Chapter 44:
It was simple, really. The only thing that I had to do was get well so I could get my answers. But even that was becoming more difficult. It had already been 3 weeks since the Luxury Arc incident and I was nowhere close to being able to walk around without toppling over in pain.
I had no idea what the young master and my mate were up to. I had no idea how long it was going to take to get better, either.
The first week wasn't so bad as I had done nothing but rest. The back aches and the headaches were slowly going down as well. The second week I attempted to get out of bed and walk around only to scrunch my face when I put too much pressure on my arms. Then the third week approached.
Undertaker had been patient throughout the first two weeks, even going so far as to ask how I was fairing with the pain and the healing. It was strange. I didn't the of the grim reaper to be anything but eccentric and uncaring. Although, there may have been other motives towards his actions. No matter how unusual it was there was no room for any complaints.
He knew my parents. He knew what I was. He possibly knew how to help me.
I laid on the bed. It was mid may, which meant that more nobles were bound to find their way into London. It was the best time to come around for London during the year, it meant more sales. It made Father happy but it also made us happy. But now, there was nothing but a bitter feeling. There was no performance and there was no members.
I sat there thinking about the other circus members that were gathered along the way. They were all such good people, only wanting the best for themselves but ultimately not getting anywhere better with their lives.
"Pretty bird~"
My thoughts were interrupted by the mortician. He had a plate biscuits for lunch.
"I don't mean to rush the process of your healing, especially since I'm the one who caused it, but I would like to know if you are up for a little walk."
He walked over to the edge of the bed. I placed my elbow underneath me and lifted myself. The pain that I felt during the three weeks that I was here had gone away, the only thing left being the tingling sensations.
Without answering the undertaker, I attempted to sit up and laid my feet over the edge. There was no blinding of my vision so I continued grabbing the undertaker's free arm and tried walking. The wing that was limping on my back was dangling on the rest of the bed. I lifted myself off of the bed only to topple into the undertaker. He grabbed me with one hand while the other still held the biscuit.
"Shit..."
"You should be careful, pretty bird~ Wouldn't want you injuring yourself further~"
I huffed and tried standing taller only for my balance to completely disappear.
"Do you have a walking stick with you Undertaker?"
He chuckled, "Hmm~ maybe. I might have something hidden away."
I sat back down and grabbed the biscuits from the reaper and chewed one while he walked away. He came back not moments later with a wooden stick.
"I don't have anything fancy-"
"It's fine. I just need something to stand with."
I placed the plate of biscuits on the bed and grabbed the wooden stick from him. I placed my hand on the top of it slowly stood up.
"See, Undertaker. It's not that bad."
He chuckled slightly and walked out of the room. I followed him after grabbing the plate of biscuits.
I followed him down a flight of stairs and through curtains. The funeral parlor was the same as it was the last time I came here with Sebastian. It was slightly messy with a few coffins lying around as well as some bottles.
"So," I began, turning around looking at the Undertaker, "where was it that you wanted to take me?"
"First, it's where I can't take you." He walked over to the desk and pulled out a box from underneath. "I need you," he pulled out what looked like a robe that was similar to the one that he was wearing, "to wear this. We can't have people knowing you have wings, can we?"
"But will the robe completely cover my wing?"
"Hehehe~"
The undertaker brought over the cloak and placed it over my shoulders. He helped by grabbing one of the sleeves while I put my arm through and did the same with the other. The robe folded at the end, erasing any doubt that it would cover my wing. I looked down at the sleeve of the torn dress that I was still wearing from the night of the sinking.
"Are you alright with me wearing this? I do still have my bloodies dress underneath it..."
"Hee hee. I don't mind at all!"
The undertaker laughed and walked to the front of the shop. I followed him without another word, although I was a bit slower than him.
"Alright, pretty bird~"
"Wh-"
I was grabbed and was suddenly in the air with the Undertaker. He held my waist as I quickly grabbed onto his shoulders. The stick was being held in both my hands as they were pressed against the side of his right arm.
"Hold on tight~"
We were jumping from building to building with magnificent speed. My solo wing was aching to stretch and feel the air that was being blocked by the robe. It was missed its freedom.
It wasn't long until the Undertaker stopped in an open field. The flowers were almost fully bloomed and the sun was shining down on the field, casting its warm rays. The slight wind was blowing the flowers back and forth.
Undertaker sat me down on the ground and I removed my arms from around him. I walked forward towards the field of flowers. A feeling of nostalgia washed over me and I was getting a quick sense of de ja vu.
I walked further into the field trying to take a good look around. It looked so familiar. As if I had been there before...
"I have been here before..." I murmured.
"I recognized you once I saw your record. I didn't believe that it was when you came in with the butler, but the record said everything." The Undertaker's voice had changed from his usual pitchy tone to his normal low voice.
I faced the Undertaker with a disbelieving look.
"What happened? That day..."
"Your parents never told you what they were for a reason. Such a shame that they died trying to protect you. When you were young they gave me such good laughs."
My eyes widened. "They're dead?"
"Such a shame it is. I really enjoyed their company. For a fallen angel and Chimera, they made a wonderful couple~"
I limped over to the Undertaker with the little bit of balance and energy that I had left. I was angry and hurt that they were dead. They left me without even a goodbye and they were expecting that I would be alright?
I stopped in front of the Undertaker with my breath shaking in anger. Tears were welling up in my eyes but I wouldn't let them fall.
"You..." I exhaled.
I limply punched the reaper with my free hand, earning a small chuckled.
My face scrunched in disgust and I turned around going back to the flower field that I once loved with all of my heart.
In that moment, I wished that my ability to manipulate what others saw, I could do to myself. To be able to see, even just a little from what I remembered, one more time would have been fulfilling.
A rustling sound emanated from behind me. I kept my eyes forward at the swaying flowers.
A few moments later I felt the presence of Undertaker standing behind me.
"Your parents were an odd couple. They were smart hiding it when you weren't looking~"
I didn't answer as I stared at the flowers.
"I think they knew that I would someday watch your record..."
I furrowed my brows in confusion.
"They always left hints, you see... hehe~"
I turned around to face him and noticed a small vial that he was holding.
"You see darling... I'm the one that tried turning you into a human!"
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A young Celesta walked into the mortuary that she had never seen before. She walked inside, still soaked from the rain. It was dark and there was no sign of anyone. She tried finding anything to use as a light source but gave up once she bumped into the fourth object.
It was extremely cold for a building and she began shivering. Her teeth chattered as she sat down on the floor. Her arms wrapped themselves around her for a futile attempt at warmth.
She knew the men that were chasing her parents were either long gone or still chasing her parents, so she was safe for the time being.
She sat there for what seemed like hours until the door finally opened. The heavy rain had stopped leaving the dark grey clouds the only evidence that it had rained. A man with white long hair and a black robe walked in. She couldn't see his eyes. They were hidden behind a tick curtain of hair. His nails were black and long and his fingers were thin and pale.
"Well~ What do we have here?"
She found it strange that this man could see her. It was still dark in the room. There was little to no light inside the room.
The odd man had walked to the right side of the wall and flipped a switch that turned on the chandelier above. She covered her eyes at the sudden brightness of light and cursed herself for not trying the right side of the wall for the light switch.
"Hmm?"
The man had looked questioningly at the little girl who still had her wings on display. She cowered closer to the coffin that was to her right and grabbed the top of it in defense. She wasn't much of a fighter. She had no chance of winning against this man.
"Well, well, well~ You must be her! Hee hee!"
The odd man moved towards her at a fast pace, causing her to cower further away. He stopped upon noticing this and closed the door behind him before continuing to move closer to her.
"You can trust me dear."
There was nothing about him that she could trust. He was a man in black, and from what she knew, men in black were always the bad guys.
She shook her head no at him and continued cowering behind the coffin. His cheshire smile never left his face.
"Well, I can't blame you. So small and innocent, hehe~"
"Who are you?" she finally spoke.
"I'm the mortician that owns this shop! But I prefer Undertaker, hehe."
"Do you know my parents?"
His smile grew wider. "Of course I do."
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"You're a terrible liar, Undertaker."
"Hee hee hee! You don't believe that dear!"
I knew he was right. My cinematic record, the record of my life, would never be wrong.
"Then why don't I remember meeting you that day? Why is it that every time I try remembering something about my parents or even the day they left, I remember nothing?!"
"That is something for another time~ For now, I need you to drink this..."
She skeptically looked at the vial that the Undertaker held in his hands. She knew not to trust him, for many reasons, but she couldn't help the little bit of curiosity that enveloped her. Her skepticism won over.
"I'm not taking anything that you hand me, old man."
"But you will~"
"And why would I?"
"If you want to know what happened that day~"
I tsked and looked away from the Undertaker. The offer was tempting. Too tempting. I turned and looked and the vial. It looked to be a blood red, looking almost too much like blood.
"Your parents requested, before their untimely death, that I give this to you~"
I looked in his eyes and knew that he was telling the truth.
"What is it?" I exhaled.
He began laughing his usual high pitched laugh. He continued staring at me instead of telling me.
"You're crazy, old man."
I turned away only to be grabbed by a pale hand. His nails were long and threatening. They slightly sunk into the robe, almost getting to my skin.
I looked at the hand with a blank stare. There was nothing else more that I wanted to do than rip this reaper to bits.
"Why are you doing this, anyway? A reaper like you wouldn't do something for another person unless it was for a high price..."
"Hmmm~ I guess I tell you since I accidentally broke me promise... Your parents helped save Ciel Phantomhive's body!"
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"People like those who exist in this world shouldn't perish so easily~" the man softly said.
Little Celesta wrapped herself in her wings. The whiteness of them was stunning. They were pearly and looked untouched. The purest dove among the many little crows that surrounded.
"What are you talking about, old man?"
He walked over to the desk, far enough to not scare the 8 year old girl. She watched as he reached into on of the drawers and took out a locket. He placed two hairs in two separate hair strands, both brunette, into each of the lockets. A sadder smile adorned his face.
"But you're here now, aren't you, little one?"
She looked at him in confusion. Why was he acting nice? Weren't strangers always rude and selfish?
It hadn't taken long for the little girl to grow accustomed to the mortician. Until one day it just went south.
Celesta was sitting on top of the mortuary, swinging her legs back and forth. It had been a few months since her parents left. There was no sign of them anywhere. She flew everyday at midnight, soaring the skies to see if she could find her long lost parents.
The first time she tried to look the undertaker had given her a scolding, telling her that it wasn't normal for people to see a child with wings protruding out of her back. So from then on she would search the streets at night, when everyone was asleep and dreaming. He had also helped her try to make her wings disappear when she didn't need them. He told her to imagine how it would look like to "put your wings away" therefore helping her.
She came back at 3 in the morning, her wings tired and sore from the countless hours of flying. She walked into the funeral parlor expecting to the Undertaker there but only saw the coffins and the jars that lined the walls and an empty desk. There was no one but her in the parlor.
She walked over to the desk and sat on top of it. She looked at the many jars with various organs and items in them and smiled at the weird choice of ornaments she's grown accustomed to.
She hopped off of the desk and heard a clanking sound against the floor. There was a small vial with questionable liquid in it. She circled it around the small tube and noticed the familiar smell of it.
"Mom..."
She brought it closer to her nose. The door to the parlor suddenly opened and in walked the Undertaker. His cheerful demeanor turned serious upon the sight he was seeing.
"Undertaker... what's this?"
"Did you drink any of that?" he countered.
"N-no! What is this?! Why does it smell like my mom?!" she demanded.
Undertaker looked at the little girl confused. He looked to both of her sides, his head moving slightly indicating that he was.
"Are you doing that?"
Tears were spilling down the winged girl's cheeks. Her eyes were beginning to turn red as he stood there not answering her. She wanted to see her parents again. She wanted to tell them she was sorry. Sorry for not going with them. Sorry for not being useful when they were being attacked. Sorry for not finding them sooner. The mortician that was standing in front of her was preventing her from seeing them and she was growing furious.
"How are you doing that?" he asked again.
"Doing what?!"
"Are you wanting to see your parents? Hehe~ Such an amazing gift that has been bestowed on you, dearie~"
"What the hell are you talking about, old man!"
"Hehehe~ Focus on what you want me to see~ And I shall see it!"
Celesta was confused. A vial was in her hands, one that he obviously did not want her to see, yet he was laughing and telling her strange things.
"You're crazy you old man!"
"HEE HEE HEE!"
In the blink of an eye the vial from her hand was gone and her head was smashed against the table. A pointed weapon was close to her head but yet not touching her. She soon felt herself slipping away. The last thing she saw was something similar to a film, playing in front of her.
Here is another chapter everyone! I hope you enjoyed it. I'm sorry for those of you who are here to see Sebastian and Celesta's relationship grow even further but it can't yet until her past comes to life. Yes, I understand this is very slow development but remember, it's more realistic than them taking one look at each other and saying I love you and get married. That's stupid and immature. But other than that I will try updating as soon as I can. For now I bid all farewell. BYE ^_^
