In a private room a body gets dragged in and thrown to the floor. Pulling themselves to their knees, head bowed to the floor pleadingly. Their body trembled under glare towering over them. The room was haunting chill, they flinched from small draft. Cowering more.

"Please, please I beg you." They tremble pleading. Lowering their head pressing it to the floor. Causing a small bruise to form. "I ask for just more...more time. I beseech you! Just a bit more, I-I am...I-I..." Biting their trembling lip, tears streaming down, their cries filled the room.

Others stood around in their dark hooded robes, turn their heads all at once at the one standing in a dark golden hooded robe. Their eyes upon the one before them. Hearing their messily whimpers, fell on nothing but deaf ears. Snarling disgusted by such a display, while also taking a slight amusement in it. They trembled under them like a frighten pup.

Time? They wanted more time? Narrowing their eyes coldly, they had all the time they were given. It was a gift, they knew the second they came here. Raising a hand place it upon their follower's head lightly.

Taking a deep breath, feel their body tense up. "Calm, child." They softly say, sliding their hand to the side of their face. "You must not fear, the end. You must not. Time has given you a gift, a wonderful gift," they pause, taking their hand off. "a gift that must returned!" Grips their throat, their cold dark eyes watch life leave their follower's eyes.

Tossing the body aside, wipe their hand. "Filth." The leader said stepping over them. "Discard of them." They order snapping their fingers.

Right away two members went and picked up the body. Bowing respectfully silently repeating their manta. "Master." One spoke following the leader, urgently.

"What?" The leader snaps back, slipping off their robe, stand waiting as two other members come quickly and dress them. "Make this quick, I must get back to a much more mundane importance."

Biting their lips, they knew the limit patience of their master. Each second that passed, only seem to increase it. Despite their master's calm expression. "I-I was wondering Master, if, we are to move on soon? To collect the stolen time? Your acquaintance, it seems, they have not yet delivered and you have more than willing given up such?"

Adjusting their fine clothing. Smooth their hair back. Checking themselves in the mirror making sure they were presentable. "That is not of your concern."

"I understand that, but, Master!" They raise their voice to quickly be silenced, permanently. The others kept their eyes away.

One comes quickly with a towel and cleans the blood from their Master's hand. Who carefully looked at their hand. "Well, I best get my hands cleaned before returning home. My dear wife would not take kindly to such an appearance. I cannot worry her fragile health. Her sensitive mind can only take so much." They breath deeply, checking themselves once more. Find a wrinkle, quickly smooth it out. "What time is it?"

"Nearing midnight, Master."

Midnight, the holiday was nearly here. Merriment and heavenly joy. Colors of light and richness, the time of family. Presents. Delicious spice milk, with a bit of chocolate and maybe mint. Roasted beef, the center of the holiday meal. Caroling to be sung by those with the heart to stand out in the cold. Children running about gleeful with their newest toys. Their smiles never dropping, not even for a second.

Chiming bells of carols. Stories read and spoke around the hearth.

Yes, a lovely day. A lovely time. Soon the new year would be come and everything would change.

Change indeed, walk through the quiet halls of midnight, Sebastian listen to Harmony's heavy light steps sneak from her room to one of the large windows of the hall. Peering and searching for any sign of the red jolly, fat man. Curious he went to look himself, keeping his distance as her child wonder took over. She could barely stand on her tippy toes. Which were aching, he saw bits of flaming red of strain. But, she did it.

Oh, he wanted to laugh, but kept it down. Continuing watching her huff in frustration and walk off. Holding her favorite white bunny, now becoming wet with her hot tears. Refused to hand her head in defeat and disappointment. Remaining strong, for a moment he thought he saw Ciel in her, cute, she was mimicking the young master.

Listening carefully and following her at a safe distance, stops briefly for a moment at May's door. Gives it a glance, not realizing he had leaned forward his ear about nearly pressed against the door. Realizing it, steps back and continues his trailing of Harmony.

Stopping at the top of the stairs, watches her ascend down slowly and carefully on each step. His eyes make sure she was holding the railing tightly. For some reason he held his breath when he thought she might have slipped. But, she catches herself. Bold child she was. A small sigh of relief left his lips. Ascending down the stairs after, she made her way to the parlour room where she insisted on leaving out some sort of treats for the jolly man. With some nice milk, wanting to follow what the book and her peers had said. To the point she showed it to Sebastian. Pointing. And expecting him to do as it was in the book.

Quite a ridiculous request of him and his skills. But, she pleaded nearly turning red that he do it. So, he did. To the point she over saw it, all of it. Making sure the treats where good and well. Tasting the milk he made, again and again and again, he quickly realized she just wanted to drink it. Just as she did with the treats he made. That he had to, kindly kick her out the kitchen and threaten to take away her treats. Which to his surprise when she went crying to her sister, she agreed. Telling Harmony she needed to let him be, as he knew what to do.

Made the demon wonder if this was just her being kind because of the holidays? The Baroness had been giving out rather kind words to him, the point of it was from dinner. He still hadn't fully shaken and it still plagued his mind.

Reaching the room, he kept his back pressed on the wall, and glanced in. Finding to his surprise she hadn't touched the uneaten plate of treats or drunk the milk. She just sat before the small hearth, holding her bunny, staring at the dancing flames. Solemnly. There was a reflection of happier times, dancing in those amber eyes, that sunk more with each one. That came with a soft whimper. She buried in her bunny. Silencing the other noises, Sebastian focused on Harmony's private whisper. The girl shut her eyes tightly, to stop whatever rose inside from coming out, that her poor little body trembled lightly.

There was no frost of cold, just...sadness.

Sadness, Harmony felt lift away from the soft touch on her back, opens her eyes surprised finding a gloved hand out before her, from Sebastian. Smiling softly with warm eyes at her. A soft yelp leaves her throat. Her body jolted back just a bit. Clung to her bunny, meet his eyes pleadingly, with a single finger pressed on his lips, seal it.

His hand still out for her, waiting for her take it. Her small hand rest in his, squeezes it. A warm rush through her body, her hand squeezed more. Stands and before Sebastian could blink throws herself around his neck. Cling tightly. She nearly pulled him down, as she dangled from him, her toes barely touching the floor. His body went tense with shock. Yet, his heart gave a lightening leap that oddly quickened...softly. Increasing with each passing second Harmony remained the way she did. His mind trying to comprehend this, found his arms scooping the girl up and his legs carrying her back to her room. A hand softly on her head, patting it soothingly. Stopping her whimpering, that turned mellow breathing. Extra weight on his shoulder and in his arms.

She had fallen asleep.

Walking up the stairs, stops hearing a soft creek coming from the servants quarters. Someone was here, growling softly turns to investigate, stopping remembering Harmony. Who moved form the tense of his shoulders, relaxes them. She settles. Biting his lip, growls softly, listens as he walked upstairs, to whomever it was there open one of the doors, slip inside and open something in the room. Wanting to pick of his pace, held back. Harmony would wake, if he did that.

He had to take his delicate time. Walking down the hall, pass each room, walk right pass May's. Stops for a sec, realized something. About to turn his head, Harmony moves again. Sighing mentally continued his way to her room.

Reaching it, opens the door and lays her in bed. He could easily leave her, but, instead tucks her in warmly. Double checks she was snugged, seeing her smile slowly return. Lifts up her arm and places her bunny there. Patting it softly, brushing a bit of hair from her face. Made her smile grow more.

"Thank you." She said in her sleep rolling over. Yawning, curls up with her bunny.

He waits a few more minutes making sure she was truly asleep, leaves, stops when he hears her whisper that "D" word again. Holding the doorknob, he shuts the door. Softly walks away, when far enough runs to the servants' quarters. Carefully opens the door, finding Baldroy, Finnian, Tanaka, Finnian and Snake (with Dottie) sleeping soundly. He quickly checks for anything out of place, finding nothing. Moving onto Mey-Rin's room, goes in and out quickly.

Nothing.

Like the others.

The last room, was his own. Opening the door surveys the room closely. Taking cautious steps, guard up and ready to end. Looking everywhere, finding nothing wrong, yet. Moving to the window, it was fine. Nothing. In or out. He checks behind the bed, nothing. Every single inch, the last, his closet. Opening it baring his teeth with a soft wrinkled snarl.

That drops, a surprised gasp he gave and confusion in his eyes. There, in his closest, on the floor...a box. A white box with dark ribbon kindly around it. There were a few holes in it, if one looked carefully. And...a meow. A soft meow. Quickly he opens it, stun to find a cat. A soft silver kitten, with alluring honey eyes. Looking directly at him. With a cute poinsettia tied around her neck, nicely.

She was so clean. So delicate. So lovely. Holding it in his hands, with a small smile. That turns into confusion, a gift? Who gave him a gift?