His Caged Owl

The Palace of Princes

"Where are we going again Big sister?" Ciel asked as he looked outside the carriage, it was early fall "To a castle, the Queen is turning it into a hotel, but the workers are having problems, so I must investigate." I spoke calmly "I hope this trip is fun!" He smiled.

"Ghosts... are this workers children?" I questioned as we entered the castle, everyone I asked had said they stopped production due to ghosts "Ghosts don't even exist." I scuffed as the castle doors closed "That was strange huh Big Sister." Ciel grabbed my hand "Sebastian is here to protect us. Don't worry." I spoke softly as candles in the next room lit "Ok... I'll try not to be scared." He mumbled into my leg as we walked into the room.

"Who gave you permission to enter here!?" A voice spoke from the room "Her Majesty Queen Victoria, she asked me to come here to investigate a few stories she had heard." I stated as a form fazed into being, a boy with blonde hair to his shoulders and blue eyes "I am Prince Edward, you have no right to be here." He barked harshly "Forgive me, your highness." I bowed my head slightly "I am only following orders." Ciel moved closer to my leg That butler is strange yes indeed." Another voice spoke softly, behind the wall, another bow with fluffy hair was talking to a skull.

After a long talk I finally got Prince Edward to play a game of chest... though I bet Sebastian on it. "Let us play honestly." He spoke. A few turns later, I was just a few more from winning when he took his king, a strange aura gleaned around it and it was changed into a Queen and he moved to checkmate me "Don't tell me you were lying when you said no cheating!?" I looked up at him with actual shock "I never lie! I hate liars! I only used my pieces power to its full potential!" He gave me a dangerous glare "Big Sister..." Ciel grabbed a piece of my coat sleeve scared of Richard.

That night Ciel and I stayed in our room, it was around Midnight when I made my move. Ciel was sound asleep as I grabbed my robe and left the room, I caught Edward walking to the library, I had to sneak, not be seen, once in the library he walked through a book shelve, I ran up to it felling the books "Are they false? A lever maybe?" I mumbled "Allow me." Sebastian spoke from behind me "Huh?" I turned and tilted my head as he took out a key "You do want to get in correct?" He pressed a book, it clicked open and a key hole was shown "Nice going." I praised him "I am to serve our guest, if they wish to enter I must assist them." He turned the key and the shelve opened.

We walked down the hallway, skeletons lined the wall in different positions, I took a step and accidentally stepped on a bone "Please be careful, these halls have not been touched by man in many years." Edward spoke "Sorry your highness. I will be more careful." I spoke softly.

At the end of the hallway stood a big chess board with skulls "Allow me to introduce you." He spoke standing next to it "The Queen is my mother, the King, my father, over their the Bishop is my uncle. Not original I know, but they were my family." He pointed as he spoke "One of the knights... are missing." I looked at the empty space "Yes. I wish to complete it, but that skull..." he mumbled "Is the one your bother is holding." I finished. "Yes. He hasn't parted with it since he found it after we died. If I were to complete this, then we both could pass on." I looked at the chess board "Would you wish that, no matter the sacrifice?" I asked "Yes. I want to pass on with him, I don't want him to be stuck here." "Very well. Sebastian, take the skull from Prince Richard, and move the chess board to the foyer." I ordered "Very well, as you wish." He bowed and left "What are you doing?" Edward spoke with worry "Giving you, your finally wish." I turned on my heel and left.

I sat in a chair next to the board, Edward stood next to me "No please! Put me down!" Richards voice yelled from the hall as Sebastian walked into the room holding Richard around the waist "Now let's begin." I spoke standing up "Give it back!" He barked as Sebastian took the skull "Please stop!" Edward shouted "Isn't this what you wanted? No matter the sacrifice?" I questioned to Edward "Yes but can't you be gentle! I don't want to see my little brother cry!" He looked at me "Then calm him down." I took the skull from Sebastian walking back to the board "Please no! You musn't!" Richard yelled with tears in his eyes "This is what your brother wants. Why would you deny him his wish?" I placed the skull on the board waiting for something happen as Richard was placed on the ground.

A few moments pass of nothing "Well isn't this strange." I stepped back from the board "But... it should have worked!" Edward walked up to the board "I'm so sorry Brother!" Richard ran up to him and hugged his neck "I shouldn't have lied!" He cried softly "But that skull isn't yours... it isn't even of the family..." he paused as I walked over to Sebastian "Our bodies no longer exist... that guard... He bid us goodnight like always, told us to not fear, he would protect us..." he sniffles "He is why I hate liars.." Edward mentioned "He let the assassin in, once he killed us... He tore our bodies apart and threw them in the river, the fishes ate away at our bodies..." He finished solemnly.

Once the truth was revealed, they apologise, Edward for not being able to save and protect his baby brother, Richard for lying so long, once they accepted the truth, it was then the gates of the after life opened to them, they became transparent, no longer clinging to this world for closure "Honestly a little disappointed Sebastian." I spoke with crossed arms "Why is that?" He looked at me curiously "I was hoping to see a demon fight a ghost." I smirked at the thought "Sorry to disappoint, it wouldn't have been much of a fight though." His eyes flashed pink for a moment "Big brother..." Ciels voice spoke, he was bare foot and still in his night shirt he looked up with wide eyes "What are you doing up?" I asked while hoping he didn't hear me say what Sebastian really was "I got thirsty... I woke up and you aren't around... I got scared." He walked up to me "So sorry. I just had to finish a few things. It is time to leave, let's go get ready." I took his little hand in mine and headed back to Tue room to get dressed.

The Princes thanked us for helping them cross into the after life, on the carriage ride Ciel kept looking at me "Is something wrong?" I looked at him as the thought of him hearing me call Sebastian a demon came back to me "Big Sister..." he gulped "Is... Sebastian human?" He asked with worry. "What makes you think he isn't?" I questioned "You said you wanted to see a fight between a ghosts and demon, and he is to perfect to be human... is he human?" He asked again. I gave him a once over thinking if I should tell him, finally I gave in, I took a breath and spoke "No Ciel, he is not. He is a demon." I looked at him directly "Like you Ciel, I was kidnapped, but unlike you, the kidnappers were successful, I was help prisoner for a few years, tortured and murdered... I signed a contract with Sebastian in exchange for my soul." He looked at me in shock "So demons do exist..." he gasped "Yes. They do. I am to live my full life, once I am on my death bed Sebastian shall take my soul." I turned back to the window, to ashamed to have told a mere child that. He moved closer to me and hugged me the best he could "Can I stay with you... till then...?" He mumbled, my body stiffened as tears welled up in my eyes "If that's what you want... please stay with me... as long as you want Ciel." I hugged him tightly holding back my tears.