Note: Oh no I forgot about you guys for a whole week D8 I'm so sorry for the missed chapter! I've been gaming (as anyone who follows my tumblr probably already knows) so everything else just sort of faded into background. Anyway, I'm back now! Yay!

Don't forget to vote for chapter thirty!

After that Ciel stopped trying to kill himself and sitting alone in his room. He was constantly in the library, where he read about demons until he fell asleep and Sebastian carried him back to bed. Since he wasn't awake to tell Sebastian to leave the demon usually stayed with him at night, singing to Ciel like he did to Rose.

Another month passed. Rose was no longer a tiny pink bundle, but rather was becoming more of a baby. A living thing.

Sebastian often brought her into the library, trying to coax Ciel into playing with her. She didn't seem to like him very much, though, and when he held her she just gurgled and waved at Sebastian. If Ciel didn't hand her back fast enough she would cry.

He supposed it was his own fault, though. He was ignoring her, leaving her to Sebastian. Besides, Ciel always heard rumors that children often prefer their mother, and though that wasn't technically what Sebastian was, he was close enough.

About halfway through the third month Ciel was fed up with reading. He had to talk to someone – someone other than Sebastian.

But everyone was dead. At the thought his head started pounding.

But what if they weren't?

Surely Sebastian couldn't have killed the reapers. Or…

Undertaker. He couldn't have killed the Undertaker. If the Undertaker wasn't already dead or gone.

They hadn't heard from him since they were on the Cambria. He'd simply disappeared. The only things to remind of him were his abandoned little shop and his rosary.

Ciel closed his book and wandered out of the library to his office, where he kept the rosary in a little box in one of his desk drawers.

He was thankful to have arrived without running into Sebastian. He knew it was impossible to run or hide from Sebastian – he would know, he'd tried on several occasions – but avoiding him was possible.

He closed and locked the door behind himself even though there was no way it would stop Sebastian if he decided to come in. He pulled open the desk drawer – second down on the left – and pulled out the small parcel that contained the rosary. He slipped it into his coat pocket and pushed the window open.

There was no way he would survive the jump, and even if he tried Sebastian would just come and catch him anyway, defeating the whole purpose of slipping out through the window. He could climb down, but there were so few places for him to grasp onto there was no way he could do it.

He poked his head out and glanced up and down along the outside wall of the house, checking to be sure that everything was still as he recalled. Satisfied, he stepped out onto the ledge that wrapped around the whole house. Pressing his back up against the wall, he took a deep breath and started edging along toward the storm drain. Once he'd ducked under two windowsills and nearly fallen twice, he reached his goal.

He tested the storm drain's stability with trembling hands before latching on and sliding toward the garden. He'd never been more grateful than when his feet hit the soil.

He looked around the garden carefully, worried Sebastian might be coming for him. When he decided it was clear he dashed off toward the stables.

.

Ciel didn't know his way through London very well. He wandered on horseback for nearly two hours before he reached the Undertaker's shop.

The sign had fallen down and the windows were barred. Ciel dismounted and tied the horse's reins to a nearby streetlamp before wading through rubble to the door, which looked as if someone had rammed it open by force. It hung brokenly on its hinges, swaying and creaking in the wind.

"Undertaker?" Ciel called, stepping into the blackness. "Undertaker, are you here? I have something for you."

As far as Ciel could tell, the shop hadn't been entered in years. It stunk badly of rotting flesh and preservative herbs and salt. Dust danced in the late afternoon sun let in through the broken door.

Ciel reached into his pocket and drew out the parcel. He unwrapped it carefully, holding up the rosary. "Undertaker? I know you can hear me."

An arm wrapped around him from behind, a hand reaching to touch the rosary dangling from Ciel's fingers. "Hello, Little Earl," said a voice as crooked as the door. "It seems you aren't as little as I recall."

Ciel spun around to face the Undertaker, who looked no different than he had all those years ago. His hair hung in front of his eyes, though it was pointless seeing as Ciel knew what he was hiding.

"It's been far too long, Earl. How have you been?"

"I have no time for chatter, Undertaker. I need information."

"Ah… Well you know the price."

Ciel scowled. "If you want the rosary back then you'll tell me."

Undertaker peeked out at the rosary though his fringe, frowning. "You drive a hard bargain, Earl, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I was quite fond of it, but I'll pass today."

Ciel sighed, tucking the rosary into his pocket. Well, that was pointless. "I suppose it's too bad you couldn't hear the things Sebastian has been telling me."

"Ohh…?" The Undertaker grinned, leaning down to Ciel's eye level. "And what would that be, Earl?"

Ciel scoffed. "As if I would repeat it," he growled. "I suppose I'll just have to leave… I might tell you, however, if I decide that your information is helpful."

Undertaker laughed. "I'm not as easily fooled as you might think, Earl. But I suppose I may as well make an exception just this once. This world is quite dull without all you moronic mortals bumbling about."

Ciel might've smirked, but now wasn't the time for that. "I trust you know the situation?"

"Of course." Undertaker chuckled, leaning back against the wall just beside the door. "I know everything. It's quite the amusing story, really. Who would've thought the Earl Phantomhive was homosexual?"

Ciel ignored the comment. "Sebastian says there is a loophole. What is it?"

Undertaker tapped his chin with a long black fingernail. "That child of yours," he said. "The baby. She's your loophole."

Ciel blinked. "Pardon?"

Undertaker held his sides, as if trying to contain laughter. "My, my… You really don't know? Homosexual and ignorant. What does Mr. Butler see in you?"

"Do you want to hear what Sebastian said or not?"

"Ah…" The Undertaker covered his mouth. "You see, that girl is the ideal payment. I'm sure if her soul were to be offered up, then Sebastian would maybe wake you."

"Wake me…?"

"Ah… Homosexual, ignorant, and now as naïve as a child." Undertaker looked ready to crack, but was containing himself. "This is all a trick; an illusion. Sebastian never intended to do anything but acquire the child's soul. That child – Rose? – has the most amazing combination. Her parents had two of the most delectable souls to be found in this world. If Elizabeth were still alive Mr. Butler may have requested for her soul as extra payment, but if that had been the case then he would have had to consume yours as well. This way he gets his payment, his extra charge, and he gets to keep you."

"But if I'm asleep then that means the contract hasn't been completed."

"Not yet. But it's payment in advance."

Sebastian… He had been planning this the whole time, hadn't he? From when he killed that first woman he had been planning this whole thing.

Ciel felt sick and used and deceived.

"He broke the contract," Ciel said harshly. "He deserves no payment. He lied to me."

"Did he not say that there would be alterations?"

Ciel was silent.

"He's a clever one, that butler of yours."

Ciel grimaced. "He's a deceitful bastard."

"Ah… But what demon isn't?" Undertaker laughed. "So, where's my payment, Earl?"

"Sebastian once said, 'Good morning, my lord' as he brought me tea." Ciel, in no mood to deal with the Undertaker's antics any longer, trudged through the debris and out the broken door. He untied his horse and mounted up. The Undertaker stood in the shop's doorway, watching irritably. Ciel waved the rosary. "Thank you," he said, tossing it to Undertaker, who caught it easily.

He laughed softly. "Good luck, Little Earl."

[IMPORTANT] Three more chapters left! I have everything written through chapter 29. Chapter thirty will be reader's choice! Feel free to send in suggestions, and those that I like will be added to this list:

Current Options:

Alternate Ending (12)

Ten Years Later (8)

Ciel Visits Lizzie's Grave (1)

This list will keep growing, so send me suggestions or just tell me which you'd like to read!