* So the whole idea for the underworld I describe here was inspired by the "Afterworld" music video by CKY. Just thought I would share that tidbit in case anyone was interested and wanted to check it out :) *

* Also, I'll be updating probably only once a week for a bit, as I'll be busy with overtime for work and won't have much time to write new chapters so quickly. This is why I like staying ahead lol.*

Only a couple hours later, Violet paced back and forth in the foyer, anxiously waiting for Charles. Sebastian waited with her, chuckling at her impatience.

"No matter how many times you walk this way and that, it will not make him get here any sooner," he said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Violet stopped and stood still for a few moments, then started pacing again. "Where are the servants? I haven't heard any of them all day."

"I took the liberty of sending them on a paid holiday in London for the week while you were unconscious. I thought it would be better if I didn't have to keep an eye on them as well, while tending to you. They're due back in a couple more days."

"Ahh… right."

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"I got it!" Violet charged towards the door and flung it open, ripping it entirely off the hinges in the process. "Oops…"

"Still edgy as always," Charles said, looking up at the door frame, now sans door. "That'll be a tough fix."

"Nonsense, I'll take care of it." Sebastian said, taking the door from Violet and lining it up on the frame. "My mistress, don't forget our training. You've got a great deal more strength now, and you must manage it more gracefully." With a couple clicks, the door was back in place, like new.

"Sorry… I forgot. I didn't think it would be that significant of an increase…" Violet replied, blushing slightly.

Charles took her hand and examined the ring on her finger. He let out a low whistle. "Wow, Sebastian. You weren't kidding when you said it was one hell of a stone. That'll pack a punch, when used."

"If used," Sebastian replied.

"True. I can't say I know of anyone who would be foolish enough to cross you. Word is still going around about the blithering moron who did, years ago. I daresay no one is trying to end up the way he…" Charles trailed off, a grim look on his face.

There were a few moments of tense silence as the two of them thought back to whatever it was they were talking about. Violet looked back and forth between them, confused,

"What are you guys talking about-?" she asked.

Charles snapped back to attention. "Nothing. Shall we be heading out now, then?"

A car took the three of them into downtown London, stopping in a dark alley. There was a single metal door that led into a rough-looking, twelve-story brick building. Charles approached it, tapping three times with his cane, then two more times, then four more times.

Some kind of code, Violet thought. She noted that there were a few broken windows above them on the second floor, as well as a broken fire escape. I wonder who or what we could possibly be going here for…

The door opened to let them in. Violet expected to see a guard or someone there holding it open, but there was no one. The interior of the first floor was no better than the outside of it. It appeared to be some kind of pub… Violet couldn't believe there were actually people drinking at the bar and standing around in groups, socializing. Leaking pipes dripped into puddles on the floor, tattered and peeling wallpaper hung down, and a group of rats scurried by.

"Eeep!" Violet screeched, jumping into Sebastian's arms.

Sebastian laughed. "A demon afraid of rats? I never thought I'd see such a thing."

Violet huffed and hopped back down. "I'm not scared… they just surprised me is all…"

"Of course, my lady."

They followed Charles through the pub, further down a hallway, into an area with several elevators. He tapped the one on the far left with the same code he'd tapped into the door in the alley. Within seconds, a bell rang out and the doors slid open. Violet was surprised they were even in working order.

Once they were all inside, the doors closed again, and the elevator car began shaking and plummeting downwards at an alarming speed. Violet gripped the rails on the wall and tried to stay on her feet.

"How- the hell- ?" she stammered, stumbling back and forth.

Finally, the car crashed to a stop, sending her flying towards the wall. Sebastian caught her right before she made contact with it.

"Sorry about that. I keep meaning to put in a request to have that fixed," Charles said casually, as they exited.

Violet's jaw dropped at the exquisite sight of their destination. Very unlike where they had entered through, the floors and walls were a black marble, and there were tall columns lining the hallway ahead. The ceilings were a few stories high, and made of glass. Beyond them, where one would expect to see blue sky, was a view of a red-orange glow, as well as a couple more towering skyscrapers.

"Charles… is this your office building?" Violet asked, noticing a large sign etched into the archway leading into the hall, which read Phantomhive Inc.

"Not mine, per say… it's the Phantomhive family headquarters. This way, please."

They navigated through several more corridors until they finally stood in front of a large door at the very end of a hallway. There was an etching in this door that said C. Phantomhive.

Must be his office, Violet thought, as they entered the large room.

There were shelves lining the walls, holding many books and trinkets. A pool table to one side, a chess table to another. They approached an executive-looking desk at the head of the room, which sat in front of large, high windows. Outside, more orange-red glow provided a backdrop to an otherwise normal looking city.

They stopped in front of the desk. Violet noticed the chair was facing away from them. Charles cleared his throat.

"I've brought Miss Violet, as you've been expecting," he said.

Who is he talking to?

"It's about time. I didn't think you'd ever return," came a voice. "How are you enjoying your second visit to the underworld?"

Violet gasped as the chair turned, and she saw the person occupying it.

"Sebastian… who is he…?" Violet whispered to Sebastian, who stood next to her. She held on to his arm nervously. He looks like… but it couldn't be… could it?

The person sitting at the desk was a young man, no older than 18. He wore an eye patch over his right eye, and there was a ring with a large blue diamond set in it on his left thumb.

"Surely you've told her about me, Sebastian," he spoke, leaning his head into one of his hands in mock boredom.

"I've told her about you, yes. I don't believe I mentioned you were still alive, though," Sebastian replied, a dark smile on his face.

The man stood and walked around the desk to stand in front of them. He held out a hand to Violet. "Very well. I am former earl Ciel Phantomhive. I run the Funtom Toy Company and manage the operations of the family as the queen's guard dog."

Violet shook his hand. "You're… grandfather Ciel? But how… wait, are you…?"

"A demon? Yes," he finished for her. Then he gestured towards a few chairs. "Why don't you have a seat, and we'll explain everything. I'll try to keep it brief. Sebastian, tea."

"Yes, my lord." Sebastian said with a bow. Then he disappeared.

Charles and Violet sat down, while Ciel took his place behind his desk again.

"How did you end up becoming a demon? And how are you still in a contract with Sebastian if you have no soul for him to consume?" Violet started immediately, feeling more confused than ever.

"I suppose that would be a good place to start." Ciel said. "Somewhere during our first several years together, there was an accident, and I had to be changed. Sebastian was able to siphon my soul and preserve it in a bottle during the transformation. Had he not changed me, I would have died, and he wouldn't have been able to claim my soul."

"One goes to extreme measures to protect a soul as sweet as my young master's," Sebastian said, bringing in a tray of prepared tea and serving it.

"Okay… so, you've still got your soul then… in a way… I guess that answers that." Violet said.

"Not quite," Ciel said. "There's more to it. Allow me to explain further… a demon technically can't hold a contract with another demon, under normal circumstances, but since I was under contract during the transformation, it was modified, thanks to an unsecured loophole-"

"A rather inconvenient loophole that has since been closed up, to avoid similar incidents in the future." Sebastian interrupted.

"Yes. Per the original contract, I still hold possession of my soul…" he took a small bottle, much like the one Sebastian had given her, from a desk drawer and placed it on the desk. The silvery liquid swirled about. "… until revenge is taken upon the party responsible for the murder of my parents and the torture I endured. However… seeing as the original sacrifice was tainted, a second, additional sacrifice was offered. Can you guess what that might be?"

"Uhm… no…?" Violet answered, confusion setting in again.

"You. You are the second sacrifice." Ciel answered, picking up his tea.

"I still don't follow," Violet said, swirling her own cup around a bit before taking a sip.

"You are marked as his mate, are you not?" Ciel asked. "It sounds rather harmless, but in reality… you died when he changed you. He consumed your soul."

"So… I'm actually dead?" Violet asked, feeling slightly freaked out.

"Technically, yes. You probably don't notice much of a change since you were already half demon. Had you made the change from full-blooded human, it would be different." Ciel explained.

"Something I didn't know until years too late," Sebastian grumbled.

"What are you mumbling about?" Ciel shot a glare at Sebastian.

"I am merely saying that the soul of a half-demon is not near as satisfying as a human soul."

"Why are you complaining? You got your mate, didn't you?!" Ciel shouted.

"I'm not complaining in the least. I'm more than satisfied with the outcome. Miss Violet is perfection in every way possible, as though I molded her with my own hands. I'm lucky to have her as my own." Sebastian answered. He moved to Violet's side, placed a hand on her shoulder, and smirked. "My point being, I can't help but to think you proposed such terms on purpose, knowing you would come out with the upper hand."

Now Ciel grinned mischievously. "Your part of the deal was that you would receive your mate. The soul was just a bonus. While I didn't anticipate the family bloodline to definitely carry forward the demon trait, I still accounted for it as a possibility. Is it my fault you failed to think ahead about these things, as well?"

"Of course not, my lord. It was my own slip-up for not catching it," Sebastian responded.

Violet had been sitting silently, trying to process everything. She finally spoke up.

"Okay, so you have your soul in a bottle that Sebastian will eventually drink… I don't have a soul at all anymore… in fact, I'm technically dead… I was a second sacrifice… Sebastian didn't think ahead… where does this all tie in to taking down the crime ring, and the reason it's taking so long to do so?"

"That's simple. The updated contract clause was on hold until you turned 17, which is when Sebastian was able to make his move. That was the wish of your parents, wasn't it?" Ciel asked.

"Well, yes, but if he knew since I was 14 that I was marked, why didn't it take effect sooner?" Violet asked. "Did my parents know about this being a part of the contract?"

"Yes. Matthew and Miranda just didn't know it would end up being their own child. After you were born, they came for a visit to confirm that you were the marked one. While they didn't have a problem with it, they still wanted you to at least have a normal upbringing. That is why guidelines were set. They knew what responsibility you would be taking on." Ciel stated, draining his cup of tea.

"And that is why I was sent to serve the generations of my master's descendants, to keep watch for the marked one, as well as to keep busy. While I was technically not in an active contract, I was still bound to it, preventing me from forming another with someone else while waiting. It took quite a bit of patience, but it paid off." Sebastian said.

Ciel chuckled. "Sebastian didn't even know you were a half-demon, nor did he know you were his mate until he found a strategically-placed note from your parents. So much for an observant butler."

Sebastian glared at Ciel. "I don't see how I could possibly have known, when Matthew and Miranda kept it hidden so well with some kind of cloaking energy. I did know the connection I have with her is different from those with the other Phantomhive children."

Ciel glared back at Sebastian for a moment before continuing. "Either way, the condition has been fulfilled, and the contract is in effect again. This is the time to end the war that has been going on between the Phantomhives and criminal rings for so long. There will be no more bloodshed on our side."

- Violet's POV -

I often wondered why Sebastian didn't stop the murders of our family members through this war. But now it makes sense… he couldn't. He wasn't under an active contract, so he couldn't act without grandpa Ciel's orders… this is exactly what he briefly explained to me in the graveyard that day. Now that I know more… I feel bad for being somewhat upset with him, thinking he just wasn't doing anything.

My sense of guilt started welling up as I sat there.

- Regular POV -

"Do you have any further questions, Violet?" Charles asked, rising from his chair.

"For now, no…" Violet replied, standing as well.

"My lord, will you be returning to the manor with us?" Sebastian asked Ciel.

"I suppose. Someone has to look after the manor while you and Violet are in London on that case for the queen. I don't think would be wise to leave it in the hands of those blithering fools for so long," Ciel answered, referring to the servants.

How does he know Mey-Rin, Baldroy, Finny, and Tanaka? Violet wondered.

She was about to ask as much, but Ciel must have noticed the expression on her face.

"In case you were wondering, I'm the one who took the three into the manor, when I lived there. Tanaka has been with our family for a very long time."

"But how are they…? Are they demons too?"

"No. However, due to their immense contributions to the numerous cases I've seen to for the queen, they were granted eternal life, as long as they are serving the Phantomhive family. They may not be the best service inside the manor, but their skills out on the battlefield are top notch." Ciel explained. "I wanted to keep them around to help fight this war."

Violet just nodded. I guess at this point, I'm just not surprised anymore. It seems anything is possible…

Violet, Ciel, and Sebastian were dropped off at the manor. Violet had asked if Charles would like to stay for a while, but he insisted he needed to get back for a meeting.

After Sebastian shut the door behind them, he turned to Ciel.

"Master, would you like me to show you to your old room?"

Ciel waved him off and started up the stairs. "No, I'll manage. You two have preparations to make for your trip."

Sebastian turned to Violet after Ciel disappeared.

"My love… you've been oddly quiet since we left master Ciel's. Are you alright?"

"I… I just… I feel bad… I was kind of upset with you, ever since Leon and Carol told me everything, and then what you told me when we visited my parents' graves… I wondered why you hadn't done anything to end the war, why it has been going on for so long… I briefly thought you just didn't care… and I have this really horrible feeling of guilt, because of it… and why the fuck am I crying? I thought demons didn't have emotions like this…! Something is wrong!" Violet cried. Tears streamed from her eyes as she put her hands over her face.

Sebastian pulled her close to him. "Darling… I don't blame you for feeling that way. You didn't know what was going on. I would expect you to feel some type of way about it. Please don't feel guilty. And most certainly don't cry over it." He paused to wipe the tears from her cheeks. "You're still newly changed, these things take a bit of time to fade. Even then, they don't fade completely. It's mainly solitary demons who are void of emotions. Once one finds their true love, it brings a new life to them. Emotions are necessary for them to protect their loved ones. Nothing is wrong with you."

Violet sniffled as she calmed down. "Oh…I'm sorry… I'm just so overwhelmed by all of this."

"I admit, you're taking on a lot in your first days as a full blood… in fact…" he turned and opened the front door, where the same messenger who had stopped by the last week stood, hand raised to knock. "Someone has brought a message."

"Your arrangements downtown have been made. Please find additional information at the River Road Inn. They'll expect you tonight." With a bow, he turned and left.

Sebastian closed the door again. "Are you still up for taking this case?"

"Not really… but I already said I would do it. I don't go back on my word. I suppose we better pack and head out."