Hello all and welcome to my first Black Butler story! :)
I'll be the first to admit that I'm fairly new to the anime, and have just recently finished watching it so if I don't put the characters into perfect form, please be easy with me. I'm super excited to start this fic, so I'm hoping at least one of you lovely readers will enjoy!
I've noticed a severe lack of Claude x OC fics on here, so I figured I would spice things up and add to the Kuroshitsuji folder! Out of all the characters, I really have to say that Claude is one of my favourites for the entire series. There's just something about his character and personality that I really enjoy... SO YEAH!
The time that this story will start is after Ciel has become a demon.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Black Butler (although I'm sure like many) though I wish I did! If I did, I may have been able to prevent Claude's death. );
I'm going to apologize right now for the amount of time skips in this chapter, but I couldn't avoid it when I wrote it out. I hope I don't confuse you all too much. Sorry!
[SEPT 7 EDIT]; Chapter has been edited!
Magnificence
CH I; Aelia
There was always the sound of muffled sobs coming from outside the door, making it difficult to sleep at night. A piercing sound of a hand slapping flesh echoed off the walls in a taunting way, tell those who were behind closed doors that punishment was being given for just reason. Tiny hands clung to the shirt of the older sibling that held onto the younger child tightly, a soothing hand being run up and down her back every so often to ease the nerves caused by the nightly routine. The older sister looked down at her trembling sibling that clung to her while their brother remained close to the door to listen to whatever words that would be exchanged during this event.
Even at the fragile age of four, Aelia was well aware of what was happening.
It was because of her that her mother, the beautiful and kind Elizabeth, received a beating each night from her husband.
Samson watched as Elizabeth shakily pulled herself off the ground and stood up to face him fully. She slowly reached a hand up to cup her throbbing red cheek and looked at him with glassy brown eyes. The ones bright orbs that shone with light and pure devotion for her husband were now dull and void of all that was positive. She looked at her husband now with fear and rejection. There was no fight, no spirit left in her. The only thing she had now was the strength to defend her child against the man she'd fallen in and out of love with.
It would be kept secret from little Aelia until she was old enough to understand, that Samson was not her real father.
Aelia's older siblings, Cassidy and Darius, both resembled Samson strongly.
Darius was rather tall even at the age of ten, and despite his young age, he was already well built and could handle his own. He had a firm, square jaw and a handsome face. Messy blonde hair draped over his face making him look like he was forever just getting out of bed. His pepper grey eyes would look at you with a special kindness that compelled you to trust and confide in him. Often one would see father and son walking through town together politely chit chatting about how Samson was proud that Darius had decided to follow in his footsteps to become the head of the family company. It wasn't much, merely a little bakery that had blossomed with tons of business, but Samson would not see it being left to one of the ladies of the family. That was simply not acceptable.
While Cassidy did resemble Samson to some extent, she was a striking match to Elizabeth. Bright hazel eyes that would bat innocently at you could bend even the strongest iron will. Matched with strawberry blonde hair and a baby doll face, she was sure to blossom into a beautiful young woman to be fought over. However, she was free spirited and becoming quite high maintenance. At the age of eight, she had been betrothed into a very rich family who was part of a famous chain of restaurants. Her betrothed, Oliver, had once commented on how hard it would be to keep up with her, and often compared to her the late Phantomhive's fiancee, Elizabeth Midford, about how hard to handle she could be at times. Despite her uncontrollable flaw, Cassidy cared deeply for her family, and often felt incredibly sorry and upset when Samson punished her mother or younger sister.
The youngest of the three, Aelia, was at the tender age of four and already quite adorable in her own way. Bright crimson eyes with charcoal coloured hair gave her a mysterious appearance even as a child. She was incredibly bright and always happy despite Samson's constant physical and mental abuse. Elizabeth and done what she could to shield her beloved child from Samson's wrath by turning the hateful and negative attention towards herself alone, but it was never enough. Aelia simply had to glance upwards to his face, and she would be struck down. Still, the child continued with a will of steel and always smiled.
"I wonder what set him off tonight?" Darius sighed and leaned back against the wall to the right of the bedroom door. "Mum usually doesn't get it this bad, eh?"
Cassidy shook her head and continued rubbing little Aelia's back. "You usually manage to sleep through the worst of it, Dar. It's always this bad."
Darius frowned and gave Cassidy an apologetic look before setting his eyes on the little girl in his sisters arms. Often Darius would catch the tail end of conversations Samson would have concerning the future of Aelia. Nothing said was good, and it was always surrounded by a "we can send her here" or a "I'll betroth her to the first person that offers their son, worthy or not". It wasn't until recently that Darius and Cassidy had discovered that Aelia was not their full sibling. One night, they overheard their father yelling profanities at their mother when the truth was revealed.
"I wish he would leave it alone," Cassidy sighed and looked down at Aelia. "She may not be his blood, but she is still our little sister."
Darius stared at the two before looking back at the door. The room outside had become eerily quiet which was never a good sign.
"I'm going back to bed," Darius turned to look at his siblings. "I suggest you do the same."
Cassidy nodded slowly and carefully got up, skillfully cradling the now sleeping Aelia in her arms before walking over to the bed and setting her down gently. Darius watched them closely before pushing himself up off the ground and stretching out his arms. After a few more moments of silence, Darius cautiously opened the door and peered outside to see if the coast was clear before disappearing into the hall making sure to close the door silently behind him.
Meanwhile, Cassidy carefully crawled into her bed making sure not to disturb Aelia and settled herself into her sheets. She stared at her younger sister for a moment, a frown etched on her face while she watched the slow rise and fall of Aelia's chest. Reaching over, she gently brushed a few strands of hair from the younger child's face.
"I wish dad wouldn't look at you as if you were filth..." Cassidy murmured to the sleeping girl before allowing the fatigue that suddenly rushed up on her to take her.
- x - x - x -
Elizabeth sat behind Aelia as she ever so gently brushed her hair with a sad smile on her face. The suffering she endured every night at the hands of her husband was instantly washed away with these little moments of peace and quiet with her little girl. Yes, she truly loved all her children, but Aelia was special.
Aelia looked back at her mother and offered a big smile. "Thank you mummy! You always take all the tangles out of my hair!" The little girl giggled before standing up and running off to retrieve her doll.
Samson would always comment about how disgusting Aelia's red eyes were, but all Elizabeth could see were sparkling apple colored orbs that were bright with innocence. Her unusually dark hair was also a topic Samson would not let go. As far as six generations back, both families had been born with light colored hair. It was just another sign that Aelia was not his.
Elizabeth watched Aelia's disappearing form with a sad smile before wiping away a stray tear that trickled down her cheek.
Her hand suddenly reached for a beautiful locket that hung off her neck. "Oh, sweetheart... You're so happy and full of life. I hope you never let anyone take that away from you."
She let her fingers brush over the smooth gold before clasping her hand around it gently. The night she had become pregnant with Aelia, she had returned home not knowing how she had received the necklace. It wouldn't be until later in her pregnancy that she would fully understand who had given it to her. The man had been the storybook description of tall, dark and handsome. Shaggy black hair with piercing red eyes. It had been four years since those eyes met with hers, and even still, Elizabeth found herself thinking of them often.
Sorben was his name. Sorben Taavi Urbana.
Aelia was the spitting image of him. She was the clear reminder of what could have been had Elizabeth taken Sorben's offer when he had whisked her away for a night of passion.
Yes, Elizabeth loved her husband dearly, but her heart also ached and called for the man who bewitched her body and soul.
- x - x - x -
"I don't care how much money you're willing to pay or what your son will be doing with his life. All I want is to rid myself of this putrid and disgusting stain on my family name."
A tall, dark haired man watched Samson from his seated position across the desk and shifted slightly. He had received a letter stating Samson still had one daughter left that was ready to be betrothed, and hurriedly answered back with enthusiasm. Now that the man, a wealthy business owner, had arrived he was beginning to regret coming.
"Sir," The man looked at Samson with a critical eye. "If the child is really that much of a disgrace, why offer her to me? My family is very well off and very well known. I don't need to be taking care of someone else's problems, Mr. Valda."
Samson narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him. "Why are you wasting my time if you're not interested then, huh?"
"I was interested in Cassidy," The man admitted. "She would have been a lovely wife for my Mark, but I refuse to marry my son to that abomination your wife so dearly loves."
"Then get out," Samson was quick to stand up and ushered the man to the door without manner. "I have no time for those who will not be willing to help me out, so get out of my home."
The man allowed himself to be escorted out, but before he walked out the door, he turned to Samson once more as he placed his top hat on his head.
"If she's really that much of an inconvenience to you Mr. Valda, perhaps sending her to brothel would be the most humane thing rather than sending her off to a future husband that could possibly kill her."
Samson scoffed and demanded he leave immediately. Slamming the door shut, he reached up and rubbed his temples with a sigh. Despite his detest for the child, Samson made Elizabeth a promise to find a husband for Aelia. He would have never imagined it would be so difficult to find the cursed child a suitor.
Several meetings later and more let-downs, Samson was at the end of his rope and eventually lost his temper. He sought out the child and found her playing by herself in her room. Aelia looked at him as he entered the room and smiled up at him. The more Samson looked into her red eyes, the more disgusted he found himself feeling for her. Without a word, he reached down and roughly grabbed her by her arm and hauled her to her feet. Aelia yelped loudly and cried out for him to let her go, but it was no use. The first blow to her face was a hard hit, sending her head ricocheting to the other side with a sickening twist. Next was a blow to her stomach and then a little higher to her ribs. Aelia gasped loudly and cried in pain until finally after several minutes she was dropped to the floor like a discarded tissue.
Elizabeth, having heard the commotion, rushed in and ran to Aelia's side. She picked up the crumpled girl into her arms and held her gently before looking up at Samson with teary eyes.
"Samson, how could you?" Elizabeth sobbed for her little girl. "She's just a child!"
Samson narrowed his eyes with a hateful sneer on his face. "I've given plenty of chances for that bastard child of yours to have a decent life. She's not wanted by anyone Elizabeth! She needs to go! I will not have her in this household any longer!"
"Samson, please! Don't kick her out!" Elizabeth stood up and backed away from the man with Aelia still in her arms. "For God sakes, she's only four! She'll die out there–"
Samson let out a frustrated yell and swerved to the right, knocking over several expensive pieces of glass and the nightstand said glass had been perched on. Elizabeth coward and continued stepping back as Aelia gripped her shirt gently and nuzzled her face into her mother's dress. After a moment, Samson seemed to have calmed down some and looked towards the two with a softer eye.
"She leaves when she turns sixteen," Samson gave Elizabeth a stern look. "I don't care where she goes, but she will no longer be allowed in this house at that age."
Without a word, Samson turned and left Elizabeth and Aelia in the room alone. The woman's shoulders shook as she tried hard to contain her sobs. Aelia looked up at her mother with her own teary eyes before submitting to the pain and falling into unconsciousness. Elizabeth finally let go, sobbing uncontrollably and shook violently as she clutched her child close to herself.
Sorben...
Later on that night, Elizabeth bravely confronted Samson for the last time. She left a note for her children to read, accompanied by several gifts with each individual's names on them. For Darius, she bought him his first top hat. Cassidy had received a beautiful diamond earring and necklace set. As for Aelia, the tiny box left for her contained the gold locket Elizabeth always wore. She picked it up and held it in her hands as if it were the most fragile of glass and stared at it wide eyed. It was unknown to the children why they had received these generous gifts until next morning and were met with sad news that morning of their mother's passing.
It was suicide.
- x- x - x -
"Cassidy, I wish you wouldn't fuss over me like this." Aelia pouted as she gave her sister's reflection a droll stare.
Cassidy grinned and continued playing at Aelia's hair, determined to create a masterpiece.
"How can I not?" She was beaming. "It's your sixteenth birthday after all! It's not everyday my younger sister turns sixteen, now is it? So come on Aelia, humor your big sister for while. Please?"
Aelia sighed softly with a smile. "You know I can't say no to those big, bright eyes of yours."
"That's right, you can't!" Cassidy giggled and continued her work.
Eventually when the girls were finished preparing for the small gathering Cassidy had gotten permission to throw for Aelia's birthday, the two headed downstairs to the large common area to meet the guests. Both wore a look of confusion when they walked into the room and were greeted with silence.
Not one guest had shown up. But why?
Cassidy frowned and looked around. "Perhaps they're all running late?"
Aelia prepared her response but Samson's voice cut her off immediately.
"I sent them all home."
Both girls looked turned and looked at Samson as he approached the two. Darius followed silently behind him, his head hung low in shame. Cassidy's stomach dropped at the sight while Aelia braced herself for what was about to happen.
Ever since Elizabeth's death, Samson had taken all of his frustrations out on her and her alone.
Suddenly, a vivid memory came hurdling back and instantly Aelia began to back up. She was now sixteen, and if memory served her right, today was the day Samson would kick her out of her home and disown her.
"Father, please-"
Samson's nostrils flared as he exhaled roughly. "Don't you dare address me as your father, you filthy little wench!"
Aelia backed up until her back met with the wall and watched in horror as Samson approached her. Pure hate and rage was clear in his eye. His sights were set on her, and much to her horror, she knew deep down if she fought back he would surely finish her off for good this time.
Samson grabbed her upper arm tightly and began to drag her out of the room. Cassidy followed closely and protested strongly, begging her father to stop but her words went unheard. Samson stopped in front of Aelia's room and shoved her through the door, demanding she pack up and be ready to leave in ten minutes. Before Cassidy could protest more, Samson pushed her roughly out of the room and slammed the door shut leaving a sobbing Aelia to herself.
Having not been given very much as a child before or after her mother's passing, Aelia was able to pack all of her clothing and her most precious items into two bags. Adding a third bag, she quickly grabbed any other necessities she may need down the road and stuffed them in with haste. Before her time was up, she quickly ran over to her dresser and pulled out the middle drawer, lifting up the bottom of the box revealing Elizabeth's locket and a large pouch full of money. Picking up the necklace carefully, Aelia gently fastened it to her neck and hid the it underneath the collar of her jacket before grabbing the bag of coins.
When her time was up and Samson came to get her, he escorted her to the doors and demanded that she never step foot on the property again. He also forbid her from ever seeing Cassidy or Darius again, both of whom never came to see her off. Aelia turned and walked down the steps with what little dignity she had left before Samson could slam the door in her face, and with what little money she had managed to save up, headed towards the town in order to find shelter for the evening.
Later that evening, Aelia lay on the bed in her hotel room and sighed heavily. Her eyes stung and were raw after all the crying she had done, and now she found herself unable to shed not even a single tear. She held her mothers locket in her hand and tightly grasped it as she closed her eyes, her silent prayers of wishing her mother was still alive echoing deep in her mind. She remained like this deep into the night, lost in her own misery until another voice pulled her out of her thoughts. Once Aelia acknowledged the voice, her body suddenly felt as if it were bound to something sticky and could not move. She struggled until finally she had no more fight left in her, and looked around for an answer when suddenly she came face to face with what looked like a giant shadow of a spider. It crawled closer to her until finally it stopped.
"A woman in need of a demons help? Why, I've never heard of such a thing."
Aelia frowned. "Who are you and why are you doing this to me?"
"You called for me so I answered by bringing you here, deep into your subconscious mind so we could speak. Now tell me, why did you summon me? Who is it you want to punish?"
The girl frowned, her brows knitting together at his question.
"I don't want to punish anyone."
There was a dark yet seductive chuckle that followed her answer. "If there were none to be punished, then you would not have reached out for me."
"But I..." Aelia fell silent for a moment before narrowing her eyes.
"If you will not be needing my help, then it is pointless for me to remain here."
"It was him."
With no response given by the male voice, Aelia took that as her cue to continue. The sudden change in her demeanor yanked Claude's attention back onto the topic at hand, causing him to become curious about the human girl dangled before him.
"Samson, my step-father."
There was an amused smirk that somehow managed to show on the giant shadow spider. "You wish to attain revenge against this man? Call it out. Scream for it."
"I want..." Aelia clenched her fists into tight balls before looking up at the spider. "I want to get my revenge!"
Images of Elizabeth's smiling face flashed through her mind. Deep down, Aelia blamed Samson for her mother's sadness and for being the cause of her suicide. The man stripped her of everything, and now she finally had the opportunity to get even.
She would avenge her mother's death, even if that meant selling her soul to a demon.
Anddd clear! 2AM and I'm finally done!
I'm kind of pleased with how this chapter turned out. Yes, there's A LOT of time skipping, but hopefully I caught the interest of at least one person. If not, I'm still writing this. Readers or not, I want this story to be finished for the sake of all the Claude fans out there!
The next chapter we will see a lot more of Claude, promise! :)
I would love to read and answer your questions if you have any, so please feel free to leave a review!
Tataa for now~