Black Butler: Book Of Lost

Chapter 1

It was evening in London, and a young man named Ciel Phantomhive was wandering the streets of a small town within the city. Beside him was a tall man dressed in all black, his butler Sebastian Michaelis. Though seemingly an ordinary servant, Sebastian was, in fact, a demon bound by a contract with Ciel.

Ciel and Sebastian were investigating a case assigned to Ciel by the Queen. They stood over a lifeless body, Ciel's voice cutting through the chilling air.
"Sebastian, do you have any leads on what happened?"

Sebastian bowed slightly. "My lord, it does not appear to be a human who killed Alois."

Ciel sighed, his frustration evident. "Obviously. Do you have any idea who did it?"

Sebastian produced a note.
"When I arrived earlier, I found this gold knife, similar to Claude's, stabbed into this note."

Ciel snatched the note, reading it quickly. "So, you're saying this is just Alois's shopping list?"

"If you look closely, there is a hidden message,"
Sebastian explained. "It could lead us to the culprit."

Ciel turned back to the body.
"We'll leave the body to the officers. For now, analyze this note for any clues. I'll find Claude myself."

"That's unwise, Master,"
Sebastian warned.

"I'll take my chances. Now go and study!" Ciel commanded.

Sebastian bowed, a faint smile on his lips, and headed back to the Phantomhive estate while Ciel made his way to the Trancy manor. Upon arrival, he found Claude outside.

"What brings you here?" Claude asked, annoyance in his tone.

"I have a question about Alois's death," Ciel replied. "Do you know who might be responsible?"

Claude hesitated. "Alois went shopping with a list. If he went alone, why was a gold knife of yours stabbed through it?"

"I don't know who did it," Claude said, his frustration growing. "I've been here all day."

"Thank you," Ciel said curtly, turning to leave. Claude watched him go, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Back at the Phantomhive estate, Sebastian greeted Ciel with new information. "Master, Claude was involved, though not directly. He had someone else do the killing."

"So, Claude hired someone," Ciel mused. "Do we know who?"

"No, my lord. But the Undertaker provided the paper to Claude."

"Then we shall visit the Undertaker immediately," Ciel declared.

Ciel and Sebastian arrived at the Undertaker's shop, where they were greeted with a laugh.
"What brings you to my shop, Ciel?" the Undertaker asked.

"We have a note from your shop, given to Claude," Ciel began. "Do you know who killed Alois?"

The Undertaker laughed again.
"After helping Claude, the killer was murdered to make it look like a suicide. This has happened often with Claude."

Ciel turned to Sebastian. "So Alois wasn't his first victim. Why now?"

"Now is the time to find out, my lord," Sebastian replied.

"Do you have all of Claude's victims?" Ciel asked the Undertaker.

With a chuckle, the Undertaker showed them several coffins. As each one was opened, Ciel recognized a few, including his own parents. Rage filled him. "So Claude did all of this by hiring others and then killing them?"

"Yes, my lord," the Undertaker confirmed.

Ciel looked up at Sebastian, anger seething in his eyes. "We finally found the one who caused my parents' deaths. It's time to end this."

Sebastian smiled, anticipating the feast to come. "Let's not rush, my lord."

"Oh, I know," Ciel replied as the Undertaker giggled. "If we end Claude, we'll bring his body to you."

The Undertaker's grin widened.
"I have a special coffin waiting for him."

Outside, Ciel turned to Sebastian. "Claude has a pattern. He will go after Elizabeth next, then me."

"What's your plan, my lord?"
Sebastian asked as they spotted
Elizabeth walking by.

"We save her," Ciel declared.

Before he could finish his sentence, blood splattered across his clothes and face. In shock, Ciel felt Sebastian grab him, turning him away from the scene. Claude stood before them, having killed the assailant.

"I see you know the truth now," Claude said.

"Yes, and I know you were behind my parents' deaths. This ends now," Ciel replied, determination in his voice.

Claude laughed. "Let's see if your butler can stop me."

Ciel removed his eyepatch.
"Sebastian! Kill Claude this instant! That's an order."

Sebastian smiled. "Yes, my lord."

As Sebastian and Claude fought, Ciel suddenly saw his butler disappear. "Sebastian!" he yelled, pain searing through his contract mark.

Claude sneered. "You are clueless. I killed him easily.
Without a butler, your end is near."

As Claude left, the Undertaker approached Ciel. "Oh dear, where is your butler?"

"Claude killed him. My contract mark is fading," Ciel responded, his voice filled with anguish.

The Undertaker, uncharacteristically serious, said, "Without a demon butler, your revenge is impossible.
However, I know a reaper with demon-like abilities. I'll bring her to your estate."

Ciel returned to his manor, greeted by Bardroy. "Master, where is Sebastian?" Bardroy asked, but Ciel remained silent, worry gnawing at him.

In his study, a tall woman in a white tuxedo entered. "Who are you?" Ciel demanded.

"I am Rose, a reaper sent to assist with your last mission," she replied.

"Sent by the Undertaker, I assume. A demon killed my family and my butler. I need your help to kill him. Do this, and I'll reward you."

Rose smiled. "I accept, Lord Ciel. When do I start?"

"Now," Ciel replied, determination steeling his resolve as Rose left to hunt down Claude.