Black Swan Rising - A Black Butler Fan-Fic

21 - Rescue Me...

I dreamt of the worst of things one night. Nightmares, terrors, call them what you will. I lost my mind to those images that flitted across my eyelids.

Ciel... He was so young in my dreams... Beaten ... tortured ... primed for a sacrifice... Must these images enter my brain with such malicious intent?...

I sat up and scraped the dried and crusted tears from my eyes and lashes, running my hand across my dribbling nose. My eyes felt thick and puffy with fatigue. My tongue tasted blood; had I bitten it in my sleep?

Nights like these were typical and usual as the days dragged on. The dates were starting to even blur together. I cannot recall those days nor their nights.

Sebastian knocked on my door to wake me for the day, and I complied. The binding was exceedingly uncomfortable today. I felt like my back was being pinched and burned with hot coals. Such a feeling caused me to slip into a sickness, but I concealed those feelings as best as I could.

The prince was coming. I was almost certain that he was going to make a scene. I wanted desperately to stick to Sebastian's side, but I didn't need to bring suspicion up. The other boys were already on my tail about how close he and I were. I decided to stay as far from him as possible.

However, that was not Ciel's plan. We wound up standing beside him as Prince Soma rode into view atop an elephant, dancers leading the way and pronouncing his arrival to all who were around.

"What is it?!"

"Whoa, awesome!!"

I looked around at the kids gawking at the prince and his show. They were all so amused by such an amazing display. I too was shocked, but I knew how to retain the wide-eyed, gaping mouth look quite well.

It was also true that this was not my first time ever seeing an elephant.

"He got into Red House just fine," Ciel said discreetly, looking up at the display.

I giggled faintly. "You think so?" was my slightly sarcastic response.

"No kidding," said the boy. "I guess the brand and wealth of Indian royalty is the real deal."

"But I naturally didn't expect him to come to school on an elephant," the butler chimed in.

I felt tension crackle between us. Sebastian didn't seem to be affected by it. Either that or he didn't feel it at all. I turned my face away from him and chewed on the irritated tear on my lip. Turns out that I bit that in my sleep too.

"Quinlan," Ciel whispered to me from the corner of his mouth. "Are you al-"

"Ahhh!!" Soma cried from his perch, waving to the boy. "Heeeeeey!! Ciel!! I'm here!!"

I laughed as he passed by, the dancers carving out a pathway to allow the elephant to walk. Music played, instruments rang out. I was thoroughly enjoying the show.

"I was surprised since you suddenly sent me a letter!!" Soma continued, hanging out of his seat. "I would have come if you'd just said you'd be lonely by yourself!!"

I chuckled and turned away a little, acting natural. He didn't quite recognize me, and I was grateful for that. I might have accidentally caught the prince's eye when I met him at first. I didn't look forward to that kind of confrontation in the future.

The prince screamed for Ciel as he turned and walked off, trying to get his attention. The boy specified that he and the prince should act as strangers, but I guess he never got the memo.

I looked back just in time to see the elephant's trunk reach through the crowd and lift Ciel into the air. It brought the boy into the prince's private seating area and sat him down as he kicked and screamed. I laughed again and spun around to look for Sebastian.