Dangerous Seduction {BOOK THREE}

2

~Dangerous Information~

The scene shifted. The rustling of the trees and the steady beat of horse hoofs against the firm path did little to hide the crazed mutterings of the captive inside the carriage. Woodly, it would seem, still could not come to terms with his situation.

"T-This shouldn't have happened. It wasn't supposed to be like this," The man pulled at his hair in frustration, "I can't believe I was set up by that little brat!"

"Oh shut it!" A long sword plunged through Woodly's forehead as Charles Grey stood atop the moving carriage. "Your constant blithering only annoys me further! I was so looking forward to knocking those two brats down a few pegs!" Grey removes his sword and Woodly lays dead.

"It was your own fault." One of the supposed officers driving the carriage lifts his hat to reveal the face of Charles Phipps, "You were the one that rushed in without thought of the consequences."

"I don't need any more of your lectures Phipps," Grey sighed as he sat behind the two other butlers for the Queen, "I do so wonder the Her Majesty is thinking though!"

"Who is to say? That is not for mere butlers like us to know." Phipps looked down the woodsy path, "All is as Her Majesty the Queen wishes it to be."

The scene changes again. The familiar halls of Phantomhive manner become clear. The figures of Sebastian and the other servants are in view now as the smooth voice of the head butler explains the duties for the day.

"Moving on from your chores for the day, there is one final announcement," Sebastian closed his eyes seeming to sense the coming chaos from the news, "We have a new servant joining us at the manor." He turned as the door behind him opened.

The servants showed confusion and then fear as snakes began to slither into the room over the floor. Bard sounded distressed and Mey-Rin ran to the corner of the room in an attempt to escape.

"Oh do calm down, They will not bite until he give the command." Sebastian sighed with an unimpressed look at the three other servants. Turning back to face the door, a timid looking Snake dressed in a new footman uniform stood.

Sebastian brought him into the room and patted his back in a rough reprimanding manner, "Stand up straight and introduce yourself loud and clear. Now that you are a servant of the Phantomhives you must follow our rules."

"W-We look forward to working with you. I am Snake- says Oscar," Snake shakily responds. Bard and Mey-rin seemed confused by the introduction which lead to Snake attempting to introduce his other pets.

"That is enough," Sebastian clapped his hands together to gain everyone's attention once more. "In any case he is the new footman for the Phantomhives as of today. Do try to work together you lot."

The scene shifts once more. I stand in a hall, the constant rocking of the floor leads me to believe we are on a boat of some sort. A groan of voices catches my attention, I look down the hall to see corpses. Horribly deformed, bloodied corpses dragging themselves towards me. I catch my reflection in a nearby puddle, a gown of plum and smoke covers my pale body. Startling white hair and glowing eyes stare back. 

A loud crash and then the hall dips, I lose my footing. A rift opens in the floor as water rushes in. I try to swim to the surface but the corpses drag me down...

"Mistress..."

"Mistress?" My eyes open at the sound of Veronica opening the door to my study. I look down to find my paperwork still in order, with a sigh I place down my pen.

"Hello Veronica." 

"Are you well Mistress? I have told you many times that falling asleep at one's desk is not good for their health." She places my afternoon tea and snack onto my desk.

"It is nothing. I am simply still trying to gain some control over my powers." I sigh before taking a sip of tea.

"Mistress, premonitions are often difficult to control. Especially if they hold a particular significance." I glance at Veronica before nodding, "Also there is a guest waiting for you in the parlor and a letter from the Phantomhives, as well as the Queen, have come for you."

"I will view the letters in a moment, let us see to the guest," I move out from behind my desk gathering the letters in hand, my thick charcoal skirts flow with my swift movements as Veronica leads me to the parlor. She curtseys before leaving me to greet the unexpected guest.

"Hello my dear," I glance up to meet the eyes of Thanatos, before bowing deeply in greeting.

"Lord Thanatos, not that it isn't pleasing to have you in my home, what brings your sudden presence?" I move to meet him near the chairs as I motion for us to take a seat.

"Siren I have told you time and again, there is no need for formalities..." Thanatos closed his dark eyes, his body tense as he seemed to age before my eyes.

"Is everything alright?"

"Alas, this is not a simple surprise visit for my favorite descendant," His dark eyes opened once more and filled with concern. "The reapers are growing restless and Hades is receiving less and less souls through his gates it would seem."

"What do you mean? Someone is taking the souls?" This is troublesome, especially if it is concerning the gods of Death and the Underworld.

"No Siren, it is not that the souls have be stolen. It is a simple fact that they are not being registered. The reapers have collected the souls on the To-Die list as usual, yet the souls never seem to make it to Hades' gates. It is becoming a problem, especially with this..." Thanatos pulls out the current day's paper handing off to me. The page was already opened to an article about a hospital.

"Karnstein Hospital?" I look up to meet the eyes of the god.

"This hospital has made claims of being able to bring the dead back to life," Thanatos rubs his face tiredly, "And many of the souls missing were slaves and such purchased by this hospital from the black market."

"Human experimentation on the dead or dying and then they claim they can perform miracles?"

"Exactly." Thanatos sighs, "Hades and I, along with the other gods of Olympus are growing concerned with the shift in balance. It is also causing trouble for the reapers and we need your help Siren."

"Why me?" I look at him incredulously. "Surely there are others more capable?"

"I know you are still trying to learn how to use your new powers Siren, but you have the most resources available. I have a strong feeling you are going to be more directly involved with this case, especially with your duties to the Queen."

"More like Apollo and his Oracle told you as much," I muttered. Thanatos smirked.

"That boy of yours, Phantomhive, is also an agent of the Queen yes?" Thanatos held a dangerous gleam in his eyes, "With these strange occurrences and the possible ties to the British society's underworld she may call upon him as well. You wouldn't want to leave him to fend for himself correct?"

"You play dirty," I rolled my eyes, "Fine, have it your way. I will look into this and investigate. Is that all?"

"I was also sent to warn you," He stood from his seat and placed a firm hand on my shoulder, "Change is coming Siren. Your knowledge is growing, the further you move into this game of yours the harder it will become. Be wary, but stay firm in your decisions, trust your instincts, and listen to what your visions tell you." Shadows morphed around his frame as he disappeared, the final words of "Be careful..." were whispered into the now quiet room.

"Always so cryptic..." I looked down at the two letters, one from Her Majesty and the other from my Ciel. "I suppose it has been too quiet as of late..."