25. Chapter 10

Omen's POV

Now that I took a closer look at him, his slick back greyish hair was shaped to have two tufts of hair poking out of his head. There were specks of black and white in his hair, similar to the white-faced owl that he previously morphed from.

"Thank you."

The man scoffed.

His eyes rolling widely as he adjusted the lapels of his large and imposing black coat. He was wearing a brown vest over his white dress shirt with a striped black and white tie. He wore black pants and a pair of grey leather dress shoes. The arrogant aura he exuded was overwhelming, giving the feel of nobility.

Just where did this guy appear from?!

"I came from your ring."

What?

He sighed in despair, as if he had met the dumbest person alive.

"I was born from the egg which Micheal Johnathan Evans gave to you, Omen. I have been watching you guys ever since I was created. If not for me, you would have died."

His arms spread widely, expecting an applause or a wide ovation for his timely rescue. I closed my eyes briefly, feeling the faint arrival of a headache.

"So… you are my familiar, an owl shape shifter." I confirmed slowly.

"Unfortunately."

"And you have yet to have a name."

"Correct."

I sighed in resignation.

Is there a way for me to return this pompous person to Mike?

"How about Earl?" I replied after a while.

To be honest, I was secretly thinking up of a hundred trashy names for him just to spite him. Fortunately, he is lucky. After all that battle, I don't think I have the mental energy to start another fight.

It took a moment for him to contemplate the name before his eyes twinkled in satisfaction.

"I shall begrudgingly accept the name."

I rolled my eyes.

Even his eloquent words were grating my ears.

"I might need you to morph into an owl once we see people."

Earl hummed his reply, guiding me slowly away from the circus.

"Besides, why is Damon so scared of you breaking the mask?"

Earl sneaked a glance at me, his eyes conveying disbelief at my question. I knew what I was thinking of could be the answer but I just could not help asking.

"Take a guess."

He drawled. His face reverting to a bored expression. That was all I need to know. I filed away the thought I had in my mind as I walked towards Amyus's cottage.

~~~~~

I quietly slipped back through the window, taking careful note to be mindful of the potted plants at the windowsill.

The cottage was quiet but it felt as if there was a black cloud hanging over it. I have only been gone for a few hours. So, what exactly has happened?

"Where have you been, Kira?"

I froze like a deer caught in the headlights; my body stuck mid-tiptoeing to my bed. My eyes took a glance. Virginia was sitting arms crossed on the chair in the corner of the room.

Who knows how long she had waited for me?

"You left. And Sherlock…" Virginia started to sob. "He was taken away!"

My eyes widened in shock with my mouth clamped shut. I had clearly forgotten about the warning from the Alice letter. It was then did I realised that Damon Windsor had drew me out so that he could easily take away Sherlock.

How could I forgot all of that?

"Virginia… I…"

She stood up immediately, cutting off my words.

"Sherlock is gone! Gone!"

Her accusatory eyes held me in place. There was a storm brewing within its depths.

"Where were you when we needed you the most?!"

Words got stuck in my throat. My eyes glanced down in shame. It was obvious that whatever I could say could not salvage the situation. In an effort to save Mia, I forgot about protecting Sherlock. I had gotten too close to them that I became their trouble.

"I'm… I'm sorry"

Then, I left.

~~~~~

"She��s in her room. She doesn't come out of her room these past few days unless it's time to ride Sandia or when it's mealtime."

Amyus's expression was that of a worried father. Even after what I did to his daughter and to them after that day, he was willing to talk to me. It was my last day staying at this World, I had to return to the Library to reunite with Mike. Plus, after Earl chiding me about what I did, I couldn't afford to leave a friendship in shreds.

"Virginia?"

I knocked on her door. There was a rustling sound before there was silence. The type of silence that was suffocating. I rested my forehead on the cold and hard door before continuing.

"I… I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for all the trouble I have given to all of you but… thank you for helping me. I promise… I will get Sherlock back, whole and alive."

There was silence again although I swore, I heard a sniffle.

"Virginia... I left a little something at the door for you. It's something like a protection charm and a gift for you. Amyus and Matty have theirs."

There was no answer.

I awkwardly stood there for a few seconds before I decided it was my cue to go.

"I… I will see you next time."

This time, there was a click of the door opening.

Virginia Crowe held onto the door. Her eyes were bloodshot from days of crying. Her fiery red hair a little unkempt, dampened from her mood. She then looked down at the door knob where I hung the Guardian necklace, the same one that Mike and I gave to the characters in the Black Butler World.

"Why didn't you say that he had gotten your friend?"

I smiled meekly at her. What could I have said when Virginia was so angry? She sighed at my expression before putting on the necklace I had left on her doorknob. Then, she looked up to my eyes with fire in her eyes.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you. But you better kick that bastard's ass for me when you bring Sherlock back."

I nodded my head as a sign of a promise.

I won't let you down, V.

~~~~~ Next stop: Mia's vegetable stall.

"Mia, how are you?"

Mia was bustling around her stall, stocking up her vegetables when I interrupted her. Next thing I knew, I was pulled to the side and forced to sit on an empty wooden crate with her.

"Much better, dear. Thank you for saving me."

She patted my cheek tenderly.

"I'm so sorry for involving you in my mess, Mia. I didn't..."

"Nonsense! It's not your fault. Although someone hasn't told me that they are not a boy..."

I smiled sheepishly at her knowing smile.

"It's alright, you have your reasons."

Then she noticed the small haversack that I have by my feet.

"So, it's time for you to go?"

I nodded, a little guilty. I pulled out another Guardian necklace and passed it to her.

"Thank you for taking care of me."

She gazed down at the necklace. Her weathered fingers brushed across the gold leaf.

"It's beautiful, my dear."

Suddenly, Mia stood up. My heart jumped at her sudden movement. There was a sudden flash in my mind that she saw danger before my heart quelled at her excited expression.

"Oh! And I have something for you," she hurried to her stall. She tossed a few miscellaneous things behind her while rummaging through the boxes frantically. "It's a little something that I have gotten from my travels."

"You travel?"

"Just lucky enough to travel a few places in my younger days. Ah! Here it is."

She fished out a beaded goldfish from her box.

I widened my eyes.

Wasn't that the goldfish that the mysterious girl wanted me to find?

"Here, it's a delightful handicraft. It's said to bring you luck, I believe." She rambled off in amusement. "Well, take it as a gift from me, I have lots of cute trinkets from my travels. You having this goldfish will make this lady happy."

A grateful smile formed on my face as I glanced at the beaded yellow goldfish in my hands.

"I'll treasure it, Mia. I have to go now."

Her face gave a reluctant expression but relented. Standing up too, she gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Take care of yourself, Keith."

I chuckled at that name before passing another necklace for Jasper.

With that, I left her stall and walked off to the Farnham train station where I had first come.

"Hoot!" Don't forget me! (´-`)

Earl said as he landed on my shoulder.

A dying grey rat was caught in his beak. One of its legs twitched occasionally. I wrinkled my nose in disgust and try not to get any stray blood droplets fall on me.

"Well, let's go home."