"Ciel! Elsbeth! We're back from getting our pretty outfits for the ball!" Lizzy paraded, barging into Ciel's hotel room where he sat with me, busy drinking his tea, and reading the Parisian newspaper which he was quick to mock. 

Once again our little tranquil retreat away had been sullied, and the calm the young noble lad had strived for was now lost, completely out of his reach yet again. 

with a wearied groan Ciel set down his teacup, reflecting his noticeable annoyance in an outward display rather than putting up a guise of patience which he usually did with Lizzy. But, a whole entire trip with her constantly barreling into his hotel room whenever she wanted to seemed to be more then he could take. 

As merry as always Lizzy zipped over towards her betrothed, leaving Sebastian, and Mey-Rin, who had accompanied her, in the doorway, their arms toting around heaps of boxes full of ornate articles of clothing. 

"Ciel, your outfit is positively marvelous! Even though you refused obdurately to wear the color pink like I wanted you to your navy attire is adorable nonetheless! It'll definitely bring out your eye!" The emerald doe-eyed girl squealed, bouncing, and clapping enthusiastically in elation. 

"And, then wait til you see my ensemble! The seamstress did such a phenomenal job adding in all of the jewels, feathers, and vibrant shades of pink that I so desired." Lizzy applauded, blabbering on about her "adorable" dress for what seemed like forever, earning more muffled groans, and huffs of exasperation from Ciel. 

His index finger, and middle finger were planted firmly against his throbbing temples as he tried to keep calm. 

I too, had begun to falter in my stoicism, even gaining up enough intolerance to interrupt the golden haired noble girl. 

"Lizzy, what color is my costume?" I blared out, and luckily, being a touch ditsy, Lizzy wasn't upset, nor even recognized that I had interrupted her. 

"Oh, don't worry, Elsbeth. Its not pink, or white, but its absolutely gorgeous! A perfect enchanting, vivacious dress for a beautiful woman like yourself," She spoke, nullifying my concern as she fixed her cloche which sat a top her sun-kissed curls. "Now, if you'll all excuse me, only seven hours before the long awaited ball, and I have to be perfect!" 

Once the lively storm of giggles, and sing-song flutters had diminished down the hall there was once again a welcoming silence which pleased Ciel down to the very bone. 

He deep down did love Lizzy, I could tell that much, but sometimes she was a bit too much to handle for the frail, simple Guard Dog. 

"Sebastian, be honest. How bad is my outfit for the evening?" Ciel imparted, resuming on with casually sipping on his tea. 

"I toned down Lady Elizabeth's rather imaginative if not a bit too over-elaborate in color, and accessory ideas, my Lord. Do not fret too much." Sebastian pacified. 

"I'll go put your dress in your room, Lady Elsbeth," Mey-Rin chimed in, her arms covered with a pyramid of large boxes which were all tied together in a neat silk bow. "Then I'll come back later to help you put it on, yes I will." 

I stiffened just the tiniest bit, my hand gripping onto the hem of the white table cloth that was laid out over the rounded table where I sat. 

"Wait, you don't have to help me." I griped, causing all eyes to focus on me, my objective words replaying in their minds. 

"Well, 'course I do, Lady Elsbeth. You've turned down all of my offers with helping you dress since I first met you, but this garment in particular certainly requires some assistance." The plum haired maid articulated, clumsily bowing before she fled the room. 

I sighed, slinking back against my seat, my sky pools flashing over at Ciel, the apparent sign of interest cast across his persona. 

"Why are you so hellbent on not receiving any help with dressing yourself?" The Earl solicited, his demanding curiosity winning out over being a proper gentleman. 

I could feel Sebastian's firm crimson gaze bore into my body, making me peer over at him for a split second. 

His softening features indicated that he already knew why I was so adamant in my resolve to not have any aid in that area. 

"Listen, unlike you, who can't even tie your own necktie let alone anything else, I do not require help with the complicated straps, ties, laces, buttons, and layers of the dresses that women wear. I can manage quite fine on my own." I plighted, earning a little snort from Ciel. 

"Very well. Then you can manage putting on a corset all by yourself?" 

"What?" 

It was later in the evening now, and dusk was settling in, the rosy hue of the sunset pouring out across the horizon. 

The ball was in due course, soon to be expected, and I wasn't ready yet. 

I sat in my own hotel room, on the edge of my bed as Mey-Rin stood there, panting, and gasping for breath, a flesh colored corset in her grip. 

Beads of sweat trickled down her flushed, condensation riddled face, and clearly she was worn out from chasing me all around the suite like a cat would a mouse. 

"Lady Elsbeth, what's wrong!? Are you self-conscious about me seeing your body? If so, you shouldn't be! You have a marvelous curvaceous, yet lean figure if I may be so bold as to say. So, surely it can't be that." Mey-Rin complimented, her round specs glinting from the candlelight that flooded throughout the chamber. 

I huffed, securely clutching the lace sleeves of my day dress as if it were a security blanket, and I didn't want to part from it. 

"That's not it..." I murmured out just before an abrupt knock on the a-joining door between Ciel's room, and mine echoed out. 

Mey-Rin rushed to answer it, and she was met with the Earl himself who was dressed to the nine's, all garnished in his chosen costume. 

"Oh, hello master! You look very handsome, yes you do!" The fumbling maid revered, staring down at his attire which consisted of gray's, and dark blues, his face hidden behind a feather decorated mask. 

"Why aren't you ready?" Ciel barked out, paying no attention to the housemaids flattery. "We have to leave soon, and I refuse to have her Majesty think of me as the tardy, belated type." 

I was currently at a loss for words, the sentences I thought up in my head a jumbled up mess, and astonishingly enough, I turned to Sebastian first, who looked at me with tender, understanding eyes. 

"Mey-Rin, would you be so kind as to wait in the hallway for a moment, please?" 

She nodded, doing whatever Sebastian asked of her, and with that off she scuttled into the passageway, shutting the door behind her. 

Ciel continued on with his piqued, displeased manner. His arms folded tightly, the sole of his shoe tapping against the carpeted floor, rhythmically in-sync with his exasperated huffs. 

He looked at me sternly as if he was waiting for some sort of explanation, to which I just decided to give in, and disclose the private personal secret that as of yet only Sebastian knew about. 

"I don't want Mey-Rin, or for that matter, anyone helping me dress because... I have severe burn marks on my back that I'd prefer to keep hidden. I know that Mey-Rin would be kind, and wouldn't say anything if she were to see them, but still I'd like no one to see my horrible marks." I confessed with bated breath, receiving a shred of sympathy from the boy since he too, had things that he'd want to remain hidden as well, so he understood where I was coming from far better than anyone else. 

"Very well, I see your point. So, how about you just let Sebastian assist you?" Ciel asserted, making my eyes widen. 

"What?" 

"I completely understand how you don't want anyone to see your scars, Elsbeth. However, hasn't Sebastian seen them already?" Ciel pursued, his guise a tad bit too mischievous for my liking. 

"So, if he were to help you, you wouldn't be showing them to someone knew. Now, be ready soon." He exhorted before retreating back into his own room, shutting the door behind him a bit loudly, showing that he was still anxious about being late. 

The air in my suite grew stale, collapsing into an uncomfortable silence. 

I stood frozen like a doll, my arms protectively wrapped around my frame. 

The butler before me waited on my first move, lacing off his white gloves, discarding them onto the mattress. 

A knot formed in the back of my throat, and the still atmosphere made me gulp. 

Sebastian had done everything to me, kissed me, made love to me, and marked me as his. He had touched every inch of my body, and that was a sensation that I used to relish, but ever since I was betrayed every time our skin collided in anyway I would tense up. No longer wanting to let my guard down at all, and that's how I felt now. 

Though getting to it I began to unbutton my navy lace dress, thinking only about how Ciel didn't want to be late. 

Slipping the gown off my shoulders, the fabric sunk to the floor, and I stripped down to my white sleeveless, backless chemise, and wore nothing but that except for black stockings that were held up with garters, and a silk bralette that was underneath my slip dress. 

The cool breeze flooded in through the open French doors which led out onto the balcony, biting at my exposed back, and scant attire. 

Sebastian acted as courteous as he could, remaining quiet as he wrapped the corset around my torso, his black hair lightly tickling the nape of my neck before he stood back up straight after fastening it in the front. 

I stood in front of the vanity mirror, noticing as Sebastian's firm gaze traveled down my bare back, his eyes beckoning with longing, and sorrow at my damaged backside. 

Soon, he started to tie the satin fabric up, sucking the air out of my lungs completely. His tightening method making it feel as though my ribcage would combust at any moment into shards of bones inside of me. 

Though his actions remained as genteel, and as gracious as they could while he threaded the strings through. 

With a feeble gasp I felt Sebastian's chilled fingers make contact with some of the red, charred wounds that cascaded down my back, branding me like a permanent tattoo that would never fade. 

Tensing up my breath hitched, but Sebastian didn't notice how restless, and nervous I was, either that, or he didn't care. 

The pads of his spidery long fingers traced gently over each sensitive mark, tantalizingly slow as if he was memorizing each traumatic infliction that was seared across my back. 

"Your skin was always warm.." Sebastian purred out, lowering himself so that his soft lips came in contact with some of my scars, making my eyes widen in horror. 

Scenes from that night so long ago replayed in my mind, and I froze, feeling Sebastian's icy touch continue to dance along my backside, his mouth now brushing up against the nape of my neck just above my collar bone. 

With an affectionate kiss, his cool lips grazed against my heated skin, an obvious smirk etching across his pale features. 

His contract adorned hand trailed down my leg, reaching for the hem of my chemise as he ghosted his fingers up my thigh, his frame caging around me closely as if he desired to soak up all the heat on my body so that he too, could feel the warmth that I had webbed around his cold self, wishing to thaw himself. 

"Sebastian, stop." I snapped out just as his canine like Demon teeth brushed over my shoulder, his hungry animal persona slithering out with each spark of passion that burned inside of him. 

"What? Do you not trust me when I touch you?" He cajoled. 

"Its not distrust..." I shakily spoke, suppressing a moan that wished to escape my mouth as I refused to give in. 

"Its merely fear. Its fear of what lurks behind each touch, each kiss, every move that you initiate. For I can no longer tell what your true intention is for doing these things to me," I said. "In the past I always assumed that your actions meant love, but now I'm not sure." 

My words rang in Sebastian's ears, and he forced back his thriving needs, tying up the last bit of the laces before fetching my dress. The silence returning.