Hello, people! Are you ready? I hope you are, because, as I promised last week, Selina's past will finally unfold before you all... as well before Ciel and Sebastian. I assure you, it has lots of stuff in it... lots! So, without further delay I'll leave you to fully enjoy the first part. I will only give everyone a WARNING that sensitive themes are included, like death and attempted rape, so if some scenes feel disturbing... well, that is my purpose, but each and every thing has a reason for happening. If anyone doesn't feel like reading it, I respect it, and I am willing to give a non-graphic summary of the chapter, if asked to but only privately, not publicly as I don't want to spoil it for everyone else. Thank you very much for your understanding!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or its characters. I entirely own only my OCs, arcs and ideas/themes not mentioned in any form of the franchise (manga, anime, games, movies or musicals).
Chapter 37: The Tutor, Bittersweet Happiness
The next day, in the evening Ciel withdrew to his office, along his butler and tutor. Selina followed with Sebastian behind her. The demon, with a hand on her waist, gently pushed her forward; his face a cold, expressionless mask, undisturbed all day, but his eyes a little redder than his mahogany human ones and annoyance was obvious. Selina saw that and was not sure whether it was due to the contact he was forced to have with her - since all day he had kept a quite obvious distance from her - or due to Soma's and Agni's eyes curiously roaming on her figure, trying to figure out where the well-shaped, quite attractive female body hid the amount of strength needed to make her Ciel's left hand - since Sebastian was obviously his right one - as Sieglinde had informed them.
When they entered the Earl's office, boy and man took their places behind the desk and at the side of the Earl's armchair respectively, as the woman sat in an armchair across them. She took a breath and smoothed her skirt trying to calm down.
"Now, my lord. You might hear things that will make you feel uncomfortable… please bear with it; they will help both of you understand… me." She announced giving the boy Earl a book she had with. Once he opened the cover he realised it was a photo album filled with pictures of Selina, Miranda and many others he did not know.
Selina's voice sounded too serious and Sebastian took a closer look at her face – even though he had decided to hold back – and saw her own expressionless and cold mask slipping on her features in an effort to steel herself for what she knew would follow.
"Well... I'll start from the beginning, one of my first vague memories. I could say that my family was pretty much a normal one and we were... quite happy..." Her voice was calm now and resonated a bitter warmth as her narration went on.
{~}
Animal sounds and roars filled the blond five-year old girl's ears as she was standing in front of a zoo cage, watching two large panthers lying inside it quite bored. Her furrowed eyebrows and pouting lips showed she was not enjoying it that much.
"Well, honey, do you like it here? Beautiful animals, aren't they?" An adult man standing behind her asked leaning closer, his soft grey eyes staring at the girl with love as he ruffled her long curls, so different from his dark chocolate, straight and short hair. "What?" He asked again confused as the girl shook her head at his first question and nodded at the second.
"They are very beautiful… the most beautiful, but I don't like it here anymore." Her eyebrows furrowed more and her blue eyes were tearful. "They must not be in here, but there!" She pointed at a sign informing visitors about the animal's characteristics and natural habitat.
"Tsk! Big deal! They are wild animals; they are kept in here where they are protected by hunters. So what?" A twelve year old girl, with dark chocolate soft curls and really deep blue eyes - under certain light they looked violet - said and shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
"They must be free! And I want to go home, I don't like the zoo!" The little one said determined and stomped her feet on the ground, glaring the older one that called her 'a baby' mockingly.
"Deanna, stop that!" The adult woman, next to the man, spoke pulling her light ginger curls out of her face. "Selina, sweetie, I understand if you want to go home, but you also have to consider your sister and your cousin who might want to see the rest of the animals, alright? Miranda dear, do you want to go on or go home?" Smiling she addressed a seven year old, red haired, green eyed girl holding her hand.
"I want to go on… please." The soft, shy voice of little Miranda was heard.
Deanna responded she did not care either way. However, Selina could not accept that; she yelled she wanted to go home now, and in a flash had escaped her father's arms, ready to hug her, and started running to the exit's direction. She heard her parents calling her and her sister saying she would catch the 'bad mannered baby' and with quite bored steps started following her. Selina knew Deanna was also a good runner and that was why she sped up even more.
She ran so fast she did not realise the nose of her shoe tripping at a piece of iron right where the stairs leading to the exit began. She felt her right leg not following as it should and her body falling forwards. But then, stopped falling and was pulled back on her feet.
"Be careful, little lady. Watch where you step so you will not fall." A male voice reached her ears; a really velvety, gentle voice immediately making her blush a little.
Her eyes followed the direction the voice came and saw an arm around her waist that led to a black shirt with two buttons open at the throat, allowing her eyes to see a pale collarbone and a slender neck that supported… the handsomest face she had ever seen. Instantly, the impression of her daddy being the most beautiful man changed entirely. This man's face was rather long and slim with a wide, radiant smile on shapely lips and smooth porcelain skin. But what captivated her more and made her blush deeper were his deep mahogany eyes that for a second she thought they turned to a vibrant red with slits instead of pupils; she blinked and the image was gone so it must have been her imagination. His raven black hair reaching his shoulders in a quite unruly manner completed that breathtaking image and the girl's young heart beat a little faster for a moment.
"Now, where were you running alone? Where are your parents?" He asked and gifted her with another so charming smile.
"I-I wanted to go home, because I don't like that the panthers, tigers, lions and other animals are in cages… but the others didn't want to leave yet." She whispered with a small, cute voice different from her angry and determined one.
"Oh dear, I know how you feel. It is sad watching these so beautiful creatures in captivity, is it not? They are so soft, warm with so shiny coat and paws so…" He sighed obviously greatly enchanted by the big felines and regretful he could not do something to release them from their captivity.
As he was talking, his arm had withdrew from her waist and now his strong but gentle hand was pushing back her curls that had travelled to her face while running. Selina's eyes could not leave his face and especially his smiling eyes.
"What is your name, little lady? We can go to the office where some good people help little children that got lost find their parents, right?" He said as his fingers brushed the girl's rosy cheeks.
"Selina!" She said enthusiastically, proud of her so rare name and its meaning.
The handsome man looked really surprised opening his eyes wide."Selina you say? Oh my! Never thought I would meet another Selina!"
It was the girl's turn to look surprised. "You know one?"
The man was about to answer but another girl's anxious voice was heard calling little Selina, and in a flash Deanna was there, hugging the blond one protectively and pulling her out of his hands.
"What did he do to you?" She asked while glaring at the smiling man.
"Nothing… I almost fell and he saved me." Selina answered quite confused at her sister's hostility.
"Oh my God! Selina, are you alright?" Her mother cried with agony as she passed Miranda's hand to her husband, ran the short distance to reach the girls and hug the younger one making sure she was unharmed.
"Yes! I almost fell and he saved me, he did nothing bad!" The girl responded very quickly to prevent her mother from reacting so rudely to the kind man.
"What?" Her mother asked not believing her ears.
She turned her eyes to the man, who was smiling accepting her husband's thanks and apology. He responded it was no trouble and an adult's duty is to look out for youngsters. He got up and looked at Selina while bowing in a gentlemanly manner.
"I am very happy to have met you, little Selina, but next time be careful, all right? And keep loving our friends the cats with that wonderfully pure heart of yours." He smiled again as he saw the girl's cheeks getting red once more and her blue eyes sparkling with excitement as she promised she would.
The man made a small courteous bow to the rest of the ladies, descended the stairs and headed for the exit. Selina could not stop following his gracious movements until he disappeared from her eyes; and that was why she did not see her mother stroking Deanna's hair asking her with her eyes if she was okay and her sister nodding or her father's confused look at his wife's and daughter's silent exchange.
"I'd like to go home now." Miranda's trembling voice was heard and the red headed girl seemed really terrified, as she was clutching her uncle's hand.
Young Selina never understood what was all the fuss about and why her mother, sister and cousin were that scared of the kind sir. To her, he was an absolutely normal person, extremely beautiful with a vibrant somehow dark aura, but she had sensed that aura in many people so it was not strange for her.
Of course, she could not even imagine how that random, short acquaintance would determine a great part of her life in the future.
{~}
"I don't believe it!" Selina said facepalming and shaking her head.
"That was one of your first memories?" Ciel's tone was saying "Seriously now?"
"I had never made the connection, my lord." Selina said a bit frustrated at how pathetic that early meeting made everything sound.
Ciel nodded in agreement and told her to go on. Both woman and child chose not to look at the demon standing there. Either way, they did not need to look at him to know he had an absolutely smug and proud smile on his lips.
{~}
The Clark family resided in a town-house similar to Ciel's, but smaller as the living and dining area shared one room; what normally should be the entrance hall between the front door and the stairs was just a wide, elongated hallway and a small piano was resting in front of one wall, since there was no music room. The house was filled with sunlight.
A seventeen year old Deanna was sitting on the sofa with a ten year old Selina by her side. On a second sofa at their right, a twelve year old Miranda was almost hidden in the arms of a brown haired woman with emerald eyes, while a man around forty, with ginger, curly hair, identical to Selina's and Deanna's mother, was standing further away rubbing his forehead very upset. All were silent and the atmosphere was heavy, worrying Selina even more, since she had been collected from school by her aunt earlier than normal. Deanna seemed like wanting to say something but could not.
"What is going on?" Selina demanded looking at her sister.
That seemed to shake the older girl, who took a deep breath, pulled her hair back revealing her reddened eyes and finally spoke. "You know that mum and dad were coming home tonight from the conference, right?" Selina nodded. "Well... they were travelling with the airplane... but... one of its engines... malfunctioned and... the pilots didn't manage to do much before it..." She could not go on, a lump in her throat made her stop and her eyes started filling with tears.
"It... it crashed?" Selina asked with a trembling voice seeing how everyone was ready to cry, not for the first time that day. Deanna could not utter a word and only nodded with eyes cast down on her and her sister's intertwined fingers. "None survived?" Selina asked again not ready to accept what they were telling her.
"It was... above water and... there was an... immediate leak of fuel so... it exploded as soon as it touched the water." Her aunt's hoarse voice said followed by Miranda's sob held back for so long.
Now there was no reason for anyone to hold back and Selina could see Miranda crying in her mother's arms, as the woman rubbed her daughter's back allowing her own tears run freely. Her mother's twin brother let out a painful sob and covered his face with his hands crying in silence, but his shoulders were shaking violently. Selina's mind was numb; she could not, did not want to, accept what happened to her family until she looked at Deanna. Her sister was always loud, whatever she did, but now was biting her finger to stifle her cries.
Selina's chin and lips started quivering, as the fact that she would never feel her father ruffling her hair and never smell her mother's discreet aroma of vanilla, along with many more that would never happen again, started finding its way through a thick fog wrapped around her mind. Deanna saw that and pulled her in her embrace, right when a loud cry was leaving Selina's throat only to be followed by a flood of tears, sobs stealing her breath and more cries filled with pain, fear and desperation. The blond girl wanted nothing more, at the moment, other than sink in the shadows her sister's arms made as she circled her.
"It's okay... I'm here, I won't ever leave you. Never!"
Deanna was whispering squeezing her sister, clinging to her arms desperately. Miranda slipped out of her mother's embrace, ran to the hugging girls, kneeled in front of them and with her arms tried to circle their waists, her head on their legs. Miranda's mother ran to her husband, took him in her arms where the grown man finally allowed himself to cry like a baby at the loss of his constant companion, his beloved sister.
The human funeral - the burying of two empty coffins - and the magical one - burning objects where body cells of the now dead couple could have remained and thus turn them to ghosts - were blurry in Selina's memory that felt like wrapped in a thick, heavy fog of humid, chilling her to the bone. She crashed into reality when the judge announced the ten year old girl would be given to a foster family until she reached eighteen, since her uncle's family could not financially support both orphaned girls, as his income was just enough for his family as it was now. Deanna Clark had the right to contact and visit her sister whenever she wanted.
The mourning family's lawyer objected and practically demanded of the judge to reconsider, since Deanna Clark needed four months to reach eighteen, graduate from school and then be free to get a job and support her sister. The judge said he already took it into account, and decided he could not take away Deanna's chance of higher education studies, because she would have to find a low wage job for her sister's sake.
His decision was final and his ears deaf to Deanna's yells that she did not care to study, if she could not have her sister with her, or to their uncle's pleads that he would work two jobs if he had to, as long as the family stayed together. Miranda was crying something bad could happen to Selina if she was taken to the bad man, but no one listened to her.
When it was obvious that the two sisters had no intention to let go of each other, no matter how gentle was the social worker in trying to convince Selina to come along, the judge called for extra help. Four policemen entered the room. Two managed to rip a screaming Selina from her raging sister's arms and the other two to keep Deanna and the others back. No one noticed small lavender and blue flames licking Deanna's and Selina's fingertips respectively as they were reaching for each other.
Selina was taken away but never stopped screaming, kicking or punching with her small fists; she never stopped thrashing around in the policemen's hold, even when one of them wondered how such a cute girl could be a perfect little demon. However, after some hours she calmed down once exhaustion took over.
The next month was hell. First, a woman from social services took Selina to a guest house, where she stayed for a week until the family appointed to her would be ready to welcome her. The rooms in that house were big and quite cold, filled with beds where the children sharing the room slept. Most of them looked at her in an unfriendly manner and she could not understand why; not until a little older and friendlier boy explained they did not like her, because a family had already been found for her, while many of them waited for years. Selina's pain of separation from her sister was too big for the girl to care for something like that and thus never much paid attention to these resentful kids.
In a week she was indeed taken to a house where a couple and two older kids welcomed her with warm smiles and comforting hugs. The woman seemed happy to meet her and told her she could call her 'mum' if she liked; her husband agreed and told her he would be very happy to be the 'dad' of such a beautiful girl. Needless to say, Selina rejected the idea immediately in her mind and called them by their names, the rare times she called them, as she was determined to quickly become as independent she could and return to her sister, with whom she was allowed to talk once a day on the phone. That was only until she got adjusted to her new environment, her new parents said.
School had given Selina a break for a month to get some rest, and that was how she always ended up staying most of the day at home alone with the currently unemployed 'dad' as the older 'siblings' were to school and 'mum' at work.
He was a man around forty five and quite muscular. He had a habit of always stroking Selina's hair - not in the gentle way her father did - while insisting she was the most beautiful of the children they had taken in; he also had a heavy and smelly breath from all the cigarettes he was smoking.
One day, at the end of the month, he was seating at the kitchen table smoking; his eyes never leaving Selina cleaning the breakfast leftovers as best she could. She felt really uncomfortable and alert sensing his eyes on her.
"Selina, you are such a good and hard working girl. Take a break and come sit with Papa to talk a little." He said at some point.
"I only have to clean these plates and I'll be done." She responded stretching her small body and standing on the tips of her toes to properly reach the kitchen sink.
"It doesn't matter, you can do them later, please." The tone of his voice was the one he used on the other children too when he demanded something of them.
Selina had seen more than once that this voice scared them, but now was the first time he directed it to her. She thought not to anger him more, and obediently left the rest of the plates for later. She wiped her hands, pulled down her sleeves and went to sit on a chair next to him.
"No, no. Come here, sit on my lap. Can't a father have his daughter on his lap?" He said smiling and Selina did not like that, as well as the fact he looked quite sweaty even though the weather was rather cold; however, she had no choice but obey.
As soon as she climbed on his lap his hands started roaming all over her; pulling her hair rougher than the usual already rough treatment, stroking her neck and cheeks, caressing her arms and thighs while whispering, quite breathy, how beautiful she was. She looked like a small elf or an angel, he could not decide, and he would do everything he could to make that sad, cold look of her eyes disappear, because she was his daughter and he loved her so much. He finished by planting a rough kiss on her ear.
Selina's stomach was turning more and more, making her feel like vomiting and with that kiss reached her limit and finally let herself speak. "Stop it!" She screamed in disgust.
"What? Why? Doesn't a father have the right to love and caress his daughter?" He asked really wondering.
"Not like this and you're not my father! You disgust me!" Selina screamed again, with a rather fluid movement escaped his arms and began running to the house's exit.
Before she could take a second step, his hand lunged forward and grabbed her ponytail pulling it. "You little bitch! You have no respect for daddy, have you? Your father is dead, burned to a crisp, and your dear uncle is a useless poor man who could not manage to take care of his nieces… pathetic. I am the only one you've got and you'll learn to obey!" He roared, letting his sick fury take complete control and land a strong slap on her mouth that made her head turn.
His hands now were on her body frantically trying to get under her clothes, already bruising her soft child's skin. Tears of anger were flowing down her cheeks, and allowing her own fury to take over she brought her head backwards and head-butted the man with all the strength her small body had. The man screamed as the back of her head landed right on his eye and pushed it inside its socket for a second. His hands released her and she resumed running even faster.
Unfortunately, the head-butt was too strong for her and she got a little dizzy. When she reached the hall entrance, she fell down on four but did not stop; she started crawling to the exit. Suddenly, a big hand landed on her back pushing her to the ground; the heavy breathing of the man followed and the sound of a zipper coming down was what scared Selina out of her wits.
Her ears were deaf to the sick and threatening words the man was saying, her eyes locked on the door like it would open out of the girl's sheer will. She was calling for her sister and then screamed in pure fear and panic for her help, when the man violently pulled down her clothes, baring her bottom to his hungry, twisted eyes.
Right at the moment, when she thought her heart would explode from fear as his fingers were trailing on her trembling skin close to her opening, the house door burst open. Deanna was standing in the opening, with a wild, almost rapid look in her burning eyes looking very dangerous in her black denim trousers and leather jacket; her hands having just finished forming the spell that opened the door so violently.
"Take your hands off my sister, you sick bastard!" She growled and stepped inside. When she saw the man frozen in place without releasing Selina but still looking at her very lewdly, she turned her right hand with the palm up, bent her fingers in a claw-like manner and the man was surprised to see a ball of violet fire appearing in her hand. "Let my sister go now, if you want to continue living your worthless, pathetic life." She warned.
Either the man was stubborn or scared to death, the point is that he still did not move and had a good grip on Selina, still thrashing around underneath him trying to escape. Deanna threw the fireball that landed right by his side, instantly spreading and following a clear course towards his flesh. He screamed and pulled back, finally releasing Selina, who immediately stood up and ran to her sister's arms, forgetting her trouser and underwear tangling around her legs.
Deanna hugged her strongly, her hands shaking from agony and panting from fear. In a second, she collected herself enough to pull up her sister's clothes and gift the girl the feeling of decency and safety, as she then wrapped her in her jacket.
"I'm here now. He won't touch you again, okay?" Deanna reassured the little girl trying to keep her own frustrated tears under control, since Selina was inconsolable and crying with all her heart and strength.
"Devils! You are devils!" The man screamed crazy with fear, as he watched the purple flames surrounding him and forcing him to retreat to the wall, while trying to hide his exposed member back in his clothes.
A flash of light drew his attention to the girls and saw Deanna holding her mobile phone, having taken a picture of him in that easily understood state. She flipped shut her phone and gifted him a quite sharp smile.
"Perhaps it is better than being human monsters." She said and left running with Selina in her arms; the flames fainting without having burned him at all and without leaving any trace of fire.
Deanna rushed and entered a taxi waiting for her outside. She gave the driver her uncle's address and then turned her focus on her sister.
"Selina, love, it's okay now, you are safe and away from him." She was saying, trying to calm the girl. "Please, I know you do not want it, but can you please tell me what he did to you? I have to know to tell the police and they will get the bad man, okay?" She never stopped stroking her hair like their parents did, when they were trying to comfort their daughters.
Selina managed to relate everything between tears and sobs. Every word made Deanna more furious and disgusted, verifying how correct her instinct was that day. From the moment her eyes opened in the morning, she knew something bad would happen to her sister and finally decided to ignore any restriction put by the court or the foster parents until Selina got used of her new environment, and ran to her without a second thought.
"Man, what a sick psycho bastard!" The taxi driver cried after hearing Selina's story.
"Well, sir. You heard everything… will you help us? Will you testify?" Deanna asked him calmly but hopefully.
"Ya betcha, girl. I ain't know why the hell ya were separated from yer sister, but I'll make sure that bastard will rot in the cage!" He said and nodded waving his dreadlocks with determination in his eyes.
When they reached their destination, their uncle and aunt received them quite worried as Miranda was crying all day that Selina was in danger. Her father believed her, but was also worried that if he heeded her words he could act in a way that would worsen the girls' situation. However, when he saw the shaken state Selina was in and the photo Deanna showed him, there was no doubt on what he had to do, starting by immediately calling the police. He was worried whether Selina would recover from the shock, but watching the girl in the arms of her sister and beloved cousin, he was hopeful that the family's love would help her get over it.
As in fast forward, the whole family found themselves back in court, watching the taxi driver testifying what he heard from Selina's lips and what his eyes saw at how bad the girl's emotional state was. The photo was the strongest evidence, even if the lawyer defending the perverted man tried to reject it, as it was taken without the accused's knowledge. The crazy ravings of the man about Deanna creating flames out of her hands that would burn him alive did not help his case at all… he claimed they should be in the picture but there was nothing there.
In short, the court decided for Selina to stay with her uncle's family, until Deanna graduated from school, found a job and then she could take her sister's custody. Their uncle would act as support whenever needed. As for the foster parents; the other two children in their care were immediately removed and examined but thankfully were not sexually assaulted, but they too stated how scared of him were quite often. His wife divorced him feeling deeply ashamed of him and he ended up in a psychiatric prison as he never stopped saying the two girls were actually devils.
The family would not care if they never heard about that monster again in their lives, but a few days later, were told he was found dead in his cell; his body torn apart, like by some wild animal, and then burned to a crisp by his own lighter. It was a puzzling case for the police but no evidence leading to anything or anyone was ever found.
The day Selina found out, a hesitant smile bloomed on her lips and said she would not have to be afraid of him anymore. Her aunt was quite surprised by that reaction, but her husband reassured her it was a "grey thing of theirs" and the woman did not ponder more on the matter. She already had knowledge and accepted the true nature of her husband and his family.
That night Selina got out of bed, opened the window and smiling looked into the night. "Whoever you are who did that… thank you! Really, thank you!" She said with a wide smile and then returned to her bed, finally sleeping peacefully, dreaming her parents who came to comfort her out of that nightmare.
{~}
Ciel's fists were holding on to his chair's arms so tightly that his fingers had turned white, his lips tight and his eye hard. The narration was obviously reminding him of his own similar story. Sebastian saw it and leaned to his ear gently whispering to him.
"My lord, are you alright? Would you perhaps like to stop for the night?"
"No…" He took a breath and forced himself to relax. "Go on." He said to Selina.
"Are you sure, my lord?" Selina also asked; her voice quite calm considering the not at all pleasant trip down to memory lane.
"Positive. Go on." The young Earl ordered.
{~}
Soon Deanna celebrated her eighteenth birthday; a few months later, her school graduation and success in getting a waitress job in a very popular cafe not far from home. A picture of their parents always present in any event, making everyone feel like they were still there.
The girls continued living in the family's manor, even though it was quite big for them, with Miranda and her parents visiting almost daily. Things were not easy but were not that difficult too; slowly smile along with a capricious, grey feline fur ball under the name of Merlin entered their lives that had finally found a peaceful pace. Deanna was working, Selina and Miranda were going to school and all together had resumed their studies on their art of magic under the tutelage of Miranda's father.
Deanna was lucky to have a very understanding boss that did not mind having Selina spending hours at the back of the cafe doing her homework after school. The young girl was always restless and looked for opportunities to help around, but was never allowed as she was only twelve and "kids were forbidden to work". That was until one really busy day. There was a convention next door and many visitors or participants came to the shop to take a break and everyone was busy as hell.
"I'm afraid I can't help you today, sir, we have been extremely busy and I have no one to spare for the delivery." Selina heard the manager saying while talking on the phone. That was her chance! She bolted out of her seat and practically started begging the man to let her do the delivery with her bike. "Um... Give me a second, sir. I might have found a volunteer." The manager said stifling his chuckles as the begging face Selina was making was quite hilarious.
Finally, Deanna was convinced and Selina was trusted with her first delivery order of utmost importance. She delivered coffees at a fencing school without spilling them.
"Come in and I will get the change. My wallet is in my office and you don't have to freeze outside." A young blond man with a ponytail said and let her in as it was still a chilly day of Early March.
She stood in the hallway, listening to sword clanging and the students' battle cries coming from the various classrooms. Two crossed swords were mounted on the wall and she could not take her eyes off them. They looked so light and elegant. She peeked through the half opened door of the instructor's office and then climbed on a seat underneath the swords. She pulled one out with the utmost care, held it for a second and with a smile started waving it mimicking the movements in the fantasy and heroic movies she enjoyed so much.
"Wow... it seems someone is really eager to become a Highlander." The blond man was heard and when Selina turned, saw him standing at the office door with arms crossed over his chest along with a chestnut haired man. They both smiled at her in a friendly and amused manner.
"Sorry." Selina whispered and got ready to put the sword back in place, her cheeks red with embarrassment.
"No, no, no problem. Actually hold it a little longer and tell me how it feels." The blond man asked of her.
The girl continued holding the sword thinking what she would say; but then the words came easily to her as she focused on the sword a bit more.
"Well… it is so light, like a feather. And its weight seems well balanced… I don't feel it heavy at all. I guess it is sharp because I could really feel the wind parting as I waved it around, and… it fits pretty well in my hand." She was quite enthusiastic.
Both men took a look at how she was holding it and seemed satisfied with her grip. They took her to one of the training rooms and asked her to execute some movements they told and showed her; and she did them quite satisfactorily.
"Well… I think we got ourselves a natural talent. Don't you think?" The blond man asked and the chestnut haired agreed.
They immediately asked her to come again with her parents, and they would ask if she was allowed to attend their school. Selina got really excited for a moment, but her happiness withered as she explained them the financial tightness her small family had. The two instructors felt sorry, but were also determined to have her as their student; therefore, they offered to always buy coffee from where Deanna worked, Selina would make the delivery and they would do a significant cut on tuition fees.
Selina was in seventh heaven when she told everything to Deanna and begged her and her manager to accept the offer. Just to be sure, she added on her behalf that she would do more deliveries to customers without getting paid, and she would be entirely responsible for her decision.
"Well… considering you are not a type of sports but you seem to like that, I wouldn't mind for you to go to that fencing school, but…" Deanna seemed hesitant. "Being alone with a man…" The shadow of what happened two years ago darkened her eyes for a while.
"Umm… I think he is different. I saw him… kissing the other man on the lips, so… I don't really think he would be interested in me in any way." The young girl said and seemed a little weirded out by that, but soon got over it.
Deanna had blushed, embarrassed at what came out of her sister's mouth, while her boss was laughing hard, he really liked Selina's straightforwardness. He immediately let the girl know he would accept their offer as a present to her.
"Okay, but I insist I should meet them first." Deanna said and Selina fell in her sister's arms really excited.
Three more years passed like that, quite peacefully. Selina was becoming an excellent sword fighter and could use almost any kind of sword, even some Medieval types that were quite heavy; she had also participated in some tournaments, getting quite a good place, but was not interested in something more professional.
One day, Deanna came home very sad and anxious, as it was announced that the cafe's owner decided to sell the business to someone else, and that would mean the entire staff would get fired. She immediately started looking for a new job, but a few days later she returned quite relieved. The shop was indeed sold but luckily the new owner did not fire everyone; Deanna was among those who were kept. That was a dream coming true, continuing working at the same place… only that the shop had went through a major change.
"What do you mean it turned to a cosplay cafe?!" Selina asked while scratching a purring Merlin behind his ears.
"I mean that at least twice a month it will be a cosplay day based on a theme, in weekends we will be allowed to cosplay whatever we want, and if we are booked for any event or gathering of a community and such, we will be dressing according to the theme of the community or the event. If the Trekies come we will be dressing as the Enterprise crew." Deanna sighed already thinking how troublesome would be to make - or how expensive to buy - the different costumes for each event.
"Cool! Hey, I'll be eighteen in a few months so I can work, can I assist in these events if you need more hands?" Miranda asked absolutely thrilled with the prospect of wearing costumes taken out of the culture she loved, that of fantasy of all kinds.
"Well… I'll ask but I don't think there will be any problem. According to that…" Deanna took a deep frustrated breath "...unlikeable, stern, cold British lawyer representing the new owner, such events bring too much work so more hands will always be welcomed."
"Hoh… British lawyer I hear." Selina said teasingly. "What's he like?"
"Hey, stop your dirty little mind right now… both of you." Deanna said as she saw both girls looking at her with a really mischievous glimpse in their eyes. "The fact that Mark is just three years older than me, tall with well defined body, honey coloured hair and amber eyes cannot make me see past the fact he is also full of irony and sarcasm, pretending to be polite while being absolutely rude and Mr. Know-it-All even in coffee blends! I just can't stand him, but I will be forced to have him around all the time, since the owner travels constantly and he is his American representative… and why are your hands full of scratches again?" She finally asked her sister while it looked like steam was coming out of her ears and nostrils.
"Changing the subject, are we?" Selina smiled. "Look, I put the collar on!" She added with a childlike voice lifting the annoyed cat, to show her sister his new collar with a bell on it. Miranda moved it enough to make it tinkle and the cat seemed very happy about it. Selina squeezed him in her arms again while scratching his chin and they were both blissful.
"You should see the kitchen gloves… They didn't survive the fierce battle." Miranda informed the older girl.
"What a pair…" Deanna murmured having no difficulty to picture Selina with the kitchen gloves on, getting bitten and scratched by a berserk Merlin as she was trying to make him wear his new jingly collar, even though he ended up liking it.
As Mark had predicted, indeed the new cosplay cafe became even more popular than before, and he ordered the staff to have a sign outside the shop informing possible costumers if it was a cosplay day and what kind of cosplay was offered. Not much time went by when their first cosplay event occurred, a butler day, and the customers swarmed the shop.
Selina was home looking at Miranda trying to fill in her college applications when her phone rang.
"Selina, take Miranda and get here ASAP! We are drowning in orders!" Deanna was heard at the other end of the line in an almost panicked manner that left no room for objections.
As soon as the girls entered the shop, were grabbed by Deanna and dragged at the back. They were given two butler costumes and were ordered to wear them with no further delay, as well as do something about their loose hair. Deanna herself was dressed accordingly and had her shoulder length hair slicked back as a proper butler should; however other waitresses with longer hair had resorted to other ways, tight buns and ponytails for instance.
The girls did quite well in the role of the gentlemanly butler and the mostly female customers seemed quite charmed by all that. Selina seemed to be quite favoured, as her body never lost the stiff straightness butlers used to have… Of course, no one knew it was because she was trying not to move a lot as the trouser's seam line at the back was shifting in a very uncomfortable angle that irritated her immensely.
"I must say, I am rather pleased at your performance ladies, even though your age and experience is severely lacking. However, I would be really glad if I can rely on your assistance in future events if needed." The infamous lawyer told Selina and Miranda very politely.
Deanna, as usual, was kept last to clean up, only this time Selina and Miranda were helping too. Mark, the lawyer, was always the last to leave the shop as he was the one locking and unlocking it every day. Miranda happily responded positively as she, in contrast to her cousins - who liked watching cosplay more than actually taking part in it - really enjoyed the experience and would not mind repeating it.
"Okay, if it is for the good of the shop and helping Deanna, I will do it too. Only this time I demand to have clothes that would really fit me. My butt hurts!" Selina declared while wiping knives only to receive a mildly shocked look from the lawyer.
"N-Noted…" He whispered.
At that moment the door bell was heard and a man entered the shop.
"Excuse me sir, but we closed for the day. I believe the sign outside is pretty noticeable-" Mark began saying.
"Shut up, will you? Be a good boy and stand still while I kill you. I have a meal waiting for me in a prison cell." The unknown man said rudely and lunged himself to the speechless lawyer.
He did not reach him as Miranda was suddenly in front of Mark; green flames coming out of her palms, while Deanna's fingers were engulfed in violet ones and a knife was suddenly thrown at the red eyed man. The knife almost got him and he furiously turned to where it came; his eyes met a pair of blue ones burning and a hand still in mid air after launching the knife.
"Bastard, you have the Flames protecting you!" The furious man yelled allowing everyone to see his sharp teeth.
"What in bloody Hell is going on?" Mark cried, obviously having lost his calm demeanour.
"Exactly what you said, dear. It is simpler than it looks, this man here is a demon under contract with some enemy of yours and is ordered to kill you." Deanna said mocking the British accent of the lawyer.
"That's why we have to protect you." Miranda anxiously started pushing the man at the back of the shop.
"What? No way, I could never let three women risk their lives for me. I must fight the man myself." Mark insisted and resisted Miranda.
"Damn your old fashioned valor!" Deanna yelled, the same time Selina jumped from behind the counter, and with arms alight stopped the demon trying to slither past the witches and reach the human; she asked him if he knew what the Blue Flame meant and his growl proved he did. "Are you by any chance wizard, male witch or even warlock? Do you have any kind of supernatural powers to fight this thing?" Deanna yelled again masking her anxiety for the situation with fury towards the lawyer.
"N-No… I am positive I am simply a human, entirely." Mark answered, not believing what his eyes were seeing and his ears were hearing.
"Then get your ass out of here." Deanna ordered and Miranda resumed pushing the man, but he resisted once again and started objecting.
Deanna sighed fed up, marched to him, grabbed his head and pulled it to her, as her lips landed on his quite viciously for a few moments. Miranda was looking with eyes wide open at the scene.
"I must say… that could be a very effective strategy." The red haired witch said and snickered causing Selina's curiosity to grow.
"What strategy? What are they doing?" Selina asked as she was with her back to the others, crab-walking just like the demon did in an effort to escape her, and not leaving him out of her sight. The wet sound of lips on lips gave her a hint. "Eh? Don't tell me she resorted to that!"
Deanna pulled away. "Okay, now be a good boy and let us do our job." She said straightening her clothes and unconsciously licking her lips, while trying to be cool and ignore her burning cheeks. She headed to Selina and now the demon was against two Flames, both really lethal for him.
Miranda took advantage of the lawyer's dumbfounded state to push him at the back; as soon as they passed the door separating the kitchen area to the main hall, they stood there and Miranda let her flames cover the entire opening. Now they could watch what the other two witches were up to while being safe.
The demon was looking both of them for a while calculating the situation and then laughed and attacked, obviously having decided they were two humans too young to stop a creature like himself, even if they had some extras. What he did not calculate was that both witches had been trained vigorously on how to fight against demons, and what is more, the younger with the smaller body had practised sword fighting for three years. In short, it was not very difficult for them to avoid his totally chaotic and slow punches while landing very precise and quite fast kicks. He managed to avoid them for a while, but then Selina landed one behind his knee and made him kneel. Deanna did not lose a second and immediately grabbed the man's throat and one wrist. As soon as her ungloved hands wrapped in flames came in contact with his flesh a hissing sound followed by the demon's cries was heard.
"As you can see, my friend, the end of this fight is actually decided. I can do it the long and painful way, while my sister can do it much faster and less painful. The decision will be yours; will you simply tell us who your contractee is or not?" Deanna said at the kneeled man.
"Go to Hell, or rather I can take you there easily myself!" He growled but a new hissing sound and some new burns appearing and expanding on his flesh made him shut his mouth.
"Look, we are grey witches; therefore, we hold no great love for either angels or demons." It was Selina's turn to speak. "It's just that your kind is actually more dangerous to the world and us. That is why we will kill you either way, since you entered our space, threatened one of our people and attacked us; we would do exactly the same even if you were the purest of angels so… nothing personal. But you can be a little useful before the end; you can indeed tell us who has a grudge against the lawyer and then everything will be over as fast as I can."
The demon remained silent and Deanna released his wrist, pulled his shirt up and touched his stomach, new violet flames from her hand started licking and burning his flesh causing him excruciating pain and numbness preventing him from fighting. After a few moments he finally confessed that his master was an ex-businessman, who had approached Mark's employer under the pretence of collaborating, but in reality he wanted a scapegoat for his dirty work. Mark managed to find evidence, uncover the man and have him put behind bars. The businessman that was once quite wealthy, had lost everything now due to the young lawyer, who was expected to not know so much and be less smart. He hated that lawyer so much that with his hatred alone managed to summon a demon and create a contract.
"Good. See, it was not that difficult was it? Now…" Selina said, took a deep breath and stretched a hand towards the demon.
Blue flames came out of her fingers making her hand and arm transparent as it sank in the man's chest. She kept her eyes trained on the demon's all the while she seemed to… search something in his chest and wincing at her failure and her effort to remain unaffected by his painful screams. Finally, she took hold of what she was searching - his spiritual core that made him exist - closed her fingers around it and pulled her hand out. Now she was holding a ball of thick, heavy steam radiating a dark light.
"I apologize, it took more time than I thought, but it is the first time I do that... live at least." She said to the demon with genuine concern in her eyes.
For some reason, he thought the situation was funny as he chuckled, ignoring the bloody bubbles coming out of his mouth. "A grey witch that sympathizes with demons, but will not hesitate killing them if she has to… So it is you. In the ten years I exist, I really thought you and he were just a myth, but no… you really exist. At least, I experienced something memorable in my short life." He said and strangely enough his eyes had taken a look of admiration and sympathy towards the young witch.
The girl seemed confused by his words and shaken by his look; she seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then squeezed the ball of vapour in her palm. It made cracking sounds as if it was something solid and soon turned to dust as the demon himself did too. Deanna dusted her clothes approaching her sister.
"You did well. You followed uncle's directions; always look in their eyes for you will see beyond the human mask. Don't let his nonsense affect you; I bet he was lying about feeling amazed that he met you, demons never feel amazement for anything." She patted her sister's back affectionately.
Selina nodded and forced herself to drag her eyes away from the pile of dust that just seconds before was a living, breathing creature. Indeed, she had followed her uncle's teachings and did see the dark, malevolent creature behind the human mask, but she also saw the truth of his final words and that troubled her quite a bit.
She and some man treated as a myth among demons... No way! She was just a simple girl, who happened to be a grey witch and would try and live a low profile life carrying out whatever duty was in store for her. The fact that she, her sister and her cousin were in possession of the Three Flames, that were considered quite strong powers, never made her see herself as something special.
Miranda and Mark had come out and the lawyer was asking for some explanations, although he did not seem shocked or appalled by what he witnessed and learned, only confused as he absentmindedly ruffled his own hair, ruining the always well combed and proper hairstyle he had. Miranda explained him a few things in short about their nature and powers.
"Well… I possess the Green Flame that can protect any soul and its vessel, meaning the physical body. Deanna has the Violet that can destroy the vessel and Selina the Blue that can destroy the soul itself, the core of a creature's existence and send it to eternal oblivion. Do not worry, they have their powers under absolute control and will not hurt you by accident… or on purpose, because… we do not hurt innocent people. We might be between good and evil but we are definitely not evil!" Miranda reassured the human, hoping he was convinced.
"Okay… so I will not turn to dust if I do something like that." The lawyer said while grabbing Deanna – who was focused on wiping the demon's remains – turned her to him, pulled her in his arms and landed his lips on hers hungrily, impatiently.
"Eh… Um… No… I guess not. Definitely not. Yep, sure thing that you won't." Miranda kept saying as she saw her cousin responding, as soon as the first shock was gone, and soon the couple was engaged in a really steamy exchange. The red haired witch was chuckling approaching her blond cousin standing as a pillar of salt.
Selina was also watching the couple; her eyes had opened wide and her jaw had dropped from utter surprise. Her entire face was a big question of "What the Hell?".
Once Deanna and Mark parted as they needed air, but remained in a tight embrace smiling at each other happily, Selina managed to find her voice.
"'The fact that Mark is just three years older than me, tall with well defined body, honey coloured hair and amber eyes, cannot make me see past the fact that he is also full of irony and sarcasm, pretending to be polite while being absolutely rude and Mr. Know-it-All even in coffee blends…'" She repeated her sister's words in a wooden voice full of irony. "Just imagine what would happen if he really was your type…" She finished staring at her sister smiling sheepishly.
"You are right, but… things happened… Last week, I saw you at the back while working out the expenses. You were listening to music, had loosened your tie and shirt, absentmindedly ruffling your hair while chewing your pen and doing that low dragon vocals!" She seemed quite excited looking at the man in her arms with adoration.
"Well… I need to feel comfortable when I work and be… me, I guess." The blushing lawyer responded and then smiled at the woman. "I confess, I was amazed as soon as I laid eyes on you and liked the wild, even threatening look in your eyes. I thought it would be interesting and exciting to find a way and approach you… that is why I kept you always behind to clean up… to be alone with you and find the courage to talk..."
"Eh? But your dislike was obvious… you never even hinted you might like me and we are in this together for a month!" Deanna cried confused.
Mark scratched the back of his head feeling awkward. "Y-Yes… I guess I am not that brave in words as I thought."
"To make the long story short, thank the demon for creating this situation or else you would keep hiding behind your very own finger like kids in school do. Jesus, how stupid!" Selina finally cried out fed up. She was sitting in a chair with her chin resting on her hand looking at the couple quite bored.
"Dear Selina, not everyone is as comfortable as you in hitting on someone, and then accepting the relationship as easily as you do… or breaking up as easily as you do, I hope." Miranda said and threw a warning look to Mark who rushed to agree.
"What? Have you listened to what comes out of their mouths when they speak? Most of the boys at school are stupid with no sense of humor, so yes, I might flirt with them because they… look absolutely cool-"
"Especially if they have black hair, nice smile and strange eyes." Miranda contributed.
"But I can't stand them when they prove to have that level of idiocy." Selina ignored her cousin's comment. "Hey! What do you think you're doing? We have a… dusty body to clean up and figure out a way for that bastard from prison not to contract another demon... plus, I am still underage, control yourselves in my presence!" She finished yelling at Deanna and Mark, making out again and some clothes had already been removed, as they were getting closer to the back of the shop totally absorbed in each other.
"We are lucky your house is not far." Miranda sighed passing a second broom to Selina. The two of them cleaned the remains of the demon pretty quickly and left the shop almost running, still in their butler outfits, as some easily understood sounds and moans were starting to get louder at the back of the building.
The next day, Mark was introduced to Miranda's parents; they were more than happy to welcome him in their family, and the fact that he already knew the true nature of the girls was a big relief. Their aunt gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder, telling him never to hesitate ask her, if he had any questions about witch and human relationships.
After that, they all sat down to figure a way to protect Mark from his enemy. They finally came up with a plan of creating a protective seal for the man's soul that would make him undesirable to demons. The seal was created by Miranda's flame and Selina managed to infiltrate the prison, thanks to her flames making her ghostly, and plant the seal inside the man's chest. Time proved it was a success as in a year the man died of heart failure and no other demon had been sent to chase after Mark.
Mark and Deanna became a couple, and along the other two younger girls a small group of close friends, escaping reality by taking small trips, spending a day on the beach or in the snow, going out and having fun under the melodies of a hard metallic music with growling or angelic voices, fearlessly singing about darkness and light, death and life, reality and fantasy and even about demons, and sometimes ending up quite dizzy after the consumption of quite strong alcoholic beverages.
Not long after the cafe and prison incidents some strange guys with glasses appeared in the girls' house, identified themselves as Grim Reapers and asked the three Flames to work for them, in protecting souls from being eaten by demons, as they were getting constantly more ravenous and out of control, consuming a greater number of souls than the natural balance demanded.
Deanna was worried and hesitant, but Selina agreed as soon as the reapers informed them they would get paid for the work and Selina was free to use her swords too. Miranda's father had made a pair of blades enhanced to be able to harm demons or even angels if she had to. Selina was happy to work on something using her magic and skills and get paid for it; the family house was not getting any newer and the maintenance was not getting any cheaper.
However, Deanna and Miranda soon had to be dismissed, as Miranda was getting easily scared in front of demons - especially if they attacked her directly - and Deanna's flames could become very destructive and dangerous... even to reapers themselves if she was not careful. On the other hand, Selina was determined to prove useful as she enjoyed the job and had a great chance to learn more about demons, a subject that interested her ever since studying the Faustian seals in her mother's spell book.
Soon a wedding came; the couple, Mark and Deanna of course, were in seventh heaven as they knew their family would grow by two with the birth of their twins in a few months. Miranda and Selina, who soon would live on her own in the family house, released a lantern up in the air and made a promise of always being close and support each other no matter where life would lead them. The bride and groom released their own lantern and immediately reassured the two girls they would not get rid of them easily. True to their words, the couple's honeymoon in Mark's homeland, England, included Selina and Miranda too.
Selina got really excited when they visited the old, huge manor turned to museum of a toymaker and noble, just outside the heart of London. The blond girl always had a soft spot for the Victorian era – since the Gothic and dark atmosphere of the era's literature started paving the road for the supernatural creatures of the more popular fiction of today – therefore, being in a genuine Victorian manor of a genuine Victorian noble, who had also played a major role in her childhood through the toys his company still manufactured, was like a dream to her.
Before long the twins were born, a boy and a girl that had inherited their father's hair, only a little darker, and their mother's deep blue eyes. The two crazy aunts were absolutely in love with the newest additions to their family – even Merlin seemed to adore the babies – and the four years that followed were indeed the happiest of Selina's life, as she had the people she loved by her side and no darkness looming over their very much deserved peace and happiness... yet.
Sooo... dear readers! That was the first part of Selina's background story! What do you think? How do you like Deanna, human Miranda and... even Mark, why not? If you think that at some points it is too dramatic to an excessive level... you are not wrong, but that was also on purpose... Okay, some of it, the rest I blame on Selina's and Deanna's fiery (pun intended) temperament! 😁
The warning at the beginning of the chapter is on for the next parts too.
Thank you all! Till next week! Bye! 😊