Chapter Text
"So, what's in it for me?"
"You'll be alive,"
Not good enough, she thought, but it seems that arguing with this brat is a waste of time. Sitting on the large chair, Adellyn weighed her choices. Argue with the child some more or walk out, the latter becoming more appealing by the minute.
And how did I get here again? Ah, yes.
She didn't pay any mind to her surroundings. She's trained herself to do that. But even so, she'd like a proper room. A dead-end of an alley is hardly sufficient, especially in her line of work. Despite it all, she picked her book from the rubble and sat with it again. Page 231. Two paragraphs and a line. Right.
As she progressed, the more twisted and blurred the lines became. Damn the London weather, she cursed as she ironed the page with her heated hand. "So, contorted fingers and heavy dog call," and she began to practice. Her terms were far from professional, but she never had a good source to learn from.
"Hey!"
Adellyn turned to find two silhouettes against the light of the street lamps. Having nothing interesting to do, she didn't ignore them.
"What?"
"You are coming with us!" the tall, lean figure barked.
"Yes, you are!" the other said, short and sounding like a woman.
"What for?" Adellyn put forth.
"For your crimes, what else?" the lean one said.
"What are you going to do?" she demanded.
"Punish you, of course!" the short one said.
When you two smell like lard and grass, she thought.
"Suppose I don't go with you. You can't make me," she stated. She's dealt with this only so many times.
"You-You have to!"
"Oh yeah?" It has been a while since she has done it on people. For all she knows it won't kill them. Clinching her hands she brought them to her chest. Bent her left leg, dragged a circle with her right. It glowed white. Out of practice, but still perfect. Extended her arms and threw them up to the sky and pulled them back to her, like a rich cloth. The silhouettes turned into the rag dolls she used to play with as a little girl.
"Witch!"
"Get him to kill ha-"
The ragdolls stopped to move and levitated. Her platinum eyes observed theirs. Her feet carried her over to them. But why rush? The night is still young. Rubble and rubbish floated, swaying in their stations. And they watched. The very grime on the wall goggled at her. She could understand their features now. The tall man and the short boy.
Look at them.
They're so young.
"Darlings," she addressed, their faces locked in shock.
"You needn't tell me what I already know,"
Just then, a shadow. Unconsciousness. And a voice.
"Idiots,"
The tea dripped onto her knees and down her trousers. The child Earl looked at her, impatience being the message she received.
"I can turn you in," he went on. "Even right now, before you can protest,"
"To whom, may I ask?" Adellyn was getting annoyed. It'd be a shame to ruin that pretty mouth. "Those policemen can't even touch me,"
"I know. But I believe a few individuals would love to exorcise you,"
Her eyes flinched. And she thought it over. She readied another reply when she held her tongue. She, a cripple. In barely anything. Bones and skin. Matted black vines. Adellyn told her, coldly, "You've never existed. Leave,"
She only smiled, "But the same can't be said for what has happened,"
"Fine, I'll do it," she said. "In return, you'll let me be in peace,"
Ciel raised his brows and smirked, That was easy.
"Very well," he idly fixed the teacup from its laying position.
But she must know what she's getting into, "But what is that you want me to do?"
"I need you to find who a man's brother is,"
"That's it?"
"Yes,"
Ciel got up from his desk and pulled the macramé cord which connected to the bell. It waltzed its way downstairs and danced just within earshot of the butler of the establishment. He looked in its direction and changed his kitchen gloves for clean cotton ones. Slipping into his tailcoat he walks up the corridor.
And Sebastian enters the study.
"Did you need anything, My Lord?"
Ciel grazed to the large window and looked out, observing the icy mosaic on the glass.
"Find out who this man's brother is and you can leave," he said, his timbre devoid of emotion.
Adellyn looked at the butler. Tall and well-groomed. His form was perfectly straight. A charming smile decorated his face. The pin upon his chest was polished to the likeness of gold. His uniform creaseless and clean. He seemed to be brought up comfortably. He wore an aura of authority and wit. Yes, he was experienced and didn't appear like the sort to be startled. His eyes radiated something of a fire, she felt. Arms loose upon the sides. He's quite at ease.
But, something felt off, as though she were observing a lopsided poster. The aura. It hung on him like a cloak, held by a few threads. It was becoming looser with every breath. A shadow crept its way along the floor, bleeding into the carpet, up to her feet. Something was terribly off.
Wait, his eyes.
The fire.
Hellfire.
"Well,"
Ciel turns to a black-haired girl a shade paler than she had entered. He wondered if she were enough for the job he had in store for her. Getting pale right now won't do. She cleared her throat and turned to him, her face stiff with... incredulity? Fear, perhaps? The girl opened her mouth just a crack.
"This isn't a man,"
The Earl and his servant only smirked.
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