Black Witch
Driven to hopelessness by grief, Alyssa Flumina, a skilled witch and potions master, is pulled into the past by one of her potions and into the arms of an equally desperate Ciel. But desperation and vengeance are a dangerous combo, especially when a contract with a demon is in the mix.
~VICTORIA SUPER OMNES~
Chapter 10
A butler's morning begins early.
The sun rose in the distance shedding light on everything as a new day began.
He finishes his job later than anyone else in the evening and begins it earlier than anyone else in the morning.
"Alyssa," I called, knocking on her door.
"I know I know... I'm up," I heard her mutter. Had it been anyone else they probably would have missed her reply but for now it would suffice. After all, she still had the wards for her room set against allowing me to enter.
I had tried once before with most... unpleasant results.
I heard a bang (she had more than likely fallen out of bed again) followed by a string of cursing and a loud hiss. Satisfied that she was awake, I moved on to the other servants who would undoubtedly take a longer time to wake than Alyssa. Proving me right, the idiot trio took nearly half an hour to awaken -a time that I have tried to cut down to no avail- before I was able to move onto other tasks.
That is the duty of a butler who manages the entirety of the manor.
On the way to the kitchen, I paused for a moment to take in my appearance.
"My hair has gotten far too long hasn't it," I commented, tugging on one of the locks. "Aah, willing it shorter just won't do. Humanity truly is troublesome."
"Hey, don't knock humans!" I felt a light knock on the back of my head as Alyssa appeared. She huffed as she tugged one a strand of my hair. "You're right. It is getting too long. Frances would murder you," she said. "I could cut it if you like."
I snorted. "No thank you."
She stuck her tongue out at me but resumed trying to pin her hair back into the cap. I sighed and took it from her.
"It amazes me that you are still unable to put this thing on without help."
"Oh shut up," she said. She brushed my hand away as soon as I was done -a twinge of annoyance shot through me for no real reason- and she stepped back.
"Ready for a new day?" she asked, smiling brightly.
I glared at her but shook my head just giving in. There was no use with this woman.
"Then off we go!"
First is the assignment of the daily tasks to the servants...
"Good morning duckies!" Alyssa said cheerily, entering the kitchen before me.
"It is nearly time to begin," I told them.
"Time for a glorious new day!" Alyssa said, shaking Bard fully awake.
"Maylene will service the linens, Finny will trim the trees in the garden and Bard will take care of the lunch preparations please," listed off. "Mr. Tanaka please keep drinking tea. Alyssa-"
"I know, screen Ciel's letters, update my ledger, run into town for my regular errands and general cleanups," she listed. "And then at ten thirty I have my lessons with Ciel. Is that all or is there anything else you may wish to add?" she asked with a grin.
I almost smiled but pulled it back at the last moment. "That will be all. Now, if you understand please hurry to your appointed places! No slacking off!"
Once the servants have been propelled into action, next is to prepare for the awakening of the head of the family and make ready breakfast and the early morning tea.
"Is there any real reason as to why you're here instead of doing your chores?" I asked Alyssa who was hanging around as I prepared young master's breakfast.
"I have to greet Ciel," she said simply. "You know I do!" She smiled softly at the thought and I felt another twinge of unfounded irritation run through me.
Miffed for what reason I could not understand, I ended up setting down the jug of milk with too much force almost making it spill.
"Ready?" Alyssa asked, suddenly eager. I nodded and pushed past her with the cart. She stayed by my side all the way up to Ciel's room before entering without knocking and pulling Ciel's curtains open.
"Good morning Ciel!" she said, pinning them up. "Wakey wakey time!"
She giggled as Ciel's rather dour glare met her cheerful gaze. "Today's weather is pleasant," I noted.
"Right you are Sebas-chan!" she said, ushering Ciel up.
At 12 my household's master, Ciel Phantomhive, is the head of a family who governs a vast dominion. At the same time his if the face of the president of the Funtom Company, producer of toys and confectioneries. Through his sly extremely gifted management techniques, the Funtom Company grew into a giant company in the blink of an eye.
"Today's is Assam?" Ciel yawned.
"Just as expected from the young master," I complimented. "Since I heard that Assam offered fine tea leaves I sent away for some from the place itself." And maybe Alyssa had or hadn't let it slip that she used to favour Assam's tea leaves during the summer.
"I love Assam's tea leaves!" Alyssa said suddenly, ruffling Ciel's hair. "Especially on a rainy day, it's so nice to just wrap up with and enjoy by a window!"
"Oh really?" Ciel asked. "Then feel free to make some for yourself as you please. There's no way I'll be able to finish the ridiculous amount Sebastian most likely ordered." A spike of irritation ran through my body. I was sorely tempted to just pour that tea all over his head.
"It's fine," Alyssa said with a wave. "I'll be off then. I have my chores to do." She kissed Ciel on his temple (an act which he brushed off with a slight blush and which sent another jolt of irritation shooting through my veins) and waved at me before leaving.
"By the way," Ciel said, drawing my attention back to him. "I have invited the children from Lord Barton's orphanage here."
The wealth of the nobles is there for the sake of contributing to society. Those excess riches are given to charities to be used by the people. The noted Phantomhive family is no different, performing volunteer actions for the public.
"That sounds like an excellent idea. When will it be?" I asked.
"Tomorrow."
Tomorrow?
This bra- The young master... do you think that if you leave it to me I will be able to manage anything and everything somehow or another? You'll lay waste to your workmen with irresponsible handling...
Still, no matter how annoyed I was I could only bow like the loyal servant my role demanded me to. "Understood," I bit out. "No matter how small the guest I will not embarrass the Phantomhive name by giving no less than the highest quality of welcome."
"Good, I'll expect no less," was his reply. "By the way, are you still annoying Alyssa for the sake of her reactions?"
"Pardon?"
He smirked. "Never mind."
Deciding not to pursue the topic I moved on to other matters of business. "The Herend Chinoise tea set you ordered the other day has arrived," I told him, buttoning his shirt. "Therefore today's afternoon tea will be keemun. Berries are in season so I thought that the snack would be currant and berry summer pudding. How does that sound?"
"Will Alyssa also be making her lemonade?" he asked.
"I can arrange for it," I replied.
"Good," was his only reply.
"Then I will begin the preparations for tomorrow at once."
Well, it is as this point that my work truly begins.
"Then, shall we begin?" I declared to no one in particular, gearing up for work.
Blend finely shredded high quality milk and dark couverture chocolate together with 60 degree centigrade water.
The chocolate melted together to a perfect consistency.
Next, add in pure cream heated nearly to the point of melting.
I whisked the ingredients together coming up with a velvety smooth chocolate blend. Every now and again I raised the whisk so that the chocolate could be exposed to the air and cool.
While stirring, let the mixture cool to body temperature before adding Cointreau. Now pour it into the moulds and -
"Kyaaa!"
I jumped and almost dropped the bowl as a sudden scream met my ears. "What?" that sounded like Maylene... what did the idiot maid get herself into now. Grimacing, I made my way to the laundry room where she should have been doing the linens.
"Maylene?" I called, opening the door. "What on earth-?
"Mr. Sebastian!" she yelled, emerging suddenly from a cloud of foam.
"Where did all these bubbles come from?!" I demanded, absolutely horrified at the amount of bubbles in the room.
"I followed the instructions on the detergent exactly!" she said, close to tears. "I put 30 spoonfuls in but it went all weird!"
I took the box. "Maylene, this isn't 30 spoonfuls but 3."
This stupi... er... this housemaid. Her eyesight is already bad but I have a hunch that's not the problem here. Why doesn't she realize that the strange thing isn't the instructions but her own head?
I have heard that in society the image of a clumsy maid commands a certain amount of charm but I cannot possibly understand why (nor do I wish to).
I have the slight urge to commit a murder.
"Haa... I understand," I said out loud, cursing under my breath. "In any case please stand aside."
Sweep. Crank. Whoosh!
The freshly washed linens gleamed in the sun as they flapped out to dry. I felt almost proud of my work. "Now, my job still remains to be done so please return to your work as well," I told her and left her to her own devices.
"Honestly, and at such a busy time too." My thoughts drifted to Alyssa. Why hadn't she been there? She was often the one to ease the damage done by the idiots, combining her magic and their stupidity to lessen the damage.
A glance at the clock told me what I needed to know. She still had her lessons with young master. No wonder.
But the mild irritation I felt washed away as I stepped into the kitchen once more.
"Back to work!"
Next...
Bring the butter and water to boil in a frying pan. Turn off the heat and sift in wheat flour and baking powder. With a wooden spatula, once more bring it to a simmer and -
BOOM!
I almost crushed the spatula in my hand. "What is it this time?"
I stomped down to the kitchen to find Bard sitting amongst the rubble looking thoroughly beaten down.
"Save it... Alyssa's already given me the talk down..." he said morosely. Looking around, the kitchen didn't seem too badly off. A surprise given the amount of gunpowder I could smell in the air.
"Lunch for the young master will certainly be ruined at this pace," I muttered.
"Lunch for the lil' master? Alyssa already took care of it," Bard chimed in. He pointed to the dish that had been covered down in the corner. On it were cabbage rolls and mint potato salad. Just beside it was the note, 'Destroy this and I'll serve your head to the rats' written in Alyssa's elegant hand.
"I see." I chuckled softly, shaking my head. When it comes to Ciel she really goes all out doesn't she.
"Well then, I'll leave the tidying to you then," I said returning to the kitchen. At least I could start making some progress.
"About time to finish up."
Spread brown sugar on the pan and heat the oven to 130 degrees. Then-
"Uwaaa!" A sudden jolt from behind sent me face first into sugar.
"Mr. Sebastiaaaan!"
"This time it's you isn't it?" I grimaced, looking down at Finnian who was wailing into my chest. "If you're crying I won't be able to understand what you're saying," I grit out. "What's wrong?"
You must be kidding me. I understand I'm a demon but even I don't deserve this sort of punishment.
Every plant in the garden was dead. Fully grown trees had withered and dropped their leaves. The grass was completely dead.
"I'm sorry! I forgot the herbicide dispenser has been broken since the other day.
This stupi... This IDIOT! Despite the fact that he's the gardener he's this clumsy? It's said even an idiot can use a pair of scissors but an idiot using scissors is a problem too.
For instance, he said 'the other day' which you'd expect to mean two or three days earlier. How can he already have made such big mistake and forgotten it?
...I am remembering what it is like to be very deeply angry...
"If it's already come to this then there is nothing I can do about it," I sighed. "Go to the garden store and buy some trees."
"What kind of tree should I buy?" he sniffed.
"You are the gardener so the design of the garden is up to you. Buy whatever you think is best," I told him, rummaging for some money to give him.
"Then I want to build a garden that's like a transformer robot!" he exclaimed, suddenly seeming to sparkle.
Though I have lived for a very long time this is my first time encountering an alien. What kind of switch does it have to suddenly turn on a glittery smiley face?
...
...
...
"Mr. Sebastian?" Finny said. "You don't want to make the young master angry so please just hand over the money. It's bad to space out like that."
What the...
Tiredly I handed over the money and watched him go...
I must stop socializing with them. At this time... I want to see her.
Her supple black body, her flowing hair. Her strong willed eyes that glitter like amber. I must hurry to that place where she awaits!
I flung open the back door.
Yes! Her...
"Meow."
A slender black cat stared back up at me.
"Now now, you don't have to eat so quickly. There's plenty," I chided as she gobbled down her food.
Cats are good. They don't talk about unnecessary things (or do them). They are cuter than anything else. They are something my world does not have.
That place does have pets but...
An image came to mind of a black warped creature with a lizard-like tongue licking itself like a cat came to mind and I shuddered.
Nope. It's just not the same.
"Meow." She looked up and dashed off around the corner.
"What game are you playing now?" I called. Hearing no response, I followed her only to find that she had led me to Alyssa's favourite cedar tree, a tree she had planted soon after Ciel's return. Lying underneath, deep in sleep, was Alyssa.
"So that's where she ran off to," I muttered, picking up the cat.
She had sprawled under the tree, a book on her stomach. She must have fallen asleep just after young master's lessons. Her hair had fanned out behind her and the sun filtered through the leaves giving her an eerily... serene quality. Instinctively, I wanted to reach out and touch her.
I stood there for a while, taking her in, and unbound, a feeling of intense rage came over me.
This was mine... not some foolish in-human's toy to play with. She was my toy, my property. No one would take her from me before I am willing to throw her away myself.
I snarled slightly and she moved just a bit but fell asleep again almost immediately.
I sniffed and turned away, returning to the kitchen to finish my duty. She would be safe there, I knew it. Here, on this manor, she would be safe... and she would be mine.
~VICTORIA SUPER OMNES~
Honestly... I wanted to type more but I didn't see the point. The rest of the chapter happens as according to canon so I didn't see the point in killing myself over copying history. Besides, I like this ending.
I had a hard time with this chapter simply because it was from Sebastian's point of view. While i think I have a decent grasp on his reactions to various situations I don't know how to write his thoughts so I had to work out of my comfort zone for this one. Hope you guys still enjoyed it though!
OH! I said this in the last chapter but just a reminder, I have pics of Alyssa up on my deviantart account which can be accessed on my profile co go clickety click to see her!
Onto reviews!
Paxloria: Sort of an animal magnetism sort of thing going on in the last chapter. Sebastian was just really into checking her out *wink*wink*
Addicted-to-GazzettE: Thanks, I work really hard to keep characters as in character as possible so reading your comment really made me feel happy. I'm glad you're enjoying it so much.
Guest: Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the pic so much. I have another one now too!
To all those who reviewed the last chapter, a big thanks! And to all those now reading, drop a review and tell me what you think!
Until next time!
Arigatou minna-san!