Chapter 9: Beginning of Tension

Burned wood and ash scattered the grounds completely, giving off an air of nothingness and morbid sorrow. Nothing had survived the fire except for the Corinthian columns that stood so remotely alone amidst all the dark, vast space. The demon slowly removed the white gloves covering his hands and stuffed them in his front pocket. Several long years had passed since he stepped foot in these grounds. It had been several years since his young master had relived the tribulation of his agony. A prodigious manor once stood proud and tall, the sounds of happy children filling the gardens. However…a wish to be beautiful destroyed all that what once was innocent and pure. The children were now, of course dead. Sebastian burned them with his own hands. He did not mourn for the lost, after all the lost is lost.

I do pity that I have innocent blood on my hands…

He walked around the level place, noticing that some stone walls still stood erected. They were barely holding together as if grasping to some vain wish that great ornamented walls might meet them again. Sebastian walked to one of the walls and causally flicked it. It crumbled to the ground…fallen.

My poor disheartened, young master…I will make sure that you never again must relive the hell of your torture…

Elizabeth walked briskly through the white washed hallway of the office floor. She tried not to spill the coffee and other contents of the tray as she glanced at her small wrist watch. Arriving rather early to work, she had planned on finishing some patient forms before she had to report to her supervisor.

If you can call the man a supervisor! He may be acclaimed as England's finest doctor and genius but his work ethic shoes me otherwise! He is such a messy man! One would that if you are a doctor, you would be more tidy and neat!

Elizabeth shook her head in dismay and stopped at Rm. 301. Sighing heavily, she knocked on the door loudly and impatiently.

"Come on in, Elizabeth! Did you bring me the coffee I ordered?" Elizabeth moaned in disappointment as she entered the office. Mounds of rubbish had slowly acquired in the supervisor's office, along with the books that sat piled high like dunes looked as if about to fall over. Elizabeth opened her mouth to apply some negative and reprimanding words to the messy doctor, but remembered what had taken place last time she had smart mouthed him.

He gave me so much paper work I could scarcely finish it! My poor hands were sore all day long…Helen had to give me a warm soak.

So, instead of scolding him as was her custom she merely moved the books and papers off the table and set the tray down gently.

"Henry, pray tell why is your office a mess again? Did I not just clean this for you?" The figure behind the desk faced the window, and small puffs of smoke rose to the air.

"Now, Now Middleford it is in my nature. I'm a bachelor, you see. You can't possibly expect me to clean my office thoroughly!" Elizabeth scoffed.

"That is like saying you have no idea what belladonna is!"

"Don't you sass me, Middleford!"

"I would not sass you, Henry if you would only keep your office clean!" The man turned around to stare Elizabeth straight in the eyes. His red hair seemed to make his pale skin even paler, and his brown eyes drove into Elizabeth's. She stood her ground, not backing away from his gaze.

"Why in the world are you so uptight woman?" Henry shouted.

"It is because you are so dirty! It is no wonder Sir Wellington remarked your office is worse than a pig sty…" Elizabeth mumbled. Henry slammed a book on the table, frowning greatly.

"Why you-!" Elizabeth continued to bicker with the red haired man. She was thoroughly irritated and annoyed with him. Henry was England's finest physician; he had saved countless lives at the surgeon table and made sick people well again. He had such talent that he reminded her of her Aunt Angelina…His character was kindness and caring. He had a passion for his work that she noticed not many other doctors had, but seemed to spill over to the other hospital staff.

Yet he is still a man of disorder. Should I really be so cross over such a matter? If only I could complete my internship in two years! Aunt Angelina, you had to start from the bottom as well didn't you?

Elizabeth remembered the gossip surrounding her beloved Aunt…how she had been offered to be promoted. Of course, the promotions came from men who wanted to woo her on account of her beauty not her skills. Sadly, Elizabeth had experience the same outcome…

"Elizabeth Middlefod? You are the daughter of Alexis Marquis Middleford, Leader of the Queen's British Knights?" Elizabeth nodded pleasantly. The room was certainly intimidating; many luxurious items decorated the shelves. Book cases upon book cases lined the walls along with paints from the masters. Elizabeth had been nervous before about this meeting, nervous of not knowing what to expect. She had heard stories of many young ladies inquiring of a position at the Royal London Hospital, only to be turned away in tears. There was a sense of power in this place…corrupt power.

"We have positions open; also since you studied at St. Josephina Augusta School you are given a high consideration. However, I am afraid your credentials are not enough."

"What do you mean? I completed my required year of field work while in the Americas…" Elizabeth said, confused. The man gazed at her, his brows slowly rose.

"I never received any form from the school you had completed your field work. Didn't you lose all the forms in the fire?" Elizabeth frowned…

"The school had the documents in a lock box that was certainly fire resistant. Mine were sent here." The man shook his head in mock disbelief. He leaned forward, a thin smile etching across his face.

"Perhaps I help you…for a price." He stood from the desk, and slowly walked behind Elizabeth, his eyes watching her closely. He leaned against the back of the chair, bringing his lips to her ear.

"Young women your age should be married with families. You don't belong in the bloody, deathly world of a hospital…" Elizabeth tensed as he twirled her hair around his finger.

"Have you considered any possible prospects, Elizabeth?" Elizabeth stood abruptly, catching the man off guard.

"I would not consider you if you were the last man on earth!"

And so now…I begin at the bottom. But I will never…go as low as to offer my body as payment for lust…I am Elizabeth Middleford! I am better than that…

"I know I am handsome Elizabeth, but please believe that you gazing at me will not change anything between us. Our relationship is strictly professional. Thank you for thee coffee though. It is very good!" Elizabeth stepped away from her thoughts back into the present.

"You're welcome Henry. I put black bug's blood in it just for you."

"Huh?" Elizabeth smiled and shook her head. She grabbed the lunch tray with a mischievous grin.

"What did you say? What did you put in my coffee Middleford?"

"Oh, nothing at all Henry." Elizabeth smiled and shut the door behind her. Henry was still shouting at her. Leaning against the walls of the corridor, she tried to organize the next assignments she had to complete that day. Work, work, and more work were all she could focus on. She needed to submerge herself in papers and tending to patients. All she wanted was to keep her mind off the one man who still held her heart…

"Ciel…what am I going to do about you?"

Why does he appear nervous and worried all of the sudden? Already this week twice he has sent Sebastian to my work place asking if I was alright. Just yesterday, he had Sebastian escort me home… He is bothered…did something happen? Is there another women killer on the loose?

Yes, ever since she stayed the night at the Phantomhive manor, she noticed Ciel had been acting strangely. He called on her often, and even went so far as to send Sebastian to escort her home. Something was amiss…something was wrong but she could not place her finger on it. Elizabeth walked down the stairs to hallway leading to the lobby. Several patients sat in the lobby waiting on their appointments. Elizabeth walked past the reception desk and turned to the right. She had to wash the dishes before turning in the last of her papers and heading home. Walking into the kitchen, she listened to the clang of the dishes and small talk of the staff. The cook waved at her and smiled.

"Hey, Lady Elizabeth! Just get back from Henry's office didn't you?" Elizabeth shook her head and set the dishes on the counter next to the sink.

"That man…I don't know what to do about him! He eats all the time and never completes his work! I am always following up behind him…" Elizabeth sighed heavily and leaned against the counter.

"What would you do, Mary?" The small women laughed loudly. Her brown hair was pulled back in a tight bun with a small cap covering her locks. Mary dropped chopped onions in a huge boiling pot.

"I suppose I would leave the man to his own devices, Lady Elizabeth." Elizabeth frowned, at the mention of a formal prefix to her name.

"Mary, we are co-workers, you need not address me so formally you know." Elizabeth prodded. Mary laughed a heartfelt chuckle and grinned.

"Now, Lady Elizabeth just because we work under the same roof doesn't make us equals."

"Mary you know that's not-!"

"Yea, yea…I know Miss Middleford. But still, I'm just a lowly cook and you're a real noble lady." Mary acknowledged. She pulled the huge pot off the stove and set it on the countertop, wiping her brow with a towel.

"Someday, you'll understand…no humans are equal." Mary glanced at the clock on the wall and gestured to Elizabeth.

"You'd better hurry back to Mr. Henry now. Or he'll throw a real fit."

"I can't believe him! I honestly cannot believe this man!" Elizabeth cried as she slammed the door to the office. Never in her life had she ever lost her temper so easily with anyone! Just looking at the man could make her blood boil! Elizabeth walked down the stairs in a huff, mumbling and berating the young doctor. Suddenly, without warning she collided with another form, almost knocking her down the stairs. Books fell to the floor and Elizabeth hurriedly apologized, while frantically picking up the books.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! Please, excuse me! I did not see you!"

"Just be more careful-Elizabeth?"

"Camille! I didn't see you!" Camille frowned and took the books from Elizabeth.

"You never see me Elizabeth. You've turned into quite the workaholic now." Elizabeth opened her mouth for an excuse, but none would come to her. She sighed.

"I'm sorry Camille. I am truly sorry, but I have been working so hard…and focused on so many different things since my return from the Americas." Camille nodded knowingly.

"I'm not angry with you, Elizabeth. I just wish I could see you more often." Camille patted the blonde girl on the shoulder and smiled.

"I don't want to hear about you becoming exhausted or over working yourself…you-you don't have anything to prove you know? No-no one says you must follow in your families' shadow…"

"Camille…"

"I-I know you adored your aunt, Elizabeth but you should not feel obligated because of her death-. "

"Camille stop!" Elizabeth shouted.

"Please…please just stop." The corridor was silent, save for the echo of Elizabeth's protest. Elizabeth could feel the hot tears coming to the surface of her eyes…and she could not control it. She ran down the stairs, through the first floor hallway and out to the backyard of the hospital. When she finally reached the middle of the yard, her knees gave away.

"Aunt Angelina…" Elizabeth sobbed uncontrollably as she sat in the grass courtyard.

Why…did you leave me? I thought…you would teach me everything you knew! I thought you would watch me graduate and become a mother…Aunt Angelina!

"Elizabeth!" Elizabeth tried to soften her sobs at the sound of a male's voice. She turned to the back door; Vincent stood there, his eyes full of worry. He rushed to her with arms wide open and held her close.

"Darling…it's alright…I'm here now. Ssh, don't cry."

"You're fine dear, it's alright. I'm here now. No one is going to harm you, darling." Vincent wiped the warm tears that fell down her cheeks, and lifted her head up. Pushing aside her blonde curls, he kissed her gently on the check.

"Elizabeth, I am here for you…what is wrong darling? Please, tell me." Elizabeth buried her head in Vincent's chest.

"I can't do this! I can't! I can't ever be the woman Aunt Angelina was!" Vincent held Elizabeth at arm's length and stared into her green eyes.

"Yes you can! Do not try to follow the shadow of Madam Red…Darling…you can do anything…with me beside you."

Helen gently pulled the blanket over Elizabeth's sleeping form, watching the young woman's tear stained face for any sign of disturbance. She patted Elizabeth's head and pushed down the tustled curls. Lady Elizabeth was beautiful, pure, innocent and breath taking. Just the smell of the blonde haired girl was enough to dive Helen insane...how she wanted Elizabeth...how she desire her soul. Helen leaned on the bed, just brushing her lips against Elizabeth's cheek.

"My Lady...my thirst for you...has only grown stronger..." A small knock sounded on the door. Helen gritted her teeth with displeasure and stood.

"Yes?"

"Um, it is Vincent Tudor..." At the mention of his name, Helen instictively opened the door.

"Oh, Mr. Tudor...may I help you?" Helen noticed Vincent's expression was filled with worry, almost desperate.

"Elizabeth, Helen is she alright?" Helen nodded.

"She just needs sleep, Mr. Tudor." Vincent breathed deeply, wringing his hands together as if nervous.

"Helen, is there is anyway you can let me know that she has recovered? I'm...I am very concerned..." Helen forced a smile and nodded.

"My Lady will be fine, Mr. Tudor. Will that be all?" Vincent nodded. Helen abruptly closed the door, and turned back to Elizabeth's sleeping body.

"My Lady...my Lady...Elizabeth..." Tracing Elizabeth's lips with her finger, Helen shivered in delight...ah...the feeling of touching a being so...beautiful...was almost unbearable. How she wanted to take Elizabeth for herself!

"My Lady Elizabeth...my Lady...my Lady...my Lady..."

Hello! NOTE: Belladonna, in the Victorian era was a drug that women used to make their pupils dialted to give them a more innocent and "feminine" look. Well, this is chapter 9 and I hope that you all loved it! I'm really starting to get into this story. I was super excited about it when I started, but now I am super estatic! It is coming along well as planned. Hope you all are looking forward to Thanksgiving break! Lord knows that I am! College is no joke and it is really taking a lot out of me. I'll be leaving for TN soon, so I probably won't be updating next week. Thank you all for the reviews! I'm glad that so many people are liking, favorting and even adding me to their favorite author's list! Thank you all again! And Happy Thanksgiving! :) Enjoy the break!