The Scourge of the Demon Hunters—Act 4

Sebastian returned to the guest room a short while later carrying a tray holding water and a steaming bowl of soup. Setting it down on the table, he moved over to the bed.

“Now let’s get you sat up a little.”

He placed one hand behind her at the base of her neck and gently lifted her forward while re-arranging the pillows with the other hand. When he was finished, he gently slipped his now free arm under her legs and lifted her slightly, moving her until she reclined against the newly arranged pillows. As he moved her the sheet slipped, exposing her naked form. As Sebastian’s eyes fluttered momentarily to her breasts, she realised for the first time that she was completely naked and exposed.

Sebastian caught the look of dismay on her face. He smiled gently and without a word, he rearranged the sheet to cover her once more. Returning to the tray, he fetched the glass of water. Holding it steady for her to drink from, he said, “Small sips my dear, it has been some time since your body has taken in any sustenance at all.”

As she swallowed, she thought her throat would burst. But as the initial shock subsided, the rawness that had been present reduced and she felt moisture begin to return. Sebastian held the glass to her lips a second time and she dutifully took another sip. He repeated the process until he was satisfied that at the very least, she could hold down fluids and wasn’t going to spring a leak.

“Good, does that feel better?”

“Yes, thank you,” she whispered; her voice barely audible.

“Superb. Now the young master will be up presently, but while we are waiting, you should try to eat. I’ve prepared the soup specially.”

Without waiting for a reply Sebastian fetched the bowl and a spoon. He sat on the edge of the bed and dipped the spoon into the bowl. He fed her slowly and carefully, as one would an infant that was just learning to eat.

She watched him intently as he prepared each spoonful with the same care and attention to detail, never spilling a single drop. It was in that instant that she realised that the whispering voice that had brought her back from the darkness had been his.

“How?” she asked.

Sebastian placed the spoon back in the bowl and used his now free hand to gently tilt her chin so that their eyes met. He held her gaze; “If I couldn’t bring a badly injured half-demon back from the brink of death, then what sort of butler would I be?”

She wanted to ask more, but at that moment, Ciel appeared at the door. Sebastian’s demeanour changed immediately as he stood and bowed stiffly. “I think that is enough for now.”

Ciel sat in the chair by the bed. He had spent many hours in the chair over the past week, but it felt very different now that she was awake. Sebastian took up his usual station to the side of his master’s chair and waited.

“I am glad to see that you are awake,” saaid Ciel. He continued, “I am Ciel Phantomive, head of the Phantomhive family. This is my butler Sebastian; he has been caring for you and tending your wounds since we found you.”

A large crash somewhere outside the bedroom door momentarily distracted Ciel. Shaking his head, he stated, “That was most likely the rest of the household. I will keep them at a distance until you are strong enough to withstand their stupidity and general clumsiness. Now, may I ask your name?”

“I’m Louisa. I don’t have a surname, at least not that I know.”

“Do you remember what happened, how you got your injuries?” asked Ciel.

“I was running away, trying to escape the Order.”

Feigning ignorance of what she was referring to, Ciel continued, “What Order?”

Louisa’s eyes flitted to Sebastian who gave a barely perceptible nod.

She continued, “The Order of Demon Hunters. I was taken as a child and forced to join them; I have known little else since I was small.”

As she spoke, she saw flickering images of the lifeless body of her father and heard the screams of her mother. Overwhelmed by emotion, the world began to spin away from her once more.

Seeing her distress, Sebastian spoke up. “My young Lord, I believe that we should probably leave it there for today. We will get few answers if she returns to unconsciousness.”

“Yes, you are probably right,” said Ciel. “We will talk again when you are stronger. Rest now.”

Louisa nodded gratefully resting her head back on the pillows. “Thank you, my Lord, for everything.”

Ciel gave a rare smile, stood and left the room, calling for Sebastian to follow him. Once outside the room, Ciel stopped. “Sebastian, arrange for some suitable clothing to be sent to the house. She cannot remain in that state; it is, distracting.”

“Yes, my lord, although it is a pleasant distraction, is it not?”

Ciel shifted uncomfortably, “Don’t you have orders to follow, Sebastian.”

“Yes, my Lord, at once.”

Ciel rubbed his head, his young brain struggling with the shapely sight that had been barely hidden by the sheet that covered her. He must get to the bottom of this and quickly; if only to save what remained of his sanity.

Later that day, Sebastian returned to the guest room carrying several boxes. Knocking gently to announce his arrival, he walked in to find Louisa awake as Ciel sat in the chair reading to her. Ciel held the book high to shield himself from her still quite obvious distractions. The turmoil that his young master was feeling would have given Sebastian great pleasure if he had not been experiencing something similar himself.

“Ah, there you are my young Lord. I bring clothing for the young lady as instructed.”

“Excellent,” said Ciel with an obvious mix of relief and disappointment.

“Would you care to leave the room while I help the young lady to dress? Or would you prefer to stay?”

Ciel blushed scarlet, “You impudent cur, I should…” he began, then remembering he was in company, he quickly regained his composure.

“I shall take my leave. However, you shall be joining me; I believe it is only proper that Mey-Rin takes over the personal care of our guest.”

Sebastian remained composed, his face showing none of the conflict that he was feeling.

“My Lord, while I am reluctant to disagree with you, especially as decorum would be in agreement with you, I do believe that the young lady’s injuries are still too fresh for Mey-Rin to manage. One slight mistake could ruin all my hard work.”

Ciel scanned Sebastian’s face, knowing that there was something more, something he was hiding, but being unable to see any crack in Sebastian’s perfect, emotionless mask he conceded.

“All right then, see to it, I will wait outside.”

Once Ciel had left the room, Sebastian placed the boxes on the table. He opened the top one, pulling out a long white nightgown. “Ah, I believe this is probably most suitable for now,” he said.

As Sebastian helped her into the nightgown, Louisa asked, “How long have I been here?”

Carefully tying the ribbons that closed the gown at the neck, Sebastian raised his eyes to meet hers. “It has been two weeks since we found what was left of you in the grounds of the manor.”

“And, you have been here every day?”

“In between attending to my usual duties, yes. Now if you can stand for me, we will get you sat in the chair and change the sheets.”

Sebastian held her as she swung her legs around until her feet touched the floor. His touch was like nothing she had felt before. She felt safe when he was close, there was something familiar, but there was more, something she didn’t understand.

As she stood, her legs gave way under her. Sebastian caught her, scooped her into his arms and placed her in the chair.

“It will take a while for you to regain your strength,” he said as he went about changing the bed sheets.

“I need to ask; my wounds, the dressings, my clothes.”

“As the young master said, I have tended to your every need since you arrived.”

A look of embarrassment fleetingly crossed her face, too quick for any human to have caught it.

“Do not worry my lady; I saw only torn flesh that needed to be healed. To see anything else would have been quite improper.”

As he spoke, he smiled and his face softened just a little. Louisa relaxed, returning the smile.

“Now shall we move the chair closer to the window to give you a view of the gardens.” He lifted the chair with her still in it, the movement taking no effort at all from him. Placing her down, he said, “I shall inform the young master that you have had enough for one day. I shall go attend to his needs. Please ring if there is anything you need.”

He smiled again, bowed, and left the room before she could form any response. Left alone with her thoughts she once again tried to piece together the events of the last few weeks. But, try as she might, between arriving bloodied and broken at the estate and now, all she remembered was darkness and pain. No, that was not quite true; there was something else, something that stirred emotions that she couldn’t quite grasp.

Just the effort of thinking and remembering was exhausting. When Louisa woke again it was dark and she was back in the bed. The familiar presence surrounded and soothed her once more. All she heard before she drifted back into the darkness of sleep were the words, “I am here.”