( chapter three ! )
"Somehow, there seems to be a rat in here, too."
Inside a plain room of the Phantomhive manor sits a large pool table, surrounded by The Aristocrats of Evil and Leah. Azzurro is bent over to take his shot, the other seven watching on in anticipation of his move.
Madame Red and Chlaus stand off towards the wall, peeping through their hats. Diedrich is leaning back in a chair some feet away from him, a man with a scar on his face at the head of the table. To the opposite of Azzurro is Lau, and seated in a large chair is Ciel, Leah not far next to it.
"How long do you intend to let that harmful animal that scavenges for food and spreads disease around do as it pleases?" Diedrich voices, munching on a sandwich.
"Shall we let it do as it pleases?" Lau smirks and asks, "Or shall we make it swim?"
The faces of the aristocrats shift to more serious expressions, going unnoticed by Leah who is keeping herself busy by twirling the cue around in her hand.
"Yes, he always aims for the nine-ball." Angelina looks down, "Will you pass again, Count Phantomhive?"
"Pass." Ciel leans back in his chair with a smirk, "The ball that you can't help hitting is an un-hit principle."
"That's a good judgment. When will the rat be exterminated?"
"Soon, I've already received the ingredients from Chlaus."
Chlaus pays little mind when his name is mentioned, attention left to the drink kept towards his lips. Lau is now taking his turn, striking the ball with a harsh 'clack' that sounds in the room.
Despite understanding little of what the others around her are talking about, Leah remains content to move herself to the pool table to take her turn—leaning down, the sixteen-year-old squints her eyes, trying to gauge her move and hitting the ball. Ultimately missing, the girl steps back quietly.
"I'm not that good at this game.." Leah pouts, pushing her head next to the cue grasped in her hands.
"Don't fret, you did say this is only your third time playing billiards," Lau reassures, flashing one of his signature cunning grins.
Adjusting her shoulders, the pout on her face lightens up a bit. Although she doesn't share much in common with anyone in the room, the adults, minus Ciel, are doing a good job at keeping her content.
"We will eradicate the rat that finds its nest after we break a few of its bones," Ciel leans forward in his seat, gripping the cue with both of his hands, "When can I receive the compensation for it?"
"..You Vulture.."
Ciel doesn't falter at the words from Randall, but his expression tells a different story. No longer smirking, there is a darker aura painted across the teen's face and a faintly tighter grip around his pool cue.
"Do you possess the right to insult our crest? You, a bloodhound that can't even catch one rat?" The man voices.
Glancing around, Leah notices the shift in the air between the two noblemen. The feeling sinks into her skin, eating away at her in a way that makes her want to back away from the situation. 'What in God's name are they talking about?'
"Too bad. It's a fall."
Letting out a breath of air, Lau leans to his left with a hand on his hip, "Billiards is hard.."
"It is, isn't it?" Leah responds, standing beside a chair where she presses her back against it.
"Next is the Count. What will you do?" Azzurro looks behind himself to ask, observing the boy, "Will you put an end to this waiting game?"
With a push of his hand, Ciel stands from his once-seated position and walks in the direction of the pool table. Brushing past the older man, he doesn't bother to look up at him and keeps his gaze straight ahead.
"And? When will you be able to prepare the compensation?"
"Th.. This evening."
"That's fine."
Glancing behind him, Ciel gives a dull look in acknowledgment before approaching the table. Leaning down and aiming his cue, he focuses on the man rather than the balls.
"Afterwards a carriage will come to pick you up. Please wait for high tea to be prepared."
Clenching his teeth, the man bites back the words he would like the say to the boy, opting to glare.
"Will you aim for the nine-ball with the remaining three-ball?"
Shifting his cue, Ciel uses his fingers to grip the stick, "Of course."
"How about a look at the skill of this game's prodigy?" Diedrich smirks, a hatted man doing the same to his far right.
"'Greed' will destroy your body, Ciel!" Randall exclaims.
Smirking at the man's words, Ciel lets out a faint 'ha' before hitting the three-ball. Watching in wonder, Leah is surprised when the balls around the table collide, coming back to the nine-ball and shooting it into the hole with a thunk.
"Greed, huh?"
Sebastian stands in front of the other four servants, staring in dismay at the chaos before him. Bardoy is dressed ridiculously, sporting odd glasses and Finnian is wearing a cat suit. For the most part, Tanaka and Meyrin seem normal but are partaking in the act. Anna, Leah's lady's maid, stands not far away from the Phantomhive servants but doesn't participate.
"..What are all of you doing?" The butler asks, unable to hide his look of upset and confusion.
Multiple screams come from the lot, running around and wrecking more havoc than the rats. Warns to not come in their direction are heard, but not particularly obeyed. Watching in utter confusion, Anna dodges flying objects and rat traps thrown her way.
"'What', you say.. We've decided to capture the rats!" Bardoy yells in frustration, Finnian sprinting not far ahead of him with a cat biting his head.
"Aha.. And that is..?" Sebastian trails off, obviously seeing that the scenario is not playing out well.
"Sebastian!"
Turning his head at the sound of a voice, Sebastian is greeted by Ciel with his fiancé merrily walking beside him.
"Young master," Sebastian responds in acknowledgment.
"Tonight, escort Duke Randall by carriage to his mansion," Ciel orders, "Will you take care of the carriage?"
Just behind the three, the servants are still screaming at the situation. However, neither noble seems to bat an eye. Leah assumes Anna can take care of it, always putting her trust in the older girl.
"Leave tonight's plans open."
"Understood."
Sebastian grins, "Then when I finish the preparations for the carriage, I will bring up some afternoon tea to your room."
Placing a hand to his chest, Sebastian's grin falters at the continued commotion. A mousetrap is stuck to Meyrin's hand, and Anna trying to pull it off. Finnian is still being bitten on the head, tears streaming down his face, and Bardroy somehow manages to get his head stuck inside a pot.
"I have prepared apple and raisin dip pie for today's snack. I will bring it to you when it's baked, so please wait just a bit."
"Alright," Ciel replies, walking past the chaos with Leah who happily follows behind him.
"..Now then." Sebastian starts.
Diving down to the floor, Sebastian swings his hand before grabbing ahold of the two rats. Bardoy, Finnian, and Meyrin watch in shock, still a mess.
"Now. Please do your work without playing around. We will be having guests tonight." Sebastian states, walking towards Tanaka to throw the two rats into his net.
"Whoa.." The servants say in unison.
Further down the halls, Leah and Ciel are quietly entering his office. When Leah had originally tried to follow her fiancé around, the boy tried to deny her but when she started to beg, he couldn't bring himself to turn her down. Primarily because everyone knows that once Leah starts begging, she won't shut up.
Stood with his back against the wall and papers in his hand, Ciel closes his eyes in frustration while the girl giggles beside him.
"How can this house's servants always be so peaceful?" Ciel sighs.
"They are a lively bunch, aren't they?" Leah smiles along with the words of her betrothed.
Hands begin looming from behind the pair, slamming onto the teen's mouths and receiving sounds of shock. Struggling in the arms of her captor, Leah does her best to swing her body around and elbow the body behind her.
Sadly her efforts are futile, eyes grazing Ciel's face before the two fall unconscious. Their bodies grow limp and fall against the bodies behind them, no longer able to struggle due to the gas in the cloth.
Outside a prestigious building are men dressed in black suits, guarding the permitter. Inside is a much different story, Leah and Ciel are unconscious and tied up. Leaned against the wall, the teen girl is barely conscious to hear any words being spoken, trying to breathe through the pain that riddles her body.
"The backside of England's public, 'The Order.' The traitor will be bitten to death by our power, by the Queen's Watchdogs." Eyes flickering through multiple quick blinks, Leah brings her eyes up to meet Azzurro.
"I have come to take over the dirtied part of the government that has spanned many generations. The evil royal family. How many street names have they been burdened with, and how many families have been crushed?" Azzurro monologues.
"Who would've thought that the president of the world's best toy factory is just a boy? Right? Ciel Phantomhive." The young boy lifts his head in acknowledgment of his name, an angered look paired with frowning brows painted across his face.
Shifting in her spot, the brunette struggles to make any adjustments to the bindings around her body. The belts are uncomfortably tight, digging into her arms and faintly chafing her pale skin. Her dress is also tattered, small stains of blood lay across the soft, pink fabric that originates from the liquid dripping from her nose.
Leah can't bring herself to look at the boy beside her, scared of what she'll possibly see if she does. Pursing her now cracked lips, she glares up at their captor through her lashes.
"Looks can be deceiving. Well, it's oddly understandable that the king of a toy palace is a child." The only word that can describe the tone coming off the Italian is that of prideful annoyance, an ugly smirk that shows off his teeth.
"It really was you. Ferro family.. Azzurro Vener." Ciel says.
"You know, little Phantomhive, the Italian mafia finds this country bothersome," Azzurro reaches up to scratch his head, cigar in hand, "It's really a pain."
A dog growls in the background, "All of the English and their goddamn tea-stained heads!"
The pair of teens stare up at the man with empty eyes, faces littered with bruises and blood. Though somehow, it's almost as if the Barrett can pull it off, the dried red accentuating parts of her unblemished skin.
"Think about it. What's the most beneficial market for people like us?" Azzurro asks matter of factly, "It's not cleaning up, carrying things, nor woman, nor spare parts. It's drugs, ya' know?"
The man continues, "Even so when we came to this country, thanks to the successful glares of the watchdogs, we haven't been able to catch a single relaxing scent."
Outstretching his arms with a disconnected aura surrounding him, the Italian lets the smoke from his cigar swirl into the air. Unnerving Leah and causing her to go into a fit of coughs, she can't help but interject for the sake of being a nuisance.
"My father is going to kill me when I get home.. Arriving like this, surely he'll lock me away until I'm old." Leah whines, sparing a thought as to what her father would think.
Snarling at the idiotic words leaving the girl, Azzurro delivers a blow with his foot to her side. Releasing a yelp, Leah's body falls to her left, leaning her head against the floor as a way to comfort herself. Beside her, Ciel sends harsh glares to the Italian standing above them.
"It was an order from the Queen not to let the dealers do as they please with their drugs." Stating the information with a firm voice, Ciel stares at the man as if he's dumb, irritation written all over his face.
"Ah, come on, don't be so stubborn. This is why I hate the English," Azzurro laughs, "The Queen! The Queen! That's all they ever talk about."
"I'm not English.." Leah mutters, keeping her gaze trained on the floor.
"Shut up, bitch!" Above her, Azzurro cracks and kicks her again. Coughs sound from the girl, curling in on herself against the soft material of her dress.
Watching the scene play out in front of him, Ciel's demeanor has a small shift to it. Sharp glares are currently the only thing the boy can muster so he does just that, lifting his head to look Azzurro right in the eye.
"Don't touch her!" Ciel barks, the rough words bouncing off the walls of the room.
Placing his foot against the head of the Phantomhive, Azzurro pushes him back with a roll of his eyes, "In the end aren't we two sides of the same coin? So I just want us to cooperate a bit."
"Sorry, but I have no intentions of conspiring with a filthy rat." Peering through the corner of his eye, Ciel observes his fiancé lying on the floor. Upset he can't do anything and annoyed that Leah was brought into this, the boy can only reply to Azzurro's words.
"You may say that, but what about the others? Right now it might be only the watchdogs who are scared and obedient. I guess Ciel Phantomhive is someone who cleans out corruption," Inhaling some of his cigar, Azzurro pulls it away from his mouth and lets it move through the air,
"Even though I specifically made it so that I wouldn't sell in Italy.. I didn't expect to be tracked this early on."
'God.. Does this man ever stop yapping like a dog?' Leah thinks to herself, uncurling her body and wincing as she straightens her back. Subtly scooting over towards Ciel, she pays little attention to the things the Italian man is saying.
I feel like I should be more worried than I am..? So why aren't I? This man could kill us if he wanted to, and I'm in no position to defend myself. Why do I feel so calm at the proposition of dying?
"If you're lying about where the goods are kept, you'd better run home while your neck's still attacked, little runt." Pulling Leah out of her inner monologue, Azzurro holds his cigar between his teeth while he speaks.
"If I don't return, evidence will soon make its way to the government from Chlaus. It's a shame, huh?" Ciel smirks, dried blood coating small patches of his face. Comparing the two teens, Ciel has certainly taken a worse beating but Leah seems to be handling it worse.
"Don't mess with adults, 'Little Master'!" Pulling out a gun, it makes a clicking sound that causes Leah's eyes to widen. Gun aimed in her fiancé's direction, there's a deafening silence and a ring in her ears.
Ciel appears far less phased by the predicament than his fiancé, only giving Azzurro a blank stare. However, the girl beside him is entirely ready to beg for their lives if she needs to. 'If Ciel dies now.. I'll have to find a new fiancé. So many years of my life were potentially wasted on one boy. Will my reputation be ruined?!'
"We're already keeping your servants waiting," Azzurro keeps the gun cocked, legs crossed as he sits upon the table, "Where are the goods? If you don't spill quickly, I'll kill your servants one by one."
A noise of alert escapes the sixteen-year-old boy but nothing further, placing his head down to stare at his lap with a grin, "It would be nice if cute little puppies were able to 'fetch'."
Azzurro releases a breath of air, a chuckle following before he deals a harsh kick to Ciel's head. Effectively knocking the younger male further on the floor, he picks up to phone and lets his cigar hit the floor.
"Ciel!" Leah screams, making struggling attempts to shift herself closer to her betrothed. With his face out of her view and not responding to her words, the only thing she can do in this situation is let dread and worry consume her.
"Did you hear me? Negotiations are over. Kill him!" Stomping on the cigar, Azzurro speaks his orders into the phone.
Back within the walls of the Phantomhive Manor, Anna is hastily walking down the halls, her dark brown hair following suit. The reason for such haste? Discovering that the Lady is no longer in the house, courtesy of the letter Sebastian read.
Panicked breaths sound from the young woman, trying to keep her composure despite the situation. Turning the corner and seeing Thomas, she fights the hesitation to break the news to the butler. Keeping up with her quick pace, she stops before the man and angles her head up to see his eyes, her brown ones meeting his deep blue.
"Someone's taken Lord Phantomhive and Lady Leah.. They're no longer in the house." Anna says shakily, her dull tone not matching her current distress.
Looking away from his current task, Thomas furrows his brows at the sound of such information, "What do you mean taken?"
"I mean someone has kidnapped them." Reiterating her sentence, Anna puts on a firmer tone to get her point across.
A prolonged silence sits over the pair of servants, sharp tension making its way through the air. Sharing a look, Anna tilts her head when she receives a little reaction from the man before her.
"Do not worry, I shall take care of it." Thomas closes his eyes and tilts his head downwards, trying to ease Anna's worries.
"Wha—" Anna's sentence is quickly cut short.
"I said don't worry, just ensure that there is no possible way Lord Barrett hears of this. This will be solved soon enough." Starting down the hall, Thomas adjusts the gloves around his hand before forcing the maid a smile.
Wrapping her fingers around the windowsill, Anna's brows furrow as she watches Thomas walk away, "Sebastian said he's already solving it!"
Thomas stops in his tracks, a smirk making its way onto his face. Turning his head to give Anna a side view of him, the butler licks his lips to distract from the look of mischief growing on his fair skin.
"Then I suppose I shall have some extra help.." With his final words, Thomas sets off down the halls, leaving a confused Anna behind him.
Following the scent and sound of the 'fun', Thomas is quick to fall into step beside the running Sebastian, "Why hello. Nice afternoon, isn't it?" Thomas speaks with little interest in the demon beside him.
Sebastian glances to his right at the sound of a voice, meeting the gaze of the blue-eyed butler beside him. A smirk makes its way onto the demon's face, finding amusement when he realizes that he'll have someone accompany him.
"Ahh.. Thomas. Trying to find the Lady, are you?" Sebastian cocks a brow, "The car ahead of us most certainly has information."
Speeding up his pace, Thomas gives a quick nod to the sound of Sebastian's words, using a one-legged jump to boost himself into the air. Landing on the back of the men's car, he mockingly chuckles to himself at the sound of their phone conversation before slamming the palm of his hand toward their faces.
Disregarding the now destroyed car, the blonde butler only bothers to rip the phone from their hands, leaving Sebastian to do the rest of the work. Lifting the phone to his ear with a gloved hand, his face remains stoic while staring off into a line of trees.
"Hello? I am a member of the Barrett household. I hope our masters haven't been troubling you," Thomas fights a laugh at the sound of surprise coming from the other end of the line, "Hello? Is something the matter?"
There's an unsettling silence from Azzurro's end of the line before a faint 'woof' can be heard, "Understood. Right away. We'll come for you soon, so please wait a bit longer."
Clicking the mobile phone shut, Thomas shifts his attention to Sebastian beside him on the hood of the car, questioning away at the two men seated before them. Extending an arm to the pair, he tauntingly waves the phone in their direction.
"Thank you for returning the phone," Thomas says with a smirk.
"First, your owner's name, please, gentlemen," Sebastian asks, watching the ones grip on the steering wheel tighten, "Come now. I'm not a very patient person. You don't want to end up like Humpty Dumpty, do you?" There's a condescending tone to the black-haired butlers voice.
Terrified looks are some of the only things the two butlers can make out on their faces, finding amusement as they tell their secrets, "The Ferro family's Azzurro Vener! He's setting up a hideout north of the East End."
"Is that so?"
"..Yes. We were o—only hired out!"
Hopping off of the car hood, Thomas slips the phone into his shirt pocket and leaves the rest to Sebastian. It's only when the raven-haired butler lets the car fall from the cliff, that Thomas lets out his long silenced laugh as he watches the men go down.
Opening his watch with a sigh, Sebastian begins walking away, "Oh dear. It's this late already. At this rate, I shall be late for dinner."
"Late for dinner? If I don't have the Lady returned home in one peace, Lord Barrett will have my head." Thomas purses his lips, following after the Phantomhive butler.
Suppressed amused giggles leave Leah as she watches Azzurro begin to walk around and bark orders, holding her chin up with the floor.
"Those brats' watchdogs are on their way over! Lock down the door and have the men on their guard!" Azzurro yells, watching the other men grab guns, "Have every entry point secured, he must be caught! Don't let him set a single foot in here!"
Turning her head to get a look at Ciel, the brunette feigns a smile, "My.. What do you think is happening?"
Outside of the mansion, Sebastian and Thomas effortlessly manage to sneak past the men filing out. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, the pair observe the perimeter of the building.
"Not bad, I like this mansion's style," Sebastian comments.
"Wha.."
"Why are you here?!"
"How the hell did you get in?!"
Giving the men an unamused expression, Thomas barely shifts from his spot beside Sebastian, "You were all too busy to notice our entry."
"What's with the tailcoats? Who are you?!" One of the men shouts, all of them having their guns pointed in the butler's direction.
"Us?" Sebastian asks, "Ah, forgive me. Allow us to introduce ourselves."
"I am a Phantomhive's butler."
"I am a Barrett's butler."
Surrounded by the bodies of the men, Thomas barely acknowledges the mess while he checks his watch. With a shake of his head, the blonde steps around the body, a sound of discontent leaving him.
"We must get going, it is five thirty, and we don't have much time left," Thomas snaps his watch shut, "We are in somewhat of a hurry, are we not?"
Approaching the large double doors and stepping inside, the demons are quickly interrupted by the sounds of shouting and guns firing. Dodging the flying bullets, Thomas watches as Sebastian grabs the coat hanger, swiftly attacking the men with the end of it.
"I don't have time for this," Thomas states firmly, pushing through the hoard of men with brute force.
Once again surrounded by nothing but bodies, the butlers are far from impressed, glancing at their watches.
"Five thirty-four."
Pushing through endless sets of doors and armed men, Thomas and Sebastian are begrudgingly met with yet another group of them.
"There he is! Kill him!"
Releasing a sharp exhale through his nostrils, Thomas briefly clenches his fist, "Just how many men does this Vener fellow have?"
Running throughout the dining room, the butlers swiftly dodge all of the bullets with plates. Barely avoiding a graze, Thomas sends a harsh kick to the side of a man running up behind Sebastian.
"Call back all the guards! Beat this guy to a pulp!" One of the men calls out.
"These vermin have wasted so much of our time. Five thirty-eight."
Observing the raven-haired butler throwing countless pieces of silverware, Thomas furrows his brows as he watches the men get pierced one by one.
"You fight with silverware?" Thomas quirks an eyebrow.
"Why, of course," Sebastian smirks in return, ignoring the shouts of the men surrounding them.
"They're only butlers! Why are they so strong?!"
"Alright, that should be about it."
Staring up at Sebastian hanging upside down from the chandelier, Thomas wastes no time to continue moving throughout the mansion. Squinting his eyes, he attempts to make a lucky guess to the next room.
"Why did it suddenly become quiet?"
Watching the Italian with a bemused look, Leah now notices the lack of sound she could faintly hear just moments ago, "What's wrong? You don't enjoy hearing your thoughts?"
Clenching the gun in his hand tighter, Azzurro growls at the snarky remark from the teenager. Lifting his hand, he strikes down Leah's head with the butt of the firearm, effectively knocking her out, much to Ciel's displeasure.
The doors opening are the first sound to be heard in the room, followed by two pairs of glowing eyes that morph into shadows. As Thomas and Sebastian file in, Azzurro lets out a sound of shock and hurriedly aims his gun at the now-bowing pair.
"We thank you for looking after our masters." The butlers speak in unison.
Taking a moment to glance around the room, Thomas suppresses the urge to lunge at the Italian when he notices Leah unconscious on the floor.
"Ha. I never thought you could single-handedly take on all those men," Azzurro chuckles, "I was expecting some sort of superhuman, not two butlers in black tailcoats."
Continuing, Azzurro keeps his gun aimed in the direction of Sebastian and Thomas, "Who are you really? Killers sent by the Phantomhive to save their young master? An undercover special task officer? You two can't really be just some butlers."
"No, we are just your average butlers."
"You may be average. Not me."
Sebastian sends Thomas a tight-lipped smile regarding his comment, trying not to roll his eyes at the overly confident demon.
"Really? I've never met butlers of your talents before. I'm impressed. However," Azzurro reaches down to pull Ciel up by his hair, "If you want to save them you'll have to go through me first."
Thomas releases a sigh of disdain, "I don't have the time for this."
"You don't want to see your cute little masters with a hole in their head, do you? You're smart butlers, you should know what to do, right?" Azzurro mocks the pair of demons, loaded gun pressed against Ciel's temple while Leah lays not far behind them.
Reaching into Thomas' pocket, Sebastian begins to retrieve the phone from Thomas, "The thing that you wanted—"
Before Sebastian is capable of completing his sentence, a bullet goes through the head of the two butlers. Numerous bullets are fired in their direction, leaving holes throughout their body at the surprise attack.
"Seb.." Ciel's eyes widen.
Behind a painting, a group of four men in suits stand with their guns cocked, observing the butlers that now lay across the floor.
"Ah, they're dead? What fools, I've won this one," Azzurro smirks while bringing Ciel close with a fistful of his hair, "Even though they failed to save you, it was still quite touching, brat."
Continuing to spout irrelevant nonsense, Azzurro happily accepts his win, "Don't blame us for getting rough with you, brat. I won't hurt you, your organs will be worth quite a lot. The girl is definitely a pretty penny."
Eye twitching at the Italian's words, Ciel keeps his right closed now that Azzurro uncovered it. Unable to contain his irritation any longer, the Phantomhive calls out in annoyance.
"How much longer do you intend to play around for?" Ciel ignores the sound of surprise from Azzurro, "Do you plan on sleeping on that hard floor? Hurry up and get rid of these guys."
The bodies of Thomas and Sebastian start to twitch, stopping their fun.
"I'm— This is impossible!" Azzurro shouts, worry stricken across his face.
Getting back on their feet, Thomas spits his bullets back into his hand while Sebastian goes on his monologue, "Who would have known that technology would improve this much? It's incomparable to that of a century ago."
"We'll be returning the favor with these." Shaking the bullets around in their hands, Thomas and Sebastian throw them out, sending them through the men that circle them.
"Oh dear, look what you've done. How could you put so many holes into my coat?" Sebastian sighs.
Thomas interjects, scowling at the raven-haired butler, "No one cares about your tailcoat. Look at what's been done to the Lady!"
Centering his attention on the unconscious noblewoman, Thomas makes sure to not step any closer. As worried as he may be, provoking Azzurro could mean her death.
"Idiots. Are you still going to fool around?" Ciel glares.
"I will always faithfully stay by your side, so please do not worry." Sebastian muses.
After a ridiculous, one-sided fight —Thomas was the only one who was acting ridiculous— the young nobles are returned to the safety of their butler's arms.
Undoing the bindings around Leah's body, Thomas huffs in irritation at the sight of her, "Her precious skin.. littered in bruises. Just terrible."
Giving Thomas an odd stare, Ciel holds any questions he may have as he is lifted from his spot on placed on an armchair. "This time the game was quite unentertaining."
"Wait! Wait a minute, aren't you two just some butlers?! I— I don't want to die here!" Azzurro screams in agony while grasping his right arm, "Please use me as your hostage. I will pay 5,000, no! 10,000 sterling to you. I will amend my wrong ways and turn over a new leaf.. So please, have mercy on me!"
Turning his head in irritation, Thomas growls in denial as he continues to observe the harm done to Leah's body. Leaning down to brush a strand of hair from her face, the demon can't help but admire the beauty, ignoring the end to Azzurro happening just a few feet behind him.
Approaching the Phantomhive Manor, the demon butlers carry their respective master's bridal style. Due to the somewhat rocky ride, Leah is pulled from her unconscious state and looks up at Thomas with glassy eyes.
"What happened..? My head is killing me." Leah pouts, leaning her head against the blonde's chest before closing her eyes once again.
"It doesn't matter, you are safe now." Thomas glances down at the young girl, not bothering to feign a smile or look of comfort.
As the group of four gets closer, the Phantomhive servants are quick to run over at the sight of their disheveled appearances. While Meyrin and Bardroy move in to get a closer look at Ciel, Finnian observes the bruising on Leah.
"Oh my! Lady Leah, how could.." Finnian trails off, worry evident on his face.
"They only had a fall," Sebastian assures the other servants.
"'Fall' my ass.." Leah grumbles under her breath before catching herself on her unladylike language.
Shifting around in Thomas' arms, Leah does a once over on herself before breaking into a small sweat, "If Father sees me like this, he'll never let me leave the house again!"
Barely acknowledging Sebastian making his little scene, Thomas runs a hand through Leah's hair before dropping her beside Ciel.
"We shall have you stay at the Phantomhive Manor while you recover. When you are presentable, you'll return home." Thomas nods at his own devised plan to keep both Leah and himself from being murdered by her father.
"Staying at Ciel's manor? Oh, how lovely!"