I woke the next morning to the bed beside me empty and cold. Frowning I sat up and that was when I saw the stack at the foot of the bed. There was a long sleeved navy blue shirt, jeans, socks, underwear and my sneakers. Next to them were my makeup bag toiletries bags and a note.
Reaching forward I grabbed the note and read:
Charlotte,
The Master regrettably had an early appointment and was not able to remain with you until you woke. The staff has been given the day off so feel free to take your time rising. I have brought you everything you will need to start the day. Feel free to make used of the bathroom. You will find breakfast waiting for you in the kitchen.
Admittedly I was a little disappointed. The previous night had been amazing and I had looked forward to waking up in Ciel's arms. However if he had an appointment he had an appointment. With a sigh I tossed back the covers and gathered everything from the foot of the bed.
Walking into the bathroom I looked around but found only an old porcelain claw footed tub. It was slightly amusing that he only had a bath and no shower. Everything about this house was a contradiction. They had internet, cars, indoor electricity but no shower in the master bathroom?
Shaking my head I filled up the tub before sinking into the hot water. All of the dancing and drinking the night before had left me feeling sticky and grimy and the water felt just right. However my stomach was growling like crazy and the thought of that promised breakfast wouldn't leave me be.
After washing my hair and body good I climbed out and helped myself to a fluffy white towel that was sitting on the sink. Wrapping myself in it I set about drying and combing out my hair and putting on my makeup.
I had just raised the eyeliner to my eye when I noticed something strange.
My eyes had changed.
They were brighter and seemed more red. More like Sebastian's.
I shook my head and went back to doing my makeup, making note in the back of my head to ask Ciel about it later. Right now I was starving and I wanted something to eat.
When my makeup was done I quickly dressed, trying not to think about Sebastian going through my underwear drawer to get my clothes. When I headed for the kitchen and found Millie and Alfie standing against the counter sipping cups of tea with a basket of Blueberry muffins beside them. My favorite.
"Morning. Is there any tea left?" I asked as I snagged a muffin.
"Do you have to yell?" Millie flinched.
I grimaced and lowered my voice a tad, "Sorry. Hangover?"
"Bloody awful one at that." Millie nodded.
"Cade's in bed with one too. He reckons he's dying though." Alfie laughed and gestured towards he kettle on the stove.
"I knew I shouldn't have drank last night. I always end up sick as a dog the next day." Millie whimpered.
I frowned, "I'm sorry. I hate hangovers too."
"How's your head then?" Alfie asked.
"Fine. Why?" I asked pouring myself a cup of tea.
"Really? You drank as much as the others. Well…maybe not Cade but still. How did you escape without a hangover?" Alfie asked.
I shrugged, "Lucky?"
"Oh so what if she's lucky? I want to hear about you and the Master." Millie smiled over her tea cup.
"There is nothing to tell." I said feeling my face heat up.
"Oh but I think there is. We saw you two last night on the dance floor." Alfie smirked.
I sighed, "We kissed at the club and then we shared a bed. It was all completely PG. I swear." I said holding my hands up.
"Hmm…look at me." Millie said and before I could think she had crossed the room, grabbed my chin and made me look her in the eye.
She squinted at me through her glasses for a moment before sighing and moving back towards Alfie.
"She's telling the truth. She'd be all starry eyed if she had done anything." Millie sighed.
I laughed, "I'm sorry for disappointing you. If anything does ever happen between the two of us I'll be sure to call you all so you can watch."
"I think video will do nicely thank you." Alfie winked.
I shook my head and laughed, "You're both too much."
And with that I headed to find Ciel with my tea and muffin in hand. Since he was attending to business I headed to his office and sure enough he was there. I knocked before walking in.
"The question is what do you want to do about it My Lord?" Sebastian asked.
"Nothing yet. If they make the first strike then-" but he cut himself off when he noticed me in the room.
"Charlotte…you're awake." He said looking at me.
"Yeah. Was I interrupting something?" I asked.
"Oh no. Nothing of any importance." he replied and quickly shoved a stack of papers into a file and shoved it into a drawer.
"Are you sure? I can go away and come back later." I replied.
"No it's quite fine. Please come in." Ciel said and I walked in.
"How did you sleep?" I asked as I sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk.
"Quite well. And yourself?"
"Very well." I smiled.
"Good." he nodded.
"So what are you up to?" I asked.
"Well I had a few things that needed my attention this morning but the rest of my day is clear." he said.
"That's nice." I smiled.
"Yes I planned to come seek you out soon and ask if you would like to spend the day together but now seeing as you've found me I suppose the question is unnecessary." he said.
"You wanted to spend the day with me?" I asked.
"Yes. Did you have other plans?"
I shook my head, "No. I think it would be nice to spend the day together."
"Very well then. Sebastian, Charlotte and I will have our breakfast out in the garden." Ciel said.
"Very well My Lord." Sebastian said and set off.
"Oh. I thought this was breakfast." I said holding up the muffin.
"No…I arranged it with Sebastian to make food for us. That is if you want. You could have that if you'd like. I don't know if you're a morning person or-" but I cut him off with a smirk.
"Breakfast with you is fine. C'mon….let's go to the garden." I smiled and stood up.
When Ciel stood I got my first proper look at him. He wore a black button down shirt with a sport coat over it, black jeans and black dress sneakers. It was surprising from someone whom I had never seen out of a suit save for the previous night.
"I sent Sebastian shopping for me. I thought that perhaps it would be best if I blended in a bit." he replied.
"I think you look amazing." I replied.
"I'm glad you like it." he said and with that held out his arm which I took.
We walked out to the garden and I found it was warm. I had been concerned that I would be chilly but with the shirt Sebastian had picked out for me it seemed warm enough outside. What really surprised me though was that the Sterling Silver roses were still in full bloom and as beautiful as ever.
"Sebastian is a very good gardener." Ciel replied.
"Isn't Alfie the gardener?" I asked.
"Yes but he takes care of the grounds mostly. Sebastian handles the delicate things like my roses." Ciel replied.
"Well they're beautiful." I said.
"Would you like one?" he asked.
"Oh no. It's fine. Besides I wouldn't want you to-" but before I could say anything he had plucked one from the bush closest to us and was holding it out to me.
It had to be the most beautiful one in the whole garden. It was large and every petal was perfect. Not a bruise in sight. I also saw the stem was free of thorns.
"Thank you." I smiled.
"You're welcome." he replied.
"I was a little worried about the thorns." I replied.
Ciel smiled, "Demons have very thick skin. Besides Sebastian trims the thorns off all the roses on a daily basis. Who knows how much damage the help would do to themselves if they fell into bush full of thorns?"
I couldn't help but smile and little.
"Oh! That reminds me…I have a question…" I replied.
"What is it?" Ciel asked.
"Well…do my eyes look different to you?" I asked and turned to look at Ciel in the eye.
He looked at them for a moment before giving me a nod, "Yes it seems your eyes are changing. That's to be expected with the changes you're going through."
I nodded, "What else is going to happen?"
"Well since there is more human blood in you than demon chances are you will retain some of your humanity no matter what but it will diminish as time goes on. Soon you will find yourself plagued by a hunger that won't be sated by anything short of a human soul. When that happens Sebastian and I will find you the appropriate victim." Ciel replied.
I shuddered at the word 'victim', imagining taking some poor person's life in order to feed. I had already killed 2 people. Could I stand to kill anymore?
Ciel must have seen the look on my face because it was then he spoke again.
"It will get easier with time Charlotte. I assure you that." he replied and I gave a nod.
"So you had fun last night?" I asked.
Ciel nodded, "Admittedly yes. I was quite surprised. I suppose it was mostly because of you though."
I smiled, "It was fun dancing with you."
"And the kiss?" he asked.
"More than wonderful." I replied feeling my face heat up.
"I'm glad that you enjoyed it.. There is something I need to speak to you about." Ciel said.
I looked at him curiously, "What do you want to speak about?"
Ciel took a long breath and furrowed his brow before speaking.
"It takes 150 years for a typical human who has been changed into a demon to lose all humanity. When in that window of time it is possible for a demon to find someone they are drawn to, another demon for whom they feel a pull towards. A mate."
"Mate?" I asked looking at him sideways.
"Yes. A mate. Someone who will be by their side for the reminder of time. In the days that have passed since you arrived here I have felt that pull begin and after trying to deny it for a long time I have finally come to terms with the fact I believe that I have found my mate."
I felt a lump rise in my throat and nervousness churn in my stomach, "Y-You're talking about Sebastian…right?"
Ciel smirked, "No. I'm talking about you Charlotte."
He stopped and turned to look at me. His blue eyes stared into mine and I knew that he wasn't joking. Suddenly my knees began to tremble and the garden started to spin around me. I could feel the little bit of blueberry muffin that I'd nibbled on earlier threatening to come back up.
"Perhaps we should sit down." Ciel said and before I could think he took me by the arm and led me to a bench a couple of feet away.
I leaned forward and put my head between my knees, gulping in deep breaths. Coul I really be hearing what I was hearing?
"Charlotte? Are you okay?" he asked.
"Am I okay? AM I OKAY?! YOU JUST TOLD ME THAT YOU THINK I'M YOUR MATE!" I said my voice squeaking.
"I don't think Charlotte. I am certain of it." he replied.
"Great! You're certain!" I said with a shaky laugh.
"Charlotte what is wrong with this?" he asked.
"What's wrong with this?! Are you kidding me?! I just lost my mother, I move to another country only to find out I'm turning into a fucking demon, you're my boss who also happens to be a demon and now you're telling me that you and I are mates! Which part of that statement is confusing for you?!" I spat.
Ciel sighed, "Charlotte I understand how terrifying this must be for you but know I am just as scared by all of this as you are. I never expected for you to fall for someone. Even when I was human I never felt the things I feel for you for anyone else."
"Was there someone else?" I asked.
Ciel nodded, "Yes. I had a fiancée. We were betrothed from the time we were small. She loved me but I was only ever fond of her."
"What was her name?" I asked trying to pull away from the mate subject.
"Lizzy. Lady Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford. She was sweet and kind and loved for things to be cut. It was her mission in life to see that I was happy. That was all she wanted. However I could never love her the same way." he replied.
"What happened to her?" I asked.
"When I became a demon I faked my death and descended to the demon world with Sebastian. A few years later once I had fully assimilated into being a demon I came back for a short while. I found that she had married another man who loved her back and they had children. A boy and a girl that both looked like her. The boy's name was Ciel. I could see that she was truly happy with what her life had turned out to be. She was able to have everything I could've never given her." he said.
"You sound like you miss her." I replied.
"She was my best friend as a child but we were nothing more. I feel more for you than I could ever feel for her. Charlotte…I love you." he said.
A warmth spread through my body, dissipating the worry and nerves from my body and I was finally able to swallow the lump in my throat, "Are you serious?"
"Yes."
"I love you too." I replied.
Ciel smiled and moved closer and kissed me softly before pulling back.
"Charlotte…will you be my mate?" he asked and from his pocket pulled out a box.
He opened it and I saw that inside was a silver ring with a small square sapphire in the center. It was a female version of the one he wore.
"Yes Ciel…I will be your mate." I smiled.
"I had this made special for you. It's in the style of the Phantomhive family ring." he said.
"It's beautiful." I smiled.
He carefully took it from the box and slipped it onto my thumb.
"There. A perfect fit." he replied.
"I love it." I said and pressed a kiss to his lips.
"How about breakfast now?" he asked.
"Sounds good." I replied and stood up.
Taking my hand he led me deeper into the garden where a breakfast was set out for us with Sebastian waiting. Sitting down Sebastian began to fill our plates and I looked at Ciel who was watching as his plate was filled.
My mate.
Ciel was my mate.
We were as good as married. I looked down at my ring. Well okay…maybe engaged but still.
Somehow when he'd told me he loved me that had been all the assurance I'd needed. Like those were the magic words to calm my fears. We were going to be together for the rest of our lives and I had a feeling that one day he would have to do it again.
3rd POV
Ciel sunk into the chair in his office and pulled the file he'd shoved away earlier when Charlotte had appeared. Inside was a stack of papers that were very troubling. They had to do with a faction of Demon hunters that had been spotted in the United Kingdom as of late.
Though it weighed heavily on his mind he couldn't help but feel some lightness in his chest. Charlotte had agreed to be his mate and he would no longer be alone. Yes he'd had Sebastian but it wasn't the same. Sebastian was his butler.
With Charlotte he would have someone who loved him because she could. Sebastian stayed with him out of duty and their contract. Charlotte would stay because she cared for him as he cared for her. It would be an interesting thing to get used to, to say the least but he would gladly adjust to allow Charlotte into his life.
"My Lord?"
Ciel looked up and saw Sebastian in the door.
"What is it Sebastian?" he asked.
"I thought you would like to continue or conversation from this morning." he replied.
Ciel sighed and looked at the papers, "Yes…the demon hunters. How many have they wiped out?"
"That's just it My Lord. They haven't take the life of a single demon since reports first surfaced of them." Sebastian replied.
"None? Not even a lower level drudge?" he asked.
"No. Not one." Sebastian replied.
Ciel frowned, "I don't like the looks of this Sebastian. We will have to keep an eye on Charlotte that much more. Her powers will be out of control and we will have to use our abilities to help mask them."
Sebastian smirked, "Yes My Lord."
"What is that look for Sebastian?" Ciel asked.
"What look do you speak of Young Lord?" Sebastian replied.
"That smirk." Ciel said.
"I apologize if my smirk offends you. It simply amuses me that you care so deeply for Charlotte." Sebastian said.
"She is my mate. Her safety is very high on my list of concerns." Ciel replied.
"Yes I saw that she accepted your ring. You must be very happy." Sebastian said.
Ciel looked up at Sebastian, "I am. For the first time in a very long while."
Sebastian nodded, "I am glad My Lord. Now what precautions do you wish to take against the Hunters?"
"Everyone should be on high alert but I don't wish Charlotte to know. I would prefer to keep her out of this until she is fully stable and settled with her powers. Besides her friend will be here in a few weeks time. Between the over excitement and the pressure of trying to hide the worries of the hunters it could cause her to lose control. We can't risk the exposure." Ciel said.
"Very well. I will begin preparations to stave off an evasion should one occur." Sebastian said.
Ciel nodded and with that Sebastian left to attend to everything. He knew it would be difficult to hide everything from Charlotte but it would have to be done.
Wow I am so sorry this took so long to post!
I would've had this up ages ago but I ran into a few problems.
The biggest one was that my computer hates me. I had this entire chapter almost completely done when my computer came unplugged. My laptop is around 5 years old and has taken a lot of abuse so I have to have it plugged in at all times or it doesn't work. So when I plugged it back in and tried to open the file I have for this story it told me it was corrupt and couldn't be opened.
That meant I had to rewrite it all. I still prefer my first draft but this one is pretty good too :)
The second thing was less of a problem I guess...
I got caught up in watching 'Doctor Who'.
I am obsessed now.
I have become a Whovian.
I want to watch everything there is to watch before the 50th anniversary in November.
And I have most of it right at my fingertips since I have Netflix which is good for me but bad for my writing .
Then yesterday I was going to write but my friend is down from New York so I had to hang out with her. We saw 'The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones' with my friend Jen and another friend of ours named Lauren. Afterwards we grabbed pizza and spent the next hour and a half talking about Doctor Who.
But I finally finished this! I hope you all enjoyed it!
I'm torn about the next chapter but it will either contain amazingly adorable Charlotte & Ciel action or fur will fly and Hailey will show up.
Hmm...choices...
Anyhow time for the Thank Yous!
-watergoddessskasey
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You guys rock!
Thanks for reading!