"Adelisa, would you like to play a game of cards today?" Ciel asked.
Adelisa smiled at the young man and nodded, "I vould love to!"
"Oh Adelisa, we must go shopping tomorrow! We must find the best dresses for the ball Saturday!" Lady Elizabeth said and Adelisa agreed.
These were the conversations that were happening during their breakfast meal. The ball was in three days. Today was a rest day for the young masters from their long travels. Ciel insisted playing a game with them since he loved games so much. Zara aided Adelisa to every order but did not talk much once again.
During the master's game of cards, Adelisa turns to Zara.
"Oh Zara! You zould get zome rest. We will have a buzy day tomorrow!" Adelisa said.
"That's right! We're going to have so much fun picking out the dresses for all of the servants!" Lady Elizabeth giggled.
Ciel looked up from his cards, "The servants are invited too?"
"Of course! I love each and everyone one of your servants! They have to be invited to the birthday party!" Elizabeth had a big toothy grin on her face.
Zara was about to take her leave when the butler walked in with a tray of tea and sandwiches. Zara did a small curtsy not making any eye contact while Sebastian bowed and watched her leave before realizing what he came here to do. "Tea, my lord."
After Sebastian left, Elizabeth said in a hushed voice to Ciel and Adelisa, "did you see that?"
"What?" asked Ciel.
"The way Sebastian looked at Zara like that?"
"What are you talking about?" Ciel took a sip of his tea.
Adelisa leaned in closer to Elizabeth. "You zink somezing is going on between zem?"
"Impossible." Ciel looked bored with the girl's gossip.
Elizabeth's smile got bigger, "They would be so cute together! We have to get them together!"
Ciel sighed, he didn't have the heart to tell her that it is impossible; demons cannot fall in love even if he ordered him to.
"Zat's a great idea!" Adelisa grin matched Elizabeth's.
Ciel spaced off while the girls were forming a plan to get the two servants together.
Downstairs, Sebastian was cutting vegetables for lunch. He was content on how the day was going so far with the other servants actually doing their job correctly. But he just couldn't stop thinking about Zara, the way she ignored him today.
Zara was in her room reading. The master told her she could have the day off so that is exactly what she is going to do. She is going to relax and read. But she wasn't relaxed at all. She kept thinking about the butler. That damn butler.
Adelisa peaked her head into the maid's quarters. "Zara! Zebastian iz wanting your assistance in ze kitchen!" She smiled and disappeared as quickly as she appeared.
"Oui, madame." Zara set her book down and got up. Why did Adelisa come get me?
Zara entered the kitchen and saw Sebastian cutting something with his back turned to her. "Good afternoon, Zara." Sebastian said without turning around.
"Good afternoon, Sebastian," Zara replied after shutting the door. She cringed slightly when she said it. She didn't want to be anywhere near the butler let alone talk to him, but she had to because she sensed two little ladies outside the kitchen, listening to every word Zara and Sebastian were saying. What are they up to? "Adelisa said you needed my help?"
Sebastian was a little surprised at first when Zara replied but then realized what was going on. He decided to play a little game with the little ladies and Zara, especially Zara.
"Ah, yes. You can start on the dessert. I was planning on making a Treacle tart," Sebastian replied.
Zara nodded slightly, still not making eye contact. They prepared the food for a bit in silence. Sebastian looked up at Zara and proceeded with his plan.
"Zara," Sebastian said slyly.
Zara looked up from her preparations.
"There is something on your face, here let me get it." Sebastian was close to Zara's face and licked the filling off her cheek seductively. Zara was enraged but didn't want to make a big commotion with the girls just outside the door.
"What a devilish glare you have, Zara," Sebastian smirked.
Zara didn't move, she continued glaring at Sebastian, but replied in a sickeningly sweet tone, "Oh Sebastian, you're such an angel."
They heard the girls giggle, and Zara opened the door to the kitchen to reveal them. "What do you girls think you're doing?" She said as sweetly and innocently as possible.
"Oh, nothing!" Elizabeth squealed and ran off with Adelisa.
Zara whipped back around to face Sebastian. She walked up to him and slapped him as hard as she could square in the face.
"Get this clear, Mr. Butler," she said in a low hiss, "I don't ever want to see you again, I don't want to hear any excuses. Adelisa and I are leaving as soon as this ball is over and we are never coming back. So don't play these games with me or you will regret it." She stormed out of the kitchen before Sebastian can say another word.
"I already am regretting it… I have regretted it before it had even begun," Sebastian replied into thin air.
Zara stormed into the garden, she needed to clear her head and the only way she could was to enjoy nature for a bit. She sat down in front of a statue of an angel. She stared at it thinking of her past.
"Hello there!" a voice interrupted her thoughts.
She turned around to see a blond boy with a gardening outfit and a straw hat. He sat right next to her.
"My name is Finnian, but you can call me Finny."
"I'm Zara."
"What's wrong? You seem so sad out here."
"I'm just thinking about my past," she looked back up at the statue, "How it use to be before everything…. well, before everything went to hell."
Finny looked at her curiously, "I know it's none of my business but can I ask you what happened?"
Zara paused for a moment then replied, "Let's just say, a man ruined my life."
Finny was silent then looked up at the statue, "You know, I use to be in a world of hell."
Zara looked at him surprised, "really?"
"Yeah, it was in a world where all I wanted to do was go outside," Finny smiled a bit, "then Sebastian came, sort of like an angel, and hired me. Now I can be outside whenever I want to."
Zara smiled at the irony of Sebastian being called an angel. She looked up at the statue once again and laid down on the grass. Soon, Zara fell asleep.
Screams were coming from her mouth but she couldn't hear anything. The fire dripping onto her back sent more excruciating pain through her body. Tears were rolling down her face. She was strapped down, she couldn't move.