2022 Wilma: Whew! This one was a MONSTER to edit, not gonna lie. I'm not fully satisfied with a few sections tbh, but it's wayyy better than before so at least there's that.
Angeline woke up the next morning feeling groggy. She had never been one to feel well rested upon waking up and it had become worse since the earthquake on account of her anxiety, nightmares, and grief.
Suffice it to say, she was not a morning person. She stumbled out of bed, scavenging a dark orange dress from the wardrobe. In the corner sat a large grandfather clock, alerting her it was 10:15 in the morning. She hadn't realized she slept so late.
As she made her way downstairs she saw Sebastian, who appeared as though he was about to leave. "Where are you off to?" She asked in curiosity.
"Out to run a few errands for the young master," He replied.
"Would you mind if I come?" Angeline asked. "I could use the fresh air."
"I don't see a problem with you accompanying me," Sebastian said. "I'm sure it will be better than babysitting Lizzie."
It was true. Angeline liked Lizzie well enough, but it was hard to form a genuine friendship with the girl, especially when Angeline was five years her senior. Angeline swallowed the lump that formed in her throat when she thought about the inexplicable loneliness she'd been feeling since her family was ripped away from her, especially because she no longer had her sister to keep her company.
Angeline followed Sebastian out the front door and to the carriage. There was an uncomfortable silence for the first part of the ride, the easy silence they had formed in the kitchen nowhere to be found. Angeline looked out the window and Sebastian was staring so intently at her, she would've thought he was trying to see into her soul.
"Sebastian, please stop staring at me like that," she whispered.
Sebastian blinked, then sat back a little further. "My apologies, Angeline." He said sincerely. "That was rude of me; as a Phantomhive butler I should know better."
Angeline merely shook her head. Something was... off about the Phantomhive butler.
"Well," Sebastian started as the carriage stopped, "We've arrived at our first destination. After you, Angeline."
Angeline breathed in the warm air as she walked behind Sebastian. It was a pleasantly warm day and Angeline knew the air would soon have the bite of cold as autumn swept in to make way for winter.
Sebastian led Angeline to a simple market. "You must promise me you'll never tell Bocchan, he'd have a fit if he found out this is where I get our produce," he said with an amused smile.
"I won't tell him, but why? Can't you just get them from where he'd want you to?" Angeline countered.
"To him, labels are everything, but I've found this to be much more reliable and fresh in the produce department than the market he insists he prefers," Sebastian explained, examining the eggplants.
"How can you be sure about that?"
Sebastian shifted his gaze toward her, eyes glinting, a mysterious smile etched onto his face. "You see, I am simply one hell of a butler."
It was the second time he said that and though Angeline had no idea what it meant, something in the way he said it shut her up. She silently followed the butler around the market, observing him as he moved about the stands. That meant something, but what?
Angeline followed Sebastian to five different vendors. She asked him to teach her how to pick the best options out of the selections and he was happy to oblige. "Why do you want to know? If I may ask," Sebastian inquired as he taught her how to spot the best piece of fish.
"My family always hired servants for this sort of errand," Angeline began. "Seeing as I no longer have a family or their wealth, I should learn to take care of myself. going to the market is a small thing, but it's a start."
Sebastian nodded thoughtfully. He knew she was in pain, grieving for her family and processing the trauma she'd been through, but she was handling the situation exceptionally. He did not know many humans who would be as proactive as Angeline was being in her situation.
After they were done shopping for food to stock the manor with, Sebastian began leading her back to the carriage. As they walked, a black cat crossed their path. Bad luck, Angeline thought. Her luck decidedly could not get worse after the events that had taken place in her life lately, so the usual fear instilled in her by her religious and superstitious family was nowhere to be found within her. Sebastian stopped before the cat, hesitating a moment before bending to scratch at its neck. The cat purred, wrapping itself around Sebastian's leg and an easy smile graced the butler's face.
"You like cats?" Angeline inquired.
"I adore them," Sebastian answered, giving the cat one last scratch between the ears before straightening. The cat meowed happily and went on its way. Sebastian watched it disappear into the throng of shoppers before he began leading Angeline to the carriage again.
"Is there a cat of yours at the estate?" Angeline asked as the carriage moved back toward the estate. "The grounds are so big I could have missed it."
Sebastian shook his head. "The master would allow it, but I know he is not fond of animals and I haven't the need."
Angeline hummed thoughtfully, then gazed out the window as the carriage rode into the grounds of the estate.
"Thank you for accompanying me," Sebastian said as they made their way back to the estate. "I must admit, the errands are not as soul-sucking with company."
"Thank you for letting me," Angeline replied, her heart springing upon hearing that Sebastian enjoyed her presence so much. She practically floated up to her room, she was in such a good mood. The fresh air had always done wonders for her.
She stopped short in the corridor when a melody invaded her mind. London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down...
She vigorously shook her head, willing it away and clearing it out.
It was nothing, only coincidence. Ash put that song in your head for weeks, of course you'd think about it sometimes. Don't worry about him. She told herself.
Still frightened, she slowly made her way to her room, looking out every window to make sure the accursed angel wasn't there. It was nothing. It was was nothing.
"Let me out, Ash! Let me out! Please!" Angeline cried. She couldn't see anything, but she could hear the angel.
"Not until you join me," Ash bargained, his voice calm.
"Ash, please," She sobbed, her voice breaking. "I won't tell anyone, just please let me out."
Ash sighed. The girl didn't understand. "Secrecy isn't what I want. I want you to work beside me. We would make a very good team."
"You know I won't," Angeline spat, some fighting spirit finding its way out of her despite her exhaustion and helplessness. "Let me go."
"This is getting rather tiresome, my dear, and you talk too much. You sound sleepy, shall I sing you a lullaby?"
"No!"
Ash disregarded Angeline's plea and began to sing, the first refrain of "London Bridge" echoing through the room.
"You monster," Angeline said, voice faltering.
"London bridge is falling down, my fair lady."
There was no sound from Angeline.
"Rest well, darling." Ash said. "Hopefully when you wake, you'll learn to see things my way and love me like I love you."
Ash left, certain his dear Angeline wasn't going anywhere. Soon, however, the reaper William entered the room. It was to his advantage that Ash was unaware that as a neutral party between life and death, reapers could occupy any space in not just the human world, but the realms of angels and demons alike. "Found you," William said.
The reaper freed the sleeping Angeline from her prison, softly singing "London Bridge," and her eyes opened. She was awake, but still clearly exhausted.
Then, Angeline woke up. She had fallen asleep on a chaise. The song controls my sleep! I remember! She thought, scrambling off the chaise as quickly as she could so she could tell Ciel, who she knew was speaking with the Queen about Ash's whereabouts. She supposed she shouldn't be surprised that the Royal family was involved with this, but she never considered the reality of the supernatural and how it might affect politics.
A knock sounded at the door to Ciel's study. "Bocchan, you've received a letter from her majesty," Sebastian informed Ciel, holding out a silver tray with a letter on it.
Ciel took the letter and ripped it open.
Ciel,
Thank you so much for informing me about Miss Redthorne and Ash.
I would like you to let her stay at the Phantomhive manor for the time being. She will be safe there and she could be valuable in the new effort to defeat Ash. Make sure she is safe from him. He will come after her, I know him well enough to know that.
Regards,
Victoria.
Angeline joined Ciel for dinner. Afterward, she requested a book from Finny and lounged on a sofa to read.
Several chapters into her book, Sebastian entered the room to check on her. She thanked him and declined his offer of tea or a sweet, saying she'd rather have tea before bed.
"Do you know how to play chess?" Angeline asked.
Sebastian looked at her, expressions quizzical. "Yes."
"Will you teach me?"
There was a pause and Angeline's face heated when she realized Sebastian was likely busy with his duties as a butler. "I'm so sorry!" She said. "You must have so much to do, entertaining a bored girl should be the least of your worries!"
"The Earl has gone to bed," Sebastian said. "We can play chess."
Sebastian procured a chess board and lead Angeline into a lounge. They sat at opposite ends of a small table and Sebastian set up the white side of the board. He had Angeline mirror it on the black side so she could learn how to set it up. "You can play white," He said.
"What does that mean?"
His crimson eyes glanced up at her before moving back to the board to finish setting up the white pawns. "White goes first."
"Is that advantageous?" She asked.
"Of course."
"Then why forfeit the advantage?"
Sebastian spun the board around so the white side faced Angeline. "I prefer playing black," He said. "It's my lucky color, I suppose. Besides," He continued, looking up from the board and flashing a playful, wicked smile at her. "I have every confidence I'll win."
Angeline's face cracked into a grin. "Of course you will," she said. "I've never played before."
Indeed, Sebastian won, but he assured her that her playing would improve the more they kept at it. "The nights get boring when the Earl goes to sleep," The butler said, tucking the chess set under his arm. The pair stood and walked side by side out of the lounge. "Chess instead of duties will be a welcome rest. If you'd like to play regularly, of course."
"You could sleep," Angeline pointed out. Sebastian glanced down at her from the corner of his eye as they walked.
"Of course, but the Earl is young and retires early. It leaves far too much time for me to know what to do with."
Angeline looked ahead so he couldn't see her eyes narrow with suspicion. Liar, she thought. Did the butler sleep? Was he of supernatural existence as Ash was?
She supposed she would find out before long. "I suppose I can entertain you with endless wins in chess," She teased. "But I need to rest."
"Of course. Goodnight, Angeline."
"Goodnight, Sebastian."
As Angeline readied herself for bed, putting on a nightgown and brushing her hair out of it's braid, she couldn't shake the feeling something was watching her.
"London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down."
Angeline gasped, the brush slipping out of her grip and clattering to the floor. Before she could react or call for help, sleep started to take her.
"London bridge is falling down, my fair lady."
Outside, Ash waited. He was calling her, and she was sure to come.
2012 Wilma: You clipped out Grell's introduction!?
2022 Wilma: Yes! The transphobia was coming from inside the house. Don't worry, Grell will still find their way into the narrative.