Chapter 7: Danny POV

My dear love,

Summer has arrived, and the land is beginning to show it! I have a small patch of plants in my yard that Finnian would be proud of. I have some carrots and have to keep the goats away from the small lettuce heads that are coming up beside the pin. I'm going to rebuild this week to make sure there is more room between their eager mouths and mine!

Easton is lovely. The people here are just as I remembered - friendly and kind. I have started to make friends with a few of the farmers, and we are going to help supply the town store with fresh fruits and produce. The locals are thrilled to have the apple orchard back and about to produce again.

On a personal note, my dear love, I miss you. Not really a surprise, I am sure, but I miss Feeding with you. Is that an odd thing to say or think? I miss having you beside me as I am Feeding, and your comforting hand in mine as we walk back home….

The warm breeze was welcoming. I had been cooped up on the farm for too long and even the beautiful trees were itching my skin as I walked around them, watering. I left for Trumball, a town further away, under the cover of late evening. I ran. It felt so freeing to run, jump, soar for a little while. I wasn't as graceful or majestic as Sebastian, and I had not yet, literally, earned my wings, but I could run across the treetops, and lightly land on tree branches, sending up birds and startling the squirrels. I dropped down near the town, a bustling city really, and walked down the alley, blending into the evening crowd.

I picked up a few things such as a new dress and fabric to repair some pants that my lovely dog, the lovely hunting dog he is, thought attacking them as they dried by the fire was his way of protecting me. Brit had sulked afterwards and had hid under the bed as I scolded him. I smiled as I walked down the street and passed a pet shop. Maybe a small treat for him, since he was still a puppy.

The items fit into the small bag I had slung around my waist, to safely carry things as I traveled. The Hunger was growing and I turned back to where I came, walking down side streets to avoid unnecessary Souls.

"A beautiful lady should not be going around unchaperoned," a man's voice said as I walked across the dark street. I turned and saw a man smiling and walking toward me. Another man was behind him, shuffling slowly.

"I am quite fine, thank you," I said. His Soul would do, but I didn't want to be seen by the other man. Perhaps if I stalled, or appeared to finally give in after the other man left, I could Feed. "The streets seem safe enough."

"And you look lovely," he replied. "I merely wish to help you stay that way."

I lifted an eyebrow and looked him over. The other man had disappeared between two houses. "Thank you kind man. I'm still getting my bearings around here."

"New to the city? Ya, you sound like you came from the boat," he said, stepping beside me. "I like foreign women. You all need protecting."

"I do not need protecting," I said, an edge to my voice as I slide my eyes away from him. The streets were empty. As we passed another alley, I suddenly turned and grabbed the man by the throat and pulled him into the darkness.

But the darkness wasn't still and suddenly a flash of a blade and a stinging of a fist came at me, catching me unaware as I was pulled now to the ground. I kicked and was free for a moment, then the man gripped my throat and leaned into my face, his hot breath now stale and venomous.

"Stay down, woman. In your place," he growled, and I kicked him in the lower region, sending him stumbling back. Another two stepped up and kicked me in the stomach, sending me back to my knees. One yanked my hair and I gasped at the pain. The one who had kicked me grabbed my left arm and wrenched it back snarling as I did the same back. But his was not a Demon's growl, it was a Human. A hungry Human for a different meal all together. I shook my head as he leaned into my face.

"Bitch," the original man spat and slapped me in the face. His hands ripped my dress away and he laughed as his hands traveled lower, and I only thought of my beloved, my Sebastian, was the only one who had any right to lay hands on me, and I lunged.

I lost my form, sinking my claws into them, ripping them, making their screams curl into the night, cutting off as soon as they began, I pulled the man's arms from their bodies, and I snapped their necks. My eyes focused on the air above me as I ran, and I leaped. I stumbled and fell to the ground, my bare knees and legs scratching the dirt. I scrambled up to stand, to run once more, and I found the leaves of the trees, slapping me, the branches unyielding as I pushed them back. Tears were running down my face and I was sure I looked like a right mess with blood streaking down my dress. I finally got to my cottage and I fell down before the door, the chickens scattering in a squawk and clucked as they moved to find more food in the dirt. I crawled into the house, Brit barking at me, sniffing me, and finally snatching the treat that I had gotten.

I crawled into the bed, dirty and tired. I would clean up in the morning. I would face what had happened in the morning.

Brit woke me up with his deep woofs. They were urgent and he was pacing the front of the door, digging his claws on the stone floor, and jumped up on the door.

"Brit, down, common, let's see what is going on." I grabbed my shotgun, just in case a wild animal was attacking the chickens or had gotten into the goat pen. I opened the door and winced as the beams of sunlight hit my eyes, and Brit went off in the direction of the grove of trees blocking the lane and the cottage. I narrowed my eyes and tried to see, but the blinding light and the aches all over my body made me acutely aware I had not Fed during my attack. I heard a noise and Brit's barking stopped and started at a much less urgent tone.

"Brit? Common boy," I said, rounding the clump of trees. I heard rustling rush at me as I suddenly had my hearing back, and I cocked the gun and took aim at the now moving trees. Brit ran out and I re-aimed, as a hand stuck out, and an arm emerged, and suddenly -

"Earl Phantomhive!?"

"Ah, could you, perhaps move that gun from my face?" he said, eyeing me. His contract shone bright under his patch and I could see he was not mad as he said it, rather, trying to be casual. "I come in peace - no redcoats coming here."

"I am not sure that is a wise thing to even joke about in front of an American, my Lord," another voice said, and another face emerged from the trees. I lowered my gun a fraction and blinked. His… red eyes. His smile and…

"Sebastian," I whispered. It was like a wave came over me and I surged forward, my fingers went numb, the gun slipping to the ground, and suddenly I was facing the ground as well. But I felt hands, strong, strong hands, on me, picking me up. I looked up and as my world went black, I saw the red eyes of my lover boring into mine.

Once more I was awoken to Brit, but this time it was his tongue bathing my face. I pushed him off of me and I groaned. My body hurt about as much as it did when I was going through my change. I groaned again as I tried to sit up.

"Lay back down, for god's sakes!"

I opened my eyes and saw the Earl bending over me, his hands on my shoulders, easing me back. "Please… stop," I said softly. "You have a lot to explain."

He lifted his hands and backed off, sitting in the chair beside the couch I was laying on. I heard the pouring of water and smelled the sweet aroma of tea. I closed my eyes and breathed in deep. I had acquired the taste of fine tea during my time as a Reaper, but it was my year at the Phantomhive Manor that made it even sharper. American tea did not satisfy that need for the strong and fine flavor that British tea leaves held.

"My lady," Sebastian's soft voice said, as I opened my eyes and there was a fine bone china cup with matching plate, being handed to me. I sat up and winced again, breathing through the pain. I took the cup and brought my eyes up to meet his.

"Thank you."

He handed a cup to the Earl and sat down as well, eyeing me. "We do have much to explain," he said after a moment. "But so do you."

I eyed him and frowned. "My bruises I am assuming because I can't think of anything else that would warrant an explanation."

"Shall I go first?" the Earl said after a moment. I simply eyed him and he sipped his tea and sighed. "Vincent has been having some… problems -"

"Not my problem," I said, moving a bit slower than I wished as I got up. "I solved all the ones I could. And now I am no longer under your thumb. I'm not tied to you or the young Master."

"Tutor -"

"Daniella. It's Daniella," I said, spinning around, the teacups flying out of both our hands. I leaned into his face and I took in a deep breath. His Soul was so beautiful. It smelled so wonderful. A hand clamped on my back and pulled me back, and I was facing Sebastian instead. His hands were on my cheeks and he was looking at me with concern.

"My Lord, please step outside."

The Earl walked calmly across the small space and slipped out of the house, Brit trotting after him. Sebastian stroked my cheek and brought me back to focus on him.

"Danny. Daniella… my love. You haven't Fed."

I shook my head, not even trying to hide anything anymore. "How did you find me?"

He chuckled. "Your letters." He reached into his jacket and pulled out the stack I had sent by now. He placed them on the table and reached back in and pulled out a small vial. "A gift for the host," he whispered as he put it in my hands. "Drink."

I looked down and he pushed it up a little.

"You have had this before," he said gently, opening the cap. "When the need was too great."

"Leave," I whispered, bringing the bottle to my lips. The taste of pure Soul hit me and I only sipped it once, already feeling better. "Please, Sebastian, take your Master and leave."

"My love," he said frowning. "The Earl has come to try to bring you back."

I replaced the small cork on the bottle and looked at him. I saw his eyes widen as I took a step forward and thrusted the bottle back into his hands. "You stated the answer to his question in your statement. Try. He may try to do anything he wishes, Sebastian, but he is not going to walk into my home - on my land - and find me willing."

Sebastian stepped into my space, closing the distance. "You know the state the Master has been in. The way the young Master has been acting." He paused and frowned. "Why would you push him away?"

I looked at him and then back at the closed door. "What? The young Master has had…" I sat down and looked down at my hands. "I never heard that - read that."

Sebastian sat beside me. "I wrote about how he ran away from school a few months ago. I found it strange you didn't write about it, but I thought maybe you wanted to only know about the good things."

"Oh god, I'm so sorry! I just reacted and thought the Earl was here because he wanted to show off. He… he is really here to bring me back?"

"Shall I fetch him so you can talk to him? We traveled a long way to only go back," he said with a smile. "And not even a kiss," he added.

I threw myself at him and his arms wrapped around me. I sank into them and turned my face into his. "I'm glad you're here. I am so sorry I asked you to leave."

He laid his lips on mine and smiled, making me smile as well. He turned his head and kissed me, softly, and then deepening it as I pulled him closer. I felt the tears slipping down my face and he brushed them away, gently holding me tighter.

"Shall I go fetch Earl Phantomhive now?"

I nodded and he helped me stand up. He left me and I smoothed down my dress, the same one I realized that was still bloody. I moved, stronger now, but still feeling the beating on my body. I walked behind the dressing screen as the door opened. "I'm changing, but please, take a seat. I… I profusely apologize, Earl Phantomhive," I said as I heard them move across the room.

"Sebastian explained. I suppose living on your own has made you suspicious. And I am very much to blame for that. I didn't let you explain when I told you to leave, and I am sorry for that."

I blinked as I peeked around the screen. My eyes met Sebastian, who was sitting, facing me, and was looking down at Brit and then at me. The Earl - the King's Watchdog - was apologizing? "Go on," I said, and ducked back to put on my loose work shirt.

"Vincent has been purposely failing his classes and has run away," the Earl went on. He cleared his throat. "He was caught trying to buy a ticket to Wales."

I came around the screen, catching the small bit of desire that zipped through Sebastian's eyes as I walked. I looked down at my pants, loose to let the cool air flow as I worked, and my blouse was buttoned just past my breasts. I raised an eyebrow back and he simply smiled.

"Wales?" I asked as I sat down, now on the chair the Earl had sat in earlier. "Why… oh, my previous posts." I said, thinking back to the many conversations I had had with the young Master about my previous families. They were all based on my Reaps, but no one needed to know about that. "He thinks I am still in England."

"At first, yes," the Earl said. "He found letters saying you were in America." He sat back and looked at me for a moment. "He tried to buy a ticket to a steamer to come here a few weeks ago. I thought I had settled the matter earlier, but apparently he is determined to have you back," he paused and added, "Daniella."

I sighed and closed my eyes. The young Master was actively trying to find me? "Why? Why does he want me back? He called me a liar, and you took it and threw me out." I felt myself grow hotter and felt Sebastian's hand slide over mine. "You can't come here and say he wants me and then just expect me to drop my life here and come back."

The Earl looked surprised and looked at Sebastian and then at me. "I thought you would be glad to come back. To be tutoring Vincent again. Or at the very least to be with Sebastian."

"I would be welcoming the offer, for all those things, if I knew why. I was… rather placed into a situation where I told the young Master my deepest secret and he got scared. I shouldn't have done that, but I did what I had to, to calm things." I looked at Sebastian with a glare and sighed, softening my gaze towards him and looked back at the Earl. "He can manage without me. He is smart enough to do that."

"Yes, he is smart, but he also is a child," the Earl said. "A child who made a mistake and is paying for it, and realized it wasn't a good choice."

"We all make choices," I said, standing and walking to the tea kettle. "Like telling me not to ever come back. To not show my face ever again to you - or to the young Master," I said, placing the kettle on the stove. I turned and looked him in the eye and added, "Earl Phantomhive."

He hung his head for a moment and then laughed. "You are a Demon for sure."

"I learned it from the best. Now, kindly leave."

"I deserve that," he said at last. "But Vincent deserves his tutor back. So you can throw me out, but I'll come back." He stood and walked over to the kitchen table and placed a paper on it and looked up at me. "You will come back for him."

"The only way I do that, is because he begs." I took a step forward and smiled. "And I Mark him."

He inhaled and looked at me. "I thought you were the Demon with Humanity."

"I'm also the Demon who has been hurt by having Humanity in me. I've worked hard, so very hard, this past several months bringing things back from the dead." I stalked the Earl like he was pray and smiled as he took a small step back. I felt Sebastian rise out of his chair and his eyes on me, watching, ready - ready to defend his Master. His Mark. His Contract. I pointed at him and snarled, "Leave and take your cleverly disguised, justice serving, manipulating Master out of my house." I looked back at the man in front of me, the Human who had ripped me deeper than my claws had when he told me to leave those I had learned to love. I had opened myself to be loved again. "You, Earl Phantomhive, are the problem to your son's downfall. I don't trust you - do you understand? You made a decision, to come here, to stand before me, thinking that you could appeal to me and my heart, my Humanity? Oh, no, that child - that boy - will not automatically get his Tutor back. His Tutor who 'lied' about being a man, who was beginning to be true to herself, would come back because he wants her back? No. No… leave. Before you both are torn apart."

Sebastian pulled the Earl away and stared at me, his eyes a mix of awe, hardness, and understanding. I let myself burst out as the door closed, I filled the very spaces that they had been in with my darkness, my sadness, my cries. I knocked over the table, shattered the earthen pots I used, tore the cottage I had carefully built, down around me, trying to bury the parts of me that had made me Human.