Night of the Mummy

(Black Butler Halloween Special)

Squeezing through the crowd was like try to make your way through a stampede.  Ugly glares, a few choice words, and sometimes even food were sent your way as you tried reaching the other side of the room where the rest of the staff resided.  Mey-Rin was dressed up as Raggedy Ann (a new doll that was popular in America), and Finny was dressed as…a mummy?  It looked like he had just wrapped himself in toilet-paper, leaving most of the bandages around his face hanging loosely.  You massaged your neck awkwardly as you approached the two of them. 

“______!”  They greeted you in unison.  Finny’s cheeks reddened a bit at your costume.  It was appropriate, but very form-fitting.

“I-I like your costume, ______,” Finny smiled cheerfully, the blush invading his entire face as he tried to act normal.  Mey-Rin bobbed her head in agreement.

“It looks gorgeous on you!”

You laughed nervously.  This was exactly what you wanted to avoid.  However, you didn’t really have the money to buy a costume for the party, and someone had graciously opted to buy that one for you.  They had even sent a messenger with it who greeted you at the door and read the card aloud (much to his embarrassment).

~FLASHBACK~

“My dearest lady,” he started, eyes flickering to you before he cleared his throat nervously.  “I would much appreciate it if you wore this to the Phantomhive’s Halloween party.  Take it as a token of my undying affection.”  The messenger straightened his tie before concluding, “Your secret admirer.”

~END FLASHBACK~

Mey-Rin ran her hand in front of your face several times as you stared into space.  Eventually she resorted to pinching you.

“OUCH!  Hey,” you glared at her slightly and massaged the sensitive skin above your elbow.  Mey-Rin merely shrugged.  You opened your mouth to further chastise the maid, when an odd noise caught your attention.

“Pssst!”  You glanced from left to right, finding a rather large fern to be the source of the mysterious hiss.  Narrowing your eyes at it, you saw Bard’s face hidden between two of the leaves.

“What’s wrong?”  You arched an eyebrow curiously.  Bard gnawed the end of his cigarette nervously.

“I burnt dinner…again.”

“Is the kitchen still intact at least?”

Bard tilted his head from side-to-side, eyes drifting upwards.  “More or less.  Anyways, I need for you to—”

“I’ll take care of it,” a new voice entered the conversation as Sebastian’s tall form glided by you and the fern, never breaking stride as he readjusted his gloves.  Bard’s face turned paler than the oversized man in the ghost costume as he disappeared into the fern’s oversized leaves, leaving you, Mey-Rin, and Finny alone once more.  You arched an eyebrow at the butler’s costume.  Bunny ears?

~MEANWHILE, OUTSIDE THE MANOR~

     Mister Hodgins peered into through ballroom through a large window.  He saw several adequate costumes.  There were ghosts, ghouls, goblins, fairies, princesses…and mummies.  The number of mummies present at the party caused his heart to sink.

“At this rate, finding my mummy will be quite difficult…” the elderly man stroked his beard as he watched a line of guests all wearing appropriate Halloween attire entering the manor.  “If only I had a costume…”

Mister Hodgins lowered himself from the window, and as his foot settled into the soil, he felt something envelop his heel.  Narrowing his dark eyes at the object, he found a heavy-duty gasmask resting beside a dying bush of some sort.  His mouth twitched into a broad smile as he knelt to pick up the item.

~BACK TO THE PARTY~

     You had just finished serving out the last of the h’ordeuvres to the guests when a gentleman wearing a masquerade mask walked up to you, his cologne overwhelmingly strong as he gave you a polite bow.  “I see you decided to wear my gift, my little robin~!”

     You felt an ice-cold shiver run up and down your spine as the stranger’s voice entered your ears.  Gripping the silver platter tightly in case you had to use it as a weapon, you greeted the viscount.

“Viscount Druitt,” you gave him a tight smile, eyebrow twitching as you clenched your teeth together.  “Shouldn’t you be in prison or something~?”

Aleistair ignored your comment, his fingers tip-toeing their way across your shoulders until he had you wedged against his side.  “Oh, how I have missed you, my darling flower!”

‘Flower?’  An anime sweat-drop slid down your forehead.  ‘I thought I was a bird…’

“Miss ______, would you kindly check the front door?  I believe our dinner has been delivered,” once again, Sebastian’s voice appeared from seemingly nowhere.  In one swift motion, he managed to guide you towards the rest of the crowd while discreetly smashing the viscount’s foot with his own.  You watched with obvious amusement as the blond hopped up and down, clutching his throbbing toes.

“You ordered takeout?”  You whispered curiously.

“They’re fast, and I’ve heard their food is all the rage nowadays,” Sebastian gave you a devilish smirk.  No one had to tell you that the charming butler wasn’t human.  You had your suspicions.  A man like him wasn’t born…or hatched for that matter.

~TIMESKIP (BROUGHT TO YOU BY TANAKA)~

Their uniforms as well as the food they brought was a little unusual.  Also, there was something very familiar about the boy.

“MgRonald’s you say?”  You glanced at the logo present on the boy’s hat.  He merely smile.  The well-endowed girl beside him nodded enthusiastically.

“You betcha!  We deliver anywhere!  We also cater!”

You glanced down at your chest and frowned slightly, a gray aura materializing over your head.  “I’ll keep that in mind for next time…”

~AND THEN~

Ciel sipped his pumpkin juice very formally, his nose wrinkling as the taste settled into his taste buds.

“Sebastian.”

“Yes, My Lord?”  Sebastian bowed slightly, one hand resting over his heart while the other remained clenched behind his back.  The earl glanced at him with a bored expression.

“I have come to the conclusion that I do not like pumpkin juice.  You will bring me tea.”

“Yes, My Lord,” the butler repeated himself in the form of a reply this time.  Taking the cup from his young master’s hand, Sebastian disappeared once more.

“Lord Phantomhive, your latest art piece is quite unusual…”  One of the guests narrowed his eyes a portrait hanging on the wall.  Ciel’s lips turned upwards slightly.

“There’s a new exhibit at the museum.  I purchased that from the curator.  The portrait is of the Egyptian queen, Cleopatra,” he informed the guest with a hint of haughtiness in his tone.  The man’s painted brows shot skyward.

“Is it authentic?”

“What a rude question,” Sebastian inserted himself into the conversation rather smoothly.  He handed Ciel a steaming cup of tea as well as something wrapped in plastic.  The earl eyed the latter curiously.

“Sebastian…what is this?”  He pressed his lips into a cautious line as he further studied the object in question.

“I believe it is called a ‘Big Mig,” Sebastian replied.  Ciel’s brows furrowed.

“…Sebastian…do I like this ‘Big Mig’?”

The butler clasped his hands together behind his back, wrinkling his freshly pressed suit.  “Why don’t you try it and find out?  It’s important for young people to try new things.”

Ciel gave Sebastian an ugly glare.  “Don’t ever lump me into that category again.”

~BACK TO YOU~

You were already on your third Big Mig when Finny approached you, his dainty fingers pulling apart parts of the burger that he didn’t particularly want.

“Say, ______, what kind of meat is this?”  His turquoise eyes glanced up at you, looking a bit frightened.  After a moment of contemplation, you shrugged.

“I’m not sure…but I ate three, so I think they’re okay.”  You gave Finny a thumbs-up, but he seemed to be even more disturbed than before.  He almost screamed as a hand clamped down on his shoulder.  Turning his head very slowly, Finny came face-to-face with a gasmask.

“Are you my mummy?”

Finny let out a high-pitched yelp before diving into your arms.  Your face turned bright scarlet as he clung to your shoulders, burying his face in the crook of your neck.  You could feel his cool breath against your skin; it made you shudder involuntarily.  There was a loud thud as you dropped him onto the hard tiling. 

“Ouch…”  Finny stood, massaging his rear.  He gave the man in the gasmask a timid look before retreating behind you.

“No, I suppose not,” the man sighed, his voice muffled by the mask.  As he removed it, Finny peered over your shoulder.

“Hey!  That looks like the mask I dropped in the garden!”

“Why were you wearing a heavy duty gasmask in the garden?”  You asked him flatly.

“I decided to spray the plants early this year…pesticide, you know.”  Finny shrugged.

Your eyebrow twitched.  “What kind of pesticide do you use…?”

“I hate to interrupt,” the man held out his hand to gain your attention.  “But, you’re all in grave danger.”

You and Finny both stared at him blankly.  “Say again…?”

~MEANWHILE~

“Bassy is always so busy…”  Grell sighed.  He began twirling a piece of stray hair as he smoothed out his dress.  “He never has time for me anymore…and what’s with this dreadful food?”  The redhead tossed a Big Mig over his shoulder, only to hear a low-pitched groan.  Glancing over his shoulder, he saw a man dressed as a mummy stroking the portrait of Cleopatra.

“Mmmmmmmrrrrrrrr…..”  The mummy turned, stepping on the Big Mig in the process.  Grell arched an eyebrow.

“Well, Darling, I must say, your costume is exquisite~!  Those bandages look hundreds of years old~!”

“Mmmm…mmmm…mrrrrrrr.”

“Oh, and that moan!  You really know how to charm a lady~!”  Grell laced his fingers together and leaned his head against the back of his hand.  “I think I may be in love!”

~DE VUELTA CON USTEDES~

     “SAY WHAT?!”  You and Finny stared wide-eyed at Mister Hodgins as he dabbed his bald head with a handkerchief.  With a short nod, the curator continued,

“It’s true.  If I don’t get him back to the museum by midnight, everyone who has come into contact with the mummy will be cursed.  As long as he remains in his sarcophagus, the curse will be neutralized.”

“And how will you keep him from running away again?”  Finny asked, a slight frown crumpling his delicate forehead.  Mister Hodgins shrugged.

“I’ve never had this problem before.  He’s usually so well-behaved.  Never makes a sound, never goes anywhere…not even to the bathroom.”

“Well…their internal organs are removed, so—”

“A lady should not be speaking of such vulgar things!”  Once again, you were pulled into an unwanted embrace by the viscount.  His hair tickled your cheek as he squeezed you even tighter than before.  “Now, let us dance!”

“Let’s not and say we did,” you muttered, prying yourself from his unusually strong hold.  “Look, I don’t have time to—”

“It’s almost midnight,” A familiar voice spoke loudly from across the room.  Everyone halted to stare as Sebastian took center-stage.  “That means we will be announcing the winner of the costume contest shortly.  If you would all give your attention to your host for this evening, Master Ciel Phantomhive.”

Everyone erupted into a loud cheer as Ciel stepped forwards.  This only served to annoy him, his hand still clutching the remains of a Big Mig.  He quickly shoved it into his mouth and swallowed before pulling a slip of paper from his jacket pocket.  You idly wondered why he had disobeyed his own rule of “you must wear a costume to attend the party”.  You gave Mister Hodgins a sideways glance.  Even commoners were allowed to come as long as they followed the rule.

“The winner is,” Ciel’s monotone voice was as quiet as always.  The guests had to strain to hear.  “The mummy.”  All of the mummies in the room gasped.  Ciel jabbed his finger at the mummy standing next to Grell.  “That mummy.”

“Oh~!”  Grell swooned, his gloved hands clapping rapidly.  “Bravo~!  Bravo!  Well, don’t just stand there!  Accept your prize~!”

The mummy groaned loudly and stepped forwards, his movements stiff and slow.  Mister Hodgins’ eyes widened as he watched it move.

“There’s my mummy!”  He declared.  Your eyes darted to the clock.  Less than fifteen minutes were left to get it back to the museum.

“I’ll take care of it!”  You stated (with much more confidence than you actually felt).  You bolted forwards, only to be stopped by a tall figure stepping in front of you, something silver gleaming in his hand as he faced the mummy.

“You are not human…at least not anymore,” his voice was too low for the crowd to hear, but you caught every word.  The knife in Sebastian’s hand was hidden so discreetly that to the observers, it merely appeared as if he were congratulating the mummy for winning the contest.  The butler’s cheery smile was also misleading.  “Would you calmly come with me, please?  I don’t wish to harm something as ancient as you.  You belong in a museum,” his eyes darted to Mister Hodgins, who stared, dumbfounded, at the scene before him.  “And I’m going to make sure you stay there.”

“Mmm..mmmm-mmmmm…rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr,” the mummy jabbed its thickly wrapped hand at the portrait.  Sebastian blinked, confused.

“I think he wants the portrait,” you whispered with an awkward grin.  “That’s his queen.  Maybe he just wants to be with her.”

“Mmmmrraaaaaaaa!”  The mummy moaned once more.  Ciel’s eyebrow twitched.

“Just take it and get out of here…people are looking at us strangely.  They don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t feel like ‘explaining’ it to them.”

Sebastian nodded once.  He made a grand sweeping gesture towards the portrait.  “For your prize, you have won this lovely, one of a kind portrait of the elegant Cleopatra!”

You and Finny exchanged an odd look as everyone clapped, the cheery atmosphere returning once more.  Mister Hodgins linked arms with the mummy.  “Let’s go home, Mummy.”

“Mmmrrmrrrr.”

You watched with an amused grin as the two of them left the party.  Everyone else had returned to their business, so once again, you were left to fight off the masses.

“All’s well that ends well,” you shrugged.  “Everyone’s happy in the end.”

Finny tapped your shoulder, averting your attention to a certain redhead who was pouting over by the fern.  “Well…almost everyone.”

“Why must all my loves be taken…and he was so old too!  And that beard…I’m much more attractive!”

“Who do you think he’s talking to?”  You tilted your head curiously.  Finny shrugged.

….

………..

………………….

“So, do you think it’s cow meat?”

………..

………………………

“Yeah, maybe.”

THE END~

~EXTENDED ENDING~

The room was strangely empty.  All of the guests had left, leaving you, Finny, and Mey-Rin to clean up the ballroom.

“Rich people sure can make a mess…”  Finny sighed as he stared at the paper-plates, napkins, and Big Mig wrappers strewn across the ballroom floor.

Mey-Rin giggled into her hand.  “Too bad they don’t know how to clean them up!”

You rolled your eyes and continued sweeping, but in the corner of your vision, you caught a flash of blue along with a whirring sound.  You turned, and as you did so, a Big Mig wrapper enveloped your face.  You could hear the fluttering of the discarded debris, and then…everything was silent.

But wait…that’s for another story~.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN~!