Sebastian was right. In spite of the fact that the air outside looked like it would be polluted and suffocating, it was crisp and clean, even at high noon. Probably even more so than any air Violet had breathed in on the surface world.

I wonder how they pull that one off, she thought, studying the flaming, smoky sky as they made their way down a winding road of other large castle-like homes. Maybe Hell has a really good filtration system.

Violet and Sebastian, along with Mey-Rin, Finny, Tanaka, and Baldroy, had decided to walk into town, rather than drive. That way, Violet could get more familiar with the area. She was surprised to see how normal the neighborhood looked - there were children playing in their yards, older folks sitting on their porches or tending to their gardens, and people walking their pets, though the kinds of pets were some she had never seen before. They reminded her of Pokemon.

"I never expected everything to look so normal," Violet said to Sebastian, as Finny stopped to pet a three-headed dog that someone was walking.

"Most neighborhoods here are similar to the ones you're used to seeing. There are, however, certain ones that more closely resemble the ones you'd expect to see in hell," he explained. "But we will not visit those areas… not anytime soon, anyway."

Violet nodded as they continued on down the street, not bothering to ask why. A smaller area of town came into view when they rounded the corner, and Mey-Rin shrieked with excitement.

"There it is! Can we go to the consignment shop, Mister Sebastian?" she asked, jumping up and down.

"The shooting range is just over that hill! We got time to stop there, Mister Sebastian?" Bard asked.

"Look at that garden in the park! There's so many birds, too! Can we go there?" Finny asked.

Tanaka was suddenly in his full human form, polishing his glasses as he spoke. "Calm down, you three. We have obligations we must fulfill, as servants of the Phantomhive manor, regardless of our location." He paused for a moment to put his glasses back on. "Though… I would not mind visiting the history library, at some point."

Sebastian sighed. "I suppose you lot can go off on your own, while Miss Violet and I handle the errands. I daresay, it would be better not to have you underfoot all day. Please be back at the castle by 5pm."

The four of them bowed in response as they agreed, then scattered off in various directions. Sebastian looked over to Violet and held his arm out to her.

"Looks like it's just you and me, today," he said with a smirk.

"I don't have any complaints about that," Violet replied, taking his arm.

They started down the road that led to the stretch of shops and businesses. Their first stop was a department-type store, where Sebastian instructed her to help choose various household items. They got cookware and dinnerware, a tea service set, and some cleaning supplies. Violet thought about picking up some décor items as well, but decided to order online instead. With that idea, she stopped in her tracks.

"Sebastian… is it possible to shop online down here?"

"Of course. We have our own network of retailers, though. Obviously, any mortal would be baffled if a delivery address was located in Hell."

"Hmm… I suppose I could always have stuff shipped to the manor, and have Charles or Leon and Carol bring it down, if I have to."

Sebastian nodded and turned back towards a shelf full of silver flatware. Violet wandered around the corner, noticing a display of black stones, sparkling with various colors, and of various sizes.

These are like the ones Sebastian used to give me, she thought with a smile, remembering how exciting it was to place the newest ones with her collection. Those days were much simpler…

"Hey Sebastian, is this where you got those stones you would bring me-" she fell quiet as she turned the corner and realized he wasn't there.

Suddenly, there was some kind of energy drifting by that she had an overwhelming urge to follow. Forgetting her search for Sebastian, Violet allowed the mystery energy to lead her through the aisles and out the door.

"I looked everywhere! I couldn't find her… I didn't even sense her!" Sebastian growled.

"Maybe something horrible has happened!" cried Finny, his eyes sparkling with tears.

"No… she would have used her ring to summon me, if she was in trouble," Sebastian said, trying to convince himself, as well as the others, that she was not in danger. He tried to keep his expression neutral, but his voice was still filled with worry.

It was now close to 9 at night. He had been out looking for Violet for several hours before returning home, hoping she would be there, but only found the servants pacing around.

"We need to alert Master Ciel and organize a search party. Leon and Carol should be notified as well," Baldroy spoke up, noticing the state Sebastian was in. "Sebastian, you and I should go to headquarters. Mey-Rin, Finny, stay here in case she comes back."

Baldroy opened the door and they hurried down the steps. Before they got to the end of the walkway, though, Sebastian gasped.

"Violet!"

Baldroy followed his gaze, and saw Violet down the road, walking towards them. He ran back into the house to tell the others, while Sebastian took off to meet her.

"Where in the world have you been? I've been worried!" he asked, pulling her against him, an unfamiliar burning sensation in his eyes. He also noticed she felt like she was burning up again.

"I… I don't know," she stammered, before bursting into tears.

"My love? Have you been hurt? What's wrong?"

"I don't know!" she cried again, clinging to him.

Taken aback by this reaction, he picked her up and carried her into the house.

After Violet had calmed down, Sebastian brought the tea cart into their bedroom and began preparing some for her. He helped her sit up against the pillows he'd placed behind her, then carefully handed her the tea cup.

"So you don't know where you were?" Sebastian asked, sitting next to her.

"No… the last thing I remember is looking at this display of black stones, and I went to ask you something about them, but you weren't there. Then when I came to again, I was standing at the top of this hill in the middle of the country, and there was a massive church off in the distance, surrounded by small houses. I don't recall even going back up to the surface world…" she explained, sipping the tea.

"I was there, darling. You were walking towards me and asking something, then you stopped, turned around, and walked off. I thought you were just going to look at more stuff."

Violet sighed. "I don't know what happened. It's scary to think I blacked out and wandered to some place that I don't even know."

"I wonder… why didn't you use your ring to summon me when you realized where you were?"

"I… I'm not sure. Normally, I would do that, but… it never even crossed my mind… I'm… I'm sorry I worried you again…" Violet said, bursting into tears again.

Sebastian took the tea cup from her and set it on the cart, then pulled her into his arms.

"Please don't cry anymore. I know you didn't do it on purpose. I'm just so relieved that you're okay," he said softly, pulling her chin up so she was eye level. "I don't know what I'd ever do if-"

That's when he noticed it. Her usual purple eyes had hints of silver fading out from the pupils. He was quiet for a few minutes, as though he was thinking. His outer expression briefly seemed concerned, but inside, his rage was in full fire-mode.

"Sebastian? What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing. Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you."

Just then someone knocked at the door.

"Young Master Ciel is here, yes! Shall I send him up?" came Mey-Rin's voice from the other side of the door.

"Yes, send him in," Sebastian replied.

"Ciel is here? Does he know about what happened?" Violet asked, feeling a bit of a panic rising up inside her.

"I suppose it must have got out to him, in some way or another," Sebastian said, getting up and opening the bedroom door. "I spoke to him this morning about what happened last night. He just wants to take a look at your shoulder."

Oh right, the shoulder thing. I actually forgot about that, she thought, pulling the neckline of her shirt down and looking at the cross that had been carved there. The scabs had healed, but there were still fairly noticeable white lines in their place.

Violet looked up as Ciel entered the room. Sebastian gestured to Violet, as she sat up and moved to the edge of the bed.

"So, you said this happened last night?" Ciel asked, leaning in to get a closer look at design on her skin.

"Yes. I'm still quite baffled at how anyone managed to get in," Sebastian said with a frown.

"Did you happen to see what time it was? Maybe the security cameras picked something up," Ciel said, tracing a finger over the white lines.

"No… and I've already checked, there's nothing."

"Hmm…"

After a few more moments, Ciel stood straight again and gave a nod to Violet.

"I'd like for you both to come down to headquarters tomorrow. There are a few things that need to be discussed," he said, making his way out of the room. "Sebastian, walk me to the door."

- Sebastian's POV -

"You're absolutely sure this has something to do with St. Francis?" I asked, as I escorted my young master to the door. I knew it did, I just needed to verify my suspicion.

"There's no doubt. I've been getting flooded with threatening calls, letters, and emails. They all say the same thing. They promise they will take Violet from you."

I couldn't stop a growl from escaping me as we headed down the stairs.

"I assume Violet is aware of the connection between the cross on her shoulder and the mission of St. Francis?" Ciel asked.

"Well…"

"Your tendency to withhold information is rather troublesome. You know doing so will do nothing but diminish the trust Violet has in you."

"I'm not withholding anything from her. She has been under a lot of stress lately, I figured if I can handle this myself, then there's no need to add more worry to her mind-"

Ciel scoffed. "Still can't let go of your pride. I think you're just scared of looking like a failure because there's a chance that you can't handle this on your own-"

I slammed Ciel into the wall and pinned him there.

"Who are you to question my capabilities? Have you forgotten how many times I've had to save your ass, even when I should have just let you get what you had coming to you?" I growled.

"Have you forgotten that you had no choice? It's a part of the contract! Stop acting like a saint, you only did it because you're hungry and don't want to lose your meal!" he growled back, slamming me back onto the floor.

"I could have let you die that night! I could have eaten your soul and let her cut your records!" I snarled. "But it's not a part of my aesthetic!"

I kicked him in the stomach, sending him across the room into the wall again.

"Why are you fighting!? Stop it!"

I looked up to see Violet at the top of the stairs, looking extremely upset and unwell. I stood and rushed up to her.

"I apologize that you saw any of that," Ciel spoke up before I could say anything. "We were just having a heated disagreement. But I think we've settled it."

He got up and brushed brick dust from his shoulders, then located his top hat and cane before opening the front door.

"Sebastian, I'll be free around noon tomorrow. You two can stop by then."

"Of course. We will see you tomorrow then, master," I replied with a smirk as he disappeared behind the closing door.

"Wh-what was all that about?" Violet asked shakily.

"Don't worry about it, my love. Let's get you back to bed, you seem to be rather unwell, still," I said, picking her up and heading down the hall back to our room.