Green Eyes and Cat Ears: A Kuroshitsuji fan-fiction.
Synopsis: Ellia Cross has been involved in her father's business for quite a while. She works alongside her handsome escort and fake fiancee, Sebastian, and her dangerous, alluring partner, Henry. Living with the guilt of her love and her parents' deaths, Ellia lives between both men, hanging by a thread of luck to get away alive when her time is up. But is luck really to blame?
Author's Note: Kuroshitsuji is property of Yana Toboso.
Thanks to everyone who has kept up with the story. I appreciate all of you. =]
Chapter Fourteen: Green Eyes
Despite the butler's calm disposition, he was burning on the inside. He was a demon, a soul-eating demon, but that didn't mean he had no capacity for emotion. He held great feeling for his master on several levels. Because Ellia was under employ from Ciel, this made the man quite possessive of her. She was his master's tool, and was by default his own, as well.
Just knowing that her even temper allowed her to permit Henry's behavior, it made him angry. He didn't want the trafficker near her at all. He didn't like when he spoke to her, touched her, scared her. For the sake of the assignment, Sebastian was willing to sit by for a little longer. But in truth, he would jump at any chance possible to break every bone in the man's body.
And Ellia's wandering eyes were a problem as well. Sebastian knew she loved him, but Henry being around her so often to draw her attention...it was beyond annoying.
In the carriage, a small smirk graced the butler's face, but he said nothing. The three guards across from him only gave him a curious glance before resuming their conversation.
"Do you ever wish you had any siblings?" Henry asked.
Ellia raised an eyebrow. "What kind of question is that?"
"I grew up with two brothers, both younger. Isn't it lonely for you?"
Ellia's eyes narrowed. "You were the oldest? Explains why you're such a jerk. And no, I'm not lonely."
"You should watch how you talk to me, bitch," the man snarled.
"Considering what you did to my parents, I don't care." Ellia spoke with a calm, even tone, but her underlying attitude was clear by the cold stare she was sending his way.
"Oh, did I strike a nerve? Were your parents really that important to you?"
"They were all I had. And you killed them. You sent your men out in the middle of the night to murder them. I watched them die." Ellia felt like crying, but she held back her tears.
"And yet...you still have her." Henry gestured to the cat beside the teen. At the mention of herself, Gatlin's eyes opened slowly, deliberately. Her yellow irises locked on the brunette and didn't waver.
"What about Gatlin? You have a problem with cats?" Ellia asked.
"She must mean a great deal to you."
"She's the only family member I have with me. Like a sister."
"Part of making you suffer for your father's affairs is making sure you're alone. But you aren't. You still have your fiancee. And that cat."
Ellia scooped the feline up from the plush seat and held her in a close embrace. Gatlin's eyes were still on Henry. "If you ever dare touch Gatlin, I will make you suffer," Ellia warned.
There was something different in her voice all of a sudden, the man noticed. The cat was her dearest treasure, her last part of home and family. To threaten that treasure...it brought out her chilling side.
Funny, he'd never thought to personally attack the cat, but now that he knew it got a rise out of the girl he planned to do it again.
"I don't heed words from women," Henry said, challenging her.
Ellia only looked at him, eyes burning with anger. It made her want to punch him, with how he'd threatened her best friend. Gatlin was the best pet and friend she'd ever had. She was her protector, a playful, loyal animal that was in a lot of ways similar to a human.
"I highly doubt you'd have the guts to take me on by yourself. So, when it's time for you to die, I guess I should expect Sebastian to swoop in and do your fighting for you?" he teased.
Ellia shook her head. "No. If you hurt him, Henry, I swear to God-"
"You swear you'll do what, exactly?" he interrupted, and smirked at her.
Ellia removed her left hand from in front of Gatlin to the skirt of her dress. For only a moment her legs were exposed as she took out something she'd hidden beneath. Then in the next second she was holding a gun to the man's chest.
"I'll put a bullet right there," she said, deadly calm, eyes locked with his.
Henry glanced down. "That's the right side. My heart's on the left."
"I know. I wouldn't want you to die too quickly."
"Since when are you so aggressive?" Henry asked, not seeming phased by the weapon.
"I'm not a bad person. I don't like hurting others, even if it's you. But I won't stand by like a child and do nothing to protect the people that I have left. You already took two loved ones from me. I won't let you take any more."
The young woman then lowered her gun, and placed it back beneath her dress.
"I have taken to keeping it strapped to my hip," she informed. "I am never without it. Just thought you should know."
"Your threats mean nothing to me, Miss Cross," Henry said casually. "Once our business is done, I will have ownership of the ring, and you will die by my hand."
Ellia brought Gatlin closer to her and turned away from the man to stare out the carriage window. She was too worked up to think of something to say to him, so she remained quiet. Gatlin, however, kept her gaze on the blue-eyed man long after the conversation was over. She rarely blinked, and only occasionally did she swing her tail.
The sun set an hour later. Ellia had said nothing in the way of small talk, and neither had Henry. He was content knowing that his planned shipment was being taken care of as he sat back and waited. Crystveil was also making preparations with haste. Things were going according to plan. In the comfortable darkness, Mr. Darbren let his eyes close for a light nap as they traveled to Swindon on the way to Oxford.
But things didn't stay comfortable. Oh, no. For when he opened his heavy eyes amidst his on-and-off slumber, he spotted something in the dark opposite him. Eyes. Yellow eyes. Eyes that seemed to glow eerily from the faint lanterns just outside the windows on the sides of the carriage. He saw the cat's ever-watchful gaze, and somehow it was very unsettling to him. Like a bad omen.
He could hear Ellia's rhythmic breathing, light and shallow, indicating she was deep in sleep. Having the feline to watch over her must've made her feel relatively secure, despite being in the same carriage as her enemy. Henry fell back asleep listening to her, but ended up waking again later in the night.
He peered out the window and saw the moon, though it was covered by a thick layer of clouds. He heard the sounds of the horses as they moved at a steady pace down the street. They were passing through a small town, but there were very few lights on.
When his eyes adjusted to the dark he turned his head to the seat across from him. Ellia was still out. But Henry saw that, again, the woman's pet was still awake. The animal's golden eyes stared unrelentingly. The cat's body was still. Only rarely did her ears twitch in the dark when they picked up various stray, far off sounds.
"Jesus Christ, you fucking cat," Henry mumbled angrily. "Give it a rest."
To this Gatlin replied with a low hiss. She bared her teeth and for just a second her eyes appeared to glow even brighter. Henry, thoroughly annoyed, promptly went back to sleep.
He dreamed of a giant golden tiger with red claws that devoured him whole.
Ellia was jolted awake by the sudden stop of the carriage. She sat up and looked around quickly, alarmed. "What's going on?" she asked. Beside her, Gatlin's fur was standing on end, and the cat was watching the door of the carriage intensely.
Ellia looked out the window and saw they had stopped at a seemingly deserted neighborhood, right outside a white house. There were few homes, and the buildings that were on the lonesome street were far apart.
It was early morning - Ellia could tell after seeing the sun only beginning to rise on the horizon. She spotted the house and watched, waiting to discover what exactly was going on. Seconds passed, then a sudden, high-pitched scream pierced the air.
Then she realized something. Henry wasn't in the carriage with her.
Ellia's heart began to pound. Oh dear God what is he doing? she asked herself. Her own reply was horribly morbid.
Another scream. Then something broke...maybe glass? There was some kind of serious brawl happening inside that house, and a part of Ellia wanted to go find out who was involved. She briefly wondered if Sebastian was aware of what was going on, too.
There was another loud crash and then everything became silent. The raven-haired woman watched with wide eyes as the front door of the mini mansion was opened. Out stepped Henry. He looked angry. Somehow he looked satisfied, too.
Gazing at the man as he approached the waiting carriage, it was like something out of a horror film. The way the next victim would feel if they were tied down and watching as their soon-to-be killer sauntered over to them with a torture device of some kind. That cold, unforgiving, possibly crazed look in their eyes just before they murdered their captured prey.
Gatlin picked up on Ellia's spine-tingling chill. She stood on the seat, her claws out, white fur raised. And she watched every move the man was making. Every step. And every sound he made was picked up by her acute ears.
Ellia barely noticed this, though. She was fiddling with her dress, hoping her heart would calm itself down. She glanced up. He was at the door. She turned away.
The sound of the door opening and closing marked the man's entrance. He sat down without a word. The carriage began to move again. Ellia didn't turn her head to see if he was looking at her. But she knew he was. She could feel it.
She closed her eyes and pretended to drift off to sleep. Eventually the feeling went away. Gatlin, though, never once took her golden eyes off him. This only further bothered the brunette. So much so, he wanted to cut the creature to ribbons right then and there.
But he wouldn't. Not yet. There was a time and place for everything. Dawn was not the time, and Swindon was definitely not the place. Oxford, however, was much more promising.
"I think he's really going to kill me in my sleep," Ellia said, staring at the ceiling. She was lying in a bed at a hospital on the edge of Swindon. This was not by choice, though.
Just as the carriages reached the border of the town, Ellia passed out in her seat. Henry halted their movement and inspected her. The woman's skin was so pale and cold, he wondered for a second if she hadn't just died on the spot.
Whatever was causing the condition was too dire to conceal at a hotel, so she was given to Sebastian to carry and was taken to Faith Clinic. It was a small establishment in relation to the tiny town, but it had a decent staff. The nurses had given her medicine to help her symptoms, though they couldn't find the cause of them. No one reported the poison.
A white room. Bright lights. White, cool sheets. A small white gown to cover her. Her white cat sitting at her side on the bed. And Sebastian. When Ellia first awoke, she had thought she'd died.
Sebastian was quick to assure her of her safe location, though, and that she was being monitored until her vital signs improved. Her blood pressure was too low, and her internal temperature was rising and falling between extremes. Until these waves stopped, she was advised to stay in bed. This was a very strong recommendation from the head doctor in the building. He was also the only doctor.
"You don't have to worry about Mr. Darbren. I'll make sure he keeps his distance from you," Sebastian said, standing beside her.
Ellia nodded weakly. "Thank you."
The butler didn't leave right away, though. He stood beside her, looking down at her small, sickly form. In the silence, without saying a word, he reached down and took a lock of her dark hair in his gloved hand, played with it, twirling it between his fingers. This seemed to cheer Ellia up. He saw her smile and moved that same hand to her neck. The soft material felt soothing against her skin.
Ellia saw the solid, unwavering expression on the man's face and giggled. She felt his hand slowly glide up her neck and then rest against her cheek, moving in gentle circles. The young woman reached up with her left hand and placed it over his, holding it there, enjoying the warmth.
She offered a bigger smile. "Sebastian."
With the utterance of his name, the demon took a seat on the bed next to her. Gatlin, on her other side, didn't even flinch. But both of them knew she wasn't sleeping.
"Yes, Ellia?" he said, almost a whisper. He offered an amused smirk, watching her, the way her eyes would dart around the room as she thought of what to say.
"In case I do die in my sleep somehow, whether it's from this poison or by Henry's doing, I want you to know something."
The demon leaned closer and saw her green eyes lock on him. "What is it?" he asked, his voice a low growl.
"I like you. A lot." She took a breath. "I wanted you to know. And also, um, I wanted to really thank you, for when you saved me. I still don't know how you did it, but...I thank God that I met you. Just you being here right now, it makes me happy."
Sebastian didn't say anything immediately. He slowly ran his thumb over her soft lips, then down to her chin. He eased his hand away from hers and tilted her head slightly to the left so she was directly facing him. Then he leaned down and kissed her. It was so gentle and light, Ellia had to think for a moment and decide on if there was actually contact. A second later he pulled away. Then he kissed her again, a little harder this time. Ellia didn't have the strength to lift her arms very high, so instead of wrapping her arms around him, she anchored a grip to his suit and pulled him towards her. The man pulled back and offered her a smirk. Ellia's heart skipped.
"Do you-" Her question was silenced by the man's finger at her lips. His other hand was holding him in place, though it didn't take much effort because he was still sitting on the bed beside her.
"Shh." He kissed her again, very gently, and pulled away slowly, as if he didn't want to be away from her. He sat up, letting his hands slide down to her waist, which was only covered by the thin white gown she was wearing, in addition to a layer of fresh bandages.
After this he took the woman's hands in each of his own, resting them on her stomach, though being careful so as not to add pressure and harm her. Ellia was quiet, watching him with a pleased smile.
"Miss Ellia. Please rest. The sooner we continue on, the sooner we'll be able to return to the young master with a report of a successful mission."
The young woman tightened her hands around his, and for a second her smile faltered. "All right."
The butler noticed this, though, and added, "I'd like you to recover quickly for my own sake, as well. Being so ill and in such pain...it doesn't suit you. The faster we complete this assignment, the closer you will be to feeling back to normal. And I'd like nothing more." He completed this assurance with a very faint smile.
Ellia's eyes brightened, and she grinned. "Well if that's true, then...I'll try to sleep a while and recover my strength."
The demon gazed at her for a moment longer, then eased his hands away from her own. He stood up and bowed out of courtesy. He turned to leave, but Ellia's hand wrapped around his wrist, stopping him mid-step. He turned back to her.
"When we leave...I'm staying in your carriage this time...okay?" Ellia's eyes were beginning to drift closed on their own now, though she appeared to ignore it.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Of course, Miss Ellia. But why?"
"Henry looked angry earlier. And he gave off this frightening vibe. I'd rather be with you the rest of the trip in case something sets him off completely."
The butler smirked at the thought. "Very well. I'll inform him of the new arrangement for you."
Ellia was more than a bit skeptical of this idea, since the brunette would probably be at rage level the next time he saw her. He wouldn't be able to intimidate her inside their cab together, wouldn't have access to her one-on-one, no more conversations. Perhaps worst of all would be that he'd know the woman was in a separate transport with a different man. And the fucking cat.
Ellia, after thinking over the demon's chances in a fight with the captain, nodded in agreement. "Okay, I guess. Just, um, be careful." She released her grip and returned her arm to her side.
Sebastian then displayed an expression of either confidence or arrogance, Ellia couldn't exactly tell in her fading state of consciousness. Though perhaps it was both. "I'll be fine. Just rest. Also-"
He took a small step toward the bed and leaned down, placing a tender, gentle kiss to her lips. Ellia's half-lidded eyes watched him move back a bit and then move toward her ear, in which he whispered, "Sweet dreams."
Though her heart stirred, her body did not. It relaxed. Her vision was dimming, and her breathing slowly died into a soft rhythm. She let her eyes close.
Sebastian's image, though, stayed with her. She closed her eyes and saw him there. Those unusual yet gorgeous red eyes, smooth black hair, a strong, deep voice, a calm, refined posture. He really was a sinfully attractive man. And though deep down the woman held a good degree of guilt for her feelings, it didn't stop Ellia from enjoying herself.
She did indeed have pleasant dreams. In her mind she spent several nights with the man. They went out on the town together, went to see plays together, even a few operas. Shopping, walks, conversations that lasted for what felt like hours. Many of these activities were things the man would never actually do, Ellia knew, but her dreams were treating her well and for that she wasn't going to complain.
Gatlin, sensing the woman's unconscious joy, snuggled closer to her owner in her sleep. Over time and during the following night, Ellia's body temperature managed to regulate itself to a good degree. Periodically the doctor- a well-built, kind-eyed man of middle age and slightly graying hair- visited her to change her bandages and check her status.
Dr. Henson informed Sebastian that she was improving with extreme haste. He asked the butler if she had been taking any medication that had caused the drop in health. The demon smirked and said she'd recently gotten over an unrelated illness in her circulatory system and that the only thing he'd given her was a kiss.
Dr. Henson laughed at this. "Stay with her and I'm sure she'll recover just fine," he said, offering a small wave as he took his leave down the hall to attend to other patients.
Sebastian watched him go and then stepped inside the woman's room to check on her sleeping form. She had the faintest of smiles on her face, and her color was starting to return. A few of her fingers twitched and she mumbled something. Beside her, the white cat rose, looking sleepy.
Seeing Sebastian, she sat up and tilted her head, watching him. Her tail moved slowly right and left. She licked her paw and began cleaning her face.
The butler gazed at her for a long while. Cats were just such beautiful creatures.
Finally he walked over to her, and pet the animal lovingly, running a hand down her back occasionally. Gatlin purred and leaned toward him, nuzzling his hand and wrist.
Next to her, Ellia stirred. "I'll have some strawberry cake, too," she mumbled.
Sebastian brushed some of the longer bangs away from her eyes and smiled. He let himself smile because he knew she couldn't see him. "When we return, I'll give you all the cake you desire, Miss Ellia."
The woman's hand twitched and she replied softly, "Kay." Her body relaxed as she fell deeper into her previous sleep, continuing on with her dream of sweet things.
The butler took her hand and kissed the top of it, then placed it gently at her side. Gatlin watched him do this, her yellow eyes wide and attentive. Then her gaze snapped to the doorway and stayed there.
Sebastian turned just enough to see Mr. Darbren in the hall, standing outside the open door. It seemed he'd paused mid-step. He was glaring at the demon, not hiding his intent for the woman. He wanted her to suffer, and the butler's interference wasn't appreciated. Sebastian raised an eyebrow, pretending he was completely oblivious to the captain's anger.
Henry mumbled several curses and walked off. The demon turned back to the sleeping beauty and gently caressed her cheek for a moment. Had she been awake he knew she would have probably been smiling at him, her green eyes filled with adoration from his mere touch. Sebastian knew he was considered extremely attractive by countless women, but this woman in particular was a human whose affection he never got tired of seeing, of sensing, of hearing.
She held a quiet, innocent grace that many women he'd had to accommodate did not. In her eyes was a young but bright, shining light that radiated a concealed strength. Not a strength to protect herself, but the will to protect the ones she loved. Sebastian knew she felt guilty for not having been able to save her parents, to prevent their deaths. She hadn't known Henry's hired guns would show up that night, but this fact didn't ease her feelings.
For now, she had a passionate love for the handsome man watching her sleep, and an undying love for the companion that had been by her side since she was just a child. Sebastian understood it was Gatlin and himself who were keeping the young lady going, keeping her smiling. She was a simple girl raised by rich parents, but she didn't take her luck for granted. The butler wondered if she considered it possible that he didn't care for her in the same way that she loved him. Even if this was true, Sebastian had the feeling she'd keep on smiling anyway. Just being welcomed by her savior was a waking dream.
The red-eyed demon looked down at her hand and saw the ruby ring she was wearing. Though it was on her ring finger, it reminded him much of the blue ring that Ciel wore on his thumb. Thoughts of his master then filled his mind, and he decided to leave the room, off to check on the activities of the company.
Turns out that the bodyguards took part in many illegal pastimes in their free time. At the edge of Swindon for less than a day and they'd already made quite a profit doing various things. Sebastian figured Henry knew about this, but he acted as if he didn't. The four of them probably shared the haul.
He stopped in the door frame and turned. He gazed at her for a moment, then turned and left, closing the door with barely a sound behind him.
A day and a half later, Ellia was cleared to leave the hospital. The Faith Clinic nurses, a group of six, bid her good wishes, and accompanied her to the exit. They did this not only out of hospitality, but also in the hopes of catching a last glimpse of the woman's handsome fiancee.
Henry and Sebastian were waiting with the two carriages, glaring at each other with peripheral attention to the woman setting foot outside, who was bathed in the morning light. No longer wearing bandages, she was prim and pretty in her black dress, carrying a happy Gatlin in her arms. Her skin was no longer deathly pale, and she smiled as she took in a breath of fresh, cool air.
Her green eyes found Sebastian immediately, and she watched in amusement as the two men ended their little contest. Sebastian turned away from the brunette with an arrogant disregard and made his way over to Ellia and the nurses. He stood before the infatuated women and showed them a grateful smile. "My dear Ellia is well due to your efforts." He slid an arm her waist and purred to the women, "Merci beaucoup."
The nurses all received his thanks with smiles. Several of them who were fluent in French replied happily, "De rien." The others suggested his return if he ever felt ill, himself, and wished him safe travels. Sebastian smirked and took Ellia's hand, leading her away from the small building and toward the carriage. His carriage.
Henry sent a death glare at the woman and her cat as he climbed into his own carriage with the awaiting bodyguards. The doors were shut, and the horses began to move once again.
Author's Notes.
This chapter is a bit shorter than normal, I know. But it is the second to last chapter in the story. Chapter 15 will be the final installment. I hope all who have been reading the story will like the ending. Also, I brought out the sexy demon's romantic side in this chapter, since the story's aim is Seb x Ellia. But if y'all noticed, he never expressly stated his feelings to her. It just wouldn't be like him.
To the reviewers:
To Kyzara77: There's a reason she is so accepting of his behavior. It will be apparent in the last chapter. =]
To Liliths-cursed-pen: Thank you so much! I'm glad you like my writing. I tend to find all sorts of flaws in it, but I guess since it's my own work I'll never consider it perfect.
To jade: I'm glad you think so. Hopefully you'll like the last chapter, as well.
To ImmaEatCHOO: I'm really happy you like my style. My usual writing is much more descriptive, but I tried something new with this story and made it more fast-paced. Also, you're right, it was indeed a metaphor. And this story will have an end. I dislike when authors choose to leave their works without a proper ending. There's no sense of closure. Some of the stories I've posted online in the past I've chosen to take down simply because I didn't write an ending I was satisfied with, and that's not fair to the people who take the time to read the rest of the story. And thanks so much for your continued feedback. =]
As always, reviews are loved!