AN: The world is a mess, and I am sorry for this late update. Yes, I am still in Japan. No, I have no clue what is happening. It's just been...insane. I read seven books last month insane.

Stay safe and stay inside everyone. I'm trying my best to get back into writing.

Warnings: Spoilers from somewhere in the manga. Not sure where though.

Chapter XVI

She of the Beginning

Bright flashes of white erupted her vision as her mind tried to push her way through a solid wall which she thought was a horrible dream.

But her chest still felt heavy.

Her breathing was still shallow.

Her entire body…

"Uhhh." She groaned loudly as she tried to blink through what she just saw.

But she only saw darkness in front of her.

Lotte's heart skipped a beat as she struggled to sit up, blinking through (or at least trying to) the dark shadow in front of her. Her breathing started to come out in loud huffs as her hand reached out trying to capture something. Anything. But only grabbing air.

She sat up completely realizing she was not out of the mindscape Lilith had placed her under quite yet. She would not be fooled and come to conclusions of being forever trapped. So, she took a deep breath, recollecting herself, controlling whatever part of this fake reality she had left. Closing her eyes, she tried to remember the last place she was in. A room full of people. Her grandfather, a man in a bowler hat, Lilith grinning devilishly behind her fan, and the man…

Lotte's eyes opened.

That man saw her. She remembered the faint chill down her spine. Lilith mentioned she was but a ghost to them, but she could see the man's green eyes connect with hers. What was stranger still was how familiar those eyes felt. As if she had been pulled into her own memories hidden in her locked box and found the owner.

And once he looked at her, everything vanished. The white light appeared, then darkness again. But now, she was plugged into something…it reminded her of being stuck between two walls. Yet, she knew it was Lilith trying to bring fear in her heart. A way of pushing the mind further away from reality and when she awoke, would result in her memories being mush. Lotte would not break under such a spell.

I know your tricks, Lilith. Lotte's eyes narrowed through the dark. Now what are you trying to show me this time.

There had to be a reason behind the black ink in front of her. A reason why she wasn't being pulled from the dream. Lotte knew her physical form was slouched in a chair, chained, and injured; too weak to even move but growing stronger by the second. She felt it in the dream world faintly. Her body was regaining its abilities to perform. And soon when this illusion disappeared and she was back face to face with Lilith, it would be the moment to let go, to become the hunter she was trained to be and strike. She would do it. She would escape from the chains, not caring about the skin she would graze, and relish, doing anything to slow Lilith down. She rubbed her wrists subconsciously, already feel the burn, almost preparing it for future pain.

Lotte showed a slight grin as she continued to build the plan. At the moment only her mind was alert as her physical self was left behind. For what Lilith had given her to heal her foggy mind was enough to shock her thoughts back.

Sebastian's blood.

She somehow felt more connected him and yet it confused her. Lilith had given her his blood…and yet…he…Sebastian, who are you truly?

Raphael had warned her. She read about it in the piles of books he had given her for homework which she hated. But still, she learned, and when it nearly happened and Raphael shot the demon's head off with a shotgun, he made sure it would stick in her head.

He spoke as he blew away the smoke from his shotgun. "Demon's blood is poison to humans. Don't drink it unless you want an express ticket to Hell."

After Lotte pushed the heavy demon's body off of her and stood, she whipped the blood that was nearly forced into her mouth. "I'll keep that in mind if any demon forces me otherwise."

She remembered his smirk and his purple eyes darkening as he again spoke. "Just remember…"

There were more words, but somehow, she guessed she blocked them out of annoyance. Lotte was unimpressed that day.

But as she glanced around again, perhaps this was Hell? Lotte shook her head. No, maybe this was the path to Hell. Then why did she not feel anything. There was no fear. It was neither cold nor hot in temperature. There were no moans or screams of the unforgiven. Everything she read on the world wasn't what she was seeing or feeling now. So…was everything a lie?

But Lilith…she showed me those things. She wouldn't have shown me if she knew I was going to be walking the path to the Underworld. Plus, Sebastian… Lotte paused and muttered. "He would've done anything to stop her, right?"

But he was weak.

But he could've done something.

But would he? He's not human.

But he cares enough, right?

Does he?

Lotte's brain continued to battle against the possibilities, so much so that her mind pounded against her skull.

Her hands fell to her head, her eyes shut tight, and she wished, no, hoped, this nightmare would end and she would be back in her rundown New York apartment where she still struggled to keep up as an FBI agent. But then the voices came, and for a second, she thought she had finally lost it. But remembering where she was. Lotte opened her eyes knowing Lilith was not done with her show and tell.

There were voices. Many voices lingering around the darkness. Lotte looked around seeing nothing, but she stepped forward, trying to follow the source. And the more steps she took forward the more energy she felt. So, she took advantage, knowing it could be well in her head. Lotte then began to run; her breathing being released in energized huffs of air. Adrenaline peaked its high, something Lotte hadn't felt in forever. Nostalgia filled her body as she pushed forward, hearing the voices become clearer. Then she broke through something. A sort of invisible wall, and appeared on the other side.

xXx

Unknown location, unknown year

There she stood in mud. Wet, brown dirt was splattered all over her lower legs. She scoffed in annoyance, lifting her suctioned black boots from the stick. Rain fell from the bright, grey sky above her as she glanced around at her new scene. She was definitely not in a place she recognized. People walked around slumping and shuffling through the muddy, cobbled sidewalks. Under small, sheltered wooden doorways, some sat, looking pale and starving. She noticed a few children crying and holding their hands out in the rain as if asking for water to turn into food. Horses pulling wooden carts and carriages which flooded in the streets. They passed the grey pedestrians by without caring whether or not mud would stain their already worn rags.

She moved forward, knowing the people around her couldn't see her. But as she passed, she saw more children sitting, starving on the streets. She wished she could help. It broke her heart. And she wondered what time period Lilith was showing her that this could've been the norm.

What are you talking about, Lotte? This has always been so. She sighed in realization. "It was probably just not as bad."

And bad was an understatement. The more she walked on, the darker the place began to feel. There weren't just more people littering the sides of the streets, there were more moans emanating from them. People lay as if in pain. A few people surrounded those on the ground, eyes clenched tightly, as wet dirty cloths patted their already muddy foreheads. Some were clenching their legs, scratching or hitting with black tipped fingers. Others clenched the ones who were trying to press relief; although what kind led to Lotte's burning question.

Where the hell was she?

It was then when she saw the pale, lifeless face of a little girl lying glass-eyed in the corner of a building she knew she had to find a way out.

She moved quickly through the maze of narrow streets, trying to not glance at the ground where people scattered already half-dead. But where was she going? Where could she go? Why was she there? Lotte felt the tears fall, mixing in with the mud on her face. This place was horrible so what did Lilith wish to show that Lotte hadn't already seen enough of?

She shivered, soaked to the bone in rain and mud. The air fell threw her like icy death. Lotte glanced around down the alley knowing most of these people wouldn't last another twenty-four hours. She shook her head in defeat and continued running down the alley, arriving out into a large square. It was there she recognized it and realized she was standing, staring out at St. James's Square. Except now the square was filled with wagons carrying bodies, people carrying gurneys where moaning people lay, women in mud stained dresses rushing over to sick people, and more people in black and white going in and out of the church on the other side of the square.

Lotte was in a time where sickness ruled the world.

"Where the hell have you put me, Lilith?" she muttered, watching two people pass her, carrying a bloody gurney holding someone with a severed leg.

And deep down, somehow, she felt Sebastian was tied to this.

She rushed through the square, dodging and moving around nurses and sick people. Although she was a ghost, she did well not to interfere.

She entered the large stone church, breathing in relief to be out in the rain, but pausing in shock at the horrors in front of her. Inside the church, instead of rows of benches, there were rows of beds. White, blood stained, beds all holding crying, screaming and moaning souls. She felt the burning sensation on her mark, knowing the demons lurking to catch the food in waiting. The colourful, stained glass figures painted high above the alter, showed pattered rain drops from outside, looked as though they were crying from the scene below.

It was something out of a history book.

"Can you see it, little star." The sudden voice beside her made her jump.

And Lotte looked to see a woman, with ruby red eyes dressed as a simple nun, standing beside her, watching the scene as well. "Lilith," Lotte stated, looking back at the filled beds. "What the hell are you showing me?"

"A piece of history that must shown because it lays waste in your own history. A reason why your family has good connections to the other side." Lilith breathed in deeply, smiling. "Beautiful smell, isn't it? I've always been an admirer of the smell of death. A perk being Lucifer's daughter. This one I think is my favourite throughout history. Its aroma fills even the streets. Nobody can escape its beauty. Too bad he was responsible for it."

"I don't understand."

"Of course, you don't, but you will soon. Welcome to London, 1349, in the climax of what you would call in your time as The Black Death, one of the worst pandemics in history."

Lilith began to move forward.

Lotte followed through the mess of beds, watching Lilith lean over to a few to pat a cold cloth on foreheads.

"They can see you?" Lotte asked.

"Yes, because to them, I am like an angel from heaven. Here to watch over them as demons below wait for their end. It's a bit of a mess really, and my father sending me to clean it up is rather cruel and spiteful of him, but what can you do? He was a rather busy man during this time cleaning up messes himself. At least he had help though."

They continued walking. Lotte glanced occasionally at patients who were being held down by nurses as men in black robes held saws in their hands. As well as those where white sheets were slowly covering their faces. The burning itch intensified, seeing a few yellow eyed nurses sucking dry those already dead. If only Lotte could kill.

Then she saw something hiding in the corner of the church hall. A man in a long black robe himself, with long black hair tied in a loose ponytail. Lotte paused in her step as she watched Lilith continue towards… "Sebastian?"

It was him. His red eyes more apparent in the dark shadow corner, almost glowing. He was watching the scene before him, adorning a small smile on his lips. But his familiar features stayed true. He looked exactly the same as Lotte remembered.

The first day she arrived back in the manor.

The time he cooked her amazing meals, pouring her wine.

The moment when he held her in his arms as she hid from her father's memory.

The flash when she looked into the same eyes as his lips touched hers in a heated kiss.

It was him. And yet the man before her held cold darkness. In his eyes there held pure dark happiness, as if the smile upon his expression was from complete joy on the event unfolding. For who he was, still held a mystery but Lotte knew, although didn't want to know, that he was greatly responsible for the outbreak of this disease.

She silently moved forward, hiding behind a pillar incase he could see her, and listened as Lilith began to converse.

"Michael…" she said in a chirpy tone.

"Lilith, this is a surprise. And what do I owe the honor of this uninvited visit?" he replied in more unimpressed tone.

"Michael, I think we both know the reason why I'm here." She took a deep breath. "I see you've been making quite a mess, haven't you?"

He let out a light huff, somewhat laughter. "Surely you jest. I'm just having a little fun. These mortals…they feel and show they can be invincible and have strong willpower, and yet I've been proven wrong. Disappointing."

"So, then I have to pick up the pieces."

Sebastian looked down at her. "I never said you had to. Look around, Lilith. It's a free buffet. Let yourself go and have a taste."

She hummed in response. "I'll pass. I'm watching my figure. Besides, you have not made this easy for my father. He is not in a fond mood nor his followers with all the overtime they have to do."

"You think I care of what my brother has to do to keep the world in an orderly shape? After what he's done to me, I can care less of how much work Lucifer has to do. If I were him, I would say let death walk the streets under the brightly, twinkling stars. Oh wait, it already is."

"I'm guessing you also have something to do with this weather as well. Come now, Michael, surely these humans have suffered enough."

He raised an eyebrow in Lilith's direction. "Don't tell me you've grown soft, Lilith."

"Hardly, this weather is just horrible for my complexion."

"That's merely because you belong in the depths of Hells. Speaking of, why don't you return were you came from and let me continue my fun." He began to move, walking slowly towards Lotte. Lotte gasped, and pinned herself closer to the grey stone pillar.

Lilith stopped him with her hand. "And miss out on the action? Never."

He frowned in annoyance, removing her hand and stopping at the front of the alter, looking up at the giant gold cross looming over the entire floor. Lotte backed away farther around the pillar, still watching.

"Besides," Lilith leaned into his ear, "we both know why you are really doing this. And we both know it's not out of pure boredom."

He tilted his head as if motioning her to continue.

"You're jealous."

He stepped back and chuckled. "Explain."

She stepped back as well, with a smile, and leaned on the table in front of them. "Come now, Michael. We both see it. We have been seeing it for the past millennium. War and famine rage these lands and yet, here you are left behind in the dust. Humans fear and battle them," she shook her head, placing her hand and head on his shoulder, "and then there's you…forgotten and unfeared. The White Horseman, Pestilence, unappreciated by humanity."

He pushed her away violently as she staggered back still holding a smile. There his red eyes glowed more brightly, showing hatred and evil. "They should fear me. They will learn to fear me the most. They should now know the power I hold and what I can do to destroy their hearts and lands." He stepped towards her until their noses almost touched. "My brothers are fools to believe they are stronger. Humans are fools to think they can escape. They will come to realize that they cannot ever stop my wrath."

Lilith smile grew as she glanced back and forth between his lips and eyes. For a moment, Lotte held her breath thinking she was going to see history repeat. "Incredible," Lilith breathed, "and to think this isn't even your true power. If only your Father-"

"Do not speak of my father!" he snapped. He stepped away and Lotte let out her breath. "If I still held my true powers, these humans would not be breathing and life would very simply end."

"Sexy," Lilith commented. "I love it."

Sebastian hissed. "Don't play that game with me, Lilith. I'm not an idiot. I know you're here to get me to end this."

She let out a short laugh. "Rude. I'm not here to make it so, only for you to slow it down a tad. I don't want to leave here disappointing Father."

"And yet you shall." Pointing at her chest. "And you can tell you dear father that if he wants to deal with me, he can march right here and do so himself. Although, with his lack of abilities I doubt he'll be able to make a mere scratch."

Lilith frowned, crossing her arms. Lotte recognized this as a spoiled brat who didn't get her way. And she guessed Lilith wasn't a fan.

Sebastian began to walk down the rows towards the door. Lotte backed more around the pillar, watching him glare silently at a few patients. Lilith, of course, followed, grabbing a hold of his arm and stopping him. "You're right, my father has no power. All he has is his scythe, which he can barely use, and his marry little grim rippers who do whatever he pleases. The man has become lazy, I confess. However, I don't think it's him you should be afraid of."

Sebastian turned, and smiled at Lilith. "I'm not afraid of anyone."

"Yet you should be," she sang.

He folded his arms under his long robes and took a deep breath. "Then pray tell who should I really fear in these times of disease."

"The Phantomhive family."

And Lotte watched as his eyes moved up into her direction. For a moment, their eyes locked and Lotte gasped, pinning her back against the pillar, hoping she wasn't truly seen. But he was powerful, and although she was a ghost to most, she knew to some she was as real as could be.

"The Phantomhive's," he scoffed lightly, looking back at Lilith, "And what can the Phantomhive family do to me?"

"They've escaped this plague you fell the world upon. That should give you enough information on the power they hold."

"They are mortals, Lilith. I'm not scared of them. If they wish to come, let them. Just like my brother, I doubt they'll able to make a mere scratch."

And he continued to walk towards the entrance as Lotte looked back. She stepped out from behind the pillar as he disappeared into the now dwelling darkness. Rain had stopped outside. Candles were slowly being lit and burned all around. And as she walked up beside the White Devil, she heard her say in a sinister tone, "and that right there will be your downfall, Michael."

Lotte swallowed as she kept her eyes on the darkening doors. More ghosts had begun to fill the halls as more white sheets were placed over bodies.

"You heard everything I hope, little star?" Lilith said.

"He…he couldn't see or sense me, could he?" Because I swear at that moment…

"No, he shouldn't. However, who knows if he could or not. He was rather powerful during this time, even though he only showed half of what he could do. You could say he was more powerful than me than I am now." She let out a long breath, sounding somehow intimate. "It's amazing what he could've done. The power which he and his brothers use to hold. My father…" she drifted away.

"Then he was responsible for all of this?" she asked, still feeling uncomfortable to believe in this reality.

Lilith looked at her, aghast. "Did you seriously not hear anything we spoke of? Do you not see what is around you? Little star, it seems as though you may be in denial. But don't worry, the light is slowly being shone at the end of the tunnel."

And before Lotte could say another word, a bright light shone in front of her eyes, evaporating everything into the colour of white.

xXx

Lotte came back to the present with a full gasp of air. She was still chained down to the chair. Her body was still heavy, but slowly coming back. And in front of her, her butler still sat, looking better but still looking weaker than normal.

And beside him, Lilith stood smiling…as always.

"Welcome back, little star. Did you enjoy your trip?" She walked towards Lotte. "I would've shown you more, but dearie me, I didn't want your brain to become mush quite yet. Besides, I didn't want to spoil it."

Lotte shook her head as she lowered it, unable to look at him.

"Hm, still believe nothing I showed you. Fine." She frowned, looking back at Sebastian. "Michael, why don't you tell her all fun you had and what you received because of it in 1349; since your memories have returned and all."

But before he could speak, it was Lotte who began. "It can't be true." Her voice sounded hoarse. "I don't want to believe it to be true. None of it. All those people…I…you…" she looked up, tears filling her eyes. "Dammit, Sebastian please tell me you aren't him. Please tell me Lilith is lying and showing me false thoughts." Her voice rang in a whisper. "Tell me you aren't…the White Horseman of the Apocalypse."

But when she saw his eyes not changing, she knew the answer already. And his voice, he spoke so sorrowfully, and yet… "I'm sorry, Lotte. But telling you so would make me the liar, and it is not in my nature to lie if I have control over it."

Lotte's lips trembled. She bit them hard and felt blood draw. "I see. So…you do exist. I didn't think you…they did. I've read books…the bible…but…I never thought…" she swallowed. "So, you're not even a demon. You're…"

"I'm the archangel, Michael." He paused, like he had been struck by an epiphany. "Yes. That is who I truly am."

"Then…the plague…"

He nodded, frowning ever deeper.

"All those people…the children…all the blood. You did that?"

He nodded again.

"Fuck," Lotte muttered, lowering her head again before bellowing, "FUCK! Dammit, Sebastian…how could…I can't…."

"Lotte," he said, holding the same tone. "you should know I regret doing something so cruel. If I could take it back…I…you know me, Lotte. You know now I would never-"

"Oh shut up!" Lilith stepped forward. "Enough of this crying and babbling. Little star, stop those tears. They are horrible for your skin and can cause wrinkles. And we don't want that.

"And Michael, really? Do you really think you wouldn't do something like that again? Or should I remind you of your daring rebellious escape back in 1665. Even if it was rather small. You never do learn."

Lotte breathed, glaring at Lilith. Wanting ever more to silence her poison lips and have her head roll on the ground.

"In fact, Michael, why don't you tell her the rest of the story. You know the part where her family actually managed to capture and finally end you? It is my favourite after all." She gleefully skipped around him. "The moment when the great archangel Michael was finally captured and his powers imprisoned! When he finally came to realize," she leaned behind him and whispered seductively in his ear, "he was to become nothing more than a pawn on a chessboard."

A smile then crept up on Sebastian's face, the first one Lotte saw for a while. And it sent chills down her sore spine. "I would love to, Lilith. However, I believe Lotte here may be more curious to know why you were involved in all of this? Why not become your own self and well...do your own things instead of following your father's rules? Truly, I know you better than that.

"The Lilith I knew would never stoop so low to someone else ordering her around and doing tasks meant for a lower-class demon. Don't tell me you've been your father's slave all these centuries and doing his dirty work?"

As he spoke, Lotte watched the she devil's smile disappeared and become an angry scowl. Lilith flashed in front of him and slapped his face, the sound reverberating off the walls.

She hissed. "Don't push me, Michael. As you can see, I've grown from the one you use to know all those centuries ago. I'm more independent, and yes, I may pick up a few of my father's chores, but only to make him happy. Because you see, Michael. Nobody knows but me my true intentions. Nobody knows what I will really do with the Phantomhive souls. They might think they know; they can believe it all they want. Even my poor father, vulnerable and powerless, unevenly trapped by the curse, still believing his loyal daughter will come and set him free, may think he knows. But what they don't know is what I will really do in the end."

"Please, do tell then," Sebastian gave her a smile.

She laughed. "You smile now, Michael, but you should never underestimate me. For the power I can unfold now is more so than the power you used to have." She placed her hands on his arms. "And I am so very close to it."

She stood up and stared at Lotte so deeply, there was a sort of shiver she had only felt with Sebastian at first meeting.

A sense of evil.

And Lilith spoke.

"I will be the beginning to the end."

What craziness will occur next! That is The Night Has A Thousand Eyes! (get the reference? ;)

Reviews are truly loved during this hard time.

A few notes:

The anime mentions it somewhere where Sebastian was somehow the cause or spread of the Black Plague, but I saw this only on the wiki, and therefore could be false. However, it is fun to think!

This is my representation of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the four Archangels. I'm having fun writing it!