- The Layer of Ice -

3. The empty house

(Ciel's POV)

I'm always on my own, in the big empty house, it does not matter how many people are in there with me.

I'm scared of the fact that it might all just disappear in the curtain of flames... Again.

I'm aware of the gazes some send my way, being the "poor child who lost family".

I've got no one for me left.

I'm alone.

-/-/-

Even after it was already more than a week since my birthday there were still only three things which were occupying my mind all the time.

First, Sebastian did not come for the violin lesson we had every other week, which has happened for the very first time... as a crown to that I've been unable to get a hold of him through the phone.

'Why won't he come back? There's so much I want to ask him...'

Second, aunt and my annoying cousin Elizabeth - who insisted on being called Lizzy - came over, wishing me Happy Birthday. They seemed as annoyingly sweet as usual, however I could see that there was more under the façade. Thankfully enough, they left only few hours after. The thing was that I was already dreading the day they decided to come again.

'Why won't they leave me alone?'

And the third has been the fact that the ring has not left my hand ever since. I've somehow grown attached to it. Even if I had yet to ask the meaning of it.

'Why can't I let go of it?'

Sincerely... it was driving me insane.

-/-/-

'It really is from him, isn't it?' I asked myself as I looked into the blue stone. 'I've never gotten a ring as a gift… except for this one…'

The whole situation lacked sense to me. After all, if it really was from Sebastian, then it would mean that he has known me for way longer that I was aware of… and something felt a bit strange about that.

'How long has it been already?' I asked myself as I fiddled with the blue-stoned ring which I've placed on my right hand's thumb. 'Four years… Huh?'

My mind has easily slid to the fateful night, the night that has cost me my parents and any chance of a normal life also. The memory of the bright orange haunting me.

-/-/-

(Sebastian's POV)

I watched as the solemn figure of Ciel's walked back and forth in front of the window - which showed the scenery of snowy garden - from the near forest… and I could not help but feel some bizarre happiness when I saw the gleam of the blue stone of the ring.

'The first stage…' I thought to myself as I've seen Ciel sit on his favourite chair and look out of the window, in my direction, as if sensing my presence. Then however I realized something as he yet again turned the ring around his thumb. He did feel my closeness.

I felt my mouth curl up in a smile which must have revealed my sharp, demonic teeth as I finished my thought.

'First stage… completed.'

-/-/-

It was late night by the time Ciel went to sleep.

He spent most of the day walking around his room mumbling something to himself. It, however, was nothing unusual. Ciel has taken to speaking to himself when alone during the year which followed the... accident. He somehow seemed to cope with the pain better like that.

When I saw the last of the lights in the house switch off I stepped out of my hide-out and walked quietly in the direction of the huge house.

'How does it feel?' I could not help but think at the sight of the building which spread far to both, left and right, from where I stood. 'What is it like to live in a house meant for whole generations... whilst being the only survivor of the family?'

I did not even know where that thought appeared.

I crept up the balcony which lead to Ciel's room. He kept it closed, given that the cold winter air was only worsening his already fragile health.

The closed door however were of no importance to me, demons have to have some tricks, don't they?

And so it was that only a few seconds later, I was already hovering over the sleeping form of my beloved, eyeing the gleaming blue stone of the ring with an exhilarating sensation going up and down my spine.

'So the feelings started to form?' I grinned to myself, reminding myself of Ciel's sudden, almost strange, habit of keeping the ring on him all the time, the very proof of the first stage completed in front of my eyes.

It was the magic of the ring, causing the wearer to want to have the ring on all time, as if wanting to have a part of their - in our case hopefully - "other half of soul" nearby. It meant that once feelings of sort formed, the wearer would keep it on themselves all time. The closer to the ring finger the more intense the emotions, the placement on the ring finger being a mutual agreement of bonding.

The very knowledge of the ring being on Ciel's hand was making me ecstatic.

It however also meant that I had to keep myself away for the time being, the twelve days being the crucial time.

'If only he knew...' I thought to myself as I imagined all the possible outcomes of these days. It was not pleasant.

I was thrown out of my thoughts by a soft whimper which came from Ciel's mouth, the said boy's features turning pained as a nightmare must have come over to haunt his sleep.

"Shush..." I only whispered as I placed my hand on his forehead, the warmness of his skin startling me a bit. It has been some time since I had the opportunity to touch him. When a warm red glow surrounded my hand and the hurt expression on Ciel's face disappeared I only hummed in content. At least something of the magic of the growing bond has been proved active and accessible.

I was about to stand up when suddenly I felt a grip on my clothes.

It was by no means a tight one, nor a one from which I could not break from however...

"Don't leave..." Ciel whispered in his sleep as his delicate hand tightened the grip slightly. That was enough for me to sit down on the bed, caressing the slightly frowning boy's cheek.

"Don't worry..." I whispered back, a genuine smile tugging at my lips "I'm not going anywhere."

I stayed like that for the entirety of the night, watching him. I stayed like that until I felt him start to stir as a consciousness was already overtaking his mind.

And soon I was gone leaving only a trace of my presence gentler than a whisper behind.

-/-/-

(Ciel's POV)

'I haven't slept this good for some time.' were the first words that formed in my mind when I woke up that day. However as soon as my mind cleared I realized that it might not be as good a day as my sleep was. That has taken my good mood down a few notches.

And true to my prediction that day really was a bad one.

-/-/-

It started with MeyRin breaking a cup from my favourite set. No big deal? Maybe I would think so also, if it was not a start of chain-reaction that destroyed the set. It being the only thing to survive the fire in "one piece". I felt like crying when I saw the pile of shards. I however managed not to show it.

Later on, Elizabeth came again... I never wished to kill someone more.

-/-

"Ciel!" she exclaimed loudly even if I was mere meter from her, being the one to open the door. Needless to say that I was sure that my hearing has suffered a permanent damage. At least I managed to evade the hug she wanted to pull me into.

"Elizabeth... what do you want?" I asked, losing the battle with a poisonous undertone which was to come with those words.

"I just really wanted to see you!" she squealed - 'Ugh...' - and tried to touch me again.

'Well I did not...' I thought to myself whilst saying "And why would that be?"

"Because we did not really get to talk the last time I came over with mum and..."

"Elizabeth... enough..." I stopped her somehow whilst rubbing my temples. "I'm really tired today..." 'Having to listen to your annoying whiny voice...' "Please, just go home today..."

-/-

In the end it took me another half an hour of stressing my migraine - with the very person who caused it - and a promise to having a time for visiting around New Year's for her to leave.

The rest of that awful day went on pretty much the same as usual one would... except for when I went to sleep as I realized something.

'Tomorrow is a Christmas Eve.'

That only brought a new wave of sadness to me, an empty house on Christmas day being what haunted me in my dreams.

-/-/-

(Sebastian's POV)

I watched Ciel's day from sidelines.

From the start to the end...

It really was not a day I would want to experience myself.

What however pained me the most was the way he cried in his sleep when I came to watch him yet again.

'So much sorrow...' I thought, imagining just how many demons could get attracted to a sorrow this big if it was not for the protection the ring gave Ciel.

It was a scary realisation.

"Just a bit more, my sweet..." I whispered into his ear, my voice calming him down for some reason or the other. Like that I whispered to him, calmed him, whenever the time of dreams came during the night.

Only when he stirred into wakefulness did I leave.

-/-/-

(Ciel's POV)

When I woke up on the December 23rd I was only blank...

My first thoughts of the day came only when I was having a breakfast in front of the fireplace which was lit in the living room, providing a pleasant warmth.

Those first thoughts went to Sebastian.

'Won't he come even today? We've made the plans to spend Christmas together weeks ago...' I asked myself sadly as I watched the fire in the fireplace, stirring a spoon in my cup of tea, until it went cold.

Like that I spent most of the day.

Moping around, doing nothing, mostly feeling sorry for myself - not a nice feeling, let me tell you - always returning to the fireplace.

I watched with some morbid fascination as the fire died out, the air around me getting colder. I only coughed as a cold breeze wafted around and caused me to shiver... along with irritating my lungs.

'If it could only stop like this back then also...' I sighed as I went to my room, taking a glimpse of the outside. The sky got dark already... and I gave up.

'There's no way he'll come now, is there?' I asked myself. I however quickly brushed it off, not wanting to give myself false hopes.

Thinking that I went to sleep.

The sheets have never felt so cold before...

And the house has never felt more empty.

Ahem... so first of all... I am SO very FUCKING sorry for making you wait so long people, however when writer's block catches up with me it is a big b*tch and refuses to let go... that and a work overload I get from school... take these two and you get... well .. a one long overdue chapter... SORRY! (Q.Q)

I love you all (-o.o)-

See ya~ ( "-.-)/