Red.

Dark.

Sweet red!

Bloody red eyes and a bloody red soul.

All mine! Mine! MINE!

Haru awoke with a start. She sat bolt upright in bed, sweating and gasping for air till she realized she was just in her room, sleeping. She relaxed again and curled up under the covers as she heard a gentle knock on her door.

"Young Mistress, it's time to get up," a voice squeaked. Haru peeked over the covers to see Mei-Rin standing next to the bed with a light summer dress in her hands and a tray of tea next to the bedside table.

This was how the days started. Mei-Rin was like a personal servant to her. She'd wake up in the morning, Mei-Rin would serve her tea, and she would join Ciel downstairs for breakfast. She was treated as the lady of the house, with respect and dignity, much like Ciel.

After breakfast, Ciel would go to work and Haru would play in the garden with whatever she found; rocks, bugs, even small animals. She was a dirty kid, which didn't really help with the servants questioning her odd animalistic features.

They would both break for lunch, which Haru would join Ciel in the study and play a game of chess. It went without saying Haru had little attention span for such strategic games and often won only because Ciel let her. She then regained the shard of Triumph.

Some nights, she would have nightmares of the past she refused to share and would regretfully regain the emotion of Fear. No one was there for her, and she couldn't remember if anyone was in the first place, so she often felt Lonely as well.

But it was a good life here at the Phantomhive Mansion, and she'd be lying if she told Ciel she wasn't having a good time, but still she wondered about the curious world she was in and what was to become of it later. For now, time stood still, but it was only taking a break. Time would start ticking again and Haru dreaded the day she would have to leave this place in order to protect those she'd come to love so dearly.

Content Wolf

For now she was content. A bit hungry, actually. She wandered into the study with a sad look on her face.

"Ciel, when's lunch?" she asked.

"We just ate an hour ago," Ciel replied, withholding a laugh. She was so pathetic how she was always looking for food. It entertained him, and he seemed to quite enjoy her company. She was kind and gentle, unlike Elizabeth, and relatively… fun to be around.

"Then when's dinner?"

"Haru," Ciel sighed, setting down his papers and putting a hand against his forehead. "Will you quit bothering me if I order Sebastian to give you something to eat?"

"That probably won't be best at the moment, Master," Sebastian said, walking through the door Haru had left open. He rushed to Haru's side and shoved a hat over her ears. "I advise you keep this on for the time being."

A moment of confusion passed and Ciel was suddenly strangled/embraced by his betrothed, Elizabeth Midford.

"Ciel! I missed you so much!"

"Elizabeth, what are you doing here?!"

"I came to see you, silly," she laughed. She pulled away and glared at Haru. "Who is she?"

"She's my cousin," Ciel replied. The words seemed to pacify Elizabeth and the girl laughed.

"Oh, okay," she smiled. "Sorry, for a moment I didn't know what you were doing here. I'm Lizzie, and I'm Ciel's partner, you see?"

Haru frowned, clearly displeased to hear this, as a spark of jealousy welled up in her.

"Now," Lizzie continued. "I want to know everything about you. I want to know your name, where you're from, what you like!"

"At least give her a chance to reply, my lady," Paula panted, running into the room and holding onto the door frame for support. "I told you not to run off like that."

"I'm sorry, Paula, but you know how excited I am to see Ciel and meet his new cousin!" Lizzie turned to embrace Haru, who remembered Sebastian stuffing her head in that ridiculously uncomfortable hat to hide her ears. At least she was wearing a dress that made her tail look like nothing more than a small bow tail at the back.

"Where'd you get such an adorable hat?" Lizzie asked, dragging Haru out to the hallway. Haru merely glanced at the mirror and was suddenly red in the face with embarrassment. She turned to growl quietly at Sebastian, who remained unfazed.

"Ciel gave it to me," Haru lied.

"Where are you from? I want to know everything about you!"

"So sorry, Lady Elizabeth," Sebastian interjected as the three of them sat down in the drawing room. "But my young mistress is rather sensitive on the topic, so she's likely not to answer you."

"No, it's fine," Haru lied, clearing her throat. She got to her feet. "I was born as the only living child to Godfrey and Pricilla Phantomhive. We'd been long overshadowed by our distant relatives and, retired, we stayed in a large mansion much like this one. It was cozy country living, and having been born dead, my parents treasured me as a jewel outshined by not even the rarest ruby or the most durable diamond. Yes, life was good to me, then… the accident happened."

Her tone changed.

"It was a dark and weary night. I was playing with my cat, Mr. Midnight when I heard a scream from my parents' quarters. I followed the sound, only to be greeted by my parents' corpses, bathed in blood and consumed by demons. It was a tragic sight for me to bear and I feel as if I lost a lot more than a few family members that night. I lost a part of my soul, as if I too am an empty shell. I came here in hopes of my soul returning to me, and I must say," she turned to Ciel. "I have found something much better."

Ciel was blown away by her lie. Looks like she'd been learning from Sebastian.

Lizzie left later and Haru was glad to be rid of that ridiculous Lolita hat. She gave it back to Sebastian with cold eyes.

"Such girlish things are not suitable for a wolf," she spat, and went up to her room without another word. She didn't come down for dinner, either. Assuming he'd made a terrible faux pa, Sebastian let her be.

Haru laid face down on her bed and whimpered. She thought about it. Lizzie wasn't a particular favorite of hers, sheltered and spoiled like that, but she got to have Ciel in marriage. Perhaps at the age of thirteen she was considered an adult as a wolf, maybe it was that. However, she wanted more than anything for something deeper than just friendship and content. She wanted happiness and love. Something never presented to a wolf.

She slept that night, her bed feeling large and empty with just her in it.

She didn't want to be… Alone.

Another chapter for the countdown! I've got some more overall plot to this one, so start guessing, people! I was requested to upload this weekend, so I really strained my fingers to type as fast as I could to get a lot up. I hope this is enough to hold you over until next weekend :D