Elizabeth sat in one of the sofa chairs next to the window. It was raining outside. Thick, grey clouds and a murky grey sky rolled in up ahead and she half-heartedly tracked the droplets on the glass with a finger. It was months ago now- no, almost a full year and she still found herself thinking. Why had Ceil left?

She could still remember their last dance together. He'd seemed happier then usual- almost a full smile. When he'd asked her for that dance she'd felt like the happiest girl alive. She'd thought that her Ciel was finally coming back to her. Soon, they'd be playing again- big grins, roars of laughter- the Ciel that she knew. The gramophone had been a little wonky but that was okay, because Ciel was dancing with her. They were going to grow up and get married and it was all going to fine. Who cared about that stupid gramophone anyway?

He'd left after that.

He'd abandoned everything- the mansion, his servants and even her, but still he'd taken that butler of his. What was it about him, any way? Was she really less important then his butler? He was superb and graceful with the eyes of a hawk and the footing of a cat. He could pull an entire table cloth away without knocking a single drop of water from its glass. So what? He could button a few shirts, big deal.

Then, her parents had died, killed by a strange illness.

She knew it was just a coincidence but it felt like life had just given up on her. On moment everything had been going her way and the next, the world had just pulled a great big 'forget you' on her and taken everything she loved away from her. She didn't even know where Ciel was anymore! She had no way of contacting him, no nothing!

Ciel was never truly happy. Elizabeth felt her eyes begin to water. Her best efforts merely escalated the pain she felt and she broke down sobbing. He was running away from his life when all she wanted was to see him smile and it wasn't fair. She wept for what seemed like hours before she finally wiped away the tears.

Sebastian, Ceil's butler... He'd repaired that ring, hadn't he? The heirloom she'd broken. It still baffled her how he had done that. There weren't any cracks or anything- it was as if he had just bought a new one. Even if he had, it was still very impressive- it was incredibly rare, right? And Sebastian had done it in... a few months or so, wasn't that it? Then there was that one incident with the funeral... She'd been so sure that Sebastian was dead, then he'd just... appeared. The more she thought about it, the more it appeared to her that some of the feats Sebastian performed should not have been possible in the least, but still he managed it.

What if... Sebastian wasn't human? It was a bizzare notion but it did hold some revelance. After all, Ciel continually brought up a 'contract'. Whenever she asked him about it, however he'd just reply and say it was none of her business. It was foolish, reckless and stupid what she wanted to do- Ceil would have killed her for it. He was the reason she had to do it, however. She had to. Now that her parents were dead she had hardly anything left anyway- all she needed was to see Ceil smile again, and her life would have been complete. All she needed was someone who knew about the contract. The she assumed Ceil's friend the under taker would know a thing or too- he was creepy enough.

She set off while there was still light.

o o o

The forest was creepy, especially after rain. Part of Elizabeth wanted to turn around a flee the area. Just get out of there, forget all of this and get on with her life. She clenched her fists in defiance- no, she had come to far to turn back now. And besides, she was doing this for Ciel, wasn't she. "I will l keep going," she told herself firmly. "For Ciel!"

She reached the lake she was looking for and stared into the water. She quickly chanted the required words, clenching her eyes shut tight as if she were afraid of what she might find. When she opened her eyes however, she was no longer surrounded by trees and water- instead, there was a strange, almost creepy void, misty with many colors- purples and dark blues and blacks- yet, strangely, she felt no fear.

She did, however, jump when out of the blue a familiar voice reached her ears.