I really am quite terrible at updating, aren't I? Sorry.
That night I'm haunted by memories I had long ago tried to drown out. I knew I was a terrible child, though it wasn't my fault. My father shamed me and my step mother hated me, but she was too kind to let me die and too proud to let anyone know I wasn't her own child. My carrot-colored hair was a dead give away that one of the Midford's had had an affair, but they managed to pass it off as a gene carried from my (real biological) father's side, my great grandmother also being an irregular redhead.
I had finally had enough of the scornful looks I was given, tired of being locked away at parties, of being shamed and treated as less than human. I was through. So I left the Midford Manner for what I thought was the last time. When I met Alois, he seemed to know what he was doing, the whole living on his own. Of course, there was Luka too, but he was a bit clingy when it came to Alois so to me they were one in the same.
"Your orange hair is too easily spotted," he complained when I had first asked to join him on-the-run. "Well your bleach-blonde hair isn't much better," I retorted. "It's not 'bleach-blonde'," Alois argued back, pulling a few long strands down to eye level and studying them. That was the start of our friendship.
Years later, it had all ended in a burning carnage, the smell of burnt flesh penetrating my nightmare to relive the memory in the fullest. I had voted against Alois's plan, but he had done it anyway, and after his discovering Luka and going mostly insane, that was when I knew I needed to take my leave of absence.
Returning to the Manner was never part of the plan, it's never part of anyone's running away plans to return home. I was met with more hate, though I was still accepted back. Little Elizabeth had grown and was now engaged to be married to Ciel Phantomhive, in many, many years of course. This angered me the most, that my being the elder no longer matter. It, in fact, had never matter, since I was only father's daughter, a mistake that still haunts him.
I felt as if I had been stripped of what was rightfully mine, nothing seemed more important than regaining my title and honor and ridding my life of my half sister. It was the night of my return, in the height of my anger and distraught that I made the contract with Ashura and sealed both mine and Elizabeth's fates.
I woke to sunlight streaming through the opened drapes and wondered who the hell even dared.
"Ashura," I half whined, "I am not a morning person."
Removing the comforter that concealed my face, I saw that it was not Ashura, but an unexpected and unwanted visitor.
"Oh, g-good morning, Father," I manged through my distrust and loathing for him. "What brings you here?"
He was already dressed up in suit and tie despite the early hour, and he seemed a rather sour mood, probably because of my presence. Father cleared his throat before speaking. "You have received invite to the Trancy Estate for afternoon tea tomorrow, Reysa."
The Trancy Estate. So he had finally caught wind of my return to the Midford Manner, given that it wasn't public information.
"Is there any particular reason you are delivering this news personally?" I asked in a cold tone. I had sat up in bed and we were now staring daggers at each other, daring the other to to disrespect first.
"It has come to my atention," he said after a brief pause, "that you seem to have recently visited Phantomhive. I would appreciate for you to not do this again."
He began to walk toward the door, dismissing the rest of the conversation. I bit back shouting at him to stay the hell out of my business; instead I merely said, "Why?"
He turned and faced me again. "We don't want people getting the wrong idea, do we?" he simply said.
"Always caring what everyone else thinks," I muttered. I could tell Father had heard me, but he ignored my last comment as he left the room.
Once alone, I flopped back onto my pillow, quite unladylike, and let out a long sigh, keeping the rest of my comments restricted to thoughts only.
"Ashura, remind me to make a list of people you are not to let in when I'm sleeping," I told my butler when he brought morning tea.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Ashura bowed and left me to myself to ready for the not busy day.
I dressed in casual wear, which is to say I pulled on pants and a blouse, something rarely found on women. I sort of like going against the flow.
The rest of the day was uneventful, though my morning encounter left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Going to sleep that night, I hoped and wished for a peaceful slumber, one not haunted by my past.
"We could do it, ya know," Alois was beyond himself, "Burn the whole ungrateful lot of 'em!"
Luka voice his agreement loudly, in totally favor of Alois's idea.
"well, maybe... maybe not. It seems..." I stumbled to find the right words.
"Are you saying those bastards should live?" Alois turned on me.
"Well, they aren't all terrible people," I said in a whisper.
That had been my lame attempt at stopping Alois. I suppose while it had been his wish, he hadn't been the one to contract with the demon who destroyed the whole town. It was his fault, and yet he was not to blame.
"Hey,... Alois..." I said in a whisper, on the verge of tears. The blonde haired little boy had blue eyes filled with tears that were spilling over his cheeks and splashing to the ground. In his arms he cradled the unmoving little child named Luka. He had gotten what he had wanted, both of them, yet they lost so much that day. I left without saying anything more than: "Hey, Alois."