Bring Me Home

Chapter Three: And So We Meet Again

London, England. August 18, 1888~ 1 ½ years later
It feels as if time moves so slowly now. Though one of my twin brothers had survived the events of that  awful night and had graciously allowed me to stay with him without the push of marriage to my betrothed, it feels as if I am just playing the part of a noble sister rather than really living. That night still plays in my mind like a nightmare on repeat and at sixteen years of age, I find myself fearing the night I once loved. Following my brother down the busy streets of London, all I can think of is that night.
Ciel looks so much like our father. Though still small in size at thirteen years of age, he has a round face, fathers dark brown hair, his evil and cunning smile, but he has the milky white skin and deep ocean blue eyes of our mother. All I can think of is our mother when I gaze into my brother’s eyes. Mother and our younger brother. So in thought of our past and all we had lost, I did not pay attention and ran right into the back of our butler, unknowing that he had stopped at my brother’s side.
“My deepest apologies, my lady.” He bows. With his long raven black hair that goes almost to his shoulders and dark brown eyes, which I swear has a hint of azure, Sebastian can be a sight to behold. He is tall, slender, and of course is always dressed in a black tailored suit with white gloves. He has been the head butler in our house hold ever since my brother came home. He also helped us hire new staff around the mansion to help with his duties, though it is less crowded than when mother and father were alive.
“No, Sebastian, I am truly sorry. I was not watching where I was going. Please, do forgive me.” I curtsied back to him. He smiled devilishly at me and bowed again.
“Nothing to forgive, my lady.” He smiled, taking my hand in his and planting a soft kiss to the back of my hand. God, he made me blush! A loud cough pulled my gaze away from Sebastian and back to my brother.
“May we carry on?” My brother points to the shop in front of us. My blood ran cold. I hadn’t been there in over a year. Not since the funeral. Not since my brothers return. Since I had found out he knew. Since then, I had not been to the shop of the Undertaker. Yet, there I stood, too afraid to venture inside. To face him again. The man that my father, without explanation to hardly a soul, betrothed me to on the day of my birth.
“I need information.” Ciel walked through the open door, held by Sebastian, who waited until I ventured through as well, not yet realizing I was holding my breath. “This is the place to get it.”
“Welcome.” I heard his voice ring through. “I thought you would drop by before long.” One of the coffins standing up right began to slide open. “My Lord, it’s so lovely to see you again.”  His tall figure stands inside, one hand sneaking through to open the top. His long silver hair pours down his body, long bangs covering up his gorgeous eyes. His black robes hug him slightly, while the rest poor down his body. A tall top hat rests lightly on his head. “Do I finally have the pleasure of fitting you for one of my coffins today?” Undertaker jokes, not yet realizing I am right behind Sebastian.
“Certainly not. Today I..” Ciel begins, but Undertaker cuts him off with a finger to his mouth.
“No need to say, I am already aware. Very well aware. One of my customers came in looking a bit unusual shall we say. I helped her though. I made her beautiful again. Hehe~” His smile made me want to smile again. To forget it all. I stepped forward slightly, but not enough to draw his attention just yet.
“I would like to hear about it, please.” Ciel insisted.
“You know the deal then, my lord.” He chuckled. “Give me gift of true laughter and I will tell you anything.” Undertaker laughed and hugged himself. “I gave you a discount last time, but I will not do it again.” Ciel began to get irritated and Sebastian was about to step up to the plate when I stepped forward and stopped them all in their tracks. Especially Undertaker.
“I will do it.” I spook up, still trying to find my voice and regain my breathing. “Leave it to me brother.” I turned to face him. “Go outside for just a moment, and I promise, when you reenter, he will tell you everything you wish to know.” I could tell then that Sebastian was about to protest when Ciel stopped him.
“Very well.” He nodded in response and turned on his heal towards the door. Sebastian had no choice but to follow him outside. Then, for the first time in over a year, my betrothed and I were alone.
“Hello darling.” Adrian was the first to speak. The sad smile that greeted his lips made me want to cry, even when I was still angry with him. I had to hold strong.
“Hello Adrian.” His smile quickly faded. “How are you?” I asked weekly and turned from his gaze, touching the beautiful coffins softly, as if they were made from glass. Obviously, he had yet to dust since I had last been around.
“That is not what is on your mind, love.” All too quickly, he was behind me, his hand on mine. My heart began to beat rapidly and I began to see red. Tears filled my eyes and I knew I was about to snap.
“Do not.” I spun on my heel to slap him, but he was too quick and took my hand in his, as I knew he would. He brought my hand to his lips and kissed me softly.
“Please.” Adrian whispered, pushing his bands aside to look into my eyes with his own.
“You knew. You knew and you lied to me.” I couldn’t hold back the flowing tears any longer. “You only saved me. Why did you only save me?! How could you do that?” I began to cry, falling again into his embrace.
“I tried. I tried to warn him that day, but he would not listen to me.” He whispered as he held me tightly. “Darling, please believe me.” I looked into his eyes. Was he lying to me as I had suspected a year ago, or was he really telling me the truth all this time. Adrian dried my eyes and face with his sleeves and took a step back, though I could tell he did not want to.
“Our time is up, love.” He opened his mouth to laugh, but I had one more question.
“Wait!” He closed his mouth and looked at me through pained eyes. “Why did you put the drug in my tea, then? Why put me to sleep that day?” My eyes began to water, but I held back. Adrian’s eyes bore into mine with every step he took, coming closer to me until there was no more space between us. Placing his forehead to mine, he looked into my eyes with sorrow.
“I knew you would go back for the party. Your father said not to intervene with him. The possibility of losing you as well was not a risk I was willing to take.” Adrian sighed and went to turn away. I wasn’t sure what came over me in that moment, but nonetheless I grabbed ahold of the front of his robes and crashed my lips onto his. Had that moment lasted for the rest of my life, I would have died happy. I kissed my betrothed until I had to stop for air. Sparks flied in my mind and my entire body went numb in a very good way. It was defiantly a kiss that would take any woman’s breath away had they only witnessed it.
“Now, you may go.” I huffed, wiping away the fresh tears I had only just realized then I was sheading. Adrian cupped my cheeks and planted a soft kiss to my forehead before turning away again to lean on his desk and began to laugh like I had told him the best joke he had ever heard in this world. Turning to open the door for my brother again, I remember thinking that perhaps from that moment on, we could begin to heal again, not just as two separate people, but as one once again. Just my betrothed and I.