Chapter 3: A Surprising Birthday (Part 2)
"Happy Birthday Ariel!" met my ears upon entering the dining room. I instantly smiled when I saw Lizzie, Edward, Auntie Anne, Auntie Frances, Ciel, Bard, Finni, and Mei standing by the dining room table.
"Thank you all," I smiled after giving them all hugs.
"It's time for the games my darling niece!" gushed Auntie Anne while she strolled over to me to hug me to her chest.
"You should play too Sebastian," I offered. "That way you don't have to keep out of the festivities."
"Is that an order Young Mistress?" he smirked.
"It shouldn't be an order to have fun," I retorted at once. Some sort of triumph flashed in his eyes when he looked at my brother.
"As you wish, my Lady." At the sound of Sebastian using my title instead of my name, I felt an urge of irritation. What? Why am I thinking like this? I shook off this feeling to lead the group out to the garden to commence our party games.
"The game is tag," I announced. "Anyone can play if they wish." At my words, Mei, Bard, Finni, Lizzie, and Sebastian stepped forward. "Auntie Anne, could you tell us when to start?"
"Of course! The object of this game is to catch and tag the birthday girl. On your mark…get set…go!"
Five hours later found everyone still trying to catch the free little spirit that was me to my amusement. Wow, I thought, it's almost dinner time and no one has caught me yet. I found myself giggling just as strong arms picked me up to hold me above their head.
"I believe I have won Young Mistress," remarked Sebastian with a hint of amusement in his tone paired with a smirk.
"Yes, I believe you have," I returned with a soft smile as I stared down into his hypnotic wine colored eyes. I could feel my heart start a fluttering in my chest when our eyes connected. It seemed like both of our spirits were bonded through a strong cord. Could Sebastian feel this connection as well or am I just imagining it?
"Sebastian," came Ciel's voice. "Isn't it time for dinner?" The tender look was washed from Sebastian's face and eyes as he sat me back down.
"Yes, it is Master. Young Mistress, if you will excuse me," he said with a bow before he disappeared back into the house without another glance in my direction. I must have imagined it, I sighed in my head.
"It is time to return to the dining room for dinner," Ciel continued.
"Yay!" Lizzie exclaimed as she ran back into the mansion.
"It seems that I have missed the party games," came a familiar voice from my left.
"Undertaker!" I shouted with glee as I spun on my heel to launch myself into his waiting arms.
"Well hello to you too Ariel," he chuckled affectionately. "I came to celebrate your birthday with you."
"Thank you." He slowly released me to keep one of his hands on the small of my back so that he could guide me back into the mansion.
"Undertaker, why are you here?" Auntie Frances asked when she saw him helping me to my seat at the head of the table, at least for today.
"I came to celebrate the little lady's birthday. I would come to the little earl's birthdays, but he doesn't want to celebrate," he pouted from his seat to my right. I couldn't help but smile at the other man who held my affections. However, when I was around Undertaker, he would actually show me his emotions while I was always left guessing with Sebastian. Maybe I should pursue Undertaker instead, I thought to myself. In all of the years that I have pursued Sebastian I never moved from square one while with Undertaker he acted like he was interested in courting me and has even hinted at it.
"Dinner is served," Sebastian called out as he began to hand out the salads, subtly giving Undertaker a glare when he placed his food in front of him. What made him so angry, I found myself wondering before I noticed that Sebastian was pouring some pink wine in a wine glass for me. I gave him and Ciel a questioning glance at the drink.
"I have decided to let you drink wine now that you are of age to marry," Ciel announced. "Now you are a lady and you will be treated as such." I gave him a smile as I raised the glass to my lips to take a sip. Hmm, strawberries. We all ate our salad to move on to chicken alfredo, then the plates were taken away and the lights were put out while Sebastian carried a large cake over to me.
"Happy birthday to you," everyone sang. "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Ariel. Happy birthday to you." At the end of their singing I closed my eyes tight and wished as hard as I could. Please let me find my other half. Once I was done I drew in a deep breath and blew out all of the candles on top of the cake. Cheering met my ears when the lights were turned back on and we all happily ate the cake. By now I had drunk two glasses of wine and I was feeling lightheaded and giddy.
"Present time," I giggled excitedly. "Ceil, your present first." He smiled before he handed me a long, light package.
"Happy birthday Ariel." I carefully tore apart the paper to see a picture of everyone, including the Undertaker, when we were outside in the garden.
"Oh Ciel, thank you." I in turn gave him a kiss on the cheek and a hug.
"Next is a present from Edward," Auntie Frances told me. "He sends his condolences for not being able to attend the party."
"It's alright," I assured her while opening the gift. "I couldn't dream of taking him from school." To my surprise I found a beautiful silver and sapphire necklace and earring set nestled inside the package. "Oh my god. Would you please tell him thank you for me?"
"Of course."
"Mine next," Auntie Anne pressed while shoving a red box in my hands. I sat Edward's present down to open her gift to find pure white lingerie folded up. My face lit up a glorious pink before I hurriedly replaced the top the box.
"What is it my dear?" Undertaker asked, taking the box from my hands. I made to take it back, but he already had the top off and was gazing down into the box. Once he saw the clothing he burst out into uncontrollable laughter. The others came up behind him to look over his shoulder to look into the box to have various reactions. Lizzie blushed like I did while Ciel and Auntie Frances chewed out Auntie Anne about that was not proper to give me such a gift.
"Her future husband will certainly like it," she pouted which made both Lizzie and I blush harder.
"M-M-My gift next," Lizzie stuttered while handing over a slightly heavy box. I opened it to find various flower waters and makeup. Auntie Frances was the next one to give me her present of kid gloves of various lengths and colors along with a beautiful assortment of hair combs.
"Mine next," giggled Undertaker while taking my right hand. I was about to ask him what he was doing when he slid a silver Celtic band ring on my ring finger. My eyes widened at the action. This was one of the various rings that the Undertaker wore on a daily basis. If I remember correctly he had said that the ring had once belonged to his mother before she had died. Why was he giving me such a precious ring?
"Undertaker," I began only to be cut off by being pulled into a hug.
"Come to my shop tomorrow and I will explain," he whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I looked up to attempt to speak again only to be distracted by the sight of two beautiful yellow green eyes. Seeing as though he had said all he had needed to, he pulled away.
"I believe it is time for me to take my leave," he said. "Good bye Ariel, god bye all." I stood still as a statue where Undertaker had left me when I heard everyone else say that they too needed to leave for home.
"Ariel?" Ciel questioned in concern. At the sound of his voice, my body snapped out of its shock and I swayed dangerously before my legs buckled. Someone was quick enough to catch me and sweep me up into their arms. My heavy eyes then looked up into the face of Sebastian.
"Mei-Rin, please take Ariel up to her room. Sebastian, clean up then come help me ready for bed."
"Yes, my Lord," I heard from above me before I blacked out.
I don't know how much time had passed since I had blacked out, but I found myself in a dream with me in my nightgown and in my bed. I also couldn't help but feel a presence in the room.
"Hello," I called out tentatively. The shadows then moved and a body of shadow pushed itself from the darkness to reveal that it was Sebastian who was in my room when he hit a patch of moonlight. "Sebastian?" When I spoke he only stood in the middle of the room. With furrowed brows I pushed my covers off and swung my legs to the side of the bed so that I could get up.
"Sebastian," I tried again when I stood only inched away from him. He gave me a small smile that spoke volumes of tender affections which stunned me. Sebastian was actually smiling and wearing emotions on his face!
"Ariel," he breathed a second before he slammed his lips onto mine. In response I froze and my eyes widened. What was he doing?! Why am I having this dream?! The scene didn't play for that long because my mind was soon swept into darkness of dreamless sleep.