The other servants were gone. Something about a funeral for Black? But Black isn't dead… so why was a funeral needed? Smile had seemed bored by the whole thing. As if it were just bothersome. Of course a funeral for someone who isn't dead is just pointless, which would be annoying.

Why was he thinking about that when he should really be wondering why he was here? He had come here to get revenge for his family. Joker, Beast, Jumbo, Peter, Wendy, Dagger, and even sweet Doll… They were gone. Smile had said that he had been doing some undercover investigation work in the Noah's Ark Circus. The child had seemed so innocent. Doll had rambled on for hours on how close she and the newcomer were getting along. Smile had been on oddball. Among circus folk that was saying a lot. Of course if Smile was really Earl Ciel Phantomhive then that explained a lot.

Are we really going to work for the small human we were just targeting? Asked Keats.

Snake nodded. "It seems so."

Because you believe we will find Joker and the others this way? Oscar questioned hesitantly.

"Joker and the others are dead." Snake looked out one of the huge windows in the room that was now his.

We did smell some of their blood… Bronte pointed out.

But there was no sign of Joker or Doll being here. Oscar tried to console him.

"If Beast and the other's are dead then it's likely so are Joker and Doll."

And… you are ok with this? Keats probed.

"You heard Smile. They were kidnapping children." He looked toward the door for the tenth time in the last five minutes. "I knew they were hiding something from me… but kidnapping children…"

That's on par with how bad what happened to you as kid was. Bronte said bluntly.

Bronte! Emily scolded.

It's true! The larger snake argued.

Enough. Keats silenced them.

Snake was still looking at the door. "Do you think Black locked it?"

Of course he did. We were trying to kill his master, why would he let us roam free? Bronte said.

You won't know if you don't try. Keats reasoned.

That seemed logical enough. Snake got up to test the door. It was unlocked. "He… trusts us?"

It would seem so. So now what are you going to do with that trust? Keats asked.

"If Smile really wants us to work for him… then he'll remember to feed us right?"

If not him, I am sure Black or one of the servants will. Emily reasoned.

Black didn't say you couldn't leave. Wordsworth finally woke up from his nap.

Did you see the look he gave us? Oscar asked.

"It was heavily implied that we remain here." Snake agreed.

"Don't cha think it's a bit odd that the Master left that Snake guy alone in the house so soon after hiring him?" Baldroy asked.

"I'm sure if the Young Master trusts him then he can be trusted." Mei-Rin shrugged. "Besides Mister Sebastian would never allow the house to be left unprotected if he thought there would be real danger."

"That's true enough." Baldroy grunted.

"Do you guys get the feeling that Mister Sebastian can hear us no matter where we are?" Finny asked thinking out loud not really having been listening to his friends.

"No doubt he can hear your loud mouth from wherever." Baldroy snapped.

Sebastian indeed could hear the servants, but he allowed them to think that he wasn't listening. He was currently leaving Ciel's room after helping him change into something more suitable than what the Young Master had wore to the funeral. Personally he had some concerns about leaving Snake on his own in the manor, mainly that the ex-circus performer would escape. But his small charge had assured him that the reptilian man would still be here when they returned.

Upon entering the manor Sebastian had immediately looked for signs that the house had been robbed in anyway or that Snake had made a run for it. But there was nothing out of the ordinary. Not even a scent of one of the snakes crossed his path as he headed for the new footman's assigned room. It was a smaller room, but it got lots of sun, which would be ideal for Snake's cold-blooded friends.

As a Phantomhive butler it made him want to cringe that there were several snakes crawling freely in the manor currently. But one of the reasons that the Young Master had said that they should keep Snake around was for how handy his snakes would be in the future. So best to keep them healthy.

Black is coming. Keats warned.

Best watch out for that one. Oscar advised. Something isn't quite right with him.

The door suddenly opened. It was Black dressed in his butler uniform; he was scanning the room with unmistakable suspicion. After a moment to assess the room Black nodded toward Snake. "The others are eating in the kitchen if you are hungry." He started to leave but then reentered. "I understand that the reptiles are your companions, but I must ask that about the manor you keep them on a tight leash and out of sight."

Snake nodded. "That sounds reasonable. Says Wordsworth."

Please Review! - Says Oscar