Lilliana huffed and pulled her cloak tighter around her. The eerie chants of the villagers behind her coupled with the mournful howls of their mutts were really starting to make her skin crawl. She scowled as they began their creepy chant again and debated going back to the castle to fetch the group herself. Shaking her head, she drew comfort from the rain and settled in to wait. As glad as I am that that despicable man is no longer walking the earth, his death is only delaying our departure from this damn hellhole. Ugh, stupid demon hound!
Finally, she sensed that wonderfully familiar demonic aura heading her direction with the group in tow.
"What's happening?" Sebastian asked, running up behind the villagers.
"Snap out of it! What are you all doing?" Bard shook a man kneeling close to the back and received no form of acknowledgement. His sole focus was directed forward.
Thunder rumbled and lightning split the sky, illuminating the gruesome sight of Lord Barrymore's horribly mangled corpse propped against the arena's bloodied stone wall. Mey-Rin and Finny screamed. Ciel looked at Sebastian, giving him silent orders, and watched as the man walked through the oblivious crowd to investigate the corpse.
"Oh great demon hound!"
"Please, oh please!"
"Demon hound, please forgive us!"
The cries of the villagers sent shivers down Lilliana's spine. Irritated, she began walking toward the little group who had yet to notice her. She watched Angela gasp dramatically and fall to the ground unconscious. Finny rushed to her side but Lilliana, who had just reached Ciel, only snorted. His head whipped to the side at the unexpected noise and his eyes widened when he recognized her.
"And where have you been?" he demanded.
Lilliana looked at him, puzzled. "Right here, Ciel. I'm the one who found Barrymore here. I've been waiting on you slowpokes to get here."
He frowned, squinting slightly through the rain. "You found him? How? Didn't you come back to the castle with us earlier?"
Lilliana shook her head no and opened her mouth to explain, but closed it abruptly when Sebastian rejoined the group. She blushed slightly when the butler narrowed his eyes at her. Crap! He knows I'm hiding something! Ciel sighed in annoyance.
"Let us return to the castle. I'm tired and I dislike being out in the cold and wet."
Sebastian bowed slightly and ushered the little lord back the way they came. Lilliana collected the rest of the servants and followed at a distance.
I don't understand why you haven't told him yet, madam. You're only causing yourself pain.
Lilliana sighed and lowered her head. After a short silence, she admitted, I'm afraid, Zeela.
Madam, you are his soulmate. His other half. Whether he knows it or not, he's been waiting for you all the centuries he's been alive.
Lilliana felt her eyes burn as tears gathered. She felt real, physical pain in her chest and stomach as she projected her next thought. I highly doubt he would ever accept me as his mate. A powerful demon like him mated to an inexperienced, average witch? What a joke.
Madam. Lilliana's head shot up and her eyes went wide. She looked around in a panic and noticed that somehow she had made it back to her room and was alone. Well.. not exactly alone. Her familiar had manifested out of the locket and was sitting on her lap, front paws on her chest, tail whipping madly back and forth, and glaring directly into her eyes. Lilliana felt her cheeks warm and looked away, ashamed by her own insecurities.
Zeela wasn't having it, though. She rammed her face into Lilliana's chin and forcefully rubbed against her. Lilliana tried moving her head away and angling it to avoid the persistent feline, but was unsuccessful.
"Zeela!" She finally burst out laughing and fell back onto the bed. Zeela followed and began licking her chin which only made Lilliana laugh harder. She settled back on her haunches and began purring, kneading Lilliana's stomach with her dainty paws.
"Fine, you win," Lilliana said, scratching behind Zeela's ear. The cat smirked as much as a cat could and the two curled up together for some much needed rest.
The following morning at 6:15am, a soft knock sounded on her door. Lilliana glanced in the mirror once more to make sure her markings were hidden and called for Mey-Rin to enter.
"Good morning, Lady Lilliana!"
Lilliana smiled. It would never cease to amaze her how chipper the red-headed maid could be this early in the morning.
"Good morning, Mey-Rin. Will you help me dress?"
"Of course, m'lady!" The maid was bobbing her head so enthusiastically, Lilliana wondered how her glasses didn't go flying.
The two women ducked behind the changing screen and Mey-Rin began to wrestle with the corset stays.
"Mey-Rin, do you know if Ciel is awake yet?"
"Oh yes, m'lady! Mister Sebastian should be taking him down for breakfast soon, yes he should!"
"Good," she nodded.
"Which dress would you like to wear today, m'lady?"
Lilliana felt herself blush. "The red one, please." She felt Mey-Rin move away to get the dress and Lilliana scolded herself. So what if this dress reminds me of his eyes? No one else will know that! Except.. Ciel.
"Here we are, m'lady!" Mey-Rin interrupted Lilliana's inner conflict with the rustle of fabric. On went the dress and then there was nothing left to argue about. Lilliana quickly brushed her hair and, as usual, left it to hang freely down her back. After a brief scrutiny of her reflection, she nodded and turned to head down for breakfast.
"Good morning, Ciel."
The young Earl nodded at her and waited for Sebastian to serve her breakfast. "You may go tend to your other duties, Sebastian. We will be fine here for a while."
Lilliana caught the grumpy look he sent her before bowing and taking his leave.
"Ciel," she started, "You're making him even more suspicious of me. He's going to consider me a threat to his contract if you keep this up!"
"Well then, the simplest solution is to reveal your identity." He sipped his tea. He had stated this so casually that Lilliana almost missed the implication of what he said. Immediately her eyes widened and her heart raced in a panic.
"What?! Ciel-!"
The little lord sighed. "Relax, I will keep my word to you. Honestly, though, I don't understand why you are so intent on hiding it."
Lilliana huffed and grabbed her fork. "You sound like Zeela," she muttered.
"Who is that?" he asked.
Since her mouth was full with delicious breakfast, Lilliana did a quick search to find the butler's aura-on the second floor in Ciel's room-and, with a shrug, mentally summoned Zeela. The familiar manifested in the middle of the table, sitting very prim and proper like the proud little kitty she was.
Ciel dropped his fork with a clang. His eyes were wide and startled, warily watching the feline that had quite literally appeared out of thin air. Zeela tilted her head to the side as she studied him.
He seems interesting for a child, Lilliana heard through their mindlink.
Lilliana started laughing. She couldn't help it. Ciel's head whipped to the side in confusion. His forehead creased, disliking not knowing what was going on.
"I apologize, Ciel," she said, still chuckling. "Zeela said something that made me laugh."
"Can you please explain to me what is going on?!" He finally managed.
Lilliana smiled widely. "Ciel, I'd like to introduce you to Zeela, my familiar."
Her eyes sparkled as she watched Ciel putting the pieces together and finally understanding what had just transpired. "I assume you have more questions, little lord?"
"Where did she come from just now?"
Lilliana pulled the locket out of her bodice in answer before safely tucking it away again.
"You said she spoke to you? Can she speak like a human?"
"No, Ciel. Witches have what's called a mindlink with their familiars, a telepathic connection. We can project thoughts and feelings through the link to share with each other. It's even possible to use the link to identify where one of us is should we ever be separated."
"What was it she said earlier, then, that made you laugh?"
Lilliana's eyes sparkled with humor as she tried to keep from laughing again. "She said you were interesting, for a child."
Ciel scowled and was about to retort when Lilliana sensed the butler approaching.
"Zeela!" She hissed, summoning her familiar back to the locket. Not two seconds after the feline had disappeared, Sebastian entered the room. Lilliana's face was beet red as she turned her attention back to her mostly empty plate. Ciel looked mildly bewildered and you could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Sebastian watched him, puzzled, when the young boy's eyes landed on the blushing lady and his face suddenly morphed into a smug smirk.
"Good timing, Sebastian. I believe we are finished with breakfast. Come, there's much to do." Ciel's tone oozed mischief.
Lilliana caught the look on his face and wanted to groan. He was up to something, she could feel it. As the little lord and his butler disappeared through the doorway, Lilliana decided she had no desire to stay inside this horrible mansion waiting around for Ciel to make his move. Instead, she would take advantage of his preoccupation and avail herself of the sparkling blue waters of the lake.
Hey Zeela, fancy a swim?
Maybe an hour later, Lilliana was happily gliding through the cool waters of the lake. Ciel had not bothered her, the servants were not wreaking havoc, and Lilliana was savoring the peace and quiet.
"Enjoying yourself, witch?"
Lilliana sighed. So much for peace and quiet, she thought.
"I am, actually. Your concern is touching," she taunted. "You came all the way down here just to check on me, Angela."
"Do not flatter yourself, witch," the maid hissed. "You are alone and unprotected by the boy and his demon. I came to eliminate you, you heathen spawn."
Lilliana laughed. She finally turned to face the fallen angel. "You really are a very stupid angel," she chuckled, "if you believe me to be alone and unprotected."
Purple eyes flashed and the angel seethed, fists clenching at her sides. "Heathen! You dare mock me? What is stopping me from purging your filthy existence right now?!" Her calm and confidence was beginning to frighten the angel that stood at the shoreline. Surely such a young witch should have been terrified of an angel as powerful as herself!
"What indeed?" Lilliana asked.
Angela floundered, not expecting the question to be turned back on her. Her anger grew and she lifted her hands, reaching for her angelic powers, when she noticed something odd. The witch was...humming?
Lilliana was calmly standing, waist-deep, in the lake. Her brilliant emerald eyes seemed to glow as she quietly hummed. A sudden breeze ruffled her hair and small waves formed around her. Angela faltered, suddenly unsure of the situation. She moved to take a step back and found that she could not lift her foot. Her eyes flew down to her feet and she gasped as she saw the sand twisting around her ankles and keeping her in place. Angela looked back up at the witch and her purple eyes flashed with hatred. She was still just standing there!
The humming again reached her ears and her anger spiked. Angela gave up trying to free her feet and loosed a volley of feathers, sharp as knives, at the witch. Again, the witch didn't flinch or move a muscle as the projectiles were cast aside by a sudden strong wind. Not a single one struck their intended target. Angela was furious beyond reason. The humming echoed around her skull, threatening to drive her insane. She saw red as she extended her arms to cast purifying fire at the unclean soul in front of her. Snuff out the unclean! Snuff out the unnecessary! Snuff out the unwanted!
"End them!" She screamed.
A flash of white, a blanket of blue, and a sudden cold shock brought Angela back to her senses. She frowned when she saw the witch still standing in the exact same spot. How is she still alive?! A sudden chill had her looking down at her arms, and her eyes widened. She began to shake. Her arms were still extended to release her angelic powers, but they were now frozen in a blanket of ice, as if a wave had broken over her and immediately frozen on contact. Her mind was racing, trying to comprehend the situation, when the witch's voice startled her from her thoughts.
"Listen well, angel." Lilliana had closed the distance between them, standing directly in front of the angel's frozen hands. "I am never alone and I am never unprotected. You would do well to remember that." Lilliana quietly resumed her humming, still staring into the angel's now frightened purple eyes. The ice melted off her hands, the wind stilled, and the sand released her feet. "Good day, Angela."