Chapter revised on April 1, 2020
Chapter 7:
"Why is my manor destroyed?"
"Younger master we didn't mean it, no we didn't!"
"Trespassers were hard to get rid of while Lady Elizabeth was asleep," the tall blonde said.
"Well fix it. I can't have guests staying with my home like this. It would disgrace the Phantomhive name."
"Don't worry young master! Lady Elizabeth left an hour ago!" The little blonde spoke in a loud voice. "Master, who is this?"
"Finnian, Bardroy, Mey-rin, this is Celesta. She will be working at the Phantomhive Manor with us for the rest of her life," Sebastian said, no remorse or hesitation lacing his voice.
Finnian... Wasn't that the name the Earl had told Joker?
"Oh! It will be nice to have another female here, yes it will!" the maid exaggerated.
"Hi. It's not to meet you all," I stated quietly, not liking the attention.
"Oi! You never said she was American! It's nice to have one of me here," the taller blonde male said.
"Celesta, this is the chef, Bardroy," he pointed to the taller of the servants, "this is the maid, Mey-rin," he pointed to the maid," and this is Finnian, he is the gardener."
"Pleasure to meet you all," I said politely.
"Sebastian, I want to go inside already. Finny, Mey-rin, Bard, you will all get to know her later. For now, she and I have some business we need to discuss. Let's go Sebastian, Celesta."
We walked in silence through the front doors and the few halls it took to get to our destination. We reached the door to what I assumed was the young master's main office. As Sebastian held the door open, the Earl walked in and I followed after him. Then, following behind us was Sebastian. The Earl walked to the desk in front of his grand window and sat down in the chair placed behind it. I walked forward but stood, not wanting to sit in case it was considered rude.
"Celesta sit." I did as I was told. "Sebastian, get us some tea. Earl Grey, preferably."
"Yes, young master."
"Celesta, you have shown great skill when fighting with my butler. Only one other person has been able to against him without dying and I would like to know the reason as to why you aren't dead when I ordered it."
"It's because you stopped the order, young master," I said sarcastically.
"I don't appreciate being mocked in my home, Ms. Bird. Now tell me, how did you last against my butler?"
"I have this... power that allows me to somewhat absorb a person's abilities and replicate them as my own."
The door opened and Sebastian walked in with the tea. Without interrupting he stepped next to the young master's desk and placed two cups down, pouring the steaming liquid into them. The Earl grabbed his cup and started drinking his tea while tentatively listening to what I had to see.
"I don't really know how, but this power just appeared out of nowhere when I was 18."
"You weren't born with it?"
"I'm not sure."
"You say you aren't a demon, but your eyes said differently when you were fighting against my butler."
"Oh... that I don't know. When I absorbed your butler's demonic abilities I only expected to gain the things the average human can't do. But even I don't understand why my eyes changed colors."
"Your wings changed colors as well..."
"Like you, I don't know the answer to that question either."
"Young master," Sebastian cut in, "if you will allow me, may I take a look at her wings?"
"Celesta."
I stood up to give space to my large wings. My wings appeared on my back, aching in the area where they connected to the upper center of my back.
"It's changed," Sebastian stated.
I turned around to look at what he was talking about. It indeed had changed. It returned to the pure white it once was before I had fought the butler. But it changed back into white after the train ride.
"Do you either of you have any idea of why this happened to Celesta's wings," the young master asked.
"I have lived many years, young master, and I assure you, this is the first time that I have seen something like this happen."
"My wings have never done this. It's always just stayed white."
I spread my wings and brought the edges closer to me. I touched them and gazed at them with a from on my face, my eyebrows furrowed.
Both males were looking my way and I could feel their stares as they felt incessant.
"Are there any other powers you have?"
"I can create illusions..."
"Illusions?"
"I can make people see whatever I want them to see. I used it to help kidnap the children. If they had seen the blood of the police they wouldn't have come willingly."
"Is that why they seemed... distrait?"
"What do you mean?"
"When we arrived at Kelvin Manor all the children seemed hollow. None of them seemed to know what they were doing. It was as if they were dead."
"I don't know anything more about the children then you do. I told you, they were never there whenever I stopped by."
"It seems as if Joker tried protecting you. But at what cost was this protection?" the young master asked.
I truly didn't know. The thought of Joker hiding the kids from me to protect me was sweet in a way but disturbing. It meant that he had been lying to me. It meant that he knew all along why we were kidnapping the children and never told me.
Seeing as I wasn't planning on answering his question, he asked another.
"So, your strengths are illusions and ability stealing, but what are your weaknesses?"
"Weaknesses... Why would I tell you them when you can figure them out yourself?"
"I guess I would..."
The Earl took a sip of his, a strong, calculating look on his face.
"You didn't talk as much as you do now..."
"Oh, so you've noticed?" A playful smiling pulling at my lips.
"Why didn't you talk a lot?"
"It was just something that I preferred for myself. It seemed... easier."
"Hmm. Celesta you can leave. Sebastian will show you to your new room. If I have any more questions for you I will send Sebastian to get you."
"Wait. I deserve at least one question for answering so many of yours..."
"That seems fair enough. What is it that you wish to ask?"
"Who were the intruders that Bardyor was talking about? I noticed you tensed a little. Who were the trespassers?"
"Do you really want to know?"
I nodded. My lips pursed as I watched him continue to speak.
"The members of the circus attempted to destroy my manor, so of course it was only necessary that my servants defend it."
"So this is where they were headed...," I muttered.
"You knew they were targeting the young master?" Sebastian asked.
"They were scared that you were going to rat us out to the police the first chance you got. They didn't really have any other choice, did they? It was either freedom or prison and of course, they chose freedom, who wouldn't."
"You're friends died trying to protect what they believed in. A foolish thing if you can't see it through."
"Well it beats making a contract with a demon," I snapped. "Just show me to my damn room, Sebastian. I'll leave you alone, master."
I walked out of the room in a huff and stood outside the door as I waited for Sebastian to step out. The demon soon came out and showed me to my room.
"Here is your room. If you need anything just call and I will assist you."
"Thanks, Sebastian. Before you go, can you show me where the closest bathroom is?"
"If you wish to know where the restroom is, it is down the hall. It is visible to the eye. There will be no need to strain your eyes to see."
Sebastian left and closed the door with a light click. I sat on the servant's bed and looked around the room. The size wasn't too extravagant but it was better than my tent from the circus. It was a good size for two beds to be fit in as well. I was content with the room that I got. I looked to my right and saw a big enough window for a body to go through, and thanked Sebastian for giving me a room with a window big enough for me to go through.
The thought of the young master's words popped into my head.
"' A foolish thing' he says... My only family is dead and I've become the maid to the person that killed them. That makes complete sense..."
I couldn't feel sorry for myself. I had made mistakes like everyone and I couldn't judge anyone for it.
My stomach growled in agreement for my foolishness and I realized I hadn't eaten breakfast. It was too late for breakfast so instead, I opted to eat lunch. I stepped out of my room and turned to my right and continued walking in the hope that I would get to the kitchen soon. I realized a few halls down that I did not know where the kitchen was.
I had officially lost myself in a place where a demon could easily kill. I would have gone the master's study if I had known the way to it. All I could do was sit there and wait for someone to help me.
"Miss Celesta, may I ask what you are doing outside of your room?" Sebastian asked.
"I got hungry and decided to go to the kitchen. I forgot that I didn't know where it was." I answered blankly but honestly.
"If you needed assistance I would have gladly helped," he said plastering a fake smile on his pale face.
"I would have asked you but I felt you were too busy tending to the young master," I said, placing the same faux smile on my tanned face.
"I was headed to the kitchen for the young master's afternoon snack. If you would like to accompany me you are more than welcome to."
The atmosphere became bitter as we walked to the kitchen.
The hatred we feel towards each other is mutual Sebastian. Don't get used to it.