Ciel should have been unnerved by the appearance of the demon's lair, but somehow, he found himself feeling almost at home. Not because it was homey, or because he was under the impression they'd remain there long, but for some intangible reason he couldn't seem to call forward. Small fires, nestled in hollows in the walls, lit the cavern enough that seeing was no problem. A niche near the back of the cavern was dark, but Ciel could make out the shape of a nest within it. An oddity, as demons didn't require sleep. But then, he supposed many of them might enjoy a nice soft place to rest, if nothing else. The entrance to the cavern was hidden from prying eyes by the formation of the wall in front of it, and that meant the lair was safe.

Goodness, he was thinking like an animal.

"The little dog is permitted to my nest, if he likes," the female demon's voice called, breaking Ciel out of his daze. She had reverted to the form he'd encountered her in, and he could see now the scars and markings on her androgynous form. Her wings were certainly rival to an angel's in length, but much fuller. They might have even been longer than an angel's, as they were folded in to avoid dragging on the ground or hitting the ceiling.

"Now, then, Sebastian, is it? My word, that name does suit this new face of yours. Regardless, I know this is quite the story, but what is all of this about? When I was dragging around my little fledgling, you were quite vocal about your beliefs that I was wasting my time."

"This is not the same situation. I am forever bound to my Master by a contract that can never be fulfilled. You picked up a stray." Sebastian was examining something off of the top of the trunk that was sitting in a corner. "Is this a child skull?"

"Naturally. I use every part of my meals, I don't like to waste anything. Thus, the skulls become decoration, and the bones... well, they are tough to chew, but they are something to chew on." She stretched, her wings stretching as well, fanning out to well longer than Ciel had previously thought they were. "Now then, puppy. What is your name?"

"I am Ciel Phantomhive. Don't call me a puppy."

"Ciel, that is French, isn't it? Yes, I believe it means 'sky,' am I correct?" She looked him over. "That would suit one of the Flock, but not a yapping little dog. You were previously human, puppy, then how long have you been one of us?"

"... not long." This demon was incredibly rude, and he was getting more and more frustrated with her because of it.

"How adorable. You'll have to forgive my attention span, I've been on my own for some time now."

"Where is that fledgling of yours?" Sebastian interjected.

Severina's wings fluttered. "Umbraecygnus is no longer. A pity, I almost miss the little parasite. But, really, if you can't fight back against those weaker than yourself, you're not worth saving. Now, how have you been teaching him, Sebastian? I take it a born human is not as easy as raising your own chick."

"What exactly does that mean?!" Ciel snapped.

"It's quite funny, isn't it? A prince like you, Sebastian, saddled with a mongrel pup like this." Severina laughed softly, trailing her fingers slowly through the feathers of her wings. "Now, have you two fed lately? I'm feeling peckish, and I don't mind getting something for you. More than one usually come anyway. Please make yourselves comfortable, I won't be a moment."

The female demon quickly departed, and Ciel glanced to his butler. "Are all demons that way?"

"Only some. This particular demon was never very powerful, neither in body, nor in mind. We've met before, demons of our kind have a tendency to find each other. The last time I encountered her, she'd just taken a young one under her wing."

"Did you really just say that?"

"That was in London, in 1145. Apparently that young one has been killed since then. Her inherent weakness made her vulnerable, the time alone has brought her to the brink of madness. I shudder to think what another decade or so of solitude might have done." Sebastian examined the skull again. "She is a trapper, a scavenger, rather than an active hunter, as demons who form contracts are, and as you and I now are. She attracts her prey from afar, rather than actively seeking it."

"You said 'our kind.' Are you the same? Am I?"

"I am, my Lord. But because Hannah Anafeloz, who was responsible for your transformation, was not, neither are you. Because you are contracted to me, you are considered one of us, even though you have no wings, not even an animalistic form."

Ciel looked the older demon in the eyes, his own narrowing. "And what does that mean, 'one of you?'"

"The Flock is a race of winged demons, within the class of demon which possesses an animal form, such as Claude Faustus, the spider, and Severina Geier, the vulture."

"And you, Sebastian. What creature are you?"

The butler smiled, amused. "The raven."