Mute (A Black Butler Fanfic)

Chapter 5

Henry finishes dinner right on time, letting the butlers and maids bring it in. I grab some napkins and slid them halfway under each plate, taking my seat just as the door opens behind me, letting Ciel and Carlotta in.

"And here's the kitchen! Look, food's already prepared!" Ciel takes a seat across from me and Carlotta plops down directly next to him. "What room was your favorite?"

I study the food laid out before me. Everything looks good . . . that looks good . . . that looks good . . . wait-is that steak fully cooked?

"Well," Ciel begins. "I think the room with chess boards and such-"

I snap my fingers above my head.

Ciel and Carlotta freeze, looking at me. Ciel confused, Carlotta irritated. His butler appears to be amused.

A nearby butler rushes forward, summoned by my snap. "What is it, madam?" he whispers.

I point to the steak and mime cutting it, eating it and dying. He looks a bit confused but cuts it open nonetheless. I stand and examine it, noting the redness and steam. It's cooked. I nod to the butler and sit back down, idly twirling a knife between my fingers.

Carlotta tries to make conversation, but Ciel seems a bit disinterested.

Mother arrives not long afterward, introduces herself, then taking a seat right next to me, that being the only available seat left. I tense up, my gun digging into my back. If she knew I had this . . .

"So Phantomhive, your fiance moved to Australia?" Mother begins sweetly.

"Yes. I've known her since I was little. I'll miss her . . ."

"Yes, it is a shame." Carlotta says casually. "She must not have known what she was missing out on."

"And you've come here to look for a new fiance?" Mother continues. The sun has set by now and we can only see by the light of the candles burning bright overhead.

"That is correct. I must find a new one soon or my title as the Queen's Guard dog could be tarnished."

Carlotta gasps, acting like this is new news. "You're the Queen's Guard dog!? That job sounds dangerous! You must be very brave."

I snort loudly, earning a few glances. I try to cover it with a cough but my smile stays. A wolf howls in the distance.

"And how many other young lady's houses have you visited to find a new fiance?" Mother asks casually.

"Oh, just a few. They were all rather dull." He replied while cutting his steak.

"I see." Mother smirks, her and Carlotta sharing a look Ciel didn't catch.

"So what do you like to do in your spare time?" Carlotta asks.

"I never have spare time. I'm too busy going on errands for the Queen."

I frown. No spare time? That doesn't sound like any fun! A wolf howls again, a bit closer. I entertain myself thinking about how maybe the second wolf was answering the first wolf, communicating through howls. I wonder what they're talking about...

I snap back to reality to see Carlotta place a hand on Phantomhive's arm and say sympathetically, "That's horrible. I'm so sorry."

I blink a few times, completely lost. What did I miss?

"It's okay." he says. "I rebuilt the mansion where the old one was. It looks exactly the same. I made it to look old even though it was built a few years ago."

Nope! Still lost.

She gave him a close-eyed smile. "Oh, it sounds wonderful! I'd just love to see the inside someday." A few more wolves howled.

I frowned, looking out the window. Why are so many wolves gathering? Are they hunting something? Isn't that how they communicate to each other, through howls and barks? Do they smell Dahlia?

Oh no!

No-wait. It's okay, they can't get to her. They'd never get past the barn door-

The barn door.

I never closed it.

Ciel's POV

Carlotta had just asked me how much money I make when Mary-Clara's fork slipped from her fingers and landed loudly on her plate. Carlotta and her mother jump at the noise.

"MC, what's gotten into you?" her Mother gasped, placing a hand over her heart.

Mary-Clara stands up, knocking her chair back and makes a break for the door.

"Sebastian." I call, standing up. She races through the door, dress billowing out around her.

"Oh, sit down Ciel." Carlotta smiles, looking up at me. "You needn't worry about her, she probably just ate something bad. Let her go."

I glance at the girl next to me. "She did look rather pale . . ."

I sit back down again.

Only a few minutes of awkward silence pass before the man who greeted us at the door came in, Mary-Clara unconscious in his arms.

"Madam," he says to the mother, "She tried to leave but I couldn't understand why. I heard the wolves howling and thought it not safe for her to be out, so I tried to bring her back in. She put up a fight and I had no choice but to knock her unconcious. What shall I do with her?"

The mother sighs, like this is merely troublesome. "Just put her in her room. She'll wake around morning and hopefully her personal butler will be back by then to translate. Keep guarding the door though, those wolves you mentioned might smell this feast . . . ."

And he left.