Disclaimer: I don't own Kuroshitsuji.
Thanks to Wilhelm Wigworthy, TamaraSTraifeil, Unnamed Guest for reviews. Thanks to Wilhelm Wigworthy, orangeporcupine, kittychick441, and manga-addict-95 for favorites.
Unnamed Guest: Don't worry, here is the wonderful new chapter to the story! ^^
You know... I just now realized how awful it was to say 'flame friendly' on the first chapter... just think about it, you'll get what I mean... O.o
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The water was enough to douse the flames entirely, leaving me smoking and hacking up a storm. I could hear the holy man screaming, "How dare you obstruct justice, boy! The witch needs to burn, or this whole village will be cursed."
Someone snapped back, "Cursed by an innocent girl, unlikely. The Queen has ordered that all witch burnings cease, which includes the burning of this witch as well." What a spit fire that boy was. I tried to lift my smoke clogged head, but any movement caused spasms to tear through my muscles. I groaned and my head hung again. I was close to death anyway, I don't know why the little strange boy decided to spare me. Of course he couldn't have know that I would live anyway, since he thought I was an innocent girl wrongly accused on being a witch.
The holy man sputtered, "B-but she is a witch! She cursed Evie Green only a few moments ago! See?" No doubt the holy man was pointing to Evie, and that the boy would think that I was a witch and order me to be lit again. Wonderful.
"So? The heat from your infernal flames made her pass out." The boy said nonchalantly. I wanted to kiss him, but also strangle him. Why couldn't my savior boy come earlier when this body was still in good shape? Or just let my die and claim a new body? The holy man tried again, "But the whole village saw black fire strike her..." He spoke more hesitantly now.
I could just image the boy shrugging, "Hallucinations. You were all convince she was a witch and all saw different things. There is no such thing as witchcraft!" He sounded so sure of himself, I'd hate to prove him wrong.
Before either could say another word, a man spoke from behind me, "Master, if I may suggest, this girl needs medical attention and quickly."
There was a pause and the boy spoke again, "Very well. Untie her." The holy man made a noise of protest, but was silenced. The bonds that tied me to the stake loosened and I started to fall forward, but someone caught me. Hold me close to a hard chest the man, for it had to be a man, scooped me up. I screamed and surged away when he grazed the backs of my burned knees, then I fainted.
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"A witch burning you say? Aye, I can see that." It was the woman's voice who woke me.
The boy spoke next, where his passion had been at the site of my burning, it was now dull and devoid of any emotion, "She'll heal."
The woman sounded surprised, "Are you sure? When I bandaged her limbs they were... horrifying. I doubt she'll even live another minute." I could have snorted at that, I have lived for hundreds of years, one little mishap at a burning wasn't going to kill me. I would be a little scarred for sure, but the minute I was able to, I was going to find me a new body and stab this old one to death. Then I would be as right as rain.
But until I found a new body I wouldn't be, as my burns suddenly reminded me. My eyes flew open and I screamed as a searing pain took hold. Hands held me down and I heard the woman speaking, but I couldn't make out her words through the blood pounding in my ears. Oh the pain, I hadn't felt anything so horrible in decades, not even successful witch burnings could compare to this. Something pricked my unburned right arm and I felt the medicine flow through my veins, easing the pain slightly. Just enough that my vision cleared and I could see.
A woman with a shock of red hair stared at me, her red eyes wide with surprise, "She shouldn't be awake. It's too soon for her to-" I glared and tried to speak, but no word passed my chapped lips, my throat must still be soar from the smoke I inhaled.
"Of course she is awake." The boy said from across the room. My eyes darted towards the source of the voice and I found myself staring at a boy dressed in high fashion. A nobleman, or the son of one.
Slowly I started to sit up, but the red woman tried to push me down again, "You shouldn't move, you need to rest and heal." I swatted her hands away with more force then she expected.
"Madame Red, leave." The boy commanded. Madame Red, the red woman obviously, gave the boy a look as she left without complaint. To untrained eyes her look was unreadable and cool, but I had been living for long enough to see the hurt buried deep withing her scarlet eyes. The boy was smirking at me when Madame Red was gone, "So the witch lives, how surprising." He said with a healthy amount of sarcasm. I narrowed my eyes, my unharmed hand going to my useless throat. The boy spared no amount of arrogance as he looked me over, "Can you write?" He asked.
I wanted to hit him, of course I could write! I could write, read and speak seventeen languages, not including Witch Tongue, a language used solely by witches to cast spells. The boy saw my offense in my eyes and brought me paper and a quill, "Good. Write your answers, then." Before he could ask anything I wrote: What use am I to you? The boy didn't even look at the paper, arrogant little git. Instead he settled in the chair sitting by my borrowed bed and asked casually, "What is your name, mistress?" I bared my teeth and tapped the paper. I wouldn't write anything until he answered mine. The boy still didn't look at the paper, "I am Ciel Phantomhive, Earl of the Phantomhives." I snorted and wrote: A little young, boy. Ciel didn't even react when the quill scratched across the paper. I made a decision, savior or not, I was going to kill this little earl the minute I could get my hands on a knife.
"How powerful are you?" Ciel asked next. I tapped the paper again, my message clear. I knew Ciel understood me, I could see it in his single blue eye. Once again he didn't answer, instead he leaned forward, "I will answer none of your questions until you answer mine." I smirked and scribbled out, Then you have a long wait, little earl, before laying back. Ciel finally looked down at my writing and he frowned. Apparently the little earl didn't like my reply. He glared at me and I smiled before taking up the quill again and writing How did you lose your eye? Ciel's glare turned more to hatred, "That is none of your business, witch!" My smile was lost and I answered Do not take that tone with me, little earl. Ciel towered over my bed ridden form. So brave, to try and make a badly injured woman cower before him, "Do not assume you can order me about, witch." He snapped. I smiled, such a little temper for the little earl. I would enjoy toying with him. My next sentence seemed to shake a look of surprise from the boy's serious face I can smell the demon on you, little earl.
Ciel's single blue eyes looked deep into my own hazel ones, "You walk a dangerous line, mistress." He growled. I smiled and wrote back I do so every time I cast a spell, little earl. Ciel growled, "Stop calling me that!" He shouted, turning red in the face. He suddenly looked more his age, There is the twelve year old I'm looking for. I scribbled. I paused then quickly wrote in small letters ...little earl... Ciel stood as if to leave, but I had come to enjoy teasing him. It had been so long since I last spoke so freely with another person. Wait, I will answer your questions. I quickly scribed then shoved the paper at him. Ciel looked satisfied and the infuriated child was once again replaced by the serious adult, "What is your name?" He asked again, arrogance beginning to creep back in his voice. He thought he won. If I could laugh, I would. I have many names. Which one do you want? Ciel read what I wrote then glared at me, "Preferably the name you were born with." He snapped.
I tapped my chin, as if trying to remember, then wrote down, Roxanne Lawton, Elizabeth Greenwich, Alexandria Lee, or Helga Mancusi. Those are my favorites, now take your pick. Ciel glared at me and slammed the paper down, "You chose, and stop playing games, witch!" He snapped, his index finger rigidly pointing to my list of names. I circled Roxanne Lawton, the true name that I had been born with. The others were just names I claimed when I had finally died to avoid suspicion. Ciel read my name then looked up at me, "So, Miss Lawton then." Right, little earl. I wrote back with a smile. It was amusing to watch his face turn red with anger. He stood, "Rest. I have more questions tomorrow." I smiled as he turned to leave, he might have questions tomorrow, but I would be gone.
^o^
Before any of you go off on a haywire that my OC might be Mary-sue, trust me she's not. She's just a very powerful old witch who looks very young.
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