The Lady Shadowhive and her demon butler Lucius Dracovich

The Rose For Sale

Jade's POV

Nn.. what.. i'm being petted... no.. he didn't.. he wouldn't disobey me.. I looked up and saw Lucius sitting there smiling at me.

"Glad to see your awake mistress."

I felt anger boil inside me as i lifted my hand to slap him only to have the chain pull it back. I grunted and reached for Lucius as he stood up and backed away snickering at me as i struggled against the chains.

"My my, what a temper.."

"Shut up! i ordered you to stay away until i summoned you..."

"No you told me to stay away.. there was no order, and it is my job to make sure your treated well. I could feel your cold, so i came and kept you warm."

I glared at him as i sat on the ground contemplating on what to say.. I could have sworn i ordered him to stay away.. I sighed exasperated but then my eyes widened as i heard footsteps from out in the hallway..

"Lucius i order you to stay away from me until i call for you by speaking and or by thought."

Within a second he vanished as did the coat i wore around my shoulders that was keeping me warm. I didn't realize how cold i was until it was gone, but i would deal with that later. I quickly sprawled myself across the floor and the door opened only moments after i laid down and i fluttered my eyes open, or at least made it seem that i had been awakening, as the Viscount came in smiling.

"Wake up my beautiful rose... it's time for you to eat.. i do apologize for the cold, but it slipped my mind to give you a blanket."

I sat up and looked at the Viscount as he sat a tray on the floor with tea and food on it. I stared at the food cautiously and then looked up as a blanket was placed around my shoulders.

"A blanket for the rose so that it doesn't frail with cold"

Why on earth was he being kind? I looked from him down to the food on the tray and looked at it suspiciously. What if the food was drugged and when i ate it he was going to do something awful to me... There's no way i'm eating this but my stomach betrayed me as it growled when i looked away from the food. Damn... i didn't eat anything and i'm starving.. drugged or not i need to eat or else i'll be in pain from hunger... I sighed as i reached forward and took a bite of a croissant and felt the flaky bread melt in my mouth. It was so warm, and had honey drizzled on it, so sweet so warm. It was very good, and i did not feel strange after eating it. There was no dizziness, no dry mouth feeling... It was a perfectly normal croissant. Maybe he was taking care of his interests.. I wasn't sure but what was bothering me more was the way he just stood there watching me. As if to make sure i ate the food completely.

"Do not worry, i will have a pillow and some cushions brought in for you to sit on. We wouldn't want the delicate rose to bruise."

"But why is it important for me not to bruise...why can't you just let me go."

I asked weakly despite how much i wanted to shout at him. I wasn't some pathetic flower trapped in his cage, i was a sneaky fox deceiving the raven into dropping the cheese that it held in its beak.. I smiled as i made the analogy from a fable i had read and imagined the Viscount as the raven.

"So that you are in the best condition for tonights auction."

"Auction?"

What on earth was he talking about...did he intend on selling me? hmm so this is what happens to the young girls.. they get put up on auction and bought by members of the sale.. hm, but i need to see this with my own eyes. When the auction takes place i will summon Lucius and have everyone arrested.

"You will see later on this evening.. for now eat and rest. I will return with the cushions and then for the auction."

With those cold words he left and closed the door leaving me alone in the dungeon once again. I never thought a man such as him could speak so coldly, if it weren't for the blanket i may have gotten chills from the lack of emotion he spoke in. I ate silently and drank the warm tea allowing it to warm my body. Some time passed and the door opened slightly allowing a few pillows to be thrown at me. I caught them with my free hand but missed one as it hit me and knocked me back slightly. Grr.... i'm going to torture this man slowly... I took the pillow and set it underneath me and placed the other pillow down and rested my head on it. I wrapped myself in the blanket and closed my eyes. There was nothing else for me to do but sleep, i was chained to the ground and it immobilized me and i couldn't just break the chains for that would raise suspicion. Not to mention it would be pointless since i needed to see who his clients where that bought the young girls. If i managed to find them, i could find the missing girls if they were still around, at least i hoped they were. My thoughts became more fuzzy as i felt drowsy, my head rested lightly on the pillow and i soon found myself falling into a deep sleep.

Nnn... what... wh..where am i now... I groaned and felt my arms being held out to the sides as i now noticed i was standing. I blinked my eyes a few times and noticed that i was in a strange room that was dimly lit and in front of a small crowd.. It consisted of men, although i would be surprised had any women shown up to these events. I looked down at myself and noticed that i was dressed differently, instead of my dark red slip i wore a cream loose top and a cream skirt. My stomach was exposed slightly and my hair was still dark red from the wig i wore, i was thankful that the mark on my arm was still concealed as i stood there waiting for something to happen. The crowd murmured as the Viscount stepped out and gestured towards me.

"Gentlemen, last nights auction may have been a disaster. But i promise you... this gem, this lovely rose is sure to make up for the mishaps. See how slender she is and how nicely her curve flows down her body, and her eyes are the loveliest of purple which is quite rare. Now there is a small star mark upon her arm but i think it adds a certain air of mystery to her already stunning appearance. I shall start the bidding at 300 pounds."

I felt my eyes widened as i yanked my arms in surprise, a gag was bound over my mouth preventing me from speaking as i looked out at the crowd filled with hatred as i struggled to push the fabric from my mouth with my tongue as the prices went higher and higher. 500.... 550... 600.. higher and higher they went and the higher they went the more my anger fumed. I looked over at the Viscount who simply smiled at me and took the last bid of 1200 pounds... a small fortune to the nobility but to me it was basically the bounty upon their head.. The assistant woman opened my cage and removed the gag from my mouth at which point i screamed out angrily.

"Lucius send these men away to their homes and knock the viscount unconscious as well as save me! Thats an order!"

The crowd murmured and the Viscount simply chuckled.

"The poor rose is fatigued pay her no mind....."

His voice went softer as the lights went out again and a man opened the door, which i immediately knew to be Lucius, and walked in nonchalantly while saying coyly.

"My my...what an array of men we have here... it seems this may be quite a task..."

He pulled off his glove and soon the lights were off and the sound of screams filled my ears making a soft smile play across my lips. The screams of the tortured.. the ones who would have no doubtingly done the same to me in some form or another. I allowed myself to relax slightly as i waited for the lights to return. I focused on the sounds around me and soon everything went quiet... The lights returned and the room was in disorder with chairs turned over and the Viscount leaning against a column unconscious. Lucius entered the cage and removed the shackles from me quickly and i fell against him my body going weak.

"Easy now mistress.... your body is fatigued and exhausted, i shall carry you to the phantomhive estate."

I groaned as i struggled to support myself only to fail and fall limp in his arms as he picked me up and began walking out of the manor.

"W....what of Ciel."

"The lord phantomhive is eagerly awaiting your return. Rest now.. When you awake you shall be in the room in the Phantomhive Manor."

I nodded my head and slowly closed my eyes as he sprinted off into the dark while i slipped into slumber. I didn't even awaken to see Ciel look upon me worried as i entered the home dressed so poorly.