Night fell over Gehenna, but it was only the beginning of the day for some supernaturals. Vampires would ensure that the nightlife of Gehenna was thriving. Stores stayed open through the night on most evenings, as they would be tended to by nocturnal employees. The sight of Kristopherson's car driving through the town was unusual, but few thought much of it, rightfully assuming that it belonged to some Londoner-turned-supernatural. Some even recognised it as Kristopherson's and waved in a friendly fashion.

They drove past faces both familiar and not, accidentally hitting Baldassare with bright headlights, prompting the man to raise an arm to shield himself. Hissing, he blinked his eyes a few times after they passed and carried on his not-so-merry way. He actually passed over Andrea's down main street and went to the next in order to reach the library. There, the librarian, Magnus, was about to switch off for the night.

"You're early, Baldassare." the old wizard said. "Did you like the book?"

"I have to be. The guy who replaces you doesn't know where anything is." Baldassare complained before passing the book across the desk in order to return it. "Do you have anything on the same subject?"

"Well, there's a lot of books about myths and legends amoung supernatural beings. Is there anything more specific you're looking for?"

"There was an interesting section in there about diabolical or cursed objects that I'd like to read more about. There's also a figure that there was only a little on..."

"Oh yeah? Who's that?" questioned the librarian further, stepping out from behind the desk and gesturing for the other to follow him down the aisles.

"Akeldama." the Girasol vampire stated, causing the other man to stop dead in his tracks and look back at Baldassare from over his shoulder.

"I'm afraid there isn't a lot of information on him." Mangus replied while shaking his head. "The only books or scrolls that might have some more aren't in English and are most likely in HELLSING's possession. Why do you want it?"

"Because he's the most powerful supernatural who ever lived. It's important to know about him, don't you think? Why is there so little known about someone who's so powerful? Look, I ain't expectin' him to have a fuckin' biography out, I just want to know about him. I'm curious."

"That's an odd thing to be curious about. You're not going to go looking for his artifacts, are you?"

"Fuck no. I don't have much of a death wish at the moment, so it's not really in my plans."

"Well… Maybe you should ask someone who was around when Akeldama was?" suggested the librarian. "I'm afraid there's not much good I can do."

"Who the fuck would that be? I ain't goin' on some wild goose chase just to find some old fart who's good for nothin' but soiling themselves!"

"Well then, I guess you shouldn't go see Lady Aelfgifu." Magnus said with a shrug. "She's real. Probably one of the oldest elves in the world."

"Wait, she's that fuckin' old?!" gawked Baldassare with a nasty expression. "Should I ask her about the fuckin' dinosaurs, too?!"

"I don't think she's that old, sir… Just be nice if you talk to her. She isn't known for cooperating with rude people."

"I'll be as polite as a fuckin' penguin, all stiff and shit." snorted Baldassare. "Aight, I'm gonna go have grandma tell me a story."

Before Magnus could stop him and warn him what a terrible idea that was, Baldassare was already out the door. He already knew where the woman he was looking for dwelled. It was somewhat common knowledge to the older residents of Gehenna. She had a shack in the more ruinous part of town where she told fortunes and gave insight on troubling matters. She was always there, but Baldassare wasn't sure if she would be asleep or not.

Buildings began to thin as the area of town where people had built little huts for themselves rather than making homes in the ruins of former human civilization like the other citizens grew near. Baldassare could smell fire and food cooking, but not from the small home he approached. All that was proof that someone was there was a dim light peeking out from behind the rotting wooden door. He almost thought it would crumble when he knocked against it.

"Enter." called a gravely voice from the other side, giving the vampire permission to proceed. Once he stepped through the door, he immediately shuddered at the sight before him.

Aelfgifu sat in the middle of the floor shrouded in a dark blue cloak. Candles adorned every wall, casting light on the wrinkled face of the elf before him. She didn't look like an ordinary English elf even though she had lived on the island for her entire life. No, she was old enough that she had not changed with the rest of her kind, staying what resembled a Skandinavian elf with pale hair and skin that made her look as though she was made of snow. Blue eyes looked up at the vampire with such intensity that one might have thought that she was looking directly into his soul. Regardless, a warm smile slowly spread across her wrinkled features as she gestured to beckon him further inside.

"Ah, if it isn't little Girasol Frescobaldi." she said. "Do come in and have a seat, child."

"It's 'Baldassare,' y'old coot. And don't call me 'child,' either. I'm over two hundred years old!" grumbled the vampire before otherwise doing as instructed, sitting down on the cushion directly in front of her.

"My boy, in a few days, I will turn one thousand and twelve years old. Everyone else in this town of ours is but a babe, to me." Aelfgifu chuckled. "Regardless, what is it that you find yourself here for all on your own? I highly doubt you wish to have your future foretold."

"Magnus said you knew more about the demon Akeldama than the two paragraphs in the one book the library has with him in it." the man said, prompting her brows to raise.

"And for what purpose do you wish to know about Akeldama, Baldassare?"

"Why is it that the history of supernaturals has been lost while that of the humans has been preserved?" questioned the vampire. "We don't know squat about the important people in our history. What's with that? It's not fair."

"Many things in life aren't fair, but I appreciate the sentiment." Smiled Aelfgifu. "What will you do with the information once you have it?"

"I dunno. Probably put it in a book or some shit."

"Still uncertain and vulgar as ever, I see..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Baldassare, your heart has never been steady. You hide behind lack of knowledge in order to protect yourself from punishment of scorn for providing a lackluster answer. Answer with conviction if you're really so determined."

"Fine." huffed the vampire, digging his nails into his knee as he tried his best not to lash out. He hated going to see Aelfgifu. Hated it. She always saw through everything and it irritated him to no end! Of course, the woman knew this also, making him uncertain why on earth she did this. "Gehenna has been advancing to the point where we must expand to new areas. The town of Pyestock is still being built as we speak, and it is a historic moment for supernatural beings. It made me think..."

"That people will forget these important moments if they are not written down and passed on?"

"Yes..." Baldassare sighed.

"Girasol, your love for other people run deep. You shouldn't try to squash that or feign otherwise." the woman stated, causing the other to grumble under his breath. "Very well. I trust that your words are true. Therefore, I will tell you what I know of The demon Akeldama from the stories of old."

Pulling back her hood, she untucked her hair from inside her cape before starting to speak. "Akeldama… He was called 'The Knower of All Things' and is considered the wisest, most powerful demons this world has ever known. He was an odd one, growing more fascinated with the world and its ways over consuming the souls of the children of Adam and Eve like the rest of his kind."

"That's what the book said..." nodded Baldassare, somewhat pleased with himself for knowing the subject to that extent.

"They say that he can turn day into night by tossing his pitch black cloak into the air. He can become fire given flesh in the form of a magnificent beast the size of buildings and soar into the air to devour the stars. His pale face and long black hair give him the appearance of a man born from the moon, yet it is the warmth of sun that which he desires the most."

"What in blazes does that mean?"

"The mighty demon Akeldama's power grew from knowledge, not violence, my child." Aelfgifu replied. "Yet, even with all of the power in the world at his fingertips, he could not fill the hole in his heart that most demons have. Ordinarily, they would try to devour the lives of others in order to fill their void, but like the Phantomhives, Akeldama sought to fill it by seeking out companionship, not by using others like they are things. Akeldama was a man, you see. Not a monster."

"How did he die?" questioned Baldassare. "How does someone that powerful die?"

"That is not certain." the woman answered while shaking her head. "Akeldama had befriended a young girl whom he held close in his heart. He looked out for her. He loved her like her father should have, but he sold her to a rich nobleman and she was stolen away. Enraged and determined for her return, Akeldama transformed his body into a mighty dragon and laid siege to the castle. Yet, with the castle in ruin in the aftermath, all that was found of Akeldama was his left hand, such is the diabolical object: The Hand of Akeldama."

"What are diabolical objects, exactly?" the vampire inquired further with an expression of genuine interest on his face. "How are they different from regular curse objects?"

"Cursed objects grant misfortune, illness, tragedy, and death. Diabolical objects, however, grant power that no man should ever wield."

"No man but Akeldama, you mean?"

"In some cases." spoke Aelfgifu. "Some are of unknown origin and it cannot be certain that he would or even should be able to brandish them. There is the Lævateinn, for example. It must not be wielded by any man."

"What's that?"

"It is a sword. An evil sword… A wound inflicted by it will never heal and a soul pierced by it shall die."

"No shit, swords kill people..."

"No, not the body. The soul will die." the woman corrected. "Once a soul is dead, it is no more. It will never reach paradiso or inferno, nor will it stay here on this earth with us. It is gone."

"That's..." the thought of such finality frightened Baldassare. He didn't know why. Perhaps it was instinct, but everyone knew that matters of the soul were of great importance. "That's… insane…

"Akeldama's book is another with somewhat more pressing connotations… I received a vision seven years ago that it would be in use again. That book holds spells that do things beyond mortal imagination. It is where Akeldama wrote down the things that he knew. Few people should wield it and I am uncertain that many actually could."

"What kind of person would be able to?"

"I am uncertain. But whomever it is, they are most likely still out there…"

Suddenly, out in London, a chill ran down the spine of a certain one-eyed demon with an odd tint to his hair. A grunt escaped his throat before scrunching his face and sighing. The action caused the man lying next to him to stir.

"Are you cold?" Alois inquired, propping himself up on his elbows in order to look at his husband's face.

"A little." Ciel sleepily replied. A somewhat goofy smile crossed his face as the other Phantomhive leaned down to kiss him, pulling up the covers a bit more before laying back down on top of his beau's chest.

"Goodnight, pooch." he said while wrapping his arms around Ciel a bit tighter so that they shared more heat.

"Goodnight, my darling."


A/N: Yes, "Aelfgifu" is a real name. Google it.

I've been really interested in Akeldama lately. He's very strange. I can't quite decide if he's a good person, a bad person, or a little of both? I'll probably invoke him again for the ending of this one. I've got ideas. Lemme know what you think of this.

Also, I don't know what I should do for the next chapter, so I'd like some help deciding.

Do I want to write about Kris and Logan, Ciel and Alois, or about how things are doing in Pyestock? Reader's choice.

Until the next chapter, my duckies~!