Ciel: Hello I am Ciel Phantomhive. I regret to inform you that I will be taking care of the disclaimer due to Grace's... situation.
Undertaker: Hello little earl~
Ciel: What are you doing here?!
Undertaker: Your butler sent me. He's... hehe~ preoccupied at the moment.
Ciel: *turns red* I do hope they don't ruin any sheets.
Undertaker: Your guard dog has always fancied that girl for as long as I can remember. I'm surprised she was able to wiggle her way into our lives~ *grins widely*
Ciel: As am I. She knew of Sebastian and I without me having to utter a word.
Me: I'm here! *panting*
Undertaker: My my you look like someone who's ran a marathon~
Me: I finally escaped that demonic butler of yours Ciel. I swear I was going to pass out from how much endurance he had. *bending back and stretching*
Ciel: Grace doesn't own Black butler or any of the characters. All credit goes to Yana Taboso the creator.
Undertaker: Hehehe~ she does own Rina and the story rights though~
Me: Thanks for saying the disclaimer. I'm so tired. *falls over and sleeps*
Sebastian: My lord I will take her. You continue your duties. *picks up sleeping Grace*
Me: Enjoy the story~ *mumbles sleepily while nuzzling Sebastian's chest*
Sebastian: *brushes hair from face* My you are like a kitten...
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Summary: Just like the Rose she was both beautiful and deadly. She was beautiful like the satin red petals, and deadly like the thorns that adorn it's stem. And it was because of this that she seemed to captivate him. She was his beautiful rose and he intended on keeping it that way.
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Chapter eleven: Moonlit Rose
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:::Rina's prerogative:::
I sat in the train car silently while listening to Ciel practice his German.
"Ciel your pronunciation is terrible is pronounced Ich freue mich sie zu treffen." I spoke.
"I can read in German just fine. I just have a problem with speaking German." Ciel fumed.
"I can see that. Your German is as deplorable as Sebastian said it was. I will have to teach you more since obviously my teachings have not stuck at all." I spoke while glancing at Sebastian.
He held a sly smile on his face.
Ciel turned to look out the window while grumbling like a child. When we received the letter from the Queen about a mysterious curse I just scoffed. As far as I knew, there is no such thing according to Sebastian that is.
The train had finally came to a halt on the outskirts of Nuremberg. Ciel, Sebastian and I exited the train car.
Ciel stared at the carriage driver with a very confused look.
"What is he speaking? Is it even german?" Ciel asked looking back at Sebastian and I.
"Yes it's German. It's a dialect spoken in southern Germany. Ciel if you would just go over your lessons you would have known that." I spoke raising a brow.
"Ich werde dich nicht in den Wald bringen, egal wie sehr du mich bezahlst Ich schätze mein Leben mehr als Geld. (I will not take you into the woods no matter how much you pay me. I value my life more than money.)" Ciel looked to me and I sighed.
"Ist es wegen des fluches auf dem wald? (Is it because of the curse on the forest?)" I responded.
The conversation went on without me when the man said he could not speak of such atrocities in front of a woman. I found myself being approached by a few very handsome German boys and decided to respond to their inquiries.
They asked where I was from and my social status. I of course told them I was from England and that I was of nobility. They then proceeded to complement me and tell me how beautiful I was. One of them even asked me if they could show me around Nuremberg. I was about to respond when Sebastian politely told them I was taken and to leave.
"Sebastian you didn't have to be rude. They were just being friendly." I frowned crossing my arms.
"I do not appreciate the way they were looking at you and I especially do not enjoy it when people touch my things." He spoke seriously.
"Oh so I am a thing now. How charming." I mocked with a little scoff.
"You know I didn't mean it in that way love. Now come. We have two carriages and Ciel insist that you ride with us in the first carriage. Something about you being more fluent in German." Sebastian kissed my forehead and I smiled giggling.
I never could bring myself to cross with him for very long. Those boys from earlier looked at Sebastian with envy. I wouldn't blame them. Sebastian was lucky to have me by his side but I was also lucky to have him by mine. If I hadn't met Sebastian I probably would have ended up with some arrogant blow heart of a man who only valued me as a prize or trophy of some kind.
"Alright I am coming." I spoke sitting next to Ciel as Sebastian started the horses.
:::
The forest was quite dark and unsettling in my opinion. I know I have nothing really to fear seems how I am probably one the most fear demon species to date, that is according to Undertaker last we spoke.
A dark haze also settled in the underbrush only adding to the cursed feeling.
"Curses are bull." I muttered to no one in particular.
I glanced up towards Sebastian who was staring at a compass. I felt my stomach twist slightly when the compass needle went crazy. I have nothing to fear... hopefully...
"I find it quite amusing that you don't believe in curses." I was brought out of my thoughts as Ciel and Sebastian conversed about the apparent cruse on this forest.
"Ciel I feel the same. Curses do not exist, at least ones made by humans. Witches aren't real. They are just crazed women in search of a reason to persecute insolent men who have wronged them is some way. These women use what ever resources they can collect and manipulate weak willed minds to do their bidding. All it is a ploy using the weaker link." I rationalized.
"Love you should start to believe more. You'd be amazed by what lurks in the darkest depths of the human mind." Sebastian smirked.
Ciel and I shared the same look of skepticism. I maybe immortal but I am not some blind sheep willing to follow whatever rubbish is placed in front of me. I am far too intelligent for that.
Just because I love Sebastian doesn't mean I will follow blindly. As William said, demons lie. I just hope Sebastian doesn't lie to me anymore.
"Look my lord. Buildings up ahead." Sebastian spoke.
"This isn't creepy at all." I muttered as we walked through the village.
"H-hey! Is anyone home?" Finny called.
"Intruders! Get them!" I heard women yelling in German.
We were bombarded with multiple questions as well as being syphoned into the middle.
"Beruhige dich Wir wollen nur mit dem Herrn dieses Dorfes sprechen. nichts mehr. (Calm yourselves. We only wish to speak with the lord of this village. Nothing more.)" I spoke.
"Ihr nach Lord Sullivan! Töte sie! Verteidige den lord! (Their after lord Sullivan! Kill them! Defend the lord!)" These women started to close in.
"Was machst du so viel Aufregung?! (What are you making such a fuss for?!)" Larger muscular man holding a small girl.
"Are you lord Sullivan?" I asked in German (an:/ lol I got tired of google translate).
"Indeed I am. Sieglinde Sullivan. Lord of this forest." The small girl answered.
I blinked. Eh? She's so small!
"Enough. These travelers have come a long way. And besides that the woods are dangerous during the night. Come. You shall stay with me." She smiled.
"My lady you don't mean the green manor do you?" One of the women questioned.
"Do you question my judgement?" She asked.
"No.." The woman backed away.
I looked at the others. They either held a look of relief or indifference. Doll though, looked nervous as ever. I felt a bit of empathy for the girl. It's scary being in a place like this. I then noticed Finny comforting her. I smiled. Those two are adorable together. I think that they will become a legitimate couple in maybe a year tops. We'll see.
"This isn't a normal village." I mumbled looking around the village.
"What is your name? The small girl asked Ciel I assumed.
"My name is Ciel Phantomhive." Ciel answered.
"No, not you. Her. What is the name of the Rose?" She looked directly at me.
"Rina Dalles." I answered with a small smile.
"How old are you?" She asked me abruptly.
"I am nineteen as of three months ago." I answered.
The girl nodded turning back to look in front of her.
We walked across a bridge with a what looked like a bottomless pit. I stared at the manor in front of us. It was beautiful to look at. The inside was even more impressive. The interior was decorated with a rustic feel only enhancing the ambiance of the manor.
"Please wait down here." Sebastian spoke to the servants.
I just sighed softly as we arrived in the dining room.
"I have to apologize in advance. My cousin isn't very proficient in German. While I speak it fluently, Ciel can only speak some of it. Although he can read German perfectly fine." I explained to lady Sullivan.
She smiled and giggled looking at Ciel.
"What did you say?" Ciel demanded after hearing her laugh.
I only responded with my own little giggle and looked to Sebastian. The silence in the room went on for a good hour before lady Sullivan's stomach let out a very loud grumble.
"My body is telling me it needs nourishment." She spoke.
"What is taking your butler so long?" Ciel asked in German to my surprise.
"Yes, where is he? It's been over an hour. This is unlike him." Lady Sullivan spoke.
"I suppose I should go and help him then." Sebastian spoke leaving the three of us to converse.
"Where is the short one's parents?" Lady Sullivan asked me.
"Ciel's parents died in a fire when he was young." I answered sadly remembering mother and I running out of our carriage as the flames leapt up consuming the whole manor.
"What about yours?" She asked.
"Mine? My father died when I was younger and my mother just recently passed away." I answered.
Lady Sullivan nodded.
"What is the name of the black haired man?" She asked quickly.
"His name is Sebastian. He is my butler." Ciel spoke.
"Are you betrothed to him?" She asked me.
"That is difficult to answer but in the sense of the the word yes. He and I are suppose to be wedded. I love him dearly." I answered.
Lady Sullivan looked surprised by my answer.
"How does he feel about this?" She gestured to Ciel whom was trying to listen to our conversation.
"She's asking how you feel about Sebastian and I as a couple." I explained in English.
Ciel stated at me and then spoke.
"It doesn't bother me anymore but at first I admit I was jealous. I loved Rina and my butler in the end was able to win her heart. I guess because of my parents death that I began to cling to Rina as some sort of support and I still do. Only difference is I have put my feelings for her aside and decided that her happiness is more valuable then my own petty wishes." Ciel spoke.
I translated that to lady Sullivan who looked surprised yet again and then smiled as a response.
Sebastian and Wolfram served us our food finally. Lady Sullivan had no qualms in digging into the food. Her way of consumption though led me to giggle. Sebastian and Ciel stated at me.
"What are you laughing about?" Lady Sullivan stop eating to look at me.
"Nothing. I'm just glad to see you have such a healthy appetite. Most girls now of days eat like faintly little swans." I responded staring to eat.
I could see lady Sullivan trying to copy the way I was eating. It was honestly sweet to have the girl attempt to mimic my movements.
"Lord Wolfram!" Hilde came in panting.
Poor woman.
"What happened?" Wolfram asked.
"It's terrible! The werewolf. It's back!" She cried out.
Ciel, Sebastian and I looked at each other. The curse.
:::
This wolf curse makes no absolute sense. Not an ounce of magic is here. I only smell chemicals and iron. Nothing supernatural. I also don't particularly like Hilde or the rest of those "witches". I have an inkling of a feeling that maybe the whole village might be hiding something from poor lady Sullivan. That girl deserves to know everything, so why hid things? This just doesn't add up.
I groaned loudly slipping my dress off leaving me in my under dress and corset. I then let out a sigh. None of this is making much sense.
A cough alerted me of the presence of Sebastian and Ciel.
"Is there something the matter?" I asked still standing there.
"The young Lord and I are going out for quite small amount of time. We need you to stay here in case of anything that might be the least bit helpful with this whole curse happens." Sebastian spoke.
I nodded. I would like to come but something about Wolfram and lady Sullivan had my gears turning in my mind.
With that the two of them left. I need a nice long bath after something like this. Today has been a bit exciting not so much as a normal case in London but I can't particularly chose what my assignments are now can I? I chuckled to myself before placing gonna night gown. I chose a strapless one that I reserve normally for summer and spring months. Blowing out the candle I snuggle into the soft silk covers and stare out the window to my left. I know demons normally do not partake in slumber but I honestly want to sleep. I don't care if it isn't normal. I want to sleep. I soon closed my eyes and breather in. Before I knew it I had slipped into a dreamless slumber.
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An:/ Yeah. Another one. Finally. Took me long enough. I had an idea. I wanted to fit my own personal arc concerning Rina and inner demons (no pun intended). I thought that maybe some personal growth would be great. I plan on putting it right after the green witch arc. What do you think? Please comment/review and don't forget to follow/favorite as well.
Until next time my luvies~
GraceRoyal