( chapter twenty-two ! )
"As a result of my conversations with everyone, many things have become clear however.. the thing I'm most stuck on is the whereabouts of the key to the Earl's room."
The guests have regrouped around the table and anyone who happened to stray returned to their original seats. Everyone's focus is occupied by Arthur once more. If it wasn't for the fact that this ongoing murder investigation is a serious matter, boredom would be the main emotion displayed at this moment.
Unlike the rest of the adults, a young Leah Barrett sits idly beside her friend Ran Mao, fiddling with the engagement ring that adorns her finger. The diamond on top shines whenever it catches the light or the occasional flash of lighting from out the window. But, she finds it harder to hide her boredom compared to the people surrounding her, preferring to turn around to whisper to Anna.
Leah shifts in her spot and eyes her lady's maid, who stands separated from the Phantomhive servants. "You know, I don't think he'd still marry me if I was a criminal.." she keeps her voice low, referring to Ciel, who is caught up in a conversation with Arthur.
"Well.. Is that not part of his occupation, Mistress?" quips Anna, throwing a glance around the room. "I am sure he would still love you. Perhaps he wouldn't even turn you in."
With an unimpressed look, Leah scoots closer to Anna to avoid any potential prying eyes. "Should he try to kill me, I could just kill him first, no? In the case that he doesn't appreciate such an unseemly past," her eyes lock with Charles' on the armchair to her right, which earns him a faux innocent smile.
Anna's eyes widen, but they dull just as fast. "Don't say such a thing in a scenario like this, Mistress. If anyone is to overhear, you are only making yourself more suspicious," her voice softens a bit, concern filling her at the thought of Leah being arrested. "It is best if you lay low and be on your best behavior, I fear you wouldn't last a day in custody."
A pout paints the Barrett's porcelain face, and she begrudgingly turns back around in her seat, ruffling her dress skirts in the process. If her conversation with Anna lasted any longer, she would have missed the fact that half of the men in the room have risen from their seats and are now making their way toward the door.
"Where are you going?" she calls out, a little louder than a lady should be.
All five turn around, but Ciel is the only one to offer an answer. "We are going to the storage room to check Sebastian's body for the key," he drones, cane in hand.
With a sudden burst of energy, Leah rises from her seat to rush over to the group of men, her shoulder grazing Finnian's when she gets close. "I want to go! I want to go!" she chants.
Before her fiancé even has a chance to protest, the girl is walking out of the room. She would walk farther than down the hall if it isn't for the fact that Leah has no clue where the storage room is, choosing to impatiently bounce on her feet as she waits for the men to follow behind her and lead the way. Ciel, staring ahead, only offers a sigh as he exits the room.
Candles guide the way for the group as they make their way down the corridor and stairs that lead to the storage room. In the front, Bardoy carries a lamp to see his steps with Finnian beside him while Arthur deals with Charles breathing down his neck. To the side of them, Leah keeps herself firmly attached to Ciel, unappreciative of her lack of sight. 'Had I known it would be so dark down here, I would've stayed with Ran Mao..'
Arthur's voice is the first to cut through the thick air, noting the silence amongst them. "This place has the kind of atmosphere where one might expect a ghost to pop up at any moment, doesn't it?"
"Will you cut that out?!" yells Charles, right into the wordsmith's ear before he slides over to Ciel, gripping the young Earl's unoccupied arm. "There's no way there'd be a ghost! I only believe in things I can cut with my sword!"
"So, can you please walk on your own then?" mutters Ciel, getting aggravated at the feeling of the extra weight against his back.
For a moment, only the sounds of footsteps can be heard as Charles stammers and tries to explain himself. "I thought you might be scared. I was being so kind as to—"
"We're here, folks." Bardroy saves everyone from Charles' rambling, now standing in front of a set of doors.
Taking a grip on the handle and pulling one of the doors open, the chef reveals the dingy but tidy storage room. There are numerous barrels and walls of wine taking up space, being illuminated by two candlelit chandeliers. Right in the center of the floor are the three bodies, covered by tarps to shield them from view, only their outlines and feet noticeable.
Bardoy picks up stray pairs of gloves and approaches the others. "Put these gloves on when you touch the corpses, will ya."
"You're well prepared!" Arthur remarks. "That saves us some trouble."
Sliding over to the scene, Leah tries to take her own pair. This attempt is immediately stopped by Ciel, turning back to his betrothed as he silently places the gloves over his hands.
"No," his voice is direct and straight to the point, pulling a pout from the girl.
"Rude.." mumbles Leah, walking off to stand a few feet behind Arthur and watching as he pulls the tarp from Sebastian's body.
Beneath the fabric lays the still form of the Phantomhive butler, an expression missing from his face. But, the most peculiar thing is that he is covered in droplets of water, seeping into his hair and clothes. 'Nasty..'
Arthur releases a noise of surprise. "He's wet?!"
Glancing up towards the roof, Bardroy gives a faint grunt. "Looks like a leak in the roof caused it," he remarks.
"Poor Mr. Sebastian! Please move him!" Finnian yells frantically, approaching to get a better look.
His sudden intrusion on the scene goes mainly unnoticed, though Leah does spare him a glance. Particularly because the boy nearly pushed her over, but she can't blame him. Finnian is naturally distressed over the loss of a friend.
"We should, if he's wet, his body will decay faster as well," Arthur says thoughtfully, causing Leah to grimace at his word choice and the gardener to sweat. "We'll need to investigate him, but since he's still suffering from rigor mortis, it'll be hard to take his clothes off. Well, first, let's turn him on his back and—"
"Stop it!" screams Finnian, his hands balled into fists as he dives to push Arthur away from the body, knocking the man into Leah, who was standing a bit too close behind him. "Don't treat Mr. Sebastian like a mere object! Mr. Sebastian is very dear to—"
As Ciel interrupts Finnian to reprimand him, Arthur is now busy profusely apologizing to Leah, who distastefully stares at him with her arms crossed.
"Please forgive me!" his voice is shaky, and his hands clasped together in a plead for forgiveness, only getting a silent stare from Leah.
Although the teen is partially at fault for their collision, getting her to admit or accept the fact would be like talking to a wall. The wordsmith also realizes this and lets his voice die down to silence, kneeling to begin searching the body with Ciel.
Also returning to her original doing, Leah now chooses to stand behind her fiancé. She nosily examines as the men of the room, save for Bardoy and Finnian, pull apart Sebastian's close and try to inspect for the key.
When nothing comes of this search, there is a faint disappointment and confusion that lingers in the air. Where could Sebastian have possibly kept the key?
"Couldn't it be in his room?" suggests Arthur, glancing up at Ciel and reluctantly at Leah, who subtly stares him down.
Stepping back from the body, the Phantomhive is almost startled when he feels Leah's arm against his back. A near second victim to her silent wrath and about the third time being pushed for the girl.
"Let's go look," he nods.
"This is Sebastian's room."
Once again, having led the way, Bardoy opens up the door that looks to the minimalistic space that is known as Sebastian's quarters. The room is sparse and lacks decoration. A bed sits in the center against the wall right beneath a window that is being assaulted by the rain, and a nightstand with a lamp and lock by its side. Just to the left is a fireplace, a writing desk, and a singular portrait, while to the right is a closet and drawers.
"How.." Leah's voice trails off, taking in the space. "depressing."
Walking in behind her, Arthur perks up at the sight of the minimal decor. "It's quite spacious."
"It's because he's a senior servant," Bardroy quips while muttering about how he and Finnian are senior servants as well, catching Leah's ear.
Ciel wanders over to the writing desk, observing its empty surface, save for a teapot. "Can't you guys think of a place where he might have hidden it?"
Observing the rain pattering on the window, Leah ignores the chattering going on behind her. The sense of calm that the storm gives her, despite how rough it is, distracts her from their current situation. It isn't until she hears the sound of the bed being lifted beside her that she begins to pay attention again, glancing at Finnian holding it up so Arthur can take a look beneath.
Finnian and Arthur are not the only ones searching. Ciel looks through small drawers at the writing desk, Bardroy glances up the fireplace, and even Charles is going through the clothes in drawers. Feeling left out, Leah sidesteps to be closer to Ciel.
"Why don't the other servants get spacious and depressing rooms like Sebastian?" she asks suddenly, peering down to take a look at her betrothed's face but only managing to see his eye patch.
Sparing a glance, Ciel lifts his head as his eyes simultaneously lock on Leah and the closet some feet behind her. "What?" he lifts a brow.
"Well, if the others have worked as long as Sebastian, it doesn't seem fair if their rooms aren't as nice, no?" Leah tilts her head, following Ciel as he brushes past her.
The boy doesn't respond —much to her displeasure— in favor of stopping before the closet, though he does take in her words for later thought. With her eyes flickering between Ciel and the closet, she pouts until she pulls on one of the knobs, instantly being caught off guard by numerous things flying at him.
Numerous cats.
Leah's pout is quickly replaced by the sight of the bundles of fur filing out of the closet as words of surprise carry throughout the room. Sneezes begin to pour from her fiancé beside her, but to his surprise, she pays him no mind and dives to pick up one of the felines.
Staring into the creature's blue eyes with her own, a bright smile works its way onto her lips. "Oh, they are so cute!" she squeals, rubbing her face against the soft and silky fur.
"That bastard! He hid these from me!" Ciel screams in utter frustration, his back placed against the closet in a terrible attempt to distance himself from the many cats at his feet. "Don't let any of these critters out of this room!" his words drift off into a loud sneeze.
Surprised, Finnian stands and tries to approach his master with a cat still settled in his arms. "Young master!"
"Finny! Don't come here while you're carrying one of those things! My allergies are.." the Phantomhive can't finish his sentence before he erupts in a harsh sneeze that causes pain in his throat.
Playing with the arms of one of the cats, Leah merrily ignores the world in favor of the bundle of fur melting her heart. 'What precious meows!' She rises to her feet and steps over towards Ciel, holding the animal out to him.
"Isn't this one adorable?" she bites back another squeal.
With her step forward, Ciel takes another one back, trying to use his arm to shield himself while also backing into a corner. "Get that thing away from me!"
Leah pouts dramatically. "Don't be so mean, Ciel! I'm sure the kitty would like to say hello," the smile that paints her face is a lovely sight compared to the usual lack of an expression.
"No!" he fights, feeling another sneeze approaching.
Having managed to wrangle the cats onto Sebastian's bed, Ciel is now safely standing in the doorway, giving a wary glance towards Leah, who chose to stay by the bed. He appreciates her enthusiasm but can't help but feel a little startled at how she carelessly backed him into a corner. However, that was primarily his fault.
As the men converse about what they are meant to do next and the lack of a key, Leah busies herself by petting each cat meticulously. The feeling of the fur on her hands, the soft noises, the playful rolling around. She can't help herself but love them all. 'If only Ciel wasn't allergic.. I hope he doesn't think that means he is safe from me bringing Sam along after we get married.'
The Barrett doesn't even notice everyone leaving the room for a good minute or so. If anything, she might not have at all if it wasn't for Ciel noticing the lack of her attached to his arm, causing him to circle back to Sebastian's room.
"Leah," his voice is low and comforting, just enough to grab her attention.
Glancing up at the sound, Leah now notices the lack of anyone else in the room. "Hm?"
"We are leaving. We are planning on asking everyone about searching each other's luggage," Ciel hesitantly takes a step closer, holding out his arm. "Come."
Leah follows almost like an obedient puppy, wrapping a gentle hand around his forearm. Giving the cats all one last pat, she lets Ciel guide her towards the exit, albeit begrudgingly. She could stay here all year if she wanted to, and she absolutely would if given the chance.
"Goodbye.." she calls out, watching the door close behind her.
"Thus, we would like to view your rooms and belongings," explains Arthur, standing before the guests who chose to stay in the room rather than come along in search of the key. "The woman's luggage will be checked by another woman, so we won't see it. Is that okay?"
"I understand."
"Go ahead."
"Do as you please."
Off to the side, Ciel and Leah both questionably eye Charles, who complains of his hunger. 'Does he do anything other than eat?'
Inside Irene's room, the women are currently searching the last one with half effort— not expecting to find anything out of place. Leah, Ran Mao, Anna, and Meyrin all sift through the opera singer's belongings while she watches them patiently.
Despite typically enjoying being nosy, the pair of eyes belonging to Leah only seem to drift around the room, occasionally landing on something of interest but nothing incriminating. From time to time, she catches the words of Meyrin and Irene, catching the words of her relationship with Grimsby. She isn't at all interested in the view until she catches a bottle of dark fluid in Meyrin's hand.
Leah notes how the maid doesn't make a comment on it, choosing to keep her mouth shut as well. 'I'll bring it up if necessary.. Perhaps it is just a wine, and she enjoys eccentric bottles.' The girl can't be too bothered to care; she doubts that any of the women would have killed a person, especially Irene. The Barrett herself is the most likely suspect out of them all, but the search through her luggage and room came out with nothing.
Pulling her eyes away, she is taken aback by the sudden view of Ran Mao with Irene's drawers atop her head.
What earns a faint giggle from Leah earns a scream from Irene. "You shouldn't put that on your head!" her face darkens in embarrassment.
Meyrin's attention is also drawn away from the vial of liquid, her face somehow managing to be darker than Irene's. "Miss Ran Mao!" she begins to make her way over in an attempt to stop her.
Even Anna reacts. Only a small gape in her mouth, but still something that breaks through her dull exterior.
This is probably the highlight of Leah's entire time here.
Everyone returned to their original spots, looking a bit dejected. Well, Arthur, in particular.
"It wasn't here after all.." his shoulders slump with a sigh.
Ciel sighs as well. "Even with all this, Sebastian could have hidden it somewhere else.."
"That or he could have thrown it out the window," suggests Lau, keeping Ran Mao close to his chest and pulling Leah's attention. "Since it's so small if it was carried off or buried in this storm, we aren't going to find it."
Attempting to put her brain to use, a shrug is offered by Leah. "Perhaps we should think of where we wouldn't think? Something absurd that would make no sense. Sebastian seemed to enjoy being over the top—"
"Excuse me!" Finnian interrupts with his arms tightly at his side. "I'm going to search outside!"
Meyrin places a hand on her chest in agreement. "I.. I'm going too!"
Ciel appears surprised and lets it drop just as quickly. "Certainly, finding it would give us a clue towards the killer, but you don't have to go out of your—"
"I.. want to solve this case!" the gardener's voice is a near shout, his brows knitted in frustration.
Finnian's yelling continues as he explains his motives, losing Leah's interest. Instead, she turns around to send Anna a cursory glance.
"That poor boy is losing it," she says with a whisper and faint shake of her head.
Hardly having a chance to respond when the sound of pounding feet runs out of the room, the maid only offers a mere nod. The sight of Finnian so emotionally hurts most hearts. No one can blame him for his feelings. Yet somehow, Leah remains bad at reading the room. Or her lack of care, too.
Sometime after the Phantomhive servants darted out of the room, the unnerving silence that fell upon the guests began to become too much for some. Even Leah, who can typically ignore the atmosphere in a room with no trouble, shifts uncomfortably while staring out the window. One person in particular who feels it the most is Grimsby.
"Hey. It's a little suffocating to stay quiet like this. Why don't we play a game of cards?" the man's voice cuts through the silence like a knife. "I brought some cards, so I'll go get them from my room." he rises from his seat and carefully brushes off his pants.
An immediate look of concern crosses Arthur's face. "Please wait, if you're going, we should all go."
"I'll be right back," Grimsby counters simply, a small bead of sweat trickling down his cheek at Arthur's growing insistence.
"It's safest to move in groups since we still don't know who the killer is, and more importantly, I don't want to see any more victims made," explains Arthur with his hands out quite dramatically.
Standing before the window, Leah and Ciel both share a look. Neither can deny that it is a smart move to never be alone. However, unlike the logical one in the relationship, Leah isn't focused on the potential idea of another murder.
"I don't want to play cards with that man," her voice is almost inaudible, mouth right beside Ciel's ear, "he's quite aggravating."
Ciel turns his head slowly, fighting back an incredulous look. "Is that really what you are concerned about right now?"
When he receives nothing but a nod from his oh-so-empathetic fiancé, he chooses to simply turn his attention back to the conversation at hand. Ciel can never seem to become adjusted to Leah's lack of care or interest in serious situations. The girl can't even understand herself, anyone else managing to would be astounding.
"If he's not amongst us, where is he?" asks Charles, his gaze low and worried.
"You mean the killer arrived before the storm but is hiding himself outside.. or something?" Irene begins to twitch ever so slightly at the thought.
Ciel pipes up, his eyes off to the side. "Even so, isn't it unlikely he would be able to wander around the mansion and into a locked room without leaving footprints if he had been out in the storm before?" he questions lowly.
A thoughtful silence overcomes everyone, but it doesn't get the chance to last long or make an impact.
"Wouldn't your 'unlikely' become likely with the existence of a fifteenth person?" Lau's voice is eerie, a faint shiver going down Leah's neck at his words.
Woodley, breaking his silence, is feeling agitated. "How foolish! There's definitely no chance of that happening!" he bellows.
"Definitely?" Lau counters his argument. "The one thing that doesn't exist in this world is 'definite.' If you revere 'definite,' then anything could be lurking in this manor. If he's lying in wait for a chance to attack, aiming for our lives.. he might not be that far off anymore.." the words trail out of his mouth with a hint of certainty.
"This fifteenth person who shouldn't exist."