24Rendition
Blaire was stood shifting from one foot to the other, frantically glancing around her. She had to lean against a tree as she saw black dots after she had run away from him.
She had run as fast as her aching legs could carry her – speeding up every time she heard him call out her name in frustration. He was human now. They were on an even playing field – and that knowledge pushed her to keep going until she physically couldn't take another step. Her lungs strained to intake enough air, a painful stitch had formed in her side and her feet would surely be covered in blisters when she took her lent boots off.
She had run through the bustling streets, never daring to peek over her shoulder and ignoring the alarmed looks sent her way, until she eventually found herself in a park of some kind - the people she saw were now few and far between. Through her frantic wheezing, she allowed an enormous grin to creep across her face.
"I did it…ha-!" She said, before allowing herself a chuckle as she imagined how frustrated Sebastian must have felt. "I actually outran him! Take that you cunt!" She fist bumped the air.
Pushing herself off of the tree, she began to slowly spin, taking in her surroundings and trying to ignore how her knees twitched, threatening to buckle underneath her. Her eyebrows furrowed as she took in the grassy landscape around her and the singular concrete path which led onto a familiar street in the distance. She hadn't paid much attention to where she was going in her haste. "Hold on… this is…" She stopped when as she turned, she saw a shadowy figure stood in the distance.
They were stood all the way at the other end of the path, frantically glancing around. Though she couldn't make out any discernible feature of the figures face, a very sinking feeling made itself apparent in the pit of her stomach. Had he managed to keep up?
…He might be human but he's still male. And he's taller than me…and he doesn't have a fucking limp. Ugh give me a break!
She gritted her teeth when the figure, who had been staring in her direction, suddenly began to sprint closer. She had to bite back a screech, before staggering back and turning to run again. This time she did find it harder to keep up the pace, though adrenaline kept her going as she ran across the grass and further into the park.
However. when she heard him call her name again, she cursed aloud and decided to try a different approach.
Eyeing up the tree she had come to a still beside, she shrugged and began to climb.
By the time she had made it a good distance up and seated herself on one of its sturdy branches, Sebastian was stood at the bottom glowering up at her. Despite herself, she pointed and laughed at the state he was in.
The centre of his nose was an alarming shade of purple and quite swollen. Dried blood drew down to his lips and a sheen of sweat had broken out across his forehead as he stood breathing heavily. It was strangely satisfying, watching him struggle.
"You doing alright there?" She asked dryly.
"Come down here." He struggled to speak between his panting.
She only raised her eyebrow. "What for? And what will you do if I don't?"
His jaw tightened and he brought up a handkerchief to blot at his forehead. However, he remained silent, seeming to ponder that very question. "How did you even get up there…" He muttered, looking moderately puzzled.
Blaire frowned, realising her mistake as he began eyeing up the very tree which she was now trapped in. Licking her lips, she found herself suddenly needing to try and distract him. "Why did you run after me and not Ciel?"
"You are more useful. You have knowledge about this time period which Ciel cannot boast." He placed his now-bare hand on the rough bark, brow furrowing as if struggling to recall how to climb.
"But you're Ciel's butler! It's your job to look after him."
"Now that I am human – our contract is meaningless. I no longer need to serve the little imp." He paused, making eye contact with her. "It must be something to do with you… You must be part of the reason I was brought to this world." And with that, he hoisted himself up the trunk, making his way further up towards the branch which Blaire was perched upon.
"Shit…" She whispered, leaning over and grabbing another branch above her head and giving a hard tug, testing to see if it could take her weight. Satisfied, she stood, still keeping hold of the branch and resumed climbing.
"Look, Sebastian, I'm sorry I headbutted you! Whatever it is you're planning on doing, just stop and think about this!"
There was no response, and looking down, she shrieked upon finding him already not far behind her.
I thought he was human! What the hell!
However, as she looked over her shoulder, her foot slipped and she cursed aloud. She fell onto the grass with a grunt – the wind being knocked right out of her. Seconds later and he was standing over her, looking down at her with an unreadable expression on his face. He crouched down so that his face was right over her own, a satisfied smirk appearing on his lips.
She lay there gasping, her limbs quivering as her energy had seemingly been completely depleted. Her empty stomach was now beyond hunger and she felt quite ill. The two restless hours of sleep she'd had also appeared to be catching up on her.
"Now you will answer me this, and you will do so honestly. What else do you know about the future of Ciel and I thanks to your little books?"
"N-nothing." She stuttered, clenching her eyes shut and bringing her hands to rest over her stomach, as if willing it to feel better. She gasped when she felt a rough hand grasp her face, turning it up to stare at the former demon. His smirk had been replaced with a scowl and when he spoke next, she could almost imagine the ghastly crimson glow of his eyes.
"It's bad enough that I am now mortal." He sneered the word, just barely suppressing a grimace as if it caused him great pain to say aloud. "So, I would appreciate." He gripped her face tighter, leaning even closer. "If you wouldn't be so difficult. I know you have the information I need."
As she lay there, Blaire hoped to God that someone would happen to pass by and see him knelt over her clearly distressed figure. "What's wrong with being mortal?" She challenged.
"What's right with it?" He returned. "Your fragile little bodies pop like balloons. And your lifespans…" His eyes widened. "You all wither and die so quickly. Can't you feel it? The aggregate lost seconds of human life piling up like a bounty for a delighted reaper?"
She stared at him, her jaw slack. Slowly, she began to sit up, prying his clammy hand from her face watching him carefully. "You've lost it mate." She muttered under her breath.
I never thought I'd see the usually stoic Sebastian having an existential crisis… She chuckled internally. Being human was killing him, she could tell.
For once, Sebastian didn't seem to hear her remark. "Enough stalling. What do you know? Tell me now. Time is of the essence." He seemed almost desperate.
Blaire sighed. "I can show you. On one condition."
"Which is?"
"We go back and find Ciel."
The former demon scoffed. "He could be anywhere by now. It's not as if I can sense him anymore."
She ignored him. "And we need to get something to eat too. And also, no more dragging me down into darkened alleys." She eyed him, the fear that inspired her to run from him still burning fierce within her. However, she was simply unable to run or fight him off anymore. To her utter contempt, she had little choice but to give in to his wishes.
"You said one condition."
"I meant three."
He sighed, standing up and offering his hand.
She quirked an eyebrow, accepting his help. "Still acting like a gentleman, I see." They began to walk slowly. Apparently, Blaire wasn't the only one who was exhausted.
She began to lead the way out onto the street.
Sebastian glanced at her. "A habit. One which seems difficult to break now that-"
"You're a pathetic little mortal. Yes, I know." She sighed again, already exasperated.
"Where precisely are we going?" He asked.
"My house."
"We're nearby then?"
"Uh yeah. Took me awhile to realise where we were."
He brought up a hand to his chin in thought. "And you don't think it's a coincidence that we have been transported over to this world – and out of everywhere we happen to appear near your home?"
"…when you put it like that…"
Sebastian narrowed his (now) brown eyes at her, pledging to himself that he would not allow her out of his sight. She was the missing link that could get him back home – and more importantly, return him to being a demon again.
Entering her flat with the fictional character behind her was quite surreal.
She was unsure why she was surprised to find that everything was exactly as she left it – even though she estimated that she had only been gone for around three days.
Feels like it's been years…
She was grateful for the spare key hidden outside, keeping it pressed against her palm. Closing the door behind them both, she made her way past the stairs and into the kitchen. She rolled her eyes as she saw Sebastian's critical stare make its way around the hallway, from the plain white walls, the grey carpet – to the door mat with the bold-as-brass hemp leaf on it.
"We should get some ice on your nose, I guess." She hadn't noticed before, though his face had been taught in discomfort since he had sustained his injury. She gestured for him to take a seat at the breakfast bar, opening up the freezer and grabbing the first thing she could find. To her amusement, this happened to be a bag of frozen peas.
Seeing Sebastian Michaelis' dark and gloomy figure seated on a stool in her kitchen, no doubt silently judging her choice of décor, brought a chuckle to arise from within her. This only grew worse when he accepted the bag of peas and pressed them to his nose with a sigh.
"Does something amuse you?"
This only made it worse, as she was soon stood doubled over with projectile tears of laughter streaming down her face. When she looked up to see him glaring at her over the unassuming vegetables, she threw her head back – her laughing quickly descending into manic cackling. She couldn't help it.
For all that he had done to her – the big bad demon was now sat in her kitchen with a bag of peas pressed against his swollen nose.
He rolled his eyes, finding his patience wearing thin. "Yes and I hope you will reconsider next time you decide to headbutt me." He said pointedly. Internally, he was awaiting the day where he would be returned to his former glory. She would regret humiliating him in such a way.
Calming down a little, she shot back. "You deserved it."
He looked like he was about to retort when she added: "just don't drag me down any darkened alleyways again and we'll be fine, deal?"
The two stared at each other, before she finally wiped her face dry, a miniature smile still upon her face. "I'm going to get changed. Can I trust you not to wander off?"
"In case you fail to remember, I have been promised information. As such, it is you who shall not be wandering from me."
She grimaced, before nodding, content that he wouldn't try anything. At least, not before she gave up the information which was keeping the beast at bay. As she ascended the stairs, she wondered what he would do after she told him…
Would he kill her? Or would she be stuck with him living with her? Even though he was human, he was still undoubtedly stronger than her. She doubted that she could overpower him if he was dead set on murdering her.
Pushing open her room door, she scoffed. Yeah, I couldn't even outrun him.
Still, he wasn't a demon. That made him much more manageable. Perhaps, he would be less likely to commit murder as a human?
…on second thought, not likely.
Sighing, she was grateful to be able to sit on her bed for the first time in days. Though she had only been in the world of Black Butler for little more than twenty-four hours, she had been in Barcelona when she had suddenly disappeared…
With a sudden realisation dawning on her, she jolted off of her bed, her eyes wide. Hurrying over to her wardrobe, she pulled out the first outfit she laid hands on – a beige spaghetti strap tank, black skinny jeans and trainers. After applying some cosmetics, - to her own relief - she rushed back downstairs.
True to his word, Sebastian hadn't moved from the stool. He raised an eyebrow at her choice in outfit, then frowned as she headed straight to the laptop sitting on the counter and logged onto Facebook.
To her panic, she had several frantic messages – and about ten different people had posted to her page. Not that she would expect anything less after suddenly disappearing on a beach in a foreign country.
With trembling hands, she opened the first message. It was from Katie.
Hey, where did u go lol
Blaire?
Are u at the hotel
Blaire!
When she read the next message, her heart sank.
we've contacted the police both here and back home. if u happen to somehow see this get back to me and let me know ur ok
A lump had formed in her throat. "Shit…"
The next one was from her mum – the more recent messages becoming more and more frantic.
Sighing, she supposed she should start to message everyone back and tell them she was fine.
However, she didn't even know where to start. There were messages from several different people – all of them worried friends or family members demanding she get in touch. What the hell could she even say?
Hearing Sebastian pointedly clear his throat from behind her, she turned with a start. For a second she had forgotten that he was there.
"Is something the matter?" He quirked an eyebrow at the distress on her face. "I was under the impression that you wished to go and look for your dearest Ciel. Let us go." He said impatiently.
"I…" She sighed. There was now so much that she had to attend to – the knowledge that the police were now looking for her made a feeling of intense dread settle itself in her stomach. She slammed the lid of the laptop over and made to grab her bag and jacket. "I'm now considered a missing person and I have, frankly, not a fucking clue what I'm supposed to tell everyone. Not to mention, I don't know where to even begin looking for the moody little brat."
Having set the bag of peas aside and wiped the blood from his nose, Sebastian rose to his feet and put his jacket back on, an unconcerned expression on his face as they made their way towards the front door. "Didn't you want to eat? You've done scarce all but complain about your empty stomach."
"You know what? All of a sudden, I'm not very hungry."
This chapter was inspired by a wonderful guest reviewer by the name "Blaire's Lawyer" - thank you! :)