It was a bright summer's morning, and the 13 year old Earl was sitting at his desk still recovering from a ball held the Lady Elizabeth's estate, which he had attended the night before. How he hated balls; all the dancing and pretending to be cheerful. Unfortunately, as the head of the Phantomhive house, it was a duty he had to fulfill.

Engulfed in the silence of his office, Ciel closed his uncovered eye as a warm breeze came in through the open widow behind him. It shot open immediately, at the sound of a knock at the door announcing his butler's presence. "Come in," he said dully.

Sebastian Michaelis entered the office with a tea cart containing the morning's tea. "Your tea, Young Master," he said coming over to the desk. His red eyes gleamed from the incoming sun as he poured steaming water from the pot into a delicate little cup.

"Earl Grey again?" Ciel asked unamused.

"I was under the impression that you favored the flavor of this particular tea, Sir." Sebastian replied with a slight smile. Ciel remained silent and sipped the scalding liquid.

"Seems as if there have been more deaths of sheep in the village the past few nights." Sebastian said handing Ciel the morning paper.

"Hmm." The earl continued to flip through the pages with little interest.

"You've also received a letter from the Queen." Ciel looked up from the paper. "Two people have been found dead in the past two nights. One in the East End and another by the docks. Both victims were young women and looked as if all the blood was drained out of of their bodies."

"Interesting," Ciel replied looking at the letter intrigued. "Has the Yard gotten involved yet?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, they are at the docks now, examining the latest victim, a Miss Isabelle Harvey."

"I see. Sebastian, get a carriage ready to depart. I'd like to see this victim for myself,"

"Right away, my Lord," the butler replied with a slight bow and headed out the door.

Within a few minutes Sebastian had the carriage in front of the manor, ready to depart. Sebastian helped the Earl get in and then proceeded to the front to the reigns.

The Earl sat in the dim carriage analyzing the Queen's letter further while listening to the sounds of the busy streets of London. "Both victims had two small puncture marks on their necks," Ciel muttered to himself. "What could that mean?" There was something about this case that made the young Earl feel uneasy. He didn't know why; he had received many strange cases from the criminal underworld before, but this, this felt different for some reason.

Ciel was so deep in thought that he didn't even realize that the carriage had stopped. He was snapped out of his reverie by a sudden burst of sunlight coming in from the now open door. "We have arrived, My Lord." Sebastian said offering him a hand. Ciel took it and stepped out, immediately smelling the cool, salty sea air.

"That must be the Yard over there," Sebastian said pointing to a little group of people a little ways off crowding around a figure lying on the ground by the ports.

"Come, Sebastian." Ciel ordered and started walking toward them. The hustle and bustle of loading cargo onto ships still continued despite the investigation.

As they got to the crowd they were greeted by a tall gray haired man. "If it isn't the Queen's guard dog. What are you doing here Phantomhive?" the man asked in a deep irritated voice.

"Simply fulfilling my civil duty to the Queen, Sir Arthur," Ciel replied. "Show me the body."

Sir Arthur gave a little humph but led him through the crowd of curious onlookers.

"Hello, Ciel." a cheery brown haired man said as he spotted the Earl. "Here to investigate?"

"Why else would he be here, idiot," Sir Arthur snapped. The young man recoiled at the retort.

Ciel went closer to examine the body in detail while Sebastian stayed to the side. She was very young, she had to be in her early twenties, Ciel thought. She had long brown curls and a face as delicate and as beautiful as a porcelain doll, but pale. So pale, that it looked as white as a sheet. The two small red dots just over carotid artery stood out against the paleness of her skin.

"Her name was Isabelle Harvey." The young man stated looking down at the victim sympathetically. "She lived in a small cottage in the village down the road about a mile or so. She just turned twenty a couple of days ago and had no family. She was on the ship coming in from Paris last night, probably visiting for her birthday."

"I am already aware of her history, Inspector Aberline." Ciel said still examining the body. "What I want to know is what caused those puncture wounds on her neck and why she looks as if she has no blood left in her? "

"It seems so be some kind of bite mark, but what animal or object has the ability to suck out all the blood of a human?" the Inspector replied.

"In other words you don't know," the Earl said with a sigh turning to face the inspectors. "I suspected as much."

"You have no rite to criticize Scotland Yard's work when you know just as much as we do." Sir Arthur retorted angrily. "You think just because your the Queen's guard dog you can do and say whatever you please. You forget your place, you are still a child."

"I may still be a child, but I would think Scotland Yard, who also loyally serves Her Majesty, would at least put in a greater effort to find the culprit." Sir Arthur glared at Ciel, but said nothing.

"Come, Sebastian, We're leaving. I've gotten all the information I need." The butler nodded and obediently followed his master back to the carriage. "What do you make of this Sebastian?" Ciel asked as he was just about to step in.

"I find it very interesting, Sir. Quite the mystery."

"Do you believe it is an animal?"

"In a way." Sebastian replied with a small smile. "I believe it is an animal more cunning and powerful than the normal beast."

Ciel knew his butler was hiding something from him, but decided he would pry it from him later. Right now he wanted to get home to think, so he said nothing and got into the carriage and headed back to the manor.