The next morning I got up, a little more righted in the mind since the demon salivia had worked its way more through my body, though still a tad bit in affect. I hadn't hardy slept at all that night either though. Maybe an hour, or two if i was lucky. So I was still a tad bit sensitive and cranky as well. And Prince Sohma's pressence didn't improve my mood at all.
I was to get Ciel up that morning since Sebastian was having to prepare a very large breakfest for the guests and our master but when i got there Agni and Prince Sohma had already entered the room and were attempting at awaking Ciel.
"It's time to wake up Lord Phantomhive!"Agni said to Ciel as he pulled back the curtians.
"MhhhHmmm What's that? Who's there?"Ciel said sleepily.
Agni was right beside Ciel's bed then with his hands placed together and was smiling cheerily.
"Nah Mas Techi! Good Morning!"Agni said happily.
"Wha-Why are you in my room?!"Ciel asked angerily, standing up in his bed.
Prince Sohma came up from behind Ciel and held him in his arms like Ciel was a child.
"We are going out and about kid. Show us around town!"the prince demanded of Ciel.
"Why should i do that?! And don't call me kid anymore! I have a real name! It's Ciel!"Ciel yelled at the Prince.
"Alright Ciel! I order you to show me around!Come!"Prince Sohma said in a demanding tone of voice.
Sebastian then showed up, just before i was about to knock down this spoiled brat and save Ciel from his insane clutches.
"Pardon me Prince, I am terribly sorry. My master's is full. I'm afraid there's a great deal of work and studying he must attend to,"Sebastian explained calmly.
"Oh fine! But as soon as you are done you are taking me out!"Prince Sohma said,setting Ciel down. "Come Agni! Let us go eat some breakfest. Then we shall see what Ciel does during these studies,"
"Yes my Prince,"Agni said bowing slightly.
The two left Ciel's room. I sighed and walked in.
"Let us get you properly dressed shall we?"i said with a smile.
I helped Ciel up and set him down onto the bed.
"Before you attend to the young master could you please come here Miss. Avril?"Sebastian said, sounding calm.
I knew that tone of voice all to well. It was forced calmness that masked either anger, annoyance, or both. I stood in front of him, looking up at him, unafraid.
"Yes Sebastian?"i said in a bored tone.
"You could have at least tried to assist the young lord out. Honestly, are you good for nothing but just standing around and looking ditsy?"Sebastian whispered harshly.
"At least I, unlike you, can pull it off and still have some brains inside,"i whispered back cooly then turned and went back to Ciel.
"Do forgive me for not assisting you in getting away from that great oaf. I knew there was nothing i could have done to stop him,"i said as i got Ciel's outfit for violin practice, having been given Ciel's schedual for the day and knowing what he needed to wear.
"Don't fret over it. No problem. Avril..."Ciel said, quietly towards the end, his voice sounding worried.
I set his clothes down on the bed beside him and began undressing him.
"Yes my lor-"
"Ciel. Please...Just call me Ciel,"Ciel interrupted.
"Yes Ciel?"i asked, a little confused.
I started putting on his shirt and buttoning it up. He was looking down at his hands and twiddling his fingers.
"What is it Ciel?"i asked softly whislt buttoning up his shirt.
"Avril...You would tell me...I mean...Would you notify me when...Well..."Ciel stammered, seeming to have trouble getting the words out.
I finished with his shirt and went on to his pants then to his socks,shoes,coat,and neck ribbon. Once all that was done i took Ciel's hands into my own and looked up at him,arching and eyebrow.
"Don't be afraid to ask me anything Ciel alright? Just say what you need to say,"i told him sincerily.
Ciel was quiet for a moment.
"Would you tell me if someone, or something, was hurting you? Would you come to me with your problems when you needed someone to talk to?"Ciel asked, softly and sounding a little worried.
I was stunned. I did not expect this.
'Ciel...You try to hide it but you truly do have a hefty heart. It's just hidden away in the griefe and vengence.'
"Ciel...I am sorry to say that it will take time before i can do that. I've had too many years of being violated or harmed in some way whenever i express my problems. Those scars are deep. I will...attempt to come to you though. Even if it is just to be around my little brother. Because Ciel,You are what keeps me from just being another demonic whore."i said to him, meaning every word.
I didn't want to le to him. Yet i was waiting for some negitive reaction at the same time. A slap or a punch or even just a "Get away from me now".
What Ciel did completely threw me off guard.
He leapt off the bed and hugged me tightly, almost as if i was going to vanish if he didn't hold on to me. Like i was a dream he was clawing to keep exsisting.
"That is all i ask. And you're not a demonic whore. Far from it. Anyone who says you are doesn't deserve to walk on the same soil as you,"Ciel said softly into my side.
I sat there, surprised that the words that escaped from Ciel's lips were even possible of coming out of any creature, demonic or human, mouths and directed towards me. And that he sounded like he ment those words and believed them with every exsisting bone in his body.
I hugged Ciel back, tightly. Then pulled away.
"Time to get you to violin practice now my lord. I don't want Sebastian to yell at me,"i said,givig a small smile.
"Alright..."Ciel sighed.
I fed Ciel some breakfestt before we went down to the ballroom where Sebastian was waiting for us with a usic stand and Ciel's violin.
"You will need a tutor while we are in London. I shall fill that role.,"Sebastian said with a cocky grin and his tutor specticals upon his face.
Ciel looked down at the piece.
"Barchicon in D Minor? There's no way i can play something this complex,"Ciel said, his voice slightly unamused.
Sebastian took the violin bow and placed it underneath Ciel chin so Ciel would look up at Sebastian. Sebastian and the same arrogant smirk on his face.
"As your tutor i make the rules. Surely you have no objections to my teaching methods master?"Sebastian said,sounding like he was enjoying every part of this moment.
Ciel gave Sebastian a death glare and pushed Sebastian's violin bow away with his own and place the violin underneath his chin and began playing.
"Very good my lord!"Sebastian said, pleased with himself.
Suddenly in the middle of Ciel's playing there was chanting going on at the other side of the room. It was that damned Prince and his butler again! They had placed a large statue of a woman holding a head and standing on a man in the ballroom and were now bowing before it praying.
"What are they doing?"Ciel inquired, annoyed.
"If i had to guess i'd say they're praying. Quiet an odd idol they have though isn't it?"Lau answered, looking up at the statue.
"It looks to me like the satue of a woman who seems to be carrying a severed head. She is wearing a necklace of severed heads as well and dancing on a mans stomach,"Sebastian observed, looking the statue over.
"It depicts one of our sarced beings of Hinduisim. She is the goddess Callhi,"Angi explained.
"A goddess of India?"I asked him.
"Callhi is the wife of the god Sheva. She is also the goddess of power,"he explained then lifted up sheets of paper with a paintings on it."Here she is again. Accoring to our faith, a demon once foolishly challenged her. Naturally, she was victorious. However, he disctructive urges were not quelled. She gave herself to distruction and carniage. But then, in order to protect the Earth, her husbend Sheva threw himself at his wife's feet. Treading upon her husbend brought Callhi back to her senses and peae was again blessed on the world. The statue shows her story. The goddess Callhi walking upon her husbend and hin her hand the head ofthe vile demon that she slue,"
"And there you have it,"Ciel said, sounding barely interested.
"I've never of a goddess with such power. I shall have to keep that in mind if i ever go back to India,"Sebastian said thoughtfully.
Prince Sohma stood up once his chanting and praying was over.
"Alright then we are done praying now! Let us go out!"Prince Sohma said as he yanked Ciel away.
"I'm too busy to go out I've already told you that!"Ciel shouted.
After I pulled Prince Sohma away form Ciel i got Ciel into his fencing uniform and we went on to his fencing practice. Normally i was his teacher but today Sebastian filled him for me. He must be annoyed with me or something because i could have managed fencing. Sure my right arm is still broken and it hurts to use it but not like i can't pick up a blade and poke Ciel with it.
"Honestly...When are you going to be done with all of this? Yawn. What are you even doing anyway? You look like an idiot,"Prince Sohma said in a bored tone.
"Be Quiet!You're distracting!"Ciel demanded.
"Are all the English this short tempered?"Prince Sohma asked, still bored.
Ciel turned and faced Prince Sohma, looking frustrated and annoyed.
"You're never going to shut up are you?! If you need attention so badly why not give fencing a try?"Ciel said, annoyed.
'Too bad these aren't real swords and too bad Ciel doesn't have the high efficent skills i do.'
"Ah Ha! And if i win you will go out on the town with me!" Prince Sohma said excitedly.
"If you can beat me..."Ciel said challengingly.
"Good luck to you my Prince!" Agni said while pouring tea.
"Now let the fight begin!"Sebastian said.
Prince Sohma rushed foreward to Ciel, ready to strike. He took the blade and hit Ciel's leg with th blade but was suprised when the blow did nothing to Ciel.
"Hey what the-"Prince Sohma asked confused.
"A strike like that will accomplish nothing for you,"Ciel said, smirking.
"Wait! This isn't fair! I don't know the rules like you do!"Prince Sohma whinned.
"A fight is a fight. It's not my fault if you don't know,"Ciel said mockingly as he advanced towards Prince Sohma.
"Highness look out!"Agni said as he placed a cup in front of Ciel blade, blocking it from touching Prince Sohma, then hit Ciel's pressure point on his arm, causing Ciel to drop his blade and fall down, cluthcing his arm.
"Ciel! What the bloody hell was that for? It wasn't like this blade with hurt kill your master!"i snapped, darting over to Ciel.
"Sir! I am sorry! When is saw the Prince loosing my reflexes took over! Forgive me!"Agni said, panicked.
I got over by Ciel and shoved Agni away form him, giving him a death glare. I hit a couple of points on his arm and restored it back to it's full potential. Ciel sat there rubbing it, annoyed. Prince Sohma watched for a moment then began laughing.
"You protected your master well Agni! So that is it kid! Agni is my servent and an extension of myself! Which means this fight goes to me!"Prince Sohma said mockingly.
"Wait that's not fair!"Ciel said in a complaining tone.
"How interesting. Sebastian...Looks as if you'll have to avenge your master!Here you go!"Lau said from the background.
Sebastian caught the blade and sighed.
"For goodness sake. Master, Why ever did you have to prevoke the bratty little Prince?"Sebastian said annoyed."However! As the Phantomhive butler i cannot sit idly by while someone harms my master. That would be an obsolute disgrace to my position. Besides...We're a full ten minuets behind schedual now,"
"The time! That's what you care about?"Ciel and i said in unision.
"I am curious. Very ell! I will allow you to duel! Fight him and in the name of Callhi make sure you do not loose!"Prince Sohma ordered.
"Sebastian I order you, shut the brats mouth now!"Ciel ordered.
Agni tok the blade form his master and Sebastian gave a nod. Both of them got into a fighting stance.
"As you wish younge master,"Sebastian said.
Then Agni said something in Indian that i couldn't quiet catch. The battle then began. They fought together, both keeping up pace with eachother and fighting just as hard until both of their blades broke. Ciel, Prince Sohma, and Lau stood on the sidelines and watched the battle in awe.
"My how lovely...It seems that the swords have broken,"Sebastian said.
"That means i'ts a draw doesn't it?"Lau asked.
"That servant of yours is indeed impressive Ciel. Agni is by far the best fighter in my palace. I have never net anyone who could keep up with him before!"Prince Sohma praised.
Ciel walked over to Sebastian. I knew why he was going over there. To ask Sebastian if Agni wasn't human. And judging by his face for a split second it seemed like he was afraid of having another Grell in our precence, but i knew the truth. Agni was just a very determined and strong human butler. Nothing more.
It was a bit later and Sebastian and i went down to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Bard however...Had other plans.
"Alright! Tonight i'm gonna make somthing REALLY special!"he said,excitedly.
"I'll take care of the cooking tonight, You just stay out of trouble,"Sebastian said.
I honestly didn't mind if Bard helped cook.
"Sebastian we could just have him help a little. After all he is the cook of the house,"I suggested.
"No we don't need the food exploading. As for you. Could you get out the ingrediants for tonights dish?"Sebastian asked me.
"I beg your pardon? I was planning on making something tasty for our guest!"Bard snapped.
I sighed and got out all the needed ingrediants for tonights dish and managed to grab all the cooking wear we needed to prepare the dish but nearly dropped them all because about two seconds after picking up all the pots and pans did i realize i used me right hand...
"Bloody-"i started to mutter then set everything down before i could really start swearing.
I rubbed my arm,wincing slightly.
"Sebastian? I was wondering if i could be of any service to you?"Angi asked in the doorway.
Thankfully no one had noticed my near disaterious experience. Especially thankful that Sebastian didn't see it. I got all the foods and pots and pans organized into their stations.
"I have it under control thank you,"Sebastian said to Agni.
"Six hands can work much more quickly than four. Please feel free to ask me for anything!"Agni said.
"In that case perhaps a little bit more help wouldn't hurt. A cottage pie and some gooseberry sauce is needed for tonights meal,"Sebastian said.
"Indeed,"Agni said with a slight bow.
"OYE! Why're you lettin' him do it! I am the cook 'ere you know! HEY DID YOU HEAR ME?!"Bard shouted at Sebastian angerily.
"So much to do, so little time,"Sebastian said to himself.
Sebastians walked out of the kitchen and Bard sat himself down on a barrl, sulking.
"Excuse me...Chef?"Agni asked.
I stood there cutting the vegitables and smirked. It would take the buffoon a moment but he would realize he had just been called Chef.
"Huh? Chef? Really? Are you talkin' to me!?"Bard asked, surprised.
"YEs,"Agni replied.
Then Bard looked like the happiest man alive.
"Ahaha...That's me!"Bard said happily pointing to himself.
"I'm afraid i'm not acustomed to English cooking. Could i ask for your assistance?"Agni asked.
I gave a small laugh. The servants of this house may not be the most skilled but they definatly keep things amusing around here.
"Yeah! You bettcha! Just leave it to the Chef!"Bard said happily.
"And could you help too Miss...Ummm...Pardon me. I'm afraid i don't remember our name,"Agni said, talking to me.
"It's Avril. Pleased to meet you Agni. I already have to help. Sebastian's orders. Besides. I enjoy cooking,"i said, still chopping up vegitables."Here Bard. When you've shown Agni what to do get chopping on the onion and garlic!"
I tossed three onions and some garlic over to bard. He caught them then sat them down on his cutting board. He showed Agni what to do and then started cutting.
"Something smells good! What's for supper?!"Finny said from behind the door.
"Young man! You're just in time! Perhaps you can help in preparing the eveing meal!"Agni suggested to Finny.
Normally i would have been a little less compliant to let Finny help. He had more strength than any normal human i have ever seen. But for tis meal we needed someone with a bit more mucsel and a non-broken right hand to help mash the potatoes.
"What?! Me? Really?! But Sebastian says that i don't know my on strength so i'm not aloud to touch dishes and stuff in the kitchen because they'll break,"Finny said, excited at first but then sad at the end.
"You're strong huh? That's excelent! We need to mash the purie these potatoes, but that involves a lot of manual labor,"Agni said.
"Even i should be able to handle that much!I want to help with supper! Please let me!"Finny said excited like.
We let Finny get started on the potatoes and I finished chopping all the vegitables and i put them in the pot. I walked over to Finny who was smashing the potatoes a little too gentally.
"Here Finny. It is okay to be rough with the potatoes. They need to be pushed on some more. Like this,"I said takeing the beater and smashing down on the potatoes hard, clenching my jaw from the pain in my arm.
Finny stopped me and grabbed my hand gentally.
"What happened Miss. Avril? Why is your arm wrapped up?"Finny asked, worried.
"Nothing Finny. Just a little knife accident is all. I dropped a knife, caught it, but injured my hand. I just hurts a little bit. No worries alright?"i lied with a smile.
"When did you do that though Miss. Avril?"Finny asked.
"Yesterday morning. It was a pretty deep cut, but no worries. I'll be good as new in a couple of days. Okay?"i lied again.
Finny nodded and smiled.
"Thanks for the advice on the potatoes Avril!"Finny said cheerily and began smashing the potatoes a bit harder.
I went back over to the pot and stired the vegitables. Agni left to go get some dishes. When he came back he had Mey-Rin. Agni had everyone helping out in preparing dinner.
"How is it coming along Agni?"Sebastian asked then gasped in shock at seeing everyone prepare dinner.
"With everyone's help i'm sure it will be dilicious,"Agni sid while stiringthe goosberry sauce.
Sebastian's face at seeing everyone working together and nothing exploading...Dear god i wish i could have taken a picture. It was priceless. I doubt i will ever see Sebastian so surprised again. Ever.
Sebastian, quickly getting over the shock
"How did you find ways for this lot to help? Simply incredible!"Sebastian said in awe.
"Everyone is with his or her own talent. We ll have our own paths and duties set out for us by the gods. As childrne of the divin mother we need only listen and preform our tasks,"Agni asnwered calmly with a smile on his face.
"You seem to be a man of impecible character, Agni,"Sebastian said.
"Not at all. I am but a student of the gods. Indeed I was a hopeless fool before i met the Prince. I owe Prince Sohma more than i can ever hope to repay. I hurt many people. Blasflimied against the gods. Commited crime after crime. And then, the day of my judgement finally came. I was alone and adrift in the world. I had bandoned the gods of my homeland. I had foresaken everything. He seemed a god to me! That day...I saw something in him devine! To my sinner soul his radiance was transendent!"Agni said passionatly.
"Careful your pots boiling over,"I said in abored tone,pretending that what Agni was saying was of any value to me.
I walked ver to the pot and began stirring it and putting more spices in as Agni continued to speak.
"Prince Sohma is my soverine and my god! He took pity on me, gave me new life so i will protect him with mine. I will do anything i can for my desire is tha all his dreams come true,"Agni preached.
"If you ask me, the gods are bunch of good for nothings we should leave behind,"Sebastian and i muttered in unision.
"Sorry what was that?"Agni asked.
"Nothing!"i said louder and continued to stire the pot.
"Oh it was nothing,"Sebastian said with a smirk.
After that we finished prepring dinner with little to none catastrophy. Sebastian sent everyone away but me to go freashin up for dinner or do what they need to do. He asked me to stay behind so i could help with the kitchen clean up. I continued to drop the things i hadto hold in my rght arm and nearly cried when Sebastian grabbed my arm tightly to steady me before i dropped the serving platter that we didn't use, the big boiling pot, and a group of knives.
"You have been particuarly clumsy for the past few days Miss. Avril. You've been dropping things, your hand shakes everytime you hold something heavier that your own arm's weight, and you look close to tears everytime some strong impact hits your right arm. Whatever happened?"Sebastian asked slightly annoyed.
"I just dropped a knife the other day and caught it rather...unseemly. It went deep into my hand and even got to te bone. I may heal faster that a human but i don't heal as fast as a pure demon. It still hurts. Obviously holding a hot tea pot would be a struggle. As for the dropping things...This bandage is making my hand slippery. That's all. Just because you never get hurt Sebastian doesn't mean that nobody else does,"I answered coldly and began cleaning off the counters.
He just stared at me in surprise. He shooke it off a moment later and got back into his butler attire and brought out dinner.
"Avril finish cleaning up then come out and help please!"Sebastian shouted from behind the kitchen door.
I sighed and leaned against the counters,putting my hands over my face.
Suddenly i got a spurt of dizziness and imediatly took action and responded to my master's call.
"Yes my lord?"i answered.
He was standing in some room that i couldn't regonize. Must be his human master. He' belong to his human master since i belong to him. Odd.
"I hope that you aren't flirting with that demon now Avril. Remember. I'm always watching,"he told me with a cold smile.
"Of course not my lord. Wouldn't dream of it. He is nothing compared to my master,"I said sweetly.
"Good. Continue cleaning,"he said then we disconnected.
I heaved a heavey sigh and went back to cleaning. Once i was finished i went into the dinning room. Ciel was inquiring about why Prince Sohma was in England and such. I stood in the background and listened silently.
"How long do you intend to stay here?"Ciel asked Prince Sohma during dinner.
"We will leave when our buisness is done,"Prince Sohma said very professionally.
"That's right you said you were searching for someone!"Lau commented.
"And you! How long are you intending to stay?"Ciel snapped at Lau irritated.
'He is kind of annoying in someways but eh. I've met worse.'
"Now my lord play nice,"Lau said in a child-like tone of voice.
"I am searching for a is her," Prince Sohma said holding up a very poorly drawn woman, "Mina She was a servant at my palace,"
"Well Sebastian...Do you think you can find her?"Ciel asked the butler.
"Even i can't do much with that. But i'll try,"Sebastian answered politely.
"How about you Avril? Can you?"Ciel asked, turning to me.
"Afraid my answer is the same as Sebastians. I shall try though my young lord,"I answered curtiously.
"So tell me what is this Mina doing here?"Ciel inquired with a bored look on his face.
"I have known Mina for my entire was basically my nursemaid. The only person who ever really took care of me. My mother and father barley paid attention to me. It was a lonely life. But i had Mina. She was always there for me. Then a British nobelman who had his eyes on her kidnapped her and took her back to England with him,"Prince Sohma explained seriously.
"In other words you're here to bring this woman back to India with you?"Ciel asked bored.
"That is right! I will stop at nothing to bring her back!"Prince SOhma yelled passionanetly.
"Seems like a lot of fuss ot make over a servant,"Ciel said nonchalently.
"No it isn't! You cannot comprehend my dispair from being seperated frm her! You do not understand!"Prince Sohma shouted as he stood up and rushed over to Ciel, grabbing Ciel by his collar and shakng him.
This is where i began to get angry with this Prince. He has the audacity to come into the Phantomhive mannor, complain about loosing someone who he has a slim chance to regain, without even realizing that Ciel is all alone here. Our family was killed. Burned.
"No i dont. Something as trivial as that causes you such great dispare? You're right. I don't understand it. And i don't care too,"Ciel responded coldly. He smacked the Princes hand away and walked to the door.
He stood there for a moment. I was watching him closely. It's times like these when i wish beyond everything that i could have stopped him from making that deal. Shown him he wasn't so alone in the world. Because here, as he stood holding the door handle, he looked as lonely as the last tree standing in a forest of nothing but flowers. That no one else has felt his pain. That he has to face his pain and grief on his own. Face this cruel world all alone.
"There are some things you can never get back. No matter how hard you sruggle. But maybe you're too young to understand that Prince Sohma,"he said coldly and then walked out the door and shut it.
I looked down at my hands, letting those words sink in. I felt my hands tighten themselves into fists and closed my eyes tightly.
"There are some things you can never get back. No matter how hard you struggle,"
I opened my eyes.
"Too young? I am old enough to know what i want. And i do not want to be lone anymore,"Prince Sohma said sadly.
"Well we do not always get what we want do we Prince Sohma? Maybe that's how things work for a child sir, but life doesn't work that way. It requires you to suffer pain, suffer true torment, more so true that just loosing a servant that was close to you. You have Agni correct? Ciel and I only have eachother and thats barely enough. We have both suffered a great deal and felt an emense amount of pain and heartach before we found eachother and still each day we feel more and more pain. I apolagize for what happened to you Prince Sohma but understand that until you have lost someone truely close to you by Death's hands and felt true pain, more than being alone. I'm talking about being truely humiliated. Having been strip you of your titles and stood in front of crowds so you can have knives and fire thrown to you by the hands of Life. Having to know that once you made one large mistake ad learning that you cannot ever take back that miskate and live with the consiquenses for all enternit until the day you die. Having to suffer your pain TRUELY alone. You have Agni. Ciel...has no one. At least in his eyes for that has been his life for years now. Forgive my rudeness but once you feel those things, you are nothing more than a child who lost a toy. Not an adult who has suffered. Now please excuse me gentelmen i must attend to my master,"I told the Prince, my voice shaking at some parts and then turning emotionless and cold toward the end.
I turned my back and followed out the same way Ciel went. I paused in the hallway and let a small tear slip through my carefully guarded gates. I wipped it away and quickly went to Ciel's study to see if he aquired any assistance.
"There are some things you can never get back. No matter how hard you struggle,"
'Very true Ciel. Doesn't mean i won't struggle to get you back. Sebastian will not win this battle. I will take you away from him and ensure you stay my little brother forever. No matter what.'