Hey everyone, I was in such a good mood today that I wrote the next chapter. I hope you all like it :)
I opened my eyes and sat up in my bed. Nightmares plagued me as I remembered my parents burning. I looked down at my hands before I put my head on my knees and cradled myself. I sighed before I unfurled, hearing my door open and MeyRin walk in.
"You're awake," she commented and I nodded.
"Sebastian sent me up here to help you change. You will be with the young master today," MeyRin explained as I got out of bed. She dressed me as I looked myself over in the mirror. The cut on my neck was healing, a bare scratch now rather than a puckered mark. Ciel had forgotten about the person who had been in his room and I didn't care to inform him he had cut me.
"The young master wants to have breakfast with you," MeyRin whispered before she did my hair and left to complete her chores.
I stayed there for another few minutes, my mind gone for the time being as I remembered Marguerite Devereaux and the princes of Ludlow Castle. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I remembered death. I hadn't mentioned it to anyone that I knew what it was like to be dead. There was infinite nothing, no names to be called by and sometimes, there was a spark of memory…but it was never a good one. I had seen my mother like a skeleton, Berrymore glaring at me. Then it would return to nothing and I was nobody. It had been my father calling out "Ellie" that had brought me closer to the surface so I could hear Sebastian calling my name.
It had only been then that the nothing turned from pure brilliant white to pitch darkness and I had been falling. No, I couldn't tell them I knew what death's cruel grasp was like. I couldn't begin to explain the concept of infinite coldness and the loss of your identity. I shook my head and decided I had to go down to the young master now.
The steps seemed steeper than before, but I managed to go down them and find the dining room. Ciel was already in there with Sebastian, reading a newspaper. Sebastian pulled out a chair for me and I sat down, wiping my eyes slowly to rid myself of the remains of the nightmare. I had failed to protect Ciel from some unknown person. I had, at the end of the nightmare, only found his body before I had opened my eyes.
"Elena, there are scones, fruit parfait-" Sebastian started to say.
"A scone please," I whispered as I rubbed my head at my temples.
The scone was put in front of me which; I ate a little of before I put it down and decided I wasn't really hungry. I had eaten only a little since our trip to Ludlow Castle a week ago and hadn't eaten more than a bite before I stopped. My stomach growled but I didn't say anything as I stood.
"Excuse me, young master," I bowed to him and left the room.
I stood in the hall for a moment before I found myself walking through the kitchen to go outside. That was where Finny was, and Pluto was somewhere else. I found a grassy hill and sat down, feeling the sun shining on my too cold skin. I heard Finny's laughter and wished I could feel as light as he did.
"Elena?" Sebastian called and I looked to him, "the young master wishes to speak with you. We have a guest," and he left me to catch up. I ran into the house to see Sebastian was waiting.
"Whose the guest?" I asked him when he matched his pace with my own.
"Ash Landers," Sebastian replied.
"The Queen's butler? Is the Queen here as well?" I asked, certain my dark green dress was not suitable for an audience with the Queen.
"It is just Ash Landers today," and he brought me to the servants' rooms. The door was open to reveal Tanaka sipping his tea and the young master was looking at Ash curiously. Sebastian knocked on the door and three pairs of eyes turned to look at me as I curtsied.
"Ah Elena Hamilton," Ash said as he sipped tea, "I'm glad to see you are well."
"Thank you," I replied as he took my hand to kiss it.
"To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?" Sebastian asked, capturing Ash's attention.
"Outside of Preston, there is a Catholic Abbey. It was burned down during the Reformation and is no longer in use. A cult practising the Espousing Religion has begun gathering there. We have received word that the cult's leader is in possession of the Doomsday books of all its members and followers," Ash explained.
"You mean the land registers?" Ciel asked, clearly confused, "where all livestock and property are recorded? I don't understand, what could he possibly want with that."
"Oh no, their Doomsday books are quite a bit different than that. They aren't the normal records you're used to. They don't cover property. These are the records required when you stand before the Lord in Heaven on Dooms Day; The Day Of Judgement. All your sins and good works are supposedly recorded there."
"I'm getting weary of the occult," Ciel mumbled.
"There have been the most distressing rumours circling. Apparently they are planning a coup against the government. Their activities as of late have made the people of Preston quake with fear. Her Majesty worries, she wants her people safe."
"So what? Are you asking me to simply make sure this cult is disbanded or is it more? Do you want them completely eliminated?" Ciel asked.
"That decision is yours. We leave the choice up to you," Ash replied.
"Alright, understood," Ciel commented.
I hadn't spoken a word since our introduction when a shadow crept across the floor. I looked towards the ceiling of the room and spotted a small window. At the window from the outside, was an excited Pluto who was looking fondly at Ash.
"Pluto?" Ciel asked, looking confused.
Pluto hit the glass with his hand to capture Ash's attention like a child calling out, "look at me!" Ash turned his head to view the demon hound before he glared. Pluto immediately backed up as if he had been electrocuted by that gaze. That was bizarre I thought, and not like Pluto. Pluto whimpered as he left and Ash looked over us again.
"Who exactly was that?" Ash asked.
"Oh he's a servant, nothing more," Sebastian replied.
"Is that so?" Ash asked as he looked to the empty window again, "he seems an interesting sort of servant."
I looked to Sebastian in time to capture the glare he was giving the back of Ash's head. Ash shrugged and put his hand out to me. I took it and felt like an electric current was running up my arm. Ash brought me out of the room, Ciel and Sebastian followed behind us.
"I must return to her Majesty, I leave this case in your capable hands, Lord Phantomhive," Ash said as we got to the front door, "I just wish to speak with Elena for a moment if that is alright?"
"I don't see a problem," Ciel mumbled before he walked off.
Ash brought me outside and to the door of his carriage. He stopped there and held an envelope to me which I took and he smiled.
"The Queen wishes to give you a task as well. She believes you more than capable but there is one thing you must do. Ciel Phantomhive must not know what you are doing until you have completed your task.."
"What is this task?" I asked as I opened the letter, read it slowly and then re-read it, "you want me to become a nun?"
"As a way of infiltrated the cult," Ash explained.
"How can I not let him know? I'm his bodyguard!" I groaned as I stuffed the letter into the top of my dress.
"I'm certain you will find a way," Ash explained, "please inform Ciel Phantomhive that there has been a mass delivery of coffins to Preston. That should help him start his investigation. Once you have been initiated into the cult as a follower, you are welcome to share with Lord Phantomhive, he just cannot know before then. I believe becoming a follower requires a strong force of will."
He climbed into his carriage and I watched it leave. How was I supposed to become a nun without the young master knowing? I sighed and walked back into the manor. I would think of a way. I only had to stay quiet until I was a member and then…then I wasn't sure what I would do. Why did the Queen want me as a member of the cult she had left the fate of in her Guard Dog's hands?
"The Undertaker's?" I asked when the carriage pulled away and we stood outside the funeral parlour.
"Ash mentioned to you Elena that there was a high purchase of coffins. If there's coffins involved, the Undertaker may have heard of something or even delivered them himself," Sebastian replied.
Sebastian opened the door to the parlour and it looked like an exact replica of what I had seen when I was burying my parents and also what I saw in the Frost Fair. Ciel walked ahead of me and I followed, Sebastian closed the door as we spotted the Undertaker leaning against one of the coffins.
"I'm coming in!" Ciel stated.
The Undertaker appeared to laugh as if it was funny.
"Welcome little lord," he said in response though I had never heard the Undertaker say that before.
"Listen Undertaker, I have something to ask of you," Ciel said.
"In that case," the Undertaker replied as he turned, and I spotted red, "I demand the best loving that Bassy has to offer."
Greil ran for Sebastian, the grey wig falling behind him as he did. Sebastian moved as he got nearer and Greil collided with the wall near the door. He looked confused and then hurt at Sebastian's rejection. A skull detached itself from the wall and fell on his head. I stifled a giggle as insult was very much added to injury.
"Wait! Greil?" Ciel asked.
"Hello my Lord," another voice called out from further within the shop. We walked towards the voice and found the real Undertaker…in a pot of salt. I was just as confused as Ciel.
"What are you doing in there?" Ciel asked.
"The bounder told me he wasn't afraid of Grim Reapers so I buried him in salt," Greil said, stating it in a matter of fact way.
"Yes he did. All the moisture in my body is being sucked right out of it as we speak! It's a great feeling!" the Undertaker replied with a smile.
"An interesting opinion," Sebastian replied as he raised a handkerchief to cover his mouth and nose.
"Tell me what you're doing here," Ciel asked Greil.
"Will gave me a job to investigate that's all. But I couldn't find any information. It was getting late and I was tired so I lay down in a field of flowers. The next thing I know I'm waking up in this shop. I should be careful in the future not to stop breathing when I sleep but I was waiting for a certain prince to come around and revive me with his kiss," and Greil puckered his lips to Sebastian.
"So what are you investigating?" Sebastian asked, ignoring the puckered lipped Greil.
"Oh nothing much. It's the Grim Reaper's store of cinematic records. Some of them have been stolen."
"Cinematic records? What are they?" Ciel asked.
"Not something a kid needs to worry about," Greil replied, ignoring that I was right there.
"They are reels of film containing all memories from someone's lifetime. Grim Reapers extract them from the to-die list and they decided where the person goes from there," Sebastian explained.
"Master," and Ciel looked to me, "when your life flashes before your eyes. I believe that's where the saying comes from."
"You would know, huh?" Greil asked.
"I saw my parents' lives flash before their eyes. You took their souls and left me to burn," I looked down at my covered hands, "you left me to die."
"Anyway," Greil muttered, "that's basically it but you should be aware that you humans can only see them when you die."
"And these records? How exactly is it that they were allowed to be stolen?" Sebastian asked Greil.
"Well you see. They are stored in the library when we aren't using them. Good and evil, the full past of everyone who is destined to die. All of their lives are stored there in the form of books. Elena Hamilton saw the book of Marguerite Devereaux only a week ago."
"So you Reapers have books written in preparation for Doomsday?" Ciel asked.
"This is something you've heard about before, isn't it?" Sebastian asked.
"Undertaker, if you will, there is something I need your help with," Ciel said as the Undertaker started licking the salt. I leaned forward to look in before I took a pinch. I put it on my tongue and swallowed before I pulled a face.
"Why did you do that?" Greil asked.
"He was licking it!" I groaned, "I thought it couldn't be salt if he was licking it!"
"Well then, you do know the price for that, don't you?" the Undertaker asked but he turned to look at Greil, "oh well, on second thought, I'll do it for free."
Ciel looked suspicious as did I. Sebastian found me a glass of water which I inhaled to rid my mouth of the taste of salt and the dryness of my mouth. Sebastian put me sitting on one of the coffins as he put Ciel beside me. Greil helped the Undertaker out of the salt and he was completely naked. He also looked heavily wrinkled as if all the moisture had indeed been taken from his skin. He stretched and went into the back with Greil. Both returned minutes later, Greil dressed in red and the Undertaker was back in his clothes.
"Elena," the Undertaker whispered, "I'll make you look ready for your funeral."
"My funeral?" I croaked as he put a finger to my lips.
"My Lord, I will bring Elena first and return for you three, it will be less noticeable if the three of you men go separate to the woman."
They shrugged and decided to sit and wait. The Undertaker took me into the back and handed me a clean white dress that looked like a funeral dress. He helped me undress though I told him what I was wearing was fine but he got me into the white dress and let my hair fall around my shoulders. He took my bracelet and necklace off and put them with my clothes as he opened a casket for me. He sat me down on a bench as he found white roses for the bottom and when it was like a cushion, he took my hand.
"I'm claustrophobic," I whispered to him as I clutched his hand.
"Then return to the men out there while I prepare you something to drink," and I walked back into the main room, tears streaming down my face.
"Elena?" Sebastian asked, "what's wrong?"
"I'm claustrophobic," I whispered.
"You're afraid of small spaces?" Greil asked.
"No," Ciel whispered, "she's scared of being awake and trapped in a small space."
"What's the difference?" Greil asked as the Undertaker appeared by my side.
"It is difference between being aware and being asleep. The brain is a funny thing, telling the body to escape if it is trapped while when the brain is asleep, the person could move into a smaller shape, trapping themselves as they sleep. Drink this Elena," and he held out a beaker to me with white foam coming out of the top. The liquid part that I could see was blue and the smell…it smelt like milk gone off.
"I won't know I'm in the coffin?" I asked him as I took the beaker, "I'll be asleep?"
"You'll look dead," he replied.
I looked to Sebastian and then Ciel. They were watching me with mild interest as I used my other hand to block my nose. I drank the stuff quickly and when it was finished, I dropped the beaker. I was vaguely aware of the beaker shattering into a hundred different pieces, touching my feet. The Undertaker caught my arm as I swayed, my eyes blurring the images of the young master and his butler. My legs felt like jelly as the Undertaker caught me and put me sitting on the floor. He stroked my head as I gasped for air, my lungs demanding more than my body could supply at that moment. Tears dripped from my eyes as I put my hand out, and Ciel caught it. He held it tightly though I started losing feeling in my hands.
"What did you give her?" Ciel asked though it sounded distorted.
"Something to help her sleep," the Undertaker replied as I closed my eyes, "though the last time I made that batch, I killed thirty people."
"You've killed my bodyguard?!" Ciel demanded and that was the last thing I heard…my body just completely shut down.
"She looks so peaceful, did the man say anything about her?" a female voice asked.
"Just said she had wished to be buried with her religion," a male voice responded.
"Can you hear her breathing?" the female asked.
"She has a heartbeat! The man must have been mistaken when he put her in that coffin," the male replied, "I'll bring her to the dorm."
I clutched my head in my hands as I opened my eyes. A wash cloth was wiped across my brow as I sat up quickly. A sigh of 'hallelujah' was whispered as I turned to face a woman. Her hair was blonde and tied under a veil. Her eyes were like emeralds and her face looked pox marked. She smiled at me as she took my hand but I pulled away.
"You are awake!" she said with a smile, "we were worried when you had been asleep for such a long time!"
"How long?" I asked her.
"Two days," she replied, "a man dropped you here believing you were dead. Paul noted you had a heartbeat and Rebecca heard you breath. You are safe here."
"Where is here?" I asked.
"You are in the hospital wing of our abbey. The leader was very interested in you when you arrived. We have told him you were healing and that you would be cleansed as soon as you awoke."
"Cleansed?" I questioned and she nodded.
"Your soul will be purged of all its sins. You will be as pure as the driven snow!" she said as she took my hand and pulled me from my bed.
"Wait!" I cried but she wasn't listening, "please! My friends will be here and we can all be cleansed!"
"You will be purified before the congregation, tonight with two others. You couldn't have arrived at a better time, sweet child of light, Elena."
"How do you know my name?" I asked as she pulled me forward.
"You will be branded with the mark of our congregation and you will be purified."
She dragged me through corridors and past a church like setting. It was there that I spotted what I believed to be Greil. That could mean Sebastian and Ciel were nearby so as the girl pulled me, I screamed, "GREIL!"
The man turned in my direction and saw me, but made no move to come after me. It was then that I knew I would forever hate the Reaper.
"What's your name?" I asked as she stopped pulling, I had given up fighting.
"Vanessa," she replied with a giggle, "and you are dear Elena."
"How do you know my name?" I asked her in a subdued voice.
"Our leader told me you would be coming and that it was in my destiny to bring you to be marked."
"What does that-" and she opened a door.
It was a room with chains and a table. A fire lay waiting with an branding iron heating up. Two men were watching it as another two followed Vanessa into the room. She put me in the middle and pulled apart my clothes. I tried to stop her but a few moments later, I was naked. I covered myself as one man caught one of my arms, the other was captured and my legs were knelt on. Vanessa pulled my head forward as the last man lifted the branding iron out of the fire. He pushed it onto my spine, at the base where I screamed.
He removed it and placed it back among the flames. My heart was racing so fast as Vanessa tried to soothe me. I had never been this scared before, not even when Greil had left me. The man returned and pushed the iron to my right side and left a mark.
"Bring her to the table. She needs to regain her strength for the cleansing," the man commented as I was lifted up.
They left me there, my skin itched with heat. My hands throbbed from remembered pain. What was I supposed to do? Why had the Queen requested I become a nun? Or would that be a follower? My eyes drooped heavily until I fell asleep, the pain telling my brain that I had had enough. Would the young master be alright while I was asleep? I drifted off before I could answer my own question…
"It is time, Elena," a soft voice whispered and I opened my eyes to see Vanessa.
"Time for what?" I croaked; my mouth dry from screaming. Vanessa poured water into a glass and then poured it into my mouth. I choked after the first gulp.
"It's time for you to be purged," she cheered as she got me sitting.
She put her hand over the brand and I screamed, but she didn't take her hand away from me. She got a cloak and wrapped it around me, and it was brilliant white. My hair was brushed as she got me standing. A man arrived and she smiled at him.
"She appears weak, Vanessa," the man said as he took one of my arms, touching the burn on my right side.
"She was marked with the love of the congregation, Paul," Vanessa put her hands together.
"Kill me now," I begged him and he shook his head.
"We are all children of our leader, you will be purged of your sins and made as pure as the driven snow," Paul said.
They brought me out of the room and into the now filled church area. People wore the same dresses and I turned to look at everyone. I wanted to wipe my eyes when I spotted red hair but I knew it was a lie. My brain was hurt and I was so tired. I felt sick. A man wearing a white version of what the women wore came out with two others. They were wrapped in brown cloaks and brought to stand on either side of me. A man and a woman; looking sad for some reason.
"Tonight," the man said, "the unclean will be made pure again. It is time for the cleansing and purification."
I felt my cloak being taken off and I was stunned by the cold that wrapped around me. The man to my left was stripped the same as was the woman on my right. Both had brown hair and kept their heads down. I felt the air make contact with the new burns and I suppressed the scream I wanted to air. This was not the place for that.
"I shall read the Doomsday books of these impure, lost children. First Jill Pheasant, the second child of a farmer, she conceived a child in sin. Then we have Thomas Atkins, he has committed no evil deeds per say but he has spent his life meaninglessly and that is a grave sin as well. Lastly, Elena Hamilton, the only child of a teacher who has harboured great hatred in her heart. She has attempted to kill a person which is a grave sin!"
My skin felt like it was crawling, my hands became clouded with black fog. Pain started along my body like small pinches until it was like needles sticking into my skin. I screamed as the pain tripled and bit away at me. This pain spread out and increased the burn. Tears stung my eyes painfully as I lifted my head and cried. What else was I supposed to do? I didn't know what was happening to me and I wanted to be with Ciel. I knew it was stupid but being near him, meant I was safe.
It was as I was looking up that I saw the stained glass of an angel glow to reveal something of a screen. First it was an image of Jill Pheasant with a pregnant bump and the next was Thomas Atkins fishing. It continued with me going after an unknown person…which I remembered was the day I had been made into a doll. The image didn't show Greil but showed the hatred and anger in my eyes.
"Snuff out the unclean, and the unwanted, and the unnecessary. Snuff them out! All of them!" the man cried out.
The glass broke and I dropped to the floor to clutch my heart. The pain slowly receded until it was just the burns and my horrid headache. My heart was racing, not sure what exactly had happened, but I was glad the pain was gone. I couldn't…I felt sick to my very core.
"And now, despite what they have done, these people are no longer unclean. Our brother and our sisters, now as pure as snow!"
People cheered and I felt someone put my cloak back around me as they got me kneeling. They tied it around my waist and helped me to stand. My legs felt like jelly and I ended up leaning against Paul. He didn't mind and told me:
"The first purification is hard. You will be bathed now to finish your purification," he said.
"I'm so sore," I croaked to him, "please let me go."
"You will be as pure as snow," he said, ignoring my plea.
I was put into a bath of warm water and washed by two women. After that, they braided my hair and put me in a dress like theirs. They got me standing once I was dry.
"The leader has chosen a new member for the heavenly choir. A new boy arrived today. He said Elena was to bring him a clean cloth and towel," and I was handed the objects.
I was directed to where I was supposed to go, my eyes swimming with tears as each step reminded me of the pain I was feeling. The door was opened for me by Paul who left after that and I used my left arm to close the door.
"Aren't you getting a little carried away today?" a boy's voice asked and I looked up to see Ciel.
"No, I just want to handle things smoothly," Sebastian replied.
"Oh?"
"My lord, I have no intention of allowing you get yourself in danger," Sebastian explained as I stepped closer.
"Hmm," was Ciel's reply, "I never thought I'd hear you say that Sebastian."
"Quite so," Sebastian replied, "but even if the Doomsday books are faked. I still believe they hold some sort of power."
"Unclean he said," Ciel commented, "that's what the doll called me. And then there's this," and Ciel raised his arm to reveal a burn an exact replica of my own, "this mark, it's all I have left to cling to now. The only thread the spider has left me to grab onto. It's my only clue."
"And by grabbing hold of that thread, you'll be able to drag yourself out of hell? Is that what you truly believe at this point?"
"No," Ciel replied, "I'm not pulling myself up. I'm dragging them down. To suffer in this awful hell with me. Well, that's my plan anyway."
"I would expect nothing less of you," Sebastian said.
"There's only one thing I want to hear from you now, and you know it?"
"Indeed, yes my young Lord," Sebastian replied.
"He called out Elena Hamilton…the image on the wall looked like her during the doll case."
"You believe she is here as the Undertaker said?" Sebastian asked.
"He took her here first, that was what made me curious. She's been here three days. I'm certain she would have found us."
"Greil said he saw a girl like her but wasn't certain it was her," Sebastian stated.
"Here," I whispered as I put out another cloth for Sebastian.
"Thank you," Sebastian said as he took it and looked up at my face, "Elena?"
"Elena?" and Ciel turned to look at me.
"Greil could have saved me," I whispered as tears flooded my eyes again, "he could have stopped them."
"Stopped them from doing what?" Ciel asked.
"They branded me, like you," I whispered, "they said I must be pure before I could wander these halls."
"You've been purged of your sins?" Sebastian asked as I dropped to my knees.
"I don't want to be!" I sobbed as I shook my head, "my hatred made me the person I was. The events that happened, my going after Greil, it made me a better person to protect the young master. But being pure….I don't feel the same hatred."
"Elena," and I felt a wet hand lift my face. Ciel looked at my eyes as he looked to Sebastian.
"I tried to call for help. I couldn't see you or Sebastian. I saw Greil and I cried for him…but he looked through me. Vanessa took me away….and I was branded twice."
"Elena, I need you to find out what those books are," Ciel whispered, "they aren't real Doomsday books."
"They said that when I was being washed. Of those three books, only one of them was real. Take a guess," I muttered sarcastically.
"They had yours?" Sebastian asked, "no wonder they went to that much trouble to purify you."
"I don't know what I have done, I don't know why I got what they did to me," I raised my eyes to look straight at Ciel, "but I will protect you. I am your bodyguard until my dying breath."
I handed the towel to Sebastian before I stood, my head ached horribly but I shook it out.
"Keep the young master here for a little longer. I'll find out about those books," I whispered as I left the room.
I ran down the hall, passed laughing children before I found a man I had never seen or spoken with. He was blond and reminded me of a giant. He smiled at me and took my hand slowly.
"You are so sweet," I whispered as I leaned against him, "please, my head hurts."
He nodded and took a little more of my weight, so I leaned up and kissed him. He responded to the kiss slowly and I let him hold me tighter. It hurt my burns but this was what I had heard Mathilda talking about. She had said she had been quiet about the books until a tall dark haired man had started kissing her. She hadn't known his name nor had she cared to ask. She had remembered a young boy and a red haired man who had threatened to stick her name of the 'to-die' list if she slept with Bassy again.
"You'll tell me about the Doomsday books?" I asked him and he nodded.
"You are a recent convert," he stated and I nodded, "the books were presented to us by an angel. She told us that are most recent pasts were stuck in those pages. They were the pages filled with sin that we needed purged. She told the leader to help us see our wrongs."
I opened the bathing room door to see Ciel was getting out. It had probably gotten cold while I had been kissing Josh.
"Your lips are swollen," Sebastian said as he dried the young master.
"The books are about the recent past, and it is the pages containing their sins that need to be 'purged'. I kissed a man for the information and no more. He thought I was an exotic beauty. There are a few books that are real and from the library of knowledge. That's what Josh called it anyway. I'll bring you to the leader, Ciel," I whispered as Sebastian got him dressed.
"I'm assuming this is the purity thing?" he asked.
"No," I replied, "I am your bodyguard… and Vanessa told me to," I explained.
The walk to the church again seemed longer as two other women joined our troop. I was to the right of Ciel as Vanessa took the point as a girl named Ann took the rear. This was obviously a very well-practised event.
"Leader, we've brought him," Vanessa said softly.
"Well done, you may leave us now," the man said calmly. Vanessa and Ann bowed and left but I stayed where I was.
"Elena, you may leave us now," he said for me.
"I wish to hear the soft music that the heavenly choir sing!" I said with fake cheer.
"You may hear it during our next purification," he answered as he put his hand out to Ciel.
"I'm not leaving," I responded and he dismissed me.
"You are just as insolent as your Doomsday book states," the man muttered and I shrugged.
"You've known me less than a day, Ciel has known me for a few months."
"You look very clean, Ciel," the man said, ignoring my statement, "very good. Come this way."
Ciel approached the altar with the man looking down at a Doomsday book. I looked at my hands as I picked at my nails.
"Thank you for choosing me," Ciel mumbled, "I understand it is quite an honour."
"Very good," the man repeated as he put a hand on Ciel's shoulder, "and now there is something I would like to read to you."
"May I ask you," Ciel said, "what is a Doomsday book really?"
"For our purposes, it's a story I will read to you for as long as you want. Tonight's a treat, isn't it?"
Ciel seemed to shudder at that comment and I leaned forward, wondering what had gained that reaction. The leader put his other hand through Ciel's hair as if to rub his head. I had only ever seen that action done…with me and my father. He would return home from work and I would greet him at the door. He would put his hand over my left eye as he caught my hair. He rubbed my head as I would always laugh. He had said he liked to hear me laugh, that it made all the storm clouds of the day disappear.
"Cleanse yourself!" a detached voice called out and I stood, "cleanse yourself of the sins you have committed. Right here and right now!"
The man grabbed Ciel's throat and I ran forward to stop it. That voice sounded so familiar as I ran to defend my master. I would never forget the voice that had whispered in Lord Berrymore's ear about me, who had fed me an evil spice. I could never forget her!
"Sebastian! This is an order! Kill this man!" Ciel yelled.
"Yes, my young Lord!" Sebastian said simply and the stained glass windows were shattered.
Sebastian had thrown himself through the glass with Greil coming in behind him. I reached up and caught a piece of glass as I ran to Ciel. I cut the man's wrists and he released the boy. He went for me then, seeing me as the threat and I pushed the glass through his heart. He gasped, but it didn't stop there. I turned the man and Sebastian threw another piece of glass at his head, cutting through his skull. Both of us had killed the man who had hurt Ciel.
The person who had been near the leader moved forward to catch Ciel. Sebastian threw another piece of glass at it and the cloak revealed the very thing I hated.
"I thought it was you," Sebastian stated, "and I was right, Angela."
"Angela!" I snarled as I grabbed Ciel's hand to pull me further away from the fight.
"Eh, Bassy, what the hell is an angel doing here?" Greil asked.
Angela dropped herself to catch Ciel, and I threw myself at her, catching the master's foot. Ciel caught my hand as I was about to lose my grip. I held on tighter to him and the angel, knowing I couldn't let him go. I would have failed him if I let Angela Blanc take him. The evil angel of Houndsworth!
"Oh look, that's a real cinematic record right there!" Greil exclaimed.
Angela lifted a book in her hands and threads like film shot out. I clung to her dress as she pushed herself away from Greil and Sebastian. The cinematic record wrapped around Sebastian, holding him tight so he couldn't move to protect Ciel.
"Do something Greil! Use your Death Scythes!" Sebastian yelled.
"Give me a second! I'm working on it!" Greil replied with what appeared to be safety scissors in his hands.
"What are those sad things?" Sebastian asked.
"Well what do you want me to do? Will just took my other Death Scythe away from me," Greil complained.
"I will show all of it to you," Angela whispered to Ciel, "All the light and darkness, every moment in your past…"
Angela pulled back and all I saw was shimmering light surround me. I saw Sebastian jump as well as Greil but that was it. I held tight to the young master as Angela tried to kick me away. I clung to her skirts before she hit me hard over the head…making me release my grip.
"Elena!" Ciel cried.
"I'll deal with you, Elena," Angela whispered, "I'll show you every moment of darkness and hatred in your past…and re-write you…"
Hey :)
I hope you liked this chapter. I remembered when I re-watched the episode that Jill and Thomas were marked on their backs with a tattoo so that's why Elena was marked, in case anyone wondered. What do you think about Angela? Please review and let me know what you think :)
I'll start the next chapter soon :)