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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
- 2
- 3
- 4
A/N: Sorry if I disappointed anyone - the 'spider' in this chapter title does not refer to Claude. He will not appear in this story at all. I just realized that might confuse some people since 'spider' in a BB story usually means Claude.
This chapter title is a lyric found in Tom Waits' "The Black Rider" from the album of the same title published in 1993.
***

Chapter 3: Lie down in the web of the black spider.

***
It was Sunday, and Sebastian was to attend his first meeting of the Rosebud Sisterhood later that day for afternoon tea. He had managed about twenty dresses which would be fine enough to meet the standards of society ladies. He had not slept for the entire week, but such frivolous things could wait for a less busy time.
At the appointed time, Sebastian's carriage pulled up at the St. Charles townhouse. A stately old steward welcomed him and guided him inside. The parlor was aflutter with ladies dressed in their best silks and furs, making muted but good-natured conversation. As Sebastian entered, a sudden hush fell.
The steward bowed to the room. "Lady Selina Gurney," he announced, and withdrew.
The countess immediately stood and embraced Sebastian, lightly kissing the air next to each cheek. Sebastian mimicked her action. Such silly affectations these society ladies have...
"My lady Selina, it is so grand to see you here! Please, allow me to introduce my companions."
"On the settee is Eva Reddington, the Duchess of Suffolk…" The prettily plump young lady waved and giggled, then went back to munching a scone covered with jam and clotted cream. She was dressed in something shapeless with an unflattering amount of pink and frills, lined in white ermine.
"…and beside her is Genevieve Farswell, Baroness of Slating." The austere woman inclined her head slightly, acknowledging that her name had been mentioned, but little more. Small, tasteful diamonds sparkled at her ears.
"Seated by the fireplace is Charlotte Maxwell, the Marquise of Fife…" The Marquise wore a plain brownish gown with very little adornment, despite the prestige of her title. Her hands twisted nervously at her skirts. Her greeting was polite but distracted, her pretty eyes downcast as she seemed to look nervously to the lady beside her for reassurance.
"… and seated quite improperly on the floor," the Countess stared pointedly at the impish young lady with whispy ginger curls, "is Josephine Sumter, the Baroness of Harcourt."
The young redhead smiled mischievously. "Oh, my lady countess, you can hardly complain about this after the positions I've seen you in…"
"Silence!" snapped the countess, suddenly imperious. "We have a guest in our midst," she cut her eyes pointedly to 'Selina.' "Let's treat her to our finest hospitality."
Interesting…Sebastian cast his eyes downwards, giving his best effort at looking demure. He was offered tea and cakes from a tiered stand, and ushered to a comfortable chair beside Lady Reddington.
Tea was taken pleasantly enough. Sebastian quickly got into the flow of ladylike chatter, chiefly concerned with society gossip, which Sebastian already kept up with regularly in case something came to light which would affect his master. That subject was closely followed by the quality and variety of fine teas and delicacies available (a subject which he knew well) and of the textiles and findings with which their dresses had been made (a subject he had become all too well acquainted with recently). Occasionally the subject of "the help" would be brought up, and of managing a household staff. Sebastian had no trouble there - he could easily relate to their woes in that department. It was when politics were mentioned that he became alert and watchful, though he did not betray that watchfulness openly.
All of the young master's information so far on the case had implied politically motivated assassinations. Members of the House of Commons - especially those who supported the women's suffrage movement - were the ones who had so far been targeted. These ladies seemed to have very specific attitudes about such things.
"What they don't understand, these radicals, is that women have far greater power as they are than on their own." Genevieve sipped her tea delicately. "If I want to exert power, I simply do it through my husband. And for him there are, of course… certain things I can do that he cannot."
Eva giggled vapidly. "I don't understand why they'd want to give up all the advantages they have just for something as silly as voting."
"At the end of the day, though, it will never happen." We'll make sure of that, seemed to be the unspoken promise implied by Louisa's remark. Her manner had a final air about it, as if she were making a guarantee rather than stating an opinion.
The conversation moved on to less interesting topics, tea was freshened, and Sebastian remained lost in thought. Of course, nothing definitive could be gleaned from such political discussion. It was not proof of any wrongdoing. Every landed lady in England probably talked so when politics became the central subject. Sebastian needed something more. He did not have to wait long for it.
All of a moment, the atmosphere in the room had changed. All eyes turned to the Countess, who had briefly left, and now returned with a wooden box, which she opened. Contained within was a simple hatpin topped with mother-of-pearl, laid on a cushion of red velvet.
"My lady Selina, you have come here intending to join our Sisterhood, have you not?"
This is it. Sebastian stood and inclined his head. "Yes, my lady."
"Please remove your right glove and give me your right hand." Close one… a very good thing she didn't ask for the left. Sebastian did as instructed. The countess gave his black fingernails an odd look, but did not comment. She placed Sebastian's hand between both of hers, pressing it firmly and keeping it there.
"Charlotte, will you do the honors." It was not a request, but a command. The shy young lady stood obediently and approached the two. Odd… he'd expected it to be Genevieve somehow.
Charlotte picked up the hatpin and, without warning, drove it through all three hands. Sebastian had been expecting something of the sort, but remembered to give a convincing gasp of surprise.
The bookish young lady held the hatpin in place as blood dripped onto the floor, where Sebastian could now see an unobtrusive pentagram was carved. She began to chant syllables in an ancient tongue which only Sebastian understood.
In retrospect, it was quite lucky the young master had convinced him to be the one to do this, Sebastian decided. Anyone else would now be in thrall to the Countess, bound to her will as he was bound to his master's.
Charlotte finished her chanting and removed the pin. Sebastian collapsed onto the floor and stopped breathing, as would be expected after that particular ritual. He felt himself being carried to the settee. The ladies spoke in hushed murmurs as they filed out of the room.
He would be allowed to wander off, now, because the sorceress… undoubtedly that's what she was… would be able to call him back at any time. He could feel the vestigial strands of the spell on him. They were supposed to be embedded irrevocably in his soul like barbed wire. Instead they were delicately clinging to it like cobwebs. One of the many advantages of being a demon. If Sebastian left some of the cobwebs on him, he'd know when he was being summoned and would be able to keep up the ruse.
Sebastian gathered his things and removed himself from the premises to his carriage. As a demon, he might expect to be used to sorcery, but still he felt strangely filthy.
Ciel attempted to repeat his gallant treatment from the night before, but Sebastian was not in the mood to dance. He excused himself and went immediately to change. Arriving in his room, he was surprised to find a single red rose in a bud vase on the vanity table. No card was attached. Something connected to the sorcery? Or...
The bell rang, calling him to the earl's room. He hurriedly finished dressing and hastened up to his master.

*
"Did you discover anything tonight, Sebastian?"
The tone and the address seemed harsh after the sweet, romantic softness that had been in his master's voice earlier. Why is he behaving so strangely only when I dress as a lady?
"As I suspected, my lord, the ringleader is a sorceress. The assassinations appear to be politically motivated, but are carried out with the help of black magic. The deaths themselves likely also feed into the spells being used. Black magic is efficient that way. She attempted to bind me to her, so now I will know if she summons me."
Sebastian was surprised to find his master's face suddenly an inch from his, a hard look in his eyes. "Bind you?" The demon shivered inwardly. The young lord looked ready to kill.
"As she did with all of the other ladies in the group," he qualified hastily. "She did not succeed, but she gave me a means of knowing when she calls…"
Ciel did not seem mollified by this. He grasped his butler's lapels, his expression tinged with desperation and anger. "… so that I may continue the ruse. This is necessary, my lord."
Jealous. My master is jealous! A thrill ran through the demon at the revelation.
Perhaps realizing he had shown too much weakness, the earl dismissed his butler hurriedly. Sebastian returned to his quarters, a satisfied smile playing at his lips.

***

Drawn by my enchanted prosthesis, they came. Some of them I sent away, despite their begging to stay with me. I selected from them only one - she who would become my constant companion. I told her of Father's sudden unexplained disappearance, and she promptly began to investigate the matter. Soon enough, she had ascertained an answer for me.
The nobles he had served had condemned him to death, though he had done nothing more than what they asked. He had relented without complaint.
Father was dead.

***to be continued...***
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The Sorceress