Chapter 2, because I am bored.

Coming back to consciousness, I found myself waking up in a plush white bed in a room that I didn't recognize. A room too fancy to be my own. The realization jolted me out of my drowsiness, and I tensed, looking around frantically to figure out where I was. I wasn't displeased with what I saw however. It was a beautiful room. Or at least, from what I could see in the dim light of a fire.

At the foot of the bed sat a chest, and beyond that a fireplace on the opposite wall. Two crafted chairs and a small table were positioned in front of the fireplace. There was a fire brewing, the light from it being the only way I had seen the majority of what lay before me.

It was almost comfortable. Aside from the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. How had I ended up here again? This looked well and dandy, but..where was I? I was in some stranger's home with no memory of how I got here in the first place.

I started trying to think, despite my growing panic. Really thinking. What had happened before I had woken up here? I was just taking a stroll. And somehow my hat had gotten away from me and I had been running and running...

CRASH!

I was jolted out of my thoughts as I heard a jarring sound just outside the door. It sounded like the clang of dishes. But that was strange. Dishes? Shortly after, there was some talking. A stern male voice it sounded like; as well as this terribly squeaky female's.

I tensed where I sat, the thought of two strange people just outside heightening my panic. My heart was racing, trying to beat out my chest it felt. All I wanted to do was curl up into a ball and wish this situation away. My hat. All I wanted was my hat and I'd ended up here.

The door handle began to turn now and I shrunk back into the sheets. In came the man and woman, both in uniform, pushing some sort of cart my way. The smell of meat filled the room which...well. Further confused me.

"Ah, you're awake," the man said, a smile spreading on his face. "What accurate timing." I examined him with extreme apprehensiveness, inwardly cringing at his words. Accurate timing? What did that mean? Oh god. He was pushing something towards the bed, a cart. And the woman with him looked so strangely happy and excited to see me. No. Maybe that's what the meat smell was. God, what was it?

couldn't choke back my whimper. If it wasn't already obvious to them both, I was incredibly uncomfortable, with my toes curled, my shoulders raised. I was shaking like a leaf in the wind, gripping the sheets even tighter as the man stopped at the beside.

"This is complimentary of the Young Master," He went on to explain. The man pulled away a covering, revealing this scrumptious dinner plate. I wasn't exactly sure what it was, as I had never seen such a gourmet dish, but it looked delicious.

"Pan-seared beef steak, accompanied with an assortment of vegetables," He explained in this perfect monotone. It was as if he'd read my mind. That, or my facial expression had been questionable. But even with such a delicious smelling dish pushed my way, I was still hesitant. I was hungry, but I wasn't sure about eating food I didn't know much about, made by someone I'd never seen before.

"Come now, do not look at it with such a sour face," The man spoke, this playfulness in his voice. I looked up from the food to meet his eyes, really taking in his appearance now. And, well..again I wasn't displeased. His face was one of the most perfect things I'd seen.

He was a very attractive, slender looking man, with his near perfect face and pale complexion, illuminated by the light of the fire. Long raven hair framed his face, almost neat, but not quite, with one stray strand falling into his face. And there, my eyes rested on his eyes. They held my attention for the longest as they were so un-apologetically red. Like the color of a ripe apple, or the blush on one's face. And that genuinely scared me much more than these unfamiliar surroundings. It was so bizarre.

Etiquette didn't allow me to reject or ignore him, so I tried my best to utter out some sort of reply.

"I'm not sure where I am," I whimpered. "And I'd like to be home now."

The man smiled calmly, attending to the tray I had refused to touch.

"Well, you are in the Phantomhive manor, per request of the young master."

"Phantomhive?"

"Are you not aware of the Funtom Corporation?"

My eyes grew wide, the name ringing bells.

"Of course! My husband..My late husband used to work very closely with Vincent Phantomhive."

He didn't say much else after this, expecting me to go on to explain further. But I was sort of lost. Vincent Phantomhive I had long been dead, right? I was bit more comfortable knowing I was in friendly company, maybe. If he was telling me the truth. But the question of how I got here remained. Not to mention, Vincent was dead. So who was this young master this man referred to?

"I am Sebastian Michaelis, a butler to the Phantomhive Manor," He explained with a slight bow. "I ensure you that I will make your stay here a pleasant one."

"My...stay?" More confusion. "I-I must be on my way! I can't linger where I don't belong," I exclaimed. "And I'm not even sure how I got here. And...Vincent. Vincent is dead isn't he? He was murde.." I trailed of, realizing I was saying more than I should. That wasn't public knowledge.

Crumbs. I could see his eyes narrow with growing suspicion. If I had thought there was a chance of leaving tonight, it was gone.

"The weather is much too horrid to travel in, wouldn't you agree?" He spoke. His eyes slid up past me, to the windows adjacent of the bed. I turned my attention to them and realized what he was talking about. Rain beat against the windows, the trees outside shook and rustled. Totally inappropriate weather for a walk home, or even going by carriage. But, I couldn't help but feel out of place. And scared really. The relationship between the Phantomhives didn't involve me. My husband perhaps, but he had long since passed. Besides a few dinner parties, I had not known much of the Phantomhives besides...secrets. I could remember so many times when I had been left to mingle with people I didn't know. People who were of much more class and grace than my bumbling self.

"Here," he spoke, placing the tray in my lap now. There was no escaping this meal.

"I was instructed to ensure that you eat. But I trust that you can feed yourself," He joked, that playfulness revisiting his voice. I fidgeted uncomfortably, unsure of what to say. Was he insinuating he would've fed me himself if I didn't? The thought lingered as I watched him walk, attending to the fire for a moment before seeing his way out. And with the tray of food so forcefully shoved my way, how could I reject now? Especially when he'd left the woman in the corner to monitor me. It smelled scrumptious. The woman, who had sort of stood fidgeting uncomfortably in the corner the entire time Sebastian and I had spoken, seemed to perk up at that fellow's leave, marching my way with this wide excited smile.

"Are you really ?" She exclaimed with enthusiasm. "You're really such a beautiful woman. It's no wonder Charles Whiston snatched you up for his own!"

I blushed, looking away shyly. "I suppose," I murmured, a small coy smile.

"What was he like? What's America like?" She pressed.

I smiled sheepishly.

"I couldn't even begin to describe how wonderful he treated me." I had said. And we had talked about things for a while. It had become apparent that I wouldn't be leaving tonight. In fact, she had explained that the room had been prepped for my overnight stay, and this woman, Mey-Rin, was made to care for me. She had also explained that she'd heard from Sebastian that I had fainted in the yard. Finnian, the gardener, was concerned so he'd brought me inside to get Sebastian's help. Which made me feel much better about Sebastian. And honestly a smidge bad that I had regarded him so sorely.

The girlish talk had ended after a while of me rambling on about Charles. After I had finished my dinner, she had attempted to bathe me. Which, had been a bit awkward quite truthfully.I had never been one to want servants attending to my every need and desire. So I had shooed her away. Bathed my own self. But had been unwillingly tucked into bed with nothing but a sheer night gown to my body.

The whole evening was strange to say the least. It left me with more questions than answers. Like, who was the head of the Funtom Corporation now? Why were they insisting on my company here? And..I remembered why I'd fainted now. Who was that Finnian kid, and why did he gave such unearthly power?

The next morning had come, but I hadn't known this until the curtain had been ripped open and the sunlight had assaulted me. A soft gasp escaped my lips, and my immediate reaction was to sit up to investigate.

Cracking my gray eyes open, I looked over to the windows, the silken covers sliding away from me.

I had expected to see Mey-Rin, the woman whom I had confided in just last night, but it was a man's form I saw. The man from before. Sebastian.

"GAH!" I yelped, rising a hand to my mouth in surprise. What was he doing in here? I was wearing next to nothing with this sheer night gown! I watched Sebastian turn, quicker than I had expected him to, in response to my panicked little yelp.

His eyes fell upon my scantily clad body first, and I was just frozen, staring at him with this dumb look on on my face. I must've turned several shades pink as I felt my face grow piping hot. I was so embarrassed and awkward!

I tried to hide my embarrassment, cupping my face behind slim fingers.

I couldn't tell. Perhaps maybe it was my own overthinking. But Sebastian didn't react very quickly. His gaze lingered for a moment, almost nonchalantly dragging his eyes up to meet my own. I couldn't break my gaze once

our eyes locked. I could see Sebastian's eyes clearer now, realizing my eyes hadn't failed me last night. His eyes were red. And they were flickering with this uncanny excitement. With mischief.

"Ah. Please excuse me, Miss, how rude of I to intrude upon a Lady," Sebastian spoke. His words came slow and steady, but his eyes quickly left mine, finding a distraction someplace else in the room. He rose a gloved hand to his face further block his vision.

I wrapped my arms around my breasts, but I felt like it didn't matter much now. My gown hadn't left too much up to imagination. What could've been seen had already been seen.

"I was sure you would've been more dressed than how you appear to me now. My apologies. I simply came to invite you to breakfast." As he spoke, I scrambled with the sheets, trying to pull them closer to my body, but they had just been tucked so tightly.

"When you're more decent, the young master will want to speak with you."

He was walking out now and I watched him leave it felt, in almost slow motion. I had only slightly heard what he'd said, still so consumed with embarrassment.

Not sure how to end this chapter but it's stopping here. not going for perfection here.