Title: A Song Thrush of Sorrow
Rating: T (for violence, language and possible touchy feely-ness without the wham, bam, thank you ma'am that we all know Sebastian is good at.)
Hey guys!
So I've been thinking about writing a Black Butler fanfic for a while now, and I've finally fleshed one out well enough to develop a story. I hope you like it. I've been in a particular mode for OC's so try to tolerate her at the very least.
Also an important note, this is kind of an anomaly fanfic that is sort of canon, but isn't, what I mean is that there are characters that are going to be alive that are dead in the anime or manga.
I also do have pairings planned for this stoy, but I'm not going to reveal them until later on.
Chapter One
She appeared in the rain.
It was late in the evening at the Phantomhive manor. The sky looked like it was splattered with ink. It smeared across the white clouds and turned them gray. Sebastian Michaelis peered through the window, looking out to the garden. He turned to his young master, Ciel Phantomhive who was looking over a letter he received recently from the queen this afternoon. His eyes were drooping slightly.
"It appears we might have a storm tonight." Sebastian announced.
"I wouldn't be surprised it's utterly dreary out there." His master remarked dryly without even sparing him a glance as he paged through a set of documents lying on the desk.
"Indeed."
The earl lowered the papers and looked behind his chair where his butler was standing. "Anyway, what are you looking at?"
Sebastian's eyebrow rose. "Hmm…?"
"You've been looking out the window all evening." His master pointed out, "Are you expecting something?"
"Have I now…?" He put his hand under his chin. "This might sound strange, but I just have the inkling that someone is coming."
"Like who?" His master inquired. "No one in their right mind would travel in this kind of weather." His expression flattened. "It better not be Lao…"
"I wouldn't worry about it my lord." He sent his master a nonchalant smile. "After all, it's just as you said, no one in their right mind would—"
A violent slam shook the room. "Sebastian!" his master yelped, papers flying from his grasp as his chair began to tip backwards. With quick reflexes, Sebastian grabbed both sides of the chair before it fell over. The bookshelves rattled around them as if they were about to collapse. Sebastian took notice to the clock on the wall that's hands were spinning. With his hand still holding onto his master's chair, he pulled out his pocket watch and noticed that the hands were spinning just as rampant.
"It can't be…"
The doors flew open, and a trio of servants came running with their arms flailing.
"Master! Sebastian! Are you two alright?" The grounds keeper, Finnian cried.
His master stood up from the armchair chair. "What on earth is going on?"
"Some lunatic is trying to break down the door!" The chef, Baldroy shouted.
"The door is about to break down, yes it is!" The maid, Mey Rin shrieked. "Pluto is trying to block the door, but we don't know how long he can keep it closed."
Sebastian looked down at his master. "What do you suggest our course of action master?"
The young earl sighed planting his hands on his hips. "I suppose we don't have much of a choice, let them in."
The trio's eyes enlarged and they let out gasps not sure if they should protest or not.
He directed his gaze up at Sebastian a snarky smile playing on his lips. "Shall we go greet your guest?"
"Eh? Sebastian has a guest?" Finnian asked.
"What kind of guest are they I wonder?" Mey Rin sputtered.
Another pound at the door made the trio jump out of the skin.
Baldroy gulped. "I guess we'll find out…"
Tanaka, the house steward suddenly appeared in front of the three. "Ho, Ho, ho."
They all walked to the front entrance. Pluto whined still in his hound form. When the group approached him, his ears perked up and he barked urgently. The door was broken to pieces under his paws. Sebastian sighed he'd have to get the door replaced immediately.
"Who's there Plu Plu?" Finnian asked as he trotted over to the demon hound.
Pluto whined his ears flattened as he turned his head. The group followed the dogs gaze to the open door and let out a chorus of gasps.
Before them, a wounded girl stood against the doorframe under the rain. Completely naked blood dripped down her body long black hair veiled her body like a cloak and covered her face. Her skin was as pallid as the moon. It contrasted against the jagged cut across her throat that poured with blood. She stumbled towards them, her arms hung against her sides. A black envelope fit loosely in her left hand.
"Everyone stand back." Sebastian commanded.
Slowly she lifted her head and revealed a pair of red eyes. Sebastian's eyes enlarged. He watched as her lips moved. She mouthed a single word that he couldn't catch and collapsed onto the floor at their feet.
Finnian stammered. "I-Is she dead?"
"I don't know…that wound looked pretty bad though." Baldroy remarked just as surprised.
"Sebastian, check the girl and then retrieve that envelope." His master ordered.
"Yes my lord."
Sebastian walked up to the girl and bent down in front of her. When he reached down for the letter in her hands, he noticed the blood on her body began to dissipate. He withdrew his hand with caution. When he was certain she wouldn't do anything, he pulled the letter out of her grasp, then checked her pulse.
"She's alive." Sebastian said, he picked up the girl and stood up. "What would you like to do with her master?"
His master scratched his chin. "Bard, prepare a guest room for her."
Bard saluted. "Yes master."
He turned his gaze to Mey Rin. "And Mey Rin, could you get cleaned her up and dressed?"
Mey Rin nodded. "Yes, yes! Right away master!"
Finnian looked at Mey Rin. "I can carry her for you if you'd like."
"O that would be nice thank you Finny."
Sebastian carefully transferred the girl into Finnian's arms. "Be careful with her now."
"I will."
"Good." His master nodded in approval.
Baldroy frowned. "I wonder if this is safe..."
Tanaka transformed into his distinguished form. "The Phantomhives are always one step ahead. We must be proactive and treat our guests with courtousy no matter the case. That is how we survive."
The trio agreed with a nod. "Right!"
POOF!
"And, there went Tanaka." Baldroy chuckled.
"I wonder how he does that." Finnian asked.
When the four servants disappeared upstairs, the young earl turned his attention to Sebastian. "Do you know what the hell is going on?"
"Not in the slightest…" Sebastian's eyes shifted to the gaping doorway. "Actually I was certain that it was someone else."
"Hmm…" His master's eyes narrowed. "Whatever the case…" He held out his hand. "Hand me that letter."
"I'm afraid that wouldn't be wise my lord."
"And why is that?"
Sebastian lifted up the letter the envelope was black and held together with a red seal shaped like a skull. "This is no ordinary letter." He pressed his thumb over the skull. "It is enclosed by the demon seal, if anyone other than a demon tries to open it, they will die immediately."
"Fine…" His master frowned. "Then open it and read to me what it says."
"Yes my lord." Sebastian slipped his thumb under the skull's jaw and pulled it back. A blank black page fell open. Glowing white text began to appear on the page. "Dear Sebastian Michaelis." Sebastian read out loud. "You are under warning. The Dark Court has reason to believe that you have an incomplete contract made with human, Mavis Delora. As a contractor, you have an obligation to serve, until said contract has been fulfilled. Although, we are aware that you are under a second contract, we can't allow you to withhold or terminate your duties. Failure to commit to your task will result in severe punishment, so be aware.
Signed by the head of the Dark Court,
Lucifer."
"You've got to be joking."
"I'm afraid not." Sebastian lowered the letter from his gaze. His brow creased in irritation. "This is ridiculous, I've never uncompleted a contract in my life."
"Yes, sounds rather carless of you." His master jabbed, knowing how meticulous Sebastian is.
Sebastian frowned and crushed the letter into dust in his hand. "There must be some mistake."
"Can the devil make a mistake?"
Sebastian closed his eyes and scoffed. "He fell from heaven, didn't he?" When he opened his eyes, his eyes shifted in thought. "Still…I wonder how she was able to hold the letter with a demon seal."
"Do you think she's a demon?"
His eyebrows drew together and he crossed his arms. "No, demons have a particular scent, hers was different."
"My, this has gotten interesting…" His master smirked. "I've never seen you so perplexed."
"Perplexed you say?" Sebastian smiled, but his eyes were sharp as he glared daggers at his master. "Why whatever do you mean my lord?"
His master let out a yawn and turned his back to him he walked over to the stairs. "Nothing, nothing at all. Anyway, keep an eye on her. As soon as she wakes up, inform me immediately. O and fix the door while you're at it. I can already feel a draft."
"Yes my lord."
xXx
Meanwhile, in the bathroom Mey Rin set down two buckets. One was filled with soap and water and the other was just water. A sponge was floating at the top of the soap filled one. "Alright, now let's get you freshened up Miss!" The girl was sitting on a small stool with her back against the wall. Finny sat outside the door waiting quietly.
Mey Rin grabbed the sponge and squeezed some of the excess water out of it. She continued to hum as she gently scrubbed the dirt and dried blood from her body. Mey Rin lifted her glasses and squinted. "Strange, I could've sworn there was more blood than this." She lowered her glasses and shrugged. "O well."
She continued to wash the girl, until she noticed that the there was more dirt coming off the girl than there was before. "What's going on?" She asked aloud. "No matter how much I clean her, she keeps getting dirty." She frowned and stood up touching the back of the girl's neck to push her hair out of the way.
A loud shriek made Finny jump out of his skin.
He threw the door open. "What is it Mey Rin?"
Mey Rin ran towards him.
"HER BLOOD HAS TURNED BLACK!" Mey Rin cried showing him her hands that were drenched in black.
"B-black blood…?"
They both screamed.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?" Bard asked as he walked up behind Finny.
"SHE HAS BLACK BLOOD!" Finny and Mey Rin yelled in unison.
Bard rubbed his ear. "What…? Black blood?"
Mey Rin showed Bard her hands.
Bard blinked and stared at her hands he crossed his arms and snorted. "That's not blood ya ninnies, that's soot." He pulled out a cigar and lit it.
"Soot?"
"Yep." Bard lowered his cigar from his lips. "And by the looks of it, there's a lot."
"How'd she get covered in soot?" Finny asked.
"My only guess is that it must have something to do with the guy that put that nasty cut on her neck."
Mey Rin frowned. "O that sounds frightening, the poor thing!"
Wet stumbling caught their attention the girl was starting to stand.
"Hey look! She's awake!" Finny shouted sounding relieved.
She lifted her gaze to them, looking at them with clear grey eyes.
"Her eyes changed color." Bard remarked.
Finny stepped towards her. "A-are you alright Miss?"
The girl's eyes met his for a moment, but then shifted away from him. She crossed her arms covering her chest. Finny's eyes enlarged and he jumped back his face turning as red as a tomato.
"AH! I'M SO SORRY!"
Bard covered Finny's eyes with an arm and dragged him out. "Come on Finny we should let Mey Rin finish getting the girl cleaned up now."
"R-right…"
Mey Rin closed the door. "Okay, now let's try this again, but how about this time I run you a bath."
The girl nodded slowly.
xXx
Sebastian looked at his pocket watch. "What on earth is taking them so long?" Shortly, he was eating his words when the door opened.
"This way, this way." Mey Rin beckoned, she turned her spectacled gaze to him. "I'm sorry for the wait Sebastian! We had to run four baths."
"Four baths? Whatever for…" He trailed off when the girl walked into the bedroom.
It was like a whole different person walked in. The girl who looked like victim of a ghost story now looked like an actual ghost! Her hair was white as snow and her eyes were as grey as a typical day in London. She was tiny like a doll dressed in a nightgown that was too large for her. Sebastian was certain that even one of his master's nightshirts would be too big for her lithe frame. Her cut that now looked like a faded scar was clearly visible across her neckline.
She was grasping onto Mey Rin's skirt, staring at him blankly. "Alright my lady, Sebastian will take it from here." Mey Rin said, but the girl only clung tighter onto the maid's skirt.
"My lady you have no reason to fear me I am Sebastian Michaelis butler of the Phantomhive manor here to welcome you." Sebastian bowed in front of her, placing a hand over his heart and offered her the other. "Please allow me to finish preparing you for bed."
Cautiously, the girl withdrew from Mey Rin and reached a hand out to Sebastian. He accepted it, and she walked up to him. Sebastian stood up. "I can take it from here Mey Rin, thank you for your hard work."
Mey Rin blushed. "O you're w-welcome!" Steam practically blew from her ears as she walked out of the room.
When the door closed Sebastian guided the girl to the bed. "Unfortunately, the head of the estate has already retired for the evening, but he will greet you properly when you dine tomorrow morning. I shall give you the grand tour of the entire estate tomorrow as well."
He pulled the covers back.
She sat down on the bed the skirt of the nightgown compiled into a nest at her feet, like a train of a wedding gown. She tried rolling the long sleeves, but Sebastian intercepted folding the material until they were in neat cuffs at her wrists. "I shall also prepare proper fitting clothes for you in the morning." He bowed in front of her once again. "From here on out, I shall serve both you and my lord Phantomhive, until our contracts have been completed."
When they withdrew hands, she lifted her legs onto the bed and lied down he draped the covers up to her chin. As he smoothed the creases, she watched him. Candlelight flickered in her colorless eyes tinting them orange.
"A song thrush of sorrow is such a lovely name. It almost sounds like a verse in a poem." Sebastian remarked. "But I would say you're more like a Lenore or perhaps…" He paused, his eyes shimmered, lips curving into his trademark smirk. "…A raven."
She blinked up at him.
He stood up and grabbed the candelabra on the nightstand and walked up to the door. As he pulled the door behind him to a close, he turned his head back offering her a sly smile and whispered.
"Nevermore..."
A/N So how was it? I'm trying to keep everyone in character as much as I can, so let me know if my attempt was decent or needed some work.