"Elizabeth where is your mother?"
"She is on holiday, coming back ?"
"Because you will get in less trouble if she is not present." Ciel gripped his walking stick and knocked on the door. Paula opened it. "Lady Elizabeth! We were worried sick! You have been gone for hours!"
"I stopped by to see Ciel, Paula." Elizabeth said without shame.
"Earl Phantomhive." Paula said, flustered. She ushered them inside and Ciel gingerly walked into the house. "Ciel will be staying with us as he is not well." Elizabeth announced. Ciel remained expressionless. "Children so love their games."
"I am not a child Ciel!" Elizabeth said.
"Then it is best not to interrupt your adult game."
"Are you still mad at me?"
"Yes."
"I shall show you to your room." Paula said.
Sebastian stepped in, "I shall escort my Master to his room. Please care for Lady Elizabeth."
"That fiance of yours." Paula murmured, helping Elizabeth into her change of clothes.
"Speaking of Ciel, I am going to check on him."
Ciel POV
"Sebastian get me something to eat."
"Young master, I think it is best I care for your injury."
Ciel gritted his teeth and threw a book at Sebastian's head. Damn Demon he was, Sebastian caught it. "Let us save the games for later."
"Sometimes I honestly want to kill you, you Devil. "
"I appreciate the compliment young Master." Sebastian said, his lips parting into a smile that revealed sharp animal-like teeth. "If you wish to intimidate me you are woefully incompetent." Ciel said.
Sebastian bowed, "I would never be foolish enough to intimidate my lord."
"I could always lend you to Grell for a day." Ciel added.
Sebastian grimaced. "Sharing that circus tent again with a grim reaper would be preferable."
"Good. Now get me something to eat."
Sebastian left and Ciel stared quietly around the dark room. Now, what to do? He could not very well stay. That would put Elizabeth in danger. He didn't want that. Ciel plucked thoughtfully at his bandaged wound.
Such trivial things should not be a concern. He thought. For now I believe I need to go for a walk. Ciel exited the room and wandered around the corridors of Lizzie's home. Without meaning to ciel arrived at the library. There was a comfortable chair there. Maybe he would sit and relax a bit.
A scream shattered his slumber. Ciel dragged himself to his feet. It was a girl's scream. A very familiar scream. Elizabeth. The same scream she had uttered when they were five and he had dropped a worm and two spiders on her skirt. Terror.
He forced himself to run and saw her outside his room. "Ciel's gone." She said frantically, Sebastian stood with a plate of food in one hand, inspecting the door. Mey-Rin appeared out of nowhere, her glasses still gone, a gun in one hand. She appeared to have been watching the house. "What on earth-"
"Ciel is gone!" Elizabeth shrieked.
"Calm yourself my lady." Sebastian said, "he cannot have gotten far."
"What is all the racket about?" Ciel asked.
Elizabeth deflated and leaned back against the wall. "I thought you were in trouble. You need to stay in bed."
"Says who?" Ciel asked.
"Me."
"I've already done everything else you told me to do and you want more?" Ciel snapped, irritation rising.
"If you want to recover and leave this house you will behave." She said, hands on her hips. She tossed her blonde hair and started to drag him back to his room while Mey-Rin and Sebastian watched avidly. Ciel struggled and moved in the opposite direction, Elizabeth tripped and nearly knocked him over. "I should warn you Lady Elizabeth, Ciel is sixteen and able to overpower you." Sebastian said.
Elizabeth scowled.
"So I shall assist you." Sebastian announced, handing the platter of food to Mey-Rin. She took it and put her pistol in her sash..
"WHAT?" Ciel yelled.
"Its for your own good young master." Sebastian said firmly.
"Sebastian I- This is unnecessary."
This is necessary.' Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Mey-Rin!" Ciel yelled, "Help me."
She shook her head "My apologies."
Ciel did his best to get away from Sebastian and Elizabeth but was eventually overpowered. He swore as Sebastian locked the door. "Ciel, your eye is twitching again." Elizabeth commented.
Ciel had been cleaned up, had his injury taken care of, his fever addressed, changed into nightclothes and forcefully pushed into bed. He was proud to say he had struggled and protested every inch of the way. He was not proud that he had not managed to shake Sebastian and Elizabeth. Fortunately Elizabeth was panting, hands on her knees and her hair was mussed. To his dismay, Sebastian (The goddam disloyal Devil-butler) was as prim and proper as ever, "You are behaving extremely childishly Young Master."
"I wonder why." Ciel muttered sarcastically.
"We only have your best interests at heart." Elizabeth gasped.
"Sebastian doesn't have a heart."
Sebastian smiled.
"Time to eat Ciel!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
Ciel groaned and picked up a pillow, contemplating death by suffocation.
"Open wide young master." Sebastian said, holding a spoon of soup in front of Ciel. "You have finally gone completely insane." Ciel yelled.
"Is the soup too hot for your liking My lord?" Sebastian asked.
"I will not be coddled!"
"You've been coddled for the past forty five minutes." Elizabeth said, bouncing up and down excitedly.
"I suppose you're going to give me a makeover next?" Ciel asked sarcastically, 'Maybe glitter and pink?"
"No." Elizabeth said sadly, but perked up "That, however is a fantastic idea!"
Ciel glowered at the two of snatched his food from sebastian and picked at it. He needed to get rid of them. Sebastia was annoying him more than usual as he seemed to be enjoying making ciel an invalid. "Sebastian, check the repairs on my house and collect my papers and a couple changes of clothes. Be back in the morning."
"Yes young Master." Sebastian smiled, bowed, and left. Ciel stabbed a carrot in his soup randomly with a spoon. He inspected the ring on his finger and again wondered how many Phantomhives it had seen die. Though he doubted any of his descendants had sold their souls to a demon.
"Ciel?"
He looked "Yes?" He asked.
"Please listen to me." Lizzie hugged her knees to her chest and rested her head on her legs.
"That last time I listened to you we ended up hiding in the servant's quarters." Ciel said calmly, feeling a stab of guilt at the pain in her eyes. "It's fine." He said quickly. "Not A huge problem."
She gave him a small smile. "At least I figured out more about why you've been gone. I was worried."
Ciel Put down his bowl and suddenly Elizabeth looked stern. "Eat. Now."
"Lizzie-" He protested.
She put a hand to his forehead and cringed. "Ciel, your fever is worse."
'Whaaa?' Ciel mumbled, his vision seemed to be blurring at the edges.
"I am going to get you some water."
Ciel groaned and sank back into bed. Sleep really seemed inviting. He was so tired. Ciel moved his arm uncomfortably, it hurt. He jumped as something cold was pressed against his forehead. Elizabeth was above him, looking concerned. "I have half a mind to call Sebastian back here." She mumbled.
Ciel frowned. "Why?"
"You are not behaving. I am taking care of you. Please listen."
"I do listen, I just don't follow what you say." Ciel drawled.
"Shut up."
Ciel stared at Elizabeth, she was being mean and he didn't understand why. She thought he was sick and he wasn't. Probably. Hopefully. Ok. He did not want to be sick and she might actually be correct.
"You need to sleep Ciel." Elizabeth murmured.
"No. I have work. People want to kill me and I have to leave your house." Ciel mumbled, sitting up. She pushed him back down. "Behave."
"Bad idea." He slurred."Lemme go."
"I refuse to listen to you."
"I won't listen either." Ciel sat up and got out of bed.
"What are you doing?"
"When is your mother coming home?" Ciel demanded.
"Tomorrow. Why?"
Maybe she can get you thinking sensibly."
Elizabeth scowled. "I am sensible."
"LEAVE ME ALONE ELIZABETH!" Ciel shouted, then he ignored her and began muttering to himself. Elizabeth decided to leave.
Ciel Pov
Ciel went downstairs leaning heavily on his walking stick. Sebastian had appeared this morning to announce Elizabeth's mother had returned. He was to meet her for breakfast. Sebastian opened the door for him, carefully watching for any signs of him falling. "I am not an invalid!" Ciel snapped, "What are you? A dog looking after her pups?"
Sebastian smiled.
Ciel stomped away.
"Ciel Phantomhive. Still as childish as ever I see." A beautiful blonde woman announced.
"Hello, Aunt Francis." CIel said with a bow.
"Elizabeth has been telling me of your predicament and I must insist-"
"That I leave?" Ciel asked hopefully.
"That you stay." She finished, annoyance crossing her face.
"This is ridiculous." Ciel muttered as Sebastian served him food. "My presence here is a danger. For your own good I suggest you allow me to leave."
"I am sure that my home is well defended and you will probably add precautions. Besides, the reformation of my beloved nephew must be undertaken. As I remember my last inspection was unsatisfactory."
"I can recall that . . . incident." Ciel glowered at Sebastian pointedly, remembering the cut roses, the broken china and other difficulties.
She scoffed at Sebastian as if she had just noticed him. "You look lecherous."
"I am afraid I was born this way." He said, apologetically giving his usual answer.
"I can forgive my nephew's appearance for the situation he is in however-"
Wincing as if from a horrible memory, Sebastian hastily slicked back his bangs. Ciel smirked, remembering his Aunt terrorizing Sebastian for his hair length. Fortunately, this time Ciel himself had escaped unscathed. Mostly. The glare his Aunt had just given him was enough to give him a headache.