Chapter 14 - Escapee 4 ~ healing wounds
Boy oh boy, long author's note is long! them typos were crazy last chapter. I'm so sorry! ;-;
But the good news is I'm back from camp and I had the best time ever! I made new friends and we played so many sports and and and… I sound so much like a kid now! XD
Okay, but I'm finally free from summer distractions and I can FINALLY sit around at home doing nothing with my life. I've been reading like 20 different mangas at once. O.o Aaaand, ive also been working madly at my own book I'm writing so that's the main reasons I've been gone for longer than two weeks. Sorry again!
So, this is the last chapter on my own special arc before getting into the curry contest arc! I loved that arc so much, but not as much as the Jack the Ripper arc. So far JtR is still in the lead. Who else is excited?
Ok, so before I start, something has been brought to my attention.
Catherine has been OOC for the last 3-4 chapters ON PURPOSE! Catherine has slight split personality. This will be explained later on when the rose is brought up more. But the OOC is VERY IMPORTANT to the future chapters.
Catherine's fowl language at such a young age came from a very precious 12 year old we've known from the past, Ciel. She's slowly losing it, if anyone has noticed. ;D Catherine will also begin to notice a lot of the sudden changes in her. *hint hint*
Plus, deep secrets will be revealed in this chapter. Remember when I told you to think back to a special friend that died in A Cat for A Demon and that he'd return? Well he's back as someone new. *laughs evilly* you'll never guess.
major-fangirl-in-here17- Very soon, don't worry. I plan to start adding some in this chapter and it progressing more and more each chapter. I'm not promising anything but within 10-13 chapters, they should literally be catxSebby and not some love-hate relationship. ^.^
Finally, there's no bottom A/N because I frankly don't have anything to say so that's either a yay or... nay(?) so don't forget to review after reading, thanks again!
Okaaay! Without further ado, lets start this party!
TPOV
Catherine was tucked tightly under a thick wool blanket on the couch in Ciel's office. At her feet sat John, her brother- her recently revealed he too was a demon cat- and behind her stood Sebastian- who was glaring angrily at the angel and bird demon across the room. Ciel sat at his desk happily sipping tea like nothing was wrong.
"Well, Catherine…" Ciel began with a glare over the rim of his cup. "Explain these idiots right now!"
"Um, well, you see-"
"Please, allow me, Catherine." Alarix cut in. "You are tired, I'm sure. My name is Alarix and I was sent by her father to watch over her due to her being chased by Lucifer. Haruto is a very strong bird demon, prince if I may. Sebastian, you may know of him."
"I… do." Sebastian nodded with a frown.
"S-Sebastian?!" Catherine sat up and stared at him. The taller demon took her hand in his and squeezed it gently.
"I will explain it later. Continue, Alarix." Although His face shown anger, he was more concerned for his love. They still hadn't figured out what that black liquid that had previously covered her was and why she was still unable to form back and forth.
"Thank you. As I was saying, Haruto was chosen as a guardian by me not long after they had met do to the relationship quickly made between the two."
"What kind of relationship?" Ciel asked, his interest boiling slightly.
"As siblings! What else is there?!" Huto's face blushed bright red, despite his words.
"Haruto! Don't tell me you like me?" Catherine yelled back.
"To hell and back!"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Enough already!" Ciel growled, slamming his hands down on the desk before him. He noted that both of the younger demons' faces were tomato red, despite the words thrown out.
Alarix cleared his throat and waited for everyone to settle back down. "After the group searching for her destroyed the village she and Haruto were living in, she ran away and Huto and I lost trace of her. We've been searching for her for quite some time." He hung his head sadly.
"How'd you find her again?" Ciel questioned.
"You. We found out she was with you and we came for you. Who'd think you'd be in Maine?
"Complications happened and we lost hold of her."
"Oh, I believe that." Alarix laughed heartily.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Johnathan, or as you knew in the past-"
"Alarix, don't!" Johnathan spoke for the first time.
"Elijah."
"What?" Catherine pulled her feet away from John and tucked them under her. "You mean the snobby, soul eating, sadist cat demon from my past?"
"Yeah… that's me." John sighed.
"Well, isn't this a sudden turn of events." Sebastian growled at the boy.
Before Ciel could speak as well, the door swung open and Alois strutted in with a grin. "Welcome back, Cat. Have you torn Elijah's face off yet?"
"You knew?" Catherine growled.
"Duh, I thought you all did. That's why I figured you never hung around him often when with me."
"Not the reason." Cat sighed and untucked her feet, planting them on the ground. She was glad to be back in pants and a t-shirt. That horrible nightgown Ash had put her in drover her mad. "Wait a second, where's drucell?"
"Drucell is with Undertaker."Alarix spoke quickly "He had taken quite a beating. And your father offered to care for the stitching back.
"Ah, that's good. I was worried Sebastian or Ciel had torn him to pieces again."
"Not likely." Huto laughed happily. "I like Drucell, he is one of the only doll things willing to help us out."
"Wait wait, who is that?" Alois pointed at Huto and frowned.
"That's right, you two don't know each other." Catherine tiled her ears back sheepishly. "Huto, Alois Trancy. Alois, meet Haruto Hatagashi- a bird demon. Be nice."
"What? Why do I get the 'be nice' and not him?" Alois folded his arms and pouted.
"Because you'll start the fight and he'll finish it." Huto suddenly burst out laughing, walking towards Alois.
"You're so short!" Huto stood at least a foot and a half taller than the pouting blonde.
"Maybe not…" Catherine tosses her cat ears back and grinned sheepishly again.
T-G-R-
It had been two weeks later when I had finally been allowed to roam freely outside the mansion again. Haruto, John, Alarix, and Drucell had been allowed to stay in guest rooms in the Manor, if they promised to stay quiet and not destroy anything. Huto and John politely agreed, but Alarix and Drucell were stubborn against staying in the manor.
I had decided to visit my father today instead of sit around doing nothing. I mentally cringed when I remembered that my father-undertaker- was in fact the undertaker. I loved him, yes, but to call him my father was absurd. I just couldn't do it. He and I both knew that.
I began thinking back to what happened at the 'meeting', I was shocked to find out Haruto's feelings, but I kinda expected it. This whole time we had called each other brother and sister, but he never thought of me that way. My heart felt a slight pang of guilt towards it.
As for my real brother, I was beyond shocked. I was actually kinda mad. I hated and loved Elijah as a brother, but when he died the first time, I panicked, but I was glad he was gone. In the past, Eli(nickname used only during friendly meetings) had no remorse for humans dying or being killed. He'd mercilessly kill for the fun of it, and of course steal the souls like we kill animals today. I had a feeling John was no different.
Alois' reaction to the whole scenario was infuriating more than shocking, however I quickly got over it. To know he knew just as much as Alarix did we confusing but made me feel slightly betrayed. He and I are as close brother-sisterly as Huto and I were back in Japan. I understand why he never told me, but I still regret not questioning him further about his knowledge of it.
I pasted by a mirror in the hall and stopped to look at my somewhat disfigured self. My eyes were still darkened from lack of sleep due to nightmares every night. My face was still pale from the lack of sun and no transforming for the past two weeks. My ear still had an awful cut in it from Ash slicing it. My tail also had weak scars across it, but they were bound to disappear soon. My arms and legs had scars too, but Sebastian had said they'd heal too. I lifted my long-sleeve shirt to show my healing wounds. They had been the ones to heal the slowest. I traced the stitched wounds with flinch. I hated the feeling of the wounds and scars not etched into my skin.
"Those haven't healed yet?"
"Alarix…No, guess not." I shook my head and pulled the shirt down.
"Would you like me to heal them?" I shook my head again. "I… have news to tell you."
"Oh?"
"The… liquid Ash put on you… It was… It took away your powers to transform."
My body went rigid. I could feel my heart skip a few beats. How… I shook my head angrily. "No! No it can't be! I won't let it be true! I-I'm just to weak right now!"
"Catherine-"
"NO! I-I can transform! I'll prove it to you!" I turned my back and began running away. Tears clouded my vision and I tripped, falling flat on my chest. I sobbed into the carpet, not caring who found me. I heard footsteps above my head and a shuffle of clothes.
"Now then, that's no way to prove you're strong without your powers."
"Seb-seb-Sebastian!" I cried angrily into the carpet louder. I felt to hands reach under my arms and yank me up. I was pressed against a chest firmly.
"If you're going to cry, at least cry to me. The floor won't comfort you. Now listen, just because you can't transform doesn't mean you aren't strong. I can't and I'm still strong. Neither can the Young Master. Whether you're strong or not is up to you."
I stopped crying and stared at Sebastian's face. "What the hell'd you do with Sebastian!?"
"Very funny. Catherine…" He stared down at me with a glint in his eyes.
"What? Why are you staring at me…"
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "I love you Catherine."
"Ah… Don't say that so carelessly!"
"I'm not. I say it to only you. I don't mean it to anyone but you. Do you honestly think I'd say it every day to someone I don't love?"
"You…" It's true, everyday these past two weeks, he'd say it so quickly to me, I'd have no time to react, and I simply ignored it. But now… "I guess not." I sat up taller and glanced at him nervously. I kissed his cheek and turned away.
I heard a thick chuckle from beside me. "That's the closest you've gotten to me in weeks."
"Shut up. It's the best you'll get for now." I grumbled angrily at him.
"That's fine." He leaned and returned the kiss on my cheek and pulled me up. "I believe you said you wanted to be at the Undertaker's by noon, yes?"
"Uh, yeah. Thanks for not saying 'father'. Its gotten annoying with Alarix, Huto and John- Elijah around."
"Of course. The young master and I noticed you cringe several times yesterday evening when we were questioning Alarix about his knowledge on the oils."
"The black liquid stuff I was coated in?"
"Yes. Anyways, go dress warmly, it is cold outside."
Once we stepped outside, I spotted Finny, Bard, Meyrin and Tanaka all burring in snow. Tanaka was literally burring in snow- an igloo. Meyrin was making an upside-down snowman, and Bard was mumbling about lethal snowballs with stones inside. Finny was simply running around cheering.
"It's snowing!" Finny shouted happily. I pulled my fluffy hood of my jacket over my head, and quickly strutted past them, trying to avoid any questions or hits to the head with a 'lethal' snowball.
"Sebastian!" Ciel called from the top window. "We've got a case, quickly drop off Catherien and let's go."
"Yes, Master." Sebastian did his annoying bow to his master.
"EH? No way! I'm coming! I always come." I shouted angrily.
Ciel was down to the doorstep quickly, due to his demonic speed. "We don't need you with us."
"Master-"
"Well, it's true, Sebastian. She thinks she's weak without her powers, and I don't need anyone weak around this manor." Ciel looked to the servant who were happily enjoying the day off.
"Ci-Ciel?" I stammered weakly. My hood had fallen off, my ears were pushed back firmly, and my hair was blowing gently.
"In fact, you can stay with Undertaker from now on if you really are weak. I will not have anyone weak here at the manor nor on my property."
"Ciel Phantomhive!" I stomped my foot angrily and bared my catnines (for lack of better wording and due to quick thinking). "You are very correct. I am weak without my other form, but that's what I've grown up depending on. Looking back, I regret trying not to depend solely on my cat form and my sword, but I can't correct that. No one can change the past. I wish to become stronger as a human, and I'm begging you to help me. I know you won't accept the weak, so make me strong. I don't know what that rose has to do with me, and I don't know who my birth parents are, nor do I know who killed my mother, but I won't let those distractions get in my way. I'm asking you to train me and make me just as you have with your servants…. That is, if you can, of course." I felt my mouth turn into a grin as I blinked back the few tears that threatened to escape. I could see Ciel boiling at my jest.
"Are you questioning my abilities? Why, Catherine, you haven't changed at all." Ciel laughed an empty laugh and slammed his cane into my head. "Fine come alone then, but if you get hurt or die, it's your fault."
I smiled and I could tell my eyes sparkled with determination. "Thank you so much, Sir!" Ciel smirked when I said 'Sir'.
"So, does this mean you're a servant of mine now?"
"I-I… not quite, but I'll do work if it keeps me here." Sebastian finally made a face. His is squinted slightly, and I realized he was smiling. An earnest smile. I grinned and locked eyes with the mini devil. "So, Master, what's this case again?"