Black Butler; The Episodic Story of the Fox, the Time Keeper, and the Songbird

The Costume Party

"A... Costume Party?" I asked Ciel, my eyes wide and curious. I had never been to a costume party before.

Clearing his throat, he nodded. "Yes, a costume party. I was invited and encouraged to bring a plus one." Sighing, he gently rubbed his temple. "Of corse, that is Elizabeth's way of telling me to bring you along. She could have at least just said it out right."

After a moment of silence, I spoke up. "I wish to go."

Ciel looked up at me, his visible eye wide in shock. "You... you do?"

I nodded swiftly. "Yes, I do. I have never been to a costume party, especially not one on All Hallows Eve. It sounds fun. It will be a nice break from running about London and solving mysteries in the underground."

After blinking a few times, he nodded in agreement. "Y-yes... yes, of course. I will have Sebastian make preparations, then... and write Elizabeth back at once."

"Now, now, Ciel!" I said, standing up. A grin broke itself across my face and I tapped the end of his nose. "You must remember to call her Lizzy." And with that, I turned and left for the library.

But just before I did, I was sure I caught sight of the slightest blush painted across his cheeks. How peculiar...

Preparations where made and we received our costumes the day before the party. I was to dress as a fox, compleat with a wonderfully painted mask and fax ears and a tail. I will say, I had never been so excited to dress up before. I felt like a child again, dressing up for Hallows Eve and going from door to door with my mother to collect delicious sweets.

We sent out the next day, close to late afternoon so that we would arrive in time for the party. We settled into the carriage, Ciel looking rather bewitching in his Vampire costume. He looked like he had walked straight out of a story book.

"So, what have you brought along with you this time?" Ciel asked me, casting his eye down to my book. It had become a sort of habit that every time we would go on a long carriage ride, I would bring along a book and read a-loud.

Smiling softly, I picked up the book and opened it to the page I had marked. "I'm sure you'll like this one."

He nodded and then motioned to me. "Proceed..."

And with those simple words, I cast my eyes downward and began to read.

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door—
Only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December;
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow;—vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow—sorrow for the lost Lenore—
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore—
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door—
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;—
This it is and nothing more."