The Queen's Dove (Black Butler)

Chapter Eight: Death and All His Friends

Isabella

"Lady Ashdown," Sebastian greets at the Phantomhive Manor door, I refuse to meet my gaze to his, "it's a pleasure for your company." I plast a brief smile on my face but instantly remove it. Following Sebastian into the manor, I familiarise myself with the Manor. The hall, the dining room, the study, the bedroom. Memories from nearly a month ago cascade down the grand staircase like a giant wall of water. The water splits when it reaches me, flowing out of the grand doors and evaporating in the sun.

"Isabella," I turn to see Ciel at the top of the staircase, his hand glides along the handrail as he walks down, "let us go to the drawing room, we would have more privacy there." He casts a look at Sebastian, who in response walks away towards the dining room. When Ciel reaches the bottom of the staircase, he holds out his hand and I gingerly take it. When our fingers touch I think I feel an electric shock but turns out it was just my mind. Stop it, My thoughts instruct, you seriously think Ciel would like a girl like you? Please, he doesn't need to stoop down to that level. He leads me through the hallway, I glimpse portraits of his predecessors and his parents. His mother was very beautiful, her hair was dark blonde and her eyes were the same as Ciel's, a deep dark blue. His father was a tall, handsome man with Ciel's hair colour, dark navy, and brown eyes. We enter the drawing room, Ciel sits on his plush couch and offers me a seat but I refuse. I toss him the list of suspects towards him that I held in my other hand.

"Read the list, I presume?" He asks and I roll my eyes in reply, "God's sake, Isa," I freeze when he says this nickname. Ciel, giving you a nickname? Yeah right, anyone would go mental saying your long name again and again, "why are you so pissed at me? You got what you wanted, now, take that frown off your face and let's get to work," Told you Ciel doesn't like you, the voice tells me.

"I had concerns of some of the sus-" Before I can finish my sentence the drawing room door's bang open. A man and a woman, of Chinese origin, stride in. The man has his eyes closed and has short black hair, he dresses in a Changshan. The woman has golden eyes and jet black hair tied in cat-ear like buns with long trailing braids.

"Young Earl!" The man calls, Ciel stands up to greet him.

"Lau," Ciel greets, "why are you here?"

"I came here about that," Lau nods towards the list, Ciel looks back at it.

"Yes, do come and sit down, Lau," He leads Lau towards the couch where they both sit down. The woman delicately sits on Lau's lap, Lau in turn wraps his arms around her.

"Who's the pretty Lady there?" Lau asks, directing his voice towards me. I unfold my arms and walk towards them, deciding to sit on the couch opposite to them.

"Lady Isabella Ashdown," Ciel replies.

"The Queen's Dove," Lau mutters, "I've heard great things about you. They say that people can be reduced to calmness after seeing you and that you have worked miracles with criminals."

"Feeling calm yet?" I laugh.

"Strangely, yes," Lau says, "Ran-Mao would you agree?" Ran-Mao nods her head and my eyes widen.

"Well, I've heard people say I have a pure soul," I direct what I say towards Ciel, I think I see slouch back into the cushion a bit more, "anyway, I'd like to go on about the list."

"Yes, I have a question first," Lau pauses as we sit on the edge of our seats to wait for his question, "what exactly is the list about?"

"You were just acting like you knew about it!" Ciel shouts, I laugh in response but Ciel shoots me a shut-up look that reduces me to silence, "It's list of suspects who could be involved in the recent murders happening in the Thames!"