Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

The Sorceress	By : phoeyay Category: > Black Butler (Kuroshitsuji ???) Views: 3578 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Black Butler / Kuroshitsuji, The Sorcerer, The Ruling Class, or the works of Tom Waits. I make no money from the writing of this fiction.

Chapter List
- 1
- 2
- 3
***

Chapter 2: And the briar is strangling the rose back down.

***
Papers were spread out on Ciel's desk. The tea things sat ignored as the two pored over the information they had collected. The group apparently called themselves the Rosebud Sisterhood.
"These daft women even have a secret insignia. Here." Ciel pushed a card over the desk for Sebastian to see.
The image brought a more sinister connotation to the rather innocuous-sounding name. The rosebud in question was in the process of being nipped, an elegant feminine hand bending it just to the point of breaking.
Sebastian examined the card closely. It was fine craftsmanship - of course, wealthy ladies such as these would have access to any artist or craftsman they chose to patronize.
"According to my information, my lord, all of the ladies who gather for the salon have husbands in the House of Lords. I believe I shall be able to find myself a suitable husband amongst that distinguished group as well."
Ciel boggled, and the demon laughed at his expression. "You misunderstand me, my lord." He handed his master a newspaper clipping.
The young earl looked over the article. "So you intend to pose as this man's widow?"
"Not widow, my lord. His devoted wife. He is not dead yet, simply locked away in a mental hospital, and unlikely to return to society to contradict anything we say. I can make arrangements for the marriage registry at the appropriate date, and any other relevant paperwork."
"Well done, Sebastian. Once you've assumed your false identity, I shall write you a letter of introduction to speak to the ringleader of this little coven."
Papers were promptly forged which would seem to indicate the unfortunate Lord Jack Arnold Alexander Tancred Gurney had married a certain Selina Harvey (now Lady Selina Gurney) directly after the death of his first wife. Ciel made inquiries in the proper places which put his butler in contact with Louisa St. Charles, Countess of Buxbury, who headed the exclusive salon and vetted its members.

*
Sebastian had donned his full regalia and was to meet with Lady St. Charles in a fashionable tea shop in Piccadilly. Meyrin had kept a low enough profile in society that no one associated her with the Phantomhive household, so she would pose as Lady Selina's personal maid, but would for the most part keep out of sight. They hired a carriage, and Meyrin occupied herself with shopping in the area while the demon met with the countess.
Inside the small but elegant shop, he murmured his request to the hostess, who immediately escorted him to a table.
"The Lady Gurney, I presume? I am so delighted to meet you, my dear!" The countess rose from the table and extended a dainty gloved hand, sporting an emerald ring of not inconsiderable size.
Sebastian was surprised at how comely the countess was. He had been looking for a rather bloated elderly lady, of the type one would expect to see married to a wealthy noble getting on in his years. She was mature, yes, but she had kept herself very nicely. He also suspected she was still much younger than the Count. A trophy, then… not necessarily a brainless one, though.
Sebastian took the lady's hand graciously. "The pleasure is all mine, my lady. Please be so kind as to call me Selina."
"Of course, darling! Oh, what a sweet young thing you are…" The countess chucked Sebastian under the chin in an odd echo of what Ciel had done the day before. Do young women put up with this kind of behavior all the time? Outwardly, the demon smiled sweetly. He did not have to fake the pretty blush that tinged his cheeks.
With tea and cakes laid before them, the two talked in hushed tones to avoid disturbing the other distinguished clientele.
"So terrible to hear about your husband…" breathed the countess, sympathetically.
Sebastian cast his eyes downward demurely. "We… we prefer not to mention it."
"Of course." The lady patted Sebastian's hand. He thanked all the devils in Hell that he was in England, where one simply didn't talk about certain things… even lifelong personal tragedies that one had to cope with every day.
"My husband knew him, you know. In happier times. Did you know my husband is in the House of Lords as well?"
"I did know, my lady, but I had no idea they were acquainted. I didn't meet him until shortly before…" he made his voice falter, and blinked, eyes downcast again.
"Oh, poor dear, I am so sorry. Here…" the countess handed him a delicate lace handkerchief, clearly designed for dabbing at eyes and nothing else. He did so, carefully, and peeked up at the woman. "Thank you, madame."
"Let's not talk of such dreary things. Have you been to Ascot yet this season?" In time-honored English fashion, Countess St. Charles was changing the subject. Sebastian fell easily into the flow of conversation, charming the countess with his show of naiveté and artless, girlish grace. He deftly avoided subjects that could potentially expose him.
And so the afternoon continued on - dull, filled with lace and whalebone, tea cakes and kind words, all skimming over the surface of hidden meanings and nuances which many would not have been able to detect. Sebastian dodged all of the conversational obstacles placed in his path, and dropped just the right hints, here and there… Yes, Lady Selina did feel the suffragettes were terribly troublesome. Yes, she understood that there were other means with which women were meant to exert power. Yes, the common people must be constantly brought to heel - but only for their own good, of course.
Eventually the afternoon melted into evening, and the two ladies took their leave. Sebastian joined Meyrin in the carriage. Meyrin handed over the packages she had bought.
"Are these as I instructed?"
"Yes, sir, of course sir!"
"Please address me as a lady until we return to the mansion. One never knows who could be watching or listening."
"Oh! Of course… sorry s-…. milady!"
Sebastian peeked into the packages full of organdie and satin in a variety of subdued colors. He sighed inwardly. It's not as if I can just wear the same dress every week, though, is it? People would talk.

***
"My darling… they will not come. I have bandaged it. You will not die. But … " He stopped, emotion choking his voice, unable to speak with dignity.
"It's alright, Father." I tried to comfort him, but that only seemed to hurt him more.
"It is not. It is not alright! I will endure the consequences of my choice of profession, without complaint, until I leave this world. But you, my precious one… you did not choose this life!" He no longer tried to hide the tears that rolled down his cheeks.
He sat beside me, silently shaking, his face buried in his hands. I was silent, only praying to every spirit I knew that his pain might be assuaged.
Finally he spoke again.
"All doctors be damned. I'll do it myself. I'll do it better than they ever could!" His head raised and his eyes held a fearsome glint of madness.
"Father!… " I called after him, but he had already stalked out of my room, heading for his study. He could not hear me.
"Father… be careful." I whispered to the empty room.

***
As the carriage pulled to a halt outside the manor, Sebastian was surprised to see a figure stride out across the manicured front garden to meet it. Silhouetted against the mansion's windows in the near-dark of late evening, Ciel's slim form took on an imposing quality. Sebastian shuddered deliciously. The carriage door was opened for him, and his young lord held out a hand, graciously.
For just a moment, Sebastian let himself slip into fantasy, mesmerized by his beautiful master. The young lord stood in his well-fitted tweed, illuminated by the lamplight, right hand extended, his heirloom ring had been slipped on over his snug white kid glove. He kept his hair somewhat shorter than his father's had been. Though the edges of it had been allowed to grow into modest sideburns, he did not sport any of that ridiculous facial hair that had become fashionable recently in London. His features, which had always been pretty, had grown to be striking. His face as he gazed into Sebastian's eyes was intent, clear, and direct.
He is everything a young lord should be.
Then his master bowed, smiled graciously, and spoke to him. "Please, milady. Allow me to escort you."
The demon felt his knees growing weak, but steeled himself and refused to succumb so easily to the boy's idiocy. Blasted upstart… why does he taunt me so?
And why… must I like it so much?
Despite his misgivings, Sebastian played along. He extended his own gloved hand and allowed himself to be gently handed down from the carriage, heart pounding fit to burst out of his chest. This ruddy corset must be cutting off the blood flow to my brain! But Sebastian knew very well what was happening.
Ciel held open one of the immense front doors for him, then bowed and kissed his hand. "Please pardon me for a moment, milady. I will return directly."
Sebastian was, for once in his life, not sure how to react. His young lord was treating him… like a lady. There did not seem to be any prank or guile behind it. Ciel had placed a phonograph in the corner of the room. He set it to playing a waltz, then he returned to his lady.
"Ojou-sama…" Ciel bowed low to the ground and extended his hand as he rose. "May I have this dance?"
Eyes widening, Sebastian took his lord's hand and stepped into the waltz. There was no doubt that the young master's dancing had improved greatly in the past six years. As has everything about him… the demon gazed raptly at the intense blue stare, the strong yet delicate jawline, the sweet, kissable mouth… Kissable?
Sebastian mentally tried to grab hold of himself, but then his master swept him into a double reverse spin, and his feet nearly left the ground with the momentum. When did he learn that?
Suddenly Sebastian found himself staring up at his master, who had maneuvered him into a graceful dipping motion, and was lightly cradling the small of his back and his shoulders. From below, the earl looked somehow even more handsome. Sebastian found himself imagining what he'd look like from that angle with no clothes on. Then, to his consternation, he felt the mental image causing a distinct reaction between his legs.
Ciel's eyes darkened as he held his lady in his arms. Sebastian, what would you do if I kissed you?
Sebastian stared up at his master's lovely face and felt himself losing control. Oh, my lord...
Abruptly, the sound of clattering dishes brought both of them out of their reverie.
In spite of his incongruous dress, Sebastian became the butler again. He extracted himself from the master's arms and bowed. "Do please pardon me, my lord. I am afraid we have forgotten ourselves for too long. I must return to my duties."
"Yes, of course." CIel replied curtly, turning away. "I'll take supper in my room, Sebastian. You may brief me on your investigation when you bring it."
As Sebastian hurried to his quarters to divest himself of the meddlesome costume, he could not seem to stop replaying the last few minutes in his mind. He felt light, as if he could fly… and he felt a complete fool. But he treated me so beautifully…

***
It took some time for me to learn how to use the thing he attached to my body. It was beautiful, in its way, and had all the facility of the original. It gave me such an odd feeling, though. After he taught me basic motion, he revealed to me that there was more.
"You need never fear evil again, my dear. You will charm them all. They will fall in love with you, and they will kneel before you. Remember never to reveal this to anyone. They will not understand, and will fear your power."
I looked down at the thing, not sure whether to be frightened or ecstatic. Such power...
"Father, I must be very careful with this. You must teach me its limits, teach me how to use it with care."
"Of course, my dear. It shall be my life's endeavour. You are my life's endeavour, my sweet one."
I embraced him happily, shedding tears of joy and gratitude. "Oh, Father…"
The following Sunday, he left for an assignment at the wedding ceremony of some local nobles. He never returned.

*** to be continued...***

A/N: So for the more Victoriana-savvy than myself, you will probably be able to pick this chapter apart quite nicely with all the research I didn't do - please let me know if you see any blatantly obvious errors in my use of titles, etc. - I am always keen to learn something new as long as I don't have to get off my lazy arse and check it out myself :P
For the maybe one of you who reads this story about three years from now and recognizes my anachronistic reference to The Ruling Class - Hi there! I love you! - For the rest of you, I love you too, but people with the same obscure tastes as me are special. The Ruling Class is a 1970's movie with Peter O'Toole, and it is a trip and a half. If you are into really warped British stuff, give it a try.
This chapter title is a lyric found in Tom Waits' "Flash Pan Hunter" from the album The Black Rider (1993).
Till next time, hope you are all enjoying my tale, and have a super day! xoxo phoeyay
- 1
- 2
- 3
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

The Sorceress