Within His Soul (Ciel Phantomhive x OC fanfiction 黒執事)

Part 6, Fever

It was a bright, sunny morning, unbefitting of Erin Midford's mood. She groaned and sat up against numerous fluffy pillows, which did nothing to ease the pounding headache she was taking on. "Miss Erin?" A gentle voice said, and suddenly two young feminine hands were offering Erin a crystal glass of water. Erin tried to thank Wendy but found her throat was so raw she couldn't speak, and instead croaked a painful sound. Wendy winced, but Erin thankfully took the glass as to try and sooth her burning mouth. As the cold liquid trickled down her sore tongue Erin sighed in relief, and Wendy began talking. "Last night I found you, and you had keeled over, and come down with a terrible fever miss, so you really should take it easy." Erin only nodded, the events of last night slowly coming back to her sluggish mind. Her body was on fire, and all she simply wished to do was kick off these constricting sheets and climb in a cool bath. Erin's forehead was plastered with sweat and she certainly felt feverish. Suddenly remembering the ring, Erin frantically looked around and almost collapsed in relief when she saw its familiar blue glinting back on her nightstand. Had that all been a dream too? "In case you were wondering, I found your ring laying next to you and returned it to your nightstand, but I couldn't of sworn when I rushed back up here I heard another voice." Wendy stated, and Erin almost choked on her water. "I know it isn't my place Miss, but might I ask where that ring came from? It's awfully...unique looking and I certainly haven't seen you wear it before." Erin looked into Wendy's eyes for a moment, hating to lie straight to her face, but found that she had no choice. "I..was out yesterday at a pawn shop and I thought it looked really cool, so I bought it." Erin told her, inwardly wincing. She hoped this new lying thing wouldn't become a habit. Wendy nodded and then remembering her duties, took the empty glass of water and began to gather herself. "I'll be back to bring you soup in a moment Miss Erin, just try not to go anywhere okay?" Erin nodded her pro, and with that Wendy swiftly left the room, the door closing with a faint click behind her. "Well, that was exhausting." Erin sighed aloud as her weak head fell back on the pillows. "I'll say. So, let's go over a few things." The familiar voice Erin knew would reply back. She didn't even bother opening her eyes. "Alright, shoot." Ciel audibly cleared his throat, which was funny for a spirit, Erin thought. "Well first, you really have to stop traveling into my memories. It obviously takes a toll on both you and me. So I suggest before putting the ring on when I'm inside it that you alert me before doing so." Erin nodded, and opened her eyes. "So what was the whole fiasco with the 'He's coming' then?" Ciel visibly stiffened, and focused his orbs on something else. "Well uh..that would be my butler. Former butler.." Erin almost fell off the bed. "You're telling me that the demon you're still half contracted to is coming TO MY HOUSE?!" Erin whispered harshly, not wanting to summon Wendy. If Ciel could have shifted his feet, he would of. "I believe so.." Erin glared daggers into Ciel's misty head. "Are you kidding me? Has he come to finish eating the rest of your soul then?" "I am not sure, I have just been released from my own prison of thought I've been trapped in for the past centuries." Ciel pointed out, equally irritated. "But if he can sense your presence now, that means..." Erin thought aloud, and Ciel nodded, clenching his fists to his sides. "He's coming, and fast, and he wants to finish off the contract."

Ciel's hand unconsciously drifted to hover over his violet eye, and for once his usually stony and stoic face looked troubled. "And what of me..?" Erin whispered, fearing for her own life suddenly. "I..I don't know Erin." Ciel said regrettably. "I don't mean to endanger you, but I really shouldn't even be alive. I don't know how Sebastian will react to you." Erin blinked, registering all this new information. She also realized it was the first time Ciel had called her by her name, not that it mattered. They could both be dead in a matter of hours, days..."Do you know how close he is?" Erin blurted out, and Ciel shook his head. "All I know is that I felt like a tug on my soul...which means he knows of me, and is coming. He has to finish out the contract." Erin suddenly lit up with an idea. "If you go back in the ring, he can't sense you, right?" Ciel nodded. "I suppose, but it takes up energy to keep my soul channeled in there. I can't hide forever, now that..." Then suddenly he covered his mouth. "Now that what?" Erin demanded, seeing his fear. Ciel sighed, defeated; he knew how lizzy was and he wasn't about to battle Erin. "Ever since you put that ring on, you connected to my soul. Before I wasn't attached to anything but my ring, but now that we've merged energies.." Ciel pointed to a nearby mirror on the wall, and hesitantly Erun walked over to it. When she faced her reflection, she noticed her eyes were taking on a subtle hint of blue, rather than their bright green. "Oh no..." Erin whispered, then looked back to Ciel. "Since you witnessed me in the raw form of my soul, I latched onto you. The more you dive into my memories, the more attached we become. That's why I told you to warn me before you put on the ring.." Erin nodded, realizing it wasn't too late. "Alright, I promise I won't do it again." She promised sincerely, and suddenly threw back the covers. "Where are you going?" Ciel asked as he floated over to where Erin stumbled, grabbing the dresser to support her wobbly legs. "I refuse to lay in bed all day." She remarked stubbornly, inching her way to the closet." Ciel only sighed (do spirits even sigh!?) and examined his perfect, short nails. "How exactly to you plan on putting a corset when you can barely walk?" Amd Erin burst into a fit of laughter, with an expression that showed she knew something Ciel didn't. "What? What's so funny?!" Ciel pouted, hating to be laughed at. "Oh nothing...but in 2015 you see, women don't wear corsets. Ciel looked genuinely shocked. "They don't?" He asked, eyes wide, which only made Erin snicker more. His brows furrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest (an action that was now familiar to Erin), and to prove her point Erin opened the doors of her closet. Inside hung floral blouses and crop tops from Aeropostale, mini skirts, jeans and more. Ciel scoffed as he tugged on a particularly short skirt, his neck and face slightly flushed. "And what exactly is this...skimpy thing?" Erin grinned, loving his expression. "That, my friend, is a skirt." Ciel gaped at it as if it were a ufo, shaking his head. "A skirt? It barely reaches the floor!" Ciel was incredulous, and Erin rolled her eyes, mimicking Ciel's previous action. "Now unless you wanna see me change, I suggest you leave." And flashing a smile, Erin began tugging at her nightgown. Ciel went from paper to tomato, shielding his eyes and leaving quickly. "I'm going I'm going!" Erin smiled to herself, before picking out today's outfit.