Elizabeth POV

When Elizabeth woke up that morning she knew exactly what she was doing that day. Skip lessons and go to see Ciel who had been gone on business for a month. He was supposed to be gone for a week but had vanished for three more. She missed him. Elizabeth was worried, Paula helped her dress in a riding outfit and Elizabeth snuck out on her horse.

When she arrived the first thing she saw was Finny, Ciel's gardener. 'Miss Elizabeth!" He exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I have come to see Ciel! What do you think silly?" Elizabeth asked.

" Come on then." They headed towards the house and Sebastian opened the door as she knocked. Surprise flitted across his face and then returned to his usual pleasant mask. "Lady Elizabeth. How wonderful to see you. I presume you are here to see my master?"

"Yes, I'm here to see Ciel!' Elizabeth said excitedly, jumping up and down on her toes. "Where is he?"

"I believe in his office. Shall I escort you?" Sebastian asked.

Elizabeth nodded. They walked through the hallways in silence. Elizabeth looked at Sebastian and frowned, she had always found him ominous. Something about him made her uncomfortable. Maybe it was the red eyes.

"Young Master?" Sebastian said, knocking on the door. There was no answer. "Odd." Sebastian murmured. He opened the door slightly and beckoned to Elizabeth, she entered Ciel's office and smiled. The 16-year-old Ciel Phantomhive was lying asleep at his desk. "Ciel?".Elizabeth walked over to his desk and tapped his shoulder.

Ciel mumbled something incoherent.

"If he wasn't breathing I would think he was dead," Elizabeth muttered, poking him. "Are you sure he isn't dead Sebastian?"

"I assure you, my Master, is very much alive He is tired and a bit ill."

"Ill?" Elizabeth exclaimed in horror.

"Just a cold."

"That could trigger his asthma!"

"I believe he will be fine. He has ordered me to leave him alone and to let him work, but I believe you must be allowed to wake him up."

"Ciel!" Elizabeth exclaimed loudly.

Ciel sat up in one abrupt movement, "Wuzgoinon?" He Saw Elizabeth and yelled, falling over backward. He hit his head. "Ouch."

"Are you ok?" Elizabeth cried, scuttling over to him.

"Brilliant." Ciel muttered,"Just fantastic." He got to his feet and with a shock, Elizabeth realized he had gotten taller. He scowled, looked at her with his one blue eye and pushed dark hair out of his face.

"Sorry," Elizabeth said, cringing.

"This is bad." Ciel said, "Very bad. Extremely bad. Lizzie-"

"I've missed you and I want to spend the day with you," Elizabeth said firmly.

Ciel choked.

Elizabeth couldn't help herself, she threw her arms around him. "Oh, you're so adorable!"

"Gerrof me!" Ciel shouted. "And I am not adorable! I am sixteen!"

"What do you want me to call you?" Elizabeth pouted.

"Something besides cute or adorable."

"Pretty?" Sebastian suggested.

"Shut up!" Ciel growled.

"My apologies young Master."

"What is my schedule for today?" Ciel demanded, throwing himself dramatically into a chair.

"Well, you were supposed to be working for two hours. In approximately five minutes you have a dancing lesson then-"

Ciel winced and picked up a bottle of ink, "Dancing? Who is my teacher this time?"

"Neither your regular tutors could come so I will assist you." Sebastian said with a bow.

The bottle of ink shattered on the desk. 'Elizabeth where would you like to go?" Ciel asked, suddenly animated.

"As your tired maybe we should stay around the house." She muttered, eying Ciel's pallor and feverishly bright eyes.

"Fine. Sebastian we-" Ciel stopped and anxiety crossed his features. "will be in the garden."

"Master, may I have a word?"

Ciel nodded and quietly asked Elizabeth to leave.

Something is going on. Elizabeth thought. She exited the room but left the door slightly open and peeked through. Sebastian had his back to her, Ciel looked exhausted and was blankly looking at Sebastian.

"Young master, the murders of your company employees in-"

"I know. Unsolved. The ones we just looked into." Ciel said dismissively, pacing.

"We know they are a danger to you-"

"Is there a grim reaper involved?" Ciel asked abruptly," Or one of your kind?"

"I have sensed no supernatural environment."

Ciel made a noncommittal noise "If there is nothing new I will speak with Lizzie."

"But there is a suspicion of them targeting you you not remember? You discussed this with me several hours ago."

Ciel paled and yanked on his own hair with his fingers. "Get the carriage ready, Lizzy needs to get out of here. Now!"

Elizabeth turned on her heel and sprinted as quickly as she could with her skirts to the front door. She waited until Ciel arrived and walked outside with her. He was frantic. Elizabeth stopped. "Ciel are you alright?"

"Fine. Fine. Absolutely fine. Peachy. Brilliant."

"You are behaving oddly."

"Am I?" Ciel asked faintly.

"Yes." Elizabeth brushed his cheek with her fingers.

Ciel gripped her hand, "Lizzie, promise me-"

"Young Master I must speak with you." Sebastian appeared out of nowhere, calm as usual but Elizabeth detected a glint of excitement in his crimson eyes.

"What?"Ciel snapped.

"Mey-Rin spotted some hostile-"

"Tell everyone to get into position," Ciel ordered. He strode towards Elizabeth who assumed as innocent of an expression she could manage. There was a crack and Panic filled Ciel's gaze "LIZZIE!" He lunged at her and knocked Elizabeth to the ground. Ciel landed on top of her with an abrupt cry of pain. Before she could register what was happening Ciel suddenly had a pistol in his hand. He shot a man wearing black. "You almost missed young master," Sebastian remarked.

"That's what happens when you use the wrong hand," Ciel said calmly.

"Ciel! What is-" Elizabeth started, confused, getting to her feet.

Ciel shouted to Sebastian. "Find out where they're coming from! Their headquarters."

"But your safety! I would advise-"

"Wipe them out. I will be fine. you always turn up. Or will you break the contract. Or have you forgotten about the other servants? Lizzie and I will be fine."

"But-"

"THIS IS AN ORDER!"

"As you wish my lord." Sebastian vanished and smirked almost eagerly.

Ciel carefully switched his gun to the be held in the other hand. He winced as he curled his fingers around it. Had he been shot? Elizabeth was about to ask but then Ciel grabbed her, yanking her off the ground. "What is happening?" Elizabeth shouted as Ciel dragged her into the house.

"Just come!" Ciel snapped.

"Let go of me! you're going to rip my arm off!"

"I'm trying to save your life! I could have just let you get shot in the head you know!"

"Why-"

"Be quiet." Ciel continued to drag her through hallways and down stairs while elizabeth both marveled at and cursed the fact he was faster than her now. Ciel hauled her into the servants quarters and fumbled with the doorknob, grimacing. He opened it and pulled her inside. "Whose room is this?" She asked.

"Mey-Rin's."

"Oh."

"Come on." Ciel demanded. He clambered over the couch and slid down behind it. Elizabeth followed. Ciel still gripped the gun and peeked over the edge of the couch at the door.

"WHAT ON EARTH IS GOING ON?" Elizabeth hissed.

Ciel simply closed his eyes.

"You tell everyone you'll be gone for a week and then you don't come back for a month! You look exhausted and sick and anxious and you seem to be going crazy. What is happening?" She hissed grabbing his arm and shaking him.

Ciel winced.

Elizabeth let go of his arm to see, blood on her hands and a hole in Ciel's jacket. "You've BEEN SHOT!" She shrieked.

"Shut up Lizzie. I'm fine."

"You are most certainly not fine you idiot!"

Ciel looked at his arm with an almost amused air. "I've had worse."

"Ciel Phantomhive let me see-"

Ciel stuffed a gun into her hands "Use this. You know how to shoot right?"

"No. I can use a sword though."

He took the gun back. Ciel crouched and looked at the door. "We're clear for now."

"Ciel-" She grabbed his coat and pulled it off without his consent.

He gasped in pain and glowered at her. "I am fine."

She stared at the blood spreading over his white sleeve. "You are not fine. If you categorize fine as being ill, tired and shot in the arm, before we get married we are going to have WORDS Ciel Phantomhi-"

"Ok, I may or may not be fine." He waved his hand lazily.

Elizabeth continued, "What is going on?"

Ciel gripped his gun and glanced over the top the couch at the door. "Someone wants to kill me."