2022 Wilma: Hello! So, I've been writing this fanfiction (originally titled His Butler, In Love) since I was 13 years old. I'm 23 now with a shiny new English degree and still trucking on this story. I want to continue writing this one, but the first chapters are *jean ralphio voice* Garbaaaaaage because I was 13 and barely knew how to write.
OG readers, do not panic. Yes, the name is different. Yes, the old chapters are gone. NO, they will not stay gone! NO, it is not a different story. I'm just going through and editing everything (yes, EVERYTHING) from the last 10 years and reuploading. This means the story will be massively improved. Fear not, the story will be back and better than it was before (with bonus content)!
The sound of the doorbell ringing through the large house was incessant.
Ciel groaned. He had been about to call upon Sebastian to begin readying for bed, but it appeared there would be a delay. Who was at the manor so late? "Answer the door, Sebastian."
"Yes, master."
Ciel yawned loudly and stretched in his seat at the large desk in the study. His days seemed long as of late, the work never-ending as autumn began and signaled the start of Funtom's preparations for the holiday season.
Ciel rose and strode to the front of the manor at a leisurely pace. "What's the meaning of this?" He asked as he walked up behind Sebastian.
"It appears the reapers have a stray for us," Sebastian said.
The reapers? Ciel thought, peeking around Sebastian to see the reaper William with a young girl next to him, her dress filthy and brown hair disheveled. Who is that?
The girl looked far away, confused, and frightened. What happened to her?
"Good evening," William greeted the Earl. "I'm sorry to come so late, but you and your entourage seem to be the safest place for her. Her name is Angeline."
"Why did you bring her here?" Ciel asked.
"It seems we have not rid ourselves of those pesky angels just yet," William said. "And Ash has taken a liking to Angeline."
Ciel's eyes narrowed. Ash.
"Her family perished in an earthquake and she was abducted by Ash," William continued. "I was able to retrieve her, but she needs somewhere safe to stay until the reapers can dispose of him."
Ciel sighed, reluctantly resigning himself to the wishes of the reaper.
"Take her to a guest bedroom, Sebastian. Any one will do." Ciel instructed to his butler. I will have to notify the Queen of this. Reapers or not, she will want her own task force to handle Ash.
"Yes, master." Sebastian replied. He obediently rushed to the Reaper, who was supporting Angeline at the entrance of the manor. Sebastian swept Angeline into his arms and carried the tired, unresponsive girl to a guest bedroom.
In a house full of the supernatural, the melody in Angeline's head grew louder.
London Bridge is falling down… Build it up with iron and steel… iron and steel will bend and bow… My fair lady.
Ciel now sat at the foot of his bed, no longer tired. He procured newspapers recounting the events of the earthquake that had been the demise of Angeline's family, desperate for anything that would help in finally defeating Ash. "Angeline Juliet Redthorne," Ciel murmured. "Her parents and older sister died in an earthquake and she was nowhere to be found," Ciel said aloud to Sebastian.
"Young Master," Sebastian began, "Go back to bed or I'll unleash your fiancé on you in the morning, and you know how she can dote."
Ciel cursed and got back into bed, knowing it was more reasonable to get his rest and think about this in the morning. He drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
The ground underneath Ciel's feet shook. He was in front of a house in a rural area he had never been to before, facing a large house on acres of green land. A mysterious unknown voice sang from somewhere above Ciel.
"London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down," It sounded like a man's voice, and vaguely familiar.
"Mother! Father! Sister!" A shrill scream sounded from the crumbling building.
"London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady."
In response, a woman's voice sang from inside the house. "Build it up with wood and clay, wood and clay, wood and clay. Build it up with wood and clay."
"Wood and clay will wash away, wash away, wash away. Wood and clay will wash away, my fair lady."
The woman's voice sounded again. "Build it up with iron and steel, iron and steel, iron and steel. Build it up with iron and steel," A girl appeared in the doorway in a hypnotic trance, green eyes glinting through the smoke.
"Angeline?" Ciel asked. No one appeared to have heard him.
"Iron and steel will bend and bow, bend and bow, bend and bow. Iron and steel will bend and bow, my fair lady," The voice sounded from above.
Angeline continued singing as a winged man came down from the heavens. Ash. Ciel thought bitterly.
Ash sang to Angeline, landing in front of her and taking her hands. "Silver and gold will be stolen away, my fair lady."
"Is there no solution to the broken bridge?" Angeline asked, looking back at the rubble that used to be her home. "Or my broken heart?"
"I'm afraid not, my lady." Ash responded.
"Why did you take my family away?"
"This world is slowly being cleansed, my dear. I'm sorry, Angeline, but it's all part of the process. Angeline, that's such a lovely name. Fit for an angel like me." Ash said, releasing her hands and wrapping one arm around her waist.
"What is the meaning of this, angel?" Angeline asked. She had always been told that angels help people, she read it in her bible and listened to the preachers at church. Surely this angel couldn't be one of them?
"Please, call me Ash," The angel said. "Angeline, shouldn't you have a form worthy of your name? Surely, being human isn't enough for you."
"Actually, it is, thank you very much." Angeline replied. "Besides, why me?"
"Because, I chose you, my dear. Don't you want to be spared? Don't you want to join me in my cleansing?" Ash asked.
Angeline looked once again at her crumbled home. "My mother, my father, my older sister, they're all in there and they won't ever come out again," Angeline looked at Ash with absolute hatred. "If killing innocent people is your idea of a cleansing, I want nothing to do with it. The only thing that needs to be 'cleansed' is demons like you."
Ash frowned. "Well, I should have to try to change your mind," He said. Angeline's eyes widened as his grip tightened on her. "And I am an angel, not a demon."
"Your actions beg to differ." Angeline replied bravely.
"Angeline, get out of there!" Ciel shouted, unheard.
Ash opened his gigantic wings and carried Angeline up, up, and up, higher and higher. Angeline struggled to break free, screaming as loud as she could, but Ash's tight grip on her waist never loosened.
"Angeline!" Ciel shouted again.
Ciel woke with a start. What a strange dream. He thought. Ciel got out of bed and dressed himself, finding Sebastian dusting a stair railing.
"Young Master!" He said, "You're up early."
"I will be eating in my study this morning; I have an important letter to send to her majesty."
"Yes, master," Sebastian said, watching the young Earl retreat to his study.
"Has the Redthorne girl had anything to eat?" Ciel asked, stopping and turning to the Butler.
"She is still asleep, master," Sebastian informed.
"Bring something up to her room for when she wakes up. We don't want her starving while she's here."
"Of course, right away master."