Hello my llamas! I hope you liked the first chapter! As I said before, the first chapter was exceptionally short for my standards of writing. I just had the first chapter short because I fit in everything that needed to be in there. I didn't need to add anymore. Anywho, Enjoy!
12 years later after Ciel and Sebastian's return to the clifftop
...
Elizabeth Midford
"More tea, Lady Elizabeth?" Paula's voice snapped me back to the present. I was sitting in the large velvety chair in my father's study, lost in thought about him.
Ever since Ciel Phantomhive disappeared, ever since I received the little slip of paper announcing his death at the age of 13, I'd been broken inside.
He was my life. Even if he didn't seem to care for me, there were times that I saw a flicker of affection in his eyes for me. At least...I thought I did.
I remember that last dance at his manor perfectly. He seemed different at the time. I had no idea that a death threat was being held over his head. He seemed so calm about it though.
After I received the card, I immediately assumed that something happened to Ciel. No way would he ever just get up and leave. Not without a proper good-bye-
Though perhaps that dance was his good-bye.
Soon after he disappeared, crime ran rampant through the streets for quite awhile. Until one day, when I decided to take action for my deceased fiancee.
As I grew up, everyone and everything around me began to change drastically. My parents began to grow old, and the servants began to retire, and new people were hired on.
Ciel's servants grew old as well, yet they continued to live at the manor and care for it. None of them had retired or anything, and I in fact visited the manor often.
Not only did they grow, but I did as well. I was now a 24 year old woman, who remained unmarried, with a generous amount of money at my disposal.
My parents died when I turned 19. My mother first, and then my father soon after. Both of their wills named me as the one who'd receive their inheritance.
Immediately following their deaths, many men flocked to men, eager to have me as a wife and eager for the cash involved. Even princes and kings from distant countries came.
For obvious reasons, I turned every single one of them down. I still loved my dear Ciel. And I still do to this day.
Which is why I'd been searching for him for the last 12 years.
"Yes Paula, thank you." I replied.
Paula poured me some tea into a small intricate cup, then sat down on the chair across from me.
"Lady Elizabeth, do you intend to reply to Sir Gavone?" She asked. I bit my lip. The man was the only one out of a million who didn't seem to understand that I had absolutely no interest in any relationship out the sort.
"Yes. I thought I told him-"
"You did. Only...well he insisted that he would come over today to speak directly with you." Paula looked down at her lap.
I groaned. The man didn't get the hint.
"Damn it. I thought I made it clear in that last letter. That I personally replied to!" I said exasperated. Paula shrugged.
"Well he still seem to not understand. I think today would be perfect to break it to him." Paula said in a matter-of-fact voice.
"What time will he be here?"
Just then, my butler William walked in. "Madame. A man is outside waiting for you. He insisted that he-"
For a second, I contemplated leaving him outside. "Yes, yes let him in. Escort him up here when you do." I waved my hand dismissing Will.
Will nodded, then disappeared through the door. Paula turned to me.
"Are you sure you can? You seem-"
"I'm fine Paula." I interrupted. Paula nodded, then disappeared through the door as well.
I leaned into the chair. Gavone was a gold-digger who had indeed poisoned his last wife to get her money. This was the only reason why he was rich. The only reason he had a important position in court trials; he blackmailed people and bribed them. I wouldn't put it past him to attack me right here, right now.
Paula and the rest of my staff was unaware of who Gavone really was, but when I took Ciel's place as the Queen's Watchdog for 5 years, I learned about almost everyone and everything.
Suddenly, the door opened and Gavone stepped inside.
Gavone was a chubby old man. He was rich, but just barely. He was balding, and was 50 years older than me.
"Ah, Lady Elizabeth! How are you today?" Gavone sat in the seat Paula just recently vacated.
I ignored him, and instead said to Will,"Would you please get Sir Gavone some tea Will?" Will nodded, and went off leaving Gavone and me alone.
"Lady Elizabeth, I told you, you can call me James." Gavone chuckled, and crossed his legs. I again didn't answer.
Gavone swallowed, and an awkward silence fell over the room.
Finally, after I watched him squirm for a bit, I asked, "Is there a reason for this visit?"
Gavone let his gaze rest upon me saying,"Yes, I told your maid to tell you. Did she not?" He huffed, then pulled out a pipe. "She seems incompetent." He pulled out a match, and struck it on my oak wood desk.
I grabbed his wrist just as he was about to light the tobacco. He raised an eyebrow at me.
"I'd rather you not smoke inside please." I stated coldly. Gavone only chuckled, then blew out the match and put away his pipe.
"So, as I was saying, I came to- Ahem - inquire as to why you've turned down my requests."
"Requests? Is that what you call them?" I replied scathingly. Gavone narrowed his pudgy eyes at me.
"Yes. Requests. Why do you turn me down repeatedly?" He asked in feigned politeness.
"I don't like you." I bluntly stated. Gavone looked like he'd been slapped in the face. "Why-?" He began.
"I don't like you, because I have told you many times before. I am not interested in marriage to anyone. Not you, not anyone. If you don't appreciate my decision, I'm afraid I must ask you to leave."
Gavone inhaled sharply. I took a sip from my tea, ignoring him again. Finally, he forced a smile and said,"Why would you not want to marry? There are many men, and yet you turn them all down. Why?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I stood up and made my way to the other side of the desk where he was sitting. Gavone watched me warily.
I set my tea down, and ran my hand across a deep cut on the desk. "Do you know what this is from?" I asked gesturing to the long cut.
Gavone coughed. "Lady Elizabeth is this really relevant-?"
"Do you know what this is from?" I repeated, more insistent. Gavone swallowed again.
"What's it from?" He asked apprehensively. I looked at the cut saying, "It was from a former suitor of my mother. This manor once belonged to my mother's father. He gave it to my father after he married my mother. The house was a wedding gift to them."
"One day, a man came here looking to marry my mother. My grandfather turned him down, and he became angry. He pulled out a sword..." I walked over to a glass case that held a sword, "And cut across the desk in his rage."
I opened the case, and pulled out the sword. Gavone fidgeted.
"I'm not sure where this is going-" He started.
"My mother was in the room, and she was in danger. My grandfather had to react quick, or else things would go down-hill very quickly. So he pulled his gun out, and..." I mimed shooting Gavone in the head, making a boom sound.
"My mother watched it happen before her very eyes. Yet, she was okay. She never had any after affects from watching a man get shot in the face." I twirled the sword in my hand, watching it curiously.
"Maybe that's why she taught me how to use a sword." Suddenly, I stood before Gavone, the sword tip pressed against his bobbing Adam's apple.
"My dear Elizabeth, what are you-?" I withdrew a gun from my thigh, which was under my dress. Gavone smirked when he saw underneath, then his small beady eyes widened in fear when I pressed the gun to his temple.
"So, now I would like to ask you..." I pulled the gun and sword away. I took two steps backwards to make sure he wouldn't grab at me or my weapons. Gavone sighed in relief, but frowned as he watched me take all of the bullets out of the gun except for one. I spun the chamber, and closed it just as quick.
I walked over to him leisurely, then pressed the gun against his right leg. I put the sword against his neck once more.
"...Why are you really here?" Gavone gulped.
"I merely wanted to ask you why you've turned me down-"
Click
Gavone gasped, then began to breathe erratically. "Lady Elizabeth-"
"Let's try this again, why are you really here?"
"Elizabeth-"
"Answer the question." I snarled.
"I- I- "
Click
Gavone let out a shuddering breath. "Why are you doing this?" He asked.
"Did you know that this particular gun can hold 6 bullets at a time?" I asked conversationally. He took a shaky breath. "Really? That is very illuminating! Now, may I-?" He tried to stand up, and I whacked him with the flat side of the blade, sending him sprawling into the chair.
"Why are you here Gavone? What do you want from me?" I asked.
"I want nothing! I told you-!"
Click
"Lady Elizabeth, please! You're really going over-board here!" He tried unsuccessfully to squirm away from the blade.
"Why don't you answer? Do you really want to risk getting shot in the leg? Or do you think some...incentive might persuade you a bit?" I moved the gun and put it in between his eyes. He went cross-eyed watching the gun.
"Why are you here? I'm becoming impatient, Gavone." I said cheerfully.
Beads of sweat trickled onto the barrel of the gun. "I don't want-"
Click
Gavone screamed in fear, then began to silently cry. Tears cascaded down his fat cheeks. "Please, Lizzy-!"
"Don't call me that." I whispered, then in a louder voice said, "You now have a 50% chance of life or death. Choose your next words wisely, Gavone."
Gavone's body was racked with shuddering, and he finally said, "I was supposed to kill you. Then I was supposed to say that you'd agreed to marry me, and that you gave me everything you own. Including the Phantomhive manor and it's belongings."
I smiled, pleased that he'd finally revealed his true intentions. I left the sword pressed against his throat. Pulling the gun from his head I said, "Let's see what would've happened had you not answered me."
I pointed the gun at the wall behind me, and fired.
Bang!
"Well, you live to die another day I suppose." I said bored, then sat back down in my chair with the sword and the gun.
Gavone had stopped his sniveling, and looked at me, anger evident in his eyes. "You bitch-"
Just then, Will walked in. "Here's your tea, Sir." He presented the teacup to Gavone. Gavone looked down at it disgusted.
"It's poisoned, isn't it?" I smiled at him, then raised my cup to him. "To living." I said, then sipped the tea.
Gavone glared at me, then walked out. As he walked out, Paula walked in, a tired expression on her face.
Suddenly, Gavone stopped in the doorway. I cocked an eyebrow. Paula and Will watched him curiously.
"You are just like him. It's like you're channeling his spirit." Gavone said.
"Who?" I asked, nonplussed.
"Ciel Phantomhive. You're just like your dead fiancee." He finished, then walked out.
I watched him, and thought of Ciel. Ciel...I guess I spent too much time around him when he was alive...and with me.
I slammed my fist into the desk.
"I'd like to be alone now please." I asked, my hair blocking my view of Paula and Will.
Silence followed, and then the door closed. I looked up to see the room empty. I was alone...
I was alone.