Black-Blood Butler (Black Butler Story)

Chapter One

Trancy Estate

May 14, 1910

6:42 a.m.

(Dream/Flashback)

__________________________

(Scarlet appears to be ten years old)

Scarlet's hands worked at a beautiful, breath-taking pace. The canvas in front of her, which had been blank an hour before, was now a spectacular arrangement of colors, hues and textures. The meadow she was painting was dotted with dandelions. A few puffy clouds flew lazily across the baby blue sky. A butterfly, mostly yellow with green accents, fluttered through the tall grasses.

Scarlet stepped back and examined the painting. If she looked at it, it seemed as if the grass was dancing in the wind, rippling like a deep green ocean. She could see the butterfly's wings cutting softly through the crisp, clean air. She smiled. It was beautiful.

Turning away from the canvas, Scarlet brushed her hand across her cheek then reached behind her and untied her paint-stained apron and laid it across the back of the small wooden chair sitting in front of her small desk. Twenty feet away, laid a mat, tucked into the corner.

This was her bedroom, the cellar. Well, the servant's quarters, actually. She called it the cellar because the room had been bare before she arrived. She'd had to steal money from her master so she could buy materials to make the mat and chair. She'd found the desk in an abandoned bedroom of the manor. She got one candle a week, so she usually saved it until the last couple of days, or for emergencies. Scarlet had six more saved up, tucked into a desk drawer.

A bell rang. With her amazing sense of hearing, Scarlet knew the sound was coming from her master's bedroom. Her already pale face turned even paler. He was awake.

She hurried and brushed her red dress off with the lace apron attached. She glanced at the grimy cracked mirror that hung on the stone wall, wiped the paint off her cheek, pulled on her black satin gloves and hurried up the rickety staircase into the main house before dashing up to her master's bedroom.

She stopped at the mahogany door and took a deep breath. She knocked lightly.

"Come in," a voice replied.

Scarlet entered the grand bedroom, her eyes downcast. She closed the door and held her hands together in front of her. "You called, master?" Her voice was soft.

"Look at me, Black." His voice was sharp. He always called her by her last name, never her first.

Scarlet's blood-red eyes flitted upward and she fought to look away.

Alois Trancy sat naked on the edge of his bed, a smirk playing across his handsome face.

"Come," he said, pointing at his lower region. "Come and eat your breakfast."

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Phantomhive Estate

September 9, 1921

3:12 a.m.

(Reality)

__________________________

(Scarlet now appears to be sixteen, Ciel eighteen, and Sebastian is, well, Sebastian.)

Scarlet's red eyes flew open and she let out a gasp. She didn't immediately recognize her surroundings, the emerald walls, the ceiling painted with cherubs, the cream colored carpet. The cherrywood furniture casted large shadows across the floor. The french doors that lead out to a balcony were open, rippling the drapes. She threw the silk covers back and was about to get up when a strong hand clasped around her wrist. She whipped her blonde head around to find her master, Ciel Phantomhive, laying in bed shirtless.

His eyes were closed and he smiled sleepily. "No, leave them open. The air feels good."

Scarlet settled back down on the bed and pulled the covers back over herself. A pale arm wrapped itself around her thin waist and pulled her back into a bare chest. A hand snaked between her small breasts and settled over her still rapidly beating heart.

"What startled you, love?" Ciel whispered in her ear.

"I- I remembered him. Alois." Her voice was shaky.

Ciel's lips trailed from her ear to her throat. Scarlet blushed.

"He won't hurt you anymore. Not as long as I'm here." Ciel kissed her neck. "And do you know why?"

Scarlet gasped quietly as Ciel's hand trailed down her body, slow and soft. "W- why?"

"Because you're mine." Ciel rolled her over and kissed her passionately, dominantly. "I love you, Scarlet."

"I love you too, Ciel." She breathed back.

He smiled, a sight he only allowed her to see. He was so handsome when he smiled, and moments like this were the ones Scarlet loved the most.

She slid her pale hand, with black fingernails, down his chest. Ciel chuckled and kissed her on the forehead. "Let's get back to sleep, my love. We have the whole day together tomorrow."

"You're trip got cancelled?"

Ciel nodded and smiled at her. Scarlet snuggled into his warm embrace. Months ago, it had been as cold as the personality he showed the world, but now, it was as warm as his smile.

"Goodnight, Ciel Phantomhive."

"Goodnight, Scarlet Black."

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Phantomhive Estate

September 9, 1921

9:47 a.m.

__________________________

They sat together at the head of the table. Ciel always had Scarlet sit this way, on his left side. "Because you're my queen, the most valuable and powerful chess piece on the board."

As they ate their veggie omelets, Ciel turned to Scarlet. "What do you want to do today, love?"

Scarlet pushed her plate away, having finished and looked at her fiancé. "I'd like to walk around town, if you don't mind. We haven't done that in a while. And I am in need of some new shoes and a couple of dresses. I've worn a few out."

"Because you are never still," Ciel told her. He kissed her forehead. "But yes, I think that's a wonderful idea."

She blushed. "If you'd rather not do that, we can do something else..."

Ciel laughed and kissed her cheek. "Relax Scarlet. I'd love to go to town with you. I have some shopping I need to do as well."

That threw her for a loop. "What do you need to get?"

Ciel smirked at her. "I need to get you a birthday present, don't I?"

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(A few hours later)

"Ciel, look! It's beautiful!" Scarlet pointed to a ruby pendant in the window of a small shop. The simple black chain held a ruby the size of a fifty-cent piece, cut into the shape of a spade. It resembled Scarlet perfectly. Ciel contemplated about what it would look like on her.

"Is this what you want for your birthday today?" Ciel asked after a moment.

Scarlet nodded. "But, my lord, you don't have to-"

He gently placed a finger over her lips. "When are you ever going to realize that I'm going to give you anything you want, no questions asked? And when will you start calling me by my name, Scarlet?"

Scarlet blushed with slight embarrassment. "Sorry."

"It's fine. Come, my love, let's go get your necklace."