Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Every faith in history holds some shred of truth. No one faith holds all the answers to the way of the world. No one being that exists on the mortal plane can answer all questions. No piece of folklore is entirely true. Many creatures exist, from the yokai of Japan to the Selkie of Europe. Many wives' tales are also true. Our story is based on a few shreds of folklore and faith. Demons, angels, and grim reapers roam the streets of London in the latter half of the 18th century. Within these streets, one earldom houses many strange people and… entities. 

Ciel Phantomhive, a dark-haired young man with fair skin, houses a rather odd band of servants. Mey-Rin, an outwardly bumbling and clumsy maid with maroon hair and wide glasses, has extreme farsightedness. She has an impeccable vision for seeing afar and is an invaluable sniper. Baldroy, a former soldier with dirty blond hair and lightly tanned skin, is a very headstrong man. He is stubborn and determined to prove himself, but he could be a better cook since he is a chef. Finnian, a walking ray of sunshine with equally sunny hair and freckles, is abnormally strong. Having previously been an experiment subject, he is not used to his strength and breaks objects easily. Tanaka, a butler from Ciel Phantomhive’s younger childhood of Asian descent, does not provide much in the form of serving. And finally, there is the “leader” of the servants. Ciel Phantomhive’s personal butler, Sebastian, is not human. He blends into the human servants well, given that they are all so peculiar. Their own non-human characteristics may help them ignore the russet red eyes and sharp fangs that protrude from his lips. The dark hair on his head matches the dark color of his nails and contrasts his inhuman pale skin. 

As we take a peek into their lives, we may observe the servants preparing for guests. The non-human butler cleans up the messes the bumbling staff make as they lay out provisions for these guests. He glances around at all of the staff, taking note of the auras that glow around them. Mey-Rin and Bard glowed with bright red energy, Finny glowed a brilliant yellow, and Tanaka a soft blue. He watched as his young master came down the stairs, speaking in that too-grown-up tone that masked the young boy inside, as he glowed in muted colors that were filtered by his blocked energy. The servants, including our demonic butler, all bowed to their master. 

“Where are our guests, Sebastian?” the young master asked.

“They should be arriving any minute, my young lord,” the butler answered. As if on cue, a knock resounds on the door. Mey-Rin scrambles to open the door for the guests. On the doorstep stood a young woman with light skin like fine porcelain. Her cheeks were hollowed and her emerald green eyes were dull and sunken. She wore a dress of cheap blue material that highlighted her strawberry blonde hair. Next to her stood a boy with matching hair and eyes who wore a suit of the same material. His figure was much healthier than that of the young lady, though. 

Sebastian took stock of the pair. The boy’s aura glowed a vibrant indigo, but he oozed introversion and anxiety. The female’s aura was a dull, almost black shade of grey. It was a dulled shade of white, a very rare aura color. He looked her up and down when he noticed a shimmer of gold near her hand as she curtsied to the master of the house. He did not hear her words, however, as his ears rang and hummed with his pulse. His heart raced as he took a deep breath, smelling the most alluring scent of discontent mixed with florals and musk. His eyes traced the thread as it flowed into the manor. His mind raced as he saw the thread reach him and go around his neck, tying and binding him to the thing human female standing before him. His face briefly showed his shock before he masked it in a smile. 

His master, the owner of the contract binding him to the mortal plane, spoke to him, “Sebastian, show Ms. DuPont and Mr. DuPont to their seats. We will dine and then discuss business,” he said sternly. His visible eye glowered at him, noticing his flustered state. 

Sebastian’s heart raced in his chest, thumping rapidly with excitement. The need to claim his bondmate was strong in his veins. 

“Of course, my lord,” the demon said. He glanced up at the siblings, “Please follow me, my lord and lady.” 

He led them to the dining room, desperately trying to ignore the scent that was filling his nose. The scent of his mate. The one who held the thread of his fate.

Chapter Text

Adelaide Manon DuPont was born to her parents Elise DuPont and Alain DuPont on September 17, 1868, in France. She was a bright and cheerful child. Her hair was a vibrant red during her childhood but lightened and dulled with age. It settled into an almost pink strawberry blonde. She always loved to learn and create. Her parents fretted about her playing make-believe so much as a child. She always seemed to have imaginary friends that she would talk to and play with. She called them the most terrifying and archaic names. One she seemed to talk to the most was called Malphas and she described him as wearing feathers and having “really long nails”. She seemed to outgrow it though, as she got older. Little did Elise and Alain know that Adelaide simply stopped sharing her strange visions and visitors. Malphas stopped visiting her though in 1885. The family moved to London in 1870 in preparation for their company launch. 

In 1873, Luca Gabriel DuPont joined the family. He was much quieter and withdrawn than his elder sister and was rather apathetic growing up. Luca did not enjoy make-believe or have imaginary friends. But he did listen to his sister whisper to her in the night. When Luca was around 12, he listened to his sister whisper to the shadows through a crack in her bedroom door. 

“I’ve told you, monsieur, you cannot keep coming here. My family worries, I worry, that I am crazy,” she said to the shadows in the corner of her room. Luca squinted, trying to see what or who she was speaking to. That’s when he saw it, a faint golden glow around his sister’s ring finger. It led up to connect to something lurking in the shadows. An arm reached out of the shadows. Monstrous, long black nails on the hand tried to stroke his sister's cheek. She backed away in fear and Luca covered his mouth to stifle a gasp. “No,” she said firmly. “Do not touch me.” 

The shadows moved, as if laughter was coming from a chest. “I am trying to prove to you that I am real,” the shadow said. Luca could not believe it. The imaginary friends, the delusions, of his sister were real. They were tangible, visible, and speaking audibly. 

“No, you are not. You are in my head, you’re a part of my imagination that has gone on too long,” Adelaide said, throwing herself back in her bed and covering her head. “I will not see you anymore, Malphas.”

The shadow chuckled again and seeped back into hiding. “If you say so, Adelaide,” it said and then vanished into the night. Luca ran back to his room and pretended to have never seen anything. From that night on, however, he never heard Adelaide speak to the shadows again. 

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One night, in 1886, the DuPont home caught on fire. The blazes were so large that the public did not believe there would be any survivors and the DuPont Confectionary Company would vanish into the night with the embers. However, once the blaze had died down, the children of the DuPonts were found unscathed, huddled together in a corner of the home. The 18-year-old heiress to the DuPont Confectionary Company and her younger brother were not burnt and barely coughed as they emerged from the still-burning coals of their home. The bodies of the former Earl DuPont and his wife were found to be burnt beyond recognition. From that moment on, the homeless DuPont heirs were shunned from society. 

______________________________________________________________________

Let me give you an example of the treatment of the DuPont heirs. After the fire, the siblings were invited to a ball with the ton. It was assumed that the heiress would find a husband during this ball. The siblings' aunt in Paris sent them nice garments to wear to the event. When the two walked into the event, the room fell hushed and ladies started whispering behind their fans. Adelaide walked up to a group of ladies she used to spend these high society events with only to overhear the whispers they were hiding behind their fans. 

“Do you think it was Addie or her brother? We know one of them had to start it, right?” one of the ladies said, her perfect curls bouncing as she spoke. 

“Oh of course. How else would they be unscathed but their parents burnt to a crisp?” another asked. 

“Do you think that the DuPonts had that much money? Enough to risk your own life and well-being for?” the first one asked. 

Adelaide pauses in her steps, head bowed to the ground. They were not there that night, she reminds herself. They did not know the screams, the horrors she had to endure that night. The sounds of tearing flesh and hellfire echoed in her and Luca’s ears every night when they closed their eyes. Even as she squeezed her eyes shut in the moment to try to blink away her tears she saw the smiles of those monsters in her vision. The obscene fangs and tongues were covered in her parents's blood. She had shielded her brother from their line of sight, protecting him. She did not know why they targeted her home or her family that night. One thing she did know for certain was that those creatures were not human. Her family was murdered, but they were not murdered by humans. And, as your narrator, I can confirm that she is correct. 

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For the next year, the DuPont heirs struggled. It turned out that running a company on your own as a teenager was not an easy feat. The business seemed to be going down farther and farther. Part of the issue was the tainted name of DuPont. Everyone associated the candies the DuPont Company made with the fire and assumed familicide. Try as she might to clear their name, Adelaide could not convince the public that she and her brother did not kill their parents. 

As the year went on, the siblings struggled more and more to make ends meet. Food got scarcer, sacrifices had to be made, and Adelaide started eating less. On the nights when she was the hungriest, she really missed talking to Malphas. 

It was one of these nights that Adelaide started thinking. She had heard of Funtom company, and how the company was run by a child. She started to wonder if maybe, just maybe, he would take a chance on DuPont Company, on her and her brother.

Chapter Text

We return to our dinner party now. The DuPont siblings are sat next to each other across from the lord Phantomhive. The hollowed cheeks of Adelaide are flushed with anxiety and Luca’s eyes are flitting around with curiosity. 

The butler with the raven hair strolled back in, a tray of glasses and a bottle of wine on his arm. He bent down, setting a glass in front of the young earl, and filled it with a fragrant wine. “Today’s meal is paired with Pinot Noir. The flavor of the wine is meant to accentuate the savory flavor of the meal,” he said. As he spoke, Adelaide’s mind ran wild. His voice was so familiar, yet she could not place it. It was as if he had reached deep into her mind and pulled out a distant memory but held it away from her. The maid from earlier, Mey-Rin, poured her a glass of wine and poured one for her brother. 

“The meal this evening is boeuf bourguignon. The beef was braised in the same wine you are drinking with the meal. Served with the beef is a combination of mushrooms, carrots, and onions from our manor’s garden,” the butler continued. “Garlic and bacon are also in the stock, imported from Italy.” The butler seemed proud almost like he had accomplished something. The young lord started to eat his meal, slowly as if he was unsure of the meal. 

Adelaide looked quizically at the butler, slowly taking a spoonful of the stew and putting it into her mouth. The butler’s chest puffed up slightly, barely noticeable. In a soft voice, Adelaide asked, “Master butler, Sebastian, was it? Did you prepare this meal?” 

The butler smiled, “Yes, along with our resident chef Baldroy,” he responded. 

“I see,” she responded. “Well, it is delightful. Thank you, and pass along my sincere thanks to the chef.”

~

After the nobles had finished their meal the butler led them to his master’s study. The young lord settled in behind his desk and the siblings sat across from him. The butler left the room but swiftly returned before serious conversation could be had. He served the three young people tea from a floral porcelain pot. 

“Let us cut to the chase,” Ciel said. “You have come to make a request of me, have you not?” He took a sip from the tea cup and grimaced slightly, but attempted to mask it. 

“Ah, yes,” Adelaide said. “I speak on behalf of myself and my brother. You see… my brother is mute. He has not spoken since our parents were murdered.”

“Murdered?” Ciel enquired. “Your parents died in a house fire, yes? I thought it was an unfortunate accident. Frankly, the rumor mill has said you and your brother conspired to kill them to overtake the family.”

“That is unequivocally untrue,” she said. “I believe my parents were murdered by… someone with no shred of humanity left in their being. I know you investigate on behalf of the queen but please… take us under your wing. Help us solve their murder. Our company is dying. You can save it.” 

Ciel interlaced his fingers under his chin. “And what is in it for me? You must understand, the first basic rule of business is not to ask for something, but to offer something.”

Adelaide floundered a bit, mouth opening and closing with no coherent sound coming out. She took a deep breath and calmed herself. Sebastian watched her as her aura kept flaring and jolting with nerves. She was desperate, but she was calculating her next move. If she wanted to win this match she had to be smart. 

“We can work. I have… observed your staff here. They are not the most… conventional of folks, from what I can tell. I mean no disrespect, my lord, but your maid seems blind as a bat, your chef burnt the meat in the stew, your other butler seems more like a relic than a servant… something about them must be remarkable to keep them around,” she explained. 

Ciel leaned back and crossed his arms. “Well deduduced,” he complimented. “Explain to me what you can offer that is unusual, as you put it.”

She lowered her head. “My brother and I are not… typical. Many think us insane. We can see entities that others can not. They may be spirits… they may be ghouls… I am unsure, but they are not human. We can converse with them…” she trailed off, calculating her pros and cons. If she were wrong she would truly look like a loon, but if she was correct… she would seal the deal and put the young lord into checkmate. “And your butler is one of them.” she said softly. She looked up at the butler with narrowed eyes, the emerald color shining in the candlelight. “Pleasure to see you again, Malphas .”

Ciel looked at his butler. “Sebastian? Have you met this young lady before?” he asked.

The butler smiled, his fangs peeking out of his lips. “Indeed I have, my lord. It truly is an honor to see you again, mademoiselle Adelaide. I was unaware your brother also possessed the gift of sight.”

“Gift of sight?” Ciel asked. “Explain, Sebastian,” he ordered. 

“Yes my lord,” Sebastian said. “There are individuals born with a bond to the paranormal world. They possess the ability to see into that realm and speak and interact with the creatures of that realm, even when they do not take a human or physical shape.” 

“And how could having this… gift assist the household?” Ciel asked. 

“Well, people with the gift of sight often possess an allure for the supernatural. They could attract those of the other realms to the home or be very useful bait.”

“I see. Well then… Welcome to the Phantomhive Manor, Adelaide DuPont, Luca DuPont.”

Chapter Text

Chapter I - His Mate, Competent

“Master, it is time to wake up,” Sebastian said. Adelaide drew the curtains open and opened a window to let in some fresh air. She was clad in a gray dress and white, ruffly apron. Her dress had a crisp white collar and cuffed sleeves and neat buttons up the bodice.“For breakfast today we have a lightly poached salmon accompanied by a delicate mint salad. I can also offer toast, scones, or pain de campagne. Which dish would you care for this morning?” she asked. 

Ciel sat up groggily, his blue-black hair sticking up in places. His large, oversized white sleep shirt clung to him like a boy wearing his father’s clothes. He shielded his eyes from the light from the window with his hand. “A scone,” he responded. 

Adelaide served him the scone and a cup of tea while Sebastian went through the schedule for the day with Ciel. In the morning, Ciel will be meeting with a Mr. Hughes to discuss the Roman Empire. As he went through the schedule he dressed Ciel in a crisp white shirt. 

“This evening Mr. Damiano will be paying us a visit,” Sebastian rattled off. Adelaide bent to tie a ribbon around Ciel’s neck. When she finished she handed him his cup of tea. 

“Oh, is that the man I have in charge of stuffed animals at my factory in India?” Ciel asked. 

“Yes,” Sebastian said, putting the earl’s shoes on his feet. “I am told he is Italian. We will of course offer him the finest hospitality the estate can provide.” Ciel lifted the tea cup up to his face.
“I know this smell,” he said. “Is this tea Earl Grey?” he asked. 

“Yes, my lord,” Adelaide said, hands behind her back. “From Jackson’s of Piccadilly.” The butler stood to his full height and bowed. 

“Adelaide and I shall await you in the dining hall,” he said. He led Adelaide to the door. As the two’s backs turned, the young earl grabbed a dart and threw it at Adelaide’s head. She ducked as Sebastian grabbed it between his fingers. 

“Nice try, my young lord, but let’s save the games for later,” he said coyly. 

—---------------that butler is an able man—--------his mate is quite competent—--------------

In the dining hall, Ciel threw the dart into his gardener’s head. The servants, including Luca, all gaped as blood spewed from the back of the young blond’s head. A hole was drilled into the gardener’s straw hat as he scampered over to his master. 

“Ow, ow, ow!” he shouted. “What was that for, master? What did I do?” he asked. Luca, dressed in a simple black suit and tie, busied himself tidying up dishes so as to not anger the young lord. 

“Nothing. I do not have to explain myself,” Ciel responded, sipping from his tea cup. 

Sebastian burst into the room, Adelaide flanking him and peeking under his arm. “There you are! Have you finished weeding the courtyard, Finny?” said the gardener floundered and stood at attention. “Mey-Rin, have you washed all the beddings?” the maid, blushing and love-struck, realized that she had not. “Baldroy, shouldn't you be preparing for tonight's dinner?” the chef grinned cheekily, a devious glint in his eye. “Luca, you should be preparing the drawing room for our guest and master.” Luca nodded. “Tanaka... well, I suppose you're all right as you are.” the old steward sipped from his teacup, content. “Now all of you, we have no time for thumb twiddling this morning. So get to work!” 

“Yes sir!” Mey-Rin shouted as the servants all clambered out. 

The butler sighed. “Simply hopeless,” he said. 

“What am I meant to be doing?” Adelaide asked, taking the master’s dishes away as he stood to go to his study. “I can handle my own tasks, you know. I don’t have to keep shadowing you.”

The butler grinned, not the plastic smile she had seen before. This one was more like a cat that was close to catching a canary. “I like you shadowing me, Ms. DuPont.” 

Adelaide glowered. “I am no longer a scared little girl. I can handle things on my own. I’m not weak.” 

“Ah and that is why you are so intriguing,” Sebastian said, bending at the waist to look at her in the face. His face was smug, clad with a grin and glint in his eye.

Adelaide slammed dishes down. “I am going to see the master,” she said and stomped out. 

As she left the room and headed up the stairs Sebastian chuckled. “How charming she is when she is angry.”

—----------------------------the silver is polished to a spotless shine---------------------------------

“I’m a bit hungry,” the young man told his governess. “I’d like something sweet to eat.”

“I must advise against it, my lord. You will spoil your appetite for your meal with the guest,” Adelaide responded. 

Ciel scowled. “Why should I care about that? Make me a parfait.”

“No.” 

Ciel sighed. “Fine. But about that portrait in the hallway…”

“The one of your parents?” Adelaide asked, tilting her head. 

“Take it down. I am Ciel Phantomhive, son of Vincent, and I am the head of this house now.” Ciel said, almost as if reciting a script he had been thinking about for a long time. 

Adelaide curtseyed, “Yes sir, I will see that it is done.” and she left to return to the servants’ area. As she entered she saw all the servants, including her brother, being scolded by Sebastian. 

“Now do tell me exactly how all of this happened?” Sebastian said, his eye twitching in irritation. 

Finnian was the first to fess up. The blond boy babbled on like a caught child, tears in his eyes. “I thought the garden would look nicer if I used extra strength weedkiller!”

Mey-Rin was next to confess her sins, a cracked lens in her glasses giving away part of her crimes. “I was trying to reach the tea set that is used for guests but I tripped and the cabinet fell!”

Baldroy looked to the side, scorch marks on his face and in his hair. “There was a lot of meat to be cooked and I thought it would go faster if I used me flamethrower…”

Luca, with paper cuts on his forehead, simply shrugged at the domineering presence and held up a book. Adelaide stepped in to translate for him. “I think… Luca was tidying the books in the drawing room when they fell on him.” Her brother nodded and ducked his head down. 

Mey-Rin and Finny bawled and blubbered out “We’re sorry! We didn’t mean to!”

Sebastian looked at the ground, fingers on his chin as he thought. Adelaide watched him, quizically. “We don’t have time to replace the tea set or meat, not to mention the garden. But might I offer a creative solution?” She stepped over to Tanaka, who was calm and collected against the wall, and gently took his teacup from his hands. “We can offer a Japanese-inspired evening for our master and his guest. Just follow my lead, if you do not mind that is.” 

—------------------------------------we might just save this evening yet—----------------------------

Before the sun had begun to set, a solid black carriage pulled by two brown horses arrived at the Phantomhive estate. A man with tanned skin and clay-colored hair steps out. His eyes widen as he takes in the scene of stones and sand before him. 

Rows of stone are surrounded by seas of neatly raked sand. Mossy islands with flowers and bamboo shishi-odoshi float amongst the sand as well. On a deck, the Phantomhive servants stand in their best dress. Finnian is dressed in a yellow vest, and Adelaide is clad in a neat and clean blue dress that matched Mey-Rin’s, Tanaka, Baldroy, and Sebastian are dressed the same. The servants all bow and welcome the guests to their homes. 

Sebastian steps forward and explains that the garden is inspired by the Japanese stone gardens from abroad. “The manor’s governess and footman has been to Japan and thought it would offer a tranquil atmosphere for the evening.” 

“Ah, prodigioso! Wonderful! Truly an elegant garden,” the man, Mr. Damiano, said while spreading his arms wide. 

“We thought it appropriate to serve dinner al fresco this evening. Allow me to escort you inside until the meal is ready,” Sebastian said, handing the guest off to Tanaka to escort him inside. While walking, Mr. Damiano commented on how intriguing and unique the Phantomhive home was. 

Once the guest was inside the servants breathed a sigh of relief. “Phew, We actually did it,” Baldroy commented. 

Finny gawked at the garden with shining eyes. “Who would've thought a dozen boxes of gravel could turn into an amazing garden?” he asked. 

Adelaide smiled at them. “There is still much to do for the evening,” she commented. 

Sebastian nodded in agreement, “Let's take care of it while the master is talking business with his guest. Look sharp now.”

—---------------------------we serve the Phantomhive family, after all—--------------------------

Inside the drawing room, Adelaide and Luca stood behind Ciel while he played a game with Mr. Damiano. Well, played a game is putting it kindly. In truth, Mr. Damiano participated in a one-sided conversation while Ciel tormented him in the game. 

“The progress we've been making with the East India Factory is quite astonishing. We already have the makings of a top-notch staff,” Damiano said. 

“Bewitched by the eyes of the dead. What terrible luck. It appears I lose a turn,” Ciel cut him off. Adelaide attempted to cover a snicker, her face contorting in a strange, puckered lips state. Luca looked at her from the side, confused. 

Damiano attempted to mask his irritation as he continued talking, making brief eye contact with the former noble lady. “Right now is the perfect time. We should begin expanding the company and building a strong labor force, it would–” 

Ciel cut him off again, leaning back in his seat with his eye shut, “Go on. It's your turn.” 

Damiano, humoring the child earl, “Oh, yes. I just spin this then,” he then spun a top with numbers on each side. “Okay there, five spaces,” he moves his piece across the board. “Now, what I wanted to ask you. Perhaps you could contribute another 12,000 pounds to support our expansion?” Ciel’s sapphire eye opened, annoyed. “I believe it will be quite a profitable venture for you, my lord, and I would consider it an honor to help expand the Funtom Company-”

“Lose a leg in the enchanted forest. And it's your turn again. I lost a turn, remember?” Ciel cut him off yet again. Damiano’s face washed over with shock. 

Ciel watches critically while Damiano spins the top again. “Oh, I see. Right, I move six,” he said. 

“You don’t. That’s three,” Ciel said. 

Damiano’s eyes widened. “What? But…”

“You lost a leg,” Adelaide provided from behind her master, an evil glint in her eye. “You can now only move half the number of spaces.”

“Oh my, ha ha ha ha. This is a gruesome-a board game, isn't it? Is there-a no way for me to restore my leg, then?” Damiano laughed, light-heartedly. He held his piece to move it through the game board. 

Ciel looked at the board intensely as he spoke, “I’m afraid once something is truly lost, sir, that one can never get it back again,” he snatched Damiano’s game piece, still staring at the game board. He placed the piece down, making brief eye contact with Damiano as he said “your body is burnt by raging flames.”

—-----------------------------intermission—------------------------------

Adelaide stepped into the kitchen area of the manor. “How is everything going in here?” she asked the three gentlemen cutting meat. 

“We’re doing it just like you said,” Baldroy smiles. He holds the meat up to show her. “Is this really what you want?” 

Adelaide smiles. “Yes, that is perfect.” 

From the hall, the maroon-haired maid named Mey-Rin came barrelling in. “Sebastian! I found ‘em!” She was carrying some boxes. She tripped over her shoelaces and went flying down the hall, the boxes rushing forward. Adelaide rushes forward to catch Mey-Rin and the boxes. The force flung her backward, where Sebastian caught her and Mey-Rin. 

“Honestly, you must be more careful, Adelaide,” he said, holding her around the shoulders, her back against his chest. She could feel the rumbling of his voice against her. She looked over her shoulder at him, brows knitted together in annoyance. He wasn’t looking at her though, her was looking at Mey-Rin. “I’ve told you to not run in the manor, Mey-Rin.”

Mey-Rin scrambled backward, flushed and embarrassed, “I’m sorry, sir! My glasses are cracked and I can’t see a thing! Are you alright, Ms. Adelaide?”

Adelaide tried to pull away from Sebastian but was met with resistance from the demonic man. He had her shoulders in a gentle but firm grip. “Yes, are you alright?” he asked. Luca glared at the butler from his spot at the counter, trimming meat. He slammed the knife down firmly against the counter. Baldroy looked at the mute boy and whistled. 

He whispered to the boy, “Easy, tiger.”

Adelaide sighed. “I am fine, I assure you, monsieur.” She stood away from the butler and handed him the boxes. “These are the last items needed for tonight’s dinner. I believe you can handle the rest?” She asked. 

“Yes,” Sebastian answered. “You all can rest, leave the rest to me.” He smiled at Adelaide. 

—-------------------------you need to do very well during tonight’s dinner—-----------------------

Back in the drawing room, Mr. Damiano and Ciel were still seated in their respective chairs. A knock sounded at the door, “Pardon the interruption,” Adelaide’s voice came from the door, “but dinner is served.” 

“Oh, dining out in that exquisite stone garden? Shall we go, my lord?” Damiano asked, already in the process of standing up. 

From his still seated position Ciel said “Very well, we will finish the game after dinner.” This caused Damiano to pause. 

“Oh, is there any real need to finish it? It's obvious I'm going to lose,” he said, clearly trying to get out of the game. 

Ciel stood, smiling with his eye shut. “I'm not in the habit of abandoning games halfway through.” Ciel took his leave and headed for the door. Before he was out of earshot, though, Damiano whispered under his breath with a tsk. 

“How childish,” he muttered. This caused Ciel and Adelaide to pause and Ciel glared at the man. Seeing that he was caught, Damiano attempted to cover up his blunder “Oh I, I mean that sometimes it takes a child's eyes to see what's really important. It's a true gift. Maybe that's what's made the Phantomhives the nation's foremost toy makers. It certainly impresses me!” As they walked to the garden, Adelaide narrowed her eyes on the man. 

“It truly is a gift, I agree,” she said, holding her head high. “You should not discount the ways of children easily.” 

The garden was lit dimly with paper lanterns. A large white table was spread before them. Sebastian, with Mey-Rin by his side, introduced the evening’s meal. Damiano looked down at it with disgust on his face. 

“A pile of raw beef… and this is dinner?” he questioned. 

This prompted Sebastian to go on a spiel about the importance and significance of donburi that stunned Damiano into silence. 

From the sidelines, the servants watched with pride. “That’s our Sebastian,” Finny said. 

“He saved the day,” Baldroy said. Adelaide smiled faintly. 

“Yes… he did, didn’t he?” she said with a hush in her tone. 

-

Once dinner was over, the master and his guest returned to the drawing room. Damiano, wanting to cement the deal, attempted to rush into discussion. Ciel, however, was not permitting it. 

“Before we discuss that, we must finish the game,” he said, sat in his large arm chair. 

“Ah of course,” Damiano said. “I do have a pressing appointment. Perhaps another time-”

“Children can be very demanding about their games,” Ciel said with an evil smirk. “Surely you wouldn’t want me to get upset?” 

At that, Damiano stepped out to make a phone call. Down in the phone room, Adelaide waited around the corner and listened into his conversation. 

“...Yes, I’ve already sold off the factory. Now all that’s left is to pocket the extra cash,” he said. Adelaide sighed from her position.

“He truly is deplorable,” she thought. “He deserves all that is coming to him, right?”

From the shadows outside the door, a demonic face appeared and spooked Damiano. Adelaide grinned to herself, knowing who was behind it and returned to her duties. 

Damiano finished up his conversation and began to return to the drawing room. He passed by the portrait of the late earl and lady Phantomhive, that same haunting face following him up the stairs, hiding in the portrait. Ciel’s earlier words, “bewitched by the eyes of the dead”, rung in his ears as he climbed the steps. The man walked around the manor, lost and confused, the haunting face following him down the dark corridors. He scrambled away, petrified, as servants carried the portrait away. 

Down the stairs, Mey-Rin was busy mopping the floors. Adelaide was accompanying her, listening to her blather on about how shameful it was to be that near Sebastian. As she flailed, her pail broke and clambered to the floor. “Honestly, it’s not shameful,” Adelaide said with a laugh. “Don’t take out your embarrassment on our tools, though.” 

Damanio continued to run through the manor, Ciel’s words echoing in his head, as he tripped over the bucket on the stairs. Mey-Rin, shocked, approached him and backed away. 

“Sir, are you alright?” she gasped. “His right leg! It’s twisted ‘round! What ‘appened to it?” 

“Mr. Damiano?” Adelaide asked, much calmer than Mey-Rin. “Do you need help? Should I fetch a doctor?” 

The two carrying the portrait walked by, still holding the painting of the dead heads of house. “What’s happened?” Baldroy asked.

Mey-Rin shouted about something being wrong with the guest. Damiano glanced over at the painting and Adelaide bent down to whisper in his ear, “you lose one leg in the enchanted forest”. He whimpered and crawled away in agony. 

“I’ll follow him,” Adelaide assured the other servants. She followed behind Damiano, a few steps behind. When he reached Sebastian in the servant’s quarters she joined him at his side. 

“Surely you aren’t leaving the manor yet, sir,” Sebastian said. Damiano clambored backwards. “We haven’t given you the full Phantomhive treatment yet. We still have to serve dessert.” Damiano attempted to crawl away, but he was slow and in pain. 

“You’ve lost a leg remember?” Sebastian continued, following behind him. “Now you can only move half the number of spaces, so why don’t you relax a bit and make yourself at home?” 

Damiano made his way into a room and shut the door behind him, panting in exhaustion and anxiety. Sebastian’s footsteps approached him in the pitch black, causing him to retreat into a cupboard-like space. 

As Sebastian entered he lit the oven. “My what an impatient guest we have,” he said. “Couldn’t even restrain yourself until dessert was out of the oven.” 

Damiano panicked, banging on the oven door and shouting. 

“Hmm perhaps the Italians aren’t familiar with British customs,” Sebastian continued. “Plum pudding, mincemeat pie, there are many traditional English desserts that utilize meat. I find them all quite tasty.” He shut the oven window as Ciel’s voice once again echoed in Damiano’s mind. 

-

“Was all that truly necessary?” Adelaide asked Sebastian once Damiano was set free, burnt to a crisp but free. They were in the servant’s quarters. Adelaide was preparing for bed, brushing her hair in a small mirror. Sebastian lingered behind her, still dressed in his uniform. 

“If our master commands it, we must follow through,” Sebastian said. 

“Sure, but why do you follow his commands?” Adelaide asked. “When you visited me as a child you never followed my orders.”

Sebastian hummed and smirked at her. “Would you like me to follow your orders?” he asked. Adelaide glared at him over her shoulder, causing him to chuckle. “You and I do not share a contract,” he explained. He took off his glove and showed her the contract mark on his hand. “While you and I share a bond, it is not the bond of master and servant. I serve Ciel Phantomhive until his wish is fulfilled and I receive his soul in exchange.”

Adelaide examined the mark, leaning forward to view it in the candlelight. “And what sort of bond do we share?” she asked. 

Sebastian chuckled. “All in due time,” he said. “I do not much feel like sharing that with you at present. Just know I will be at your side whenever you call.”

Adelaide sighed dramatically. “You always say things like that. It is annoying.”

“Maybe so,” he said. “However, it is true. Good night, Lady Adelaide DuPont."

Chapter Text

In a remote hallway of the Phantomhive manor, the servants are gathered around a hole in the floor. The soldier amongst them has his head dipped into the hole, looking at a frayed wire. 

“Bloody hell,” he says. “This wire’s done for.” 

“Is it rats?” Adelaide asked. “I didn’t expect them to be this prevalent outside of the city.” She stood and dusted off her skirt. “I must go attend to the master, good luck catching the vermin.” She strolled off, entering the drawing room of the manor where Ciel was mingling with some guests. A red-haired woman dressed in garments matching her hair was sat across from him in an armchair. Her butler, a meek-looking man with glasses and dark hair tied in a red ribbon, stood on the sidelines observing Sebastian. A man of Asian descent was sat in the other armchair, and a young woman in revealing clothing sat on his lap. As Adelaide entered, the red-haired woman was gushing about Sebastian’s physique and stroking his behind. Adelaide paused and made a disgusted face, her pale skin flushing in second-hand embarrassment. Her face, down her neck, and into her arms all flushed pink in shame. Deep down though, something nagged at her. Like an incessant itch to slap Madam Red. 

“You should really quit this country job and come work for me in the city!” Madam Red said, her eyes lecherous as she fondled the man. 

Adelaide coughed, “Pardon me, Madame Red, but should you not focus on your own butler?” 

Madam Red flushed in only slight shame. “Sorry, doctor’s habit! He looked like he needed a physical,” she laughed. 

Adelaide walked over to stand next to Sebastian and laid out some papers in a folder for Ciel on the coffee table. “Your latest marks, my lord,” she explained. “We need to work on your French skills.” 

“Ah, I see. We will discuss it later,” Ciel said, setting down his tea cup. 

The Asian man, Lau, stood. “Do you think the drug trafficker you are after was among your guests today?” he asked. 

“Perhaps,” Ciel responded, leaning back in his seat. 

Madam Red leaned forward. “Why not leave the extermination to Lau?” she asked. “A rat knows best where a rat’s nest is, doesn’t he?” 

Lau went to stand behind Ciel’s seat, a hand on his head. “I am but a tame guinea pig, dedicated to my lord,” Lau said “If he instructs me not to act, I am bound to do nothing.” Madam Red leaped up, snatching Ciel out of his hands. 

“Please refrain from touching the master of the house, monsieur Lau,” Adelaide said. “You have angered the madame.”

“Keep your filthy paws off my darling nephew!” Madam Red snarled at Lau. 

“You ladies wound me,” Lau responded. “I would never paw at him in his own home!”

“Are you saying you would if you were elsewhere!?” Madam Red shrieked, discarding Ciel to the side. Adelaide caught him and ushered him out of the room. 

“Too many rats, my lord?” she asked. 

“Yes, they are quite loud. Tell Sebastian I will have dessert in my study. I will look over the marks you left on my work,” he said, strolling away and towards his study. 

“Of course,” she said, curtseying. 

Adelaide returned to the drawing room and whispered in Sebastian’s ear. “The earl would like to avoid the ruckus and will take his dessert in the study.” she leaned away to see him nod. “I will be helping him with his lessons.” she curtseyed again and headed back to the study. She entered the room with a knock, “Young lord, I have come to help with your lessons-” a cloth was placed over her mouth and she was yanked by her hair into the room and out the window. 

-

In the dirtier section of London lies an elegant, white manor house. Within that manor house is an ornate office with exuberant accents and a large, golden ticking clock. The clock is the first thing Adelaide hears when she wakes up, groggy and bruised. The next thing she hears is a gruff voice mocking Ciel. She realizes she’s bound in that moment, her arms and legs tied with belts and chains. She’s leaned against a wall, a gag in her mouth. 

“Just how many nicknames do you have and how many families have you crushed, Ciel Phantomhive?” the voice asked, though Adelaide could barely hear it through the ringing in her ears. Adelaide lifted her head up from its position against her chest to look to her right. She sees Ciel in a similar state to her, just without the gag. She watched as the owner of the voice grabbed Ciel by the face and barked at him with a cigar in his mouth. Ciel spoke and the man pulled a gun out and pointed it at him. 

As the ringing subsided in her ears, Adelaide heard Ciel say with a smile, “Oh I think they’ll be alright, but you’d better hope your lap dogs know how to fetch.” At that, the man kicked Ciel in the face, knocking him over. Adelaide screamed against the gag, her eyes wide and worried. The man pulled out a phone and barked orders into it. He turned his attention to Adelaide and grabbed her face in his hand, roughly ripping the gag from her mouth. 

“What did he mean by that?” he asked, his breath reeking of tobacco. “Spit it out!” 

“I don’t know,” she responded. “I’m just the governess. I’m not special.” His grip tightened, making her wince. 

“Don’t you lie to me. What did he mean?”

“I’m telling you I don’t know!” with that he threw her on the ground and kicked her in the stomach. 

“Useless woman,” he said and picked the phone back up. “Tell me you made that shot. What do you mean you missed?! You are complete idiots! I never should have hired someone like you! Just get back here!” he shouted into the phone. He then scoffed. “What’s the matter? You princesses see a bear in the woods?” He was quiet for a moment. “What’s wrong? Did someone find you? Talk to me!” 

Ciel laughed. “Sounds like your game of fetch is over!” 

“Young lord, please be careful or he’ll-” she cringed as the man began to kick Ciel again. 

“Just shut your mouth, both of you!” he shouted and picked the phone back up.”You listen to me! One of you answer now or I will kill you both!”

“Hello?” a voice came from the other side of the phone. The man paused, his brow furrowed and his face shiny with sweat from stress. 

“Who is this?” the man asked. 

“Ah, pardon me,” the phone responded. “I represent the Phantomhive estate. I was wondering if my master or Miss DuPont might be available.” The man continued to stress, his body shaking in fear. “Hello? Is there anybody there? Hello?”

From his position on the ground, Ciel smirked and uttered one word. “Woof.”

Sebastian muttered through the phone, “Very good, young master. I will come to retrieve you and miss DuPont momentarily.”

As soon as the phone hung up, the man started shouting at his lackeys. “Listen up! The Phantomhive boy has help on the way! Tighten up security! Not even a single rat gets through!” 

-

Outside the office, much commotion and gore could be heard through the door. The boss stood with a gun in his hand, shaking in fear as loud footsteps echoed down the hall. The doors clicked open and Sebastian stepped inside, unmarred by all the bloodshed that was heard. He stepped inside, a glare on his face, and bowed to the man. 

“I have come to retrieve my master and Miss DuPont,” he said plainly. 

“Is this a joke?” the man said. “I was expecting a giant and instead I get a dandy in a tailcoat. Who are you anyway? There’s no way you’re just a butler.” 

“No, sir,” Sebastian said. “You see I am simply one hell of a butler, I promise.”

Adelaide silenced her scoff from her position on the floor. She settled for an eye roll since no one could see her. 

The man scoffed. “Yeah, sure. It does not matter, I have no intention of fighting,” he said, an unassuming smirk on his face. “Not yet, anyway,” he grabbed Ciel by the hair and had one of his men heft Adelaide up by hers. Both she and Ciel whimpered at the pain. Sebastian remained stoic, but inside he was murderous. The way they were handling his mate was inexcusable. The man held a gun up to Ciel’s head and grinned at Sebastian. “You’d better have what I asked for,” he said. 

Sebastian shut his eyes to hide the red glow that was soon going to emanate from them. He reached into his coat, “Yes, I do. It’s right here,” he said with a small smile, holding up the ransom. When he did, a bullet raced through his skull. Adelaide shrieked, eyes wide. Ciel gasped beside her. Multiple other shots fired through Sebastian’s body, causing him to fall to the ground. From behind a painting, the gunman held their guns up, still smoking with gunpowder. 

The man holding Ciel laughed, “Aw, sorry dandy, I really am, but this round is mine. There’s no way I would go up against Phantomhive, the lord of games, without a hidden trump card.” he pushed the barrel of his gun further into Ciel’s forehead, leering at him before dropping him to the ground. “I may have damaged the goods a little bit, but you’ll still fetch a good price. Don’t worry, though, with how many enemies you’ve made I doubt you’ll be alive much longer.” He strolled over to the man holding Adelaide and smirked at her. “And you. You’ll be a good catch to keep around the house. A bit skinny but we can fatten you up a bit,” he said, pulling her bottom lip down. “You’ve got a nice face, and even nicer breasts…” he ran his hand down her neck to fondle her chest, causing her to snarl and kick at his shins in disgust.

“Let me go, bâtard,” she said “Vous êtes écœurant. Cochon,” she protested against his prowling hands. 

“Enough,” Ciel said from his spot on the floor. “I’m tired of messing around. How much longer are you planning to play dead?” he asked the body on the floor. 

“Not long,” Sebastian said, twitching upwards. 

The men gasped. Their leader shouted from his spot, “How? How’re you-?” His lackeys backed away in disgust and fear as Sebastian sat up from the ground. 

“Guns today are so much more efficient than they used to be,” he said as he sat up. “They can shoot so many more bullets now,” he said as he coughed up the bloody bullets into his hand with a smirk. “Perhaps you’d like these back?” 

“Ah- what’re you doing? Kill him!” the boss shouted to his gunmen. Before they could fire a single shot, Sebastian threw the bullets into their bodies, causing them to fall. Sebastian took a moment to look at his tailcoat. 

“Oh dear. What a waster of a perfectly good tailcoat,” he said. 

“You could have avoided that, idiot,” Ciel said sourly. Sebastian smiled at him. 

“Master… how unfortunate. They did not take very good care of you,” he said. He glared towards the men with their hands on Adelaide. “Nor did they treat Miss DuPont well either…” Sebastian strolled up to the leader and the man holding Adelaide by her hair. “Treating her like she is a toy that belongs to them…”

“Stay back!” the leader shouted. “I-if you come any closer, I’ll shoot her!” he positioned the gun at her temple. 

“Can we move this along?” Ciel asked, still bound on the floor. 

“Please?” Adelaide pleaded. “Their breath smells awful.” 

“Ah but if I come any closer he might kill you, Miss DuPont,” Sebastian said, enjoying the thrill. “I need an order from my master… or… remember our conversation the other night, Miss DuPont? You know what you have to do. Just call my name.” 

Adelaide grimaced and sighed, bracing herself. “Help me, Malphas!” she shouted. 

“It’s over!” the man shouted, firing a bullet towards Adelaide’s skull. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the pain and darkness, but it never came. She turned her gaze to the man and glared, her green eyes dark. “But... that’s impossible.”

“Are you looking for this?” came Sebastian’s voice over the men’s shoulders. “I’ll be returning it now,” he said as he dropped the bullet into the man’s jacket pocket. The boss flailed in pain as the bullet seemed to move into his arm, causing him to drop the gun. Sebastian glared at the man still holding Adelaide and his arm twisted backward, causing him to release her. Before she could hit the floor Sebastian caught her and set her down next to his master and began to unbind them both while the men writhed on the floor, begging Sebastian to work for them. “I must say… the game wasn’t as much fun this time, Sebastian,” Ciel said. 

“I’m sorry, sir, while that may be an attractive offer for some, I have no interest in such materialistic things. You see… I am simply one hell of a butler,” Sebastian said, his eyes glowing and swirling red and gold. Feathers began to fall around the room as the light seemed to be sucked away. “As long as my master holds the contract, I am his loyal servant,” he explained as Ciel’s contract mark in his eye glowed. Sebastian pulled off a glove to show the matching mark on his hand. “A wish, a sacrifice, and this, all of these things keep me bound to Lord Phantomhive. Until the day I swallow his soul.” 

“Unfortunately for you, this game is over,” Ciel said as darkness covered the room, suffocating the men within. 

-

After they returned to the manor and had cleaned up, Ciel called Sebastian into his room. 

“Explain to me what happened today. Why were you so distracted by Adelaide?” he demanded of his butler. “And remember our agreement. Do not lie to me.”

“I would never lie to you, my lord,” he responded. “Lady DuPont and I share a bond.”

Ciel glared at his butler. “You have a contract with her?”

“No, my lord, the only contract I have is with you,” Sebastian responded. 

“Then what sort of bond do you share?” Ciel asked. 

“How can I explain it in human terms…” Sebastian began. “It is similar to the bond you share with Lady Elizabeth,” he said. 

“You and she are engaged?!” Ciel shouted. 

“Not quite. Lady DuPont does not know of this bond, my lord, but it is what gives her her abilities to command me and see otherworldly creatures,” he explained with a sigh. “And I would appreciate if you did not tell her this.”

“And how will you balance your bond with her and your contact with me?” Ciel asked. “It seems you may run into some conflicts of interest.”

“As long as you both remain on the same side of the battle I can balance anything, my lord.”

Chapter Text

“Time passes differently in Hell. It is part of the divine punishment from the forgiving creator. Those put into Hell watch as those in the living realm age slowly, while they age rapidly. By the time a human is a teenager, a demon is an adult.” Malphas thought to himself as he tidied the dining hall. “ We stay children for longer and then rapidly grow. We are denied the joy of adolescence.” 

Not that Malphas thought it was a joy. He watched his master stumble his way through it daily. It was a time of agony for humans, but also a time of discovery. Rather than discover themselves as adolescents, demons were denied a complete soul until they bonded with their soulmates. It was not uncommon for demons to hunt down their soulmates by following the thread tied to their neck. It was golden and shimmering, bound tightly to a demon’s neck. It was connected to the wrist of a human or another demon. 

It was rare that it was a human that held the other end of the thread, but when it was in the possession of a human it caused the human immense hardship. The human would possess abilities that would isolate them. Human mates were often sent to asylums as children due to their abilities being misunderstood as hallucinations or delusions. They would feel detached from other humans because of their abilities. They would draw in other spirits and demons that would cause trouble for them because of their energy. That was likely what happened to the DuPont family. 

Demons ran in packs, or families. Powerful demons took younger, weaker ones under their wings and provided protection. This included mates. The families shared a nest, usually a cave system with many branches. The caves were decorated in warm torchlight and furs. Gemstones and treasures from the human realm were hoarded in the caves, trophies of their contracts. 

Malphas sighed recalling his home. While he was under contract as Sebastian Michaelis he could not take Adelaide to his home in Hell to protect her. She would be in danger even more so now that she was connected to his master. Under normal circumstances, she would have never met his contract, at least until she consumed enough demonic energy to be strong enough to protect herself. And then there was her brother, who was clearly another demon’s mate. He knew his mate would not willingly leave the boy. 

He tugged on the thread that glimmered around his neck. He would have to find a way to protect his mate and his master at the same time while also ensuring that the young DuPont boy found his demonic other half so Adelaide would go with him to Hell. This was getting quite complicated. 

-

Malphas followed the golden thread until he found it, which led to a closed door. A washroom, to be exact. He took advantage of his advanced hearing and listened in through the door. 

“Honestly Mey-Rin, you don’t have to accompany me every time I enter the bath,” he heard his mate say. 

“Oh but you come from a noble background, my lady, you may need help,” he heard the easily flustered maid’s shrill voice squeak out. Under normal circumstances, he would be the one taking care of his mate. He would take over all aspects of her care including washing her, feeding her, grooming her… A demon takes over all aspects of serving their mate and contracts. It is a point of pride for the species. However, the time period did not allow for him to enter the room while his mate was in undress. Truly, the sense of prudeness in the era was extraordinary. He placated that urge by brushing her hair in the evening. 

“I am quite capable. You would be surprised what you learn when you have to live without servants to aid you,” his mate responded wistfully. That bothered the demon, that his mate had to endure hardship. When she had shown up that evening, gaunt and pale, for the first time in his life he felt horror and shock. Feeling such a range of emotions was startling for the demon. 

“If you would like to stay, though, Mey-Rin, I would not mind the company,” his mate said with a giggle. “We can talk about that obvious crush you have on Sebastian.” 

That gave Malphas pause. He knew that the maid had feelings for him, much like many of the mortal women he encountered, but he did not expect Adelaide to encourage it when she knew what he was.
“W-what ever are you talking about, my lady?” the red-haired maid stammered out. He heard water splash as his mate laughed. 

“It’s not a secret, Mey-Rin, we can all see it.”

“Even so… he is not interested in someone like me,” Mey-Rin responded, her chest deflated. 

“Oh don’t say that,” Adelaide said, water splashing as she turned in the tub. “You’re beautiful, Mey-Rin. In France, we would call you une magnifique rose .” 

Mey-Rin oohed and ahhed at that. “Oh my lady your French is so pretty, yes it is,” she said. 

Adelaide laughed at that. Malphas absorbed that laugh with a small smile and let it echo in his mind as he walked away. He would have to find a way to protect her while he was away. 

-

Once the house had settled into a slumber, Malphas began his work. He thought of who he could ask for assistance. He could ask his mentor, the one who had helped to raise him into the Elder demon that he was, but that involved summoning the demon. However, under the cover of darkness, it would not be hard to establish a brief communication with him. He may have to swallow his pride and ask for assistance from his old mentor. 

When his mentor had brought home a human woman from a contract millennia ago, Malphas had been startled. Andrealphus had never shown interest in the sin of lust. In fact, Malphas had chosen to be mentored by the Elder demon because they shared a dislike of the sin. Andrealphus then explained that the human woman, Chloris, was his mate. He taught Malphas how to see auras and the threads. He saw the shining gold thread tied tightly around his mentor’s throat and panicked, thinking it would kill his mentor. He was still young and naive, unaware that such a simple thing would not hurt the demon. His mentor had laughed at him and told him he had one too and that in due time he could stand on the barrier to see them. 

-

Malphas lit a fire in the fireplace and waited until the coals were simmering and glowing to recite the incantation. When he did, his disgruntled mentor’s face molded into the coals. 

“Malphas, this better be important,” the man said. His voice was as gruff as always. The peacock feathers in his hair flared in agitation. 

“I assure you it is, mentor,” Malphas said. “I have found my mate.”

“Congratulations. Is that all?” the older demon asked.

“No, you see… my master is rather troublesome, always in danger and needing protection. How can I protect them both at once?”

“Straight to the point. Good, I like that. Just give your mate one of your feathers. Then you can feel if they are in danger. If that is all, goodbye,” the elder demon faded from the coals, leaving ash and a peacock feather behind. 

-

Feathers may be a fashionable item, but not in every situation. Malphas doubted that Adelaide would willingly wear a black feather at all times. He would have to make it discreet so that it could be hidden underneath her clothes. He would have to monitor her for a while longer until he could gather her likes and dislikes. 

“We will be back shortly,” his master said, exiting the manor. “Try not to destroy the place while I am away,” he said, addressing his servants.

“I will watch them, young lord,” Adelaide said, curtsying.

“Yes, I trust you to keep them in line, Adelaide. Do not let them injure Luca like they did last time,” Ciel said. 

“Oh trust me, they won’t,” Adelaide said, a fake and menacing smile on her face. 

"Good ," Malphas thought. " She has the malice of a demon ."

Chapter Text

It was a peaceful day at the Phantomhive estate, despite them being host to the inept butler that was Grell Sutcliff. Adelaide could not put her finger on it, but she did not trust the bespeckled butler. Something about them seemed off. 

At the moment, Bardroy was lounging in the estate's garden, listening to the strange butler prattle on about the success of the Funtom company. Adelaide sat a distance away, preparing French lessons with the help of Luca. The two strawberry blonds discussed what the earl needed to learn in order to succeed in imports and exports from France. The strange butler was trimming hedges with a large set of shears. 

Suddenly, Tanaka appeared behind Grell, in a lucid and dignified state, and explained the origin of the Phantomhive manor’s current state. The servants all smiled and celebrated Tanaka being in his more dignified state. 

As Tanaka discussed the fall of the old Phantomhive manor, Adelaide could not help but notice the similarities between the Phantomhive manor’s destruction and her own family’s demise. A great fire, a miraculous survivor… it was all eerily similar to that night all that time ago. 

As Tanaka deflated, Adelaide looked up from her work to notice Grell’s handiwork on the shrubbery. “Excuse-moi…” she started. “But why is all the foliage shaped like skulls?” 

This question sent the servants and Grell spiraling. Grell dramatically flung themselves at a tree, attempting to hang themselves from one of the branches. The servants worked to get him down as Adelaide stood from her seat and dusted her gown off. 

Suddenly, a pale, small hand with a bright orange bell sleeve reached up and pulled the steps out from under Grell.

-

As the doors of the mansion opened, the servants all came out in droves, flocking to their master and his butler. Stalling behind them was Adelaide, walking slowly and seemingly unbothered by the state of the manor house. 

The servants were all dressed in absurd garments. The chef had a bonnet on his head and a bib around his neck, the gardener had bunny ears and limbs, Luca had bear ears and paws on, and Adelaide had cat ears and a tail. She pretended to be unbothered, but in truth her current state of dress was embarrassing her. 

As the servants sobbed on the butler, he stared at Adelaide, causing her to pause in her steps. He took in the sight of his fated mate, still in her normal gown but her pinkish-hued hair was adorned in a fuzzy black headband with cat ears pointing out of it. Around her waist was a ribbon holding a fuzzy black tail. Her neck was additionally ornamented with a black lace choker with a jingling bell on it. Adelaide moved her arms up to her chest to cover herself in shyness, a faint blush coated her pale cheeks. 

“Can you not look at me like that? C'est gênant…” Adelaide trailed off. 

“Why on earth are all of you dressed like this?” Sebastian asked, looking at Bardroy who was clutching his collar. 

“She’s crazy!” Bard shouted, pointing down the hall. 

“Who?” Ciel asked before he was distracted by the sound of gurgling coming from the next room. Butler and master stuck their heads into the room to find Grell hanging by his neck from the ceiling. The servants of the house followed after them, hiding behind them. Luca and Finny could be seen hiding behind Bard while Adelaide hid behind Sebastian, instinctively and subconsciously gripping his tailcoat. The small action pleased the demon, knowing that his bond with his mate was growing. 

“What the blazes are you doing now?!” Ciel shouted at Grell. 

“I believe I am in the process of dying, currently, my lord,” Grell responded. 

As Sebastian strolled over to take the strange butler down from the ceiling, a squealing blur streaked across the room towards Ciel. As the curly haired, blonde girl clung onto the lord of the house, the servants, including Adelaide, shrank away in fright. Luca continued to cling to Finnian and Adelaide took residence behind Bard now that the demon butler was not at her side. Adelaide turning towards Bard caused the demon butler to glower at the man. 

The blonde girl clinging to Ciel rubbed her cheek against him and blabbered about how much she missed him. 

“Oh Elizabeth what a surprise!” Ciel said awkwardly. The blonde girl pulled back at that with a beaming smile. 

“Oh how many times must I tell you to call me Lizzie!” she said. She scooped him back into her arms “Oh you truly are just the cutest thing ever aren’t you? You darling boy I could just eat you right up!” 

Sebastian did his best to mask his dislike of the young lady clinging to his prey as he drug Grell with him over to his master. “Lady Elizabeth,” he said, drawing the girl’s attention away from Ciel. Once the lady was drawn away from Ciel to greet the butler, Ciel turned away, exhausted by the affections of the blonde. 

“Aww you took him down?” Elizabeth, Lizzie, said about Grell. 

“Yes, I’m afraid he was detracting from the beauty of the room,” Sebastian said, attempting to placate the young lady. 

The lady gasped in offense, “But I had made such a lovely decoration out of him!” she said. 

Adelaide furrowed her brow from behind the chef. “A decoration?” she asked in shock. “What a morbid idea for a decoration…” 

Lizzie beamed. “Yes! Look at it all! Isn’t the salon so cute now?” she gestured to the glittering and frilly decor she had put all over the salon. Stuffed animals, bows, glitter, tinsel, and pink paint littered the salon. Ciel frowned at the sight. 

“My mansion is so pink now…” he said. 

“From now on only the cutest things belong in the Phantomhive manor!” Lizzie declared. “Don’t you agree, Antoinette?” All eyes moved to Tanaka, whose head had been covered in a curly blond wig. Sebastian’s eyes showed the slightest bit of sympathy for Tanaka as he observed him. “Oh and I have a present for you too!” Elizabeth beamed as she threw a pink flowery bonnet on the butler’s head. “You’re always dressed in black so I thought this would be a nice change! What do you think?” 

Adelaide and the servants had to fully turn around to hide their laughter. Adelaide stared at the butler over her shoulder, thinking about how endearing it was to see him be kind to the young lady. She saw the butler glaring over at the servants, trying to mask the harshness in his eyes when looking at Adelaide and just sending her a weary look. The servants all straightened up and stood at attention. 

Sebastian smiled and bowed to the young lady “I am deeply honored that you would go to such length for a humble servant, Lady Elizabeth. Your generosity is overwhelming,” he said with a plastered-on smile. 

As Ciel questioned the lady about how she came to be at the manor, Adelaide approached Sebastian. The bell around her neck jingled as she approached, causing her to groan in exasperation. 

“Monsieur Sebastian,” she began, gesturing for him to bend down so she could whisper in his ear. The butler fought the blush that rose to his cheeks at seeing her in the cat accessories and bent to her level.  “Who is the young lady? All the servants and I have been going along with her antics, but we haven’t the faintest who she is to the master.” 

Sebastian smirked at the opportunity that presented itself. He whispered in her ear “She is the master’s fiancee. By the way, I absolutely adore cats.” The seductive tone in his voice combined with the heat of his breath caused Adelaide to flush pink up to her ears and back away. 

“So what is the young lady’s name?” she asked, trying to put the conversation back on track. 

“Ah, she is the daughter of the Marquess of Scotney, Lady Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford of Scotney, the master’s fiancee,” Sebastian said, straightening his tie. 

All the servants popped up in shock. “The master is marrying her?” Bardroy growled out. 

“Is that a problem?” Sebastian asked. “Nobles marry other nobles.”

Elizabeth spun around in her dress. “I know! Now that the manor is so prettily decorated, we should hold a ball tonight!” She strutted over to Ciel, despite his apparent displeasure and protests. “You can be my escort and we can dance around all evening,” she spun the earl around before hugging him. “You’ll wear the clothes I selected for you right? Pretty please? You’ll look so dashing, I promise!” Ciel began to protest before the lady turned away, “And of course I’ll be dressed up too!” the lady ran up to Adelaide and grabbed her arm. “And you come with me! I want to make you even cuter than you already are!” 

“Pardon? Ah!” Adelaide protested before she was pulled away by the curly haired blonde, Sebastian trying to suppress the snarl that was forming in his chest at his mate being taken away from him. 

-

In one of the guest suites, Elizabeth had Adelaide sat in front of her as she brushed her hair. 

“So tell me, miss governess, what brought you to the Phantomhive manor?” she asked. 

“Pardon? I don’t believe I understand…” Adelaide asked. “I simply work for the earl tutoring him in French and other subjects…” she tried to mask her discomfort and the probing questions she could feel coming. 

“I’m not as dense as I seem to be, you know?” Elizabeth said, holding some bows up to Adelaide’s hair to see how they would look. “No noble in their right mind would hire such a strange staff unless there were ulterior motives. I know Ciel’s business is difficult, the staff must be exceptional. So what makes you exceptional?” 

“I truly am not, my lady,” Adelaide said, tolerating the poofy white bows that Lizzie was putting on her cat ears. “Lord Phantomhive welcomed my brother and me in out of kindness, nothing more.” 

Lizzie hummed, putting some flowers in her hair. “If you insist, miss governess,” she said. “Now let’s get you dressed! Sebastian is most smitten with you, we must make you cute to draw his eye!” she declared while clapping her hands together.
“Oh I believe you are mistaken, mademoiselle,” Adelaide said. “Sebastian is not interested in me in that way.” 

“With how pale your skin is white would wash you out,” Elizabeth said, ignoring Adelaide’s comments. “I think some green would look excellent on you and bring out your eyes. Oh, I just know Sebastian is going to fall for you!” 

Before she knew it, Adelaide was swept away by the girl and shoved into a frilly moss-green dress with ruffled sleeves and bows on the bodice. She could not escape the cat accessories either. Elizabeth insisted they made her “cuter”. She just knew that Sebastian would laugh at her that night. 

-

“I just know Ciel will look dashing when he appears,” Elizabeth prattled on to Mey-Rin and Adelaide. “Blue is his color, it brings out his eyes so well.” Lizzie was dressed in a crimson evening gown with pink accents and lace trimming. When Ciel appeared, telling her to leave the women alone, she dashed over to him, gushing about how adorable he looked. She spun the boy around in circles. When she ceased the spinning and gushing she developed a murderous look on her face. “Ciel… where is the ring I bought you?”

“The ring I already have is fine,” Ciel said, ignoring her. 

“But the ring I bought matches your outfit perfectly! This one isn’t cute at all! I just want everything to be perfect…” she trailed off. 

“That’s not it… Lizzie this ring is-” Ciel started before Elizabeth snatched the ring off his finger. 

“Hah! Fooled you! It’s mine now!” Lizzie declared. 

“My lady you should give that back…” Adelaide began. 

“Give it back Elizabeth,” Ciel snapped. “Now.” 

“Why is everyone so protective of this ring?” Elizabeth asked. “It’s far too big for you… You’re ruining our evening! Take it!” she threw the ring on the ground, shattering the stone and separating it from the band. 

Ciel was overcome with anger at the sight and dashed forward, arm raised to hit the young lady. Adelaide rushed forward and blocked the girl from getting struck while Sebastian grabbed the boy’s arm in an attempt to calm the situation. 

“Master,” Sebastian began, a stern look on his face. “You forgot your walking stick that we went to so much trouble to get today.” Ciel panted in anger, trying to ground himself as his fiancee trembled in front of him. Sebastian put the walking stick in the boy’s hand and approached his mate and the young lady she was guarding. Adelaide stuck her arm out to protect the sniffling girl. Sebastian put a hand on his heart before explaining the situation to Elizabeth. “Forgive my master, Lady Elizabeth, but that ring was a precious heirloom passed down to the head of the Phantomhive household. He has grown quite attached to it, so please try to understand why he was so upset.” 

Elizabeth gasped. “It was that important? And I destroyed it?” Ciel picked up the remnants of the ring and approached an open window in the ballroom. “Ciel please I didn’t know-” Lizzie began before gasping as he threw the ring out the window. Elizabeth dashed over to the window. “What are you doing?” she asked in shock. 

“It was nothing but an old ring after all,” Ciel said. “It does not change the fact that I am head of the household.” As Ciel declared this with pride, Sebastian smirked at the boy. Ciel turned to his sniveling fiancee “How long are you going to cry?” 

“I-I’m sorry-” Lizzie said, meeting his eyes. 

“Your face is a mess, completely unsuited for a lady,” Ciel said, wiping her tears with a handkerchief. “How can I ask a lady with tears in her eyes to dance?” 

The lady’s eyes widened in surprise. “To dance?” As she asked that, violin music began to play, courtesy of Grell. 

“So then we are in agreement to forget our worries and dance the night away?” Ciel asked his future wife. The lady beamed and nodded. 

As the two teens spun around the room, Sebastian approached Adelaide and bowed at the waist with an extended hand. “Lady DuPont, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?”

“Ah umm…” she started. “I am not a good dancer. I may have attended balls, but I did so for social climbing…” she explained. 

“Ah it is lucky for you then that I am one hell of a dance leader,” Sebastian said. “Please do me the honor of leading you on the dance floor.”

Adelaide sighed but took his hand. “Just this once,” she said. “It is humiliating enough to be forced into this garb.” 

“Yet you still look lovely,” Sebastian said as he began to lead her in a waltz. 

“Do not lie to me, demon, I know you mock me,” she said to him with a glare. 

“I do not lie, my lady,” the butler said. “I told you earlier, I do so love cats.” He took a hand off her waist to poke the bell on her neck, causing her to blush.
“That is quite enough,” she said, eyeing Lizzie’s beaming expression as she watched the two of them. “You should use your powers to fix the ring.”

“I already planned on it, my lady,” he said. “My master cannot go without his status symbol.” 

Adelaide nodded. “Another thing,” she said. “Is Grell a bit... Peculiar to you? As if they are not… human?” 

Sebastian nodded. “I had noticed as well,” he said. “I will investigate it, do not worry. You are safe here. Which reminds me…” he reached into his breast pocket as the song ended. All eyes were glued on the pair as he brought out a gift box and opened it. He pulled out a black chain with a shining black feather pendant on it. “A gift,” he said, handing it to her. 

Adelaide could feel the sparkling eyes of the audience and began to think critically. She had questions, but could not ask in the silence. “Put it on for me?” she asked, turning her back to the demon. 

He placed the chain around her neck and she whispered in French, “À quoi ça sert?” 

“Cela te protégera quand je ne pourrai pas être là. Il est imprégné de mon énergie,” he responded in an equally hushed tone. 

Adelaide looked at the demon quizzically as he pulled away. “Merci beaucoup,” she said as Lizzie ran up to her and hugged her, gushing about how romantic the scenario was. 

All in all, it was a disastrous evening in the Phantomhive house.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4 - His Mate, Fickle: Part One

A horse-drawn carriage pulled into the front of a stately estate as Ciel, Sebastian, and Adelaide arrived at the Phantomhive manor house in London. 

“I hate this,” Adelaide said. “There are far too many people in London.” 

“I agree,” Ciel said. “They migrate en masse during the season like birds.” 

“Respectfully, my lord, why was I required to accompany you?” Adelaide asked. “I am your governess, I will be no help on this case.” 

“You are here to assist Sebastian,” Ciel said. “Both of you are connected to the supernatural. You both may be required if there is a supernatural element to this case.”

“Think of it this way,” Sebastian said with a faux smile on his face. “It will be a nice change of pace. It will give us some peace and quiet.” 

“Peace and quiet do sound nice,” Ciel said as he ascended the stairs. 

As Sebastian opened the office door, a ghastly scene was revealed. The office was overturned, books stacked everywhere, linens and cups pulled out of cupboards, toys littering the furniture. At the center of it all was Lau, staring into a vase. Madam Red was in a cupboard, rummaging and talking about tea. 

The trio at the door stood dumbfounded and annoyed. “So much for peace and quiet,” Adelaide stated. “You’ll be lucky if you are not assaulted again by the madam,” she whispered to the demon. 

“Oh, that is what is on your mind?” Sebastian whispered back with a grin. “Feeling jealous, are we?” 

Adelaide scoffed, crossing her arms. “Not in the slightest. I’m worried for her health is all.” Truth be told, she did not know why Madam Red’s fascination with Sebastian bothered her so much. She sighed as she watched Ciel shout at the opium lord, his aunt, and the inept butler named Grell. 

“If you are here in London it can only mean one thing, my lord,” Lau stated. 

Madam Red smiled darkly. “The Queen’s Guard Dog must have a new scent to follow.”

-

Sebastian set the nobles up for tea as Adelaide busied herself with cleaning up the mess the madam and Lau had made. 

“He struck again,” Ciel said, sipping tea. “Another prostitute was found murdered in Whitechapel. The level of violence in these killings is far from normal.” 

“The most recent victim was a woman named Mary Ann Nichols. A special blade seems to have been used on her. She was torn up beyond recognition,” Sebastian stated grimly. 

“His distinctive style of killing has earned him the nickname Jack the Ripper,” Ciel stated sternly.

“A frightening name, isn’t it?” Lau asked rhetorically.

“The grotesque nature is why I am here earlier than expected. I hurried into the city to look into the cases myself,” the young earl responded. 

Lau set his teacup down with a smirk. “But are you sure you will be brave enough to stomach the crime scene? And it most certainly isn’t a place for a lady such as your governess.”

Ciel frowned. “What do you mean by that?”

Lau continued. “The sight of the dismembered body is probably more than enough to drive some men mad. The stench and sight will certainly be horrific as well,” Lau stood fluidly and made his way over to Ciel. “Are you and your governess prepared for such a thing? You are just a young boy and the governess is a lady,” he cupped the boy’s cheek tenderly. 

“I am the head of the Phantomhives. My service is to her majesty. By proxy, my staff’s service is as well. We are more than prepared. Do not ask such foolish questions,” Ciel said firmly with a glare. 

-

In the crowded streets of London, Ciel and his posse is found approaching the crime scene of the latest Jack the Ripper victim. Ciel, Sebastian, and Adelaide approach the alleyway from the crowd, drawing the eyes of one of the Scotland Yard members. He was younger, with red hair and a friendly smile. He leaned down to speak to Ciel. “Sorry, my boy. I’m afraid a crime scene is no place for a child. You should run along home now,” he said. 

Ciel stared up at him and bluntly said “I’m here to see the victim’s body.”

This shocked and angered the ginger man. “The body?! Surely you’re playing a joke!”

From the shadows came a voice calling to the ginger man. “Abberline!” The holder of the voice came forward, revealing a top hat and wrinkled face adorned with a stern mustache a sideburns. “Well if it isn’t the Lord of Phantomhive… what are you doing here?” 

The red-headed man, Abberline, turned to the mustached man, “You know this kid, sir?”

Ciel smirked deviously. “We’ve come to help, Sir Arthur. It seems your investigation is dragging a bit.” He held up the letter he received from the queen proudly. “You know who sent me, of course.” 

Both men stared at him in shock. Ciel took the opportunity to snatch the papers Abberline was holding from his hands. Adelaide looked at the papers over his shoulder. “It looks as though they have found no clues yet, my lord,” she said. 

Sir Arthur took the papers back from the boy and declared that Scotland Yard was fully capable of solving the case on their own. With that they left, heading to an associate who may have more information. 

-

As the group traveled in their carriage, Sebastian and Adelaide steered the horses. Sebastian, eyes still on the road ahead, asked his mate a question. 

“Are you wearing the pendant I gave you?” he asked. 

“Yes,” she responded, her tone laced with slight disgust. 

Sebastian smiled smugly. “Good, I’m glad to hear it.” While the pendant was for her protection, it also satisfied a need in the demon to have a claim on the human woman. She would now carry his aura with her at all times, signaling to all the other demons and entities that she was his. “It will help keep you safe. If you are ever in danger and cannot call for me, squeeze it and I will feel it.” 

“That’s creepy,” she said. “But I will keep a note of it, monsieur.” 

-

The group arrived at a morbidly decorated building. A large sign with the inscription of “undertaker” drew the eye to the skulls decorating the top of the shop. 

As everyone observed the building, Lau lifted his hands in confusion. “So… where are we?”

“It’s a funeral parlor run by an acquaintance of my lord’s,” Sebastian said, observing Adelaide out of the corner of his eye. The woman was standing halfway behind him, squinting at the door to the shop. She could feel something off about the building. It carried similar energy to Madam Red’s butler, but older and more intimidating. 

The group made their way into the shop, Ciel leading the charge. “If we are looking for answers this is the place to go.”

The shop was dark. The only light came from the open door and curtained windows. In the dim light, Adelaide could see the main area was lined with coffins and jars full of formaldehyde and body parts. An anatomical mannequin stood in a corner, watching the group enter. 

A menacing laugh came from the darkness. “Welcome. I thought I’d be seeing you before long,” a scratchy voice said. Lau, Grell, and Madam Red stood back to back, looking for the owner of the voice. Adelaide subconsciously gripped Sebastian’s sleeve, eyes wide and trying to see in the darkness. The demon internally purred at the gesture, his chest puffing a bit in pride.

Rattling like thunder came from the shadows as the voice continued to speak. A silver-haired man with long hair, black claw-like nails, and shining green eyes covered by bangs emerged from a coffin. “My lord it is so lovely to see you. Do I finally have the pleasure of fitting you for one of me coffins today?” the man, the Undertaker, asked as he revealed himself from the coffin. His long, black robes and hat were finally on display. Adelaide gripped Sebastian’s sleeve tighter as Lau, Madam Red, and Grell looked at the Undertaker in shock. 

“No that isn’t why I’m here,” Ciel began, bored. “I wanted to-” before he was cut off by the Undertaker with a hand on his cheek. 

“No need, I’m already fully aware,” the Undertaker said. He lifted his head slightly and took in the sight of Adelaide, who was half behind Sebastian and squinting at the Undertaker. The Undertaker’s already devious smile widened at the sight of her. “One of my recent customers was a bit unusual, shall we say? I helped make her beautiful again,” he said, smiling and moving his hands. 

“I would like the details, please,” Ciel said plainly. 

Lau piped up from his position. “I see. So the funeral parlor is just a cover business. So how much is it for information?” he asked, hands on his hips. 

The Undertaker bolted over to Lau and got into his face, making Lau bend backwards to keep space between them. “I have no need for the Queen’s coins!” he declared. “There is only one thing that I want from you!” he turned to Ciel, practically drooling. “Please my lord. Give it to me and I’ll tell you anything!” 

Adelaide looked on, eyes wide, ready to step in and help the boy. Sebastian held her back, however, and pointed out Ciel’s expression. The boy looked exasperated. He was not afraid of the man or uncomfortable at all. 

“Just give me the gift of true laughter!” the Undertaker proclaimed. “Just one joke and all me information is yours!” the man (being?) panted and writhed around in his place. 

“Cet homme est un fou…” Adelaide mumbled under her breath. 

Lau, with a completely serious face, spoke up again. “Leave it to me, my lord. Here is my joke,” he lifted his head. “It is a classic. On which side does a tiger have the most stripes? On the outside,” he smiled, proud of himself, and turned to the Undertaker. “Get it?”

When everyone stayed silent, Madam Red stepped forward with determination. “My turn,” she announced. “I live for gossip,” she began. “This story will make you laugh so hard you may die! So Alice’s beau gave her the most extraordinary dildo for her birthday,” she said with no shame. Adelaide blushed down to her neck and covered Ciel’s ears. Sebastian, smirking, covered Adelaide’s so she would not be uncomfortable. “It was sooo wide and thick with thick veins running down the side, all the way down the shaft-” she was cut off by Adelaide when she glared at the woman and pointedly looked at Ciel. 

“Now my lord it seems you’re the only one left… I gave you a discount last time but I will not be so generous this time,” the Undertaker said, making Ciel snarl in frustration. 

“It cannot be helped,” Sebastian said, stepping forward. “Everyone please wait outside. And do not try to listen in,” he glared at the people behind him. 

While the nobles and Grell put up no fight, Adelaide refused. The door shut and she glared at the demon. “I am not leaving,” she said firmly. Truthfully, she did not know why she was determined to stay. She didn’t want to hear the joke. She just didn’t feel comfortable leaving Sebastian in there. 

“Miss DuPont, this is not something you should hear,” Sebastian said, furrowing his brows at the woman. 

“I do not care,” she said. “I am staying right here.”

“Miss DuPont I insist that you-”

“I said no. I am not leaving,” she crossed her arms and tapped her foot. 

The Undertaker laughed, not loud enough for those outside to hear, but he laughed. 

“Has the butler found someone to go toe-to-toe with?” the Undertaker asked. 

Adelaide pointed at him. “You laughed. I don’t know what you are, but you are not human. You have to answer our lord’s questions now and let us leave.”

“I will answer your questions first,” the Undertaker said, grinning. “I can see that you have many.”

Adelaide paused in her stubbornness. “What?” 

“Just ask,” the Undertaker said. “And then let the butler tell his joke so I can answer the earl’s questions.”

Adelaide thought for a moment. This being was not human and he was offering answers. What if he knew what happened that night to her parents? What if he knew why she and Luca were spared? “What caused the fire that killed my parents?” she asked. 

“Can’t answer that, sorry!” the Underaker giggled, eating a bone biscuit while lounging on a coffin. 

“But-” she began but he cut her off.
“I can see many things in people’s lives, but not in yours. Your soul is not of the human realm, I can’t see what is not human,” he explained. 

“What do you mean? I’m not human?” she asked. 

“Nope. You’re closer to the butler than to human,” he said. 

Adelaide stumbled backwards, causing Sebastian to steady her and set her on a coffin to sit. She stared at the ground, feeling ill. Her soul did not belong to the human realm. 

-

After Sebastian had made the Undertaker laugh and the nobles and Grell had come back in, the Undertaker began to tell Ciel what had been happening with his latest clientele. The nobles we sat drinking tea out of beakers, Sebastian stood guard over the stunned Adelaide. “I’ve been receiving clients who are incomplete, you see?” he stated. He walked over the Adelaide, who was still in a slight daze, and used her as a prop. He pointed to her abdomen. “The uterus is missing, which is quite odd,” he said. Sebastian gave him a glare, a warning, but the Undertaker just spun off with a smile. He grabbed his model, staring at it. “He always makes a big mess of the body, but the uterus is always cleanly cut out.”

“He does these killings on the road though,” Sebastian said. “Wouldn’t someone inexperienced have a hard time completing a difficult procedure quickly enough?” 

The Undertaker smiled wider and turned around. “You’re a clever butler,” he said. “That is what I was thinking.” He walked over to Adelaide again and put a hand on her shoulder. She stiffened and glanced up at him as Sebastian contained a growl that was building in his chest. “First he slits her throat with a sharp weapon,” he said,  drawing his finger across her neck. “Then he rips into them right here,” he put his finger on her lower abdomen. Sebastian’s eyes began to glow menacingly as he clenched his fists. “And he takes that precious womanly part,” he concluded while poking her cheek. Sebastian put his hands on her shoulders and glared at the silver-haired man. “There will be more slain, I am sure,” he said. “Killers like him don’t stop until someone makes them stop.”

Adelaide watched the man as he talked to Ciel with critical eyes before looking at Grell. Their energy was similar, she was certain of it. Why would creatures like them take on such mundane jobs? She felt as if there were ulterior motives to their presence in the case.

Chapter Text

Chapter 5 - His Mate, Fickle: Part Two

Back in the carriage, the group discussed the possible killers. Grell drove the horses while Adelaide, Sebastian, Ciel, Lau, and Madam Red sat inside the carriage. 

“Firstly, we need to narrow the field down. Based on the motifs of the killer, we need to look for the necessary skill sets and alibis. The removal of organs might suggest ritualistic killings, so it would benefit us to look into secret societies,” Adelaide explained. 

Madam Red blurted out in frustration, “As if that narrows down the field? Even I possess the medical skills necessary to accomplish the killings. Additionally, the season is ending soon and any doctors traveling with nobles will be leaving soon.” 

Adelaide tilted her head. “That simply means we must move quickly, madame.” 

Lau sweated nervously and muttered, “Impossible.”

Sebastian smirked. “I should be able to do this much at least,” he said deviously. “What kind of butler would I be if I could not accomplish this?” He leaned forward towards Ciel with a grin. “I’ll begin making up a list of viable suspects and begin questioning them posthaste for you, my lord.” He knelt on the floor of the carriage and opened the door with a slam, making Adelaide gasp and move away from the door. 

“He’s insane…” she said, looking at the gaping Madam Red and Lau. 

-

By the time the group arrived back at the London house, Sebastian was there waiting, bowed at the waist. Adelaide sighed and mumbled “le vantard,” under her breath. Sebastian smiled at her cockily.

“Welcome back everyone, I have eagerly awaited your return,” he said while rising to his full height. “Afternoon tea is ready for you in the drawing-room,” he continued as he took his master’s hat. 

While Madam Red, Lau, and Grell stood in the doorway in shock, Adelaide led Ciel to the stairs. “I have narrowed the list down to one possible suspect,” Sebastian explained. 

The group congregated in the office where they sat as Sebastian explained the suspect he had landed on. “The Viscount Druitt, also known as Alistair Chambers graduated from medical school but never went into practice,” he explained, adjusting a pair of glasses on his face. “Lately he has thrown many parties at his home. Behind the scenes of those parties are gatherings only his intimate friends may attend.” 

Madam Red lifted her eyes, her red-painted lips smiling as gossip fell from her mouth. “I’ve heard that he is into black magic and the occult,” she said, her red lips smirking. 

Ciel, intrigued, suggested that the killings were rituals that the parties would celebrate and honor. 

“So we need to infiltrate a party. How do we do that?” Lau asked. “The butler said that only the viscount’s intimate circle gets into those soirees.”

Madam Red chuckled. “This is why gossip is so valuable, my dear,” she said. “I’ve heard that Viscount Druitt has eyes for pretty, young things in skirts. And luckily, my nephew brought one of those with him to London.” 

Adelaide looked up from her papers with wide eyes. “Non, non, I cannot,” she said. 

Madam Red smiled. “Oh, I’ve always wanted a girl! I’ll make you even more beautiful!” she grabbed Adelaide up. 

“Not again…” Adelaide whined. 

-

The group piled back into the carriage that evening. The group was dressed strangely. Ciel was in a blonde wig and round glasses. Sebastian was in a salmon cravet and glasses that hung on a chain around his neck. Adelaide was in a sage green gown with her hair done in an intricate bun. Madam Red was dressed in a typical red gown and a large, floppy hat. As the carriage pulled into the drive of a stately white mansion, Lau, dressed in a suit and tie, asked, “You suspect that he is holding these parties to perform ritualistic sacrifices of the local prostitutes?”

Adelaide sighed as she was helped out of the carriage by a worker. Ciel from inside the carriage said, “This is the last party of the season, which means it is our last chance to catch him.”

-

“First thing’s first, we need to locate this murderous viscount,” Sebastian said, leading Adelaide around the ballroom. 

“Tell me why you must act as my suitor, again?” she asked. 

“Why else would a man my age accompany a lady of marrying age to a party?” he asked, smirking. “Besides, I think society would find us to be a lovely couple.” 

“Ugh if you say so,” she responded. “There are far too many people here. How do you expect me to find this man?” She trudged off to the balcony, arms crossed and listening to the conversations of the wallflowers. 

A lady in a poofy, lavender gown inside the ballroom began gushing over the Viscount. She sang his praises as they looked at him conversing with the men. Adelaide peeked her head in and took in the blonde man with a white suit. 

“So that’s the viscount, oui?” she began to make her way over to the man when a waltz began to play. The partygoers started to dance around the ballroom causing Adelaide to sigh dramatically. “How can we get close to him?” she asked. 

Sebastian smirked down at his mate. “Well there is one way,” he started and leaned down to her height, looking into her eyes. “We could dance our way over to him.” 

“You expect me to dance with you in public?” she asked, appalled. 

“We danced at the ball that Lady Elizabeth organized,” he said. “This is no different, now come along,” he led her out to the dance floor. He spun her around the dance floor dramatically, showing off for the other partygoers, until Adelaide was exhausted and drooping like a wilted flower. 

The duo looked up as clapping interrupted Adelaide’s wilting. Standing before them was the viscount they had been searching for. 

“Your dancing was exquisite! Like a lovely little finch, my sweet lady,” he said. 

Sebastian leaned down to Adelaide’s height, “My dear, allow me to fetch you something to drink,” he said before taking his leave. It was up to Adelaide now to get into the party. 

Adelaide put on her best high society mask and curtseyed to the viscount, her sage gown lifting with her pinch. 

“It is lovely to finally meet you, Viscount Druitt,” she said with her best annunciation. 

“I hope you have been enjoying the party, little finch,” he said while kissing the back of her hand. 

Adelaide, attempting to mask her discomfort, smiled at the man through gritted teeth. “It is certainly an entertaining party, but I have been dying to speak with you all evening.” 

The viscount smirked, his eyes hooded. “Oh is that so?” he asked. 

“You see, I’m simply bored to death of eating and dancing, and don’t get me started on socializing,” she said, mock pouting. 

The viscount stepped forward and wrapped an arm around her waist. “My how spoiled you are,” he said, his fingers dancing on her waist. “Are you looking for something more entertaining?” 

Adelaide fought the skin-crawling shiver that ran up her spine. She was downright repulsed by this man touching her. From the sidelines, Sebastian was biting his cheek so hard it bled. It was all he could do to keep from ripping out the viscount’s throat. 

Adelaide forced a smile up at the viscount, “You know of something more amusing?” she asked, flirtily. 

The viscount grabbed her chin, “Why of course. And I’d be happy to show them to you, my sweet little finch.” 

Sebastian waged a war on himself internally. His master had ordered him to stand down, but his instincts told him to kill the human worm touching his mate. Adelaide kept glancing at him, her heart telling her to call out to him. But the viscount simply took her chin back, demanding her attention, before leading her away from the crowded ballroom and into a dark curtained section of the mansion. 

He opened a door to a hazy room. It was dark, dark enough that Adelaide’s eyes had to fight to adjust. “We’re going somewhere I’m sure you’ll find very fun,” he said. 

A smell began to overtake her senses. She stumbled against a wall in the room, fighting to stay standing before her mind was overtaken with black. 

-

When Adelaide opened her eyes again, she was cold. That was the first thing she noticed. The next thing she noticed was that she couldn’t see. Her eyes were covered and her hands were bound behind her back. A gag was in her mouth, only letting her make squeaks and whimpers. She heard a voice pipe up from next to her ear. 

“Tonight’s crown jewel! She’s got a unique hair color and the hair is long. She’s a bit thin but you can always fatten her up. She has a birthmark on the back of her neck but to the smart collector that will only add to her uniqueness. It can be something only you know about,” she heard Viscount Druitt’s voice explain. He was talking about her. But she did not remember having a birthmark. “She is mature physically, as you can see, but I believe she is still pure of virtue. That is something you can judge for yourselves.” That is when it dawned on her. She was almost nude in front of these people. Only her corset and bloomers remained on her body. She began to fight against the restraints as numbers were shouted out. 

After what was merely seconds but felt like hours, she heard screams and whistling wind. “Where did the candlelight go?!” she heard someone shout as a loud growl was heard echoing in the room. She was scooped up into a tight embrace and she felt feathers stroke her skin. Gentle yet firm fingers removed the mask from her face and the gag from her mouth. 

“Adelaide,” a voice said. She opened her eyes to see Sebastian. His eyes swirled red and gold and fangs peeked from his lips. His voice was gravely and cruel as he pulled her closer. Feathers, no wings, were protruding from his back and cocooning them in midnight. “We should take our leave before Scotland Yard arrives,” he said. 

Adelaide simply nodded and he leapt out the window. 

-

When they arrived back at the London house, Sebastian isolated Adelaide to himself. He allowed her privacy to bathe, but he took it upon himself to brush her hair and help her prepare for bed. This was almost the typical night ritual with them, but he was silent this evening. There were no teasing remarks or flirtatious advances. There was no banter about work. There was only comfort, for both parties. 

Adelaide needed normalcy. She needed calm and care. Sebastian needed the closeness. He needed the intimacy. 

Adelaide didn’t know that he would watch her sleep that evening. He would watch her fitfully try to fight off the nightmares that would emerge, helpless to stop them. Neither of them knew that come morning, Jack the Ripper would have stuck again. All that suffering would have been for nothing.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6 - His Mate, Risk

After Ciel should have already been asleep late in the evening, Adelaide and Sebastian entered Ciel’s bedroom. 

“Well?” he asked them. Sebastian flipped through a stack of papers and Adelaide looked over his shoulder. 

“No matter how we look at it, the results are the same. The murder could not have been completed by the viscount,” Sebastian said. 

“None of the party-goers could have done it either,” Adelaide said, looking at Ciel out of the side of her eye. “No human can move that fast.”

Ciel looked up with a critical eye, “Sebastian, you did it,” he said. 

“Of course not, my lord and I never lie,” he said. “However, no human fits the profile except for Viscount Druitt.”

Ciel snarled at the demon. “You know more than you are letting on, don’t you?” he asked. 

Sebastian smiled. “I am simply one hell of a butler, my lord. You need only say the words and I can become a pawn or a knight. I guard the king and the queen, no matter what. Now master, move me into check,” he said, throwing the papers to the wind. 

-

Standing in the dark shadows of midnight, Ciel, Sebastian, and Adelaide stood staking out an alley. 

Ciel, disguised as a pauper, leaned against the wall. “He’ll show if we stake out this place, right?” he asked. Adelaide nodded, pulling her coat around herself tighter. 

“I’ve realized some similarities between the murdered prostitutes other than their profession,” Ciel said. 

“The most beautiful, glossy black hair,” Sebastian muttered. 

“But I still do not understand why he had to kill them all,” Ciel said, staring at the ground. 

“So very lovable… it should be considered a sin,” Sebastian said. Adelaide glared at him, some sort of feeling scratching at her chest. 

“And what’s more-” Ciel said before Sebastian cut him off. 

“So soft… ah, so soft,” Sebastian said. Ciel grit his teeth before shouting at the demon.

“Listen to me when I am talking to you!” he shouted, noticing his butler cradling a black cat. 

Sebastian looked up at his master, “Ah, sorry sir. But she is so beautiful. And soft,” he said. Adelaide glared at him and the cat. 

“Drop the cat,” she said as a scream tore through the night. Adelaide gasped and looked in the direction of the scream.

“How could somebody have gotten past us?” Ciel asked as the trio ran towards a door. Ciel threw the door open as blood splattered onto his cheek. Adelaide pulled the boy backward as they took in the sight of a woman, lying dead on the ground. Her hair pooled around her, stuck in the blood on the floor. Her eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, no life shined in them. Sebastian grabbed ahold of Adelaide, covering her eyes with his hand. He pulled her away with a leap as she held onto Ciel. Adelaide and Ciel twitched in shock. Fear and disgust mingled together in their systems, causing them to gasp and huff as Sebastian held them. Sebastian held his mate to his body as she guarded his master. He hoped their soul bond would calm the woman’s nerves. 

“You have made quite a mess in there, Jack the Ripper,” Sebastian said, glaring into the dark doorway. “Or should I say Grell Sutcliffe.” 

Grell emerged from the shadows, blood coating their body in splatters like paint. They reached out, the white gloved hand reaching forward towards the trio. “No, you have it wrong,” they began, “I… I heard the scream and I rushed to help but…” Blood continued to drip from Grell onto the cobblestoned alleyway. 

“You can drop the innocent act,” Sebastian said cruelly. “You know… I believe this is the first time I have met someone like you in the human realm. You played the helpless butler well. You almost had everyone fooled,” he looked pointedly at his mate. 

Rain fell onto the alleyway, washing the blood off of Grell’s face as they looked up with a carnal grin. Shark-like teeth filled their mouth. “You think so? How kind!” they said. Grell pulled the ribbon from their hair and removed their glasses. “That is great to hear. After all, I am an actress,” Grell said. “And quite a good one at that,” they ran a comb through their hair and it turned into a scarlett red. “You are not really “Sebastian” either are you?”

Sebastian pulled his mate and master behind him, “Sebastian is the name my master gave me,” he responded. “So that is who I am for now.” 

The now red-haired woman put red glasses onto her face and pushed them up her nose. Ornate skulls decorated the chain on the lenses. “I see, you are playing the faithful dog. You are handsome enough to get away with it,” she said. “Anyway, here we are Sebastian. No, I’ll call you Bassy,” she said, causing Adelaide to involuntarily shiver in disgust. “Let me introduce myself, the Burnett Butler Grell Sutcliffe. What do you say? Let’s get along!” she blew the butler a kiss, making Sebastian shiver in disgust. Though Adelaide could not see the gesture, she could feel it and glared. 

“Ah it’s so nice to talk to you in my true form!” Grell proclaimed. She bent at the waist. “I admit, I was surprised when I first met you. I’ve never seen a demon playing a butler!” 

“I could say the same about you,” Sebastian said. “I never thought I’d find one of your kind playing a butler, either. You are meant to be an intermediary between man and God. A grim reaper… Why would a divine being pretend to be a servant?” 

The reaper smiled. “Why indeed. For now why don’t we say it was out of love for a woman.” 

Ciel lifted his head, eyes still covered by Adelaide. Sebastian’s glare darkened, his thoughts wandering. “And that woman would be?”

“You don’t need to ask that, now do you?” a familiar voice came from the dark, bloodstained room. Ciel frowned behind Adelaide’s hand, removing her hand from his eyes as red boots stepped out of the room. Ciel stepped out from behind his butler.

“Madam,” he addressed her. Madam Red smirked with a scoff. 

“Well, I hadn’t counted on this…” she said. “I didn’t think anybody would be able to see who Grell truly was. To think my nephew, his butler, and the governess…” she trailed off. 

Ciel wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Naturally you were on the suspect list. But all your alibis seemed spotless,” he said. 

Madam Red’s eyebrows furrowed together in sadness. “You mean you suspected your own aunt?” she asked. 

Ciel glared at the woman. “Degree of relation was of no concern,” he said. “I was looking for a murderer. No human could have committed all the murders. I began to look into what else the victims had in common other than prostitution. All the victims had undergone a certain surgery at the hospital where you work. We made a list of all the patients,” he said as he pulled a paper from his vest, “The only one still alive went by the name Mary Kelly. We knew if we waited around her you would come for her eventually. Unfortunately, though, we were too late,” he explained, presenting the unfolded paper to the red duo. 

Madam Red frowned at the boy. “My darling nephew. How unfortunate this all turned out. If you had let it go, we could have played chess again,” she said. She clenched her fists, causing Adelaide to pull the boy backward and away from the woman’s rage. “But now… you’ve taken everything!” she screamed as a mechanical whirring started. A blade, rotating and spinning around, came hurtling towards Ciel and Adelaide, causing Sebastian to leap forward and stop the machine with his hands. Ciel gasped and stumbled backward, steadied by Adelaide who was pale with fear. Sebastian shoved the blade and the reaper away from his prey and mate and blocked them from view with his body. 

“What… is that thing?” Adelaide asked, voice shaking. Sebastian looked back at her, his gaze intense and guarded. 

“Grim reapers use tools to harvest souls,” he explained. “That is her reaper’s scythe.” Grell grinned and then pouted. 

“Don’t call it that! This is so much more than a scythe! I worked so hard to customize it!” she shouted, lifting the machine near her face. “This is a special death scythe of my own design! It can hack anyone into tiny pieces!” she spun around, showing off theatrically. “I’ve been far too well-behaved. I’m getting out of shape and would very much like to exercise my skills,” she wiggled and posed. “So shall we play?” she proposed to the demon butler, blowing another kiss. 

Sebastian’s eyebrow twitched in irritation. “Perhaps you could be more respectful of my position and culture? I am on duty after all. Additionally, you know the agreement between reapers and demons. Demons only bond with one soul, and you are not that soul,” he explained. 

“Oh, what a stoic and proper man you are!” Grell said, haphazardly waving her scythe around, causing Ciel and Adelaide to back away in caution and hide further behind the demon. “That makes you even more irresistible,” she said, lowering her scythe with a metallic clang. “You know, red is my favorite color. It is perfect for hair, clothes, lipstick… so I painted all those women with beautiful red blood. So Bassy, I will make you even better looking than you are. I will tear you up from the inside and I will make you like it!” she proclaimed with a wink, causing Sebastian to scoff and Adelaide to glare. “You’ll be as lovely as scattered rose petals!” 

“You’re a grim reaper,” Sebastian began. “Your job is to quietly harvest the souls of the dying,” he explained, ignoring Grell’s flirtations. He took off his heavy black coat and covered his master and mate in it, guarding them from the rain. “And as a butler, it is your job to follow your master like a shadow,” Adelaide glared up at the demon in protest of being coddled. He merely smiled at her tenderly. “You have violated both of these expectations. And quite frankly, I find it sickening,” he stated with a serious glare. 

Grell grinned. Her sharp, shark-like teeth glinted in the moonlight. “Bassy! You wound me. You know I am more deadly efficient than I seem,” she declared. 

Ciel reached up to his eyepatch. Adelaide watched him from the side as he lifted the patch, revealing the purple crest on his eye. “In my name and that of the queen, I order you Sebastian… end them.” 

Sebastian’s eyes shined in the dark as he bit his glove with a smirk, his fangs showing. “Yes, my young lord,” he said. 

—---- Everything, everything slipped away from me… —---

Grell’s scythe whirred and buzzed as it sliced at Sebastian. Sebastian dodged each strike, the intense glare never leaving his eyes. Grell was feral with excitement as she danced with Sebastian in a deadly battle. She pinned Sebastian against a wall, the scythe baring down on him and cutting his suit. Adelaide watched in horror, still standing under the coat with the young lord. Sebastian felt the contradicting forces at war within him. On one hand he needed to guard his lord and mate from Madam Red, on the other he needed to defeat the mad reaper. 

Madam Red, Angelina, looked at her nephew with melancholy in her gaze. “You’re still the queen’s guard dog…” she said. “Which means I am now your prey. But if it’s hunt or be hunted…” she trailed off, gritting her teeth and pulling a knife from her sleeve. “There’s only one thing I can do!” she shouted, charging towards Ciel. Adelaide gasped and pulled the boy behind her, receiving the cut instead of Ciel. She hissed in pain as Ceil grunted from the shove. Adelaide held her bleeding arm, covering the dripping wound with her hand. 

Sebastian gasped at the sight, the scent of his mate’s blood permeated the air. He felt his throat close up in panic. He held himself back from running forward and tearing the woman’s flesh from her bone. His instincts were at war inside of him as his master shouted at Angelina. 

Adelaide gritted her teeth in pain and yelled at the woman, “You’re a doctor! How could you cause harm to people?”

Angelina whirled around, waving her knife in the air. “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you! You’re too young! Ciel is just a child!” Angelina grabbed Ciel by the throat and Adelaide launched into action, trying to pry the woman off of the earl. Angelina threw Adelaide off of her, causing Adelaide to hit her head on the cobblestone. Angelina raised the knife to stab Ciel, screaming “You shouldn’t have ever been born!” 

Sebastian tore himself off the wall, being sliced by the death scythe in the process. His eye gleamed red as he launched to kill the madam. 

“Stop! Don’t kill her!” Ciel ordered. Sebastian stood in front of his master and wounded mate. With his body, he shielded his master while he knelt and helped Adelaide sit up. 

“What a prince you are, Bassy!” Grell proclaimed. “Sacrificing your limb to save the kid and woman.” Angelina dropped her weapon and backed away, appalled by what she had done. “On the other hand you are a disappointment, madam,” Grell continued, walking forward towards the woman. “Come on, hurry up and kill the brat already.”

Angelina wept, covering her eyes with her black-gloved hands. She looked up, trembling, and took in the sight of her nephew. “I loved my sister…” she began. “I loved her husband. I loved their child. I can’t… I can’t kill him. I can’t kill their beloved son,” she said.

Grell snarled in disgust. “Really, you’re getting soft on me all of a sudden? After all these deaths? If you don’t kill him, he’ll kill you!” Grell shouted as Ciel blinked up at his aunt. Adelaide stumbled to her feet, her head throbbing as she stood, watching the two red-haired women. 

“But... this boy… This child is my-” she shouted and turned toward Grell, only for the reaper to plunge her scythe into the madam’s chest. Adelaide shielded Ciel from the sight of his aunt being torn apart by grabbing him and turning him away. 

“It’s too late for that!” Grell said, shoving the madam off her scythe, “What use do I have for you if you are merely another woman!” 

Blood spewed from the chest wound as film poured out, showing the story of Angelina’s life.

—---- I got at least one thing back… —---

Chapter Text

Chapter 6 - His Mate, on the Sidelines

As the mad reaper watched the story of Madam Red’s life play in front of her, Sebastian busied himself caring for his mate. He wrapped her wound and ensured she was warm enough and shielded from the rain. 

As the reel of the film ended, Grell discarded her coat and stole Angelina’s red one. Adelaide reached out and shut Madam Red’s eyes gently. Ciel, voice riddled with melancholy, spoke to his butler. “What are you waiting for?” he asked. “I ordered you to put an end to Jack the Ripper,” he turned to face his butler. “One is still left. Stop doting on Adelaide and end them.” He ordered. 

Adelaide flushed and began to protest, but Sebastian stood with a smirk. “Certainly,” he said. 

Grell laughed from the end of the alleyway as Sebastian approached her. “I was going to spare you, professional courtesy and all that, but if you insist…” she trailed off, spinning around and flourishing her blade, “I’ll send you and the humans to heaven together!” 

Sebastian leapt backwards, smirking. “Heaven? You must be joking,” he snarked and flew to be behind her, causing her to gasp. 

“I know nothing of heaven,” he said, kicking towards Grell’s face.

The redhead dodged the kick. “You would kick a lady in the face!?” she shouted angrily. 

“My apologies,” Sebastian said, “You see I only really value one lady. I am simply one hell of a butler.” 

Grell gasped. “Who is she?!” she shouted. She pointed her scythe towards Adelaide. “Is it her?! She’s not even a real redhead! Her hair is more pink than red!” 

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed dangerously, his shadow stretching to hide his master and mate. “Leave her out of this. This battle is between you and me. And my master has ordered me to win, so I shall win.”

The two supernatural beings became locked in a battle that traversed the earth and the sky. Grell proclaimed her love for Sebastian throughout the battle as Adelaide and Ciel watched from the ground. Each utterance angered Sebastian more and caused him to up his aggression towards the reaper. “Oh, Bassy! I would bear your children if you would only let me!” she declared, thrashing about. On the ground, Adelaide glowered. 

“Please stop that. It is revolting,” Sebastian stated coldly. 

Grell leaped forward again, giving Sebastian more names and descriptors as she attacked. She glanced down to the ground, where Adelaide had busied herself comforting Ciel, and launched herself down. She purposely aimed toward Ciel, knowing Adelaide would position herself between them, and sliced into Adelaide’s stomach. 

When no records poured out, Grell backed away in fear. “It can’t be…” Adelaide held her stomach in agony but was still breathing and lucid. 

“I’ve been told… I am closer to demonic than to human…” she said as blood poured from her mouth. “I will survive this…”

Sebastian, eyes feral and filled with malice, leaped forward and wrapped his hand around the reaper’s throat. His voice boomed and echoed, “You dare attack my master and mate? You must be an idiot. You have violated the pact between demons and reapers by attacking a demon’s mate.” Claws protruded through his gloves and dug into the reaper’s pale flesh. 

As the redhead struggled for breath she thrashed and clawed at the demon. She gargled and pleaded with her eyes. Sebastian dropped her roughly on the ground, a foot in her chest. “Beg for your life,” he said, fangs protruding crudely from his lips. “Grovel and beg and I might spare your pitiful life and let the council deal with your punishment,” he said, pulling the death scythe from the ground and raising it to finish the job.

“No please!” Grell screamed. “Don’t kill me! I can tell you who killed the kid’s parents!” Sebastian merely lowered the scythe in a deadly strike. However, from a distance, a set of hedge shears came and pushed the scythe away. 

Stood on a pillar a bit away, a man in glasses and a nice suit stood, silhouetted by the moon. “Sorry to interrupt, I am William T. Spears. I am an administrator at the Grim Reaper Staffing Association. I have come to retrieve that reaper.” 

Grell lifted her head in joy, beaming, “William! Did you come to save me?” she shouted, only for William to use her head as a landing pad. He pulled out a notebook while still standing on Grell’s head. “Reaper Grell Sutcliffe, you have broken several regulations. First, you killed people not on the to-die list. Second, you used a modified scythe that had not been authorized. Third, you attacked and attempted to reap the soul of a demon’s mate. And finally, you offered classified information to someone,” he read from the book. As he concluded, he shut the notebook and it vanished. He leaped off of Grell’s head and bowed to Sebastian. “I apologize for all the trouble the wretch has caused,” he said, offering his business card to him. 

Sebastian glared at the reaper. He took the card from the bowing reaper. “I hope you are aware that a violation against the pact between demons and reapers is cause for execution. You are lucky I am an elder demon and not a freshly born one. I barely managed to contain myself. If you had not shown up I would have killed your underling, as they deserve.”

William sighs. “I never thought the day would come where I would lower my head to someone of your scum.”

“Then keep a better eye on your underlings so they do not bother us,” Sebastian spat. “Now see yourselves out, I must tend to my master and mate.”

-

Back at the manor, after tending to Ciel, Sebastian found himself watching Adelaide like a hawk. He would not leave her side. Even when she requested privacy to bathe he was right outside the door, listening for any sounds of discomfort or distress. 

He heard the splashes of her rising from the bath. He heard the rustling of her toweling herself off. He heard the hisses of pain when she attempted to dress. 

“Adelaide, do you require assistance?” he asked through the door. His voice had a hint of concern in it. It was stiff. 

“Ah no, I’ve got it,” she said. She pulled her nightdress on over her head and then emerged from the bathroom. Her pinkish hair dripped small droplets of water onto the floor. Her white nightdress draped down past her knees. Her bare toes scrunched on the carpet. “I… need some assistance with my wounds,” she said, embarrassed. “They have closed up, mostly, but they are still aching.” 

Sebastian’s eyes widened, his heart fluttering at the thought of caring for his mate. “Certainly, my lady,” he said, a hand on his chest. He offered her his arm and led her into her bedroom. He helped her sit on her bed, gently cupping her cheek. “You scared me, my lady.”

“It was not my fault,” Adelaide said. “J'avais peur…” 

Sebastian pulled her sleeve down to look at the wound on her arm. “Do you trust me, my lady?” he asked. 

“It’s not as if I can die,” she said, numb. “That was proven tonight.”

Sebastian sighed. “No, you cannot be killed. Your body will age and wither until it can no longer hold your soul. If you age to that point, you will be reborn again and again,” he explained. 

Adelaide glared at him. “You know what I am, don’t you?” she asked. “You called me your mate.”

“Because that is what you are,” he said, lifting her wounded arm to his lips, kissing the thin cut. She felt a tingling as the wound disappeared, leaving not even a scar. 

“But I am not,” she said, taking her arm away. “I never agreed to that.” 

“It is not something you agree or disagree with, my mate. It is what you are,” he said. 

“I don’t understand,” she said, shaking her head. 

“It is not something you should worry about right now,” he said, running his hand down her stomach. That same tingling spread over her stomach where Grell had sliced her. “Just know that I am not going anywhere. I will stay with you for eternity.”

“But I do not want that,” Adelaide said, standing from the bed and looking down at the demon. “Creatures have bothered me my whole life. Supernatural beings killed my family. I just want to be left alone.” 

Sebastian frowned as he began to brush out her hair. “That is not possible, my lady.”

Her head shot up to look at him sharply, moving the brush away, “And why not?”

The demon sighed. “I would prefer to wait to explain all of this to you. A time when you are more… rested.” 

Adelaide scoffed. “So you never intended to tell me? Are you waiting for me to fall madly in love with you so I go along with whatever you say?” 

Sebastian paused in his doting. He did not know what to say. That was his plan. He was waiting for the soul bond to kick in completely so he could woo her completely. 

Adelaide gaped at him. “Oh so that was the plan. How demonic. Even for a demon that is low.”

Sebastian frowned. “I did not want to scare you,” he said. “I wanted you comfortable before you learned the truth.”

“And what is the truth? Am I… supposed to be your wife?” she asked.

Sebastian sighed and knelt at her feet. “Yes, in a sense. Your soul was not created in the holy realm like most human souls. Your soul was created in Hell, born to tame a demonic soul.” 

Adelaide scoffed, turning her head so she wasn’t facing him, “Tame a demonic soul? Why would I need to tame a demon?”

Sebastian’s brow furrowed in annoyance, “Adelaide. This is not fun for me. It is not pleasant to talk to you when you are acting like a child.”

Adelaide turned her face back to him, glaring at him, “I am not acting like a child. I am acting like my whole life has been decided for me and I don’t even get to decide who I spend my life with.” 

Sebastian sighed again. “I apologize, Adelaide, but we cannot be separated anymore. Without me, you will be attacked by supernatural beings. Your soul attracts them because hurting a mate is a sure fire way to hurt a demon. Once we have found our mate we rarely let them go.”

Adelaide glared again. “You found me as a child though and left me. Then I was attacked. And I didn’t die because I was given some crazy soul. Then I was attacked again and again. You keep failing at protecting me, if that is your role you sincerely are not good at it.” 

Sebastian, irked, snapped back, “Most demons do not claim their mate and have a contract at the same time. We normally claim our mates outside of the time of our contracts. You appeared during my contract. Additionally,” he stood to his full height. “I took the contract so I could provide for you.” He scowled down at her. “I understand your emotions, as much as a demon like myself can, but you are only seeing your own suffering. Not the efforts of the creature you are bonded to.” He turned and left, leaving her alone with her thoughts for the night. 

-

A pristine church stands in London with horsedrawn carriages parked in the yard. Three young children run past, laughing and playing, but stop when they notice the crowd of people at the church. 

The children began to bicker about what was happening at the church and who should know what’s happening when the Undertaker butted in. 

“At only twelve it would be a shame if you did know what was happening,” he said. “Let me explain it. Today is a special noblewoman’s big day,” he said, glancing at the children and making them back away. 

Adelaide stepped out from behind him. “You’re frightening them,” she said, smiling gently at the children. The youngest child, a little girl, asked for the Undertaker to explain further, but Adelaide stepped in. 

“Let me put it like this. This is the ultimate ceremony of someone’s life. It’s when everyone who loves them gets together to remember all the good times in their life,” she explained, looking solemnly at the church. “But the celebrated person doesn’t get to be there.”

-

A time later, as the sun began to set, Ciel, Sebastian, and the Undertaker approached the grave of Mary Jane Kelly. Adelaide was stood there, a bouquet of white lilies in her hand. 

“It is quite kind of you to give her a proper grave, my lord,” she said as Ciel approached. “She was an immigrant like myself, so she had no family to claim her after her death.”

Ciel stood before the grave by Adelaide’s side, “This is not kind or noble,” he said. “The kind or noble thing would have been to save her. But I didn’t. I let her die along with my aunt so that I could catch Jack the Ripper.” 

The Undertaker leaned down to be level with Ciel, “Do you regret it, my lord?” he asked, grinning madly. 

“No I don’t,” Ciel declared. “Jack the Ripper is gone and I’ve done as Her Majesty commanded.”

“I am beginning to not like Queen Victoria,” Adelaide said. 

“She just sits back and watches others do her dirty work for her,” the Undertaker continued. 

“It is the duty of the Phantomhive family,” Ciel said bitterly. “Passed down through the generations.”

-

As night fell again on Phantomhive manor, the staff grew quiet as they slept and the master fell into a fitful slumber. Adelaide sat alone on her bed in her nightgown, her hair unbrushed and her brows furrowed in a scowl. She held the feather pendant Sebastian gave her in her hand and squeezed it. Why must she feel this way? Was it that stupid soul bond making her so antsy without his doting? 

-

In the hall, patrolling with a candlestick, Sebastian was on edge. Ever since he started giving his mate the cold shoulder days ago he had been unable to satisfy his instincts. His drive was to run up to Adelaide’s room and hold her close to him while rubbing his scent all over her body. However, before he was Sebastian he was Arthur and before Arthur he was Atticus and before Atticus he was Malphas and before he was Malphas he was Iason. He has watched and observed human kind for generations. The latest trend to spiting significant others was called “the silent treatment”, or ignoring them. It was driving him mad and he hoped that it was driving his mate mad as well. 

As he walked past the servants rooms, he could hear the slowed breathing and snores of all the servants. One room was different though. Adelaide’s breathing was not slowed, it was awake. Her heart rate was elevated as well. Her aura, which had been on edge for several days, was flaring and jolting with emotions. “ Ah, ” he thought to himself. “ So it is working. ” 

Adelaide slammed open the door, her emerald eyes fiery and angry. “I can fucking sense you through the door, connard ,” she snapped at him. “It’s creepy. But I have not been able to sleep since you stopped coming into my room.” 

Sebastian smirked, “That is a symptom of being a mate, being able to sense the other through the thread.” 

Her angry brow changed to a confused one before she sighed. “You will have to explain what you mean by thread at some point,” she said. “Can we please come to a common ground? I am exhausted with this pied de chat .” 

“I am as well, my mate, but I am not going to agree to leave you alone like you wish,” he said. 

“I… no longer wish for that,” she said, crossing her arms over her frill covered chest. “I just want space. And for you to understand that I am not going to go willingly. Understand that… I have a goal and I am not going to leap into your arms. I am not a damsel in love with you. I may never be in love with you.”

“I can change that,” Sebastian smirked. “Women often call me seductive.” 

Adelaide cringed, “Yeah no… I am not going to be persuaded,” she sighed. “Truce for now? Come brush my hair?” 

“Oui, ma dame ,” he said with a smile. A truce would work for the time being. Until the bond got stronger. 

Translation: connard - asshole ;  pied de chat - pussy footing ; ma dame - my lady

Chapter Text

Chapter 7 - His Mate, Leech
On a busy London street, Adelaide, Sebastian, and Ciel were glancing over Abberline’s shoulder at some paperwork.
“So all the victims had just returned home from India?” Ciel asked in a soft voice. The sudden appearance caused Abberline to jump slightly.
“Oh, you’re here?” he asked in surprise.
Adelaide tilted her head, looking at the almost nude men who were hanging above the street. “The perpetrator has yet to kill anyone, though,” she remarked. Sebastian covered her eyes with his hand while glowering. Ciel continued to snatch and look at the detectives’ notes.
“It is improper for a lady to look at men in such a way, my mate,” Sebastian whispered in her ear. She swatted him away, peeling his hand off her eyes.
“And you are purely lecherous for thinking I would look at them in such a way,” she said. “I am not interested in the nobles.”
“Oh? Who are you interested in then?” he purred.
She scoffed, crossing her arms in indignation. “No one. Only someone truly blessed could treat me right,” she stated before strutting away with Ciel.
-
As the trio walked through the poorer side of the city near the docks, they took in the sights of the people sitting on the streets. Adelaide frowned at each person in pity, remembering her and Luca’s days of sleeping in the open. As she walked, she bumped into a person with a beige hood on their head. She looked up to apologize, “Oh, excusez-moi, pardon me-” but she was cut off by a gruff, heavily accented voice.
“You bitch, you cracked my rib! I may die from this,” he shouted, drawing a crowd of onlookers.
“What a horrible injury! She should pay you back for it,” one said, “With soft hair like that and male company, she is bound to have money,”.
She scowled coldly, “I can do without the insults to my character, thank you very much,” she said before Sebastian stepped forward, putting her behind him.
“What a cliche bunch of thugs we seem to have run into,” he said, cracking his knuckles. “Master, should I handle this?” he asked Ciel.
Ciel sighed, “Yes, make it quick,” he said before the lead man reached for him and pulled him by the collar.
“Listen, boy, you are outnumbered. Everyone within a mile of here hates you English dogs and your bitches,” he holds a knife up to Ciel’s cheek as Sebastian pushes him back with a flick of his fingers. Adelaide grabs Ciel and begins looking him over.
“Did he hurt you at all, jeune maître?” she asks.
“He did not,” Ciel responds, holding his head up high. As Sebastian comes back over, taking a visual inventory of his mate and master and making sure they are unharmed, the leader sits up and flings insults at the group.
“You brat. You take over our country, drag us here, and treat us like trash. How about I show you the humiliation of being robbed!?” He raises his knife but is interrupted by a loud, obstinatious voice booming over their shouts.
“Excuse me. I’m looking for this Indian woman. Perhaps you folks have seen her around here?” the voice asks. Though not shouting, somehow he commands the attention of everyone in the huddle. His violet hair and tanned skin contrasted with his beige, gem-embellished attire. A man followed behind him, a bindi on his forehead standing out strikingly against his pale hair. Adelaide was captivated by them, their gemstones and striking appearance ensnaring her attention.
The lead street urchin turned around hastily, snarling at the oncoming duo, “Who the hell are you? Stay out of this.”
The violet-haired boy smiled warmly, “Oh my. Are you fellows having a duel?” He looked on at Ciel and his servants and tilted his head with a curious look. “Oh, he has a khansama and a khansamain with him,” he thought aloud, before directly speaking to Ciel. “Tell me, are you an English nobleman?”
“And what if I am?” Ciel asked proudly, causing Adelaide to cringe.
“Mon jeune maître, now is not the time to be proud,” she said.
The young man lowered his crude drawing of a woman and frowned, “Then I will have no choice but to side with my countrymen,” he said, briefly turning to the man behind him, “Come, Agni, defeat the Englishman,” he commands.
The white-haired man steps forward, unwrapping his hand of the bandages, “As you command,” he responds. “I will use my hand blessed by the gods to serve my master.” As the man leaps forward to attack the trio, an energy unlike any Adelaide had ever seen permeates from the man. The threads of his bonds shone brightly and proudly, one tightly bound to the violet-haired boy. She leaned backwards into Sebastian, holding Ciel in her arms, and whispered, “He cannot be human. His aura is pure white. His thread is bound to the boy so tightly that I doubt it can ever be broken.” Sebastian ignored her and snatched his mate and master into his arms and leapt away. He briefly dropped them, Adelaide preparing to cushion Ciel’s head as Sebastian blocked a blow from Agni. He cradled his precious cargo in his arms and bowed his back to dodge a kick from the man and continued to block blows from the onslaught.
Agni leapt back, his fingers still poised to strike, and looked at Sebastian curiously. “I have struck many of your vital pressure points. Any normal person would be completely numb and limp by now. How are you still moving?”
Ciel, ignoring him, strained against his governess’s arms, “We did nothing but walk down the street! My governess bumped into the man and apologized! Are you nothing more than a reckless savage who attacks anyone who walks past you?!” he shouted.
The purple-haired man furrowed his brow. “What? Tell me, my countrymen, did you attack these people for no good reason?” When he got no response, he turned back to his servant. “Unfortunately, my countrymen are in the wrong here. Agni, we are on the Englishmen’s side now.”
Agni, needing no further instruction, narrowed his eyes and said, “Right,” and proceeded to reduce the attackers to a pile of limp bodies.
-
Upon returning home, the servants greeted the begrudged young lord with cheer. Adelaide, tired and winded, turned her attention to her brother, fixing his hair and tie that got messed up during his work with Finny.
Sebastian took Ciel’s coat as the door opened. The Chinese man, Lau, stepped in with a smile. Ciel glared at him, “How many times have I told you to send a note first?” he chastised the man.
“Hmm, I haven’t kept a tally,” Lau responded.
Sebastian, with a placating grin, asked his master, “Shall I prepare tea for our guest?”
Ciel sighed, “Might as well.”
Lau smiled mischievously, “Chai instead of Earl Grey perhaps?”
Ciel waved him off, “Yeah, whatever,” he responded before glancing up with a gasp. In his doorway were Agni and his master, smiling.
“How-?” Ciel began with a shocked expression.
Lau waved his hand theatrically, “Oh, them? I ran into them on the street corner. They said they wanted to speak with you,” he explained.
“So you just come barging in here?!” Ciel asked incredulously.
The Indian noble smiled, “Why not? We are acquaintances now. Surely you haven’t forgotten so quickly?” The pair strolled into the home, prompting Adelaide to pull her master behind her.
“Pardon me, monsieurs, but we met during a street brawl,” she said with a glare. While she was drawn to the pair, she could not fight the uneasiness Agni’s aura caused her.
“And if you will recall, I saved you and your master,” the violet-haired boy said.
Ciel, greatly offended, yelled at the boy, “Saved me?! Excuse you!” The boy continued to walk up the stairs of the house.
“Back home, if someone does you a favor, you offer them hospitality. Is it the British practice to leave your savior out in the cold?” the boy said, ignoring all of Ciel’s protests.
-
Prince Soma Asman Kadar made himself right at home. He lounged on beds, awoke the master of the house at his leisure, and the greatest offense of all was that he continuously bothered Adelaide.
On one morning in particular, he snuck into Adelaide’s bedroom while she slept and opened the curtains. “It is time to awaken, Frenchwoman,” he said.
Adelaide slowly opened her eyes and mumbled, “Malphas?” as she sat up. Upon opening her eyes, she blearily saw Soma smiling at her with those golden eyes. She clutched her blankets to her chest. “Le prince!” she shouted. “I have told you it is improper for you to be in here!”
The prince beamed at her. “I want you to show me around the town! Come, dress so we may go out!”
She sighed and put her head in her hands, “Le prince, it is improper for an unwed woman to be alone in a bedroom with a man, please leave before rumors spread.”
“Who cares about that! Come on, we have much to do!” he yanked on her blanket, despite her red-faced French protests.
-
Down the hall, where Malphas was awakening his master, he heard the cries. “S’il vous-plaît! Arrêtez! C’est inapproprié!” His mind filled in the blanks. He sensed the purple aura of the prince near the dull white of his mate. He imagined scenarios, his mate in a state of undress while the Indian man forced himself on her. With no explanation, he sprinted towards his mate’s room. A blur of shadow and tentacles of darkness flew through the manor, sweeping under the door. When he entered the room, clawed hand ready to end the life of the prince, he saw his mate’s bare leg kicking the man away from her.
“I said stop!” she shouted. “This is not how you make friends! And I know you are not from this continent, but we have customs and rules. Forcing a woman out of bed, undressed, is highly improper.” She proceeded to glance at the shadows with faint glowing red eyes, wrap the blanket around her tightly, and stand up. She huffed and strolled from the room, leaving the prince of Bengel and the prince of Hell to watch her walk out.
-
After that, Soma turned his attention to Ciel, trying to drag him away from his responsibilities. During a fencing lesson, he finally struck Ciel’s final nerve. While lounging on the floor, the prince pestered the boy.
“When are you going to be done with all this? What are you even doing?” he asked.
Adelaide, taking notes on what Ciel needed practice with, kept glancing at the prince with red cheeks. She could not help but recall how he had tried to get her out of bed while she was in her nightdress. She turned her body away from him from her seat on the sidelines.
“Be quiet! If you need attention so badly why not give fencing a try?!” Ciel shouted at the prince while tossing a foil at him.
The prince laughed “And if I win you have to go out on the town with me!” He declared. Agni, pouring tea dramatically next to Adelaide on the sidelines, wished his master good luck.
When Sebastian declared the start of the match, Soma launched forward, striking at Ciel’s ankles. “It bends!?” He asked in confusion.
Ciel, cockily smirking, said “That is not a valid strike in fencing,” as he swiped his sabre at the prince.
Soma protested, “This isn’t fair! I don’t know the rules!”
Adelaide smirked and held back laughter. “A fight is a fight, le prince. It’s not his fault if you didn’t look into the game.”
When Ciel almost touched the prince, Agni leapt up, blocking the sword with a teacup and striking the boy in a pressure point. When Agni awoke from his haze he launched forward to Ciel.
“Sir! I am so sorry! When I saw the prince losing my instincts took over!” Agni scrambled to apologize to the earl, appalled at his actions. Meanwhile, his prince laughed.
“Agni is my butler, an extension of me, therefore I win!” the prince declared.
“What? That’s not how this works!” Ciel shouted. Lau, from his place on the sidelines, tossed a sabre at Sebastian.
“It’s your job to avenge your master!” Lau declared.
Sebastian caught the sword with ease, looking down at his master with disappointment. “Honestly, master, why did you have to provoke the bratty prince?” he asked to Ciel’s gaping mouth. “However, as the Phantomhive’s butler, I cannot sit by while someone harms my master. That would be a disgrace. Besides, we are a full ten minutes behind schedule now.”
Adelaide glowered from her position. “That’s what you care about?”
The two servants dueled, each fighting for their master’s honor. In a flurry of strikes and dodges, each matching each other’s moves. Adelaide sat enraptured, her notes forgotten. It was like a mesmerizing dance between purity and sin. In the end, they connected their swords and snapped them with their force.
Adelaide stared at the white-haired servant in awe, his large aura almost drowning out Sebastian’s.
“That man…” she thought, “Is on par with a demon?”

Chapter Text

In the dimly lit kitchen, Bardroy prepared for the evening's meal with a fervor that belied his usual gruff demeanor. He swung a pan over his head with a flourish, declaring, "Tonight's feast shall rival any from the East!"

Adelaide, ever graceful, approached from behind, her slender fingers reaching up to take the pan from his grasp. With a soft smile, she handed it to Sebastian, who stood poised and composed. "Allow me," he said, his voice smooth as velvet. Bardroy blinked in surprise, momentarily speechless.

"But I had planned to prepare something special for our guest," Bardroy protested, his pride evident. He turned to Adelaide, cigarette dangling from his lips. "I was going to make my signature dish!"

Adelaide, her sleeves rolled up and hands immersed in dishwater, raised her hands in mock surrender. "Don't look at me. I'm merely following orders," she replied, her tone light yet sincere.

As the kitchen buzzed with activity, Agni entered, his presence commanding yet serene. "Sebastian," he began, his voice rich with warmth, "may I be of assistance?"

Adelaide paused, her gaze lingering on the tall, dignified man. His aura exuded tranquility and purpose. Sebastian glanced at her, noting her unspoken thoughts, before responding, "We have matters well in hand, but your offer is appreciated."

Agni placed a hand over his heart, bowing slightly. "More hands are better," he insisted with a gentle smile. "Please, direct me as you see fit."

Adelaide stepped forward, her decision made. "A cottage pie and gooseberry sauce would be a welcome addition to our meal," she suggested, her voice both authoritative and inviting.

Sebastian regarded her with a mixture of admiration and concern, his eyes briefly meeting Agni's before he excused himself, leaving the kitchen to its newfound harmony.

Upon his return, Sebastian was taken aback by the sight before him. The kitchen, once a battleground of culinary egos, had transformed into a symphony of cooperation. Adelaide worked alongside Agni, her sleeves tied back with delicate ribbons, her movements fluid and precise as she prepared the evening's fare. Bardroy peeled carrots with a focused intensity, Finny mashed potatoes with a gentle touch, and Mey-Rin washed dishes with quiet diligence. Agni, ever the perfectionist, tended to the pans with practiced ease.

Agni looked up, his face lighting up with a smile that reached his eyes. "With everyone's help, this meal will be a masterpiece," he declared, his gaze briefly meeting Adelaide's. "Before I met the prince, I was lost," he continued, his voice tinged with gratitude. "What I owe him cannot be repaid in this lifetime."

Adelaide returned his smile, her eyes warm with understanding. "I know the feeling," she said softly. "The young master saved my brother's life by taking us in. I owe him more than words can express."

Sebastian, observing the exchange, felt a pang of something unfamiliar stir within him. His usual composure wavered as he approached, positioning himself between Adelaide and Agni. He busied himself with skinning a fish, his movements deliberate. Leaning close to Adelaide, he whispered, his voice low and possessive, "If you continue to look at that man with such warmth, your smile may be the last thing he ever sees."

Adelaide met his gaze, her eyes narrowing in playful defiance. "Monsieur Agni," she began, her tone teasing, "I understand your feelings. I would do anything to help the young master because he saved my brother's life by taking us in."

Later that evening, as the last of the dishes were cleared away, Ciel sat at the head of the table, his expression contemplative. Adelaide and Sebastian flanked him, both awaiting his thoughts.

"I do not see them being involved, Jaune Maître," Adelaide said, her voice steady. "They harbor no ill will towards the ruling class, and the crimes would not benefit them."

Ciel nodded, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. "While I agree, we have no other suspects at the moment," he mused. "The prince's tale of lost love is compelling, but it also provides motive to seek revenge against the man who took his servant."

Adelaide frowned, her brow furrowing in thought. "I just doubt it," she said quietly. "Why would they cross your path willingly?"

Ciel sighed, his gaze drifting to the window where snow began to fall softly against the night sky. "It's too soon to know for sure," he admitted, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

The snow continued to fall, blanketing the world outside in a serene hush. Adelaide sat by her window, her thoughts adrift on the evening's events. A sudden flutter caught her attention—a raven's feather, dark and delicate, landed gently against the collar of her cotton nightgown. She smiled softly, recognizing the gesture.

The door creaked open, and Malphas entered, his presence commanding yet intimate. Dressed in his customary suit, he approached her with a predatory grace. His eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity, and his lips curled into a smile that sent a shiver down her spine.

"I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to show your face," she said, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest. She turned her gaze towards him, meeting his molten amber eyes with a mix of defiance and curiosity.

Malphas chuckled darkly, the sound rich and velvety. "I will never pass up on a chance to care for my mate," he purred, his fangs gleaming in the dim light. He leaned closer, his breath warm against her ear. "Especially when she shamelessly flirts with other males."

Adelaide's eyes widened at his words, a blush creeping up her neck. "Flirting? I do not have the ability to do such a thing," she replied, her voice laced with mock innocence as she leaned away from him.

Malphas studied her intently, sensing the rapid beat of her heart and the subtle shift in her aura. "You're nervous," he murmured, his gaze piercing. "But not because you're lying. You have no clue what you do to men, do you?"

She scoffed, turning her face away to hide the flush that had spread across her cheeks. "You are imagining things, Malphas. You are letting your beast take over."

He smirked, his lips brushing against her temple as he leaned over her, pinning her gently to her seat by the window. One of his arms rested on each armrest, caging her in. "Maybe that is true, my mate," he whispered, his voice low and husky. "But you tempt me and other males to act on the sins of the flesh."

Adelaide pulled her knees to her chest, attempting to create distance between them. "You are a sin of the flesh," she retorted, her voice muffled as she hid her face in her nightgown.

Malphas chuckled darkly, the sound sending a thrill through her. "Try all you like, my mate," he purred, his voice dripping with amusement. "But you cannot hide yourself from me. I will find you anywhere."

He leaned away, his movements fluid and graceful. Reaching for her hairbrush, he swept behind her, his fingers gentle as he began to brush her hair. "Everything about you was made to tempt me," he murmured, his voice soft and intimate. "Your scent, your appearance, your aura… You were made to draw me to you."

Adelaide mumbled, her face hidden in her nightgown, "I don't have to like it, conard."

Her mate merely chuckled, the sound rich and soothing. He continued to brush her hair, his touch tender and possessive, until she succumbed to the warmth of his presence and the lull of his ministrations. As she drifted into a peaceful sleep, she remained blissfully unaware of the chaos that was about to unfold within the manor.