THE DUSTY PATH

I didn't have any memories when I woke on a dusty path. There was only one clue to my past, a strange, faded circle imprinted on her hand.

I ventured out into the world, into the little town. Human food, which I could smell from a hut in the distance, didn't appeal to me despite my hunger. No one was in the town, except a tall man wearing black and a young boy dressed in blue.

The man noticed me before I approached him. He said something to the boy, and started to speak. "Helina Archuleta, why are you here?"

I gazed into the man's eyes. They were a dull shade of red, and reminded me of something. He had an aura of power, a sense of danger around him. "I'm not sure why I'm here, Sebastian Michaelis." The name fell off my tongue naturally.

Sebastian wasn't surprised that I knew his name. "Young Master, shall I dispose of her?"

The boy considered this. "No, Sebastian. Leave her be. The business of the Queen comes first."

Sebastian obliged and turned away, not sparing another glance at me.

"Wait!" I called. "Take me with you, please. You know something about me, don't you?"

Sebastian stopped. "Helina, you have left your master. I, unlike you, am going to enjoy a nice dinner, so please leave now."

The "Young Master" seemed to smile. "Sebastian, who is this… woman?"

Sebastian was reluctant to answer. "Just an astray demon."

"And if we allowed her to follow us on our journey, that would be quite inconvenient?"

The tall man bristled in annoyance. "Young Master, this situation is unlike the one with… Pluto. She would not just be of inconvenience, as you would be taking in another demon."

The boy smiled. "I wouldn't be the one taking her in, it would be you."

Sebastian glared at me coldly. "Very well, Young Master. Come, Helina."

I followed them deeper into this unknown town. Too intimidated by Sebastian to talk, I looked at the boy during the trek. There was something about him that appealed to me, something that made my hunger stronger.

Sebastian made a disgusted noise. "You really don't have any pride as a demon."

I instantly shifted my gaze to my black boots. They had high heels and long laces. Somehow, they were tied perfectly symmetrical, and polished like a mirror. I was wearing a Victorian style dress that was all black and sheer black tights. I had only one white glove on my left hand, and the right one was exposed, showing the strange circle.

After a couple minutes of uneasy silence, we arrived at a dark building with a sign stating "Undertaker".

I followed Sebastian and his master into the building. A high pitched laugh echoed through the walls.

A coffin creaked open. "Welcome, Earl. Is today finally the day you will get into your own… special casket?"

The boy sighed. "Undertaker, you know why we're here."

The Undertaker laughed again. "I see you have brought a new friend here. Let her bestow the finest laughs upon me!"

Sebastian smirked. Nervously, I glanced at the Undertaker. Somehow, I knew he was a Death Reaper. "Okay… so what do I do?"

The Undertaker's loud cackle echoed in the room again. I looked around, bewildered. "Did I do something wrong?"

Gasping for air, the Undertaker spoke. "No, no. It's just… you're hilarious!"

Sebastian's master had a strange expression, as if he was experiencing déjà vu. "Undertaker, you've had your laugh. Now tell us about the missing marchioness, Lady Isabelle."

"She is not here. However, two of my recent "customers" were her close friends."

"How were they killed?" the earl demanded.

"Earl, they weren't killed…" the Undertaker said, gesturing to two caskets. He opened them, showing two young women dressed in silk evening gowns with delicate lace and ribbon trims.

They looked strangely familiar, just as Sebastian did. A chill went down my spine. Sebastian turned to look at me. "They weren't killed… Helina took their souls."