Slow
Meticulous
The knife presses down.
"Ciel, please, just take a day off. Go back to bed, you need to rest."
"No Sebastian, I'm restless and I need to do something before I go mad."
"You'll only strain yourself-"
Golden locks bounce.
Green meets blue.
Light meets dark.
The knife twists.
"Elizabeth! How well did your confession go?"
Smile greets scowl.
Love crushes heartache.
"He said yes! We're having dinner in the grounds tonight!"
"Congratulations! You've chosen well. Finny is quite an honourable young man, one that earns the respect of others. It's no wonder you were attracted to him."
"Why?"
"You're as honourable as any man could ever be, my Lady. You only deserve the finest."
Gloved hands attempt to soothe, but all they seem to do is harm me further.
For at their mere touch, I am silenced.
"Thank you so much! I'm going to get some help picking out a gown from Sieglinde, is it alright if I invite Eliza along?"
"Of course, you are welcome to anything you require. I will see to it that you have a wonderful evening. I assure you."
"Then, I will see you both later."
The demon's facade collapses as his arms seek to wrap me in his affection. Warmth seeping into my very bones as the depths of despair wish to swallow me whole.
"Oh, my darling..." He croaks as an unknown substance rolls down my cheek. A tear made of blood.
Intertwining as they fall from a face of despair.
My shock is muted, but the blood's presence only grows more alarming the more drops followed the first.
"I'm...I'm crying?" Sebastian mutters to himself in utter disbelief, his empathy for my heartbreak becoming strong enough to cause his first tears.
"Yes...blood."
"I've never-"
"I know..." Guilt begins to burrow into my soul as I realise the emotional pain I am putting him through. And yet, I can't help but feel as though I have lost a vital piece of myself. I can no longer use the "evil nobleman" as a shield to hide behind.
I'm defenceless.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three hours later
I awake to the gentle brush of gloves hands against my skin, kind lips blessing my cheek with their touch.
And yet, I feel empty.
As though a hole was left in my heart that no amount of sleep could fill.
I wish to feel the rush of adrenaline. To feel like I'm high.
As I stare out of the french doors to my balcony, I am drawn to the ledge.
I wish to jump.
"Do you feel any better after resting?"
"A little but...I have an idea to push it all the way. You have to trust me though."
"Of course I trust you!" He exclaims, laughing at the mere assumption that he wouldn't trust me.
"Then follow me."
As I walk barefoot onto the balcony, I feel his presence close behind me. So close that his hands brush against my hips from time to time. Through no coincidence, of course.
"Care to dance?" I ask, the sun shining Dow upon us as he obliges without a second thought.
"Why, of course I would. I would be the most annoying dullard in history to ever refuse someone so divine."
Just like the night we danced in the light of the fire, we sway to a silent song. Bodies growing closer and closer with each turn. Quicker and quicker we go until the grand finale I have so desperately desired.
Our arms outstretch, and I am elegantly untangled from our embrace until only the heel on my right boot stays on the ground. Dangling on the edge.
The wind rushes through my hair, clearing my mind as I stand on the edge of death.
My grip on my lover's hand grow lax until I no longer have any hold on him. I allow myself to relax. No fear of death arises only a kiss remains.
"If I jumped, would you catch me?" I inquire, relieved of myself for a moment. Wanting desperately to feel as though I was falling,
"Of course I would. Would you like to see?" With the presence of a nod, he let's go if my arm. Giving me the freedom to jump.
And I do.
Arms outstretched, legs together, eyes wide; I fall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunlight rains down upon him as I open the door to the garden, revealing myself as a ray bathes me in it's soft glow. A golden beam shining down upon my silky dress.
A fresh pair of glittering green eyes meet mine and quite frankly his stunned expression becomes so much more than amusing. Eliza's choice of unconventional gown is working it's charm. Despite it's strangely form fitting style, it's breathtaking.
"Hello Finny, it's beautiful out here. You chose the right venue."
"I must've chosen the right woman who lives up to the challenge of beating the beauty of the garden." His flirting game is far beyond what I expected of him. So much so that I seem to have lost my poker face. Smiling so widely that I can hardly stand it.
"Well, I must've chosen the right man to become more handsome than the roses behind your head."
"I would suggest that perhaps everything has simply become perfect just for us."
"That's a bit conceited, don't you think?" I inquire teasingly, taking a seat across from him. Finding that, the closer I look, the more I see that I am sitting across from the man that is perfect for me.
"Hardly. Perfection is in the eye of the beholder, therefore I can see that everything here tonight is perfect. Perfect for me. Hopefully perfect for you."
"Meaning that everything is theoretically perfect for us. Yes?"
"Exactly."
"I never believed that Finnian the Gardener of the Phantomhive Manor would be a theorist by any means."
"Well, my dear, I learned from the Young Master and his partner. Who better to teach me logical thinking than them?"
"That is true. I envied Ciel's education for us women, we...."
"Weren't allowed access to such in depth education?"
"No. We learned other languages and etiquette but...everything else was self taught."
"To have such an incredible mind, I'm frankly impressed by your accomplishments."
"You know what they say. The harder the fall, the higher the bounce."
Author's Note: Sorry this took so long to be released, it was so difficult to write compared to previous chapters and I hope that shows in my writing. Thank you for waiting patiently!