Chapter 6: Waiting.
Flames engulfed the world around the navy-haired boy as he sped through the corridors of the Phantomhive Estate.
Coughing from the smoke, he still managed to call out for his parents, refusing to leave before finding them.
He ran into the study, where he found two adults with their backs to the doorway, sitting still as if nothing were going on.
"Mother! Father!" He called out in-between struggled breaths.
Vincent Phantomhive turned around at an eerily slow pace. "What's wrong, Ciel? Isn't Sebastian here to help you?" The man spoke, seeming to have several different voices escaping through his mouth at once, rather than just his own.
The mere sight of him could make a grown man faint.
His eyes were covered in blisters and his burnt skin forced them shut. His skin peeled and melted, melting off of his face in bloody chunks that slipped onto the floor, revealing his jawbone underneath all of the burning flesh.
Ciel jolted awake in a fright, heart racing, blood rushing through his body so quickly he could feel the veins pulsing within his skin. His eyes darted across the pitch black room, unsure if he were dreaming or if he was simply reliving the worst part of his life.
Unable to keep a steady mind, Ciel yelled at the top of his lungs for Sebastian, who was in the room carrying lit candles within seconds, "Young Master?!" He said in a panic, rushing over to the boy who looked as if he'd lost three-fourths of his blood.
His skin had an ashen appearance, dark circles formed underneath his eyes, and it was almost as if his cheeks had slightly sunken in as well.
Cautiously, the butler sat beside him on the bed and began stroking his hair ever so lightly.
The boy spoke in such a soft tone, it was as if he were whimpering, "Can you stay here... with me tonight, Sebastian? Just until I fall asleep..."
The butler was a bit surprised. But not at the request; at the fact that it wasn't an order. He smiled reassuringly down at the boy as he continued to stroke his hair, "Of course, my young lord."
The young earl lied motionlessly in the large bed. His gaze lingered in the darkness as he was blinded by his own thoughts.
It was clear that he was far too frightened to go back to sleep immediately. However, the butler waited patiently for his master to fall back into slumber, although he dreaded having to keep his mistress waiting.
The same question replayed in the little earl's head as he laid there...
"What had caused that nightmare?"
It was the middle of the day and the navy-haired girl stared blankly up the ceiling.
Undertaker walked into the room with a tray that had a glass of milk and a plate with a small cake on it. "Since you're able to eat solid foods now, I made you your favorite. It's a simple vanilla cake with white frosting on the top that has small bits of chocolate scattered all throughout it, just the way you like it."
The girl smiled halfheartedly as she tried to sit up, but failed and slumped back down with a grunt.
Undertaker placed the tray down on the nightstand and helped the girl lean her back against the headboard of the bed. "Here you are, love." He spoke softly, placing the tray on her lap.
"Thank you." Her voice was hardly audible. She was still too tired to actually raise her voice any louder than a whisper.
He smiled warmly, "Of course, love. Do you need help?"
She shook her head.
He nodded as he reluctantly headed to leave the room, but paused in the doorway. "Love..."
She looked over to him and tilted her head, gesturing for him to continue what he wanted to say.
"I'll have to get back to the shop today, so you'll be here all alone until Mister Sebastian comes later tonight. Will you be alright?" He asked, a hint of dread in his tone.
She nodded with a faint smile spreading across her face. "I'll be fine." She spoke quietly.
He returned the same smile, "Don't overexert yourself, alright?"
She nodded once again as he then left the room and exited the mansion.
Hours passed and the sun had set, but there was no sign of Sebastian.
The young girl found herself standing in front of a large set of doors. She just stood there, waiting. Waiting for Sebastian to walk through them and pull her into his heavenly embrace. But that never happened.
As time passed, the girl grew more and more worried.
Why wasn't Sebastian here yet?
Another hour had passed, and the girl was far too tired to wait any longer. So, she made her way back to her bedchamber.
All she could think about was Sebastian. A feeling of dismay washed over her as she began to wonder if the demon had forgotten about her.
She wrapped herself inside of a thick silken blanket, sinking into its warmth and protection. She buried her face into the covers that engulfed her fragile, trembling self.
She didn't understand why she was being so emotional. Did she really wish to see Sebastian that badly? Could she not go one night without him by her side?
A single tear turned to two, which turned to six, which turned to a seemingly endless stream of grief, anxiety, depression, and most of all, fear.
Fear for the future...
Fear for being alone...
Fear for death...
Fear for what happens after death comes...
The girl pitied herself. She pitied herself due to the fact that nobody else would. Nobody else could even fathom how much pain she truly felt.
Not even Sebastian...
She cried silently into the blankets while dark thoughts began to cloud her mind.
What if Sebastian really did forget about her? Was this her punishment for being so needy?
And suddenly, footsteps.
Sebastian entered the room almost silently, expecting the girl to be asleep by this point. However, soft whimpers coming from the mountain of covers showed otherwise. "Young Mistress...?"
The girl jolted slightly, taken off guard by the demon's entrance. She remained mute, hoping that her cries weren't heard.
Sebastian set the candles on a small table and approached the bed with caution. Moving the covers away gently, he revealed a small, trembling and sobbing girl. Her eyes were puffy with a hint of redness to them, and her face was soaked in tears.
The two were completely speechless.
The girl was pulled into the man's arms and held tightly. "Sebastian..." Her voice wavered, wrapping her arms around the demon.
Nobody ever showed affection to her like the way Sebastian did. Sebastian's affection was the only kind she ever wanted. She yearned for his embrace, and would nearly melt every time she would receive it.
Sebastian looked down at her with glassy eyes, his face trying to hide the sadness within himself that he had for the girl.
The two sat on the bed, holding each other tightly.
Sebastian allowed the quivering girl to sob into his arms while whispering sweet nothings into her ear, trying to comfort her the best he could. "I love you so much..."