AN: Hope everyone is still doing okay! Japan's lockdown is being lifted on June 1st and all I can do is cringe.

Warnings: None.

Chapter XVII

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

A little girl sat cross legged on the floor in her bedroom playing with her small, stuffed rabbit.

She was only five years old but her abilities to read and perform simple tasks were already beyond her age. She woke herself up every morning, dressed herself in her favourite clothes, opened the blinds to the outside world, and even went to the kitchen and prepared her own breakfast – she liked toast the best. She even cleaned her own room which someone of her nobility, blood and wealth should never complete. And yet, she did.

Because she wanted to avoid him.

She took care of herself because she didn't want him to do it for her.

She didn't want him to wake her up, open her blinds, lay her clothes on her bed, or make her toast. She didn't want him in her room, and she was thankful her mother didn't either.

She was glad it was a big house too because then she would never have to see him. She wished her family would move, but she was a Phantomhive and had to live in the Phantomhive manor, which unfortunately came with him.

She never understood why her family kept him around. It would be so easy to let him go. And when she asked her mother why he had to stay, her mother only grinned and said "maybe when you're older, you will know." But she was old enough to take care of herself, so she should be old enough to know. She would understand!

But she was wrong.

Still, she hated him.

He who was very tall – as tall as Big Ben!

He who had red eyes like a snake she once saw at the zoo.

He who smiled with a friendly smile – just like a clown would. She hated clowns.

He who had a voice that made her skin crawl so much it made her cry.

He who had a presence that haunted her dreams.

She was awfully scared of the family butler, but she would never show it to him.

"Twinkle, twinkle little star," she started to sing to her rabbit. "How I wonder what you are."

She continued to hum the verse, setting her rabbit aside and grabbing the small tea cup beside her.

"Do you want cream and sugar?" she asked her fluffy friend.

Little did she know there was figure that stood in the open door way. Only when he spoke, his deep voice always making her skin crawl, did she gasp and jump, turning.

He spoke and asked, "Would you like real tea for your party, my lady?"

The girl swallowed, wide eyed, but voice stern. "No! And I told you not to call me that. Go away!"

But before he was able to reply, the voice of her mother echoed from the hallway. She said in a hissing whisper. "I told you to keep away from her. She has no business to know you yet. I don't want some…"

Her voice was cut off when the butler shut the door, frowning towards her mother's presence.

The girl, curious, walked over to her closed door and placed her ear against it.

She heard her mother yelling, "The Lord above will protect her from things like you! Get back to your other work."

Her mother always yelled such things to the butler. She didn't know why. But she didn't care.

Because she hated him.

xXx

Lotte clenched her fingers into a fist. The anger she felt was getting clearer as her mind did the same. She felt herself returning back to normal and all because of the being that sat on the other side of the room. She was angry at him. She wanted to hate him more than she remembered now as a child.

And yet…something overpowered it.

She glared at the woman in front of her. The sense of evil coming from the creature was overwhelming. In all Lotte's years of being a hunter, never as she felt such animosity from a supernatural entity. Whatever Lilith's intentions were to become the Beginning, somehow Lotte felt it would never come true; and yet, she felt the radiated hatred from her. Lotte narrowed her eyes slightly, wondering what Lilith was hiding behind the dark shadow of her memories.

To become stronger than Lucifer…? But Lilith said…. Lucifer…was trapped…how? The curse… "The curse," Lotte said, "You said Lucifer is trapped by the curse. So, the curse was never on my family, but on him. But how? And how is my family involved in all of this?"

"Oh, little star, you truly don't know your family history now do you?" Lilith replied softly. "How sad…"

"Answer my question," Lotte demanded more sternly, feeling her anger rise to the near limit.

The White Devil smiled. "Oh ho, gutsy, now are we? Although, your family is pretty fearless in itself, overpowering even Death."

"So, your saying my family is responsible for trapping Lucifer?"

Lilith's smile disappeared. "Your family is responsible for much more than that."

"What do you mean?"

Lilith sighed heavily, walking over to the quiet butler in the chair. "Strange isn't it? How a single mistake can transform into a series of events. How one single unexpected meeting can create a ripple of chaos in the future. Isn't the right, Michael?"

But the butler remained quiet, his red eyes on Lotte.

Yet, she never looked back.

Instead, she looked at the ground, asking, "How?"

"Why yes," Lilith's voice perked up, "how did the Phantomhive family achieve such an historic event of trapping Lucifer, the pale horseman, Death himself?"

Lotte's eyes went back up to the woman as her heels echoed again.

She stopped in front of the circle. "Why don't you ask your butler of what happened?"

Lotte couldn't even look at him. She pursed her lips and kept her gaze on the female creature in front of her. "I'm asking you."

Lilith paused for a moment smirking. "I see. Unfortunately, I wasn't there. I only felt a strange sensation of…maybe something you would feel when someone you know is in trouble." She clenched her nose. "It's a nasty sensation."

"Then what did my family do?"

"I'm asking you to ask him," the woman repeated coldly.

Lotte swallowed. "I don't want to listen to him right now."

"Then I guess, you will be left in the shadows. But to be clear, I do know your family only managed to trap some very strong abilities of my father. You can't completely obliterate Death. But whatever they did, they managed to place a sort of seal on him. Something like…a bond. A leash to control. His powers were sealed, but still physically walks the earth, controlling his puppets like the Phantomhives controlled him for centuries. And the only way to return what is his, is your soul."

Lotte blinked, bored of hearing the same thing. "I get it. You're after my soul."

"Well, my father is. Just so the curse on him can break. I want your soul for a whole other reason."

"Which is?"

Lilith waved her finger out in front of her. "Ah ah, that's my little secret."

Lotte shook her head slightly, unimpressed.

"However, I do know this," the White Devil continued. "Your family made a mistake by trapping the wrong archangel. Even though I know later on they managed to it with a little help of course."

Lilith slowly walked back to Sebastian. Lotte's eyes followed, curious to know what she was talking about. The questions she wanted to be answered haunted her, but the malice inside her had built to the brim. She felt her hatred stretch at its peak, and now she was going to use it. It started as Lilith continued to speak – her attention all on Sebastian. Lotte merely watched.

"Isn't that right, Michael?" Lilith asked, her long fingers taking hold of his chin.

Lotte started to twist her left wrist then her right.

"They managed to correct the mistake made centuries earlier."

Lotte felt her skin burn and tear. The pain began.

"After all those years, you came out of hiding."

Lotte clenched her face, her wrists and fingers fighting to be free.

"Justice was done and you were finally controlled like the dog you should be."

Lotte saw the blood and smiled. She noticed Sebastian glimpse at her.

"And all because my father was at the wrong place at the wrong time."

Then Lotte stopped her twisting as she heard heels on the marble floor come back.

"Little star, what are you doing?" the She Devil asked.

Lotte remained silent.

"Look what you did? You got blood all over your wrists."

Lotte gave her a small smile. "They were itchy."

Lilith let out a small laugh. "Well, I did try to help you with skin care. Guess you don't even care. No matter. Your soul and body will be separated soon anyways. If you want to look ugly in death, be my guest."

Then Lilith motioned one of her demons over and was handed something small. Her finger wrapped around it as she breathed deeply, and Lotte could only hold her breath feeling her nerves ignite like a fire.

Lilith's red wide eyes glowed as her voice fed the fire. "It's nearly time now."

Lotte had not noticed it until now but Lilith's demons had disappeared. Only two stood in the shadows. And the answer to where the others went appeared through the familiar piece of jewelry being held between Lilith's two long, elegant fingers.

The sapphire stone sparkled in the candle light as slight smoke escaped the female's skin. The iron burned, but creature felt nothing. Lotte's eyes never left the ring – the last family possession she had – now trapped between the fingers of the White Devil.

"Beautiful, isn't it? It's an incredible feeling to have a family's whole legacy – their souls - in the palm of one's hand." Lilith said, twisting the ring in her fingers. "How can a piece of jewelry be a weapon and a tomb?"

The ring disappeared behind wrapped fingers.

"You'll soon be imprisoned as well, little star. Just like your grandfather, granduncle and father before you. I must thank you though for having the courage to open your grandfather's tomb and see such unforgiving sight."

It was impossible.

"But I also sacrificed my own to get hold of the remaining few souls who played hide and seek throughout these halls. Apparently, your father's soul put up quite a fight. I give praise to your mother of course setting such traps. Only two of my own managed to escape."

Lilith shook her head. Lotte was still taken back by the fact Lilith had the one thing that was going to be used to end her. Lotte cursed loudly in her head. Now she felt angry towards herself for being so foolish.

"And here I thought you were going to use this to kill me. What a shame I wasn't able to see it be done," Lilith said, moving inside the circle as the candles began to glow brighter. She placed the ring under Lotte's chair and leaned over her – Lotte felt cold breath on her skin. "But don't worry, little star. Your accomplishments will not be in vain."

She noticed the clawed hand of Lilith ready to strike.

Lotte heard Sebastian's voice. A small growl. "No."

No, was right. Lotte wasn't through just yet. She only had one chance left.

"Yeah. You're right, Lilith. My accomplishments will not be in vain. Because I'm not yet done."

Blue eyes locked with red as Lotte moved her head back and forward. She heard a loud knock and crunch as her forehead made contact with bone. She heard Lilith gasp, heels stepping back.

This was it.

Lotte didn't think. She didn't breathe. She couldn't as she moved her wrists as fast as she could through the blood-soaked cuffs, freeing herself. She knew the skin was torn and bloody and hanging off. Her bones and tendons were probably severely damaged. But all she felt was numbness. Later she knew the pain and fatigue would meet her brain at full force, but for now, the adrenaline rushed through her body like a landslide.

She shot forward out of the chair towards the creature in front of her, running into her at full force and knocking them both down onto the red marble floor. She heard Lilith shriek in frustration as they slid across the floor, crashing into the wall. Broken pieces of wood and metal scattered around them. Dust mixed in with candle light. Lotte could barely see the woman; however, her red eyes glowed with malice.

Lotte couldn't make a move, as she felt a force of wind push her away and throw her to the other side of the foyer, crashing hard against the chair she was just in. She gasped out, trying to regain the wind that was knocked out of her. Broken pieces of the furniture had cut through her skin. She noticed more blood on her arms and legs from scratches and splinters. The party dress she was wearing was torn and covered with dust. She noticed the small piece of wood jammed in her upper right thigh. She pulled it out with no care as blood came with it.

She heard Sebastian's iron chains move. He was desperate to be free; Lotte knew. But the iron….

Lotte sat up and saw Lilith's form appear from the shadows. Her white dress, too, covered with dust and Lotte's blood. But the White Devil received no wounds. Her hair may have been out of place, but her skin remained untouched.

Sebastian called out to Lilith to stop. But the demon continued forward towards Lotte.

The candles surrounding the circle had been snuffed and the blood drawing of the Faustian circle was again ruined. But Lotte could see in Lilith's pale complexion she didn't care. A new one would be drawn anyways. Lilith's eyes glowed, narrowing angrily towards Lotte, as if she was being stalked by a predator in tall grass.

Lotte knew she had no chance to defeat this creature without a weapon.

Then the slight sparkle of sapphire caught her peripheral vision. She heard Sebastian shout: "Run, Lotte."

And so, she did, picking up the Phantomhive ring beside her on the way.

She limped quickly through the dim lit foyer towards the stairs, disappearing into the dark shadows of the manor. Meanwhile, she heard Lilith softly say behind her, "She's mine."

The moon outside was bright enough to light the hallways in an eerie blue glow. Lotte knew Lilith would be able to find her without any source of aid, meaning Lotte didn't have much time. She moved as quickly as she could down the red carpeted hallways. Her blood trickled down her leg, leaving dots of blood behind her. Lotte was thankful the colour soaked into the carpet enough to not see.

However…

"You can't run from me, little star!" she heard the demoness shout behind her. "I can smell your blood as easily as I can smell your soul."

Lotte turned down another long corridor. She felt her head grow light. She felt her chest tightening. She was running out of time.

But she was thankful to have arrived at her destination. She stopped, breathing heavily, at the iron door, not surprised to see it broken and slightly ajar already from Lilith's demons earlier. Father… Her raw and swollen, bloody fingers clenched the ring in her hand.

She squeezed through the door as she heard the steady, rhythmic echoes of the heels – still loud enough on the red carpet. Looking around the room, she noticed the damage done. The iron wires were now broken and fallen, but decorated with pieces of flesh and black blood. On the floor, lay rotten the bodies kept alive by now destroyed demons. Her mother did well to protect this room, but not good enough.

Now Lotte had her family's souls in the palm of her hand.

Inside this room, she had to believe there was something that could help. Lotte had no time to transform the ring in her hand into a piece to rid the world of Lilith. This was where Lilith was summoned back by her father. There had to be a way to send her back.

Wind blew through the cracks and broken windows. The smell of decay hit her nose. She didn't bother to glance at the grey flesh lying scattered on the floor. Lotte moved into the massive bedroom where her grandfather once lay dying.

She didn't have much time to look, but there had to be something hidden somewhere within the cracks of this room. Some kind of weapon or… "Anything," Lotte breathed out desperately.

She glanced around at any possible locations, at any possible weapon that could possibly stop Lilith. Shaking her head in frustration, she closed her eyes and breathed, hoping that maybe it would help connect her to her family… Fuck, this is ridiculous.

Her hand kept squeezing the ring.

She started feeling pain now.

Time was definitely limited.

"Oh, little star!" her voice called from outside the room.

Lotte turned around, staring out into the pale light from the connected room. She looked around her nervously, and noticed the iron wardrobe beside her. If she didn't have a weapon, she would have to hide and figure something out. But it would only buy her a little bit of time. Lilith would probably find her sure, but at least it could be possible to tackle her again.

Lotte didn't have a choice.

She climbed inside the dusty and cobwebbed covered wardrobe, shutting the doors the best she could.

She held her breath, and for the first time, prayed.

Prayed that something would happen and Lilith would be killed. Even though she knew it would be impossible to even injure the creature now.

But there was nothing. No prayers would help. Not even Sebastian could save her now. Lotte was alone.

Wait…Sebastian…

"Where are you?" Lilith sang.

Lilith entered the room, singing Lotte's favourite childhood tune.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star."

Lotte watched the figure pass by the wardrobe.

"How I wonder what you are."

Lilith's voice chilled Lotte's skin more than Sebastian's did as a child. The pain started to creep more into her brain.

"Up above the world so high."

Lotte's hands moved against the iron beneath her, desperate to even stay sitting up.

"Like a diamond in the sky."

Lilith's heels clanged as she walked around. Lotte then felt something against her fingertips. Thank you, Father.

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star."

Lotte felt the tip of the dagger and moved her hand up to the cold, iron hilt. She noticed Lilith had stopped walking and a dark shadow shut off Lotte's view of the room. Now she only saw a glowing, red eye.

"How I wonder where you are." Lilith finished in a soft hiss.

Lotte only had one shot. She knew she had no strength left again to kill the creature. She couldn't even fight her. But injure…it was possible. She knew the plan now.

Her hand gripped the dagger hard as she did with the ring.

"Hello, little star."

The wardrobe shot open. Lotte cried out and dug the dagger quickly above Lilith's left breast.

The demoness stepped back, gasping from the sudden iron imbedded in her skin. Lotte shot out of the wardrobe, using the last bit of energy to escape the room.

The pain was ten folds now.

She heard Lilith growl in frustration behind her.

Lotte moved as fast as she could, using the wall as an extra support. Trails of blood dragged behind her on the floor. Streaks of red from her hands wiped on walls like finger paint. She cursed silently and continued to limp quickly back towards the entrance foyer.

The ring in her palm was cold.

She arrived at the top of the staircase. Her other hand took hold of the railing, moving down the steps as quickly as she could muster. The pain made stars appear in her vision. Her hand painted blood on the stone railing.

When she got to the dark bottom, she saw Sebastian in the dim candle light, still sitting uncomfortably on the iron throne. She could tell he tried to free himself, but the iron was too much and had exhausted himself. Now if only Lotte could free him herself.

She noticed the first demon in the corner of her eyes. He jumped towards her from the shadows, yellow eyes glowing and teeth barred, but Lotte managed to dodge last second by throwing herself to the ground. The second one came after, and she used her non-injured leg to kick him back with a grunt. Her energy was gone. She got on her stomach, surveying the shadowed room. Her head was light. But she spotted Sebastian two hundred yards from her.

"Lotte…what the hell are you doing?" he growled weakly as she began to drag herself towards him.

She breathed out heavily, tired and sleepy. All she wanted was a cozy bed and rest. Never in her life did she ever want so much rest before. Even after having Sebastian's blood, she was back to the place she was when she awoke in the chair.

Her left hand gripped his ankle as she used it to pull herself up. She groaned in pain and breathed heavily. It felt like she had just climbed to the top of a massive mountain. Once both arms were positioned on the butler's lap, she finally rested.

Then she looked up into his red eyes. He was gazing back, a look at utmost distraught that Lotte didn't think he could create. But it was also there, she knew, a signal she didn't want to see. A feeling she didn't want to feel. After everything she had heard, and everything she knew he had done in the past, it was now that was the most important. And as much as her hunter side told her not to, her heart overpowered it.

"Lotte…" he breathed out her name in a quieter voice, as she nodded back at him.

Her left hand took a hold of his wrist, grasping the iron chains and slowly loosened them enough for him to do the rest. That was Lilith's greatest mistake - not locking his chains even though the silver metal was enough to keep him at bay. Lotte moved quickly to the other, loosening it but not releasing him.

There was still the White Devil to trick.

Then her voice echoed darkly through the room, sneering, "You little bitch!"

No more time.

Lotte held the butler's left hand and placed the cold piece of jewelry in it, closing his fingers.

She knew it was going to hurt him – the iron -, but he only gave her a look she knew he understood. She nodded back in reply.

The heels clicked on the floor, coming closer and closer. "Little star, did you really think that little trick was going to actually stop me?" Lilith hissed, speaking with hatred and letting out a short laugh. "You must be the most foolish hunter I ever met."

Lotte noticed Sebastian's eyes widen first. Then she felt her hair being pulled and the next thing she knew, she had crashed against the pillar on the other side of the room. She gasped out, feeling the back of her head become wet.

"Lilith! Stop!" Sebastian yelled out.

But Lotte could hear her coming closer. She tried to blink away the silver stars, but all she saw was red.

Lilith continued, her voice sounding higher and somewhat hysterical. "And you thought He could help? Cute."

Lotte struggled to sit up, blinking away the blood in her eyes. She saw Lilith's blurry dark shadow.

"Lilith! Enough of this!" Sebastian shouted again.

Lilith sighed heavily and growled. "Shut up, Michael! You're embarrassing yourself. Really, why do you continue to try and stop me from taking this girl's soul? She is a human. A mere mortal! She has cause me too much already and you as well." Lilith turned to him. "So why?"

There was a silent pause. Lotte's vision was coming back and she could see Sebastian's blurred form still sitting on the other side of the room. Then Lilith laughed loudly.

"Oh my," she started, her voice returning to her normal range, "Michael…don't tell me you've fallen in love with her." Another laugh. "This is gold. This is too much! It seems as though history has repeated itself. How ironic though her life will end just like last time."

The White Devil turned back to Lotte, but Lotte kept her now wide eyes on the butler.

"I wonder what it is," Lilith whispered, "that makes you Phantomhive's feel compelled to become connected to our side."

Lotte could hear chains from the other side of the room move slowly. He was still too weak. Lilith moved closer. Lotte cursed silently. She couldn't move her body anymore. No…shit!

"I really want to do this more elegantly," Lilith hissed.

Lotte saw the White Devil kneel down close to her.

"I believe you did deserve an ending fit for a Phantomhive."

Lilith's eyes glowed brightly in the dark as the iron knife in her hand reflected remaining candle light.

"But you really pissed me off."

Lotte felt the blade pierce her skin.

And the last of the candle light disappeared.

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