Chapter 19 - The Finale (Part 3)

900, 9 am...

Natalie opens her eyes seeing the soft rays under her little window. She remembered what she was ordered to, she looked at the clock and there is more time for preparation. She stood up and started stretching in front of the mirror. Still wearing her nightdress, she saw a flower like crest on her cheek, she looked closer, trying to see if there are any more details in it. Natalie smiled, she had flashbacks of what happened last night, now she can turn into a demon without harming herself.

"Let me see what I can do." She closed her eyes, and the crest on her cheek glowed purple, she opens her eyes again and her black eyes started glowing too, a horn went out on the right side of her head, she noticed, it got a bit longer, a tail went out and her hair became long, enough to touch the ground, and her claws as sharp as a blade. She felt an urge to decapitate someone, she gritted her teeth, "Damn it, I want to kill!" She told herself, starting to lose control, she stumbled on the floor, her body twitching as she tries to calm herself down.

Azuria felt strong energy gathering, she looked around and noticed it was in Natalie's room, it made her stand up and start moving, she reappeared in Natalie's room and saw her on the ground, "Master, help!" Natalie pleaded. Azuria sighed, "You are really troublesome, go back to your normal state on your own." She ordered, she sat down on the chair.

Struggling, Natalie starts to grin, she stood up and held her other hand, trying to go back to normal, she jumped at Azuria trying to rip her head, seeing all of this, Natalie's eyes widened, Azuria just dodged it while still looking at her with narrow eyes. Azuria took her head and slammed it on the ground, "Go back to normal," she didn't take her eyes off her, Natalie started tearing up but she didn't say anything, "That is an Order." Azuria stated, Natalie suddenly felt her heart thump and she quickly went back to normal.

Realising what happened, she continued crying, "I, I'm sorry Master." Azuria is still holding her head, she slowly lift her hands and let Natalie sit down. Still crying, "I'm so sorry, I lost control." Azuria held her head and hugged her, trying to calm her down, still not saying anything.

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"Mi'lord, do you need something?" Lynda gladly asked Alex, who is just doing some paper works with Ciel. Waiting for his answer, he smiled, "A cup of oolong tea and black coffee please." Alex ordered, Lynda bowed and left.

Ciel looked at Alex with a smile, "Oolong? I haven't taste it in years." Alex looked back with a smile, "Well, that is the tea I liked the least, you can have it all day if you want." He chuckled then signed a paper, Ciel shrugged, "I must say it doesn't taste as good as black tea."

"Oh, you like strong flavours I see." Alex rose an eyebrow, "You must have liked the rare Pu-er tea." He rearranged his papers and continued writing. Ciel looked at him with a frown, "I hate that, a strong weird flavor it gives didn't add up on my taste buds."

Alex chuckled, "I see," just as he was about to lose something to say, Lynda slowly opened the door pushing a serving cart with two teapots and teacups, "Oh, here is the coffee and tea."

Lynda carefully lift the teapot and poured some on Ciel's cup, and coffee on Alex's. "Coffee for mi'lord," she gently placed the cup of coffee beside Alex, "And tea for sir Phantomhive." And so as to Ciel, Lynda smiled looking at him.

"Good job Lynda," Alex lifts his cup and took a sip, "You may rest." He smelled the aroma of the coffee, "Did you brew this on your own Lynda?" He looked at her with a curious look.

"Ah yes mi'lord," Lynda answered happily, "I used to practice making Coffee when I was little." She chuckled a little, "Once I used up a bag of beans, and still got the coffee flavourless."

"Maybe you did it again today." Alex chuckles and sips coffee again, "but wow this is really great." It made Lynda smile again, "Of course, anything for you mi'lord."

"Anyway Ciel, suppose I would see you again tomorrow?" Alex waited for his reply as Ciel finishes his cup of tea, "Ah yes, I will meet you again, tomorrow." He stood up and placed his cup on the serving cart, he looked again at Alex and waved once, "Have a nice day, Mr. Baltazar."

"You too young man." Alex smiled at him and watched as Ciel quietly left his study, "So Lynda, how are you feeling?" He arranged his papers and put it in his table drawer while asking the question.

"I, I feel..." Lynda avoided his gaze and looked down, "I feel fine mi'lord." She felt like her head wants to face Alex, forcing her to look at him, her eyes glowed.

"Are you sure?" Alex's eyes glowed as well while asking the question. Lynda looked carefully at his glowing eyes, her eyes started tearing up, still with eye contact, "Will I ever go back to how I used to be?" Her hands shaking trying to wipe her flowing tears.

His eyes stopped glowing, then Alex sighed, "You will." He fidgets his finger, tapping the table, "And when you do, free yourself from the chains inside your heart." He lifted his hand and pats Lynda, "Do you understand?"

Lynda didn't respond, she just kept her tears flowing, covering her mouth with her hands, Alex sat down and waited for her to calm down. "I understand mi'lord." She wiped her last tear and stood up, leaving the room quietly.

Alex's serious face went smiling thinking about what will be happening in the near future. He starts tapping the table again, try to calm himself. Instead of calming down, he started chuckling.

"Father."

He suddenly stopped, leaving him with only a smile in his face, "What is it my dear?" He looked in front of him and saw Azuria sitting on the other chair, "Isn't this what you asked for?" She tossed the chains lightly, making a slight sound of metal crashing against each other.

"Ah yes, thank you dear, I also need-" Alex stopped speaking, hearing another metallic object being dropped. "Yeah, the hook." Azuria avoided eye contact and sat down again, "anyway, what are you gonna do with this?"

"Let's say it's for a surprise later at night." Alex smiled answering the question, he opens his eyes and looked at the two huge hooks with a glowing tip, "Did you know how your mother died?"

The question made Azuria flinch, it made her curious to know, she finally made eye contact and asked, "How?"

"By that." Alex pointed the hooks, Azuria got surprised, knowing this just now. She starts sweating, "What do you mean?" She closed her hands that is sitting on her lap, her eyes slowly starts to fill up in tears.

"You know, she could've escaped, but as soon as she jumped, I saw that hook piercing through her stomach." Alex starts shaking a bit, "Tha-, I felt this crushing feeling in your heart." Tears slides through his cheeks, he breathed heavily and wiped his tears, "I felt helpless, and I was, those who pinned me down were the Soul Demons, I can kill them easily one by one, but for them to be together, they were as strong as myself." Alex seemed to calm down after explaining.

"I never thought such weapon would pin down mother as well." Azuria took the hook and examined it, "What is inside of this anyway?"

"That glowing part is what you call Diochetévo." Alex stood up and took it, "This devours the energy of the victim when its blood got spilled over it." He carefully placed the hook on his table, "This malicious energy came from Lucifer himself, you don't want touching any of these."

Azuria knew the atmosphere lightened up a bit, and so she knew as well it is time for her to leave. She stood up and asked, "Anything else you needed from me?"

Alex smiled gently at her, "I just want you to guard our home later at night, understood?" He waved goodbye seeing Azuria's nod as a response to his order. Alex stood up and took the coil of chains and placed it on the table, he sat down and tries to attach the chains to the hooks. Alex made a smile with his success attaching the hooks on the chain.

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Lynda walked in the kitchen and to the sink, she carefully placed the cups and washed them, wiped them dry and placed them in a hanging cabinet. After placing the last cup on the cabinet, in the corner of her eye she saw Azuria walking in. At first she acted like she didn't notice her, she decided to bow after closing the cabinet. The moment she did, Azuria sat on the table and asked her, "If my father died, would you be serving me instead?"

Lynda didn't respond to the question at hand quickly, she came to an answer Azuria would be pleased. She stood beside her and bowed, "Of course, for it is you who will be next in line, after him."

"But what if father ordered you to be free upon his deathbed?" Azuria took sip on her coffee, waiting for yet another reply. Lynda quite struggle finding an answer, she can't seem to get an idea of Alex dying, and due to what? Illness? Murder? She thought that such things were merely a state in his immortality. Lynda stood up, "then, if that were his last order for me, then to what purpose do I live to exist as a creature created by him?"

Azuria got pleased by her answer, making her smile, she took another sip, "Not bad, it will be either find a new purpose, or stick to your old one, serving him." Her eyes narrowed a bit, "His death doesn't mean the end of your purpose of existing, if you like to serve him, serve him for your own sake, if that is what makes you feel that you have a purpose to exist."

"Then perhaps I would eventually come to a solution of serving you," Lynda replied, "You are not Alex, but you are the closest person to be like him."

Azuria didn't reply, she took her final sip of her coffee and slid her cup near Lynda, "Clean this then." Lynda got surprised, she smiled at her and bowed, "Of course mi'lord."

"By the way, your hunt with Houston starts later in night, father says so." Azuria stood up, and starts walking away, outside the kitchen, and left without adding anything else.

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1200, 12 pm...

Ruby is in her room, trying to calm down from the demon within the blade given to her. Almost to the point of going mad, she kept silent and nervous, that she might harm someone she isn't supposed to.

"Please, just stop!" She closed her eyes pleading the blade. The blade became quiet, and after a second, she starts hearing laughter.

"You are so amusing, bring me a body, so you can be free. I can be free, BOTH OF US WILL BE FREE!"

Ruby got surprised, she didn't want to harm anyone just for a weapon's desire, one thing for sure, the weapon really is alive. Although, why didn't the weapon spoke when Alex touched it? She didn't know her curiosity towards it only lead to further destruction of her sanity. "Why didn't speak when master was holding you?"

"Ah, yes, Alexandre Baltazar."

The weapon seemed to calm down, Ruby felt relieved only for a second when she suddenly saw it glowing. She felt the growing hatred in the weapon towards Alex. "BRING ME A BODY NOW!"

"SO I CAN RIP HIS BODY IN HALF!"

Ruby noticed that she is shaking in fear, she felt chills in her spine making her drop the weapon, "Just shut up for awhile!" She shouted. The blade seems to stop speaking again, "What did he ever done to you?"

"You know, I am created by the fragments of different souls that were defeated by Alex! I am created to DESTROY HIM!"

Ruby got confused, "fragments of different souls? You mean Alex killed more than what my eyes saw?" She closed her suitcase for the weapon, and looked at the blade.

"Speaking of eyes, have you seen his collection of eyes? Where are they?"

Soon as the words rendered in her mind, she got lost in her memories, she remembered and noticed, where are his collection of eyes in his room? The last time she saw them was months ago. She realized where the blade was made out of. Ruby couldn't take what she is thinking about, she went in her restroom and vomitted in the toilet.

"Ah, I guess you already know. I am created by the eyes he collected..."

Ruby didn't want to continue any further, she took the blade without saying a word, opened the suitcase and placed the weapon inside. Putting it in there was the only solution of keeping the whispers gone, for the meantime where she won't be using it. She sat on her bed and starts thinking, just who is her master?

Minutes passed, she heard her bell she is being called to the kitchen. On her way, she passed through Natalie, she looked different. She didn't feel this empty before, she is just like her in the old days. Ruby looked at Natalie's eyes, she glanced back, Ruby noticed her pitch black eyes, that wasn't there before. She had blue curious eyes. Now they were emotionless, like something terrifying and dangerous is behind those eyes.

Ruby didn't say anything, Natalie didn't say anything as well, they continued where they were supposed to go. When Ruby reached the kitchen, she saw Adeline looking at the window while sitting on the table, watching the little werewolf kids play, she sighed.

"Responsibility is hard, is it not?" Adeline spoke out of boredom, she looked at Ruby who is thinking for an answer, Adeline smiled at her, "If I were as innocent as them." She looked back at the children.

"If you were as innocent as them," Ruby smiles at her, "We shouldn't have met in the first place, remember?" She went in the pantry and took the wine. Adeline smirked, "Ah, yes, my days of eternal changes, quite inevitable."

"Ruby, please give me a wine glass." Adeline ordered, Ruby followed the order and gave her a wine of glass. "So, are you ready for tonight?"

"Tonight?" Ruby is surprised to know that something will be happening tonight, "What do you mean tonight?" Ruby sat down beside Adeline.

Adeline put her head on Ruby's shoulder, "We will be hunting vampires again, this time in Britain." She smiled in excitement, Ruby only felt nervous, she remembered what her weapon desire, a body it can use.

"I think I won't be going." Ruby nervously answered with a slight chuckle, she didn't want losing control in front of Alex, and until she finds a way taking complete control over her blade, she won't join any missions, unless ordered by Alex himself.

"Come on Ruby, you have to come, father says so!" Adeline almost shouted out of disappointment, she realised it and sighed. Trying to lighten the air around them, she drank her wine, "Please refill my glass, Ruby." And ordered for some more.

"Of course, mi'lord." Ruby bowed and slowly poured wine in Adeline's glass, until it's full, she covered the bottle again. Ruby wasn't convinced of what Adeline said, "Mi'lord, are you sure Master told you that I will come later?"

"Yes, I did."

Both Ruby and Adeline's eyes got a bit wide out of surprise, they both saw Alex at the entrance of the kitchen. He walked towards them and joined their conversation, he sat down and smiled at Adeline, "Do you object on what I told to my daughter?"

"Ah no master, I would never." Ruby stood up just to kneel down, "I will never be against at what you say master." She kept her place until she felt a hand on her head.

"That is good," Alex held her chin up and looked at Ruby in her eyes, "so you better prepare later, do you understand?" He smiled and waited for a reply.

"Absolutely master." Ruby stood up and stood beside him. She can't believe she would be joining on their hunt, she started imagining things that could go wrong along the way. She might lost control just because of the blade, hurting the people on her side, especially her master, she don't want to disappoint him too.

"Master, may I return in my room?" Ruby bluntly asked, she knew that she need to take control of her blade until later, or nothing good might happen.

"Ah, sure" Alex smiled at her in an unusual way, "you have a blade to take care of." Ruby got shocked hearing what Alex said, did he knew it all along? It made her leave the kitchen silently.

Upon her leave, Adeline smirked, "What was that all about?" She asked. Alex lifts his wine glass and stared at the wine, "I gave her a blade made out of my dead enemies' eye." He answered with a light chuckle, "and it seems that it became alive."

"I see." Adeline bursted out laughing realising the pun she did not expect. Alex sighed and chuckled along with her. After a few minutes, he looked at Adeline and asked, "Aren't you a bit of underage to start drinking wine?"

Adeline got surprised from the question, she pouted and looked the other way, "Hmph!" Alex shrugged, "I guess it looks like blood, so maybe it will serve as a substitute."

"I guess." Adeline answered still with a pout on her face. "Anyway, I'll take a nap for later then," she yawned, "and I became a bit drowsy from the drink, see you dad!" She started walking out the kitchen and to her room.

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2100, 9 pm...

Houston's eyes were closed, trying to rest, while all of her vampires were outside hunting for food. She felt uneasy, and starts to sweat, she got flashes of her head lying on the floor and her body lying cold far from her, and what she saw is Alex with glowing red eyes holding chains that reaches to the ground. She saw all her men lying down, with cold bodies as well, and saw Diamond, kneeling down in front of a woman with long blonde hair with red glowing eyes. Houston opened her eyes, frightened from what she saw, she called back all of her vampires. She knows something is really off.

"Diamond." She called her name and Diamond went closer to her. "What is it mi'lord?" Diamond asked, "let me guess another glass of wine?"

"No, just let all your ghouls released, I do have a feeling, tonight is the night." Houston answered with a gentle smile looking at the moon, "The night we all came prepared for." She starts laughing hysterically.