The Hunt for Jack the Ripper (The Phantomhive Diaries #1)

29. Azzurro Vanel

As Jan stormed out of the study, Vanel's ears perked up at the sound of a mischievous chuckle escaping from that little troublemaker, Ciel Phantomhive. When Vanel turned to face him, he couldn't help but notice the smug smirk on Ciel's face, as if he found the whole situation amusing. The sight of that boy's grin alone ignited a fiery rage within Vanel, causing his anger to boil over. All he could think about was delivering blow after blow to Ciel's jaw, hoping to wipe that arrogant grin off his face.

"What is it you find so funny, Lord Phantomhive?" Vanel asked.

Ciel chuckled. "Nothing...I just find it amusing that you allow your lapdogs to disrespect you in that matter. It shows how much you lack control of your organization."

"Shut your mouth!" Vanel yelled.

That damn brat. How dare he fucking talk to me like that!?

As he prepared to deliver a powerful blow to the boy's face, his right hand froze in mid-air, interrupted by the sudden, piercing ring of the telephone.

With a triumphant grin, Vanel watched as the phone kept ringing. "Your servants must be dead by now. What a pity. This could have been avoided if you had just cooperated, Lord Phantomhive."

Ciel's smug expression disappeared, returning to his usual deadpan gaze. "You'd like to think that, I suppose."

Ignoring Ciel, Vanel went to answer the telephone.

"Is it done?" He asked.

"We missed!" One of his men answered. A rookie he hired named Santiago, along with his brother, whose name Vanel didn't bother to remember.

Vanel's eyes widened. "What do you mean you missed!?" He yelled.

"That butler saw us! We don't know how he knew we were there, but he knew! We had to get away as soon as possible!"

Vanel's growl intensified as his anger grew. "You are both fucking useless! Can't you do anything right? I should have never hired you scumbags in the first place! Just wait until I get my hands on you!"

Suddenly, a strange quietness enveloped the air before a loud scream pierced through the silence nearby. Vanel was certain it wasn't Santiago, as he was talking on the phone at that exact moment. The terrified voice had to belong to his brother.

"Are you seeing this!?"

"My god!" Santiago suddenly shouted. "What is that thing!?"

Vanel scoffed out a laugh. "Awww, what's the matter? Did you get scared by a little bear in the woods?" He and his men couldn't help but laugh at first. However, their amusement soon turned into fear as the two on the phone shouted in alarm, realizing that the source of their terror was rapidly approaching them. "...What's the matter? Did someone find you?"

Unbeknownst to him, the smirk on Ciel's face slowly returned.

"It's getting closer!"

"Santiago, shoot it!"

The sound of gunshots could be heard. BANG! BANG! BANG!

As the minutes ticked by, Vanel's impatience and anger only grew stronger, all while he waited for an explanation.

"Someone answer the fucking phone!"

"Mostro! Mostro!"

Vanel knew what that word meant in Italian. It meant "monster". They were being followed by some sort of monster? The sound of screeching tires filled his ears, accompanied by a chorus of screams. And then...CRASH

Everything fell silent after that.

And that silence made Vanel nervous. What just happened?

"Hello?" Vanel said, hoping for Santiago or anyone else to answer. However, no one did. "Santiago? Hello?"

Vanel was taken aback when he heard Ciel's chuckle. He whipped around to shoot the boy a fierce glare, his teeth clenched tightly. That annoyingly smug expression was back, the one Vanel couldn't stand.

"Looks like nothing went as planned," Ciel said. This time, he was the one laughing. Not Vanel. "You're all so fucked."

Vanel's foot swiftly met Ciel's face, prompting a sharp cry of pain as the boy crumpled to the ground. Driven by rage, Vanel unleashed a series of kicks to Ciel's face and abdomen, each strike drawing out a painful whimper or groan. After a moment, Vanel halted his attack, gasping for breath in weariness. His heart pounded in his chest, unsure if it was from fury or adrenaline. A sense of unease settled over him. His men had been ambushed, and he needed to know why.

If only they'd answer the bloody phone.

Once he was done hitting the boy, Vanel went back to the telephone and insisted that someone pick up the call. "I swear, if someone doesn't answer the phone right this instant, I'm going to kill you -."

"Hello?"

Vanel paused, his mouth agape as he was going to yell some more, but now he didn't know how to respond. This was not Santiago. Or his brother. This was someone else.

"W-who is this?" He asked nervously.

"Ah, forgive me," the voice said. "I represent the Phantomhive Estate. I believe you have my master and I'll be heading over to get him back. And most likely kill you and all your men. But if you'd be so kind as to let me speak to him to make sure he's all right, I might be more merciful."

Vanel was left speechless, his heart pounding in his chest. A lump in his throat made it difficult for him to respond. Who is this bastard? Is this that bloody butler? Is he coming here with an army? If he is, we're fucked.

"Young master," the voice said. "If you're still alive, give me a little bark."

Vanel's gaze shifted towards Ciel's unmoving figure. The young boy lay on his side, blood trickling from his nose and a split lip. In Vanel's perspective, this wretched child deserved every ounce of pain inflicted upon him. After all, he had allied himself with the Queen, the very person who had destroyed Vanel's trade by imposing strict regulations on opium. Not to mention, she had seized all the opium that the Italian mafia had painstakingly gained from abroad. To Vanel, Ciel was the true monster, not himself. He simply yearned to reclaim what was rightfully his. However, now an army was on its way to aid the brat.

Please be dead. Please be dead.

Ciel's eyelids slowly lifted, burdened by the lingering ache, as he fixed Vanel with a serious gaze. Letting out a weak breath, he summoned the energy to utter a word. "Woof."

It was at that moment, Vanel realized the boy was telling the butler he was still alive. And that he was here. Waiting to be rescued.

"...Very well, young master. I shall be there immediately."

Before Vanel could say anything, the line fell.

My god, he's coming. He's coming to kill me.