"Where are they?"
"Don't know babe."
"Could you stop laughing to yourself? This isn't funny!"
No. It really wasn't – Funny, that is.
Autumn could mentally handle a lot of things. She dealt with death, deception and crazy people every moment of her life – It was a part of her job description. Being woken up with the shrill screams of her roommate – that she only kept to keep the house clean – was something that she could not deal with.
Sleep was one of the top five things Autumn cherished, it was even above school and work. Then there was also food and more intimate things that were ranked very high to her. Sleep was number two.
Thoughts of eviction tumbled sleepily through Autumn's mind as she tried to bury herself further into the heat of her blankets, wishing she could fall back to sleep.
There was a lot she had a lot to get done today, and being woken up to fighting was definitely not helping to calm her nerves. Planes always put her stomach in knots.
"Where are my fucking keys, Gary?" Her roommate's loud voice crept under the blankets and into Autumn's ear.
Autumn gruffly put a pillow over her head, trying to ignore the shit storm that was likely brewing outside of her door. Maybe if she pretended like she was asleep, she wouldn't be brought into the argument... Again.
They fought a lot.
"I don't know where your keys are, babe. Why don't you ask your freaky roommate?" Gary's calm voice answered, indifference lacing his voice.
Freaky? Well that was a little rude. Especially since I pay for pretty much everything here.
Autumn could very much live by herself, true. From the amount of money in her savings account to the profit she made with work, it would be easy. It was also very lonely.
All hopes of not being brought into the argument shattered when Autumn's door swung open with a thunk.
Angry footsteps found their way up to the safe haven that was Autumn's bed. Her blankets were yanked away. Slowly with blurred vision Autumn looked up to her roommate with a scowl.
Angry light blue eyes stared back.
Levy stood over Autumn's bed with her hands on her narrow hips. Her chic short bleached blonde hair looked almost white from the sun coming in from the window above the bed.
Today Levy looked quite nice in jean shorts and a floral print blouse. Autumn especially loved the necklace she was wearing. A gleaming silver chain with a tiny shimmering amethyst stone.
What was under it made Autumn take a slow calming breath.
"Autumn, have you seen my keys?" Levy asked impatiently, foot tapping on the dark oak floors.
Autumn felt the annoyance radiating off of her roommate.
Letting out an over exaggerated sigh, Autumn reached over to her night stand and put on her glasses to get a better look at Levy. After a moment, she quietly pointed to the lanyard that hung around her roommates neck.
Levy's eyebrows scrunched together, then looked down to where Autumns finger pointed.
"Oh.."
Autumn, still quiet, threw her legs over the side of the bed and stretched while Levy stomped out of her room to continue her argument. She was fully awake now. There was no sense in lying in bed any longer.
"Gary! Why didn't you tell me they were around my neck!?"
"Didn't see them, babe."
"Well maybe I don't see this relationship going anywhere-"
At that point Autumn decided to ignore them and get ready. First, though, nature was calling. Or screaming, rather.
After shuffling to the adjacent bathroom and relieving herself of what she liked to call her 'morning pee session' Autumn glanced over to her alarm clock.
9:46.
Well, fuck a duck.
Her alarm must not have went off. As it was, Autumn only had 14 minutes to get ready for Ben – her boss – to pick her up for their flight.
Shit, Shit, Shit.
Quickly deciding she didn't have time for a shower, Autumn took the black hairband that held a permanent residence around her wrist and tied her knoted long, dark, red hair into a sloppy bun. Loose, it reached past her shoulder blades. There was no time to wrangle around with a brush.
Why she kept her hair that long when it was unmanageable at best was beyond her.
Autumn stripped quickly and pulled a tight fitting baby blue tank top over her head and worn pair of black shorts up her legs. She struggled and wiggled for a moment to get the damn shorts over her wide hips, cursing all the while.
Thankfully she had thought ahead and already had her large purple suitcase full of her clothes and necessary toiletries. All that was left was to pack her carry-on.
Stumbling to her closet, she pulled out her gray messenger bag and the small black leather book bag that she used as a substitute purse.
Approaching her desk, Autumn picked up the sketchbook she left open from last night. She took a moment to admire her latest drawing.
The picture was of a faceless woman in a flowing green dress. Her long, close curls the color of red satin was windblown around her head.
Autumn cound never pin-point when it had started, but she had always drawn the woman with red hair. It was something she did for as long as she could remember. When younger, she would refer to the mystery woman as the 'Red Lady.'
She closed the sketchbook gently and placed it on top of the other three – one was empty for her work while the other was filled with plenty of nonsensical drawings from when she was adopted by the Blakes.
The Blakes – the thought of them alone was enough to make Autumn's throat feel tight.
Instead of dwelling on it Autumn swallowed the raw emotion down and quickly put her sketch books into her messenger bag along with her art supplies. Next went her laptop, which she never left the house without.
After adding another pair of underwear and a few plane-tollerant beauty products and tossing them into her carry-on Autumn stood over all of it with her hands on her hips. It would have to do.
All of the stuff barely fit in the bag, but Autumn would be damned if she wasn't prepared for the few weeks she would be in Texas.
Autumn tossed the messenger bag over a shoulder and put her book bag securely over it. Walking over to her bedside table, she grabbed her cell phone and made her way out of her room, pulling her huge purple suit case behind her.
While checking her phone Autumn groaned at the time again – Five more minutes; No time for coffee or breakfast.
Her hand went to her chest to one of the many pieces of jewelry she normally wore. This one was the most important to her. She'd had since she was dropped off at the orphanage by her birth parents, like some sort of 'sorry for the abandonment!' gift
The necklace itself was a large pendant on a thin – but strong – silver chain. It was oval in shape made of rainbow opal, surrounded by small clear crystals that reflected in the light like twinkling stars. At the top of the pendant, silver bands formed what looked like a crown of some sorts.
Though strange, it always seemed to calm her down. Although lately, it was feeling oddly warm in her hands. The warmth itself gave her a serene feeling, so it didn't bother her that much.
"Where are you going?" Levy asked from her perch on the granite kitchen counter.
In terms of apartment's, the one Autumn and Levy rented was very average. Plain cream walls that they couldn't paint and dark wood floors. The kitchen was very much the same.
A sweeping gaze around the kitchen told Autumn that Gary had already left. Why he left, she didn't care. Autumn walked over to the coffee machine, took out a disposable cup and poured herself a nice amount of coffee. Next she added a bunch of sugar and leaned against the counter next to Levy.
Autumn was what people considered heaight immpared. She only stood at 5 feet, leaving her to be towered by everyone else. Levy herself, when standing, towered over her with 7 extra inches.
Here we go again. "I've told you for the past week that Ben and I are going to Texas for a few weeks. We have to go undercover to-"
"Ben is coming over?" Levy asked, with a twinkle in her eyes.
Levy had the biggest crush on Ben Peterson. Something Autumn could never understand. He constantly rejected her and showed little to no interest in women – in other words he was gay as fuck.
Did that stop Levy? Nope. She had some 'master plan' to change Ben's mind. After a year and a half, you'd think it would've gotten tiresome.
Coughing into her hand, Autumn pushed away the awkwardness of her friend's open infatuation with her boss. If Levy could even be considered as a friend..
Whenever Autumn felt the emotions of other people – something that even she didn't understand – It was as if the feelings sometimes leaked into her own emotions, and she was 100% positive she didn't hold those feelings for Ben.
"No." she said, rubbing the bridge of her nose in irritation, "He's just picking me up so we can go to the airport."
Levy visually deflated, her lusty feelings quickly being replaced by disappointment. That was better.
"Oh, okay. Well, I'm going to work. I'll see you whenever you come back. Bye."
And just like that she was gone. Not that Autumn expected anything more. They were never really close; just roommates.
Autumn let out a sigh of relief. Some people's emotions were easier to feel than others and being around Levy was like sitting next to a sound system of feelings… on full blast. Sometimes just being around her hurt.
This time it gave her whiplash.
Seven minutes after Levy left, Autumn heard a honk come from the driveway. She quickly grabbed her things and ran outside.
After locking the door, Autumn made her way to Ben's burgundy 2013 Dodge Durango. Beside it was the only love she's ever known, her black '67 Chevy Impala – His name was Cas.
"I'll see you soon, my love." she whispered.
After throwing her heavy suitcase and messenger bag in the trunk with Ben's things, she climbed into the passenger seat and gave the only friend she ever had a wide smile.
"Hey, Flower. You look happy this morning. You ready to go?" His voice was deep and calming.
Ben had deeply tanned skin, the total opposite to her own shade of paper ghost. Shaggy golden-blond hair framed his handsomely angled face. His pale green eyes were looking back at her with glee.
Dressed in a black shirt that stretched over his fairly muscled torso and khaki shorts, no one would know just how much he loved the dick.
"Yep. I am prepared to be the best undercover-ninja-assistant you've ever seen. I even packed a tie if I have to cross dress," She said excitedly.
Her remark was met with a short chuckle and shake of the head.
This would be Autumn's first time going with him on a case that they would both need to be undercover for. Being the only contracted private investigator that lived in Lee – a small town in Madison, Florida – Ben had to travel a lot.
Normally if she went with him, he would just seal her away in the hotel they held base at to research their findings. Mostly just background bull.
Not this time though; this time Autumn was going along and couldn't be more happy. It was about time.
.
.
.
The flight to Texas took about two and a half hours. The only problem they had was when Autumn had to go through her old nemesis: the metal detector.
Having various piercings throughout her body and her excessive amount of jewelry, it took her a while to get through without setting the damn thing off.
Now they were pulling into the parking lot of a motel in a rental car Ben acquired for the trip. She didn't know the make or model (she wasn't a car person by any means,) but it was discrete and not noticeable.
After the strange dreams on the plane and her fear of flying making her go crazy, Autumn was exhausted and ready for some much needed Z's.
Ben went inside to buy a room while she got her things out of the car. Like before, she put the messenger bag over her shoulder and the book bag over that so she could easily pull her suitcase behind her.
Why did I have to pack so much? She thought angrily to herself. Next time, she'd definitely pack lighter.. Maybe.
Ben came out to the car and handed her the room key. "Room 66. Around the back." he told her before going to the trunk to pull his own luggage out.
"Alrighty. I'm going to go there now and take a shower. I have a terrible headache." She replied, walking away with purpose.
"Uhh… Autumn? The room is the other way," Ben called after her.
"Shit."
Turning around she headed the right way. Directions had never been one of her strong suits. She tended to get lost. A lot.
"62...63...64... Ahh, 66." Autumn hummed to herself when she found the room. She could practically hear the shower calling her name.
"Autumn"
She froze with the key inside of the door, her eyebrows scrunching together.
What the fuck?... Shower? She questioned cautiously in her mind.
The sounds of twigs snapping snapped her into action.
Autumn spun around and searched the tree line behind her, banishing the hotel key as a weapon. Like the card would do much damage.
A few feet away a dark figure slowly stepped to the edge of the woods.
Fear shot through her like a bullet. Her self defense training was kind of shitty, and she had no knives around her. If someone were to attack, she'd be royally fucked until Ben got there.
Quickly, she turned the key to get into the room, not noticing the heat of her pendant or the tingling feeling starting from her hands that spread through her body.
If she thought her headache was bad earlier, her past self would laugh.
She bolted through the door with her things, tripping over the trim of the doorframe.
Her fall wasn't as painful as it could have been. When Autumn landed on her face, she had found it falling onto a plush carpet. Plush carpet in this shitty motel?
The sudden bought of exhaustion tore through her aching muscles.
A loud clatter echoed through the room. She wasn't alone. She was too tired to fight back.
She was dead.
"Who in the hell are you? And what are you wearing!?" Someone screeched.
"Woah there, Banshee, calm down your wailing. No one is dead here," Autumn said, while sitting up with a hand on her head yet, that is. "Ugh. What are you doing in my hotel room?"
Autumn's vision swam. Colors mixed together in dizzying ways that sent her stomach churning. Was she going to be sick, or pass out from exhaustion first?
The anticipation was killing her.
"Banshee?" A deep masculine voice echoed the same time the Banshee screamed something about his office not being a motel room. He then went on a tangent about how impossible it was for her to have gotten so far or some shit. Autumn didn't really care what he was saying. Sleep sounded so good.
"What?" She asked, dazed. Keeping herself conscious was getting harder and harder.
"Excuse my Young Master, miss...?" The deep voice asked.
"My name is Autumn.. Uh, Autumn Blake"
"Hello Ms. Blake. May I inquire what you are doing in my Masters personal office?"
Ms. Blake? She thought, Master? Personal office? What the fuck is going on? Her brain was going 100 miles a minute. She decided then that sleeping maybe wasn't that great of an idea.
It sounded as if she was in a dominatrix whore house.
"Please, call me Autumn… wait. Why do you sound English- Holy taco shit!" Her eyesight had finailly cleared and Autumn's brain short circuited at the sight before her. The unreality of the reality before her made her head spin faster. Like a merry-go-round on crack.
Ciel Phantomhive was glaring daggers through her, while Sebastian Michaelis had a shocked yet confused look on his face.
The room she was in was quite huge, she'd noticed. There were dark beige walls with wooden paneling on the bottom. A large desk with a green plush chair that matched the moss green rug that spread throughout the room – the same one her face landed on.
To the right of the desk, a circular table with 2 comfortable looking chairs sat on either side. And taking up the right side of the room where the wall should be, was the biggest collection of books she had ever seen outside of a library.
"-would that be acceptable?" Sebastian's voice brought her back to herself.
"Wait, what did you say?" Autumn asked, her face heating up with a blush.
Sebastian gave her what looked like a strained smile. "I said: Could you explain to us what you are doing here, and why you are wearing such indecent clothing."
Autumn could tell that's not what he said at first, but didn't comment. Instead she did what any other sane person would do in a situation like this.
She ran.
Getting up as quickly as possible, she swung open the door, half expecting to end up safe in her hotel room with Ben. The only thing that ran through her mind was that Sebastian – an anime character – was a demon, and he was more than likely going to murder her. Before she ran out of the room, she looked back to both Ciel and Sebastian and took in their shocked looks.
Shit, Shit, Shit, Shit, Shit. I'm insane. I've finally fucking lost it. Autumn thought to herself as she ran through the hallway, ignoring the fact she had no idea where she was going.
"Ben!" She shouted. Maybe he was there too? "Ben, help! I'm so confused!"
But.. What if she was just dreaming?
Her run came to an abrupt halt as she ran into something that felt like a wall. She bounced off and fell painfully onto her butt. At least there was cushion on her toosh, otherwise Autumn might have broken her tailbone at the awkward landing.
"I DONT UNDERSTAND!" She yelled out loud to no one in particular. Then she was met with wine colored eyes.
"Well, neither do I, Ms. Blake. But if you could calmly walk back to the Master's office, I'm sure we could sort all of this out." Sebastian's voice was meant to soothe her, but Autumn still felt as if she would shit herself any moment.
Without any other choice, she accepted his offer by nodding her head yes. Compliance until an opening presented itself was her new plan.
Five minutes later, Autumn was sitting in one of the chairs inside of Ciel's office, in front of his desk. Said chair was extremely plush and comfortable, perfect for her bruising ass.
Sebastian was serving what he said was a "Calming chamomile tea, with a hint of honey"
"Umm… Could I have sugar?" She meekly questioned, secretly afraid that they were about to poison her but too much of a whimp to say anything.
"How many lumps?" Sebastian asked
"Five?" She honestly didn't know what a 'lump' was, but five definitely didn't sound like enough.
"My, someone has a sweet tooth" Sebastian commented in what sounded like fake happiness. He added the sugar and handed it to Autumn.
She glared at it with distrust and pretended to drink it out of kindness.
Autumn glanced over at Ciel, who was studying her like she was some type of a freak show. If only Gary could see me now.
"Now, lets get down to business," Ceil said in a demanding voice, perching his fingers inquiringly. "What are you, and what do you want?"
What are you? What the hell kind of question was that?
Autumn let that sit on her head for a second, so her answer wouldn't be rude.
"I'm a girl," She rebuked. "What, have you never seen one before? And what, it's not like I'm here by my own free will." She bit back, folding her arms over her chest and putting her nose in the air.
"I can see that you're a girl! I'm asking what you are. If I were to guess what you were, I'd say maybe a troll. How old are you anyway? 14?" he sassed back, leaving Autumn gaping at him and Sebastian chuckling into his hand.
Autumn noticed it then. Isn't he supposed to be like 11? he looks 15 or something.
Once her brain caught up on the conversation, Autumn mentally bristled at his obvious insult.
"Excuse me, Banshee, I am 100% human," she burst out, shaking a finger at him. "Not a troll. I don't think someone with a damn demon as a butler would discriminate against other mythical creatures like this. If I were anything, I'd be a cute pixie. And for your information, I'm 19! Also, could I just express how attacked I feel right-" She cut herself off.
Ciel and Sebastian visibly stiffened at the mention of their secret.
"Oh shit." She whispered under her breath. Anxiety flooded through her veins like cold water. She wanted to run again.
Both males were somber as they stared at her with caution.
"How do you know about that?" Ciel asked "And answer carefully." Sebastian had a strange glint in his eyes that Autumn didn't like.
"I… Uhh..." Autumn fumbled for the right words that wouldn't get her killed. "Fairy god mother?" She said lamely. The words seemed to fall out of her mouth and onto the ground.
Ciel sent Sebastian a questioning look, having what looked like a silent conversation between themselves. Sebastian shook his head 'No' towards him. That doesn't seem like a good sign.
"I'll give you one more try, Ms. Blake. Don't try my patience." Ceil demanded.
Autumn swallowed the lump of fear that formed at the back of her throat. The truth it is...
"You guys are a story about a 12 year old Earl named Ciel – obviously they got the age wrong though because you dont look 12. Wait are you? No, never mind. Anyways – the main character, Ceil, is a 'watchdog' for the queen, that forms a contract with a demon to humiliate the people that killed his parents, and shamed his family name."
The explanation was quick and to the point, though a little rushed. But while both Ciel and Sebastian looked shocked by her quick words, she could tell they didn't believe a single thing she had said.
"Sebastian!" Ciel commanded.
Everything seemed to go in slow motion from there.
Sebastian reached for Autumn – to end her life, no doubt – but before he could reach her, she threw tingling hands out in front of herself in defense.
When she realized she was still alive, Autumn slowly opened an eye, then openly gaped at what she saw.
Sebastian was across the room, picking himself up while Ciel's mouth hung open in disbelief. Sebastian, once standing up, glared at Autumn. Then his eyes began to glow.
Holy grape guts.
They were both beautiful and terrifying at the same time. Swirling pink and red – lust and rage. Autumn felt herself wanting to go near him. To allow Sebastian to end her life and-
"Wait!" Ciel's voice echoed slightly in the room.
Sebastian stood over Autumn, hand extended just a few centimeters from her neck. All of her thoughts revolved around how close she was to becoming a stain on the expensive looking rug under her. She hardly noticed the fascinated look on the young Earls face. It seemed so far away. As if she was in a tunnel.
The butler slowly straightened himself out. Autumn's last coherent words was her the repeated statement of how she had lost her mind.
Then, like some cheesy scene in a movie, she fainted.