Hello, guys. Sorry for the delay. Blame life because that shit is frustrating. Like seriously, just when you think it's going to calm down, BAM! something else hits you in the face.
Thank you all for the favourites, follows and reviews. Over 100 faves and over 150 reviews. Dudes, you don't understand how happy you make me like seriously, you guys are the best.
Anyway, new chapter. Have fun and stay safe kids. ^-^
"My Lady." She looked up from her reading and smiled at the handsome butler. She closed her book and elegantly placed it on the table.
"Thank you, Sebastian." She took the pale yellow tea cup from him and took a sip. "You really do make excellent tea." She stirred the contents of her cup and smiled. "I feel like I can't drink tea made by anyone else."
"It's an honour to hear that from you." He bowed politely and went to serve Ciel. He placed his newspaper down and nodded his thanks before glaring at his cousin.
"Aren't you ever going to go home?"
"What are you on about? I haven't been here for weeks. This is the only place I can rest without being questioned by my grandmother.
"What have you been doing that is so tiresome?" "I have been showcased around the whole of England like some thoroughbred mare and you're trying to find who's the best stallion to impregnate her is. That's all I am supposed to be, some sad baby machine." She pinched her nose in frustration and sighed. Ciel rolled his eye while Sebastian snickered. "I forbid the words 'male heir', 'practically an adult', 'look at your brother', and 'just marry someone' to be said in conjunction with my name. There is a lot more for which I can't remember right now."
"Those are some... intriguing conversations you have with your grandmother."
"You haven't even heard the half of it." Ciel laughed as she held her face in her hand, her red lips pouted childishly. "How has it been without me?"
"Fine," Ciel answered without looking up from his newspaper.
"So you found someone to replace me."
"No, all the candidates Sebastian interviewed weren't 'suitable' for the position." She turned to the butler who was busy with the teapot. "Anyway Sebastian is more than capable on taking on the roll." Ciel got up from his chair and folded his newspaper. "I'll be in my study. Sebastian, make sure she doesn't do anything wrong." The butler bowed as his master left.
"Stupid brat, treating me like I'm the child." She leant back and stretched back, her cream lace sleeves riding up her arms. Sebastian passed her a vanilla panacotta with a caramel sauce. She smiled her thanks and picked up her spoon. "I'm probably the best thing that has happened to that boy in a while and that's the way he treats me." Sebastian snickered at her frustration as he refilled her tea cup. He saw a chair move out of its place and a brown laced heeled boot on it."Sit, butler. I doubt you can stay standing all day."
"I'm fine standing, Rosalie."
"I said sit. If not for you than for me. I hate it when people stand over me like that."
"As you wish, my Lady." She rolled her aquamarine eyes at his sarcasm but smiled nonetheless as he took a seat beside her.
"Do you miss me?" She laced her fingers together and rested her chin on them.
"Not a day goes pass without me thinking of you." She blushed at his smooth talking. "Mainly because those three idiots don't stop talking about you. I've heard your name more times since you've been gone."
"I think I gave them enough Rosalie for a few weeks. But life is now exceptionally boring compared to when I lived here. No murders, demon hounds, Indian princes. Just me interviewing potential suitors." She suddenly grinned suspiciously and got up. "Excuse me for a moment." She politely curtsied and ran out, her peach dress fluttering behind her. He watched the doorway until she returned with her handbag and placed it on the table. She pulled out both cats and Sebastian wasn't happy.
"My Lady, is the master sees this he'll-"
"Calm down, Sebastian. I'll put the back as soon as I show you this." The cats were rubbing themselves against his hands while she was searching through her purse for something else. "Ta da!" she announced as she pulled out tiny knitted sweaters and hats. "I made them clothes." She looked very proud of her handiwork as she pulled them on the cats. "They look so cute in people clothes." She put on a baby voice as she scratched beneath their chins. "Don't you, my pretties?"
"You made these?" He tugged at the white kitten's monochrome blue sweater. The craftsmanship was good, almost excellent and the size was perfect.
"Mm hm. These were originally supposed to be part with your Christmas present but I was still having trouble so Phillip helped me perfect my knitting skills until these were perfect. I think this was my twenty seventh attempt." She looked proud of her handiwork as she snuggled the black cat against her chest, her little paws playing with the strings of her dress. She pressed a kiss on her forehead and stood up. "Let's take them back before the midget sniffs them off us." She and Sebastian returned to the glass garden and placed the kittens under their bush and she pulled out some salami form inside the bust of her dress. While they were eating, she noticed Sebastian covered in white hair and sure enough, she was covered in cat hair too.
"Raise your arms," he instructed as he brushed the fur off her dress, the sensation of the bristles tickling her. She did the same for him and once they were all clean, they left the room. On their way back to the patio, Ciel came across their path.
"Sebastian, ready a carriage in a couple of hours. We have to go to Castle before nightfall."
"Yes, my Lord." He bowed and ran off.
"Ooohh, sounds important. What's going on at the castle?"
"The queen wants me to investigate it."
"Would it be a hassle if I tag along?"
"Do what you want." She clapped excitedly and grabbed some things. Once they were all in the carriage, she bombarded Ciel with questions.
"So is it dead people this time? Kidnappings? Missing hostages?" She was leaning in close, her aquamarine eyes gleaming.
"No. It's a castle that is believed to be haunted." The consequences of his words were almost instantaneous. Rosalie's face turned ashen white and she leaned back in her seat, suddenly fascinated with the ribbon of her dress.
"Haunted as in ghosts?" she muttered, avoiding eye contact.
"Not that I am aware of any other definitions of haunted." Ciel didn't look up from his work as he answered her but Sebastian couldn't stop his curiosity. Her face was pale and she kept fiddling with her clothing. Her full red lips were pursed together as she gazed out the window. They'd occasionally move to whisper sweet words of reassurance to her frightened body but they had no effect.
It wasn't long before they arrived at Ludlow Castle. As they walked up to the sight, Ciel ahead and Rosalie bringing up the rear.
"Pathetic," the mini Earl grumbled under his breath. "Are these contractors children? Cancelling construction because of ghosts. There's no such thing..."
"Hm? You seem a little unsure." Sebastian replied with a smirk.
"Oh, be quiet. Let's wrap this up and go home." They all entered the castle and paused in front of a painting at the entrance.
"Isn't that..." Rosalie forgot about her fear and took a step closer to the painting.
"I've seen it too. Is it a replica?" Ciel joined her in analysing it when the door suddenly slammed. Her body jumped like a frightened cat and she hid behind Sebastian, clinging to his coat. "Oh, don't be such a... child." The pause in his statement made her curious and she noticed a faint red glow coming from the other room.
"I'm not going in there," she said. She shook her head and forced the large doors open. She walked out back into the sunlight and to the carriage. She opened the carriage door with a little too much force and sat inside, pouting. Ciel should have pre warned her about what they were doing and now she had to spend her day stuck in a carriage and wait for them to purge the castle of its dead ancient inhabitants. Hours ticked by and Rosalie began to worry. There was no sign of them coming out and it was almost sundown. She took a deep breath and went back to the castle.
"You can do this, Rosalie. Your fear of the undead is irrational. What can they seriously do to hurt me? They just float through things and could possess me, steal my body and make me their puppet." She shook her head to get the idea out of it and pushed the heavy wood doors open. The hall was dark and eerie as she entered it slowly. A loud bang rang through the empty hallway and Rosalie clasped her hands over her ears. She squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered in fear. Why did she decide to come back for Ciel and Sebastian? She peaked one eye open and removed her hands from her ears. She had to toughen up and deal with it. Bloody hell, she was to be seventeen soon and her she was acting like a traumatised five year old. Her family always said her fear of ghosts was irrational. But once she saw demons and reapers and angels, only God knows how dangerous ghosts can be. She shook the fears out of her head and marched down the hall with determination. She would find those two abandoners and give them a piece of her mind.
"Hello Miss. You have pretty hair." She turned around to see a small boy with large blue eyes and a larger smile. In his hands was a human skull, withered over time and a dull grey. Then his body flickered before disappearing. She screamed at the top of her lungs and ran. Her shoes were slowing her down so she pulled them off and kept going, feeling the cold of the ancient tiles on the soles of her feet. The chilling wind from the window blew through her hair; making it wild and messy "Please don't run away, Miss. I only want to play." Candles lit around her as she skidded to a halt. The young boy materialised in front of her, his large blue eyes shaking with sorrow. He clutched the skull against chest and shuffled his feet. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the boy. She turned to face him and held her hands against her chest. "Don't be afraid of me, Miss." He took a couple of steps forward and touched her hand. A supernatural cold ran through her body but she chose to ignore it.
"I'm... not afraid of you." She knelt in front of him and gave him a sweet smile. The boy was barely eight and he looked harmless.
"Good, because I want to play." He leapt into her arms and hugged her tight, giggling. "What is your name, Miss?"
"You can call me Rosy."
"That's a pretty name, like the flower!" She nodded and he laughed. "My name is Richard. Nice to meet you, Rosy."
"The pleasure is all mine, Richard." She stood up and held his hands. "What do you wish to play?"
"Hide and seek! This castle is big and it'll be fun."
"Okay, you go hide and I'll count to ten." She closed her eyes and started to count aloud. Once she was done, the halls were empty but the candles still on. She picked up one and wandered down the halls, searching each room. How in heaven and hell did she end up playing hide and seek in an abandoned demolished castle with a ghost boy. She searched every room she could find but all she got was cheeky giggles.
"Aw, no. I can't seem to find little Richard anywhere." She purposefully spoke out loud and let out an exaggerated sigh.
"I win. Ha ha ha!" Richard materialised in front of her and was giggling madly. "You look funny when you lose."
"It's not fair because you're a ghost." She pouted her lips and turned her head away.
"Let's play something else!" He grabbed her hand and pulled her along.
"What do you want to play now?"
"Can we play with cards? I'm not good at the game but I can build a house."
"Then we shall build the largest house of cards you have ever seen!" He laughed and took her away to a different room. "Wait here." He disappeared and returned almost a second later with a couple decks of cards and her shoes. "I thought your feet might get cold." She thanked him and pulled on her laced shoes before taking the playing cards from him. She took the cards out of the box and started shuffling them while Richard lit up some candles.
"What games can you play?" she asked as she split the deck.
"Um... not many." He pouted and she giggled.
"How about we make a house of cards?" Richard clapped eagerly and she started the foundation. He too started to help and soon they had a towering castle of cards. Richard walked around it, a wide grin on his lips.
"Look, we built a card castle!" He held the skull to eye level as he spoke to it. He took a step closer to the house of cards and blew on it the entire thing toppling down. "Oh!" It seemed like he had suddenly remembered something. "I can play solitaire." She smiled and started to split the cards into their respective piles. She flipped the first card of each pile and smiled and him.
"Would you like to start?" she politely offered and Richard sat next to her. She realised that he was as solid as a normal person. She could feel his presence as he leaned over and flipped cards over, the skull tucked under his arm. He paused and realised that he was stuck. He looked up at Rosalie and gave her a look of neediness. She smiled and leaned over pulling a six of hearts and exposing the missing ace. Edward watched her flip cards and moved them into their respective piles. The game finished awfully quickly and Richard gazed at her in astonishment.
"You are really good, Miss Rosy."
"Yes, I used to play a lot as a child with my brothers."
"I have an older brother. He's the only family I have left." He held the skull tight in his arms and she noticed the melancholy in his big blue eyes. She leaned forward and pointed at the skull.
"And who is that?" He held in close to his chest and turned away.
"I can't tell you. It's a secret." She let out a breath of laughter and turned back to shuffling the cards. "Aren't you going to pester me?"
"If you don't want to tell me I cannot force you." She started arranging the cards for a new game.
"He said that too," Richard mumbled to the skull.
"Who did?" Her question was answered when Sebastian himself entered the room. "Sebastian?"
"Do you know him, Rosy? He's our butler." Richard got up and ran to Sebastian. "Rosy was playing games with me. She was scared at first but now she is okay."
"First thunder storms, now ghosts." He gave her a smirk and she rolled her eyes.
"Shut up, butler. Why are you here?"
"The master requires Prince Richard."
"Why? What does brother want?" the boy asked with curiosity. Sebastian said nothing and grabbed him by the waist before briskly walking out of the room. Confused, she followed him out ad down the hall.
"Sebastian what are you doing?" she asked as she jogged beside him.
"His Majesty needs his brother now." That statement made Richard panic. He began to kick and scream and wriggle in Sebastian's arms but the man had no intention of letting go. They arrived in a room which resembled a drawing room and saw Ciel and a teenage boy with blonde hair and blue eyes like Richard.
"Another mortal?" He looked Rosalie up and down and she narrowed her eyes in response.
"And who are you?"
"Your king, Edward." Before she could retort that introduction, Richard's cries alerted the others.
"No! Stop it! Just put me down, Sebastian!"
"Terribly sorry, your Highness," the butler gave a small smile at the struggling boy in his arm.
"How sad," Ciel commented from his seat. "I was so looking forward to a fight between a demon and a ghost. What a pity."
"Let me go, Sebastian!" Richard cried. "Brother! Brother, help!"
"I'm sorry," Edward told him. "Come now, don't you think that you can be a little gentler?"
"You got yourself into this," Ciel replied. "Really, this has been going on for 200 years. Don't you think-" Rosalie frowned and watched in silence as Edward and Ciel argued.
"I never intended to make my little brother cry" Edward said. Sebastian grabbed the skull making Richard cry out.
"Richard!"
"See? We secured the item you wanted" Ciel said. Richard tried to make grabs for the skull but Sebastian held it out of his reach. Richard cried and screamed for his brother and her struggled against Sebastian.
"As your king, I order you to release Richard!" Edward said and Sebastian smirked.
Edward's body was engulfed by a blue halo and he attacked Sebastian. Sebastian simply stepped out of the way and Edward landed on the floor. Rosalie found herself watching the scene unfold before her. Edward tried to get up and help his brother but froze when he saw him crying and screaming.
"Stop it!" He stood up and glared at them. "I instructed you to stop it, Phantomhive.
"You said this is what you wanted, no matter the cost. If you go back on that now, it would be no better than the liars you claim to hate." Realising he couldn't sway Ciel he turned to the butler.
"Sebastian, listen to me. You belong to us now."
"I'm sorry but you have never been my master. I am bound to Earl Phantomhive by contract. I only served you and your brother because I was ordered to. All this time I have faithfully carried out the orders of my true master."
"You…" Edward approached them. "You betrayed us too?"
"There has been no betrayal. I have always belonged and served my master."
"Now, if we are sending you to this 'Heaven' that you wish to go to, I will appoint myself as chief mourner." Ciel turned around with the skull in his hand and approached the chessboard. Richard started to wriggle frantically and call out.
"It's all right, Richard." Edward stepped forward. "I will always be with you and now we can end this." Everyone watched the board with anticipation as he placed the skull in the knight's position but only silence ensued.
"I assume something was supposed to happen." Rosalie pointed at the chessboard.
"Why isn't anything happening?" Edward asked.
"Richard didn't want King Edward to find this out, did he?" Sebastian asked.
"Yes, because I was sure my brother would be sad." Richard replied. Sebastian set him down on his feet and let him go to his brother. "I'm sorry, brother. I shouldn't have lied to you." Richard hugged his brother.
"Lied? You lied to me?" Edward asked.
"Listen, brother. The truth is the skull belongs to neither you nor to me, but to some unfortunate stranger. You forgot that our bones are long gone. Since that day..."
"You are right, Richard. Ever since that day..."
"The nice guard told us goodnight, as he always did."
"However, he was the one who let the assassins in."
"Even though he said 'we didn't have to worry about anything because he will protect us'."
"That is how I came to hate liars. They killed me first and then my little brother. I saw it from a body that could no longer move. I'm sorry, Richard. You must have been so frightened."
"But Brother you know, the scariest part for me was that thought that I would never see you again. I couldn't bear that. They cut our bodies into tiny pieces and dumped them in the Thames."
"Devoured by the fish and buried in the mud, both our flesh and bones vanished completely. I'm so sorry, Richard. How could I have ever forgotten?" Listening to their story, Rosalie couldn't control her emotions. She found herself sniffling and wiping her tears. Nothing hurt more than losing a member of her family except seeing them in that state. She watched Edward hold his younger brother close and whisper apology after apology until his body started to glow. It seemed that the chessboard was merely a formality and did not have the power to release their souls. The power was always trapped inside Edward hidden underneath the lies he told himself.
"I am in your debt, Phantomhive. I wish you a long and healthy life." The King shook hands with the Earl. They had all gathered outside by the river where a boat had appeared from thin air and was being steered by a hooded figure.
"I did not do much. There is no need to worry about the castle. I intend to leave it in its present state" Ciel said.
"I am relieved to hear that" Edward said. Richard hugged Sebastian around the middle.
"Farewell, Sebastian, thank you" Richard said.
"Take care, Your Highness." Sebastian bowed his head. The small prince turned to Rosalie and hugged her waist.
"I wish we could have finished our game, Rosy," he muttered into her stomach. "I never had anyone play with me before." She got down on her knees and stroked the small boy's head.
"Maybe you will find someone to play with later." She kissed his head and let him run to his brother. The two climbed on to the small row boat, manned by that hooded figure and waved to them as the drifted gently down the stream before disappearing without a trace.
"Are you still afraid of ghosts, Rosy?" She dusted her dress and frowned at her cousin.
"Shut up, brat. I have a legitimate excuse." Ciel laughed and walked on ahead. Rosalie turned behind her and smirked at Sebastian.
"What troubles you, my Lady?" he asked politely.
"You have a sweet side, Sebastian." She held her cheek in exaggerated adoration while Ciel rolled his eyes and left to the castle. "I never thought you would appeal to children, especially after the way you manhandled poor Richard."
"There are a lot of sides you don't know about me, Rosalie. Maybe I can show you one day." His voice changed into a low sexy growl and she turned around, surprised to find no change in his expression. As she was about to turn away, she felt him grab her shoulders and push her against the tree. "Or maybe I could show you now." She instinctively grabbed onto his arms and tried to push him off. He leaned in close to her neck and inhaled deeply. Her eyes widened as she shivered under his gaze. He pressed his lip against her neck, where her curse mark was, and dragged it up to her ear. She squeaked when he breathed against it.
"Don't," she whispered as she grabbed his wrist with all the strength she had, which amounted to nothing compare to his own.
"How can I when you have such an inviting expression decorating your face?" he leaned in close and grinned maliciously. Tormenting the girl was always amusing and she never failed to entertain. But this time her face was hardened with not anger but another emotion. Determination, maybe.
"I said don't, butler." He laughed and inched closer, his lips centimetres away from hers. She scrunched her face together as he pressed her other hand against the tree and above her head. Her palm that was holding his other hand felt incredibly hot against his wrist and she watched him recoil in pain. Where her hand was, showed the singed cuff of his suit. Sebastian gazed at the burnt clothes before turning his face to her. Rosalie's lip was quivering as she glued her eyes to his wrist. She thought she had it under control. She had felt anger countless times when she moved back to her home but not once did her powers show. She looked up and locked eyes with Sebastian. He lost his usual taunting smile and had an expression of confusion and curiosity. She pushed herself out of his grip and called out Ciel's name, running after the boy. She gazed at her hand and wondered how she couldn't control her ability. And now Sebastian knew. Only god knew what he was going to do with that information.
"What did you want?" Ciel asked once she approached him.
"Nothing really. I just want to go home to my bed and sleep like the dead." Her cousin rolled his eyes at her pun.
"I'll get Sebastian to drop you off once we go back to the estate."
"Of course, my Lord." They both turned around to see said butler behind them. Rosalie's eyes widened when she noticed his sleeve. It was perfectly fine with no signs of it being singed like she remembered. She closed her eyes and opened again expecting to see a difference but it was fine. Perfect. "IS something wrong, Lady Rosalie?" she looked up and saw Sebastian with his signature smiling.
"Um... no, nothing. Let's get some rest." She turned around and hurried into the castle. She found a room to retire in and lay in bed gazing at the ceiling. She was a hundred percent certain that she had burnt his wrist. She saw the raw redness on his pale skin and the singed cuffs of his shirt and jacket. She rolled over to her side and gazed at the waning moon, illuminating the dark room with eerie shadows. Maybe she didn't use her powers. Maybe she felt them coming up and shut them down. Maybe, just maybe...
Oooohhh, drama llama. Hehehe. I'll see y'all whenever.
Minami