A/N:
Hey guys,
You know, I hate breaking my OC's heart but must happen (big sad). I hope you guys enjoy this sort of depressing chapter lol. I have decided to start showing summaries of the last chapters ending as a fresher for those who forget.
Anyway, that's all, thanks for reading, following, and commenting guys!
Recap of the Last Chapter:
We wave her goodbye until she is gone completely. Ciel cools his expression into something indifferent. "Good thing she owed you a favor." I point out. I peer down at his reddened face, "Are you sure you are feeling okay?" I ask.
He scowls at me then, "I said I'm fine."
"I'm worried, no need to get an attitude. You're showing symptoms of your asthma..."
He turns away with a shallow cough, "I'm not repeating myself."
I watch him walk away with a sigh, "Seriously, he is too stubborn." I mutter under my breath. "Hey! Wait for me!" I shout and jog to him.
Hopefully, Freckles can keep her mouth shut...
o0o0o0o
The closer we got to my tent, the more Ciel's coughs increased in-depth and rate. I couldn't take it anymore, I know if he doesn't rest now, he might get worse. I grab his shoulder and pull him back. "W-What are you doing?!" he huffs with a glare.
"You need to go to the doctor right now!" I cry.
He struggles like usual, wanting out of my grip. "Let me go! I told you I'm fine."
I pull him closer to me and grab both his shoulders, "Just stop it! Stop lying! I know you're not okay."
He grits his teeth as another coughing attack hits him, "I-I said—"
"Shut up!" I boom, feeling angry hot tears fall from my eyes. "You need to listen to me right now. You are about to have an asthma attack; do you not realize?" His eye widens and he stills in my grip.
I hear a tent flap open and Sebastian walks out, appearing a bit confused. "What is happening?" he asks.
"He's—" I start off but Ciel's voice overpowers mine. "You...You released those venomous snakes even though you knew we were still over there!" Ciel shouts at him.
I scowl at my brother, knowing he didn't want to talk about it. Even though, I'm sure Sebastian heard us arguing. I wipe at my tears silently because I'm tired of being treated like this by him. It pisses me off my brother can't accept anything I offer on occasion. I don't even feel like a big sister sometimes. Sebastian stares at us until he smiles coyly, "Yes." he confirms. "It's because earlier you gave an order to release the snakes as the first-tier members returned."
I sigh as Sebastian talks, knowing he didn't have the intent for us to die but thought it would be funny if we thought we would. I'm too exhausted and concerned for these mind games. "What's the matter?" Sebastian asks mainly my brother. Ciel continues to cough and glower at Sebastian. "What's so wrong that you must make that face?" he persists.
I pinch the bridge of my nose and wonder how much longer I will remain sane. These two...I can't even describe their relationship sometimes. "Please don't worry so much. As long as there is the contract, I will protect your life...however, if you make a mistake of your own accord, you will possibly suffer a painful experience while alive. You already know that don't you?" he continues as some of his demon attributes make itself known to us.
"Yeah, don't worry, Ciel. While you'll be somewhat alive, I'll be dead at your feet." I mutter sarcastically to myself. Sebastian's eyes flicker to mine, a spark of amusement dancing in them. "Any game becomes boring when it lacks thrill, right, my lady?"
I scoff and cross my arms, "I think your definition of a game is different from mine, you sadistic jerk."
I watch as he holds back a chuckle and looks at my brother. "I thought the young master who is greedy for games would think the same."
"It's in bad taste to play games that make me feel like throwing up, demon!" Ciel smiles wickedly.
Sebastian gives him a fake smile, "It's an honor."
"Well, now that you two have ended your pointless bickering, might we discuss what we found inside the tent?" I ask and begin to push the two inside. They shuffle forward and Ciel continues to cough harshly. I want to speed up this whole thing before he becomes so sick, he collapses from a fever (which I can tell he has already). "So, in Joker's tent, we found a letter, and inside it was my brother's information inside."
Ciel nods and continues to cough, "From what I saw, they have my rank, my mansion's address, and simple personal history." My brother paces forward in thought, "The sender is—Huh?!"
He gets cut off as William's spear strikes the ground where the line is. Ciel jumps to the side in surprise as William stays put at the end of his bed, "You," the reaper starts off. "are intruding on my private property by three centimeters."
I scowl at the reaper and flash him the middle finger, "Oh my god, you're such a tightwad."
He glares at me and adjusts his glasses, "Incapable of staying apart as you both decided. Exactly like a dog and its owner."
Ciel scowls at him as well and turns around with a cough, "Sebastian, Rina, let's go outside." he orders.
I sigh and follow him as Sebastian responds with a 'yes', doing the same as me. He leads us to a spot in between the tents. I stand next to Sebastian as Ciel is stuck in between the tents. I rub my arms, feeling the night grow colder and so does my concern for my brother. "So, the sender's name is Tom the Piper's Son." Ciel informs.
"Tom the Piper's Son?" Sebastian repeats.
"It's a character from mother goose, we have no idea what it could mean though." I point out.
"I also noticed there is a hallmark of a horse in the sealing wax along with the initial K." Ciel tells us.
I put a finger to my chin in thought, "K? Why does that sound familiar? I know this man from somewhere and I have a feeling his last name begins with that letter. Damnit..." I trail off, trying to think harder.
"Then, it's the same as what I saw." Ciel states. "Normally the sealing is engraved with a symbol of motivation and the initial of the person plus the family crest. Ah. In other words, Tom the Piper's Son is someone who holds a family crest with the prefix of a horse. People who have their family crest displaying a horse are usually knights or other soldiers." he mentions and coughs in between. "It's not a rule, though it's basically impossible to get one without rank or some level."
"Why would a high-class person fund a circus though?" I offer in thought.
"I don't know, it doesn't make much sense. All of these crests are recorded by heraldry." Ciel informs with another cough afterward. "No matter how many records they have, I know that you are capable of finding it within this information alone," Ciel tells Sebastian. "Disappearing children, a circus, Tom the Piper's Son, and me. I wonder how all of these are connected." he coughs.
"Ciel, we'll figure it out later, but right now I'm more concerned about you." I state with a frown.
Ciel doesn't seem to hear me and pushes through us. Sebastian glances at him as he begins to walk away, "Young master..."
"Firstly," Ciel heaves, "I'll return to the townhouse." he coughs out somehow. He starts to lean over, and I chase after him. I hold him up and rub his back calmly. "Young master? What is wrong?" I hear Sebastian ask and paces toward us.
His body is horribly warm despite the coolness in the air. I can feel his body tremble and his coughing fit gets worse. It sounds wet suddenly and I feel the panic rise in me as mucus comes out of his mouth. His coughing becomes worse and he almost falls over. I catch him, "Feni!" I cry out. I lower Ciel to the floor and hold him as he continues to cough up the mucus.
"Young master! What's wrong?!" Sebastian shouts.
I glance at him as Ciel tries to get rid of the mucus, "It's his asthma! We need to get him to the doctor right now." I inform. His coughing doesn't cease, and I pat his back for comfort.
"Smile?! What's wrong?" I hear Freckles yell behind us.
When his coughing subsides, he passes out from lack of oxygen. I pull him into my arms and wipe his mouth off with the blanket still tied around my shoulders. "Let's go." I say and lift him up into my arms. I hold him and stand up. His head rests on my shoulder and I jog to the doctor's tent. Sebastian and Freckles follow behind me.
I rush inside the tent when we arrive, "Doctor? Doctor! I need some help over here!"
I carry Ciel over to a bed and lay him down gently. I put the back of my hand against his forehead. "Oh god, he's burning up like crazy."
"Let me see him." the doctor says and rolls up in a wheelchair. I bite my lip anxiously as he examines Ciel.
"It's his asthma. It got triggered." I mention to him. The doctor glances at me with a nod, "It is indeed."
"Asthma...?" Sebastian questions behind me. "This is the first time I've seen him in this condition even though I have been with him for three years."
"He never told you? Good thing I was here then. Jeez." I frown.
"If he hasn't had this condition for three years, it's considered to be recovered." the doctor informs us. "Though all you need is a sudden chill or a time of stress...then if he gets a cold it can abruptly come back."
Freckles sets down a bowl of water and a dry rag onto the nightstand next to the bed. I smile at her in thanks and wet the rag. I ring it in the bowl and fold it in half. I move Ciel's hair aside and place it on top of his forehead. His pants fill the room and I've never seen his face is completely flushed. I haven't seen him this bad since he was young. I sit down in a chair next to the bed. I reach out and rub my thumb against his temple, liking the thought it helped just like I did when I would take care of him.
"I have seen him suffer from the cold once or twice though it was never this bad. This time it's probably because the main causes coincided together." Sebastian voices his concern.
"He's been this bad as a child. That was a long time ago though. I used to give him CPR and it would help him get over the attack." I mention.
"CPR?" the doctor questions, not familiar with the term.
I pause in thought before smiling awkwardly, "Ah, something I learned to do. It helps air circulation, but he seems to be breathing better than before so it's not needed." I note and frown. "He could die though. Asthma is a serious condition and can be fatal. He is dumb for not listening to me."
"He could've died?!" Freckles shrieks and I shush her.
"Yes, hopefully, that will not be the case. It's natural for him to get a cold since he went out and bathing with those brutish people." the doctor says.
"Ah!" I voice when Ciel cracks his eye open. I smile gently down at him and continue rubbing his temple lightly. "Fe—Smile can you hear me?" I ask lowly.
He peers at me with unfocused eyes, "Water..." he mutters. I hear someone rummage in the background as they grab him some. Sebastian comes forward with a teapot and offers it to Ciel. He sips at it slowly when it enters his mouth, "Here you go." Sebastian smiles slightly.
"Smile, you have had bad asthma since you were very young right?" the doctor asks next to me. "There are cases where people have died from it. You should be careful even if you think you have fully recovered."
Ciel does not say anything and continues to look my way. I smile again and cup his cheek next, lightly stroking it. It's very warm. "Ri..na..." Ciel mutters quietly before passing out again.
"You guys should get going then." the doctor tells all of us.
"I am going to stay, doctor. I am his only family right now." I tell him.
The doctor nods to that and shoos Sebastian out along with Freckles for a bit. I sigh under my breath and continue worrying over my brother. Seriously, this all could have been avoided if he just listened to me for once. I decide to wet the rag again and ring it out over the bowl. I set the rag back over his forehead. My eyes begin to droop the longer I sit here. Something in the corner of my eye alerts me though. I turn to find Freckles sneaking back in.
She smiles sheepishly at me as she comes over to my side, "How is he?" she asks. "The same when you left about ten minutes ago." I tell her with a chuckle.
She wanders to the other side of the bed and sits down in a chair, "I hope he gets better."
"You must like Smile a lot, huh?" I ask curiously.
She smiles at his name, "He's a nice person."
"Nice? Hmm...thank you for being there for him."
She looks at me in surprise, "Uh...yer welcome."
"I'm sure he'll remember your kindness."
I decide to get up and scoot Ciel over toward the middle of the bed. "Do you mind watching him while I sleep for an hour?"
She nods, "Sure."
"Thanks." I murmur, feeling my exhaustion take over. I move the blankets aside and slide into the bed. My left leg dangles off the edge due to the amount of room available. I pull Ciel into my arms and lay down, holding him tightly. I make sure he has enough room to breathe and I rest my chin on top of his head. His warm breath hits my skin and I close my eyes. I start to play with his hair until I am dragged into sleep.
0o0o0o0o
I feel something move, not quite sure what it is. But I ignore it as I try to fall back to sleep. The movement stops after a few moments and I hear someone breathing harshly. I open an eye tiredly and find Ciel staring at me with a parted frown. I smile and bring him in further to my arms. "Do you feel better?" I ask in a whisper.
"A little," he mutters.
I pat his back lightly and he sighs softly, "That's good...get better so I can stop worrying." I murmur as I fight the sleep trying to take over me.
He reaches up and clutches at the front of my dress, fisting the material. "I'm sorry," he says.
"What for?"
He pauses for a second, "For being a prat..."
I chuckle lowly and opt to rub his back instead, "It's okay, that's just how you are."
He snuggles into the pillow, burying his face inside it. "I know. But I feel bad for putting you in that position."
I shift and bump my forehead against his, "I'm put into numerous positions. Many I must fight and some I must succumb too. It's nothing new despite how much it makes me want to hit you sometimes."
He smiles slightly, the most genuine one I'll probably get. "I appreciate it...usually. Being cared for, but at the same time, I do not like it either. Be lucky I let you coddle me the way you do."
I shake my head as a smile blooms on my lips, "As long as you're okay with it, that's all that matters. Now, get some sleep, you've been through a lot today."
He nods in my embrace and we shift to get comfortable again. Darkness falls over me quickly, but I couldn't be happier to take it in.
0o0o0o0o
Something outside awakens me from my brief slumber. I sit up alert as I hear voices talking. I rub the sleep out of my eyes when the voices disappear, and the people involved walk away. I slide out of the bed as curiosity takes over. I tiptoe to the entrance of the tent and peek outside. I don't find anyone beside William's back who is turning a corner.
"What's he doing out here?" I ponder out loud. I take a step outside and shiver as the cold winter air greets me again for the day. I'm not sure what time it is but the stars are bright tonight. I decide to follow William since I'm not sure who he was talking to before. Now that I think about, where has Sebastian been? I haven't seen him since we brought Ciel to the tent.
I turn the same corner as William did and don't find him anywhere. I assume he might be back at our tent, so I travel there. I tiptoe to not awaken any of the neighboring tents until I approach mine. I open the flap to find William sitting on his bed, reading a book from the looks of it. He glances at me with a look of indifference. I stare back awkwardly until I clear my throat. I come to the edge of the line he made in the dirt. I forget how uncomfortable he makes me.
"What were you doing in front of the medical tent?" I ask curiously. He adjusts his glasses, "Controlling that beast of yours."
I feel a tick mark pulse on my temple abruptly, "He's not mine. He is my brother's."
"He will be yours and vice versa."
"What?" I question, not sure how to take that. Instead, I shake my head, "Never mind, anyway, what was he doing?"
"He is acting individually without his owner. I tried to set him in place. However, he got away with another idea in mind to get what he wanted." William answers. I lean against the bunk bedpost, a bit surprised by Sebastian's behavior. "Really? How interesting. He doesn't usually act on his own. I'm sure my brother ordered him to do something when I was asleep."
"Even so, he is without his master. I wouldn't let that untamed thing run around without one." William continues with a brief look of disgust.
I snicker, "This drivel thing between demons and reapers is amusing. But I do wonder what he decided to do differently." William stares at me seriously, almost looking into my soul I feel like. "If I told you...it would not be best if I did."
Now I'm really curious and I stand straight, "You gotta tell me, now."
He frowns at me, "I don't need to tell you anything."
I whine slightly, "Come on, I'll tell you a secret about me."
"I don't care about some human," William states bluntly. I smirk and put a hand on my hip, "What if it's the secret about my soul? I know exactly why I'm the way I am."
That seems to catch his attention as his eyes glint, "Oh? Who says I'm curious?"
"The look in your eyes do. However, if I tell you, you must not tell other people. And I know how difficult that will be after I tell you."
He sits in silence for a few minutes as he contemplates my offer. "You spend too much time around that demon. You are roping me in with sweet words."
I scoff and point behind me, "Me? Be like Sebastian? You must be really blind then."
"Just tell me why you are the way you are, or I won't tell you where he is."
I smile a little, suddenly feeling nervous. I've only told Vincent this. I bite my lip in thought, wondering if I am desperate enough to tell this secret. I need to watch over Sebastian though for my brother. I sigh eventually after a minute or two of internal debate. "Alright, I'll tell you only one part of this secret. There is technically two. Anyway, I am from the future."
The crickets outside couldn't be any louder as silence plagues the tent. He stares at me with wide eyes and examines me from head to toe. I fidget on the spot, feeling some pressure fall from my shoulders. The weight is different when one person knows. "You...are not lying."
"How do you know?" I ask curiously.
"I can tell. I am surprised for once." He stands from the bed and strolls over to me with a calculating look. "Yes, I can see why your soul is transparent. You aren't technically born yet. That is also why I cannot find you in the library as well."
I nod, pretending I know what he is talking about. "Yes, so it's crucial you don't tell anyone. Who knows what will happen if more people find out?"
"I agree. I will keep quiet about it unless it pops up. You do need to go back home though. You don't belong here."
I smile helplessly, "I know, I've been searching for years."
"I will look into the matter myself as I have more resources that may be beneficial."
"Why are you helping me?"
He adjusts his glasses again, "I want to anger that demon and put things in its proper place before some damage is done. This is rare enough as it is."
"I appreciate it." I murmur. "Now! Tell me where Sebastian is." I demand.
He sighs and walks back to his bed, "Do not get angry at me later."
"Uh...okay?" I respond, feeling a little scared now. "Go to the first-tier tents if you wish to find him. Listen closely." William informs. "That is where he is."
I nod and note it down in my head, "First-tier tents, listen closely. Got it. Thanks for once, William."
I turn around and exit the tent, however, a curling doubt emerges. My neck begins to burn abruptly as I walk closer to the first-tier tents. On the way, I almost trip on a scarf on the ground. I pick it up curiously, not sure who it belongs to. I continue my path as I hold it. It warms up my hands slightly as I walk. I arrive at the first-tier tents but don't find Sebastian anywhere. Not in this darkness anyway, I can only make out visible tents in the distance. That's until my gaze falls upon the only one lit up.
It is barely lit though like a single candle is brightening it. "Listen closely." William's voice echoes in my thoughts. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I could hear the grass being blown by the cold wind. I could hear some of the troupe members snoring in their sleep. The ache in my neck distracts me a little but I persevere onward. I listen harder and hear people shuffling in the distance. Near the lit tent, I hear the distinct sound of moans from a woman.
Out of nowhere, I hear Sebastian's sultry voice and I immediately slam hands over my ears. I stumble back as my thoughts hardline. Sebastian's voice and Beast's moans echo in my head. I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. It wasn't real, that isn't happening. There is no way Sebastian is having sex with her. It's unbelievable, right? The burning on my neck is painful but I somehow ignore it due to shock.
My feet carry me away from the first-tier tents. I don't know what to do. I turn to hide behind another set of boxes that are different from earlier. I could hear my heartbeat pulse loudly in my ears. A sob escapes my mouth and I cover it up with my hand. I try to hold back the tears, but they end up spilling despite my efforts. I smack the ground with my clenched fist. It doesn't hurt as bad as my neck and heart though.
I bang the back of my head lightly against the boxes I lean against. I take in a shuttering breath as another sob leaves me, "Stupid, stupid, stupid..." I constantly repeat out loud. How much of a fool am I? This is what I get for falling in love with a demon. I should have expected this. I really should have, but for some reason, I still denied the thought that it could happen. He's a demon, he would take pleasure in such acts.
I wipe at my eyes and the snot that leaks out of my nose. Seriously, I am stupid; I bet even Sebastian knows that all too well. I cup my forehead at that thought, hating it more than I hate myself right now. "Why? Why? Why...did I fall in love with him?!" I scream into the night air and kick at a smaller box in front of me.
My heart feels like someone crushed it with weight so unbearable I might die. I smack my chest with my clenched fist, trying to ease the ache. So dumb, idiot. Why did he do this to me? "Why did he act as he liked me more than food?!" I shout into the air once more as more tears leak out of my eyes.
I sniffle constantly, as I dab my tears with the blanket still around me. "Fuck me..." I mutter and close my eyes. I don't know how long I sat here for, but it is enough to make my bottom hurt. The cold air doesn't even bother me anymore. I stand up on shaky legs, feeling weak. Did I get shot or something? I feel so tired.
I take a step and stumble over my other foot. I steady myself and walk in a zigzag pattern slightly. If only I was drunk, this would be better. I wander back to the medical tent. I don't spot Sebastian anywhere, thank god. I don't know how I am going to face him early in the morning. I creep back into the tent and sit back down in the chair I occupied earlier. Ciel seems to be breathing much better. I feel the back of his forehead one last time to find the fever has lessened.
I sigh thankfully and put my arms on the bed. I lean over and rest my hand on top of them. Closing my dry eyes, I feel one more tear slip out of one at the thought of seeing Sebastian again when I awaken.
0o0o0o0o
I wake early again, the sun barely peeking out from underneath the tent. My neck aches terribly and my head does too. I groan and rub my eyes. I peer at Ciel and find him still sleeping along with Freckles on the side in a chair. I practically got no sleep again last night. I kept waking up from either my heart hurting or my neck on fire. Neither were pleasant wake-up calls. I yawn loudly stretch my airs up. My neck tenses and I wince in pain. At least I'm awake before Sebastian appears...
I walk to a stand with a teapot and pour myself a glass of water. With how much I cried last night, I am certainly dehydrated. I down at least three cups until I feel like it is enough. Setting that down, I walk to the tent's entrance. The moment I walk out, I run into something hard. "Ah!" I cry in shock and take a step back.
"My lady," I hear a familiar voice say, "are you alright?" he asks.
I freeze when he touches my shoulder and I flinch away after a second. A hand squeezes my heart and I fight the urge to cry again. I stare at the ground, refusing to look in his direction. "I'm fine..." I mutter.
"We will be leaving this morning; I am waiting for the young master awaken. I have the information we required. I have called a carriage for you while I will personally escort the young master back to the townhouse due to his condition." Sebastian informs.
I nod meekly, "I see, that's good. I'll go wait now."
I pace away from him as quickly as possible. I walk to the entrance of the circus, being careful to not be seen. Hardly anyone is awake yet though. I am surprised how well I handled being around him. Maybe it's because I pretended it wasn't him. When I arrive at the entrance, I do find a carriage waiting for me. I walk up to it and tell the coach where to drop me off.
Hopping inside, the coach moves the carriage the moment I sit down. I play with the fabric of my dress in mindless thought. How am I going to survive for the rest of the day? I can't bear to be around Sebastian for too long. My head pounds consistently, making me rub my temples. I hate crying, I always seem to get a headache afterward. I cough a little, feeling incredibly weakened. What is wrong with me? Does this happen one when your heart is broken?
I rub my chest unconsciously and release a long sigh. I sink into the carriage seat as it takes me home.
0o0o0o0o
When I arrive at the townhouse, I open the front door and head on inside. I could hear the chatter of Soma and Agni somewhere on the lower floor. They mention Ciel and Sebastian and I realize they are back already. I decide to head to the kitchen first as I missed breakfast. Soma's voice becomes more prominent the further I walk down the hall. It didn't take me long to get there and I stroll inside. I find Soma standing next to Agni who is brewing something on the stovetop.
Soma turns around when he hears my feet scuffle on the floor, and he smiles brightly. It's too much for me to even recuperate. "Miss Rina! Welcome back!" Soma cheers.
He runs toward me and wraps his arms around my body. His grip is strong, and I feel like I'm being squeezed like a lemon. "T-Thanks, Soma." I manage to say.
He pulls back after a second and his smile disappears when he examines my face. "Hey, what's wrong? Are you sick like Ciel?!" he cries.
A bit taken aback; I push him away gently. "What? No, I'm not sick. I don't think..."
He points at my face, "But your face is so pale, and your eyes are bloodshot."
Agni wanders over to Soma's side as he gives me a concerned glance, "You indeed appear sickly."
I put a hand to my face, wondering if I'm in that much despair. "I assure you I feel...fine I guess."
"Liar! You're just like Ciel!" Soma points out, appearing ticked off. "What is it with you British people? If you're sick, just say so."
I cower a little, knowing what he is saying isn't wrong. "I-I'm really okay, I think I'm just tired and overwhelmed from my brother's abrupt sickness." I reason.
Agni smiles, "That is understandable. You should take care of your health, lady Rina."
I nod, returning a small smile back, "Thank you, Agni."
Soma grabs my shoulders and leads me over to the servant's table. He pushes me down into a seat and sits across from me. "If you need something to make you feel better, Agni is cooking something for Ciel to improve his health!"
"I might have to take you up on that offer, Soma." I say with a slight giggle. After a few minutes pass, Agni turns off the stove with a grin. "It's done!" he announces. "'Bout time." I tell him.
He pours a bowl for me and Soma. He brings it over to us and sets them down. Next, he goes to a drawer and grabs the silverware. I could smell the spices the dish holds, and it makes me salivate automatically. I'm not sure what it is, but it looks heavenly. Inside the bowl contains meats and vegetables, it looks like soup but thicker. He gives us the silverware and walks back to the cooking pot on the stove.
I reach for my spoon and dip it into the bowl. I blow at the contents on it, as its most likely piping hot. When the steam calms down, I place the food in my mouth. I moan at the taste and sit back in my chair. "This is the stuff, holy crap." I boast. I swallow what's in my mouth and turn to look at Agni with a thumbs up. "Make this again for me when I don't appear well."
He smiles happily and bows, "Yes, lady Rina."
I eat the dish in content, as it dashes away any aches or pains, I feel. It makes me forget about Sebastian and I couldn't ask for more. The food is a bit spicy, but I can handle how it makes my lips tingle. Agni leaves the kitchen with another bowl, for my brother I assume. I consume all of it within minutes, feeling full and satisfied. I rub my stomach, happy to be able to eat amazing hot dishes again. The circus did not have great food as sad as that sounds.
Soma burps in front of me, making me jump at the sound. "Agni's food is so good."
I giggle a little, "Damn right it is."
I stand up from my chair and grab my empty bowl. I set it in the sink. I sigh, not sure what to do with the remainder of my time. Perhaps, I should go check on Ciel. With that in mind, I wave goodbye to Soma and smile at Agni when I pass him in the hallway. I walk upstairs and head toward his bedroom. I knock softly on the door when I arrive, but no one tells me to enter. Curious, I open the door quietly and peek inside.
I am surprised to find Ciel resting in his bed. I smile at the sight of him, feeling relief wash over me. I was worried he might have left to solve the case. Good thing, he stayed behind to recover. Walking fully into the bedroom, I close the door halfway behind and wander over to his side silently. His eyes are closed and he breathes a bit heavy. I sit down on the bed and put my hand to his forehead. He is still quite warm but not as bad. I tuck the blankets around him in more. As long as he is okay, I will be okay or so I tell myself.
I stay by his side as I think idly as time flows around us. I brush a few strands of his hair away from his eye thoughtlessly. He is growing too fast for me. He looks like his father. I smile a little at the thought of him being a spitting image of Vincent. Ciel's eye cracks open randomly which surprises me for a second. He shuffles in the blankets and rubs his big blue eye tiredly. "Rina?" he utters in confusion.
"Hey, kiddo," I smile and move my hand away from him, "feeling any better?" I ask afterward.
He begins to push himself up and I help him do so. He sits with his back against the bed headboard. "Slowly getting there, Soma made me stay back."
I raise an eyebrow to that, "So you planned on investigating further in your condition? You're a big dummy." I say and reach over to flick his forehead.
He flinches and rubs the offending spot with a glare at me, "Ow." he complains.
I shake my head with a disapproving frown, "You really are trying to worry me to death."
He dismisses my comment as a serious look passes over his face. "I found out who that man in the photo is." he states. "Do you remember that party my predecessor took us to? He invited you specifically to attend to watch over us."
I think what he said over and search deep into my memories as that did sound familiar. Suddenly, it clicks, and I stand from my spot on the bed. "Holy shit! That pedophile, Baron Kelvin! I knew I didn't like him the moment I met him. What a fucking sicko." I ramble and pace in my spot. "This all makes sense now. Of course, he would capture children, he likes them to a disgusting degree. Ew, oh my god."
"Wait—Hold up, did you just say pedophile?" Ciel asks in shock.
I stop my pacing and stare at him in disbelief, "I didn't expect you to know when you were just a kid. But he kept giving you creepy glances at that party. I told that fucker to back off." I sneer.
He pales a little at the new information, "Good to know. I'll keep that in mind." he notes. "We will be taking off tomorrow, by the way."
"Good, I can't wait for that sicko to get crushed," I say with a sickly-sweet smile at the thought of his demise. No child predator should not walk around freely in my opinion. One that messes with my family though? Nah, man, he's screwed now.
"I can see you feel very strongly about this." Ciel points out with a slight smirk.
"You bet I am!" I tell him proudly. "I can't wait to crush this man."
"My, how crude for a young lady to say such things." I hear Sebastian mock behind me.
I freeze on the spot at his random appearance. All thoughts about pummeling Kelvin fly out of my mind; Sebastian begins to fill in every crevice and make my heart ache once more. I briefly forgot about him and it was a moment of bliss while it lasted. I don't respond back and opt to smile at my brother. I lean down and give my brothers forehead a kiss. "Get better soon, okay?" I tell him.
He blushes lightly and coughs in embarrassment. "Don't do that..." Ciel whines lowly.
I roll my eyes and turn around, heading out of the bedroom. I don't even look in Sebastian's general direction and when I did it is at his body to avoid smacking into him on the way out. He does not say anything when I exit out the door either. However, when I passed by him, I could feel his irritation spark in the air. Good, he should be irritated with my silent treatment. I don't care how childish it is in his eyes.
I find myself traveling to my bedroom without noticing ahead. I look down at my outfit, realizing I am still dressed in the circus get up. I frown at it and find myself wanting to change out of the costume. I open my door and head inside when I arrive. The scent of vanilla and pine enter my nose and I smile at the familiar smell. I walk over to my wardrobe and open it next. I don't feel like wearing a dress for the time being. Feeling stubborn, I grab one of my custom-made shirts and baggy pants. I call these my comfy clothes.
I swap out my clothes for those, along with underwear of course. I am now refreshed and cozy as I can possibly be. I grab my robe hanging on the changing station nearby and put that on as well. This is my favorite outfit. Every winter Victorian dress lacks compared to this outfit. I feel all I am missing is a cup of hot cocoa to accompany the winter mood. I walk to my bathroom, feeling the need to clean my teeth. I haven't been able to do that recently, and it's been bothering. Despite how the dental hygiene products aren't the same as the twenty-first century, but they make do.
After I do this, I feel cleaner and happier to some degree. I wander back into my bedroom and jump in surprise when I find Sebastian standing at my desk. He is reading something that I had on it. I quickly realize it is my journal and I dash toward him. "Hey! I didn't say you could read through that." I shout at him.
He doesn't spare me a glance and continues to read it. When I got closer, I try to snatch it out of his hand. This is fruitless though as he simply raises his arm higher. I jump and down as I attempt to get it back. "Sebastian! Give me it!"
I am on my tippy toes and my arms are stretched high as possible. It is truly impossible for me to get but I keep trying to anyway. I need my journal! There's some stuff in there he doesn't need to know about. I forgot what I last wrote in there. He finally looks down at me, "Oh, so you aren't ignoring me now?" he asks. I stop jumping and stand in my place. I bet my eyes are wide as golf balls. He snaps the journal shut but still holds it high in the air. "Cat got your tongue?"
I lower my head, not finding any words to say. Even though I have plenty to say, it's best to keep them to myself. I'm not trying to sound like a heartbroken fool, especially in front of him. If he finds out I am in deep turmoil, he will mock me and toy with me until I break most likely. That's just how Sebastian is, how a demon is. I blink rapidly when his face is suddenly in mine, "It seems you are mad at me." he concludes with an indifferent look.
I reach up and push his face away as my heart jumps in my chest. "I never said I was." I reply.
He scoffs, "You never had to say anything, your actions are clear enough."
I begin to tremble the more I listen to him. It's harder than I thought to keep this dam within me from bursting. "And what if I was mad, hm? Why would you care?" I ask as my sight becomes a bit blurry.
I turn away from him, not caring if he read my journal by this point. He is always going to mess with me either way. I hear something fall onto a surface and something pulls me back toward him. His white-gloved hand is wrapped around my wrist, tight. I accidently look into his eyes and find the irritation I felt earlier from him resurface. "Do stop acting like a child. If you are mad at me, I wish to know the reason why so it can be resolved."
I try to fight myself out of his grip, hoping he would let go. He doesn't unfortunately. "I can act the way I want. It's not like I would be like this if it wasn't for you!"
He blinks at me in confusion, "What have I done wrong, my lady?"
I can't stop the tears that fall from my eyes, most of them angry and sad. "Don't call me that anymore..." I sniffle. I'm not yours...and never will be.
"You are not making sense." Sebastian states. I wrench myself out of his grip when he isn't paying attention and cradle my wrist to my chest. "Just drop it, Sebastian. I don't want to talk about it." I lie, knowing I want to talk about it very badly.
He narrows his eyes at me, they flash their true nature for a second. "I'm sure you do or else you would not be reacting as so."
More tears cloud my sight, as a silent sob leaves my mouth. "It doesn't matter because it will make things worse. Just leave, please." I beg.
He sighs, his irritation increasing, "My lady, you are being unreasonable. Tell me—"
"Will you just shut up!" I cut him off, feeling the burning anger in me flourish the more he speaks. "For once, just listen to me!" I shout as something cracks inside my heart.
His eyes widen in surprise and he falls silent. He stares at me for a long period of time and I stand underneath his gaze. I glare back, waiting for him to finally leave me alone to mope and cry. He gathers his resolve to glare back and starts to walk away. When he gets to my door, he glances back at me, "Come to me when you wish to speak about the matter instead of acting out with a temper tantrum that is one-sided."
With that, he shuts the door after him, and I stand there seething in my spot. I grab a fountain pen sitting on my desk and slam it into the surface when a surge of power flows through me. It goes through the top and an imprint of my hand is molded into the sides where I clenched it. I release a symphony of cries, still holding onto the pen as I fall onto my knees. I cry until I cannot anymore, and my throat becomes slightly raw. I clench the front of my shirt with a shuttering breath, as my heart continues to ache, and my neck burns indefinitely.
