Stuck in Kuroshitsuji

Chapter 48: The Body

Aviva POV

I stood next to Sebastian and the others; in front of the townspeople. I couldn't bring myself to speak...I only stared at the man's mangled, bitten body. Ciel knelt by the very dead man.

"How awful." Bard said.

"So that's it then." Ciel said quietly.

"Stand back, don't touch!" We all turned to see Henry Barrymore. He just joined the crowd. "I see it was James then; he was the bad dog." He said grimly.

I looked at Henry with disgust. I knew he was bad, but I forgot how much of an asshole he actually was.

"Yes, he broke the legal restriction on dog ownership. He had six dogs, one more than is allowed." A townsman said.

Henry looked down and closed his eyes, feigning remorse or regret. What a puss sack.

"A sixth dog. Then this was inevitable." Henry said.

"That's all you can say?! Really?!" Bard exclaimed, in disbelief.

"This village is under my rule and no other. The demon hound protects that rule. As the guardian of the Barrymore family," Henry said, starting to get agitated. "It punishes anyone and everyone who dares to challenge me!" He finished, raising his fists up in anger.

Just then crowd, or angry mob rather, began chanting that creepy as fuck lullaby. For a moment, I was so disturbed at how a lullaby could be so...disturbing! But then I realised the lullabies I know are about babies falling out of trees, the London Bridge collapsing, and the fucking Black Death. As the crowd recited their...song, a few people placed James's body on a stretcher and carried him away.

"I was sure you outsiders were going to be its next prey." Barrymore said. "You were lucky to have escaped." He said before following the crowd with Angela.

They're still chanting. How long has Barrymore been manipulating these poor people? I can't remember exactly how, or when, the Houndsworth story ends but I can't wait until it does. I can't handle animal cruelty. It genuinely hurts so much. I can't figure out why.

My thoughts drifted to memories of the pets I've had in my lifetime. Dogs and cats. My cat Tara lived and loved me for almost 20 years. To be honest, she was a mean cat. But never to me. I was her person and I loved her so much. I had a husky until I was 10. I loved having pets. I loved them all so dearly. Ever since I started living on my own I've wanted a pet. I don't know why I never went through with it. Maybe I was just scared of going through growing attached to it and being completely inconsolable when it...passes. Maybe the same is going to happen with Pluto. I can't get attached to him and of course I will. If I play my cards right maybe I could save him from...from his demise, from Ash.

I was too in my head to hear what was going on around me.

"Well master?" He asked. Ciel was silent for a moment.

"Let's return to the castle. I'd like to finally go to bed." He said, exasperated.

Sebastian POV

As everyone else began to leave for Barrymore Castle, all began to make failing to follow the bra-young master. I turned to see that Miss Faye had not moved an inch. Her gaze was fixated on an ambiguous point and had given no indication that she had even registered everyone walking away.

"Aviva?" I called out to her, receiving no response in return. "Aviva." I said a bit louder. Still nothing. I slowly approached her. How can get so preoccupied by her thoughts that she loses the entire world around her? It's ineffaceable, really. "Miss Faye?" I said a bit softer, hoping not to startle her from her thoughts. She failed to respond. I bent over slightly to examine her face. Her eyes were glazed over. She looked so...sad. I cupped her cheek and raised her head to meet my gaze. She didn't respond to my sudden movement. "Miss Aviva?" He said softly. I could feel her almost...regain consciousness. She managed to focus on me. The emotion radiating from her gaze was...powerful. "Are you alright Miss Aviva?" I asked her gently.

"Sebastian?" She asked. She sounds half asleep. I wiped a stray tear from her cheek.

It seems she was unaware of the tears streaming down her face. This isn't the first occurrence of her completely losing awareness of her surroundings. But this instance is different. I can feel it. What thought so sad could have drowned out the world around her? She looks so...exhausted. I suppose it wouldn't do much good to ask her now; her mind still clouded. I sighed and stood up straight.

"Come." I told her, gently taking her hand. "Let's get you to bed, Miss Aviva." I said before leading her back to the castle.

Well, it appears she's slowing down. I stopped walking and, subsequently, Aviva gently ran into my back. I turned around to face her. That did not seem to faze her. She yawned and rubbed her eyes. That was...why was that...I huffed exasperatedly. Not important right now. She must get to bed before she hurts herself. I picked her up and we were in her room in an instant.

I gently set her on her bed. The mere sight of her exhaustion was nearly enough to make me yawn. And I don't get tired. I don't need sleep! As I prepared to examine the wounds on her chest, my head turned suddenly to the sound of Ciel calling for me. What is it no-I...I should be tending to him and preparing him for bed. I quickly stood up and looked down at Aviva. She looked up at me, entranced by her own sleepiness.

"I will see you in the morning, Miss Faye." I told her. She tilted her head to the side as if she had not understood a single word I had said. I sighed and smiled, slightly. She leaned over and let herself go limp once her head reached her pillow.

I quietly left Miss Aviva's room and swiftly made my way to the master's bedroom. He sat on his bed, arms and legs crossed. He was clearly irritated by my tardiness to prepare him for bed.

"Unpunctuality is most unbecoming for a butler, Sebastian. Even demon ones." He said coldly. While the snarkiness of his comment was not appreciated, or necessary, it still held true.

"I apologize, young master." I said as I began to undress him. "I was assisting Miss Aviva to bed while examining her wounds from the rumored 'demon hound.'" I explained. He looked at me inquisitavely.

"Sebastian." He called.

"Yes, my young lord?" I replied.

"What do you think is truly behind the violent deaths in Houndsworth?" The young earl asked me.

"I am afraid I cannot say what is truly behind the attacks, master. However something I know for certain, is that everything cannot be as it seems." I said.