For A Moment

Chapter One: ...I Lost It

"Ciel! Get your ass down here right now!" Shouted a female voice from the bottom of wooden stairs. Her hands folded across her poked out chest and her face twisted into a scowl. Even though, Madam Johnson wasn't the most nicest or prettiest of women, she by far was on of the most wealthiest. She was in her late 30's and had short brown curly along with brown eyes which screamed hate. Most called her a witch for how she looked when got angry. Right now would have been a very great example. She let out a soft growl of irritation. "I said now, you little ingrate!"

A small boy came down the stairs with an emotionless look on his face while keeping his eye contact away from the middle-aged woman. He was youngest of the people in the house only being the tender age of 13. His eyes were a beautiful peacock blue that could have tested the ocean while his hair was dark blackish cerulean. The word most described him as was cute for his small figure and appearance. Even Madam Johnson herself couldn't help do it as well...If she liked him. "I-Is something wrong, Ma'am?"

She glared at the child before getting a bit closer into his face. "I was just in my room and I noticed something strangely odd. Can you tell me why, Ciel?" Madam Johnson asked in a soft tone which was a bit threatening if you heard it correctly.

Confused and utterly lost, Ciel shook his head finally looking glancing at her for the first time in maybe weeks. Looking at her was almost as bad as staring into the very eyes of Medusa. You would mostly turn to stone and be unable to move until she made you. Ciel could have sworn he'd seen servants freeze up when coming to contact with her. "N-No, Ma'am."

Madam Johnson tapped her fingers against her arm, loosing whatever pint of patience she had left, and began to circle him. "Let's not forget the rules here, Boy. Or do I have to beat them into you again?"

Her words sent shivers down his spine. Madam Johnson adored control and especially hated when a person told her no. Ciel was only one who had dared to defy her in the beginning and she took a riding crop and abused his hands and whatever else she saw fit till he cried out in pain. Soon it became a regular thing whenever he would do the smallest thing wrong. He wasn't going to let it show but Ciel feared her a lot. He shook his head.

She saw how silent he was and frowned. Oh how she wanted to break him. Crush his very spirit till he had no choice to do whatever she said. Though he did it now, she wanted his very soul smashed into pieces. "On the ground. Now." From her side, she showed him the whip that made his eyes widen. Ciel obeyed quickly sitting on his knees with his head down. "Now...Remind me again why you are here and the rules."

"I'm here because no one else wanted me after my parents died. My stupid mother had left me in the custody of my pitiful aunt who wanted nothing to with me and you took it upon your kind heart to take me in as a servant." Ciel recited perfectly which caused her to smirk and him to mentally sigh. He loved his mother a lot and he loved aunt more than anything but Madam Johnson had told him exactly what to say otherwise he would have been immediately punished. "Your rules were to only refer to you as Ma'am or Mistress. Always do whatever you tell me to without back talk and get the work done thoroughly and perfectly the first time."

"So you aren't as incompetent. Then explain to me why my quarters are in a complete and utter mess." She ordered. Ciel gave her a glance that said just as confused as it was before. He had cleaned her room till it sparkled. How could have been trashed since he did while she in her study. "Well.."

"I-I cleaned it. I don't know what happened." He told her honestly and fluently. Ciel was a smart child. He never faltered in his speech and pronunciation, mainly because he grew up learning better. Though whenever he saw Madam Johnson, he had to tone it down because she would never want some slave who spoke even better than she did.

"Lies are useless to me, seeing how I had put it only your daily list of chores. The rest have been done but my room in shambles. You should know that after 3 years I won't accept anything less than perfection. Now speak the truth."

"I am speaking the truth, Ma'am."

She glared at him again. "Should you lie to me again, I'll be forced to punish you. I know you wouldn't want that now would y-"

Ciel cut her off. "I told you that I did clean it!" He nearly shouted at the shocked woman before covering his own mouth. His temper was one of things he hated about himself. It was that very thing that was the cause most of his beatings. He moved his head down and bit his lip. "Nice going, Ciel."

"Alright, you brat. Hands out! Now!" She barked making him flinch. He hesitantly did it and watched at she held up the item and brought it down hard on his hands. She cringed when she did again and again each time harder than the last. Tears brimmed in the corners of his eyes, she hit his arms and finally his back. His hands were red along with his arms and he held back his tears. "You will learn to respect your place, Brat. Go clean that room. As punishment for your insolence, you shall receive no supper tonight."

He only nodded ignoring the stings of his body. Ciel was ready to walk away and started to when she gripped his hair pulling him back. His fearful blue eyes almost reflected in hers.

"Ahem. Shouldn't be saying something to me right now, Ciel?"

"Please..forgive me for being so rude to you, Ma'am." Ciel said softly trying to blink fast to rid himself of the droplets in his eyes.

She smiled seeing them, letting go of his hair. "Go." Seeing him almost cry...it was like watching fireworks. He scurried off and she laughed to herself. She knew good and well that he had cleaned the room. After her meeting with the Duchess and Duke from the neighboring kingdom, she had gotten so livid, that she totaled her room by throwing dresses and shoes all over and tearing papers.

Madam Johnson smirked. He always worked so hard but all for what? His parents had left him a lot when the died including over 100 thousand dollars from their funds. He wouldn't have to lift a finger again...but she wasn't going to tell him that. She got the money and her own personal slave. A win-win situation.

Ciel finally let himself hold his hands in pain once far away from that mad women. Not only that but he allowed the tears to stream down his eyes. She was so cruel...That's all she was. An evil sadist...He lowered his head, trying to hold in the soft cries but it wouldn't work the slightest. He sniffed lightly.

"Ciel?" He looked up and came face to face with Madam Johnson's niece, Elizabeth Midford. Her sister had married a Count. She was older than him by a year and was a bit taller as well. She had golden-blond hair that were in two longs twists with a curl in front for her bang and emerald eyes to match. She looked at him worriedly. "Are you alright?"

He wiped his face quickly and bowed to her. "I-I'm fine, My Lady. Thank you for y-" She cut him off by grabbing his hand gently, which made him immediately flinch and hiss. It was still red and slightly swollen which Elizabeth could feel even from wearing her gloves. She examined them a little more before frowning. He looked back at her before down.

"My aunt..." She started softly, gaining his attention. "She hit you again, right?" The question was almost forced out because her voice got softer with each syllable spoken. This wasn't the first time she had seen him like this but it was the first time she had caught him crying. In other time, she would watch from a far as he held his hands trying to work despite his injuries but once she seen him crying...it was a whole different thing now...

He blinked away whatever remaining tears he had in his eyes, not wanting to look at the female noble. Not only that, but he knew it was bad manners for a servant to look at a person of stature eye-to-eye. "I'm fine...i-it was my own fault for speaking back to the Mistress in the manner I had. Excuse me." He tried to go by her but she grabbed his wrist making him cringe and stop.

"You can't possibly work with your hands in that condition." She argued with the frown visible on her face. Through the numbness and pain in his hands, he could feel her soft cotton gloves. Her frown was replaced with a smile while forcing his head up to look at her. "And I swore to you a million times that when it's just us, you can call me Lizzy."

"I-I'd forgotten." He returned back, almost a whisper looking away. She was about the only one who he would be able to call a friend. She was nice and kind to him unlike anyone else there. He had trust in her and saw her as the big sister he wished he had. Using her free gloved hand, Lizzy wiped away the tear-remains on his eyes. "She didn't tell me that you were coming today.."

She smiled sweetly at him. "My parents had a sudden meeting with the king so she they dropped me off here until the get back. I was on my way to tell Auntie when I saw you..." Her smile faded slightly while looking down. "I don't know why she's like that towards servants...especially you...it's so cruel.."

Ciel smiled a bit to himself. Lizzy was always considerate of others..unlike her nasty, conniving aunt...she actually cared about the servants. "I am really alright, L-Lizzy. Don't worry, I'll ice my hands when I'm done working if it makes you feel better..."

She nodded. "It will...A lot better."

"Elizabeth! Where are you!" Shouted the voice of Madam Johnson and that made them jump. She could always prove to be the loudest in the house, which she likes making clear so that whenever she ordering someone to do something, they will hear her. "Elizabeth!"

"C-Coming, Auntie!" Lizzy yelled back but carefully not to burst Ciel's eardrums. She sent him a smile letting go his hands. He smiled back as she walked away. "Hey, when your done icing your hands, meet me at my room and we can talk some more, okay?" She offered to him which he accepted with a nod. Grinning, she waved. "Later!" With that, she ran towards her screaming Aunts voice.

Ciel waited a moment before walking towards his mistresses' room. He rubbed his hands a bit to ease the pain but they throbbed in soreness when he did. Working like this would was going to be hard but the faster he got done, the faster he could go help them.

Once he reached the room, Ciel wasted no time before getting to work. In his head, he was thinking about how it would have been if he parents hadn't been killed, like he had been told. Where would they be and what would they be doing right now? Outside playing the fallen snow..or inside telling stories by the fireplace...

He remembered something that would happen often. Where he use to live...It would be an occasional storm of lightning and thunder. Ciel was still scared of those but whenever it would get like that at night, he'd automatically go into his parents room and get beside his mother since his father's work was at this time. She would usually be up and would sing him to sleep along with her music box. He loved her voice in general...

It wasn't long before he found himself singing softly without even realizing he was.

Even now, there shines in the night sky

The memories of long-dead stars

Someday, I hope that,I, too

Will becomes someone's light

You have continued upon this long journey

Dragging your solitary shadow behind you..

He was finished cleaning by the time he reached that part. Ciel really want to sing the last part but he didn't remember it. After all, he didn't sing everyday...only when he needed something to distract him from the pain when working with an injury. Something about the remaining of the song made him want to know more...mainly because it was his mother's song. The only tie to her her that he had left...

The sounds of horses came from outside the window which made him snap from the daydream. Going over to check, a small frown appeared on his face. It was Lizzy's parents. As they and Madam Johnson talked, she looked towards the window and gave an apologetic look and mouthed, "Next time." To him.

Faking a smile, he nodded and mouthed back, "Sure." Lizzy was smart but wasn't smart enough to know that his smile wasn't genuine. He watched as she climbed back into the carriage and started for home. A sigh came from his mouth. She was lucky...

As he walked out the now spot-less clean room, the rest of the words hit him hard. The reasoning behind wanting to know the rest was clear too. While going back to let Madam Johnson know that he had finished his errand, Ciel sang the song in his mind while his head remained aimed at the ground.

I was born alone into this world

And I shall leave it alone as well

That's simply, Destiny, and yet..

Why do I find tears in my eyes...

That part of the song was played to his mothers singing. Her face looked so calm and she kept a smile while singing such sad lyrics. He would stay beside her all the same until the song ended. That wasn't the ending but part of the it. The rest of it was a mystery but..he was glad to have remember a portion of his mother's song...and his lullaby...He didn't want to lose it again..

And that's where we are ending this off...Pretty deep stuff right there. I love it! Anyway, as you can tell this a bit AU-ish...It was a request from my Role playing buddy and it came out okay at least. I hope you all enjoyed it and there will be more to come. Please review and tell me how did and don't to follow and favorite! See you all in the next chapter!