Zuli [PART 1] - Reapers & Angels

Chapter 23 - Among Flames Again

We ended up stowing away on a ship back to London, residing in the cargo hold among the maze of boxes, silently hiding when someone walked past.

Passenger 1: "That's a strong wind a blowing, ey?"

Passenger 2: "Ay, and it's warmer than it ought to be. Rough waters too."

Passenger 1: "I hope we'll make port in London soon."

We sighed as they passed us without noticing. When suddenly, my stomach growled, making my cheeks go pink.

Ciel: "Sshh...!"

Zuli: "I can't help it, I'm hungry...! We haven't eaten in nearly two days...!"

Ciel: "I know, I'm hungry too...! But I can at least control my-"

Ciel's stomach rumbled too, and I smirked teasingly at him.

Zuli: "You were saying...?"

Ciel: "Oh, shut it..."

We flinched and turned around at a bump behind us.

Undertaker: "Hehehehe, found you."

Zuli & Ciel: "Uh-! Undertaker?!"

He held out two little cauldrons of bone biscuits. Our starving stomachs couldn't resist as we took them and started eating.

Undertaker: "That tiny whiny bloke Will was the one who brought me into this expedition. Apparently, he'll be shorthanded in London. So he roped me into it by promising to wade my library fines."

Ciel: "Will's coming to London?"

Undertaker: "Yes, there's much work to do."

Zuli: "What do you mean by 'expedition'?"

Undertaker: "We have a great many souls to collect in London this evening. Oh, I almost forgot. I have something for you, Zuli."

He pulled out a large pocket knife out of his robe. It was carved with intricate patterns, and the blade gleamed in the candle light.

Zuli: "A knife? For me?"

Undertaker: "Yes indeed. A gift from Will. Told me specifically to give this to you."

Will: "If you insist on taking this little detour, then do me a favour and give this to the Phantomhive girl."

I glanced at my brother before taking it.

Zuli: "Uhm... thank you, I suppose."

Undertaker: "Keep it close, it's bound to come in handy once or twice."

I nodded, pocketing the knife, but we were suddenly interrupted by a cacophony on deck.

Passengers: "Look at that! What is it?"

Undertaker: "Hah... seems that it's begun."

The three of us headed up to see what everyone was staring at. It was London. Burning before our eyes.

Undertaker: "My, they certainly put on quite the show, don't they?"

Zuli: "No... not again..."

Zuli (13): "IT HUUURTS!! MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOP MAKE IT STOOOP!!"

I ripped my eye patch off and let it go into the sea. I wrapped my arms around myself, shivering, not from cold, but fear.