The Scourge of the Demon Hunters—Act 13

Louisa spent the afternoon with Mey-Rin trying to tame her unruly mane. The process was slowed by Mey-Rin’s tendency to shake whenever she saw the tattoo on Louisa’s neck.

“We need to find a way to hide that before dinner, Mey-Rin,” said Louisa, trying to distract the young maid’s attention.

“Yes, m’Lady. Maybe we could leave your hair down and just dress the front?” Mey-Rin replied, relieved that the solution would hide the horrible mark from her as well.

“Yes, Mey-Rin, I think that is the best answer. Let’s try that.”

With Louisa’s hair covering the mark, Mey-Rin was able to focus a little better and soon tamed the front of Louisa’s hair, working it around the silver filigree circlet that had been laid on the dressing table. The circlet was studded with deep red rubies, and the filigree design was intricate and flawless.

“It looks amazing, Mey-Rin, thank you. Where did the circlet come from?” asked Louisa.

Before Mey-Rin could answer, there was a knock at the door and Sebastian entered carrying a large box.

“Excuse the interruption. Lord Ciel requests that you wear this at dinner tonight.”

He placed the box on the bed and lifted the lid. Louisa moved to see more clearly as Sebastian lifted the dress from the box. It was deep red heavy velvet, with a low-cut neckline and a non-existent waistline that opened into a full skirt. Louisa looked from the dress to Sebastian.

“It is beautiful, but I will never fit into it. I’m nowhere near that shape.”

Sebastian smiled wickedly. “That is what this is for,” he said, laying down the dress and picking up another item from the box.

Louisa stared at the corset that laid across Sebastian’s arm. She ran her hand across the soft material, feeling the change in texture as she reached each of the heavy bones that were equally spaced along the garment. As her hand moved, her fingers met Sebastian’s. Their fingers entwined as they moved closer together. Louisa could feel his breath on her neck and lifted her face to his.

Sebastian, struggling to maintain his composure, broke the moment. “Mey-Rin, I seem to have left Miss Louisa’s shoes down in the entrance hall, please fetch them at once.”

“Yes, Sebastian,” said Mey-Rin, her voice brimming with pride that he had trusted her to complete a task.

As she left the room, Sebastian threw the corset on the bed and pulled Louisa to him.

“You found the circlet that I left for you?”

“Yes, it is beautiful. Thank you.”

“These should work perfectly with it,” he said, his hand moving through the air and stopping in the space between them. In it sat a small black box. Louisa reached out and opened it. Inside sat an intricately designed silver filigree necklace, set with the same deep red rubies, and below that a pair of silver and ruby drop earrings.

“It is beautiful, but how?”

“If I could not use my power to manipulate matter to create something beautiful for my love…”

Louisa smiled, and before he could finish, she grabbed his neck, pulled him down to her and kissed him. Enfolding her in his arms, he returned the kiss.

A crash outside the room announced Mey-Rin’s imminent arrival. They moved away from each other quickly. Sebastian lifted her hand to his lips.

“Until tonight, my love.”

As Mey-Rin entered the room, he added, “I will leave you in Mey-Rin’s capable hands.” He turned to Mey-Rin, and in his sternest voice added, “Make sure Miss Louisa is ready on time. You know the young master does not like to be kept waiting.”

With that, he bowed and left the room. Louisa looked over at Mey-Rin who was shaking. Only then did she realise that it was not just fear that made Mey-Rin shake whenever Sebastian was around. His very presence had the same effect on the young maid as it did on her. She smiled to herself and realised that she was unlikely to be ready before the next century if she could not bring the poor girl back to her senses.

Eventually, after much coaxing and more than a little foul language, mainly enunciated by Louisa, the corset was tightened. It pushed Louisa’s waist in and her breast to new and unholy heights. If they did not distract Ciel’s guest, then nothing she had was going to help.

The dress sat beautifully over her carefully crafted shape, and as she descended the stairs, she heard a sharp intake of breath from Ciel who waited to greet her. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing coherent would come out. Fearing that Louisa might misinterpret Ciel’s sudden inability to form words, Sebastian stepped in.

“I believe that what my young master is trying to say Miss Louisa is that you look very beautiful and that the dress is most becoming on you.” He wanted to say so much more, but that would need to wait until they were alone.

His words had the desired effect. Louisa smiled and relaxed, her confidence growing as she descended the last few steps towards her cousin. Ciel regained his composure and control over his ability to speak. “Yes, thank you, Sebastian, that was exactly what I intended to say.”

He was so enamoured by Louisa’s beauty that Ciel let slide the fact that Sebastian had spoken for him without his permission. It seemed completely unimportant at that moment. Collecting his thoughts, Ciel offered Louisa his arm and led her to the parlour.

“I will have Sebastian show our guest into here where you will be waiting to greet him. I want you to keep him occupied. Flatter him, he is currently unmarried, and I want him to think that your hand can be used as a bargaining chip,” said Ciel.

Louisa nodded, and Ciel continued. “Should you be in any danger at any time, call for Sebastian. However, he is only to act if you are in immediate danger. He can excise his disapproval of my plan once we have the answers we need.”

He looked back at Sebastian. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Entirely, my Lord,” answered Sebastian. He did not like Louisa being used as a pawn in Ciel’s game, but she had as much to gain from this particular little game as Ciel. However, should Sowton as much as lay a finger on her over the course of the evening, removing the offending digit would be just the beginning of the torture that Sebastian had planned.

As they entered the parlour, Louisa took a seat on the sofa directly opposite the door. She would be the first, and only, thing Sowton saw as he entered the room. Ciel turned to leave, but Sebastian remained immobile. “Young master, if I may have a moment with Miss Louisa?”

Ciel’s face clearly showed his disapproval, but given what he was asking his cousin to do, he chose to acknowledge the request.

“Yes, but be quick about it,” he said and left the room.

Sebastian went to her and knelt at her feet. Holding her hands in his, he studied her carefully. Despite her nervousness, her eyes were human and there were no other signs of her demon form breaking through.

“My love, I will never be far away, you are in no danger, and I will see that Sowton pays for every moment that he is with you.”

Louisa smiled weakly. “I want to help,” she said.

“Play your role to perfection for the young master and then together we will create hell for Sowton.”

He lifted and kissed her hands. Her smile grew stronger and Sebastian stood, kissed her forehead, and left to finish preparations before the arrival of their guest. Everyone and everything were in place by the time Sowton rung the doorbell.

Sebastian answered the door with a low bow. “Ah, Mr Sowton, Earl Phantomhive is expecting you.”

As Sowton entered the manor, Sebastian continued, “may I take your coat?”

“Thank you,” Sowton replied as Sebastian removed his coat and placed it over his arm. He directed Sowton to the parlour. “Earl Phantomhive regrets that he is not here to greet you in person. He has some last minute papers to attend to. He hopes that the company of his cousin will atone for his tardiness.”

With that, Sebastian opened the parlour door and stepped aside so that Sowton was met by Louisa’s full beauty. The effect on Sowton was immediate. He stared open-mouthed, rooted to the spot. His eyes rested lustily on her ample breasts as he wondered what other delights were hidden under the heavy fabric of her dress. Louisa sat perfectly still, eyes lowered, looking helpless and demure.

Only when Sebastian spoke again did she look up and return the gaze of their guest.

“Mr Sowton, may I introduce Louisa Phantomhive, cousin to Earl Phantomhive. Miss Louisa, this is Mr Johnathon Sowton, a business associate of the young Earl.”

Johnathon Sowton could have been an attractive young man. He was in his early thirties, well-built, and with well-kept blonde hair. He had all the basic physical qualities that would turn the heads of most young ladies in society. But his years of misdeeds, plots, and envy were etched into the lines that surrounded his features. Looking into his eyes, Louisa could see more, his dark thoughts and deeds coloured his soul, and what she saw made her feel sick.

Swallowing her revulsion, she stood and smiled sweetly as Sebastian made the introductions. She offered her hand as was expected and Sowton took it. Has he pressed it to his lips she suppressed a shivered, smiled sweetly, and made a mental note that those lips would be one of the things he would lose by the end of the night.

“Thank you, Sebastian,” she said. “Please inform his Lordship that his guest has arrived.”

Sebastian bowed and turned to leave the room. As he closed the door, he heard Louisa playing her part to perfection.

“Now Mr Sowton, come sit by me and tell me all about yourself.”

“Please, call me Johnathon, and I would much rather hear about you. I wasn’t aware that his Lordship even had a cousin, let alone one as beautiful as you.”

Louisa let out a little laugh that further captivated Sowton. Sebastian smiled as he went to fetch Ciel. Knowing how fake that laugh and that smile were and how hard she was working not to let her revulsion show; he would have to figure out something special for her tonight once they were alone.

In the parlour, Louisa captivated Sowton with the concocted story of the accident that had left her in the care of her younger cousin.

“I don’t know what would have happened to me if they hadn’t been able to trace my family back to his Lordship.”

Sowton knew exactly what tended to happen to young girls left alone and penniless. In his mind, he was planning a similar fate for Louisa, but with the added benefit of access to the Phantomhive fortune. It was the turn of luck that he had been waiting for. Outwardly he smiled, fawned, and patted her hand in sympathy.

“My dear, that is awful. How did your family become so estranged from the late Earl?”

“Oh, some silly argument between my mother and Ciel’s mother. You know how frivolous and emotional women can be, but it is all forgotten now.”

Sowton’s internal smile grew wider. This meant that the only thing that lay between her and the Phantomhive fortune was the little brat of an Earl. As head of the family, Ciel had the final say on who Louisa would marry. He would need to act quickly, but with caution. The young Earl could not guess his original intention for coming here tonight. He was sure his employers would understand the change in the plan; this way, everyone won. They still got the Earl dead, just a little later than planned, and he got the fortune and a new little plaything into the bargain. The vial was still safely tucked away in his jacket pocket; if all went according to his new plan, it would not be needed tonight.