"There we go," Roland breathed on the bronze name plate, polishing it with his sleeve. Looked it over smiled. Nodding. "this will fit perfectly." Setting the plate down next to his own name.
Stood back to admire it more. Continuing his nod, Grell who happened to be walking by, caught a glimpse of the young Reaper had displayed. Especially the name. "What the devil?" he blinked a few times walking over. Read the name closer. Picking up the plate. "What's this all about?"
Ronald smiled silvery. Took the plate back. "I'm just getting ready is all, for when the time comes."
"You seem so sure."
"Of course I am, it's gonna happen. Soon, but no too soon. Time is ticking away little by little."
Grell looked back at the name, mused for a moment. "Paperwork hasn't been filed for it yet. So there still isn't any sort of assurance. They've managed to slip by before."
"Sounds like you don't want it to happen, you know you can't interfere with this, right?" Ronald turned to him with a brow risen.
Grell face remained flat. Shrugged his shoulders. "Paperwork isn't glamourous. I'd rather not spend my days buried in it. I'm just saying don't get your hopes up too high. It might not happen."
"That's rather strange coming from you, here I thought you'd be rather supportive right now. Besides there isn't much to worry about, so far it seems she hasn't been able to really well steal time recently. Which is good doesn't throw anything off balance. She's right on course, she'll be here eventually. I mean she nearly had near if not close experience recently. Almost burned a lived, it's a shame it didn't fully happen." Roland sighed disappointed folding his arms. "I mean I'm glad it didn't happen, not the way she's suppose to go. But, the fact I was so close. Patience is a virtue, as they say."
Roland set the plate back down, reading the name once again, reading it all first name to last name, which was changed to her married name he didn't mind. "In do time, May. In time. Enjoy yourself."
Enjoying yourself was what you wish you could be doing at the moment, if ever breath you took wasn't a struggle. If your lungs weren't still aching and burning, felt as if you swallowed hot coals or something. Even being in bed for nearly a week it still hadn't gone away, the cough hadn't really stopped, your body continued to ache and skin was still trying to cool itself. You could still feel the flames eating and pinching away at it. You weren't sure if you stopped smelling like a forest fire or not. You'd taken baths with help of course. Mey-Rin helped you in that part, in fact she helped in your care tending to you the moment you arrived back the townhouse.
Sebastian, as you were told having blacked out from near suffocation and heat, he burst in with you in his arms in the late night shouting and if not startling everyone. They quickly came, only able to get a glimpse, followed the orders Sebastian shouted at them and rushed you upstairs to your room. Where you were now, bed ridden as stated before. Work was quickly done to ensure stability on your behalf. All this was told to you once you woke up by the others. Apparently you'd been sleeping for three days straight, by that time Sebastian was gone and back with Ciel. Leaving you with no reciliation of him doing any of that, all you knew was Agni was put in charge of your care which the man took seriously and the memory of how it happened...
If you could remember correctly, it was a few hours after you severed the P4 at the gazebo on Edger's request, headed over to the Purple house that evening. It was a sudden request with a particular and familiar seal, you were elated and surprised upon getting, quickly hurried to follow the instructions given. The moment you arrived, Cheslock which was odd was surprised to see you. But that didn't stop him from chopping you on the head and berating you. Either way he let you in, called for Violet that you were here and the young man come out like a slow shadow. He too seem surprised by your presence, but there was a small tinkle of joy just a bit when he addressed you.
Cheslock wanted to send you away seeing it was too late, but Violet had you stay and-
"Baroness?" Mey-Rin's voice cuts quietly through your thoughts, from behind the door. Knocking. "Baroness, it's Mey-Rin. I've come with some peppermint and ginger tea and tunic soup for you."
Groggily you groan softly. Slowly and quietly as she could Mey-Rin opened the door, stuck her head in, worry completely weighed on her face and hung in eyes and voice. Her body tensed and trembled slightly at the sight of you, laying so weakly and dare she think it...no! She didn't despite how you looked, nearly pale...there where some burn marks and scratches here and there. Your left arm was in sort of sling, it was bruised thank goodness. The only major concern your breathing, that struggled between breaths. Even simple ones, came out whizzing. The room was filled with remedies and scents to help sooth the respiratory. But it seem to do little. Fear crept over Mey-Rin, her mind raced over and over again. Screaming, going ablaze! The moment she saw you and every time since then, tears rose nearly every time her mind thought of it...thought of you. They wanted to fall, they wanted to run so bad. If she could just drop the tray she was carrying, not caring about the china, any of that and fling herself on you. Begging you to live and not leave.
You had promised her! She remembered it, the first time her tears came, it was most improper but she didn't care. Because it scared her and...the tears came again. They nearly obstructed her vision, but she managed to see clear and carefully walk over to the bed side. Setting the tray on the nightstand, gently and as noiseless as she could.
Though your vision was still hazy if not blurry, made it a tad difficult making her out. But, you knew her presence despite her attempts at remaining as quiet as possible. Smile weakly glad to see her.
If only your throat wasn't still recovering you'd say something to her. All you could do was just smile and try to lift your hand, your good hand to her. Only to find your strength had not returned and settled it back.
Dismay swept over you, it nearly broke Mey-Rin's heart. She did all she could to keep her tears from taking over.
"It's al'ight, Baroness," she spoke softly. "keep your strength. The master and Sebastian want you to get better. Remember?"
Honestly not so much, she saw. "Why don't we eat something?" She switched topics, picking up the bowl of soup. "Agni made this for you, instructed by Sebastian, it's to help with your breathing and your lungs." She a blew a few times. A couple more before holding the spoon before your lips. Her other hand cupped under. "Let me know if it's too hot. N-Now, open up."
Your eyes drop slowly to the spoon filled with the thick dark yellowish-brown liquid. Every single ingredient your noise could smell. Rather overpowering. Your stomach curled a bit. You didn't want this, but what choice did you really have right now? Your body didn't have enough strength to turn away and your lungs where still burning.
With no choice barely open your lips, Mey-Rin carefully feed you. Every last drop. "There we...go." She looked you over for any signs. "Are you al'ight? Was it too hot? Too spicy? Too strong?"
Her questions came like bullets, but sense there was no response that spoke ill, she pleased and picked up another spoon full. Fed it to you. Again and again. It seem like hours, your mind drifted back to how this happened. Where were you last? Oh yes, you had just arrived to the Violet House. You where cleaning, while also doing as requested. Reminding yourself to be carefully and calm. It was a good thing you could move through the house without anyone thinking otherwise. So it was easy, you just had to look for some sort of clue about that Derrick fellow was from this house. The request asked for it. Cleaning made the perfect cover, dusting bookshelves, allowed you to look through anything for some paperwork. Going in and out of rooms gave you access to finding smaller clues, majority of the students would let you be if they saw you in a room. If you came in they'd leave, normally Violet would be behind you but he was busy doing something else.
The whole time, you hadn't found a single thing about this...Derrick. But every room you went in found nothing. Not a single trace, you couldn't help but wonder...if they had their information wrong. No, the never did, they always made sure any information was correct. Always efficient. So there was no reason to doubt it, and right now you weren't in any sort of position to do so. Still skating on thin ice with them, you promised that you'd follow anything they say and would do whatever it cost to get back into their good grace. It didn't really matter, you'd do it. The hurt you caused...them. The disgust and anger in their eyes you could barely tolerate the weight for it. Each time you thought it, burned a sunken hole in your heart. If you could just get them to...look at you the same as they did before, everything would be great. So you had to complete this...you had to find something. Even if you didn't know what was soon to happen.
"A'light,"Mey-Rin's voice broke through your thoughts again, you come back. Still unable to see her clearly, knew she was smiling lightly. "all done, Baroness. You finished every drop! The Master and Sebastian will be happy to her-"
The phone rang down stairs. After three rings it was picked up by Agni.
"-here." Mey-Rin continued smiling. "Now, let's drink some tea, we also have some medicine." She set the bowl down, picked up the cup of tea and did the same thing she did with the spoon. Put it to your lips helped you drink it. It went down quicker than the soup. Next came two tablespoons of medicine.
It was bitter, you nearly coughed it up, Mey-Rin nearly stopped, apologizing quietly carefully administered the last tablespoon. If you could redo this toxin you'd at least add some sort of flavor or replace a certain ingredient it had. This doctor...whoever it was, was alright but not that good. If Madam Red was still alive she'd do a better job while also...berating you at the same time. Crying over you, yes...you could see it.
Her sitting by your bed, glasses on leaning over checking you over. Looking professional and poised, those ruby red eyes of hers focused yet building up to cry. She'd know what to do, she did after all take care of you and Harmony years ago, the moment you and her entered the hospital. She took over the care and treatment.
Yes, she'd be much better than this doctor.
God, you wish she was here.
Done with the medicine, Mey-Rin placed the spoon quietly on the tray. Packed and picked up everything. Quietly looked you over, your eyes where closed, it was normal. The doctor told everyone you'd be sleeping a lot. Bowing softly she backs up and leaves. Shutting the door softly, walked to the kitchen. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Agni just finished up with the call.
"How is the Baroness doing?" he asked hanging the phone up.
Mey-Rin's brow wrinkled and her gaze pained. She tried to smile but it didn't come. Agni figured as much, his eyes dropped to the side. "She finished her soup, all of it this time!" Mey-Rin proudly said, lifting up the tray.
Agni saw, a bit of ease relished on him. He was glad. "That is some progress. She is doing better."
"Was that the Master?" she asked gesturing to the phone.
He shook his head. "No, it was Prince Soma." Mey-Rin was surprised a bit. "Since he found out what happened he wanted to make sure the Baroness was doing well. I assured him he was. He might come to check up on her personally."
"So, no call from the master?" she asked.
It took a moment for Agni. "No, not since the first three days." He saw her face fall. "But, I have no doubt the Baroness is not far from his mind. I believe he might being feel a sort of reasonability for this. He never expected it for that to happen."
That was true. "Yes, I agree. Despite how the Baroness and the young master have been with one another..." she bit her lip. It was obvious the dynamics between the two. It didn't really go unnoticed, well maybe by one person. Other than that...not really. "I highly believed he would have wanted this. He didn't know she was in there. He did send for a doctor right away and the way..Sebastian came bursting in that night. She looked so bad...all those burn marks and...all those...scratches. She looked so lifeless. She was in so mu-much pain." Her voice started cracking. The tears slowly came. Anger mixed with her tears rose in her words. "Why? Why would she do that? She could have been lost. She promised me, she promised that she wouldn't..."
A firm yet gentle hand laid on her shoulder. Her crying stopped, turned around finding Tenka. He smiled at her kindly with a finger to his lips. "We must remember the Baroness must have a quiet presence to heal properly. It's best to remember that. For her sake."
She understood, despite the yearning to cry. "Yes." She wiped the tears away.
"Good, now," his eyes look to the tray. "the master will be pleased knowing the Baroness's health is rising." He took the tray. "Some fresh air might be good for her as well and some flowers from the garden. If you could be so kind and fetch some for her from the garden. If I remember correctly she does enjoy nature. The tulips should be in bloom with the lilies."
"Y-Yes, of course. R-right away." with a quick bow of the head Mey-Rin left to start the task.
Tenka kept his smile up watching her. Agni too until she was completely out of sight. It then dawned on the man, he looked to Tenka. "Sir, what about that letter from Lord Grey?"
Tenka's lips flatten despite the smile. "Right now, our main concern is the Baroness. That is what matters above all else. Now, if you will excuse me I must see that these dishes are washed."
Agni moved to the side allowing him pass. Tenka was correct, worrying about that, what Lord Grey delivered. The Baroness was top priority, that's what mattered.
Back at the college in the kitchen and living quarters of the help, unseen by normal eyes a figure briskly moved through unnoticed to a certain room. Slipping in look around for anything unusual. The room at first glance seemed fine, that if someone wasn't going over it with a fine a comb and heighten vision beyond that of a human. There! Spotted tucked away in the corner of the bed, a folded piece of paper.
Reaching for it, take it and quickly make their way back.
In the blue house, in warden's office, Sebastian presents the note to Ciel. The young boy picked it up read it. "It's nearly identical." Ciel mused. "Nearly close to my writing, but it's clearly a fake." He tossed heatedly to the side.
Sebastian picked it up. "Whomever it was clearly studied your penmanship, your wording, and above all the relationship between you and the Baroness."
"Not to mention they knew about her, they know about our purpose being here. They've been watching since day one, also that means they know about Derrick. Can you pick up any unusual scent?"
Sebastian gave it a quick sniff. His eyes nearly snapped open. "It has your scent, master, covering it the most." Ciel was stunned. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Someone must have passed you something in order for your scent to be covered in it."
"But, it's mostly. So not completely." Ciel regained his composure. "they've been watching the whole time. Or..they managed to have access to take something. But no other students from other houses are allowed onto the premise if they are not part of the house...I would never send her out so late in the first place that should have been-"he stopped himself. Cleared his throat. Stood up. "Look into this."
Sebastian bowed. "Yes, my lord."
Straighten himself out, Ciel walked out. It just didn't make any sort of sense, he pondered, going down the stairs. Why in the world would someone...better how did anyone else know about...opening the door walks out the building still submersed in his thoughts, he didn't notice someone standing in his path until they made their presence noticed.
"Ciel!"
The tightness in their voice was enough to grab Ciel's attention. He stopped, looked up finding Edward with a heated glare.
"Edward?"
Edward stepped to him. "We need to talk."
