It was like a silver, hazy fog, surrounding her and muffling the world. Even her thoughts seemed sluggish, refusing to move at the pace she desired. Slowly, so very slowly, a gentle breeze slipped through the folds of the mist, whisking it away to who-knows-where. The haze cleared, revealing a dark shape ahead, reclining luxuriously in a throne-like chair. As she approached, the figure of a young man appeared, twirling a chess piece between his perfectly manicured fingers. With a swoop, he placed the piece down on an ivory and ebony chess board, where the other carved figurines stood at attention. The man grinned, cocking his head to the side. A swath of slivery hair slipped from it's position, revealing a black eyepatch. A sensuous grin appeared on the young man's lips as he called out to her, "Shall we play a game?"
Ciel Phantomhive paced the hallways, his shoes tapping the floor in clean, even beats. The girl... She'd been asleep for three days. Sebastian had spoon-fed her a sweet porridge and poured teaspoons of water into her mouth, but she hadn't woken up. Maybe she never would... Ciel shook his head, almost as if he was trying to shake away his thoughts. No... She would live. Her color had improved in the past days, revealing the sun-kist complexion of someone who spent time outside, and her wounds were begining to heal. She had to survive... Ciel didn't want any more blood on his hands. The young Lord slumped against a wall, running a tired hand down his face. While the girl couldn't wake up, he hadn't slept in an entire day. On the brink of nodding off, he barely noticed when the door to the room opened. "Young Master?" Sebastian called. Ciel, jolted wide-awake, scanned the hall before seeing his butler. "Oh! Sebastian! Is... there something wrong?" Sebastian shook his head, smiling slightly. "No, my Lord. It appears that our guest is beginning to awaken."
The girl's eyelids fluttered as she struggled to wrench herself out of sleep and into reality. The pull of dreams held her fast, but it felt as if someone was reaching through her sleepy daze and pulling her free. "Milady? Milady, are you all right?" a deep, smooth voice called. A groan escaped the girl's lips, and her fingers twitched slightly against the silk sheets. Her eyes slowly opened, blinking rapidly to adjust to the light. A tall man dressed in a black tailcoat smiled and bowed, pressing his left hand above his heart. "Welcome to Phantomhive manor, My Lady. I'm happy to see that you are alright." Next to him, a boy of perhaps thirteen stood, concern in his eyes. Or rather, eye, as a black eyepatch covered the upper-left side of his face. "I... Where am I?" The girl whispered, raising herself up on her elbows before pausing and gasping in pain, her hand flying to her back. "At ease, my Lady. You have suffered dreadful injury and must rest." The girl frowned, brushing a finger over her cracked, cut lips. "I'm... injured. How?" The young man began to speak, his tone commanding and regal. "We honestly don't know. Sebastian found you in in the gardens, unconcious in a pool of blood. He cleaned you up, and you have been in an almost coma-like state for the past three days."
"T-three days?" the girl gasped. The butler-Sebastian- nodded. "I'm afraid so, my Lady. I am very glad that you are finally with us."
The girl paused. "How... did I get here?" The boy raised an eyebrow, slightly startled. "You mean you don't know?" The girl shook her head slowly, trying desperately to not aggravate her injuries. "Nothing. I-It's like there's some sort of haze or fog that's hiding my memories from me." Sebastian stroked his chin, deep in thought. "Can you remember your name?"
"I-I think so..."
"Well, what is it?" the butler prompted.
"...Alisa."
"Alisa!" Sebastian crowed. "A lovely name. Almost as lovely as you, yourself, my Lady." A pale pink blush spread across Alisa's cheeks, and Ciel sighed, exasperated. "Sebastian, stop teasing her." The butler smirked, flicking a strand of raven hair out of his eyes. "Oh, but young Master, that's one of the things I do best."
"Umm... May I ask who you are?" Alisa muttered. The butler bowed deeply, meeting Alisa's chocolate eyes with his startlingly crimson ones.
"I am Sebastian Michaelis, butler to to the house of Phantomhive." The young man stepped forward, inclining his head to her.
"I am Earl Ciel Phantomhive, Lord of the Phantomhive Estate and owner of the Funtom companies." Alisa looked at him in surprise, startled at the fact that someone so young could be so powerful. "I-it's an honor to meet you, my Lord." An awkward silence descended on the group, as Alisa carefully propped herself up on against the pillows. "So... What's going to happen to me?" She whispered, kneading the bedsheets in silent worry. "What do you mean?" Ciel asked, confused.
"Well... I'm going to have to leave at some point, aren't I? I can't stay here forever." Her statement was met with a cool, pale hand gently lifting up her own.
"You only have to leave if that's what you want. I would never force you out." Ciel swept his soft lips against the back of her hand, ignoring Alisa's gasp and blush.
"We'll wait until your injuries have healed completely, and then we'll talk about your future."
