It was apparent the suspect had no concerns about being followed. He walked at a leisurely pace and I had no difficulty catching up and still keeping myself in the press of the crowd. I was good at following people and it helped that most people did not suspect a tiny woman like myself of being the hunter. I had to force my irritation at Ciel and Sebastian away. It was a conscious effort but I couldn't afford to be distracted. My anger could wait. If Sebastian could indeed be trusted I was following a man that had already killed and would certainly kill again. It was a sobering thought and by the time he slipped into a bakery my irritation at the two had slipped into the back of my mind to wait until a more convenient time.

The man's name was Tom Ratcher. He had no obvious profession which led me to believe he was connected to the underworld in some way. I would have to follow up on that now. My stomach twisted at the thought. I had my contacts but none of them were safe or pleasant. I'd have to go armed when I went about asking questions. Carefully. Discreetly. This was far more than any case I'd handled before. It made the worst of those look tame in comparison.

Tom talked for a very brief time before handing some coin over to the baker. The man inspected it for a moment before handing it back. His posture and gesture obviously meant that he was refusing the payment. Tom looked irate but he pocketed the money and stalked from the shop. He was walking quickly now. I wouldn't have much time before I lost him again. I ducked into the shop and went straight for the baker. He was a lean man, short and red-cheeked from the oven's heat.

"Pardon me," I said, "I don't mean to be a nuisance, but I collect rare coins and I couldn't help but notice that that man's coinage looked a bit funny. Can you describe it to me?"

I slipped a few shillings into his hand. I'd send Phantomhive my bill later.

"Gold," he answered immediately, "If I had the time to hunt down a coin changer I'd have taken it, but I don't know if it was real gold or just fool's and I don't want the hassle. It had some funny images on it... a boat with a man in it, I think?"

"Thank you," I said and bolted for the door. Tom was just barely in sight. I slipped into the streets and ran after him, only slowing my pace once it would become obvious I was following.

His affairs were a bit confusing after that. He attempted to buy a few more things and was turned down at most stores, save the last. I debated. I could try and persuade the grocer to part with some of that funny currency but I wasn't sure I had enough pocket change to cover it. I would also lose sight of Tom if I delayed. The frustration at Sebastian and Ciel bubbled up again. Damn them both. If one of them were here I'd be able to split our group up and accomplish both objectives. As is, I had to pick.

I chose to follow Tom. It was a mistake. He skirted down some sidestreets that grew progressively narrower. Then he vanished around a corner and I lost sight. I stopped, a bit confused. He had been right there. Where'd he go now? I cursed my luck.

"'ello, lovely."

I jumped and spun. He was behind me. How the hell had he gotten behind me? I went for my gun, hidden at my waist under my jacket and he just stepped forwards. My arm stopped moving, the pistol just out of reach with my wrist caught in his grasp. It was like a band of iron encircled it. His fingers were cold and I shuddered and tried to pull away. I was shaking. I had blinked and missed it. It was like he hadn't moved at all, that I'd just found myself caught in his grasp.

"Let go," I said as evenly as I could.

"How long you been following me?"

He stepped forwards, pulling me closer. I struck at him and his other hand snapped up and caught my fist before it connected with his jaw. Then he wrenched my arm back behind my back, slipping his thumb along the line of my waist and the small of my back, pressing me close so that I could feel his heart beating through my jacket. I felt an involuntary tear start to bead up in the corner of my eye. I couldn't look away. Please, let someone come. This street surely couldn't be deserted... could it?

"Let me go," I whispered.

"How long?"

"Better part of the day." I held very still. His eyes were roving along the contour of my neck and shoulder with mild curiosity.

"Who hired you?"

I decided to gamble.

"Phantomhive."

And he shrieked and threw me away. I hit the ground on my shoulder and rolled. He was cursing at me and my dazed mind couldn't quite make out the words. I struggled to my feet instead, finally getting my gun out from under my jacket. I pointed it at him and he stopped cursing and his lips split into a lazy grin.

"Oh, that won't work, lovely," he whispered, "I'm not terribly fond of House Phantomhive, so what say you put that gun away and help me send them a message? I can't take them on myself – rules being rules and what – but you... you're fair game."

The street was empty. I cursed my carelessness. The gun shook in my hands but I wouldn't have to be terribly accurate. One shot should do enough damage to drop him. I'd picked the gun for just that reason.

"This is your only warning," I said, "One more step and I shoot."

"Please do. I like it when the mice fight back. Makes it entertaining."

I fired. The gun snapped back against my hand and the recoil shoved the tip up and my arms followed. I brought it back level a second later. Tom was just staring at the hole in his stomach with mild concern. He touched it with one finger and stared as it came away slick with blood.

"Oh," he said, "You ruined my shirt."

I fired again. And he became a blur of motion and I shrieked and turned to run. Too late. Much too late. Someone caught me around the waist and I twisted and kicked and hit at him. Then there was a lurch and my breath froze in my throat and the ground spun away from me. I closed my eyes. There was a thump and the impact jarred through my bones. Someone was saying my name urgently, intimately close to my ear. His arm was still around my waist, holding me close. It wasn't Tom.

"Sebastian?" I whispered.

"I told you not to involve yourself any more." His voice was saturated with disapproval. I risked opening my eyes. We were standing on the roof of a nearby house with the street four stories below us and Tom nowhere to be seen. I lost my breath again and went stiff with terror. The roof seemed way too steep suddenly.

"I have you," the butler replied calmly, "I apologize for infringing on your modesty like this but I had to get you away from him quickly. He won't pursue. You're safe."

"What is he?" I whispered, "What are you?"

"A butler." His tone was wry with amusement. I couldn't tell if he was mocking me or if this was some sort of joke I didn't understand yet. "Now, if you please. Allow me to escort you back to Lord Ciel's manor. The young master requested I ensure your safety and I would not feel this would be accomplished if I simply left you alone."

"I shot him."

"Yes. Now, if you please."

His arm gripped tight about my waist. I buried my head in his shoulder and closed my eyes so I wouldn't have to see the terrifying manner of descent.

I was completely in over my head now.

My questions had to wait until we were back at the manor house. Sebastian brought me to the study and then vanished to fix tea. Ciel glared at me in obvious frustration. I didn't bother with formalities. I just sat down, smoothed my skirts out in a feeble attempt to remain calm, and started shaking. The shock finally settled in. Tom had... touched me. Without my permission. Threatened me. If Sebastian hadn't... I'd have been...

I couldn't stop shivering.

"Tom isn't," I managed to say. My voice sounded frightened even to me. "He isn't human, is he?"

"No," Ciel replied calmly, "He isn't."

"Sebastian isn't either."

"...no."

"Going to make it damned hard to arrest him then."

And Ciel laughed a bit at that. It made me laugh too, a weak and strained sound but it was a laugh nonetheless.

It also finally broke that last vestige of sanity and I started crying uncontrollably. Sebastian chose that moment to appear as I doubled over and buried my face in my hands. He cleared my throat and I opened my eyes to see a cup of steaming tea hovering just in front of me with a handkerchief on the saucer. I accepted both gratefully. I could hear Sebastian explaining the series of events for my dramatic rescue as I regained my composure. Nothing wrong with this. A good cry was helpful for the nerves every now and then. I scrubbed furiously at my eyes until I was confident no more tears were forthcoming. The tea was almost bitter, but pleasantly so. It helped clear my mind.

"So," I said, sniffling a bit still, "If neither Sebastian nor Tom are human – then what are they?"

"Devils," Ciel replied, "Except Sebastian is bound to me. Tom is bound to no one."

Oh bloody hell. I met Sebastian's eyes. They seemed even colder now, like he wasn't trying to hide part of his personality any more. He looked at me like a cat regarded the mouse. Amusement... and something else I couldn't place. I swallowed another sip of tea. How did devils know how to make such good tea?

"So. They're both devils... and there's some kind of rule that's preventing you two from overtly fighting each other?"

Sebastian frowned. His eyes narrowed but he did not look away as a human that found themselves flustered might. I forced myself to hold his gaze. I would not be afraid. I was not his prey.

"Is that guesswork?" Sebastian murmured.

"No." I said it like a challenge. "When Tom threatened me, he said he couldn't get at you directly."

"I think you'd better elaborate for both of us, Sebastian."

Ciel stared at his tea lazily. It was an act. I saw how he held himself. There was an intensity to his posture.

"Yes, young master. It is really very simple. I am surprised you have not already determined the reason I am reluctant to confront another devil." Again, he smiled that thin-lipped grin. It seemed cruel. "We would not want outright war in the streets of London, would we?"

Ciel did not seem satisfied with that answer but there was also a sort of reluctance to him, as if he didn't want to know more. As if the boy was somehow afraid of learning about this devil he had in his employ. I, however, had no such reluctance.

"There's more," I said, "Isn't there, Sebastian? You'd tear up London pretty bad, I'm sure, but there's more to it that's keeping you from stopping this devil yourself."

"I'm not beholden to you."

For a brief moment, the veneer of the butler dropped and I caught a glimpse of the cruel indifference that he harbored underneath. It was in the curt dismissal in his tone and the narrow look he gave me. I couldn't quite call it disdain. If he held me in contempt, he wouldn't be studying me so intently, as if those strange eyes of his could see more than just flesh and bone. I shivered and looked away.

"So how do we get rid of Tom?" Ciel asked, drawing the devil's attention away from me.

"We cheat," Sebastian said simply, "I believe Miss Therris's involvement at this point may prove to be a boon. I believe you aren't adverse to a bit of burglary, Miss."

Bloody hell. Whatever his plan was, I hated it already.