Things start getting more interesting, after this. Some unexpected twists will be popping up! I think. I don't really know how to judge my own writing from a reader's POV lol.
I wanted to take a moment to answer a great question that Madison asked: The servants are still the originals from the anime/manga. How this happened will be explained in a later chapter when more is revealed to Violet :)
Violet stood with the flowers in her hands, staring at two large grave markers in the middle of an otherwise empty cemetery. The stones were carved in the form of male and female angels, resembling her father and mother, respectively. She noticed how well everything was maintained. Beautiful, fresh flowers bloomed all around, the grass was green and springy, and the stones polished perfectly, shining bright, even in overcast skies.
"Finny tends to the maintenance of Lord and Lady's site every Wednesday," Sebastian spoke, noticing her admiring everything. He stood by her side, both for protection and support.
"So he knew this whole time where they're buried... did you? Everyone else? Why didn't any of you ever tell me, when Carol refused...?"
Sebastian sighed. "It was, as she said, dangerous for some time. My guess is she was being overly cautious after the first few years. And as you know, I was not to interfere with their wishes concerning your upbringing. Same for the others. Please forgive me for continuing to keep it from you."
Violet nodded and stepped forward, placing the flowers against each stone. That's when she felt the tears start burning up in her eyes. No, don't cry…
"I'm sorry mom, dad... I tried to come here sooner..." she whispered, feeling a lump forming in her throat. "I miss you both so much..."
Suddenly, she felt her legs give out from under her and fell to her knees. In a flash, Sebastian slowing the fall and carefully setting her down.
"Why does my family have this curse?" Violet asked after a few moments of silence, giving in to the tears now streaming down her cheeks.
"It has been that way since earl Ciel Phantomhive was a child. It is an ongoing war among the generations between the Queen's guard dog and the crime rings," he replied. "This is why I have remained in service to the family for so long. Revenge has not been executed, per the original contract."
"Why not...?"
"It's... a bit complicated. Without the proper orders from my original contract holder, I have been unable to carry out such plans."
"But grandfather Ciel has been gone for a long time, and I thought that if the one you make the contract with dies, it's voided out?" Violet asked, confused. "So you technically wouldn't be bound to our family anymore."
Sebastian shook his head. "As I said... it's complicated. I will be able to explain more after you've undergone the transformation. Only then will the plan be set in motion."
"Enough delay. When will you change me?" Violet looked at Sebastian knelt down next to her and wiped her face with the back of her hand. "I'm ready to bring these fuckers down."
"It won't be much longer. But I will not have you fighting such a battle. It is I who must exact revenge..."
"No. I want to be the one to do it, and watch the life drain out of the son of a bitch who ordered my parents dead." she growled, digging her fingers into the dirt, eyes ablaze. "I want to end this once and for all."
"My love-"
"Besides, what good is the pact to you anymore? How much more of it could even be valid? The soul you were to receive is long gone."
"Things will make more sense to you soon, I promise." Sebastian took her head in his hands and placed a kiss on her forehead. "For now, I need you to trust me, kitten." He pulled her up so they were both standing.
Violet threw her arms around him and kissed his cheek. "I do... I'm sorry, Sebastian... I just miss my parents... and I want this nightmare to end. I worry that none of the Phantomhives, living or not, will rest peacefully until it does."
Sebastian put his arm around her waist and led her towards the car where the driver waited. "I think it's time for that surprise you've been waiting for."
The driver turned off the main road and navigated the car down a long drive that was sheltered by trees, making it more of a tunnel. Not one bit of the sky could be seen through them, but there were lights strung from branch to branch, casting a calming glow.
Violet looked to Sebastian questioningly. He said nothing, but simply rest his hand atop hers.
After a few minutes, they came to a gate. The driver punched in the code, and the gate slowly swung open. Another couple minutes passed before a large manor came into view. As the car got closer, she saw 6 people standing out front, waiting.
"Is that Carol and Leon? Baldroy? Finny? Mey-Rin and Tanaka? What are they all doing here? Where are we, even?"
After the car came to a stop, Sebastian got out and opened her door, offering his hand to help her out. Violet got out and looked up at the massive structure before them. This place seems familiar, but I have no idea how...
"Welcome back to Phantomhive manor, Miss Violet," Sebastian said with a bow.
"Welcome home!" chorused the other 3 servants.
"Hoh hoh hoh," was Tanaka's greeting.
"This is..." Violet trailed off, not knowing what to say.
Carol stepped forward and placed her hands on Violet's shoulders. "I knew this would be too stressful for you. Now Violet, you just come right back to our house and-"
Leon cleared his throat. "Dear, I think we should let her make that decision. She's only just stepped out of the car. Give it some time."
"Right. Of course," Carol replied, stepping back.
"My lady, shall we go inside?" Sebastian asked, still holding Violet's hand.
He led the way up the steps and through the front door into the foyer. Violet looked around, brief flashes of memories going through her mind, but nothing solid. She ran her hands over the carvings on the pillars, studying the intricately crafted ceilings and woodwork, and admiring the elegant marble floor.
She was caught between trying to remember the manor, and processing it as somewhere new. If there were bad memories associated with it, she couldn't find them yet. She suddenly felt a spark of excitement ignite within her.
"I love it! Sebastian, this is..." Violet pulled him into a hug. "Thank you." Then she turned to where everyone else stood. She had been so distracted that she hadn't realized they'd come in, as well. "And thank you to all of you. I imagine that pulling this place back together was a lot of work. You did an amazing job."
Carol stepped forward again, looking relieved but still concerned. "So, you're okay with this?"
"Yes. It's time for me to move back into my family's home and do what I must to carry on our name," Violet said firmly.
Carol let out a sob and pulled her into a hug now. "Oh, I'm going to miss having you at our house! Remember that you can come back any time, even if you just want to stay for the weekend, or move back in-"
Leon cleared his throat again and pulled Carol away. "Get a hold of yourself, woman. The girl is ready to grow up. Now, Violet, Charles said he is sorry he couldn't be here today, but promises he will visit as soon as possible."
Violet nodded, remembering he'd been in on this as well.
"My lady, I suppose we should be going. Let's let Violet and her staff settle in. We've got a meeting downtown to attend." Leon continued, steering Carol towards the door.
"Do call us soon and let us know how everything is! Or if you need anything at all! If you want to come back-" Carol went on as she was shoved out the door, her uncle giving them a nod before closing the door behind themselves.
A week had passed since Sebastian's surprise, and Violet was beginning to feel more at home. Being back in the manor that she'd spent her earliest couple years in gave her a strange sense of comfort, though there were still no solid memories registering.
She spent a good part of the week just wandering around, exploring the many rooms and hallways. Which is exactly what she planned for the day again. After getting out of bed and dressed in a black tank top and usual black mini skirt, she set off.
This place is massive… maybe I should have Sebastian draw up a map, she thought, opening a door to yet another guest bedroom, next to the one she'd left off at the day before. It's like navigating a small country.
She giggled to herself at the thought of misplacing something and having to search every room to find it again. I'd better be careful not to get into THAT situation…
"Have you found something comical?" Sebastian asked, a hint of amusement in his own voice. Violet turned to see him standing on the other side of the hall, in front of a door she hadn't yet gotten to.
"I'm just getting the lay of the land, still. Might take a couple years though… it baffles me how someone can live in such a big house," she said, peeking behind another door, which turned out to be a closet filled with various linens. "I suppose you know this place better than the back of your hand, huh?"
"Right down to the most minuscule of cracks in the floorboards," he replied.
"What's in there?" Violet asked, looking at the door Sebastian stood in front of.
"I shall ask that you don't go in here," Sebastian said. "At least, not yet."
She snorted and chuckled. "Well, now that you've made it seem all mysterious, I DEFINITELY want to go in!" She walked over and nudged him playfully. "Scooch, butler!"
"I'm sorry, my lady. I must insist."
"What are you hiding in there? Is… is this your room?" she asked, feeling curiosity REALLY setting in at the realization that she'd never seen his room when they were at her aunt and uncle's.
"No… but if you would like to see my room…" he said, rather seductively, running a finger up one of her arms and moving closer. "… I'll gladly take you there."
Violet felt goosebumps rise on her skin. "Uh… eh..."
Sebastian stopped and took a closer look at her shoulder.
"How long has this been visible?" he asked, expression now serious.
Violet looked at the faint mark on her shoulder. "I dunno. A couple weeks, maybe less. It's not that noticeable."
Before anything more could be said, there was the sound of a window shattering, a large crash, then tires screeching. In the blink of an eye, Sebastian had scooped Violet into his arms and ran to the top of the stairs that overlooked the foyer, where the sounds had come from.
"What the hell was that?" Bard shouted, running in with a flamethrower in hand.
Sebastian descended the stairs and set Violet to her feet.
Mey-Rin dashed in from the opposite direction Bard had, arms flailing. "Mister Sebastian, they broke the window!"
"I see that, Mey-Rin. Thank you," he sighed.
Finny crashed through the front door, various gardening tools flying about. "Miss Violet, are you alright? I saw a black SUV pull up and throw something through the window before taking off again! Is everyone alright?!"
"Calm down, Finny, we're all fine, thank you." Violet said, placing a hand on his shoulder, which caused his face to flush a bright pink.
"Hmm…" Sebastian had found a large black stone with a note tied to it, which he was now reading. "This will not do at all."
"What does it say?" Bard asked.
"Finny, you say a black SUV?" Sebastian queried, ignoring Bard and turning towards Finny.
"Yeah, there were three men inside!"
"I see…"
"Sebastian, what's going on? What does the note say?" Violet asked, moving to his side.
"It seems that they know you have returned to your home," he responded, eyes still on the note he held.
"Who kno-" the color drained from her face when she realized who Sebastian was talking about. It's starting all over again.
Violet caught a glance at the two words written on the paper: You're next.
