Chapter One
My feet pounded on wet grass, moonlight illuminating my way through this dense forest. Branches whipped my face, tore at my clothes and ensnared my long, unruly blue-black hair. A light, not the thin slivery-white glow of the moon, but another light, a deeper and more sinister light started to peek through the trees. The long tendril of a root caught my thin shoe and sent me tumbling down a steep slope that had previously been hidden. Mud coated my arms and I struggled to stand when a white gloved hand appeared before me.
"Do you need assistance, miss?" A cold and quiet voice came through the silence. I looked up into eyes that gleamed crimson. My blood ran cold.
I shot up in bed, dripping with sweat. The dream was gone, but tendrils of it still lurked in my mind. I grasped the sheets, my arms, my hair, it felt so real. I could almost still feel the mud coating my skin, almost could see those piercing red eyes that had burned so deep into my amber ones. Focus Geneviève, it is Lady Elizabeth's trip today; we can't go and botch things. She may be annoying but I love her. I groaned, stretched and shakily stood from my bed, sliding my feet into warm slippers. I can't believe it's the middle of August, it already feels so cold. Wrapping my nightgown tighter around my small frame I slowly trudged over to my vanity and glanced at the pocket watch I had left there.
The intricate hands showed the time to be earlier than I expected 7:13, I had plenty of time before the first meal of the day. Slowly, lazily, I withdrew a pretty, but simple, dress from my drawers and laid it, still folded, onto my bed. Reaching into the drawer I removed the brush I had received so many years ago, from my mother. There were many knots from my thrashings about last night, but the pain of teasing them out didn't bother me, nothing really seemed to bother me. Carefully I set the brush down, and stood, examining my face in the vanity's mirror.
I had grown so pale, I looked like a ghost. My ravens-wing black hair did nothing to help; it made me look paler still. The delicate veins under my eyes looked like dark hollows. I looked half-dead. The only things alive in my face were my eyes. The warm amber color made me seem younger, less like a corpse, more like a human. I sighed; and withdrew a few small pots from the vanities drawers. A black pencil to outline my eyes, and dark, bloody red lipstick. The same color of those eyes.
My arm jolted with a sudden tremor and a crimson stain spread to my chin. Silently wiping it away I focused on control. Not again, not now. I checked the watch again and pushed myself up from the vanity. I shed my nightgown like a bird shedding its old coat of feathers and slipped on the plain black dress with amber embroidery. I didn't bother getting fancy today, I knew Lady Elizabeth would have something special in store for me to wear. A quiet knock on the door heralded a maids head popping in.
"It's time for breakfast, milady," I nodded, dismissing her, and fished out from under my bed some plain flats to wear down.
"Geneviève!" A familiar yell greets me as I enter the parlor. I meet eyes with Lady Elizabeth and tilt my head. "We're going to see Ciel and you're wearing THAT?!" I glance down and really realize how plain I must seem to her.
"I apologize, I expected that you-"laughter erupts from Elizabeth and I stare in confusion, a blush just dusting my cheeks.
"Don't worry, silly, of course I picked something out for you, you are just SO funny looking when you get worried!" I smile and nod, relieved that I hadn't disappointed her, as I feared I might have. "Eat something! You're so skinny, you look like a doll!" Mechanically I sat down across from her at the small table, and nudged a few pieces of fruit and bread onto my plate. As soon as she saw I had food Elizabeth started chattering.
"Oh you are just going to love Ciel, he's so nice and so cute when he dresses up. His servants are really nice, except for his butler, he gives me the creeps, you two would probably get along. Don't you like cats?" I nodded as I pushed around a rather mushy looking apple slice. "Anyway I picked out this-" her chatter faded into the background as I mulled over my nightmare. The red eyes that still felt like they were glaring into me, that light just a few feet away, the moon that had seemed far too large and the wrong color that hung in the sky. I was jolted out of my thoughts when Elizabeth stood. "Come on, let's get you all dressed up."
"Isn't it gorgeous?!" Elizabeth had pulled out a full-length gown out of her closet and was holding it up to me. I smiled and nodded, taking it off of its hanger and twirling it around me.
"It's beautiful, Elizabeth, thank you,"
"Lizzie, call me Lizzie, I hate it when people call me by my full name." She grasped a familiar pink dress and set it on her bed. In a flash of remembrance she also snatched from various racks and shelves and drawers accessory after accessory. "Avah!" her little voice screeched and almost immediately the door opened, it was the same girl from this morning. "Help her with her clothing, you know how awful big sis is with zippers and straps." Avah nodded and picked up the mountain of stuff seemingly effortlessly and led me to my room.
I quickly shed the plain dress and let Avah slip on a corset, layer upon layer of petticoat, stocking, garters, and finally, the dress. It really was a thing of beauty, shimmering black satin with red trim and little pears all along the neck. Alternating red and black lace ruffled around the seams, it was like somebody had seen my dream and made me dress accordingly. A simple black and red lace choker adorned my neck and a onyx and ruby ring went on my finger. My hair was left down, covering most of my forehead and the tips of my hair grazing my waist. When I gazed into the mirror I didn't see the thin and sickly-looking adopted big sister, I saw only a mysterious, and enticing, woman.
Lizzie barged in, in the pink dress with frills, bows, lace all in a very vibrant shade of pink. She squealed with happiness when she saw me and whispered,
"See, I promised I wouldn't just make you 'cute', do you trust me now, big sis?" I smiled down into her small face.
"Yes, Lizzie, thank you for this." She beamed and took my hand.
"We mustn't be late!"
The carriage rattled on the Phantomhive Manor driveway, bits of stone and puffs of dust shot past my window. We turned and suddenly the manor was in sight, and it was a resplendent thing to behold. It looked old, refined and historic, even though it had only been built a few years ago. We cling to the past so desperately. Building a new house, only to have it be the replica of an old one.
"Isn't it pretty?" Lizzie's voice interrupted my thoughts.
"It's beautiful." I nodded and stared as the carriage slowed to a stop. The door opened and Lizzie rushed out, her little legs carrying her faster than I thought possible. I stood slowly with a groan and made my way down the steps, careful not to trip in the high-heeled boots Elizabeth had insisted I wear. My foot caught on the last step but an arm stopped me from tumbling face-first to the ground.
The thin arm was garbed in black, and led down to a long hand covered by a white glove.
"Do you need assistance, miss?" The silvery voice from my dream asked, as cold and quiet as the hissing of a deadly snake. I looked up into the face of a very attractive man, a very attractive man with red eyes. He watched me coolly, and I nodded.
"I would appreciate some help, I have a bad ankle and these shoes don't exactly aid my situation." He smiled slightly and extended an arm for me to take. Gratefully, I leaned into him, and we slowly walked up the steps to the manor. I tottered in my high shoes but the man held me firmly, making sure I didn't fall.
We approached the door slowly, but he seemed to have no hurry. He easily bore my weight, opened the door, and helped me over the threshold.
"Thank you for your kindness, monsieur." He bowed lightly, and took position to my right, next to the door frame. Out of the corner of my eye I watched him. He was the one from my dream, the voice, the glove, the eyes. Why had I seen him there if I had never seen him before? He was pale, so very pale, his skin was almost gray. His unnaturally pale face was framed with black hair, shorter in the back and curving in around his thin face. He was the most handsome man I had ever seen. But those eyes. Those eyes pierced down into my soul and I swear that I had seen those eyes before. Years before. That crimson was unforgettable, the crimson that his eyes are, the crimson that had stained my hands and spread across the floor so many years ago. His eyes flicked to mine and I immediately looked away. I heard him shift closer, his breath tickling my ear.
"It's rude to stare, you know. Am I really so fascinating?" A blush stained my cheeks and I looked towards Lizzie, who was standing chattering at a boy who looked around twelve or thirteen. When I looked back and saw that the man was still staring I stuttered out an answer.
"Your eyes. I think I've seen them before." It wasn't a lie, just not the whole truth. I'd never tell him how attractive I found him. He frowned a bit and narrowed his eyes.
"Interesting. I think it's time we were introduced. I am Sebastian Michaelis, the Phantomhive's butler." His eyes glittered with interest as he stared, examining my every feature.
"It is very good to meet you monsieur Michaelis, my name is Geneviève Eddowes." Sebastian's mouth curled into a small smirk.
"French, are you?" I nodded and his smirk grew. "Vous etes d'une rare beaute mademoiselle Eddowes." I blushed a deep crimson as he continued to talk. "Are you Lady Elizabeth's tutor or…"
"Sister, adopted sister. I started living with her only a few months ago." He nodded with a small smile.
"and you came to live with her because…" I glared at him and hissed,
"I don't speak of such matters with strangers." Lizzie and Ciel were still talking, Lizzie looked happier than I'd ever seen her. I wobbled toward her as quickly as my bad leg would let me, trying not to trip. I managed up the small staircase and leaned on the banister a few feet to the right of Lizzie. She spun, her words still going and smiled.
"Sis! Ciel, this is my sister, Geneviève." He bowed and smiled a smile that looked almost painful to him. "I have heard much about you, Geneviève. Do tell, how did you come to live with Lady Elizabeth?" This time I held the emotions inside, I didn't snap at him. I gave him the smallest slice of the truth that I could.
"My mother passed away." He raised his eyebrow, as if he could sense the fact that I was not being forthcoming but Lizzie, good and kind Lizzie, stopped him from asking anything more.
"Cieeeell!" He turned to look at her, his face a mixture of bemusement and annoyance. "Can we play chess? I'm getting better at it!" He nodded and started to lead her away before he stopped.
"Sebastian." I turned a bit to see him but nearly collided with the butler's chest. How did he get so close without me noticing? "Accompany Geneviève around the manner, will you? I think Mey-Rin and Bard will be fine for a few hours." He then led Lizzie up the stairs and closed the door, leaving me alone with the butler with the red eyes.
"Is there anywhere in particular you would like to see, my lady?" I was, again, leaning on Sebastian as he led me down a seemingly endless corridor. "Is there a garden?" He nodded. "Are there roses?" He nodded again, the faintest hint of a smile on his lips. "Please take me there, and to a bench, if possible, I don't want to burden you."
"You are not a burden. I rather enjoy this, actually. It's been a long time since I've walked with anyone like this. I don't mind helping you around, whenever you need me, just call. I'll be there before you even need to blink." I chuckled at this. "Have I said something to amuse you?" I shook my head.
"You just remind me of somebody I used to know." The click…click…click of our shoes on the carpet was the only sound for a few minutes. I admired the lavish paintings and decorations that adorned the hallway. Countless doors of a dark wood stood to the left. Tall arching windows let the light in and showed the broad paths of the manicured garden. We reached the door that led outside and he opened it, a breeze blew in. I stepped outside on my own, rocking a little, but inhaling the clean perfume of the flowers and feeling the sun warm my skin gave me strength. A gloved hand took mine and Sebastian led me down one of the thin paths to a bench that overlooked beds of roses. Silver roses, white roses, red roses. He settled down beside me, his leg just brushing mine.
"Is there anything else you desire, Geneviève?" I continued to look out at the roses, the red ones, the crimson ones, the bloody ones. Blood. Blood everywhere. Blood soaking into the floorboards, blood on my shirt, on my skirt. The blood, I sat in a puddle of blood, my hands up to my face, my shoulders shaking. Can't stop the bleeding, why won't the bleeding stop. Red eyes glinting in the darkness. White gloves painted red.
"Geneviève?" A hand was on my shoulder, a white gloved hand. The man with red eyes and white gloves stared at me with concern, eyes worried. Red eyes full of worry. "Are you alright?" He moved closer, wiping away a tear I hadn't even noticed begin to crawl down my cheek. I drew in a deep breath and stood, turning to face the manor.
"I'm fine." My voice was shaky but at least I could hide the tears rolling down my cheeks. "Could you show me to my room? I need some time." An arm encircled my waist and started to lead up the small set of stairs.
"Bien sûr, ma fleur."
I had been sitting on the bed in my room when a knock came at the door.
"Come in." My response was monotone, it sounded dead. Lizzie stepped inside and immediately ran over to me and jumped onto my bed.
"What's wrong Jenny?" I looked at her in surprise, I thought I had made myself look decent again. "Sebastian told me that something happened and you were quite upset. He sounded worried, and I've never heard him sound worried about anything before, so I came right away. What happened?" I drew in a small breath and turned the ring on my finger around and around until my finger was rather red.
"The roses. I was sitting with him out in the garden and the roses…" My words caught in my throat and I had to pause before continuing. "They reminded me of my mother. You do know why I came to live with you, right, Lizzie?" She nodded rather hastily, as if someone hadn't told her the whole truth. I stood shakily and walked over to the window, looking out to the garden, to the bed of roses. "The night that my mother died, it wasn't an ordinary death. It wasn't peaceful, like you were told, Lizzie. She was killed in front of me. Her blood was everywhere, the floor, my clothes, the walls. Everything was painted that same bloody crimson." I felt her small arm wrap around my waist and I turned around to hug her.
"I'm so sorry Geneviève; I can't believe what that could be like. Do you know who killed her? Have they been caught?" I shook my head sadly.
"No one matches the description that I gave the police. He will probably never be caught." I shivered and turned back to the window, and stared at the figure dressed in black that stood, still as a statue, in the garden. "All I could see of him was his eyes. They were red." Lizzie gasped a bit.
"You couldn't possibly think…" Immediately I shook my head.
"No. He's too kind." She giggled a bit.
"Kind? That's all you have to say about him? You must be completely blind, then." I spun to face her, a blush darkening my cheeks.
"What do you mean by that, Liz?" She giggled and started toward the door.
"We'll be staying here for a few weeks, plenty of time to figure it out."