Kadence breathed deeply, standing right outside one of the many holes she used to get around the huge building. She could feel Sebastian's eyes on her. Turning her head, she met his crimson eyes with her uncertain emerald ones. "Is this a good idea?" She asked in a low voice, her tone wavering from the sheer anxiety she felt building in her gut. "What if Ciel doesn't see me, but his guest does?" 

Sebastian lowered his head in thought, his eyes shifting to the hardwood floor. "I will be outside the door. If the other were to see you, I doubt the Master would let him get his hands on you. He may seem rough around the edges yet but I know him. He's beginning to warm up to you despite what he says."

His words sent a small boost of confidence through her and she smiled. "You really think he is?" She asked, turning back around t face the crack in the wall. Before she had a chance to think about it again, she slipped into the walls and disappeared from Sebastian's sight.

Once she was out of his view, Sebastian let out a soft exhale and stood. It wouldn't be difficult to get to the room before her, but he would be there. He never lies to his Master and he doesn't plan on losing the Borrower's trust by not being where he says he is.

_____________

Kadence breathed shakily, moving through the dark of the walls. It was natural for her now. She couldn't draw a full map of the mansion but she knew the paths she'd created like the back of her hand.

When she finally neared Ciel's study, faint voices gradually grew into words, then into full sentences. She couldn't hear enough through the walls though. It was partially muffled. Her job was to pick up a conversation, not garbled speech.

Her hands shook while she neared the hole she'd made in the wall just behind a table leg in Ciel's study. She stepped from the dark and safety of the walls into the unknown light, finally able to hear the conversation properly and able to see both Ciel and his guest from where she stood on the floor.

"This could benefit your company greatly, my Lord. This deal is-" The young man speaking excitedly was interrupted by Ciel's bored tone.

"This deal to me seems like nothing more than a scam to squeeze money out of my pocket. Tell me. How much a month do you think I'd be losing rather than gaining?" Ciel shifted his arm, resting his chin on his hand.

The young man looked flustered but he composed himself and tried again. "Lord Phantomhive, s-surely, it is risky. But that's the beauty of it, you're-"

"What beauty is there in losing money?" Ciel questioned, out of the corner of his eye spying a flash of red. His gaze briefly wandered to the Borrower watching, hidden only partially behind the table leg against the wall. 

Kadence felt her body go rigid when she saw Ciel's uncovered blue eye wander over her. But he said nothing and continued the discussion. His glance, however, didn't go unnoticed. 

"What the devil are you looking at?" The young man's head turned, his eyes locking onto the redheaded female. His mouth dropped open partially. "What is that?"

"I believe this is over with. You're only trying to cheat me and I think you've overstayed your welcome." Ciel's voice was firm, slowly rising from his chair. 

The man didn't listen or perhaps just didn't hear the Young Earl, standing from the chair. "Are you hiding it from others? Is this one of the dark secrets people speak of when they talk about you? Maybe it's being kept her against its will. Does it function like a human or an animal?" 

Ciel didn't say a word, but a deep, elegant voice responded to the man's question.

"Human. But I think it would be best if you ceased calling her an 'it'." Sebastian spoke in a calm, threatening tone, deciding to interfere after the Master had told the man to leave and he hadn't. He could sense the faint terror as well which he could only have assumed was radiating from Kadence.

"Come here." He lowered his voice to a soothing murmur, kneeling on the floor and extended his hand palm up on the hardwood floor. His eyes watched the Borrower closely, brows furrowing when she didn't move but easily figured out why she hadn't.

Kadence would love nothing more than to run to the safety of the butler, but there was one problem. There was a stranger in between them. If she ran, that stranger who obviously saw her as some item could catch her. Her emerald eyes locked onto Sebastian's, silently pleading with him. 

The man's body shifted, ignoring Sebastian most likely for his position in the house. "I'll go, I will. I just want to see 'her' a little closer. Fascinating. See, my father was a biologist and I never saw something like tha- er, her, before." He wasn't slow with his movements, his hand reaching out toward her. 

Quick hands scooped Kadence from the floor, and at first, the Borrower thought it was Sebastian until she noticed these hands were smaller and ungloved. Looking up she caught a glimpse of Ciel, his hands cupping around her gingerly. 

"You need to leave, now," Ciel spoke again, his voice now ordering the man and Sebastian at the same time. "Oh, and Sebastian, make sure as he leaves you show him true Phantomhive hospitality."

Sebastian's thin lips curled into a smirk and he bowed without hesitation. While he was shocked Ciel stepped in, he was given an order. He knew exactly what that phrase meant. "Yes, my Lord."