Chapter 36:

That night the young master was put to bed by Sebastian and I. Nothing else was talked about beside the meeting that would take place three nights from now.

I stepped out onto the main deck of the ship, the night sky aligned with stars. The pollution of the city no longer having its affects on drowning the stars out. It looked so beautiful. The air was less intense in the center of the deck but it still hit my face nonetheless. The stars look even more bright than on most days and it gave me a relaxed feeling in my limbs. No worries for even a few seconds.

No thoughts of my lost parents. No thoughts of my mate, who I started appreciating more over the month before the ship set sailed and no more nightmares of the family that I once lost. It was peaceful.

I looked around me, making sure there was no passenger left on the deck in sight and only spotted a few drunk men. They were too far to notice anything. I headed to the poop deck where there would be no one to interfere with my plans. I grabbed the railing and felt the cold metal underneath my fingers. I couldn't manage to be cold even if I wanted to, the demon and chimera inside of me taking over more by the day.

I brought out my wings, both lumps of feathers still down at my sides and I prepared myself for flight. I grabbed the railing even hard and stood on top of it, bending my legs so I don't fall back or forward. The power of the wind became even rougher as I got higher and almost shook me away. I used my demonic strength to keep me upright.

Without a moment of hesitation I brought my wings out and was thrown into the air. I flapped higher until I saw the majority of the ship moving slowly away. it felt good to stretch my wings again. The entire month leading up to this moment held little opportunities for my daily flight.

I circled the ship for what felt like an eternity and soon my wings grew tired. Nothing but the air hitting my face and the chilly wind caught my attention, making it a peaceful night.

I looked down beneath me and spotted the demonic butler. He stood with his head facing me, his posture still as stiff as ever. I knew he wanted me back down at the ship. I flew back down, my wings slightly tucked in to my side so I have a smoother time landing.

I spread my wings a tiny inch to smooth the landing and planted myself into Sebastian, slightly crashing into him as my speed carried me further.

"That could have been a smoother landing," he said, his hands on my elbows to help steady my footing.

"It was either crash and destroy this beautiful face you oh so love or land safely in your loving arms."

Sebastian chuckles at my use of words. We had gotten closer this past month, an accomplishment he couldn't help but smirk at me every time for. I had grown warmer towards him and I didn't mind. Our friendship had grown more. He wasn't completely emotionless and he wasn't completely uncaring. It was others that he found unworthy of his attention that he gave no second glances to.

Though it did still seem strange. Bearing his mark even though it had never been on my skin before...

"What a way with words you have, my darling." My wings shivered and began slowly aching because of the cold. "I would feel better if you didn't use your wings for the rest of the trip. It will be unbearably cold in the coming days."

"It's strange, Sebastian. I can't feel cold but my wings still feel cold. Is it because I'm technically half alive and the only part that can actually feel human are my wings?"

"I'm not sure, my pet."

I shed my wings and felt the aching slowly subside, the coldness no longer taking its toll on my extra limbs.

"So, what shall we do now, butler?"

"The young master has fallen asleep as well as your friend. It is just you and I tonight."

His eyes flashed fuchsia for a split second. "No funny thoughts, Demon."

He chuckled as he smirked, his eyes closing and opening once he stopped.

"What would you like to do darling?"

I placed m hand on my chin and placed my weight on one leg. "I'm not sure what we can do. Everything is either closed or too irrelevant. Not to mention the Association we're supposed to be keeping an eye on. We aren't even sure who the hell is in the damn association."

I brought my arm down and held myself while Sebastian brought his hand to his chin in thought. A few seconds later he tapped his open palm with his closed fist.

"We'll investigate the ship for anything suspicious."

"And what if there isn't anything suspicious, Sebastian?"

"We shall wait for the night of the meeting than."

"Hmm..." I stood closer to his torso and placed my face into his chest. He made no movement to hug me but I was fine with that. I didn't really want to be hugged.

"How is it that you smell so nice?" I asked, slightly dazed by the smell of apples and tea.

"Maybe it is because of your infatuation with me..."

My eyes raised to meet his. I jokingly glared at him while he smirked with his eyes closed.

"Alright demon, let's go. You've earned enough of my graceful presence tonight."

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The three nights passed by in flurry. There was nothing suspicious to be seen. The passengers talked like normal, each person having their own fun.

The young master left his room and met with the Midfords, Elizabeth the most excited about seeing him three days in a row. It was refreshing seeing the young master somewhat happy after all of the things he went through.

"Oh Ciel! You look so cute today!"

Elizabeth hugged Ciel to death, causing him to grow slightly pale over the lack of oxygen.

"Good morning, Elizabeth."

"Elizabeth!" her mother yelled, "that is no way for a lady to act!"

"Yes, mother."

The next few hours of the day went by in blur. The young master was dragged around by the young lady as he tried to catch his breath. Sebastian and I tailed them as they continued moving on the whims of Elizabeth. She scurried with Ciel in her grip, going to every attraction that caught her eye. It was amusing watching the young master suffer as well as have fun.

It didn't take long for the night to fall upon the ship. We headed to the first class lounge in preparation for the dinner party and the Aurora Society meeting. Sebastian and I looked around, trying to see if there was anything out of the ordinary.

Sebastian leaned in next to me while the young master and the young lady were together.

"Look at the glasses the waiters are carrying."

I looked closely at the different drinks the waiters carried and noticed the lack of substance that some of the waiters had. Some of the guests were grabbing the empty ones, causing confusion to form.

"Why do the waiters have empty glasses? Is that some sort of signal?"

"It seems t be the signal for their meeting..."

"An empty glass? Why would they use an empty glass? Doesn't that make it obvious that there's something going on?"

We walked to the young master while he was catching his breath. Snake stood behind us, confused by the festivities surrounding us.

Sebastian grabbed a plate of food from a waiter and held it up to the young master. He was sweating slightly and heaving from the running.

"Nobles really don't do anything besides gather all day and talk about irrelevant things like what families did this or that... It feels stupid to abandon work for this..."

"Well then, will you accept the marchioness' invitation to give you an introduction to fencing?" Sebastian asked, platter still held out for the young master to take.

"Are you not going to let me see the statue of liberty at all?" Ciel asked sarcastically.

"Young master," I said, as Sebastian and I leaned in closer to the child's ears, "the meeting is tonight."

"It seems the signal for the opening of the Aurora Society's meeting is a waiter carrying empty glasses. The attendees take one and go to the meeting place."

"Don't let your eyes off of the waiter."

We looked around at some of the guests that had grabbed an empty glass. As I saw one person going down a hallway noticed the whispers surrounding us.

"Did you see that skin..."

"It looks like Snake's skin, doesn't it?"

"When did this place turn into a freak show?"

"I think her heard you."

Snake looked dejectedly at the ground. The young master walked over to his, Sebastian and I in tow.

"You aren't used to crowds?"

"'I look different from everyone else, and since I'm with you, people will laugh at you too,' says Dan."

"So what?" Snake looked up, confused by the two simple words spoke by the young master. "You're another person so of course you look different. What do you need to be ashamed for? Besides," he continued, "I am free to be with whomever I want. No one has the right to say anything otherwise."

He took a bite from the plate of food while Sebastian and I stood beside Snake.

"That's right," Sebastian said, placing a hand on Snake's shoulder, "Right now you're the Footman of a distinguished nobles family. So straighten up and have some confidence." Snake blushed while trying to fix his posture, Sebastian's hand hitting his back for assurance.

"But it's also not about title as well, Snake. Think of it this way, if I only looked at you the one some of these people did, would I have ever been your friend? They're too judgmental for their kind to notice how much of a great person you are. And I wouldn't have you any other way Snake."

I kissed him on the cheek, not caring if the others would dislike my certain display of affection for my family. I looked over at Sebastian who had an irked look on his face. He was smiling with his eyes closed, a little piece of his smile twitching.

"Don't get upset Sebastian," I said, a deadpanned expression taking its place.

Sebastian suddenly looked over to the stairs of the dining hall. He urgently moved the young master and I to the direction of a man who had grabbed an empty glass.

"We'll follow him," Ciel said, not giving a second glance behind him.

Ciel handed his plate to Snake and and ordered him to eat the remaining of the plate. While running with Sebastian and Ciel, I almost lost my footing because of the lack of space the maids attire had on my legs.

"What about the disguises, young master?" I asked.

"We'll put them on once we find the room that is holding the meeting. Until then, don't lose him!"

We had stopped running in favor of being quiet behind it. It may have only taken a minute to reach him but the young Earl was breathing heavily after the little jog.

I turned my head to Sebastian and noted the extra lengthy hair. We stopped at the end of a hallway and Sebastain gave Ciel and I wigs, with the exception of a different bandage for Ciel's eye. Ciel had a blond wig that reached his shoulders while I had ginger wig that reach a little past my shoulders, the tresses straight.

"What are you planning to do with a wig?" Ciel asked. "The maid uniform makes you oddly suspicious."

"I highly recommend that you face the other way, young master."

As I grabbed the hem of my dress the young master began blushing and immediately turned away. We heard one of the waiters outside of the doors the man with the empty glass was at.

"Would you like some completely purified water? It's 30 pounds."

I looked away from the men and faced Sebastian, my hand outstretched.

"Sebastian, do you have it?"

"Of course."

He brought the fancy dress out of thin air. I wasn't surprised by now seeing as how he always loved to show off.

"I'll have some," the man with the empty glass said.

I grabbed the dark blue dress and quickly stripped from my maids attire in front of Sebastian and traded it for the blue dress. The only thing that remained on me from the previous outfit being the corset.

"That's quite an extravagant price for water," the Earl said, facing the men.

Sebastian tugged the laces of the dress as fast as he demonic hands could and in seconds I was ready

"You can turn around now."

Ciel turned around, the blush still present on his face. I threw the maid attire into on of the empty rooms along the hallway and walked back to the child and demon.

"If something like 'Purified Water' costs that much, then that means whoever can't afford it won't be allowed in. Though that's idiotic, in my opinion."

Ciel took one last look towards the two men guarding the door with water. "Let's go."

Sebastian grabbed Ciel's jacket before he could get any further.

"Please wait."

"He's right. Remember two weeks ago the information that Sebastian and I got. The Society has a specific greeting they go by. If you don't remember it than we won't be able to stay."

"What is it?"

"The Phoenix Dance."