Author's Note: I am glad to see that the first chapter is gaining some interest! I hope you all continue to like this, even when it starts to get darker later on in the plot.

Also, a quick note: the chapters will alternate between present day and flashbacks. So, here is a flashback!

Tails307: Thanks! Not much up yet, but I should be posting more regularly now.

Midnightsalem: Oh yay! I'm glad you are liking this. And I couldn't help myself with the cat angle. But yeah, i hope this becomes as popular as Tilt. Fingers crossed! XD


Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji.


Chapter 2: His Loss.


Three Years Earlier


Sebastian disliked hospitals.

Usually, a place so filled with hopelessness and sorrow would call to a demon such as himself, but he found them to overall be dreadfully boring

His Young Master sat solemnly across from Tanaka, listening to his family's old butler speak about the aftermath of the fire. Sebastian simply remained lost in thought, pleased with the luck he had been presented with.

Isabella. The little girl had thoroughly wormed her way into his favor over the years. She amused him, capturing his attention as what he thought would originally be a passing fancy, a way to pass the time during a particularly boring contract. Imagine his surprise when his visits to the eight-year-old increased as years passed, even leading to him holding out on collecting his contract's soul just to have more time to interact with her.

Breaking his train of thought, a woman with firey red hair burst through the door. "Ciel!" As she dashed forward to wrap his Young Master in a hug, Sebastian surmised that this must be Ciel's aunt. Someone on staff must have finally tracked the woman down.

After tears of relief from the woman followed by vague explanations of his whereabouts for the past month from his Young Master, his aunt, Madam Red, asked what the boy intended to do next.

"I shall have the manor rebuilt and take up my rightful position as Head of the Phantomhives," he stated as if his answer were the most obvious thing in the world. "The mantle of the Queen's Watchdog falls to me now."

Madam Red looked hesitant, obviously not pleased with that answer. "Ciel, you do not have to take up such a burden. You do not even know what the job entails."

"I am capable, Aunt An," he replied aloofly. "Besides, I shall have my cousin at my side. My father had been training her for years on the ins and outs of handling the Underworld of England to assist the Phantomhives: she can easily teach me."

Both his Aunt's and the old butler's eyes went wide, showing both intense worry and sadness. Sebastian felt his shoulders stiffen in concern before speaking. "What happened to Isabella?"

He noticed the sharp look from Ciel, the boy silently demanding where the demon had learned the name of his beloved cousin, but Sebastian could care less. No order had been made to explain and until then, he needed to know what had happened to the girl.

With a voice heavily laced with sorrow, Madam Red began to explain. "As you know, she had been staying with me while I recovered from my accident…"


Staring out the window of the carriage, Madam Red allowed a sigh to slip from her lips, her mind miles away. She would see him today, as well as her beloved sister and dear little nephew. So bittersweet she usually feels when she sees them, but now, the feelings would only be more bitter than usual.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Madam Red broke from her thoughts, looking up to the young girl sitting across from her. The girl, more like a woman-child at the ripe age of sixteen, smiled softly at her aunt. She dressed in a deep blue dress with a fashionable corset lacing up the front as well as soft, loose sleeves. They bore no blood relation, but Madam Red liked to think them close, allowing her to treat the girl as if she were a younger sister, or sometimes, she mused, as if she were her daughter.

"Just… a little overwhelmed," she offered, choosing not to elaborate.

Standing up, the girl moved to sit next to her aunt, linking their arms as she gave her an understanding look. "You know, we could have put it off for a few more days. They would understand."

"No," she firmly stated, shaking her head. "We cannot miss Ciel's birthday. You would hate that, and honestly, I need this." Before the girl could respond, Madam Red began fussing over the girl's hair, a beautiful ebony that shone with blue undertones in the light. "Oh, how I adore your hair: the waves always seem to fall perfectly."

Huffing, the girl stated with a smirk, "Well, at least it has that going for it. I cannot get it to stay up in an up-do to save my life. I am jealous of your hair though. I love the red…"

Scowling at the girl, she reached up and tugged off the veil attached to the girl's hair, uncovering her eyes. "If you like red, why hide your eyes so much?"

The girl matched her aunt's scowl, her blood red eyes now visible. "You know why. Red hair is different from 'demon eyes'."

Before she could respond, Madam Red's eyes drifted out the carriage window, and stared in horror at the Phantomhive manor.


"Everything was ablaze… we were both in shock, and when Tanaka stumbled out of the manor and stated that you and your parents were still inside…"


"Ciel!" her niece cried out, dashing towards the manor and the blazing fire. Madam Red made to grab Isabella's hand and hold her back, but the girl surprised her with her strength, easily pulling free and heading without hesitation straight into the fire…

"Isabella!"


Anguished eyes met Ciel's broken, visible one as she stated, "I am so sorry, Ciel… but Isabella never came back out."


Several hours later, standing in front of the remains of his manor, Ciel finally asked his butler the question that had been burning in his mind. "How did you know Isabella?"

Sebastian did not look at his Young Master as he spoke. "I met her as a child. She… interested me."

Ciel narrowed his gaze at the demon. "What interest would a demon have with her?" He seemed quiet, taking his time to answer, so Ciel demanded, "Answer me!"

"Intrigue at first. Then, things changed…" Deciding to be blunt, he looked towards Ciel. "I took your contract because of her. Because it would give me better access to her. Because truthfully, I intended to eventually take her as my mate."

Ciel stared in obvious shock as the butler turned his wine colored eyes back to the wreckage of the manor.

"Now, it appears that we both seek revenge against the ones who humiliated you… and I intend to make them regret the very day they were born."