Author's Note: I saw a shirt that Serena so needs. It said, 'Only 2% of the world has red hair. So I'm a majestic unicorn.' I also want to thank those on here that have picked up a copy of Tangled Mirror. I hope that you enjoyed it.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji or any of it's characters. I only claim Serena, as well as the demons and descendants that I introduce.

Chapter Nine

Back with Ciel and Undertaker...

Ciel started to go after Sebastian, worried for Serena as well. Undertaker took his arm in a vise and led him back into the shop.

"What do you think you are doing? Unhand me!"

"Now, now little earl. You would be no use to him is this matter. Whenever demons clash, there is nothing but blood." The man giggled while pulling the teen into the shop without much effort.

"What do you mean when demons clash?" Ciel finally admitted defeat and sat on one of the coffins with a huff, straightening his clothing and pulling the icy coldness of rank around himself.

"The serial rapist that had been plaguing London for the last week or so, he's a demon. One who feeds on a human's essence not their soul. And he's in the wrong territory. Add to that he attacked an Elder's mate and well, it's going to be quite ugly." The mortician giggled into his sleeve.

"What do you know about Sebastian that I don't?"

"Quite a bit actually. But that's another bit of information." Undertaker laughed softly at the look that crossed the earl's face.

"But isn't what you've already started to tell me connected to Sebastian? And you said that the information about the rapist, that was already paid, for was now useless."

"Ah, so it is." Undertaker took a seat on the coffin across from Ciel. "You see, you have a very valuable soul, my lord. To have the power to summon an Elder demon and the brains and soul to keep him interested. Elder demons do not need to feed nearly as often. Some can go decades without eating a soul, so they are picky about the contracts they form. When an Elder is summoned to our plane, they have a certain radius that is considered their territory. Weaker or younger demons must inform the Elder if they are passing through or are feeding in their territory. Other Elders inform each other as a matter of courtesy."

"Courtesy amongst demons?" Ciel scoffed at the idea.

"Think what you will, young earl. But the fact remains, that while more brutal, many aspects of demon society are much more civil than your own. Probably because they live so long. War, chaos and destruction will only occupy a being for so long." He smirked. "Besides, if they feel the need, demons only have to come up to the human world if they miss wartime amusements."

"So Sebastian is an Elder and he's claimed London as his territory during our contract, is that what you're telling me?"

"Exactly."

"Undertaker," both looked up to see Sebastian, with that fake smile showing his irritation, in the doorway. "You're supposed to be telling him of Serena."

"Of course." The reaper laughed. "Unfortunately, there's nothing to tell."

"What?!"

"All of my sources are keeping mum on the subject. It seems that no one knows why she was sent here, even the higher ups. The only one who does is the one who did the sending. That is in itself interesting enough."

Ciel stood. "Where is Serena?"

"She's in the carriage my lord, and needs to return to the manor." Sebastian looked back outside, not leaving the entryway.

He was already feeling the strain of being pulled in two different directions.

"Very well, if you cannot tell us anything more, we'll be on our way." Ciel stood and moved to the door.

"Just remember that pulling someone through time takes a great deal of power. To find the answer you seek, you need to find those with enough strength to manipulate time itself." The Undertaker waved them off. "Bring her with you when you come again. I'll let her stay in the shop next time."

When Ciel stepped into the carriage he was shocked at the condition Serena was in. Sebastian had laid the girl across the other seat and she appeared to be sleeping. Her hair hung limply around her face, she was beyond pale, her dress was rumpled and disordered. It was a far cry from the put together woman that he had become used to expecting.

"What happened?"

"She was indeed entertaining the demon Undertaker had spoken of." Sebastian smiled down at his master.

"Is it taken care of?" Ciel continued to stare at Serena.

"Of course, master."

"Is she alright?"

"She will be." Sebastian closed the door at the lord's nod and jumped up to the box.

As the carriage swayed out of the city, Ciel noticed how she would frown and put a hand to her side. He continued to watch the girl as his mind turned over all the information he had gained from the Undertaker. It may have not seemed like a lot of info but it did have impact.

'I always wondered why I had never seen any other demons and had simply concluded that contracts like ours were rare. But, if Undertaker is to be believed, then it could simply be Sebastian keeping them away. Could he really be that powerful? Could Sebastian have the power to mess with time? Not long ago I was certain the answer would be no. Now, I'm not so sure. I need more information, but I only have one place to ask.'

Ciel looked out the window at the countryside speeding by. Irritation was evident on his face.

'It's not as though I haven't asked before, but that damn demon keeps finding ways to dodge the question. I obviously haven't asked the right question yet.'

The Earl felt the carriage hit a rut and Serena let out a yelp. Green eyes opened to see Ciel leaning over her. He held out a hand to help her sit up.

"Thank you." Serena kept a hand on her ribs as she tried to find a comfortable position to sit.

"Are you alright?" He moved back to his own seat.

"Yeah," she tried to sit another way and gasped. "Oh, movement bad with broken ribs."

"Broken ribs?" Ciel scoffed. "I thought demons were supposed to take care of their mates."

He knew the butler would hear him and expected a response that never came.

"I don't want to talk about that right now!"

The Earl covered his surprise at the girl's outburst. She groaned again as she shifted.

"Well, that's what I get for trying to get out of a trouble by myself. Word to the wise, never bite a demon. Retribution is not worth it."

"You bit him?"

"What else was I supposed to do?"

The Earl shook his head. "Word to the wise. Next time, just wait for Sebastian. Your injuries are your own fault."

"So much for sympathy for the injured. What did the Undertaker have to say?"

"Not much. He seemed to be rather talkative about Sebastian more than anything." Ciel rubbed the top of his walking stick as he thought.

"He didn't say anything about me? About how I'm supposed to get home?"

"Just that there was nothing being said about you. Everyone knows that you are here but no one knows why. Now, I want to hear about what happened to you."

Serena sighed. "My lack of attention span. That's what happened. I wandered off to look at some of the shops and got lost. What looked like a gentlemen offered to help me back to Undertaker's parlor. Evidently, he decided I looked delicious."

She cocked her head to the side. "I think I'll take that as a compliment." The girl waved that off. "Anywho, reapers showed up and tried to step in but I remembered how they seemed to lose against demons. So, I took it upon myself to find a way to scream, thinking that Sebastian would hear me. Hence the biting and the screaming and ensuing rib breakage. I think the corset is helping with that. I would hate to be taking this ride with no support on the ribs. Let's see, then Sebastian showed up, started spouting out all this crap about me being his mate, whatever that's about. The reapers left, Marcus let me go and Sebastian made me pass out. He seems to like to do that."

They both felt the carriage turn into the drive and went silent. Once in front of the house, Sebastian opened the door. His face was set with that fake smile that always creeped Serena out.

"I think he heard us." The girl mulled over the option of trying to descend the step herself and decided that with the ribs and the large dress, that just wasn't going to happen.

After Ciel exited the vehicle, the red head gave Sebastian her hand. Her senses were on high alert for any movement from the angered demon. On the ground, she stepped just right to set off her ribs.

Sebastian scooped her up and walked to the doors that Snake had opened.

"Welcome home, Master. Miss Serena." The man took the Earl's greatcoat and hat.

"Did anything notable happen while we were away?"

"No, sir."

The words were no sooner out of his mouth when an explosion shook the manor. Ciel sighed at the all too normal occurrence.

"Sebastian, take Serena to her room and then find out what Bard has destroyed now."

"Yes, master." The butler bowed, still holding the red head, and headed up the stairs.

Serena was strangely quiet as she was carried to the guest room she was occupying. Once inside, Sebastian set her down and stepped back.

"I'll wrap your ribs after I deal with Bardroy."

"I'm sure Mei-Rin can handle it." The girl moved carefully and walked to the bathroom.

"You would take the bumbling maid over me?"

"Hey, just because I'm willing to stroke your ego for saving my life does not mean that I'm going to let you play grab ass in gratitude." She shut the door firmly.

"Grab ass?" Sebastian watched the door for a moment, debating on continuing this discussion, when another shock wave ripped through the mansion.

"Sebastian!"

"Yes, yes. I'm going, master." The demon walked quickly through the halls. Entering the section of the house used by the servants, he saw traces of smoke. The closer he got to the kitchen, the more smoke filled the air. He could hear the yells of the servants and that murderous rage he felt earlier came creeping back.

"Finny, don't throw water on it! That will only make it bigger!"

"Why did you light the oil anyway, Bardroy?"

"It's a new technique!"

Sebastian took a minute to gather himself, sighing in irritation. They never seemed to learn. In all the years those three had been at the mansion, they never got any better. The butler didn't understand why bumbling servants were something desirable in novels and short stories.

'If they had to live with the bumbling idiots, authors would understand that there is nothing comedic about it.'

Finally, he pushed the door open.

"What is going on in here? Are you trying to reduce the mansion to rubble?"

The three saw Sebastian and jumped in fear.

"Mei-Rin, take the first aid kit to Serena's bedroom. There was a small incident while we were in town and she needs her ribs bandaged."

"Yes, sir!" The maid took the opportunity to run away from the angry butler without a second thought.

Finny looked between Bard and Sebastian before rushing after Mei-Rin. "I should get back to the

garden!"

"Where are you going?!" The chef watched them leave with a touch of fear.

*********************************A Demon's Mate************************************

Upstairs, Mei-Rin knocked before opening Serena's door. She looked around but didn't see anyone. A noise turned her attention to the bathroom. Still holding the box of bandages, the maid knocked on the other door.

There was still no answer.

"Miss Serena?" She opened the door slowly.

The red head was on the floor, back against the wall and tears falling down her cheeks. Mei-Rin put the box down quickly and ran to her lady.

"Oh, my lady. It's okay." Not knowing what to do, she hugged the younger woman. Mei-Rin ran her hand up and down the girl's back, trying to comfort her. "You're safe here in the manor and whatever problem there is, Sebastian can solve it."

Serena cried harder at the demon's name and buried her head in the maid's neck.

"I just want to go home! I only wanted to go out with my friends. It's not fun anymore. I don't want to help on cases. I don't want to be a lady. And I don't want to marry anybody!" Serena hiccuped. "Why? I kept trying to tell myself that this was a dream. So, why can't I wake up?"

The girl's misery brought out a mothering instinct in the former assassin. She rocked the red head slowly while thinking of any way to calm Serena.

"Don't worry now, Miss. The master and Sebastian will figure it out. Just you wait."