Kuroshitsuji © Yana Toboso
OCs © reaper-of-lost-souls
A/N: Just so you know, the italic parts to the story are memories that the character is recalling. Well I'm hope you're ready for another chapter! I'm happy that I was able to write this part, but I'm sad that I now have to do homework D= Just fair warning: There's some foul language, violence, and suggestive adult themes. I don't know if I'll keep the rating T or change it to M. Just tell me, because I'm not exactly sure what age appropriate is or not. Also, throughout the rest of the story stuff like this will come up, so just be prepared. I hope you enjoy!
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Since Sophie made a promise, she planned on keeping it, especially since that said promise was to her dad. She let out a sigh, walking down the streets with Robin. A smile was on her face, since Sophie didn't want to venture out at night by herself anymore. At least Robin was there for her, whenever she needed someone to talk to or a shoulder to cry on. Once they got to the morgue, Robin let out a sigh, "Have a good night Sophia. I hope you have sweet dreams."
She smiled, causing Robin to smile back, "Thank you. I-I know I've been a pain lately but –"
"But think nothing of it," she said, holding Sophie's hand gently. "If you think someone is stalking you, then I'll stay by you and make sure you get home safely. Don't worry about it. Besides," she smirked, "I promised you that I'd be around through thick and thin. I won't turn my back on you yet Sophia."
Sophie giggled, giving her a hug, "Thank you, Miss Robin. I pray that God gives you sweet dreams too."
She chuckled, "Thank you dear." Sophie smiled, watching as Robin walked down the street and disappearing into the smog. Sophie let out a sigh and looked up, seeing a purple haze around a corner. She glared at it before walking into the house, fully aware of the eyes that have been following her for weeks on end.
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Sophie shuddered in her sleep, sweat falling down her brow. Pulling the covers closer around her body she flinched, almost knocking a burned out candle off of a table with her foot. "Ma, ma, ma-mommy?... P-papa?... Why?..." she whimpered, tears falling down her face. "D-don't go again. Don't leave me here… p, P-papa?..." Her eyes shot open, her body about to fall off of the bed. Sophie shuddered, pulling the covers closer to her body. She put a hand over her head, closing her eyes and letting out a sigh. 'Those nightmares again… why am I having them again?'
She stirred, slowly getting out of bed. Sophie wrapped a small blanket around her body and walked down the hall. She took a turn and walked into a room, where a coffin laid flat close to the floor. If it weren't for the coffin, the rest of the room looked like an average old living room. There were a few large bookshelves full of books surrounding the walls and a couch lay in the middle of the room next to a few candles. On the other side of the room, in the corner, was a desk full of stacks of paper, where the Undertaker was currently writing something down on the paper, stamping it, then putting the paper aside and beginning with a new one. She smiled; it was where he would read her books of biographies of famous people, some more known then others. Sophie grew to love the room, for it reminded her of the living room in her old house where her mom would read to her and teach her new things. Except at her old house, the room was bigger and the walls where white, but other than that it felt like home. She decided to turn back, not wanting to disturb him as he worked. "Sophia?" he said casually, not looking up from the paper he was signing.
Sophie turned back, a blush on her face. He caught her, yet again. She let out a sigh, walking over to him, avoiding the coffin, which lay haphazardly on the floor, and sat down on the couch. She looked over at him, a small smile creeping on her face. Sophie never really sees the Undertaker with his thin-brimmed, black glasses on. He only uses them late at night, when he had made sure she was fast asleep. It always puzzled her, did the Undertaker even sleep? He was up when she'd fall asleep and up when she woke up the next day. Even when she was up late at night she would be asleep before him. What puzzled her more is the fact that she couldn't see his eyes under the glasses, much to her disappointment. She smiled, turning to the top hat that lay next to her on the couch and putting it on her head. She blew at the string that came in front of her face, shooing it away till it fell behind her head.
Then she looked back over, watching as he'd sign a paper, stamp it, put it on a random stack next to him, grab another, and going back to signing the paper. It looked boring and tedious, having to sign all those papers. No wonder it was a synch for him to fill out all the papers required for her to be adopted. He had probably done paperwork like that several times. After living with the Undertaker for most of her life, Sophie knew not to disturb him while he was filling out forms. Funeral related or not. She learned to not ask questions, be quiet and watch, and let him go about his work silently and calmly. Filling out a paper and putting it to the side, the Undertaker took off his glasses and put them down gently on the desk. Then he put his elbows on the desk and his head in his hands, looking over at Sophie with curiosity. "Is there something you wanted to talk to me about, little maiden?"
"Hmmm?" she said, snapping out of her thoughts. "No…" she smiled happily, before fiddling around with the black ribbon that seemed to get into her face again.
"Did you have a nightmare again?"
Sophie frowned, taking the top hat off and setting it back where she found it. "Yes," she sighed, looking at the ground, "I thought the nightmares had stopped, but now they seem to be coming back worse than ever. I… I don't know. I just can't sleep right now." She smiled, looking over at him, sitting on the couch with her hands on her lap, "I want to watch you work. Is that okay?"
He smiled, putting the glasses back on his face. "That's fine," he smirked, "just make sure you get some sleep. I don't want you to be crabby tomorrow."
She giggled, wrapping the blanket around her tighter as she leaned her head against the arm of the couch. All the while she watched him work, signing the paper, stamping the paper, setting the paper on a stack next to him, grabbing a paper, signing the paper, stamping the paper, setting the paper on a stack next to him, grabbing a paper, signing the paper, stamping the paper, setting the paper on a stack next to him, grabbing a paper, signing the paper, stamping the paper, setting the paper on a stack next to him, grabbing a paper, signing a paper…
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The Undertaker let out a sigh, putting one stack of paper in a suitcase and filing the rest in a drawer next to him. He hated having to fill out forms since he had retired from active duty. As much as he loved being a mortician, the paperwork involved in a person's funeral was enough to make even himself languid. He could only get around to doing this at night, when he couldn't get to sleep. He took off his glasses, put them into a small black case, and put them in the top drawer next to him. Then he looked over at Sophie, a smile on his face. She was sleeping soundly, her head lying next to his top hat. He walked over to her, putting his hat to the side so he could sit next to Sophie's sleeping form. He ran her fingers through her hair, the tip of his black nail brushing her cheek.
Sophie moved slightly, the grip on the blanket she held in between her fingers getting tighter. "M-mommy?..." she shuddered, causing the Undertaker to frown. "P-pap-ha?... Why are you leaving?... C-can I come w-ith you?... Mommy and I need you… papa?..." Her eyes flashed open, her heart racing wildly. Then she felt something, that a hand rested on top her head, stroking her hair leisurely. She smiled, closing her eyes again, "Undertaker?"
He looked down at her, obviously spacing out into his own train of thought, "Yes little maiden?"
"Are you going to go to sleep now?" she asked, opening her eyes as she felt his hand leave her head.
"I… don't need to sleep tonight, but you go ahead and sleep. Don't worry about it Sophia," he smiled.
She yawned, sitting up on the couch and looking up at him, worry in her eyes. "If it's not healthy for me to not get any sleep, then it's not healthy for you to not get any sleep. Why don't you just relax and try to sleep for once?"
He smirked, "I don't need to sleep for long periods as time as you do, little maiden. It's as simple as that." Sophie glared at him, leaping off of the couch and walking over to the coffin. "Sophia?" he said, surprised by her sudden movement.
"I made this for you to sleep in, not to look at when you're bored," she frowned, tracing a finger over the top of the coffin. She let out a sigh, the coffin bring back memories of Haden and her making it so long ago. Then she looked at him sternly, opening the lid and sitting down inside. "If you're not going to use it, then I will," she gruffly said, slamming the lid shut.
He looked, still baffled a bit, before chuckled to himself. The Undertaker got up and walked over to the coffin. He opened to lid to find Sophie curled up in the coffin, using the blanket to keep her warm. She looked up, waiting for his reply. "Well, are you going to make room or will I have to do that myself? ~" he said a smirk on his face. Sophie smiled, sitting up in the coffin slightly so he wouldn't squish her. Once he lay down she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. He shut the lid closed, and then he laid back and rested his head above Sophie's. Sophie giggled, her hands leaving behind the blanket that had fallen around her knees. "You're so stubborn," he chuckled, "just like someone I used to know."
Sophie smiled, nuzzling her face in his chest, "Good," she giggled. She smiled as she listened to the sound of his heart beat. He brushed through her hair she began to close her eyes, the soothing sounds and touch of the Undertaker lulling her to sleep. "Go to sleep Undertaker. I don't want you to get sick on me," she giggled lightly, sleep quickly taking over her body.
"Don't worry little maiden. I'll sleep," he smiled, kissing the top of her head. Then he closed his eyes, pulling Sophie closer to him as he tried to sleep, "I won't get sick…" he smiled, rubbing Sophie's shoulders as he drifted off to dreamland.
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Sophie coughed, opening the door to the morgue and putting a bag of groceries in the kitchen before she walked back into the main room to find the Undertaker sewing up a body. "Okay I got some meat and stuff for us to eat tonight," she smiled happily, "but I completely forgot to get lilies for our little friend's big day," she frowned.
He chuckled, the body he was sewing up finally done. "Now that I'm done, would you like me to make dinner?"
She nodded, grabbing for her coat off of the coat rack. "Yeah that would be great! I'll just be right back with those flowers."
He nodded, washing his hands in a bowl before Sophie could walk out the door. "Do you need me to go with you? The day is almost gone and if you say someone is stalking you –"
"No it's fine," she smiled contently. "I'll be back in just a few minutes and I'll only be a few blocks away. I'll be fine." She giggled, "Thank you for your concern. Now I must be off while I still have some sunlight!" she quickly said, opening the door and running out as the door was closing.
"Just be safe," he quickly said, before the door closed. The Undertaker sighed, walking into the kitchen to start dinner. He took out a cutting board and started to chop up vegetables Sophie brought home, all the while worried about her wellbeing.
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The lilies she had wanted to buy weren't that far away from the shop. Paying the flower girl for a bouquet, she secured the flowers under her arm and rushed home, still a bit fearful for being out by herself. As soon as she turned a corner she ran into a man, a tall man with amethyst/yellow eyes. He looked down at her, as if expecting her to run into him. Sophie quickly stood up and brushed herself off, trying to avoid eye contact with the man, "Sorry about that," she mumbled to herself.
"That's alright," he smiled, the man still making her nervous. "Those are some lovely lilies you have there. Can I have one?"
She stared at him confused, before shrugging, "Sure why not," she smiled, handing him a small lily.
He took it gladly, inspecting the lily as if he was admiring its beauty. "Aaah, yes a white lily, meaning innocence, majesty, and purity. Though it would be a shame is someone crushed it," he smirked, causing Sophie to flinch back.
She glared, "You're Dorren aren't you?"
"Yes I am." She hissed at him, causing him to smirk.
"I knew it. You've been following me since that party. Why?..." she glared at him, her blue/green eyes shining in the rising moonlight.
He thought for a moment, as if he didn't know how to answer you. "Why I've been following you? Why I don't know," he smiled. "Though," he grabbed her arm, forcing her to lean in towards his face, "I do need you to come with me."
She glared, "I refuse." His death grip tightened around her arm, causing it to bruise. It was obvious this man wasn't human. His eyes glowed, a hint of red swirling around his amethyst/yellow eyes. Her eyes went wide, knowing that she was in trouble now. "Let go of me," she squirmed, kicking at him.
He hissed, twisting her arm till she knelt down on the ground in pain. She whimpered still ready to fight back with all her strength. Dorren leaned into her ear, his breath cold and foul, "You don't want your precious father to undergo an unsightly accident, now do you?" He smirked, noticing how Sophie had stopped struggling.
"Don't threaten me," she growled, staring angrily into his eyes.
"I won't threaten you, or anyone else you know, if you quietly come with me."
She stared up at him, narrowing her eyes. Whatever power this guy had, it was something that she wouldn't be able to fight against. She stood up, his grip on her arm not relaxing. "But I have to get home to give Undertaker –"
"I'll give him your precious flowers as long as you come with me quietly." Then he pulled on her arm, the tremendous force causing her to jump a few feet. She whimpered, not trying to yell out in pain. She looked down the street hoping someone would come and know she was in trouble, but no one came.
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The Undertaker hummed to himself, reading a book in the main room of the morgue. He looked outside and noticed that it was dark and the moon had raised high in the sky. He got up; setting the book he was reading on a coffin and walking into the kitchen. Opening the pot, he noticed that the food was getting cold. "Where is she?..." he frowned, grabbing a pocket watch out from under his robes and looked at the time. Already almost four hours had passed since Sophie left the house.
Then he heard the bell chime at the front of the store, "Sophie?" he called out, hastily walking to the front of the store. When he got there he found a bundle of white lilies sitting on a coffin, with no one there. He quickly ran to the door, opening it to see who was there, but the streets were empty. He grumbled and closed the door and walking over to the lilies, and noticed a rolled up scroll lying next to the bouquet. He picked it up and looked at the seal, "Dorren," he growled. Ripping the waxed seal open he read its contents, the slight smile on his features vanishing in an instant.
Dearest Undertaker,
I am glad to see that you are still alive and well. After taking my darling away so long ago, I have decided to obtain everything beloved you hold dear. I have taken all your precious pieces away from you once again. How do you feel about that? I bet you are wallowing in self pity right now. How I would love to see the look of despair on your face as I have seen many times before. Are you hoping that you will be able to get your precious little white swan back? Do not even try. You will never be able to track me down and you know it. Besides, I plan on tainting your precious swan and turn her black to the core. After all, she is human. Her soul would not be able to escape an envious demon like myself. So what do you say? Are you going to play cat and mouse with me?
The Apep
Suddenly the lilies were lit in a purple/black flame, quickly dying down and smothering the lilies. He picked up a lily, the flower crumbling in his hands. He crushed up the piece of paper, ripping it to shreds, glaring out the door and noticing a purple/yellow haze from the other side of the street.
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Dorren laughed evilly as he whipped Sophie's back. She bit back her sobs, refusing to cry out in pain. She was chained to a wall, the room damp and bitter. She winced, the whip hitting a spot on her back that hadn't been cut into. Closing her eyes her mind wandered farther away from the pain she felt to a different pain she was feeling long ago.
"Sophia, dear, do not run. I don't want you scraping her knee."
Sophie giggled, grabbing the flowers she picked in a bundle and running to a woman sitting at the top of the hill. The woman was wearing a white dress, her brunette hair blowing softly in the breeze and her blue eyes staring upon her daughter and she made it to the top. Sophie slumped down, setting the flowers in her mother's lap and sitting next to her. She leaned against her mother, who was leaning against a tree. She began braiding the flowers together as her mother did, listening to her mother hum happily as she did. "Mommy?"
The woman looked over at her, still working on braiding the flowers together, "Yes Sophia?"
"When is papa coming back?" Sophie stared at her, eyes full of curiosity. "Will he come back tomorrow? Next week?"
"I… I don't know," she sighed, setting the flowers down on her lap and looking up to the sky. "I don't know."
Sophie frowned, hating to see her mother so depressed, but then she giggled. "But he will come back, right?"
Her mother smiled, picking up her daughter and setting her down on her lap, giggling along with her daughter as she tickled her. "I do hope so," she smiled, Sophie still laughing after having a tickle fit. "Don't worry Sophia. You father will be back, and if he doesn't come back I'll still take care of you."
Sophie smiled, hugging her mother tightly, "I know mommy. I'm just wondering." She smiled, giving her mother a quick peck on the lips before turning around and sitting contently on her mother's lap. Sophie yawned as her mother put the finished crown of flowers on her daughter's head. She giggled, letting out a yawn and cuddling into her mother's chest. She listened to her mother's heart beat, a nice steady beat that was putting her to sleep. "Mommy?"
"Yes dear?" she smiled.
"Can you read me 'The Scarlet Letter' today?"
Her mother chuckled, brushing her daughter's auburn hair. "Again? I just finished reading a chapter to you yesterday."
"Yes, but the story sounds like us! Oh please mommy? Please read more," she looked up, beating her wide blue/green eyes at her mother.
She laughed, causing Sophie to smile happily. "Of course I will. Now get comfortable my wise little girl and I'll read you the story." Sophie yawned, curling up in her mother's lap, looking at the book as her mother began to read, "XIX: The Child at the Brook-Side. Do you know what XIX is little Sophia?"
"Umm…" Sophie thought, "nineteen, right mommy?"
She smiled, brushing her hair, "That's right Sophie. Now, '"THOU wilt love her dearly," repeated Hester Prynne, as she and the minister sat watching little Pearl. "Dost thou not think her beautiful? And see with what natural skill she has made those simple flowers adorn her! Had she gathered pearls, and diamonds, and rubies, in the wood, they could not have become her better. She is a splendid child! But I know whose brow she has!" "Dost thou know, Hester," said Arthur Dimmesdale, with an unquiet smile, "that this dear child, tripping about always at thy side, hath caused me many an alarm? Methought—O Hester, what a thought is that, and how terrible to dread it!—that my own features were partly repeated in her face, and so strikingly that the world might see them! But she is mostly thine!" "No, no! Not mostly!" answered the mother with a tender smile. "A little longer, and thou needest not to be afraid to trace whose child she is. But how strangely beautiful she looks, with those wild flowers in her hair! It is as if one of the fairies, whom we left in dear old England, had decked her out to meet us."'
Sophie's mother paused, looking down at her daughter and running her fingers through her soft-wavy hair. Sophie giggled, letting out a yawn. She smiled, looking back to the book and beginning from where she left off. 'It was with a feeling which neither of them had ever before experienced, that they sat and watched Pearl's slow advance. In her was visible the tie that united them. She had been offered to the world, these seven past years, as the living hieroglyphic, in which was revealed the secret they so darkly sought to hide,—all written in this symbol,—all plainly manifest,—had there been a prophet or magician skilled to read the character of flame! And Pearl was the oneness of their being. Be the foregone evil what it might, how could they doubt that their earthly lives and future destinies were conjoined, when they beheld at once the material union, and the spiritual idea, in whom they met, and were to dwell immortally together? Thoughts like these—and perhaps other thoughts, which they did not acknowledge or define—threw an awe about the child, as she came onward.'
Sophie suddenly felt a harsh slap in her face, her eyes widening at her captor. "Wake up bitch! If you faint on me again I won't promise that I won't do something to your body as you sleep," he hissed at her, fear in her eyes. The anger in his eyes slowly left and he huffed, throwing her to the floor. She cried out as he straddled her, licking up her neck before biting down on her ear. "Don't expect anyone to save you this time Sophie. You're mine now," he breathed into her ear, before glaring into her eyes.
Her eyes widened in terror as she watched the red in his eyes subsided, throwing her back to the floor. He huffed, standing up and walking away from her, avoiding eye contact. "Your aunt and uncle decided that we shall marry in three more days. It'll be a small ceremony, with only the priest as the outsider. Be prepared Sophie… I'm going to go now," he gruffly finished, leaving Sophie in the room with no source of light.
She curled up a little ball, sitting in the cold pool of her blood. Sophie coughed, her eyes slowing adjusting to the dark. 'If it's my aunt and uncle who is controlling that demon, it must mean that they're contracted to it. I need to figure out an escape plan… before I die here,' she coughed some more, blood coming out of her mouth. She steadied her breathing, fully knowing that Dorren wouldn't be back for a few hours. 'That dream… it was about my mom again. Oh why God? Why do you punish me so?... Was I born a sin? Like little Pearl was?... no it can't be so. Pearl isn't a sin. It was the people in that village who were sinful…So what am I? Why would a demon go to these lengths to not rape me and try to gain my love by having me marry him? It doesn't make sense.' She sighed, "Undertaker," she quietly said in the dark, tears rolling down her eyes, 'Please find me soon.' She let out a gasp of air, coughing up blood, before rolling over and looking at the wall, trying all she could to fall asleep and travel to a different memory in her mind.
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A/N: The book is called "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I actually read the book for school and is one of the only books that I actually liked from English class. So if you've never read the story and like my own story, then read it! It's a very good story about a woman being kicked out of her community because she had relations with a man and bore a child. It's a very cruel book and ends horribly, but I still love it X3 If you want to know the symbolism, the little girl Pearl is relating to Sophie. A child born from the love of her parents, but is shunned from society as a child because of her mother. Also shows a problem with the society during the Puritans, like how Sophie is shunned from her relatives because of her parents. Well that's all I'll give away, but that's why the book showed up in the flashback =D
I really hope you like my story still! I don't really get comments from you guys so it's hard to tell. I was wondering if you like my references to other books and etc. Should I continue? As always, I'll be seeing you later. Please comment!
Lily – at a funeral, this flower is often interpreted as a symbol of innocence that has been restored to the soul of the departed
White lily – at a funeral, this type of lily expresses majesty and purity
Apep – Egyptian – evil snake, serpent, or dragon