Chapter 1: Newton's apple ain't got nothing on this
It should have been one of the few ordinary days in the Earl of Phantomhive's life. A day without interference from the criminal underworld, from supernatural beings and from the troubles of the strange servants employed at his estate. The air was brisk and cool but not chilling and a slew of autumn leaves were about the ground in wondrous shades of red, green, yellow and rust. It was a quiet day, a restful one.
The sort of day that left Ciel feeling restless. It was something he had grown unaccustomed to the last several years since his parent's death. On days like this, he wandered aimlessly about the house, usually doing nothing of significance except to alienate the staff and mildly irritate his butler. In a quest to prevent that on this day, Sebastian suggested that Ciel visit his parent's mausoleum, perhaps to simply take in the quiet. Rightfully suspicious, the young Earl had only agreed because he truly had no other pressing tasks and he was rather curious understand why his butler was so keen to see him visit his long death parents.
"Tell me the truth Sebastian," Ciel started as they walked down the little stone path that led to the crypt Ciel had commissioned in respect to his parents. It was a slight way away from the manor and the main estate through a small forest that was part of his property, "Why did you suggest this little outing?"
"Simply because since the mausoleum has been erected you have yet to visit it and I felt it a shame that your parents have had no guests," the answer was neither malicious nor insulting though there was a slight air of sarcasm to his words as usual. It was merely stated as a fact by his ever nonchalant butler. It was too neat and clean for the demon. His motives were rarely so sincere.
Perhaps Sebastian wished to see what effect the grave of the Phantomhives would have on Ciel.
Perhaps he was testing for weakness or the slightest hint that grief was overtaking him.
Perhaps to ensure he was strong enough.
To ensure that the soul Sebastian so greatly desired would be as a delicious a treat as he envisioned it.
"I do wish to get this over with," Ciel retorted casually, his own stoicism hiding the sheer hate he felt in place of grief. Never had he allowed grief for her parents to enter his mind, he had never mourned. In place of that he filled himself with hate, and revenge in the memory of his parents. He did not intend to start grieving now, not now after all that he done to achieve his goals. After he had sold his soul and made a deal with a devil.
"Surely a simple trip to graveyard of your ancestors is not such a horrid thing," Sebastian continued, a smile playing into his words, "Is that not a duty of yours as head of the Phantomhives."
"Visiting old ghosts is hardly a duty of mine," Ciel replied as the top of the crypt came into view, "My job is to look to the future." A dove flew over the white marble and mortar, it made no noise as it flew, unlike the idiotic crows that seemed to follow them about. It looked rather peaceful, or perhaps was simply an image of peace that world had not yet destroyed.
"Yet here we stand."
Sebastian was right; they were indeed standing just in front of the memorial dedicated to Ciel's parents. It was a majestic sculpture that glimmered in the early morning sun, looking unaffected by any darkness around it, looking immortal. Immortal, something not even Sebastian claimed to be. Where others would see beauty in such a sight, Ciel hated it. The only thing this memorial held for him was motivation to see those who had put his family to ruin, who tried to kill him through utter and complete torment before finally ending their worthless lives. Swallowing back his disgust, Ciel placed the small bouquet against the ground.
"Blue roses, why did you give me blue roses?" Ciel looked at the flowers with a rigid face, "They aren't even in season."
The soft petals looked fragile and weak against the harsh earth.
No doubt they would be swallowed up soon enough, eaten and worn away by the world like so many other things that went into making it.
"Because, Master, they are the blooms your mother planted in her garden are they not?" Sebastian asked the question innocently enough, but his careful eyes were searching Ciel's reaction. At the specific mention of his mother, the noblemen gripped his cane a little tighter, his eyes looked a little less firm as the memory of those times past entered his mind.
He was still so young and still missed his parents so greatly. Perhaps not quite an ordinary child, but like every other child in the world, he yearned for his parents.
No, Sebastian's young lord did not mourn or grieve but he certainly felt the loss.
A loss whose blow would never soften. Once Ciel had his revenge and was overcome by it, Sebastian would end his suffering and fulfil their contract.
A soul worth the wait.
"What a bother." It had taken less than a minute for the Earl to collect himself. Looking as he ever did, unshakeable and strong, Ciel turned to face his butler, his tone indicating that he would not stand upon this ground a moment longer.
The demon butler never expected anything less.
"Let's return to the house," Sebastian suggested, leading his master out, "I'll make some tea."
They had barely moved five feet away from the marble of the mausoleum when Sebastian suddenly tensed and stopped in his tracks, his eyes narrowed. Before Ciel could question him or scold him, the demon pulled the boy across his chest and dashed away to the side before some sort of object landed squarely on top of them. Once both master and butler were upright, they examined what had almost landed on their very heads. Lifting away a roughly woven piece of cloth, they revealed the thing.
"A woman?" Ciel looked mildly surprised and mildly confused. Indeed, a woman with a mass of dark hair about her head lay unconscious before them dressed in some sort of foreign garb he couldn't recognize entirely, but seemed oddly familiar, like something in style centuries ago or from some far off land, "What one earth?"
"Well, she didn't fall from any tree or building," they were not standing near any structure, "And her dress was stylish in Africa more than a few eons ago. However..." Sebastian trailed off as he surveyed the woman more carefully. Aside from her obviously exotic appearance there was something else that struck him, "She wears gold in ears, and on her wrist. Not the adornments of a peasant."
It was more than that. This was a woman that Sebastian recognized. He was almost sure of her identity.
"From Africa?" Ciel could hardly see a logical explanation for an exotic woman landing in England dressed in the cloth and jewels of an older century. It was more than that, as watched her, Ciel saw the subtle clues Sebastian did. Her soft skin, her well groomed state and the careful kohl along her eyes all suggested something old and impressive, "She's waking."
Hardly missing a beat, Sebastian took a step back. With a delicate sort of cough, dark lids opened to reveal even darker eyes. Carefully, she sat up, not speaking a word but simply observing her surroundings with a practiced gaze. Her eyes landed firstly on the two persons closest to her, who currently seemed to mean her no harm even if they did odd and strange. Decidedly she opened her mouth.
The words were strange and foreign, but sounded oddly cultured.
"What language is that?" its sounded nothing like anything Ciel had ever heard before. Imagine his utter surprise when Sebastian answered back to her in the same language, "Sebastian, what is going on?" Ciel hated not knowing things, especially when they pertained to his butler and servant. They conversed a few more seconds while Ciel fumed.
"I believe she is from Ancient Egypt," Sebastian replied fluidly while holding out an aiding hand to the woman, "More to the point, I think she may be the former queen Nefertiti."
"How could you know that?" Ciel questioned loudly.
"Because I saw her 3000 years ago."
Since Ciel had given no order forbidding it, Sebastian offered the woman, most likely queen, help and the three had trekked back to the estate. Judging by his poignant silence, Ciel was working out the best possible response to this situation. Certainly this was an interesting development; he had never considered that time travel might be a real thing, though considering that he was one day going to have his soul eaten by a demon who had been alive 3000 years ago perhaps it wasn't quite so impossible. Ignoring the servants' questions and harassment, Ciel headed straight for his study.
"I'll bring tea," Sebastian promised with a nod, "Perhaps our guest would prefer to sit by the fire in the study." Judging by the goose bumps all over her, this woman was hardly used to the harsh damp climate of England. When Ciel nodded, his butler whispered a few more mysterious words to the woman, for now dubbed Karnak, and she followed him up the look stairs. The minute he reached the study, Ciel went immediately to his wall of books, searching for any and all to do with Egyptian history. As he collected the tomes and dropped them onto his desk, Karnak settled cautiously in a large comfy armchair across from fire.
"This is ridiculous," Ciel commented settling in his desk, the books laying untouched. Instead he was studying the subject at hand, the woman, Nefertiti.
She had presence if nothing else, keeping her chin held high and her eyes absolutely apathetic and cool to all around her, as if falling eons into the future was an everyday occurrence. She showed no restlessness, no anxiousness and no weakness which was certainly something Ciel could respect. Added to the fact that she was singularly beautiful, Ciel certainly deemed her royal. Still, a full explanation from that butler of his was needed. As if he could teleport, Sebastian appeared opening the door with one hand and pulling in a trolley with the other.
"For today we have a carefully brewed Bombay Chai and amaretti di Saronno made from the finest almonds in Levant," Sebastian explained silkily with a slight air of pride as he poured out two cups of tea, one for his master and the other for their guest. He then translated his words for the Egyptian. Accepting the cup, the woman nodded politely, asking a question. As they conversed, Ciel felt his temper rising, "I can say this, young lord; she most certainly is the former wife of the heretic Pharaoh."
"She looks far too young," Ciel replied scoffing. Admittedly the woman before him could be no older than twenty five.
"In those days it was common practice for nobility to marry very young," Sebastian explained, "Aknetan, her husband, was quite older than her."
"And you know this how exactly?" oh dear, he certainly was in a touchy mood. It was rather amusing.
"As I said I saw her eons ago after her reign ended," Sebastian answered clearly, getting entertainment out of Ciel's foul disposition, "She went missing shortly after. I have no idea how she ended up in our time."
"You were alive 3000 years ago?"
"Why yes, I was."
After taking a dignified sip of his tea, Ciel seemed a trite calmer which only amused the butler more. Something as simple as a warm cup of tea seemed to change the moods of men so quickly. The human disposition was so easy to control, "Until we get to the bottom of this she will remain here as my guest, under the guise Karnak."
Again the butler smiled this time at the name. It was of an ancient city in Egypt where many monuments and temples had been built. A wondrous place back in its heyday. Apparently the little Earl paid attention during his history lessons. Obligingly, Sebastian translated his master's wishes for the benefit of the newly dubbed Karnak who seemed unamused by her new name but said nothing about it. Instead she made a request.
"She would like to learn our language," Sebastian relayed, "Stating that if she should be living here she should be aware of what we are saying."
"Very well, you may teach her the finer points of English," Ciel acquiesced tiredly as though he were bored. In truth this had been the most interesting thing to happen all day.
Great of Praises
Sweet of Love
Lady of Two Lands
Lady of all women
Mistress of Upper and Lower Egypt
She had many titles and only one name: Nefertiti. The Sweet Love of the Pharaoh and Co-regent of all Egypt, her word had carried the same power as that of the Pharaoh's and the two of them had been inseparable, despite their age difference. Adored and loved, she was Aknetan's other half and with his last breath he separated him from her. A demon had appeared before the dying man offering him a second life in exchange for his soul, but the Pharaoh loved his wife well.
Aknetan and Nefertiti had been labelled heretics and had enemies who upon his death would likely have killed her in cold blood for the power she held. They had instated a religion in their reign, one that worshiped one God instead of many. The move had been both political and spiritual and there were many powerful men that took offense to it. Aknetan lay dying, he wished not for an extension of his own life, which would surely only cause more turmoil in the country's current state, but to protect the wife who had stood so resolutely by his side.
"Take her to a time and place where she will not be in danger." It had been his one request. He asked not for revenge or life or power.
The demon was quick to agree; the soul of a pharaoh, especially one in pure love, was particularly warm and delicious. Once the deed was done, he had opened a portal and before Nefertiti could have reacted or contested her husband's last request, she fell through and landed here.
According the dark haired man, she was in the future. 3000 years into the future.
3000 years.
She knew not the language.
She knew not what became of her home. Of her children. Or her empire.
Instead of a queen with a treasury of her own, she was at the mercy of this Ciel and his red eyed butler whom she did not trust in the slightest. He was most certainly a demon if those crimson eyes were anything to go by. More to the point he spoke a language which in this time was dead. For all intents, Sebastian had stated that her empire had crumbled and fallen long ago and that now new empires were starting to dig up the ruins. That was how old she was. A relic of a time long past.
She shuddered and convinced herself it was from the cold. She was a ruler and as such was ageless in power and station.
She shuddered again.
This place was freezing!
It was an abomination!
"My dear queen, I come bearing food and clothing more resilient to our damp weather," the demon entered with a curt knock. Nodding stiffly, she bid him enter. Though he smiled, it didn't reach his eyes, and instead of feeling comforted by the presence of someone who understood her, Nefertiti was alienated further. His Egyptian was excellent and sounded very much like a dialect spoken by aristocracy and royalty like herself, "It would be quite the bother if you caught a cold, especially since winter hasn't even begun."
"This place is already like a cold hell," Nefertiti replied lowly standing from her position in front of the fire. Her room was a fine one, even if it was filled with strange objects. But it was damp and stuffy. Rather than exploring the new things around her, the queen was content to settle like a cat ready for hibernation.
Sebastian rather liked that.
"It will get colder," he informed her in no uncertain terms, "Come now. Once you've eaten we can prepare for bed."
"Lovely." The word was full of sarcasm.
"You are handling this situation quite well, mistress," Sebastian commented while he set the dinner plates on the small table in the far corner of the room, "Especially considering your age. How old are you? Twenty six?"
"Twenty five," she retorted haughtily, "I have seen many battles, built cities and born children in that time, Sir."
"You were a Queen," Sebastian nodded pulling back a chair for her. Following his lead, she settled in the chair and stared at the plate before her and then turned questioningly to the butler, "it is quail and asparagus in a rich hollandaise sauce."
Quail. Quail was a familiar food item. This hollandaise sauce was not. Neither were the strange metallic utensils on either side of the plate. Ignoring them for now, Nefertiti delicately picked up a roll of bread and gently picked at the food with her fingers. Managing to both eat meal and not create a mess, the queen once again proved her elegance and versatility.
"It was...interesting," she deliberated after a moment and offered as Sebastian entered the room. He took that as a complement and nodded.
"I have drawn you a bath if you wish."
At this point a bath sounded absolutely delightful. This seemed to be one process that was oddly unchanged. In a separate room adjoined to her bedroom was a metallic tub of sorts from which steam was already rising thanks to the hot water inside. However instead of oils and creams, this modern world seemed to use a bar in order to clean themselves. For most of her life, Nefertiti had servants to aid her in her daily grooming. Now settled in the warm water, she picked up the bar uncertainly.
"If you wish, I can help you," once again Sebastian appeared at her door with his sleeves rolled up. Ordinarily it was the female servants who did this sort of thing; in fact having a man bath her seemed almost perverse.
Then again this was not a man but a demon.
"Why not," she replied deciding to forgo propriety for a night. At this point she was too tired and to weary to really care. It had been only a few hours since her husband had been eaten and she had ended up here. The whole thing still seemed surreal but as Sebastian's hands gently started rubbing her back and arms, rinsing them clean, the real weight of it fell on her shoulders.
As Queen, no problem had been too big or too difficult to solve. Time traveling however seemed like an act of Aten that should not have been possible. More than anything, Nefertiti had lost a soul mate, the grief of which was starting to seem more potent.
"So this is the bust you commissioned, my Pharaoh."
A coy smile played upon her lips. They had been married many years, had four children in that time and shared many blessings and lots of happiness. Settled quite comfortably in her chambers, Nefertiti sat with her husband. A few guards stood alertly nearby along with a few servants. The artist in front of them presented his latest work. A piece specially requested by the Emperor of all.
"I should say he captured your likeness perfectly," her sharp wit made him laugh, "Truly, the feminine cut of your cheeks is uncanny, dear husband!"
"Do not jest!" he laughed grandly, "It is a perfect picture of beauty, my dear Queen, of your face."
And truly it was uncannily honest and depicted her visage almost perfectly right down to the red of her lips and the cut of her brow. It was remarkable really.
"And why was such a piece commissioned?" Nefertiti wondered surveying the bust carefully. It was lovely, but she had yet to understand why it had been made in place of a religious artifact of some sort.
"So that years from now, when our bodies are gone and our spirits are one, mankind may see what true royalty looked like." He placed a chaste kiss on her cheek and the two smiled a familiar smile.
A smile meant only for them.
She missed him. The long hours they would spend discussing on politics, conferring on decisions of state and religion. Discussing philosophy, art and literature. Science, and mathematics. No subject seemed difficult when they tackled it together. Both were intelligent beings and a remarkable match for one another. Where her husband preferred his religion and matters of state, she preferred the arts and literature and the two always managed to find a middle ground. individually they had not the experience to lead an empire, but together they thrived.
In a world where men had wives a plenty, and indeed her husband had more than a few, Nefertiti received the title of co-regent, equivocating her to the pharaoh and all he stood for. A position of supreme power in their land, something very few men ever did for their wives. The flaw in her husband had been his idyllic nature which contrasted sharply against her own mischievous one ensuring that there was conflict a plenty to keep them occupied.
She had loved him dearly and with all her heart. Half of which was gone now and never to return.
"I'm not going to get home am I?"
"No."
"I suppose it doesn't matter," Nefertiti wiped a single tear that had fallen from her eyes, "He's gone from this world. My other half." She whispered the last bit and was grateful when Sebastian didn't comment on it.
"There should be some solace in knowing he gave his soul for you," Sebastian commented.
"Hardly." She shook her head, "Our souls would have been rejoined in the afterlife. Now who can say what will happen to him."
"Yes, that is true," Sebastian lathered her thick hair, "What was the name of the demon that ate him?"
Regrettably, Sebastian was not the demon who had sent this Queen to the future in exchange for the soul of a Pharaoh, though he was very much interested in finding out who was. Whoever the demon, he could not have been capable of time travel, not on his own, meaning he had to have had help from something. If it was at all possible, Sebastian wouldn't mind finding that power. Not that any name Nefertiti gave him would be helpful; in 3000 years who knew where that demon had gotten to and what hell he had raised.
"He called himself Set Amentet," she replied accepting the towel that Sebastian now offered.
Roughly translated to mountain of the underworld, Sebastian mused the meaning thoughtfully as he slipped a woolen nightgown over her head and buttoned the back precisely. They didn't speak as Sebastian added logs to the dying fire and placed a hot eater bottle in her bed so she would stay warm. Once she was settled under the covers he took his leave.
"I shall leave you to retire now, Madam," Sebastian nodded and slipped out the door.
The downy cloth on the bed provided her much needed warmth and dreaming of a hot sun and scorching sand and limestone, Queen Nefertiti fell asleep.
"Well, what is she like?" Ciel held mostly still as Sebastian undid the buttons of his now wrinkled shirt and removed his shoes. A freshly pressed nightshirt was waiting not far away and the young earl rather liked the idea of sleep. The day had been an odd one, but still somewhat calming. A small blessing if there ever was one. If nothing else, Nefertiti would provide a mystery to solve and perhaps provide some amusement.
"Like a Queen, my lord," Sebastian explained slipping the nightshirt over his master's head carefully so as not to snag it anywhere. The answer was truthful.
"How did she end up here of all places?" Ciel wondered. It could hardly be coincidence that she would end up in the backyard of a noble in contract with a demon. The coincidence seemed mathematically improbable. Sebastian didn't answer for a moment as Ciel slipped under the covers of his grand bed and the butler carefully lifted the duvet up.
"A demon apparently had a short lived contract with her dying husband."
"You mean the Pharaoh."
"Yes, apparently he asked the demon to send her to a time and place that would be safe for her," the butler explained thoughtfully.
"Can you time travel?" Ciel was bursting to know. Time travel opened up possibilities that he could not have thought of, though even now he didn't dare hope it.
"No, demon's should not be able to," the butler explained matter of factly and then his eyes glinted with interest and in the dull light of a few candles, they looked like rubies. Or, a small part of Ciel's mind commented, like pools of fresh blood, blood that his reflection seemed to drown in. He scoffed internally, the Phantomhives didn't need the blood of a demon to drown in, they drowned in their own generation upon generation, "Is the young lord hoping to spare his family by jumping back to that day?"
"Of course not."
For once Sebastian could not tell if it was a lie or the truth.
"Good night, Master."
Well folks, its a start. Drop me a review if you so wish.