The next morning Lizzie woke up, feeling rested and secure. She stretched out her back and shoulders, making cat-like noises as she did so. She reached over to the small cord by her bed pulling it lightly and yawning.
Catherine was fixing her bun when the bell rang in her room, she smiled and made her way to her mistress' chamber. As she walked up the grand staircase she saw Sebastian come out of the kitchen holding a tea tray. She looked at him for a moment while he, oblivious to her stare, polished the ceramic teapot until it shined. His dark hair was falling lightly over his eyes, soft and feathery. Catherine turned away and scoffed, why did he have to be so attractive? She carried on the journey to her mistress, trying not to think about Sebastian and the events that had occurred the night before.
She reached Elizabeth's room and tapped on the door.
"You called, my lady?" the maid said softly.
"Yes, please come in Cathy!" the young girl squealed. Catherine opened the door to see Lizzie standing by the open window in a pale blue dressing gown. "Catherine isn't it a beautiful day!"
"Yes, mistress, we are blessed with good weather today." Catherine went and stood by her mistress' side, looking out of the window as a soft breeze blew on her face.
"It's just the perfect day for a picnic with Ciel!"
"That would be nice way to spend the day, my lady. Shall we choose which dress you should wear?" Catherine said, smiling. Elizabeth smiled back, even brighter than usual.
xxxxx
Ciel was greeted by the sight of Elizabeth sitting in an armchair in the drawing room.
"Good morning, Elizabeth." He said as he sat beside her.
"Ciel!" Lizzie laughed.
"I trust you slept well?"
"I slept very well, thank you."
"What would you like to do today?"
"Let's go on a romantic walk in the woods and have a picnic! Please Ciel! Please, please, please!"
"I'll have to check my schedule for today, but that could be arranged." Catherine watched the pair, smiling unconsciously, she couldn't take her eyes away from them, they were just children yet they had experienced so much.
"Thank-you so much! It will be so cute, we can have little sandwiches, scones with jam, and-"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, my lady Elizabeth, but breakfast has been served." a voice said. The voice made Catherine tear her stare away from the young couple to be met by a pair of crimson eyes looking right at her. She looked away, trying to seem strong and holding back the burning blush on her cheeks.
Time seemed to slow down during breakfast, meaning Catherine had to spend more time with the butler than she felt comfortable with. Every time she glanced at him he was staring right back. She couldn't understand why he would stoop so low to find out her secret.
Sebastian stood behind his master, tall and stately. He shoulders were back, pushing his chest out a little, he looked almost like a noble himself apart from the look of utter confusion in his eyes.
"Sebastian, prepare a meal for the Lady Elizabeth and I to eat in the woods, nothing fancy, sandwiches, scones and tea will do just fine." Ciel ordered, breaking his conversation with Lizzie.
"Yes, my lord." Sebastian said as he bowed and left the room.
xxxxx
Lizzie and Ciel were walking a little further ahead than their servants, Lizzie hanging onto her fiance's arm like a limpet.
"Catherine." Sebastian said, after a long silence.
"Yes." She replied, her voice like knives.
"I'd like to apologise for last night, it was very improper and I have disgraced the duties of a Phantomhive butler." He said.
"Don't patronise me." She spat.
"I'm not." He said, touching her arm causing her to turn around, ready to hit him but the look in his eye seemed apologetic.
"Alright, but you owe me."
"Owe you?"
"Yes."
"What do I owe you?"
"Answers."
"Answers?"
"Yes."
"Such as?"
"What do you want from me?" she asked bluntly.
"I seek the same as you, answers." He looked her straight I'm the eye. "May I get what I need?"
"If you must." She sighed, hiding her anxiety.
"What do you know about Jack the Ripper?"
"I know nothing."
"Hm? I'm afraid I don't believe you."
"I'm not lying. You have your answer, now it's my turn." She looked up at him. "Are you human?"
He stared at her in disbelief. Why such an obvious question?
"I think we both know the answer to that, Catherine, but to be fair I will answer. No, I'm not."
"I just wanted to make sure." She stared at her feet as they walked.
"You seemed to know before you even had met me, you wouldn't even look me in the eye for you knew I would have seen what you are. How did you know?"
Catherine laughed lightly. "Is that really the question you're going for?"
"Catherine! Sebastian! We have found the perfect spot! We'll eat here!" Lizzie called to the servants. They had found a clearing in the thick woods, the ground coated with moss and wild flowers. Sebastian immediately left the maid's side as he unpacked the basket. Lizzie sat down on the blanket, pulling Ciel down with her and instantly bursting into endless chatter. The butler returned to Catherine, who was watching the couple from a distance, still intrigued by their romance.
"I believe I never had my turn." He said, smirking.
Lizzie looked over to the pair and beamed, "Ciel! Wouldn't it be so adorable if our maid and butler got married! It would be so cute!" She squeaked, in her usual way.
"Sure." Ciel replied, not really listening.
"Just look at Catherine and Sebastian! Such an adorable couple!" Ciel whipped his head round to look at them, they were both deep in conversation. The boy felt a pang in his chest.
Elizabeth was still smiling, eyes closed, waiting for a reply. She opened her eyes to look at Ciel's distant expression.
"Ciel, are you alright?" She asked, her smile disappearing.
"Yes I'm fine." He turned back to Lizzie and plastered a fake smile on his face.
"It's your turn, Sebastian." Catherine said.
"Alright, you seemed familiar with Madam Red's butler, Grell Sutcliffe, do you know him?"
"I know nothing." She replied.
"That's a rather popular answer today." Sebastian remarked.
"What do you mean?"
"You promised me answers but all I get is 'I know nothing', whereas I answer you questions fully."
"I didn't promise you anything, you're the one who owes me." She said, pointing at him. "It's my turn now." She inhaled deeply, preparing her self for the question she had been building up to, "What do you know of my father, Charles Verloren?"
Sebastian went silent, all emotion leaving his face, he stared at her blankly. The silence was deafening, it was if everything had stopped completely. Slowly, Sebastian spoke.
"I haven't heard that name in a while." He said, his voice low and deep in thought.
"What do you mean?" She said as thoughts darted through her mind.
"I do believe, Catherine, that you may be the daughter of my brother." It was her turn for silence.
The silence was quickly torn in half. Gunshot. From deep in the woods. The glint of a bullet stung her eyes. The bullet was heading towards Elizabeth.
Everything went in slow motion. Catherine dived to block the bullet, Sebastian trying to hold her back to catch it himself.
The maid wasn't as skilled at catching flying objects as the butler. The bullet sunk into her neck. She stayed silent as her body hit the ground and her ears were attacked by noise.
Then, there was darkness.
Author's Note
I hope you enjoyed the chapter, I am very worried that the ending was too much like a soap opera, please tell me what you think!
Also the name Charles Verloren, Catherine's father, took me a while to come up with because I wanted a name with a meaning, Charles means "warrior" and Verloren is German for "lost" which seems very deep but oh well!
Anonymous Guest: Thank you again for your reviews, they really make my day and I also agree with your criticism, I wasn't sure how to end it, I apologise. Constructive criticism is always welcome :)
Meow Cats R Awesome: Your review was so sweet, thank you, I hope you enjoy the rest of the fan fiction!
Eternity Locket: Thank you for your review, I really wanted to do something different and a friend helped me come up with this, I wanted to do something with Lizzie because I believe she is a rather unloved character by the Sebaciel shippers!
Please leave your reviews, I really appreciate them!
Next chapter coming soon.