Sebastian Michaelis stood perched on the porch overlooking the Phantomhive manor. He watched and waited for his stark black companion to arrive; her silky fur would certainly prevent him from murdering the gardener. As it were the fool had scandalized the garden to a new level. The Coxcomb patch was mutilated horribly, but fixable…maybe. The Bouvardia's were still intact, although requiring a new layering of soil. And the Anise sage had been completely destroyed.
Frowning ever so slightly in awareness that his 'kitten' had not yet arrived to entertain him, and that the Master's favorite garden plant had been wiped out of its ever so delicate existence. Sebastian placed his fingers to his chin in thought. What flower could best paint a portrait of the young Master and the Phantomhive's? No, not Lilac: too fragile to withstand the Phantomhive name. And no, not the sunflower: far to gaudy.
Sebastian was about to walk back inside when he saw something that caused him to stop. There just beneath the Alder curled upon a rock rested a Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, also known as an Eastern Garter snake. Sebastian watched it as it lifted its head in surprise upon the sudden appearance of the butler. With lidded eyes the snake watched him as he watched it. The snake then seemingly losing interest uncurled and slithered into the brush, escaping into the woods behind the manor.
It was not the snake itself which had caused Sebastian to stop; it was the scent it produced. It was the scent of hell.
Without much thought toward his master or the residents of the Manor, he followed the snake. He found himself at a bit of a loss when he was in the dense trees behind the manor only to find that the snake had disappeared, not a trail of any kind. Although the scent of Sulfur and hellish fire caused him to smirk ever so slightly.
(…..line break…..)
Ciel Phantomhive awoke to Sebastian opening the curtains with a bit more flourish than usual. "What has you in such a giddy way?" He asked stretching with a yawn and a toss of covers. Sebastian smiled and turned to his master with a small nod.
"My lord, if I may, I am not 'giddy' as it was put. I merely smelt something familiar. Nothing for you to worry about." Sebastian walked to the side of Ciel's bed and began to unbutton his shirt. "This morning I have gone to the liberty of preparing you Earl grey tea along with many options available for your picking." Sliding on Ciel's shoes, he continued undeterred. "It seems that a letter has arrived from her majesty as well. It shall be sitting on your desk awaiting your critical eye. Your cane my lord." Sebastian murmured as he stepped back allowing the boy to stand. "Now if you'll excuse me my lord, I have some other chores I must see to." Sebastian bowed awaiting his master's approval. Ciel waved him off, uninterested.
Sebastian wandered the halls restlessly, avoiding all the servants. The scent was stronger and he found himself losing some sort of resolve, he hadn't felt this for a very long time. It was unnerving. A knock at the entrance caused him to stop. He sighed, walking to the door he opened it only to be met by a most curious sight. A woman of what looked like roughly his age was standing there, long curly milk chocolate hair held out of her eyes by a butterfly clip. Freckles lightly splattered her cheeks in an almost cute way. She wore a Laurel green shawl and a simple frock. Her eyes wore an amused expression as she surveyed the butler. Her tongue jutted out for an instant and Sebastian saw that it was slightly forked. But what caused him to truly recognize her was that the delicious scent seemed to float off of her and into his nostrils.
She was the first to speak. "You were in the garden." It wasn't a question, merely a statement of the obvious. He smirked and responded, "As were you." She nodded slightly before she peered up at him.
"I will admit, I had not expected another here." No explanation was needed; he knew what she meant when she said 'another'. "I did not either…Demoness. Now may I ask as to what I owe this unprecedented pleasure?" He gave her a closed eyed smile.
"I have recently…'harvested' my contractor. But even so she insists on giving me work even after her imminent demise." She motioned to the inside of the manor. Sebastian widened the entrance to the door and allowed her in. She stood in the center of the hall and continued. "My mistress had dealings with a man called Vincent Phantomhive. She had said before I devoured her that she wished me to serve him until I was no longer required. Needless to say I was slightly annoyed. Although, you have a very nice garden…if you don't count the flowers that have been decimated." She drawled slightly bemused.
Sebastian frowned. "I apologize but Vincent and Rachel Phantomhive perished in a fire not but two years ago. Their son, the lord Ciel Phantomhive is now residing as master of the Phantomhive line. He is also my young lord."
The woman nodded slowly. "I suppose he will have to do. May I speak with him?" She asked looking up at him. Sebastian smiled and put a finger to his lips. "I, as the head servant must know the name of our newest applicant."
She grunted, clearly irked. Finally she complied. "My mistress had enjoyed how I had defended her garden, so she named me after her favorite flower. You may call me Hellebore." Sebastian smirked at the name… at least she wasn't named after a dog. As he led her through the manor to the young master's study (where he would no doubt be reading the letter he had mentioned earlier), he knew what flower he would plant that would match the Phantomhive manor perfectly.
Author's note: What do you think? Is it even worth pursuing? Review please, criticism is welcome!