The Earl's Kitten

Chapter XXXII

January 3rd 1888, 21:00 PM

"Who are the suspects, M'Lady?" Thompson asked, watching me quietly. He was the first of the three to have broken from his state of shock.

"John Ryman, Richard Newman, David Barrows, and a lady called Anna Brown. All have been seen leaving their home before fires have erupted, with strange items in their hands." I looked up, "Though there is a small note at the bottom asking that I investigate David Barrows first." My eyes scanned quickly over the writing - it wasn't Ciel's handwriting. Maybe it was Sebastian's? I shook my head, tucking the information away down my corset. "Right; I have the address that we need to head to so let's-"

My words were interrupted by a loud BOOM, and I looked up in surprise. Smoke could be seen rising into the sky on the horizon, lit by the blazing flames beneath it.

"Oh no..." I murmured, forgetting the presence of the Triplets as I ran off in the direction of the smoke.
"M'Lady!" They yelled, running to catch up with me. They were demons and could no doubt easily overtake me, but I was in charge of this mission. Besides, they were not the ones with information. All of the information needed for tonight was tucked down my corset - and none of the Triplets were about to go digging for it.

It was a long while before I finally reached the burning building. Everything had gone up in flames, and I found a scowl settling on my face. Whoever the perpetrator was, they were quick at making their moves. The longer I looked at the fire, the more I felt the outside world melt away from me. There were times where I hated my attraction to light, but I could do nothing to stop the feeling from taking over. Nor could I stop my feet from moving forward and my hand placing itself in the flames. It was perhaps thirty seconds later when the searing heat on my skin caused me to come to my senses, and I pulled my hand back. Tears nearly sprung to my eyes as I became aware of how my skin was hurting, burned by the hot flames. I forced the tears back, turning to the Triplets as I inspected my hand.

"The fire is made up of some parts petroleum and some parts magnesium. Whoever was in that house..." A heavy frown settled on my brow, "they are most certainly no longer alive."

I could feel myself wincing as the pain further set in along my hand, but I couldn't treat it now - the burn would have to wait until we made it back to the townhouse. I pulled a glove from the pocket of my dress and pulled it over my burned hand as gently as possible, before looking back up to the Triplets. All three demons were looking at me with wide eyes, and I merely frowned quietly.
"What...?"

"What did you do Rose?!" Timber was the first to snap out of it, forgetting all formalities temporarily as he took my wrist and ripped the glove off. I couldn't help the whimper that escaped my lips; the glove had pulled off some skin, only adding to my pain as fresh skin was exposed. "Why did you purposely put your hand in that fire?" I wasn't quite sure but... It sounded like he was angry with me, yet curious at the same time. His gaze moved from mine to my hand, examining the raw, tender, red flesh in silence.

"I-I just wanted to touch it..." I mumbled quietly, casting my gaze to the side.

January 3rd 1888, 22:00 PM

I sighed at Rose, feeling a frown crease my brow. "I'm not trying to scold you, M'Lady, but you should know better." I paused, my thumb running very gently over the back of her injured hand. "Please do not burn yourself again. For me? I do not wish to see you get hurt." Worried green eyes turned to look at me once again, and I smiled softly at her. "Please, Rose?"
"... I promise, Timber." Rose, eventually, smiled back. "We need to get a move on. We're falling behind. Whether or not the person who started this was on the list, they need to be confronted."