A/N: I am so sorry a new update took forever... It is here now, and I promise I will write more from here on out.

This entire chapter is in the present time again, so no flashbacks. We're nearing the big reveal of this mystery and I'm really excited for you guys to read it ^^

Enjoy!

Present Time

Eleanora stared into the mirror of her assigned quarters. Purple eyes stared back at her, but she couldn't quite recognize her form. She thought that she would not feel this far away from herself ever again… but even as a devil, even as a hunter, a predator, she was still lost.

Nothing would ever make her a better person.

Nothing would ever make her be in control.

She didn't flinch when Sebastian's dark form appeared from out of the shadows of her room, floating toward her before appearing right there behind her in his butler form. His body fell flush against her back, and although she herself warmed up, he remained cold. Through the reflection of her mirror, she watched him lean in, nose nearly touching her dark locks.

He didn't say a single word, he simply watched her. Not her reflection, but her. As though his crimson eyes could see through her form straight into what had once been her heart.

"I used to be the prey…" There was no deal anymore between the two of them, now was there? She was invading his space, his hunting grounds.

She was a threat.

The baby, never even named, was dead. There was nothing Sebastian had left to keep away from that Eleanora cared about enough, and so in reality, Eleanora was now a threat toward Sebastian's master. After all, the deal was that Sebastian would stay away from the baby in return for Eleanora to stay away from Ciel.

He was there to show that even now, Ciel was still to be stayed away from.

But what he didn't know was that Eleanora had no appetite anymore.

"I thought being the predator would change it. But it didn't…" she breathed. She had imagined he would smirk at her pain, find it amusing and perhaps even relieving. After all, it would be quite clear by now that Eleanora was not in the mood to go after Ciel.

She was not the Eleanora Sebastian had originally met. Not anymore.

"I'm still not in control…" Sebastian's brow furrowed at her words.

"My master is investigating the Thompsons…" he spoke, his breath touching her cheek as he continued to stay close to her. Though his presence was no longer a haunting one. He was not getting close to her to show his dominance. "Help us, and we can help you."

"A new deal?" She tried to be cocky about it, scoff in his face and deny him this. But… she couldn't.

"Listen to me…" he purred, red eyes shining. She felt his hands touch her lower back, moving around to her waist. And in the reflection of the mirror she noticed to her surprise that his hands were not gloved. "We are the hunters. We are the beasts in a world of light. We do not have to hide…"

"Says the butler," whispered Eleanora.

"Am I hiding?" he snapped, hands on her waist suddenly grasping her tightly, black nails digging into a tight grip on her.

"You are trying to get information from me…" she breathed. And much to her surprise, she found herself a little saddened at this. It was obvious what he was trying to do: trying to figure out how she worked, what her motives were and whether or not she could be trusted to stay on his hunting grounds. But it hurt, and she wasn't too sure of why…

"Yes." Eleanora looked away at the hurtful truth. "That does not mean I am lying. My master asked me to get information. Anything that he asks of me, I do so long as this is on my hand." She looked back at the mirror and found his hand hovering right beneath her breasts, showing off the mark of their covenant. She found her hand reaching out to his, their fingers intertwining as they stared at each other through the mirror.

"I just wish I was in control…"

"Then be in control. Help us…."

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Breakfast was served once more in the same room as always. Mr Thompson was sitting in his spot at one end of the long table, with Ciel on the other. Neither had said anything to each other yet except for a formal 'good morning'.

In all honestly, Ciel wasn't too sure what to say anyway. This man had come to his manor and lost a wife and an infant. Under normal circumstances, a man in that position would be struggling. Yet, Mr Thompson was as annoyed as usual, as though nothing had happened. He was still ignoring his daughters, and he was still seemingly only interested in Ciel.

At least, that was what Ciel thought at first. Until Earl Thompson suddenly turned his head and addressed his daughters.

"Where is that governess of yours?"

"We do not know, papa." It had been the first time Ciel had heard Rose say a full sentence. The little girl was speaking for herself and her siblings, who all avoided looking his way. "She didn't wake us."

"Then who did?"

"Miss Irene."

Sebastian knew this to be the name of the maid who had come along with the Thompsons from their estate. She had been assigned to dress Mrs Thompson and help Mey-Rin with any duties around the manor whilst they stayed there.

It had also been Miss Irene who had knocked on the door to Ciel's office to inform him and Sebastian of what had happened to Mrs Thompson…

But it seemed odd to Sebastian that Miss Irene had helped the daughters when it was Eleanora who had a covenant with Rose. Then again, she also had a covenant with Mr Thompson. Though the man seemed hardly interested in Eleanora, much to Sebastian's surprise. He had never met a man who would not take advantage of such power being so close to him.

"Well then. Sebastian?"

Everyone in the room tensed in surprised when Mr Thompson turned his head to look at Sebastian for the very first time since his arrival there.

"My lord?" he asked, his surprise not evident in the tone of his voice.

"You and Eleanora seem to have gotten quite chummy… You know where the bitch is?"

Sebastian twitched. He wasn't too sure of where this reaction had come from, nor what in Jason's sentence had triggered it, but Sebastian's dislike for the man only grew now that he was acknowledging the butler.

"I am afraid that I am not quite sure of where she is at present."

"Well, well… Why don't I believe you?" Mr Thompson watched Sebastian. The butler stood to the side, his trolley for tea next to him.

"Sir, I would rather you didn't address my servants in such a way." Ciel sat calmly, with his elbows resting on the table. His fingertips touched each other, and he stared down at his hands. He had not addressed the earl properly for the sake of power play, and he had not looked his way for that same reason.

"Yes… servants…" Finally looking away from Sebastian, Mr Thompson grabbed his cup of tea rather forcefully before taking a sip. "It's cold." The steaming liquid was almost immediately poured down onto the floor.

Ciel couldn't quite believe his eyes. Who was this man? He certainly was no longer acting the way he had been upon arrival.

The four daughters stared down at their laps, not having touched their food in the least.

"Clean it up and give me some new tea." Once more not looking at Sebastian, Mr Thompson sat back in his chair, waiting.

Keeping up the aesthetic, Sebastian smiled and bowed his head. "As you wish, my lord." He moved his trolley over and resentfully gave the earl a glare when no one but Ciel could see. Then, without a moment's hesitance, Sebastian crouched down and used a napkin from his trolley to clean up the tea. It took him no more than a few seconds before he stood back up. By now, Mr Thompson had begun to watch Sebastian's moves once more.

"Go on then," pressed the plump earl, gesturing to his empty cup. "Pour me some."

"My lord," said Sebastian simply, grabbing the tea pot and expertly pouring some.

Hot steam vaporized up in the air, gently touching Sebastian's face as he continued to pour with a gentle smile – keeping up the appearance that he wasn't fuming at the earl's actions as much as the hot tea he was pouring.

As though things couldn't get even more odd, suddenly, Sebastian swayed. His gentle smile disappeared, eyes widening in shock. And before he knew it, a dizzy spell had made him drop the pot of tea.

It crashed against the floor, dirtying the patch Sebastian had only just cleaned up. Some of the hot water splashed onto Sebastian's trousers. But he didn't feel it. He only felt…

Strange.

"Sebastian!" exclaimed Ciel, standing up with a frightened look on his face.

Since the day the demon had made a deal with the young boy, Sebastian hadn't dropped a single thing. If anything, he would have made a show out of it, caught it somehow almost magically before finishing to pour the tea.

Instead it had slipped and fallen, and Sebastian had done nothing but clutch his forehead.

If something was bothering a demon, then it was bad.

"I knew it!" Mr Thompson grew angry once more, pointing a finger at the butler. "Demon!" The fat finger moved to point straight at Ciel. "Liar! No boy, not even an heir of mine, could do what you have accomplished. And that brat of mine? What have you been whispering into her ears?"

Before Sebastian could recover, and before Ciel could even ask a single question about what had just transpired, the doors to the dining room flung open.

"Young master!" It was Bard, much to Ciel's surprise. He looked out of breath. "Something terrible has happened…"

Rose, the oldest little girl, tilted her head and smiled without anyone noticing.

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