Lunara: Hello again and welcome to the REVISED/EDITED chapter 4! :D Again, not much change at all. It's pretty much the same chapter only minor alterations and such. If you're reading this for the first time, then please ignore this, but DO NOT ignore the AN in the Edited Chapter 5(once that's up that is...) Chapter 5 is where I plan to start the major changes and it probably won't line up with Chapter 6+ just though you ought to know before you get confused and write me angry reviews .
-Cerelia's POV-
I followed Sebastian through the entire manor again, in yet another dress only this time the skirt only fell a bit past my knees so I might not be as tempted to rip it off like the other one. This time through he was explaining a cleaning schedule instead of showing me where everything was. It was all so much to take in. By the time he was showing me how to set the table for dinner and actually save dinner from Bard's explosives, my head felt like it was going to burst.
I leaned against the counter of the kitchen, slightly panting, as he explained where things were and different recipes. I wasn't really paying attention to what he was doing. Instead, I was focusing more on the proceeds of today. Two tours, both with different information, one tiring fight with Sebastian and last but not least, being hired as an assistant to the Phantomhive's mysterious butler.
"Why don't I show you to your new room?" Sebastian asked out of the blue, bringing me out of my thoughts.
"Y-Yes please," I stuttered a bit, realizing that while in deep thought I had managed slide down the counter into a comfortable sitting position with my head against the cupboard.
I stood quickly, brushed myself off, and followed him through the servant halls he had warned that I would be drilled on tomorrow. We entered a cozy little room with a decent sized bed. I saw a white nightgown on the hook in the opened door of a wardrobe. Inside, there was another copy of the uniform I wore, making me wonder how many there were and another uniform that seemed to be a lot warmer. It was probably for winter.
"This will be your room. It will need to be kept clean and will be checked once a month for such cleanliness." Sebastian explained. "As we already went over, bathroom and shower are just across the hall. You will also receive two, more fitting, uniforms and a proper winter uniform for when the weather turns."
"Thank you," I responded, tired but impressed.
"Please, come with me for one moment. I should probably change those bandages on your head." Sebastian informed. He didn't exactly give me a choice as he began ushering me to the bathroom.
"Oh, right," I had completely forgotten my head was wrapped, let alone how I hurt it. I think I fell, but I wasn't too sure. Watching Sebastian leave to get supplies, I sat down on the stool.
Soon enough the wound was cleaned out and a fresh bandage adorned my head. It made my hair feel weird as it was restrained in some spots.
"I have to go see to the young master's dinner. Why don't you take a bath and go to bed? You can start up bright and early tomorrow morning." He offered as he cleaned up.
"Sure, thank you," I wasn't going to turn down an offer like that. A bath and sleep after today sounded like heaven. I felt sticky and dirty in this manor so clean, so the bath was going to happen regardless, but sleep afterwards instead of starting on my new duties? Now that was a deal.
He bowed before leaving me alone in the room. I locked the door and started up the bath, watching as the hot water slowly filled the tub.
-Sebastian's POV-
I mentally scolded myself for letting myself feel worried about her. I knew already that she would be fine. She had handled herself well all day considering the head injury she was suffering from. So why was I concerned to leave her alone? I blamed it on having her as a tail for the entire day. I'd become used to her presence in only a few hours. Its was strange.
My head was a bit fogged while I continued my way up the steps to the kitchen. Being distracted in my own thoughts with that as a second contributing factor, I barely noticed when I almost walked right into Bardroy. Thankfully, I stopped myself and stepped aside before a collision could happen.
"Whoa Sebastian," Bard chuckled, stepping back. "What's got you so distracted?"
"Nothing at all," I answered quickly, rather ruffled at being caught distracted.
"So, you gonna tell us?" Bard asked, leaning against the counter next to me. This caused me to simply stand up straight and move to the other side. I wasn't comfortable with these three. Too much destruction followed them.
"Tell you what?" I attempted to keep the annoyance out of my voice at his lack of specific details.
"If we've got another servant with us! We all saw you sparring with her earlier." He pressed, smirking at the end.
"I'll announce that in morning. For now, please let my finish my job before the young master gets annoyed that his dinner was late." I stated briskly, picking up the chopped vegetables and placing them in the pot.
"Oh! Agni taught me how to cook this!" Bard announced, going to the other side and pulling out the ingredients I was just about to collect. He seemed rather excited to know what I was cooking.
"I see, so you'll actually be able to cook this without the use of flamethrowers, dynamite or any other explosive?" I asked, raising an eyebrow in interest.
"Of course! He called me de'Chef!" Bard struck a pose and went about cutting and chopping things with his goggles on.
"I'll leave things to you then," I nodded to him before leaving, making sure to keep one ear on the kitchen as I went about the manor just in case. You could never be sure afterall.
I cleaned most of the manor by the time dinner and dessert was served. Ciel didn't even notice that his meal was prepared by Bard, which impressed me quite a bit. After dinner and seeing my master to bed, I made my way to my room where I was ordered to stay until morning.
To pass the time, I listened to the breathing patterns of the servants, finding everyone asleep, but one had a separate pattern from the calm sleep the others had. It was Cerelia and her breaths were slightly quicker like that of my master's when he was having fitful sleep.
I was concerned for reasons unknown to me. I usually didn't care whether any of the servants were having nightmares. They all usually worked it out on their own without any need for intervention. I waited for awhile and, sure enough, her breathing reduced to the regular and soft lull of peaceful sleep.
I jolted awake and sat up from my now messed up bed. By some strange either curse or miracle, I had managed to fall asleep. It didn't take me long to worry about what time it was and my pocket watch was in my hand from its hanger by my bed in a flash.
5a.m.
A sigh of relief escaped me and I stood up, stretching out now tired muscles. Apparently with sleep I had also acquired the slow, lethargic movements of the other servants after they just woke up. I went to my wardrobe and took out a fresh set of clothes before swiftly changing into them, hoping the lethargic movements were cease by the time the others woke up. I'd never really had them before thus was uncertain how long they'd last.
I silently walked across the hall to Cerelia's room. While the other servants didn't need to be up until at most 6:30, a butler is always up at least an hour beforehand to get everything set up and organized so things could get started quickly and efficiently.
I opened the door as silently as possible and walked to where Cerelia slept. She was facing my way, most likely having been looking out the window before falling asleep since the curtains were cracked just enough for her to do that.
I knelt next to the sleeping girl and gently shook her shoulder.
-Cerelia's POV-
I jumped slightly with a small gasp as I felt someone shaking my shoulder. While it was a desperate wish to go back to sleep, I doubted I would be able to. I groggily opened my eyes to find Sebastian kneeling next to my bed. He was far enough away that I wasn't startled, but close enough to wake me without much trouble.
"S-Sebastian?" I whispered, still half-awake.
"Good, you're up. Come along now. It's time for us to get started." He spoke at a normal volume, motioning towards the door with his head.
I nodded and silently got out of the bed and pulled a robe on before going to the hooks and gathering a uniform to wear. It consisted of a flowing red skirt that went to the ankle, black apron, white collared shirt, deep red vest, black waistcoat, tie, black socks and, to top it all off, a pair of black shoes. I looked back at Sebastian who simply nodded before leaving.
Taking the new outfit before following him out, I closed the door behind me. After quickly changing in the bathroom, doing up my hair around the bandages in a loose bun with some of my bangs hanging loose on the left side.
I looked down at the tie, still draped over the hanger and brought it around my neck. I had no clue how to tie a tie. After a few attempts, frustrated tugs and guesses, I had successfully tied a rather difficult knot around my neck that I knew wasn't right. I couldn't even slip it over my head to get it off. A knock distracted me from my futile struggles to undo the invincible knot.
"Cerelia, are you alright? You're going to be late at this rate." Sebastian's voice warned from the other side.
"I'm fine, but would you mind helping me with the tie?" I asked, walking over and opening the door.
His expression was surprised before he chuckled a bit; obviously amused at the mess I'd gotten myself into.
"My, my, you've got yourself into quite the predicament." He teased. "I doubt even the young master would be able to pull this off."
"Hey, it's not that bad," I defended myself as I bit my lip, a bit embarrassed. "…is it?"
"I won't lie, it is rather bad, though it's nothing to be ashamed of. It took me a little while to get the hang of it too." Sebastian confessed as he swiftly undid the knot. "Now, listen closely, I won't tell you again."
I followed Sebastian to the kitchen. He gave me a recipe card and told me how to use all the tools and utensils in the kitchen. I nodded and began to work. Apparently I was to make a berry scone and a few other small dessert like dishes.
"Remember, don't leave the scones in too long. They burn easily." Sebastian reminded as he set to work on the tea.
"Alright," I walked about, gathering all the necessary scone ingredients.
I noticed Sebastian had stopped and was looking at my hair. He came up behind me and I felt him string something around the bun.
"There, something to offset all the black," He explained, bringing one hand before my face to show me the end of a red ribbon that I assumed he had tied in my hair.
I smiled a bit at it, finding it rather sweet of him compared to how dark he seemed to be. I had a feeling I shouldn't, but I was starting to trust him more and more. After thanking him before returning to my efforts at cooking, I watched the butler turn to take care of his portion of the breakfast preparations out of the corner of my eye.
Soon I had berry scones, cherry almond tart and a small spiced walnut cake. Sebastian had to help me with the tart and cake, but I could proudly say that the scones were all my doing. Including the slightly burnt scone that was set aside for the manor's dog that I have yet to see yet.
"You've done very well. Now, do you think you could set the table for breakfast while I serve the young master his tea?" Sebastian asked.
"I think so," I responded, digging through what I actually remembered for the placements of dishes on the table for breakfast.
"Everything you need to know about setting a table can be found in this book," Sebastian explained, pulling out an old, leather bound book. The sight of it brought me a wave of relief.
"Thank you," I said, letting the relief sound in my voice as I gratefully accepted it.
I watched him go before following Sebastian and the book's instructions to setting the table to the best of my abilities. When I was done, I went back to the kitchen and sat at the small table in the corner I was told was for servants. As soon as I was settled, the others were just entering the kitchen. They were bleary eyed from sleep and rather tired compared to how alert Sebastian already was when he came to wake me up.
"Morning Sebastian," Bardroy yawned, not fully awake yet.
"Morning!" Finnian beamed, the only bright ray of sunshine in the room.
"Good morning Sebastian," Mei-Rin called, copying Bard's sleepy chime.
"Ho, ho, ho," Tanaka chuckled as he came over and sat near me on the floor, pulling out a traditional, Japanese tea cup from thin air.
"Good morning everyone," Sebastian called, as if on queue, entering from a door on the other side that I assumed was one of the hidden halls that wove through the manor.
I watched all the servants snap awake and look in shock between Sebastian and myself. Bard had to blink a few times while Finny just continued smiling. Mei-Rin did a double take and adjusted her glasses before pulling them off to clean them and make sure.
"Everyone, this is the new servant and my assistant, Cerelia," Sebastian explained.
"Good morning," I smiled, standing and bowing as Sebastian had showed me earlier.
"Welcome to the Phantomhive manor!" Bard winked, over his temporary shock.
"Welcome!" Finny waved.
"Welcome miss! This explains a lot, it does," Mei-Rin curtsied in response.
"Alright now, everyone, it's time to get started. Mei-Rin, today I expect the entire main floor to be spotless, also your laundry from last night needs to be brought in and folded." Sebastian started to command once we'd all exchanged greetings.
"Yes, sir!" Mei-Rin saluted seriously.
"Bardroy, for lunch I need you to prepare a simple meal of steak & kidney pie and salmon sandwiches. Finny, please weed the garden and tend to the hedges. Don't forget that your weed killer bottle is still broken." Sebastian sounded a bit annoyed at the last bit.
"Yes, sir!" The two men chorused together.
"Tanaka…you're fine with what you're doing. Now, Cerelia, you'll stick with me for today." Sebastian informed, clapping his hands together. "You all have plenty to do today. So, GET TO WORK!"
"Yes Mr. Sebastian!" They all saluted before running off to their assigned stations.
-Sebastian's POV-
The first part of the day went rather well for me. Cerelia was good at following orders and proved to be extremely efficient at alphabetizing. She and I were just going to sort through the guest rooms' bookshelves when she stopped by the music and arts room. The young master was with his governess in there, playing a wonderful tune on his violin. I could only fault the slightly timid approach he gave a passage or two.
"What kind of music is that?" Cerelia asked, tilting her head to the side.
"It is Baroque," I explained.
"Baroque?" She asked quietly, as if testing the word herself.
I raised my eyebrow in confusion, but soon confusion was replaced by surprise when she froze entirely. Her eyes stared off into the distance as if seeing something else. I tried calling to her, but all she was doing was mouthing something I couldn't piece together. It didn't look like any language I knew. Finally she looked back to me with furrowed eyebrows.
"Sebastian…I think I remember my name." She said, thinking for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I think it's…Annabell Cerelia Baroque."
"Oh?" I titled my head to the side in questioning. The simple mention of 'Baroque' had triggered her memory of her name. Other than the fact the last name lined up perfectly, it was still a large chunk of a human's memory. Now that she had that, she'd probably put the other pieces together eventually. Depending on how quickly she put those pieces together, it may just end up being sooner that he and I had predicted.
"I'm glad you've remembered, Annabell," I said, using her new first name for the first time, for some reason wanting to say it.
"Maybe, for now, could you keep calling me Cerelia? I like it better than Annabell." Cerelia asked, tilting her head to the side. I doubted I had a choice either way, but at least she asked.
"Of course. Why don't you finish this floor, I have something else to attend to." I said, tuning to leave once she nodded in agreement and walked to the next room.
As soon as I was out of her sight, I walked briskly to the study and waited for my master's violin lessons to be over. Upon hearing the usual click of my master's heels against the floor as he approached, I straightened slightly and stood at attention.
"Sebastian? What are you doing here? Also, where is Cerelia? Isn't she supposed to be with you?" My young master didn't waste a single moment to assault me with questions the moment he entered. Typical Ciel.
"I have new information regarding Cerelia. She's on the main floor organizing rooms and bookshelves." I answered.
"Ok, spit it out then," he barked impatiently, making his way to his large desk and sitting down.
"It appears her full name is Annabel Cerelia Baroque. She remembered her name after hearing you playing your violin and asking me what style of music you were playing." I explained.
"Baroque?" my master looked surprised, recognition in his eyes.
"What is it my lord?" I asked, curious to his reaction to the name.
"The Baroque family was a noble family with close ties to the Phantomhives. I remember them visiting quite often. The head of house, Earl James Baroque would always talk to my father in the study while his wife, Alexandria, and my mother would watch the Baroque children, Elizabeth and I." He explained. "Then, when I was 8 years old, the entire family and servants were slaughtered by a group of assassins. The rumor had it that only the children survived, but they were sold on the black market and shipped off making it impossible for Scotland Yard, nor my father, to find them."
"Do you think she's one of the children sold on the black market?" I turned my head to the side in interest.
"Yes I do, but why didn't my name strike anything in her?" He pondered. "If you just telling her baroque returned her name, why didn't my name ring some sort of bell as well? It would make sense since she was probably here a lot. I don't quite remember faces."
"I'm not sure, my lord." I confessed. It was rather odd. "Maybe it was said by the wrong person?"
"That could be it. My voice has changed, and my parents are gone." He went into a deep though for a couple moments before smiling at a sudden idea. "Sebastian, please arrange for Madam Red and Lady Elizabeth to visit in two days."
"Yes, my lord," I smirked, bowing.
"Also, find out anything that my father might have missed about the Baroque family." My young master added. "You are dismissed."
I nodded before leaving. I was surprisingly excited for the next two days. I found myself half hoping that she would regain just enough of her memories that she wasn't so confused, but not enough that she would know of her assassin history. I was quick to strike the hope away, curious to where it came from. The girl was simply a mystery sometimes. She hadn't been here two days and she's already stirred up so much.
-Cerelia's POV-
As I cleaned the rooms assigned to me, I couldn't help but feel as though I wasn't doing what I was supposed to. As if, it wasn't natural for me to be cleaning and organizing things. 'What if I grew up on the other side of the social system? Could I have been a noble?' I thought to myself. There was still a black haze in my mind preventing me from remembering more than my name, which had been whispered in my ear by a female voice. I clung to that voice, having a feeling I knew it and wondered if it might have been my mother.
I barely noticed when I finished and walked in a slight daze to the kitchen, sitting down at the servant's table, too deep in thought. Along with my memory problem there was that butler. Sebastian Michaelis. I was curious about him. Something about the butler felt different from the other servants though I wasn't quite sure what yet. My deep thoughts were pushed aside once Bardroy came in to prepare dinner.
"Alright! Let's get this started!" He announced, pulling out a flamethrower.
"Bard!" Sebastian and I scolded at the same time.
"What?" The chef had the perfect picture of innocence.
"Do you want to clean a burnt kitchen?" I asked, ignoring for the time being that Sebastian had literally just popped up out of nowhere.
"Well…no," Bard sighed.
"Then put that thing away," Sebastian huffed.
"Oh alright," Bard grumbled, but put his flamethrower back and began to cook like a normal person for once.
"Is there anything left for today?" I asked, turning from the chef to the butler who had moved to leave the room.
"Today's chores are completed. If you want you can go back to your room and relax until dinner." Sebastian offered.
"Oh, ok," I said, uncertain of what to do with the rest of the afternoon. I wasn't about to go to my room and do nothing. Before I left, the raven-haired man spoke again.
"In two days time we will be having two important guests coming, please be aware that the workload for tomorrow and the day after will be slightly increased," Sebastian noted.
"Yes, sir," I said to show I heard him before leaving.
Instead of going to my room, I choose to head into the garden just outside one of the windows in the servant's area of the manor that I assumed was Sebastian's room. I had noticed that Finnian never came in here. It was easy to tell by how the grass in here was perfectly even, but the front lawn was slightly off. Also, the roses and hedges were trimmed neatly, while the rest of the other gardens remained a little choppy and so far black.
I sat on a lone stone bench in the middle of the small garden. A cat poked its head out of the bush and looked up at me with curiosity. The feline's ears pricked and it came up to me, jumping up next to me and sniffing at my arm. Suddenly, the cat I assumed was a she, started purring and rubbing into me. She stepped onto my lap and laid down, making herself comfortable.
"Good evening kitty. You're looking rather well fed for someone living in a garden." I greeted her, stroking her behind the ears and down her back.
The cat's only response was a soft meow and a gentle nuzzle. It soon dozed off in my lap, tip of tail twitching from time to time.
Lunara: Please Read and Review! Favs and Follows are greatly appreciated, but reviews tell me what's on your mind! :D
