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edenityy · 5 months ago

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( chapter fifteen ! )

"Music? Oh— or croquet! Boating could be fun?"

Within the walls of Phantomhive Manor sit Leah Barrett and Elizabeth Midford, brainstorming ideas on how to satiate their boredom. Lacking the presence of Ciel to be a mediator and maker of the final decision, the two girls have spent the past ten minutes going back and forth. Still, neither seem entirely interested in each other's suggestions.

Sitting atop one of the lounges in the drawing room, Leah gently rubs her fingers across the material of her amber dress skirts. She is disengaged from the conversation, evident in how she trains her gaze on Elizabeth's canary yellow dress or the relentless way she presses her lips together. Perhaps had she stayed home to recuperate from her time at Noah's Ark Circus, she wouldn't feel so overwhelmed by mere conversation.

"Is it like you are not even listening to me!" complains Elizabeth. "How could you possibly not like a single activity I named?"

Effectively being snapped out of her trance, Leah swallows and reluctantly meets the blonde in the eye. "It is not that I reject your ideas.. It is just— does it not feel like we do the same few things as women? As if our options are limited. You can only have so much fun before you grow tired of it," her voice trails off towards the end of her sentence.

A sigh escapes Elizabeth, followed by a muffled agreement. Silence also fills the room and works to set a tone of slight discomfort, primarily on Leah's end, both girls letting their eyes wander to different spaces of the room.

Leah points a finger to her chin before glancing back up at her friend. "Horseback riding?" she suggests, not expecting a thrilled answer.

The Midford's face immediately lights up in a smile. "That sounds quite lovely!"

"You know how to ride, yes?" asks Leah as she stands from her seat and smooths out her dress skirt. "You can ride on my horse if not."

Shaking her head, Elizabeth follows suit and skips towards the door of the drawing room. "I believe I should be fine! I'm sure if I need help, you are capable," she grins widely.

"My Lady," Thomas interrupts before Leah has a chance to react to Elizabeth's words. "Riding can be dangerous. Surely there are safer activities you can do this afternoon?"

Stopping in her tracks, the young Barrett turns around to face her butler, face displaying utter irritation at the sound of his voice. "Thomas.. just get the horses and riding clothes. If it bothers you that much then ride behind us. Just keep quiet!" she almost raises her voice in anger.

Leah exits the room with Elizabeth on her tail, nearly stomping down the halls for the guest room she was given. Back in the drawing room, Thomas doesn't have the chance to respond before he must arrange everything, heading out of the room as well but purposely taking a different path to give the Barrett her space.

Walking down the halls, the teenagers have slowed their speed now that Leah has calmed, allowing Elizabeth to not have to exert herself to keep up. The sound of labored breathing dissipates as the brunette regains her composure, shaking her head to clear her previous thoughts of anger.

"That butler is so irritating.." complains Leah, moving her hair out of her face. Today the brown locks are styled half down with a braid going across the back while Elizabeth is wearing her infamous pigtails.

Elizabeth's face wears an expression similar to surprise. "He is not all that bad. All he did was suggest a safer activity."

The pair approach their rooms with small steps.

"I know. I think I let him anger me so much over trivial things that now Thomas merely existing seems to offend me.." Leah's voice fades, fully aware that her distaste towards the butler is unjustified.

Steps slowing to a stop, the girls enter their respective rooms to prepare for the afternoon ahead.

— ౨ৎ —

The grand doors of the manor are pushed open by Thomas who stands tall, a display of nature behind him, giving a false sense of security with the February air that nips at their noses. Stepping aside for the ladies, he watches them file out and make their way toward the horses he fetched and brought around to the front of the manor.

Both the Barrett and Midford wear riding habits, Leah wearing one in pine green while Elizabeth chose azure. Leah is the first of the two to attempt to get close to the animals, taking a peek at the horse's face before trying to mount herself, promptly being interrupted by the butler ten steps behind her.

"Allow me, My Lady," says Thomas as he arrives by her side, shifting himself to bend his knees.

Giving him an askew glance, Leah — with the help of Thomas — hoists herself up and places her foot upon his right shoulder. Thomas strictly follows the way to help a lady mount a horse, getting his master on the saddle and strapping in everything necessary. Settling down in her spot, Leah steadies herself on the horse and watches as Thomas assists Elizabeth before getting on a horse himself.

Leah adjusts her riding hat. "Your lead. I suppose we shall just go around the manor," she speaks up and sends a nod to Elizabeth beside her.

"Alright!" Elizabeth muses, slowly allowing her horse to begin a trot.

Following suit, Leah swerves her horse to position herself on the blonde's right side, acting as a stand-in man. Just a couple of feet behind the teenagers, Thomas keeps a respectful distance but acts as a supervisor, ready to intervene if necessary.

The ride is initially quite silent, only the faint sounds of rustling leaves or chirping birds fill the gap. Neither attempt conversation. Beneath them, the horses keep a steady pace and walk around the perimeter of Phantomhive Manor. Only occasionally does Leah glance in Elizabeth's general direction to ensure she doesn't fall from her horse.

Elizabeth glances over at Leah warily. "I am glad we are doing this. It has been some time since we have been able to be together like this," she smiles, trying to strike conversation without making her friend feel uncomfortable.

"Yes, I suppose it has been some time," responds Leah. "Life moves quite quickly, does it not?"

"It does. Soon enough, we'll be of age to make our social debuts. Then get married," Elizabeth has a face that reads of bliss for the future, unlike Leah who shows apprehension at her words.

Turning a swift corner, a breeze passes through the girl's hair. The atmosphere feels serene. Even being beside something as simple as a manor rather than the pure outdoors, it still manages to draw people in. Not far behind them, the shuffles of Thomas can be heard but go unnoticed despite the man watching them like a hawk.

"Sometimes it feels as though I barely got time to be a child.. but I suppose that is just how life is. We all have to grow up eventually," sighs Leah. Her disdain for the future ahead, no matter how prepared she could be, is clear.

Nodding along to her words, Elizabeth pouts in response but it is masked by something almost euphoric. "Well I am happy I get to grow up with you," she turns her head completely to drag her eyes across her friend's face, admiring someone who has been a constant in her life for years.

Leah's hand gripping the lead twitches and tears prick the corners of her eyes, bringing her head up to meet the green eyes of Elizabeth that hold nothing but fondness in them. For the first time in what feels like a long time, a genuine smile pulls at the corners of the brunette's mouth until her teeth show. Despite the internal issues she may struggle with when it comes to Elizabeth, she cannot deny that the girl is indeed her friend.

"I am grateful I get to grow up with you as well.." her face glows under the sunlight, a newfound sense of happiness that comforts the Barrett.

Returning their gazes ahead, the pair let their horses pick up speed and enjoy the feeling of the wind pushing against their face. As the afternoon wears away, they make gleeful — though sometimes forced — conversation and manage to hold onto topics. Even after months of little chance for interaction, Leah and Elizabeth can always somewhat keep the spark ignited within them, bleeding into the cold February air that envelops them like a hug that they cannot currently give the other.

— ౨ৎ —

Crash!

Leah shoots up in her bed with a gasp, the typically heavy sleeper awoken by the unpleasant — and unbelievably loud — sound of a noise that is uncomfortably close to her bedroom. Pushing the undone hair off of her shoulder, she sits up fully in a sideways kneel. Any further sound is nonexistent, making her tense up as she keeps her eyes trained on the door, despite her difficulty to see with only small gleams of moonlight being the lamp of the room.

Shaky breaths escape from her parted lips and she swings her legs over the side of the bed, reaching beneath the plush furniture to reach for a sword she keeps hidden. The cold floor pricks her fingertips while she blindly feels around before grasping the sword handle and gripping it uncomfortably tight, her knuckles would look white if her hands weren't already pale.

Rising from the safety of the soft blankets, Leah steadily approaches the door with quiet steps, keeping the sword held tightly against her back. Her footsteps are the only sound that reaches her ears, lifting a hand to wrap it around the door handle. Cracking the door open, she warily sticks her head out. Standing just a few feet outside the door, Finnian walks in a straight line in her direction, a small patch of blood shining beneath the light on the previously spotless floor.

"..Finnian?" Leah whispers, her hands clinging tightly to the door.

The gardener steps slowly as he stops before her door. "You should be asleep, My Lady! It's late, you need your rest," his words are quiet but his eyes are wide and pupils small, emitting an unnerving aura.

"What were those sounds?" asks Leah. Her eyes are equally as wide, but full of fear rather than the startling look from the typically cheerful gardener.

Finnian's eyes flicker to an undistinguishable emotion. "Don't worry about it.. We're taking care of it. Please get back in bed."

Shifting on her feet uncomfortably, Leah rubs her thumb over the handle of the sword in an attempt to make herself feel better. She opens the door a bit wider but Finnian stops the movement.

"What's happening?" the Barrett demands an answer.

"Please—"

"Answer me."

The sudden shift in Leah's tone is one Finnian has never heard before, stilling his movements. They both stare into each other's eyes. Silence.

"There is an intruder.. but please don't panic," Finnian whispers, unable to pull his eyes away from Leah's.

Leah's eyes trail over to the small pool of blood on the floor and her finger twitches. "Is Elizabeth safe?"

She is only offered a nod in response before gunshots sound from the end of the hall. Flicking her eyes to Finnian's, she glances out the door and runs down the hall, the sound of her footsteps pattering against the floor.

"It's dangerous, My Lady! Please go back to bed!" calls Finnian as he runs after her, surprised by Leah's speed.

Rounding the corner, Leah's breathing is slightly labored and her grip on the sword tightens at the sight. Standing at the end of the hallway is Dagger and Beast, staring back at her with wide eyes. Her steps slowly come to a stop and she can hear Finnian approach her from behind, unable to rip her eyes away.

"Diamond..?" Dagger's voice is low.

A shaky breath is the only thing Leah can offer in response, glancing warily at the knives clenched in his hands. 'What are they doing here? They aren't supposed to be here!'

Leah holds the sword to her stomach. "I'm sorry I lied.. I didn't mean to," she shakes her head at her words, tears pricking the corner of her eyes.

The circus performers glare, observing her uneasy stance with disdain. Against his better judgment, Dagger sends a knife straight past the Barrett's head and listens to her shriek.

"Prying into our lives. Take advantage of our hospitality. You nobles are all the same!" Beast's voice nearly becomes a yell and she retrieves her whip from her side, flashing it to frighten the teen.

There's a flash of something in Leah's eyes. Hurt. It only seems to last for a quick moment, her eyes darkening into contempt.

"You know, I did not think you people were all that bad. But it seems it stands true that the poor are only a burden," Leah clenches her teeth and wields her sword. "How dare you invade my home!"

Dagger and Beast hardly have a moment to react before the Barrett is charging at them, her feet pounding against the floor. Any previous anger she bottled up is released, showing in the swing that she aims directly for Dagger's head, only to have to dodge Beast's whip.

Hastily grabbing another knife, Dagger begins to swing and nearly cuts Leah's nightgown in the process. However, further attempts at injury fail when Finnian takes the chance to send a statue flying their way.

"Leave the lady alone," he calls out, voice lacking emotion yet a wide smile sits on his face.

Rubble and dust fill the air, prompting coughs but that doesn't deter the young Leah from taking the chance to swing rapidly at her targets. 'How is Finny capable of lifting those things? It doesn't matter.. He is giving me the upper hand.' She tries to steady her breathing as she lands a hit on Beast's arm, only to be forced to duck from a flying knife.

Eyebrows knitted in anger, Leah glances back at Finnian who holds another statue before dragging her eyes back to Dagger. "Would you like to make the fight fair?" she asks.

Throwing herself in the direction of a wall, she sticks her sword out at the same time Finnian chucks another statue, causing half of its length to shatter. Taken aback by this, Dagger and Beast don't get a moment to react before Leah violently swings at them again, almost landing a hit on Dagger before he is pulled back by Beast.

"You people are insane!" Dagger yells.

Finnian lifts a statue over his head. "We're just exterminating the mice," he pulls it back and sends it flying.

The circus performers continue deeper into the manner, but this doesn't deter Leah nor Finnian from chasing after them. Glancing behind him, Dagger grunts and throws a knife directly at Leah, missing when she ducks to the floor. But given the advantage, Beast can land a small hit with a whip on the Barrett's leg, only enough to cause pain but still reddening the skin.

Leah gasps and takes ahold of her leg, pain written all over her face as she watches Finnian throw yet another statue. 'Just where is he getting them from?' Nonetheless, she gets back on her feet and tries to follow after the pair flying down the steps but is stopped by the gardener.

"My Lady, please go back to bed. Us servants can handle it!" Finnian looks worried as he smiles down at the girl.

The Barrett pouts. "But—"

"Please.." he nearly begs. "For your safety."

A sigh escapes Leah but she nods, allowing her sword to escape her hand and drop to the floor with a rattle. Reluctantly separating herself from the situation, she heads off down the hallway and steps past the mess she helped create, lacking the will to feel sympathy for Dagger or Beast.

'It truly is a shame. I thought they were quite nice..'

When Leah rounds the corner and enters the hallway that leads to her room, her breath bitches at the sight before her. Thomas.

There is no face. It almost looks molten, like it cannot choose what form it wants to take until it settles on all black amidst the night. The eye holes are gaping and the teeth razor sharp, lacking the lips to keep them contained in it's mouth. His body— It's body is lengthy and mangled, only the legs seeming in tact to resemble any form of a human.

But just as quick as she sees it, the face uncomfortably melts back into the face she's seen since adolescence. Thomas. This can't possibly be Thomas though, can it? This isn't Thomas this is—

She lifts a shaky finger. "You're that thing I saw all those years ago.." Leah whispers, struggling to breathe.

"Whatever are you talking about, My Lady?" Thomas tilts his head, choosing to play coy.

Leah shakes her head and takes a step back, nearly tripping over her own feet. 'No..'

— ౨ৎ —

Cold. The night was cold.

Leah Barrett, freshly five at the time, ventured out of her room knowing that she was not meant to be doing so. That never stopped her though, she always enjoyed the feeling of being able to roam freely on her own. But she wished she hadn't that night.

The soft sound of her bare feet against the floor was the only thing to fill the silent halls, most of the servants were even retiring for the night. It was January. Barely ending the holiday season. The cold on her translucent skin hardly pushed her away, prompting her to walk further into the dark.

Children naturally hold curiosity. Leah was no exception.

She continued down the hall, turning a corner into a part of the manor she had hardly ever gazed upon. But it wasn't the dark she was scared of when she looked into the depths. It was an ungodly sight.

The molten face. The missing eyes. The mangled body. Little Leah cried out, taking the largest step back she could with her short legs. It twitched. To the creature, the young brunette was nothing short of wondrous. It spent years silently watching. Seeing the shining tears that fell down her porcelain cheeks, it was enamored.

But what was it? What invoked such feelings within a being such as Thomas? What was so interesting about a young girl? Whatever it was, the creature's interest had been peaked, unidentifiable sounds ringing out into the void.

Leah tightened her grip on her stuffed bear, breathing shakily and holding back noises of horrified sobs. She didn't even realize she was previously stuck in place until her legs bolted her back in the direction of her room, leaving behind the awful noise that only seemed to echo in her head.

Letting the sounds escape, the young girl ran directly inside her bedroom to find Anna who was no older than twelve at the time.

"Mistress, I was just about to start looking for you. What are you doing out of bed at this hour?" the maid questioned, leaning down to try and get a better look at the child.

The attempt to examine Leah was a failure though, as she immediately collided with her and wrapped her short arms around her legs. Loud sobs rang out and Leah's tears began to stain Anna's dress, the bear previously in her arms was discarded to the floor.

Anna's eyes widened. "What is wrong, Mistress?"

"I saw a monster!" cried Leah, streaks of tears painting her cheeks.

Picking up the small girl, Anna brought her over to her bed and sat her down on the plush blankets. "There, there.. Monsters don't exist. I'm sure you just thought you saw something in the dark." she tried to reassure the child but the lack of emotion on her face was clear.

"But—" Leah tried to counter the maid's argument.

"No buts. Now please try and sleep, Mistress. It is well past your bedtime. The nannies will be upset if you are in a terrible mood tomorrow," Anna stroked Leah's hair and settled her beneath the covers.

The young Barrett couldn't find it in herself to protest any longer, the weight of her exhaustion having hit her the second her head felt the pillow. Beside Anna, Leah always felt safe. But whatever Thomas was.. it haunted her for many years to come.

— ౨ৎ —

Moonlight streams in through the windows, illuminating Thomas' blonde hair and the strange look painting his face when he notices Leah creating distance. Her discomfort is undeniable though, shakily stepping away from him and unable to control the volume of her breathing.

"I— I need a moment.." Leah whispers, unsure of what to say but takes off for the balcony.

Thankfully — or perhaps not so much — the balcony is close by, the fresh air flooding Leah's nose and almost calming her. The wind blows through her hair, the leaves rustling in the far distance. The atmosphere is nearly perfect. 'Surely I'm just going crazy. Yes. This is all a dream. None of this is real. None of this—'

"You know you're not supposed to be around balconies unsupervised, My Lady," Thomas speaks up from behind her, standing in the entryway. "It would be a shame if we were to have a repeat."

Leah's breath hitches. Staring down at the ground beneath her, her body tenses. It only gets worse when Thomas approaches and places a firm hand on her shoulder, his eyes matching the look Finnian previously held. Empty.

The butler's eyes drag across her face. "I would advise you to step away. It is time for you to rest."

Moving back in an act of defiance, Leah's hand hits the edge of the balcony. Stiffening, her eyes connect with the butler staring down at her, unable to form a sentence. It all came rushing back.

— ౨ৎ —

She was awake when she shouldn't have been. She knew that. When is she ever asleep when she should be?

It was a cold April night, silence throughout the house. Not even the servants were awake in Barrett Manor at this hour, only a fourteen-year-old Leah occupied the hallways.

Her movements were slow and coordinated, almost as if she was being controlled. The hems of her nightgown brushed against her ankles, mimicking a small spring breeze.

Approaching the balcony, the young girl took in a deep breath and stared down at the ground below her. It was far. At least eight yards. Leah took a tight hold on the edge, her hands twitched and shook.

A small tear escaped her eye and fell down her cheek, illuminated by the moonlight that shone above her. Lifting a leg to settle her foot on the balcony's edge, Leah stood tall amidst the world below her. It was peaceful. Serene.

'Why am I doing this?'

She swayed back and forth.

'Would it all be worth it? For..'

Leah closed her eyes and allowed her body to fall forward, feeling the air whip across her face as she plummeted towards the ground.

'Sweet release.'

This peace was short lived though. It was all Thomas' fault. Right into his arms, she fell. A grunt from her end, feeling the appendages wrap around her in a tight hold that she hadn't felt in forever.

"My.." Thomas starts. "What are you doing awake at such an hour?"

The Barrett's eyes slowly opened, blue staring straight into the grass as they filled with disdain. "I hate you. I really do," she muttered.

Thomas stared down at the girl in his arms, a sadistic smile forming on his lips. Walking with a shake of his head, he took off for her bedroom, finding the predicament oddly entertaining.

'I just wanted to feel peace.'

— ౨ৎ —

"No!"

Leah shoves back against Thomas, almost throwing herself over the edge of the balcony in the process. Her breaths are shallow, only worsening when her butler grabs ahold of her wrist.

"It is bedtime," says Thomas as he swings Leah over his shoulder with ease.

The girl protests, the faint sound of continuous gunshots becoming quieter the closer they get to her room. Pounding her fists against Thomas' back, he appears unfazed as he forces the door open and places her down on the bed.

Throwing the blankets over her, Thomas moves back from the bed. "Goodnight, My Lady."

Shuddering under his gaze, Leah gives up on fighting back and settles her head against the pillows. She watches Thomas step out of the room and shut her eyes, trying to forget everything she's just seen. It was nightmare fuel.

Sadly her attempts at sleep are interrupted by the sound of an explosion, startling her and earning a rattled gasp. Sitting up in her bed, Leah gets up for the second time that night and shakily approaches the door. 'Elizabeth is surely fine.. The sound is too far for it to have affected either of our rooms.'

"Leah," the voice lacks any emotion. "Get back in the bed."

Pausing in her tracks, the brunette turns her head over her shoulder. There in the corner of the room is Thomas. Standing there in the chilly night air, staring her down. 'I thought he left..?'

Leah cannot bring herself to defy this time. The look in his eyes is much too threatening, she feels uncomfortable beyond belief as she shuffles back over to the bed. Getting under the covers, she keeps a grip on the blankets and stares at Thomas warily.

"Are you going to kill me?" she asks with a shaking voice, keeping a tight hold on her blanket.

There's a silence that overcomes the room for a moment, almost as if Thomas is thinking before he breaks it. "I would never," he doesn't lie.

"Please go away.." whispers Leah.

A hum sounds from Thomas, looking at the girl in the bed before closing his eyes. Slowly walking towards the door, he turns his head over his shoulder one last time.

"As you wish."

#ciel phantomhive #fanfic #black butler x reader #female oc #oc #black butler #sebastian michaelis #elizabeth midford #lau black butler #agni black butler #joker black butler #beast black butler #doll black butler #black butler ciel #slow burn #angst

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darkdevasofdestruction · 3 months ago

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Chapter 2 - Pariah

Waking up in the Raymond Manor isn't exactly the most eventful, or even cheerful activity one can do. Katrina, of all people, would know after all. Her personal maid gets into her room, wakes her up, helps her dress - As though she's incapable of doing so herself! The audacity! - Then she is served breakfast, which consists of the same type of tea every damn day, and some bread and jam, or some scones. Nothing too much, of course, or her silhouette is going to get ruined.

Once the morning routine is over, and she's had her make up and hair done, she begins her classes. Not that she has the privilege of choosing what lessons she could do, otherwise, she'd have loved to pursue her love and passion for Science and Medicine. Ever since she's found her brother's hidden book stash, she's been obsessed with learning more. Alas, she was forced to study arts, languages and lady mannerism...

Of course, she was of the impression that each and every skill, no matter how little or insignificant, should prove useful, in one way or another; Though her parents simply wish her to appear aesthetically pleasing for her future husband. She's never going to be allowed to get a job, she's just supposed to marry her fiance soon and start popping out an endless string of heirs. Exist simply for the sake of others. Being born in a noble family where only appearances and wealth matter - A privilege for the men, a curse for the women. Lo and behold the blood purity of the Raymond family!

All day, every day, the very same, maddening things. Violin class. German class. French class. Latin class. Painting class. Manners class. Dancing class.

Katrina was at her wit's end. Her parents being unnecessarily strict wasn't helping either - They were of the belief that the sole role of a woman was to bring heirs into this world and look pleasing to her Lord Husband's eye. Katrina strongly disagrees. She had the mental capacity, the ambition and the strength to become someone worthy, someone relevant in society - And that can only be done if she manages to break free from the invisible bird cage she was locked in.

Eighteen years. It will be eighteen years in January that she's had to go through all this. Things had to stop, forever. Katrina was at her breaking point - She was dead set on escaping this endless purgatory loop and get the hell out of this place. Her mind was set. She was going to start living her life.

As the grandfather clock chimed midnight, Katrina hopped off her bed and kicked the luggage hidden behind the wardrobe; She threw inside a few comfortable dresses and all of her brother's secret science books. Once her bag was done, she took all the bed sheets and the rest of the dresses, tying them together, and to the edge of the bedpost and threw it off the window, climbing down, like in the story of Rapunzel.

The perk of living in London was that she knew exactly who she could go and ask for help - The notoriously strange Undertaker. After about two or three hours of walking though the dark, cobbled streets of this wretched city, and thankfully successfully avoiding all the strays, hobos and the drunks, she was able to find her way in front of the Undertaker's parlor. She firmly knocked on the door and trying the handle, she nonchalantly stepped inside, hearing the familiar eerie giggle echoing through the pitch black room.

All day, every day, the very same, maddening things. Violin class. German class. French class. Latin class. Painting class. Manners class. Dancing class.

"Oh dear, who do we have here? Are you not aware of the time~?" one by one, small candles started lighting up, revealing the creepy man and his large grin, standing inside a vertical coffin. "I believe it is exactly 3:15am, sir." Katrina answered, straining her eyes to read the dark clock from the parlor. "Is it not quite late for a young lady, such as yourself, to be going into creepy shops?" the Undertaker hummed in amusement. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but being 3 IN THE MORNING, I believe it is too EARLY." she put emphasis on the words, cheekily letting the luggage fall to the ground. "And with what purpose have you come here, in my humble parlor, at this early hour, much before the opening time?" the man quickly corrected himself, not without the complimentary chuckle.

"I need your help and I think you are the sole person in this disgusting, God-forsaken city, that could help me." the girl replied, slowly prowling around.

"You think, or you hope?" the man ticked her off. "A bit of both, Undertaker. A bit of both. So will you hear me out?" she couldn't help but sigh in annoyance at his antics. "I am listening... With a condition." Undertaker said. "By all means, do take a seat, my coffins are quite comfortable. I believe we have quite the interesting conversation ahead. It would be rude of me to keep a lady standing." "Why, thank you for your hospitality." as instructed, she sat opposite of him - A small table positioned between them. "You want to know why am I here, correct?" the man's grin only widened. "I am not certain you remember, but when I was young, my elder brother died of a disease and my parents allowed me to choose his coffin. Nevertheless, the day I came here, I became fascinated with... Science." as she spoke, she found herself standing up and walking around the parlor again. She noticed a skull on a shelf, and she picked it in her palm, stroking it tenderly. "After his death, I started studying my brother's books that he kept hidden under his bed. He, much like myself, was also science-orientated." "A noble woman, with all the commodities in the world, except for her freedom, thus, having nothing really at all. What a sad life to live, little bird." the Undertaker's comment made her snap a glare his way. "We are at the end of the 19th century and the role of the female gender is null. Birth-giving is not a relevant role. Looking pleasing is not a relevant role. And this is not normal at all! If the true capacity of all women that have to suppress their intelligence would be developed, then the world would have been much, much farther than it is now." Katrina exclaimed, returning to her seat on the coffin. "And you came here so that you -" the man was cut off immediately by the girl speaking. "So that I could help you with autopsies and -" but she, too, had her sentence continued. "Be able to study science at your leisure." the man seemed incredibly delighted at the story he was told. "I would be glad to welcome you as my new apprentice, then, my lady." "Katrina. Just Katrina is fine. After all, I'm not exactly a noble lady anymore. I am a simple, runaway girl. A pariah, if you will." the red head scoffed, looking away with disdain. "Any girl is a lady, my dear." the Undertaker corrected her. "Suit yourself. Just let me tag along. I require no payment. I just need to survive somehow." she cleared her throat, only to see the man waltzing to her coffin and pull her into his chest, petting her hair as though she was some kind of animal. "Worry not, child, for I will take care of you, for as long as you need." though Kat hasn't felt this awkward and uncomfortable in a long time, she had to admit, it was not a bad feeling altogether. "You have my thanks. And now... Regarding the famous Jack the Ripper case... What do you know?" Kat could feel a low rumble erupting from his throat, hauntingly resounding through the place. "What do you want me to know, little songbird?" he asked, his long nails tilting her chin up to face him. "Everything." with a creepy laugh, he lead Katrina to a back room, where different corpses were laid, and despite the late hour, they started her first official lesson in anatomy and forensics. "How greedy you are, my little songbird - I might just confuse you with a magpie." the man laughed at her.

"Either way, you would be copiously wrong. After all, Undertaker, I am a fox, not some silly bird." she harshly corrected him, not without a hint of condescence.

"You may wish to reconsider some day, my dear. The Queen is known to often indulge in fox hunts, after all; She loves her fox-fur clothes." he taunted her. "And noblemen are especially fond of pretty birds who can sing pretty melodies on command."

"You better cease with your ideas, Undertaker, unless you want me to rip your throat out and take over your business." she gripped him by the neck of his robes, roughly pulling her down to her level.

"You are so full of life, my dear lady - I can only hope that you will have plenty of years ahead of you to remain just as lively." hearing his ominous implication, Katrina bruskly pushed him away, though she eyed him suspiciously before crouching down to the farther-most coffin, waiting for the first lecture.

Until the Sun rose up on the sky, Katrina listened intently to every word that the Undertaker was speaking - Those which regarded the medical topic, at least - Though she soon found her eyes closing against her will, and it was decided that she should rest for a while, before the parlor opens and she gets to be shown how to help him business-wise also.

During her sleep, however, Kat had a flashback she never thought she'd remember again. It featured her brother, in his bed, before the night of the funeral. That night, she sat in a chair, near his bed, holding his cold hand, and weeping. It was getting colder and colder, especially since the room window was open and the winter's harsh breeze was whipping her skin.

However, when she got up to close the window, a most peculiar individual in a suit, with a gardening tool in his grasp, was in front of her, looking sternly, with piercing, glowing green eyes, of a shade much brighter than her own. They looked mystical... Otherworldly.

"Ex-Excuse me, sir... But may I ask... Who are you?" the little child gulped, trying her best to stay brave in front of the intruder. "My name is William T. Spears and I am here to collect your brother's soul." the man spoke in an impersonal, firm voice. "What do you mean? Who are you? No... WHAT are you?" she asked, peering straight into those supernatural orbs. "A Shinigami." he replied simply, taking out a small red book and rapidly flipping the pages, until he reached a certain profile. "Katrina Raymond, seven years of age, born on January 3rd." he read from the book. "You are about to witness your brother's cinematic record. Have these last memories as a divine gift." William readied the branch snapper. "Now stand aside, young one."

Scuttering behind him, William collected her brother's soul by impaling his dead body and before her very eyes, Katrina could see her brother's memories - With herself, with their parents and dog, with his friends from Weston college... And some other scenes that she couldn't quite understand.

"Remember this moment, young one. Your brother was unable to escape the grips of fate... Perhaps you may." William went to leave through the window, but just before he left, Katrina rushed to grab his waistcoat and made him turn to her. "Mr. William? Tell me the truth of my brothers death - Please! What did he die of? They said it's a disease... B-But I'm not sure how true that is; He didn't have that illness's symptoms!! I suspect foul play!" the Shinigami looked down at her tearful eyes, and something about her naive innocence, associated with the truth of her brother's death, made his heart break. He hated to admit, but children have always been a weakness of his. He looked at Katrina with pity, a pondering look on his face and said a single word, before looking away and leaping out of the room. "Disease". and thus remained the finality of her brother's epilogue.

As Katrina woke up, recalling the dream she just had, her vision still blurry; She stretched her arms - Only to see a food tray being shoved in front of her, and a grinning Undertaker, awfully jovial. "Good afternoon, little ray of sunshine~" "I didn't expect this-... But uh... Good afternoon to you too?" the girl muttered, her voice still hoarse from her sleepiness, only to straighten immediately. "Afternoon?! Is it afternoon already? Undertaker, you should NOT have allowed me to sleep in so much! I'm going to become a slob!" "Sleep is most important for a young lady like yourself to gain her strength - Surely, you know that already, don't you?" his reply only made her glare at him. "I will get ready as fast as I can and we can start working." she snatched the tray from his hands and began eating. "So diligent~! Yes, yes, we will have a most interesting day ahead! I strongly believe so!" with a melodic hum, the man waltzed out of her room, allowing her the required time to enjoy her routine.

After she finished eating and prepared for the day, Katrina dressed up in a simple, comfortable green dress; She wished she had black dresses - Alas, she owned only colours to make her look pretty, but nothing practical. As she idly started working on an autopsy, she unconsciously found herself muttering, again and again "Cyno... Matrix..." trying to relate it to something... Anything that makes sense... The memories she was shown that night...

The constant murmurs seemed to attract the man's attention, as he cocked his head to the side quizzically. "Are you saying something, dear?" "Oh, I apologise for disturbing you. I just remembered a past memory from my childhood and I'm trying to understand something that makes little sense... If, at all." she sighed softly, ruffling her hair, which was simply let down, for once. "And what would that be?" the Undertaker asked, propping his elbows on the counter and resting his chin on his hands. "Do you believe in Shinigami, Undertaker?" she abruptly turned to face him. "Like in those old stories?" he giggled lightly. "I know it sounds stupid, but I think I met one, when my brother died." Katrina sighed, annoyed with herself. "He somehow came in the room through the window... The third floor window, mind you... With a branch snapper or something... And he said he was there to collect my brother's soul." Undertaker's smirk seemed to grown "Are you sure you weren't dreaming, my dear? Might have been your young self's way of coping with the shock of losing your beloved brother~." "I don't think that's the case. He told me to remember that moment... It couldn't have been a coping defense mechanism - I have always been a rational person!" Kat exclaimed with mild frustration. "That sounds fantastic~. Anything else about this individual?" his voice almost sounded teasing. "I can't remember much... But he wore glasses and had bright green eyes... They looked as if they were glowing... Nothing humanly... And when he impaled my brother, I saw his memories! Yes, that's right - I was in his memories too! It had to be right. He said it was a... Um... Cyno... Matrix record? Cynomatrix... Is that even a word?" she tried to explain, though the puzzle pieces weren't fitting together. "Or perhaps... A Cinematic record~?" Kat's eyes widened comically at the sound of the key word. "Cine... Matic... Cinematic re- YES! You are correct! It was a Cinematic Record! Now the word makes much more sense!" she exclaimed in shock. "The story sounds stunning, but how are you going to prove it is true?" the man giggled at her, waltzing from behind the bar, and to her spot. "I can only try and pursue it somehow, correct?" she spoke firmly. "Dreams do come true, if you pursue them and fight for them." he answered enigmatically. "Do you know what else I've been dreaming of; Though, I think that finding a Shinigami would be far easier to accomplish than this one..." she muttered softly, only to earn a hum to continue. "You must have heard of Weston College, haven't you? The best College in the country?" "Oh yes, I see where you're going with this. You wish to attend this College, which would help greatly with your career, am I correct?" her cheeks warmed up slightly, serving as a positive answer. "I will see what I can do, dearie~." before Kat could answer him, the sound of the door bell softly chiming was heard, indicating the arrival of customers. "Do join us, my dear! Let me make my entrance though - Follow right behind!" "... Of bloody course..." like a child, he hid in a coffin, his eccentric, creepy giggle resounding through the whole parlor.

Sighing, and with her hands soaked in blood, Katrina kicked the door to the front of the house open, glaring at her boss. "Glad you joined us, dearie~!" he chirped, only to see his little apprentice march up in front of him and use his grey robes to wipe away the blood. "You are a menace, Undertaker." she scoffed, leaning back on the counter, her arms crossed. "Manners, my dear. This is Earl Phantomhive, I believe you know him by now." Katrina immediately snapped her head to look at the young, frowning boy with an eyepatch. "Phantomhive? Are you, really? Queen's Chihuahua and all that?" she found herself asking. "It is EARL Phantomhive for you." the young boy snapped at her like a brat. "Undertaker, since when did you employ such uncouth workers?" "Little Earl, Little Earl, don't insult my little fox, she might bite your nose in your sleep!" the man cackled in amusement. "That's right, Ciel - Didn't you know, Noble Women are not allowed to work, therefore, I'm just a simple apprentice." Katrina smirked down at him. "Who in the world are you?" Ciel asked perplex. "Don't you remember Katrina, Ciel? Daughter of the High Court Judge, Duke Nicholas Raymond - You used to play together when she was courted by Edward, right?" the Earl's aunt hummed in amusement. "Angelina, you have no idea how great it is to be seeing you again." Kat offered her a smile before pulling her into a familial embrace. "I am surprised they let you out of the house. How did you manage?" Madame Red smirked down at the girl. "I ran away, of course. I wanted to pursue a medical career, much like you. There are only so many paintings one can do before they go crazy." she chuckled casually. Whenever they would all meet up, Angelina was always the one she loved spending time with - Her, Rachel and Vincent, of course. "You should have come over to stay at mine. A funeral parlor is no place for a beautiful young lady like yourself to be at." Angelina whined playfully. "It's quite alright - I actually think it's a great place for me. I'm enjoying my stay here." the girl smiled back. "No wonder the Queen's letter mentioned a certain fox. That was you. I had no idea you became one one Her Majesty's companions." Ciel grunted in response. "Actually, I'm quite sure I was a fox before you become a puppy." Kat smirked down at him. "Now, I believe you should be introducing your companions. I don't recall you parading yourself with a young butler - Unless Tanaka somehow found the Fountain of Youth."

"Tanaka is home, with the other servants. This is Sebastian." Ciel threw a dismissive hand towards the butler.

Sebastian bowed at the lady, holding her hand and placing a kiss on it. "It is an honor, my lady."

"Likewise." as the man rose his head, Katrina noticed the magenta flash of his cat-like eyes, glowing for just a split second. "Lovely eyes." she found herself sharply looking in his eyes - He, also, though there was this hidden glint of mischief that seemed to be taunting her.

"And this is Lau, of the KunLun trading company." Ciel pointed towards his Chinese companion.

"Nǐ hǎo, wǒ měilì de húdié." the man smiled enigmatically at her, bowing slightly at the waist, though with some hint of royal vibes.

"I'm not sure what you said, but I hope you called me beautiful." Kat chuckled lightly, doing a little courtesy for him, before addressing the whole group. "You are here because of the Ripper thing, right?"

"Precisely~. Everyone's been scared because of the disturbance. But this isn't the first time I've handled this kind of thing." Undertaker hummed, as though he was high on opium.

"Not the first time? And what do you mean by that?" Madame Red found herself inquiring.

"It happened before. A case where prostitutes were killed. In fact, the way they were killed was similar too." Undertaker allowed his words to linger like dripping poison.

"The police didn't fuss about it much. Quite ignorant, if you ask me. Speaks volumes about how safe we are, as a society." Katrina scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"But the murdered prostitutes had all something in common." the parlor owner continued speaking.

"Something in common...?" Ciel found himself repeating in a voice barely above a murmur.

"What is it?" the butler asked in his master's stead.

"Well now, I wonder what. I wonder what it is indeed. Is it bothering you?" as Undertaker dragged his sentences, Kat couldn't help but pinch the bridge of her nose, remembering that he also asked for a price for her staying over, and though it was seemingly paid, she wasn't sure how exactly she managed to entertain him. She was going to have a blast.

"I see, so that's how it is. You're very good at business, Undertaker. So? How much money do you want?" Lau was the first to hum, realising the hidden meaning behind those words.

"Oh, no, no money here, I assure you. This buffoon isn't shallow enough to beg for this capitalistic kind of currency." the master of the place found himself laughing, throwing his arms up into the sky before draping them around his little apprentice's petite body, forcefully pulling her into his chest and petting her hair as though she was some kind of house cat.

"You've only just arrived, and you know me so well! I might as well cry!" he giggled, swinging the poor, dizzy girl back and forth. "You see, young Earl, I have no interest in the Queen's money! Instead, there is something, a single requirement that I have -" the man threw Kat back towards the coffin; though he might have miscalculated how hazy her vision was, as she got the heel of her boot caught in the corner of the coffin they were sitting on, and the lady unceremoniously found herself falling to the ground with a little squeal. "A FIRST RATE LAUGH!" the Undertaker was absolutely flying with euphoria, whilst his poor apprentice was dexterously caught in the rescuing arms of her black butler knight.

"That is no way to treat a lady, Undertaker. I will have to ask you to be more attentive when it comes to Miss Raymond's well-being." Sebastian mildly scolded the parlor owner, though he was in a completely other world. Despite all this, Kat didn't quite mind being held by the butler - In fact, the way his baritone voice spoke so close to her ear almost sent a shiver down her spine.

"That is quite alright, I suppose I have to get used to his antics, sooner rather than later. Thank you for the rescue, Sebastian... And do call me by my name, if you will." with a little help, the red head was able to sit back on the coffin, though keeping the safe distance from the madman.

"As you wish, my lady." the raven haired man nodded at her with a simple smile.

"Well then, if entertainment is needed, let me handle this. The sleeping Tiger of the Shanghai's New Year party, also referred to as my soul! This should satisfy you! Do you like it?" all the people inside of the parlor blinked in complete confusion at his attempt at... Whatever he wanted to say. It failed tragically either way. "It looks like he still won't talk, Lau. It can't be helped then. I, Madam Red, a Beauty of High Society, shall make my appearance now! If I ask him, he'll be sure to tell us!" though Madame Red boasted about her social butterfly status and proceeded to spew around all the gossips and dirty jokes that she knew, for at least an hour... Her attempt ended also in complete failure, and Undertaker was compelled to plaster both their mouths shut. "That was tragic." Katrina sighed, shaking her head in disdain. "Honestly, you will have to do much better than that if you want to get a laugh out of a man who serenades every cadaver he meets" "Come on, Earl, I've helped you many times in the past, can't you be nice to me just this once?" Undertaker whined, his fingers wiggling as long nails almost scraped as his soft cheeks. "It can't be helped." Sebastian spoke firmly, raising the sleeves of his coat. "S-Sebastian?!" gasped out his butler's name in shock. "It's the butler's turn now?" Undertaker hummed, a grin on his face. "Everyone, please step outside for a moment." the raven haired man instructed his companions. "You must absolutely NOT peek inside." "Entertain us, O, the saving grace of the little, helpless puppy." Katrina smirked provoking at him, crossing a leg over the other and leaning forward, unmoving from the coffin she was sitting on. The butler cleared his throat, and with a straight face, he spoke out his joke. "The strangest kind of table is the onion." said he, in that mild, alluring voice of his. "...The onion... A table? Are you high on opium, Mr. Butler? That simply cannot be." Katrina scoffed at him, rather amused at his attempted. "Oh, but yes it is, my lady. It is a vegetable." using the right emphasis to show off the validity of his previous claim, Undertaker found himself falling off the counter and laughing so hard that the whole parlor shook. Katrina, also, couldn't help but look away and hide her shocked laugh - How could a joke so bad make one laugh so good? "... I am appalled and impressed at the same time. You have my respect, Sebastian." the man bowed deeply in front of the lady, though she didn't miss the split second smirk and yet another flash of those bewitching eyes of his. "I am most honoured, My Lady."

As Sebastian gracefully invited everyone back to the parlor, Katrina had to get up and attempt to calm down the mortician, albeit, with the use of some dog biscuits, as she started telling them the story of the Jack the Ripper victims.

"Based on that laughter, I can only assume Undertaker was satisfied with the payment, therefore, it is safe for me to disclose the research I've done." Kat cleared her throat, a somber serenity taking over her. "All of the victims were female prostitutes and all of them had a missing, representative organ. If you haven't guessed by now, it's the uterus. It's been carefully taken away. In fact, I would say, it was accurately, surgically removed." "That is correct, my dear. Recently, this kind of 'guests' have been rapidly increasing. Their whole bodies dripping with blood, it's made me very busy. I am, however, thankful to my little apprentice." Undertaker hummed euphorically.

"The pleasure is all mine, by all means. If I may continue on this report and add up to the last fact of being 'carefully' taken away, one might conclude that, despite being few people on the streets at night, the culprit has at least the minimum anatomical knowledge, to perform such a clean and specific organ removal, in the pitch black of the back-alleys they were found in." the apprentice continued on.

"Very well, little fox, you did your homework well~. Young Earl, if he had to act on such a short time, he should slit the throat first and proceed to cut the stomach. It's easier to succeed this way. He will keep committing crimes, unless someone stops him. Can you stop him? The Notorious Noble - Earl of Phantomhive." the mortician taunted the little earl.

"The world of darkness has the world of darkness' rules. He wouldn't murder random people for no reason." Ciel concluded simply.

"A serial killer always follows a certain pattern. Should be easy enough to catch him." Kat nodded her head in solemn agreement.

"Then, want to join in the fun of one of the Queen's underground pet? I doubt you've done any legwork your entire life." the chihuahua smirked at the surprised little fox.

"Oh, you want me to join?" with the silent excitement and joy of a child, her sparkling green eyes shifted towards the Undertaker, awaiting for his approval.

"Take care of my little fox, Earl. Bring her home safe. I wouldn't want to see her becoming some ugly noble lady's fur scarf." the comment only made the girl glare at him and get to her feet, turning her back to the man.

"Foxes have rabies, Undertaker. We live together now - I would sleep with both eyes open from now on, if I were you." despite her threats, the man found himself laughing copiously once again.

"Sorry for intruding, Undertaker. Let's go."

With Ciel bidding farewell to the mortician, Katrina was guided to the carriage, where the group discussed the issue of the 'Season' that just barely begun, and how most people were perfectly arrived in the capital. Doctors, medical students, physicians and all kinds of aristocrats were included in the list. The butler affirmed he will be doing a report on all potential suspects. "Are you going to suspect me also, butler~?" the red head smirked challengingly at him. "If you do, I shall be awaiting for an alibi-search soon." Sebastian merely hummed, the corner of his mouth twitched upwards, and with a nod of acknowledgement, he... Jumped out of the carriage. Though everyone was concerned for the butler's life, Ciel simply smirked, shrugging him off. Clearly, this butler was nothing human - He couldn't be, could he?

And exactly as she suspected, by the time they arrived home, Sebastian had both prepared tea and managed to write out an endless list of all the suspects and had their alibis verified. Oh, Ciel, what have you gotten yourself into, Katrina wondered, raising a quizzical, suspicious eyebrow at the disconcerting eyebrow at the man. All the ignorant idiots were fooled by his charm - Yet none was taking into account that nothing he was doing fell into the realm of the human power. "I'm just one HELL of a butler." he said, alluding a rather bizarre emphasis. Hell. Demons were from Hell. Could he, also? Certainly, if her dream of Reapers had any kind of validity, perhaps, angels and demons existed also, and roamed their earth, disguised as humans. A true wolf in sheep's clothing.

Serving their afternoon tea and snacks, Sebastian pointed out the only possible suspect on the list, none other than the Viscount of Druitt. Hearing that familiar name, Katrina found herself choking on a piece of scone. "Now that you mention it, I do recall he's been into black magic recently." Madame Red recalled some rumours. "Black magic? People actually believe in that rubbish?" Kat seemed genuinely surprised. "Still, he is suspected of carrying out some sort of ceremony at that "Secret party" . And to use those prostitutes as altar sacrifices?" Lau asked. "Sacrifices don't require you to be careless with the body, do they?" the girl asked, before stealing a glance at the butler. "Is he trying to summon a demon or what? Don't they like virgins?" just as expected - Or, perhaps, it was intended - Sebastian stole a glance at her as soon as she mentioned the demons, yet he remained silent. "Don't be absurd." Ciel reproached her. "At the nineteenth hour today, Viscount Druitt will be hosting a party. The seasonal period will be ending soon. I believe tonight will be the best time to investigate." Sebastian explained to them. "And I know just how to get everyone inside." Katrina's mischievous smirk seemed to cheer everyone up.

Thanks to the resourcefulness of not only Ciel, but Madam Red also, Katrina was able to get dressed in a beautiful green dress of a similar shade as her eyes; Her make up was light and feminine, though the eyeshadow and red lips were enough to bring out the subtle sultriness of her graceful features. In spite of all the uncomfortableness she had to endure, as she was never one for social gatherings and parties to begin with, there was little she could do to stop her laughter once she got to see Ciel being laced up in a corset by his butler and suffering the same agony women do daily. Not only that, but that pretty pink dress was rather adorable on him, and that wig went perfect with his eyes also. The poor boy could only glare and snap at his once friend for her pointed comments, though he was unable to retaliate much.

It was rather unfortunate for him, really, and Katrina wouldn't have quite minded being the bait herself - Alas, the Viscount's own nephew was her fiance, so of course he knows her well enough as it is. By the time they reached Druitt's mansion, she could only let out an amused breath, as old memories, all of them good, resurfaced. Her fiance was a good man, and out of every possible suitor, she was glad he was chosen... Especially as Edward was rather boring and too shy for his own good.

Undertaker would have received a life-payment watching poor Ciel struggling with the dress though, and it would be just as fun once she returns home and narrates the whole ordeal.

With Katrina in the lead, informing the guard of who she was, and the retinue she brought along, there was little room for questioning. She flashed a mischievous smirk towards her companions before stepping inside the manor and subtly looking around for the fair haired noble man.

Alas, as Madame Red and Lau dispersed themselves to blend within the crowd, the trio was left to fend for themselves once they heard the familiar squeal of delight that Lizzie, Ciel's fiancee, let out as she was gazing in awe and gushing about everyone, and unfortunately, discovered them, getting excited about their pretty outfits.

Evidently, if she were to get too close to Ciel, she'd recognise him, disguise or not, thus, Kat had to stand behind and distract her. With a nod acknowledgement towards the two, she sighed and walked towards the blonde girl, entertaining her a bit.

"Ah, Kat, your dress is so cute! And you look sooo pretty! I'm so glad to see you again!" Lizzie squealed, barely able to contain herself in one place. "Thank you, Lizzie, I'm happy to see you as well. It's been a while, hasn't it?" she hummed in agreement. "Too long!" the girl pouted adorably. "Soon, we should definitely meet again! I miss our short fencing spars!" she exclaimed happily. "And the tea parties!" the red head said. "Yes, definitely! It would be like old times!" Lizzie's sunshine happiness was contagious. "Certainly! If only Ciel and Edward would join us. Then again, neither can refuse a cute girl like you~." she winked at the blonde. "Oh, I'm looking forward to it! I'm sure my brother will be so happy to see you again, too!" Lizzie squealed in absolute delight. "So do I! Now, excuse me, dear, but I just saw someone I know and I'll go greet them. Enjoy the party~!" the two did their pretty courtesies to each other before taking off in different directions.

Picking up the pace, Katrina gracefully got behind the Viscount, tapped him on the shoulder and did a pretty courtesy to greet his relative by alliance. Once he turned to see what gorgeous lady was desperately seeking for his charming attention, he flashed a dazzling smile and did a courtesy back, picking her hand and placing a kiss on her fingers.

"Ah, young Kitten, you look gorgeous today! How lovely it is to see you!" Aleister's enigmatic smile was ever plastered on his face. "The pleasure is all mine, Viscount. You see, I came here with my dear friend who is not from around, and she really wanted to meet you. She is, if I might say, quite the lovely dove. I am sure you are going to love her company." Kat retorted a similar fake smile. "Oh~?" the blond smirked. "A young little bird, so eager to meet me? I am flattered! And where is she~?" his excitement sounded on the border of lechery. "Right there. The one dancing with her tutor." Kat purposely glued herself to the man, guiding his chin in the direction of Ciel, who was trying so hard to blend in and dance with Sebastian; Even potentially stop himself from puking from disgust. "Yes, quite lovely indeed, and so very graceful. Will you do me the honor of introducing us, my dear?" the low rumble of a satisfied hum generated the success of their mission. "Oh, of course, by all means." as if he could feel the boring eyes into the back of his head, Ciel turned his head, making contact with the red head, who gestured a wave for them to approach.

The Viscount, of course, being the charmer that he is, kissed Ciel's hand and complimented 'her'. "Quite fascinating. A lovely dancer, just like a robin." Katrina had to keep her smirk strongly out of control, and the tutor could see the way she was struggling to keep composed. It was quite endearing for one so supposedly sly to so easily break her vixen-like composure. "G-Good evening." Ciel tried his best impression of a girl's voice, though he found himself stuttering as he posed. "Please excuse her, she is quite shy." Kat placed her hand on the Viscount's shoulder. "Don't you mind it too much, though... I'm certain she's going to relax around you, once she gets to know you better." the emphasis on such well-chosen words were enough to make the Viscount smirk, dark plans already at the ready. "I shall thank you for bringing her along, you lovely Kitten." though there was something endearing about having such an adorable nickname based on her name, Katrina absolutely abhorred it when he was the one calling her so. "I believe you will both find each other's company quite... Intriguing. Adieu~!" with a giggle hidden behind the fan, the red head stepped away, allowing the two their much needed intimate, private moments, yet not without a wink addressed to the poor cross-dressing boy left behind in the hands of a lecherous pervert.

The plan was unfolding rather smoothly and Katrina watched, leaning back on the refreshments' table, as the Viscount dragged Ciel away to some other room, away from the banquet, all whilst she was savouring a rather expensive champagne. Alas, there was no water.

Like a silent phantasm, the butler made his way by her side, accompanying her. It would be rude manners to leave a lady unattended, and that went against his code of conduit. "Enjoying the evening, my lady?" "Hardly." Katrina scoffed at him. "Quite a pity, wouldn't you say?" the man slurred his words like a venomous snake. "At least someone is enjoying it." she found herself smirking. "Are you talking about the Young Master, or about his aunt?" Katrina had to shift her gaze to watch as Madame Red became to utmost center of attention and everyone was flocking around her like moths to the flame. "Both." she found herself chuckling. "Definitely both Young Mistresses." Seeing as there was little one could do at a formal ball, except for conversing and dancing, Sebastian bent his waist to courtesy her, extending a hand her way. "While we are waiting for the Young Mistress to return, shall we dance, my lady?"

Katrina looked down at his hand, them at his seducing visage, and she huffed in disdain. "How come a demon such as yourself finds the idea of mundane entertainment to be amusing?" "You make a valid point, my dear lady. However, it would, of course, prove most unfitting for someone of my dutiful position to appear to suggest, Heavens-forbid, any signs of disdain for what I believe is regarded as social etiquette on these fine occasions." the butler retorted immediately, yet not without using words that would combat her use of a devilish persona.

"Social etiquette? Surely you must be joking. Such repetitive displays are hardly 'social etiquette' so much as a dreary protocol. I, for one, tire greatly of it. No fool in his right mind could possibly consider this to be enjoyable." as to further prove her point, she unfolded her fan and flapped it lethargically, as though she was mocking Angelina herself.

The butler, however, couldn't help but smirk at the poison dripping from every word of dread she affiliated with the event. "Now now, I must advise that you pay attention to that sharp tone of yours. It's most unbecoming of a lady." "Says whom? This wretched social protocol again?" she let out a theatrically exaggerated sigh.

"Not at all. I simply fear that the Young Mistress may be expressing just enough surly, unladylike behaviour for the two of you. We are at a ball, after all." the man retorted with just as much content grace as before.

"As my current escort of sorts, I believe that the duty of keeping your lady happy and entertained is all yours. Surely social protocol has to work at least somewhat in my benefit." Katrina shifted her gaze deep into his empty, void-like eyes; There was nothing that she could see, let alone a soul.

"Oh my, you're rather a tricky one, aren't you?" a cunning smile was plastered on his face, ever so charming.

"If you truly are the model butler you claim to be, I don't believe it should present a problem to you." she, too, retaliated with a similar kind of provoking expression.

"A problem? Oh, good heavens, no. A challenge, perhaps. And my, how I do like a challenge." Katrina couldn't help but let out an empty half-laugh.

"For a demon, you jump quickly at preaching about benevolence and heaven's grace, when you're nothing but an evil wretch. How very amusing of one of your dreary position, having to pretend to be a human, when you're anything but. A slave, doing every bidding of a child and his obnoxious whims." she chuckled, her words though sounding like honeyed mead, were frozen and cutting.

"I believe I have already warned you not to unleash that cheeky tongue of yours, my lady. One never knows what they are up against." the man's face leaned closer to her own, breathing in her bewitching scent, teasing himself with just the lingering caress of the ghost of her soul.

"And if I do? Are you going to punish me, Sebastian? Bite my tongue and make me cry?" she approached him boldly, to the point that, if only she knew, she could sense the sweet perfume of death surrounding him. If only she knew how close to the truth she was, as her lips were brushing his own at almost an atomic level, so close, yet so far away, teasingly far away. "My, how I do like a challenge." and mimicking his own words, Katrina abruptly turned on her heel and walked out of the mansion, missing the way his magenta eyes flashed demonically, or that lascivious, thirsty smile that played on those tempting lips.

"Little kitten wants to play, how very endearing." he found himself musing. "As my lady wishes."

Katrina left the party before finding out the epilogue of the mighty quest they had embarked on, yet the journey back home was silent, save for the sound of hooves against the cobbled stone streets of London, and the wheels turnings painfully harsh, all the way back to Undertaker's parlor, where she was greeted with the usual grin. She hasn't even greeted him with words, save for a simple nod of acknowledgement, as she rushed up the stairs to change into something practical and wash away the make up that no doubt was going to cake soon on her skin. There was one thing alone that she loved more than anything, and that was the practical work she was doing with the mortician, alongside studying her science books. It was, by far, the only thing that could still get her excited... Although, the additional arrival of a certain enigmatic butler that may or may not fall in the realm of the supernatural was, without a doubt, receiving an honorable mention, if he was capable of getting her pulse rise and entertain her as well as he performed at the ball.

Once she was finally dressed in her comfortable nightgown, she returned to the autopsy room, only to notice a new victim on the table. "Enjoyed the night, dear?" She could only glare at him. "Hardly... Parties are just dull. Here is where I truly belong. True bliss comes from learning, not from exchanging sugar coated words behind a fan, wearing a corset so tight that you risk fainting." "The night is still young, my dear~." the Undertaker giggled at her, informing her that this, indeed, was another victim of Jack the Ripper, and they had a lot of work to do.

That night, as they did the autopsy on the new victim, discussed different theories and discovered her new passion for Astronomy and Ophthalmology - She told him about the newest discovery, from a Parisian scientist who created glass membranes that were placed on the eyes, serving not only an aesthetic role, but replacing the ugly glasses that people had to wear. Still, it couldn't be comfortable, wearing such large glass contacts on your eyes, and Katrina wanted to revolutionise this idea and create contact lenses from a softer material, perhaps more watery, like silicone; something that wouldn't inconvenience or hurt people, but also aid their sight. It was, however, in the middle of the autopsy, when Katrina looked up at the mortician and voiced a rather disconcerting truth. "This victim only proves my theory that the Viscount wasn't the real culprit. I warned Ciel before we left, but there was none better fitting - Or so they said. Surely, nobody wants the prime suspect to be their own aunt and last living relative, would they?"

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#demon standards #kuroshitsuji #kuroshitsuji x oc #kuroshitsuji x reader #kuroshitsuji imagine #black butler #black butler x oc #black butler x reader #black butler imagine #sebastian michaelis x oc #sebastian michaelis x reader #sebastian michaelis imagine #sebastian michaelis x katrina raymond #sebastian michaelis

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