Hello Fanfiction world once again! I have returned from my long escapade of NanoWrimo with a very badly written and quite possibly trash worthy novel but nevertheless victorious! I hope you enjoy my continuation.
I gingerly lifted my head off the plush pillows and attempted to peer at the supposed wound in my chest. I assumed it would be a bloody mess, with red flowing everywhere and staining the bed sheets. However I saw only the soft white nightgown I wore that covered my aching body. I moved my arm to pull up my gown and examine my chest more closely when a sharp pain in my left bicep caught my attention. Apparently I had acquired a deep gash in my bicep and now it was covered with a thin layer of gauze that was lightly stained red at the center. With my right arm this time, I checked the rest of my body and was pleased to find only minor cuts and bruises embellishing my arms and legs. I had assumed it was much worse by the aching muscles that cried out when they moved. My chest however, had a slight indentation above my heart, almost as if a weight was pushed onto my chest. I gently crawled out of bed and looked in the vanity mirror, twisting and turning to see the light bounce off the crater.
My mind however, was someplace else. How did I get here? Was I kidnapped? No, that seemed wrong given that Sebastian didn't want me here. Did I come here on purpose? Possibly, I could have been observing Mey-rin and got caught by Sebastian in the trees. But that doesn't explain why he was upset at me for hurting the Lord Phantomhive. And I didn't need any more info about Mey-rin. I got it all the other night with Bard. I was stumped. I tried to remember back, but my brain stopped after breakfast. I remembered getting up, getting dressed, being confused about the elaborate breakfast display, and then nothing. Since I couldn't get my brain to work, I decided I should find out how long I had been here.
The beautiful window had a strong light pouring into the room, inferring that it must have been morning once again. I could have been asleep for a day or two at most. But my head wound practically healed, so maybe I was here longer than that; almost a week or so. This frightened me deep inside. The fact that I have been here for almost seven days, without so much as a peep from Will, made me wonder what was going on. Before, when I had been missing for only a couple hours, he practically exploded and sent search teams everywhere to look for me. But now that it has been days, there was no sign of him at all. But then it hit me. Maybe they gave up. Will probably found the blood from my supposed fight and assumed me dead, and now I'm all alone here. But that didn't make sense logically, and I knew Sebastian enough to know he didn't do something that elaborate unless it was for his Lord.
A light chime from the small clock resting on the dresser pulled me from my thoughts. The little bells ran a quiet melody before relapsing back into a rhythmic ticking. A pile of clothes, my clothes, was folded next to the clock in a neat pile. Before putting them on, I briefly checked them over for clues as to what happened. With careful examination, I noted multiple slices and cuts that were expertly sewed together along various parts of my shirt and skirt. When I pulled them on, they lined up with my own wounds, and I knew I was in my uniform when something happened. I couldn't tell how severe my fight was because the blood had been cleaned off my clothes and my wounds had time to heal, but it looked pretty rough nonetheless. It looked almost like I was beaten to the edge of death before someone came to my aid.
A shiver ran down my spine and I got the sudden urge to sit down and cry. I didn't like these kinds of situations, ones of life and death. I just wanted to be home safely, working on my final report and relaxing inside; not trapped inside the Phantomhive manor.
Wait, I didn't know that yet. I leaped to my feet with renewed determination to scour the room for an exit. I skipped over the door, knowing it was already locked tight, and skimmed my fingers along the walls for a secret entrance. My fingers brushed along the fireplace, under tables and picture frames, and rattled against the elegant window panes. After ten minutes of fruitless searching, I gave up with a final huff and landed in Sebastian's chair from earlier. I then heard muffled voices from behind the door and quietly crept over to listen. With my ears pressed against the smooth door, I strained to hear the loud voice beyond.
"Keep someone with My Lord at all times," Sebastian said with authority. "I will not tolerate any more security failures. I have had enough surprises for one day, and you will be accountable for any more." I could hear the anger just barely controlled in his voice as he most likely aimed those red eyes at whomever he was talking to. I shivered in memory.
I heard a small whimper and a quick "Aye-eye," before I recognized that it was Finny who was the target of Sebastian's fury. Sebastian's footsteps got louder as he approached my door and I literally flew across the room to hide back under the covers. He was coming to finish the job! I yanked the plush sheets up around my shoulders for protection but looked for a weapon to defend myself just in case. The key jiggled in the lock and I grabbed the first thing my hand touched, the silver tea spoon, and hid it in my hand. Maybe if he got close enough, I could stab him in the heart and kill him, thus giving me a chance to escape. I prayed silently in my head as the door knob turned.
I decided playing the "helpless sleeping victim" was my best option and I tried to look convincing with my mouth slightly open and my limbs splayed all over. My heart continued to race in my chest and I urged it to calm down with no avail. The door clicked open. My breath tried to come in little pants, but I had to work it back into even, deep lung-fulls. His steps got closer to the bedside and I struggled to remain immobile. His gloved hand gently tucked some hair away from my face in almost a loving gesture. However, my skin crawled in revulsion. It then traveled across my forehead, down my neck and along my shoulder until just above the covers. He tugged them gently, tucking them under my shoulder like a mother for a child. He let out a heavy sigh and turned around to clean up the tea tray. The china clinked delicately as he lifted the tray off the table and onto his shoulder. I heard his footsteps recede back toward the door and I could begin to feel relief spread throughout my body. But he stopped just outside of the room, holding the door open for a moment before letting out a small chuckle.
"Scrawny reaper, you think you could hurt me with a mere spoon?" his slimy voice pulled me back into panic mode and I dared not make a move. My pulse raced and my legs egged to run away. I squeezed my eyes harder in anticipation for another attack. But nothing happened and I opened them to an empty room. I tightened my hand around the spoon handle only to realize that it was gone.
I was getting the hell out of here! I flung back the covers and pounded on the window to the east as I cried. "Help! Someone get me out of here!" I kicked the stained glass with my foot multiple times and started to hyperventilate when there wasn't even the slightest crack. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the wooden chair sitting in the left-hand corner and an idea popped into my head.
I quickly hoisted the chair above my head and ran to the window, preparing to chuck it with monumental force and shatter the beautiful picture. As I took my first step I heard the keys rattle in the lock and a very familiar voice called my name.
"Lottie? Are you alright?" Bard stood inside the doorway, his blue eyes wide in shock and confusion. He looked ready to see a pack of wild wolves rather than a crazy girl with a chair above her head. Either way, I turned a ripe red and set the chair down on the carpet.
"Bard, um…" I floundered for something to say. Anything would have been better than the awkward silence that had evolved between us. I, nervously looking around the room, and he looking shocked into place.
But to my surprise he rushed forward and encased me within his arms. They solidly glued me to his chest and my face was tucked over his shoulder. His unique scent wafted up around me and, despite the strange situation, I let out all my tension with a sigh. I lightly wrapped my arms around his lower torso and let myself relax against all my instincts. I should be shoving him out of the way and racing down the hallway to freedom. But it would take a reaping scythe to pry me away from his warm embrace.
He gently petted my head with his hand as he spoke. "I was so worried. I saw you when you came out but Sebastian wouldn't let me come in to see you. He said you weren't feeling well. But when I heard you pounding and yelling I said bullshit to him and took the keys. However, I didn't expect to see you up and out of bed, let alone pitching a chair over yourself." He chucked lightly at the last bit. However, his voice was still wobbly, sliding back and forth from a squeaky and cracking teenager's to the deep rumble of a man's.
I didn't really want to ask what happened. I preferred to just leave and get home and away from Sebastian as fast as I could. But my idiotic curiosity peaked and I inquired anyway. "Bard, I don't remember anything at all. What happened to me?" I felt a small tear leak out of my eye and I wiped it on his cooking jacket before he released me only to grab my upper arms.
"Are you kidding? None of it? Because that was what I was going to ask you!" His eyebrows pulled together to further his story and I felt terrible that I couldn't help.
"Sorry Bard. Nothing." I shrugged my shoulders with a grimace
"Bloody hell," he whispered once before searching my eyes. "Do you think you have amnesia? Do you even know who I am?" He looked frightened at the thought and looked at me seriously.
"Of course I do," I reassured him. "I just don't remember anything after breakfast." I tried once again to think back and remember what happened but I only got a blank slate. But then something Bard said triggered something in my brain. "You said you saw me when I came out. Where exactly did I come out from?" I sincerely hoped it wasn't the basement.
He put his hands on hip hips and thought back for a moment, clearly trying to get everything in chronological order. "About a week ago I was baking some pies for the young master's evening tea when I heard the largest bloody noise coming from the Earl's study. I had assumed it was nothing until it went on for a good couple minutes and then I heard the master call, , 'Sebastian!' in the strangest voice." He rubbed the back of his head once before continuing, "Sebastian almost flew across the mansion and I followed suit, catching him outside the study with the door slightly closed behind him."
Bard looked up at me with sad eyes and tucked one stray curl of hair behind my ear. "You were in his arms, bleeding and battered all over. You had large bruises already forming on your face and arms, cuts and gashes scattered over your legs. I thought you were dead." He cupped my face in his hands and looked at me lovingly. "But when I tried to help Sebastian stared at me with eyes like the Devil and ordered me to bandage up the master. He said he would take care of you. So I did like a good servant should and went inside to help Lord Phantomhive."
He dropped his gaze and stared out the open door before glancing at the clock on the dresser and admiring the wallpaper. Then he pulled up my hands and examined them with his own as he continued. "It was horrifying inside, like the battle grounds I used to see. The mirrors were shattered and broken, splayed across the floor with dots of blood. The wallpaper was ripping in places and a large indentation was on the West wall above a broken table. Feathers were scattered around the room from the ripped velvet couch. The table's glass top was shattered and the legs were across the room, drenched in what looked like blood. Behind the snapped-in-two desk was the cut and battered curtains that were falling off their hinges. While panes from the window and various glass fragments littered the carpet and in the middle of it all was Lord Phantomhive. He sat in the only untouched furniture piece, his cushioned chair, with a demented smile and a lost look in his eyes."
Bard shivered involuntarily and rubbed his arms. "But Sebastian returned right quick and ushered me out with instructions to make some nice desserts and tea while taking the medical supplies from my arms. I had no time to ask the Lord any questions or nothing." He looked up at me with an almost ghostly gaze.
I was stunned. Honestly and completely loss for words. When I finally got a grip and was able to make a sentence I asked, "Then what on earth happened in there? I certainly didn't do it."
"Oh contrary Miss Spears," said a slimy voice from the entryway. Bard and I whipped our heads around to see Sebastian standing straight as a rod with a tray of fine sweets and drinks in his hand. His face held a wicked smile and his red eyes bore into my soul. "It was you who did all of it: the mess, the blood and the damage. You were the one who tried to kill the Lord Phantomhive."
Shabam! Didn't expect that did you? I can't remember if I told you this already, in which case this whole chapter is irrelevant. If so, let me know and I will just delete it altogether. Anyway, please Rate and Review! Any comments are gratefully accepted.