~ Hey everybody :D I got two reviews! Thanks nomer and Georgina! Upon your request I am updating... NOW. Hope you enjoy ;))

XXXXX

The walk was invigorating, but not in the least bit dull. As they walked, Stella couldn't help but notice Sebastian peering at her every so often, a look of almost hunger in his crimson eyes. If this was his way of showing affection, she did not like it one bit. Faking love should not be too difficult for one of his kind, especially so old as he. Stella feared that he would not be able to fully satisfy her need for attention. Maybe this was all a mistake, she thought. Maybe, out of pure fear, hatred, and lust, she would give up her fate, if only for the artificial love of a demon. Yes, she realized a demon could not feel human emotions. She knew his love wouldn't be true. But, it would be the closest thing to true love she would have for a while. She would pretend if she had to, that his love were real, just to spare her making another rash decision to end her pitiful life, again.

The feeling of her hand being envolopped makes her freeze, then involuntarily slap it away. She looks to her right to see Sebastian, eyes narrowed, brows raised, and the corners of his mouth curved downward.

"Is this not what Lady Stella wished?", says the butler questioningly.

Suddenly, her heart drops. The look on his face, so hauntingly human. The sorrowed frown was saddening yet breathtaking at the same time. His eyes glazed over as he looked at the ground. They continued at a slightly slower pace. She thought to herself, pondering his abilities once more, from a different perspective then she had just moments before, when she did not seem to realize Sebastian's presence at her side. Since that moment he inched further away from her and continued to look at the ground. She queried for a few seconds more, then made her choice.

She heard Sebastian let out a soft, surprised gasp as Stella wound her right arm with his left, entwined their fingers, and rested her head on his broad shoulder. The heat radiating from her body made her feel safe, and his deep, thumping heart beat made him feel more alive. She didn't realize demons could have Hearts as well. Stella stayed like this for the remainder of the trip, eyes never wandering from the path ahead, gripping Sebastian's arm tightly. He must be an incredible actor she thought to herself, as they continued another mile towards the Phantomhive manor.


Stella stared into the cup of hot brown liquid in front of her. She sat at a long mahogany table in the dining room at the Phantomhive manor. Across the table sits Ciel Phantomhive, aged only 13 years and as proud as ever. She notices him staring at her with a look of near confusion. Does he expect her to drink this? It smells quite bitter and dares to reiterate her thoughts to him, her first words to him. He leans back in his chair and laughs at her. This makes her blush and she looks back at the cup, embarrassed. She starts to swirl her finger around the rim of the hot china cup.

"Sebastian. it's been so long since I've had tea I nearly forgot. Bring out some sugar cubes and put some in Lady Stella's drink." the butler bows and turns to fetch the sugar.

"I am sorry for my comment, Earl.", Stella says quietly, still fixed on circling her finger on the rim of the cup.

" No need to apologize, my Lady. I was merely amused that you hadn't had tea before. I hear of young women not preferring tea, but to not even know what it looks and smells like? that's simply unheard of. You were a young noble women correct?"

She looks up at him and then back down, blushing deeper now at her mistake. "Tea was a luxury in my house. Whenever my father did acknowledge my existence, he never offered me tea. He told me I wasn't worthy enough for tea since the only reason I was still alive was to keep the press off his charge." She smiled at her self then frowned, happy that she was free from that horrible life, but angered at the memories that will inevitably continue to haunt her.

As Ciel mouths a quiet 'sorry', Sebastian returns with a glass of sparkling sugar cubes. He sets them in front of Stella and drops two into her cup. He waits for them to dissolve, give the cup a cool blow, and hands it back to her.

"There. The tea should be nice and sweet now.", he glances at her, a smile gracing his handsome face.
She takes a sip and sits stunned at the taste. After fifteen years of leftover meat scraps, peas, brown bread, and water, she had never consumed something with some much warmth, so much flavor. Ciel notices her eyes perk up after she sips and smiles.

"It's called Earl Grey tea. It is my absolute favorite, or, rather was.", his smile fades a bit. "I haven't had tea in nearly three years now. Human food is quite tasteless to me for some reason."

Stella drains her cup and tries to keep a warm face. "Well, at least I'm here to drink all of the tea!", She smiles back at him, urging him to do the same.

His lips do in fact bless him with a small smile, "Yes, It is a very good thing you are here.", The true meaning not showing quite as clear to Stella as it should have. They will finally have a reason to smile again.


Stella stands in front of a floor to ceiling mirror in her new room, two doors down from Ciel's, only separated by his Study. She stares at her reflection in the mirror. Her long blonde hair, her plain grey dress just gracing her knees, her black shawl, her hallowed eyes, but mostly her neck. She wonders why it is not still covered in blood with no stitches, in fact, no wound to be found. It's as if taking a blade to her neck was all a part of a far away dream and not something that happened in the middle of the night, only hours before. In the maroon colored wardrobe across from her canopy bed, the doors are open, showing her the contents of its nearly filled interior. Over twenty jeweled gowns and five lace dressing slips hang on the rack inside. The drawers are stocked with corsets, undergarments, garters and nightgowns.

"Exquisite, aren't they?"

Stella turns to see Ciel, Sebastian, and another person, a maid in glasses, stand in the doorway. The speaker, Ciel steps away from the other two and fingers the fabric of a particularly different gown. It's blue silk, much heavier and more womanly than the other gowns. He stops and looks her up and down.

"These gowns belonged to my fiancee, before she learned of my 'death'. These were her mourning gifts. Her reason was that I should always remember how beautiful she looked in them, most of them.", he lets go of the blue dress then turns fully toward her.

"In my sixteen years of life as a breathing creature, shall I say, I never seemed to have a need for a woman's hand-maid. In this time of need, I hope Mey-rin will do." He motions to the maid and she steps forward and curtsies to Stella. She doesn't know what to do so she meekly smiles back at her, making Mey-rin blush a little.

"Pleasant to meet you, my Lady." She says quite loudly. "Shall I ready you for bed then Miss?"

Stella looks to Ciel. Smiling, he and Sebastian start to take their leave. Just after Ciel leaves, Sebastian turns back around, walks toward Stella, kneels down, takes her hand and kisses it.

"Pleasant dreams, My Lady." He straightens up, bows and turns to leave once more. He closes the door behind him, leaving Mey-rin and Stella alone in her room, Stella blushing, and Mey-rin's nose dripping blood.


~Hey hey hey! I hope you enjoyed! If you want more, review the story :D Much appreciated, will update soon3

Love, The Crow