I awoke to the dim light of a single candle. It barely illuminated the space around me as it flickered on the stand beside the bed I lay in. Pain consumed me entirely, and I let out a scream as memories bombarded me. Rising from a mound of cold dirt, wrapped in torn clothing, a mob laying in wait for me, being savagely attacked...

My entire body seemed to be one giant open wound, the pain just so widespread and intense. I could feel the areas that had been stitched back together as they rubbed against the silk sheets. It didn't hurt nearly as bad as it would have if they were cheap sheets, and I vaguely wondered where I could be that would have such nice bedding.

The screams died down to sobs as I tried to brace myself against the pain. The tears that rolled down my cheeks stung the small cuts that littered my face, and my sobs increased in volume with every laceration a tear found its way to.

Someone entered the room, and they gently pulled the bedding down to my feet. It still hurt even with the cautious removal, and I yelped in pain. My vision was fuzzy, and I didn't really see whoever it was that hovered over my naked body. They had a sweet smell about them though—it was intoxicating, and it made me feel safe and relaxed. I honestly had not smelled something so wonderful before, and it was almost as if it took away some of my pain.

The person rubbed ointment over my stitches, and I cried out loudly. It was almost like they were rubbing salt into my wounds! They put a hand to my cheek and put their lips to my ear, shushing me softly like I was a child. It comforted me a little, and I let my screams die back down to a whimper for as long as I was shushed.

Finally, they finished rubbing on the ointment, and I found that it made the stitches numb after the initial stinging. I sighed contentedly and almost immediately was lulled back into sleep with the soft whispers of my nurse.

When I woke again, the grand curtains on my large window were pulled back to let in sunlight. I had a wonderful view; there was a beautiful garden of white roses that stretched out into a hedge maze, and dozens of marble statues were carefully organized along the concrete pathways. My own room was unlike anything I could ever imagine—the carpet was a deep shade of navy, and there was a chandelier that hung in the center of the room. My bed was large, and had a canopy. The curtains around it were a lovely hue of sapphire blue, and it gave the large space a regal feel. My silk sheets were white, though it was stained crimson in many places from the blood that had been seeping from my stitches, which thankfully did not hurt nearly as bad as they had the last time I was awake. As I sat up, though, the movement gave me a nice dose of pain, and the stiffness in me didn't make it any easier.

On the stand to the right of my bed, there was a tray of food. I knew by looking at it that it was gourmet, placed on fine silver. A meat lightly drizzled in brown gravy—carefully cut into small pieces for me—some kind of green bean looking vegetable, and mashed potatoes. On the side was a very delicious looking sponge cake. It was all carefully placed on a tray with perfect precision. My stomach growled from hunger, but I found the food on the table disgusting. I thought it was kind of frightening, because it looked like something I would really enjoy. But even the aroma of it was making me sick to the point of vomiting.

I glanced at the large ornate door that I expected led into a hallway and quickly made a decision. I eased my way to the edge of my bed and gently put my feet to the floor. There were stitches on the bottoms of my feet, even, but I figured I could grit my teeth against the pain. I hobbled over to the door, using everything that lay in the room to take some of the weight off of my feet as I limped (chairs, tables, a dresser). I opened it quietly and peeked out, looking down the hallway to see if I could find anyone. No one was in sight, so I opened it all the way and hobbled back to the nightstand to grab the tray. I had just picked it up and was about to walk back to the door and place it outside when the tray was plucked delicately out of my palm.

"Really, now," said a smooth, deep voice. "You were just revived from the brink of death, and you're up and about? You need to remain in bed and rest."

I turned my head to minimize any painful movement, taking in my visitor. By the looks of him, he was a butler or waiter. He wore a very nice and expensive looking tailcoat suit. His hair was a little long in the front for what I would expect for a butler, but it framed his perfect face and made him look very handsome. His eyes were an entrancing shade of blood red, and they were cold and calculating. I couldn't stop looking in them.

Until I realized that I was naked, I was a girl, and he was a guy.

"No need to worry, miss," he said, recognizing the look of horror on my face. "I have been the one caring for you. I assure you I have done nothing to you, and that you are not the first lady I have seen."

Yes. Because that makes me feel SO much better.

The man looked over the tray he took from me and frowned. "You do not like the meal I prepared for you?" he asked, giving me a somewhat sad look. "If you would tell me what you would like, I will prepare it for you. You need the sustenance to heal."

I stared at him, thinking about different foods. As I mulled over it, I realized that I didn't remember anything. I knew what food was, but I didn't remember what I liked. I knew I was a woman, but I didn't know my name or where I was from. I didn't remember anything but rising from beneath wet soil and being met with the torches of angry villagers...and the torture they put me through...

The man studied my face, realizing I had gotten myself lost in thought. The only thing that brought me back to reality was the nauseating smell of the food, which finally made me vomit.

"Oh my!" the man cried in worry. "That is not good! Get back to bed now." He set the tray down so he could pick me up gently and place me back into the bed. "I'll have to change these sheets soon so that your wounds do not get infected...I'll whip up something that might be more appetizing to you in the mean time."

"No food," I croaked. I sounded so awful I startled even myself. I may not remember much about anything, but I knew what I sounded like. I had a very soft and whimsical voice. This was like nails on a chalkboard.

"Oh?"

"Food," I whispered this time, so that it sounded more like myself than a demonic screech. I knew I sounded like that because I was so hurt and weak, though. "Food makes me sick...I don't want food..."

The man put a mildly worried look on his face. "But miss, you must eat something. You can't go on without getting nourishment."

"No food," I repeated.

He sighed. "I'll tell you what. We'll get you into some clothing and take you to the kitchen, and you can pick out what you wish for me to make for you. It's the least I can do for our injured guest."

If there was one thing I knew, it was that I needed to eat. I knew that to get better, I had to make sure I got all of the vitamins and whatnot I could get my hands on. Just the thought of food was making me ill, though, and the smell of the food still sitting on the stand wasn't helping. I nodded my head in agreement to the man's suggestion, however, and we headed to the kitchen.

"I am Sebastian," he told me as we walked through a maze of hallways. He carried me in his arms like I was his bride, my hands wrapped around his neck. He was quite strong for someone so thin—I wasn't the lightest person in the world. "And I'm sorry we had no other clothing. Mey-Rin graciously let you have a dress she was too small for, and I know it's a bit tight on you, but I assure you that we will have proper clothing for you this evening."

The dress was two sizes too small for me, that was evident. But it was a nice plain orange sundress, and wearing it was better than wearing nothing. I just wished that it had sleeves, because I wanted to cover up my stitches that trailed down my arms. It was bad enough for my legs to be exposed.

"Don't worry miss, you look lovely in it," Sebastian said, seeing the look on my face. He sounded sincere, but I was pretty sure he was just trying to be nice. "Do you mind if I ask your name? I have introduced myself, and it is only common courtesy to do the same."

I opened my mouth, hoping that my name would just roll off of my tongue like instinct, like subconsciously I would know who I was. But nothing came out. "I don't know my name..." I said, my voice still a whisper.

"I see," he said, his expression blank. He seemed to think a moment. "Well, we can't just go around having nothing to call you by. What should we call you?"

I looked away from him and watched the decorative items in the hall go by as he carried me. "I don't know..."

"Does Lily sound alright to you?"

I looked up at him. "Why Lily?"

"Because your hair is the color of a Marigold, but I'm not quite fond of the name Mary—so plain. When I think of Marigolds, however, I also think of tiger lilies, and the name Lillian is a beautiful name. It brings back memories of the past."

"That's...an interesting reason," I mumbled. "But it sounds nice to me."

"Wonderful! Lily it is then."

We finally arrived in a nice looking kitchen, and a blonde haired man in a chef's coat was slumped over in a chair at the table, obviously asleep. Sebastian cleared his throat loudly to try and wake him, but he remained asleep. "Bardroy," he finally said, almost angrily. The chef jumped up immediately, standing at attention like an obedient soldier.

"Yes, Sebastian!"

His rigid stance loosened as he caught sight of me, and I turned my face into Sebastian's chest to avert his gaze. "Aye, and I see the pri'y lady fin'ly shows 'erself!" he said in a thick English accent. I could only imagine the look on his face when he said it, and it made me thankful that my face was buried into Sebastian as I blushed. "And wot is the lovely lady's name?"

"She is Lily," Sebastian answered. "And she is very weak. I've brought her here so that she may pick something she would like to eat. As a guest, she must receive only the best of service, as is the Phantomhive custom."

I peeked back at Bardroy, and he already had a chopping knife in hand. "Of course!" he shouted passionately. "The lovely Lily must get only the best! I will do anyfing I can to help!"

Sebastian sat me delicately in a chair at the table. "Perhaps you could start cutting some vegetables then, to make yourself useful."

Bardroy grabbed a carrot from behind him and immediately started slicing it haphazardly, not even looking at what he was doing. "Yessir, Sebastian! Anyfing for a pri'y la..."

Just like I thought would happen, he started dancing around, holding out the finger he cut. I smiled, getting ready to let out a soft giggle I felt building from his display, but the sight of his blood caught me. My smile faded as I watched his red blood spill over his hands. It was beautiful and vibrant...and I wanted it.

The growl of my stomach sent me flying out of my chair and across the table. I could feel my stitches tear in my legs, but I ignored the pain as I tackled Bardroy to the ground. He cried out in surprise, though I don't think he knew what was really going on. Sebastian seemed to, however, and he instantly grabbed the back of my dress and pulled me back into his arms.

"Ah, so that's it, is it?" he said with a bit of wonder.

"'Ey, wot's the big idea?!" Bardroy yelled. "The pri'y lady was jost makin' shore I was okay!"

"I know," Sebastian said, encouraging the chef's thoughts. "But all of that movement is not good for her wounds. See how her legs have started bleeding again?"

Bardroy cast his eyes to my legs and watched as my blood dripped onto the floor off of my toes. He nodded in understanding, his expression turning serious. "I'm fla'ered abou' your compassion, my lady, bu' you need your rest."

I was breathing hard, my eyes still fixated on Bardroy's bleeding finger. I wanted it. I wanted his blood. I was so hungry, and that's what would hit the spot.

"I think I shall just return her to her room. Thank you for your assistance, Bardroy. Carry on."

I clenched Sebastian's coat in an attempt to return myself to reality, to forget about my strange want of the chef's blood. What was I, a vampire?

"How strange," Sebastian said to me when we were out of ear shot of the kitchen. "You crave blood, yet you are not a vampire or succubus. I've heard stories about vampires making attempts to make companions that could withstand the sunlight though, sort of a half-vampire idea. I didn't think they were true, however."

"What?" I asked, finally calmed down.

"It would explain why you can't remember anything," Sebastian explained. "Some vampire probably thought you to be good material for a pretty companion to do his bidding during the day, and he went through the process to make you into a half vampire. It would also explain your lust for blood."

We finally arrived back at my room, and he set me back down on my bloody sheets. He kneeled down in front of me and smiled. "I've never met a vampire before. Though I know I can't have you going around and eating everyone on the estate. But, I also can't have our guest go hungry. I have been ordered to attend to your every need."

Sebastian loosened his tie and spread his collar to reveal the base of his neck. "A bit cliche to do it from here, though I know it would be the most comfortable for the both of us." He removed one of his gloves and used his fingernail to make an incision above his collarbone at the base of his neck.

I could smell his blood. The scent was powerful, overwhelming even. It was the same smell from the person caring for me last night, only stronger. His blood was darker than the normal shade, but there was no mistaking what it was. I wanted his blood more than I could ever want anything else. Just watching it ooze out of the small incision drove me to insanity.

"Well, hurry now. I don't want to stain my good vest."

I didn't hesitate. I was ravenous, and the moment I wrapped my arms around him and put my lips to his hot skin, it felt like I had found something that I had been searching for since the beginning of time. His blood spilled over my lips and filled my mouth, and the taste was perfect. It was better than anything I could ever taste, than any food that could ever be made.

Sebastian let out a moan, and it brought me back to my senses. I was drinking blood from a person. If I drank too much, he would die. I immediately pulled away, examining what damage I had done. He honestly looked no worse for ware, though there was a hazy expression on his face. He looked a little dazed, his eyes glassed over and a smile planted on his face. He still had a firm grip around me, pressing me to him with such force that it would take the jaws of life to release me from it.

"Sebastian?" I asked loudly, shaking his shoulders. I was too worried to be happy about my voice returning to normal. It was actually more womanly and seductive that I thought it would be.

A few moments passed, and Sebastian finally released me and put a hand to his head. He rubbed it, shaking off whatever it was that had been affecting him. "My," he said a little shakily. "I wasn't expecting it to go like that."

"I-I'm sorry," I stammered. "I don't know what came over me..."

"Nonsense," he said, standing up and straightening his clothes back to perfection. "Since I can't let you go and suck half the life out of the manor, it has to be I that feeds you. It was a new experience for me, and thankfully not a bad one. You have nothing to worry about. It would take quite a bit to hurt me." He leaned down and put his lips to my ear. "Besides, with no fangs, you'll have an awfully hard time cutting into others to get a meal."

He straightened back up and exited the room, leaving me flustered and with a lot to think about. I couldn't deny his claim about me being a vampire (or half vampire, I suppose it was), but I also couldn't accept it. I mean, my lust for blood wasn't normal, but I knew that vampires were items of horror stories and nightmares. I may not remember much, but I at least knew that. And what about Sebastian? He was so sure that I was a vampire, but he seemed otherworldly himself. He seemed human enough, but there was something off about him. Granted, it could have just been the fact that I found him extremely attractive, but I just had a feeling that there was something more to him than met the eye.

I had fallen asleep, and when I woke back up, the sun was setting. The light of oncoming dusk shined through my window, and Sebastian stood in front of it admiring the scenery. "I'm glad you're awake," he said. "My master wishes to speak with you. Though we need to clean you up and put you in appropriate clothing."

I felt much better as Sebastian helped me out of bed. My stitches didn't hurt nearly as bad and I wasn't so stiff, and I found I could walk fairly easily with Sebastian's help. He still found it quicker to carry me, however, and I had no choice but to let him.

He refused to leave me for my bath, insisting that his master ordered him to clean me up and that he had no choice but to do as he was told. I figured that I had no choice in the matter either, and it wouldn't be so bad since he had seen me naked more than I cared already. It was still awkward to have him washing me, however.

Afterwards, he dressed me. He had gone to town in my sleep and gotten me a variety of new clothing, though all of it was clothing I would never be caught dead in. They were all dresses, though not the plain sundress I had been previously wearing. These dresses were fancy. They had frills and heavy petticoats, bright colored gems adorning the hems and cuffs. It was like they were trying to turn me into a princess! Not to mention that the majority of them were red, and I absolutely hated wearing the color red.

"You don't like them?" Sebastian asked, seeing the look of horror on my face.

"They're...red," I said dumbly.

"You mean you don't like the color?" he asked. "I thought it would be poetic. Not to mention that red is the color most women with your hair color generally wear."

The color wasn't the only thing wrong with it. I just didn't like frilly frou-frou dresses. They were clammy and impractical. Mainly, I just didn't like them because I knew they would be hot and itchy. "They're just...big..."

Sebastian picked up the one I disliked the most. It was a lighter dress, with a hem that came to about seven inches above my knee and no sleeves—just thin straps to keep my boobs from pushing the corset-like top down to my waist. It was a very deep color of red that looked suspiciously similar to the color I remember Sebastian's blood being, and it had a large black bow that tied in the back. It still had a petticoat, despite it's shortness, though the one thing I found okay about it was that it came with black gloves that stretched up to my upper arms, so it was almost as good as sleeves.

"This is my favorite—I picked it out myself. I knew you would look beautiful in it."

I kept myself from blushing (more from embarrassment than anything) and just remained thankful that I was not required to wear the awful black strap-heels that went with the dress. Really, they looked like something a prostitute would wear. It was basically a piece of black plastic with a heel that you stood on, and a bunch of thin black straps that wrapped around your foot all the way up to your thighs to keep it on. I would have tripped in them, no doubt.

Sebastian carried me through the maze of hallways again, making light conversation on the way to our destination that I'd healed so quickly since that morning, that my stitches may be able to be removed as early as tomorrow afternoon.

We finally arrived at a door that Sebastian knocked on. "My lord, I have our guest here to speak with you."

"Good. Come in, then."

I was expecting an older man, as I always pictured the lord of a castle to be in his thirties. But boy, was I surprised to see a child sitting behind a desk, looking over some papers. He was a pretty young boy with an almost blue shade of dark brown hair. His one visible eye was the same shade of blue as the curtains on the bed in my room, and it was magnificent. But his other eye had a patch over it. His clothes were very fancy, a nice shade of blue that complimented his eye and hair. He did indeed look like a young lord.

"You felt the need to carry her?" the boy asked as he lifted his eyes to study us. "How unlike you, Sebastian. I didn't know you were such a romantic. And the dress you have her in...don't spend too long with her in bed, now."

"I just felt like the young lady would be in less pain if I were to assist her. Not to mention that she must still be awfully tired from her ordeal. Are you not, my lady?"

I didn't know if Sebastian would get in trouble for carrying me, and I nodded in agreement with him. He was nice enough, and even if his taste in clothing was a death sentence in itself, he didn't deserve any trouble.

"Very well," the boy said, waving his hand to dismiss the subject. "Lily, you said your name was? I am Ciel Phantomhive. My butler here has informed me that you are...special, to say the least. I've been reading over books about what you are for the most part of today, and I do believe you would have some use to me. The way I understand it, you don't know who you are, where you are or where you're from. I am willing to offer you housing, clothing and...easy sustenance...if you would agree to being a pawn of mine."

"Pawn?" I asked, looking back at Ciel. He was so serious for such a young boy. "You mean, like a maid?"

A smirk played on Ciel's lips. "Not quite. I'm assuming that by finding you alone with no name or memory, you do not know much about what you are. You are a dhampir, or a half vampire. Dhampirs have more strength and speed than a normal human, and are naturally good fighters, even of they weren't before they were changed. They also have excellent tracking skills, as well as other talents that depend on the person. I think we could have good use of you one way or another, and would like to employ you, so to speak."

I looked at Sebastian and wondered if it was him that would be my breakfast, lunch and dinner every day if blood was really going to be my diet from now on. "Would I be eating from Sebastian?"

"Not every day," Ciel answered. I was surprisingly disappointed at his answer. I wasn't aware I had been hoping to have him all the time. "I need him for many things, and I while I'm sure he would be more than capable of keeping you fed, I would feel safer if we limit the amount of times you drink from any one person. Since half vampires don't need to drain their victims dry like whole ones, we can rotate my servants around in feeding you, and bring in others from time to time to give them a break."

"How often do I get to eat?" I knew nothing about what I was, so I might as well ask someone who knew something.

"Half vampires, at the very least, must feed once a week," Ciel explained. "But, healthy vampires feed once a day, so I would like you to have at least two feedings a day. It seems rational, and you would be able to feed in smaller portions. This way my servants won't be walking around dazed from blood loss."

"Okay," I said, thinking it over. While I didn't feel right about jumping into a deal, what choice did I have? I had nowhere to go. These people took me in and took care of me, gave me clothes and food. What this young boy could have me do couldn't be so bad. "Alright, I'll be your servant."

"Excellent," he said. "Sebastian, you may take her back to her room. Have her fed and then come up with a curriculum to start training her in combat tomorrow. Naturally, you will be her instructor."

"Should we not wait for her to heal completely?" Sebastian asked.

"I'm sure she'll be fine by tomorrow with the progress she has made already," Ciel replied. "Regardless, starting early wouldn't be a bad thing. Now go, you have your orders."

Sebastian bowed. "Yes, my lord."

I was carried back to my room, and after Sebastian set me on my bed (which I realized had been cleaned in my sleep) , he began loosening his tie again.

"But I though Ciel said that I would be getting one of the other servants to eat from?"

"Ah, my lord stated he would like me to give mine sparingly. He did not state who he would like you to feed from this evening, only to have you fed. Who better to feed you than I? I am, after all, one hell of a butler."

I really didn't want Sebastian to be getting in trouble with his employer, but I figured that this one time wouldn't be noticed. I was a little more uncomfortable this time, however. I wasn't ferociously hungry anymore, so I had control over what I was doing. Watching him make the cut with his nail gave me an odd feeling, the way he pulled me to him so I could feed. I let him hold me a moment, enjoying the way it felt to be in such a soft embrace, before pressing my lips to his skin. As his blood rushed into my mouth, it gave me some sort of thrill. It kind of made me want more of him-and not in a blood way. I wanted to take off his clothes and have his sleek body pressed against mine. I wanted him to run his hands and lips over my skin.

I pulled away as the feeling became too intense for me to resist, and Sebastian had his vice grip on me again. I looked him in the eyes, but they didn't seem to see me back. A small, blissful grin shaped his lips, and I was tempted to kiss him. The more I looked at him the more attracted I was to him. And the way his arms folded around me protectively didn't help...

But I kept my cool and resisted the urge. I'm sure every woman just fawned over him, and if he didn't have a lady for himself by now, I certainly wasn't going to be an option for him.

Sebastian slowly came to, and he looked right into my eyes as if he was trying to read my mind. "You know, you have very wonderful emerald eyes. Almost as if they were carved out of gems and fitted perfectly, just for you."

That really made me uncomfortable. "Uhm, thanks," I said awkwardly, averting my eyes from him. He held me awhile longer, staring at my face as if he was trying to memorize every flaw. Finally, he released me and stood. "Do you wish to have help changing into night clothes?"

"I can change myself," I said shyly, not too comfortable with him seeing me naked anymore. "Thank you though."

He stared at me in silence a moment before bowing at my wish and exiting the room without another word.

I didn't even bother changing though. In all honesty, I was actually very tired. My heart had been beating fast for every second Sebastian stared at me, and it felt like I had run a marathon. That really says something about me—I may not remember who I was, but I knew that I did not like the words marathon or exercise. My size was evidence of that. I knew it would be something I would have to make myself accustomed to, however. I had training tomorrow. I just wondered what such a young boy would need with a body guard?