Oh, Phantomhive Manor. A lot of memories in these hallowed halls. My first formal ball. My first drugging. My first time having sex. And with a demon, no less! Hell, even the first time I went into labor was in this house. Good times...I miss the golden days of Phantomhive Marno. It's too bad it's also going to serve as my husband's eternal resting place. But first, I needed to make a quick call. And I couldn't do this one over the phone.

I went up to the library and started building my altar. A few candles...Some miscellaneous herbs...An old locket for precision. All I needed was a match. And now, we play the waiting game...Come on, spirits. I don't have all day. I have other things to do. I still need to call Sebastian back and tell him to come here...Don't you give me a busy signal.

"Hi, sweetheart," the smoke took the shape of one of my favorite people to ever exist.

"Hi, Gran," I smiled, "It's good to hear your voice."

"It's too bad you only call when there's something after you," she scolded, "Would it kill you to pick up once in a while, Lumi?"

"Sorry," I bit my tongue, "Now wouldn't be a good time to tell you somethings after me then, would it?"

"Alright," Gran groaned, "What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into? I thought that after the demons and the reapers that you'd be in the clear."

"It's actually angels this time," I vented, "They want me to kill Sebastian. He's a powerful demon and this angel can hold a serious grudge."

"That sounds fun," she said sarcastically, "You're not actually going to kill him, are you?"

"That's what the angel wants me to do," i sighed out, "And he went through great lengths to make sure I do."

"I've heard," Gran empathized, "I talked to your mother, but I thought it had blown over by now. She told me what was going on. And that you were recently in heaven."

"The angel I told you about brought me there," I explained, "We had tea. I visited Mom and a friend of mine...A few of them. I would've seen you and Dad, too, but I was running on borrowed time as it is."

"At least you remember how to do a proper seance," she smiled, "It would've been nice to see you in a more tangible form, baby, but for now, this will do. If we ever perfect transdimensional travel..."

"I'll be right back in heaven," I promised, "Right now, I'd even settle for Hell."

"Why?"

"I have to make good on a promise." If I didn't, Lizzie would haunt my ass, "And when your daughter's the one calling the shots downstairs, Hell isn't all that bad. It's very scenic. The fires are bright, but not bright enough to blind you. It's not as hot as people think it'd be, but then again, that might just be for me. I do go down there with a demonic escort."

"Sorry, sweetheart," Gran shrugged, "No matter how you spin it, Hell is Hell. I'm going to have to pass."

"You wouldn't happen to know how to get an angel's sabre off him," I hoped, "Would you?"

"I'd say seduce him," she suggested, "But he is an angel after all. I don't think your feminine wiles are giong to do much good. Not to mention, you're a married woman."

"Thanks, Gran," I giggled, "You're a real help."

"Hey," Gran squeaked, "You asked. I'm doing as much as I can."

"I appreciate it," I looked around the library for Ciel's decanter. A drink sounded nice right now, "But I don't think seducing an angel is my guaranteed ticket to heaven."

"Honey, you made a baby with a demon and gave him your mortality. I'm pretty sure you're not getting upstairs any time soon without a divine escort."

"I know," I chewed on my lip, "That was a little bit of an oopsy-daisy on my part."

"Tell me you'd trade Sebastian and Marcelina for your mortality back," Gran scoffed, "There's no way you would."

"Hell no!"

"Then, go fight for them!" she demanded, "Just be careful, ok? You're immortal. I'd like for you to stay that way."

"I'll be alright, Gran," I swore, "Everything's going to be fine."

"I need to be going, Lumi," Gran told, "I'll be expecting to hear from you a little more often."

"As much as I can," I winced, "Things are about to get a little hectic. And I don't know if I'm going to make it through what's about to go down, so..."

"You're staying alive." If Gran could've hit me right then and there, she would have, "Please, Lumi...Be careful."

"Ok," I nodded, "I love you, Gran."

"I love you, too."

And just like that, the flames in the candles stopped burning. Gran was gone. She probably had other things to do. As did I. I needed to make one more call. And I wish it was to another dead relative, but unfortunately, it was a much more vile and vindictive creature than any of my former relatives could ever be. Granted, some of them were dicks, but nowhere near Ash's level.

I could summon demons. I could summon reapers. Summoning angels? That was a new one in my book. I didn't have a spell for that. Something tells me, though, I didn't need one. I shut my eyes for a few seconds, "Ash…I'm waiting. I'll do it. I'll kill Sebastian."

"That's good," Ash appeared in front of me, "I want you to call for him. Not just an ordinary call. You're bonded, aren't you?"

"Yes," I nodded.

"Where is your seal?"

"It's right here," I unbuttoned my blouse, revealing a pentagram on my ribcage. When my memories came back, so did our seal. Our beautiful seal that kept me out of bikinis for a while. Until people thought it was a tattoo I got while going through a phase. That had a stronger meaning than my wedding ring. It wasn't just on my skin. The seal went through to my heart.

"And you can use that bond to call him?"

"Yes," I did the buttons back up, "Sebastian can hear me anywhere at any time. And it's all because of this mark."

"Then, I want you to send out a distress call," Ash insisted, "I want you to say you're in an insurmountable amount of pain."

"Why?" I wondered.

"If Sebastian thinks his beloved is in pain," he thought, "It'll only make him get here that much quicker."

"I understand," I bit the inside of my cheek.

"How fitting," Ash looked around at the old manor in front of us, "The house of mortal sin. One that sits on top of a gateway to Hell, no less. An exact replica of the one we burned down centuries ago."

"You burned down Phantomhive Manor?" I shook a bit.

"That's right," he nodded, "We deemed the Phantomhive family impure. They worked in the dark arts and the criminal underworld for Her Majesty. The demon rebuilt this one. Perfect down to the last detail. Right down to the same amount of nails in the floorboards. Nothing's changed. How fitting that it will serve as his forever tomb."

"I always did have a thing about irony," I remembered, sitting on the stairs.

"I suppose I should probably torch this place once all is said and done," Ash figured. He stopped in the middle of his pacing to draw some quick dashes in the air with his finger, "You're probably going to need one of these if you're going to go up against Sebastian. It's in his nature that he won't go without a fight."

Out of the rift in space-time, Ash pulled a long, black blade that shot off purple smoke with ease. I guess one could wield a sword like that single-handedly. But the smell that came off the sharp steel...It wrapped its hands around my neck and choked me within an inch of my life, "What is that?"

"Forged in the fires of Hell," he described, "Infused with pure darkness and the blood of every demon it's ever killed. This blade would be the only thing that could kill Sebastian Michaelis. It's very powerful, so I'd be careful with it if I were you."

"Ash..." I gagged, a white hot feeling burning in the back of my throat, "I can't hold that."

"Oh, my dear child," Ash cradled me in his arms, "What's the matter? Is someone's little demon blood problem coming back? It is the single most addictive substance to ever exist. I can't blame you. Do you want something to take the pain away?"

"Yes..." I whimpered as the dizziness hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Yes what?"

"Yes, please," I corrected myself. That's weird. I only took that kind of thing to heart if it were Sebastian.

"Very good," Ash rested his hand on my cheek, "Let me take care of you."

A bright light emanated from his fingertips, soothing the burn in my throat, "Thank you..."

"You're welcome," he kissed my forehead, "Now, how about killing a demon then?"

"Sounds like fun."

"I'm glad you're so compliant, Lumi," Ash held me against his chest, "What made you change your attitude?"

"I realized," I let out a heavy sigh of defeat, "You were right. Sebastian's a demon. I was stupid to think I could've changed that. All of the bad that's ever happened to me. Me being drugged by the Viscount all those years ago? It wouldn't have happened if Sebastian didn't insist I come to that party. My addiction to demon blood. Being thrown around by Lucifer. The pain and suffering I went through to carry Marcelina. It's all his fault. He's pure evil. I truly was an idiot for thinking that a simple human could've changed anything."

"What...?"

There he stood at the bottom of the stairs. I didn't even need the sword. My words stabbed him and caused more pain than what that sword could've done. Ash had the biggest, dirtiest grin on his face, "Oh, am I glad I didn't miss that look on your face."

"You said you wouldn't change a thing," Sebastian's voice broke, "Lumi...Do you really blame me?"

"Of course I do." Come on, Sebastian. You have to know better than that. We've been married for over a century. You should know all my tells by now.

"Ash," he shook me off, "Where did you get the sword?"

"This old thing?" Ash spun it around a bit, putting it in my hands, "I got it from an old lover of yours. A jilted lover, some may say..."

"A jilted lover?" Sebastian thought back, "Of mine? I've never really had anyone outside of her that I'd consider a lover."

"They seemed to think so," Ash took a seat on the stairs, "A reaper. A reaper that you left for her. It appears they hate you now, though, so they managed to get their hands on a demon's sword. I told them all about what I planned on using it for. They didn't hesitate. Anything to see you dead."

"Hold on," the gears started turning, "Was it Grell Sutcliff?"

"I think that's what they said their name was," Ash shrugged, "I didn't care enough to invest in their tragic backstory. But now, that sword is going to be what kills you. However, we can't have an unfair fight. Where's the fun in that? I get to watch both of you dance for me."

"Then, how do you propose we even the playing field?" I really did hurt him. Apparently, he didn't know all of my tells.

"Here," Ash grabbed a sword off the wall and threw it to Sebastian, "It may be bringing a knife to a gunfight, but it's better than being completely unarmed. At least this way, you can defend yourself. Lumi, dear..."

"What?" I snapped out of my guilt-induced haze.

"Don't call her that," Sebastian growled, "You're not allowed."

"Was I speaking to you, demon?" Ash brushed him off, "Now, Lumi, are you skilled with a sword?"

"Quite." I remembered the days when Lizzie would be out a fencing partner and the two of us would spar. She taught me well.

"Make me proud, darling," Ash sent me off.

"Again," Sebastian's eyes turned a deep shade of red and a shadow started pulsating around his feet. Not good, "I said you're not allowed to call her that. She can say all she wants about me. She's still my wife and the mother of my daughter and I will never not love her. Even though you're trying to force her to not love me."

I'm so sorry, Sebastian. Without anymore hesitation, I jumped on top of him, completely catching him off guard. I could've done it. Right then and there, I could've watched the life drain out of my husband's eyes. But I wasn't here for that. This was just a dog and pony show for Ash. Just some pacification. Sebastian's eyes had gone from the fiery red to their usual warmer tone. And the single tear forming in the corner was breaking me.

"Sebastian," I kept my voice down, "You know what this is. You know me better than that."

He wasn't having my sob story. And he was stronger than I gave him credit for. Sebastian flipped me on my back and held me down. But then, there it was. That wasn't a tear I saw. It was a glint. It was a mischievous glint. And more importantly, his touch didn't burn me, "Of course, I do, Mrs. Michaelis. You and I run deeper than you and Ash. Although, I can't say I approve of you playing with angels, though."

"Forgive me, sir," I apologized, "I didn't have much say in it."

"I want you to parry my attack," Sebastian instructed, "Can you do that?"

"You insult me."

"In three…two…" Sebastian attempted to thrust his sword into me. I dodged and regained the upper hand, knocking his knife out of his hand. I straddled his hips and held the demon's sword up to his throat, "Easy where you put that, Lumi. The slightest cut from that on me would be like the time you began exorcising me in bed."

"I apologized for that!"

"Lumi!" Ash called out, "Run him through already!"

"Are you ready?" Sebastian winked, "Do you know what we need?"

"Yes, I do," I nodded, "Mom told me."

"Catherine did have quite an encyclopedia in her head."

"Sebastian…" my voice shook, "Te amo…"

"Te quoque amo," he smiled, "On three?"

"Three," I jumped up and stabbed Ash right in his ribcage with my sword…doing absolutely nothing.

What the hell…?

"My, my," Ash looked down at the blade going through his body, "Isn't this an interesting turn of events? I can't say I didn't see this coming. What do you think you're going to accomplish here, girl?"

"But…" I gasped in sheer disbelief.

"It's a demon's sword," he pulled it out, "It's not going to do much against an angel. You honestly thought that was going to work? Oh, it's a good thing you have such a pretty face, my dear. Because you don't have much else going for you."

"I…" I quivered, "I thought…"

"Now," Ash glared through me, "What's that old saying? If you want something done right…?"

A/N: I'm so sorry this is up so late. It's been one of those days where I couldn't get with it and I apologize for that. And even more apologies for leaving it on such a cliffhanger. And to make matters worse and make me the even bigger dick…I'm going on hiatus. Look. NaNoWriMo's next week and I need to do some preparations for that yet. I'll be gone until December. You guys already know that. You're seasoned pros at this kind of thing. I thought I'd have the story all done and wrapped up by now, but unfortunately, that's not how this is working out. But for those of you that haven't done NaNo hiatus before, let me walk you through it.

For the entire month of November, I'm going to be holed up in my bedroom/a library writing my little heart out. Kind of like what I do now, but I'm going to be working on one single story. My goal is to write 50,000 words in one month. Last year, I almost quadrupled that, so I might not be gone the entire month. I'm venturing out of my usual genre this year and I'm writing something more sci-fi related. So, pray for me. Wish me luck. And I'll see you next chapter. xx