AN: Lucetta (main) has inherited a 'gift' from their mom, almost every time she goes to sleep she is drawn into what can only be described as the 'rest'. During her 'rest' Lucetta often has visions of the future (usually of events that are just about to happen) and that's what is happening in the very beginning so you won't be too confused. =P So, I think that's everything I wanted to say, anything else I 'spose I'll save for the end of the chapter (or within). - Esmeralda
P.S. Lucetta does NOT like Ciel in any way and he doesn't like her ether, and she thinks Sebastian is useless.
P.S.S. Quick side note; AN's are in bold and underlined (as you can tell^^), 'void dreams'/'rest' inItalic and underline, and normal dreams and thoughts in Italic
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of the characters other than my OC's
Enjoy Dead End Moon Part One!
Part One: Shaping Space
The crow and the spider fight furiously over the silver ring with the glowing blue gem, another ring this one gold with a red gem…lays in the dust, forgotten. A little black dragon watches this for a while then walks to the gold ring and picks it up. Cradling her new treasure close to her chest she whispers softly, "Don't worry; I'll take good care of you…"
The visions fade away and Lucetta's eyes flutter open. Late afternoon sunlight filters through the branches of the tree under which she sits, taking a deep breath she catches a whiff of the blue roses her mother is growing – they smell much sweeter than most flowers. Drawing her legs up, she props her head on her chin. Brushing a lock of raven hair out of her face the little half-dragon sleepily watches a blue bird flitter about without seeing it, her latest visit to the 'void' troubles her a bit – and that never happens - I've never seen the part with the dragon before, she muses, I wonder what it means.
"Lucetta!" A girl calls (startling her out of her woolgathering) running down the path from the manor where they live, when the girl finally reached her, she was leaning over gasping for breath, her long golden hair falling over her shoulders.
"Helenora," Lucetta greets dully, "is there something you needed, sister dearest?"
"Lu," Helenora pants, "You'll never-never guess w-what we just got in the mail!"
"I don't really care, but, you'll probably tell me anyways," Lucetta replies, clearly unmoved by her twin's apparent excitement.
Her sister ignores her comment and continues talking, bright blue eyes aglow, "We – you and me – have been cordially invited to a Costume Ball at the Trancy estate! Ooh, it's going to be so much fun! Oh, and mother said we can go as long as Strider comes with us."
Arching an eyebrow, Lucetta tries to think of a how or why her bubble brained sister would think a ball where people dressed up and for the most part looked ridiculous would be 'fun' to her, and drew the only plausible conclusion; Helenora has completely lost her mind.
"No," she states silencing Helenora's wild chattering, "I don't want to go, and, I'm not forcing Strider too either."
"What makes you think he'll only go if you make him?" Her sister pouts.
Lucetta gives her a rueful smile, and gestures to the left; there he stands his approach silent as always.
"Because," Strider answers her, "I'm your sister's bodyguard, and I've made it clear I don't like rich people and avoid them when I can."
"Told you," Lu shrugs, "sorry."
"Oh! You two are so mean!" Helenora's lower lip trembles and she begins to cry.
Strider rolls his eyes and returns to his post…and Lucetta…she cracks under the pressure –neither girl can stand making the other cry.
"Alright, alright," She says, hugging her sister. "I'll go," looking over her shoulder she adds, "You're going to whether you want to or not." She receives a cold glare in return. "You have to go," She informs the half-elf, "Or else."
He smirks, "Or else what?"
"Or else I convince my mother to make your life a living hell far worse then you've ever known."
AN: Please note that before coming to work for the Knightingales, he had a really hard life.
"Fine," Strider grumbles in assent – he knows their mother can do it. "I'll go, under protest."
"You will, really?" Helenora sniffles wiping her eyes.
"Yes, sweet sister," Lucetta coos pulling out her handkerchief and holding it to her sister's nose, "If it makes you happy, I'll go."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Oh, it's gotten so late!" Helenora says suddenly, "Mother probably has supper ready, let's go inside."
Hand in hand the girls walk up to the manor house, with Strider trailing glumly behind.
XxXxXxX
A few days later…
After arriving at the Trancy's Lucetta and Helenora were shown the room – the walls painted ivory, and decorated with cream colored roses everywhere painted on the walls, arranged in vases around the room, even on the comforter on the bed - that they'd be staying in then escorted to the parlor where the others were – Strider hides his presents and waits for there to be need of his services as bodyguard.
After the butler – Claude – leaves and greetings are exchanged, Lucetta turns to leave.
"Leaving so soon?" Lou asks nonchalantly.
Glancing back she replies coolly, "He is coming isn't he?"
"'He', he who?" Prince Soma asks with a puzzled look.
"Ciel," Helenora tells him, refocusing on her sister she grabs her by the arm. "Can't you two try to get along?"
"Perhaps," Lu says a bored look in her violet eyes. "But, if he insults me first, you may end up widowed before you're married."
Helenora giggles and pulls her in for a hug, "You're so cute!"
The door opens as the girls' part and Ciel himself walks in fallowed closely by his butler - Sebastian.
"Ciel!" Helenora squeals and rushes forward to tackle him in a hug.
"Ach, Helenora!" Ciel exclaims doing his best not to fall over.
"Ciel, its Hellie!" She tells him when she let's go.
Righting himself Ciel looks at Lucetta, "Lady Knightingale," He greets coldly.
"Earl Phantomhive," her greeting equally as frosty. Casting a 'now-that-the-pleasantries-are-over-I'll-take-my-leave-before-one-of-us-says-something-he-will-live-to-regret' look at Hellie, Lu leaves the room.
Feeling a bit adventurous she sets out to explore the mansion. Walking the maze of hallways she begins to notice a plethora of spider webs, hmm, and there fresh too. Glancing about to make sure no one's around, Lucetta takes a deep breath and crouches down, in one inhuman leap the girl makes it to the webs; snatching a few handfuls before she lands back on the floor. Oh, yes these will make wonderful reagents. Slipping her newly acquired spoils into her pocket, Lu continues down the corridor, awhile later she passes a door standing ajar, peeking in her eyes widen at her findings - a library. Pushing the door open farther Lu steps inside the room and immediately begins scanning the books for something she hasn't read before. So intent is she on this endeavor that she fails to notice someone else in the room.
Leaning against the far wall by the window Alois watches the girl as she makes her way around his library, like a graceful black butterfly - clad as she was in a dress of black lace - flittering from flower to flower she lands for but an instant then moves on, unsatisfied with her findings. He feels a laugh crawling up his throat as he asks, "is there something you're looking for, little butterfly?"
Lucetta starts and whirls around, a boy with light blonde hair and pale blue eyes is watching her with barely contained laughter. Smoothing her features, Lu regains enough of her composer to curtsy. "My apologies," she ventures carefully, "I didn't mean to intrude on anyone."
Pushing off the wall Alois walks to the girl and takes her hand, "You didn't," he says sweetly kissing her hand before letting go. "I was just surprised to have so lovely a butterfly grace me with her presents."
Heat – actual heat – creeps up Lu's cheeks, "You are very forward with someone you just met," she quips vexed as she is with this odd reaction to the stranger before her.
Laughing again the boy bows. "I am Alois Trancy," he says grinning at her, "and what might your name be? Or do you prefer I call you 'Butterfly'?"
"Humph," Lucetta glares at him. "My name is Lucetta Knightingale the Black Dragoness, and those who don't know better call me 'Lady Knightingale', I suggest you do the same." Arms crossed she walks toward the door.
"I do so hope I get the honor of dancing with you this evening," Alois calls after her.
Picking up her pace Lu retraces her steps back to the room she shares with Helenora, lack of sleep, she concludes walking into the ivory room, that's all it was, I'm just overly tired, it'll be a while before the ball, I'll take a nap and I'll feel better when I wake up. The fragrance of the roses is sweet and soothing, Lu even yawns just from inhaling their scent. Getting drowsy she pulls out the spider webs she'd gathered, and puts them in her bag of alchemy reagents and healing herbs, then yawning again she lays down on top of the covers letting her heavy eyes lids slide close…
Two young girls named Helenora and Lucetta - both with long golden hair - play in their backyard, completely oblivious to the pain and heartache about to befall them, intent as they were to finish the mud-castle they were making. They didn't see the old-hag sneaking up until she was right on top of them.
"Hello dearies," the old woman croaks.
Startled both girls look up, "Who are you? And what do you want?" Helenora asks indignantly.
The woman cackles – a horrible sound – and grabs Lucetta's wrist, "I want your life!" She yells madly.
Both girls start screaming as Helenora desperately tries to break the hag's iron grip on her sister. The woman swings Lucetta around like a rag doll and begins chanting strange words. The girl's father charges out of the house and heads straight for them, the old woman shrieks when she sees him and dropping the child she runs for the woods.
"Lucetta!" Cries the girl's mother as she runs after her husband, upon reaching them she collapses in tears and hugs a still trembling Helenora to her chest.
Standing up a little shakily Lucetta stumbles to her mother, "I'm fine momma, don't cry," she coos soothingly, patting her mother's shoulder, this seems to make things worse because Helenora takes one look at her sister and starts blubbering. Frightened and confused Lucetta turns to her father, he kneels down a pulls her into his big strong arms and holds her close. Only then does she notice her hands are substantially paler then they should be, in fact they're so pale they're almost transparent. 'Is it because that lady scared me so bad? No, I'm not really scared, I'm cold, strange it was so warm before…' she snuggles deeper into her father's arms, 'I'm still cold',and then she notices something else, her hair, hair that was once the purest gold is now a dark dead black.
"Daddy," she says – shocked at the lack of emotion in her voice. "What's wrong with me? What happened? Why is everything so cold?"
Her father shakes his head and hugs her closer to him, "It's going to be alright, Lu," he whispers gently, "it's going to be alright…"
But it's not…
Lucetta wakes with a start, tears running down her face, her sister's arms are wrapped around her, "It's alright," Helenora says petting her head, "It was just a bad dream."
"No it wasn't," Lucetta sobs snuggling closer, "That really happened."
"Oh, you had that dream," Hellie mumbles pressing soft kisses to Lu's face.
"Yes."
They sat like this for a while nether saying a word.
"I was just about to wake you up actually," Helenora says breaking the silence, "It's time to get ready."
"Fine."
Hellie smiles and gets up, she runs over to their trunks and pulls out her costume, holding it up she spins around and asks, "How do I look?"
Lu looks her over, her Native American costume will fit her perfectly, "beautiful as always, sister dearest."
Hellie giggles and after getting dressed heads back to the trunks, "Alright, your turn."
"Nothing elaborate," Lucetta warns.
"Oh, don't be so silly," Helenora grins, looking for the costume she packed for Lu.
"Never," Lucetta protests as her sister pulls out a light pink tutu. A short while later Hellie has the younger girl dressed as a ballerina, complete with matching pink dance shoes and a silver tiara, a crystal pendent on a gold chain – Lu's favorite piece - hangs around her slender neck.
"You look adorable!" Hellie coos as she fixes Lu's hair – sweeping it up in a messy bun.
"This feels demeaning," Lu complains again as she had through the entire process.
"Nonsense," Helenora whispers hugging her gently, "You look beautiful."
The words leave her mouth unbidden, "Like a butterfly?"
Hellie frowns, "What? Um, I suppose so," she replies slowly, "Why?"
Lu's face reddens a little, "No reason."
Smiling again her sister takes her hand, "Well, now that we're both ready, let's get going, I have something I want to give Ciel."
Lucetta rolls her eyes, "Fine."
XxXxXxX
"Ceil!" Helenora runs over to him, Lu decides to hang back, He'll make fun of me, and I'm not in the mood for fighting. She can't help looking around for Earl Trancy, not seeing him she's surprised to find she's a bit disappointed, what's wrong with me? He probably didn't mean it when he said he wanted to dance. He was just messing with the creepy little thirteen-year-old he found in his library. Drawing this conclusion her eyes land on a blonde maid a few feet away, the girl is smiling at her – the same smile Alois gave her earlier. Lu glowers and drops her gaze. Moving over to where she last saw Helenora she bumps into Ciel. He smirks at her dressed in pink and she glares at him, daring him to insult her. He opens his mouth to speak when someone spills red wine on his coat. It's Lu's turn to smirk.
"I'm so sorry," the maid says, "Please come with me and I'll help you get cleaned up."
Lucetta watches them leave with growing curiosity, why would Earl Trancy be dressed as a maid, even pretending to be one? Lost in thought for a bit, Lu finally decides she won't get any answers standing there gathering dust and leaves the ballroom to find them. After walking down a few corridors she is nearly run down by Ciel as he makes a mad dash for the door. Frustrated she follows him – not very close, she's not a fast runner, but, she manages to keep him in sight - when they reach the woods Ciel finally stops and Lucetta hides behind a tree to catch her breath. Peeking around the tree she spots Ceil and Sebastian and across from them she sees Alois, his butler Claude, and three other servants who look exactly alike. Alois is talking, something about 'wanting Ciel' – "He can have him," Lu mummers under her breath, ducking down when one of the triplets looks her way – and then something about 'everyone at the ball dying,' Lucetta's eyes open wide at Ciel's cold uncaring response, How dare he! Doesn't he care one wit about Helenora? I mean, I know she's a bit of a bubble brain sometimes, but- Shaking her head Lu doesn't waste a second more on this pointless eavesdropping, and runs for the house.
XxXxXxX
Lucetta burst into the ballroom, breathing hard and desperately trying to find her sister. She realizes she's too late and covers her ears to block the sound grating on them, a woman – the real maid, Hannah – in the middle of the room is playing a glass harmonica, and its sound is horrid. Though Lucetta herself is fine (her ears are sore), she notices the other guests are having a strange reaction to the music. "Odds bobs," Lu says angrily, "Hellie where are you?"
She finds her sister on the far side of the room; her eyes glowing like that of the other guests. "Helenora," Lu shakes her trying to break the trance. Hellie responds by putting her hands around Lucetta's neck and choking her. Luckily Strider is doing his job of being her bodyguard and in the next second Helenora lays on the ground unconscious.
"What'd I miss?" He asks casually.
Shaking her head Lu glares at him, "Don't just stand there, go help Prince Soma and the others."
"Yes, milady," Strider says with a mock bow.
Turning from him, Lucetta sets her sights on Hannah, There has got to be a way to stop this. Focusing hard on the harmonica Lu murmurs a spell, hoping to shatter it. A few creaks appear on the bowls, nothing more. Grunting in frustration she's about to try again when a new sound fills the air, mixing with that given off by the glass harmonica, the sound is soothing and the guests snap out of their trance. Looking for its source Lucetta spots Sebastian up on the balcony playing a glass harp, as he finishes playing the glass harmonica shatters – due to the cracks and Hannah's overplaying - and the maid falls to the floor.
"Humph, guess he's good for something," Lucetta grumbles, and goes to tend to Helenora - whose somehow ended up under Ran-Mao.
"Lu, are you alright?" Hellie asks, jumping up and running to her. "What happened? Where'd you get this bruise?" She runs a finger gingerly over Lucetta's neck.
"I'm fine," She brushes her sister's hand away, "What's important is you."
"Well, my head hurts a bit but other than that I'm fine as well."
"Good," Lu hugs her, "I'm glad."
A bit surprised Helenora returns her embrace, "Did something happen?"
"Nothing of consequence."
"Oh, alright."
The girls part and Hellie looks up; "Ah, Ciel, you're back!"
"Great," Lucetta mutters, she was secretly hoping he'd been mortally wounded and was laying somewhere bleeding to death - So much for wistful thinking.
Ciel asks his butler what about the glass harmonica, Sebastian tells him about how it was said to drive performers mad and evoke spirits of the dead because of its eerie and haunting sound.
"Why would someone play such a thing at a costume ball?" Prince Soma asks angrily.
"As a diversion for my guests," answers a boy's voice, all eyes turn to see its owner - dressed as a vampire - enter the room. "Ladies and Gentlemen, please accept my sincere apologies for being late, I'm Alois Trancy, I'm so honored that you came," Alois walks to the center of the room and sends a glare in the Hannah's direction then turns back to the crowd. "I see you enjoyed the entertainment while I was away and I'm relieved that it was to your liking." He walks over to speak with Ciel.
Sebastian and Claude leave. Alois himself begins socializing with his guests and Ciel glares at him. Lucetta almost wishes she had stayed for the rest of their conversation, almost, but not quite, Helenora always comes before her curiosity - and her sister feels the same about her.
Prince Soma calls Ciel over and gives him a curry bun Agni made. Probably won't help, Lu muses, but she has other things (Alois) occupying her mind and doesn't give it much attention.
The butlers return - both now wearing a black rose. Sebastian gives Ciel some papers, which seem important to him.
The music starts up again and Helenora is looking for Ciel, but, Alois finds her first and asks her to dance - more like he doesn't give her a choice.
I knew it, Lucetta pouts, she glances at Ciel, he's giving her a look that asks a question he'd never bring himself to ask under normal circumstances, she glares at him and mouths the words "I dare you". And he does. Grabbing her hand Ciel pulls Lu to the dance floor - ignoring the comments made by Sebastian, Prince Soma and Lau. Hellie notices Ciel and Lucetta (who's still giving him an evil look) and calls out to Ciel, Alois seems in no hurry to let her go though - in fact he tightens his grip on her hand a bit. When they pass each other the two boys seem to make silent threats at each other. Lu gives her sister a I'm-going-to-kill-him look and Hellie returns the look with an I-don't-really-care-right-now-I-just-want-to-get-out-of-this smile (Ah, the things twins can say with no one else having a clue). At one point Lucetta's and Alois' eyes meet and a strange spark runs up her spine and she blushes. What was that? From his expression he felt it too. For her though, it was far too brief for it to bother her...
I lied…it did bother her a lot. Even after the girls' retire for the night, Lu lays awake trying to sort out these strange emotions running through her, Fury, disdain, agony, those are the only things I've felt for over five years and all I thought I'd ever feel again after that. What is it about him? I mean, we just met and I'm acting like-like I'm…attracted to him. No, this can't be right, it can't, he-he's so- argh! I don't know! Thoughts like these plague her long into the wee hours of the morning; finally she settles her mind enough to sink into a deep if troubled sleep.
XxXxXxX
End of Part One
AN: Well, I hope you liked it (It's longer then the other one ^^). This story is based off of episodes 5, 6 and 7 of Black Butler II; I just added another person and changed things a bit. Anyways, the next part is basically made from scratch since it's the time in between 6 and 7. I hope y'all come back for Part Two: On and on, until then please leave a review, I will definitely appreciate any comments you have on how to improve my story! Thank you for reading and I'll (hopefully) see you next time! – Esmeralda
P.S. I think I got all of the spelling errors, but if I missed some please let me know!