Mute - Revised (A Black Butler Fanfiction)

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 did you find the most interesting, Ciel?"

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, summoned by my snap, steps forward to attend to me, but the Phantomhive butler gets here first. "What is it, madam?" he smiles.

I hesitate. I'm not sure on the protocol of telling another's butler what to do, but if he stepped forward, then I'd best just go with it. 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 silver knife between my fingers, loving the way the light reflects off it all over the room.

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

Mother arrives not long afterward, introduces herself, then takes 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 . . .

She starts with some small talk, "How's your business?", "How's the Estate?", "Did you like the mansion?", but it doesn't take long before she gets to the heart of why he's here.

"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 was news to her. "You're the Queen's Guard dog!? That job sounds dangerous! You're so 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 that Ciel didn't catch.

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

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

I frown. No spare time? That doesn't sound like an enjoyable job. 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 sounds horrible. I'm so very sorry. I can't imagine the terrible things you've gone through."

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 look old even though it was built a few years ago."

Still lost.

She gave him a flirtatious smile. "Oh, it sounds wonderful! I'd just love to see the inside someday. Perhaps I could come visit soon?" 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 with each other, through howls and barks?

Do they smell Dahlia?

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

Lady Carlotta had just asked me how much money I make when Lady Mary-Clara's fork slipped from her fingers and landed with a sharp clatter on her plate. Lady Carlotta and Lady Auntumvale jump at the noise.

"Oh Mary-Clara, what's gotten into you?" Lady Autumnvale gasped, placing a hand over her heart.

Lady 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 Phantomhive." Carlotta smiles, looking up at me and placing a hand on my arm. "You needn't worry about her, she must have an upset stomach and needs a moment. Let her go."

I frown at the girl next to me. "She did look rather pale . . ." Lady Carlotta yanks me back into my seat.

Only a few minutes of awkward silence pass before the doorman came in, Mary-Clara unconscious in his arms.

"Mistress," he says to the mother, "She tried to leave but I couldn't find any reason as to why. The wolves howling in the night and I deemed unsafe for her to be out this late, so I tried to persuade her to come back in. She refused and put up a fight and I had no choice but to knock her unconscious. What shall I do with her by your orders, Mistress?"

Lady Autumnvale sighs, finding this merely troublesome. "Put her in her room. She'll wake around dawn, and her butler should be back by then to translate. Continue guarding the door though, those wolves you mentioned might smell this feast and decide to pay a visit."