Monster Circus Chapter 4

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Chapter 3

Chapter 4 Their Master Training

With Snake’s friends guarding the till they were able to make plenty of money. There were a few idiots who tried, purely because they didn’t feel the monsters deserved money. The nobles who knew of Ciel’s goal often tried to sabotage his circus, even if they let his shows go on they’d swipe his money so he couldn’t pay back the Queen.

Snake had a special bond with reptiles, able to communicate with them and even command them. His friends could be rather exotic, some having very special venom. The poor fools didn’t know what hit them. They received Phantomhive treatment, and it cost them for their stupidity.

Their circus brought smiles to the people, the mayor’s wife was so pleased. Something her husband took credit for. When it was time to go, Ciel pumped money back into the town, buying all manner of supplies for their road trip. Not only that paying top dollar for their meals. It wasn’t showing off, it was incentive anyone who refused them service wouldn’t get their business and those that did flourished, the same was true for anyone who tried to sell them low quality goods.

“So where shall we head next?” Sebastian asked. They had a few options.

Ciel was thinking on it when suddenly a three eyed owl flew to them. “A messenger for the queen.”

“She must have a job for us.” Claude said.

“It seems our destination has been decided, we’ll be heading to Houndsworth.” The place sounded terrible to Sebastian who was a neko.

“What’s the job master?” Bard asked.

“The town of Houndsworth has been struggling the last 10 years, they used to practice a particular “sport”...monster baiting.” It was a sickening thing where monsters would be tied up, sometimes even drugged and the people would sick vicious animals on them. The so called sport was outlawed, but a man saw potential in how vicious animals could get so started animal fighting rings.

“Lord Barrymore has been crippling the town, making it a near lawless area. People have gone missing, and there have been several strange murders that have gone unsolved. Her Majesty believes it is the work of an unregistered monster.” Victoria has had many ideas of improving the town and creating healthy traffic flow to it, but Barrymore is to put it simply...insane.

He’s used every regional legal trick in the book to stave off Victoria’s efforts, and many of the missing peoples were men and women who she had tried to improve the town. Barrymore was nuts, he was so busy clinging to his own power and position he couldn’t see the suffering of the people.

His family had been in charge of the area for too long, so long as he was living a good life in his manor and people did as he said everything was fine in his book. It wasn’t reality…

The once brilliant town full of life and potential had become a ghost town. Barrymore of course, blamed it on the queen for “crippling their trade” by that he meant the monster baiting. His vileness was easy to be fed, the people didn’t know he was blocking the Queen’s efforts in improving their town, and those that came on the queen’s behalf well...weren’t around very long to make a difference.

“Her Majesty wants us to take care of this problem, for assisting with this and establishing grounds in town, the monster issue will be left to us to handle.”

“Yay we can make a new friend!” Finny cheered.

-x-

Ghost town may have been too nice a word, the whole place was creepy. There were the bones of animals being used as decorations, collars and chains hanging from trees, many buildings were run down and people looked worn out. “These poor people…” Mey-Rin said. “It’s a sad state to see.”

“Monsters….monsters in the town!” One of the people noticed the monster boys in their group.

“Monsters?”

“Monsters have returned for revenge!” People were hiding and running away.

“The hell is wrong with these people.” Claude adjusted his glasses.

“So noisy!” Snake grumbled.

“They must be living in fear after their history with monsters in the past, that one day they’ll face judgment.” Ciel said. “But we can not change the past, nor should we fear it, or we won’t be able to learn from it and move forward.”

“Maybe that’s how Barrymore manipulates the people.” Sebastian believed.

“I’d say its certainly one of the ways.”

“No please...help!” They heard someone crying out. “Please!”

“Be quiet dog!” Crack! The man was struck with a whip.

The circus caravan rolled up.

“Please you can’t take my dogs.”

“You know the law, now that they are old enough, they are taken to become soldiers.” It was Barrymore. He was accosting a man for his dogs. The so called soldiers were just meat for the grinder in the animal fights.

“I’ve raised them since they were pups, they are like family to me, you...you can’t take them!”

“How dare you defy me, you worthless pup!” Barrymore unleashed the whip he was holding, whipping the man as he sent his men to collect the dogs.

“Bard, Finny!”

“Right!” The centaur and vampire charged in and cut off the men.

“Monsters!”

“What?” Barrymore gasped.

“Lord Barrymore that’s enough.” Ciel stepped out.

“Who are you pup? How dare you get involved in adult business.”

“You’ll find it’s my job. I’m Ciel Phantomhive, Lord of the Phantomhive estate.”

“Oh...so you’re the queen’s guard dog…” Barrymore eyed the monsters in Ciel’s company. “I didn’t know you’d be coming here.”

“Yes well, her Majesty recently gave the order, so we came.”

The man grit his teeth. “What a good dog you are.” He knew he couldn’t act now. “Please come to my manor, we can discuss whatever business the queen wants and you can leave.”

“I don’t think so.”

“What?”

“A man has been injured we need to get him medical attention right away.”

Barrymore looked shaken, as if such little defiance was a deep insult. He left with his men, and the dogs rushed over to their master. “It’s okay...I’m okay…”

It was clear Barrymore wasn’t shy about showing his true colors. Ciel looked and saw there were other observers. “And no one bothered to help.”

“It’s because of the Demon Hound!”

“Demon Hound?”

“The Demon Hound has served the Barrymore family for generations it protects them.”

“Claude?” The arachne pulled out a dictionary.

“Well my lord there is all manner of dog and wolf type monsters, it’ll take some time to figure out what we are dealing with.”

“Do your best to be quick.” He had Snake guard the man’s home and the caravan with his friends. “Bard, you and Finny see to these tasks, if anyone gives you trouble use your best judgment.”

“Sebastian, look into Barrymore, we need evidence if we are going to make a move.” Sebastian made a bow. He’d be quick he didn’t want to stay in this town for longer than he had to.

“Where are you gonna be master?” Finny asked.

“I’m gonna take a walk, Mey-Rin you’ll be with me today.”

“Of course sir!” She even packed them a picnic basket.

“Master, if there is a Demon Hound involved, it might not be safe for you to wander.”

“We don’t know for sure if there is even a demon hound. I’ll be fine.”

Claude and Sebastian didn’t like it when Ciel used himself as bait. “Everyone finish your tasks quickly but efficiently.”

“Right!”

-x-

Ciel walked around town, gaining some insight into the state of it before venturing out into the surrounding area. ‘From the Queen’s information more than 1/3 of the Town’s Populace has been reduced. There is all this land that can be used for businesses. This whole town could be hot spot, but instead people avoid it like the plague.’

“These poor people, can we help them master?”

“We will try.”

A large growl was heard. “My goodness what was that?” Mey-Rin looked around but couldn’t see anything. “Perhaps we should head back and get one of the boys to accompany us.”

“Nonsense, that wasn’t a growl of a threat. Let’s continue.”

They continued on and found a pack of dogs chained up without food or water. “These poor dears!” Their stomachs growled.

Some dogs growled at them only because they were strangers. “It is alright, we are here to help.” Ciel offered his hand so they could sniff him, but the dog bit him.

“Young master!” Mey-Rin was about to snap.

“Don’t Mey-Rin…I’m fine…” His gloves were made by Claude, all his clothes were really, the fine thread was like silk armor. Their teeth couldn’t penetrate the clothe, but Ciel still felt the force of the bite. “It’s okay...we aren’t gonna hurt you…” Ciel stroked the dog’s mane, and it calmed down. It released his hand and Ciel had Mey-Rin bring out some food.

They had some meats and cheeses, which she put the meat on a plate and began handing out the plates to the tied up dogs. “Poor dears so hungry we heard them from a ways away.”

“I don’t think that growl was them.” Being on stage enough Ciel got used to the feeling of being watched.

Indeed they were, as they fed the other dogs, something else watched them work. Mey-Rin was focused on getting the dogs some water while Ciel walked on. One of the dogs bit his coat, trying to keep him from walking in a certain direction. “So it’s dangerous up there then.”

He got a plate and some meat and set it out. “You can have this, I bet you are hungry.” With Ciel turned and walked away. Once he was a good distance away a massive dog with glistening silver fur came up and ate the meat that was given. His interest in Ciel increased.

This was the Demon Hound, and though he did serve the Barrymore family it wasn’t exactly by choice. He was powerful even as a pup, and his power was used to protect the Barrymore family. He whimpered watching as Ciel fed and cared for the dogs. If he approached would the boy scream?

It had been so long since anyone played with him, or gave him pats. Barrymore just called on him to do his dirty work and then he’d be back to the “dog house”. He’d been so hungry his stomach growls had been enough to scare people away.

If he tried to take his human form Barrymore got angry, plus sometimes it was just too cold and he needed his fur. He didn’t know if Ciel would freak out in either form, but his jealousy at all the love and care the other dogs were getting made him move.

The plan was simple, if the boy screamed run and hide, no one would ever know. His mind was rather simple, going off most instinct. He approached slowly, the other dogs growing tense in fear of him. “What’s wrong?”

Soon the Demon Hound was close enough to cast a shadow over Ciel. “Young Master!”

Ciel turned as the massive hound towered over him. He was expecting a scream or the smell of fear, but neither came. “My...you are quite the big pupper aren’t you?” His tail wagged.

It actually didn’t bother Ciel at all, he’s seen plenty of large dog breeds in his life time, some the size of horses. Ciel gave him scratches and pats, making the massive dog swoon.

“You’re gonna give me a heart attack young master!” Mey-Rin was stunned.

Ciel was so nice to the dogs, forming a sweet bond. The demon hound was so happy. He even was able to get him to follow his commands. The other dogs knew what to do, and the demon hound followed. When he completed a task he got a treat or affection.

He was so happy, his tail wagging in delight.

Mey-Rin was impressed, truly Ciel was a skilled Ring Master, able to instruct and train others, bringing out their potential.

The demon hound rolled onto his back and Ciel gave him belly rubs. “Oooohhhhhhooooo!” He howled in pleasure.

“Master!”

Bard and Finny came charging. “Bard? Finny? What’s wrong?”

“It Barrymore, he’s got an angry mob!”

“What?!”

-x-

Barrymore wanted to punish the “whelp”, and since the monsters were scattered, he thought he could start something. He gathered the most aggressive dogs and formed a mob and they marched on the circus caravans. The dogs were held off by a river of snakes circling the man’s home and the caravan.

“How dare Phantomhive keep me waiting, I’ll teach that cur a lesson by taking it out of your hides!”

“Punish the monsters! Punish the bad dog!”

The man took his dogs inside and was hiding. “Bring out the bad dog, punish anyone who gets in your way!”

“Such nonsense!” Claude and Snake were standing guard.

Some of the mob were throwing stones. “Get away!” Snake hissed.

“You are making a big mistake!” Claude warned, he swatted the stones away.

“You may serve a lord, but I’m the master of this domain!”

Bard arrived with Ciel riding on his back, Finny was right behind carrying Mey-Rin. “Barrymore, stop this now!”

“You’re a bad dog, you’re here to take our land, poison it with your monster’s filth!” The mob got revved up. They began to approach the group.

“Stay back!” Finny’s eyes glowed red and the people were forced to stop.

Barrymore sicked the dogs on them, he whistled and they attacked. Finny didn’t want to hurt the doggos. “Master!”

“That’s enough!” Claude acted quickly using his webs to bind the dogs and immobilize them so they wouldn’t be hurt or attack.

“Tch, you damned brat you under estimate the power my family holds!” He pulled out a strange whistle.

“That’s...Master don’t let him blow it that’s…”

“Wwwwwwhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” A monster dog whistle, it produced a terrible sound that forced all manner of canine monsters to act as ordered. This was what gave Barrymore control over the Demon Hound. “Hahahaha you’re dead all of you are dead!”

To be continued...Their Master the Best

Barrymore tries to command the demon hound to attack, but the doggo doesn’t want to hurt Ciel. He keeps using the whistle causing him all manner of pain, driving him mad. Ciel breaks the whistle freeing the Demon Hound. Barrymore thinks the Demon Hound will still obey him.