Chapter 1

A crowd was formed around an area of poverty stricken London. Word was spreading fast of a gorgeous young boy who had a voice of silk when he sang. The lyrics ran through the crowd like a wave of cold water.

"I see more than you

Although you pretend to ignore it

Two can play make believe

Makes it more fun, doesn't it?

It is you, who is blind,

And me who can see,

But you choose to ignore it

Basking in fake glory

You dance around blades

I have to dance through them

Such is the story of life

Beggars can't be choosers

I see more than you

Although you pretend to be ignorant

Two can play make believe

Makes it more fun, doesn't it?

Two can play the game

And I will partake

In this dangerous game of blades"

The song ended on a high note, and everyone clapped. The black haired boy who had sung bowed confidently, orange brown eyes glistening.

He had a white shirt with a brown vest thrown over that had been tattered and patched with green pieces of fabric; dark gray pants were stuffed into knee high brown boots, and a small black bow hung loosely around his neck. His hair was pulled back into a small ponytail, and he had soft, creamy white skin and long lashes. He looked to be around ten or eleven.

A girl about 12 sat by his side, white dress shirt messily stuffed into a long green skirt with black trim around the waist. She had a thin brown sweater on, and her black hair was pulled into two high braids on each side of her head. Her gray eyes were owlishly large, and thick bandages were wrapped around her forehead. She looked to be of Indian ethnicity, and she gently held the silver harmonica she had been playing in her hands.

A newspaper boy cap lay on the ground, overflowing with money as the people around them dispersed. Cautiously, Maya stood up and she made her way towards the cap, lifting it up and smiling at the weight.

"What were the people's facial expressions?" She asked in the soft voice Zachery had grown accustomed to. "The children were smiling, and the adults looked mesmerized," he smoothly replied.

The sun was setting, and a cold breeze made Maya's braids sway with the air. The day had been long and the sun was setting in the distance.

The sound of a pair of heels clacking on the cobblestones could be heard nearing Zachery and Maya. A teen boy's pale blonde hair shined in the dimming sky, purple tailcoats flying behind him.

A look of surprise came on his face and he broke into a grin when he saw the pair across from him. "Wow!" He said while getting closer to Maya and lifting one of her braids.

"This is the blind music composer? You don't look at all that special," Zachery intercepted and stepped in front of Maya, making the boy drop her hair. "Who are you, and what do you want?" Maya visibly relaxed when Zachery stepped in, and the boy smirked. "I'm Alois Trancy, head of the Trancy household," Alois smoothly replied, hands on hips.

"The queen's spider." Zachery said in a whisper more to himself than to the two before him. "Give me a reason, and I might consider going with you," Maya said coolly, deciding to step out from behind the shelter of Zachery's back." I've been looking for something to entertain me for a while," The blonde continued with a cheery smile. "Something…unique. I had Claude research about you two, and a blind music composer and her singing companion sounded like a fitting end for my search!" He clapped with finality, ear to ear grin stretched on his face.

"…Claude?" Zachery questioned, narrowing his eyes further at the boy. Conviently, a man stepped out of a shop. The man had black hair, gold eyes, and glasses with a butler suit on. "Claude!" Alois said with childish glee, dancing over to him and twirling around him. After awhile, he finally settled at Claude's side, hugging said person. "Claude here is my butler," Alois said, stroking Claude's expressionless face lightly.

"And if you refuse to come with me, I'll send him after you." Maya had an unsure expression on her face, and Zachery stared down the demon across from him. In the middle of their conversation, a middle aged man was walking out of a shop as he read a letter, and he accidentally bumped into Alois. He looked taken aback, and started to apologize profusely at the sight of a nobleman.

Alois leaned in close to the man as if he were going to say it were okay, gentle smile on his face, but as he did his smiling face shifted to a devious expression. "You really think I would forgive a lowly man such as yourself?" He said in almost a whisper. "Its people like you who rot the earth with their filth, now get out of my sight before I have my associates take possession of every item you own,"

He kicked the man on his back with his heel, and the man's eyes widened as he started sweating, stumbling onto his feet and running away as fast as he could. Alois started to laugh until tears came to his eyes, and he said in between breaths "Did you see that blundering idiot's expression?" He continued to laugh, and Maya, who heard the whole conversation, looked dumb founded. How can someone be so warped? She thought to herself.

Zachery cleared his throat, gaining Alois' attention and said in a polite manner "I'm afraid my friend and I will have to refuse your offer, because I don't want that boy infecting Maya with his twisted personality." Zachery smiled and finished with an "Adieu." As he took Maya in his arms and started to run away quickly, leaving Alois with a shocked expression. Claude as always had a poker face on.

"Your orders?" Claude questioned, looking at his master as he pushed up his glasses. Alois revealed the Faustian contract on his tongue, and said "After them." Claude bowed, hand over his dead heart, and said "Yes, your highness."