Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji.

Chapter Seven

I winced and placed a hand to my head, in a useless attempt as easing the sudden throbbing in my skull. These headaches were becoming more frequent as of lately and would attack me relentlessly at any time in the day. I was beginning to fear that I might have to ask Sebastian to fetch a doctor to examine me.

"Tessa?"

"Yes?" I asked turning to find Sebastian standing not two feet behind me. In surprise I dropped the polishing rag to the ground, he'd been the last person I'd expected to come find me today.

Bending down, Sebastian picked up the dropped rag and placed it into my hand. "The master and I, will be going out on business this afternoon and as such I am unable to watch the household staff."

"And you want me to keep an eye on things and have everything prepared for when you return?" I asked a small smirk playing at my lips.

This wasn't the first time Sebastian had approached me with this request, being on the staff for an entire month now I was beginning to get the hang of things around the estates. Yes, estates. Apparently, Ciel had some business to attend to in London and moved the entire mansion's occupants to his London manor in the middle of the winter. This wasn't the first time he had been here this year, business had brought him out a few weeks prior to my arrival, but this was the first time the entire staff was also brought along.

"Yes," Sebastian sighed. "I'm afraid of what may happen if no one watches those three."

I curtsied, "Leave it to me."

"Alright, the master and I shall be home in time for dinner. Please accomplish these tasks before I return," Sebastian said, handing me a folded piece of paper before leaving me.

I sighed as soon as he was gone and dusted myself off. Collecting the polish and rags, I left the entrance hall and went to the back of the house where the kitchen laid. I knew the moment I found it, because I heard the tell tale crashes and bangs as things fell, flew, and burst into flames. The others were certainly kind people by nature, but they were not at all cut out for working in the home of a noble. Even with the training I was giving them, things were not working completely in harmony and the only time everything was well off was when I was helping or teaching them.

"Alright, Sebastian and the master have taken their leave for the afternoon," I stated, closing my eyes against the horrors in the kitchen. "Sebastian left me with orders that need to be done before they return this evening."

"Tessa, you're in charge again?" Finny asked.

I nodded and opened my eyes as I released a sigh, "Yes."

"Oh, and what has he left us to do this time?" Bard asked.

I placed my polishing equipment onto the counter and waved for Mey-Rin to put them into the supply closet, as I sat down and unfolded the chore list. Which sadly was a lot more extensive than I originally thought it would be.

"Finny," I began, watching as Finny perked up. "You are to remove the snow off the trees out front."

"I'll be right on it, Tessa," Finny saluted.

I waited for two seconds, knowing he'd have a question, and soon enough he gave me a questioning look.

"And how does one do that?" He asked almost silently.

I smiled warmly at him, "Shake the trunks gently and make sure to watch the amount of strength you're using. Worst case scenario, use a broom to shake the branches."

"Alright," Finny said, running from the room.

I sighed and turned to Mey-Rin, "Sebastian asked for me to have you set fires in each of the fireplaces around the manor, then to have you regularly check them to make sure they don't go out. Also he wants you to change the linens in the three guest rooms."

"Of course," she said, rushing off.

I turned to Bard, "Do you think you can handle making the soup I taught you last week?"

"Of course, Tessa," he grinned.

I scowled, "Without firearms of any kind, right?"

He frowned, but nodded grudgingly, "Aye."

I smiled and moved towards the kitchen doorway, "Good, now I'll be off to clean up the master's closet. Apparently, Sebastian wishes for me to move all the warmer clothes to the front of the closet and the lighter ones to the back."

Bard chuckled, "You'll be at that all day, Tessa."

I laughed, "Oh, I know."

Leaving, I went upstairs to Ciel's chambers. In the mansion it consisted of a series of adjoining rooms but in the manor, which was made to be much smaller than the mansion, the room was only a bedroom with a connecting bath and walk in closet. Nevertheless the room was still richly furnished with a large bed, velveteen love seats, a small table with two chairs, and a large fireplace.

I left everything as it stood, since Sebastian hadn't asked me to change the linens or anything else, and went straight to the closet. Opening the doors wide open, I sighed. This certainly was going to be an all day task.

Racks upon racks cluttered the room sized closet. Shorts, pants, boots, hats, jackets, blouses, and all other odds and ends required to keep up with the latest fashions. Even for a male closet it was overwhelming. I'd forgotten what the interior of a noble's closet looked like.

And so my work began.

Setting a pace and plan for myself, I begun by taking out all the clothes. At first this seemed to be the easiest part, until I realized just how much clothes the earl actually owned. I was worn out by the time I laid the last piece of clothing onto his bed, not to mention my head was killing me.

I groaned and rubbed my aching temples. As soon as Sebastian returned I was going tell him that I needed a doctor. It would be better to catch something in it's earlier stages then to let it build up.

"Alright, now just to situate these," I mumbled to myself, wincing as the sound of my voice caused my head to ring.

Picking through the velvet, silk, satin, and rich cotton materials I placed them in accordance to seasonal wear. It wasn't until I came across a silky pink material did I truly pay attention to what I was actually picking up. I frowned and pulled the dress out of rest of the clothing.

It was a very pretty ball gown, one I would have envied had I been still a wealthy aristocrat. The white underskirts and light pink overskirts, mixed well. The ruffling pink fabric was pulled up by black lacing to form ripples and in the back it was pined up into tiers. The white ribbons at the top of the dress would've fallen off the shoulders leaving them bare. I smiled and held it up against myself in a joking manner. Of course the thing was too small for me, but it was pretty either way. My only question was what it was doing in Ciel's closet.

A gift for his fiancee?

Possibly.

I placed the dress to the side and returned to my work. I only got halfway done before I was attacked by the worst pain yet. A hiss escaped my clenched teeth as the sharp stabbing pain filled my mind. It lasted for a long moment before it vanished, leaving me shaking.

I definitely needed a doctor.

Pushing the warning signs away, I finished up the rest of my work and looked at the clock on the nightstand near the bed. About a half past four, Ciel and Sebastian would be returning in two or three hours.

I moved towards the door, ready to leave but never reaching my destination. After taking two steps I was assaulted by physically crumpling pain. I crumbled to the ground, clutching at my throbbing head. An icy feeling slowly spread from my temples to the rest of my mind, consuming it at a snail like pace. I opened to my mouth, but the pain was so great that even my screams of pain were silent.

I hoped it would pass like the others before it had, but this time the pain had a mind of it's own. Steadily it crept down my neck, spreading to the rest of my body. The icy feeling brought goose bumps to my skin, along with the feeling of being frozen from the inside out.

A hiss escaped my lips as my body trembled, what was wrong with me?

"Nothing at all," a disembodied voice whispered in my head. "In fact, this is something very right. You're finally awakening."

I felt like screaming at the top of my lungs about how this pain could be right or that I didn't know what it meant by 'awakening'. Awakening from what? A dream!

"No, from mortality," the voice giggled.

"Mortality?" I whispered finally finding my voice, just as I slipped under.

I sat up in bed and smiled lazily, feeling absolutely content as I stretched out my muscles. Besides me, my partner stirred and opened his dark eyes. He blinked away the sleep and then grinned sleepily at me. Briefly, his eyes flashed to red before resuming their human color, the pupils narrowing into cat like silts before widening into circles once again.

"Succubus certainly live up to their reputation," the demon besides me smirked, running a hand through his tangled blonde locks.

I rolled my eyes and slide off the bed, not caring that I was standing completely naked in front of this male. I needed be anyway. My body was perfect, unmarred by a single blemish and of course attractively sculpted as belonging to the species of demon I was. I turned my head to briefly looked over my shoulder at the demon on the bed, who was now rolled onto his side and enjoying the view before him.

"Haven't had enough?" I asked slyly.

He grinned, "No one can have enough of you, Tess."

I smirked and pulled my hair up with my hands, getting it off my back, "That's if they've had me first. Only a select few are given that gift."

He sat up in bed and looked me over lazily, "Care to gift this demon again?"

I moved over to the bed and leaned closer to him, leaving less than a millimeter of warm air between our faces. Slowly I traced my black nails over his cheeks, chuckling as he closed his eyes and sighed softly at my gentle touch.

"I don't think so," I mocked, pulling away abruptly and moving to the mirror on the other end of the room. "I have somewhere to be and I can't be late."

Looking up I glanced into the mirror and smiled. Reflected into the gleaming surface was a beauty. Large pastel blue eyes framed by thick dark lashes, a pretty heart shaped face, creamy skin, copper curls, and full rosy lips.

I screamed, my lungs threatening to burst from the mere pressure of the air leaving my lungs. The pain was indescribably as my entire body experienced a shift. Memories, ones I'd forgotten, streamed back into my mind in an overwhelming flood that crushed all thoughts. My soul was ripped from my body leaving a gaping empty hole where it had once resided warmly. My scream raised in pitch as I felt it being torn away. That was the worst of the pain as the warmth from my body was also sucked away with it, leaving me cold and icy.

Just like the demon I was.

Finally the pain fled and I collapsed to the floor, gasping to catch my breath. Experimentally I flexed my fingers, digging my nails into the carpet. I sighed softly and opened one eyes to look at my hands. The structure and color were still the same as they'd been an hour ago, but now the nails were a midnight black that gleamed like onyx stones in the light of the room. As I looked at them I found a smile creep across my lips, it was good to be back. When those idiots reaped me on accident, I'd feared I was done for. Apparently I still had fight in me yet.

I stood up, dusting myself off. It was easy now to see why Sebastian had taken me in as an employee under his master. The silly mortal me hadn't noticed it of course, but I did. Sebastian, had seen the sleeping demon in me because he had recognized the scent. Which reminded me of why he had felt so familiar, it was because he was. He was the demon I'd had my flings with countless times. Not the only one granted, but definitely one of the better companies I'd known.

I smirked, I wonder what sort of surprise he'd get when he realizes that I've awaken. Doubtlessly he had to have know that at some point I would come to, but I wonder if he expected it to be so soon. Probably not, or else he would never have left the house occupied by only the other staff and myself.

Or maybe he had known I wasn't going to attack anyone.

I sighed, well now that I was awake I had two choices. One, I could remain as a servant in the Phantomhive household. I could see that while my pride as a free succubus would be belittled, the chances of annoying Sebastian were endless. Or two, I could take off and resume my old life. This did have some perks, but as I thought more on it I remembered how tirelessly boring it had been; along with lonely and often tough.

What I was sure about at this point was that I was going to pull some money out of my accounts. Most demons didn't like to dwell in the human world too often, let alone gain money and other human assets, but succubus and incubus were different. As the only way we could gain souls was through sleeping with mortals, we often resided in the mortal realm. In this way we often accumulated large fortunes in both money and objects.

I happened to have plenty of money stashed away. So much so that if I wanted, I would never have to work another day in my entire existences. Which if could be all eternity.

For now I was going to have a little fun out in town. Maybe Mey-Rin would enjoy accompanying me. She certainly could use a new dress or two.

I walked down the stairs, taking them two at a time with the tips of my toes. It was fun to be able to exercise some of the abilities I'd lost during the time of being mortal. Such as strength, balance, and speed. Not to mention all my perfected skills.

"Tessa?" A voice asked curiously.

I looked back up the stairs and smiled. Just the person I was looking for.

"Mey-Rin, are you done with your chores?" I asked, looking up the staircase at the other maid.

She nodded quickly, "Yes, I just finished going through all the rooms."

Suddenly she frowned, "Tessa...Did you hear that scream earlier?"

I kept my face blank and shook my head, "It was probably just an alley cat. You have a lot of those here in the city."

Mey-Rin nodded, "I guess you're right."

"Of course I am," I grinned. "Now Mey-Rin, would you like to accompany me on a little shopping trip?"

Her frown deepened, "Won't Mr. Sebastian be mad?"

I laughed lightly, "Of course he won't find out. We'll be back before him and the master arrive."

"But what's the point of shopping if we have no money to use?" Mey-Rin asked curiously, coming down the stairs.

"Let's just say that I've always had some money tucked away," I grinned, placing a finger to my lips.

She nodded, "Alright, let me grab my coat."

Once she had collected herself and both of us were dressed decently in our off duty dresses, we headed out. I'd taken the liberty of hiring a coach, which impressed Mey-Rin to no end. By the time we reached the center of the shopping district a new wave of snow was falling from the sky and the streets were crowded with pedestrians trying to get out of the falling flakes. I smirked as I stepped from the carriage, letting a flake fall into my open palm. The ice didn't bother my skin at all.

"So where are we going first, Tessa?" Mey-Rin asked silently, as she came to stand besides me.

I scanned the shop fronts, looking for the familiar little store front that had always resided on this street. My eyes soon found the one I sought. It was a little seamstress shop, but it certainly stood out from it's neighbors. The window front was edged in gold plating and two ball gowns of outstanding quality were set on display.

"That one," I stated, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards it before she could protest.

Mey-Rin's gasped, "That one? But it looks so high class?"

I chuckled, "Are you forgetting who I used to be?"

She shook her head as I pulled the front door open, "N-n-n-no, but you aren't that wealthy anymore...Are you?"

I giggled and stepped inside the warmth of the shop, "Let's leave that for me to know and for you to forget about."

"Welcome to my shop, ladies," a middle-aged woman greeted us as she appeared from the back of the shop. "What may I do for you today?"

I smiled and stepped forward, "Jane, it's me, Tessa Hale."

Her eyes grew wide, "Tessa? Why I haven't heard that name in a while!"

I grinned and removed my coat, placing it on the hangers by the door, watching as Mey-Rin reluctantly copied me. She looked uncomfortable in this sort of place, but I was determined to have her in at least two dresses by the end of our trip. Of course the goal was to get her more, but I would settle for less if I had to.

"Jane," I said, addressing the seamstress. "My friend and I are in need of some dress, do you think you can quickly sew some things up?"

She nodded, "Of course I can. Now what sort of dresses are you looking for? Ball gowns?Habits? Everyday?"

I mauled over the options, "How about a little of everything? I have some money to spare."

"Alright, then I shall get you ladies the most stunning dresses London has ever seen," Jane exclaimed, pushing back her dark brown bangs.

Mey-Rin looked as if she was about to protest, but before she got very far she was whisked away to the back to be sized by Jane. I followed after them, but instead of going to get sized, searched instead through the clothes in the back. I picked out this and that, choosing what I thought would go nicely.

And so passed the hours we were allowed to waste. By the end of the time Jane had sewn us a totally of thirty dresses; fourteen for Mey-Rin and sixteen for myself. Besides my pile of dresses I'd succeeding in convincing Jane into sewing me two pairs of bloomers and riding jackets. Now that would have been an impossible task for a human seamstress to do, but being a demoness Jane could easily get some many dresses done so quickly.

When we arrived back at the mansion Finny and Bard were waiting. When they saw the huge smile on Mey-Rin's face and the pile of packaged dresses in our arms they completely drained of all blood and promptly passed out. I giggled at them and stepped over them.

"We should place these in our wardrobes and get ready for Sebastian and the master's arrival."

Mey-Rin nodded, "But can I see that one dress on you, Tessa? You wouldn't show me at the shop and it looked so pretty."

I glanced at her and sighed, "Alright, but I must make it brief. A gown of that style would certainly shock the master and Sebastian. A servant shouldn't wear such finery."

I stopped in front of my room and opened the door, before turning to her, "I'll be out in a second, just place your things in your room and change. I should be out by the time you're done."

She nodded and left, leaving me to enter my room. I locked the door behind me and quickly went to work placing the dresses inside my wardrobe. They just barely fit inside and in the end I had to leave the doors open so that they wouldn't wrinkle the dresses. I suppose the next thing I needed to buy would be a new wardrobe for both the mansion and the manor.

I pulled the dress Mey-Rin had seen out of it's packaging and looked it over. It wasn't the most beautiful of the dresses I'd purchased today. One other gown was by far more spectacular, but I'd carefully hidden that one from her. I would be saving that one for a special occasion.

This gown was made of a dark violet satin. It had a square neckline rimmed with silver and black lacing that thickened near the shoulders to form the sleeves. The torso was tight fitted, but flared out at the waist where the hoop skirts began. The overskirts of the same dark violet stain were pulled to the sides to reveal another skirt of a light lavender underneath. The bottom edge of the lavender skirt was laced in silver and back. The bottom of the dress just kissed the floor, hiding my black boots underneath. It was surprising that in all my life as a noble I'd never worn a dress of it's equal and even as a demon, I'd never had worn something quite like this. It pleased me to know that this wasn't even the best.

I carefully pulled on black lace elbow gloves that hide my finger nails from view and pinned my curls up. In the mirror I could tell the differences. My features were more sharply defined now, the human imperfections gone. The scar that Dupont had left on my face from that night long ago, was now gone and in it's stead was perfectly smooth skin. I smiled at my reflection, pleased by it, and went to the door.

"Oh my! Tessa, you look just stunning," Mey-Rin exclaimed.

I spun around, "Do you think so?"

"Tessa! Mey-Rin!"

Mey-Rin and I turned to see Finny and Bard running down the hall towards us. They froze before they got within two feet and took in the sight. Slowly both their mouths fell open in a gaping look.

"Wh-wh-what are you wearing, Tessa?" Finny stammered, gaping openly at me.

I smiled and curtsied, "Do you like it?"

Bard slapped Finny across the back of his head before Finny could reply, "Never mind that, Sebastian and the master have returned."

I gasped, "They just pulled up?"

"No, they're coming up the steps right now," he grumbled.

"Shoot," I cried, grabbing my skirts in my fist as I rushed down the hall.

"Wait! Tessa, your dress," Mey-Rin cried following behind me.

I shook my head, "No time, we need to be in the entrance before they get inside."

"We can stall them, Tessa," Bard suggested, but I was shaking my head before he finished.

"No, it won't work on Sebastian," I grumbled. "He's smarter then falling for simple tricks."

We skidded into the entrance way a second too late. Sebastian was already removing the master's coat and top hat, folding it over his arms. As soon as I stepped into the room it was as if someone had frozen time for a second. Sebastian stiffened and looked up, his eyes automatically falling on me. As if everyone else sensed this too, their eyes in turn fell onto me.

Lau, the chinese man that Ciel knew from the underground markets, smirked and covered his mouth with his silk sleeve. "It appears that the earl has kept a butterfly in his garden without even knowing it," he chuckled.

I didn't even bat an eyelash, being used to such comments.

"What the hell are you saying?" Ciel snapped, turning on Lau first and then back to me again. "And what are you wearing?"

I forced an embarrassed smile onto my face, "A gown, my lord."

He clutched at his forehead with one hand, "I know that, but where did you get it?"

I fought the smirk putting up a fight to appear on my face, "A seamstress shop downtown."

He sighed, "Must you always answer with what I already know?"

I grinned this time, "No, my lord. Not if you asked the right questions."

This made his head snap up and he examined my face closely. Knowing if I did so quickly no one else would be smart enough to notice, I let my eyes flash scarlet and then back to their pastel blue again. His eye widened before he fought to control his expression, while I grinned back.

I wasn't stupid or blind. The boy carried the scent of Sebastian on him which could only mean one thing, they were contracted. I wonder what Ciel had asked for in exchange for his soul. It certainly couldn't be money or women. He already had the first and the second I assumed he was too young to want yet, besides he did already have that fiancee Elizabeth Middleford.

So what was it?

Sebastian cut in before anything more could be said, "Well now, you must be tired due to the cold. I will serve tea immediately."

Ciel let out a huff as he continued staring me down, "Fair enough then."

"Instead of english tea, let's have chai, that would be better," a unfamiliar voice interjected in a heavy accent that gained my attention.

"Fair enough then...," Ciel sighed, before realizing his mistake. "Err..what the?"

All head turned in the direction I was already looking, where two odd men stood. Both were of dark complexions and while one had dark hair the other had white. Each of them were clothed in garments that were foreign to this country and looked too thin to be warm.

They looked incredibly at home for not having been invited inside as they wondered further into the manor, unbidden by anyone.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Ciel fumed, his attention turned fully to them.

The smaller of the two, who looked to be the master of the other, shrugged, "Don't you know? We met earlier."

"They just met?" Finny, Bard, and Mey-Rin questioned together.

"Besides I saved you. In India it's common to welcome and entertain benefactors," he stated, folding his arms over his chest.

"Oi, where is the bed?" He asked, looking around and that's when I stepped in.

"Please excuse me, sir, but who are you?" I asked trying to be as polite as possible.

He turned to look at me and I watched as his eyes widened. It took about two second for the childish man to make his way over to me and take my hand in his. Startling me into instant silence at the sudden contact.

"I am, Prince Soma Asman Gandal," he introduced himself formally.

A chorus of 'prince?' rang out behind me, but I just smiled softly and curtsied.

"Well, your highness, I'm-," I began, before I was cut off.

"Your highness, this is my master's sister, Lady Teresa Phantomhive," Sebastian said bowing.

I couldn't help my eyes widening, neither did the other four people in the room with the exception of Tanaka and Ciel. Tanaka was too unemotional to react besides a brief 'hoho' and Ciel seemed apt to play along with Sebastian's plan. I couldn't help but wonder if Sebastian had told him what he was going to do before doing so.

"Teresa is too formal, please call me Tessa," I answered simply, with a kind smile.