Black cats and bad luck
A Black Butler fan -fic by Furballmews
Black butler and all related characters belong to Yana Toboso
"The invite you have been awaiting has arrived, My lady." A soft voice says as the heavy oaken doors creak open allowing the petite tea cart to slide through the opening into the great room followed by a dark haired girl. She is tall and dressed in a fine dark suit that would be more appropriate on a mans build but is still quite flattering to her form, she walks with a certain sway that is almost hypnotic to look upon and with a confidence that seems unwavering. The girl gives a brief smile in her mistress direction before letting the door close softly behind her and returning her white gloved hands to the silver handle of the tea cart. Slowly cart and servant approach the great oaken desk at the head of the room and the massive carved chair posed behind it facing out the large windows. "Today we will be having a Hibiscus and rose hip tea, with cucumber sandwiches."
The cart stops in front of the desk and the girl lifts a white letter bearing a red wax seal up flat in both gloved hands. Slowly she circles the desk and drops to one knee presenting the letter to her mistress. The legs of the great chair squeak forward and a small hand reaches out for the paper but pauses before grabbing it. A timid voice chimes, "Read it to me, Kasha."
The girl nods, "Yes Mistress Ursula." With a quick flick of a finger the wax seal detaches from the paper unbroken and the girl unfolds the letter. "To the Nobel family of Stainthorp, Lady Ursula Stainthorp, are her by invited to attend a masquerade ball on the thirteenth of August, at the home of your cousin,The Viscount of Druitt, Lord Aleister Chamber."
"Is that all?" The timid voice asks.
"Yes mistress." The girl stands and begins to serve the tea.
The heavy high backed chair squeaks forward again and the timid voice asks softly, "Do you think He will be there?"
"Yes My lady, I have taken care of all the necessary preparations for that."
"Very good Kasha, have the carriage ready to go by this evening." A tiny hand grasps a tiny tea cup then disappears again behind the great oak desk. "And bring me my chair as well."
"Yes, my lady." The dark haired girl turns and leaves quietly. The great oaken door making not even a whisper as she leaves.
##
Kasha looks down at her mistress as she laid sleeping in her lap, the steady stride of the horses played a monotonous and tiring tune as the carriage headed towards the end. Kasha shook the thought away, there was no use thinking about it now, Ursula was what mattered now. Her tiny weak frame was so light against her that it was almost as if she wasn't there at all. A gloved hand pushes a thick black curl behind a tiny ear.
Softly Kasha hums and whispers in a sing song voice, " Mary, Mary, Quite contrary. How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row." She laughs softly under her breath and looks out the carriage window into the night feeling nostalgic.
Her thoughts drift to a time when she lived only for herself, when she was alone and hated. It had been when she found little Ursula that she had decided to do something different. This delicate little girl who wanted only to have her justice before she faded away forever, a justice Kasha was glad to help her find. A justice that was costly to the frail child..
Ursula groans and pulls at the thick white collar around her neck almost as if she can hear Kashas thoughts. Kasha looks down and sighs, knowing the scars concealed beneath the thick white fabric and red ribbons are her own doing.
##
It had been a dark night when the Stainthorp house was invaded by a group of men, Mrs. Stainthorp had hurried her weakly sick little daughter into the arms of a trusted maid servant and sent them off into the night towards the family crypt. The maid had set her inside promising to return soon, screams filled the night air.
After many hours alone in the chilly stone crypt Ursula had come to the realization that the maid wasn't going to be returning and she had to find a way out on her own, her legs however were pretty mush useless. She mustered up all her strength and courage and managed to pull herself outside, having to rest once outside the heavy stone door. After a moment her eyes adjusted to the darkness and a scream caught hard in her throat
Before her eyes in the once beautiful gardens surrounding the crypt lay the butchered bodies of the house staff, thrown about in a jumble of parts that only one who knew them well could differentiate. Bile rose in her chest with a fire, hatred tinged the back of her tongue with the taste of blood. Again she forced her body to move, this time towards her home.
Her blood boiled as she got closer to her home seeing the heads of her siblings displayed on pikes outside the burning mansion. Her youngest brothers face stared unblinking at her at the edge of the forest, all four pikes a fence she was unable to cross. The shadows of men could be seen around the gate hoisting her fathers corpse up on a rope naked and beaten, beyond that others defiled her mothers long dead body and bragged about a payoff.
##
Those cold dead eyes haunt her as she shoots up grasping her chest. The hoof beats still drumming outside snap her back to reality. She glances up and sees Kasha's concerned face looking back at her. Rubbing her eyes Ursula sits up and looks curiously upon her companion. "Hey Kasha...?" Her voice trembles slightly. "When this is over, and I've gotten what I want...will it hurt?"
Kasha smiles and brushes her bangs out of her heterochromatic eyes, looking directly into her mistresses soft blue eyes with sincerity. "You've had enough pain in this life, my lady, I don't wish for you to suffer when it ends."
Ursula smiles, stifling a laugh and looks out the carriage window. "We will arrive soon won't we?" A quiet sigh follows. "We should prepare. "
"Yes, My lady."
##
The sun set as the carriage pulled up to the well lit mansion. Luminaries lined the path from the front door to where the well dressed servants waited to assist unescorted guests from their transports. Nobles of every rank and nationality would be here tonight and the decor was meant to please. Kasha leans over and straightens Ursula's mask to prevent it from pulling the red ribbons loose as the carriage comes to a halt.
One of the staff opens the door with a smile and offers a hand to Ursula who pulls away. Kasha quickly slaps the mans hand aside and turns to him with a blank stare. "I will care for my mistress, please back away."
The man stumbles back mouth agape as the tall thin female continues to stare while she lowers a small, wheeled, metal chair out before her then lifts the smaller, frightened looking female out of the carriage placing her in the chair with a bow. The taller one then hands the invitation over to the man with a swift movement he almost misses. He bumbles out an apology, "I am sorry Lady Stainthorp."
A few carriages down a boy with a strange mask that only leaves one eyes exposed looks on at the pair with curiosity while his taller male companion talks with one of the staff.
"Mistress, he says we should proceed through the house and back to the gardens, the Viscount wishes to see you." Kasha says as she bows her head and grabs the handles of the ornate wheeled chair, waiting for direction.
Ursula places a hand on her chest and takes a deep breath. "Very well, it would be impolite to keep him waiting."
"Yes, my lady."Kasha nods as she pushes the chair slowly forward along the red velvet path that flickered with the candle light. After a moment aware that another pair followed them closely.
A male voice spoke up from behind them, young but full of confidence. "Excuse me, but did I hear correctly? Are you Lady Stainthorp?"
Kasha slows her pace as Ursula taps her gloved hand. Glancing over she spots the boy who had been staring before and his companion. Ursula forces a smile, "I am, why do you ask?"
The boy begins to walk alongside the chair, "I am Ceil Phantomhive, I don't believe we've met face to face, but our companies do have quite a few dealing together."
"Oh my, the Earl of Phantomhive. I do apologize, " Ursula bows her head slightly as she speaks, "I was rude, I hadn't expected you to be an associate of my...cousin, but then I suppose he has his hands in everything."
Ceil forces a laugh in response. "He and I are aquatinted through some social circles." He instinctively sneers at the thought.
A giggle escapes Ursula's mouth and Kasha jumps startled.. Ursula again pats Kasha's hand and turns to Ceil with a smile. "He is a bit unsavory...isn't he?"
They both give a nervous laugh not noticing the way their companions keep exchanging pointed glances as if trying to figure something familiar out. They continue quietly through the large gaudy house before exiting again to the gardens. Rose petals line the ground where they walk, the gentle sounds of a piano fill the air and great long tables sit to the right covered in delicacies from around the world.
"Ceil!" A lovely blond girl rushes up to them calling out his name and throwing her arms around his neck before smiling at Ursula cheerily, behind her trailed the Viscount, women dripping off his arms like jewels.
"Ursula, My dear cousin. Your looking lovely tonight." The Viscount said with a smile. "I am so glad you could finally make it to one of my social events."
Ursula motions to Kasha and Kasha leans in to hear her. "Find him."
Kasha releases the handles of the chair and allows the Viscount to take control. Bowing, she nods to Ursula, "Yes, My lady." Then disappears into the crowd.
Ursula sits and talks with the Viscount, the Earl, and the Lady Elizabeth without noticing the absence of the Earl's companion. Panic swells in her fragile chest as she tries to forget how it all will end.