3 Months Later
"Is this really necessary, Your Majesty?" Ashura leans forward in the cramped space of where we hide in a cabinet.
I wave away his concerns with a swipe of my hand. "You may be a demon, Ashura, but patience is still a virtue."
"Forgive me," he says, "But I see no point in pulling childish pranks on Lady Elizabeth."
"Yes, well, though her death is what I seek, I wish to savor my vengeance. A quick death heeds little rewards."
"I suppose," Ashura says quietly, "That will make your soul the more tastier."
"Oh, I just love it when you salivate over my soul," I say. "Oh, here she comes. Shh!"
Lady Elizabeth walks into the room, followed by her maid, which I never bothered to learn the name of. It is a common fact to me and Ashura that Elizabeth is not in any Demonic contract with her maid.
"Tea Time, My Lady," her maid says. This was one reason I did not wish to be called "My Lady".
"Oh, yay!" Elizabeth seemed genuinely excited about this. "And then later we are going to visit Ceil, correct?"
Ceil, I had learned, was a common topic with Lady Elizabeth. Ceil Phantomhive was also our cousin, and Elizabeth's betrothed. He was technically supposed to be my betrothed, but actually, a matter of blood deemed me not fit to marry the Earl Phantomhive, and so Elizabeth, having pure Midford blood, became the next inline. It wasn't like I was in love with him, but it was more for honorary matters. Sure, he was cute, in a little kid way. But he was short and always wore an eye-patch for unknown reasons. He also had this mysteriousness about him, keeping to himself. And I won't even start on his Butler and servants.
"Quite correct, My Lady. But I have received word from Sebastian that a terrible accident has taken away the Earl's memories from the past few months. He has advised that we not mention this the his Lord, so his memory can heal on it's own."
"That's peculiar," Lady Elizabeth states, "At any rate, I'll be happy to see Ceil. It's been awhile; Where has he been these last few weeks?"
"I'm not sure, Lady Elizabeth, but per Sebastian's request, we best not mention it."
Elizabeth nods. She has already taken a seat, her tea cup and saucer in front of her.
A movement underneath the clothed table catches the attention of Lady Elizabeth's maid.
"Lady Elizabeth, I believe there is something under the table," She says. She moves to swipe away the bottom of the cloth to check under the table. In that instant, a snake's head pops out.
Elizabeth Shrieks and abruptly pushes herself away from the table in fear. Her manner is unladylike, and causes a laugh to rise in my throat.
A gloved hand clamps around my mouth. Ashura, keeping us from being found out.
That's the best part about all this: Lady Elizabeth never catches me (or should I say us?), so she actually thinks she's being haunted.
The snake hisses at the maid I don't know the name of, but she remains calm. Then with precision I've never seen but from Ashura, she grabs the snake by where the neck would be located, and quickly shoves it in the nearest vase that probably costs a fortune.
Elizabeth is near tears when the maid comes over to comfort her, already called for someone to take the vased snake away.
"Would you like to go now to visit Lord Phatomhive?" She asks in a soothing voice that almost made me want to nod along.
Elizabeth nods, and her maid takes out a handkerchief to wipe away the forming tears under Lady Elizabeth's eyes.
When they have left the room, I immediately burst out in laughter, falling, yet catching myself, out of the hiding spot.
"Oh, that was a grand performance!" I laugh. "On the verge of tears!"
"Yes, I suppose it was... funny," Ashura forces a smile.
"Laugh, you idiot. Even if you didn't think it was deserving of your approval of laughter, humans like to have someone laughing right along side them." I say. I fall on the floor on my back, closing my eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I do not think I can muster laughing unless it was a direct order." He replies. I can hear the smile in his voice.
I sigh. "Whatever. Ashura, answer me this: how old are you?"
He wavers. "fifteen. May I ask why you question this?"
I don't answer. "Would that be in Earth years? Or whatever demon years you have?"
"I believe they are both the same," he says.
"Well, that surely explains a lot about your lack of knowledge in common humanities," I grunt.
"I'm sorry if this displeases you," Is all Ashura says in reply.
"Yeah, well you have a lot to learn about humanity, Ashura." I say.
"Information as such seems pointless for my lifestyle, " He says, tagging on a "Your Majesty" to the end for good measure.
Ignoring his last comment, I reply, "By the way, if you're only fifteen, hows come you look and act like an adult? The aura of sophistication coming from you is almost unbearable, you know."
He sighs, barely audible, but it sounds like he's slightly annoyed. "I am a demon. We do not age the same as you humans."
"You don't have to say that every time, you know. I know your a demon, Ashura. Don't have to rub it in."
Silence.
"You know what I think, Ashura?" I say at last.
"No, I don't. I cannot read minds.." He replies.
I laugh and open my eyes to find the ocean in which is known as the not-at-all-demonic-looking eyes of Ashura. "Well for one, for a demon you have an excellent sense of humor."
"But of course," He replies. I sit up and grin mischievously at him, like someone does when that someone is planning something possibly, or not possibly but only slightly, evil-ish.
"Actually, I was thinking I, too, should pay my dear amnesic cousin a visit."