Claude Faustus Love Story
Chapter 1: Into the Rabbit Hole
By: Lady Ana
Okay, so this is chapter 1 of my Claude Faustus Love Story, inspired by Black Butler/Kuroshitsuji. It is somewhat long, so if you just want to read the part where Ivory meets Claude, skip a couple paragraphs! If you have any questions, private message or write them in your review. I hope you enjoy it! Please review and follow/favorite. Have a nice day!
Alright, alright gather around, you rascals. You over there, you sit here too. Yes you! Isn't this the reason you wanted to hear my story? You want to know about Claude Faustus? Well, endure this and you'll know everything there is to know. Now, before I start, let me just tell you a few things. The rumors you may have heard…some of them are true. Did Claude actually kill Alois? Was I the betrothed to Alois Trancy? Is it true that demons lurk in the shadows of this world? I will tell you all of it, little ones. I will tell my tale before I must go forever, _(y/n) _. I am Ivory Faustus and this is my life.
It was late winter, 1887. At the time, I was not the woman you see before you now. I roamed the streets, no money and no family. I had lived in the slums for so long, I do not have the slightest idea how it could've been taught and trained out of me. I was foul-mouthed and ill-tempered. I was so full of hatred and pain that I nearly lost my mind. I was unhappy and miserable, saying that I had no reason to live. But there was one, actually five reasons I chose to live.
"Get out of here, you filthy rat!" an angry man's voice shouted, a rock hitting my dirty body once more. I winced but kept running, wheezing for air. I bumped into people without a care in the world. They gasped and grimaced and sneered at me, their noses high in the air. I hated them; I envied them so fiercely. But I kept running, keeping warm loaves of bread close to my chest (Yes, yes that is one I got the bread for you all, Ginger. Do not interrupt now. And will you all cease your fidgeting!).
I finally made my way to the edge of town, nearing a large building. I couldn't read then, but I believe one of the words was "workhouse" and the owner was someone by the name "Baron Kelvin" or such. I really do not remember. It isn't like I could go look anyways. Anyways, the building was an orphanage. An orphanage I used to live and hide at. Now, I helping others stay on their feet. Five good-hearted children who saved my life (Yes, you all. Well, not you _(y/n) _, but the rest of you. Don't worry; you are all good-hearted).
I opened the secret trapdoor cautiously and went in, closing it behind. I tip-toed down the steps and hurried into the cool, dim room. In the center of the room were five, scrawny children. Three boys and two girls.
" 'ook! 'Tis Mama!" squealed one of the boys. They all rushed over, crowding around me. (I am not actually their mother, they just named me that…Ah, I remember little Mouse couldn't say "look" and instead said "ook") I shushed them and ripped up the bread, giving them each a piece. I ate some myself. It was rather good. Now, allow me to describe all the children you see before you now, _(y/n) _.
All the boys had brown hair. Mouse, as I called him then, is this one here. He had mousy brown hair and acted like one too. He kept me hidden in the basement when I was all beaten up and mad. The eldest of them all is nick-named Gob, because sometimes his mouth would just never stop talking (Aw, do not take offense to that, dear Louis!). The last boy was six at the time and I called him Pint, because he was so small and short. His hair is a little bit redder, and his sister is Ginger. Ginger is the eldest out of the two girls. She has the brightest ginger hair and bossiest attitude. She was the one who came up with the plan to help me. She is fiery, that Ginger. Last but not least is Violet, who I had sometimes called Vivi. She had the biggest, sweetest eyes that were the shade of violet-blue. She is adorable with her blond curls, but do not let her pull the wool over your eyes. She was very mischievous and flighty.
Now that you know what they look like and what their names are, shall the story continue? So, I was sitting there with five children, gobbling down bread like a beast.
"Mama?" Violet said. I looked up.
"What is it?" I asked, my mouth half-full (Can you believe it? A lady such as I with such unsightly manners?).
"Brother Mouse overheard Father talking about 'getting rid of us'. Does that mean we will have to leave?" she timidly asked, with her eyes wide.
"Violet!" Mouse scowled. Gob, for once, was silent. Ginger looked up at me, her eyes burning.
"He cannot get rid of us! If he tries to lay one finger on any of us, I will show him everything Mama taught me!" she ranted, clenching her fists up in the air.
"Ginger…I never taught you anything", I said, exasperated. Pint looked at me.
"Won't you take us in, Mama? You could do something, right?" he squeaked. They all looked at me expectantly. I returned their gazes, seeing the hope in their eyes. I am sorry to say I lied to them; I lied to you all.
"Of course, I can. Just…Just endure this a little longer, okay?" I said, giving them all a weak smile. Guilt flooded into me. How could I just lie to these children right in their faces? I do not know.
But it didn't matter once I met them.
When I first met Earl Alois Trancy and Claude Faustus, it was when I got into a fight with this woman. She was a tart and I told her that. She was sickening, getting what she wanted with lust. I hated her. I hated her even more when I saw everything she had I didn't. I despised and detested her when she stole the food I would steal to feed us.
"You tart! How dare you steal something that is not even yours! Go sleep around if you need something!" I shouted at her, striding toward her to grab back the basket of fruit I had collected. May I add that this was right in the middle of town?
"Excuse me, but I think you are being an unreasonable twat! Just go steal some more food like the rubbish you are", she said in a contemptuous voice. She began to walk away when I grabbed her arm.
"Hand-It-Over", I said slowly, my teeth clenched. She gave me a dirty look, and then smirked hideously.
"Say "please", you dog", she said, sneering (Children, _(y/n) _, you may not want to hear what I say and what happens next as it is extremely indecent).
"Please, before I smack that ugly little smile of yours off your face and teach you lesson on manners, you whore!" I screeched, grabbing the basket. Heh, should've seen that twit's face. So stupefied that a fly could've flown in there.
Before you know it, she tackles me and tries to kill me. It was a terrible sight, yet upper-class men, women, and children stood there watching, like statues. That is the part I loathed the most. All those people sneering and looking at me like I was less than nothing. I so hate that feeling.
"What a bad show", one of the women said disdainfully. Another beside nodded, her hands covering a child's eyes.
"You would expect nothing less from rubbish like them", a man scowled, walking away.
"Well, what are ya standing there for!? Leave then! Just leave me alone! Just go and stay out of this!" I screamed, fury and revulsion filling me. Scratches and bruises covered my body as I pinned the tart down. These people…one of these people killed my parents. One of them ruined my life. It was a noble, an aristocrat…It was-
"Pardon me miss", a voice said from behind me. I was suddenly lifted into the air, "But please allow me to break you two apart". Tart-face crawled out from underneath, fleeing from a flailing me.
"Let go of me! Just bugger off, would you!" I shouted. I was let back down to the ground. I whipped around, angry.
It was a butler. He was wearing glasses and had unusual golden eyes. He had dark hair and pale skin. I do not know what to call it but love at first sight. I was starstruck.
I had fallen out of hell and straight into heaven.
Oh, hello there. Yes, I am Claude Faustus. You are…? _(y/n) _? How very nice to meet you. How do you do? Where are all the children? Asleep, you say. You want me to tell you about when I met Ivory? Very well. Sit down over here and I will tell you. Now, let us see…
When I found her, she was screaming at some woman like a mad. My previous lord, Earl Alois Trancy, was walking through town in search of 'amusement' when he spotted Ivory.
"Ah, what is this? A fight on the streets? Oh Claude, look at the horrible wounds on the brown-haired one!" He laughed, his blue eyes dancing, "How revolting…But she is rather interesting. Bring her to me!"
"Yes, your highness", I said promptly. At that time, I did not think much of it. I was slightly confused honestly.
"Excuse me miss, but please allow me to break you two apart", I politely said before picking her up. She was rather light. It seems she has gained some weight over time, ha ha. Of course, there are suitable reasons for that.
She struggled, trying to get out of my grasp. As the other woman scurried away, she shouted with that foul mouth of hers.
"Release her", Alois said, walking up from behind. I let her go. She then immediately turned around, her eyes fiery.
Those eyes…they were so deep. They are gray, like a storm approaching, with just that tinge of blue in them. They were so angry at me at the time. But that anger ebbed away, and her dirty face softened. She stared at me, frozen. Underneath all the scum, I saw a beautiful lady. A young woman with ivory skin, brown waves, and a deliciously fiery soul. More fiery than the Earl Trancy's.
"Thanks for your help, but I could've handled it!" she scowled as she regained her composure, looking up at me, then at Earl Trancy.
"Handled it? You would have been severely injured had it not been for our interference", I smirked slightly. She amused me, whatever can I say? Earl Trancy gave me a strange look.
"Listen, just leave me alone. Go laze around in your luxurious house, boy, and leave me the bloody hell alone. You would be better off", she began to turn when I grabbed her arm.
"My master wishes to speak with you", I said coolly, looking her straight in the eye. She shrugged my hand off.
"Fine. What is it, kid?" she grimaced, her lovely face marred with such an ugly look.
Alois Trancy said nothing for a moment, and then started to laugh.
"I would like you to join my manor and become my servant".
