Comforting Darkness

Chapter 24: The Tutor, In Search for Answers

"Let us summarise the St. Ives case and put facts in an order." The serious young Earl said, sitting deep in his armchair in his playroom, since he was playing a board game with Miranda when Sebastian and Selina arrived. His loyal butler standing straight beside him and Miranda sitting in the opposite chair with Selina perched on the arm, next to her cousin.

"Yes, my lord." Butler and tutor answered in unison.

"Mrs. Bates was left by her husband to raise their son and run the resort on her own. Ostensibly, she did both, but in reality, she was a tyrannical mother and jealous woman using her secret gift of magic to control her son – under the pretence of teaching him – and to take revenge for her pain by torturing innocents. Her insanity had convinced her that all men lie to women. After her death, her son preserved her body and created a second personality, that of his mother. The mother, and later the son, were capturing newly-wed couples in love, tortured the men to death and forced the women to watch, driving them insane, so that when they finally were killed their souls could not go on; the Bates' continued manipulating them and bound them to other probably already dead bodies of old women in order to keep them... locked, let us say, when not needed. Therefore, the screams and the ghosts that were heard at nights were indeed the ghosts of the dead, crazy women. However, when the souls were reaching a point where Bates could not control them, sealed them to magically enhanced jars." Butler and tutor again nodded in agreement. "All right, what about the ghost of the old woman?"

"We believe it was Bates himself in his mother's attire." Sebastian explained.

The boy nodded as he was of the same idea. "So, will that be my report to Her Majesty? Unfortunately, I will be forced to explain once again why the culprit has not been brought to justice... to lawful justice that is." He sighed really troubled.

"Actually... my lord." Selina was heard hesitating until the boy turned his gaze on her. "I have to plead to you to not refer to anything magical during your report to the Queen. I mean... I know that I am just a pawn in your plans, but... I would like to think that I can prove myself useful to you in the future too, so... I hope you would not like to see me burned at the stake."

"Miss Selina, we are not in the Medieval ages." Ciel said ironically. "I know how difficult will be for her to believe magic exists, that is why I have not spoken about Undertaker's true nature but... Perhaps, I can convince her that you just have some extraordinary abilities and since you are on our side..."

"That would be divine, my lord, but let's be realistic. Humans never welcome what they do not know or understand or can be stronger than them. Miranda and I come from the 21st century... Witches, natural born or not, still live hiding their nature and I can guarantee you that were you also living in our time, you would still try to hide the truth about your butler. The only difference would be that he would not be forced to wear gloves all the time; he would easily pass that he just fancies painting his nails black and the contract seal would be considered as a strange tattoo with no special meaning behind it."

"And that goes for me too, of course." Miranda agreed waving her gloved fingers.

The boy's eye moved from one supernatural to the other, as he remained silent for a while, deep in thoughts he obviously did not want to share. Then he nodded. "Right. I see your reasoning. I will think of something to avoid the involvement of magic from both sides... and of admitting the reapers' existence of course, but the Queen will need explanations on how Bates' chose their victims, since not all newly-weds staying in the suite were killed." Now he looked both butler and tutor waiting for an explanation.

Man and woman stayed silent and Miranda could easily see the smug look on the demon's face, while looking at the furiously blushing witch next to her. Selina had focused on the hem of her skirt and her fingers were playing with the fabric obviously nervous, Sebastian's smirk got wider seeing that. Miranda tilted her head towards Selina and actually sniffed at the woman; her emerald eyes turned to green fires when she gazed again at the demon, she was not very pleased with what she realized.