The White Butterfly of Phantomhive

Chapter 26: Betrayal and Despair. An exchanged for revenge

With no other option, Lau, Sebastian, Mei, Ciel, and Soma decide to follow Agni, and reach a building where their target has entered.

"He went into this building." Lau said. Ciel looks at the place and was surprised by the sight of it. "If memory serves, this is... I see. Now I'm starting to get the picture." Ciel says.

"What do you mean? Whose house is this?" Soma asks him, getting really anxious about what's going on. But before he got too worked up, Lau soothes him. "Now, now, your Highness. Patience, patience. It will be clear once you've gone inside. And then you'll be forced to face the truth, whether you like it or not. You... and I both...'kay?"

"By the "and I", I take it you haven't a clue either?" Ciel asks.

"Yes! Who lives here?"

"Why are you here again?" Mei asks him.

"This residence belongs toHarold West Jeb, who runs an extensive import buisness. I had the distinct displeasure of meeting him once...he's an unsavoury sort who loves all kinds of titles." The Earl explains.

"Imports, hmm? We're in the same business, then." Lau says, taking note of that. "Why would Agni go to an importer's house?" Soma asked.

"He mainly imports spice and tea leaves from India, and runs "Harold Trading," a general store and "Harold West," a Hindustani Coffeehouse. Whilst investigating Ms. Mina, I happened across Mr. West's name in some of the documents I was reviewing. Per those papers, Bengal in indeed the main source of his wares and he has suffered collateral damage from the hanging incidents...but...it seems the company representative, Mr. West himself, just happened to be away at the time of the incidents and escaped being hung." Sebastian informs them.

"There's nothing for it. Let's go take a look." Ciel says.

"As you wish sir." Sebastian said.

"But how are you going to climb over this wall?" Mei asked, momentarily forgetting who it is she's with. Her answer was given to her when Sebastian wrapped his arms around her and Ciel and he jumped over the wall. "YOU IDI-!" Ciel shouts as Sebastian lands on the otherside safety and sets the two down on their feet. "It is faster this way." Sebastian said.

"A little warning would be appreciated though." Mei said as Lau and Soma climb over the wall on their own. Then they are then confronted by vicious looking guard dogs. "CIEL!! MEI!" Soma cries out as the dogs bared their teeth and were about to lunged at them when Sebastian appeared to use some sort of demon ability to get them to back off.

"Oh? The hounds are falling back...?" Soma says in surprise. Sebastian let out a soft chuckle as he says, "Heh. What cowardly guard dogs Mr. West keeps."

"HOHHH THERE, EARLLL! Over here, over here." Lau calls them over. The others turned to him and, much to their complete surprise, he had already knocked out the guard personnel. Seeing their expressions, Lau felt a bit insulted. "Nooo, what do you take me for? I didn't kill them. I simply put them to sleep. I think it's a four-thousand-year-old method from ancient China."

Ciel clears his throat and regains his focus. "Never mind. Let's stop dallying and find him already." With the keys that Lau obtained from the guards, they carefully walked inside but were confused as there weren't any guards walking around inside. Sebastian stops and tells the group that he hears voices coming from the second floor. With that in mind, they traveled up the steps and found a door partially open and lights were emitting from inside the room.

"You've done a splendid job." A man's voice said. "Don't look so tormented, old chap. Why not have a cigar and relax?" They peeked inside and discovered they were in middle of a conversation between Harold West and Agni, who seems distressed. Harold has dirty blond hair combed forward at the top of his head and olive green eyes.