Ominous.

Solemn.

Depressing.

Just the gut feeling that everything tragic was happening at this very moment.

Heart racing and hands clammy without real reason, but I knew. I knew it all too well what the Queen's guard dog and his demonic butler can do. They were ruthless people, something I've witnessed firsthand and wouldn't want to ever experience again. Good cause? They fight for justice but to what extent? Sebastian is a demon, who has been linked to Ciel, a secret not many know. 

I knew about that just as Sebastian knew about my nature. To not let a single soul know had been our vow. 

The fact that Sebastian could still look at me with such tenderness today. The way he had saved me fro the dagger, the way his eyes glowed in fury, his rigid body like he was restraining himself from a murdering spree. Does he truly love me? Can a demon love a half siren like me? Even then, I must be the unethical one if I had fallen deeply in love with a man like him. Someone so dangerous, with power not many can beat. 

But at this point, I knew how deep I've buried myself.

I knew I would go great depths for that man and the young master. 

bang.

I stumbled onto my feet, golden eyes wide in astonishment. It had been faint, but I was able to pick it up straight away. And even the smell... I knew that metallic smell anywhere, after all it wasn't too long ago that this smell hung in the air.

Blood.

No, I shouldn't be sitting around, not when I know fully well what will happen.

Besides, what about--

Making up my mind, I fled after where I sensed the men walked off to. Once finding the entrance to where the stench of blood emitted from, I began to trot down the stone steps. Further and further down, I could feel my heart racing faster.

Please.

Please don't do anything too rash before I get there.

Please, not Joker.

At the end of the staircase, I spot a light shining in through a cracked open door. I hurried to the door and stumble in. I smacked a hand over my mouth to contain my incoming screams. The sight before me... 

The Baron Kelvin was writhing in pain on the floor, already a puddle of blood surrounding him. He was latching onto the Earl's leg for dear life, begging to only be killed the same way he had supposedly murdered people that very day. I could faintly imagine what could've happened, but I knew it wouldn't have been Ciel's doing. 

The next thing I noticed were the cages of children. They were all here, seemingly lifeless and ragged. A lump formed in my throat just baring one glance at them. 

And the blood that hung in the air was overwhelming. Not only it was from the Baron but...

"My dove," Joker croaked out. He was in his own puddle of blood, the tears streaming down his face, and his real hand seemingly cut off as well. At this realization, I glanced over at Sebastian, who only stared back at me intensely. The atmosphere was thick with tension and a little voice in my mind told me I shouldn't have arrived. This was the worst time to have come. 

I was drawn to the redheaded man, and so I rushed over to his side, wrapping my arms around his torso, holding onto the man who looked all too broken. "Joker..."

"Everyone... everyone, I," his words were broken as well. I cupped his cheeks into my hands, gazing into his amethyst eyes just like the many times I have before. But alas, the sparkle they once held was gone. His eyes were now dull, now only glistening with his tears. "I'm so sorry, Camellia. I'm so sorry to you and to everyone else. Our family... Our family is..."

And I could feel it. I knew what he was getting at.

Before I knew it, my vision was blurred with my own tears. 

Ciel Phantomhive, what makes me want to protect you so much that I'm just letting this happen?

"Our family... they went to their manor, Camellia, and I--"

I didn't want to hear any longer because I knew. The Phantomhive manor really was the safest, but therefore the most dangerous. 

"Shh, don't speak, Joker, you still have me," I murmured.

"Edlyn." Sebastian's cold tone startled me. I met his crimson gaze and saw the hardened expression. He certainly didn't admire my comment. 

I love you, Sebastian.

I really do.

But.

I turned back to Joker, resting my forehead against his. "If we had been born in another country... ourselves... our bodies... wouldn't have been like this, Camellia," he whimpered out, holding onto me the best he can with his handless arms. "Like this... I just want all of us to be together. I didn't want..."

"Shush, Joker, it's okay," I assured him. His father was near to death, what more could I do for him? And surely, if my friends had gone to the Phantomhive manor... they were already slaughtered. Joker, Joker please, I can't any more. 

Stay with me.

Stay alive for me.

The loud creak of a door opening caught all of our attention. All of us craning our heads at the entrance, we saw the newcomer. I gaped at the unexpected man who stood at the top of the stairs. "Sorry to make you wait for the supplement-- Huh? You're Black and Smile. Ah, I see the beautiful Camellia as well." Doc then stood up with his own two feet. As well as Joker, I flinched in surprise at the sight of him standing. He began descending the steps. "So what Joker said was true. But even worse than cops that can't be bought, we have the rumored Queen's lapdog."

"You're walking," I uttered out in the midst of my shock. "Your legs?"

The curly haired man turned his gaze towards me. "My legs? Ah, there's actually nothing wrong with me! Kids like you wouldn't get all jumpy is I just sat down," he laughed like we were in a lighthearted predicament. "Ah. Baron Kelvin?" He approached the nearly dead old man, turning and checking his situation. "This is bad. How awful! And I had finally met a patron who could understand my ideals."

"Ideals?" Sebastian pressed on.

"Yes, for a very long time, I was searching for the perfect artificial limb and wanted to continue its development..." Doc went on to rant about his findings and his experiments. With every word that spilled out his lips, the more he had become more insane in my eyes. I was awestruck and I didn't want to believe one bit of his words. Please be a cruel joke, please don't become one other person I can't trust. But no. "However, gathering the materials was a difficult task."

An eerie smile pulled onto Sebastian's lips, an amused look, his gloved hand to his chin. "Indeed, your handmade artificial limbs have an enchanting feel to them. Like Chinese-made bone porcelain tableware."

"Ah, Black, you understand this beauty?!" Doc burst out with unbearable excitement. "But I'm really sorry, can you not put it in the same league as bone porcelain made from mixed cow cow bones?" All at once, the crushing realization had hit us all. Just the way he had strolled over to the caged children with that innocent smile was enough proof to confirm our thoughts. I felt sick to my stomach all over again. "Don't you think it's the best recycling ever?"

In my arms, Joker began thrashing about to try to advance to the older man we once trusted. But now I see, I see the error in everything. The circus? Was it ever a safe haven in the first place? "Wha... What did you see us as?!" Joker shouted, ferociously coughing. I held onto the man tighter, murmuring that he shouldn't over exert himself in his condition. 

"See. I only get rejected like that," Doc sighed as he reached into the cage and grabbed a young girl by the collar of her shirt. I watched helplessly as she dragged her over to the table in the middle of the room. "As long as they don't know the truth, everyone is always praising me about how wonderful they are. The Baron was different. Searching for beauty was his highest motivation. He sponsored me with an abundance of materials and money, the best thinkable patron." Just the way he had laid the girl on the table like it was a daily routine, face blank of any extreme emotion, I wanted to scream but I couldn't bring myself to do so. 

Why.

Why.

Why is everything like this.

"A cow's bones are fine, but a human's aren't? Who decided on that?!" And as if in slow motion, he had raised a dagger over his head and plunged it into the girl's chest.

Finally coming to my senses, I let out a bloodcurdling scream. "STOP THIS!" I boomed, my voice ricocheting off the stone walls. I could hear Ciel to my side, hurling and gagging at the gruesome sight. "Doc, stop this! This isn't you!"

The curly haired man turned his gaze towards me, the same creepy grin on his face. "Oh, you think I haven't known about you Miss Edlyn Calhoun? Your siren's song isn't going to work on me," he spat with haughty laughter. "You're not better than the rest of us, darling! If anything, you're worst. You're a wretched monster who lures men in to do your bid--" Blood spurted out his own lips, his eyes suddenly glassy. He toppled forward and stumbled onto the ground, no longer moving. 

Sebastian stood behind with Ciel in his arms. He then strolled over to the lying Baron. With a single step of his foot... I turned my head away from the morbid scene before me. Sebastian then approached me, towering over me, his eyes glowing once again. But for once in my life, his gaze looked solemn. "Edlyn..."

I glanced down at the now unconscious man in my arms. If I don't take action soon, Joker would die from blood loss. "Edlyn, please step away from him."

"You're not touching him, Sebastian," I snarled at him. "Let him live."

"I cannot allow that. The lord's orders--"

"If you think I would let you kill him because of the Earl's orders, I won't!" I used most my body to cover Joker, shield him from whatever attack. I could feel a flurry of anger surge through me. This night had been trifling enough, but no, I'm not allowing the man I care a lot about die in my presence. "Sebastian, please don't do this, I'm begging you."

Ciel pulled his head away from the butler's shoulder, glaring at me with his mismatched eyes. I was in a daze with the odd look, only seeing it once before. "I didn't want to come to this Edlyn, but if you don't let us kill that man you're so desperately clinging on to, then you will have to die along with him." Even the young boy looked delusional, insane, he wasn't in his right mind. But his past was a dark one, he had been through so much and it was only natural he cracked at such a situation. "Sebastian may have failed the last time, but I will make sure he wouldn't this time... After all, he has to follow every demand."

My blood was boiling at the words. "You may have betrayed me in the past, Edlyn Calhoun, you were a phenomenal maid. If anything, I would have reconsidered you coming back to the manor, but that's only if you let the Ringleader die."

I shook my head at the boy. "I respected and cared for you Ciel Phantomhive," I seethed out through my sobs. "But, I will not let you kill this man. You'd have to do so over my dead body."

There was a moment of hesitation, both Ciel and I stared down in hopes one or the other would sway their decision. 

I still care Ciel.

"Burn the manor."

I blinked in surprise at the sudden command. Sebastian held the same shock, however not as expressive as I was. "Burn it? This place?"

"That's right."

"However young master, if I recall correctly from her majesty, the Queen's letter, was this time's mission to find the criminals and rescue the children? And Edlyn--"

"SHUT UP." Ciel grasped tightly onto the butler's collar, getting very close to his face, the rage evident on his young face. "Don't leave anything, turn everything here to ash! Did you forget your job?!" The boy bared me one last glance. "It's an order."

With a sigh, Sebastian removed his glove, the very hand with the mark of his contract out to be scene. "Yes, my lord."

"Sebastian..." I whimpered out.

In just a flick of his wrist, the flames of the candle nearby grew and spread, absolutely getting everything in its path. Not a second later, the demon and his master vanished to leave the manor in ruins. I let myself freely sob, seeing that they're really going to let me die in the burning home even after all we've gone through. The man I loved didn't break his demand, he truly was going to leave to burn because of my stubborn ways. 

I'm so terribly exhausted.

Before I knew it, the hot flames engulfed me into its undeniable heat. 

Breathless, blistering hot, vision hazy.

I just let everything happen.