Cold Heart Noble
Chapter 1: A Contract Made
Disclaimer: I do not own Black Butler or any of the characters involved except Guardian B. Blizzard and Guardian I. Ice
Ciel Phantomhive was sitting in his study as he examined a stack of documents that lay upon his desk in the glow of the afternoon sun. His butler Sebastian poured a cup of tea while standing at his side.
"Today's brew is a renowned Earl Gray my lord, I do hope you enjoy it," Sebastian stated as he placed the cup and saucer on the desk.
Ciel looked past the papers at the cup and closed his eye before setting them down and picking up the cup. He brought the drink to his lips for a few seconds before setting it back down.
"This'll do fine," He said as he grabbed the papers again and opened his eye.
A knock on the door interrupted the pair. Ciel looked to Sebastian who nodded and looked to the door.
"I'm sorry, but my master is currently preoccupied, I must ask you wait there until he is ready to see you," Sebastian called loud enough to be heard through the door.
A simple knock echoed once again, a sign the pair took to mean those on the other side of the door understood. Ciel returned to his papers while Sebastian approached the door on the other side of the room. Opening it he found a strange sight: Two women were standing in the hallway outside the door.
The first was grown and wearing a simple blouse of a light blue shade, her legs were covered in pair of tight-fitting trouser-like coverings and she wore a simple pair of flats on her feet. Her hair was long and a single ponytail could be seen tied under most of her hair.
The second was a young girl, no older than fourteen. She had identical light blue hair as the first woman, but hers was styled in a pair of simple twintails that came to her shoulders. Instead of the masculine apparel of her older counterpart, she was wearing a gown of a similar light blue with white frills down the middle in the front and back. The look on her face suggested she didn't wish to be there.
"I'm sorry, but my master isn't expecting any company today. I'm afraid you'll have to come back another time," Sebastian said.
"Wait. I'm not here to see Ciel Phantomhive. I'm looking for Sebastian Michaelis,"
"That's a very interesting request. You've found him, what can I do for you today?"
"My name is Guardian B. Blizzard, and this is my apprentice: Guardian I. Ice,"
He bowed to both of them as they were introduced.
"My apprentice has… an issue,"
"No, you have an issue," Ice interrupted hastily.
Blizzard held her hand out aggressively toward the young girl and she backed down, but the look on her face said it wasn't willingly and Sebastian nodded.
"So, I was hoping you might be able to refine her into a proper young lady. As Diplomats to the worlds we Guardians need to have a sense of nobility about us, and well, Ice doesn't,"
The young girl huffed as she turned to look away.
"As much as I would like to help, I'm afraid my master is the most important task I can take on right now. I'm sure there are other butlers out there who can assist you,"
Blizzard shook her head, "I don't need just any old butler. I need one hell of a butler,"
As she said that she locked eyes with Sebastian and he saw something about hers change. Where they had been an average blue color before they flashed an icy-cold blue and he felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"I see, well then, allow me to discuss the matter with my master and see if an arrangement can be made,"
He bowed and entered the study again leaving the two alone. After the door clicked Ice turned to Blizzard.
"You're really going to leave me here?"
"Ice… your combat skills are above expectation compared to the rest of the apprentices, it's just…"
"Just what…"
"Your attitude and the way you carry yourself are terrible. At this rate you could be corrupted or worse, manipulated. Guardians need to have a clear head and a calm mind at-"
"I do have a clear head and a calm mind!" Ice shouted at her.
Blizzard sighed as Sebastian opened the door. "Excuse me ladies, but my master would like to meet both of you,"
The two girls looked to each other before looking back to Sebastian who stepped aside to allow them entrance into the study. They made their way inside and stopped about halfway between the desk and the door. Blizzard bowed to Ciel while Ice stood stock still. Ciel looked to her with a disdainful glare, which earned him a stuck-out tongue from Ice.
"I'm sorry about my apprentice's behavior lord phantomhive," Blizzard said as she bowed even lower.
"Don't worry about it too much, from what Sebastian has told me, you've come to him with the hope that he'll fix it?"
"Yes, I've been to many a… household, asking for assistance, but I keep hearing the name Sebastian Michaelis as the one who is the answer to my problem,"
"Well then, what's in it for me?" Ciel asked as he examined Ice and Blizzard.
Blizzard stood up straight, "I cannot explain myself entirely just yet my lord. My sincerest apologies, but you have not been allowed to know what or who we are just yet. I do promise however, that should you aid me in this endeavor, you will have a powerful ally to call upon in times of need,"
Ciel considered this offer for a moment and looked to Sebastian who nodded. "Very well, we shall take her in,"
"Thank you lord phantomhive," Blizzard told him.
"Don't I get a say in this?" Ice asked suddenly.
"No, you don't," Blizzard turned to her and lifted her hand, which began to emanate a white steam.
"Guardian I. Ice, in the name of your master, Guardian B. Blizzard, I bind your powers to a set of conditions that must be met. These conditions are to remain unknown to you until such time as they are fulfilled. Should you tarry from your duties and not complete them within two years time, your powers will be stripped from you, and you will forever remain here: a servant to Lord Ciel Phantomhive,"
As Blizzard finished the mist flew toward Ice and spun around her in a small whirlwind of ice and snow. It grew in intensity until it was like a full-blown blizzard was raging in the room. Ciel, Sebastian, and Ice covered their faces and then, in a moment, it was over. They uncovered their eyes and found the room to be completely untouched, save for the missing form of Blizzard.
"Well, as much fun as this could've been, I'll," Ice said as she held out her hand behind her, sticking her tongue out at Ciel as she walked away.
However, instead of entering through a portal to return home as she'd hoped, she instead walked into the wall.
"What the?"
"It seems whatever you were trying to do didn't work," Ciel said with a grin, his tone suggested he found her failure amusing.
Ice flicked her hand once more, but nothing happened. A look of concern and worry came over her face.
"Call her back!" She said to them.
"I'm sorry?" Sebastian asked her as he and Ciel looked to each other.
"Blizzard. Call her back… she can't leave me here… not like this," Ice was beginning to freak out now as she looked around frantically.
"I'm terribly sorry, but we don't have a way to call her back," Ciel told her.
"You're lying… this-this is a test! That's right! She's testing me. Well I won't fail her stupid test!" Ice turned on the spot and began to make a bolt for the door before Sebastian crossed the intervening space and chopped her in the back of the neck causing her to collapse.
"I'm terribly sorry about this master, but it seems I might've overstepped my bounds by agreeing to take her in,"
"Don't worry about it. Just see to it that she's given a place to lay down for now," Ciel said as he picked up the papers again.
"Of course master," Sebastian said as he bowed before readjusting his grip on Ice and exiting the room.
"I really hope this is all worth it," Ciel said to himself after a moment of silence.
