Ciel was five now, walking on his own and playing with his cousin Elizabeth.
"Millie, Millie! Look," he wailed pointing to the Noah's arc toy he and Elizabeth were playing with.
"Yes, I see." Some things weighed on my mind. Ciel was independent now...I had not forgotten what I'd promised to myself. Ciel didn't need me anymore, and there was no reason to stay. Rachel hated me, Vincent couldn't care less, and my sweet little Ciel could be on his own. I should go...I should make a life of my own. I looked down at Ciel and his happy smiling face with his cousin. Would he care if I left? Would his life be worse without me? What if he was hurt because I left?
"This is Millie the nurse for Ciel and occasionally Lizzy when she's here. Millie is a close family friend." I looked up, stunned to hear Vincent even speaking my name let alone introducing me to someone.
"Oh well, hello Millie." I looked up at man with chocolate brown hair and olive green eyes. He was young, pure, and absolutely gorgeous.
"Camilla, please call me Camilla. Vincent of all people should know I abhor any abbreviations." I threw a glare to Vincent as I stood.
"My apologies, lady Camilla."
My eye twitched, I don't like titles.
"No need," I offered my hand for a handshake, but he took it and kissed it with a smirk. I was taken aback by the action. I looked immediately to Vincent who openly glared at the man.
"My Lord," I exclaimed,"I don't even know your name. "
"My apologies, my lady, I am Dexter. My friends call me Dex."
"Mm...Well Lord Dexter."
"No Lord, my Lady."
"No Lady, my Lord." I countered smirking
He smiled full on at me,"so I call you Camilla."
"And I call you Dex."
"Correct."
I fully smiled, something I hadn't done in a while.
"It is very nice to meet you," I said in the voice I use for my prey. I felt Vincent glare at me.
"I must say the same, I hope to get to know you more."
I then realized that he was still holding my hand. He kissed it again then let it go.
"I wish the same." I looked over his physique. He was strong, young, and teeming with life. Dex looked delicious. He stared me in the eyes, with those bright eyes.
"Ah Dex, let me show you the garden," Vincent said pulling the man away and glaring at me while he left.
I sat back with the children. Maybe if I was lucky the almighty Vincent would let me eat him. He seems delicious.
"Millie was that Mr. Dex?" Ciel asked. I jumped a bit he was standing right in front of me.
"Yes, as a matter of fact it was." I smiled
"I heard him and father speaking about you earlier."
"Is that right?" I murmured searching for the book I had discarded I while ago. I know it's somewhere around here.
"Mr. Dex asked to be introduced. He said you were the prettiest lady he ever saw."
"Hmm...men have a tendency to exaggerate."
"I dunno I think you're plenty pretty..." He said earnestly. I paused my search and looked into his big sapphire eyes.
"Well, you are quite a charmer...promise me you won't grow up to be a man who exaggerates, you will say what you mean and each word should have meaning. Same goes for you, Lizzie."
"Yes, ma'am," they chimed.
I smiled in response,"Good then you will both grow up to be fine adults."
I found my book that I had so gracefully been sitting on and began to read the chilling tale by an author, Edgar Allan Poe. He was quite considerably under valued. His writing style was beyond cliche. I had grown weary of the stories of battle and romance, a good amount of gore was well welcomed.
Vincent came to talk to me late at night, while I sat with my book in the garden. Lizzie and Ciel were fast asleep, dreaming hopefully sweet dreams.
"Ah fancy seeing you here...fancy seeing you at all." I murmured sarcastically not looking up from my book.
"I've been busy."
I laughed a hard laugh, just one nothing more. A simple expression of fleeting amusement.
"Busy? For ten years now? You ought to take a break you'll work yourself to death."
"I saw the way you were looking at Dex."
"And? I am a single lady."
"You know what I mean."
"I only eat what you tell me to eat," I said sarcastically.
"Mmhm," he said skeptically.
"I thought he was endearing." I added,"I hope he is interested."
"You hope?"
"I do, then I would not be such a burden to both you and Rachel."
"You are not a burden," he sighed.
"Ask your wife," I murmured.
"This is my manor, if I want you here then you will be."
"Did it ever occur to you that I'd be happier away from your manor?"
"Away."
"I may be a woman but I do like my independence."
"Why would you leave?"
"I'm tired of waiting for someone that's long gone." I kept my nose in my book, even though I was not reading a word of it.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Vince when is the last time you spoke to me about something other than work?"
He was silent. Crickets sang in the darkness.
"Exactly."
"I've neglected you again," he sighed and hugged me. His arms were around my shoulders.
"I'm leaving, tomorrow preferably." I crossed my legs and kept looking at my book.
"Tomorrow! You can't possibly you've given no warning."
"I beg to differ. I left notes, tried pulling you aside on your free times, told the servants, I even tried setting appointments. Think of it appointments with someone who's supposed to be my friend!"
"How long?" He demanded.
"Three years, Vincent!" I slammed my book shut,"three years you oblivious swine. So I am leaving tomorrow and there is not a word you can say that will tell me different."
"I apologize."
"I'm sure you do, but I am tired of staying here in your shadow surrounded by love, when I hate! I want to be alone. To move to grow. You know maybe I'll go to France!" I stood in grand excitement, this rant had been building up in me for years.
"Millie, Millie, keep your voice down."
"I? Keep my voice down? Nay! I shall not. Nor will I speak any less harsh than I wish. For a decade it's been all about you! Your empire, your work, your beautiful family! But I am done. You lied to my father! You dirty liar!"
"Lie what I am an honest man."
"Nay, you're more of a trickster than I, the hussy, am." I pulled the neck of my dress down revealing dark, angry, violent bruises," protect me, you said! As my father died you said you'd protect me! Nay! You sit in pre'y li'l chair and drink your nice tea. While nearly every nigh' I get a bea'ing. Yes family, and monsters. More of'en monsters looking for you.
Protect me you said, protect me! 'Ow did you expec' 'o do that! You don' care anymore."
"Camilla your language."
"Oh damn you! Shall I speak proper? Vincent you wouldn't care if I were dead in the garden."
"That is not true."
"Oh is it not! I lie in these damned groomed gardens for hours, wounded, near death, calling your name! Do you know who came? Tanaka! I probably scared ten years off the man's life! You were busy!"
"I didn't know."
"You didn't care!" My voice broke and tears made the dark night just a splash of color,"I spent all my life with you, and I am little more than a doormat! I loved you! I loved you all!"
"Oh shut up you wailing ninny," he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to him.
"Let me go!"
He held me tightly to his chest.
"No go away." I pushed away from him forcefully," I leave tomorrow," I said wiping my face,"Damn you! Damn you for making me cry."
"Lord Reed, wants to court you," Vincent murmured.
"What?"
"You said you found him interesting. Will you stay now?"
"No, I leave tomorrow." I turned to leave. I would not let him sway me.
"Don't go."
I ignored him and walked quickly.
"Please," his voice sounded just like they used to when we were young, and he would find comfort in me during thunderstorms,"If you marry Dex, you could be normal."
"I've been married before. I am not some hare brained little girl any more..."
"He won't hurt you like the other one did I..." He cut off.
"You won't what? You won't let him hurt me, that's rich! Tomorrow Vince!"
I left and went back into the manor. No more crying. I won't cry again, not for Vincent.
"Camilla, you aren't really leaving are you?" Isabelle asked
"Yes."
"Camilla, we care for you, Amelia, Tanaka and I. You can't leave." She choked out. Isabelle was just as short as me with auburn hair and big blue eyes.
"I know...it hurts though to live here."
"I'll miss you, Cami." She grabbed me around my waist and hugged me tightly.
I found Isabelle in the basement of one of my victims. She took him out before I could.
"Isabelle..." I sighed.
"Don't go Cami! Or take me with you!" Her thick Italian accent made her sound even more frantic. She sobbed hard enough to shake both of us.
"Sh sh sh...if I go I can not guarantee your safety. Vincent will keep you safe."
"No he won't! What care he for me if he treats you the way he does."
I held the girl, who reminded me of a porcelain doll.
"Isabelle," I sighed.
"Please!"
"Sh, come on." I put my arm around her shoulder and towed her to my room.
"Isabelle you like working here, right."
"It's because I'm with you." She cried. I sat her down on my bed.
"Oi you all have reasons for me to stay!" I flopped on my bed beside her.
"You don't have to stay just take me with you!" She begged.
I stared at her skin of cream and roses. If she wants to go then why not, I could keep her safe.
"Fine," I stood and ran a hand through my hair,"we leave at midnight," I said and rubbed my hand across my face.
"Oh uh when you said tomorrow you meant tomorrow."
"It doesn't give Vince a chance to change my mind, and ciel won't see me go."
"Oh, I see." She nodded.
"Okay little runt, go to your room and sleep I will wake you when it is time." I'd leave her sleeping in her room.
"You'll leave me, I want to stay with you." She shook her head.
"Clever. Fine stay with me, but I'm sleeping." I lie across my bed and closed my eyes. I could feel her staring at me awkwardly. I opened my arm to her. She lie beside me.
"Now sleep."