Strings (Drocell fan fic ~ Black Butler/ Kuroshitsuji)

The Phamtohive manor

As the carriage that had picked me up to go on route to the Phatomhive manor pulled away I smiled. Off into the distance the castle was burning. Grell had given me the matches just before Drocell had let me out of my cage. It was fun to set fire to the place, I only hoped that Drocell would be burning along with it.

"Looks like there's a commotion back there." the carriage driver said as we continued down the dirt road.

"It seems so." I replied

"Shall we go back?"

"Press forward. I doubt they will need help." They would be dead anyways. I smiled before the carriage driver cracked his whip and the horses began picking up the pace. Phantomhive manor, I wonder what that place would have in store for me. Certainly it couldn't be worse than living in a cage. I wouldn't be there long anyways, after a night of proper rest I would make my escape and leave.

We pulled up to the manor after several hours. It was large and rather grand. At the entrance way into the manor stood a tall man in a butlers attire. His hair was jet black and straight rather long as well.His eyes were red which was unusual, but then again I had come to learn that the unusual and strange was normal in London. Next to him holding a walking cane was a short boy who looked pale, as if he was dead. His blue eyes seemed to glow with curiosity as he waited for me to come out from the carriage. I straightened out my dress trying to remember what my cover up for coming here had been.

I was supposed to be the daughter of a business accsoicate from America, on that also dabbled with toys, that wouldn't be too hard to pull off. Drocell had business connection in America and a cover up and fake documents wouldn't be too hard to manufacture. But this was the Queen's watchdog, there was no doubt he wouldn't be fooled by Drocell's tricks. Regardless it seemed like he had bothered to put up with the ruse. Perhaps that was why he had the curious look on his face, perhaps the Queen's watchdog wanted to know exactly who I was.

"Welcome to the Phantomhive manor." The butler said as he took my hand and led me out of the carriage. His hand was cold as ice and his eye seemed to stare into my own as I stepped down. He was scrutinizing me, I didn't like that.

"Thank you, however please refrain from looking at me like I'm a science experiment. If there is something you wish to ask me then ask." This seemed to startle the man before he smirked.

"Forgive me madame. It just that you look familiar, you seem to resemble a girl I once knew."

I nodded my head before turning my attention to the boy.

"Welcome to my manor. I'm Ciel Phantomhive, and you must be Miss Gina Darling, I take it your father sent you in his place."

"He did." I lied before I was ushered into the Phantomhive manor.

"Sebastian." Ciel said making the butler turn to his master. Ah so this was the man that Grell was obsessed with. He was handsome sure, however the cold aura around him didn't seem like this man was capable of love.

"Yes my Lord."

"Please show Ms. Darling to her room for the night. Allow her to rest for a while before we eat. I'll be in my study, you shall come there afterwards." He then turned to me. "We'll talk more at dinner, for now I have business to attend to." I nodded my head.

"Don't overwork yourself Earl Phantomhive." I said with a smile, the boy was a cute one after all even if the smile he returned was fake.

"No promises, an Earl's work is never done." He must have meant the work for the Queen. Ciel acended the staircase in front of us. Giving Sebastian a nod before he left seemed to snap the butler into a cheerful mood. That was odd, he didn't seem like the cheerful type. The teasing, manipulative, hidden mode type sure that was the aura I had gotten from him, but cheerful. It must have been a ruse in order to make me feel welcome.

"Now then Miss Darling, I shall show you to your room. How long would you like to rest for? I can have the maid wake you whenever you wish and show you around the manor once you feel well rested." Sebastian said a smile plastered on his face. Fake cheerfulness, that was emanate in my eyes. What did Grell see in him again?

"An hour. A tour of the manor would be lovely, thank you for suggesting in Sebastian." He seemed to stiffen when I called his name, but I pushed that aside a sudden draft had swept in through the room and made me feel rather cool, that was the only logical reason for his reaction so I went with it. A tour would be good, from that I could gain the knowledge I needed for my escape later that night.

Perhaps Grell would be my companion for a while until William called him in for a reaping. Surely he would be able to take a day off after reaping all the souls that would burn in the fire I had set.

The room Sebastian had brought me to was larger than my room in Drocell's castle. I smiled looking at the bed, it had been way to long since I slept in one. The bed was pushed to the side next to the window and in the middle of the room on the wall was a mantle that had several pictures of the earl when he was a child. Among those smiling pictures was one of a man who resembled the Earl and a woman who looked to be his wife.

"That's the former Earl and his wife Rachel." I nodded my head at Sebastian explanation turning to face him when I heard the butler cough slightly to gain my attention. He bowed to me pausing in that position for a moment. "If you don't mind I'll take my leave now Miss Darling. I have my own duties to take care of." There was a sudden boom, as if an explosion went off and Sebastian bowed again before he rushed out of the room.

Loud booms, no matter, I could sleep through anything. And this time I wouldn't be in a cage. My first sleep on a bed in a year. I laid down in the bed pulling the covers over me, sighing deeply. The scent of linen filling my nose, the comfort of the mattress and the feeling of using a pillow. It felt good.

It felt good to be free.