Summary: Catherine shows Lizzie how to be a good witch, a good apprentice and an amazing future wife during the opening of the Funtom's company's new park forest. But someone decides to crash the party…
Lizzie smoothed the wrinkles in her dress and checked her neck ribbon to ensure the contract seal was properly hidden. Being the fiancée of the Earl of Phantomhive meant that Ciel had invited her to accompany him on the day of the opening of his company's new park forest. She was to be by his side, on his arm, for almost the entire day. She had to look presentable. Catherine approached Lizzie with her fencing foil, specially made to be hidden under her dress.
'I won't need that today, Catherine.' Lizzie smiled at her maid and teacher.
'You should take it in case of emergencies, my lady.' Catherine insisted, stepping forward and kneeling to fasten the foil to the young girl's waist.
'I won't be able to use it even if there is. It would embarrass Ciel if I was the one to protect him so openly in public. He'd hate it.' Lizzie excused, trying to move away. Catherine held her still, hiding her red eyes behind her thick lashes.
'Excuse me?'
'It is for a man to protect the woman. People will look down on him if they see…' Lizzie tried to explain. Catherine cut her off, revealing her impatient red eyes.
'This human world and their backward ways… If your magic fails will you not draw your sword? Would you rather let him die... my lady?' Catherine said a sly tone snaking into her voice. Lizzie grabbed the foil and fastened it herself with practiced moves. Catherine could smell the angry waves that rolled off the little girl.
'I will protect Ciel at all cost.' The young girl spoke confidently, striding out of the room. Catherine smiled in delight and followed her apprentice.
They entered the carriage and were driven to the park forest. It was a beautiful place with a bubbling stream that looked perfectly cute. This park was for children after all. There was lots of shade and beautiful scenery. It was very suitable for children. Children of noble families were running around and playing and Lizzie spotted Ciel immediately, speaking condescendingly to a group of adults. They had probably been insulting him. Sebastian glanced at his sister the moment the carriage was visible. Catherine nodded back with a smile.
'Excuse me, I must greet my fiancée.' Ciel said pompously, turning from the adults at Sebastian's slight nudge and headed for the slowing carriage. Lizzie beamed, unable to contain herself. The moment the carriage stopped, Sebastian opened the door, planning to offer his hand but Elizabeth jumped out, throwing her arms around her adorable fiancée, squealing his name.
Catherine sighed quietly and Sebastian offered his hand to his sister instead. She took it, getting out of the carriage delicately. Ciel recovered quickly and with a small reprimand, offered his arm to Lizzie. She linked hers through it as any lady should with the perfect smile as she walked beside her fiancée. Sebastian and Catherine flanked them and people clapped as the couple walked to the entrance of the park where a scarlet ribbon barred the way.
Giving his speech in a confident voice, he accepted a pair of scissors from Sebastian and cut through the ribbon. Lizzie clapped as any good fiancée would except that she truly loved him. Ciel offered her his arm once again and she took it readily, talking animatedly with him. Sebastian's eyes darted to the side slightly when Catherine stepped closer to him.
'We must watch them carefully today. The woods are tainted.' Catherine whispered quietly, her lips not even moving.
'Yes, I know.'
Ciel and Lizzie were forced to interact with the other more boring guests until Ciel began to weigh down with tiredness and boredom. Lizzie frowned slightly in worry. She knew to pick up on Ciel's mood. Catherine nudged Lizzie and nodded discreetly to a line of boats by the stream. An escape. Sebastian smiled. Catherine was doing well, teaching Lizzie. 'Ciel.' Lizzie called tentatively.
'Yes, Lizzie?'
'Would you like to go on a boat ride with me? The water might soothe you.' She smiled gently. Ciel returned it slightly but he was quite surprised that she knew he wasn't feeling well. Lizzie allowed Ciel to lead her to the boat like a gentleman even though she wanted to drag him there. Catherine had warned her against that kind of behavior.
Sebastian rowed the boat while Catherine prepared the tea but Ciel stopped her. 'Why don't we head further down, there's a nice clearing where we can have a picnic, if that pleases you.' He suggested to Lizzie, his cheeks revealing a pink hue. She beamed with joy.
'Yes!' She agreed enthusiastically. Catherine smiled in approval and Sebastian smirked in amusement.
Ten minutes later, Sebastian directed the boat to the shore, stepping off with ease. Seeing his young master take Elizabeth's hand to help her himself, he took his sister's hand instead and helped her off. The moment her feet touched the grass, the boat jerked. Lizzie yelped as both her and Ciel fell back into the boat. The two demonic siblings turned to jump back on the boat even as it moved further to the center of the stream… only to be pushed back with an unholy impact.
An orange tinted barrier appeared, thin as a sheet of paper but stronger than they could pierce through. It formed a large cube, trapping the two children on the boat in the middle of the stream. Rotting grey arms began to grab onto the sides of the boat, rocking it furiously as a malicious laughter filled the air. A hand latched onto Ciel, making the boy curl back in disgust. Lizzie shot out her arm towards it… but nothing happened. There was no magic that could work within this barrier.
'Young master!' Sebastian called out, running forward to slam his fists on the barrier to no avail and only more pain. There was a swishing sound as the air was sliced and the severed hand fell into the waters. Lizzie stood carefully on the rocking boat, her green eyes fierce. Ciel gritted his teeth in determination. In one swift movement, both eye patch and ribbon cascaded to the floor of the boat.
'Sebastian, this is an order!' He yelled to the demon butler on the shore.
'Catherine, listen to me!' Lizzie commanded, wielding her sword with pride.
'Break that barrier!' They demanded in unison. The siblings fell to their knees immediately.
'Yes, my Lord.'
'As my lady wishes.'
Lizzie continued to fight, showing off her prowess with the sword in her hand as Ciel used his gun to its maximum potential. The only thing on their minds were each other. Catherine wasted no time, transforming into her demonic form, complete with chains and fangs but Sebastian hesitated, eyes flitting to the boy on the boat.
'He's too busy to see you, brother. We must hurry.' Catherine growled, summoning whatever power she had and slamming it onto the barrier. The atmosphere darkened as Sebastian's aura took on a more threatening air.
'I do have some trust in your apprentice.' He spoke but a clawed hand slammed onto the shield. Working together with coordinated attacks, it cracked suddenly. Catherine crushed her magic to it. The cracks spreading with a splintering sound, Sebastian threw one last punch onto the barrier… and it shattered. But the grey creatures had finally emerged, grabbing onto Elizabeth first and then onto Ciel.
'Ciel!' Lizzie yelled in panic.
'Use your magic!' Catherine called, red eyes fierce as the boat began to move down stream, gaining distance from the two unholy beings. They leapt into the water, swimming after it. Lizzie obeyed the voice of her teacher and the grey arms fell off of her as if burned.
She grabbed onto the ones holding her fiancée and the hand decayed and perished easily while mismatched eyes watched her in amazement. This is the first time Ciel had ever seen this side of his fiancée. The one that was apprentice to a demon witch. He was so enraptured by the sight, he didn't catch the hand that wrapped around his throat. He choked as it cut off his air supply. Lizzie turned back to him just as he was dragged into the water. Fear filled her and she screamed.
But there was no need. He reemerged the next moment, draped over Sebastian's shoulder and spluttering as his demon butler fought off the devilish limbs though he had made sure to transform back into his butler self. A bright light lit up underneath the boat and the hands were pulled down suddenly against their will. Sebastian smirked. It was to be over soon. The odd creature morphed as it was tossed from the water into the air. Catherine rose from the stream with a ferocious expression and slammed it onto the floor of the boat with inhuman speed.
Lizzie pointed her sword at it, forcing it to stay where it was while Catherine straightened, her face cold as she glared at the countenance of a five year old boy. Lizzie faltered. 'What is this?'
'An illusion, nothing more. It is the same creature that attacked you, my lady.' Catherine answered, transforming back into her maid's outfit in the blink of an eye.
'But…' Lizzie hesitated at the scared look on the child's face.
'A witch must not hesitate in her resolve.' Catherine said harshly. And Ciel had to agree. But he also knew it was a hard thing for Lizzie to do. Sebastian watched with interest at how the young witch girl would proceed. Lizzie's sword stiffened but did not move. She had frozen. Catherine gazed at her pupil and spoke again. 'Neither can the wife of the queen's guard dog be weak. Will you spare everything that dares to hurt your precious Ciel? How will you fulfill your promise to protect him then… my lady?'
The sword moved faster than any human could. The scream that emitted from the creature's mouth was anything but human and it turned to ash, swept away by the wind. Lizzie lifted her sword and put it in its sheath, looking straight at her maid and teacher with a serious look. 'I don't break my promises.'
Catherine smiled with true pride. 'Yes, my lady.' Sebastian glanced at his sister and then as his master's fiancée. She was truly worthy of him. He had to admit he was impressed.
Ciel slipped himself out of Sebastian's grip and wrapped his arms around Lizzie carefully but firmly. 'I'm glad you're safe.' He said honestly and she returned his embrace with her own tighter one. She saw a purple bruise on his neck where the creature had choked him and felt an inexplicable anger. She swore she would never allow anything to get away with hurting her Ciel.
'I will always protect you.' She promised. And Ciel believed her.
Little did they know, a little spider hung on a nearby branch, its sinister red eyes watching them as it crafted its web.