Lucifer stood there with a smile plastered on his face, as if he was waiting for them to arrive all along to have tea together.

When Rune finally found her tongue, the only thing she could say was "Nathan is your butler?"

Rune might have learnt to control her temper, but apparently things weren't the same for her tongue. Fortunately (or not, depending on how you see it) for her, Lucifer seemed to be in a good mood and all he did was laugh at the statement.

"Yes, my dear human," he said."Though I'd rather call him by his original name, but yes, he serves me."

"Okaayy.." Rune answered awkwardly. What am I doing, she thought. Why am I starting a bloody conversation with the demon that I was planning to beat the crap out of?

"You're here to save him, I guess?" Lucifer gestured towards Ciel. Was it just her, or did Rune see his form flicker form a moment there?

She nodded. Lucifer saw her clenched fists and snickered.

"Don't worry," he assured. "I have no intention of challenging either of you to a fight. I am only here to talk."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. This was unlike him – Lucifer would never do anything against his pride like that. Sebastian knew him too well..

"Give Ciel back," Rune said. The demon prince regarded her, his eyes flashing with amusement.

"I will return him to you soon enough," he said. "But now isn't the right time. Whether you trust me or not, it is up to you, but your little butler here is currently undergoing some.. delicate processes."

Delicate processes?

"..What do you mean?" Rune's voice quavered.

Sebastian was deep in thought, until it hit him. "Impossible."

Lucifer clapped mockingly. "Well done Sebastian. You figured it out."

Rune turned to Sebastian, then to Lucifer, then to her butler once more. "What?"

"As you should already know," Lucifer started. "I am literally the original Lucifer's 'Pride'. My being is morphed from feelings, and is fairly incomplete. After all these millennia, this form is slowly beginning to deteriorate. I will not last much longer."

Naturally, Rune did not understand at first. "So what does that got to do-" Her eyes widened in realization. "No.. Don't tell me.."

"Oh I'm not going to possess him," Lucifer made a face and waved his hand dismissively. "I do not use such barbaric methods."

Rune blinked. "Then-"

"Ciel Phantomhive puts his pride above anything else, be it during the past or in the present. He contracted a demon because his pride was wounded and he wanted revenge. He killed numerous people to protect his pride." Lucifer smiled. "And his current powers as a demon is formidable. With a little help, he could do it. I'm sure."

"..You're making him the new ruler of Hell," Sebastian concluded. Rune couldn't determine the tone of it – whether it was awe, anger, loathing, or all of the above.

Lucifer's eyes gleamed. "He had every requirement there is to be the next Sin of Pride. Besides, I've taken a certain.. liking towards him."

"..I won't allow it." That sounded a little shakier than Rune intended it to be. "I'm his contractor and mistress. I will not allow it."

"Allow it or not, it does not matter anymore," Lucifer smirked. "The process has started. Any interference could kill him."

"What process?"

"..He's transferring his remaining powers and authority to him. He's letting his essence merge with that of the Young Master."

Rune couldn't say she liked what she heard, especially from Sebastian of all people. One part of her felt terrified, while another part of her was just..pissed off. They came all this way, almost getting themselves killed more than five times, and all they did was end up getting ignored by the game master himself and offered a room to rest in. And when they did find Lucifer along with Ciel, Lucifer was dying and Ciel was to be made the Prince of Sin and king of hell.

This couldn't be happening.

"Anyway, as long as nothing happens to him – or myself, for that matter – everything will be fine." Lucifer said cheerfully. He waved his hand and a table appeared out of thin air next to him – complete with a tea set. "Now why don't we sit down and relax while we wait?"

No one sat except for him.

"You don't trust me, don't you?" he sounded genuinely hurt, but Rune couldn't care less about it. A million things were in her mind, threatening to drive her into insanity – which was ironic, since she'd managed to avoid that several times already in the Labyrinth.

She fixed her gaze at the demon, trying to decide whether or not his words were true. Lucifer's form flickered once again when he flashed her a smile.

"You're telling the truth," she decided.

"And why would I lie to you?"

Rune averted her attention towards the coffin where Ciel was sleeping in. A faint glow surrounded the boy, making him look almost unreal.

"There's really nothing we can do?"

"Dare to risk it and try?"

Rune stepped forward and took a seat. "Then I guess tea wouldn't hurt."

Sebastian did his duty as a butler and poured the drink into the dainty cups prepared after checking for possible poison and discovering nothing. Rune hesitated at first, but she took a sip. A sweet tangy flavor spread over her taste buds and she gasped.

"This is.."'

"Ceylon Tea." Lucifer smiled. "It's your favorite, is it not?"

Rune stared at him. "But… how did you know?"

"I was born from your butler's thoughts and personality," he reminded her. "Whether he likes it or not, I sometimes receive a fraction of his memories. I'd seen bits of the past year he had spent with you."

Despite the situation she was in, Rune hoped like crazy that he did not see the embarrassing bits.

"I watched your progress throughout the whole Labyrinth," he continued. "And I must say, you're brave for a human."

"Umm.. thanks?" Rune didn't know whether to take that as a compliment or as an insult. "Now that I think of it, many of the Sins mentioned one thing. They told me that they didn't feel like killing me, but they had to because they were ordered by you. If that's true, then why not kill me yourself now that I'm here? Why let me live and interfere with your plans?"

Lucifer chuckled. "Even demons tend to change their minds on what they do, you know. As long it entertains us, we will do anything to get out of the boredom of sitting all day in hell."

"So you really wanted to make sure I would not get out of here alive?"

The demon studied her, as if considering whether or not to answer that question. Apparently, he decided not to.

Meanwhile, Sebastian had been silently contemplating the odds of it all being some kind of trap for the whole time. If this was just some kind of peaceful meeting, then why had his and his mistress's Faustian symbol hurt earlier? He then realized that Rune must be thinking the same thing, judging by her expression.

Lucifer drank the last of his tea and sighed contently. "Well, I suppose my time has come."

He stood up and walked towards Ciel's coffin, his form shimmering with every step he took.

Then, everything happened so fast, even Sebastian could hardly interpret the whole thing. In a flash, Lucifer faded into the air, and Rune let out a yelp before collapsing. Sebastian rushed to her side, biting back a curse. He got careless and let his guard down.

"My lady!"

He managed to help his mistress into a sitting position. But what he heard after than almost made him falter.

Rune was conscious, but she was blinking hard and her expression was that of extreme panic. Her eyes seemed to have lost the usual shine in them.

"Sebastian.." her voice was tainted with fear. "I.. I can't see.."

A price. The transfer required a price, and Lucifer had taken Rune's sight. It wasn't because Ciel was in danger that the symbol hurt. It was a warning that either one of them was going to experience pain and grief. Beelzebub's prediction was coming true.

Sebastian averted his attention towards Ciel's coffin. The boy was beginning to stir from his slumber, and slowly, his eyes opened and he pulled himself up. He stared at his surroundings, as if confused with what was happening. His gaze fell on the two and he furrowed his brows.

"…Who.. are the two of you? Where am I?" he blinked his single eye and stared at his hands. "Who.. am I?"

Rune was just as confused as he was, but some things were just too clear to be mistaken. She was blind. Ciel had lost his memories once again.

And he was also the new ruler of Hell.

I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR THE DISAPPOINTING CHAPTER AND THE LATE UPDATE QAQ

sorry! I'm real busy nowadays and my ideas are just unable to reach me properly..

And I couldn't think of another fight scene (it kills! D:) so I did the diplomatic approach instead... though I think it ended up a little confusing and boring TT^TT

GAHHHHH *bangs head on wall* Excuse my mistakes! Kuroshitsuji isn't mine!