The Scourge of the Demon Hunters—Act 22

The place they went was far removed from the grand crescent where the Phantomhive London residence sat. The narrow streets were watched by watery eyed children and dirt covered everything. Dank buildings loomed over them on each side, adding to the feeling of being constantly watched by some unseen dark presence. Only the towering figure of Sebastian walking close behind them seemed to keep the ragged masses away from them. Even in human form, he could exude menace that few mortals would risk tangling with.

Louisa found the sights of this side of the city hard to stomach. Her cousin lived in such luxury while people here were barely surviving.

As if sensing her discomfort, Ciel remarked, “we employ as many people as we can and pay a living wage that is better than other factories in London. The Phantomhive Foundation was set up to help orphans, and those whose parents are beyond our reach.”

Louisa nodded, “but there is so much pain here, surely others could do more as well?”

“Few venture into these streets, so they never see; if they do not see, then they can pretend that the problems do not exist,” replied Ciel, his face growing sterner the deeper into the dark streets they travelled.

As they continued in silence, Louisa vowed to find a way to do more, and to hold others accountable, once she was head of the family.

Eventually, they reached their destination. Louisa looked up at the sign above the door.

“An undertaker, why? What can we possibly learn here?”

If there is anyone with any information on anything, it is Undertaker.” Replied Ciel as Sebastian opened the door and they stepped inside. The room was dark, lit only by small, dirty windows on the shopfront, and a single candle that sat on a table at the far side of the room. A shadowy figure sat behind the table, playing with the candle flame.

“I wondered how long it would take you to bring her to me, little Lord,” the figure said as he looked up and stared straight at Louisa.

He continued, “you have caused quite the commotion, daughter of Typhon.”

Louisa looked at him in disbelief, “how?” she asked, feeling Sebastian’s presence grow closer to her.

“Undertaker knows all sorts, and right now you want to know where the castle is, and how to destroy that pretty little sword, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I don’t understand.”

“You will when the time is right. This is what you need now; all the other answers are already within you. I can do or say no more.”

As he spoke, he placed a roll of papers on the table.

“And your payment?” Asked Ciel, surprised that Undertaker had not demanded it upfront as usual.

“None, my little Lord. This was paid for many years ago,” Undertaker said cryptically.

Sebastian moved around Louisa, and went towards the table to take the papers. As he did, Undertaker moved his gaze to him.

“And one free answer for you, demon. It is possible to remove the tattoo; there is enough of you in her to create the connection you need.”

Sebastian remained still, his face unreadable, but Louisa sensed a change, almost a fleeting fear passing through him.

Undertaker cackled and continued, “now off you go, all of you, your records are not done yet, but I will be seeing you soon demon when you bring one of them back to me.”

Undertaker cackled again, and the candle went out. In the dim room, Sebastian made for the door, and ushered them both out. Sebastian was unnerved, Louisa could feel it, and Ciel was broodier than normal. No one spoke as they hurried back through the darkening streets.

Reaching the house, Sebastian handed the rolls to Louisa, before heading to the kitchens to prepare dinner. He hadn’t spoken a word to her, and his mood still seemed dark. Louisa followed Ciel into the parlour, and tried to focus on the task at hand. Spreading the paper out on the table, they realised that what they were looking at was a map. Inside that, was a second smaller one.

Studying it, Louisa exclaimed, “I recognise this one, it is where my childhood home is.”

She pointed to a small area of moorland just outside of Princetown.

“What we need is buried here on Dartmoor, under the remains of my home, along with my mother’s bones.”

Ciel looked from the map to Louisa, the pain she felt was evident on her face despite her attempts to hide it. He began to understand what she had been through on her journey from the castle to find him.

“You buried her too?” he said, his voice barely audible.

“Yes, she had just been left in the burned remains. The locals thought the place was cursed, so no one would go near it, not even to bury her. That is how the Order caught up with me; I stopped to put that right and to leave the sword in her keeping.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks, and her voice faltered as she continued, “I killed the ones that found me there, but it slowed my journey even more, giving others time to catch up with me by the time I reached the manor.”

“So, now we know where the sword is, we just need to know how to destroy it,” Said Sebastian from the doorway, startling Ciel, who hadn’t heard him approaching.

“How long have you been stood there?” Ciel asked, his voice heavy with concern for his cousin.

“Long enough, my young Lord,” replied Sebastian, his gaze firmly fixed on the struggling Louisa.

Ciel looked from one to the other; his compassion outweighed his need for order, “go to her Sebastian; she needs you not me right now.”

As he spoke, Ciel got up and left the room. Sebastian bowed as his master passed him, and then joined Louisa sat on the floor in front of the map. As he gathered her in his arms, her tears began to flow freely. Looking back from the doorway, Ciel once more found his thoughts in turmoil. He could not look away as Sebastian held her and gently placed kisses on her head. Ciel could feel the love the demon had for his cousin, and while part of him hated her for that, he was also glad that Louisa had found something he would never have.

The moment was broken by the doorbell, and Ciel’s loud groan as he realised who was most likely on the other side. Sebastian untangled himself from Louisa, kissed her once more, and went to answer the door. As he passed Ciel, he quietly said, “thank you, my Lord.”

Wiping away the last of her tears, Louisa rolled up the map, and looked at Ciel for direction; snapping out of this thoughts Ciel moved quickly and placed it away in a locked cupboard.

“We will revisit this once the cacophony is over,” he said with a slight smile.

Louisa smiled back and together they waited for Elizabeth. Sebastian opened the front door to a newly reinvigorated Elizabeth.

“Good evening, Miss Elizabeth. The young master and Miss Louisa were about to sit down to dinner.”

“Excellent,” said Elizabeth, “I will join them; I have so much to tell them both.”

She burst into the house and made her way to the parlour, “oh, Sebastian,” she called as she walked, “be a dear and take care of that, it is Louisa’s dress for tomorrow.”

Sebastian looked back towards the door, and realised that Paula was stood there, half hidden by a large box. He took the box from her, she smiled and scurried after her mistress. Sebastian was less than happy about the ball as it was, and now he had a bad feeling about the contents of the box. Having no other choice, he closed the front door and followed Elizabeth and Paula into the parlour where he waited for Elizabeth to take a breath.

Eventually, he stated, “My Lord, dinner is almost ready.”

“Excellent,” replied Ciel, confident that the news would cut the visit short. Sebastian quickly removed that hope.

“If you would all be seated in the dining room, I will set a place for Miss Elizabeth.”

Ciel looked at him, his face unreadable; knowing that there was nothing he could do without upsetting Elizabeth’s feelings; he accepted the inevitable. “Excellent,” he said and made his way through to the dining room.

As they walked behind him, Elizabeth grabbed Louisa’s arm.

“After dinner, I will show you your dress for the ball tomorrow. The opening ball of the season is always the most exciting, Ciel always misses it, but not this year, and it will be full of suitable gentlemen that would make excellent husbands.”

Louisa smiled weakly, dreading the ball, and now dreading the contents of the box that she had seen Sebastian place in the parlour.

Dinner was tedious. Elizabeth talked incessantly while Ciel and Louisa pushed their food around their plates, half listening, and waiting for the ordeal to be over. Sebastian watched events carefully as he served. Internally he raged at every mention of a gentleman that Louisa would be expected to dance with. The thought of their hands on her made his blood rise, and he envisioned what he would do to any of them that tried anything ungentlemanly with her.

Finally, dinner was over, and they retired to the parlour. Sebastian prepared and served tea before taking up his usual place behind Ciel’s chair.

“Now are you ready Louisa?” Said Elizabeth, clapping her hands with glee and bouncing on the spot, “I know you are going to love it because I do.”

She moved over to the box, opened it, and pulled out the dress. Louisa stared in disbelief; it was the pinkest dress she had ever seen. But it was not just the colour; it was covered in frills and ruffles that it looked like an explosion in a fabric shop. Louisa’s eyes went from the dress to Ciel and Sebastian, who remained stony-faced, only their eyes betraying their amusement. Louisa glared at them both before turning back to Elizabeth and the dress.

“It, is, very, pink,” Louisa managed.

“Isn’t it wonderful,” Elizabeth exclaimed, “it looks just like mine, we will look like sisters.”

Louisa forced a smile onto her face and replied, “how wonderful.”

Elizabeth squealed and placed the dress back in the box.

Keeping her false smile firmly in place Louisa said calmly, “Sebastian, would you be a dear and take that to my room,” she added quickly, “if you don’t mind cousin.”

“Not at all, Louisa,” Answered Ciel, glad to have the monstrosity out of his sight.

Sebastian bowed and removed the offending article quickly. He was a little relieved that the dress was so hideous, and that it would not show Louisa at her finest.

Elizabeth soon began to tire and made her farewells, but not before regaling Louisa on tips on how to wear her hair, and how to best move and act while at the ball. Louisa gritted her teeth, smiled, and nodded until finally, she left with Paula trailing after her. The longing look that Paula gave Sebastian as she passed him fixed a genuine smile to Louisa’s face, much to the amusement of Sebastian. The whole exchange was not lost on Ciel either.

“Another admirer Sebastian, what do they see in you?” Ciel said, barely covering his own feelings towards the butler.

“I really do not know, my Lord, it is a mystery,” Replied a smirking Sebastian.

“Hmm, well, I think I shall retire. We will attend to the other business tomorrow before we face London society at its finest.”

There was an element of scorned poured into his words as he ascended the stairs with Sebastian at his heals.