Cinderella (Sebastian Michaelis x Reader)

Cinderella
(Sebastian x Reader)

            ‘~Don’t wanna depend on no one else…I’d rather rescue myself~’
       
        You hugged your knees to your chest.  Your hands gripped the tattered rags that were once an exquisite dress of the finest silk imported from China.  You were shivering uncontrollably.  Your teeth chattered and your knees bashed together.  No matter how tightly you held yourself, you couldn’t stop your body’s trembling.  Everything was white save the sky.  It was an ominous gray.  Clouds loomed over the horizon, telling of the horrible winter to come.  ‘I’m going to freeze to death…’ You thought.  ‘I’ll just…go to sleep.’
      Your vision became blurry.  You blinked a few times.  A dark figure was growing closer and closer.  You wanted to run away, but you didn’t have the strength.  You simply watched with dark, lifeless eyes.  You didn’t look up.  You saw black shoes caked in snow.  Then the person knelt in front of you and tilted your head so that you were looking at him.
“I guess it’s a good thing I found you,” he said with a slight smile.
       The man had a handsome face.  His hair put the obsidian shine of raven’s feathers to shame and his eyes were the deepest shade of ruby red that you had ever seen.  You didn’t speak.  You didn’t move.  Even as he picked you up and started carrying you towards town, you remained motionless.  Your bones rattled with every step.  You welcomed the heat radiating off of his chest, however.  You laid your head against his shoulder.  He had a sharp, clean scent.  It soothed your aching throat as you inhaled through your mouth.
         “Where are we going?”  You asked in a hoarse whisper.  The man glanced down at you.  He flashed you a dazzling smile.
“Phantomhive Manor, My Lady.”

                                                                          (ONE YEAR LATER)
“Move that table to over there…make sure the silverware is spotless…oh, and don’t burn the roast beef this time, Baldroy!”  You commanded sternly.  Finny and Baldroy nodded as they scrambled to put the table in place. You sighed and glanced at the clock.
“Almost time for the guests to arrive,” said a voice from behind.  You didn’t have to look to see who it was.  Thick with a British accent and velvety smooth to the ears, it obviously belonged to the handsome Phantomhive butler, Sebastian.  “I see you have everything well under control here.”
“Yes,” you nodded seriously.  Sebastian chuckled.
“I was wondering, do you have an escort to the ball this evening?”
You cleared your throat and straightened your gloves.   “No.  I’m not really planning on attending.”
“Oh?”  He seemed slightly disappointed.  “What a pity.  I’ll save a dance for you, though…just in case.”
You blushed slightly and turned on your heel.  Sebastian watched as you made your way up the staircase quickly.  He tilted his head to the side slightly and grinned.

       It wasn’t that you didn’t like Sebastian.  On the contrary.  You actually liked him a lot.  But something inside of you wouldn’t let you admit it to yourself.  “He’ll leave me,” you said.  “He’ll let me down.”  You glanced at yourself in the mirror and sighed slightly.  You remembered the day you met Sebastian.  You had been so weak.  Now, though, you were strong.  You’d never depend on anyone ever again.  You tilted your head up proudly but inside you felt your heart sink like a stone in water.
           
             ‘~I lie in bed and think about the person that I want to be~  Then one day I realized the fairytale life isn’t for me~’

        The music played loudly downstairs.  You could hear it, though muffled, through the floorboards of your bedroom.  You tried your best to block it out.  You sat on your bed with a good book in hand, leafing through the pages slowly.  Your eyes scanned each sentence carefully.  After a moment, you sighed and placed it on the nightstand.  It was no use.  You didn’t have a clue what you had just read.  All you could think about was the ball.  You ran your fingers through your hair and huffed loudly.
                                                                           
                                                                             Tap, tap, tap!

       You glanced at the glass doors leading out onto your balcony with a curious expression.  No one was there.  You stood, wrapped your blazer across your shoulders, and opened the latch.  As you opened the doors, the humid evening air touched your skin, causing goose-bumps to appear on your forearms.  You were about to take another step, when a gloved hand pressed itself firmly against your mouth and a cold, sharp object touched your throat.
“You’re coming with me, Missy!”  A throaty voice chuckled.

        When the blindfold was finally torn from your eyes, you were shocked at what you saw.  There was a whole gang of shady looking men standing over you with guns in their hands.  They chuckled.
“Did you leave the note?”  One of them asked.
“No,” the man who had kidnapped you said flatly.   “Of course I left it, you idiot!”
You struggled to free your wrists from the ropes that bound them, but it was useless.  You glared at the men fiercely.
“I demand that you release me!”  You spat, your tone venomous.
“Or else what?”  The man with the throaty voice asked.  He yanked on your hair hard, causing you to yelp.  “We’re going to get a nice hefty sum for you from that Phantomhive brat!”
You laughed loudly and grinned.  “You really think he’ll pay anything for the return of his maid?”
“We’ve heard you’re special.  Heard he picked you up off of the streets.”
You rolled your eyes.  “Don’t count on it.”
The man opened his mouth to speak when suddenly there was a loud scream.  Everyone turned and as they did, knives and forks went plummeting into their foreheads and necks.  You blinked a few times and your eyes widened.  “S…Sebastian?”
            “Wh-what the heck are you?!”  The man who had kidnapped you yelled.  His voice was raised an octave.  Sebastian gave him a devilish smile, his eyes glowing.
“I’m simply…a butler.”
The man didn’t even get to scream.  Sebastian jabbed a large kitchen knife into his stomach and twisted it.  He fell to the ground silently.
              “Are you hurt, My Lady?”  Sebastian asked.  His white gloves were stained red with blood.  He approached you slowly.
“I…you didn’t…” You frowned slightly.  “I didn’t need you to save me…”
Sebastian grinned softly.  He tipped your chin with his index finger so that you were looking at him.
“You’re strong.  There’s no doubting that,” he whispered.  His cool breath fanned your lips.  “But it’s okay to lean on someone…every once in a while.”
You blushed furiously.  Sebastian removed his gloves and his blood-stained blazer.  He took your hand in his.
“If we hurry, we can make it to the ball still.”
“I’m hardly dressed-”
“Just one dance,” Sebastian interrupted.  He eyed you hopefully.
You sighed.  “Just…one.”

           ‘~I can slay my own dragons~  I can dream my own dreams~ My knight in shining armor is me~’

              As you entered the room, you felt very awkward.  You were the only girl there who wasn’t wearing a fancy dress.  Your face wasn’t painted with makeup and your body wasn’t adorned in sparkling jewels.  A slow song started to play.  It was mostly violin.  Sebastian placed one hand on your hip and the other was still intertwined with yours.  You lighted your free hand on his shoulder and began taking steps forward and back.
“I look awful,” you whispered.
Sebastian pulled you closer.  “You look beautiful.”
You stopped moving.  You just stood there.  You could feel your heart drumming in your chest.  You craned your neck so that you were looking Sebastian directly in the face.  He smiled gently and leaned forwards until your lips touched.
       It was as if all the tension in your heart, all the weight you had carried, was suddenly gone.  Sebastian rested one hand on your face and the other combed through your hair.  After a moment he backed away and bowed slightly.
“It seems our dance is over, My Lady,” he said formally.  He took your hand in his and kissed it gently.  “Might I escort you to your room?”
You smiled and bobbed a short curtsey.  “I’ll be fine.  Thank you, though.”
Sebastian smiled.  “If you’re sure.”

                  You lie in your bed, thinking.  You couldn’t stop smiling.  You could still feel his kiss on your lips.  “Maybe…it’s okay…to depend on someone,” you whispered.  “Maybe the fairytale life is for me…”

      ‘~Someday I’m gonna find someone who wants me for my heart, soul and mind~  Who’s not afraid to show that he loves me~  Somebody who will understand~  I’m happy just the way I am~  Don’t need nobody taking care of me~’

THE END~