A brown carriage pulls up in front of the Phantomhive manor, the driver steps down the seat and opens the door. "We're here ma'am." They speak to the one inside. He received no response of such. Just soft breathing.
Clearing his throat he repeats himself. "Thank you, sir, but I shall take it from here." A voice spoke from behind. The driver turns around finding Tanaka smiling handing money to the man. Who takes it. "If you would be so kind as to return back to your seat I shall take it from here."
His words came out kind there was a demand behind them as it was in his smile. Not wanting to step over that the driver nods and climbs back to his post. Keeping his eyes straight and not daring to look down. Even blocking out anything he heard, Tanaka made sure of it before helping the individual inside. He climbs in and in a few minutes walks out with gently. Shutting the door grabs the single bag and gives the carriage two knocks signaling to the drive to leave.
Holding them close providing strength and support for their weakened state, escorts them up the stairs leading to the manor slowly. His eyes carefully watching their step. Each step taken by them lagged, the daze clouded in their eyes made it seem as if they were blind. Their condition was ill at best. There was not a single bit of brightness in their eyes that was normally there nor was there any sort of bounce. He had to get them inside quickly, their room was already and he had tea ready for them on their nightstand. But, before all that, they needed a nice, warm bath. Then to bed right away.
"T-Tanaka..."
He hushes them gently. "Baroness, please save your strength."
Listening to his words speak no more and climb the stairs into the manor.
After a nice clean bath, Tanaka led you back to your room. He helped you in pulling back the covers, you slide in. He pulls them over you tucking you in, tempted to give you some tea decides against for now at least. You needed to just rest, that was the most import thing. Within seconds sleep took you, to his joy and relief.
Smoothing the wrinkles out of the sheets, he brushes a few strands of hair from your face. "Rest, Baroness. Rest." His eyes look you over once more to make sure everything was well and leaves.
Delicate somber music played with each step taken from you down the dim lite hall. Following the music, it led you to a single door, reaching out turn the knob enter finding a large grand nearly empty ballroom. Large windows allow the moon's light in casting on the one single object in the center. A dark wooden book stand. Made you gasp at what rested on the stand itself, that sent trembles through your body. It was there clear as death itself just resting patiently, your feet took tentative steps back to turn and flee only to find the door was no longer there.
It didn't matter because no sooner had you blink suddenly find yourself standing before stand, staring down at the dark closed book. "T-This cannot be.." you whisper eyes filled with fright and confusion. "This.." you lift a hand a lightly touch its bind pull it back taking notice there in-between its pages a dark bookmark sticking slightly out.
"No." Another gasp escaped your lips echoed through the room. Staggering back lightly your eyes never left the book. That book...it wasn't suppose to be here. You...the deal was...why was it here?
Chopped carrots. Steamed water, chopped celery, potatoes, bay leaves, diced onions, salt, and pepper. And most importantly diced chicken. The perfect ingredients for chicken soup, perfect for any kind of weather but more importantly for one who is ill. The mixture simmered over the fire melting all robust flavors and amora into a heavenly and delicious taste. Stirring the soup slowly in the pot a few extra bay leaves and a pinch of pepper was added. Taking a whiff, something was missing. It wasn't ready. Not yet. Examing the laid out ingredients on the counter, Sebastian stood pondering what it was that was missing.
Repeating the recipe over and over in his mind nothing clicked. "Let me see..." he picks up a carrot, places it down. Picks up a potato, places that down. Everything was here and accounted for. What was it then?
Corn? No. Basil? No. Though it would give it a bit of taste. What could it be? The steamed whistle of the kettle broke his thoughts, going over he takes it off and sets it aside. Taking out a tray and few dishes setting it out. When he remembered.
Onion.
That what was missing. Quickly fixing the tray properly whips around to complete the soup stopping finding Agni had already done it. The man minced the onions well and put them in the simmering soup. He hadn't noticed Sebastian until he felt his eyes. "Oh, forgive me, Sebastian. I hope I was not intruding?"
"Why not at all." he forces a smile. "Extra is kind to have." Goes back to the kettle and pours the hot water into the cup, though not before taking out a blend of tea. Peppermint. He adds some honey and stirs. "Here."
He hands Agni the bowl. "Thank you, the souped smelled delicious. Though it seem to be missing something." He scoops out some of the soup and fills the bowl. "Ah, soup such as this is a perfect remedy for anyone who is not well. I am sure Lady Harmony will feel better once her lips taste it."
"I hope as well." Sebastian takes the bowl back setting it back on the tray. Unties his apron and sets it down. "Thank you for your help." Picks up the tray when the phone rings. Sets it back down.
Angi comes and picks it up. "I will take this to Lady Harmony."
Sebastian thanks him and hurries to answer the phone. "Hello, Phantomhive residence...Ah, Tanaka hello..."he gets a pen and paper writes down what the man said. "Yes, I shall inform the master. Thank you." He hangs up, double checks he wrote everything down correctly. Seeing he did goes to Ciel.
The young boy was in his study going over a bit more information on the case along with a letter he received from the Queen. A couple of pictures he had spread across his desk with written reports going with them along with statements from others. And his personal favorite hidden information he obtained. His eye searches for some sort of connection, but there seem to be none that he could find. Not when his mind was distracted. Grumbling a bit at the standstill, he was in fumble through stopping when he hears a knock on the door.
"Enter."
It opens and Sebastian steps in. "Excuse me, master-"
Ciel's eye shoots an irritated look at the demon quickly. "I thought I told you to tend to Harmony, weren't you making her some soup?"
Not the words Sebastian was expecting to come out his mouth, couldn't help but smile to himself quickly. "The soup has been made and Agni has kindly taken it to the Lady Harmony as we speak. Tanaka just called, he has informed that the Baroness has arrived safely at the manor."
Sitting up his seat Ciel gives his full attention. "And?"
"And she is currently rest, she hasn't woken from her slumber since her arrival. He will keep her bedridden until her strength returns. He found the medicine Siegulde provided and will administer it when and once the Baroness awakens. She currently has a mild-fever but it is settling. He has opened the windows to allow fresh air in and light."
He finished finding Ciel staring at the spread on his desk brows drawn together. His eyes slide off the side sighing. "Call Tanaka back and inform him to call every two hours until evening on her condition. And, the second she awakens. In the meantime..."
Agni reached Harmony's room, he gives a light knock announcing himself. "Lady Harmony, I have come to deliver your sou-" he hears soft giggling coming from inside. He knocks again. This time he heard little patting feet race across the floor. "Lady Harmony," opening the door he enters finding her tucked deep under her covers feverish looking.
Her face knotted with pain, eyes closed. The floor was clean there was no sign of what he heard before coming in. She didn't look like one in good humor. Walking over he sets her tray on her nightstand. "How are you feeling today, Lady Harmony?"
She groans turning over, holding her stomach. "My..my tummy still hurts." She cries. Producing tears. He pats her head lightly.
"I know. Sebastian has made you some chicken soup, come," he looks around for a chair finds a child size stoll and brings it over. Taking a seat picks up the bowl, takes out a spoonful. "you must eat to become better."
More soup, she grumbles. Turning over more to him. Refusing. Cries. "I-I...my tummy hurts too much to eat it."
"I understand, but you must eat something. Come just a few bites."
She stubbornly shakes her head. Burrowing herself more into her covers and under her pillow moaning harder. "No...no.."
Seeing he wasn't going to get her to eat, he sets the bowl back down. Standing now his eyes soften upon the girl, while searching. They pick up something but keep to himself. Smiling to himself scoff shaking his head reaches over and pulls the covers over her more. He tucks her bunny close and without another word leaves the room shutting the door.
Waiting after it clicked shut and his footsteps faded down the hall, Harmony throws the covers back gasping for air. It was hot under there. Sweating like rain fans herself. Stands on the bed twirls around just a bit giggling. "Oh," she remembers the soup. Climbing off her bed goes over and picks up the bowl carefully.
Sneering at it walks over to the window, unlatches it and pours it out waving bye. "There. No more soup." She giggles turning back returns the bowl to the tray. There was tea still there, taking a whiff deduces it was peppermint. Thinking about it, peppermint wasn't that bad and...she notices some honey on the side. Her eyes light up allowing her hand to take a spoonful of the sweet caramel color ooze and licks it happily.
Finally, something she would eat. Staying home 'sick' was the best. It was better, much better than going to practice down at the theater. Walking around her room in her nightgown skipping while sucking on the spoon, peers at her toys. Trying to decide which one she'd play with for some time until someone else came along. Glancing at the clock looking at the time, barely able to make out the time. As she was still learning it. Could see it was around one or something like that. If it was that time in practice they would be doing positions now. She knew hers already like she knew a couple of her lines.
That she began to recite them. "Where is my daughter? Where is my daughter?" She goes back to the cup of honey and refills her spoon. Gladly licking away. "I will turn everything..everything.."her eyes look out the window at the snow. Remembering the word. "cold and dead."
Making it to her dollhouse still sucking on the spoon picks up a few of her dolls and plays. Having one in the kitchen and the other outside. "Dear,"her voice rises. "I am going to be outside, watch little Timmy for me." She goes to the male down and her voice lowers into a deeper one. "Timmy, Timmy this is your father. Knock. Knock."
Setting the doll down she picks up another one of a young boy with freckles. Her voice becomes a little pitchy."Yes, father?" She switches back to the father. "Your mother said she is going outside. I am to watch you. Come now you must...must.."her voice returns to normal pondering what to say next. "What should Timmy do? Oh!" Getting up she goes over to her toy chest and takes out another male doll with long red hair. Squeals hugging it to her chest. Walks back to and continues her play. Her voice turns to a rather flamboyant one."Timmy, come Timmy, this is your older brother..." A name pops in her mind. "Yoshi. I have come to take you riding on our horses."
She picks up Timmy. "Alright. Yeah, I want to do that instead. Bye, father." Switching Timmy for father. "Alright, but tell your mother." Placing the man down picks up the mother doll and freezes.
Look, she has no mother...
Cruel laughter followed behind those equally cruel words. Her eyes fall to the side. The doll falls out her hold on the floor, with a hand she touches the side of her face lightly. The same place where Miguel's mother placed her hand.
A mother's touch.
A mother.
Sliding her eyes back to the doll, fixate on it dark hair. There was something about it that held her gaze, something familiar. Vaguely familiar about it. Reaching out picks it up, runs her little fingers through it. This hair...shutting her eyes see it again. This time it was placed upon a faceless head. That called to her. Frightened her eyes pop back open. Throws the doll away.
A knock comes to the door."Lady Harmony." Sebastian on the other side.
Springing up her almost stumbling, panics at his presence her heartbeat spiked. He knocks again calling to her, she hadn't responded her tongue suddenly swelled. Even swallowing was hard. He knocks ago and jiggles the handle. The toys! The toys she had to clean them up quickly or...if he found out who knows what punishment she'd receive for...shaking the idea out quickly scoops up her dolls. There was no time to put them back so she just...just. The knob begins to turn, her feet raced to the bed throwing her toys under them quickly climbs in, drops the spoon behind the bed and tuck herself far under her covers the best she could. Turns her back just as Sebastian comes in starts to groan and moan in her...sleep.
Finding her sleeping he goes over finding her soup gone, which was odd as Agni told him she did not want to eat it, yet here it was gone. Cleaned. Her tea wasn't touched, but the honey was...where was the spoon? It was gone as well. Searching for it finds not a single trace. Returning back to the girl, her face twisted with pain with deeper groaning and moaning than before. She was extorting quite a sound. Not to mention she had trickles of perspiration upon her brow.
Placing his wrist on her temple for any fever, felt her temperature high. But not too high. Holding her breath Harmony holds in the chill wanting to run down her spine. Seconds felt like minutes the longer he kept his wrist on her, the good thing was she kept producing sweat the bad side was he remained over her until he was done. He moves just a bit, holding her breath tighter bitting the bottom of her lip beings to shiver.
"Oh dear..." she hears him. Her little body jolts. When he withdraws his wrist. "you have the shivers. Well, I will have to see what else I can make. It seem the soup has not worked." He tucks her in more. "There. Now, you just rest Lady Harmony, alright?"
She didn't respond, unsure if it was trap or not. Produced louder groans. Leaving her be he takes the tray and leaves, stops at the doorway when he notices something under her bed. Something silver. Walking back he sets the tray down, reaches for it the item, pulls it out finding the spoon. Places it on the tray picks it back up leaves, smirking to himself.
Back at the manor, it was nearing evening Tanaka just finished reporting for the day the condition of the Baroness to Sebastian. Hanging up he walks through the empty manor to her room. Opens the door and peers in. Her room was dimly lite with a warm glow, the window slightly open to provide fresh cool. Walking to the window he shuts it, turns to you still sleeping. You hadn't woken up all day. Still resting to recover from whatever illness was in you. So peacefully you slept, so innocently you looked and tender as well. Put a smile on the old man's face.
He again brushes some strands from your face and pulls the covers over you a bit more. Nothing would come to harm you under his watch, his master could not lose anyone else. This manor could not lose anyone. The thought of tragedy welled tears in his eyes of a reminder of such a horrific time long ago. Smoothing out the creases left, he goes to the chair in the corner of the room moves it a bit closer and sits.
"You will be safe, Baroness." he whispers to himself.
