him jerk his head in Sebastian's direction.

Treats and punishments… perfect obedience… the dog welcomes the chain around its neck… Was it about him? About his position as the Queen's Watchdog?

"If you're trying to say something, then do it clearly," Ciel snapped irritably.

"If you insist," Sebastian sent him a wry smirk. "I like cats. I'm not comfortable with dogs. To be completely frank—" Sebastian turned to face him again, with a smile so innocent that it reeked of passive aggressiveness. "I hate them."

Ciel's breath stuttered to a stop. His fingers tightened on his cane almost convulsively, needing something to hold on to, and then he tried to narrow his eyes in distaste, hoping he didn't look as stricken as he felt.

That… that hurt. Why did it hurt? What was he supposed to answer with?

His throat was too dry to push the coherent words forward, but since when did something like this stop him? He was a Phantomhive. He didn't succumb to such trivial things as emotions or physical sensations.

"Woof," he said, curling his lips in a malicious smile. The genuinely startled look on Sebastian's face was the best reward — even more so when it was followed by his soft laughter.

Sebastian was laughing, and not at him but because of him. He was laughing as if he couldn't help himself, quietly and with a sense of wonder, and the stupid ache retreated. Ciel snorted disdainfully before turning away, pleased with how he handled it.

Sebastian must be feeling better if he was back to his pettiness. Let him bark like a scorned dog, it wouldn't change the fact that he had lost to Ciel in their last game. Whatever he said now wouldn't get him any points, Ciel wouldn't allow it.

Their wagon finally stopped near a modest manor of a man who ruled the village. A maid hurried forward to greet them, clutching her apron nervously.

"Is this Earl Phantomhive?" she asked, her voice surprisingly gentle.

"Yes," Sebastian replied, and the woman bowed.

"Welcome to Barymore castle," she muttered. Ciel nearly choked on a bark of laughter. A castle? This? Lord Barymore was a right jester.

"My Master is waiting for you," the maid added, raising her head again. Bard and Finnie gasped loudly while Mey-Rin almost cooed.

"What a beautiful lady," she breathed out. Ciel rolled his eyes, amused by their reaction, but then he looked at Sebastian and froze.

Sebastian was also staring at this woman. And not just staring — it was like he couldn't take his eyes off her. He might be more reserved in his drooling than the other servants, but it was the same disgusting display of offensive interest.

Ciel bit his tongue in an effort to keep himself from commenting. Something dark and ugly tugged at his insides, filling him with unease and restlessness, and he glared at the maid, hoping it would force her to finally move. But no, she remained glued to her spot. Worse, she was studying Sebastian as attentively as he was studying her.

What was so special about her anyway? She wasn't all that beautiful. The only notable thing about her appearance was her eyes — they had an unusual violet colour, but Ciel's eye with the seal had the same exact shade, so it wasn't like Sebastian had never seen it before.

"Please go through that door," the maid turned to Bard, Finnie, and Mey-Rin, as if suddenly remembering about her duties. "I'll be with you in a moment to help you settle. My lords, please follow me," she bowed once more, and Sebastian stepped from the wagon, offering Ciel his hand but not looking at him.

Rage climbed up his throat, almost closing his airways in its violent intensity. Ciel accepted Sebastian's hand and wrapped his demanding fingers around it, hoping to drag him back to reality.

He wasn't successful.

"I'm Angela," the maid chirped as she began to lead them to the front doors. "Angela Blanc."

"Yes, I can see that," Sebastian replied. His voice was calm, but there was an underlying note there, an insinuation Ciel didn't understand.

This couldn't be happening. Sebastian couldn't be possibly showing interest in some servant they had just met — he didn't even know her. And yes, he was vain as hell, but not like Bard or Finnie — he would never find a human interesting just because they were good-looking. It was absurd!

They walked into the hall, and Ciel suddenly realised that he was still clenching Sebastian's hand in his. More than that, Sebastian's fingers were wrapped around his palm just as insistently, and when Ciel tried to jerk it back, he didn't let go.

What in the world was wrong with him?

Ciel jerked his hand again, more aggressively this time, and Sebastian finally blinked at him, as if noticing him for the first time. Bastard. Was he so enthralled by this Angela that he lost his bearings entirely?

Disgusted, Ciel curled the freed hand into a fist, searing holes through the maid's back. He hoped that after she brought them to their destination, they wouldn't be seeing her again.

The room where Lord Barymore was seated looked as grotesque as the tree they had seen. The walls were decorated with the heads of different animals — with rows and rows of heads. Deer, wolves, foxes, pigs, even cows and rabbits — wherever Ciel looked, he saw death staring at him. Judging from the displeasure Sebastian was emanating, he found the display just as revolting. He was probably thinking derisive things about humans again, smug in his never-ending demonic superiority... Too bad he seemed susceptible to the dubious charms of a common maid.

A pained scream almost made Ciel jump. When he was observing the interior, Lord Barymore had grabbed a long whip, and now he was raining heavy blows on Angela's back and shoulders, yelling so loudly that his death decorations shook in their places.

"Who the hell is this Chihuahua? I told you to bring me the Queen's Watchdog upon his arrival!"

Ciel's jaw dropped in horror. Had he just been called a—

"Chihuahua?" Sebastian ended his thought, sounding as incredulous.

He had never felt as offended before. Yes, Barymore was a very strange man — based on the design of his house and the entrance to the village, he was fascinated with dark things; he likely knew quite a lot about abductions and murders, too. But to break the basic rules of social conduct? To call him… to call him…

Angela let out another groan as she was struck, distracting Ciel from his thoughts.

Ah, yes. Angela. Angela who was being punished by her master. Maybe she deserved it for her indecency, but it had gone on long enough.

"Sebastian," Ciel commanded sharply. In a blink, Sebastian was by Barymore's side, intercepting his hand with a whip and preventing him from landing new blows.

"What are you doing, you filthy Doberman!" Barymore roared. "You dare touch me? Let go of me right this instant!"

"He's acting on my orders only," Ciel said wearily, and was rewarded with a stupid expression of shock on Barymore's face.

"What?" he spat in disbelief.

"You obviously received the letter I've sent. I'm Ciel Phantomhive." Picking a chair, Ciel took it and put his cane on the table, studying Barymore from under his lashes. An aggressive idiot with too much power. Taking it from him would be a piece of cake — no challenge in sight. And to think that he'd had such hopes for this trip… At least the Phantomhives' fortune was about to increase.

"Are you telling me that a Toy Poodle like you is the Queen's emissary?" Barymore demanded, but this time, Ciel didn't gape as he had a minute ago.

"You don't like small breeds, Lord Henry?" he asked almost playfully. The man seemed to be an expert in dogs — toying with him might be easy, but it'd still be fun. "What shall we do about that?"

"Listen here," Barymore took a step towards him. "You are just a—"

"Please watch how you're speaking to my Master," Sebastian interjected. His voice was pleasant, but the threat in it was not. Barymore glared at him, rubbing his bruised wrist angrily.

"Fine," he huffed. "Angela, make us tea. I and this… Earl Phantomhive will have a talk."

Least of all Ciel wanted to prolong the contact with Angela, but he forced himself to stay silent. Sebastian didn't volunteer to go with her — that was good enough.

Unfortunately, this day didn't stop throwing unwelcome surprises at him. Before his negotiations with Barymore could even start, Angela walked back in with a tray. Her damaged hands were shaking so much that she couldn't handle filling a cup properly, and of course, this was when Sebastian decided to interfere.

"Please, allow me to do this," he whispered. He was speaking quietly, but Ciel heard every word as loudly as if they were screamed right into his ears.

"Thank you," Angela whispered back, briefly touching Sebastian's hands with her own. "I appreciate it."

Ciel was so busy glaring at her that he almost missed how Barymore threw the papers on the table dismissively.

"There is nothing to discuss," he sneered. "I won't sell this village, no matter what conditions you offer."

With an effort, Ciel tried to re-focus his attention.

"And why is that?" he asked. He expected any kind of answer, but not what Barymore actually said.

"Because of the curse."

What?

"A curse?" Ciel repeated slowly. This was new. Was this man planning to explain the murders and abductions with a scary tale? Or did he hope to spook the unwanted guests this way?

Maybe both.

"This village and its dogs have existed for centuries," Barymore crossed his hands against his chest, trying to appear solemn. "Anyone who interferes in our affairs ends up being cursed… in the most terrible way." He stood up abruptly, towering over Ciel. An attempt at verbal and physical intimidation at once? How very delightful.

"Even Her Majesty the Queen cannot change this," he warned. "Anyone who acts against the Barymore family is destined to meet an unimaginably horrifying end."

Did he honestly think this was impressive? What a pathetic specimen.

"My," Ciel drawled, "that sounds interesting."

Barymore wasn't prepared for such reaction. His face twisted in an ugly confusion.

"What?" he hissed. Allowing a smile to touch his lips, Ciel leaned against his chair comfortably.

"I think I'm going to stay here so that I could see this dreadful curse of yours personally. I hope you don't mind?"

Barymore trembled with rage. Raising his hand, he slammed it into the table, sending Ciel's cup of tea crashing down, spilling its hot contents on his jacket and trousers. Ciel raised an uninterested eyebrow, ignoring the way his skin began to burn.

"Has the curse started working already?" he inquired politely. This time, Barymore let out an unintelligible growl, looking like a rabid dog. He raised his fist anew, but Sebastian's smooth voice froze the movement he was about to make.

"If you do that again, I'm afraid I'll have to break every finger of yours."

Barymore's eyes widened in alarm. He stared at Sebastian, then shifted his gaze to Ciel, who just shrugged in boredom.

"He is responsible for my protection," he explained laconically. "I would think you had realised it back when he stopped you from abusing your servant on my order. But I suppose some creatures are too thick to learn."

"I— you— what?" Barymore blinked furiously, shaking his head. "What do you mean by that?"

Sebastian let out a quiet chuckle and Ciel sent him a long-suffering glance.

"Angela, was it?" he asked. "Show us to our room. I wish to rest after the trip."

"Of course," the annoying maid bowed. "Please follow me."

The moment they were left alone, Sebastian began to fuss over the soaked clothing, helping Ciel undress and selecting a new similar outfit from the suitcase.

"What do you think of the curse, Master?" he asked. "Shall I lock the doors and windows to keep it at bay?"

"You are the only curse here," Ciel muttered. "If I survive interactions with you on a regular basis, I can survive anything Barymore is about to unleash on me."

"Surely not alone," Sebastian retorted lazily.

"Surely if I pay for your services, they count as mine."

This made Sebastian pause, and Ciel snickered.

"I'm not concerned over Barymore or his curse," he said. "He's a primitive man with a primitive way of thinking. I'll wait to see his move just out of my morbid curiosity. Then I'll take his village and eliminate everything the Queen dislikes about it."

Sebastian pursed his lips but refrained from saying anything. Good. Ciel wasn't in the mood to have another argument about Her Majesty.

"What did you think of Angela?" he asked abruptly. Then he bit his lip, mortified at his question.

He wasn't supposed to ask things like this. He wasn't supposed to care whether Sebastian was curious about someone else.

On the other hand, he couldn't have Sebastian in a distracted state, could he? Not with the danger lurking just around the corner.

"She is… interesting," Sebastian replied carefully, straightening his shirt. This should have been the end of it, but Ciel's treacherous tongue disobeyed him once more.

"Interesting?" it pushed forward. "You didn't even speak to her. How could you have deemed her interesting?"

Sebastian frowned a little, throwing him a baffled look.

"She reminds me of someone," he said after a pause. "That's all."

'Be silent,' Ciel warned himself. Sebastian's reply didn't need any elaboration — there was no reason to ask—

"Your 'acquaintance' from hell?" his voice filled the room again. "The one who's 'friendlier' than others?"

If Ciel wasn't so paralysed by the horror of his behaviour, he would have slapped his own mouth. What had gotten into him? Why was he being so obsessive over such an insignificant topic?

Sebastian clearly thought so, too, judging from his increasingly startled expression.

"Not really," he said warily. Ciel's lips twitched in the desire to ask another question, but this time, he kept a steely hold on himself.

He wouldn't say another word. He wouldn't, not even if he had to bite through his tongue to ensure it.

To his deepest relief, his body finally agreed to obey.

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The rest of the day was relatively uneventful. The only thing of note was the trip they took to the local square and the dark glares they were subjected to from all sides. One man stood out in particular: sullen and hollow-cheeked, he followed them around, clenching a short metal rod in his hands.

"Did you want something?" Ciel asked, finally fed up with being stalked. The man bared his teeth in a snarl.

"You should go home," he spat. "You'll bring a curse upon our heads, too! A cur like you has no place here. Your interference is an insult to all hard-working people who dedicated their lives to the prosperity of this village!"

"This village exists because the Queen allows it," Ciel remarked coolly. "If she believes that something illicit is happening here, then I will investigate it. It's as simple as that."

The man let out a threatening growl. He jerked forward but stopped again under Sebastian's warning stare.

"You'll regret it!" he swore, but Ciel had already lost interest.

Barymore's influence stretched far, that much was obvious. His family must have been keeping a tight rein on the population of this village for decades, so the people knew nothing of the world outside of it. Such ignorance and fervent devotion were a dangerous thing. The curse, whatever it was, couldn't be deadlier than the mindless crowd.

"How do you think people manage to lose any sense of their identity?" he asked later. It was already evening, and though Sebastian had his own room, for whatever reason, he chose to stick to Ciel's. Currently, he was busy sorting through his outfits once again, probably folding and refolding them to achieve the most flawless look. It looked like an excuse rather than him doing his actual duties, but Ciel didn't mind. At least here, he could keep track of where Sebastian was and what he was doing. And with whom.

"Are you talking about the residents of this village?" Sebastian inquired politely.

"Yes," Ciel stared at the book he was holding unseeingly. "They appear to be… They must have their interests, habits, individuality. Their opinions. And yet they willingly give it all up for Barymore. I don't understand it."

"Don't you?" Sebastian didn't bother turning to him, which made his words biting despite the mild voice they were spoken in. Ciel clenched his teeth, instantly annoyed.

"What are you insinuating again?" he asked demandingly. Sebastian let out a loud sigh, as if weary of discussing this topic. Well, if this was what Ciel thought it was, then he wasn't the only one.

"Your loyalty to the Queen seems to be equally blind at times," Sebastian said carelessly, and the obnoxious tone made Ciel clench his fists.

"I don't sacrifice my personality to serve her," he gritted out. "Just because I respect her—"

"Ah, but you do more than respect her, don't you?" Sebastian finally turned to face him, his lips twisted in a derisive curl. "You accept every request she throws at you like a bone. Respect is neutral — your eagerness goes beyond neutrality."

"I can't exactly refuse her!" Ciel raised his voice, and his heart hammered against his ribcage, sending dull echoes throughout his body. He wasn't like these villagers — he just wasn't. Their situations were completely different. "Her benevolence to me means that I can continue to maintain my position in the society. I might be your Master, Sebastian, but there are people who have more power than me, and I have to obey them. My name and my fortune won't protect me if the Queen decides that she no longer needs me. I don't know about you, but I'm not prepared to live in some hovel and hide from the rest of the world."

Sebastian titled his head, a strange expression crossing his face.

"I wouldn't let you live in a hovel," he finally decided. "I would make sure that you are surrounded by the same level of comfort you're used to. After all, I'm one hell of—"

"Not this again," Ciel rolled his eyes, but the rush of fury had retreated, with calmness cooling his blood. For a while, none of them said anything.

"Comfort isn't everything," Ciel spoke at last. "My job presupposes useful connections, but the Queen is powerful enough to trample them all. If I become disfavoured, it won't matter how many people I've swayed to my side. They will all betray me in a blink. I have no desire to lose my position — I earned it, and I enjoy holding it. For this reason, the Queen must see me strictly as loyal to her."

Slowly, Sebastian nodded, with a contemplative look on his face. Ciel finally glanced away, but a strange and unfamiliar combination of guilt and shame curled inside him, acting like poison.

He hadn't lied. But he hadn't said the complete truth either.

How could he explain the reverence he felt for the Queen, who was more of a concept than the real person? Better yet, how could he explain it to a demon when he didn't understand it himself?

Maybe this attitude ran in the family. Maybe it was the lessons that his predecessor had tried to teach him, encouraging him to see Her Majesty as the ultimate leader of the world whose favour was a blessing worth dying for.

Either way, Sebastian wouldn't understand. He would see it as a weakness, and the thought of it was too intolerable to even consider it.

With an effort, Ciel concentrated on his book.

Reverence or not, he was still different from the people who worshipped Barymore. At least the Queen was someone worthy of respect.

For the next hour, a comfortable silence filled the room. Sebastian approached him at some point, lighting a fire in the fireplace, and Ciel stretched his legs without looking up.

Their peace was broken by a sudden knock on the door.

"Come in," he called out.

"I'm sorry for disturbing you so late," the meek voice muttered, and Ciel's fingers tightened on the book cover. Of course it had to be her.

"The Young Master is about to retire," Sebastian said with an unexpected sharpness in his voice. He sounded almost hostile, and Ciel blinked, genuinely taken aback. When had that happened? Sebastian had spent the entire day glued to his side. The last time they saw Angela, he was sickeningly attentive and considerate, and now he acted as if she was intruding. What was even happening in his head?

"I have a request to make," Angela said, more strongly this time. "Please leave this village. You cannot stay here."

"And why is that?" Ciel deigned to reply. He refused to give her more attention than this, so he stayed focused on the book, even though he couldn't see a word written there.

"Because—" Angela stumbled over the sentence without finishing it. Ciel was about to snap at her for wasting his time when a piercing howl exploded the stillness outside. He jerked from the loudness of it, and jerked again when Angela cried out, "No! The Demon Hound! It's coming!"

"The Demon Hound?" Ciel stood up. Was this the curse Barymore was speaking about? Some monster he had managed to tame and sic on the guests he didn't like?

Predictably, Angela didn't reply. She was pathetic in her fear — standing there, staring at the window with her terrified eyes, whimpering quietly… A smug sense of superiority flooded Ciel, tingling under his skin.

Sebastian wouldn't be so impressed by her now. He wouldn't respect her and he wouldn't look at her in the way he had. He would no longer—

A shadow dimmed the lights in the room. An image of what looked like a huge dog flickered across the curtain, and Ciel tensed, unsure if it was real.

"Sebastian," he ordered sharply. He didn't need to say anything else — the next second, Sebastian was there, flinging the curtains open. Nothing leapt out on him from thin air, so Ciel carefully approached.

"What was that?" he asked in wonder. At first, Sebastian didn't reply, but then he pointed at something.

"Master, look there," he uttered. Ciel narrowed his eye, staring into the night. There was a green flash darting forward, illuminating the darkness. It was running somewhere — a creature of some kind, no doubt, but apart from strange ethereal glow, there was nothing special about it. It looked like a dog. A green dog, but a dog nonetheless.

"Let's go," Ciel commanded, turning away from the window and walking past Angela. He knew Sebastian would follow.

The dog had to belong to Barymore. Its shadow had looked sufficiently frightening, but it didn't match the silhouette Ciel had just seen — an illusion, then. But why did it glow green? Of course, Barymore could have found an actual monster, but after seeing how idiotic and cowardly he was, Ciel sincerely doubted it.

A common dog. A dog covered with something that made it glow in the dark. He had to find out what it was.

It was chilly outside, with the first signs of upcoming winter infusing the air with icy coldness. The villagers were screeching in fright, so they must have seen the apparition, too.

A small glowing spot on the ground next to the manor instantly grabbed Ciel's attention. He bent down, dipping his finger into it and studying its texture.

The answer came so quickly that it was almost disappointing.

Phosphorous powder. Of course, what else a man this primitive could have used? This was something to be expected.

What Ciel didn't expect was to see an actual body brought forward by the panicked people.

"It's James!" Angela wailed, pressing her hands to her chest. Her anguish looked almost exaggerated, but she wasn't smart enough to pretend, so Ciel quickly dismissed this thought. "Poor, poor James… he should have known better."

"He should have," some man confirmed gravely. Ciel ignored them all, circling the body slowly.

One shoe missing, lying nearby in the dirt. The trousers, the shirt, and both sleeves torn in a suspiciously identical manner. Animal bites everywhere, covering every piece of skin. But an animal wouldn't have been this precise and meticulous — besides, the way in which every article of clothing was ruined seemed artificial.

Carefully, Ciel lowered himself to one knee again, touching a limp hand and examining the pattern of wounds on it. The skin was still warm, so the murder must have been committed less than half an hour ago. A man had been torn apart by a dog yet no one heard his screams? Such death would be brutal and long. Either all these people were accomplices or someone had murdered James quietly before mutilating the body.

And a blue collar around his neck. A dog would have definitely been unable to put it there, no matter how large it was. Why would anyone use the collar if it was so immediately incriminating?

To mask the real cause of murder. Strangulation, it had to be.

"That's it, then," Ciel muttered under his breath. Barymore hadn't dared to strike at him directly, so he murdered a man to instil fear and chase the unwanted guests away from his village.

How deeply… uninspiring.

"Don't touch him!" a familiar voice boomed. Ciel twisted his head, looking at Barymore with open contempt.

'I'm going to build a resort here,' he thought vindictively. What had served as an excuse was a guarantee now. He wouldn't let any trip of his be this pointless.

"So it was James," Barymore said grimly. "James was the bad dog."

"Yes," a man standing next to a stalker with a metal rod confirmed. Their performance was so bad that Ciel's brain nearly wilted from the awkwardness of it. "He broke the restriction on dog ownership. He got a sixth dog, one more than is allowed."

"I see," Barymore closed his eyes, attempting to look defeated. "Then it was inevitable."

"What do you mean it was inevitable!" Bard exclaimed, and Ciel promptly blocked the conversation from reaching his ears.

He was cold. Cold and bored. He could arrest Barymore right now or he could wait for him to—

"A white dog is a good dog, the best dog. The black dog is a bad dog, the worst dog," a surprisingly even choir broke into his thoughts, quickly dragging him back to reality. The villagers stared at him, grim-faced and solemn. A few of them raised the dead body, and the chant resumed. "He'll eat your flesh down to the bone. He'll gobble you up until you're gone."

It was eerie, the way these people sang the disturbing words as if they'd done it hundreds of times before. What was even more eerie was how Sebastian stiffened, as transfixed by the song as he had been when an old woman had sung it.

Maybe he was missing something? Something grander than he'd first assumed. Sebastian's behaviour had left the annoying territory and entered the land of bizarre, and Ciel knew there was no chance to decipher it unless he asked directly.

But he wouldn't, no matter how much the words burned his tongue. It was just as likely that he read the situation wrong and Sebastian was merely intrigued by the slaverish strangeness of this village. Looking stupid in front of him would be the last nail in the coffin of this underwhelming trip.

"I thought that you outsiders would have become its prey," Barymore grumbled. "You are lucky to have escaped."

With a dramatic flourish, he went after the chanting villagers, Angela following closely behind.

"Master," Sebastian said quietly, and this one word voiced the question Ciel had been expecting.

"Not now," he replied lazily. "Tomorrow. I want to make it count."

There was no point in arresting Barymore right this minute. It would anger the village idiots, so Sebastian would have to eliminate them, too, and that was more trouble than it was worth. No, the villagers had to witness Barymore's fall with their own eyes. They had to see what kind of man he was so that they could crucify him personally.

Getting rid of the current leader and building a resort could be relatively pleasing, but Ciel had wasted too much time on nothing to be satisfied with it. No, he wanted something else. He wanted loyalty of these malleable people. If they admired Barymore, they would accept him just as blindly. Not that he needed a horde of idiots following him around, but it could be funny to stay here for a while and see how quickly he could change their attitude.

Ciel smiled, vague plans rapidly gaining shape in his mind. Then he realised he was being stared at by Sebastian and all his other servants. Even Tanaka looked concerned.

"Our business here is finished," Ciel announced. "Good night."

With these words, he returned to the manor, knowing Sebastian would trace his steps. No one could see him here, so he allowed himself a small smile again.

Even the dullest cases could be made entertaining.

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That night, he fell asleep quickly. He dreamed of an endless path stretching forward, and he kept following it, feeling like it was about to end at any moment. It didn't — it went on and on, and Ciel was walking until the picture was suddenly violently torn from him. His eyes flew open, and the world around him swam as some force yanked him from his bed, cradling him close.

Not some force. Sebastian.

"What are you doing?" Ciel murmured sleepily, craning his neck to better see his face. Sebastian didn't reply to him. He was pale and determined, and his whole attention was fixed on the door.

All right, if no insight was coming, he would have to get it himself.

Trying to shake off the sleep, Ciel looked around the room. It was plunged into complete darkness, so it was still night. Sebastian had snatched him from his bed and was now holding him, frozen in a tense defensive position, staring at the door. No matter how intently Ciel listened, he couldn't hear a sound. No one was immediately breaking in, so Sebastian had nothing to explain his craziness with.

"I order you to tell me what is going on," he demanded hoarsely, but as before, he got no reaction. Sebastian just tightened his grip on his waist, not looking away from the entrance. Annoyed, Ciel kicked him in the ribs with all his might. This finally got him a reaction, but it lasted for a split of a second: Sebastian threw him a quick exasperated look before refocusing on the door.

Ciel had never been in such a situation before. He was being held hostage by an insane demon who had disrupted his sleep, stolen him from his bed, and refused to explain his behaviour. Nothing else was happening — there were no enemies around, so it's not like he could even amuse himself with something.

"Put me down," Ciel hissed. "I want to go back to sleep! That's an order!"

Sebastian didn't respond.

Fine. If he pretended to be an inanimate object, let him. Ciel supposed he could sleep like this if needed.

Wrapping his hands and legs around Sebastian, Ciel buried his face in the crook of his neck and closed his eyes. The position was soothing and comfortable, as familiar as his bed — maybe more. At some point in the last few years, being in Sebastian's arms had become something natural, something instinctively comforting.

A fluttery sensation of safety unfolded in him, washing over his body in pleasant warm waves. Snuggling closer, Ciel fell asleep.

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He woke up in his own bed, upon Sebastian bringing him tea. His face lacked any trace of acknowledgement that something had happened — he acted like he always did, and Ciel immediately understood that he would get no answers. Not today, at least.

He still asked, "Explain your night insanity to me. What possessed you to ruin my sleep in that manner?"

"A simple precaution," Sebastian replied readily. "I apologise for the abruptness of my actions, Young Master, but I believed Lord Henry would strike again. His curse could take another form, one we haven't anticipated, so I was merely doing my duty."

Lies, all of it. Complete and utter lies.

But Ciel preferred to trust his intuition, and right now, it was whispering that whatever was happening to Sebastian, it had nothing to do with the case itself. He was still going through his demon crisis, and he would refuse to discuss it no matter what order he received, finding loopholes no human could foresee.

He was lucky Ciel had other things on his mind at the moment or they would test who could be more slippery.

"Bring my tea outside," he decided. "I'm going to spend my morning on the beach."

A shadow marred Sebastian's expression, turning it cautious. But then his lips stretched in a bland smile.

"Of course, my lord," he said smoothly. "It will be done."

And it was done, just not in the way Ciel had expected. He was planning to sit next to the water, read his book, and plot. All of that in silence. But no, for some inane reason, Sebastian had dragged all their servants outside, too — and he had the audacity to bring Angela. Even though they were seated away from him, he could still hear their annoying yelps and laughter.

Bard's booming voice made Ciel automatically glance up again. He, Finnie, and Tanaka were splashing water at each other, their faces bright and open. They were genuinely enjoying themselves — it was such a rare sight that Ciel stared at them, strangely captivated.

What was it like, feeling so careless? Laughing in such a loud and unattractive way, not thinking about the impression they were making? Enjoying themselves and not caring who saw them?

And the water had to be cold. Ciel shivered at the idea of even touching it, never mind diving inside.

No, swimming like this wasn't something he would ever do. It looked too strange and undignified, too simple to bring any real pleasure. Observing others from a distance and reading a book was a far more alluring option.

Losing interest in his servants, Ciel brought the cup to his lips, took a sip, and put it back on a small table Sebastian had found. There was no wind today, and though the air maintained its chilliness, he was suitably warm in his clothes. Sebastian had also dragged a foot rest for him, allegedly to increase his comfort, and though Ciel suspected it was more of a dig at his height, he couldn't deny how relaxed he felt.

"Is Young Master not going to swim?" Sebastian asked, suddenly turning to look at him. Ciel ignored him, refusing to answer such a redundant question. As if he would agree to a crazy idea like this. Swimming in autumn wasn't his idea of a good time.

"Ah, I see." Sebastian chuckled, and the mockery effectively distracted Ciel from his book. "Young Master doesn't want—"

"If you can still swim in this season, then there is no point in making this place a summer resort," Ciel interrupted him. If this was about the brand on his back again, he didn't want to hear it. Sebastian had a frustrating ability to get under his skin, but fortunately, he knew how to redirect his trains of thought equally well.

"Do you actually intend to turn this village into resort?" Like he expected, Sebastian sounded surprised. He faced him more directly, forgetting about swimming and ugly brands, and Ciel struggled to keep himself from smirking.

"Of course I do," he said. Sebastian was a creature undeserving of trust, but he could always be trusted to remain predictable.

"What about the Demon Hound?" Sebastian pressed, and Ciel snorted incredulously.

"Surely you know as well as I by now?" he asked. It couldn't be that Sebastian was still clueless or that he thought Ciel was this much of an imbecile. "This "Demon Hound" is no dog."

A soft chuckle from Sebastian reassured him that there were limits even to demons' stupidity. Yes, Sebastian knew the truth, and he knew that Ciel knew it. Barymore was the curse of this village, and his childish myths were realised through equally childish means. Let his downfall be just as dramatic.

"Come here," Ciel uttered softly. Sebastian's eyes flashed with interest. He approached, bending down, and Ciel breathed into his ear, "Make Barymore's arrest into a show. Impress me."

Sebastian's expression didn't change, but the excitement that his body flared with was bright and tangible. It sent a tremor of delight through Ciel's stomach.

"Yes, my lord. Right away," he heard. Sebastian sounded so ridiculously pleased that keeping a stern expression became a challenge. Still, Ciel succeeded. Then Sebastian gazed at him, not bothering to put any distance between them, and the strange warmth in his eyes sent Ciel's heart rate skittering.

Awkwardly, he looked away. For a few shorts moments, his brain floated in a bewildering state of happiness and confusion, but then the sobering rationality struck, and he cleared his throat.

"How cooperative of you," he uttered. "Don't you hate dogs?"

Sebastian stopped, and the heart rate changed its pace again, turning into a gallop. Ciel stared forward with glassy eyes, both expecting the answer and dreading it. Normally, he wouldn't have played along and used Sebastian's stupid dog metaphor for himself, but now, suddenly, it seemed fitting.

"I do hate them," Sebastian agreed. His voice remained the same, but there was a barely noticeable note of tension underlying it. "That's why I'd like to finish this as quickly as possible."

The blow landed hard, knocking the air out of him. A knot of conflicting emotions tightened in his chest and made his lungs constrict even more. Ciel continued to look at something, not daring to inhale, but even as the lack of air slowly started to blacken his vision, he couldn't stop thinking of what these words meant. He couldn't stop resenting their implication, just as he couldn't stop despising himself for it.

Why would he care about what Sebastian felt towards him and their contract? Why would he be upset at the idea of him wanting to finish it? Sebastian was here for the meal that was waiting for him in the end. Of course he had no desire to prolong their cooperation. Of course he—

"Before the situation turns worse."

If every cell of his body wasn't attuned to Sebastian to the point of painful precision, Ciel would have missed it. Sebastian had uttered these words so quietly, it didn't seem like he intended to be heard. But they did reach his ears, and Ciel latched onto them with a fervency that horrified him, looking for meanings and interconnections.

Sebastian had more or less confirmed that he hated him — two times in two days, in fact. He had admitted that his cooperation was a result of his desire to put an end to their contract sooner. But the last phrase… did it mean that Sebastian was rushing because he was feeling uncomfortable? Threatened? As unsettled by the subtle changes in their bond as Ciel was?

He was probably wrong. But he wanted to be right. He needed to be right, needed to know that he wasn't the only one undergoing these constant confusion and uncertainty.

A new burst of laughter from Bard, Finnie, and Mey-Rin drowned out his thoughts, and Ciel finally remembered to breathe.

This wasn't right, the way he allowed some stupid feelings to interfere with his plans. He wanted to focus on this village and on the future resort here, not on a creature that delighted in confusing him.

Sebastian would pay for it — he just had to figure out how.

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Thirty minutes later, the screams began.

"James' dog! It was caught!"

"The punishment is about to start, let's go!"

His servants jumped to their feet, looking shocked, while Ciel grimaced sourly.

These idiots were about to punish a dog for being the sixth in its master's house. There was truly no hope for them. But why would the dog allow itself to be caught when it had a whole night and this morning to escape? Sebastian must have had something to do with it. First he said he hated dogs, now he was about to get one of them killed. Was it symbolic, too? Ciel wasn't sure he wanted to watch it, but if this was the start of the show he'd requested, he would have to be present.

After five more minutes, he, his servants, and Angela were standing behind the furious crowd, watching the execution.

"It looks like it has something in its mouth!" one of them shouted. From this distance, Ciel couldn't guess what it was, but his mind began to jump between different conclusions.

Maybe the dog did have something in its mouth. Or maybe it'd been given something. A piece of evidence connecting Barymore to the murder? That would be entertaining, to reveal it in front of these deranged people. People who screamed in glee now that the chained dog was attacked by many other dogs at once, having no chance to defend itself.

"You can't do this! Don't you feel sorry for him at all?" Finnie yelled all of a sudden. Ciel jumped, staring at him with wide eyes, and before he could do anything, Finnie broke into a run. With his inhuman strength, he tore off a wooden post from the ground and swung it, flinging the attacking dogs away from their victim.

Mey-Rin and Bard ran towards him, and Ciel followed them, feeling more worried than he wanted to admit. He'd never seen Finnie lose control like this. He didn't even know he liked animals this much — was there something about this in his file? At this point, he couldn't remember.

Finnie didn't react to them, staring at the now-unmoving dog and trying to pat it with his trembling hands. Ciel shook his head as the uncomfortable and stifling sensation began to twitch in his chest. He was regretful that this had to happen — the dog didn't deserve it. But for Finnie to show so many emotions, to forget about his orders and behave so inappropriately… what was he feeling? How could these feelings be this strong — it's not like he even knew this dog or cared about it.

"You interfered!" someone roared, and Ciel quickly turned to face the crowd. Dozens of angry faces stared at him and his servants with furious glares, clenching their village weapons in their hands.

"You interrupted the punishment!" another cry erupted. "You deserve to be punished, too!"

Ciel's eyes located Barymore, who was standing behind others with a triumphant smirk. He probably thought he had won. A ridiculous, brainless man.

"Get them!" Barymore commanded, smirking wider when the crowd obediently dashed forward. Ciel found himself pushed back as Bard furiously deflected the first blows, trying to protect him. Mey-Rin joined in, too, but they had no weapons at their disposal, so less than a minute later, both of them were overpowered. Finnie didn't move from his place, and before he had a chance to wake up from his stupor, he was grabbed as well.

"Let's see how you like our hospitality now," Barymore drawled, baring his teeth gleefully. "You should have left when you had this chance."

Ciel raised his eyebrow, keeping his expression disdainful even as two men pulled his hands behind his back roughly.

"Hey! Let go of him!" Bard yelled, jerking against the ropes he was being tied down with.

"How dare you!" Mey-Rin shrieked. She was also pulling at the ropes fruitlessly. "He outranks all of you, he does! You don't touch him!"

"Where is that wretched Sebastian when we need him?" Bard added with a scowl. Ciel shrugged, not bothering to struggle as he was being chained to the wall from three sides at once. What were they going to do, dismember him by pulling each part of his body in different directions? It could be a creative attempt. But Bard was right, where was Sebastian? Still organising the show or having fun, waiting to interfere in the last moment?

Finnie, it seemed, finally got over his shock because he began to shout, too.

"Gag them!" Barymore snapped irritably before focusing on Ciel again. He was nearly bursting with smugness. "Not so powerful now, are you, Maltese?"

Ciel bit back a snort. Again with the dogs. This was getting pathological.

"Master, I beg you, forgive these people!" Angela exclaimed, wringing her hands desperately. "Just this once!"

Ciel wrinkled his nose, unsure what to think of her words. She was a right fool, but he hadn't thought she would risk arguing with her master for them. Maybe she was braver than he'd believed.

Or maybe she was hoping to secure Sebastian's favour this way, stealing even more of his attention.

"You have a point," Barymore agreed unexpectedly. "This Pomeranian is the Queen's Watchdog, after all. Perhaps, if he can be made to see reason, I might decide to let him go."

Ciel relaxed, leaning again the chains and allowing them to support his weight. Oh, this was going to be entertaining. A man like Barymore could only negotiate through the use of blind force, and based on his confidence, he didn't doubt that his guests would eagerly agree to any terms he proposed. Seeing him spluttering at the inevitable refusal would be hilarious.

"Advise Her Majesty to never send her minions into this village again," Barymore told him, raising his voice demandingly. Ciel pretended to consider it for a short moment before a grin broke out on his face.

"How pathetic," he drawled. "Relying on all these little tricks to preserve your meagre power? I'd wager that the word "pig-headed" was devised with you in mind."

Barymore's face scrunched up in an even uglier grimace as he snarled in fury and disbelief.

"Then I'll let you see what happens to the unruly dogs that oppose me!" he spat. "Get him!"

Five enraged dogs jumped forward at the command, running towards him and barking in violent anticipation. Ciel watched them approach, and for a second, a sharp stab of nervousness went through him. Sebastian loved games, didn't he? And he loved the loopholes. What if he didn't come? What if he thought it'd be funny to watch the Queen's Watchdog getting torn apart by the actual dogs?

But the intensifying burn of panic cooled down a split of a second later, when a black shadow emerged right in front of him, shielding him and sending the dogs flying back.

"Cutting it close," Ciel commented sombrely, although his lips started to tremble in an impulse to smile. Everything was going according to the plan, then. Barymore's time was up, and the entire Houndsworth was about to witness the start of a new era.

"I truly apologise, my lord," Sebastian said, throwing a playful glance at him. Ciel finally figured out what to do with his lips, so he scoffed. This didn't sound like an apology, not in the least.

Barymore gawked at them before clenching his fists, almost breathing fire.

"You dare to interfere, Garmr?" he roared, and Ciel secured this word in the back of his mind. Where was Barymore coming up with all these breeds? Did he have a large book that he read every night before going to bed? "What are you lot waiting for? Kill them both, now!"

The dogs reacted to his voice, growling in a clear threat, and Sebastian let out a dissatisfied noise.

"What an annoying and growly sound they make," he uttered. "One of the reasons why I hate dogs."

Ciel furrowed his brows, uncertain if this was about him or the actual dogs for a change. From his position, he couldn't see what was happening, but Sebastian must have done something because the dogs suddenly dropped on their bellies, waving their tales and staring at him with terrified obedience.

Now this was truly distasteful, but what else could he expect from the animals? They weren't smart enough to dismiss Sebastian's posturing or strong enough to fight against him.

"What did you do?" Barymore exclaimed. Ciel savoured the stunned look on his face, and then he stretched lazily in his chains.

"Your pitiful farce stops here, Barymore," he announced, putting a right amount of solemnity into his voice. It was time for his own part to begin. "Listen to me, villagers: there's no Demon Hound! There is just an old man obsessed with power who got scared of the bites of his superiors."

Sebastian took his cue and moved in the direction of one of the dogs. He reached it just as Barymore stammered, "What evidence do you have?"

He might have just as well confessed instead of asking this incriminating question.

"This," Sebastian spoke, mirroring Ciel's earlier solemnity to perfection. He took out an animal skull from under his coat with a flourish, tested it against the dog's jaw, and turned to Barymore again. "We found this in the basement of your mansion," he said seriously. "I took the liberty of confirming that the marks left on James's body match these teeth."

Ciel rolled his eyes at all these theatrics, but the true irritation was missing. Sebastian was doing exactly what he wanted him to do — playing his role flawlessly. The villagers gasped in turmoil while Barymore's eyes widened comically. Knowing Sebastian, this was probably not even the real skull that was used for imitating the bites, or if it was, it hadn't been found in the basement.

Barymore would know their accusations were right, but he would be relentlessly confused by the presence of all this fabricated evidence. He'd never comprehend the reality with his tiny brain, so it was a perfect, albeit a small mind twist he deserved.

Sebastian stood up, and despite seeing his back only, Ciel was certain his face was glowing smugly.

"Look there!" he ordered. The idiots jerked around, and even Ciel had to raise his eyebrows. Sebastian had somehow manipulated the image of the Demon Hound into being reflected by the sky itself. Barymore's projection certainly didn't have such capacities. "This is the truth behind the Demon Hound. It is nothing but an image, a transparent trick. The glow, in turn, was phosphorus dust — he sprinkled it on a normal dog."

Just as miraculously, Sebastian extracted a vial and tilted it, letting what seemed like an endless flood of green sparkly dust come out.

Show-off. As if Ciel would let him steal all the glory.

"The Demon Hound is an illusion made by a single man. And that man is you, Henry Barymore!" he cried out dramatically. He took note of the outraged voices murmuring, the way people instantly stared at Barymore, condemnation heavy in their eyes. One more trick, one more passionate speech, and they would execute him personally — just because they could and because the fools hated being made fools of.

"This is nonsense!" Barymore protested desperately. "What evidence do you have against me?"

Was he really asking for more evidence? The man was unintelligent beyond any hope of salvation.

Ciel smirked, letting Sebastian make his next move. Following unvoiced order, Sebastian approached James' dog.

"You can rest," he said calmly, taking something out of its mouth. "Your duty is done."

Ciel squinted, trying to see what he was holding.

A piece of torn cloth. A piece of torn brown cloth. One that the dog hadn't actually torn off by itself — Ciel could bet his entire manor on it.

"What fine material," Sebastian said thoughtfully. "I wonder, why didn't the dog let go of it until its final moments?"

"Because you forced it to keep it in its mouth?" Ciel muttered under his breath. He knew Sebastian would hear — and he did, based on the long-suffering look thrown his way.

"That's why," ignoring him now, Sebastian proudly presented the cloth to the villagers. Barymore recoiled, stammering something unintelligibly, genuine shock written all over him. "Indeed," the smirk Sebastian had to be swallowing under all this seriousness was slipping through — as a result, his voice sounded strangely petulant. "It's a scrap of cloth from your pants, torn off by James' dog when you attacked his master. Will you deny that it's yours?"

Barymore was floored, Ciel sensed it with all his being. He couldn't deny that this piece came from his pants, but he also had to know that no dog had torn it off. Ciel could nearly hear the way his brain was creaking in an effort to understand how this could have happened.

No answer seemed to be forthcoming because instead of protesting or even trying to buy himself time, Barymore suddenly ran. It ended almost the second it started, when the villagers blocked his path. Their righteous fury and thirst for blood were physically palpable, but since they were at the stage of screeching, not acting, Ciel decided to give them an additional push.

"Surrender!" he exclaimed loudly, thrusting forward to draw more attention to his chains. Let these people remember that he was a victim who had almost died for their sake. "It's all over now!"

It worked — the idiots' yells gained volume, and then they grabbed Barymore and began to drag him somewhere — likely to some ritual sight where they could execute or imprison him.

The job was done, then. Tomorrow morning, Ciel could start cultivating his own presence here, observing how quickly the village would fall at his feet. Building a resort would bring him an additional income, and having people who craved his approval guarding it could only be a benefit.

The shackles around his arms and legs fell off. Ciel sent Sebastian a narrowed-eyed stare before rubbing his wrist slowly, in a vivid demonstration of his displeasure.

"All that could have been done sooner," he commented curtly. "You waited for far too long."

Sebastian spread his arms theatrically.

"You asked me for a show, my lord. I thought that appearing in the most dramatic moment would make it more impressive for you and the audience."

Ciel smiled. Sometimes toying with Sebastian was astonishingly easy.

"Learned that word, haven't you?" he asked mildly. Sebastian's smirk vanished, but before Ciel could enjoy the glower that would inevitably follow, Finnie dropped to the ground, hugging the dead dog to his chest. It was impossible to hear what he was saying, but the way his shoulders shook in grief, the quiet sobs he didn't even try to stifle — this was unmistakable. Ciel shifted uncomfortably, not certain what expression to take.

Crying so openly, in front of everyone, on his knees… No, he couldn't understand it. This was simply beyond him. And to feel such strong emotions for a mere dog?

Unwillingly, a brief image of his own dog surfaced in his mind, but Ciel shook it off. He might have been fond of that stubborn, protective creature, but he had still held himself better than this after its death. And Sebastian had actually belonged to him — Finnie, in turn, was seeing this dog for the first time in his life.

A cluster of darkness began to accumulate nearby, toxic and bitter, almost poisonous in its intensity. Surprised, Ciel turned his head. Sebastian was staring at Finnie with an expression that could only be called disturbed. His brows were furrowed, his eyes narrowed, and the corners of his lips curled downwards, betraying how unsettled he felt.

"Yet another reason why I hate dogs," he said quietly. Ciel wasn't sure if these words were meant to be heard. Gaping, he stared at Sebastian, having no idea what to say in response. Confusion and disbelief spread through him like a wildfire, hiding a powerful feeling of elation underneath, and the latter just made this whole moment all the more peculiar.

Surely Sebastian didn't mean… this couldn't be about him, not like it was at the beach. Or could it? Because what other explanation was there?

But it was too much. Sebastian would have never admitted that he hated dogs — him — because they (he) evoked too many emotions in him. He didn't even understand what emotions were! The game they'd played with the teachers was a good lesson, but could it have truly been this effective? Could it have made a demon feel like normal people usually felt?

No. Probably not. But what else did Sebastian's words mean?

His voice stuck uselessly in his throat, so in the end, Ciel said nothing, staring at Finnie without seeing him. Tingling warmth that had filled his stomach now travelled further, thawing something in his chest, as if it'd been lying in wait for this very moment. It pushed the redness towards his cheeks and then finally reached his brain, turning it into a floating mess of sensations he couldn't begin to decipher.

Ciel didn't fully remember how he got back to the manor where they were staying — his thoughts were scattered, and he alternatively basked in the certainty that he was special and scowled at the notion of it. Sebastian's words couldn't be interpreted differently: he said he hated dogs after watching how Finnie cried over one. And it was definitely not hatred written on his face. But why would he be so open all of a sudden, after nearly driving Ciel crazy with his caustic remarks and the lack of sufficient attention? Maybe it was another game, one he didn't know the rules of yet?

"The case is solved," he muttered. It was still early, but the sky was almost completely black, with the rain falling non-stop. "We will leave the village when the storm ceases."

"All right," Sebastian said after a while. He was probably doing his usual duties, but Ciel refused to check it. He wouldn't turn away from the window until he made sense of everything that happened during this trip — this was as good a motivation as any.

"I thought you wanted to turn this place into a resort?" Sebastian asked after another pause. "And get the villagers to obey you?"

The last bit sounded mocking, but Ciel shrugged.

"Maybe later," he replied. At the moment, taking care of the villagers was his secondary concern. Observing Sebastian and analysing his behaviour was more important because while Ciel was thrilled at the idea of triumphing once and for all by taking a permanent place in Sebastian's memory and living through him for millennia to come, he abhorred the possibility of being made an idiot of.

Technically, there were three explanations instead of one, like he had initially wanted to believe. The first one was the one he found most preferable: Sebastian, for whatever reason, was so affected by the image of Finnie with that dog that he had revealed his actual feelings, confessing that Ciel made him feel something and voicing his frustration over it. He wanted him to know because the emotions were too powerful for him to stay silent — he had to share them.

Nonsense. It was completely uncharacteristic of Sebastian and naïve to the extent of being laughable.

The second version was less preferable yet more realistic: Sebastian had said that deliberately to confuse Ciel further. First his stupid games at the manor, then his biting and petty insinuations; all that attention he'd paid Angela and his strange behaviour during yesterday's night complete with refusal to obey orders. And now he was twisting all declarations of hatred, indicating he had other feelings he was uncomfortable with? If he wanted to play with Ciel's mind, this was the best way to do it.

The third version was highly unlikely: maybe Sebastian was indeed undergoing some inner crisis, but he had no intention of voicing anything. He'd done it by accident, without realising it.

How to figure out which option was the correct one? And was it possible at all?

The wall of rain gradually hid the village from view entirely. It was getting cold, so reluctantly, Ciel turned around.

"Prepare me for bed," he ordered glumly. Maybe he could devise a more reliable strategy this way, without Sebastian hovering close.

"Already?" Sebastian frowned and checked the clock. "It is too early for you to—"

"I want to sleep. Since Barymore has been dealt with, I don't have any other plans for today."

Sebastian still appeared bewildered, but he did bow. At least some things stayed familiar.

"Yes, my lord," he uttered.

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Ciel fell asleep fairly quickly. His mind began to drag different pieces of information from his brain, assembling them together in abstract dreams, but the calmness was suddenly shattered. Something wrenched him from his bed, and within seconds, Ciel was blinking in shock, trying to adjust and to comprehend what was happening.

He was being held by Sebastian. Again. And Sebastian was staring at the door with a single-minded focus. Again.

Things really couldn't get any crazier.

"Is this going to be our new nightly ritual?" Ciel groused. "Do you enjoy disturbing my sleep and holding me hostage?"

Sebastian, predictably, ignored him, listening to something Ciel had no chances of hearing. For a moment, he contemplated kicking him until he got a reaction, but his eyelids were already growing heavier, so in the end, he just yawned.

"The worst demon in existence," he mumbled, wriggling until he felt comfortable. Pressing his face into Sebastian's familiar neck, Ciel closed his eyes, preparing to sleep. He had almost drifted off when a quiet sound of someone turning the door handle dragged him back to reality. Sebastian's grip became violent, hurting his bones. Suddenly alarmed, Ciel raised his head and stared in the direction of the sound.

So someone or something was really trying to break in? Something terrifying enough to send Sebastian into this strange half-feral state, where he was deliberating between fighting and fleeing?

The door began to open. Ciel tensed, wary, but mostly unafraid. It didn't matter what entity was attempting to gain entrance — Sebastian would be able to take care of it. Of that, he was certain.

In the next second, a black cloud of violence swallowed him. Sebastian's body changed right under his grasp, becoming softer and silkier, and when Ciel tried to cling to him harder, startled, his hands literally slipped through, stopping at something sharp and hot.

His mouth fell open as he stared. He'd seen Sebastian assume his demonic form before, but he'd never been in his arms when it happened. This close, he could see some black, thick energy emanating from where Sebastian's suit usually was — his hands had gone right through it, and beneath, there was an actual body... if it could be called that.

Fascinated, Ciel carefully moved his hand up, watching how its shape became blurred under the influence of liquid darkness. Then a feather dropped right on the top of his nose and he wrinkled it, shaking his head.

"Will you stop moulting!" he hissed. Before he knew it, the door finally did open, and Sebastian dashed forward with the speed that made Ciel gasp. He hadn't managed to see anything before something warm spilled all over him, with a sharp metallic smell breaking into his nostrils. He blinked, then blinked again, lowering his eyes to the floor.

There was a headless body lying there. A pool of blood was rapidly soaking into the carpet, and the head itself ended up on the other side of the room. Carefully, Ciel pressed his finger into the warmth on his face and brought it closer to his eyes.

Blood. Just like he'd thought.

"Did you just decapitate an intruder?" he asked slowly. "Without even putting me down? Are you completely demented?"

Sebastian stared at him wordlessly, and Ciel stared right back. In any other situation, he would have started yelling, but Sebastian was still in his demonic form, and seeing it in such proximity was too rare of an opportunity to miss it. The feel of a stranger's blood in his mouth was disgusting, but the taste was ultimately familiar, so Ciel ignored it in favour of studying Sebastian more closely.

The whiteness of his fingers disappeared whenever he pressed forward, hiding them under the dark swirls of energy. The transformation was not complete, but he could sense the firmness of bones and the sharp angles of Sebastian's real body. It was hot to touch — hot enough to be uncomfortable, but not unbearably so, and its texture was worlds apart from the skin of an average human.

The dark flickers seemed to gain a new life wherever Ciel put his hands. They hissed, trying to wrap themselves around his wrists and pull him closer. The sensation of their greedy touch was so strange and tickling that a giggle escaped him before he could stop it.

Using Sebastian's sudden stillness, Ciel let his hands travel further, brushing against his shoulders. There was a hint at the wings there, a bump covered with something soft… something like feathers. Grinning mischievously, Ciel grabbed one of them and pulled at it abruptly, unable to hold back a laugh when Sebastian jumped from the unexpectedness of it. Two astonished red eyes fixated on him. Sebastian appeared so shocked that his lips parted, and Ciel could see several strange teeth peeking out.

Losing his interest in the feather he'd obtained, he poked at one of them, letting out a surprised sound when the skin on his fingertip burst open. Strange, these teeth didn't look that sharp on the surface.

Determined to find out more, he tried to touch it again, but Sebastian suddenly jerked him back, holding him at arm's length, away from himself. Ciel's feet dangled in the air uselessly, and he scoffed. At least he got a fresh feather out of it, not the one Sebastian had shed.

"Well?" he demanded. "Are you going to clean me up or not?"

Sebastian was still stuck in his half-complete form, looking at him with eyes so wide and perplexed, as if his mind had broken down and refused to process the situation. Annoyed, Ciel reached for his face again vindictively. Maybe if he managed to pull the tooth out like he did with the feather…

Sebastian dropped him on the floor. One minute, Ciel was still in the air; the next one, he was falling, and even though he stayed on his feet upon landing, his knees still buckled unpleasantly. Straightening, he glared, but the stupid demon unceremoniously turned away from him. Slowly, his body stopped emanating that visible energy, regaining the familiar human contours. When it happened, Sebastian faced him again, but he still looked unexplainably thunderstruck.

"I will agree to ignore you dropping me," Ciel told him. "But you will explain what the hell happened. Who was this man and why did you decapitate him?"

"It was… an intruder," Sebastian said. His voice sounded strange, and he wouldn't stop staring. "Based on the head, he was the one who followed us earlier."

"That man with the metal rod?" Ciel squinted at the head, but it was too dark to see its features. "What did he want?"

There was silence. Had Sebastian received brain damage somewhere along the way? Maybe this could explain his behaviour over the past few weeks.

"What did he want?" Ciel inquired again, and Sebastian shrugged reluctantly.

"I'm not sure," he admitted. Disbelief began to settle in, and a frown creased Ciel's forehead.

"You are not sure," he repeated flatly. "Yet you killed him even before he stepped inside."

Sebastian crossed his arms in a strange, defensive gesture.

"I didn't know it was him," he stated, sending a contemptuous look to the body. "I merely thought one of Lord Henry's men might have decided to take their revenge against you."

"Well, looks like that's exactly what happened," Ciel raised his eyebrows. "The question is, since when are you decapitating people without clarifying their intentions first? And couldn't you have done that in the corridor — you ruined my suit!"

Sebastian's lips twitched.

"That's a nightshirt," he pointed out, but Ciel just snorted.

"Irrelevant. You still ruined my clothes and now I'm covered in blood. Which is getting dryer."

Sebastian hesitated, looking at the door, at the head, then at him. Finally, he seemed to decide to take a hint, so he walked out of the room — hopefully, to prepare a bath.

Something didn't fit. So maybe their stalker had been so loyal to Barymore that he decided to kill Ciel for revenge, and Sebastian decided that questioning him was a waste of time. But as he himself had admitted, he wasn't sure who was breaking in. And why would he worry about a human intruder at all, to the point of snatching Ciel from his bed for the second night in a row and acting as if he's about to flee? Surely not from some mindless human?

Could the real Demon Hound exist?

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Ciel didn't know where Sebastian had taken the head and the body to, and he didn't particularly care. He was wet and shivering from the coldness that Barymore's manor was breathing. Being clean was worth it, though — now, if he just could get back into his bed…

Someone within the house screamed, and Ciel groaned.

"Not this again," he muttered. The idea to ignore whatever was happening and go to sleep anyway had an undeniable allure, but…

Another scream sounded, killing his thought before it had a chance to become solid.

"All right, all right," Ciel snapped. "Sebastian, re-dress me. And be quick about it. If this racket is caused by Barymore's escape, I'll give you permission to obliterate this whole village. Such idiocy must be made a crime."

Sebastian looked interested but not optimistic. If Ciel was honest, he wasn't either — Barymore was too stupid to escape.

And too weak to resist being taken by someone.

Grimly, Ciel observed the empty cell. The grate remained untouched, but a huge hole could be seen on the opposite side of the wall. Whatever had broken inside, it took Barymore with it, and it wasn't gentle about it — the floor was glistening with blood.

"Lord Barymore!" Angela exclaimed. Ciel had to fight his urge to sneer at her. Would she faint? Or just cry?

He was certain she was going to do both, but a desperate knocking on the front door of the manor distracted her. The sound rolled through the dungeons, carried away by the thunder. Before Ciel and others could approach, the door burst open, and a crazed-looking man fell inside.

"The… the Hound," he whispered, panting. "The Demon Hound!"

Demon Hound. So it existed? Or was it some supernatural being masking itself under the guise of a dog?

Ciel threw a suspicious glance at Sebastian. Intercepting his gaze, Sebastian shook his head lightly.

Not him. A real monster, then.

"Stop babbling," Ciel ordered when the man still failed to produce a coherent sentence. "What did you see? Take us there."

A command seemed to be the only thing their night stranger wanted because he began to nod frantically, and he even managed to stand up. Ciel turned to Sebastian, raising a smug eyebrow. He could get these villagers to obey without making any efforts — if he wanted, he could have this entire place under his control within days.

Sebastian sneered at him, but his sneer was almost soft, so Ciel took it as a victory.

The villager took them to the outskirts of the Houndsworth. The wind was brutal, flinging fistfuls of rain into their faces and drowning out other sounds, but even before they got to the destination, Ciel could hear the singing. Monotonous, low, and familiar — the words were already burned in his mind, meaningless as they were.

"The white dog is a good dog, the best dog. The black dog is a bad dog, the worst dog. He'll eat your flesh down to the bone. He'll gobble you up until you're gone."

"What's happening?" Sebastian asked sharply. A circle of the wet villagers greeted them — most of them were still in their sleepwear, kneeling in front of some rock and repeating the same song over and over again. Their faces were vacant, with no trace of coherency left. Even the dogs were here, howling and contributing to the overall absurdity of the situation.

"Hey!" Bard grabbed one of the men by his shoulder, shaking him. "What are you lot doing?"

Predictably, he got no answer.

Just as Ciel considered siccing Sebastian on this insane crowd, the lighting struck, briefly giving colours to the clearing.

The villagers weren't singing in front of the rock — they were praying in front of Barymore's body. Only the whites of his eyes could be seen, along with a half-open mouth.

Ciel looked at Sebastian silently. Obeying the mute command, he went to check the body, carefully shifting around it. Then he pulled back a little, revealing a whole picture. Barymore's right arm was cut off — or bitten off, which was far more likely. Did it mean something? Or was it just an act of a creature that followed its instincts?

"The Demon Hound!" someone screamed in horror. More people joined in, stretching on the ground, murmuring prayers and creating chaos. Something white flickered to Ciel's left, and when he turned, he saw Angela dropping into the mud.

She did faint, after all. Pathetic.

Sneering, he focused on Barymore again. He'd been just a pawn, it was obvious now. There was a monster here — or a person standing behind it. But who could that be? He and Sebastian might have not interrogated all residents of the village, but there was no believable candidate who stood out in any way. All these individuals were far too stupid to control Barymore and the monster.

So, who was it? Or what?

Half an hour later, Ciel was sitting at the table of Barymore's living room, his arms crossed in an expression of his utter dissatisfaction.

He'd have to start interrogations tomorrow. There was no other choice. And the rain refused to stop, seeming determined to chill him to the bones. This place was so cold, even clothes didn't help — a little more of it, and his asthma could decide to return.

The thought made him shudder.

"What was it you said? 'The case is solved'?" Sebastian taunted him. "What a shame, Young Master."

"Shut up," Ciel said glumly. He didn't need any mockery now, not when his other servants were present.

Sebastian seemed to take a hint, but what he chose to focus on was even worse.

"How is Angela?" he asked. There was genuine curiosity in his voice, and Ciel bristled, biting his lower lip to stop himself from giving some illogical order. Would 'I forbid you to ever mention this woman again' sound too peculiar?

"We left her resting in bed," Mey-Rin said worryingly. "She looked so terribly exhausted!"

"It was painful to watch," Bard added, and Ciel rolled his eyes. Did he really have to listen to this? Had all his servants lost their minds?

It was time to refocus their attention.

"This village feared the curse of the Demon Hound, so they've isolated themselves from the rest of the world," he commented. All eyes instantly snapped to him. Good. "I was certain that this Hound was an illusion made by Lord Henry to better control his little kingdom. But with him dead…" He let the thought hang, having nothing to complete it with.

"Looking at that injury, it appears that the villagers were right," Sebastian uttered. He sounded completely relaxed, almost cheerful. "Perhaps it was indeed the Demon Hound."

Would his mood swings ever start making sense?

"Maybe it's upset at being blamed for Lord Henry's mistakes," Mey-Rin suggested.

"Yes!" Sebastian immediately supported her. Ciel could feel his stare, but he refused to look up. First the panicked beheading, now happiness that verged on being disturbing. If Sebastian was wearing a stupid blinding smile in addition to that, he would explode. "One thing is clear — it's not the work of a human."

The way he phrased it made Ciel freeze for a moment. Not the work of a human? But not the work of a Hound, either? Sebastian had already denied his involvement — what other supernatural beings were there?

The Reapers. And one Reaper in particular had a personal interest in him and Sebastian.

"What do you mean?" Bard asked, echoing his thoughts, and Ciel looked at him automatically. "The Hound is acting alone?"

"That poor creature," Mey-Rin pressed her palms to her face. "Just imagine how it felt, seeing all the little dogs tormented by these people. Of course it wanted to put an end to everything!"

"Makes sense," Bard scratched his chin thoughtfully. "A hound it is, a real one this time. A fitting end to that bastard, if you ask me."

Mey-Rin nodded in agreement — only Finnie stayed strangely silent. These people were loyal, but Ciel wouldn't call them particularly intelligent. That meant they had to leave because he had too much to think about.

"Go to your beds," he stated, standing up. Bard, Mey-Rin, and Finnie immediately straightened. "There is a lot of work to be done tomorrow, so I need you well rested."

"Yes, my lord!" they replied in an uneven choir. Then they retreated, leaving him in the company of a deranged and happy demon.

"What kind of work do you have planned for tomorrow, Master?" he wondered. "Will you be building your resort, after all?"

"This place is in a desperate need of it," Ciel grumbled. He didn't elaborate, but Sebastian was in too talkative of a mood to refrain from probing him.

"Then our departure is postponed?" he asked, a slight smirk tugging the corners of his lips upwards. "Will you be attempting to earn the villagers' devotion?"

"You sound as if you doubt it," Ciel said dryly. "Would you like to make a bet?"

The smirk widened, stretching into a sharp, dangerous grin.

"It would be my pleasure," Sebastian purred. He was clearly planning something, some cunning counter-plan meant to sabotage Ciel's efforts, but what could that entail? People responded to fear and power. Sebastian could evoke the former, but he knew nothing of the latter — Ciel was the one holding the reins. What could Sebastian do to undermine it? Make him look stupid?

They'd see how successful he was. If Sebastian missed the taste of a failure, Ciel would be eager to remind him of it. Now, if only he could make a decision about the Hound… A creature or a person? Or both? Or, if he understood Sebastian's implication correctly, the Reaper?

He kept mulling over it as he walked to his bedroom, and the thoughts still stirred when Sebastian began to button up his night shirt.

"Is something the matter?" he asked curiously.

"What you said earlier," Ciel responded immediately. He didn't entertain any illusions — if Sebastian didn't want to talk, forcing him would be impossible. But maybe he could extract a few more hints. "About the crime being committed by someone not human. Don't tell me that red-haired Reaper is going to pop out again."

Sebastian's lips formed a mysterious smile that was just asking for a slap. Or a punch.

This bastard knew something, Ciel was sure of it now. Somewhere between the beheading and Barymore's death, he arrived at an answer and found it pleasing. It explained his sudden good mood and carefree attitude — and the certainty in his answers.

"Your ability to learn is remarkable," Sebastian praised him indulgently. His eyes lingered for a moment, but then he stood up, walking towards the wardrobe.

"There is no need for you to worry," he added as an afterthought. "Mey-Rin's idea wasn't far from the truth — Lord Henry was the only target of the Demon Hound. I don't believe anyone else is in danger of becoming its victim."

It sounded rather good… except for one thing.

"You must know that I cannot leave this situation as it is," Ciel uttered.

"Because of your loyalty to the Queen?" As always with this type of accusations, the mockery was palpable. Hadn't they discussed it enough? Sebastian's obsession with his attitude to the Queen was getting into a maddening territory.

"No," Ciel said, half-offended. He thought he'd given a believable explanation a day ago, but maybe not. "That's not all of it."

Sebastian gave him a sceptical glance. A hot sizzle of frustration tried to distort Ciel's features into an ugly mask, but he quickly got himself under control. This time, he had something to counter Sebastian's pettiness with.

"Usually, you're boring," he elaborated with a smirk. "But this case seems to have you rattled. I'm interested in you when you are tangled up with the dogs."

Sebastian paused. His startled reaction lasted for a second — then he closed the wardrobe with a low thud, turning to face him, his eyes unfathomable.

"You learn faster every day," he noted. Even as his smirk stayed on his lips, Ciel clung to these words, observing them from different angles.

In a way, playing this new game with Sebastian was exhilarating. But it was also dangerous because Ciel felt too wrong-footed when it came to emotions. He wasn't certain of his own perceptiveness here: Sebastian could be easily mocking him, and he could be oblivious enough to miss it. The whole dog metaphor thing started out clearly, but within days, it had gotten too convoluted to understand what lay beneath.

Sebastian was still looking at him, as inscrutable as ever. With a small shrug, Ciel walked to his bed.

"Here's what we're going to do tomorrow," he said, climbing inside. "You'll catch me this Demon Hound. I want to see it personally before making any solid conclusions. In turn, I will focus on the villagers. We'll see how quickly they'll change their allegiance."

"You don't want to be involved in the capture of the Hound?" Sebastian approached his bed, adjusting his pillow and tightening the blanket around him. In the comfort of this long-awaited warmth, Ciel grinned.

"Given the complexity of your interactions with dogs, I'd rather watch," he said cheekily. He caught the way Sebastian's hands froze for yet another second before continuing on their way up.

"There is nothing complex about it," he remarked mildly. "In the end, even the Demon Hound is nothing more than a dog, regardless of the uniqueness of its breed. If you know how to handle it, eventually, it's going to assume its inferior place, and the interest towards it will wane."

Rage, embarrassment, and hurt crashed into him with a force that knocked every wisp of air out of his chest. His face began to contort in an overly emotional grimace, and Ciel threw all his willpower into controlling it, trying to feel and take hold of every muscle. It was physically painful, but he thought he managed to succeed. His expression still tightened, but thankfully, it was the extent of it.

Foolish. Why he did insist on continuing this? It was horrible — the feelings coursing through him now were horrible. He never wanted to feel like this again. Better confusion than this crushing grief; better hope than realisation of how little regard Sebastian held for him.

But he could swear that—

No. Now was not the time to decipher which was the lie and which was the truth. His heart was still beating chaotically, skipping beats at a random, and if he didn't calm down, the consequences would be severe.

"We will see," Ciel pushed out. Sebastian's eyes flashed, but he said nothing, simply blew out the candle. Then he left the room without saying anything.

Ciel almost wanted to be interrupted again this night. He wanted to wake up from Sebastian jerking him out of his bed in his unexplainable panic.

But it didn't happen. Sebastian was gone.

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Ciel woke up with a sense of deadly calmness. He drank his tea, studied the newspaper, and got dressed without making even one unnecessary movement. Sebastian was his shadow, and Ciel interacted with him as he always did. Poisonous, dark bitterness was bubbling somewhere under the surface of this calmness, but it was distant enough for him to ignore it.

Later. He would deal with everything, from his thoughts and feelings to the situation itself, later. The remaining days at Houndsworth would be focused on the capture of the monster and the building of the resort.

Sebastian mirrored his calmness. His movements were unhurried and leisurely, a wild contrast to the way he'd behaved two nights in a row.

"You are quite relaxed today," Ciel commented nonchalantly. Sebastian gave him a serene smile.

"Because there is no need to rush," he replied. But then, as if to contradict him, the door flung open, and Mey-Rin along with Finnie fell through, yelling his name. The way Sebastian briefly grimaced in distaste was funny enough for a vindictive satisfaction to swirl inside Ciel's chest. It was followed by a pang of concern, so he turned to face the screaming part of his servants.

"What happened?" Sebastian inquired, and though his tone was polite, the irritation buzzing around it was just as clear. "Do speak quieter."

"We can't find Angela anywhere!" Finnie cried out in distress. This name was like a curse, coming up to poison Ciel's ears every time he tried to relax— it was disgusting, watching every servant of his become so infatuated with some faint-hearted girl. And wasn't Finnie too young for her in the first place? She was obviously much older than him.

"She went outside all alone when there might be the Demon Hound out there?" Mey-Rin gasped, and Ciel tried to focus on the conversation. Boring as it was, any mention of the Hound deserved his attention.

"Ah, damn!" Bard froze, his eyes widening. Now every party seemed concerned about that maid… although Sebastian didn't react in any way, so it was a comfort. Not a big one, but a comfort nonetheless.

"Why would she go to gather herbs at this time?" Finnie whimpered.

"She said she was worried about you being sick and all that," Bard explained cluelessly, and Ciel almost groaned. This was the absolute worst thing he could say to Finnie now.

"She went because of me?" Finnie gasped. Then he broke into a run, and Ciel followed him with his gaze, feeling pity replace the annoyance. Sometimes Finnie appeared younger than him, with all his naivety and big eyes that reflected every emotion he experienced.

"Come on, Sebastian, let's go!" Bard called, jerking forward to follow Finnie.

"Why?" To Ciel's contentment, Sebastian sounded as underwhelmed and reluctant as he himself was. Bard came to a halt, his eyes bulging out in shock.

"What kind of blood do you have in your veins!" he yelled. Sebastian blinked, and Bard growled in frustration.

"Come on, Mey-Rin," he said. In a moment, they left, with Tanaka following them after throwing an unreadable gaze at Ciel and Sebastian. The blessed silence filled the room, and Ciel went back to his dessert, taking the first delicious bite.

"Is that to your satisfaction?" Sebastian asked him. The fact that he chose to stay rather than go after Angela soothed the wound that wouldn't stop aching, but it was still there, spreading toxicity through Ciel's blood, so he just shrugged vaguely. Sebastian didn't deserve a bigger reward.

When he was full, he pressed a napkin to his lips, contemplating his next move.

"So?" he asked conversationally. "What kind of blood do you have in your veins?"

Sebastian tilted his head, watching him curiously. He probably caught the meaner edge to his smile, but it was unimportant. For now.

"We do have to hurry," Ciel added, reaching for his cup. Sebastian had a task to complete — let him try to tame the Demon Hound, if it was really nearby.

When a forlorn sigh met his order, Ciel smiled, a little more pleased. For all his words, Sebastian was going to hate this task. Maybe he didn't have any idea of how to actually handle a dog like this — he liked to boast uselessly, so it was a strong possibility.

"Put on a good show for me, Sebastian," he murmured, his smirk growing. If anything, Sebastian looked even more miserable.

"Yes, my lord," he replied, so deeply uninspired that it was almost funny. Ciel finished his tea and stood up, cocking an eyebrow. Sebastian wrapped his hands around his waist gently, pulling him up, and then they were gone, following their hopeless servants.

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The landing was so sudden that it took Ciel a few moments to realise where he was and what he was seeing. When he did, he gaped, grateful that Sebastian had dropped him behind everyone and that no one could see his face.

There was a huge, white dog ahead. Huge as in, a house-tall huge. Even Finnie was powerless in a fight against it — he was lying on the ground in shock, his strength useless when it came to a creature this big. He would have likely been crushed to death if Sebastian hadn't interfered timely. Now, he was holding one of the giant paws in his hand, preventing it from slicing down.

"Would you look at that," Sebastian drawled. There was no trace of surprise in his voice, so he must have seen this monstrosity before. "So well-trained — you even know how to shake hands."

Ciel sneered, unamused by this continued wordplay. He just wanted the Hound to be dealt with as quickly as possible… but he'd asked Sebastian for a show, hadn't he? Now he had to watch it unfold.

"As expected," Sebastian murmured, "you are quite heavy."

Then, as a showing-off idiot he was, he sent the dog flying with the push of his hand, holding the other one behind his back suavely.

"Come now," Ciel called out, "this isn't the time to play around."

"Certainly," Sebastian didn't bother turning to him. "I will finish it all at once."

The dog growled, preparing for an attack, and Sebastian pulled out… a box with dog treats. Had he stolen it from some of the villagers? Ciel would have enjoyed this crazy view if it wasn't so personally offensive to him.

"The best method to tame a dog is by enslaving its will," Sebastian said pleasantly. "In other words, one has to use the treat and the whip tactic. Firstly, the treat…" he crouched before flinging himself into the air, wrapping his body around the dog in a gesture of physical affection. Then he bit it, but from the happy noise it made, the bite was gentle. Still, what the hell? What was—

Oh.

A terrible weight dropped to the bottom of his stomach, and Ciel swallowed. He knew he was watching the scene with wide, openly vulnerable eyes, as pitiful as Finnie had been, but he couldn't force himself to move. Even taking a breath became a hardship because for all the comedic value of Sebastian's actions, the truth behind them was much harsher and far more stinging.

This was the exact demonstration of what Sebastian was doing to him. A treat, and then a whip. Something that made Ciel think he was special, that Sebastian could feel, and then the words or actions that terminated the rest and crushed his careful hopes. But that wasn't all.

With the dog, Sebastian was using the methods that it found relatable. Dogs bit each other gently to show their affection, and Sebastian was mimicking their behaviour. With Ciel… he did human things. The worry, the compliments, voiced and unvoiced… the undivided attention, maybe even the staring. All a game — a tactic aimed at crumbling his will and turning him into whatever creature Sebastian wanted to see him as.

And he was pathetic. As pathetic as this stupid dog, falling for the same trick endlessly, eager for reward and desolate when being punished.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Despite his turmoil and the way everything inside him seemed to shrivel, Ciel continued to stare forward rigidly.

"I suppose I did ask him to put on a good show," he said softly. And what a show it was. If he thought he'd been hurt yesterday, it was nothing in comparison to the ache ripping through him now, rendering him completely helpless.

He could do nothing. Just watch.

After yet another treat-and-whip application, Sebastian actually made a hole in the ground, disappearing in it with the dog. Bard, Mey-Rin, and Finnie rushed there with distressed shouts. Ciel remained frozen, but when nothing still happened, he forced his numb legs to move.

"Quit dawdling down in that hole," he spat. "Get back here. Right now!"

More silence. If Ciel's blood wasn't boiling with fury, he might have felt concerned, but at this very moment, he couldn't imagine ever feeling concern over Sebastian again.

"Right away," a voice finally replied. The ground began to shake, and a hissing flood of something resembling steam started rising from its depth. Astonished, Ciel jumped back just in time to avoid the impact. His servants weren't as lucky or as attentive — by the time they thought of running, they were soaked through.

"Hey, what is it?" Bard shouted. "Is it a hot spring?"

"If this village is to be turned into resort, it needs a point of attraction," Sebastian replied haughtily. It took a moment for Ciel to locate him. Naturally, the stupid peacock decided to arrive on the top of the hot spring, showcasing his achievement. How disgustingly typical.

Was this supposed to be for him? Was it time for a treat, and Sebastian decided to deliver it in the form of a hot spring, something that would make building the resort in this place a piece of cake?

"If I couldn't find a hot spring or two for my Master, I wouldn't deserve to be called a butler of the Phantomhives," Sebastian announced grandly, trying to catch his gaze. Ciel ignored him. He stared at the man Sebastian was holding — a man who strangely resembled the Demon Hound. What is it really— How could that be? Was this creature capable of transforming into a person once it was beaten down?

His puzzlement didn't last long.

"Pluto!" Angela, of all people, was running towards them. Without her uniform, she was almost good-looking, and Ciel's mood plummeted further down. Even the mystery of the Hound couldn't distract him enough — the bitter thoughts were already invading his mind, eating at his sense of self-worth.

If this performance had been for him, Sebastian must truly think him an idiot. And right now, Ciel had no strength or desire to prove him wrong.

He stayed where he was even as his other servants surrounded Angela, who was now holding the man-dog, asking her excited questions. Sebastian stepped closer to him, but he said nothing, and Ciel also had no intention of breaching the silence.

In a while, things calmed down, giving Angela a chance to speak normally.

"I found him about a month ago," she said lovingly, stroking the blond hair. The sight of a naked man stretched across her lap was horrifyingly outrageous, but this feeling was pale in comparison to other emotions swirling in Ciel's chest. "I always loved dogs, and he was so adorable, I just had to take him in. He does have a bad habit — he turns into a human when he's excited."

"A habit?" Bard yelped. "How can it be a habit?"

"So you've been taking care of him for a month without telling anyone?" Sebastian wondered.

"Yes," Angela sighed. "Lord Barymore was the one to come up with the legend about the Demon Hound, but he was more terrified of it than anyone else."

Ciel tuned her out, completely uninterested in her story. He didn't care what kind of creature this dog was, where it came from or what it'd done. The mystery was solved. He would have liked to go home now — he wanted to lick his wounds in private, but after that bet with Sebastian… No, he had no other choice but to stay, to start building this damned resort. He couldn't go back on his word yet again.

"I beg you, Earl Ciel… could you take him with you to your manor?" Angela's question startled him out of his thoughts, and Ciel focused on her again. Sebastian inhaled sharply, genuinely shocked.

"You want us to take care of this monster?" Bard was equally incredulous.

"He needs a firm hand!" Angela looked at Sebastian with a pleading expression. "I think if Sebastian were to train him, Pluto could become an obedient dog."

"No," Sebastian said, and when Ciel risked taking a look at him, he saw an unmistakable glare. "I'm simply one hell of a butler."

"Why not?" Ciel countered before he had a chance to think of it. Anything to rattle Sebastian was worth whatever discomfort it would bring.

The results were more than satisfying — he didn't recall the last time he'd seen such a helplessly furious expression on this demon's face.

"Master," he hissed, "are you serious?"

"Indeed," finally, Ciel felt capable of smiling. "I think I'll find it amusing… in several ways."

Sebastian seethed, and the more anger he emanated, the stronger Ciel's hold over his battered insides became.

This was actually an advantageous opportunity. On the one hand, this enormous dog would be a great protector. It would scare off the unwelcome visitors even before they approached the manor. On the other hand, if Sebastian liked training dogs so much, he would find his schedule getting a bit fuller. This was a perfect revenge.

The objections that were bound to follow were silenced when the villagers came running. They dropped to their knees in front of the hot spring, and Ciel almost groaned. He was just about fed up with this craziness.

"What is it all about?" he asked.

"There is another legend in this village," Angela replied. Her eyes were glistening with something Ciel had no wish to decipher. "When the mistakes the ancestors have made against the dogs are forgiven, this land will pour tears of forgiveness."

This was even more ridiculous than the Demon Hound story. Perhaps this village was not worth any efforts — its residents had to be forcibly hospitalised.

"This village has had a hot spring all along," Sebastian uttered, equally confused, but Ciel interrupted him.

"Whatever. At any rate, our work here is done."

He could sense that his words surprised Sebastian, unpleasantly so. What else was he displeased with?

"Young Master, you have tried to make a declaration like this earlier, yet you have fallen short of it," he drawled. "Would you like to try saying it again?"

Ciel scoffed, hoping it hid his confusion. What was the meaning of this?

"You say it," he muttered darkly. He thought Sebastian wouldn't do it, but no — he took a dramatic pose and exclaimed with false cheer.

"The case is solved!"

It sounded so unnatural and artificial that Ciel couldn't help but frown. Was Sebastian trying to say something? Or was he mocking him again?

Who cared? As far as Ciel was concerned, he had no further obligations to this village. He would organise the building works, charm the villagers, and be on his way.

If only he could leave Sebastian behind.

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The preparations were finished in one week. Like Ciel had expected, the villagers were all too happy to unite under his command and start transforming their home into a much more attractive location. The problem was, even seeing these positive results didn't bring him any real sense of satisfaction.

Sebastian was acting strange still, dropping cryptic remarks left and right, but in his state, Ciel felt no motivation to work around them. Depression lingered, stretching its claws and tearing into every part it could reach. No matter how hard he tried to concentrate on the resort, his heart wasn't in it, so all he could do was count days until their departure.

When it came, Ciel took his place in the wagon without saying goodbyes to anyone. Bard and Mey-Rin followed his example, but Finnie and Sebastian were obviously in no hurry. They stayed near Angela, watching her fuss over her man-dog.

"I hope you won't forget me, Pluto," she murmured. Ciel huffed, annoyed with her dramatics.

"And put some bloody clothes on!" Bard demanded. "We're going into town, stop embarrassing us!"

This, at least, put a small smile on Ciel's face. Bard's outrage was so honest, it was truly entertaining to watch… which was something he couldn't say about Finnie. The fool was waiting for some acknowledgement from Angela, too — it was predictable. But what was Sebastian standing there for? Did he hope for a goodbye kiss, too?

His fingers tightened and rolled into fists reflexively. A bark of an order was sliding on the tip of his tongue, so Ciel tried to keep his lips firmly shut.

"If you're finished, shall we go?" Sebastian asked suddenly. Angela hummed.

"Maybe one day, I'll come to visit Pluto at your manor," she offered.

'Like hell you will,' Ciel thought. His skin crawled at the very idea of it. This time, he doubted he could keep himself silent, but Sebastian interfered before he even opened his mouth.

"I wouldn't recommend it," he said, and though his voice stayed polite, there was something coiling beneath it. A threat? But why? Had they had an argument Ciel somehow missed?

"You managed to tame a Demon Hound," Sebastian continued, and if anything, his tone was getting darker with each word. "That's a task not many people could do. You seem to have a talent for wrapping lesser beings around your finger."

Angela said nothing, probably as confused by his words as Ciel felt. What did those claims have to do with Sebastian's rejection of Angela's offer at visitation? So what if she'd been able to tame a Demon Hound? Was Sebastian worried she would lead naïve people like Finnie astray? Who cared — it's not like she would ever have a chance to visit. Ciel would be more than pleased to decline each and every request she sent in.

"Let's go, Sebastian," he said loudly. He was sick of this village and its idiots, and the farther they got from here, the better.

Fortunately, Sebastian didn't seem in the mood to argue. He got into the wagon, and within moments, they were on their way. The scenery began to change, the bits of forests getting replaced by vast fields that switched back to forests again. After a while, Ciel closed his eyes, allowing the rhythmic sound of the moving wheels to comfort him.

The case was closed. He hoped the new one wouldn't come soon — he needed some time to recuperate… and to make sense of this game Sebastian was playing with him.

A/N:

Crockett Rocket, thank you as always for your comment!) I'm glad you liked that game between them — I had so much fun writing it! You summed it up very well — Sebastian is on the quest to understand what he feels and why, and how to stop it, while Ciel is focused on staying in Sebastian's memory one way or another. One of them will lose, another one will win.

Manon, thank you, I'm happy you liked it!

Aleta Wolff, thank you so much, I'm so happy you liked this chapter! Asking for Sebastian's real name was probably a part of Ciel's thoughts, but he chose against it because he suspected he might not get the answer. And he was right - Sebastian wouldn't give him this much power. He would lie, find loopholes, or ignore the question. At least at this stage :D I hope you stay safe, too! 2020 is an ugly year.

HillaryPlotter, thank you for your lovely review, I'm happy you enjoyed reading this crazy-long chapter! I think Ciel will surprise Sebastian for many times to come in the future - there can be no boring moment with him.

As for the dance teacher - Sebastian was against the idea of hiring a dance teacher because he doesn't want some criminal holding Ciel :D He'll get him a real teacher, though - Ciel is shown having one in BoC. There will be a chapter from Sebastian's POV soon, so we'll find out all the details then! Thank you again, hope you'll enjoy the next chapter!

Sour Queen, oh, thank you so much for your wonderful comment and for your compliments! I'm happy you liked this chapter and the story as a whole - it's important to me that you feel Ciel and Sebastian are in character. I do have some tings published officially, but you know how it is: with no money for good marketing, chances of succeeding are small :( I'm saving up, though, so I hope to market my new book at leats a little bit.

Also, thank you so much for your generous offer! I wouldn't mind at all - it gets so frustrating to look through the chapter time and time again and yet still find small annoying mistakes in it. I actually meant to contact you earlier, before posting this chapter, but some ugly RL stuff happened and it completely slipped my mind. If you still don't mind, I'd be glad to contact you! And thanks again!

Taeh, thank you! I'm glad you liked this chapter. And Sebastian just can't work (or live) without killing :D That demon has very strong murderous instincts.

DanaGone, oh wow, I don't think I've ever had a reader who hates the ship yet still decided to give this story a try! I'm relieved you enjoyed it - hope you'll like what's to come, although romantic subtext might get stronger soon (since we're approaching E9 in the anime).

HraMunro, thanks so much! I can write quickly, but getting myself to sit down and concentrate on it can be a chore sometimes :D

emokitty1193, thank you for such praise, it makes me so happy to hear you liked this chapter! It was probably my favorite to write, Ciel and Sebastian's games are always fun.

DevilDog13, ah, thank you! These words mean so much to me, I'm glad you enjoyed the story to this extent.

lkdaswani, thank you! It makes me so excited to hear that you enjoyed the story and this chapter so much. I love possessive Sebastian, and yes, we'll be seeing more and more of his softer sides toward Ciel as the time goes by. Though as always, it's one step forward, two steps back for them. P.S. Love your profile pic! Merlin and Arthur are my love 3

TheLizard-ling, hello! Thank you so much for your review, I was so happy to see it in my inbox! Fortunately, Covid hasn't targeted me or those I love, but the year was still terrible for me, so fiction is one of few medicines with the power to help and distract me.

I used to love the whole 'a room full of people, one of them is a killer... which one?' plot, so I wanted to re-create some of it in this story. Considering what kind of games Ciel and Sebastian like to play, this seemed fitting.

Whitmore was actually a grave robber, so yeah, he was a thief. He had a genuine interest in history and he was dying to find out what kind of treasures he could find within the Phantomhive's family grave. But there will be more explanations in the chapter from Sebastian's POV!