White and black feathers still drifted through the air. They were carried by the strong winds billowing off the Thames and pouring in through the shattered windows around the chapel. Broken glass and splinters of wood were strewn over the floor, and a demon clad in black stands at the center of the room. The battle was over, but it didn't feel that way. It was only a matter of time before his master summoned him again, but there were more pressing issues than the needs of a thirteen year old boy.

Smoke billowed around the cities from the fires that had blazes hours before. It was no small effort of the townsfolk to get the raging inferno under control. And it take thrice that to repair all the damage that had done. The scent of burnt wood and death mingles with the salty breeze carrying into the church.

Silence permeates the space. The demon continues to stand over the fallen angel. It wasn't like this was the first time he had come across one of their kind, but he hadn't gone toe to toe with one before. He couldn't remember the last time he had needed to go all out, but even then it didn't last long. A shard of glass shatters under his foot as he moves to the alter, effortlessly gliding over the debris littered ground. This was meant to be the end, but it hadn't felt that way. This was only the beginning, but of what, he didn't know. He remembered that night. The child whose blood had been spilled in his name, and pulled him forth from the darkness, and the one he was now stuck with. The moment passed as soon as it had happened, and the demon shakes his head. Such sentiments were better left for the humans. The answers were going to come to him eventually, they always did. Dwelling on the past would do nothing. For now he turned, casting one backwards glance at the crumpled body of the angel on the floor. He balance on the windowsill, freeing a few shards of glass from the decimated frame. Whatever it was, he'd deal with it as it came. He'd just have to be patient. For now he needed to return. Preparations to repair the mansion needed to be made and he was sure the rest of the servants needed some sort of guidance. When it came to day to day tasks those three didn't have a brain between them.

All the lights were off in what remained of the mansion, although Sebastian could see Mey-Rin lounging against one of the crumbling walls with a sniper rifle resting at her side. He was already at the edge of the clearing when she finally caught on to him being there. The night's battle had taken it's toll on her as well, but she had refused Bard's offer to take the first watch. He was a lost worse for wear than she was.

Sebastian waited until Mey-Rin had straightened and pulled a pistol from within the holster strapped to her thigh to announce himself. It's only me, put that gun away. Mey-Rin breaths a sigh of relief, slipping her cracked glasses on again with a weak smile. Mr. Sebastian, we was wonderin' when you was going to come back, yes we was. I said I wouldn't be long. Is the Young Master still in bed? Yes, sir. Hasn't made a peep. Poor thing must've been all tuckered out. It's been a long day after all. Sebastian pulls his pocket watch out to check the time. It was almost one. I can take things from here, go get some rest. If you say so, Mr. Sebastian. Mey-Rin turns, and slings the rifle over her shoulder, but hesitate before going in the house. She glances over her shoulder and hesitantly begins. About Pluto... There was nothing more you could have done. That beast would have destroyed even more of the city if you hadn't put it down. No sir, that's not what I meant you see...Finny's still really upset about it, so we was thinking, me and Bard I mean, that we could find a new pet for him. Sebastian frowns, snapping the pocket watch shut with certainty. He did not want another dog. Or anything else for that matter. Especially when it meant he was going to be the one responsible for any damage it did. This was assuming he could find another worldly creature that Finny wouldn't manage to kill. Unless the Prince was going to offer up one of his elephants Sebastian didn't have any ideas. I shall consider it,however the final decision is not mine to make. You'll have to bring it up with the Young Master. This is his home after all and he was the one who decided to keep...Pluto in the first place. h Mey-Rin reluctantly nods then adds, Well, then, Mr. Sebastian, I know it's a lot to ask but, do you think that maybe you could do it on our behalf? Sebastian sighs, crossing the rest of the yard to head into the house from one of the holes in the wall. gI will consider it, now get to bed. It's late and I expect everyone to be up at normal time. There is much work to still be done. Yes, sir! Mey-Rin turns, stumbles over a piece of rubble and lands face first on the dirt. She quickly scrambles to her feet, and laughs nervously. I'm fine! Don't worry, Good night Mr. Sebastian. Goodnight. Sebastian sighs, as Mey-Rin disappears into the darkness, and pauses, staring into the forest for a long while. There was nothing out there that should have been. Birds, deer, squirrels, things of that nature, but he couldn't shake the uncanny feeling that there was something he was missing. He decided it couldn't have been that important if he couldn't remember it. Ciel was bound to remind him is it was really so.

He circled around the house once. The few lights that had been on were turned out after a short exchange between Mey-Rin and Bard. He thought she was coming to switch with him, but he was more than a little relieved to hear that Sebastian had came back. When Sebastian finally went inside to make his rounds and assess the damage, he crept into Ciel's room to find the boy fast asleep. To think, it had taken him almost drowning to get him to finally sleep through the night. Of course, if Ciel wasn't being spiteful Sebastian wouldn't have even had to jump into the river to save him in the first place. Ciel was the one who had lost the bet. It wasn't Sebastian's fault that he had ill timing to do so. Sebastian pulls the curtains shut, and leaves the room as quietly as he had entered. For now everything was where it should have been. He could send the others into town tomorrow and finish the cleaning himself before they could return. Even by his standards it might have been a bit of a stretch to get everything back as it had been before, but Sebastian was going to do his damnedest to get it done.