Chapter Text
The last thing Ciel had recalled was his head hitting the pillow and the lights being doused in his room. His room; not Ciel’s room, he reminded himself. He had the name now; taken it fully, but it didn’t mean everything was perfect. Things had changed. They knew the truth; his family knew that he was the spare, and now, in part because of everything that had happened, he was the official Earl. The truth had come out, and with it all the tears and horrors that had been brought on by the actions of his twin.
The deal was still on, though he’d weaseled out of it, for now. But Lizzie, his beloved Lizzie, she wanted to save him. He was still grappling with what she had told him after everything had happened. After she had realized what the truth was and what her heart had really wanted. She’d chosen him. Even after everything; even though he’d hurt her so much, and he knew it, she’d chosen to help him against the one whom she had spent her life believing she would marry.
Now what? She knew something had happened and made him the way he had become, and she promised him she would find a way to fix whatever was wrong. She swore to it. But it scared him to death. He’d made the deal with Sebastian willingly; back then, he had wanted to seek revenge and take back what he had lost. But now, things were changing. He was changing. Fourteen; he was Fourteen now. Ciel had not made it to his fourteenth birthday, but he had.
Undertaker had seen what his twin had done, but it didn’t matter to him, or rather it did, but he was still planning things. He’d helped him stop his older brother, even though he was the one that had caused that mess in the first place by bringing him back; and he said he was going to keep doing so, but helping in a way only he could. And Ciel had no idea what that would mean. Soma was by his side now as well, and Sullivan. The servants, his friends and allies, and Lau–whom he was sure was gaining benefits out of all of this–they were all going to stand with him. And of course, his loyal Butler, Sebastian, would stick with him till the end of the contract.
The question was where this was all going to go? Because now… Now he had a reason to live. He had reasons to want to stay in this world, and it terrified him. To be wanted, to be loved. He had never seen it until his brother showed him it when he had taken that love away from him. That obsession that Ciel had had with him, that sort of love he wanted nothing to do with it. But the love that was shown by the others doing everything they could to help him; and Lizzie, when she realized what had really happened and that everything he had done was because he was sure she would have hated him for being the one who lived, had forgiven him and shown him more love than he had ever felt before.
Even if Ciel wasn’t his name by birth, it was to be his name by right. He would protect that name, protect those people he was close to now, and protect her. His memories of his brother would stay with him, the kind person who he had been even if Ciel, the real Ciel, had been nothing like those memories. He would honor that version who stayed by his side and protected him with love. Ciel promised himself that he would make sure that Lizzie would never suffer the way she did again because of him. She loved him. That was what mattered at the moment.
His eyes drifted to the four-poster canopy bed for a short moment before he closed his eyes. Under the lids, he saw a flash of green for just a moment. Unsure of where the flash came from, the young Earl just ignored it and drifted off to sleep.
It took a while, but he felt a chill and then the rocking of a carriage. The sound of horse hoof beats woke him first from his slumber, and he opened his eyes. The room was dark and smelled of cinnamon and honey.
That can’t be right? Did Sebastian put out some fall pot-pourri in the bowls? He thought as he sat up, except he wasn’t laying down, he was standing up. His hand reached out and felt no comforter or covers. What the hell?
Nervously, the boy reached over to his left and felt soft velvet. It stretched for what felt like forever, then his fingers felt a corner and his hand went up to feel a wall. Ciel did the same on the other side, and his heart sank as his hands followed the wall. He was sweating and feeling dizzy.
No… No! This can’t be right! His mind was racing as he felt the fourth wall before him, the same soft, plush velvet material. The young Earl’s eyes went wide.
“Sebastian!” He shouted. “Sebastian! Answer me!”
No response. Ciel leaned forward and hit the front wall hard, screaming out again and again to his butler. His mind raced. Was he being taken again? Was this yet another kidnapping? Had he figured this all wrong and now was going to be taken back by the cult that had destroyed his life in the first place?
No, I won’t let them! He thought desperately and rocked about screaming, trying to find out what sort of room he was in. Panic set in and that brought on the coughing and the lack of air.
“Someone! Anyone! Sebastian…. Lizzie!” he cried out. Was no one going to come to him? Could they not hear him, or was he so far away from them they could not reach him? He felt sick and scared and the coughs came faster. The air was too sweet, the motion too much, and soon the young Earl couldn’t stand and slumped down against the velvet back, passing out.
He could hear it, the sound of a growl and his blue eyes opened to look up at what appeared to be a giant cat whose neck was ringed by blue flames. The beast snarled, and Ciel backed up.
“Get up!” a hand reached out and pulled him back.
“You can’t do anything now. We need you with us!” a higher voice called out to him as Ciel felt himself dragged to his feet by a pair of strong hands under his arms.
“I know this is scary and you’re upset. We are too, but we need you.” A calmer voice told him.
“We’re going to stand and fight, even if he doesn’t like it,” a growling voice told Ciel, and the boy looked around. The world was misty, with figures in black and purple robes. He couldn’t make out faces, but he could see there were several young men about his age with him.
Am I dreaming of Weston? What is happening here? The young Earl wondered and looked at the monster cat before him. The creature pawed the ground, and he saw the boys at the ready to fight.
Oddly, he felt compelled to help them, and his mouth moved, but no words came out that he could hear. But they could, it seemed. The boys ganged up on the creature and waved pens at it. Streams of light and glitter came from the pens as they attacked the giant cat. But it easily swatted them away.
“Stop it!” Ciel found his voice and ran to the cat. “Stop it this instant!”
The creature looked at him for a moment, as if recognizing him.
“You need to stop this now! Please… G…” his words were cut off as the cat creature rounded on him and swatted Ciel hard into a wall. He lost consciousness again after that.
The first thing he heard when his mind returned to a waking state was the sound of something rattling hard. He blinked and stood up. The carriage had stopped moving, the horse sounds were gone, so that meant that he was somewhere. Where that was, Ciel wasn’t certain. But he didn’t feel good. His head was swimming.
What was that dream? Where am I now? And how do I get out of what I’m in? He was thinking. The rattle came again, and he decided one thing. No one was going to take him captive again.
“Is someone out there?” He called to the sound. Who is making that noise, anyway?
When he heard a voice, he paused. Someone was out there.
“I better hurry up and find that uniform before someone spots me…” the voice sounded young to Ciel, and he wrinkled his nose.
Uniform? What uniform? He glanced around, but the darkness in the room, or the box, or whatever he was in, made it impossible to see. He had to be somewhere where there were uniforms. So that only left a few places, and the one he dreaded was one that had a robe as a uniform.
The person on the other side struggled, and Ciel could hear them trying to dig something sharp into stone or some similar material. “Urggh… This lid weighs a ton!”
The boy made a face. A lid? So it’s a box of some sort. I’m in a box… Well, I am NOT staying in here!
Ciel dug his fingers into the walls of velvet to find a good grip and hoisted himself up. He lifted his knees up just as the voice was saying.
“Try this on for size! Mya-ha!” and he kicked out as blue flames blew the lid off. His foot found a target, felt something soft, and heard a muffled ouch, and the young Earl tossed himself out of the box to land with a thud on the floor, surrounded by blue flames for a moment.
What was that?! Who lit a fire?!
The floor was cold and of dark marble tile, and he could feel it through his night clothing. Looking around, he saw coffins of all sizes and felt panic grip his chest. What sort of place was this? The last time he’d seen coffins of this nature, Bizarre Dolls had attacked him. Zombies with only part of their soul inside of them. He shuddered, recalling his twin and what he truly had been. Ciel stood up and realized his jump had only landed him a few inches from the coffin he had been trapped inside. The gray-haired boy shuddered and stepped back, only to hear a voice behind him.
“Now to grab the goods…”
Turning, he came face to face with what looked like a floating plush cat toy, like the ones he sold at Funtom Toys. In fact, as he examined it for a moment. It looked a bit like the icon for his confections line, minus the crown, and he certainly didn’t have flaming blue ear tuffs, though it had a black and white bow on the back, but not a pitchfork for a tail.
The cat creature screamed, “What?! You ain’t supposed to be awake!” It blinked at him. “Hey you just kicked me didn’t you?!”
Ciel stared in shock and then commented. “Why is a cat talking?”
“How… How DARE YOU! I am no CAT!”
“You certainly look like one,” the Earl was saying.
“I am not a CAT! I’m Grim, sorcerer extraordinaire!” the cat shouted at him and Ciel scowl as he gave the creature an aloof look.
“I beg your pardon! Don’t you dare scream at me like that; what are you anyway? A stuffed animal? Is this some sort of twisted trick someone is playing on me?”
“I’ll yell at you if I want. You just kicked me in the face!” shouted the cat called Grim.
“Are you any worse for wear?” Ciel asked him and Grim shook his head. “Then you shouldn’t be shouting. It’s as simple as that.”
“You…” Grim said, then shook his head. “Well, whatever.” He smirked at Ciel, who crossed his arms. “Hey Human…”
“I have a name. I am Earl Ciel Phantomhive.” He told the cat, who just rolled his eyes. Ciel glared at him.
“Don’t care.” Grim waved it off. “Just gimme your clothes already.”
Ciel looked down at his nightshirt and then up at Grim. “You want my night clothing? Why?”
Grim snapped at him. “Not your nightgown…”
“Nightshirt,” corrected Ciel.
“Whatever! The uniform! Hand it over.” Grim pointed at the uniform. “Gimme your uniform and be quick about it!”
Ciel stared at the uniform on the floor that was in the coffin that had been in and then back at the floating cat called Grim. He crossed his arms. “And if I won’t?”
“Cause if you don’t…” Grim suddenly set a blaze of blue fire around them. “You’re gonna regret it.”
Ciel stared at the fire and then at the cat. He picked up the uniform and held it out to the cat, who seemed pleased, then the boy smirked at him.
“No, I don’t think so. Not till you tell me where I am.” Ciel pulled the uniform back, and once more the cat creature screamed in rage.
“Stop throwing a temper-tantrum you little brat!” Ciel barked at him. “This is why I can’t stand cats!”
“I… AM…. NOT… A…. CAT!!!” shrieked Grim and sent a blast of fire at Ciel, who saw it light a bit of the coffin on fire. He realized then that this was either the most elaborate prank he had ever had played on him, or something seriously wrong had happened between the time he had fallen to sleep and woken up in the coffin.
In either event, he wasn’t about to stick around and batted the creature called Grim aside, then ran from the room carrying the uniform with him.
“Why you…! Stop right there!” Grim shouted and chased after the shorter boy.
Down the hall Ciel ran, His eyes took in everything they could. He raced down a stone open air hallway that reminded him of the walkways of Weston College. Just beyond the open arches he could see a garden with a moat and a long wall or bridge. He wasn’t sure. The velvet carpet was a nice feeling on his feet, if he cared to think about at the moment. But running away from a strange talking cat that could shoot fire was all that mattered to the boy.
How did he get there? Why was he there in the first place? And where was Sebastian when he needed him?!
Ciel ducked into a room and hid for a moment or so as the cat creature flew on by. He glanced around for the moment to catch his breath and saw lead windows that reminded him of the windows back at his own mansion. Rows of desks were lined up along the wall right under the windows on both sides of the room. A teaching desk sat in the middle with books and there were bookcases filled with books on either side of the desk and a strangely shaped black board behind the desk.
Cautiously, after a few minutes, Ciel peeked from the room and tried to sneak out, only for Grim to round the corner.
“Found you!” the cat yelled, and Ciel booked it. Charging down the hallway again. He pulled himself through an open window under an arch in the open air hallway and landed on the grass on the other side. Not stopping, he raced down a path, the ground hurting the soles of his feet. There was an apple tree and a well, which he found odd, given that no colleges he knew of had wells in the center of their courtyards.
In the distance he could he could see the lights in one window that was high up in what appeared to be a castle.
If I can find out who has the lights on, I can figure out where I am. But first I need to get rid of this pest of a cat!
Moving as quickly as he could, and praying he didn’t collapse from all the running he was doing, the young boy wove his way through the multitude of dark corridors to the Library. He stopped and shut the door, hoping it would keep the cat out. Panting, he leaned on a shelf and looked around. The dark green light gave the place an eerie glow, and he could hear his heart beating in his ears, calling to mind the TellTale Heart by the American author Poe that he had read a year back for Halloween.
Ugh. Why am I thinking of that story now? He wondered, and tried to calm his breathing down. If he didn’t, the asthma would cause him to feel lightheaded from lack of air.
“If this is a dream, I’m ready to wake up, and if this is a prank, there is going to be hell to pay for someone.” Ciel muttered as he coughed and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His chest hurt and he needed to sit. Just as he was about to, blue flames erupted and he found that the cat creature had teleported into the room.
“You’re right, you’re not a cat. You are a demon.” Ciel uttered to himself as he looked at Grim with an annoyed expression.
“Foolish human!” Grim told him.
“I have a name. It’s Ciel Phantomhive! Try using it.”
Grim ignored his comment and went on monologuing, “Did you really think you could slip away from ME?”
Ciel raised his head to look Grim in the eye and smirked. “Well, I got pretty damn far from you, did I not?”
Grim growled, “You call that far?”
“I would say so, yes.” Ciel said and held the clothing tight to his chest. He wasn’t about to hand over anything to this wretched cat.
“You really think you’re so smart, don’t you?” Grim said to him and Ciel smirked again. He knew he was smart. It was one of the few things he could pride himself on being. “Well Mr. Smarty, unless you wanna get burned to a crisp, hand over that…”
Ciel saw it flick fast and hard through the air and land squarely on Grim’s back. A loud crack of a whip echoed in the relatively silent room. Grim’s reaction was of shock and pain as he meowed in the vein of a cat.
“Me-YEOW! That hurt! What gives?”
“Consider it tough love.” A male voice called out from the shadows and from those shadows Ciel saw a strange man appear. He was dressed in an extravagant, slightly elegant, but very eccentric looking outfit. A silk black top hat with a royal blue band perched upon his head, with a strange decoration of a mirror with keys and a feather. His oily black like hair framed his face, and a black raven mask with two yellow eyes stared back at Ciel and the creature called Grim. The blue color spread over his turned-up collar, with gold trim, and a cape with raven and crow feathers covered his shoulders. He had on a period accurate white shirt and tie, which reminded him of the Grim Reaper uniform, with a black vest that was made of odd material he couldn’t place. The man spoke with a tone of authority, so Ciel had to assume he was someone that worked there.
The man’s eyes fixed upon him, and Ciel raised a brow as he spoke. “Ah, I’ve found you at last. Splendid. I trust you’re one of this year’s new students?”
Ciel blinked, confused. “Who? Me? What are you talking about?”
“Of course you.” The man said directly, and his brow creased. “You are a new student. My, were you ever eager to make your debut?”
“I think you have me confused for someone else.” Ciel explained to him. “I’m not a new student here.”
“And he brings humor with him too, along with a poorly trained familiar.” The strangely dressed man said and Ciel scowled slightly as the man crossed his arms. “That is a clear violation of the school’s rules.”
“That,” the young Earl pointed to Grim and grimaced. “Is not my cat. My familiar, if you can call him that, is at home, and more than likely paying you along with someone to create this foolish prank.”
“As if I’d serve some lowly human! Now lemme go!” Grim exclaimed as he was being held by the stranger in the top hat.
The man stared at him, puzzled, and then sighed. “There’s always one every year.”
Ciel rubbed his head. If this was a hoax, it was a very elaborate one. He glanced at the cat creature, who was now trying to pull free of the man’s iron grip. If he wasn’t so annoyed with the beast, Ciel would feel some sympathy for him… almost.
His attention turned back to the man who was speaking as he did something to Grim. “Yes, yes. Rebellious familiars always say that. Do be quiet for a bit, won’t you?”
Grim’s mouth seemed to be zipped up by something and Ciel couldn’t tell what it was. The man then spoke to him directly.
“Dear me. Of all the students I’ve dealt with, you’re the first with the temerity enough to open their own gate and step out of it.”
Gate? What is he going on about? And school? This clearly isn’t Weston, nor does it look like any school I’ve ever seen drawings of. So where in the world am I, exactly?
“Does the very notion of patience elude you?” the man asked.
“I can assure you, sir. It does not.” Ciel told him, and the man looked at him quizzically.
“Then why did you open your own gate?”
“Again, I have no idea what gate you’re speaking of,” Ciel insisted, and he felt the man look him over as if he just noticed something.
“And why are you not in your uniform? Did you forget to get dressed, or did you assume you would be able to when you got here?” the man in the top hat sighed and then flicked his fingers. A moment later, Ciel found himself out of his night clothing and in the uniform that he had taken with him from the coffin. He blinked and stared at the man. Was he a demon, too? Had he died and now was in hell or something? If this was hell, it was prettier than he thought it would be.
“There now. Better.” He glanced at a pocket watch. “No matter. Your orientation has already begun. Let us return to the Mirror Chamber.”
“The large room with the floating coffins?” Ciel inquired, and the man nodded and Ciel crossed his arms. “I’m afraid I won’t be going anywhere with you until you tell me what you mean by Gate.”
The man in the top hat looked a bit surprised by his comment. “You awakened in a room full of gates, did you not?”
“I awoke in a room full of floating coffins. That’s where I woke.” Ciel spat back harshly. He was exhausted from running and his chest was still sore. This man was not helping his feeling of panic, and the cat creature had tried to burn him alive. A simple answer would have been nice rather than this elaborate discussion.
“All of the students here at the campus arrived by passing through such gates.” The man with the feathered cape explained to him and Ciel listened quietly, assuming that the man was talking about the coffin he woke up in. The man had looked away, muttering to himself more than to Ciel, and crossed his arms. “Although typically the students have restraint enough to wait until I open them before waking up.”
“So those coffins are like gateways?” Ciel asked, and the man smiled for once.
“Precisely.”
“And gateways work by summoning?” he carefully asked, still wondering if he was dealing with yet another demon. After all, the only gateways he knew of were the dangerous kind that let in things that shouldn’t be let into the world. Then again, monsters roamed about in human form, so demons coming in made little a difference in his opinion on how dangerous the world was.
“Yes. But you knew this already,” the man looked at him puzzled and Ciel glanced at Grim as he spoke.
“I think that THING blew the lid off of mine.” He motioned to Grim, who shouted something in a muffled voice. “Rude.”
“Obviously, the culprit appears to be that familiar of yours.” The man put his hands on his hips and glared at Grim.
“He’s not my pet.” Ciel again insisted. “I don’t even know him.”
The odd-looking man in the top hat still wasn’t listening, and Ciel was getting frustrated. “You’re the one who insisted on bringing it…”
“No, I did not. It’s not mine.”
“So curtailing its behavior is your responsibility!” the man concluded, and Ciel huffed.
“Why am I responsible for something that doesn’t belong to me?”
“Because it is your familiar,” insisted the feather man. Ciel wanted to scream. Why is this fool not listening to a word I say regarding the bloody cat?! “But now is not the time for such prattle.”
“You’re the one speaking nonsense here, not I!” Ciel felt his voice raise up as the man looked over to Grim and seemed to think of something.
“You’ve a student orientation to attend!”
“I told you, I have no idea what you are talking about, and I am no student of your school.” He put his foot down. “This is ridiculous!”
“Go on, now. Make haste.” The top hat man instructed, and Ciel took a few calming breaths before staring at the man in an aloof manner befitting his station.
“Before I leave, I have two questions for you.”
“And that would be?” the man asked in a tone that showed a bit of annoyance at having more of a discussion with him.
“First, just tell me: where am I?” Ciel asked of him. “And second, I wish to know, who are you?”
The man stroked his chin, folding one arm across his chest and cupping his right elbow. He seemed genuinely perplexed by Ciel’s question. “Hm? Have you not fully regained consciousness?”
If I was still asleep, I would have forced myself awake from this mess of a dream. The young Earl thought.
“The time-space teleportation must have addled your memories…” the man pondered, and Ciel stared at him, utterly confused. The words he was using Ciel could only connect to the newly emerging Science fiction genre. The young Earl felt his temper rise as he spoke.
“My memories are not addled, but yours clearly are if you can’t tell I’m not one of your students. And I can tell you, I do not know who you are nor where I am.” he put his hand on his hip. This was so elaborate he worried that this game, or whatever it was, wasn’t a prank on him anymore.
“I’m certain that it’s simply your memories are a bit out of sorts, but for now,” the man said as he pushed Ciel from the room and the young Earl made a face being ushered along. “I shall explain it to you while we walk. Truly, my magnanimity is boundless.”
Truly, your ineptitude is infinite, it seems. Ciel thought as they walked from the library, Grim being dragged along with them. As they exited outside, Ciel found himself back in the strange courtyard with the well and the apple tree. Stepping quickly to keep up with the taller eccentrically dressed man, the young Earl pulled his bangs down over his right eye as to make sure the contract mark was covered. He knew he would have to get a patch for it, but for now this would have to do, other than closing the one eye if anyone looked at him too close.
Clearing his throat, the top hat man spoke. “This is Night Raven College.”
So it’s a school then. I should have figured given the uniform. But how in the world did I wind up in a college? Ciel gently nodded his head, showing that he was listening.
“It is an institution for students the world over who demonstrate a rare aptitude for magic.”
Well, that excludes me, unless you count the contract. He instantly thought of Sebastian and wondered if there was some sort of connection to that which made him travel there. But that couldn’t be right either, unless controlling a demon counted as magic use.
“It is the most prestigious academy of its sort in all of Twisted Wonderland.” The man went on and Ciel looked at him, confused again.
“Twisted Wonderland? As in Wonderland, the world created by Lewis Carroll?”
The man blinked. “Lewis Carroll? Who is this person you’re speaking of?”
“The writer of Alice in Wonderland.” Ciel informed him and the man stared at him, confused.
“Is that a story from where you’re from?” the Earl nodded and the man shrugged gently. “I’ve not heard of such a book.”
What? How could he not? Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was a rather well-loved book, one which Ciel could easily recall his mother and father reading to him and his brother at night before bed. He found himself even more confused by all of this and trying yet again not to panic.
“Well then, that’s a shame for you.” He shrugged and let the man continue as they hurried along down the courtyard path.
“And I am Dire Crowley.” He gave a hat tip to Ciel, who returned it with a proper bow. “Having been entrusted with its care by the chairman, I serve as headmage.”
“Headmage? Chairman? So the school is owned by someone else?” It was the first thing that made sense to him in a while. Weston had a board of directors, and the headmaster was the one that took care of things. If this wasn’t some sort of giant joke, and there was magic wherever this Twisted Wonderland was, then it would make sense that there would be magic schools for students to attend to learn, just as there was academies for students to attend back home. Though the title headmage was an odd choice.
“Yes, that is correct.” Headmage Crowley explained to him, and Ciel gave a short nod, though his eyes caught Grim trying to wiggle free of Crowley’s grasp.
“So if that’s the case, then I take it that the Chairman decided on who comes into the school?”
Crowley tilted his head a moment, then shook it. “Incorrect.”
“Then how did I get here?” Ciel asked, and the man waved the question with a quick response.
“Only those who the Dark Mirror perceives as having a talent for magic are admitted to the college. Those who are selected are summoned to the campus through those ‘gates,’ which can appear anywhere.”
Ciel pinched his chin as they walked and took in the information as best he could, saying. “So this Dark Mirror chooses students based on what it sees as talent and then sends a gate to pick them up and bring them to the academy, and they can appear anywhere and, I assume, at any time?”
“That is correct. It seems your memories are not as addled as I first believed.” Crowley looked pleased by this, and Ciel just lowered his eyelids with a ‘meh’ expression. But then the questions rolled around in his mind.
Who is this chairman who chose this man to become the head of this college, and what were the specifications about that? Are there boards of directors as well? And what is this Dark Mirror and how does it know who to choose? Is it watching future students all the time? Or is there a point where it can sense things, and if it can sense magic, can it sense the contract? If that’s the case, then it’s reading Sebastian’s magic. But how did it know where to find me? Am I really supposed to be here at all? And who made this mirror that he’s speaking of?
With so many questions he didn’t know which to ask first, but Crowley plowed on through, not giving him a chance to ask. “A black carriage bearing one such gate should have come to meet you.”
“Meet me?” Ciel asked and thought hard. “I only recall a little. Maybe there was a scary-looking horse? Or did we cross a dark forest?” He shook his head. “I don’t remember seeing much, to be honest. I could hear things, a carriage, and horses. If that’s what you’re talking about, then I remember that. But I don’t recall meeting it. I was asleep in my bed when I woke up in that… ah… gate, as you call it.”
Crowley nodded to him, apparently understanding what he was talking about. “That black carriage serves to receive a student chosen by the Dark Mirror. It too bears a gate that connects to this campus. And as you know, sending a carriage to meet someone on a special day is a time-honored tradition.”
Ciel raised an eyebrow. “If the carriage is also a gate, and acts as a delivery system for the Dark Mirror, then does that mean that it can go anywhere? And what do you mean by special day?”
“The black carriage can indeed travel just about anywhere, even under water.” Crowley proudly informed him, and Ciel wanted to laugh.
The horses would drown if they did that. But chose not to ask questions and just give a slight smile and nod. He would play his part for now.
“So this time-honored tradition comes from where exactly? And since I have never heard of such a thing, wouldn’t that mean that the carriage dragged me here against my will?” the Earl crossed his arms. “Such actions will not be tolerated, and the more you talk about these things, the more I question the veracity of your claims.”
“Your humor differs greatly from what I’m used to with most of the students, but I feel you will fit right in.” Crowley happily told him. “Carriages are the vehicle of choice for special occasions. Is that not what conventional wisdom has taught in the past?”
“Sometimes it’s true that they are, but carriages can also be nothing more than a means of travel.” Ciel told him. Carriages were always around in London. You couldn’t walk the streets without running into one or a cab. “What I want to know is what a ‘special day’ is?”
The answer he wanted he did not receive, as Grim made noises forcing his attention back on the cat creature. “Mmfff! Mmmmmmfff!”
“Cat got your tongue?” Ciel teased him and Grim grimaced at the gray-haired boy.
“Now, let us attend to your orientation.” The headmage insisted, and he ushered Ciel back into the room of many floating coffins.
When the boy stepped into the room, he took a long look at the place. Above, pearl beading dangled from the rafters to the ceiling where a large and looming dark chandelier hung overhead. A mix of wrought iron twisted into various floral shapes and curves, and a multitude of delicate dark silver chains. The whole thing was illuminated by glowing purple crystals. Archways curved over columns whose tops were lit by glowing lamps that cast a pink and purple, orange glow around the room. The arches were decorated with ebony, embossed thorn patterns with single black roses in the center. Windows with iron like lattice work of thorns showed out to the night sky, and dark wine colored drapes were suspended behind the archways. Above them, Ciel noted gold trim designs on the deep purple black painted walls. In fact, everything was a black or purple color.
The room was circular, which gave him a chill as his mind recalled his time in the Blue Sphere music hall where a huge part of his troubles began. Standing on the floor were tall candelabras fashioned into baby breath flower stalks, with seven glowing candles. He was curious why the number seven seemed so important there.
Around the room floated dark metal coffins with gold etched into the front of the lid, along with a glowing green window and a gold keyhole. That’s probably how they let the students out of the coffins.
In the center of the circular room sat a three tiered stone fountain that gushed with green water and made him feel unwell. He wasn’t sure if it was water or some form of slime. Whatever it was, there wasn’t any terrible smell coming from it. Floating above the fountain was a dark mirror, its wooden frame as black as ebony, and he was sure it was made of the same wood. Silver metal decorations wove around the frame, in Celtic like patterns, but coming closer, Ciel could see it was two twin snakes with their mouths open, baring their fangs, their tail near their open maws. Matching silver disks with dark gray disks sandwiched in-between the two pair of silvers, sat below the snakes, and below the sets of three disks was each a set of a circle like baubles, with a dark black stone in the center making them look like eyeballs.
The bottom of the mirror had silver mental line decorations, similar to antique mirrors he saw back home, with one silver disk and black stone at the very bottom. Around that last silver looking eyeball there was floral swirls that gave Ciel the impression of a necklace, and at the very top crowning the frame was what looked like a temple, with three pearls holding up a roof with a black stone in the center. Above that were five small platforms and upon each perched a single white pearl. The center of the mirror was tinted black as night, and Ciel could see nothing in it.
That must be the Dark Mirror, He thought, observing the item before him and then looked over the room once more.
This school must have money if it can afford such luxurious items. He surmised as he gazed at the students, who were now chattering around the room. Ciel hung to the back, keeping a keen eye on anyone that he could see as important. His blue eyes laid upon a small group in the front who wore dark robes and he narrowed his gaze.
“Those look like the robes worn in my dream.” He was muttering, and Crowley glanced over at him.
“Did you say something?”
Ciel glanced up and shook his head. “No, just wondering why they’re wearing robes.”
“Ah, those are the Housewardens.” He motioned to the group and Ciel saw a boy step forward and his eyes went wide, and his blood ran cold. While not exactly, he felt like he was staring his twin in the face once more.
No, he died. He’s dead. This is someone else. The young earl thought. He tried to steady his heart, which was racing with some fear. He took a breath and tried to calm down again. He’s dead. You saw him die. Ciel is dead. You’re Ciel now. Calm yourself.
The red-haired boy gazed around with sharp blue eyes that Ciel felt could rival his own. He had been told he had his mother’s eyes, and wondered if the same could be said of this boy in the hooded robe. When he spoke, some of the tension released as he sounded nothing like his brother and Ciel noticed though that he had some mannerism that were similar to his own.
The boy in the robe put a hand on his hip. “We’re done with orientation and dorm assignments?”
Ciel moved closer to get a better view of what they were wearing. The black robes had gold lace like embroidery on the hood, and sleeves. The blue, purple color that was on the band around Crowley’s top hat made up the inner lining of the robes, and the waistband. Gold embroidery was here as well, and upon the long-sleeved shirt that the boy wore with a high tight collar around his neck. Ciel had never seen this sort of shirt before, as he was used to button ups. The gold embroidery was on the collarbone and framed the boy’s neck. The sleeves slipped down onto the boy’s finger and a candy looking buckle held the waistband in place. The whole thing looked overly dramatic to the young Earl, but he was used to the fanciful fashions that Lizzie had fallen in love with and his tailor Nina Hopkins made for him.
She would love this look. Best not mention it when I get back. He thought as the red-headed boy continued to his classmates.
“All right, new Students–let me be clear. At Heartslabyul House, I am the law. Break the rules and it’s off with your head!”
Ciel furrowed his brow as he rested his fingers on his chin. More with Alice in Wonderland? It must be a theme here. He would really need to talk to Sebastian about this when he got back to see exactly what was going on here.
A loud yawn drew his attention away from the first boy and to a taller, second robed one. Once more, he felt his eyes go wide some. The boy looked a bit like Prince Soma, though once more there were differences. His brown hair had two sets of braids that framed his face, and he seemed far lazier than Soma ever did. And Soma certainly didn’t have what appeared to be rounded cat ears sticking up on his head. At least Ciel assumed they were ears given their shape under the hood.
“Well,” the boy with the braids commented with his eyes closed. “That ceremony was as boring as ever.”
Glad we missed it then, Ciel thought and then noticed that the young man had green eyes when he opened them and a pair of fangs. Then he noticed the swishing tail, and the panic was growing again. He was operating on the assumption that this was all a trick, a gag, some sort of prank or joke that Sullivan or even the P4 had put together. But the more things went on, the more he was again doubting that the idea that this was a hoax was the actual truth.
If this is makeup, then it is exceptional. He grimaced.
“I’m going back to the dorm.” The cat boy said. “If you’re in Savanaclaw House, follow me.”
A third student in the elegant black robes called to his classmates. Ciel could make out locks of light lavender hair, and blue eyes, with sharp black glasses; something about the young man’s stance made him think of the Grim Reaper named Ronald that he’d met several times. Though the personality was different. Ciel wondered if everyone there was some sort of dream like personification of the people he knew.
So either I’m dreaming still, or whoever these people are, they certainly look very much like those I’ve met. He tilted his head, watching the young man in glasses. The smile on his face seemed faked, as he knew how to make those smiles very well. He could practically do them in his sleep.
“New students,” the glasses wearing boy called out. “Allow me to be the first to congratulate you on your achievement.” The boy crossed his arms and there was a hint of a smirk on his face, making Ciel’s lips twitch some as he was pleased that he’d caught onto the act of the glasses wearing student. “As dorm leader of Octavinelle House, I am honored to have the opportunity to support you in what I hope will be a fulfilling campus experience.”
Sounds more like a sales pitch than a genuine welcoming. Ciel thought, and then a new boy caught his attention. The boy had blonde hair with hints of purple tint on the bottom. His first thought was of how doll like this young man looked, his second thought was of how much the doll-like look must have been to appeal to others for a vanity aspect, and the third thought was that this young man had to have reasons for making himself look so delicate and attractive.
Why does it feel like I’m looking at my Aunt Francis? Ciel was pondering as the young man motioned to the others there, asking.
“Hey, does anyone know where the headmage went? He disappeared midway through the ceremony…”
Ciel glanced at Crowley. He must have noticed that the coffin I was in was broken open and the person inside wasn’t there. Meaning he had no idea about who this gate brought over to them. Which means he may not be a part of this prank. Then if this isn’t a prank, what is it? Have I truly traveled to a different world?
A strange glass pane with a set of three triangles in a large circle in the center, with three circles on the bottom floated in the air and spoke. “Some headmage he is.”
“What is that?!” Ciel asked Crowley.
“A tablet.” He explained and glanced at Ciel curiously as the boy still looked confused. “Do they not have them where you are?” The Earl shook his head. “Ah, well then, never mind. I’m sure your classmates will explain it to you.”
Ciel snorted. The talking glass pane is right. Some headmage he is indeed.
A boy with white hair and red eyes spoke up next, hands on his hips. While the way he looked drew thoughts of Agni to Ciel’s mind, and he felt a wave of sadness wash over him for a moment, his tone of voice reminded him of Soma, which was odd. Again, he was confused why these people gave him nostalgic feelings.
“Maybe he had a tummy-ache?”
Ciel noticed Crowley slip back to the doors and slip out for a moment, only to dramatically burst in a second later, slamming them open. He felt his eyes roll as the man declared. “I most certainly did not!”
The Earl sighed and covered his face. Why was he saddled with such a weirdo as a guide at the moment?
The boy that looked like him spoke up first. “Speak of the devil.”
“If you must know,” Crowley stalked over to the front of the room near the mirror where the others were at. “I was searching for the new student who’d failed to show for orientation.”
All eyes turned to Ciel, who held his head up. He wasn’t about to be intimidated by the lot of them. He was the Earl Phantomhive, the Queen’s Watchdog. No bunch of noble brats would make him feel unnerved.
“You are the only one who has yet to be assigned a dorm.” Crowley insisted and motioned for him to come forward. “Step up to the Dark Mirror and be quick about it.”
Ciel did so with no hesitation. So he had been right. This was the Dark Mirror that Crowley had spoken of. Still, he found the whole thing silly, but figured that he needed to play along for the moment. He was sure when he walked up there, there would be some sort of moment of ‘surprise’ and those behind this prank would come out laughing and cheering that they got one over on the Earl. He hated the idea of having to give them this, but he would go with it, anyway.
“I’ll watch your weasel.” Crowley was saying as he was holding Grim.
“He’s a cat,” Ciel corrected and then added quickly. “And he’s not mine.”
Grim let out a muffled growl as Ciel passed by him and stood before the mirror that hovered over the fountain. To his slight shock, green flame burst forth from the bottom of the frame, illuminating the darkness inside the mirror. Coming forth through those flames, a Venetian mask appeared. Its face looked carved, and over its hallow eyes was a black butterfly like mask with swirls and feathered flourishes. Netting hugged its brows and gave it a more otherworldly look. Its large lips open slowly and it spoke bluntly in a deep voice that echoed behind the glass.
“State your name.”
Ciel wanted to roll his eyes again, but spoke as politely as he could, given the situation.
“Earl Ciel Phantomhive.”
“We do not need a title.” The mirror intoned and Ciel made a face. He did not like being back talked to like that. His title was part of who he was, and he was proud of that title.
“Ciel Phantomhive.” He said again, this time without the title to his name.
“Ciel,” the Dark Mirror intoned as it stared blankly into his blue eyes. “The nature of your soul is…”
Black as night? Broken into a thousand pieces? Just repairing itself? He thought of several things it could say, but didn’t think of the answer that was given after several moments of silence.
“… unclear to me.”
Ciel blinked. What did that mean? Unclear to it? What was it looking for that would have made it clear? Unless, once again, the contract was affecting him, and thus what this mirror perceived.
Crowley looked shocked for a second, then crossed his arms. “What did you just say?”
“I sense no magical power from this one. Soundless. Colorless. Shapeless. Utterly vacant.” The Dark Mirror replied, and a whisper ran through the student body. Even Ciel felt a strange sense of anger run through him at the words spoken. He knew he had no magic in him. That was true. But was his soul now so utterly devoid of anything that this mirror could sense nothing from it? Or was it just looking for the magic? He had to hope that was the case. Otherwise, what was that soul going to be like in the future?
“Therefore, no dorm would be appropriate.” The Mirror concluded. Ciel glanced over at Crowley. Once more murmurs ran though the group of students assembled and they looked at one another, confused, and then curiously at him. He was sure some were going to make remarks, but held his mouth shut.
“Are you suggesting that the black carriage went to receive a person who cannot even use magic?” the headmage questioned the Mirror. His shocked face telling a tale that words couldn’t.
That’s exactly what it’s saying, you idiot. Ciel thought as Crowley went on.
“But that is absurd! The student selection process has not erred once in its century of existence!” Dire Crowley cupped his chin as he muttered. “How could this have happened?”
Because you rely on a talking mirror to choose people to attend your school. Ciel gave him an exasperated look. He turned his gaze though to Grim when the cat creature made louder noises.
“Mmmph! Nnnrgggh…” and then spit out the gag that Crowley had put in his mouth and gasped. He narrowed his brow and spoke up. “ME! Let ME have this student’s seat!”
“Not so fast, you hyperactive weasel!” Crowley crowed at him, hands on his hips and glaring at Grim.
“He’s a cat.” Ciel again told him and Grim shot back.
“I am NOT a WEASEL! NOT a CAT!” he rounded on Ciel, pointing at him with his small paw. “Unlike that human…”
“I have a name. It’s Ciel.” The boy frowned at him and Grim waved off the comment and went on.
“I can actually use magic! So let me be a student here!”
“Look, I’ll show you! My spells’re the cat’s meow!” Grim told them, and Ciel’s eyes went wide.
This can’t be good. “Don’t do anything dumb…” He was saying when the redhead shouted to everyone in the room.
“Everyone, get down!”
Ciel ducked as Grim unleashed a loud cat like yowl, and blue flames engulfed the room for a few seconds, and then died out. Smoke billowed around and Ciel covered his mouth. This was bad. Really bad. If he couldn’t get in fresh air, it could trigger an attack, and then what? He’d pass out, and who knew what could happen then? None of the people here knew about his condition and he wanted to avoid that if he could.
He heard a scream from the red-eyed boy, “AHHHHH! HELP! I’m on fire over here!”
“Someone catch that blasted animal before it sets the entire school ablaze!” Crowley commanded, anger burning in his voice.
Ciel stood up and reached out for Grim. “YOU STUPID CAT! What did you do?” He held in a cough as he tried to grab at the flying animal. This was why he hated cats, not to mention his allergies to them.
“Who are you calling a Stupid Cat!” shouted Grim back to him and he wacked at his hand with his tail.
“You, you damn brat! You’re causing me more trouble, and you’re not even mine to begin with!” Ciel yelled at him.
“Ugh. Can I go now, or…?” complained the boy with the cat-ears, and Ciel snorted.
Lazy. What a lazy… He was thinking when the fancy looking blonde quickly cut in.
“Oh? I thought you fancied yourself a hunter.” The blonde boy smirked at the cat boy, hands on his hips. “Go and help yourself to that plump little morsel!”
“Too much effort. Do it yourself.” Insisted the cat boy, and he turned away from the blonde. Ciel growled to himself.
“Lazy selfish nobles. I can’t stand them.”
“Allow me to handle this, Headmage Crowley,” the boy with the glasses insisted as he pushed them up. He smirked in a way that made Ciel dislike him even more, because he knew his offer would come at a price. People like that always did things for some sort of benefit of their own. “If none of you are up to the task of catching a small animal, I will accept the responsibility.”
Ciel jumped, trying to catch the dodging Grim, who kept pulling faces on him.
“When I get my hands on you, I swear I will pluck your whiskers off! You Stupid Cat!”
“IF you can catch me! Which you can’t, you bratty human!” Grim shouted back to him and stuck his tongue out at Ciel. The Earl scowled deeply. If he had had time, he could have come up with a plan, but the smoke and the noise, and everything, was giving him anxiety. He needed this to end, and soon.
“Way to go, Azul.” The floating glass pane, also called a tablet, said to the glasses wearing boy. “Rackin’ up those participation credits.”
Could they just speak normally for once?! Ciel thought as he dodged a swipe from Grim who he’d caught the foot of. All these fools were doing nothing but talking and not taking action, and he wasn’t sure if he could hang on to the cat for much longer.
“Just get down here, you dumb Cat, and apologize to them. Maybe you won’t get punished for your imbecilic actions here!”
Grim tried to shake him off. “Let me go! You’re asking for it if you don’t, you brat!”
“I’m not letting go, and this is your fault for setting fire to the room.” He got out before a cough wracked his body.
“Hey, um, my butt’s still on fire…” the red-eyed boy said and tried batting it out with his hand. “Could someone maybe put this out?!”
Are all of them incompetent? Ciel thought as he desperately pulled at Grim, trying to yank him down. This would be so much easier if Sebastian were here. Hell, it would be easier if Lizzie were here! She could get this Stupid Cat to come down with one of her smiles.
“I’m sorry, were my instructions unclear?!” Crowley looked livid, and Ciel could understand why. He gritted his teeth and pulled at Grim, who pulled back.
“Get down here! This minute!” Ciel was telling the cat creature, and Grim shook his head.
“Not a chance!”
The lazy cat boy sighed deeply. “Preeetty sure you can handle catching one mangy weasel all on your lonesome there, headmage.”
“He’s not a WEASEL,” Ciel shouted, “He’s a CAT! And as a cat yourself, maybe you can do something.”
The boy turned his attention to Ciel. “What did you just call me?”
“A cat!” He held out his hand. “Maybe you have some catnip in your pockets?”
The boy stared at him for a second, then narrowed his brow and growled as some students seemed to chuckle lightly, but a glare from the cat boy shut them up.
“How many times do I gotta say it?” Grim protested loudly. “I’m Grim, spellcaster extraordinaire! I am NOT a weasel! And I am NOT a cat!”
“You are right,” Ciel tried to make his voice sound kind and Grim looked down at him, distracted for the moment.
“So you finally see it my way.” The cat creature grinned at him, “well nice to know you don’t think I’m a cat now.”
“No, you’re not just a cat….” Ciel glared. “You’re the dumbest, most infuriating, Stupid Cat I’ve ever had the displeasure of meeting!”
“Why you!” Grim tried to pull back, but Ciel had tightened his grip on the plush toy, and wasn’t about to let go, even if he got bitten or scratched. He suffered worse pain than what this Grim creature could dole out.
The boy named Azul spoke up to the redhead that was standing beside him. “Aren’t you a spunky little fellow? Riddle, would you be so kind…?”
“Furry miscreant. I will abide no rule-breaking.” The boy, known as Riddle, stated, and raised his hand, aiming it at Grim. “You will be judged by my hand.”
“OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!”
A second later, Ciel was blinded by a flash of light, and when he looked back up at Grim, he found the cat now with a black and red collar around his neck with a lock on it. Grim looked as shocked as he felt.
“MYAH?! What are you doing?”
Ciel wondered the same thing. What was this collar? What did it do exactly and how did the boy conjure it? The reality of the situation crept fully into his mind. This wasn’t some play or prank, he really was in some other world.
Where the hell am I?
Riddle came over and glanced at Ciel, then looked up at Grim. “The Queen of Hearts’s Rule 23: ‘One must never bring a cat to a formal affair.’”
Up close, Ciel could see that the boy was slightly taller than he was, and with the slight added height from the heels, he was sure he would be on par with Lizzie if he was standing flat. He glanced at the redhead, unsure if he was implying him with the comment or just Grim. Still, a part of him didn’t like the accusation that he was partly to blame for the actions of this stupid, selfish cat.
“Your very presence here is a violation of order.” Riddle went on speaking to Grim. “You will vacate these premises immediately.”
“But I ain’t a cat either!” Grim insisted and Ciel sighed, shaking his head. Did this creature never look into a mirror? “Don’t you try’n collar me! I’ll burn it right off!”
Ciel waited for the attack, but it never came and he blinked for a second, as Grim moaned. “Huh…? Wh–what gives? My fire ain’t workin’!”
Well, if he can shackle the power, that means the cat isn’t a demon. Then what is he? The young Earl wondered as he looked over at Grim. He noticed Riddle was smirking, pleased with himself.
“Until I deign to remove that collar, you won’t be using any magic. You’re naught but a pet cat now.” He glanced at Ciel. “I hope that this should keep him at bay. You should be more mindful of your familiars.”
Ciel looked at him with exasperation, explaining for the umpteenth time. “He is not mine. I didn’t bring him. I don’t know him. So how is this my responsibility to keep him in check if he’s not mine in the first place?”
“You seem to have an affinity with him. He was listening to you.” Riddle pointed out.
“You call that listening? I assure you, I told that bratty cat off, not calling him to me.” Ciel insisted and Riddle smirked as if he knew something Ciel didn’t.
“M-meoWhat?!” Grim shouted. “I ain’t nobody’s pet–NOTHING!”
“Oh, you have nothing to worry about there.” Riddle assured him. “I certainly have no interest in having you as a pet.” He motioned to Ciel. “You already have an owner.”
“He is NOT MINE!” Ciel felt his temper raise. If one more person calls that THING my pet or familiar, I am going to scream.
“If you continue to protest, I may have to judge you, too. There are rules about shouting in a venue as well.” Riddle said pointedly, and Ciel clenched his fists to keep his temper under control. He didn’t need something around his neck to make his throat feel tighter. The asthma was already kicking in. Trying to keep the coughs from coming out was turning into a struggle. He had not had it this bad since the Campania when he was soaked with cold water.
“How long is that collar going to stay on him anyway?” the young Earl asked once he’d tempered his words. Riddle seemed sympathetic for a second, and Ciel assumed it was because Riddle honestly believed that Grim belonged to him.
“The collar will disappear once he’s removed from campus.”
“Seems fair enough,” Ciel looked at Grim. “There, now you know. You’ll be fine soon enough.”
Grim made a face of vexation as he tried to yank the collar off. “Soon enough is NOT soon enough for me.”
“You’ll just have to deal with it then,” Ciel told him plainly. Azul had walked over to join them and was smiling at Riddle. Once more the Earl felt the face and words were just an act, and he inwardly winced, remembering the many times he did the same, especially at Weston and the Circus.
“Ha-HA! Good show as always, Riddle. Your signature spell locks down any magic. It’s quite handy.” Azul crossed his arms, the truth slipping out slightly. “I’ve just GOT to have it… ah, I mean, I’ve just got to have respect for it.”
Got to have it? Does he collect magic or something? Ciel wondered, staring at Azul, and instinctively reached up to the eye. The glasses wearing boy noticed the motion and glanced at him.
“Is there something wrong with your eye?”
“Oh, no, just allergic to smoke,” he lied, and Azul gave him a small smile of understanding.
“Ah, well then, the Headmage should hurry and help you leave the room. The smoke will filter out eventually, but it could take a while.”
Ciel nodded his head and yanked Grim to him. “Thank you both for your help.” He gave them one of his signature trained smiles and turned to go when Crowley blocked his path.
What now? Ciel just wanted to leave the room and then deal with the issue. He looked up at the tall man looming over him with narrowed brows. He was sick of being talked down to. He was the Earl Phantomhive, not some random commoner that this eccentric man could boss around.
“Ciel! Was I not clear that you are expected to take responsibility for your familiar?”
Ciel took a breath. His lungs hurt, but he tried to state as clearly as possible, holding up Grim to the Headmage as he spoke. “For the very last time, sir. This… Cat… is… NOT… Mine!”
“Now discipline your…,” Crowley was saying and stared at Ciel as if truly seeing him for the first time. “What’s that?! It isn’t yours?”
“No, he is NOT,” he emphasized it as Grim hissed. “See, he agrees. He doesn’t belong to me.” He set down the cat creature and stood there defiantly, but spoke as if talking to a child. “I’ve told you repeatedly that he isn’t mine, but you refused to listen. Not only that, but I have never, in my life, seen this creature before.” He glanced at Grim. “And if I see him again, it will be too soon for my comfort.”
“Oh… Is that so?” Crowley inquired, and Ciel bit back a long, hard sigh.
“Yes, that is so,” he crossed his arms and waited to see what the fool of a Headmage would do next. Useless, utterly useless, this man is. How he’s in charge of this school, I have no idea. But the sooner he understands that I’m not staying here and have no interest in staying here and that the cat is not mine, the sooner I can leave and return home.
Crowley cleared his throat. He put on a kind smile, and Ciel could see a sense of relief wash over his whole being. “Then I shall have it expelled from campus. I shall even spare it from being served as dinner.”
“You eat cat here? That’s rather revolting, to be honest.” Ciel commented to him, and Crowley chuckled.
“Headmage was going to serve it as dinner! That’s horrible.” The red-eyed boy remarked. Ciel could see that he’d finally put out the fire that was plaguing his behind, and the blonde with the purple tint to his hair shook his head.
“I highly doubt that. But with him…” he left the words lingering in the air. The blonde crossed his arms. “Better to get that beast out of here before he really considers it.”
“Yes, please take the creature away. I don’t want it hurt.” The red-eyed boy stated to Ciel.
Would no one honestly believe that this pest is not my pet? He thought, shaking his head as Crowley motioned to Grim.
“My, but I AM kind.” He seemed pleased with himself as he gestured languidly at the cat. “… Someone take this away, please.”
Two older looking boys in robes came over and grabbed Grim from Ciel. The cat creature howled as he tried to wrench himself away from the boys, who held a vice grip on him.
“Nooooo! Let me gooooo!” When that didn’t work, the threats came pouring out of the cat’s mouth. “You fools better remember my name! Cause I’m gonna go down in the annals of magic history! Just you wait!”
His forewarning was stressed by the loud clang of the door as the two boys hurriedly pulled him from the room. Ciel put a hand to his chest.
He’s gone. Thank god. He could relax for the moment, though questions bubbled up again because of his own foolish curiosity. Just why was he so desperate to stay here? I wonder?
“Is there something the matter?” Riddle asked him, and Ciel glanced over at the redhead and then back at the door. His voice was gentle but also with a hint of sarcasm to it.
“It’s really nothing. I feel kind of sorry for him… but only a little.”
Grim had done this to himself, and he was not Ciel’s responsibility and the Earl refused to pick up the pieces to a mess that the cat creature had created. Riddle gave him a nod and then went back to his new students to make sure they were all in line.
“Well, that was quiet the unexpected fracas.” Crowley explained to the student body as he stood before them. “I hereby declare that orientation has concluded.”
“Finally,” muttered the cat boy, who again reiterated that he wanted to get back to his dorm to rest. “Took long enough.”
He did nothing, and HE’S the one that TIRED? Ciel felt incised. Whoever this cat boy was, he was going to avoid him for now, lest he slip out a few well-directed comments about lethargic rich brats who did nothing for the world and perhaps he should go find a good box to hide in if he was going to be such a lazy ass.
“Housewardens, please escort your students back to the dorms.” Crowley instructed, and Ciel saw the different boys head over to their new classmates. Even the floating glass pane did so to a group of very shy looking boys. The only group that he noticed didn’t have a Housewarden was a group off to the side that seemed rather noble and a bit on the arrogant and aloof side. There was something that reminded him very much of the Purple House members at Weston College. Eccentric, and focused on their own thing.
Crowley noticed this too, as he spoke up, puzzled. “… Hm? Come to think of it, I don’t see Housewarden Draconia of House Diasomnia anywhere.”
“Draconia? Diasomnia? As in Dyssomnia?” Ciel repeated, and he nodded. “As in dragon and sleep? Or rather lack of?”
He’d heard the term before bandied about by a doctor that his Aunt Anne had sent to the mansion when he first arrived home and couldn’t sleep due to the nightmares. They had mentioned it, explaining that it was a symptom of insomnia, which made Ciel wonder if the whole dorm was full of night owls. The dragon, though… that was curious.
Then again, he mused, I’ve heard quite a few names that are unusual already.
“And that surprises you?” the cat boy shrugged his shoulders. “Dude’s a total recluse.”
Dude? Now what did that mean again? Ciel tried to recall. He heard the word explained by Baldroy before. The head chef had originally been from America, specifically the west and had mentioned the word in context to cowboys. If I’m remembering, then it’s connected to someone male. Makes sense given this seems to be an all-boys school, seeing as I’ve seen no girls at all in this place since I’ve gotten here.
He was curious now about the one called Draconia, and why he didn’t show up. If he was a recluse, then it would make sense to send someone in his stead. Ciel watched carefully, trying to judge the relationships between these Housewardens, and what could benefit him for the time being to know about.
The boy with the red eyes looked to the others with knitted brow, as if just now realizing something of importance. “Wait a sec… Did anyone even invite him?”
This gave Ciel pause. So do they not know one another? The P4 they certainly are not. So do they even communicate with one another? It seemed strange to the noble given what he’d seen at Weston College and how the four head Prefects had gone about forming their own little club and connecting to one another in a deep bond of friendship, that even lead to them keeping a promise to keep silent over a murder, and through both expulsion and being used by a cult that stole their blood. So seeing these Housewardens act with such callousness to one another was something he would have to get used to.
But it’s not like I’m going to be staying here, so why should I care?
The boy with blonde hair spoke up just then. “If you’re that worried about him missing out, maybe you should have told him yourself.”
“Maybe, but I don’t know him too well either…” the red-eyed boy seemed despondent as he replied. Murmurs erupted from the student body again and Ciel could feel the air twinge with tension. To him, it seemed the whole school was built on the ‘every man for himself’ philosophy. That no one noticed until that very moment that another Housewarden was missing was peculiar to Ciel, as he could remember the P4, particularly his own Blue house head, Bluewer, being very on the ball when it came to making certain everyone was there for an event, or an assembly. Seeing these Housewardens not care if one of them was missing, it was the exact opposite of the young men he knew from his time at Weston. Though why he was concerned with their problems, he didn’t know.
Maybe Lizzie is rubbing off on me more than I thought. He contemplated. The other option was that his old personality was coming back, that childish, scared person he had been who had been foolish enough to believe good people existed and cared about one another. Yet, even with everything that had happened, or maybe because of it, some part of him, deep inside himself, still felt that same way. Why else then would he think of Lizzie and Finny when he felt depressed? They were the most optimistic people he knew of, or even Soma and Mey–Rin, when he lost his determination. The Indian Prince had become both kind and stalwart as a person. Not just simply generous, but also one that understood that kindness had to come from a deeper place than the shallow materialistic place that he had started out viewing the world in. And his maid had grown from someone who believed very little in her own existence to view the world as a place where she could find hope and respect as a person.
The young Earl wasn’t sure why he was feeling like this. He wanted to leave. He needed to leave. But at the moment he felt almost a desire to stay and help, even if it wasn’t a mission from the Queen herself.
No, I can’t think like this. I need to go home. He chided himself and turned his attention to a student who spoke up near him.
“Draconia… Like, Malleus Draconia? THAT Draconia?”
Ciel turned his head slightly to eavesdrop in on the conversation.
“So it’s true? He really does go to school here?” a second student asked, while a third winced.
“Yikes!”
This Malleus must be someone that could be dangerous. Ciel thought and smirked. Well, could be interesting to see exactly what makes them so scared of him. If he’s anything like Sebastian, then I can understand. But if not, I don’t see what could cause such a reaction.
As he was thinking, a new figure walked into the room. The person was shorter than Ciel and the young Earl could make out some highlights of pink in with the black hair. Wine purple eyes stared out from under the hood at the students and Ciel could see he had a very young and child-like face.
They allow children in here too? He thought as the boy spoke. His voice was too deep for that of a child, so he had to assume that, like him, the boy was just very short and younger appearing.
The new arrival put his hands on his hips and seemed perturbed. “Ah. Just as I’d expected. I figured I’d come down and see for myself whether Malleus had made an appearance.” The boy with the highlights furrowed his brow and crossed his arms. “But once again, he was evidently not informed that his presence was required at an official ceremony.”
Ciel noticed the comment was directed at the other Housewardens. So he had assumed correctly that there was no communication between the students. He almost felt bad for the missing Housewarden and wondered if what was being said was true of him. Then again, he had to deal with rumors of his own personality, so empathizing with the missing Draconia wasn’t that hard to do for the young Earl. Still, the situation made him feel uneasy, and there was something about the boy that had come in that had him unnerved. It reminded him of the presence around Sebastian, but not dark and threatening. He couldn’t put his finger on the feeling, but it was there.
The boy glanced at him and Ciel looked away. There was something in his red purple eyes that caught the young boy off guard, and Ciel didn’t like it. It was as if he noticed him in a way the others didn’t. Like he could see the contract in his eye. Once more, the Earl pulled down his bangs to cover the eye and closed it to make sure it wasn’t seen.
Azul’s smooth voice cried out, though every word to Ciel’s ears dripped with insincerity. “You have my sincerest apologies. I assure you, this oversight was in no way intended as a snub.”
“I mean, you must admit,” conclude Riddle in a blunt way. “He’s not exactly the easiest person to strike up a conversation with.”
“No matter.” The boy with the deep voice stated and once again Ciel noticed him glancing towards him before turning his attention back to the students that had been chosen for the Diasomnia dorm. “All who were assigned to House Diasominia, follow me.”
The students shuffled over to the smaller boy with the strange purple eyes and Ciel caught him muttering in a voice loud enough that he could hear. “I just hope he doesn’t sulk about this…”
Something in the way he said it seemed to the Earl directed towards him. Was he trying to get my attention with that comment?
With that, the group of students left, and each Housewarden followed them out with their own batch of new students, leaving Ciel alone with Crowley, who seemed still perplexed about the whole thing. But the Earl was sure that this man knew more than he let on. Something about his candor regarding the situation made Ciel question if Crowley had been the reason he ended up here.
By this point, the young Earl was resigned that this wasn’t a prank, nor a dream, but some form of a play or something set up for his amusement to give him a challenge. He turned his gaze to Crowley as the man was speaking to him with a thoughtful pout on his lips.
“Well Ciel. This is a most unfortunate turn of events.”
“Yes, it seems it is,” Ciel agreed.
“I’m afraid that you will not be attending Night Raven College after all.” He expressed with sorrow to Ciel. The boy wanted to laugh.
Oh, what a pity. The sarcasm would have dripped off his lips had he voiced his thoughts. Instead, he just gave a politely practiced smile and said as sadly as he could make himself.
“That is indeed a shame, Headmage Crowley.”
“Surely you realize that I cannot very well admit a student with no magical ability to my academy.” He stated as he faced Ciel and Ciel nodded.
And I, most assuredly, would not want to enroll in such an academy with a headmaster as incompetent as yourself. Ciel smiled at him once more, playing up the understanding young boy act which he knew too well.
“Oh, most assuredly Headmage Crowley. I wouldn’t dream of imposing such a harsh decision upon you.”
The man seemed pleased with his response and then smiled at him in a tender and happy way. “But worry not. The Dark Mirror will see you safely home.”
“Thank Go… I mean,” Ciel cleared his throat. “Thank goodness for such a wonderful gesture on your part, Headmage and Dark Mirror. You have my gratitude.”
Crowley smiled and lead him back over to one of the coffins. Ciel stood before it as Crowley uttered to the Dark Mirror. “Now, step into a gate, and visualize the place from whence you came.”
“Very well, thank you again.” Ciel told him and thought to himself. Home. I want to go home, to my bed, to my mansion. To where my servants are, to where those I care about are, to Sebastian… to Lizzie…
He closed his eyes as he moved forward, picturing his bed, the soft pillows, the warm sheets. The smell of the fire from his fireplace. The halls with the many rooms, the rose garden where he watched Lizzie play with his brother from a window. Memories of dealing with Sebastian and the servants, the sounds of Soma’s laughter and Sullivan babbling on about her newest chemical concoction. The sights of the ballroom where Lizzie would put together her goofy parties to make him feel better. The smells from the kitchen, the feeling of everything that he could remember. He thought of it as hard as he could.
Crowley invoked the Dark Mirror. “O Dark Mirror! Return this soul to where it belongs!”
The Dark Mirror’s mask-like face appeared and remained silent. Ciel blinked and looked over at Crowley, who looked puzzled, and cleared his throat.
“L-let us, er… try this again.” He raised his voice. “O Dark Mirror! Return this soul…”
“There is no such place.” The Dark Mirror stated.
Ciel’s eyes went wide. “Come again?!”
“What?” Crowley responded at the same time.
It intoned again to him. “There is no place in this world where this soul belongs. None.”
“How can that be?” Crowley’s shock could be heard echoing through the chamber. “My, but today is a veritable cavalcade of impossible phenomena!”
The Dark Mirror stayed silent and simply stared at the both of them.
“This has never happened throughout my long tenure.” Crowley crossed his arms and looked distraught. “I must confess that I am at something of a loss.” He turned to face Ciel, who was looking annoyed and starting to again feel the panic setting in his mind. “Tell me: from what land do you hail?”
Ciel gazed at the man, perplexed. He had not heard of Alice’s Adventures. Everyone here knew magic. Was he truly in a different world? The idea scared the hell out of him. How was he going to get home if that was the truth? The young Earl cleared his throat.
“I’m from a small town outside of London, England. But if that’s too hard for you, then London, England should be the location that you look for.”
Crowley stared at him with a curious gaze that made Ciel feel like he was being examined. “I’m afraid I am not familiar with such a place.”
Ciel blanched. “H–how can you not be? London, England is the center of the Victorian Empire.”
“Victorian Empire?” Crowley questioned and then shook his head, “No. I have not heard of such a place either.”
This was confusing. The Earl took a breath and tried to steady his own racing heart. What if he couldn’t get home? What could he do then? To be stuck here in this world was not an option.
“I am intimately acquainted with the origins of every student who has ever come here, and yet… This mysterious homeland of yours eludes me.” Crowley explained as he stood bewildered at this information, it seemed. Ciel looked down. Was he ever going to get to go home at this rate?
Crowley looked at him gently. “Let us go to the library and look it up, shall we?”
Ciel nodded, and glanced once more at the strange room where he had arrived in this twisted world before following Crowley out, shutting the door with a bang behind him.