Tilly stared down at her hands as they clasped together, refusing to look up at the demon looming over her. She'd been sitting on the sofa she'd been placed on earlier for almost half an hour, explaining herself as best she could while the butler listened patiently, although a skeptical expression remained plastered on his face as she'd spoken.
"As sincere as you sound," Sebastian said. "I find it very implausible that you come from a different world and happen to know everything about us."
The teenager folded her arms and pursed her lips, unimpressed. "Don't demons like you also come from another world?" she asked, and Sebastian's expression fell in surprise as she continued. "The one with terrifying cats, and you...wore high heeled boots."
Sebastian narrowed his eyes as he leaned in close to her. "Odd," he said. "You don't smell like a demon, yet you're not quite human either."
All Tilly could do was shrug. "I don't know how to explain that," she said honestly. "But if you feel the need to test me, I'm ready."
"I'll leave that to the young master," Sebastian said dismissively. "You can't appear in front of him dressed like that, however."
Tilly looked down at herself. She wore her school's uniform of a white blouse, navy blue knee-length skirt and matching tie and blazer; conservative by her time's standards, but uncomfortably revealing for those of the Victorian era.
"You'll have to use the dresses left behind by Lady Elizabeth until we can order some new clothes," the butler muttered, more to himself than her as he strode across the room and opened the door. "Mey-Rin, excellent timing. Please take this young woman to the guest room we use when Lady Elizabeth stays the night and dress her in something less exposing."
Tilly stood up as the door opened a little wider and followed the maid, a giddy smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. Out of all the female characters she'd ever encountered - whether it was books or movies - Mey-Rin had always been in her top ten favourites, being seemingly bumbling and awkward until she had to fight.
She hadn't had the chance to survey her surroundings when she'd first been brought in, but Tilly took this chance to look around. High ceilings, elegant wallpaper and plush carpets were merely the foundations of the manor's design, and Tilly found herself slowing down to stare at the portraits that lined the upstairs hallway.
It all felt so odd. Everything was so familiar to her - she'd seen it so many times - and the strange feeling of nostalgia clamped down on her chest; as though she'd actually been there before.
"This way, Miss," Mey-Rin said politely as she pushed one of the doors open and guided Tilly inside.
It didn't seem like any room Elizabeth Midford would have stayed in often, with plain decor and a simple vanity table with nothing on it. These were Tilly's thoughts until Mey-Rin opened the nearby wardrobe, and the teenager was assaulted with an abundance of frills and bright colours.
Could this girl's style be any more unsubtle?
Thankfully, the redheaded maid managed to pick the most understated garment hanging in the wardrobe and dressed her in it, corset and all, before leading the winded girl back down the hallway.
Sebastian met the two women in front of one of the doors and surveyed Tilly's appearance. "Better," he decided, and Tilly narrowed her eyes at his slightly disrespectful tone. The butler pushed the door open and lowered his head, signalling for Tilly to enter the room, before following after her and introducing her to the young boy at a large wooden desk.
Tilly found herself staring as the boy, Ciel Phantomhive, approached her, his one visible eye analysing her scrutinously. He was small, perhaps an inch or so shorter than her little brother, and nodded politely he flashed her a bright smile.
"Sebastian has told me so much about you," he said, his voice a little higher than she was used to hearing. "Shall we talk in the drawing room?"
Tilly narrowed her eyes. She new what he was doing. Bending her knees a little until her eyes were level with his, she spoke lowly. "Don't think you can fool me with that cutesy act you use on other people. If you smile at me, I want it to be genuine."
Ciel's innocent grin fell and his confidence faltered as she stood up properly again, following Sebastian outside, the demon barely attempting to hide the satisfied smirk on his face.
The three of them made their way to what Tilly assumed was only one of the manor's many sitting rooms, and the young girl gently perched on one of the sofas, with Ciel sitting in the chair across from her. As Sebastian took his leave, Tilly tried not to seem so intimidated. Sure, Ciel on his own couldn't do much, but the butler outside could.
Tilly watched a Ciel picked up a deck of cards and began to shuffle them. "Do you know the rules for Old Maid?" he asked, dealing the cards out.
Tilly said nothing, only nodding. It was a simple game - one she often played with her younger brother, Theo. She couldn't help but smile, both at the thought of her brother and at the adorable Funtom rabbit logo on the back of the cards.
"So," Ciel started, concentrating on his cards. "You claim to know everything about me. We'll start easy. What do I do for a living?"
The young girl looked up at him. "When you're not investigating the Underground to put the queen at ease, you run a toys and confectionary company." She narrowed her eyes slightly, reaching forwards and taking one of his cards. "Skip the questions anyone could know. It's not proof enough."
Ciel took one of her cards. "What was my childhood pet?"
"Irish wolfhound. Big thing." She smirked, taking a card and pairing it with her own. "You named your butler after him."
The boy suddenly looked uncomfortable. "You know how Sebastian came to work for me?" he asked, picking the Old Maid card from Tilly's hand, making her grin grow wider.
"Like I've said," she nodded. "I know everything." To make her point, she leaned forward and gently placed her fingertips against his side, knowing that his branding scar was hidden there beneath his clothes; though Tilly regretted it immediately as Ciel inhaled sharply through his nose, shocked.
He put down his cards, watching her with a cautious glare. She couldn't have been there. Everyone had been slaughtered by Sebastian, and only Sebastian had seen the burn mark since, so how did she know?
Tilly's smile fell, being replaced with a look of concern, and she sat back in her chair. "I don't want to hurt you, or anything," she said quietly. "I want to help."
"And how could your trivia possibly help me?" Ciel scowled. "If you know everything about me, then I already know it too."
The girl paused, thinking, watching as Ciel stood up, clearly frustrated with her. "You don't know your future," she offered, her green eyes glinting excitedly when the boy turned around, curious.
"Go on," he pushed, sitting back down in front of her.
"Is there a man coming for dinner any time soon?" Tilly questioned, faltering a little. How was she supposed to know where in the timeline she was - if this was a correct timeline at all?
Ciel quirked an eyebrow skeptically. "If you're talking about Chlaus..." he murmured, and Tilly's face lit up happily. If she had her Black Butler trivia right (which she almost certainly did) Chlaus was the name of the man in the first chapter of the series.
Tilly leaned back triumphantly against the sofa. "In that case, I feel almost sorry for your butler," she smiled. "He puts in so much effort to give your guest the - and I quote - 'Phantomhive hospitality', only to have it ruined by your other staff."
The boy scoffed. "That's no different from what always happens here."
Leaning forward, Tilly's smile grew wider. "But does your Sebastian always turn your courtyard into a feudal Japanese garden?"
Ciel said nothing, only giving her an apprehensive glare.
"Well," Tilly sighed. "You won't know if what I'm saying is true until it happens." She stood up, heading for the door, Ciel following close behind.
"No," he agreed. "I suppose we won't."