The Fair wife

Chapter 4

The next day was a cloudy one. Thick blankets of grey covered the sky as it rumbled quietly like an awaiting beast. Pursing his lips, Alex pulled a thick coat over his robe before going outside to meet up with Diane who was dressed in a similar fashion to him.

"It's so cold" she complained as they walked to class. "The change between yesterday and today is too much"

Silently agreeing, they huddled closer when the wind whirled around them, nipping at their faces and running chilling fingers down their necks. Finally reaching their classroom, they felt relieved at the warmth of the room. Orbs of fire crackled close to the roof as they shuffled to their spots. Alex momentarily spared a glance towards Rosa who was bundled up in brown furs and bowing her head lowly with long lashes that dusted the globes of her tender cheeks. After a moment his eyes then settled on Felix, who much to his surprise, was looking at him.

Blue eyes intensely met shocked obsidian ones and Alex had to force himself not to snap his attention away and to his book. Giving a polite nod in greeting, he did his best to calmly turn away, wondering why Felix continued to stare at him. Had he done something, he wondered. Before he could delve more into it, Mr Atwood appeared with a pleased smile.

"Once again, we welcome someone new" he said as he looked towards the doorway. Alex didn't miss the slight reverence he had in his eyes when he did that and he couldn't help but tense when Diane's words played in his mind. Would it be the same Ciel?

Dressed in the customary green robe of the first years, a tall and lean figure passed the threshold with a relaxed gait. White hair cascaded down his back as purple eyes met his own, a small pleased smirk titling the corners of his sinful lips.

"This is Ciel" the teacher seemed to be saying, but that was all lost to Alex as the world seemed to melt away till it was only them both existing; hearts beating in sync to one another. Once again that feeling of being complete coursed through him, and he shivered when he saw those purple eyes slightly darken.

"Why don't you sit next to—"

"Alex" he said, cutting the teacher off. Mr Atwood paused, not seeming to mind the interruption as he smiled. "Of course" he answered. Ciel didn't wait to be told further, already making his way towards the small black haired boy. The person next to him shuffled over without a word, leaving an empty space for Ciel to fit into. For a moment, from the corner of his eyes, Alex swore he saw Rosa and Felix glaring at him, but when he turned to look, he only met with her big innocent brown eyes and impassive blue ones. Shrugging it off, he focused his attention on the boy besides him, whose tall body already seemed to overshadow his own. In the two years that they hadn't seen each other, Ciel had grown. He wasn't as tall as an adult, being only ten, but he was the tallest in the class. Alex unfortunately was quite short.

Ciel bent down so his breath brushed the sides of his face.

"It's good to see you again Alex"

He wouldn't admit it, but Alex liked the way his name rolled off Ciel's tongue. His voice was still smooth and velvet-like, and Alex didn't doubt that he would be popular with the ladies. But for some reason the thought of Ciel going off with a lady friend caused a tightening in his chest. Shaking his head, Alex focused his attention on the page of his book. He had some things to ask; like the mark on his neck. Just thinking about it caused him to raise a hand up to the choker, touching the material with the tips of his fingers.

"You should show it. Tell everyone your mine." Eyes snapped up to study the side profile of the white haired boy in shock, a realization dawning that yesterday wasn't a dream. He didn't understand what he meant by 'his' and why it caused him to feel a warmth curl in his belly. So, instead he channelled the confusing feelings into anger.

"I'm not a thing you can own" he hissed in displeasure. Calm purple eyes connected with his and a small amused smile lightened up the corners of his lips.

"I know you aren't."

Frowning, Alex was going to ask if he was mocking him but was cut off when Mr Atwood began his lecture. Ciel eased back into his seat like a feline, as he draped an arm casually behind Alex's own chair. Alex met Diane's eyes across the room and she seemed to be highly amused as she winked at him and wiggled her eyebrows up and down. He made a disturbed face in reaction, rolling his eyes almost violently.

Two hours later, the bell chimed and signalled the end of class as Alex quickly packed up his things, silently cursing Diane for leaving him. Ciel was already standing beside him. His hand momentarily brushed against Ciel's and small sparks seemed to charge between them from the brief contact. Gasping in surprise, he recoiled slightly as if burnt, staring wide eyes at his palm as if wondering if this was even his. Ciel chuckled beside him, his laugh, reverberating from deep within his chest.

"Stop laughing at me" Alex snapped as he hefted his bag onto his shoulder and sourly walked to the front of the room. Ciel easily fell into step beside him.

"Why are you upset with me? Have I done anything?"

For a moment, his steps faltered and his lips straightened out. Is he an idiot? Wasn't it obvious why he was being so short with Ciel anyway? I mean he obviously knows something I don't and he gave me this weird mark; he also claims me as his own. Honestly, there was a lot to be upset about! But...

He could be the bigger person and not let Ciel's teasing affect him so much. It wasn't as if the mark was doing him harm, confirmed by the best doctors, and Ciel's claim on him...well  it could be taken as a joke he supposed...a fit of childish fancy (even if a part of his mind scoffed at his forced naivety)

"I don't know. I'm just...you did something to me, even if its not harmful, without my permission"

Ciel's fingers lightly brushed against the side of his neck, over the black choker and where the mark would be, causing him to jump in shock.

"What?" he snapped as he reeled back, looking wide-eyed at the boy.

Ciel smiled at him, his purple eyes eerily glowing in the light of the already emptied hallway.

Ciel's hand easily pulled him back towards his side, his arm draping over Alex's shoulders and caressing the upper part of his limb.

"I apologize" he said, "Next time I'll make sure to ask". Alex rolled his eyes but let it go because he knew that it was the best he would get. "Perhaps we can begin as friends?"

"Friends?" Alex asked in disbelief.

"Friends" Ciel easily confirmed. 

Alex frowned, his lips puckering in thought. Maybe then he could get answers if he was closer to the mysterious child. And, he would be a good connection to have. 

"I guess" he mumbled after a moment when they walked outside. Before Ciel could answer someone called Alex's name. They both looked towards the direction of the noise to see Felix walking towards them. His eyes flickered over to the white-haired boy before focusing on Alex.

"Mr Atwood would like to see you. He told me to tell you to visit him at his office" the prince said curtly.

Alex looked flabbergasted at the fact that out of all people, Mr Atwood had asked Felix to come get him, before he nodded slowly when the words finally processed in his mind. "Oh right; sure."

When Felix didn't leave immediately, Alex couldn't help but cock his head to the side in befuddlement.

"Is that all?" he asked.

"He wants to see you now. Alone" Felix promptly replied.

"Right" Alex awkwardly answered as he extracted himself from under Ciel's arm. The moment he stepped away he seemed to finally realise the slightly frigid temperature of the surroundings. He couldn't stop that visible shudder that he made as he tugged his cloak closer to his body in a failed attempt to retain as much body heat.

"Well I guess I'll see you around Ciel" he said.

Ciel smiled at him, but there was a coldness in his eyes and something predatory in his smile.

"Yes. Do be careful; there are...wild beasts even in somewhere like this"