A/N: Hello! This is my first ever fanfic (Woo! I love Pandora Hearts) so...real excited right now! Thanks if you took the time to read the Prologue! If not...never mind, because you're reading this now. Arigatou gazaimasu in advance. Anyway...enough with my rambling...enjoy the story and I promise to update as soon as I can, however, I'm only going to continue if requested so R & R!

Disclaimer: I do not own Pandora Hearts...(Wish I did, but I don't) All rights and praise goes to the genius creator! I DO however, own Serenity, Alyck and this plot, so if you love this so much you wanna use my stuff, please ask! I don't mind sharing... :)

Chapter 1: Resurfacing

"You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours - isn't that how the saying goes?" The boy asked me taking another step toward me as I took another back. He had long since descended the trailing vines of his nightshade flower and was ascending upon me, his eyes affixed. It stuttered my breath and made me shudder from the way his eyes stared, lilac orbs of curious determination. "You humans are quite fond of that saying, as far as I recall, or am I wrong?"

A squeal of fear had escaped my lips and I tripped, much to my own chagrin, landing face-first in the icy pools and soaking myself through. I sweat dropped almost immediately, wondering why my luck had to be so bad. What had I ever done to deserve getting tossed in the Abyss to get attacked by beast and eyed by a mysteriously creepy -yet gorgeous- boy? Something grabbed me by the collar, pulling me to my feet with a sigh.

"Relax." The boy ordered, "I'm not going to harm you. Honestly, just because everyone else here has no manners, it doesn't mean I don't too."

Jumping away from his touch, my face turned beet red. I curtsied generously, thanking him for assisting me with my clumsiness. There was no excuse really for a woman like myself to be falling over like that, especially in front of a gentleman.

"Who are you?" I asked him, lifting my head slightly.

"Well…" He started and I thought I heard a brief twinge of a smile in his voice, "Those creatures that attacked you -do you know what they're called?"

I nodded. Of course I knew - the young master had often discussed his work with me, though I shouldn't be calling him 'young master' anymore because he was all grown up.

"They're Chains, sir -creatures born from the Abyss."

The boy smiled, his eyes darkening. "My name is Alyck." He told me, "I'm guess I'm what you might call a Chain also, though I'm certainly not one that means you any trouble. In fact," Alyck grinned, "I want the exact opposite; I want to help you. Like I said before, you scratch my back and I scratch yours."

"Help me?" I breathed.

"I'm looking for someone." Alyck began, "Someone important, someone that is, unfortunately, not in this Abyss. Instead, this someone is up there." He gestured above, "In the human realm. I can get up there if I want, but, I'll be needing your assistance. As a Chain, I can't leave this pit unless I form a contract with a human." Alyck eyed me intensely "Interested?"

I swallowed hard, "And what would happen to me?"

"You would come with me, of course. It's the only way either of us are getting out of here. Don't looks so worried, it's not painful or anything. All you have to do is agree and say it out loud; I want to form a contract with you. That's it. No bloody rituals or sacrifices or whatever else you were probably thinking about."

I stared at him, dumbfounded. "But using that method would make our pact illegal because it hasn't been done by Pandora. If they catch us, we'll be executed."

Alyck gave me a dark smirk, "I guess we'll have to make we don't get caught then, won't we, Miss…?"

I curtsied to him, sweat dropping. Damn, that was two blunders. I should have introduced myself when he had. Regardless of whether he was a Chain or not, he still spoke and acted like a gentleman, "Serenity, sir." I told him, "Miss Serenity."

"How appropriate." He mumbled, "Do you mind if we keep this informal and we stick to first names only? If I have to be stuck with you all day and all night, acting like this is going to drive me crazy."

"Um…sure, Alyck." I agreed, trying that out. It wasn't bad, I supposed. It didn't sound that awful.

"So," He asked, "Will you form a contract with me so I can get us the hell out of here?"

I gave a determined jerk of my head. I was definitely getting out of this black and frosty hell. I couldn't stand to be here a minute longer.

"I will." I said, not hesitating or waiting for anything. I needed to leave as quickly as possible. God only knew that the young master would be wondering where I'd disappeared to for what had to have been days, weeks even. It was hard to tell in a place like this. Besides, I was eager to investigate who had sent me here in the first place and why. There had to be a reason and I wanted to know what it was, what sin I had committed that was so terrible I needed to be plunged into this icy prison.

"Alyck," I announced, "I wish to make a contract with you."

"Good." was all he said, as his arm whipped out unexpectedly and clutching me around the waist, drawing me close. My eyes went wide as dinner plates from the shock of being handled so inappropriately but my breath stuck in my throat, preventing me from protesting. My heart started to race as I stared into his flawless face, but a few inches from my own, taking in every perfect, soft line and shape. Through the material of my gown, I could feel his own steady pulse beating against my own, and the leonine, defined lines of his body pressed against me. My cheek burned, flaring an indignant pink all the way to my hairline.

His finger trailed my cheekbone, skimming the edges of my jaw line until finally, holding my chin, delicately, yet stern. He drew my face ever close to his own, tilting his head just a tad, before pushing his lips against mine in a gentle kiss. My lips under his, and from that, something began to fill me, flow between us from his body and into mine. It was hot and salty, something that I had never tasted before. It poured into me, making my heart expand as my chest began to throb, at first pleasantly, then it became painful and intolerable, like something was burning.

I tried to push him away, my hands shoving against his chest desperately, to separate us -what was happening? What was he doing?- however, his grip only tightened, holding me. I couldn't escape the hold circling my middle or the fingers holding my chin. Eventually -and rather quickly- I gave up trying, my limbs falling slack. I found myself leaning on him more than I should, my energy slipping away from me. A dark cloud was smoking over my gaze, making my lids stoop and flutter and slowly my sense began to dull as darkness started to take over.

Eventually it consumed me and I remembered nothing further.

My lashes flickered under the insistent blare of the suns buttery rays, turning the insides of my lids scarlet and warming my face. Something flickered in the back of my mind, making me feel dazed. In my head I could hear the grand hallway grandfather clock chime midday and the voices of the young master's relatives running about eagerly all busy at work.

It's almost tea time, I thought, I'll have to prepare tea.

I knew was no time to be laying about. A time as busy as this called for my immediate attention. I would have to be flawless before the lord of the house came around so that I may greet him at my best. My apron was clean, I was sure of it, and my bonnet…had the lace been repaired yet? I could not remember. The grass tickling my skin was damp and luscious, cooling the heated skin under my frocks. I sighed breathing it all in. From here the scents of the nearby rose garden were absolutely stagnant, they filled the air with a delicious sweet and floral nectar and I could hear the rustle of the old oak blowing it's leaves. Yes, this afternoon was indeed wonderful, much too wonderful for me to be here enjoying it whilst the young master waited on me. A groan escaped my lips and I sat up, smoothing my skirt, a smile as delicate as the petals of the nearby flowers curving my lips.

However, the moment I was upright, it all hit me and I recalled exactly what had happened, where I had been just before and to whom I owed my appraises. My smile immediately slipped, crashing to the ground with the weight of a brick, a pained cry making me embrace myself as a shudder of fear overcame me. Suddenly I felt cold, the sun no longer able to brush off my troubles. The dense darkness of the Abyss swamped my every memory. My head whipped around in nervous terror, fearing for my very existence, but luckily, my grief was not just my own. From beside me I heard a moan. Directing my gaze to the place from whence I had heard the sound, I found the boy that I owed so much to and he looked as displeased as I felt, rolling a shoulder with a growling expression drawing his brows together.

"Well," Said Alyck, "That was a little rougher than I intended. Where are we? Is this place familiar to you in any way?"

I needn't look around any further to know where we had landed. I knew this location like the back of my hand. I nodded "We're at the Nightray Household." I told him, "This is the residence of the young master."

"You never said you had a master." He mumbled, eying me with a look that was both surprised and irritated at the same time. One could only wonder how he had been able to arrive at the conclusion I was a free woman. My uniform alone, no matter how shredded it was, was that of an obvious maid's. I was still made to dress in the full and thick black skirts of a servant, requested to wear the same white apron as every other and sport a bonnet. It was custom to do so and I had not argued.

"I shall explain some other time, however," I said, staring up and the grand building. I could see movement within and it turned my skin cold, "I believe it is best for now that we leave this place, no matter how much I wish not to."

This was my home, my place of work and my livelihood. I should be rejoicing to be back, so why do I feel so panicked and fearful? What scares me within those walls?

Flashes of myself appeared before my eyes, screaming as I plummeted into the darkness of the Abyss and watched my life disappear before me. It was here that such an unfortunate even happened to me, the place I had called safe. It wasn't safe anymore. How could it be called the place I knew any longer when it had caused me so much pain? Looking at these walls only brought forth the memories I wished to forget, the memories of that place. The Abyss, a place I longed never to see again.

"The person, whomever they be, that dropped me into that wretched place could still be here, awaiting my return."

"That is true." Alyck agreed, "It has been five years in this plane since you were last here. The chances are, the person you call master is long gone."

I smiled a little, "I shouldn't think not. Master Gilbert was always one who was keen to escape this place, to full fill his own missions." My smile slipped and I felt a wave of sorrow overcome me, "It is unfortunate that I should not be allowed a look in the house though, just in case, just to see him this once and assure myself he is well. I can't help but worry about him."

"We have to leave." Alyck reminded me, "You're not the only one who has a bad feeling about this place. We should go to the nearest village and talk more there. If you really want to find this master of yours, I'm sure there are other ways it can be done."

"I have no doubts." I agreed.

Quickly, we departed from the garden of the Nightray estate, astounding myself when I did remember this place to the tiniest detail still. Every guard post and secret passage were still as they had been back then and luckily I was able to manoeuvre us out of harm's way. While we moved though I had to keep down the wallowing in my chest that I had not been able to see my master as I had wanted or hoped. It seemed like only yesterday I had last seen his face, full of panic and fear whilst his brother shoved a cat in his face, a petulant shade of blue rippling his features. I had sat there, smiling at another day full of childish fun, shaking my head slightly. I could still recall the scared frown that had overcome the young master while he'd been buried in stack after stack of papers and all other kinds of reports and documents.

I hoped that I would see him again.

Hope you enjoyed! I know this chap wasn't very long or interesting but...there is much to come! Believe in me!

~NightshadeTwiningTheRosary~