Sooooooooo, this is my first fanfiction for Black Butler. I love the manga so much and the anime is amazing! I especially love Maylene, who I think is an amazing character. She was shown to be a very strong female at first (a sniper!), but is reduced to being a clumsy maid (WHY?) I honestly believe that she is much more powerful than how she is presented, and it's not cool how she seems like an aloof person in the anime. Besides, as a feminist, I hate seeing strong women demoted and presented a helpless and hopelessly in love. So, this fic is dedicated to the kick-ass Maylene and Sebastian, who is just yummy. Soo, enjoy and review! Flames will be ignored and Sebastian will track you down and steal your soul. Enjoy!

"You do not have very much time before he finds you." The man said, looking at the figure leaning against the tree. Night offered protection for the two people as they met, shrouding them in a blanket of darkness and stars.

"And how would he know where I am?" The figure asked, looking up at the man. Her eyes glinted under the moonlight, giving her a supernatural look.

"Apparently, Proditio told him. He was offered more power and decided to take the offer." The man replied as he bowed his head in respect.

"Ah, Proditio. Why am I not surprised? After all, Proditio is Latin for betrayal. He was named correctly, Beelze. Do you not agree?" The figure chuckled as she pushed away from the tree. She reached up and plucked a leaf from the tree. A gentle wind blew, picking up her hair and tossing it in her face.

"Forgive me, Lady Azalea, but I think you are overlooking the seriousness of the situation." Beelze said, his face worried as he watched his mistress play with the leaf. Azalea looked at him before chuckling once again. Her steward worried so easily about things.

"Relax, Beelze. Besides, I'd prefer to think that I am seeing the irony of the situation." She smirked before she pushed her hair away and her face became emotionless.

"Do my uncle and fiance know that I am here?" Azalea asked, her tone serious and cold. The steward shook his head before he cleared his throat and straightened.

"Not as yet. But they do know that you are in England and your uncle has dispatched his messengers. It will not be long before they track you. Once they find you, your uncle will seize you at once and return with you to complete the ritual. If he does, we are all doomed. Kiernan has already begun to prepare for your arrival." Beelze replied, his tone and face grave.

"I know, Beelze. I know what he plans to do. Both him and Kiernan will not be able to escape my wrath when I get to them. I thank you for warning me and I will leave here at once. However, before you return, I have a favor to ask of you." Azalea said, pulling another leaf from the tree.

"Anything, my lady." Beelze replied, bowing before her again.

"I need you to mask my scent and create a trail leading away from here to throw my uncle off. I need as much time as I can possibly get to escape from England." Beelze nodded and bowed once again.

"It will be done, my lady. I will make sure of it." He replied before turning and disappearing, leaving her alone.

She looked down at the leaves in her hand before releasing them and watching as they floated in the air.

"I will get my revenge, uncle. I will." She whispered to the wind before she disappeared into the shadows.

Maylene was not having a good day. No, that was an understatement. Today was even worse than other days. As she scrubbed the shoe polish off of the stair railing, she couldn't help but wish that she did not have to behave as clumsy as she did. Sighing, she pushed the clumsy glasses up onto her head as she assessed the problem at hand. Instead of using the wax for the stairs, she had accidentally mixed up the bottles and used boot polish.

It killed her, a professional sniper and assassin, to behave silly and unprofessional, especially when she was graceful and calculating by nature. To assume the persona of a lovesick, clumsy maid, when she was clearly more than capable of hiding her emotions, made her feel insignificant and like all other females. After all, one of the first steps of becoming an assassin was casting aside all shreds of emotions and empathy.

However, she showed emotions and behaved clumsy to draw attention away from herself in order to protect her young Master, Ciel Phantomhive. And it had all been done at the request of the charming and attractive butler of the Phantomhive manor.

The drop dead gorgeous Sebastian Michaelis, who was usually the cause of Maylene's clumsiness and stupidity.

Just as she thought about him, the dashing butler wandered into the great hall, his scent catching her nose. Maylene looked over and saw his black tailcoat flying as he headed towards her. She quickly turned away and put on her glasses, knowing that he was upset with her.

"Maylene," He began, his tone stern and slightly irritated. She could feel the annoyance radiating from him as he stood behind her. She took a deep breath and turned around, ready to behave like the stupid, clueless maid once again.

"Maybe I should have become an actress instead." She mused to herself as she waited for him to scold her.

"Ye-yes, sir?" She asked, a slight blush rushing up her cheeks. She saw him sigh before he actually looked at her, his face tired and frustrated.

"You used boot polish again instead of wax on the railing again, didn't you?" He asked, obviously tired of having to go through the same things with her everyday. Maylene blushed and lowered her head before nodding. The shame she felt ate at her, just as it did every single day. How she wished she could show him her true self, the woman she actually was and not the one she was forced to pretend to be.

"I see. Did you also break the set of china in the kitchen?" He asked, although he already knew it was her. After all, who else could have done it?

"Ye-yes sir. I was tr-trying to stack the plates in the cupboard, but the stool slipped and I-I had too many plates. I fell and they all broke." She mumbled, still not looking him in the eye. After all, how could she? She was too embarrassed.

"Maylene, how many times have I told you to only handle one plate at a time?" Sebastian asked in an exasperated voice. As he looked at her, he wondered why he even bothered scolding her. She was naturally clumsy. There was no cure to that.

"I'm so-sorry, sir. I'll be sure to handle only one plate next time." Maylene apologized in what had become a daily ritual between them.

"Very well. Master Ciel is expecting guests today. The study needs cleaning. The ornaments in the cabinet are getting quite dusty. See to it that they are cleaned." He said as he turned and began to walk away to see that the other preparations for the guests were in order.

"And be sure not to break anything." He called over his shoulder, causing her to wince. Maylene nodded and waited until he was gone before sighing and hanging her head in defeat and humiliation.

"I'm not clumsy, you know. Don't forget, you made me like this." Maylene whispered as she removed her glasses and resumed cleaning the boot polish from the stair railing. She scrubbed harder and harder, taking out her frustration on the filthy railing.

Maylene loomed over the priceless antiques in the cabinet, carefully dusting each ornament. It was difficult due to the glasses she wore, which greatly limited her sight. However, they were the first thing Ciel had given to her and had sentimental value to her.

Just as she was about to finish without any ornament broken, the door opened and a familiar voice greeted her.

"Maylene, Master Ciel-" was all Sebastian got a chance to say before there was a loud crash and the priceless antique ornaments were reduced to a pile of broken glass.

"Oh, I'm s-so sorry, Sebastian! I should have been more-" Maylene began apologizing ferociously before Sebastian held up a gloved hand, silencing her.

"It's fine. It was my fault for startling you and for forgetting that you cannot complete a single task without making a mess. Master Ciel and company are awaiting his tea and cake in the sitting room. Will you be able to deliver it to them without making another mess while I clean up the mess you've made in here?" Sebastian asked, his voice low and dangerously calm. Maylene felt his words slap her, but nodded nonetheless. She hated when he was as calm as he was now. It always sent shivers down her spine. Sometimes, she wished he would just yell at her and show his disapproval rather than bottle it and be so calm about it.

"Yes, sir." She said before turning and racing out of the room, tripping over her feet as she closed the door behind her.

"What a bumbling idiot." Sebastian mumbled as he began to clean up the broken ornaments. Then again, he really couldn't blame her. He knew that she was enamored with him and had been since she had begun working at the manor.

As soon as he finished, he threw out the broken ornaments before leaving the study and heading towards the sitting room, ready to be the perfect butler.

"There you are. Where is the tea and cake?" An angry voice asked as he opened the door of the sitting room. Sebastian looked ahead and saw the spoiled 12 year old who happened to be his master sitting in the chair, his face angry. Sitting in the chairs around him were two other people, a woman and a man. The man was middle aged with graying hair and a stern face with an expression that was set in stone. The woman was a brunette with a superior smirk on her face and cold, calculating blue eyes. The woman turned towards the man, who also had cold eyes, and raised an eyebrow.

"I told Maylene to deliver it to you. I see she has not reached here as yet. Allow me to get it for you, young master." Sebastian bowed and straightened before turning to open the door. Just as he opened the door, a breathless Maylene stumbled in with the tray with the tea and cake in her hand. Everyone in the room turned to stare at her and she felt her face grow red as she took a cautious step forward and entered the room.

However, she tripped over her feet just as she entered the room, sending the tray with the food flying.

"No!" Maylene yelled, closing her eyes and turning her head away as she waited for the tray to hit the ground and spill everything. However, the crash never came.

Confused, she opened her eyes and saw Sebastian holding the tray with the tea and cake in his hand.

"Really Maylene, you must be more careful." He calmly said as he made his way towards Ciel and his guests. Maylene felt her face grow even more red from embarrassment and looked down to hide her shame. Sebastian and the others paid her no mind as he began to pour tea and distribute it to the man and woman.

"I'm sorry, Master Ciel." She mumbled, too ashamed to look her young master in the face. She raised up and saw the woman give her a disapproving look before she turned away.

"It's fine." She heard Ciel reply. Grateful that he wasn't upset, she turned to leave when his voice stopped her.

"Where is the knife to cut the cake, Sebastian?" He asked, looking at his butler. Maylene stopped as she realized that she still had the knife.

"I have it." She said, turning back around to face Ciel and Sebastian.

"Thank you, Maylene." Sebastian said, extending his hand to take the knife. She pulled it out and headed towards him to give it to him.

Unfortunately, she didn't see the bump in the carpet until it was too late. Before she knew what was happening, she had already tripped over the bump and was getting closer to the ground. As she fell, she somehow lost her grip on the knife and sent it flying in front of her.

She heard a yell and saw swift movement before she hit the ground. As she straightened up, she looked up to see a wide-eyed Ciel looking at an angry Sebastian who was clutching the knife that was aimed at the woman's heart.

"My lady! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to throw it. It was an accident." Maylene apologized as she headed towards the woman, covering her mouth.

"I didn't see the bump until I tripped over it. By then, I was falling and I must have let go of the knife. Master Ciel, I'm so very sorry. Sebastian, I'm so sorry." She was now mumbling such indecipherable words and phrases that even Sebastian wasn't able to decipher what she was saying. However, he held up his hand for her to stop.

Seeing his hand, Maylene stopped talking and looked at the handsome but dangerously angry butler in front of her.

"Maylene, I'm afraid your clumsiness has exceeded its maximum today and has pushed my patience to its maximum as well. Do you realize that today, due to your clumsiness and stupidity, you could have killed the young master's guest?" Sebastian asked, his voice full of composed disappointed and fury. Maylene lowered her head and nodded, hiding the tears in her eyes.

For once, she was grateful for her glasses.

"Go to your room and stay there until your clumsiness has toned down lest you actually kill someone." Sebastian said before turning away, his way of dismissing her. She bowed before turning and leaving the room.

"I'm very sorry about her, my lady. She is very clumsy." Maylene heard Sebastian apologize to the woman.

"I see. Why do you not fire her?" Maylene heard the woman asked before she began to drink her tea. However, she didn't hear the answer.

Maylene turned away, hiding her face and shame, and headed back to her room. Anyone looking at her would have thought that she was crying. However, only she knew why the smirk she had on her face was there.

"I think Maylene has been in her room long enough. Perhaps, you should go fetch her." Ciel said as he looked over at Sebastian. His guests had already left, thanking them for the tea and cake. Sebastian froze before looking over at his young master.

"You were the one who scolded her and embarrassed her." Ciel answered Sebastian's unasked question.

"Of course, young master." Sebastian said before bowing and leaving to fetch Maylene.

"Maylene?" He heard a voice calling as he approached Maylene's room. He stopped to see Finny in front of her door. Hearing him coming, Finny stopped and turned towards the butler.

"She's not answering and I've been calling her for a while now. She looked pretty upset when she went in there." Finny said, looking back towards the door. The boy's concern for the red-haired maid was evident on his face. Sebastian looked to his right and saw Bard hanging around there as well.

"Jus' checking up on her." He mumbled, a cigarette in his mouth.

"It's fine, Finny. The master has summoned her. Go back to your work." Sebastian said, nodding towards the boy. Finny nodded at the butler in response before he turned and left.

"You too, Bard." Sebastian nodded at the cook, dismissing him as well.

"Maylene?" Sebastian asked, turning back and knocking on her door. There was no answer.

"Maylene?" He called again, wondering if she had fallen asleep. She probably had as there was no tumbling or sobbing.

"Maylene?" He asked again before he opened the door slightly. His eyes grew wide as he opened the door fully and looked down at her bed. It was made up, the blankets folded and the sheets perfect. However, from the looks of the bed, it was pretty clear that no one had slept on the bed.

Rather than the perfect bed, it was the uniform and glasses on the bed that caused Sebastian's eye to grow wide. It was Maylene's maid uniform and her glasses. His eyes scanned the bed before stopping on an envelope addressed to Master Ciel.

"Well, where is she?" Ciel asked as Sebastian entered the study. The blue-haired 12 year old glared at his butler, who didn't seem to have the maid in tow.

"It appears, master, that she has left." Sebastian replied after bowing before the child, who was sitting in a large throne-like chair. Ciel sat up in his chair, his eyes widening in shock. He quickly regained control of his emotions and folded his hands in front of him.

"Left? What do you mean she has left?" Ciel asked, looking at Sebastian coldly. Sebastian placed the letter on the desk in front of Ciel. Ciel glanced down at the letter addressed to him before looking at Sebastian.

"Well, don't just stand there. Read it to me." He ordered, standing and heading towards the window. He turned and looked out the window, waiting for Sebastian to begin reading. Sebastian nodded and unfolded the letter, his eyes scanning it before he began to read.

Dear Ciel, before I begin, I'd like to thank you for the experience I've gained while working as your maid. It was a privilege for me to serve you. I do hope you will forgive me for leaving without any notice. I am very sorry for abandoning you, but I can no longer keep up the charade of a clumsy, love-sick maid. Everyday, it becomes harder and harder to subject myself to clumsiness when I know that I am not clumsy. After today's embarrassing display of clumsiness, I think it best for everyone if I leave lest I kill one of your guests and embarrass you further. I do hope you will forgive me and know that I will continue to protect you from a distance, as my loyalty still remains with you. Goodbye, Master Ciel.
-Maylene

Sebastian paused at this and his eyes scanned the rest of the letter.

"Is that it or is there more?" Ciel asked as he turned away from the window and noticed Sebastian's eyes scanning the rest of the paper.

"There is more, young master." Sebastian replied, although he didn't elaborate further.

"Is it addressed to you by any chance?" Ciel asked, raising an eyebrow. Sebastian looked up from the letter and at his master before nodding.

"Very well. You may read it privately." Ciel said before gesturing for him to leave, dismissing him.

"As you wish, my lord." Sebastian bowed before he turned and left the study.

Once he had reached his room, Sebastian sat down on his bed and pulled out the letter from the pocket of his tailcoat.

To Sebastian:

I must say thank you for helping me realize that I do not wish to spend the rest of my life being thought of as an clumsy, love-sick maid. I agree that it was necessary for me to act in that manner so that I may not be suspected and endanger Lord Ciel. However, I feel as if not only has everyone else come to believe the charade to be true, but you also seem to think so as well. Do not forget that you made me into a clumsy maid. However, the time has arrived where I can no longer maintain such an act. It kills me to behave like a fool, especially considering my previous occupation. That is why, after today's embarrassment, I have decided to abandon my role as a silly maid lest I make a mistake and endanger Lord Ciel. I know it was wrong for me to leave as abruptly as I did, but it could not be helped. It is simply not possible for an assassin to pose as a maid. I just ask that no one try to contact me. I assure you that it will be difficult for anyone to find me, even a demon such as yourself. Yes, I know that you are a demon. However, your secret is safe with me. Goodbye, Sebastian.
-Maylene

Sebastian looked down at the letter before he reread it once again. After rereading it for a third time, he folded it before walking towards the fireplace and throwing it in.

So, Maylene knew his secret. He was thinking, trying to figure out how she had learned it. Had he slipped up somewhere?

No, he hadn't. If he had, Bard and Finnian would have known as well. However, it was possible that he had slipped up and Maylene, being as keen as she was at times, had noticed him.

As he considered it, he couldn't help but feel respect towards the girl. Never before had a human paid such close attention to him that he or she had been able to figure out his secret. Yet Maylene had managed to do it.

However, her knowledge of it could prove dangerous for him. Such a slip up should not be allowed out of his sight lest it enter out into the open.

"What do you mean she knows you're a demon?" Ciel asked, his voice full of anger and disbelief. He could hardly believe what his butler had told him. Maylene, his clumsy maid, had discovered Sebastian's secret?

"It is true, young master. I do not know how, but she has managed to discover my secret and now she is no longer in our sight." Sebastian said, watching as Ciel's face changed into one of coldness and control.

"I see. And you have found no trace of her?" Ciel asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No sir. Her scent has completely disappeared." Sebastian replied, looking at his master, who nodded.

"I see. Very well. As of now, there is nothing that can be done. I know that Maylene will not betray our secret, but one cannot be sure." Ciel said, watching as Sebastian nodded.

"Just keep your eyes open for her." Ciel said before dismissing Sebastian.

"This is your last assignment to prove your loyalty." The voice echoed in Maylene's head as she crouched down below the window in the old tower.

Her target would emerge through the doors of the antique store in 3 minutes. Stationed behind her was a burly man with a gun, who was also there to make sure that she carried out the mission and didn't get 'cold' fingers at the last moment. Should she fail to kill the target, he would kill the target. And her as well. If he failed as well, there were about 5 other men stationed around him, ready to pull the trigger. Not to mention the other three waiting just outside the room should she fail. Neither her nor the target would be getting out of this alive.

Maylene herself had no clue as to who her target was, but she could tell he was someone of great importance if there were so many people stationed around to kill him. He was obviously wanted dead.

All she knew of her target was that he was a male and he would emerge from the store in the next three minutes. The moment he emerged, which was at 12:00, she would fire and kill her target. The striking of the clock would mask the shot and would give her enough time to escape.

She looked over at the clock. It was already 11:59. She had one minute left.

"Good luck, babe." The man behind her smirked, his yellow teeth making her stomach turn. Maylene glared at him with stony eyes before returning her attention to the door her target would emerge from. She raised the sniper rifle and put her finger on the trigger, ready to fire at directly 12:00.

"These damn things annoy me. You amateurs." She scoffed, pulling off the scope and throwing it towards the man.

She looked up at the clock as it struck 12:00. Just as the first stroke sounded, the door of the store opened. As her finger got ready to pull the trigger, a small gasp escaped her mouth as she saw her target and she felt herself freeze.

"Ciel?" She whispered, unable to believe it. In the line of fire was her previous master. Right beside him was the dashing butler of the Phantomhive manor.

"Don't think. Just shoot. You have 7 more chimes." The man behind her said. As Maylene looked down at the figure, her finger trembled on the trigger and she found that she was unable to pull it.

She couldn't kill him. Although she was an assassin, a part of her cared for the child and her heart ached when she thought of all the pain and horror he had endured in his life so far.

"Damn it." She heard the man growl after the 5th chime had sounded. She only had two more chimes left.

However, she released her hold on the trigger and lowered her rifle on the last chime.

"I can't kill him." She said, shaking her head.

"We should have known you would still be loyal." The man growled behind her. Suddenly, she was pushed out of the way and the man was aiming for Ciel's head. Without thinking, she pounced, interrupting the course of the bullet. No one would kill Ciel while she was around.

Ciel gasped as a bullet whizzed past him, barely missing his cheek.

Instantly, Sebastian turned in the direction the bullet came from and his eyes grew wide. He saw red hair fly and instantly recognized Maylene.

"Maylene?" He asked, his eyes wide at the sight of the maid.

"What? Where?" Ciel asked, looking at Sebastian, who gestured towards the old tower. Ciel's eyes grew wide as he saw Maylene, his maid who had abandoned him 3 weeks ago.

"Well, go and get her! Now!" Ciel yelled at his butler, who bowed and nodded.

Without wasting another second, Sebastian took off in the direction of the old tower where the ex-maid was.

Maylene let out a yell as the man flung her into the wall. The commotion caused the other three men stationed outside to rush into the room, in time to see Maylene knock the man with the yellow teeth unconscious.

"You little-" One of the men yelled, rushing towards her with raised fists. Maylene dodged at the last moment before dropping and delivering a kick to his shin. She raised her hand and delivered a punch to his face, knocking him out.

The other one yelled and charged at her, an angry look on his face. Maylene caught his punch and twisted his hand, causing him to yell out in pain.

"Aw, what's the matter? A little maid like me is too much for you?" She couldn't help taunting as she pulled him up and chuckled in his ear. She released him and smirked before kicking him in the stomach. However, she didn't see the last guy until he tackled her and pinned her to the floor.

She let out a yell before raising her foot and kicking him. He flew off her but was on his feet in a moment. She let out another yell as he grabbed her and threw her into a wall. Just as he charged towards her again, she kicked him and sent him flying into the window. Just as he struggled to stand up again, she raised her feet and delivered another kick, sending him out the window.

"Nooooo!" The man's yell echoed as he fell through the window before the cold concrete silenced him.

Sebastian heard a yell and looked towards the tower in time to see a man fall from the window. Standing at the window looking down at the man was Maylene, her expression cold and nonchalant. She looked up and her eyes caught his for a moment before a look of surprise filled them.

Without delay, she turned away and rushed towards the door to escape, not wanting to confront the suave butler.

As she rushed down the stairs and out of the tower, she saw Sebastian a few feet away, struggling to get through the throng that had gathered around the man's body. Maylene discreetly merged in with the crowd, putting some distance between herself and Sebastian. However, her eyes grew wide as she saw one of the men who was supposed to watch her appear in front of her. Gasping, she turned in the other direction only to see Sebastian walking towards her.

"Oh no." She groaned to herself, unsure which way to go. She was caught between a rock and a hard place. Suddenly, she saw the man pull out a handgun that had been concealed in his coat.

"Everyone, run!" She yelled just as he raised the gun and fired. She ducked just as the bullet whizzed past her and into the dissolving crowd as people began to run and scream.

"Assassins." She grumbled as she threw herself against the wall behind her and pulled out two handguns. Quickly, she stuffed two magazines into each before launching herself back into the crowd.

Sebastian watched as Maylene disappeared in the panicking crowd before reappearing with two handguns, her eyes ruthless and dangerous. He realized that this was the other Maylene, the one he had hired, and couldn't help but smile and watch in anticipation as she sprung into action. A smirk on his face, he watched as the man with the gun fell dead, blood gushing from the wound in his head.

"Damn it!" He heard her yell as more bullets began to fly towards her. He turned and noticed others were emerging from the crowd and shooting at her. With expert skills, she managed to maneuver through all the bullets while shooting out bullets of her own.

Suddenly, Ciel was beside him, breathless.

"Why are you standing here? Go help her and then bring her back!" Ciel hissed at Sebastian, who nodded before turning towards Maylene.

However, she was already heading down the street, her pursuers hot on her trail.

"This is not a good day!" Maylene huffed as she shot at the men following close behind her.

"Not a good day at all." She growled as one of her guns ran out of bullets. Still running, she dropped the empty magazine and inserted another, shooting another round of bullets at her pursuers.

However, she felt like shooting herself when she saw a familiar figure running behind her pursuers, quickly picking up speed.

And it was none other than Sebastian Michaelis, her favorite butler. What a horrible day!

Soooooooooooooo, reviews! I made her kickass because I think they tend to downplay her a lot and present her as stupid when she clearly is not! Sorry, I'm a feminist. If there's anything that's not right, feel free to point it out. Anyway, review and I'll have the newest chappie up asap!
-DramaQueen95