Chapter 11
It was a bright day even though so many mourned that morning. So many gathered in grief at the chapel for the funeral of Madam Red now; family, friends, and just people whom she'd made the slightest impact on all gathered into the crowded room. For, her unexpected death had been a shock to everyone. Her body had been found in an ally way while a pedestrian was walking by, seeing a giant hole in her chest they immediately called for the police. Now, everyone from young to old filled the church with teary eyes in remembrance of the woman who loved red.
As a young girl sobbed by the body the doors to the church creaked opened behind her. Fully opening, the crowd looked back as there stood young Ciel Phantomhive, holding a crimson dress in his hands. As he entered the church his eyes were only fixed on the casket, nothing else appearing in his line of view.
Swinging the dress over Madam Red's white dressed body he sat next to the casket, "You know, white flowers and subdued clothes don't suit you. What suits you is, passionate red. The color of licorice burning into the earth." and he picked the red flower from his shirt and placed it in her red hair. Touching their foreheads together he whispered the nostalgic words, "Aunt Ann."
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Ciel, Sebastian, Lau and I stood over Madam Red's fresh grave as the bells tolled for her death.
"You did not inform the Queen of Jack the Ripper's true identity?" Lau questioned as the bell echoed throughout the city.
I cocked an eyebrow; so he decided to keep the secret.
"I did not think it necessary. Jack the Ripper is no long in London." Ciel shrugged.
As Ciel was busy talking I inched away from the group little by little. Thankfully, I snuck away with only Sebastian noticing me leave.
I refused to talk anymore of Madam Red, the memory of hearing her silent cry for help only made me think of my family. It only made me think of my little sister, "Samara-" I whispered while walking down the rows of tomb stones, head hanging.
Suddenly, I felt a breeze land above the bridge of my nose as cold spidery fingers reach around my head and began to lift up my bangs. Recoiling, I gave out a high pitched scream. "Lecher!"
Withing seconds, I heard Sebastian's and Ciel's hearbeats quickly arrive at where I was. I did not hear Lau's heart beat though, it seemed he had already taken his leave.
"Undertaker! What are you doing to my guest!" Ciel demanded.
The Undertaker gave a chuckle while holding my blindfold in his hand, "Elora, you hurt my feelings, I am no lecher. I was simply trying to see what I was promised."
"I promised you nothing." I protested, crossing my arms over my chest as I kept the more then average teenage look on my face.
"Ah! But you did! You said, 'maybe some other time' and now is 'some other time' is it not? Besides, I helped you with this case so why not give me something in return?" he grinned.
"You glued my mouth shut, you're the one who owes me something!" I stomped my foot and clenched my fists, giving the perfect act of the typical teenage girl.
"You mocked me with a bad joke." he seemed to twitch at the memory of my 'why did the chicken cross the road' charade.
I gave a humph, reluctantly admitting defeat in the argument. Yet, I was determined to take back my blindfold, "Anyway, return my blindfold." I ordered while I outstretched my hand.
He waved it around; taunting me. Well, I was more then tempted to confront the creepy man, but I was cautious. Somehow, he had been able to sneak up behind me with out me hearing neither his heart beat nor his footsteps, though, they beat and shuffled quite loudly while he waved the clothe around carelessly.
"Isn't this…" Sebastian interrupted as he stared at the tomb stone the Undertaker was standing next to with wide eyes.
The Undertaker looked at the grave next to him, thus, giving me the chance to sweep over and steal the cloth from him. Yet, as I sprinted under the Undertaker's hand I got chills within that small second. His icy stare that hid behind his long white bangs almost made me freeze.
"This is the grave of Jack the Ripper's final 'costumer'." Sebastian finished while snapping me out of my mental trance.
I turned around, and tied the blindfold around my head and under my hair. I paused in-between as I thought of how Ciel had prepared a grave for the forgotten victim. How kind.
The Undertaker gave a small depressed sigh for his failure, then continued the conversation where it left off. Ciel's face became somber during the conversation, as he shared his own regrets, "That is the karma my family has been burdened with. I inherited it with this ring." he brought the ring on his thumb up to his face, as if trying to keep it close.
"That rings seems more like a collar. Connecting you and the Queen with the chain called, 'karma'." the Undertaker chuckled as he leaned over Ciel's shoulder.
Ciel recoiled and stated defiantly, "The one who decided to put that collar around my neck was me."
Then, as quick as a whip, the Undertaker grabbed Ciel by his tie and pulled him in, "I hope that someday that collar hangs you." his suddenly eerie voice sending chills down my back as I took a step back.
"Because, that's boring." he grinned while releasing his grip on Ciel, returning to the eccentric man I was first introduced to. "If anything else happens, come on by my shop. If it's the Earl and his butler you're always welcome. Especially, if Elora is with you."
Goosebumps crawled along my skin as I shivered from his stare.
"How kind of you." Sebastian gave a chuckle after the Undertaker was gone.
Ciel began to protest but was cut off again, "You are kind. If you weren't you would simply be a 'coward', isn't that right?" Sebastian's eyes glowed red as a wicked grin played on his lips.
Ciel whipped back, giving a curse while his temper flared. I cocked an eyebrow with interest.
"Why did you not shoot? That night, you carried a hidden gun with you. If you thought you were going to fire it, it would have been at her. But you hesitated." His grin grew even wider, "Even at my urging, you did not fire your gun. Why was that? Was the idea of killing the Madam with your own hands scary?"
The butler cocked his head in the direction of the grave. "You let an unknown woman be killed, yet killing someone from your own house is too much?"
I began to step backwards as I twiddled my thumbs behind my back; it didn't feel right listening to this conversation.
"Because it's your job." Ciel suddenly answered, which caused me to stop abruptly. "It's because, even if you died, I thought you would come back and protect me. That's why I did not shoot. The contract between you and I is: 'Until my objective is achieved you will become my power. You will protect me to the end so that I am not killed.' If I had died there it would have been a breach of contract." Turning to the grave, Ciel looked down at it. "It's said that obeying orders is a demon's aesthetics, therefore, even if you died I'd expect for you to come back and save me. You demons have no such thing as 'convictions' or 'loyalty', isn't that right? All you have is 'aesthetics'. If that is the case, you will protect purely for the sake of your 'aesthetics'. Therefore, if I had said nothing you would have killed Madam Red. Am I right?"
"Then why was I stopped?" Impatience edged Sebastian's voice as he furrowed his brow.
"She'd been contaminated with power for the flip side of this world. If you step out of your proper place, the rule is that you will be punished. That is the duty Scotland Yard stands upon, as do I. When it looked as though she would kill me, there was doubt in her eyes. She would not kill me, a blood relative. That's what I believed. And it only took a few words to prove me right." He said as he turned from the grave and began to walk back to the church. "Even a moment's hesitation will be fatal. Chess and a moment; she was hesitant and lost sight of her next move. That is all. That is why I did not hesitate." His eyes forward and strong, Ciel walked between Sebastian and I as he didn't bother to look at either of us.
Whipping his head back to face Ciel Sebastian coldly smiled, "That's not it, though, is it?" He began, "To survive, it is necessary for the King -you- to be able to skillfully manipulate his pieces. To use both his Knight -myself- and his Queen -the Madam-. Under that throne, the fallen bodies of the chessmen gather as your sins increase. You must not lose. If the King is taken, the game is over."
"I will not hesitate. I will not regret any steps that have advanced me. Therefore, Sebastian, this is an order." Spinning on his heel, Ciel whipped around. "You alone will not betray me. You will never leave my side no matter what!"
Thus, Sebastian dropped to one knee and bowed deeply, "Yes, my lord." While Ciel strode away, scowling.
"Your disappointment is almost overwhelming, Elora." Sebastian chuckled as he got up.
Frowning, I couldn't help but growl as I folded my arms and began a brisk walk.
"You don't agree with what the Young Master thinks?" His sharp toothed smiled curled up once more as he quickly caught up with his long strides.
"Aesthetics? Bah." I spat.
His smooth voice filling my ear, it dripped with curiosity. "You do not believe demons have aesthetics?"
"I highly doubt that it's simply in your nature to serve."
"And if I were to say it were?"
I frowned up at him. "What if it was your very kind that whispered that in an unsuspecting person's ear? It's not easy killing an idea once it's nested into a person's mind." Scowling, I asked him, "Can you deny that a demon was the one that spread that idea?"
We walked in silence as I waited for his answer.
Catching me off guard, he gave a low, haunting chuckle as he leaned in and purred in my ear. "No."
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I was once again sitting on the banister of the balcony, a habit I was beginning to form, as I thought over my conversation with Ciel. He'd questioned me relentlessly about the wounds. In the end, though, the conversation only went around in circles and he got only one answer out of the conversation, which was why I refuse to have doctors examine wounds that are not fresh.
Coming back to present times and with the thought of wounds on my mind, I itched my poorly bandaged forearm, which I had done myself, my blood beginning to trickle through from the friction.
While sitting there, I heard a small mew as a black cat gracefully hopped off the branch extending from a tree and onto the banister. Mewing again she hopped into my lap and dropped down and curled up while purring.
"What are you doing up here?" I questioned the cat, scratching behind her ears.
Mewing again she rubbed her head affectionately against my palm, purring loudly.
Letting my leg hang over the edge I felt the soft material of the pants rub against my skin when the feline suddenly jumped off and scurried over to the door. "I see you've made a new friend." Sebastian chuckled while picking her up.
"Hmph." a smile played on my lips. "She obviously prefers your company over mine, though I can't imagine why."
"Do you not enjoy my company?" Sebastian's voice was distant and distracted as he slowly became engrossed in petting the young cat.
"I'd have to be a very desperate and lonely person to want to be in the company of someone like you."
"Then I'll leave." He frowned while reluctantly putting the feline down.
Turning, he began to leave, but I quickly hopped of the banister and I blurted, "T-Thank you." Cringing, the words felt like poison on my tongue.
Sebastian looked back at me, slight amusement in his voice. "Hm?"
"Thank you, for saving my life." I repeated, leaning against the door frame. "I won't repeat myself again if that's what you're looking for, just saying it is already hard enough for me."
"You are too kind, Elora." He chuckled, but at the sight of my poor job of bandaging he gave a sigh. "You truly are hopeless. I will have to re-due your bandaging."
He grabbed my arm with a tight grip and began to lead me out of the room but I stopped, "No needles or I scream. Am I clear?"
A smile played on his lips as he answered, "Yes, quite clear."
Looking down he noticed the long, baggy trousers that had replaced the dress I had worn earlier at the funeral. I could feel my cheeks become warm as he chuckled once more. "We'll have to re-due those too."
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My breathing was ragged as I burst from the entrance doors of the mansion and into the outside world. "Oh, shit. I've really done it this time." I cursed.
While running I heard the stomp of horses' hooves and the rattle of a carriage approaching as it came to a stop. Following, out came a woman, tall and confident she gave the aura of a dictator. The moment she saw me her eyes widened in shock at my attire. I wore my black pants, a white blouse, and my hair was flying everywhere.
As I ran the doors flew open behind me, revealing Sebastian soaking wet from head to toe as his burning black eyes drilled into my body. Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! What have I done!?
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(three minutes earlier)
"Wake up, Elora." Sebastian said as he tried to shake me away.
"No… five mo… minutes." I shrug him off, still asleep.
He shook me again with more force, "Elora, wake up."
I turned over on my side while pushing him away and hid under the thick covers; still half asleep. Twitching with irritation, he swiftly drove his hands under the mattress and pushed it up on its side as I and the covers fell off with a loud thud. Letting the mattress fall back down to its original position he strode over to the other side of the bed and roughly picked me up by my arm and began removing my night gown.
"What the hell!? Let go of me!" I struggled against him while fumbling with my gown, trying desperately to hold it up above my chest.
"Stop struggling, I need you to take a bath. I've already prepared it for you, now come." he ordered while dragging me over to the bathroom which was connected to my room.
"I don't need a bath!" I shrieked while escaping from his grip, "Besides, I would never take one with you around!"
"Then get undressed and step into the this." he ordered me again while trying to remove my night gown. Stubbornly, I held the nightgown close to me and pushed at him with all my might.
"Don't touch me!" I shrieked as I tore away from his iron grip.
"Elora, we have no time for this. Now, let me put the corset on you." he ordered irritably.
"No!" and I retreated back into the bathroom, where the bathtub steamed from the hot water.
He advanced forward and set the corset aside, "Elora, my patience is running short." he quickened his pace.
I felt a click in my brain as he grabbed me and I swiftly took him by the collar, spun around, and threw him into the tub. Sprinting out the door I quickly shut and locked it. Then, with a large heave, I pushed an empty wardrobe in front of it to brace the door. Standing back I gave a triumphant smirk.
My brain clicked once more as my face blanched, then cautiously walking up to the door I stuttered. "I…I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" I paused as no response came after my apology, "Sebastian?" I asked meekly, leaning close to the door.
"You have one minute." He growled, his voice dripping with rage.
Panicking I grabbed my clothes and began changing at time record speed and ran out the door as I heard Sebastian slowly force the door open. I wasted no time and sprinted down the halls, taking advantage of the head start Sebastian gave me before he would possibly kill me.
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I ran faster at the sound of the large doors opening behind me, when I had an idea. Picking up speed I sprinted towards the horses. Clenching my jaw I leaped into the air as I landed on the coachman's seat and swiftly climbed up to the carriage top.
Reaching the carriage as well, Sebastian plastered a smile on his face and bowed to the woman. "Please forgive my current attire, Marchioness. It seems I was careless and was kicked by a wild horse."
Wild horse?
"A wild horse?" the Marchioness looked up at me, understanding Sebastian's words.
"Elora, please come down from there." Sebastian smiled, the murderous intent in his voice hidden to all but me.
My face blanched at the order and I shook my head vigorously.
Sebastian twitched with impatience, "Miss Elora, please come down from there." he crossed his arms and tapped his foot in a human way that made me shiver, he was really pissed.
"Elora? What are you doing?! Get down from there!" I suddenly heard Ciel bark.
I hesitated for a moment but then climbed down, cautious as I passed by Sebastian. I turned back to the Marchioness and plastered an embarrassed look on my face, "Please forgive me for my behavior, Marchioness, as you can see I have caused quite some trouble. You could say I was woken up on the 'wrong side of the bed' this morning."
She cocked an eyebrow at my excuse as her narrow eyes scanned over me, then gave an unsatisfactory humph while Sebastian shot me a hidden look.
Ciel gave a light cough as he addressed the strict woman, "It has been a while since we last met, Marchioness Middleford. As always, you have arrived earlier then expected."
The Marchioness brushed off the formal greeting, "Earl Phantomhive, with that 'out of bed' look, can I presume you have just woken up?" she asked disapprovingly.
Before Ciel could respond there was a high pitch squeal as a young girl pounced him and hugged him tightly.
"I'm suffocating…" Ciel gasped under her deadly grip.
"Elizabeth!" the Marchioness scolded the youth.
"Sorry, Mother!" Elizabeth stuttered while releasing Ciel.
The Marchioness' sharp eyes suddenly fell on Sebastian as he also greeted her while trying to wipe off the water that was left on his face.
"Thank you for taking the time and traveling all the way her…" he paused under her stare, " May I ask. Is there something on my face -besides the fact that I'm wet-?" he asked uncomfortably.
"That face of yours!" she started, "What indecent looks you possess!"
I couldn't help but cough as I tried to hold back my laughter, what a woman.
"I was born looking this way." Sebastian's smile became tense as he forced himself to remain pleasant.
In a split second, though, the frightful woman had him by the bangs and began lecturing both him and Ciel about their appearance as she whipped out a comb from her pocket. Within seconds, both Ciel and Sebastian had their bangs combed back; their foreheads shining in the sunlight.
I gave a snicker as they both stood stiffly and awkwardly behind me. Yet, my snickering stopped immediately as her sharp eyes fell onto me again and I plastered my typical innocent look. "A woman wearing trousers, absolutely unheard of!" she scoffed.
"Sometimes, I think I was supposed to be born a man." I joked.
"Nonsense! Come with me, by the time I am finished with you, you'll be grateful that you are a woman!" she ordered. Then gave an irritated sigh, "You're no better than the Earl and his butler with those awful over grown bangs of yours!"
Faster than I could react she grabbed my bangs and lifted them up, but dropped them immediately as she reeled back and blanched at the sight of my sockets. Elizabeth gave a short shriek at the sight and covered her mouth. I forgot to grab my blindfold!
"I'm…sorry. I didn't… know." the Marchioness apologized, still attempting to regain her composure while Elizabeth shuffled he feet and looked down at the ground, all color in her face gone.
But I struggled for a moment until I found my smile, "Don't fret about it too much, 'you live and you learn', right? Anyway, I'm excited to see just how exactly you plan on turning me into a woman." I grinned while coaxing her to the mansion.
In seconds her attitude returned and a new light filled her eyes as we all returned to the mansion.
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As I quickened my horse into a trot I felt my curled hair bounce off my shoulders as my face flushed; I felt like an idiot. Though everyone approved of my new look I couldn't help but absolutely despise it. Especially when Sebastian looked at me, with eyes that contained a roaring laughter at my submission for the woman I'd frightened so much. I could feel his amusement at my humiliation, but the hate that burned under them for his own humiliation still dwindled, he was still waiting for his turn at revenge.
"Elora, please slow down." The butler warned.
I stopped my horse and turned it around, "I won't fall."
Both Ciel and Sebastian cocked an eyebrow in suspicion. "Since when did you know how to ride a horse?" Ciel questioned.
"What does it matter? If I can ride a horse, I can ride a horse."
Ciel merely ignored me as he addressed Sebastian while everyone stopped moving. Ciel and the Marchioness were to have a hunting competition and Sebastian was guiding us to the area which the small competition would be held. Young Elizabeth was riding the same horse as Ciel, while Sebastian walked, and I plus the Marchioness each rode separately.
Seconds after Sebastian finished explaining the rules, the Marchioness bolted off, leaving Ciel behind as he tried to convince Elizabeth to get off the horse. A loud bang sounded as Sebastian gave the score, "The Marchioness certainly lives up to her name, she managed to shoot down a bird as soon as the competition started. It seems like she is a bit too tough for someone like you, Young Master." he chuckled.
With his rifle pointed up Ciel pulled the trigger, his eyes fixed on Sebastian, and with a bang a goose fell from the sky next to the black horse he was ridding. "Even though I feel bad for Aunt Frances, I'm not loosing to anything with 'competition' written all over it." Assisting Elizabeth down from the horse he requested, "Lizzie, stay here with Sebastian for it is going to be dangerous, understand?" he brimmed with confidence.
Elizabeth stared at him as he rode off, her face a rosy red. "I'm so relieved," a smile gracing her lips, "Ciel has finally returned to his normal self."
I cocked my head to the side, "What do you mean?"
"That's right, you're new here. Well, Ciel was very close to Madam Red. So, after she died I was very worried. I don't want anymore unhappy memories to befall Ciel. That is why I always try to cheer him up using my own methods. They don't normally produce the desired affect, though. I tend to over do things and anger him in the process." she giggled.
A smile also graced my lips as I give a slight giggle. Her green eyes shot over to me as she gave me a questioning look, "Why do you also laugh?"
"You," I began, "remind me of myself and who I was one year ago. Don't ever change, just stay the way your are and I'm sure Ciel will always be grateful to have a friend like you. Even now, I notice the way he softens when you're around."
"Friend?" she seemed to scoff, "Silly, I'm his fiancée!"
"Fiancée!?" I gaped.
Elizabeth cocked her head, "What do you mean? Do you not have a fiancé?"
"Heavens no! Yes, I had a lover but we were never truly engaged." I trailed off as I began to lose myself in a memory as I turned away, "He promised me that we would marry when we were of age, any earlier and my father probably would have shot him." I couldn't help but laugh a little at the memory as I lost myself for a moment. "Yet," my face became shadowed as my thoughts continued without my permission, "we will never marry."
"Why? What happened?" she asked innocently.
My smile became sad as I turned to her, "He died."
(Line break that doesn't work)
Sorry about the crappy ending :( Almost got 5,000 words and if I threw in the other chapter it would be at least 8,000 or more words in all. So, please bear with it! D:
Update: Well, this is the last one, I think. :D Thanks for sticking with me for so long, and I hope these improvements will increase the experiance more for all of you!
Read and Comment~ :D