A/N: Woot! Chapter 10 is up in record time! I think I'm finally getting back into the swing of writing! School really took a lot of my creative enthusiasm away from me! :P Ever since the second half of the year hit, I was just busy all the time. Talk about exhausting! But summer is finally here, so I should have more time to update! Yay! Okay guys, I really hope you like this chapter! I'll be back with chapter 11 as soon as possible! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji. All characters, with the exception of my OC's belong to Yana Toboso.
"Mr. Charles Blackwell-Senior Representative of the Bank of England," I read aloud from the name card that I held in my hands. Mr. Blackwell had been so kind as to leave it available for me to investigate him the night he was here. Well, alright. I snatched it off Uncle's desk when he wasn't looking. But that didn't really matter. What was important was that I learned everything I could about this man before it was too late. The Walton brothers had clearly stated that he was a key role in their scheme, so at this point I really didn't have any doubts, but I still had to be sure. I couldn't just go around killing innocents. The card didn't really give much more information other than his name and position. The only other tidbits were his office telephone number and what hours of the day to reach him. I sighed and set the card down on my bedside table, thoroughly done with reading for the day, as my eyes were starting to get a bit sore. Today marked day three of lying around in my bed doing nothing. Doctor Hawthorne said it would probably take a little less than a week for my fever to drop, so I had a couple more days to wait before I was allowed to set even one foot out of bed. I looked outside my window with a certain longing to be prancing around in the late Autumn air right at that time. Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and of course, I wasn't allowed to partake in any of the festivities. I didn't even get to eat any of the food, thanks to my illness. The only thing I was glad to have missed out on was the Derbyshires' annual Thanksgiving ball, which I'm sure Thomas would've just considered another opportunity to poke and prod me in places that should never be touched. Thank goodness for that, at least. I sighed again and decided I would attempt to take my fourth nap that day, but just as I got settled, there was a quiet knock on my door. "Come in," I responded, my voice cracking from not being used for such a long time. The door opened slowly, revealing Sebastian on the other side. I stole a quick glance at him, then looked back over to the window. I really was in no mood to speak with him. Not after my discovery three days ago. Every day since I took ill, he came into my room to check on me, and I ignored his presence each time. If he was going to widen the gap between us, then two could play at that game.
"I've brought your afternoon tea, My Lady," he said, and I heard a soft clink as he set the tray down on my nightstand. I made no effort to answer him, just continued to stare out the window. Perhaps if I kept ignoring him, he would leave sooner. But alas, he had to open his mouth once more. "You know as well as I do that you can't keep giving me the cold shoulder, My Lady."
"And it's alright for you to bestow the same treatment upon me?" I snapped, finally turning my head towards him. "You know, I really don't appreciate that. Not at all."
Sebastian cast his eyes down to the floor. "What I'm doing is for your own good, My Lady. Do you think I'm completely unaware of how you feel about me?"
I turned away from him again. "I suspected you figured it out a long time ago. I myself just realized it the other day."
"Then you and I both know that it can't happen," Sebastian said, and I could've sworn I heard his voice falter a bit. "Our relationship is a contract, and that is that." I balled my hands up into fists and willed myself not to cry, but my eyes started to glass over anyway. Of course I knew Sebastian couldn't love me. He only wanted my soul, nothing else. I was his prey, and that was all I ever would be. So why did it hurt so much to be rejected by him? Sebastian started for the door, but, going against my better judgment, I reached out to grab a hold of his arm.
"Wait, please, Sebastian!" I cried, not even trying to hide my tears anymore. It was a waste, now that everything was all out in the open. "Please, don't go just yet."
Sebastian jerked his arm free of my grip and continued toward the door. "Do get some rest, My Lady," he said, not even looking back at me. And just like that, he was gone. I was alone, yet again.
"Fine!" I quipped to myself as I tucked my body away underneath the blankets. "Maybe I should just do everything by myself then, and see how you like it?" I stopped myself then, thinking about what I had just said. A brilliant idea dawned on me. I didn't need Sebastian acting like my nanny every time I went to kill someone. I was perfectly capable of doing it myself. I didn't rely on him when I killed the Waltons, so why would any of the others give me trouble? And so I came to the conclusion that, as soon as I was able, I would track down this Mr. Blackwell, and kill him before Sebastian could even get the jump on me. And if something would happen to go wrong, I knew Sebastian wouldn't neglect to come after me. For all I knew, I was the only meal he would be getting for a while.
The next day, Uncle finally deemed me healthy enough to allow me to leave my room. Though I suspected it was only because he informed me that he had some sort of important announcement for me and the servants. So we were all gathered into the dining room that afternoon to hear what he had to say.
"I'm taking a five month trip to the Americas to negotiate a business deal," he said as he walked circles around all of us. My jaw nearly hit the floor.
"Five months!" I interrupted. "Why so long?"
"Indeed, Sir," Bard put in. "Five months seems a bit long for negotiating."
"It is a very important decision and we mustn't rush it," Uncle answered as he took a seat at the opposite end of the table. "Now, Annalise." His eyes made direct eye contact with mine, and I didn't dare do anything to break it. "I'm trusting you with the manor. Seeing as you are now a responsible lady, I'm sure it will be no trouble for you. And if there is trouble, you can bet on your life that I will hear about it." He narrowed his eyes as he said that last part. I swallowed a rather large glob of saliva that had accumulated in my throat. Uncle could be so intimidating when he wanted to be.
"Yes, of course, Uncle," I responded as soon as I found my voice, bowing my head slightly. "I promise, I will do everything I can to keep the manor in perfect condition. You have my word."
Uncle stood and started for the door. "Very well. Sebastian, begin packing my things for me, will you?"
"Sir," Sebastian bowed, then followed him out of the room.
"I still don't know what sort of business deal takes five months to negotiate," I pouted quietly as I reached in front of me for a cup of tea. I noticed the three servants still standing perfectly still on either side of me, and offered for them to sit down and have a cup themselves. They graciously accepted my offer.
"So do you think the Master will be back in time for the wedding?" Mey-Rin asked after taking a small sip of her tea.
"I'm sure he wouldn't miss it for the world, Mey," Bard answered her. Finny looked at me with a rather pitiful expression. He was the only one of the three who know just how upset I was about the marriage.
"Well, whether he does or doesn't, I shan't let it break my spirits. Excuse me." With that, I stood and made a quick escape for my bedroom. I'm sure they were baffled by my sudden departure, but I didn't care. I just needed to be alone again. To plan out my next murder.
Uncle left for the Unites States that very same day, so that night, I was finally free to do whatever I pleased. After Sebastian had put me to bed, an affair that now consisted of nothing but a few strangled, kind words here and there, I put my black gown back on and grabbed my winter cape from off its hook. I had to search my room a bit to locate my boots, but eventually found them underneath my bed. As soon as I was dressed, I left my room and darted down the hall as quietly as I could. I had to make sure no one heard me, especially not Sebastian. I stopped by the kitchen before I went outside to grab my murder weapon of choice-a huge, incredibly sharp chef's knife- and continued on my way.
Once I had finally made it out of the house, I ran toward the stables. I had thought this out earlier, and came to the conclusion that the only way I could get into town was if I rode a horse. I couldn't very well take a carriage without having someone to escort me, so this was my only option. I sought out my mount for the night-a strong, black stallion whom I had named Lightning-and began tacking him up. Thank goodness I had learned how to put a saddle and bridle on a horse when I was young. Once I was finished, I climbed onto his back and gave him a sharp kick to his rear, and he took off running. He started off much too fast and I had to cling onto him for dear life, but after a while I was able to get him under control.
After about an hour, we had arrived in London. I steered Lightning toward the direction of the bank, hoping that at least one person would be there after hours so I could inquire about Mr. Blackwell. There was still a light on somewhere in the building, so my hopes were high. I jerked hard on the reigns when we were just outside the bank and the horse came to a sudden halt. Once we were stopped, I jumped off and tied the reigns to one of the many spires on the wrought iron fence. I tried to open the gate, but it was locked. Of course, I had rather been expecting this, which was why I brought a few of my hair pins with me. I inserted the tip of one into the lock and began twisting and turning it around. After a few seconds, the pin broke. I gave an irritated sigh and inserted another one into the lock. That one broke, too. I had three more tries left, as I had brought five pins total with me. I was not an expert at picking locks by any means, so I had to be sure I could attempt it several times. After fiddling around with my third hair pin for a while, I finally heard a click. With one swift motion, I opened the gate. It creaked loudly, and I looked around to make sure no one had heard it. Thankfully, the streets were still as quiet as could be. I rushed inside and made my way to the front door. I got ready to pick another lock, but much to my surprise, the door was already open.
Once inside, I could hear a voice coming from upstairs. The voice sounded all too familiar, and I wondered how much luckier I could get before it would all run out. The voice, without even a hint of doubt, sounded exactly like Mr. Blackwell. I climbed the stairs as silently as I could, a task that proved to be quite difficult because of how old and rickety they were, and followed the voice all the way up to the fifth floor. I clutched my knife close to me underneath my cape and turned the corner out of the stairwell. Before I knew it, I was facing the door to Mr. Blackwell's office. Through the opaque door window, I could see that he was on the phone with someone. He ran a hand through his jet-black hair, which looked incredibly greasy.
"No, I'm alone right now. I'm at the bank." He sounded as though he was trying to be discreet about something. "My wife's at home." And that was why. He was talking to a woman who was not his wife. Perhaps I could put an end to someone else's suffering tonight besides my own. His wife would certainly be better off without being married to a filthy two-timer like him. Without another moment's hesitation, I got my knife ready, and launched myself through the door.
Mr. Blackwell turned around swiftly in his chair. "What the hell?! Annalise, what on earth are you doing here?!" He saw my knife then, and backed his chair up against the wall. "And...why do you have that?"
"The time has come for answers, Mr. Blackwell," I said, moving slowly towards him, my knife pointed out in front of me. He began sweating bullets, and put his hands out in front of his face. He was shaking like a madman. "Whether you want to give them to me or not."
Mr. Blackwell dropped his hands from his face then, revealing a twisted smile. Before I even had time to react, he had me pinned up against the wall, and he'd managed to snatch my knife from me. I let out a small shriek of pain, and he covered my mouth with his free hand. "Did you really think I was afraid of you?" he asked, putting his face right up to mine. "You're just a stupid girl. You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into." I squirmed underneath his grip, but it was no use. He was much stronger than he looked. "In fact, you're just as stupid as your parents were that night. They didn't even try to run as we slaughtered them." I felt a fiery, burning sensation on my arm then, and looked down to see that he'd ran the knife clean across my wrist. Rich, sanguine blood poured out of the fresh wound and stained the immaculate marble floor. I couldn't take this anymore. I had to admit to myself that this was a terrible idea. I needed him, and so I tipped my head back and screamed his name. Mr. Blackwell seemed confused, but mere seconds later, the windows to his office were shattered, and he was on the floor, a dark, ominous figure on top of him. The knife was knocked out of his hand and it slid across the floor, just an inch out of his reach. I scrambled to pick it up, holding it tightly in both of my hands.
"My Lady," Sebastian said, still holding down Mr. Blackwell. "I suggest you put an end to him. Quickly." I nodded, knowing that it was now or never. Sebastian released his grip on Mr. Blackwell, and like a flash, I dove on top of him and plunged the knife deep into his heart. He opened his mouth wide and lurched forward, then fell back against the floor. After a few seconds, I ripped the knife out and his blood immediately started to pool around him. I'd stabbed him clear through his chest. Once the deed was done, I fell over onto the floor beside the body, not aware of how much blood I'd lost through the cut on my wrist. Sebastian was by my side immediately. He scooped me up and began to examine the wound. He looked at me with a very serious expression, and for the first time, I saw anger in his eyes. "I'll save the lecture for later," he said. "But first, we need to get back to the house so I can treat that cut."
I sat silently on my bed as Sebastian wrapped a thick layer of gauze around my wrist. It seemed like no matter how many layers he put on, the blood still managed to soak through. I watched as he wrapped yet another layer on. I hadn't said a single word to him since we got back to the manor. I was too afraid. I had never been reprimanded by him before, but there was always a first time for everything. I had a feeling the conversation that was about to come would not be a pleasant one.
"There," Sebastian said once the bleeding had finally ceased. As soon as he let go of my wrist, I pulled it back towards me, cradling it with my other hand. It still hurt quite a bit. My attention was drawn to Sebastian as he pulled a chair up to my bedside. Oh no. The lecture was about to begin. On the way home, I had come up with different scenarios of how this conversation was going to go in my head, but now I had a feeling it would be something completely different. I forced myself to meet my eyes with Sebastian's, and they did not look at all pleased. "My Lady," he said softly, still maintaining the disappointment in his tone. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
I looked away from him for a second, a grim expression on my face. I knew I should've just given in to him, but part of me still wanted to defy him for the pain he put me through. "Nothing," I answered simply.
Sebastian cocked one of his eyebrows. "Nothing?" The word held a nasty intonation, and even though I wasn't looking at him, I could feel the fire return to his eyes. "Nothing?" he said it again, but with even more chagrin this time. He stood and placed his hands roughly on my shoulders, forcing me to look at him, then yanked me up off my bed. I gasped slightly, as I wasn't at all prepared for that. His eyes were absolutely fierce now as they bore into mine. "Do you have any idea how much danger you put yourself in tonight?" he hissed, and I could've sworn I heard a growl at the edge of his voice. "If you hadn't called me when you did, he would've killed you!"
"Since when does my life concern you?" I yelled back. "The only thing you even bother to care about is my soul!" I stared daggers at him for a long time, and he did the same. After a while though, I noticed his resolve was starting to give.
"What is it that you want from me, My Lady?" he asked, taking his hands off my shoulders. "Just tell me what you desire more than anything else right now, and I will make it so."
I didn't even have to think about what I desired at the moment. I knew what I wanted, and it was something I had wanted for a very long time now. I looked back up at Sebastian, who wore an expression similar to that of someone who had just been sentenced to death. "Alright," I said, folding my arms across my chest. "Take me. That's an order."
A/N: Oooooooooh I wonder what's gonna happen next? :P Stay tuned to find out! :)
