~August 1888~

4 months later~

"Mm for once I'd like to sleep till I wake up," you rolled over sideways at Mey-rin's voice, your medium-sized bump stopping you. Oddly enough you didn't grow to be large, more like a small melon. Unfortunately, you were in your third trimester according to the doctor that visited monthly, the fact that you weren't growing enough concerned him, he restricted you from travelling and from doing too much work, specifically lifting and standing too long. You weren't one to listen to instructions, Sebastian however, was a stickler when it comes to orders, and his orders were to make sure you were following the doctor's orders.

Unfortunate for them, a case turned up. Even if the young lord forbade you from having any part in cases until the end of your pregnancy, he didn't exactly plan for a case all the way in Germany. Your essential things being packed the night before meant a smooth start to the day. Sadly the departure was in the early morning, and your baby was kicking all night long ensuring you got a limited amount of sleep. Putting on your new set of travelling clothes the bodice allowing you to breathe, you had your daily argument with Sebastian about wearing a pregnancy corset. Not only were they uncomfortable and damaging they were annoying and such a hassle to put on. You grabbed your luggage from your bed and made your way downstairs and exited through the servant entry.

"Y/nnnn!" Finny yelled running towards you. You weren't a morning person, and having a child in your stomach that kept you up all night didn't make you any better, if anything it made you worse. Having a cheerful morning person coming straight at you with so much energy didn't make you happy at all. You grumbled silently as he rushed towards you.

"Aren't you supposed to be taking it easy? Here lemme get these," he grabbed the trunk from your hand a bit too rough snagging your ring. You hissed a little and he hastily apologized, running off to the carriages with your things. In short, this was not your morning. Tired and with lower back pain you made your way to the carriage you were to ride with the other servants. Sitting there with the doors wide open as everyone else rushed to make sure everything was perfect you decided it was perfect for a nap before you reached the station in London. But before you could close your eyes Sebastian made his way outside standing next to you. You turned to the smiling butler and looked back towards the seat in front of you.

"What's wrong, you rarely deny me a kiss," he said tucking a few strands of hair behind your ear. "You're bleeding," he picked your hand up to look closely at the blood oozing out of your finger where your ring apparently scratched. "Oh what the-, didn't even notice," you went to wipe your hand on your dress but he grabbed it back and flicked out his tongue, licking the wound while staring deep into your e/c eyes with his demonic fuchsia ones making you blush at the sudden behaviour.

"What was that for?" You shyly asked examining the now closed wound.

"Just checking how irritated you are," he smiled. "Just tired it seems."

After a while, everyone was packed into one carriage while Sebastian and the young lord were in the other. Snake and Tanaka drove the carriage while you were with Mey-rin and the others. An albino snake named Keats had taken a liking to you since Snake joined the Phantomhive household and rested on your stomach asleep, just like you were as the carriage rattled on the way to Paddington Station.

Bard shook you awake as you reached the station. Tanaka opened the door and took your hand helping you onto the asphalt while Snake and Bard grabbed the luggage from atop the carriage. You picked your personal luggage up and walked onto the platform where the train sat. Sebastian took the trunk from your hand making you turn around, your level of annoyance escalating a bit. "I'm pregnant, not helpless," you said plainly grabbing for your trunk, but he held it out of your reach.

"You know as well as I the doctor said to watch the physical labour you endure. The baby is looking abnormal as it is."

"And we both know why that is," you said through gritted teeth ensuring no one but him heard.

"We don't know that for sure," he lowered his voice.

"Sebastian!! I am not a porcelain doll and we are not doing this here. Give me the trunk!" You whisper-yelled at him not even bothering to wait for him to hand it to you, you grabbed it walking off to your assigned compartment. "Keats?" You called out.

The albino snake slithered its way to you. He learned by now to stay away when you and Sebastian were having a row. You knew what you could handle versus what you can't, carrying your own luggage fell under could. Putting it up however did strain you, and of course, he would foresee that helping you put it on the rack above your head.

"Control your stubbornness please. We are not on holiday," he whispered trying to compose his annoyance with your ever-changing attitude. You muttered a quiet "Thank you" and sat by the window. Snake came in putting his luggage away and the rest followed soon after.

~

After a few hours of periodical naps and laughs, Sebastian entered the compartment beckoning you to come with him. You silently walked behind him into the part where the young lord was sprawled out on the seat terribly pronouncing German phrases.

"Distasteful," Sebastian said looking down at him with a stern face. You laughed on the inside as the young lord looked nervous. You both knew Sebastian's Spartan methods of teaching all too well.

"I know I forbade you from taking on any cases with us until after your pregnancy but since you're here might as well know the bare bones of it, though you are still not to participate should any physical activity be necessary. Apparently, there's some sort of witch's curse on a forest on the outskirts of Southern Germany. The victims vary, but they all had one thing in common. They visited a certain forest called "Werewolf's forest", the locals don't go near but in the fourteenth century there were witch trails and the witches who escaped took sanctuary in the forest and have been there ever since."

"Do you think it's a witch's curse or something else?" You asked, the existence of Sebastian and Grim Reapers made you more open-minded to unnatural things, a witch would be interesting.

"Well the victims were badly disfigured, and something had happened to their skin. I had Klaus investigate, and he couldn't find anything else from the people living outside of the forest so that's why we're going now."

"Why is it called Werewolf's forest if it's inhabited by witches? This is fascinatingly confusing."

"An astute question, unfortunately, that is unknown as well, we'll see when we get there."

~

Almost the entire day went by sitting on that train. Absolutely everyone was sore and relieved to walk about Nuremberg, Germany. Some had family greet them, and others went immediately about their evening, meanwhile, all of you were stuck guarding the luggage while the young lord figured out the arrangements of where you all were going to stay.

A couple of children were playing nearby when their ball trickled by where you all stood.

"Entschuldigung!! Könnten Sie es bitte hierher werfen?" (Excuse me!! Could you please throw it here?)

Finny obliged kicking it to the point none of you could see it. The children with impressed faces attempted to hunt down their ball and ran off as Finny apologized to them.

"Oh, Sie sprechen Deutsch Finny?"(Oh, you speak German Finny?) you asked.

"Ein bisschen, ja" (A little bit, yeah), he nervously smiled scratching the back of his head.

"You six, we have a ride," the young lord said looking a bit annoyed, his German lessons didn't seem to help him here the dialect was different to what he learned. You grinned picking up your luggage putting it on to the carriage and made your way on top. Snake drove while the rest of you enjoyed the scenery or what was left of it. The forest filled with luscious green soon turned shrouded and cold as if a dark curtain of cold mist surrounded it.

"So this is the werewolf's forest? I- it's kinda c- creepy..."

"You of all people Mey-rin? I'd expect you to be the least scared. I thought you liked creepy?" You teased her as she grabbed onto your arm.

"Do ya or do ya not see this place doll?" Bard asked, him also a little frightened.

"What is this scent, it's egregious," you covered your nose inhaling the smell of a day's journey instead. The carriage stopped abruptly making all of you jolt sideways. A village was visible nearby just through a patch in the woods.

(Almost all conversations from here are in German except those spoken by Ciel, Mey-rin, Bard, Snake and well Tanaka doesn't speak very often so yeah. My German is not that great I know a few phrases and my grammar is terrible so I'll be writing it in mostly English.)

"HEEEEEY, IS ANYONE HEREEE?!" Finny yelled, the question had barely left his lips when doors flew open banging like gunshots. A whole herd of women came flying out with pitchforks and hatchets yelling in the Franconian dialect circling you. Their medieval ways reflected in their clothing, evidently they haven't been exposed to modern Germany, and all had a shiny medallion of some sort hanging around their neck. Clearly, something is going on, there's always that one odd thing that tells you they're not normal.

"Who are you?! How did you get in here?!" A woman holding a pitchfork stepped forward yelling at the eight of you in German.

"Tell them I wish to speak to their lord," the young master whispered to Sebastian.

"We do not wish you harm, we would like to have an audience with your lord," Sebastian said in German acting as a translator for half of the group.

"Lord? Could they be after Master Sullivan?" A villager asked.

"Master Sullivan?"

"Hey what are th-" the young lord started not understanding what's going on.

"Halts maul!!!" (Shut it!!!)

"You must be the rats!" She shouted back looking angry.

"A rat?" Finny asked in fear.

They all started closing in chanting 'death to the rats' until a voice from far behind interrupted.

"M- master Sullivan!"

"I am sorry we let these intruders in," the woman who first approached you all said as she hung her head in shame.

"You are the master here?" Sebastian asked.

"Indeed I am Sieglinde Sullivan, lord of the forest," a little girl said as she was held by a tall man in a butler's uniform, a medieval one, but still a butler's attire, nonetheless. Her own green and black dress was gorgeous and fit her body perfectly along with shoes that look two sizes too small for a girl like her. Her body was small, smaller than the young lord but her face looked older than her body did. She looked like she doesn't grow much making you touch your own stomach hoping your baby doesn't come out that way.

"It's her?" The young lord inquired.

"Yes it seems you are not the only little lord," you grinned causing him to glare at you. "This is no time to be jo-"

"Shut it!" The village woman barked at the young lord who looked annoyed now that he was the only one being told to hold his tongue, well... just yelled at to him. The tall man walked up to Sebastian suddenly putting his face mere millimetres from Sebastian's face.

"Where did you come from? Huh?"

"Quit it Wolfram!" the young lady smacked the man in his face temporarily blinding him and pulled on his hair making him stumble back and away from a shaken Sebastian. "I'm sorry it's been a long time since anyone came here forgive his manners." She stared at the young lord which made him nervous.

Regaining his composure Wolfram stood up straight. "I don't know how you came here, but our village Wolfsschlucht doesn't allow visitors to stay. If you understand what I said, leave right away!" he yelled.

"Maybe we should go back until we have a plan," the young lord whispered through gritted teeth.

"Understood," Sebastian whispered back, "Well then we shall take our-"

"WAIT!"

The women gathered back around you more so behind you all pushing you closer to Wolfram and Master Sullivan. He had called out to you making you all freeze in your tracks.

"I don't think you understand how lucky you are to have arrived here unscathed. I'm sure you all know of the werewolf that protects this forest."

"Heh," Sebastian smirked, "So, you mean this is actually a witch's forest protected by a werewolf?"

"Lord Wolfram! They are dangerous we must dispose of them!"

"Wait!" cried out Master Sullivan. She whispered into Wolfram's ear, and he widened his eyes. "My lady that-"

"Did you hear what I said?" she asked coldly with a stern look on her face.

"Ja," (yes) he sighed facing all of you. "Listen, if you go back now I cannot guarantee your safety out in the forest, it is near dark and it's very dangerous. Just this once we shall let you stay here for the night."

"Lord Wolfram!" the whole village erupted in protest.

"But you can't let them into the green manor," said the woman from before.

"Hilde! The young lady has spoken, come you will stay with us," Wolfram said and waited for you all to quickly gather your bearings and follow him away from the village.