Comforting Darkness

Chapter 52: The Tutor, Regrouping

The servants did not leave the carriage out of their eyes until it got lost in the dark night and rain, that had not stopped raging over the manor throughout the evening; a so horrible evening. They all felt so lost, or almost all, since Bard continued to be serious and calm and that confused Selina more.

The witch knew logic and everything she knew about master and demon, pointed to them finding a way to get out of this situation, for certain... but she was still afraid, still worried.

Her mind filled with questions, trying to figure out what she was supposed to do; for Sebastian to insist for her not to be arrested, meant he expected something of her, something to assist their situation. The first thing crossing her mind was he wanted her to kill the real Ciel... or rather to kill again, as she was convinced that despite the so grand display of reason and wit, the boy was still just a dead body pumped with blood to prevent it from decaying. But then again... simply killing the rightful heir would worsen things, as it would be too obvious that one of the real impostor's servants did it, leading all of them to prison. Then, he must want her to help them escape somehow... but how could she do it all alone without complicating things?

Her head was ready to burst, a headache hitting like a hammer at her temples, when Abberline's surprised cry forced her back to the present. It seemed that Grell and Othello had departed at some point without anyone noticing, and now the rest of the Yard squad still in the manor, ran out in search for these two strange guys, that "could not have gone far" as they believed. Selina could not help but smirk at this.

"Ciel... will you not first explain to us what is going on?" Lord Midford asked, still in a relative state of shock but quite a controlled one, as expected from a Marquees and Knight of the Crown; the rightful Earl agreed. "And Elizabeth... go home. Do you have any idea how worried we were for you??" The man went on reprimanding the rebellious girl, but worry and love were evident in his voice and pale features.

"I am sorry... father... Edward... but..." She mumbled.

"Lizzie... I am fine now. I am sure Aunt Francis is sick with worry over you." Her fiance told her with a smile and she finally complied.

She went down the rest of the stairs and joined her father and brother. She was still in a confused and shocked state, as if walking in her sleep with eyes staring in front of her without really seeing; she did not really react to her brother's arm protectively circling her shoulders. The girl seemed to become conscious of the world around her when a chill ran down her spine as a presence approached her. She lifted her eyes and saw Selina staring at her... and the tutor's beautiful blue eyes, almost as deep as Ciel's, now were like ice, a really sharp ice.

"Miss Elizabeth... I know you do not care for a servant's opinion, and I can only imagine how hurt and betrayed you feel right now... And you have every right to, but I wanted to let you know how... much you disappoint me... and my master!" The woman said to the girl and that seemed to shake her, as Elizabeth started trembling and her eyes seemed ready to flood with tears.

"You have no right to talk to her like that!!" Lord Edward was fast to defend his sister. During the Phantom Five period he had come to respect both tutor and butler, their skills and ingenuity, but this was too much. "We are also disappointed by your master for playing such a cruel game to all of us and to Lizzie most of all! Ciel, the rightful and fit heir of the Phantomhive House, is back, alive and well and no one has any right to say otherwise!"

The emotionless mask of the woman did not break even when she smirked. "Alive and well... Is he really?" She whispered, staring at the blond girl; Elizabeth trembled harder and turned her eyes away.

Selina threw a cold apology, as Edward gently pushed his sister out of the manor, and then joined the other servants, who watched the exchange a little bit confused.