Do I Know You? : Love Is Timeless
Time twists and changes as the world spins and a new era is upon us. Styles transform and become simple and easier to manipulate and wear to our advantage. Time does things to people, it makes them forget, or makes them want to forget. It makes them want to remember, or be forced to remember. Time is in essence a friend and a foe. But one thing always remains the same:
Love is timeless.
It was a bright and sunny day when Lizzy went out to ride her black and white paint horse out on her ranch. Daddy was rich and handed everything to her on a silver platter, but she always did her best to work for it. Sometimes acting like a spoiled brat in the process. She was turning fourteen years old and her mother promised her a marvelous birthday party to which the entire family would attend.
"Even your cousin Lord Phantomhive will be there."
"Lord Phantomhive? You mean the one that everyone claims as the queen's 'guard dog'?"
"Yes, that's him. He and his wonderful butler are sure to make your birthday party a smash darling."
"Hmm, I suppose. But if he's a drag, I don't want him coming."
She crossed her arms and dismounted her horse. Walking towards the stables she found her curiosity peaked. Lord Phantomhive hu? I wonder what type of a person he is. Lizzy's thoughts wondered off to what kind of a child would go out and face danger with only his butler at his side. Either a strange person, or a brave person indeed.
"Sebastian, is the car ready?"
"Yes master, everything is prepared."
"Fine, we should go then."
"Tell me, are we going out simply for Lady Elizabeth's birthday gift?"
Sebastian teased his master, watching him blush just seemed to be too much fun.
"Oh shut up, we've got a lot of errands to run and I don't intend on sitting around and having those buffoons attempting to take care of them."
"As you wish young master."
Thus they were off, Ciel Phantomhive was after all the new head of the Phantomhive household and was expected to take care of all the family business along with the estate and all its butlers, chefs, gardeners, maids, etc. And Ciel always made sure everything was done right and on time; procrastination was not his method of living. Ciel Phantomhive had just turned thirteen and was rather short and skinny with pale skin, sapphire eyes, navy hair, long black lashes, and wore a black eye patch over his right eye. His butler Sebastian was a tall man with creamy skin, red eyes and dark hair that spiked up in an elegant way and he brushed back his left side, he was charming as Ciel was "dull," they were always seen together. No one knew much of the mysterious butler; all they knew was his catch phrase that he was "one hell of a butler." Thus whenever one was found, the other was not too far behind.
"What do you intend to buy for your fair cousin?"
"I don't know, I suppose it will come to me when I find it. And how do you know if she is fair or not? You've never met her before!"
"Simple, I've seen portraits and pictures of her from time to time, and the other servants are constantly talking about your arrangement."
"You mean the arrangement that my family still intends on carrying out? Even though my parents have both deceased and I'm stuck with you for all eternity."
Ciel frowned and looked away.
"That is true master. I apologize for my rudeness."
"Yes well you simply keep our secret and we will no longer have to worry about anything else. Drive on."
"Yes young lord."
And they were off into town, silent as the grave and simply getting the errands done, no smile, no joy, no hope, only work.
"Uhh, Paula! This dress will never do!"
"I'm sorry my lady. Would you like something frillier? More sparkles? Simpler?"
"No, I want a dress that will show my coming into womanhood, it must be elegant and glorious. That is the dress I require."
"As you wish."
And thus, the thirtieth dress was tossed aside as if it were a dirty sock, and Paula went looking deeper into her mistresses closet to find such a dress for such a special occasion.
"Is it true mistress?"
"Is what true?"
"Are you to wed your dear cousin?"
"Hmm, it is what my parents wish. We are only related by marriage and all nobles tend to wed into family. It is simply the way of aristocracy."
"I see. Will you go through with it?"
"Do I have a choice?"
Silence filled the room.
"I've never even met him and they expect me to go along willingly. I hate it! I hate that I was born into upper-class life and have no decisions that I can make for my own! It isn't fair! I don't even love him!"
"You've never even met him once?"
"When we were four, before his parents died and all his estate burned down."
"How terrible."
"Yes well, I hear he never smiles, and he has some uncanny butler that constantly follows him around. Some rumors even admit that he's died once and is no longer human."
"The butler or lord Phantomhive?"
"Who knows?" She shrugged her shoulders, not caring much about the topic.
"I see, well your father didn't say at what age you must wed correct?"
"No, he didn't say."
"Well then, take advantage of the time you have now. I always remember you smiling and being such a happy girl won't you try and remember? Maybe even ask to go to Paris again, you did like it there didn't you?"
"Yes, yes you're right Paula. I won't give up!"
"What about this master?"
"Hmm. Oh that? I suppose she may like it. But I'm not sure if she really likes cat stuffed toys."
"Well, this is your own shop. She mike like something related to you or what you do."
"I highly doubt it."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, Lizzy's always been a girl to smile and hates sad and depressing things, and people."
"Oh."
"Long, ago I have forgotten to smile and she would never accept me as a relative, let alone her fiancé."
"I see. Well then, buy her something sincere, from the heart."
"Sincere? From the heart?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, that's not a bad idea. Shall we look at the dolls."
"As you wish master."
"Thank you all for coming, I hope you all have a marvelous time."
Perfect smile, glowing green orbs, bouncy blonde hair, long eyelashes, thin frame, ivory skin, simply the ideal upper-class young lady. Those were the thoughts of every person attending her party. There was tea and cake, music and dancing, merrymaking and laughter; it was simply perfect. Suddenly everyone froze in terror, two black shadows overcast on the happy event. They towered over the long white marble staircase and stretched out to the black and white tiled dance floor. Everyone looked up to see a young man, and what appeared to be his butler standing next to him. The party was to be set in the Victorian era, although it was now the twentieth century in England. But it seemed as though time had reversed and something supernatural was in the air, and as if something very interesting were to happen.
Lizzy was wearing a mint green and cream collared dress with teal ribbons that tied at the center of her dress just under her collarbone, one on each side of her shoulders where the dress showed some of her creamy ivory skin, one at her back where all the frills began and the only place they existed and one at her left hip. The ones that were closer to her torso were smaller and the other two were larger and puffy, the frills at the back were cream colored. The sleeves were thin and simple, barely gripping onto her sturdy shoulders and it fanned out in a thicker fabric that sat in folds that barely covered her arm. Her corset was tightly fitted to her and it had creamy silk laces that tied up to her chest and constantly reminded her of why women never wore these anymore. Her skirt fit her body well, though it did slightly fan out and reached just inches above the ground as to show off her new cream colored shoes, giving her an elegant yet girlish appearance. She wore a cream headband and a strand of her bangs was sticking up and over her headband as her bangs dangled just above her eyes. She was a sight to see, she was poised, elegant, and lovely. Ciel couldn't seem to take his eyes off her, no matter where she went he followed.
Ciel wore a jade greet coat and trousers along with a jade hat with a black sash, black also outlining certain areas of his coat, such as his cuffs and the collar and buttons. His necktie was black, which stood out under his white frilled shirt and his jade and gold leaf-patterned vest. The hem of his trousers, which ended just above the knee, was also black, to match his black socks. His earing and nails were even peculiarly colored black, which matched his black eye patch. But his brown shoes and buckle stood out, giving him a few inches, since he was unfortunately on the short side. He looked dignified, and carried himself as if the world was placed in the palm of his hand. Though it didn't help much that he had a butler that obeyed his every command.
Sebastian was a tall man with his hair combed back on his left side and his red eyes a blaze, ready to take on any opponent whom dared to stand against his master. He wore a black and white tux, with his white under shirt that had folds upon folds and black buttons, all the way up to his black bow tie. His tailcoat reached past his knees in a sophisticated manner, and he had four silver buttons at the front and two horizontal buttons on his lower back. He had a silver pocket watch, to which its chain hung from one of his small silver buttons to a hidden pocket. He wore white gloves that had three creases in the center, leading up to his knuckles and down towards his wrists. His pants clung to his legs, but it was easy for him to move around in a timely fashion. The one thing that set him apart, besides the way he looked so devilishly handsome, was that he was the only man to allow the folds of his collar to be so tight that they would simply fall just barely over his bow tie in that mysterious yet intriguing manner, as if he wanted you to question why he wore his shirt so tight. Was there some sort of secret he was keeping? Or was it that he is accustomed to dressing so precise, as if he had been earnestly been living in the Victorian era when queen Victoria ruled.
The crowds' eyes were glued to them, unable to move to some other in adamant object. That's what they were like; like two dolls moving around a dollhouse, but of their own free will. They simply nodded heads and acted not like the black sheep they were, but as though they belonged and everyone else in the room was the stranger. Ciel finally made his way down to Lizzy and put his hand out and brought her bare hand to his lips for a kiss.
"Hello Lizzy. It's nice to finally meet you."
His smile was sly and more frightening then believable; as if trained and not natural, as if not of this world at all. Lizzy looked deep into his eye and found something dark, and even glowing red fog.
"Hello Lord Phantomhive. It's an honor to meet you. Thank you so much for coming."
"My lord thanks you for inviting us."
Sebastian bowed and brought forth a small box wrapped up in pink wrapping paper with a gold bow.
"What's this?"
Lizzy looked curious.
"It's your present silly."
She blushed at his teasing and quickly opened the gift to find a perfect porcelain sculpture of herself in a flowing and frilled up Victorian dress with the same hair and eyes with her radiant smile. She looked curiously up at Ciel, and found Sebastian was handing her yet another gift, this one seemed to be from him. He gestured towards a private table in another room. To which she agreed to follow him and placed her first gift on the table, whilst she began to tear apart the other. Jade paper on the floor, it's silver bow long gone, and she opened the small box to find yet another porcelain statue of Ciel in a similar outfit, but in various dark shades of blue, hinted with black; it being in complete contrast to Lizzy's pink and cream dress. She looked up again, still confused.
"It's a puzzle."
Ciel gestured her to put them together, she did and heard London Bridges playing in a playful and joyous tune, though it did carry its dark secrets in its underlying melancholy notes. Her eyes sparkled in awe of how they appeared to be dancing around one another, until at the end, they were separated yet again and the song ended.
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
She felt a tear running down her cheek, but she had no idea why. She recognized the song: London Bridges Falling Down.
"It was my pleasure finding it for you. We though it would be better to give you one gift at a time, that way it made if more of a surprise."
"It truly is a wonderful gift Ciel."
"Yes, well I hope you enjoy it. You must be very careful with it, it's quite fragile, and the only one ever made."
She smiled at him, feeling special and as though she was now connected to him. Those few minutes were dearer to her than she ever dreamt. She never thought she would be so curious about Ciel Phantomhive until this night until this very moment.
"May I have the honor of this dance Lizzy?"
"Yes, thank you. Oh, and thank you Sebastian."
He nodded at her and bowed.
"It was nothing Lady Elizabeth."
Off they went, dancing and twirling about the room, as if no one else existed. Lizzy felt as if she were in a fairy tale, and she seemed to stumble upon an unlikely prince, or rather someone she never expected to be dreamt up as her prince. Everyone was smiling at them and rumors begun, as they always do at these festivities.
"Are you having a good time?"
Ciel's sapphire-like blue eye shone as he watched his partner letting her smile grow with each step of the dance.
"Yes I am. Actually, I didn't expect you to be this good of a dancer. For whatever reason, I keep thinking back to when we were four and we tried to dance, but you kept stepping on my feet. Oh what an awful dancer you were."
"Yes, well time does change people."
"Yes, it does I suppose."
The music faded and everyone went on chatting, but Ciel took Lizzy by the hand and led her out to the garden. Roses were in bloom and the moon was out, the stars shown and it was a brisk night.
"It's a little chilly out."
Ciel shivered slightly.
"Yes, I'm rather used to it."
Lizzy smiled up at him, she did wish he were rather taller.
"What is it?"
Ciel looked at her curiously.
"Hmm?"
"You keep staring at me."
He looked her up and down.
"Oh it's nothing."
"You were thinking you'd like me taller?"
Ciel half chuckled half scoffed as he looked away for a moment.
"Well, no not exactly."
"It's fine, I still have time to grow, as a matter of fact, I have grown some since you last saw me, if you recall."
"Hmm, I suppose so."
She giggled as he let out a smirk.
"Lizzy, there's so much I want to tell you, but I don't know how."
He grabbed her hand and began to pet it softly.
"You can tell me Ciel."
She looked at him earnestly, begging for answers. Something had been bothering her all night, as if she'd forgotten something very important.
"I-I used to know a girl a lot like you. I even called her Lizzy from time to time, but as she got older, she preferred the full name Elizabeth. I even intended on marrying her, but we got separated before anything happened."
"Who was this girl? You can tell me more about her."
"She looked just like you, so beautiful, yet seemed so frail, like a flower. But she was a strong young lady; she knew how to handle a sword very well. I would even go as far as to call her deadly with her weapon of choice."
Suddenly, faint memories began to flash before her eyes. A silver and sapphire ring, a burning flame, cries for help, battles, loneliness, and loss.
"Do-do I know you?"
She muttered.
"You do indeed my dear Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Middleford."
And as lightening hits the sea with all its might, her eyes shot open as her past life flowed into her memories. Memories of a lost love that had finally found her again, and never again would they be separated by time.
Time changes, it morphs to what the present is to be expected, and we move right along with it, whether willingly or unwillingly but either way, it will come upon us. Time can be a friend or a foe, but no matter what, we are to live with it. There is a saying that people often believe in and look up to as wise words from a wise man:
Love is timeless.
