A/N: This chapter and the next to come may seem like fillers, but they're actually more or less some explanation to the plot, and more character introductions as well. They matter! I ended this one on a shorter note than the others. Tell me what you think!


"In his early twenties, my young master wasn't ready to take on the responsibility of parenting, but his wife, Elizabeth, insisted upon having a child," Sebastian explains. "Thus, your great grandfather was born. Growing up, he was a defiant one; I saw a lot of my master in him. Him and Ciel never got along, and he disliked being in line for the reign of the earl and the Funtom Company. Instead, much to Ciel's embarrassment, he 'disappeared' from the public eye. He went by the pseudonym James Daye and landed a job overseas in America, eventually meeting and falling in love with a young woman who was your great grandmother. They stayed in this country and he and Ciel never spoke again. But knowing Ciel, he was hardly affected by those personal issues. My master had a firm countenance about him, what with previous family mishaps and all."

"So why are you in America, with me now?" I question, holding my pillow to my chest as I listen to Sebastian intently.

"This was part of my master's last dying request, that I'd finish this contract faithfully and eat his soul. Due to…complications…" his voice falters, and he frowns before continuing. "I am unable to do so. There is a certain detail in the contract that prevents me from doing so until every last task has been completed. The Phantomhive lineage, every three generations, has a soul unlike any other. It is a unique type of soul and an absolute delicacy to any creature such as I am. After forming a contract with a certain blood, you must acquire each and every soul of its blood and kind after that. You are the very last. Therefore…" He pauses once again and gives me a very serious look. I feel like I can't breathe, but I finish his sentence.

"You have to eat my soul, too?" I whisper.

"Yes."

Sudden silence. My eyes avert away from his.

"I…" I start to say, but I can't piece my thoughts together, so I stop.

"And you need to form another contract with me in the meantime."

"But what if I say no?" I pipe up.

"You wouldn't say no to a demon, now, would you?" he gives me a threatening look. I gulp.

"No."

He stands up and smiles warmly. "Not only that, but you'd be disgracing your great-great grandfather if you'd refused."

"I…don't even know this guy, though!" I start to freak out. "My soul is going to be eaten for a stranger?!" But my wails stop when Sebastian suddenly takes my hand and slides something along my thumb. My eyes widen in curiosity as he steps back to reveal a silver ring with an emerald cut royal blue stone. I stare at it, my mouth hanging open.

"My dear, meet the former earl Ciel Phantomhive. His soul is embedded into this stone. He used to wear this long before you were ever born."

"H…hi," I say softly to the ring, feeling like an idiot.

"Hang onto this and keep it safe," Sebastian warns.

I trace the stone with my finger and it glistens. "We must be pretty damn scrumptious for a demon to go through all of this trouble," I whisper to it. Sebastian gives me an odd look. "What? I'm catching up with him!"

I go silent when I hear the front door open and close downstairs. "ADDI?! I'M HOOOME!"

I exchange glances with Sebastian. Hide, I mouth. But he is already way ahead of me. Not even a moment later, I hear my mother climb up the stairs, and I turn towards my open door.

She shuffles in and gives me a spine-crushing hug. "Who on earth were you talking to, honey?" she asks. She is tired from her night job, but still lively enough to be a nag as always.

"Oh, um…" I look over my shoulder. Sebastian is gone. "I was just on the phone." But my mom let go of me and got quiet, her eyes bugging out. I realize that she is eyeing the ring on my thumb. Shit.

"WHERE did you get that?!" she exclaims, taking it from me and looking it over. "This must be worth a fortune!"

"I uh, my…boyfriend got that for me." I choke on the word.

"You have a BOYFRIEND?!" she shrieks. "He must be loaded!" She tries the ring on her own thumb. I can see it change color a bit, as if it feels unsettled. "I wish I could get a man who would treat me right like this!" she continues to admire it as I cringe, suddenly wondering if Ciel's ring shouldn't be worn on thumbs of non-relatives. He was on my late father's side, after all, who passed the last name of Daye on to me.

My mother returns the ring back to me, still ogling over its beauty. She hugs me again. "My little Addi finally got herself a boy, did she? You have GOT to bring him over for dinner sometime next week!" I sigh. Well, I'm fucked.

She leaves a little while later, humming to herself. I shut the door behind me and glance at the ring in my hand. Sebastian reappears next to me, and I don't even bother to ask him where he'd ran off to.

"I can't have this out in the open. It'll stick out like a sore thumb, literally!" I gripe to him. "Not only that, but what am I going to do with my mom? I don't actually have a boyfriend!"

"The matter with your mother is none of my concern, my lady," Sebastian replies nonchalantly. I stare at him as an idea pops into my head.

"Hey, Sebastian," I ask, "even though we haven't technically formed a contract yet, since I'm the blood descendant of your master and involved in your contract with him, aren't I permitted to tell you to do things for me?"

"I suppose that is true."

A grin spreads across my face. "Then I order you to find me a date."