Phantom & Ghost

"You are my butler until the day you devour my soul." Ciel said once again, taking another sip of his invisible tea. Ever since then, Ciel teased Sebastian severely with his witty comments and unneeded remarks. Of course Sebastian knew he was stuck with the Phantomhive brat until the end of time, yet Ciel made no effort over the past ten years to let the joke down.
The Phantom and Ghost
That's what they were known as around here. The duo pair that hid in the shadows and solved the neighborhood mysteries, yet stayed anonymous to everyone but themselves. What everyone was mostly unaware of though was how the heroes they so admired were actually a sign of the devil's work, a team of immortal demons stuck together in the human world, the only way of survival focused on the consumption of human souls. This never ending life was the price both of them suffered through each day, but the cases they faced kept Sebastian always occupied and Ciel never bored.
This week's case involved the home-owned bakery mystery, a mother's husband along with their six children disappeared into the night without a trace. At first, the case looked like obvious homicide after Sebastian had managed to find one of the six children dead at the bottom of the lake that resided right next to the bakery--yet the body was too far gone to match the time and date that the father supposedly left with the children. When confronted about the boy in the lake, the mother had explained a few weeks ago that her one of her middle sons had slipped and fallen into the lake, but nobody in the family knew how to swim. Sebastian saw it as quite an incident how a mother wouldn't even go looking for her dead son, but it would probably have caused her death too. It wasn't like they had enough money or social standards for anyone to notice the boy's disappearance. She explained how this has happened a few years before too when her oldest daughter had been burned to death in a kitchen fire that almost destroyed their whole bakery/home. Now, the only evidence left with the duo was how the father was seen several times in the night of the disappearance by almost the whole community.
"Sebas-chan," Ciel placed the empty tea cup onto the hotel night stand and stood up from the bed.
"Yes, my lord?" Sebastian had been sitting on the other side of the bed, his chin in his hands.
"Did you take into consideration the stability of the relationship of the bakery owners?" Ciel stood in place waiting for Sebastian to dress him for the day.
Sebastian spoke as he removed the boy's night shirt,"According to the neighbors, my lord, it was a very happy and healthy marriage. Why do you ask?"
"Money makes people go mad Sebas-chan, no matter how much of a well being someone may be, give them or take away their money and see what happens."
"What are you acquitting to my lord?"
"Don't be a dunce, the father left because the bakery was going out of business and he didn't want to be there when poverty hit." Sebastian slid on the master's black peacoat,"If it wasn't for the crucial evidence I found out about the home. Under the floorboards, the family stores thousands. From what I deciphered, either the family has been thieving or has inherited the money, either way even if the family bakery went out of business, they'd be settled for quite awhile."
Ciel grumbled under his breath,"If they are wealthy as you say, then there must have been another reason as to why the disappearance had to have occurred. How much are we being awarded for this anyways?"
"Oh Master, you used to enjoy these games so much, what has happened to your lust for justice?" He laced up the boy's boots, a pair made from black leather and strode up to his mid calf.
"It's become quite boring around here if I'd say so myself, when will we be leaving this hole of a town anyways?" He let his butler strap his eyepatch around his right eye. After so long, it was no longer necessary for him to hide his devil's contract he made so long ago, but Ciel didn't like change. In fact he didn't like change to the extent that he still commanded Sebastian to rent them hotel rooms every night just so Ciel could pretend to sleep despite his eternal wake. Just like it was yesterday, Ciel would wake up to morning tea and a five course meal of a breakfast, then him and his loyal butler would go about the day solving but another mystery and end back at the hotel just to start again the next morning. Every so often, they'd switch up their locations for a new set of strangers that would easily forget them, a new set of mysteries, a new set of souls.
"We might as well carry out the rest of the case before our depart, where would you like to visit next my lord? Paris? Berlin?" He handed the boy his walking cane. Sebastian saw Ciel as a weak child and whenever he wasn't carrying the brat, he needed his own walking stick in order to move around.
He looked over his young master. In a way, he was somewhat cute with his small features and night sky eyes that were dull unless he felt excitement or joy. It was a sight Sebastian had rarely ever seen, but felt somewhat proud to know he was the reason every time Ciel had smiled.
"Sebas-chan! Let's go." His young master had already made himself to the door before Sebastian had realized he had frozen in place with his thoughts.
He followed his master into the busy streets of Manhattan that were rushing with passerby and carriages. In America, the Phantomhive name was almost unknown—which meant the pair could go around in their preferred appearance of server and served. Luckily for Ciel's weak legs, the bakery was only a few streets down from their designated hotel. It was a small building that took the appearance of an apartment building that blended in severely with the buildings around it. The only way to spot out the specific building was through a small sign and the scenting waft of baking bread. Sebastian knew like himself that Ciel no longer had an appetite, yet he couldn't help to wonder if Ciel was thinking about sweets—something Ciel could never get enough of as a human. Despite if his young master was thinking of such things, he still showed no emotion except for slight irritation.
Inside, the mother was standing behind the wooden counter looking as if she had gotten several nights of peaceful sleep. Sebastian was the first to greet her,"Good morning ma'am, I'd like to ask you a few questions if you wouldn't mind." The woman's eyes lit up at the sight of the butler. Ciel couldn't do anything but laugh under his breath as he watched Sebastian seduce her mind with his words. He talked calmly and polite in a deep voice that seemed to entrance anyone in his path, even Ciel.
He shook off his own immature thoughts and walked over to the sweets stand. He looked over the muffins sprinkled with brown sugar and the glazed donuts drenched in some kind of sweet liquid. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Ciel had indulged in such things. In fact, you could almost say it was in a past life. In the days when he enjoyed such things, he also enjoyed the presence of family and friends, the comfort of waking up in the Phantomhive manor. Now, he was always on the run. Always looking for a new location to ease his never ending and immortal boredom.
"My lord?" Ciel looked up from the sweets to see Sebastian gesturing to the woman,"I've recently learned that ma'am is soon to be expecting another."
"So she's pregnant?" The words almost sounded comical coming from Ciel's childish voice. The woman only smiled,"It seems so, if only my husband was here to support me." From where Ciel could see, she had tears forming in the corner of her sky blue eyes.
"Don't you cry, eyes that beautiful shouldn't be able to commit such a sinful act." Ciel watched as Sebastian wiped the tear from her eye. Her smile returned, but all Ciel could do was frown.
"This young boy here, is he your son?" She looked from both of them. Ciel almost bursted out into laughter.
"Ehm, you see, I serve this young boy. Our relation is far from father and son." Sebastian managed to say without losing his constant cool. Ciel had to cover his mouth to keep in a giggle. Sebastian was his loyal butler, his only pawn left on the board, the only thing that stayed constant, but that was it. In the end, he was nothing but a cocky servant with an unhealthy obsession with cats.
"Oh, I must apologize that was inappropriate of me to make such a comment. Please forgive me." She bowed, her blonde ponytail gracefully falling over her shoulder.
As expected, Sebastian cooled her down once again and managed to get a few more accusations from her. Ciel on the other hand sat on a cushioned chair that stood next to the door and let the sound of carriages occupy him until Sebastian's interrogation had ended.
After an hour wasted in the stuffy bakery, Sebastian came to the conclusion it was a huge possibility that her husband was hiding somewhere in the city with their children and that she feared for their lives. Apparently her husband had developed a drinking habit over the past month and had been stealing from their children's education fund to fill his own desires. She guessed he was probably involved in the prostitution ring too, considering he was never home and when he was, she'd smell another woman on him.
"Humans are disgusting creatures Sebas-chan, if you were human, where would you go to find abducted children?" Ciel spoke as a rhetorical question as the two strolled down the crowded sidewalk. He had been referring to the first time they had been caught in a kidnapping case. Just over more than 10 years ago, they were faced with the challenge of finding the culprits of kidnapping all over the map. In the end, the children had been involved with the local circus who had been giving them lobotomies and other types of torture. Farther than that Ciel no longer wanted to remember.
"As if some déjà vû my lord, it seems the best place to search for this man is through the black market. From what I've gathered, there's a great possibility we can find the culprit by exposing his old habits explained by his wife."
"Are there any bars around?" Ciel tried to see over the mounds of humans, but his short height of exact five foot blocked everything out except a perfect view of tons of strangers backs.
"From what I remember, there's one quite close to our current location and from what I can sense, it's filled with people my lord."
"Then we shall go!" Ciel said maybe too fast and anxious.
Once they passed another corner, less people started to surround them and sooner than later the duo were the only ones on the sidewalk. Now that Ciel could see his surroundings, he felt utterly disgusted. Here was known as the ghetto, a place the lower than low lived and birthed more useless low class citizens. The only thing they were useful for was feeding demons like themselves with their weak and meaningless souls.
"Um, my lord?" Sebastian asked, stopping in midst of their walk.
"What is it." Ciel ruffed.
"It has come to my attention that this bar will most likely than not allow children on the premises. If I may request, I know it causes you discomfort, but if you may-"
"Just... Stop it Sebas-chan, I... I know it's for the case but-" he fisted his hands at his side. Ever since Ciel had become what he was, he felt uncomfortable every time he had the choice to change his physical form and always denied it every chance he had. He explained it in a way of dishonor to his family and how it was disrespectful to both of his parents to want to take an older form. Although he had to admit Sebastian had once helped him learn how to make himself taller for his own self esteem issues.
"My lord, if it discomforts you, I will not pursue it, but it would make your observation of the situation more up front if you actually went inside the bar." Sebastian said in his melodic and deep voice.
He sounded so... Sincere. Ciel shook his head. Of course he did, Sebastian was trying to seduce him into following his plans. Wasn't the Phantom the one rightfully in charge and not the Ghost? But he did make a point... Ciel would be easily able to sneak into the club if he manipulated his appearance.
"F-fine." Ciel trembled, it was for the case after all.
"Oh my lord, feeling generous today aren't you?" Sebastian smirked.
"Shut up." Ciel turned the corner into an alley and Sebastian stayed in place. For once, Ciel was willing to do something on his own.
Ciel had finally decided on which form he'd take on. He'd seen it in a dream before in his past life, an older version of himself. Tall, the same dark bluish hair and those sky eyes he once had long ago—he'd still have to wear an eyepatch, his eternal contract was too strong to be hidden by any form he'd take on. This was america, no one knew of his existence or appearance and if they did, he technically had died ten years ago.
The whole process of transformation was something Ciel had no control over, it was violent and from an outsider, the air around him went foggy and dark colors swarmed everywhere to a point that humans could not tell what was going on. Luckily, no one was near enough to see. Over time, Sebastian had assured him it would just get easier, but now was the only time he morphed himself completely.
When Ciel returned to Sebastian, he was in the exact same spot to where he had left him, "My lord, I'm impressed." he looked his new form up and down.
"Stop staring you pervert, we don't have time for this." Ciel grumbled and grabbed his walking stick that he had leaned against the side of the building. Not to his surprise, he had grown too tall to be able to use it and ended up disposing it in a nearby garbage bin. Despite his new height, Sebastian still had a solid couple inches on him and was clearly more muscular and fit than Ciel would probably ever be.
Approaching the bar, Ciel grimaced at the unpleasant smells that immediately swung in the air. Beer, cigarettes, body odor--scents that were all unfamiliar to the twenty three year old boy. He glanced over to Sebastian for reassurance just to get a sarcastic smirk,"What is it my lord?"
Ciel grumbled,"Nothing... let's just get this damned case solved already."
As they inched closer to the entrance, the scents became stronger and stronger until the pair had no choice but to be completely submerged by it. The inside was more crowded than Ciel could have ever imagined. Everyone shoulder to shoulder, exchanging body heat and in some circumstances, fluids. The air around was foggy, but not enough to where Ciel couldn't see where he was going. He turned, "Sebas-" he circled around, but his butler was nowhere to be seen. "Sebas-chan!" He said louder over the sound of live music blaring from everywhere. Anxiety took over his thoughts. Here his was, a virgin demon trapped in a different body in a bar filled with disgusting humans.
He tried to push himself out of the crowd, trying his best to avoid the brushes and glances from the sea of strangers that never seemed to end. Where was the exit anyways? Just as he was pushing another woman in minimal clothing out of his path, something took a grip onto his hand. He swiftly turned around and started to pull his hand away--his butler seemed astonished at his master's new-found strength. Ciel sighed in relief and followed him back through the crowd with their hands still tightly gripped together.
Far from the entrance and the exit, there was a long bar table that stretched from both sides of the place. Full stools lined the whole thing and Ciel felt like turning around again. If it wasn't for Sebastian's hand in his, he would have too.
"My lord, make yourself comfortable, I'll go search around." Sebastian said, inches away from his master's ear. Ciel felt a chill run up his arm when their hands let go from each other. Once again, he was alone again in the pigsty of humans without his servant to make sure he didn't get mauled. To his luck, a stool had just opened occupancy and Ciel couldn't imagine a time his legs urged him to sit down even more than now. Here, the people were more spread out and finally he could relieve his social anxiety. He rested in elbows on the table and buried his head in his hands, finally letting himself go at ease.
"Newbie, eh?" He heard a woman's voice say from the stool left of him. Ciel slowly lifted his head back up and immediately was greeted by a blonde woman caked in makeup. Her low-cut black and slimming dress cut down too far in the chest area and Ciel had to stop himself from gasping from shock.
"Excuse me?" He said just loud enough for the woman to hear.
She simply rolled her dark emerald eyes and lifted a finger, "Two please." Ciel hadn't even noticed the man behind the counter who had his arm propped up close to the woman. "No problem." He responded, then disappeared to the drink machines. She turned back to Ciel,"So you new around here?"
"Business reasons only, I am supposed to be meeting with someone here actually." He said, eyeing around him for any suspicious activity. The woman scooted her stool closer until her knees were against his thigh. Ciel took another deep breath and urged himself to keep his eyes off of her.
"Family reasons for me, but we all need some fun time of our own, don't you agree?" She started in lean closer and Ciel felt himself edging off his seat. Thanks to Lucifer the man behind the counter had come back with the woman's drinks. She turned back to face the counter and sipped from a pint. Ciel started to question the second one, only to get his answer when she pushed the glass with her perfectly pale and manicured fingers towards him.
"Um, I actually don't-" Ciel cheeks grew even redder and he had to grab the counter to stop himself from falling off of the stool.
She rolled her eyes again and pushed the drink closer to him, "Take some risks, ya look like you're gonna explode with tension."
Ciel wanted to scream for Sebastian, he wanted out of this situation as soon as possible. If this woman got any closer...
"I oughta ask, what happened to that eye there?"
Ciel felt over his eye patch, "Childhood accident I suppose." He stayed vague as much as possible. Hopefully with him like this, she'd soon lose interest.
In a swift move, she got even closer to him than before--her arm resting on the counter and her face inches from his. It wouldn't have been as much if her chest wasn't pressed up against his shoulder and forearm...
Slowly, her expression wildly changed. She backed up and pressed her hand against her painted red mouth, "C-Ciel?"
"Um..." Ciel pressed his hand against the table, getting ready for a quick exit.
She grabbed his wrist,"Is... that you?"
"I don't know what you're speaking of, but I must seriously go." He stuttered, trying to pull his wrist back from her surprising strength.
"I though you were, I thought you-" Her words became almost a whisper, like her breath had been knocked away. Did he know this woman? She clearly had recognized him. In that moment where he was immobile by her grip, he looked into her eyes, searching for some sort of recognition. Blonde hair, big green eyes, ridiculously large breasts. He thought back to his days as a human and tried to avoid the people he had crossed in his ten years of being a demon for anyone with the same eyes.
Suddenly, it hit him. Like a swarm of oceanic memories flooding in. He saw her as a young girl, dressed in ballgowns and hair tied into curly pigtails. He saw her, playing across from him as a toddler, his parents watching over on a nearby couch. He saw her when everyone left for the first time and felt her weak arms wrap around him, making the feeling of loneliness wash away.
"Lizzy?" Ciel mouthed, sinking back onto the stool.