"What do you mean he 'managed' to evade you? Or is that just a poor excuse for failing to fulfill your orders?"

"Young master, if I am not mistaken, your specific orders were to confirm that the man was in fact Käsien. You said nothing of capturing him in the slightest." The demon loopholed, with a sly smirk as he poured his master's tea. He had returned to the manor not long ago, greeted by the happy bunch of servants whom he ordered back to work.

Ciel glared at the red-eyed butler with frustration and anger. He let out a sigh and turned to look out the window behind his desk. He was once again teased for his mistake by the demon. Ciel thought of what to do now, picturing the layout of his mental game of chess, one piece has made an unexpected move, now he has to figure out how to go about his own move. He turned back to his desk taking the newly poured tea and taking a small sip.

The butler stood silent and obedient waiting for his orders, "You mentioned a reaper being there."

"Yes. The same one we met at the Undertaker's."

"Was she collecting the victim?"

"I presume so, young master." Sebastian mused in thought.

"Who was the new victim?" Ciel closed his eyes in thought.

"A young bride to be. She was returning to her fiance after giving her news to relatives." Sebastian reported.

"No one associated with Avaline's company?"

"Not to my knowledge, young master."

Ciel sipped again at his tea. He sighed softly, "Prepare the carriage. We head to the Avaline manor. I have questions for a particular dancer."

"Yes, my lord." Sebastian bowed, swiftly hurrying to prepare the carriage.

0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

"Oi, what you up to?" Annette was swept from her reverie by her friend, Marie. She had been staring at the stationary butler throughout all their five-minute break. Ballerinas stretching out their limbs before returning to rehearsal, "Ooh, you staring at the lady's butler!"

"What? No!" the red-haired Annette, gasped and sent a half-hearted glare to her friend.

"He's cute ain't he. Mysterious eyes and tall!" her friend reasoned sending the Spanish butler a dreamy smile.

"His accent makes me feel things, ah!" another star eyed ballerina commented.

"Stop it. I'm not staring." Annette defended.

"Oh, of course, your not. You're just glaring daggers at the potted plant next to him because that plant did you wrong."

"Shut it already. Come on we have to keep practicing those leaps." Annette grunted as she has lifted herself up ending the playful banter.

"Poo. You're no fun." The blonde whined, following suit.

"Alright, Ladies! Into position! Und, dos,triox!"

Fransisco kept his eye on the suspect, taking in every detail. This morning's incident was more evidence that he needed, but he had to comply with Scotland Yard's and the Queen's Guard dog's investigation. Innocent until proven guilty was the motto. Cool blue eyes followed her slim figure across the dance floor. She was watching him as well. On guard and alert. He smirked at her and watched as it managed to make her slip a bit on her spin.

"Did he just smirk at you?" Marie whispered to her.

"W-what? No!" Annette growled as she tried to concentrate on her pirouettes.

"He likes you! Look, he keeps watching you! What a naughty butler! Ah! But so romantic!" Marie sighed dreamily.

"Ladies, focus please!" the Madam called out.

Fransisco kept watching for a few more minutes. The demonic essence was drawing closer. It was not welcoming, it was cold. Drawing closer to Cecilia's study. Practice will continue for half an hour. He should go check on her. He should for her sake, and most of all his. 'Junee is there, menso, she can protect her as well' he scolded himself. 'But I want to see for myself. No Sebastian always scolded me for being too eager and curious.' he remembered solemnly. That was a very long time ago. A very long time.

Just as Fransisco was calming his urge to check, the twins appeared before him with small smiles on their faces.

"Señor Fransisco. We spotted a carriage a few miles away coming this way," they reported in unison.

"Carriage? Lord Trancy is already here. What other visitors do we have today?" Fransisco pondered.

"Oh! Maybe the Earl of Phantomhive! The one her young mistress met at the ball!" Cortez chimed.

"He was so adorable, that young lad! But poor thing, for losing an eye." Cora added.

Fransisco internally groaned. One brat he could deal with, but both he began to get cautious, "I will go inform the Lady. Have you completed every task in the garden?"

"Si, jefe! The carnations are all bulbing and should be blooming when the weather warms and the rose maze is ready!"

"Very well done, you may go to Bibi, for a reward. I will go report this."

They nodded and skipped off. Fransisco sent one last look to the red-headed ballerina before hurrying off to check, and of course, report the new visitor.

0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

Annette watched with curious eyes as the butler left, letting out a silent relieved sigh. She stood from her stretches and approached the dance instructor, "Madam, may I be excused. I seem to be having problems with my...cycle."

The old woman rolled her eyes before nodding and waving her off. Annette faked a shy blush and hurried off. She shimmied out of the long costume skirt and draped a silk robe and her hood over herself before hurrying off. 'This should give me enough time to finish off my tasks. I'll be back before that haughty butler returns.' she thought to herself. As she managed to find her way out of the Avaline manor without running into anyone she began to grow nervous. No one is following her as far as she is concerned, but she still felt watched. She stopped and looked around swiftly. No one. She began to quicken her pace paranoia increasing with-it, "Dammit! Where the hell am I. This place is a damned maze!"

"Wish to find the exit, m'lady?"

Annette yelped and turned around to see a little boy behind her. His eyes held no emotion as he pointed to the left corridor, he was pulling a tea cart with him, "It is down this hall and take a right. You'll find yourself at the top of the stairs. I think you'll know which door leads out. It's pretty big and fancy."

She stared dumbfounded. Nico gave a small nod before heading down the right corridor dragging the tea cart with him. She watched until he was completely out of site before hurrying down the left hall, "What a strange boy." She pulled her hood up as she made it to the top of the staircase looking around to ensure no one was there to witness her exit. She saw no one but could hear the music echo from the dance hall. She bit her lower lip anxiously and hurried down the stairs, running out to the large doors, but stopped hearing horses outside, "A carriage? Shite." Annette cursed and hurried towards the nearest hallway hiding in the first open room she could find.

"Pardon me, m'lady."

Annette jolted once more, turning to be met with a maid. She was carrying a load of laundry and grinned up at the dancer, "S-Sorry, go ahead." Annette stuttered out opening the door for her.

"If you wish to leave, there is another door that leads to the garden," Juno advised happily.

Annette was once again caught off guard but remained in the laundry room pressing her ear against the door as she listened for the new arrival.

0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

Fransisco kept a calm expression as he stood in front of the door to the study. He could feel the demonic essence within. Still and unmoving. The only thing that reassured him of his mistress's safety was her muffled voice happily conversing with the Earl of Trancy. He knocked gently causing the conversation to pause.

"Pardon, my lord," Cecilia apologized before calling out, "Come in."

Fransisco opened the door and bowed, "Mi princesa, el conde de Phantomhive viene llegando en un momento." he reported obediently, Alois perked only catching one word. Phantomhive.

Cecilia gave a nod as the butler stood from his bow. She eyed him gently scolding him mentally for leaving his post, "Gracias Fransisco," she turned to Junee, the youngest of the maids, "Junee, please go greet the Earl and bring him here in a moment."

Junee bowed gently and excused herself. Fransisco waited patiently for her next words, "Fransisco, how is the rehearsal coming along?"

She was asking about the suspect, "All is well, mi princesa. The dancers are at their peak performance." The suspect was still there before he had left. Cecilia nodded and gave Alois a kind smile.

"My lord-"

"Honestly, Cecilia, I've told you, Alois is just fine." the blond earl chided.

"My apologies, Alois. Would you like to get a sneak peek of the performance?" she stood up from her desk raising a guiding gloved hand.

Alois perked up and stood as well, "That would be just lovely, darling! Come, Claude, we are in for a special treat."

Fransisco couldn't help the glance to the stoic butler he was warned of. It was a mistake on his part, managing to make brief eye contact. He glanced back to his mistress as she leads Alois out of the study, Fransisco holding the door out for the three of them.

0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

"Welcome to the Avaline household." Junee bowed as she greeted the Earl of Phantomhive and his butler.

"Thank you, may I speak with the Lady Avaline?" Ciel asked as the maid removed his coat and hat.

"The Lady will be meeting you in the study momentarily," she smiled kindly hanging his coat and hat before she beckoned them to follow her to the study.

Ciel followed in his hands the notepad she had lent her on his last visit, he had taken the liberty of adding to her notes. His script wasn't as neat as hers, he noticed and felt a bit of embarrassment. But this was a business related visit, no time to doddle.

"Please remain here, while I retrieve my mistress." Junee opened the door to the study letting them enter.

"Thank you, miss." Sebastian smiled handsomely at the young maid. She blushed and closed the door behind them hurrying off.

"Young master."

"The Trancy brat is here." Ciel had noticed the other carriage before they entered.

"I could sense the other one as well," Sebastian reported about Claude.

"We are here to see Cecilia. Not him. We will pay him no mind."

"Yes, master."

0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

"What lovely music! And the dancers move so gracefully, it's beautiful!" Alois praised as he watched the rehearsal. Cecilia smiled proudly at his words, thanking him, but had noticed a missing redhead.

"Fransisco, encuéntrala, por favor." She had order softly not to be heard.

Fransisco had failed and he was scolding himself as he searched throughout the manor for the dancer. This was exactly what he should have avoided, he was too worried for his mistress he had lost the suspect. Sebastian would have scolded him for this. He was reminded of that time long ago. He growled to himself as he rushed through halls ordering the other servants to find her, no time for flashbacks.

Nico and Juno were the ones to have seen her last, they guided her out to the garden. The maze of rose hedges would be a good place to trap her in. He thanked them and rushed to the gardens catching the scent of the dancer he was quick to find her location within the maze.

0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

Annette had taken the maid's advice and headed to the gardens only to find herself trapped in an actual maze. She struggled and groaned frustratedly as she found herself in dead ends and walking in circles. Something was weird about this place. The staff knew she was running from something and needed to get out, now she was trapped. She stopped trying to look around to find a clue of where she was now when she felt it. Annette screeched as she felt something slither over her feet. She stumbled falling to the ground and wiggling away from the snake that had spoked her. Desperately she tried to climb back on to her feet but squeaked when she was pulled up.

"My lady, are you alright?"

Annette looked up to see the concerned face of the mysterious butler who was watching her earlier. This cool blue eyes gazing at her gently. She felt a slight shiver up her spine then she stuttered out, "S-Snake."

"Pardon?"

"T-There was a snake, it ran across my feet." she blushed and looked to where she had felt it.

Fransisco gently pushed her aside, spotting the garter snake slithering about, "Ah, poor fellow. Must have stumbled out of the hedge. Garter snakes are beneficial to the garden. They cause no harm but can cause a bit of fright." He picked up the snake without fear and guided it back into the rose hedge. Annette felt a bit relieved, but now she was caught trying to leave. She had to come up with an excuse.

"The Madam has been looking for you, my lady. I thought perhaps you have lost your way back." Fransisco explained with a sly smirk.

Annette blushed and nodded, "I needed some air. Rehearsals can get tiring."

"That much is understandable. I shall guide you back safely, my lady." Francisco held out his arm for her to take.

"T-Thank you."

0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

Cecilia had managed to keep Alois entertained with ballet rehearsal enough for her to meet with the new visitor. She entered the study greeting Ciel with a polite smile.

"Perdon, I was not able to greet you at the door. I am currently entertaining another guest, but I have a feeling this has something to do with the case, therefore a top priority." she guessed as she took her seat at her desk.

Ciel cleared his throat as he spoke holding up the notepad, "I am here to interview the witnesses you have noted. If it is not too much trouble."

Cecilia nodded, "Certainly. I shall have the drawing room prepared, and have the girls sent to you once rehearsals are done."

"Thank you for your cooperation, Cecilia."

"Not a problem, Ciel."

0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

"You have been watching me."

"Pardon, my lady?"

Annette stopped before they headed into the dance hall again. She gave him a steely glare as she accused him. Fransisco had to use this somehow.

He faked a chuckle and smirked slyly, "My apologies. I can't take my eyes away from such a beautiful site. If it is to your wishes I will stop."

Annette blushed and huffed, pushing past him and entering the dance hall. They have finished already. She hurried to follow the girls out, only to be called by the Madam.

"The Lady of the house has asked for your presence and Marie's as well. Go on."

Annette groaned. More interrogations. She was escorted to a room where she was met with a young lad followed by a tall handsome gentleman.

"Annette and Marie?"

"Yes, we are. Who's askin'?" Annette questioned as she sat with her friend, Marie.

"I am here to investigate the train murders. You were close with three of the victims correct?"

"Yes," Annette answered her eyes cautiously on the red-eyed man that stood on the boy's side.

0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*0*

Translation:

Un dos triox- one, two, three

Menso- idiot; dummy

Sí jefe- Yes, boss

Mi princesa, el conde de Phantomhive viene llegando en un momento- my princess, the earl of Phantomhive will be arriving in a moment

Gracias, Fransisco- Thank you, Fransisco

Encuentrala, por favor- Find her, please

Si, mi princesa- yes, my princess

Perdon- Sorry; pardon