Me and the girl held eye contact. She had the most crystal blue eyes I have ever seen. But at the same time, there was no emotion to them. Slowly, I stepped forward.
"Uhm. Hi." I started; Ciel was eyeing me..I felt it. But right now the girl was only interested in me.
"What's your name? I'm Rayne."
"Like the weather?"
"With a 'y'." I replied, swallowing as I leaned forward. The girl blinked then looked up towards the sky. "Natalie by the way. Oh my look at the sky." Natalie stood up and continued to stare upward, I looked back to Ciel for a bit of help.
He cleared his throat and stepped forward, "Uh. Natalie. Do you know..where you are?"
"I'm not home." She replied in a daze, finally looking down at Ciel's face. She was shorter than him, rather..two feet shorter than him. But she jumped forward and poked his nose.
"You're cute."
Instantly, fire blazed in my eyes. My stomach churned and I immediately found a certain dislike for the girl. This..Natalie; poking his nose like that! Who does she think- wait, was this..jealousy? No, can't possibly.
Ciel blushed madly and stepped back, "Uh. Nat-"
Natalie caught my reaction and jumped to me just as quickly. She picked up a strand of my hair and observed it, "You're cute too. Say, where am I Rayne?"
Now I was the one blushing. "Uh..you-"
"Why not we take things slow? Young master. Perhaps we can set up a tea date and talk amongst ourselves in private?" Sebastian cut it after recovering from the shock. Natalie looked up at Sebastian and gazed at him.
"Hm. Suspicious. Everything..so suspicious. I want to go home now." Natalie leaned back and turned around. I blinked and finally realized that we weren't exactly alone. Mr. Abberline and his men were still around looking just as shocked. Natalie had walked a few paces ahead before I reached to grab her wrist.
"Natalie! Come with us. Look, we'll explain everything I promise. Just; you are a long way from home."
"And we should really get going. It's about to storm." Sebastian said, checking his pocket watch. "Besides. Lunch is almost ready."
So off we went, following behind Sebastian. Ciel had recovered from his blush and now seemed a bit pissed. Natalie followed like an obedient puppy, besides I was holding her hand she couldn't run if she tried. Every so often the redhead would shift her fingers to intertwine them in mine but I'd always refuse.
And no way will I even dare letting get close to Ciel.
"Natalie. How old are you?" Ciel asked, sitting across from the girl. I made sure to sit next to him and leave Sebastian beside Natalie.
"I believe we're all the same age. Thirteen right?" Natalie replied softly.
I nodded as Ciel crossed his legs. "And tell me. Where was the last place you remember?"
"Ciel. We should hold questions until lunch. This is probably a lot for her." I butted in, deliberately laying my hand on his arm. Ciel glanced down then up, slowly he shifted away.
"Very well. Agreed."
As expected, when we arrived at the manor, Sebastian led us into the dining room. It took him no less than two minutes to set everything up. I was about the only one who was impressed at how fast Sebastian worked. Natalie looked nervous and Ciel appeared irritated.
Finally, we all took our seats. Ciel sat at the head, I was on his left and Natalie on his right.
"Last place I remember.." The redhead had picked up from Ciel's last question, her eyes rolling upwards.
I picked at my lunch, waiting anxiously for an answer.
"At a park." She replied bluntly. Ciel cocked his head to this side, then seemed to slouch in boredom. "Is that all?"
"Did you meet anyone? Anyone named...Aleister?" Ciel gave me a look but I was making no moves to hold back.
Natalie stared at me blankly, "No. But I did meet a guy. He called himself a messager, and he wanted his boss to meet me."
"Meet you?" Ciel replied. Sebastian twitched, his red eyes going over to Natalie. "Said that he was nervous in new surroundings and wanted to return quickly."
"And then?" I asked. Finding this story way more interesting than my own. "And so I followed him. We found a building...and purple smoke.." she trailed off in a daze and I found myself relating.
Purple smoke? Same with me, but it was Aleister's doing. Was Aleister a messenger? And how the future? How was that even possible?
"Natalie." Ciel said.
"Earl Ciel?"
"What was this man's name?" Ciel must've had the same thoughts. Perhaps this man, no. This man had to be here!
"Uhm. It was..." Natalie picked up her fork and stared down intensely. "It was..."
Cling! I jumped out of my skin as Natalie's fork crashed on the plate and tumbled to the floor. Salad leaves were spread about and Natalie sighed. "Sorry. Sorry."
"Don't mention it." Ciel said as Sebastian quickly cleaned up.
"His name was Kenny. And he had a cross emblem. But the cross was on fire." Natalie explained, her eyes wide and blank.
"That's it." She took her first bite and began to eat. "Burning cross huh?" Ciel cupped his hands and smirked.
"Sounds interesting.."
"Sounds responsible." I said, twirling my fork.
I laid in the bed in thought, my hands on my stomach and staring up at the ceiling. The burning cross? Seemed like some odd religion to me.
Actually, a cult. Is Aleister part of the burning cross? No, I saw no traces and neither did Ciel. Nor those goons we happened to get caught in at the ball.
I blinked slowly as I reflected on a few hours ago...
"Is Natalie in bed?"
"Certainly young master"
Ciel and Sebastian. I stood behind my closed door, listening silently.
"That girl is odd but she gave us a valuable piece of information. More than Rayne ."
"Lady Rayne's experience shouldn't go unnoticed. Viscount Druitt was heavily involved."
"Probably took the job to sell her. That's simple."
There was a pause that made my stomach drop. My heart was beating in my ears as I tried to maintain secrecy. "The burning cross. Sounds like an organization. Are you familiar with it?" Ciel said.
"I have heard of it once or twice. But I have a feeling the Undertaker would know more."
"As do I. But you will look deeper into it. That's an.." Ciel paused mid-sentence and my breath hitched.
"Sneaking around isn't very trust worthy Rayne." Ciel said plainly, forcing me to come out from behind the door.
"Sorry. I heard your voices by my door and-"
"You should be sleeping." Ciel cut me off. Staring at me with that stern navy blue orb of his. "I know just-"
Before I knew it, I was cut off again by Ciel placing his hand on my shoulder. It was an odd touch and it left my cheeks burning.
"Get some sleep Rayne."
He's right. Thinking in your head will do you no good. So slowly, I turned on my side. Just as I shifted over my nose clashed into another nose which sent goosebumps down my arms.
In the dark I stared at a pair of eyes and I had to keep my face still in fear of our lips meeting.
"Hello there." Natalie's voice squeaked and I pulled back instantly.
"Natalie!"
Natalie sat up and hugged her knees. How did I not realize she snuck in!?
"I'm sorry. But this manor is scary so I came here."
"With me!?" (Better than Ciel) "What?"
"You're warm. Your eyes are warm..everyone else's eyes are...cold." Natalie started scooting closer for comfort but I backed off.
"Natalie. Don't. You should really get back to your own bed.'
"It isn't my bed. My bed is at home."
"Natalie-"
"So cold..."
We stared at each other in the dark. Both our eyes in an unblinking gaze. Finally, I gave up in a sigh and Natalie snuggled down in the covers. "So warm in here."
Warm. Cold. Whatever, at least I could finally settle down. However, I made sure to scoot over to the very edge. She could have the rest!
WHOOP WHOOP. There may be flaws but I will come back and edit tomorrow or later tonight! I wanted to get this posted because I haven't posted in FOREVER! So leave a review. One question..what's your opinion on Natalie!? I want to know I want to answer your questions and of course..Until Next Time.