Silence

Chapter 5

A loud pounding sounded on the manor door. Sebastian quickly went to go answer it before whoever was on the other side broke the whole door down. That would be added work for him that he didn't care to do.

When he opened the door, three large-muscled men burst inside. He frowned at their complete lack of decorum. One should never enter a manor unless invited in.

"All right, where is she?" one of them demanded in a thick Cockney accent. "We know she's here."

"Who might you be referring to?" the butler asked.

"You know who I'm talkin' about! We tracked her down to this place."

Ciel appeared at the top of the stairs having heard all the noise from all the way upstairs. "Sebastian, what seems to be the problem?"

"It appears these men are looking for someone at the manor," Sebastian answered.

"You're Earl Phantomhive?" another man asked in disbelief, a wide smirk on his face. "How old are you, 10?"

Ciel glared at the three intruders, not appreciating being called younger than he really was. "What is your business here?"

At that moment, Adalina walked into the foyer to see what the commotion was about.

Immediately, Sebastian sensed her immense fear and worry. When he looked over at her, her eyes were wide and her breathing came in short gasps. It was clear she knew these men and for whatever reason, she was terrified of them.

"Oh, there she is," one of the men sneered. "Told you she was here. We'll be takin' her back now."

"I'm afraid not," Sebastian said politely. "She is now a servant of Phantomhive Manor and is of great importance to my young master."

"Tough luck, my friend. She's our property. She rightfully belongs to us."

"Do you have proof of this ownership?"

"Well...no, but that don't mean she ain't ours! The fact that we were able to track her down should be proof enough! Now hand her over."

Adalina backed away from them, her eyes widening even more in terror. She met eyes with Sebastian, silently begging him to do something. Anything to make sure that she didn't have to go back with them.

Ciel glanced at his head maid. He hadn't seen her this scared even when she had learned the truth of Sebastian. He deduced that these men had something to do with her muteness. Why else would she be so terrified of them?

Whoever they were, they needed to be dealt with. He couldn't have someone hired to protect him this frightened over something that could easily be remedied. They had finally fixed the whole Sebastian problem, and he was not one for moving two steps back.

"Adalina, go to your room," he ordered. Adalina looked up at him in protest. She took a step forward, but he added firmly, "Now."

Not daring to refuse her master, Adalina politely curtseyed and returned to her quarters.

"Hey!" one of the three men yelled. "You can't order her about. That's our job."

"I think you'll find that I do not tolerate that which makes my servants afraid. As Phantomhive servants, they are expected to be able to protect me and this manor with their lives. They cannot do their job if they are distracted by their fears."

"Yeah, and what are you gonna do about it, pipsqueak? Go cry to dead mummy and daddy?"

Ciel glared at them even more fiercely. That man had no idea what he had just done. "Enough of this. Sebastian, this is an order. Kill them."