"One day, a very long time ago. I was found unconscious in the street and though I had no memory, no idea who I was. He took me in, and gave me a purpose." Whispered the maid, her hands holding the boy close as they sat together in the rocking chair. With hazel eyes she gazed down at the sight of a relaxed Ciel in her lap, his small frame easily snuggling into her own. At the age of nine he was still so small, still so innocent. The loving maid wrapped her hands around the boy a little tighter, her left moving upwards to stroke her young master's hair, cherishing this moment while it lasts.

Chapter 1

It was evening and the sun was setting, leaving the streets dim and workers were out lighting the lanterns that rose high above the roads. A woman who was of average height, walked alone in the street, wrapping a gray shawl tightly around herself she pressed on, filled with a purpose as she recalled her destination. The sound of two inch heels clicked against the stone floor, each click recalling back memories of when she use to walk these streets weekly and always with a certain man at her side, beckoning her along. Lost in thought, the auburn haired woman trudged on in the dark streets, not noticing that not only had she almost passed her destination. It was only till she caught the scent of formaldehyde did she stop in her tracks and turn back around to the entrance that lead to the Undertaker.

With a steady knock and a firm push of the door, the plainly dressed woman entered the dark and bizarre looking room, the door shutting behind her and as it did, she could feel the present fade behind her like as if it was a candle, snuffed out in exchange for something sinister.

As the bells rang with their light chime, a coffin that was propped up against the wall opened with a creaking sound and the first thing she noticed was the long, black finger nails that gripped onto the door of the deathbed, being followed by large slender hands and a familiar voice. "Ah… Ms. Mathers, what grace has been bestowed upon thee to witness your return. Tell me, you've come to finally be fitted for a coffin? …I'll be sure to measure twice." Purred the man, his long gray hair swaying forward as he made his way out of the black deathbed. With a sly smirk he began to close the distance between them, an uneasy feeling building in the room as the taller figure took step after step closer, analyzing the lady before him. "I have come to get information. I would appreciate it if you could be the source," spoke the woman, her heels clicking against the wooden floor as she turned to follow the Undertaker, taking a step back or two as he drew closer. "Oh Meredith, you remember the price don't you? You know what I want, what I like to hear," Teased the Undertaker, his pointer finger waving back and forth at her as another smirk formed on his lips and tsk sound was made, scolding her like a child.

With a small frown, the woman loathed the day she ever had to do this again but in order to attain the information, there is no other way. With the most piercing look she can give, she undid the shawl that was bound around her shoulders, revealing her faded blue knee length coat and began to unbutton the bottom three buttons, giving her slack as she began to pick up her skirt in her hands, and with a bow she curtsied to the undertaker, putting on a fake smile meant to charm and with the most excited voice she asked his most favorite question.

"Please, sir! Will you take me to bed?" Asked Meredith, her fake voice echoing from the walls only to be replaced by the sounds of mad laughter.

There she stood, still holding her skirt in her hands as she watched the tall once imposing undertaker on the floor in giggles, tickled absolutely pink at the sight of her begging. "Oh how I missed that sound! One day Darling, maybe if you play your cards right," teased the man, giggling erupting from his mouth once more. With a frustrated look, Meredith dropped her skirt and angrily she wrapped her shawl around herself once more, feeling dirty for succumbing to the undertaker. "I was playing a part, don't think any of it was true," huffed Meredith as she wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the urge to kick the laughing man in front of her.

"Even so my darling… Of all people you picked me."

"I was playing a part in a brothel, what did you expect me to do!"

"Well you were very convincing, my dear."

"Shove it."

"Oh where would you like me to put it, my darling?"

Meredith shot the undertaker another glare, a flash of anger showing on her face before being replaced with frustration. "Just tell me what happened" she muttered, moving to take a seat at the coffin, eyeing the undertaker that refused to move from his spot on the ground before her. There his wide smile grew smaller and with a sing song voice he chirped a song. "I'm afraid my dear will have to be specific, many a changes happened since ye left."

"Just tell me what happened that night." Demanded the former maid, her thoughts of the past beginning to swirl in clouds inside her mind.

The sight of a nine year old Ciel running to hug her came to sight in her mind, only to be replaced by the sudden image of Vincent and Rachel, standing side by side and as she tried hard to remember her former master's smile, all she could see instead was smoke. Smoke and ash. "Please Undertaker, tell me what happened that night, what became of them."

And as the undertaker spared no details, he recounted how the night after she left, the Phantomhive estate went up in flames, the bodies of Rachel and Vincent were found and yet Ciel was missing for three years before turning up one day, with a new butler and the house rebuilt like nothing has ever happened. "How could that be? He'd be only 13? He can't be expected to carry out the duties by himself!"

"On the contrary dearie, his new butler accompanies him. He's quite the assistant."

"But he's still a child… Where was he? How did he rebuild the estate; after such a fire surely it's impossible," whimpered Meredith, her feelings starting to get the best of her as the information of the death of her beloved master and his wife being confirmed. And the unknown fate of Ciel weighing on her mind heavily.

"If only I hadn't left, I should have stayed behind. I should have done something…" she muttered to herself, her hands gripping the coffin tightly, knuckles going white as her nails began to peel at the wood, easily scratching the surface as the worst possible scenarios ran though her head.

"Such strength in those nails of yours, why I'd be eviscerated after you were through with me." Teased the Undertaker, a smile breaking out on his face as he watched the claw marks get deeper into the wood, know that his joke began to just further frustrate the woman but it also distracted her from her troubling thoughts. "Come Dearie, you may sleep here tonight. I don't think the new master of the Phantomhive estate would appreciate a visitor this time of night. No matter how juicy the surprise would be, it would ruin the tension."

Meredith threw another glare at the man before her, still laying on the floor he gave another grin, as mad as a hatter but as soft as a hare, he was quick to get her angry but also considerate in an odd way. The woman didn't flinch or pull away as the Undertaker reached out to grab her ankle, his long nails curling around the woman's thin flesh.

"I know what you're thinking… best not do it, not the right time my Darling, I know you have trouble being subtle but you'll have to try," warned the goofy man, with a quick fluid moment he raised himself from the ground, replacing his hand not on her ankle but to reach for her shawl that was loosely wrapped around her shoulders and without a word he began to lead her away from the shop side of the building, Meredith followed along, tired from a long journey and travelling across an ocean only to come back to terrible news. It was only a few moments later did a giggling ring through the hall as the undertaker teased her again.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you my dear, but tonight I shall not be joining you in bed."

"I'd rather sleep in one of your coffins than share a bed with you."

"That could be arranged, they're quite comfy you know."

It was only hours later did the auburn haired woman raise up in bed, a thin blanket of sweat escaping from her as she recovered from her nightmare. The sweet image of her final night with Ciel came echoing back, the way he snuggled closer into her as she rocked them both in the chair, how he was falling asleep to her story, the explanation that was meant to lead to her goodbye instead turning into a bedtime tale.

"So I came to work for your family, and your father gave me the best gift I could possibly have… You know what it is?" Whispered Meredith as she rocked Ciel in the chair, after a sleepy shake of the head no, Meredith placed her finger on the tip of her master's button nose and gave him a little smile as she mouthed the word 'you.'

Then suddenly the memory changed, the memory turning into a nightmare as she realized that the house was on fire and Ciel was nowhere in sight. As the maid ran down the smoking halls, she ran fast, checking every room she could think of and yet when there was no one she found herself trapped, the flames licking at her ankles and the sound of Vincent's and Rachel's screams echoing through the house was what forced her from her madness.

Now with an urgent need, Meredith redressed into her clothing, pulling on that old faded blue coat and quietly, she opened the windows in the bedroom and gave a look back at the bed, thinking of the Undertaker's words before she leapt from the window, making her away into the road of the street and like an instinctual tendency she knew which way to go, always being able to find her way back home.

"I'm so close… Please… Just let me see…" Meredith muttered to herself, as if in a trance she was like a beast, going in for the kill, taut and controlled muscles carrying her across roof tops and ever closer to the outskirts of London, closer to home.

One thing I must clarify is that Meredith is a Half demon but is unaware that she is one or that other supernatural beings exist, having never dealing with them at all in her past. Of course she'll come to realize the truth in a few chapters. If you decided that you like what you read then please leave a review commenting about anything that stood out. Or if you have an suggestions feel free to voice them! This does follow the Anime and takes place a while after the Jack the ripper arc.