KYAAAAAAA!

Since midterms is over, I decided to continue on with the story as soon as possible, and all I can say to you, my dear readers, that this is probably the fluffiest chapter of Demons Falls First. You will FANGURL. I swear.

On a side note, Yana Toboso just made the most incredible announcement, which will make you gaga even more: Kuroshitsuji will be filmed as a live-action movie! And though the storyline will be completely different (it will take place 130 years after the manga), and that the actor playing Sebastian is a hot wavy head, I'm still so very excited with this! I squealed the whole day ever since I read this online.

Last chapter didn't get much reviews, and the hits on it lowered. I think I can understand why. School has begun in most of countries, especially in the United States (which compromises almost 80 percent of my readers). I've been a fanfiction writer for a long time, and I always notice that hits and reviews rise during the holidays then diminish after that. So I'm not really surprise, since even I lack the time to read or even type a review since my classes begun. But for those who did read, and most especially reviewed this, you're very much appreciated! I lost the list of reviewers again…but you know who you guys are, and I hope you all enjoy this fluffy new chapter.

Prepare to squeal.

''''''''''''''''''''

XIX

''''''''''''''''''''

"Are you not going inside?"

Viessa turned her head slowly to the source of the sound. Her fingers curled to clutch the fabric of her hooded lavender coat, wet from the continuing downpour of the dreary London rain, as she saw Gabriel's tall frame walk out from behind the wall of the Phantomhive manor's right wing.

He held a black umbrella with his right hand, while his left was tucked inside the pocket of his coat. The wet soil made splattering sounds with each step as he made his way towards her. Soon enough, the harsh rain no longer pelted her head when the male stood close to her to share his umbrella.

"Are you not going inside?" He repeated, casting his eyes away from the female to look at the darkened windows of the mansion. "You've been out here for five days."

The pale-blond bit her lower lip as she looked down. She dipped her hand into the pocket of her coat and pulled out a black card. She flipped it over to reveal the etchings of a crow with red eyes, and just below its talons was the familiar pentagram belonging to the demon acting as the butler inside the house. Her purple eyes softened, sorrow fluttering her glassy orbs as she stared at the card, then raised it towards the maroon-haired male beside her.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked down at the card and back at the blonde holding it.

"I don't want to do it anymore," she said softly, her voice cracking slightly, "Can't you take over for me?"

The male just stared at her for several seconds, his expression nonchalant but stern, and then he raised his hand. Viessa's hold on the cards slackened in preparation for his to take it from her fingers, but instead he held her wrist and pushed lightly until the card was parallel to her chest. Viessa opened her mouth to protest before Gabriel cuts her off.

"I only had to watch him while you were at rest, but he is your responsibility," he said. He watched the female cast her eyes downwards, avoiding his sharp topaz eyes. "Do not fail now Viessa. We already failed at being demons; this is all that is left of our pride."

Viessa shuts her eyes in an attempt to hide her sadness from the other fallen one. "I fear that I will hurt him one day," she said in almost a whisper, like she didn't want him to hear.

Gabriel tilted his head to the side, his eyes softening in understanding. "You cannot hurt him," he said as he turned his full front to her. The hand in his pocket left to rest on the female's wet shoulder, squeezing lightly in a comforting manner. "You can never hurt him, and even if you did, he will understand."

The female continued to stare down at the wet ground. A wave of silence followed suite, as she thought of the Gabriel's words deeply.

The male curled his lips into a small smile, observing the pensive look on the face of his subordinate. Watching the different emotions pass on her eyes.

"Do you love him Viessa?" His words startled the female, making her shot her head upwards so she could see the rarely seen smile on the usually poker face of the male.

"I…" she opened her mouth, and then shuts it quickly to nibbling on her lower lip. She stuttered, her ivory cheeks turning into a pinkish hue that can be seen even under the bluish light of the moon, amusing Gabriel. "…I…I know I'm not suppose to but –"

"Who said that you're not supposed to?" Gabriel said suddenly.

Viessa blinked at him in surprise and confusion, and then she looked away. "Demons aren't supposed to love," she mumbled softly.

Gabriel closes his topaz eyes as he chuckled softly, "Says the demon who gave up her contract to marry her master." Viessa looked up at him again, looking slightly annoyed at his last comment.

When his laughter subsided, he opened his eyes. His ghost of a smile was still apparent as he continued, "Besides, we gave up being demons a long, long time ago. Loving is a choice we are free to partake now."

Viessa's eyes softened at his words, but her brows furrowed still, and Gabriel finally understood what the younger really felt. "I don't think that hurting him is what you are afraid of," he said with a soft voice, "You fear that he cannot love you back."

She stiffened after he said those words, and Gabriel was able to confirm his thoughts.

His hand gently squeezed her shoulder to relax her as he continued speaking with a voice so comforting that Viessa never knew he possess. "We demons are living creatures like humans, and like all living creatures, we are guarded throughout life by our instincts." The gloved hand on her shoulder slid up to rest on her cheek. "Love is an instinct. It's the driving force which makes us protect the ones important to us – our masters, mates, siblings, friends, offsprings, and even our own selves. Demons feel these things but never acknowledge them, that is why they live their long lives without a purpose, without even an ounce of happiness that can only be granted with the appreciation of this instinct."

Gabriel drops his hand from her cheek to grab hold of her gloved left hand, his thumb feeling for the bumps of her scar. "Acknowledging that we can love may have cost us so much pain and so much loss," he hesitated for a moment, recalling the events of a past that earned him his own scar. He glances up her face, seeing the sadness in her own features as she recalled her own painful memories as well, before he continued on with a whispered but still audible tone, "But that's just how life is, yet…we move forward still."

They became silent for a long while, the only sound heard was the rain pouring down on everything around them, and then Gabriel lets go of her hand so he could rest his own back on Viessa's cheek. He watched with a soft gaze her amethyst eyes become glassy. A single tear slipped down the corner of her eye and he caught it with his thumb.

"Loving is a protective instinct, and Sebastian is willing to protect you even at the expense of his own life, despite being in a contract. I saw it in his eyes whenever I said your name. He is there for you, Viessa." He whispered with a smile.

More tears left her eyes as she finally let them go, and the male, who she had long see as an older brother she never had, wiped her cheeks dry with the fabric of his gloved hand.

"Come now, stop your crying," he said in a comforting manner.

Viessa shuts her eyes, forcing back her tears but only shedding them more. When she opened her eyes, she beamed a sheepish smile. "I need a hug," she suddenly said.

Gabriel almost threw back his head as he laughed – a very rare occurrence that surprised Viessa. It was deep but light, rich and carefree, and it comforted her even more.

When his laughter died down, the hand on her cheek raised to the crown of her head, sliding the lavender hood off so he could pat her head gently in a brotherly gesture.

"I would hug you, but doing so might cause the demon inside to stir." He said amusedly, causing Viessa to blink her wide eyes in realization: Sebastian was watching them.

Her eyes darted to the far, west wing window of the second floor. Gabriel had been looking at that particular window a while ago. Despite the darkness of the room behind the window, her eyes caught the outlines of something moving. How long has he known that she was here?

As if reading her mind, Gabriel spoke with a still amuse tone as he looked up that same window, "He's known of your presence nearby since two days ago. I got to hand it to him; he was able to track you down despite the very minimal amount of aura you had been releasing, you've been practically invisible since."

Viessa felt a tug on her hand and something being place on her palm. She looked down to find that Gabriel hand handed her the umbrella.

"You should get in," he said with a smile as he was stepping out from under the umbrella. He raised his fur-lined hood over his head. "It's going to rain all night, and you'll get your dress all wet and muddy. I'm sure Sebastian prepared you something warm to wear; he has been waiting for you after all."

Then he walked pass her and into the rain. Viessa turned to watch him leave. He entered the forest path without turning back, dissipating upon reaching the shadows and eventually his presence left the vicinity.

Viessa continue to stand where she was, contemplating hard whether she would heed her superior's words or remain in her place even though she was already spotted.

Was Sebastian really waiting for her? Gabriel could have been mistaken. She had shunned him away during the party and told him to leave her alone, and maybe he was just left with the choice of watching her from afar.

She took a few, slow steps forward and then halted. She stared down at her muddied boots, once again pondering her choices. A minute passed, or probably more, as she felt like she was eternally lost in her thoughts.

A few more steps became several, with moments of hesitation in between. Her steps where slow, but her strides where longer, as if her body was moving on its own accord, more willing to be reunited with the Crow demon inside than what her mind wanted. The next thing she knew, she was standing just a few feet from the manor's rear entrance.

She stared broodingly at the probably locked door for a long while. Then her grip on the umbrella's handle tightened when she saw a faint yellow glow through the very narrow gaps between the edge of the door and the doorframe, and before she could perk her senses to confirm who the presence was approaching the door, she heard the bolt unlock.

The door creaked open, the faint yellow glow of a lamp radiated around Sebastian and the walls surrounding him. He stood still by the door frame, a plain expression on his face as he looked down at the female fallen demon on the rear entrance's veranda.

Crimson met amethyst as they stared at each other in total silence. And then, after a long while, both took simultaneous steps toward each other. Viessa stepped onto the door step, allowing the roof to shield her from the rain. Sebastian stood a foot away from her.

The female tore her gaze away from him to look down, gritting her teeth and shutting her eyes tightly to fight the tears. When she looked back up again, her purple eyes blazed with a sudden rise in bravery, though it slowly dwindled as the seconds go on.

"I don't deserve you," she said sharply, but Sebastian remained unfazed by this, remaining nonchalant. However, the way his russet eyes glisten shows that he was listening intensively. Her voice suddenly became shaky as she continued, "I…will hurt you, Sebastian, one way or another. It has happened before and it will happen again. I already put you in danger with Lucifer. I…" her tears descended, "…I can't…" her voice cracked, "…bare to lose you."

She shuts her eyes again, fighting back the tears that continue to waterfall from her eyes. The hand that had been holding on to the umbrella slackened, and the umbrella fell on the ground, the impact causing it to shut to a close. Both her hands shakily held the lapels of Sebastian's black coat, her sleeves barely touching the ink colored rose on his breast pocket. She pressed her forehead on his chest, breathing in his scent of musky spice.

She felt his chest heave up and down as he suddenly sighs audibly. His white gloved-hand raised and rested on her cheek. He pushes her back lightly so he could look at her at eye level.

"I really do hate it when you cry," he said when he began wiping her tears with that hand. She leaned in to the touch, and Sebastian felt a great wave of relief engulf him when he felt her warmth seep through the fabric of his gloves.

He leans down, their foreheads pressing. "You will not lose me…I will not leave you," He whispered, "And you do not have to prove your worth to me…you are already mine."

The candle lights flickered off when their lips met. His arms coiled slowly around her body, one arm resting on the small of her back, pulling her closer, while his other hand ran up her pale-gold curls, slightly damp from the rain, and rest on the back of her neck. He tilted his head to the side as they kiss, letting his tongue browse her lips to pry them open.

She moaned in content, and Sebastian pulled her slowly in. He shuts the door and leans on it, pressing Viessa closer to his body. When she finally fully relaxed with him, he scoped her up in a bridal style, pulling away from the kiss momentarily to speed towards his room, which was not so far from the rear entrance of the manor.

Love making has never before been as genuine as it was tonight. What Viessa had with Sebastian now is so different compared to when she had made love with her master before. Was it because she was still wholly a demon and still confused at the emotion she felt back then? Is it because now she truly has learned to acknowledge this feeling? She didn't think much about it anymore, and focused her whole being at the dark-haired male hovering above her, relishing on his gentle touches and soft kisses. He was slower tonight compared to the times they've done before, wanting to feel her longer to make up for all those long days of her absence. His eyes did not even glow to its eerie demonic color the whole time, nor did his canines extend to bite her neck like he used to do. It was as if they were not demons at all…It all felt so beautiful.

By the time they were done, Viessa had lost all energy and fell to sleep instantly, her head resting on the crook of Sebastian neck, opting to lie on his broad shoulder instead of the pillow. Sebastian lay on his back, right hand still coiled on her hair and the left caressing her flat stomach. He watched her for a long while, making sure that she was truly asleep or just feigning, before he slips his left hand lower so that his palm was planted on the skin below her naval.

He shuts his eyes. From beneath his close eyelids, his vermillion eyes turned to its demonic fuchsia. A rare incantation floated in his mind, and his lips moved to recite it silently. The dull black pentagram on his left hand began glowing into a deep wine color. His palm began to heat up.

Sebastian felt Viessa stir beside him, and he paused, cracking his eyes open just a bit to see her brows crease in sudden discomfort. When she relaxed again, he closes his eyes and finishes the rest of the silent incantations as quickly as possible.

The burning sensation disappeared from his palm and he exhales. His eyes, now back to its original rust color, opened slowly and he looked down at his hand. The gleaming tetragramaton faded back to black and he slowly slides his hand away so he could admire the smaller replica of his seal tattooed on his lover's navel area.

He smiled in satisfaction before pulling the sheets up on their naked bodies. He pulled his mate closer to his chest and rested his chin on her head, his nose wafting her scent of graveyard lilies. He shuts his eyes and relaxes every tense muscle in his body so he could feel her strange warmth better. He didn't need to sleep tonight, but he could feign it, just so he could make the situation feel human for once.

''''''''''''''''''''

"So he marked her," Lucifer sighs, "A pity."

"I thought you weren't going to bother them anymore?"

The demon king grinned mischievously, he continue to stare at the Phantomhive manor as he spoke to the new being behind him. "I'm not bothering them, isn't obvious, Marbas?"

"My name is Gabriel," the maroon-haired fallen demon said sternly, his deep voice seemed to growl when he said those words.

Lucifer chuckled darkly, turning to face the male fallen one, his abyss-like eyes watching his growing anger in amusement. "'Gabriel'…hmmm…Such an ill-fitting name for a demon on par with the Devil." He said with his sly snake-like voice.

Gabriel narrowed his eyes further, his sharp topaz-eyes blazed with fury that it make his pupils turn to slits without having to change his eye color to the demonic red of his rank. "You best leave them alone, or I will be the one to personally end your reign." He said in a low and ominous tone, his powerful black and red aura radiated around him like a protective cloak.

Lucifer grinned playfully, a chuckle that sounded almost like a cackle of a witch left his lips. "I admire your bravery, and though I would like to see you try to end me, It would prove to be pointless seeing that I already lost interest in these two maggots." The devil said, turning to him fully. He seemed like he was floating as he made his way to the fallen demon and began circling him. Gabriel remained on his spot, while his narrowed eyes follow Lucifer's movements.

Lucifer planted a pale, slender finger to his chin and looked thoughtful. "I understand now why you are so dedicated in protecting them…especially sweet Viessa…" Gabriel grimaces at his words, and then suddenly felt the Devil's cold breath on the back of his neck, close to his ear. He did not move, but his hands shivered in anticipation of shoving his claws on his all black eyes.

"Tell me Gabriel," he heard him whisper, "Are you not feeling even the slightest hint of envy?" Gabriel propped one eyebrow up.

Lucifer gave a toothy smirk and switch to whisper in his other ear. "She has been claimed before you could even admit your own feelings for her. Come now, Gabriel, you are still a demon. Envying is nothing to be ashamed off," his voice has turned slyer, and Gabriel could tell the slight emissions of black aura flowing along with each words. He frowned in realization: the Devil was trying to control him.

"You can still win her back," the Devil continued, "All you have to do is get rid of –"

A strike of claws flashed so quickly it would have been impossible for ordinary humans to see it happen. Lucifer landed several feet backwards with one strong leap, with the sacrifice of a few strands of his long ivory hair. He smiled impishly upon seeing the ominous features of his attacker. His topaz eyes glowing like the usual demonic eyes without having to change its color – only powerful demons where capable of doing that.

His black nails extended into sharp claws that ripped the tips of his black gloves. He stood in an attacking stance, his claws close by his face as he watched the Demon King with sheer contempt. Lucifer released a wicked laugh.

"I am not easily swayed with your words, Lucifer. You always did underestimate me." The fallen demon retorted, lowering his claws which began retracting back.

Lucifer smirked with a throaty chuckle, "That I do," he said, standing straighter and fixing himself.

"You will leave," Gabriel said sternly, his voice of high command and without a care that he was ordering the Demon king, "We already abandoned your imaginary kingdom, we don't need you around to stain the rest of our freedom. It's already bad enough that we still have to do your biddings with the other demons on earth, but that is so we could continue to live on. That's the last boundary we have in connection with you, and nothing more. Do not complicate it."

They became silent for a long moment, the rain pelting on them harder. A wide, malevolent grin curled on Lucifer's lips, and he shuts his eyes, looking solemn. "All right then," he said then turned towards the open forest of the hilltop where they stood. Gabriel let out a long sigh of relief as he watched the Devil walk away.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Called Lucifer, halting on his tracks. Gabriel narrowed his eyes at him.

"I have something for you, in line with this 'last boundary', of which you speak." Lucifer raised a hand up without turning to him, and in between his middle and index finger is a black card.

He speedily flings in towards him, and Gabriel caught it on impulse. The topaz-eyed male raised an eyebrow while looking down at the black card, flipping it over to reveal an etched picture of a black jackal and an unfamiliar pentagram. An assignment, he thought.

Lucifer did not show his wide smirk as he continued, "You'll be stationed in America for the time being. This contract will be short-lived, considering that the terms are quite typical and that the demon is a weakling. So don't you worry your pretty little head, you'll return to watch over your little sisters soon." He ended this with a dark laugh, before his pitch black aura coiled around him and he fades away in a black fog.

Gabriel glared at the last remnants of the Devil's aura before staring at the card in his hand with disdain. With a sigh, he slips the card in his inner coat pocket and turned his attention to the manor afar.

His stern eyes softened. "Take care of her, Sebastian," he whispered to the air, hoping that it would carry his words all the way inside the manor and fleet by the red-eyed demon's ears. Then he turned away and headed to the woody marshes, his form dissipating within the shadows just in time when the rain began to hinder, the gray clouds began to clear, the darkened sky start to lighten as the first rays of twilight seeped through the horizon.

''''''''''''''''''''

Bardroy stared suspiciously at the oddly wider smile on the dark-haired butler's face. The cook was once again shunned from his area by the stove, his already heated up flame thrower discarded by the man who was now taking over to cook breakfast. The rough blonde American took a long drag with his cigarette, his cheek leaning on his palm while his elbow rested on the table, still staring at the grin on Sebastian's features.

Finnian, the shorter blonde seated to his left, was playing with the lose straws of his gardener's hat. A few minutes earlier, he had sabotaged the vegetable garden outside after pouring almost a bucketful of pesticides which he mistakenly took as fertilizer, and he fumbled nervously while he waited for whatever punishment Sebastian prepared. It never did came, not even a scolding. He just merely called him in and had him seat right next to Bard. And just like the cook, the boy with the extraordinary strength had been staring at the butler's cheerful expression while he cooked the omelet.

The boys watch the butler place an omelet on each of the two plates he prepared earlier, just in time when May Rin entered the kitchen, rolling in a food cart when there was already one in the kitchen for the young master.

"M-mister Sebastian," the spectacled maid stammered, "Here is the other cart you needed."

Sebastian turned to glance at the maid through his shoulder, a bright smile still on his lips. "Thank you, May Rin. Please place it next to the other cart." He said in a polite and sweet tone, quite different than his usual stern and commanding voice.

The maid blush at the smile and timidly pushed the cart beside the other, then rushed to stand in between the cook and the gardener, watching as Sebastian continue to smile cheerily while pouring soup into two bowls.

The three servants were used to watching Sebastian make breakfast for his master, but today was different. For starters, he was preparing two meals instead of one, and his usually concentrated features while cooking was replaced with a beaming smile that was not mischievous or sly or sarcastic as they have always known. It was as if something occurred the day before that have left the butler giddy like a child.

"Uhh…" May Rin muttered, eyeing the meals Sebastian was arranging on the second cart, "I beg your pardon, Mister Sebastian, but do we have a guest this morning?"

The tall butler did not open his smiling lips to reply, and instead smiled at the three servants, who cringed more on the cheerful version than the sardonic ones that they were used to.

When Sebastian turned back so he could finish up the rest of the breakfast preparations, the three servants huddled together, lowering their tones into whispers.

"You think the young master allowed him to keep a cat? He does tend to go into this kind of mood whenever a cat is nearby," whispered Bardroy.

"But that does not explain the extra meal," May Rin replied hushly.

Finnian blinked in thought as he stuck his head closer to each of his companions' ears, "Maybe the food if for the cat?"

The American rolled his eyes, "That's absurd, Finny. I single cat can't finish breakfast this fancy."

"Maybe it's for several cats?"

"Or twenty!" exclaimed the maid

"Or hundreds!"

"Maybe this isn't about cats at all!" Bardroy proclaimed, and then toned down his voice. He glances at the butler's smiling features and the rest followed his point of you. The ex-army man narrowed his eyes warily. "Look at that smile," he whispered deeply, "He's hiding something…something else that put him in high spirits, and I'm not talking about cats…"

The three curled a finger under their chins and hummed in thought. Then when something fleet by the cook's thoughts, he snap his fingers together.

"It's a woman."

"A woman?"

"A woman!"

Bardroy nodded his head and puffed his chest, ignoring the questioning expression on Finny's face and the flaring cheeks of May Rin. He thumped his fist on his palm as he confirmed his thoughts. "As a man myself, I would know that only a woman could make one smile like that. The question is…who is the one who captured our butler's attention?"

The two males had their fingers under their chins again in thought, while the red-haired main held her heated up cheeks with her cool palms, trying so hard to control the blood from leaking down her nose, when they heard someone clear his throat loudly. They looked up and fletched; Sebastian was now standing before them across the table, hands crossed on his chest, his cheery smile had diminished into an annoyed one.

"If you're all done talking about me, would one of you please answer the door of the rear entrance while I finish up the young master's meal. Someone has been knocking on it for almost a minute or so." He said nonchalantly, turning back to the boiling kettle.

The three were now aware of the knocking sound from outside the kitchen hall. May Rin gulped and calmed her blushing, bowing down to apologize, "E-excuse me…I'll go see who it is."

Sebastian nodded without turning. He bends low to check if the stove's flame under the kettle was just right. When he stood up straighter, his peripheral view caught a flash of green and auburn out the window. He turned to the glass window, stunned to find Lucilla Landis behind it. She caught his eyes and smiled sheepishly at him, raising a gloved hand to wave.

Sebastian's eyes widened upon an awareness: "If she's here, then it must mean that…" he heightened his demonic senses, and when he caught the familiar aura signature of that one demon he haven't sense for awhile now, he stepped out of the kitchen in long strides, passing the two blondes who raised their eyebrows at the sudden drop in the butler's mood.

He made it close to the rear entrance door before May Rin could open it. He held on to the handle just when she was about to reach for it. "On second thought," he said, looking at the door and avoiding the confuse look of the maid, "Why don't I deal with this. You go back in the kitchen and watch the kettle for me."

The maid blinked behind her large round glasses before she bowed and stammered back to the kitchen. The demon let out a silent sigh as he watch her go, then turn back to the door with his russet-eyes narrowing ominously. He turned the knob and pulled the door open, to be faced with the demon he expected.

"Faustus." He said plainly but darkly.

"Michaelis." The Spider demon acknowledge at the same monotone.

Sebastian tilted his head to the side, glaring at the Trancy butler disdainfully. "To what do I owe the visit?"

The golden-eyed demon glared back, standing still and quite for a long while, before he slipped his hand into the inner pockets of his coat. Sebastian eyes the neat, white enveloped Claude held out for him to reach.

"And what might this be?" the Crow demon smirked.

Claude shuts his eyes, looking solemn. "An invitation to the Earl Ciel Phantomhive, from my Lord Trancy." He replied with his deep voice.

The red-eyed butler stared at his stoic face then down at the letter, he raised his gloved hand and quickly snatched the enveloped, then tucked it in his own coat pocket.

"If that is all that you came here for, then I suggest you get out of my sight before you get any ideas." Sebastian snapped.

Claude tilted his head to the side, a mischievous smirk apparent on his lips, "Just what kind of ideas do you think I'll come up with, Sebastian Michaelis?"

The Phantomhive demon butler glared, his narrow crimson eyes blazing in seriousness. The smirk on Claude's lips fell instantly.

He let out a 'hmp' before bowing politely, "I'll be off then."

"Please do."

The Spider demon turned and made his way down the porch, then halted and turned slowly to glance at his rival through his shoulders. His gold eyes gleamed when he spoke.

"Just an observation," Sebastian heard him say and raised a dark brow. "You smell different."

The Crow demon smiled, tilting his head. "Do I now?" he chuckled lowly, "Pray tell, what I smell like?"

Claude looked away, and raised a hand over his bow tie to fix his collar. "Lilies," he said plainly, before he speed away from the estate.

Sebastian watched the remaining dust of his aura fade out before he sighs and shut the door. He pressed his hand on his coat pocket to feel for the envelope while making his way back to the kitchen.

He was certain that when Claude came by, the six days of truce between the Phantomhives and the Trancy's was close to ending. He thought of this as he pushed the tea cart toward his young master's study, as he opted to eat his breakfast there. Before entering the double doors, his russet eyes glance down at the invitation that he had set up on a silver platter, glared at the spider emblem that was embossed at the red wax, then knocked on the door.

"Enter." He heard his master say. He pushes the door open, entered with a polite bow, then trolled the cart in, halting just beside the desk where Ciel Phantomhive sat, reading the morning paper.

"What's today's schedule?" the young earl said indifferently, not tearing his eyes from a particular article he found interest in.

Sebastian stood up straight by his master's left, reciting the notes he recalled earlier this day. "Funtom Company's regular meeting begins at noon, the dance lesson with Mrs. Hyatt begins at 2 p.m., and the politics lesson with Professor Macmillian begins at 6 p.m. These are all your appointments for today."

"Good." Ciel said plainly, frowning slightly at the dance schedule.

"And this has arrived," he heard his butler say, and the earl halted in his reading, shoving the newspaper down to glance suspiciously at the envelope on the silver tray. His single blue eye widened upon seeing the emblem.

With a letter opener, he tears the wax off and flips the stationary open. His eye narrowed as he read. "Count Trancy would like to apologize for his discourtesy at the ball the other day and requests Earl Ciel Phantomhive's most honored presence at the ball at the Trancy Mansion, tomorrow afternoon at four o'clock."

Gripping the letter, the boy tears it and lets the pieces fall down the tray.

Sebastian inwardly sighs. He was right after all. The peace has died down, and a duel has been promised tomorrow at four, and though the Danse Macabre is worth anticipating, it still annoyed him that he would have to fix up his young master's schedule which he had spent a whole day planning out.

''''''''''''''''''''

The day passed by quickly. Sebastian shuts the door to the conference room after serving his master and his business partners their tea. He flipped his pocket watch open. It would be quite awhile before the meeting will end.

At this time, May Rin would be in the kitchen, washing up the dishes used during lunch. He glances out the nearby window, looking down at Finnian watering the flower beds. Bard was nearby, watching the gardener while seated on the steps towards the garden, a lit cigarette between his lips.

Having finished all his other duties, until the meeting is dismissed, Sebastian found himself some free time. He made his way to the west wing of the house, where the servant's quarters was located. Making his way to his room, he fetches his keys from his pocket and unlocks the door.

Viessa was seated on the bed, her back leaning on the head board. Her pale-blonde curls were loose and framed her face. She wore a white satin robe he had prepared before he left the room for his morning rituals. Her eyes were cast low, looking at a spot on her lower abdomen where her hand was rubbing. She turned her head to the door at the sound of the bolt unlocking, then she quickly covers up her bare belly.

Sebastian steps in, catching her eyes. He gave her a quick smile before he turned to close the door behind him. He made his way towards her, pushing the cart with the now empty platters and tea cup aside so he could stand by her.

"You're finally awake," the dark-haired male said softly while he took off his tail coat and draped it on a nearby chair, while placing his pocket watch and the black rose on the bedside table, "Did you sleep well?"

Viessa nodded with a smile, feeling the mattress dip as Sebastian sat on the bedside. "You've been asleep longer than usual for a demon." She heard him say.

The fallen demon fiddled with the silky fabric of her robe. "The effect of the poison hasn't worn off completely and I need to sleep more to let my body heal faster," she saw Sebastian frowned at the information, and she forced an assuring smile on her face, "But I woke up this morning to eat before falling back to sleep. That breakfast was lovely."

Sebastian stared at her plainly, aware that she was forcing a smile on her face. Catching his gaze, Viessa turned her attention to the black rose on the bedside table and reached for it. She twirled the long, purple stem with her fingers, looking down at the ink-colored petals and recalling the details of the pact between Sebastian and the Crow demon.

Slipping off the gloves from his hand, Sebastian skid closer to her and reached for the rose, their fingers brushing as he took it away and back to the end table. "Claude came by this morning," he announced, causing the pale-blonde's eyes to widen.

"Did he do anything?" she asked, dread slightly evident in her tone.

"He only came to deliver an invitation for the young master," he heard her sigh. He turned to her, seeing the seriousness on her features, and he continued with a darker tone. "We'll be going to the Trancy Mansion tomorrow at four in the afternoon."

The purple-eyed furrowed her brows in thought, "For what exactly?"

A wide but mischievous smile made its way on the male's lips, "Danse Macabre."

"A duel?" Viessa narrowed her eyes at him. This was no ordinary duel, this was a duel to the death, and though she is confident that Sebastian had enough power to top this match, a sense of anxiety still wafers her.

Sensing her trepidation, Sebastian shuts his eyes and smiled. He kicked his shoes off and raised his long legs up the bed. He skids close to her, letting his back lie on the head board, until their shoulders touched. He draped an arm on her shoulders and pulled her closer, allowing her head to lie on his shoulder. Viessa softened at the gentle gesture, and snug herself comfortable on his side.

Her bare hand made its way under her robe to touch the mark below her navel, which heated the closer Sebastian was to her. Noticing this, the russet-eyed male slid his own left hand under her robes. "I apologize for not informing you about this," he said in a hushed tone, feeling for his mark on her.

Viessa shuck her head, her fingers still rubbing the mark along with his large hand. "It's all right," she whispered back, "In fact, I should be the one to apologize."

Sebastian raised a dark brow at this.

"I couldn't mark you, I don't have that ability anymore." She said, grasping his hand and resting it above her left hand, so that he could feel the scar atop her purple pentagram.

The male breathes out, tugging her hand towards his lips. He kissed her scarred hand gently, his lips soft against the rough patches of skin. A blush was able to creep its way on Viessa's cheeks, more embarrassed at the fact that he was kissing the scar that brought her painful memories.

Sebastian's lips hovered by her knuckles as he spoke zealously, "I don't need to have your mark on me so I could keep my promise to you. I do not lie, Viessa."

They gaze longingly at each other's eyes. Viessa found it so hard to believe that the tender Sebastian in front of her now was the same demon she fought so many years ago.

Their eye contact was cut short when Sebastian lets go of her hand and bends in front of her, his hand reaching for the handle of the bedside drawer. He reached for something within, and when his hand went out of the drawer, Viessa saw something gold-like shimmering between his fingers. When he presented it in front of her, her amethyst eyes went wide.

"That's…my ring!" she exclaimed, reaching out to take the gold wedding band with the single diamond from the male demon's hand, but Sebastian was quick enough, and he pulled back to evade Viessa's feisty attacks just so she could obtain the jewelry from him.

He caught her quick hand by the wrist and told her to calm down. When she did, the male demon smiled sweetly at her, before his eyes flashed into fuchsia and the ring on his left palm levitated. Sudden sparks where emitted around the gold band and Viessa watched with eyes wide in shock as the ring her master had proposed to her with burst into a black and blue flame of intense heat and power. The gold and diamond, despite its known strong properties, melted until it eventually dissolved completely.

When the flame died along with the ring, Viessa gaped at her mate, who looked on at her with a grin. Her purple eyes darkened and narrowed at him, her face contorting into anger.

"Why did you do that!?" she cried, wanting to tackle Sebastian to the ground, but the mark on her burned in response to her intentions.

As to avoid any huge conflict with his mate, the Crow demon slips a hand on his trouser pocket, pulling out a small, black velvet box, shutting all attempts of a retort from Viessa's mouth when she caught sight of it.

She blinked at him, looking alternately at the demon and the box in his hand. His fingers reached out to flip the top of the case open, revealing an inner blood-red silk lining where a shimmering white gold banded ring rested. An amethyst cut gem stone glistened in between two, smaller black diamond's that may have cost a fortune.

"Sebastian…?" she stared at him, confusion and all other emotions fleeting by her features.

The demon butler took hold of her left hand. He pulls out the ring from the box and slides it on her ring finger, smiling in satisfaction that the ring fitted her perfectly.

"You're first husband has already left you," he said, raising her knuckles so she could see the ring on her finger closer, "So you should make room for the next one."

Her purple-eyes were still wide as she stared up from the ring to Sebastian's face. He smiled and leans in, their lips brushing softly, but then pulled back slightly when his sharp ears caught the sound of a bell ringing from the butler's office room.

"It seems the Young Master is finished with his meeting," Sebastian said, looking out the door. He turned back to his mate, smirking at the still stunned look she was wearing. "I'll be back with you shortly," he whispered, then gave her a quick peck on the forehead, before slipping his shoes and coat on. He spared her one last soft glance before he left the room, smiling victoriously.

Viessa tore her eyes away from the closed door and back to her left hand, eyeing the ring in particular. A feeling of lightness overwhelmed her and she smiled – her first true smile since the day she became a fallen one.

''''''''''''''''''''

Lucifer grinned maliciously at the scene he saw, despite being so far from that window.

"Maybe not now, but soon," he whispered mostly to himself, "Just you wait. Our little game is not over yet."

A gust of wind fleet by, making his long ivory hair flow along. His abyssal eyes narrowed ominously as his fangs grew with his smile.

He turned away towards the darkness of the forest, his long black cape hovering behind him like a large shadow. The pale, bony fingers of his right hand slackened, letting loose of the black lump on his palm.

A dead crow tumbled on the gravel when the Devil's form faded away. Its black wings were ripped off, the ebony feathers dangling in places on the remaining skin and bones of its appendages. Held on its beak was an asphodel, the pale petals tinted red with its own blood.

''''''''''''''''''''

Not much of a cliffie, but more of a suspenseful break. I really like this ending very much.

I wrote all 7,500+ words in a day, so there is bound to be some mistakes. So sorry in advance.

We're already midway the Season 2 Arc of the story. We won't be seeing Gabriel for awhile, which means that it's Lucilla's turn to act as the sentimental historian. A lot of reader's have been wondering who Lucilla is exactly, as her past is rarely ever mentioned in the story. So don't worry, the more clear hints will come out soon.

I'm still open to answering any questions you might have regarding the premise of this story, especially parts that confused you or something you wanted to make clear. I won't reveal any spoilers though. You may ask through PM or Reviews. Answers for questions from anonymous reviewers will be posted along with the next chapter.

Don't forget to REVIEW! I'm still hoping to reach the 100 reviews goal. I'm already so happy that the reviews hit passed 60 – that's the most reviews I ever got in my whole life as a fanfiction writer. So thank you all so much for the faves and the support!

Stay tunes and have a pleasant!

- SafireLupe, 1-20-2013