A/N: Another collective "thank you!" goes out to all those who reviewed the last chapter! I really appreciate it! Anyway, on to chapter 7, which is in Ciel's POV again.
Warnings: none
I arrived home later that afternoon, quite a distance away from my obnoxious siblings. My asthma always limited my ability to perform even the most mundane physical feat, which unfortunately includes walking quickly. I kept my new treasure hidden snugly behind my sleeve. I couldn't let it be discovered. Not only would Mr. Michaelis likely get into trouble, but (perhaps more importantly) the ring would undoubtedly be taken from me. Strange as it was, I didn't want to part with it.
My two eldest brothers were bickering about some ridiculous football player when we finally made it back inside Beasley's flat. The argument had escalated into mild shoving. Callum usually had a clear head and refrained from petty fighting like this, but Julian had a habit of antagonizing people to their breaking point. He usually left me alone though, and for that I was immeasurably grateful. Miss. Beasley was working late, so the pack apparently felt the need to be gratuitously rowdy. Violet and Maddy got to work fighting over some useless doll. Callum and Julian continued their spar once they realized Beasley wasn't home to stop them. Rajesh sheepishly wandered into the kitchen to avoid the scuffle.
As I usually did, I went back to our bedroom; the only place I could go to escape those twits at the moment. I lifted my sleeve so that I could get a better look at the beautiful ring my teacher had gifted me. It was even more breathtaking than I had originally thought. Now I could make out the intricate details and see my own, stupefied reflection in the shimmering blue stone. I had to wonder what kind of stone it as. At first I thought it to be a sapphire, but upon closer inspection it seemed entirely too stunning.
The screams had long since stopped, much to my relief. Still, my head was no more clear now than it had been since the moment my teacher slipped the ring on my finger. I felt significantly more stressed; things that usually wouldn't bother me were starting to. It was troubling but I simply didn't care enough to remove the apparent source of my discomfort.
I plopped down, harshly, onto my bed; eager to just spend the rest of the day relaxing. I could still hear those useless sods bickering outside the door, though their voices seemed muted. The entire world felt still and calm. There was a foreboding presence about the air, almost as though the devil himself was lurking the halls.
On the ceiling, crawling ominously into a corner, was a thick, black spider. I sat there watching it for what seemed like only minutes (and what was actually an hour). It busied itself with spinning a web. Carefully, meticulously. . . it would swing from one end of the wall to the other. Suddenly, it stopped dead in it's tracks. There it sat, absolutely still, for the longest time. I had this feeling that it saw me. . . that it was staring at me. . .
Before my waking eyes, I saw a flash of gold. Sharp, golden eyes, behind a pair of spectacles. They were hungry. I gasped after the vision faded, not knowing what it meant. Perhaps, just as with my dreams, it meant nothing. Just a collection of nonsense.
The spider continued its task, leaving me with chills. I wanted to smash it but I couldn't find the strength to move. So, with nothing else to do, I closed my tired eyes. I hadn't even drifted to sleep before my mind conjured up more ridiculous rubbish. First, a boy, with fair hair and blue eyes. He smiled before flashing his tongue, upon which was a brown and gold pentagram. As quickly as the vision came, it was gone; only to be replaced by the image of the man with the golden eyes fighting with my history teacher. . . both of them wearing tailcoats.
I had the urge to open my eyes, for fear of what I might see next if I kept them closed; but I didn't. Just like the previous visions, that one vanished, making room for the next one. Which happened to be a young girl, with massive blonde banana curls and sorrowful green eyes. She was dressed in black and weeping loudly. She was followed by a collection of pastries and confections, all of which looked as though they had been prepared for royalty and none of which I had ever seen before. I could even smell them, as if they were right under my nose.
It was all so overwhelming that I had to open my eyes. When I did, the visions stopped. They had all been so clear, specific, and vivid, that I had a difficult time writing them off as mere trash. Perhaps Mr. Michaelis was right, maybe my mind is trying to tell me something. What it might've been, I hadn't the slightest. I sighed, looking back at the spider, who was still hard at work. It wasn't long though, before my eyelids grew heavy once again, and I was claimed by sleep.
My slumber was interrupted, for the second time, by my teacher. He drew back the curtains to the massive bedroom that I had only seen once before, yet it seemed so very familiar to me. I could place where all of my personal belongings were and I instinctively knew how to manoeuvre the halls of this manor. It was as though I had been living in this lavish estate my entire life.
I rose, sleepily, and accepted a cup of tea; delivered to me by Mr. Michaelis. It was the best cup of tea I had ever tasted, and yet it felt dull; as if it was a flavour I was much too acquainted with. Mr. Michaelis, in his usual form, was smiling at me. I began to speak, however, the words that escaped my lips weren't my own.
"What's on the agenda for today, Sebastian?" I asked, my voice low and refined, despite the fact that I had just woken up. Only just then had I realized that I had never heard my history teacher's given name before. I wasn't even sure that it was "Sebastian," though I had to admit, the name did suit him.
"You have French with Monsieur Bennett at ten. Followed by lunch at noon. At two, you have fencing lessons, followed by afternoon tea. You then have an appointment with a reporter at 'The Times' at four. Then high tea at five and supper at six," my teacher recited merrily, moving to the other side of the room, where he had laid out a beautiful ensemble for me, consisting of blue and black silk and adorned with black lace.
"That's fine," I mumbled, sipping my tea gingerly.
"Would you like to take breakfast in the dining hall, or would you prefer to take it in the atrium?" he asked, still with a smile.
"Are the roses still in bloom?" I sighed.
"They are, indeed." I handed him my saucer and cup and shuffled out of my giant bed. The carpeted floor was much warmer on my feet than the cold hardwood floors in Beasley's flat. I stretched, my nightshirt riding up just a bit as I did.
Mr. Michaelis brought my clothes over to me and began unbuttoning my shirt. It made my heart race, having someone that close to me, removing my clothes. Yet, as with most of the odd occurrences today, it also seemed casual and familiar. He finished dressing me, high heeled shoes and all, and I led the way to the atrium. It was filled with foliage, particularly these gorgeous white roses, which filled the room with a heavenly scent.
Mr. Michaelis placed a dish before me, full of delectable looking cuisine. He proceeded to map out the course list, but I had absolutely no idea what any of it was. It sounded good though. I got to work filling my vacant stomach with Mr. Michaelis' delicious meal. He simply stood by my side, making me feel a bit uncomfortable.
There was commotion in the hall, just outside the atrium. Screaming, followed by the sound of breaking glass. Mr. Michaelis sighed.
"Shall I see to that, my lord?" he inquired, obviously a little annoyed.
"Yes," I replied, sounding bored. My teacher (or perhaps butler) casually walked out into the hall. I could hear him from where I sat.
"Mei-Rin, what in the world did you trip over this time?!" he yelled. Without having seen this woman he was screaming at, I could still see a clear image of her in my head. She was a red head, with large, round spectacles and an obnoxious cockney accent.
"Sorry, mister Sebastian! It's just me own two feet! I'll clean it up right away!" she howled apologetically. I could hear her shuffle off as Mr. Michaelis returned to my side.
"You trust that she'll be able to clean up her mess without making more of one?" I asked, slightly amused, as I sipped more of my tea.
"Not in the slightest. But I have more pressing matters to see to; your French tutor is due to arrive any minute now," he hummed with a grin. I felt an unimaginable dread creep into my gut. Apparently, French lessons were not very fun.
"In that case, go see to it that Monsieur Bennett is courteously greeted with our signature Phantomhive hospitality," I commanded, shooing the man away with my hand, as though he were a dog. He placed his right hand on his heart and bowed.
"Yes, my lord," he replied before turning on his heel and walking toward the door. The way he had said those words gave me chills unlike anything I've ever felt. It was almost as if I had come face to face with a ghost of the past.
I woke, once again, with a start. At first, the dreams of my teacher in a tailcoat were vague, they just seemed to be nonsense. But now, those obscure images had a story. . . a story that seemed far more intimate than they should have. My stomach lurched and my throat convulsed, as I fought back a very sudden urge to vomit. I had to jump out of bed, waking Julian in the process, and rush to the loo. I made it just in time to empty my stomach. I sat there, dumbfounded, on the cold tile floor for about ten minutes. I was unsure if all of this had any particular meaning. . But I was sure that I had to be going mad.
A/N: That's all, guys. I can't give you an eta on the next chapter, but hopefully it will be soon. There are only a few chapters remaining until the end, so hang in there. XD Please review! (the next chapter will likely come out sooner if I'm left with some feedback) Thanks again for reading!
Title: In the language of flowers, Magnolias mean "nobility," which is meant to represent Ciel's memories of being a noble.
