I have no excuse for the late update, sorry, *hides in corner of shame* Anyways, I drew Arabelle and Alois together for the cover art c: Also, thank you Incendo for reviewing, and Kailynsawyer & Incendo for favorting/following ^-^

It's been a few days since the Ceil insistent and I find myself in Alois's study yet again. It's early in the morning, I watch as a paperboy drops off the newspaper at the front gate. I press my hands against the window and whisper, "Help meee." but the boy, or possibly cross dressing girl, doesn't notice me and walks away.

"He can't hear you." states Alois from his desk.

"I know that, it was worth a try though." I retort.

"You're strange, Arabelle."

"You had the soul of Ceil Phantomhive in your basement, yet I'm the strange one?"

Claude enters the room and hands Alois the paper that was just delivered. He bows then turns to leave, but before he exists the room completely he turns his head ever so slightly and glares at me. I glare back until he shuts the double doors behind him.

"What was that?" asks Alois, who's skimming over the newspaper.

"That was nothing, really. Your butler and I just aren't too fond of each other." I answer honestly.

"How boring." He tosses the paper and to his desk, "Arabella, come here."

I walk over to his desk chair where his sitting, "Yes, sir-Ahh" he grabs my writes and pulls me into his lap. I feel my cheeks heat up as I search for anything to look at besides Alois.

"You're cute when you're flustered." He says, putting his face close to mine. Once again I avoid any eye contact. "Why do you keep doing that?"

"D-doing what-t?" I try to say calmly but end up stuttering.

"You keep looking away from me, why?" he asks, but then realizes, "Oooh, you saw what happened to Hannah. Don't worry I could never hurt someone as cute as you."

For a second, I believe him. My eyes shift to look at his, they're a pretty shade of icy blue. But all too soon his eyes narrow and he leans down and whispers, "Just kidding." Into my ear. His hand that's still holding onto my wrist tightens, and starts twisting my skin. I let out a pain filled cry, somehow I break free of his grasp and run out of the study. I can hear Alois laughing hysterically as I sprint down the hall. "You're even cuter when you cry!" he yells.

(/◕ヮ◕)/。.:*・° .。. 。.:*・° .。.\(◕ヮ◕\)

It's about three A.M. and I find myself in the library reading next to a small candle. The library seems pretty much untouched, I guess Alois has no interest in books. Or maybe he doesn't know there is a library in his mansion, I accidentally stumbled upon it earlier running away from him. I've been avoiding Alois since this morning. I'm not sure if he'll be angry when he finds me, or if he doesn't care and isn't even looking. Probably the second option though, If he really wanted to find me he'd send Claude to locate me.

"What're you doin'?" asks a voice from behind me.

What the Hell?! It's like he knows when I'm thinking about him- wait…that wasn't Alois's voice. I twist my body around and see one of the purple haired triplets standing above me. I didn't know him, or the other two, could even talk. Libraries are great places for learning new things.

"Reading." I reply.

"You should be asleep." He says.

"As should you."

He walks away without another word, and I go back to reading. He comes back a few minutes later, carrying something.

"Here." He hands me the something, it's a plate of oatmeal bread. This triplet must be the cook, if I remember correctly his name is Timber.

"What's this?" I ask, taking hold of the plate.

"You didn' eat dinner. Aren't you hungry?"

"Oh, yeah, thank you."

Timber nods, then leaves the library for good this time. I munch on the slices of bread, while continuing to read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

The morning sun light starts pouring in through the library windows, I guess I should return to the job I was forced into. I blow out the flame on the candle, placing it back onto a table. Then quickly return the plate the servant courter's kitchen. I find a vanity mirror and finger comb my amber coloured hair. I dart to Alois's study, getting there before he does.

I wish a rabbit in a waist coat would come take me away from here.

(/◕ヮ◕)/。.:*・° .。. 。.:*・° .。.\(◕ヮ◕\)

"I was informed that you were reading stupid books all of yesterday." Says Alois.

"S-sorry,sir." I apologize, stuttering like an idiot again.

"I didn't know you could read."

"My mother taught me before…she…left me.."

"It's also come to my attention that you haven't slept at all since you arrived here."

"Do you really expect me to sleep and let my guard down in a house full of demons?" I ask.

"How do you know that?!" Alois snaps.

"I'm smart enough to know that all of your servants, except for me, aren't human."

Alois looks like hes about the lash out and I wouldn't be surprised if he slapped me across the face. But he doesn't, in fact his attitude suddenly changes.

"Fine, then if it bothers you so much, you get to sleep in the same bed as me! I'll protect you from the scary demons." He says with a smirk and a giggle.

No! NO! NONONONO! Why didn't he just slap me? Why didn't I stay in the library? I could be reading Frankenstein right now! This is horrible.

"By the way, we're having a costume ball tonight. So behave yourself." Alois reminds me.