Thank you all for such warm and excited reviews 3
Cecilia felt the warm sun on her face. She squeezed her eyes closed tighter. Her head rested on a soft pillow and she pulled the blanket tighter around her. The bed was incredibly soft and warm. She never wanted to wake. The pain in her stomach had dulled to an ache and she was comfortable. She breathed in and smelled the fresh linens. The smell mixed with something else. She felt something warm in front of her and leaned into it, enjoying the warmth. She breathed in again and smelled fresh earth and cedar. She furrowed her eyebrows. Where did she know that smell? Something gently scraped the bridge of her nose and she wiggled her nose, finding the sensation annoying. It happened again and she stuck her nose under the blanket. A giggle filled her ears and her eyes snapped open only to be greeted with the grinning face of the undertaker laying next to her.
Cecilia screamed and kicked him out of the bed. He laughed as he hit the floor. She snapped up into a sitting position, swearing. Sebastian stood next to her, pouring tea and Ciel sat in the chair watching, looking bored.
"Oh, for the love of all that is dead and decaying!" She shouted at them. "What are you all doing in here?"
"Ah, good morning." Sebastian greeted her as he set down her cup. She glared at him and then turned to see the Undertaker pulling himself up off the floor.
"And why were you in bed with me?" She shouted at them, not appreciating the manner in wich she was awoken.
"Well, I had tried to wake you several times." Sebastian admitted. "It is almost noon." She scowled at him. "The Undertaker assured us he would be able to wake you, and it seems he was correct." He said, nodding at the giggling man.
"Ah, forgive me, dearie, you are just so much fun." He giggled as he rocked on his heels. She glared at him and crossed her arms.
"You are all incredibly loud." Ciel mumbled from his spot in the chair. Cecilia glared at him as well. She was about to say something to him but then she realized something. She looked down and found herself in a nightgown. Someone had changed her clothes. Then she remembered last night. Fuming, she stood and grimaced before sitting back down on the edge of the bed. She keeps forgetting her wounds. She glared at the Undertaker, her hand itching to smack his grin right off his face. One small comfort was that the nightgown fell below her knees and had a modest neckline. "If you all are finished," Ciel began as Sebastian placed the warm tea cup in her hands, "Sebastian has informed me of what you are. It explains how you are still alive. I am rather disappointed you could not help identify your attacker."
"I'll be sure to ask their name next time." She snorted as she sipped the tea. It was Earl Grey and delicious.
"Be sure you do." Ciel told her idly and she almost choked on her tea at his attitude. "I believe you will be able to help us. Your skills could prove useful in helping us find this killer and apprehend them. From what I understand, there is a chance this killer is not human."
"I wish I could be of some use," She feigned regret, "however, I fear I am all but useless without my grimoire." Cecilia was actually quite worried about her book.
"While I do not believe that, you have nothing to worry about." He told her and pointed to a worn brown doctors' bag sitting by the small vanity. Her eyes shot open. Sebastian gently lifted it and set it on the bed next to her. She handed him her cup and opened her bag. They watched her dig around in it and she pulled something out. The book was not small. It was thick and worn and about a foot long. She sat it on her lap and flipped through the pages. They had found her book.
"I thought it was stolen." She mumbled. Sebastian spoke this time.
"Actually, one of your friends hid it for you after you were killed." He explained and she looked at him confused. "A small child showed me where I could find it." Cecilia was startled by this, assuming the ghosts were too startled and spooked to do anything. She would have to bring them something in thanks.
"Now that that is settled," Ciel stood and faced her. "Get dressed. You will be helping us tonight."
"Young master, her wounds have not healed." Sebastian spoke.
"Why should I help you?" She asked. Ciel looked at them both.
"You desire to stop the killer. We have the same goal." He paused here and smirked. "would it not be wise to combine strengths?" He asked her and she narrowed her eyes before closing them and sighing.
"Very well." She agreed. She stood, leaning on the cane and leveled Ciel with a hard look. "Before we do anything, I need to go home."
"Why? What do you need from there? I can have Sebastian fetch it for you." Ciel dismissed.
"That won't work." She told him with an amused look. "Besides it isn't wise snooping around a witch's house." She wiggled her fingers at him and teased him. "You may get cursed." Ciel just looked at her unamused. She sighed. That usually worked.
"We shall leave you to get dressed." He told her and made his way for the door. The undertaker flounced behind him but Sebastian remained. Cecilia looked at him.
"Did you read this?" She asked him quietly. He smiled at her and placed a hand over his heart.
"Of course not." He assured her. "It would be most impolite to snoop through a Lady's belongings." Cecilia eyed him up and down before flicking her wrist. Sebastian was pulled backwards by an unseen force and thrown from the room. He landed at the base of the stairs in a crouch, startling Ciel and the Undertaker. He glared up the steps at the door that was slammed shut. No words were used, no wand or tool to direct it, just sheer will. She was not one to trifle with.
Cecilia panted. It took more out of her than usual. She was still exhausted. Coming back to life was no easy feat. She would have to be careful for the next week or so. The sooner she got back home the better off she would be.
She hobbled over to the vanity. Sebastian had been kind enough to lay out her clothes for the day, the same outfit from the day before. The corset was still laced and she didn't tighten it too much. She sat at the vanity and began brushing her hair. For the first time in a few days, she saw her reflection. Though the collar was high, you could still see the stitching and cut on her neck. Her face was still pale and dark circles formed under her eyes. Perhaps she would find something at home to help her look a little less dead.
Cecilia brushed her hair and put it into a long braid. She then pinned it into place in a simple knot on the back of her neck. She found a black ribbon on the vanity and used it to secure the hair in the knot. A few loose curls framed her face. This would have to do. She grabbed the cane and picked up her bag and made her way downstairs. She met with Ciel and Sebastian and they lead her outside to the waiting carriage. AS they were leaving, the Undertaker called to them.
"Come back to visit soon, Dearie!" She turned to look at him. He smiled and waved. "You are very funny! I do so love to laugh!"
The ride was mostly silent as Sebastian drove. Ciel had a few questions for her and she answered them quickly without much detail. They were questions such as why was she looking for the killer? Did she have any idea what could be doing this?
It didn't take long to get to her place. The carriage stopped infront of a small candle shop. Sebastian helped the two out of the carriage and they followed her inside. They were greeted by a large number of smells. Some of them smelled quite good.
"Hello, Cecilia!" A cheery older man called to her from behind the counter.
"Hello, Mr. Freeman." She said to him with a small smile. "I apologize for being gone for so long."
"I was beginning to worry! Luckily the shop has been rather quiet." He spotted the cane and he could surely see she was unwell. "Are you alright? You don't look so well."
"I assure you I am well." She said with a smile. "Unfortunately, I will not be able to return to work for another few days."
"Is everything alright?" He asked.
"We require her assistance with an urgent matter." Ciel spoke up and stepped forward. "My name is Ciel Phantomhive. I apologize for the inconvenience and will be happy to pay for any lost revenue caused by her absence."
"An urgent matter?" He asked. "Cecilia, what on earth have you gotten yourself into this time?" He asked with a fond smile. "That will not be necessary. Just promise me you'll return my best assistant."
"You have my word." Ciel promised and Cecilia looked at him. For such a young boy, he was so serious. She wondered if he ever smiled.
"I have to retrieve some things from upstairs and then we will be making our leave." Cecilia told him and began walking towards a door near the back of the shop. "Thank you for understanding." She told him with a soft smile. She opened the door and lead the two up the winding steps to her apartment. She unlocked the door and stepped in, holding the door for them. "He lets me use this apartment in return for caring for his shop. He still pays me, much more than he needs to. He is a sweet old man." She spoke of him with a fond smile and closed and locked the door behind them. Ciel and Sebastian looked around. They were in a small kitchen area. There was a large window across from them and a table sitting in front of it. A door to the left of them was closed tightly. Cecilia dropped her bag on the table and walked over to a large cabinet on the right wall. The doors opened and Ciel could see countless jars lining the shelves. Each one held something different. Some had odd writings on them. She grabbed a few jars and set them on the table as well. She moved to the stove and set the kettle on it, boiling some water.
"Would either of you care for tea?" She asked as she pulled a few cups from the shelves above the counter. She then pulled out a mortar and pestle and a box of tea. "Please, have a seat." She told them. Ciel sat at the table with Sebastian standing behind them. They watched as she opened the three jars in front of them. One had a fairly sweet scent. The second didn't give off a scent. The third she pulled the cork out with a pop and a foul odor filled the room. Ciel grimaced and gaged.
"What the hell is that?" He asked her. She dug her fingers in and pulled out a very wet looking mass of some plant material.
"Fermented hawthorn." She told him, wrinkling her own nose in disgust as she dropped it into her cup. "It is one of my least favorites, but it is very useful in my line of work. It helps blood circulation throughout the body." She looked at him with a teasing smile. "If you begin to feel faint, I can give you some, young lord." Ciel glared at her. She bottled up the foul smelling remedy and handed it to Sebastian. "Please put this back for me." She told him and he nodded. Cecilia began grinding together the dry herbs. She was working quickly and Ciel could see this was something she did often. Before long she had crushed the herbs and added it to the hawthorn. She prepared it like a tea and poured herself a cup. Ciel noticed with was very thick and looked almost like mud. Cecilia walked around and knelt in front of Ciel. She had a mischievous smile on her face.
"Would you like to see a magic trick?" She asked him. He looked at her and didn't say anything. What was she planning? She smiled over her cup and drank it quickly. She shivered and put the cup on the table with a grimace. It must have tasted horrible. Her body continued to shake and she began to cough violently. One hand covered her mouth and the other she used to keep herself off the floor, hanging onto the edge of the table. Ciel stood in a panic and the chair flew back. Did she just poison herself? Cecilia continued to cough but after a few seconds, it subsided and she looked up at him with a bright smile. Ciel stepped back in shock. The cold brown eyes held flecks of gold now, her cheeks were flushed red. Her lips that were pale and chapped looked soft and pink. She looked as though God had breathed life back into her, rather than a walking corpse. "Voila!" She sang at him and pulled herself up off the floor. "I apologize if I scared you." She told him. Even her voice had a more sing song tune to it. She walked back over to her cabinet of oddities. "Now comes the hard part." She hummed.
"What are you doing?" Ciel asked, wary of what new stunt she was going to pull next.
"I have to do something about these cuts." She told him. "I can't be of any use with them. Besides, I prefer not to start bleeding if I so much as breathe wrong." Cecilia pulled out a few jars and walked back over to the counter. Ciel and Sebastian watched her while she mixed things in a small jar. "I assume you have a plan of action." Cecilia spoke as she continued mixing things. Some herbs he recognized as common spices, others were foreign to him. Some jars held pastes or liquids others held dried plants. She seemed to know exactly what she was doing, years of practice showing in her work.
"You are correct," he explained, pulling his attention away from her work. "But first I need to know you are well enough to join us." She pulled out a pot and placed it on the stove. She poured water in and lit the fire beneath it.
"I should be just fine." She explained. "I assume you will need me tonight. I can have my wounds healed to scars by then. The internal organs will take longer, but at least I will be more free to move." Cecilia added ingredients to the boiling water. Oddly colored fumes rose from the pot and she looked over her shoulder. "So, little earl, I ask you again," Her voice carried an almost ominous tone as her piercing brown eyes pinned him to his seat. "What is your plan?"