The Raven & The Spider (CURRENTLY UNDERGOING HEAVY EDITING)

Chapter 39 - Danger at the Dapper Duduk

Bang Bang Bang!

You continued banging your forehead against the wall of your old bedroom and wasn't prepared to cease until any and all idiotic thoughts completely disappeared. Ugh, you thought to yourself. I told myself that I wouldn't do this again. I promised myself that after staying at the Phantomhive Manor only as long as necessary I would go off on my own and not depend on anyone else.

"(Y/N)?" Ciel's voice called from outside the door. "Have you retrieved all of your belongings?"

You jumped at the sound voice of the person who had been occupying your mind for the past several hours and hastily called out, "Ah, yes! I'll be out in just a moment." You grabbed your packed cases of clothing and other items you had brought from the circus which included your bow and arrows. You hurried out the door to see the sapphire-eyed boy standing in front of you with a smile.

"Ready to go then?" He asked kindly.

You simply responded with a nod. As you watched the boy's retreating back down the stairs of Ms. Rebecca's house, you couldn't help but think of how you'd become strangely fond of him the past few days. You once again shook your head, hoping to rid yourself of an impossible mindset. No. You told yourself sternly. Finding another home that will eventually be ripped away from you again is the last thing you need right now. Remember, you're cursed? Which means that if you continue staying with Ciel, something terrible is bound to happen to him as well. You shuddered at the thought before taking a deep breath and thundering down the stairs after the earl.

After stepping out of the house and walking past Ms. Rebecca's withering rose garden, you climbed back into the carriage with Ciel to begin your journey home- ah, or rather to the Phantomhive Manor.

"What will happen to the Alabaster Owl?" You asked Ciel. "And the employees; Jeremey, Bridgette and David?"

"Don't worry." Ciel answered reassuringly. "They were informed of her death by an inspector. As for the Alabaster Owl, Ms. Elwin instructed in her will that it will be taken over by Jeremey Allan."

You sighed with relief. "That's good I guess. Jeremey will have everything under control. I just hope they weren't too crushed by..." You trailed off and decided you didn't want to continue your sentence.

"We finished a lot quicker than I anticipated." Ciel murmured to break the silence. He then looked over to you and asked, "It is getting quite late though, and I forgot about supper. Are you getting hungry, (Y/N)?"

"Only a little." You assured him. "I can wait until we get back to the estate though. Honestly it's no trouble."

"Nonsense." He replied with a shake of his head. Ciel then opened the carriage window before sticking his head out and calling, "Sebastian, take us to the Dapper Duduk Pub." After hearing a faint reply from Sebastian, Ciel returned his head back into the carriage before informing you that it was apparently known for it's amazing hospitality.

After a few mere minutes of riding in the carriage through the cobblestone streets of London, you stopped at a well lit tavern that seemed to be brimming with customers. The both of you stepped out of the coach and walked up the brick pathway to the Dapper Duduk Pub. Ciel asked Sebastian to stay with the carriage so it wouldn't get stolen so for now it was just the two of you.

The moment you stepped inside the building, the scent of chicken, potatoes, tea and spices filled the environment. Fireplaces and bookshelves lined the walls while seemingly endless circular wooden tables inhabited the center of the room. Each table carried a small candle in the center and was also heaped with plates of delicious cooking. Potted plants decorated the areas next to the bookshelves though they were far enough from the fire that they wouldn't erupt into flames. On an elevated platform in the back of the tavern was group of musicians, one of which playing a tin pipe that reminded you of Joker's while the other three played a drum, a mandolin and an accordion. Finally, in the far left corner was a wooden ladder that led up to a fenced loft which looped around the entire tavern. The overall environment of the tavern was very welcoming and upbeat. People danced around together and they happily weaved in between tables and chairs with ease. You couldn't help but smile as you looked upon the cheerful beings.

Ciel took your hand in attempts to break you from your blissful daze and led you to the bar to order your meal. After ordering, Ciel found an empty table near the lower right corner, which was not an easy feat seeing as the tavern was so crowded.

"I'm sorry." Ciel muttered with annoyance. "I didn't know there would be so many people here today."

You laughed and shook your head. "No, honestly it's fine, Ciel. I think it's actually rather cheerful."

"Well you may think so." Ciel mumbled under his breath, though you still heard. It didn't appear that he was too fond of large crowds especially when an excessive amount of noise was involved.

Shortly after that, the waitress brought over a plate of chicken, potatoes and green beans for both you and Ciel, along with small mugs of steaming hot chocolate. It all tasted so good and somehow the tavern made you feel right at home.

While sipping your hot chocolate, you began attempt observations of the crowded pub. People were all so interesting to look at. They all had their own thoughts and own plans and it was sometimes overwhelming to think about. One woman danced around with a man you assumed to be her husband. The couple waltzed around in a cheery fashion while the man continued occasionally spinning his wife around and laughing along with her.

Another man walked through the front entrance and his authoritative demeanor caught your attention. He had a brown handlebar mustache along with a matching goatee. He was dressed in a black suit with what appeared to be a golden medallion hanging from his neck as decoration. The man crossed over to the bar and seemed to be asking the bartender for a drink. The man then looked over the sea of dancing people and saw you staring at him. He then looked over to Ciel sitting next to you who was busy with his green beans. The man gave a look of surprise and began to stride over to your table.

You tugged Ciel's sleeve until he looked up at you. "What is it?" He asked. You pointed to the man who was making a beeline towards the both of you when Ciel suddenly jumped up from his seat to greet the man.

"Ah, Lord Phantomhive!" The man shouted with a cheery German accent. "What a pleasure you see you here!"

"Mr. Witting." Replied Ciel politely. "I wasn't expecting to see you in London. What brings you here?"

"Well, you see, Lord Phantomhive," the man began. "I decided to travel to London to strike some business with an old colleague of mine. Besides, it's been a while since I've done any traveling from Berlin so I thought spring was the best time to do so. "

"Quite right." Agreed Ciel. He then turned to your form and presented you to the joyful man. You stood up and awkwardly curtsied as Ciel said, "This is Miss (Y/N). She assisted me in catching the criminal for the case I had been working on as of late. (Y/N) this is Richard Witting. He's been a fairly close friend of the Phantomhive's for years."

"Pleased to meet you." You said politely.

"Goodness!" Shouted the man as he looked at you. "It's one thing for a young earl to be solving bloody murders throughout the dark streets of London, but a sweet little fräulein like this to be involved as well? What is the Scotland Yard thinking?"

You began to unconsciously tune out the two males as they began to talk politics and crime and instead continued looking around the tavern. One thing suddenly caught your attention. You looked over at the bartender who should have been busy making drinks, but instead he was staring directly as the two conversing males. His eyes then began to flit around as though looking around at the dancing people before he took a tankard and slipped it under the counter.

"Are you enjoying London so far, little fräulein?" Asked Richard Witting kindly to you, causing your thoughts to be interrupted.

You smiled warmly. "Oh, yes. Ciel has shown me hospitality at the Phantomhive manor that has exceeded any I've had the privilege of receiving before."

Ciel seemed pleased with your answer as suddenly the bartender came up with a tankard of what appeared to be mead and handed it to Richard Witting.

"Ah, thank you good herr." He said with a nod of his head toward the bartender.

Your eyes followed the bartender as he made his way back behind the bar, though he refused to break his gaze away from the German businessman. It was very unsettling the way the man brushed his hands against each other and how his eyes kept darting around the room though eventually always ending back on that tankard of mead...

Suddenly, you realized what was happening. You looked at the tankard of mead and back at the bartender and then at an unsuspecting Richard Witting who was slowly bringing the cup to his lips-

"STOP!" You shouted without warning.

The musicians stopped playing, the dancers stopped dancing, the drunks stopped drinking. All eyes were on you. Richard Witting looked shocked by your sudden outburst, but not as much as Ciel. He stared at you with anticipation.

"(Y/N)," He began in a tone just barely above a whisper. "What is the meaning of this?"

You looked back over at the anxious bartender and then back to the surprised face of Richard Witting. You swallowed in nervousness before saying, "Mr. Witting's drink. It's poisoned."

(A/N) Well, I spent fourteen hours traveling today. I did lots of my writing on the plane, though most of the time I was sleeping. In any case, I hope you enjoyed it!