Sebastian Michaelis was at his wit's end. "Where could the young master have gone?" He wondered. "Lovely. He's only been here three earth years, he's already managed to get himself lost." He seemed to forget that to a young demon, three years still seemed like a pretty long time. Sebastian paced through the halls of the manor, still wondering where his master, Ciel Phantomhive, could have possibly gone. The residence was exactly identical to the Phantomhive Estate back on earth, from every peel of old paint and chip of china. Except this wasn't earth. This was Hell.

"Sebastian, what are you doing? For the last time, why aren't you watching the master? A rather shrill voice asked.

"Clara, for your information, the young master is missing at the moment. I would be perfectly happy to do my duties as a butler, if only my master were present." Sebastian had been trying to fight her off all morning, and decided he might as well come clean as making up excuses as to why he wasn't tending to his master never seemed to satisfy this woman's ears. The young master hired Clara when he decided that Sebastian was getting a bit too cheeky for his taste. Supposedly, Clara was a lost soul, no longer a human, yet not a demon. She was never judged, and she spent years wandering the graveyard she had been buried in as an apparition. Still, she tired of this and decided to hold onto life no longer. She knew that she had no place in heaven. As a young woman she sold her body as a prostitute. She robbed people of their money and possessions in her obsessive need to live comfortably. That wish never came true, however. Her life was cut short by a bout of influenza, and she decided to make her way into the depths of Hell instead of subjecting herself to a further feeling of rejection by asking to be judged. She had known what her judgment would be anyway. She was not particularly attractive. Her long, straight dark brown hair hung limply over her shoulders. She had an oval shaped face with grey eyes and thin, creased lips. She had a frail bony figure; one that Ciel had mentioned reminded him of a skeleton. Still, her exact age was impossible to tell. She had no idea, as she had lost track early on. She simply reeked of impurity that she was never purged of during her life. Still, she had been willing to work as a servant to Ciel, and as willing employees are generally hard to come by in Hell, the young master decided she would be an adequate fit for the job of a maid. Clara was to assist Sebastian in daily chores, and if Sebastian decided to question the young master for whatever reason, Clara would step in for him until Sebastian remembered his place. Sebastian muttered under his breath. Who wouldn't become at least a bit irreverent in his situation? He had been so looking forward to the delectable feast of Ciel's soul, and now he was to simply accept that he would never have the pleasure of enjoying it? No, that couldn't be expected, not even from a demon. The disappointment of nearly three years service gone to waste was ravaging every plane of his mind.

Clara's lip twitched for a moment as if she hadn't quite heard what Sebastian had said. Though her response ruled that out completely. "Missing?" she shrieked. "What do you mean, missing? It's your responsibility to make sure the young master is safe and now you're telling me he's missing?"

Sebastian sighed. He was beginning to think she performed these interrogations just to annoy him, more than out of actual concern for Ciel's safety or happiness.

"Yes Clara, I came into the master's bedroom this morning to awake him, but he wasn't there, and he had only left a note." He handed it to her.

Clara read the note aloud. "I've grown tired of stagnating with you people here. I have decided to leave once and for all." She looked up from the letter, shocked. "Well, what do you suppose that means?" she asked.

Sebastian thought to himself. The young master had been acting differently ever since they had arrived at the gates of Hell two days prior. The usual need to be aggressive had seemed to simply seep out of him. In the two days he had spent as a demon, he stayed locked up in his room, refusing to see anyone. Now he was simply gone. Sebastian seethed in his fury directed at himself. He shouldn't have been able to slip away that easily! Sebastian should have heard him moving through the manor and intercepted him before he was able to leave! Well, no matter. Nothing could be done to change the course of events now. The important thing was to get Ciel back, and as soon as possible. "Clara?" Sebastian asked. "Had the young master said anything out of the ordinary while speaking to you any time recently?"

Clara sighed. She believed it was quite a stupid question, as she had only known Ciel Phantomhive for two days before he left. Still, something she now found quite startling popped into her head. "Sebastian, I think he had. While I was choosing his clothing yesterday morning, he made some odd comment about how he wouldn't have to worry about being here too long. I thought he was simply deluding himself! After all, he had just become a demon against his will. I made sure to tell him that he would indeed be spending all eternity here. He just looked away."

Sebastian just stared at her. "And why didn't you tell me about this sooner?" He asked. He had more than a hint of danger in his voice.

Clara's eyes widened. "I didn't think it was important, Sebastian! I mean how did you feel when you first became a demon? I figured he would learn to love it soon enough!" Clara trembled. Sebastian looked as though he were ready to rip he head off. Still he just turned away.

"The crevice."

Clara's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "No! He wouldn't! No demon has done that in centuries!"

But Sebastian was already gone. He needed to get to that crevice, and fast.