Chapter 19: Secrets
Hello my lovelies! Sorry about the wait for this new chapter but I had writer's block that I got over by writing some material for a Diabolik Lovers fic, a Brother's Conflict fic, and I am thinking about writing a Kamisama Kiss/Kamisama Hajimemashita fic. Please give some feedback on these ideas to see if you guys would be interested in reading any of these stories. Here comes the magic!
Masha Rue: Thank you so much for your feedback!
creative anime wolf: Why thank you wolf! I am so happy to hear this!
BarelyRamsey13503: Thank you my lovely!
As a shout out to these new reviewers, I would to extend my most sincere and warmest welcome to my newest lovelies. I look forward to your future reviews.
Well, would you look at that. I have gained three new lovelies into my group! That is simply marvelous! Please, I always have spots open for more lovelies for An Earthbound Angel. Anyways, on with the Author's Notes.
"There are no secrets that time does not reveal"
- Jean Racine
Without further ado, here is the next chapter of An Earthbound Angel.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o An Earthbound Angel o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o
After some time my shaky breath and trembling limbs stabled so that I was able to pull myself to my feet and nervously run my fingers through my hair. That was close, I thought to myself as I gazed at my reflection in my vanity mirror. While I composed myself at my vanity, I could hear the loud squeals that could only belong to Lizzie. I wonder what she's here for, I wondered just as my door was thrown open by none other than the blonde whirlwind herself.
"There you are Ariel!" she exclaimed with joy. "Today is going to be a girls day just between the two of us at Miss. Nina's shop."
"Alright," I agreed once my wide eyes of shock diminished. "That sounds like fun. When are we leaving?"
"Right now," she announced happily. "I already have a carriage waiting for us outside."
"Did you run this through my brother?" She paused at this which confirmed that she had not in fact run the plan through my brother. A sigh escaped me at this. Even though Lizzie was two years older than me, she still acted without thinking. "Let's go tell my brother before we leave Lizzie. We may just give him a heart attack if he doesn't know where I am."
"Oh alright," she pouted while puffing your cheeks. At her agreement to my request, I rose from my vanity table chair to grab my ridicule that had my allowance, smelling salts, a comb, and any other things that I might need before I followed her out of my room to Ciel's study.
"Ciel!" Lizzie shouted while flinging open his door.
"Yes Elizabeth?" he sighed in exasperation. From the corner of my eye I could see Sebastian pouring some tea for Ciel. His face may be neutral, but I could feel the intense emotions that swirled in his mind.
"I told you call me Lizzie," she protested at once.
"What was it you wanted to tell me?"
"Ariel and I are having a girls day at Miss. Nina's shop. I have a carriage for us, but we'll need a carriage back."
"When are you planning on coming back?"
"Six o'clock. It's when Miss. Nina closes up shop."
"Very well," he agreed reluctantly. "Just don't try to walk after dark. It's dangerous for noble ladies to walk alone at night."
"It's alright Ciel,"I assured him. "We'll just go to Undertaker's parlor and wait for you there." A feral growl sounded in my mind from Sebastain as Ciel frowned at the idea.
"Undertaker's parlor is not a fit place for women," he argued in that authoritative soft voice he had. "I barely want you to go, but seeing as how I can't stop you, I have no choice but to let you go."
"It's fine Ciel," Lizzie spoke up. "Undertaker might be a little creepy, but I know that he is not a bad person. Besides, I would feel much safer being around him than if we were to wait by Miss. Nina's shop." I rose both my eyebrows at my brother which made him exhale tiredly through his nose and mouth.
"Oh alright. At least Ariel will have a chaperone with her this time."
"This time?" Lizzie echoed in confucion.
"When we had that storm last night, Ariel was forced to stay over at the Undertaker's parlor." Lizzie's face contorted in shock at the statement as her lips moved to ask the dreaded question.
"Ariel, did you and Undertaker-,"
"C'mon Lizzie," I interupted her, pushing her out the door. "We're wasting time like this. We can talk when we arrive at Miss. Nina's."
"Ariel," Ciel called after me in an inquiring tone when he caught on to what Lizzie was trying to ask.
"Bye Ciel! Bye Sebastian! We'll see you later!" Was all I said before I shut the door after us. A sigh of relief left me as I continued to push Lizzie through the manor and out to the carriage.
"Alright Ariel," she said as soon as we set off in the carriage. "What happened between you and Undertaker?"
"Um, well, the reason behind what we did is something that I can't tell you," I started.
"Ariel," she warned, becoming the older sister she was.
"We, uh, you know," I blushed like mad.
"You and Undertaker slept together," she gasped in shock at my confession while her hand flew up to hover in front of her mouth.
"Yes."
"Oh my god! What were you thinking?! Your brother will kill you and him!"
"I know," I sighed. "As for what I was thinking...I wish I could tell you, but I can't."
"Well why ever not," she demanded at once.
"The secrets I have are not mine to tell."
The rest of the carriage ride was carried out in silence until we arrived at Miss. Nina's dressmaking shop.
"Lady Ariel! Lady Elizabeth!" greeted Miss. Nina when our carriage came to a stop in front of her shop. "I'm so happy to see you two!"
"I'm happy to see you too Miss. Nina," I returned with a smile.
"Well come on in," Miss. Nina insisted, ushering us both into her shop.
"How have my two favorite customers been since I've seen you last?"
"We're doing well," Lizzie and I answered in unison.
"What about you and that dashing butler Lady Ariel," Miss. Nina pried with a sly smile as she poured us all a cup of tea. "Last time I visited your home, it was obvious that you had feelings for him. Did you finally confess to him?" I could feel my heart constrict painfully at her words.
"Something like that," I uttered sadly. "Anyways, what are we going to have made? What should our theme be?"
"Our theme should be the circus!" Lizzie declared at once. "And we should have partner outfits! Mine should match Ciel's and yours should match Sebastian's!" I could feel the shock that took over my face at her words.
"Good thinking lady Elizabeth!" cried Miss. Nina in delight.
"Your outfit and Ciel's should be fashioned after the sun and moon," I offered. "Ciel's should have a blue and silver color scheme modeled after the moon. Yours should have a red and gold color scheme modeled after the sun."
"That is a marvelous idea Lady Ariel," Miss. Nina praised me. "If you weren't nobility I would take you under my wing and train you to take my place when I retire." A warm smile flashed to my face as I raised my tea cup to my lips. It meant a lot for Miss. Nina to say something like that. "The last thing for us to figure out is what color scheme should your outfits have and what should they be modeled after."
"They should be modeled after an angel for Ariel and a demon for Sebastian!" came Lizzie's voice that had me choking on my tea. "Ariel! Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine," I choked out while hearing Sebastian laugh through our bond.
Oh hush Sebastian.
Lizzia gave me a disbelieving look but Miss. Nina took her attantion when she showed that she was pleased with Lizzie's suggestion.
"Now what color scheme should we have?"
"I like white and silver," I piped up. "Maybe as a contrast we could have black and gold for Sebastian's outfit."
"That sounds wonderful Lady Ariel. Now let's get on to your outfit design."
"You go first Lizzie," I offered. "It would be better to get yours done first so that you can go through the fabrics."
"If you insist Ariel," Lizzie said, hardly putting up any resistance before launching into discussion with Miss. Nina over her and Ciel's outfits. While they talked, I reached out to Pheobus through our bond.
Hi Pheobus.
Hello love, he returned with warmth. How did your brother react to you getting home late?
Well, I don't know. I was only home a few minutes before Lizzie pulled me back to London for a girls day at Miss. Nina's shop.
Ah. How did Mr. Butler take it?
Hehe, that's where it gets troublesome. As a demon he took it surprisingly well given the circumstances. He immediately caught onto the tone of voice I was using and how I was avoiding ananswering his question.
What did he do love? At his stern, but gentle tone of voice I hesitantly showed him how Sebastian had taken the news of me being bound to Pheobus. I was instantly met with a lavish array of curses that were directed at Sebastian for how he acted.
I swear that demon will get his punishment next we meet. How can he possibly go on about you being his mate and yet treat you like that?
Calm down Pheobus. I got him to stop.
Only because for whatever reason your voice has some binding power over him, he pointed out bluntly that had me flinching. Yeah, he was right there.
I'm sorry love, he sighed through our bond and I could picture him running his hands through his bangs out of his face, showing his beautiful chartruse eyes. I shouldn't be taking my anger and frustration out on you.
It's alright Pheobus. I understand. At this mutual understanding and appriciation ran through our bond at my words.
I love you so much Ariel.
I love you too Pheobus.
So, when are you and Elizabeth going back to the little earl's?
At six.
But it gets dark at five thirty.
Well, Lizzie and I are planning on waiting at your parlor until Ciel comes and picks us up.
Then I want the both of you to wait at Miss. Nina's until I come and get you two.
Pheobus, I can take care of myself. How about we meet on the way to your parlor so that we don't stop Miss. Nina from closing up shop?
Fine, he relented reluctantly. But as soon as any sort of demon tries to attack you, hold them off until I get there.
That sounds like a plan Pheobus.
"Ariel," came Lizzie's voice which pulled me from my conversation with Pheobus.
I'll see you later Pheobus. Lizzie is demanding my attention.
Alright love, he chuckled at my words. I know how demanding Elizabeth can be so I shall leave you with a "see you later"
"Yes, Lizzie?"
"It's your turn to go over the designs with Miss. Nina."
"Okay Lady Ariel, do you know what fabric you want for the costumes?" Miss. Nina asked me as she moved to sit beside me.
"Yes. For my costume I would like white satin with silver satin and for Sebastian's I would like black leather and gold leather."
"Alright. What ideas did you have for your outfit?"
"Well, I wanted a skin tight bodice of white satin with a square neckline that had a thin line of silver and a silver bow in the middle that has ribbons on each side going down to my calfs. I don't want any sleeves for the bodice, instead I want ruffled fabric around my shoulders, and I want a fabric corset back that is bare down to the middle of my back laced with thin silver satin ribbon. As for the skirt, I want it to flare out at my hips in ruffles that go to the middle of my thigh with a silver satin line and the rest of the skirt going down in ruffled layers on either side of my legs so that the back of the skirt goes to my ankles. I also want stockings that go to my lower thighs in white satin that have a frilly top and that is laced in a criss-crossing fashion down to my ankles and silver satin ballet slippers. As a final touch for my outfit, I want a long silver satin ribbon that I can tie as a chocker in a bow and still have access ribon to fall down to my ankles." As I described my outfit, Miss. Nina layed out a simple sketch of all the details so that I could double check if it was how I wanted it to look.
"Like this Lady Ariel?"
"Exactly like this," I grinned happily. "Now on for the other outfit. I want his jacket to be sleeveless as well in black leather with a high collar to the middle of his neck with gold lined on his collar down the middle of his jacket then down to the bottom of his jacket. At the chest I want a diamond shaped opening that is lined with gold and three black leather strips with gold buckles going across the opening. The tail of his jacket I want with tattered leather material down to his kness. For his trousers I want skintight leather with black leather strips and gold buckles on his thighs, two on his left thigh and one on his right. For his shoes I want knee high black leather boots with five black leather strips with gold buckles. As a final touch I want leather sleeves that go up to the middle of his upper arm and stops at the middle of his hand that has a black leather strap with a gold buckle an inch from the top and two black leather straps at his wrists with gold buckles." Again she showed me the sketch which I agreed with whole heartedly. "Now, there are some accessories I would like to go with the outfits."
"What would you like?"
"For mine I would simply like a smooth teardrop cut moonstone that I could apply to my face with some adhesive. As for Sebastian's I would like a circlet of gold thorns with an smooth teardrop cut obsidian stone in the middle."
"Is that all Lady Ariel?"
"Yes."
"Great! Now let's eat lunch and then we'll take measurements of the both of you for your costumes. I can always get the boys via visit to the manor."
And so we ate a very charming lunch with Miss. Nina that was closely followed by Lizzie and I getting measured for our costumes. Before the both of us knew it, the clock on the wall of Miss. Nina's shop rang six o'clock with bell like chimes.
"Is it six o'clock already?" both Miss. Nina and Lizzie pouted in disappointment.
"I'm afraid so," I told them with a giggle.
"You should stop by the manor tomorrow at two Miss. Nina," Lizzie said. "That way we can get the measurements done."
"As you wish Lady Elizabeth." Lizzie and I then stood to leave that had Miss. Nina furrowing her brow.
"Where are the Earl and the butler?"
"They'll be picking us up at the Undertaker's parlor," I answered easily. "The Undertaker is going to meet us halfway to his parlor and then escourt us the rest of the way."
"But it is dangerous for ladies such as yourself to go out at night alone," she protested at once.
"It's alright Miss. Nina," I assured her with a small smile. "I'm stronger than I look." She still had that worried look about her, but she didn't try to stop us as I led the both of us out of her shop.
"Are you sure we'll be fine?" Lizzie questioned me while we walked.
"Yes, Lizzie, we'll be fine. Just stay by me and do not stray from my side." At my words she hugged my left arm to her chest and stuck to my side like glue. "Not what I meant, but this works." We walked on like this until we passed by an alleyway that looked darker than the rest of the others. From the entrance I could feel the wickedness and essence that could only come from Hell leak out into the open night air that had me on edge. To try to not to scare Lizzie, I went to subtly change our positions so that she was on the right away from the alley when I felt invisible hands grab the both of us and drug us into the alley. Damn it all, I cursed as I landed in a crouch while Lizzie landed on her butt. I can't possibly change to my angel form with Lizzie here. I would be blowing the angel secret if I did.
"Well, well, well," came a raspy male voice that was sinfully attractive. Yep, that definately sounds like a demon. "What do we have here? An angel and a human."
"Ariel, what are they talking about?" Lizzie whispered frantically into my ear, her body shaking from fear.
"It's alright Lizzie, I will protect you,"I promised her with a smile as I sent out an SOS to Pheobus along with our whereabouts. Alright, now that that is taken care of, let's focus on the task at hand.
"What do you want from us Demon?" I demanded in a firm tone while I stood from my crouch with Lizzie attempting to hide behind my form. "Show yourself." A dry, sinister chuckle escaped the shadows around us, which had my eyes darting around to try to pinpoint the demon's location while my body tensed to move at a moments notice. You never knew when an unseen opponent would strike or where. About seven feet in front of us to our right emerged a tall, pale male with sandy blonde hair and vibrant green eyes dressed in dark clothes stepped out from the shadows showing fangs in the large smirk he sported.
"For the human, it is quite simple. I just want to eat her soul, even if it's not one I would normally go for." At his casual tone about her soul, Lizzie shot out her hand to hold onto the crook of my arm. "As for you, sweet, dear, little angel; it gets a little bit more complicated. I want to take you as my slave and torture you as I see fit. I want to watch as your pure innocence gets taken from you before my very eyes until nothing but hatred shows in your pretty little blue eyes." As time went on Lizzie brought her other hand up so that both were holding my left arm in a firm grip. "Then and only then will I slit your throat and watch the life drain from your eyes as your red blood flows from that voluptuous body of yours." When the demon finished his rant, Lizzie was squeezing my arm so hard, it would have cut off my circulation if I was a human.
"What is your name Demon?"
"I'll tell you only if you tell me yours. It is only fair I should know my slave's name and my slave should know her master's." I felt my eyes narrow at the demon in front of me but I held my tounge lest he lash out at Lizzie.
"It's Ariel."
"Lord Alvarez. Well, will you look at that? The great Archangel Ariel is going to be my slave. How exciting. Now slave, stand back while I take the human's soul."
"You will not lay a finger on Lizzie," I ground out, wrapping an arm around Lizzie's waist in case I needed to jump or fly away.
"Ariel, I don't think you get the idea of a master/slave relationship," he chided me like one would a baby or little child. "When the master gives the order, the slave complies without complaint."
"That's funny Demon," I replied coldly. "I never said that I was to be your slave nor that you were to be my master. Therefore, your statement in null and void." At this his once green eyes took on the blood red, characteristic of demons, as his fangs lengthened.
"You will be my slave little angel," he growled in an animalistic way, right before a burst of purple fire hurtled at Lizzie and I. On reflex my wings snapped out of my back and lifted us up into the sky with the demon following us with his eyes.
"Wh-What i-i-in th-the wo-world," Lizzie stammered out as she turned to look at what had pulled us into the sky. Her eyes rivaled saucers when she saw my pure white wings and the soft silver glow that surrounded me. "Ar-Ariel?"
"I've got you Lizzie. Don't worry," I assured her as I lowered her onto a rooftop. "Stay right here and don't move , alright?" She said not a word, but she nodded mutely to show that she understood my request. I gave her one of my large smiles before I flew back down to the demon.
"You want to fight? Then I will gladly oblige," I told him as my own red orange flame ignited on my finger tips. A predatory smirk settled over his lips as he allowed a set of sandy ears and a poofy, white tipped sandy tail to sprout from his person.
"Then let the games begin little angel." I sent a blast of fire in his direction which met a wall of his own purple fire. There were three more blasts that I aimed at him that he deflected with an easy swipe of his own.
"Is this all you got little angel," he laughed cruelly.
"Not quite," I retorted as I formed a ring of fire balls in front of me that I then launched at the demon in whisps. This time he had to jump out of the way so I placed my fingers in a v shape and placed them in front of my lips then blew harsh air through them. This resulted in air so sharp that it made scratches in the stone in front of me. He again jumped out of the way but used the darkness around us to teleport himself into the shadows. Slippery snake, I thought as I focused on the demon's essence and presence instead on relying on my sight. Carefully I pulled a large mass of water from the moisture in the air, then hurled long shards of ice in the direction I felt him in. All the while I made sure that the demon stayed away from where I sat Lizzie.
"Ariel! Look out!" Lizzie called out that had me searching around for any threat that I had missed. The only thing I could sense besides the demon was Pheobus's approaching form. Unfortunately, this also allowed the demon to sneak up behind me and wrap his arm around my neck like a steel band.
"So, what were you saying to your master slave?" the demon hissed in my ear, tightening his arm arm my throat and placing his other arm around my waist.
"You...are not...my...master,"I choked out in defiance.
"Let go of my mate!" Pheobus commanded in an authoritative voice while wielding his unique skeletal death scythe.
"Ah, so you are the mate of a reaper," the demon said as he ran his claws lightly over my neck. "Intersting. Why don't you wait over there while I take care of your mate, hmm? I can't have my slave disobeying me again." With those words he sank his claws into my neck and injected a foreign substance into my system that made my senses dull and my limbs to become numb. Damn it! By gathering up some strength, I called lightning down from the sky and electrocuted the demon holding me. With a shout he let go of me and I took that chance to half run and half use the air to push myself behind Pheobus. Once I was out of harm's way, a sadistic grin stretched across Pheobus's face as he pushed his hair out of his face.
"So Demon, you think you can just take whatever you want?"
"Of course I do. I am the great Demon Lord Alvarez of the Southern Lands. I can take whatever I desire, be it from Hell or the human realm."
"Well, get ready to be sorely disappointed because you are not taking my mate nor her friend."
"Come at me reaper, I dare you to. Reapers are nothing without their glasses."
"We shall see about that," Pheobus smirked before he launched himself at the sandy haired demon. While they had their little fight, I used the blood in my body to try to bleed out the concoction that the demon put in my body. It took a few minutes, but I had successfully gotten all of it out when I felt a finger swipe thick liquid around my wounds which closed them. Then a wrist was placed on my lips that had blood flowing into my body, giving me my strength back.
You know I hate that, I sent out to Sebastian when he took his wrist from my mouth.
"I am well aware Ariel," he rereturned in clipped tones, his demonic aura rolling off of him and filling the small alley. This was enough to stop the fight between the demon and Pheobus who had the demon pinned to the ground with his death scythe to his neck. Pheobus's eyes met mine so I motioned for him to move away from the demon and the path of Sebastian's rage. He was at once by my side when Sebastian stalked over to the downed demon.
"Y-Yo-Your Majesty," stammered out the demon, hastening to kneel before Sebastian. What?! Sebastian is a king?!
"Lord Alvarez," Sebastian returned cooly as he held himself with a straight posture and grace befitting royalty. "Why is it that you deemed yourself able to go after my mate?"
"I did not know Your Majesty," he let out in a rush. "I could not pick your scent off of her." By now I could feel that Ciel was kneeling beside me while watching the scene before us.
"Pheobus, could you get Lizzie down from the roof?" I whispered to him. "She's probably having a heart attack up there." A faint nod was given before he disappeared from my side only to return shortly after with Lizzie. She at once pulled me into her embrace while Ciel pulled Lizzie into his own arms.
"Then your senses are getting dull with age," Sebastian remarked acidly without his facial features changing. "You are hereby stripped of your title and sentenced to execution by my own hands." A nervous gulp could be seen coming from the once lord demon who still had his head hanging low.
"Yound Master you may wish to cover Lady Elizabeth's ears." At his request Pheobus pulled me into his chest while Ciel did the same with Lizzie before they both covered our ears with thier hands so that we could not see or hear anything that was taking place between the two demons.
After what seemed like hours Pheobus let me go with a kiss to my forehead before he marched over to Sebastian. There was no trace of the former Lord Alvarez anywhere in the alley, not even where he once knelt. Just what kind of execution did Sebastian give him?
"Just what do you think you're doing!" he shouted at Sebastian. "This is the fourth time Ariel has been in danger concerning you! How can you call yourself her mate if you can't fully devote yourself to her?! I can and look at us! We have already bonded while you have yet to! And now that you have seen we have and you were too late, you try to force yourself on her! You should-,"
"Shut. Your. Mouth." Sebastian spat in a venomous tone, his eyes a swirling blood red. "What happened just now was also your fault as well reaper. As for me being her mate, I am. I had claim on her way before you did. I should have been the one to have taken her instead of you." At this point my cheeks were cherry red and Ciel was glaring at me while Lizzie looked about ready to pass out. "Your claim however of me forcing myself on her is false. She wanted it just as much as I did. If anything I was going to fast for her." At this Pheobus drew his scythe again and charged at Sebastian who dodged out of the way while pulling out cutlery from his waistcoat. I know I should be focusing on stopping their fight, but why the hell does Sebastian have silverware in his waistcoat?! That's for another time Ariel, I told myself before I pulled myself to my feet and let my angel form take over my human one. I could feel my warm and calming aura wash over the whole alley, letting Lizzie and Ciel bask in relative peace.
"Enough!" I called out in a loud, stern voice that had both demon and shinigami stopping in their tracks. "That is quite enough out of the both of you. Lizzie needs a good glass of wine before a nice rest and I just need rest. We both don't need this pointless fight. No excuses will be accepted." I could feel the flashing hatred between the two as Pheobus shealthed his scythe while Sebastian tucked the remaining tableware back into his uniform. "Now, Sebastian, escourt Ciel and Lizzie to the carriage." Very reluctantly he did as I said, his red eyes still flashing in his anger.
"As for you Pheobus," I directed towards the silver haired shinigami. "I will tell you good night. I will see you tomorrow."
"I'll see you love," he replied as he gave me a hug then a kiss. This brought a smile to my lips when I pulled away then walked towards where I saw my group walk, switching my angel body for my human one on the way. Tomorrow a lot of questions need to be answered, I realized with a sigh. A lot of awkward questions.
o0o0o0o0o0o An Earthbound Angel o0o0o0o0o0o
So, how was the chapter? This would have to be my longest chapter so far, I think. I could be wrong because it is currently one fifteen a.m. and I am just finishing typing up this chapter. Anyways, if you see anything wrong with the chapter or if you have any other questions or concerns or simply comments, feel free to leave a review. Besides the normal spheal, I have an announcement to make. I am planning on making a sequal to this story that focuses more on relationships within the story rather than the goings on within the Phantomhive cases. My plans for other pairs are Grell x William and Ronald x OC. Give me feedback on the sequal and the pairings to let me know what you think. One last thing I want to say before I sign off is that I want to thank every single lovely who has favorited, read, reviewed, or followed A Demon's Angel now An Earthbound Angel. I am so grateful for your continued support for this story and I feel so happy that I can make others engaged in the words I write. With that I will bid you ado until next time. See you soon my lovelies!~
-White Wolf