Rolling thunder boomed up in the middle of the night. Annie stirred and shot wide awake as the thunder grew louder. First she had no idea where she was and cast a confused glance around the dark room until she remembered her arrival at the mansion. She frowned as she was aware that it was no thunder, but a rapid knocking at the door. She grumbled and checked her pocket-watch.

"Oh my!" she squeaked and jumped out of her bed. Hastily she grabbed a dressing gown and wrapped it around her before she jumped towards the door. A pair of crimson colored eyes looked down at her and he seemed not to be amused. Before the butler could say anything she began,

"I'm so sorry! Really, I'm sorry! I was just so tired and that bed is so warm and fluffy and I thought it's still in the middle of the night—"

"You should better get dressed and meet us in the kitchen. I'll give you the chores for today, Miss Conroy," he silenced her and turned to leave. She blinked multiple times and peeked out of the door into the hallway watching him leave.

"Can't you stay and wait for me? I don't know where the kitchen is!" she called.

He cast a glance back over his shoulder. "Down the stairs and just follow the ruckus," he replied and moved on. Annie stared into the dimly lighted hallway until he was gone. With a huff she entered her room again and closed the door.

"Perfect, Annie. Your first day of work and you're already half an hour too late!" she grumbled and made a quick wash and dressed in the maid uniform. She turned in front of the mirror and sighed. What if this was simply a stupid idea? She had no idea about being a servant. She was certain she would break an expensive set of porcelain and got thrown out of the mansion. Finally she made a ponytail and left the room heading downstairs.

Once she reached the entry hall she stopped and cast a glance in all possible directions as suddenly a girl with cherry-red hair and glasses as thick as bricks came running towards her. She carried some plates and porcelain cups on her arms and screamed,

"Aaah!" She tripped and came crashing into Annie. The girls tumbled down with a thud and Annie prepared herself for the sound of breaking plates. Much to her surprise nothing like this happened at all. Carefully she opened her eyes and saw the girl still clinging to her, while Sebastian towered over them with the dishes in his hands. He cocked an eyebrow and offered his other hand towards her.

"Would you please go down from me?" Annie mumbled and pushed the girl away to take his hand. He helped her up and said with a soft smile,

"I told you that you would find the way to the kitchen. Mey-Rin is the greatest ruckus of them all."

Annie turned and watched the girl getting up on her feet and fumbling with her glasses before she said, "Oh, I'm sorry! I'm such a clod!" She squeaked and tried to hide behind Annie in fear of Sebastian's anger. The butler watched them for a second before he pushed the dishes into Annie's arms.

"Follow me," he simply said and entered another hallway with Annie and Mey-Rin right behind.

"What is your name? You are the new maid, right? Of course, what a stupid question, you wear the uniform. I'm sorry, I talk too much. Please forgive me. My name is Mey-Rin," the girl babbled and Annie couldn't help but giggle quietly while she desperately tried not to trip and break any plate or cup.

"It's fine, and yes I'm the new maid. My name is Annie," she replied as they finally reached the kitchen where two blonde boys sat around a wooden table. They immediately jumped to their feet and approached her with bright smiles on their quite handsome faces.

"You must be Annie!" the younger boy said and took her hand as he added, "I'm Finnian, but everyone calls me Finny. I'm the gardener! It's so great to finally meet you! Sebastian talked about you the whole morning—"

"Finny! Why are you still here? I told you to prepare the garden! Our guest arrives at sharp six tonight!" the butler grumbled and sent an annoyed look towards the young gardener. The boy jumped and ran out of the kitchen.

Annie chuckled as the other man stepped towards her. "My name is Bard and I'm the cook. Though Sebastian never lets me cook for the young Master," he grumbled and earned a huff from the butler.

"Why is that?" Annie asked curiously and watched Sebastian intently. She didn't understand the reason that there was a cook in the household who was not allowed to cook for the Master.

"The reason for that is simple—the life of Master Phantomhive is too precious. Bard can cook for you, but I prefer to prepare the Master's meal myself," Sebastian simply stated while his gloved hands smoothly worked at the kitchen-counter to prepare tea and a breakfast. Annie nodded understandingly and shifted from one foot to the other, quite uncertain what she should do or say next. Suddenly she spotted a small man in the corner.

"Is he real?" she whispered to Mey-Rin and pointed at the elder, grey haired man with the monocle and a cup of tea in hands. The red-haired maid giggled. "Yes, he is real. His name is Tanaka. He is the steward of the household," she explained and Annie sent him a smile. He simply smiled back and let out a quiet, "Ho Ho Ho."

She led her gaze back to the butler and stepped closer towards him. "So, what are my chores for today?"

He seemed to ignore her and so she took the time to cast a closer look at him. He was tall, his hair black like a raven and his eyes were crimson colored which made him sort of interesting. His skin was pale but it suited him very well. Her gaze drifted along his tailcoat until she head him clear his throat. She looked up in surprise and saw his lips twitch upwards a bit.

"You will assist me today. I will show you the mansion and introduce you to Master Phantomhive. Here, take the tea and follow me," he said and handed her a tray with a pot of tea and a single cup made of the finest china. Sebastian pushed the cart with the breakfast and signaled her to follow him.

"May I ask you something?" she said while they walked side by side along the hallway.

"That depends," he replied and made her frown. "Uhm—on what?" she asked curiously.

"Nevermind. What do you want to know?"

"Is—is Ciel Phantomhive a friendly Master?" she asked carefully and watched him uncertainly. Sebastian cast a quick glance at her before he replied,

"All things are relative, don't you think? He is young with a hurtful past. And yet he is fair and hospitable. You should not worry too much about it. You are not here to make friends with him. You are here to work for him."

"You're quite a charmer, right?" Annie mumbled sarcastically and stopped in front of a huge wooden double-door. Sebastian ignored her last statement and turned to look at her.

"This is the dining room. He is already waiting for us."

"Alright," she breathed and straightened herself. She still felt a little nervous as Sebastian pushed the door open and entered with Annie right behind.

"Good morning, young Master. Today's breakfast contains of toast, sunny-side eggs and bacon."

"Thank you, Sebastian. What kind of tea did you bring today?" the young boy asked and Sebastian smiled. "Earl Grey from the finest leaves with honeyed flavor," he replied and gestured Annie to place the tray on the table. She stepped forward and smiled nervously at the young boy. The surprisingly young boy. She thought he was at least twenty, but he couldn't be much older than twelve or thirteen.

"Good morning, Earl Phantomhive," she said uncertainly and poured tea into the cup. With shaking hands she handed it to him. He took it with a thankful nod and exchanged a satisfied look with his butler before he replied,

"I didn't have the time to welcome you properly in my household. My name is Ciel Phantomhive. You may call me Ciel. Annie Conroy, that was your name if I am not mistaken?"

"Yes, Ear—Ciel, that's correct," she replied and hastily stepped back next to Sebastian. Ciel nipped from his tea and looked up again. "You've outdone yourself, once again," he said to his butler. Sebastian placed his hand on his chest and bowed slightly.

Annie watched him curiously, surprised how submissive the butler could be and yet a strange aura radiated around him. A warmth that seemed to comfort her and she felt more relaxed in this very moment. She blushed a bit as he looked down at her.

Her gaze drifted back to the young Earl who sat silently and alone at that massive, long table in that huge dining room. Thousands of questions burned on her tongue, but she kept silent and waited patiently until Ciel finished his breakfast. Sebastian took the empty plates while she took the tray with the tea pot and the cup.

"What is on my plan for today, Sebastian?" he asked and got up.

The butler smiled and replied calmly, "You will meet with Professor Hugh on the subject of becoming a good leader. After lunch you will have a lesson in the art of self-defence."

The boy sighed and leaned his head into the palm of his hand. "I don't think I want to practice that today."

"You should—and it's only one hour. And now you shouldn't let Professor Hugh waiting too long," the butler replied determined. Ciel finally excused himself and so Sebastian and Annie walked silently back to the kitchen. Once they arrived he told her to wash the dishes.

She did what he told her and felt how he watched every move of her while he sat at the table having a small breakfast as well. Finally she sighed and asked without looking at him,

"He is lonely, isn't he?"

She winced as he felt his presence so close behind her as he got up and placed his plate into the warm water in the sink. She stopped washing and looked up at him. His face was so close that she felt the heat of his breath on her skin which made her blush once again.

"Aren't we all alone in this world?" he whispered before he stepped away again and began to rummage in another corner of the kitchen. Annie thought about his last statement and sighed heavily. He was right. Even she was alone in this mansion surrounded by strangers, away from her home, away from her family.

She cast another glance back towards him and saw his gaze drifting away from her quickly.