Ciel jumps, realizing that he'd fallen asleep with his head resting on his folded arms on the desk. His heart is pounding in his chest, and there's a sickly warm feeling gripping the back of his scalp. He lifts his head and blinks at the light from the windows in his study, trying to ignore the fact that there's moisture in the corners of his eyes.

He takes a moment to untie his eye patch, revealing the Faustian contract it contains, and wipes away the tears with shaking hands. He hates himself for crying, and though she's been gone for almost four years, he still misses Elizabeth dearly. Sometimes he swears he can still hear her voice...

"My Lord?" Sebastian appears from behind the door and bows at the waist, his hand over his heart. "The young lady is here, as you requested."

Ciel quickly re-applies the eye patch, trying to clean up his expression.

"Very well, send her in."

Sebastian nods, looking slightly curious in regards to his master, but steps to open the door further. The young woman walks softly into the room, taking in her surroundings with wide eyes. She can't recall ever being in a room this large.

Sebastian closes the door behind him as he leaves and she stops, standing awkwardly halfway to the desk. Ciel looks at her impatiently, resting his head to the side on his fist and tapping his finger on the mahogany.

"Well, are you going to sit down?" He says, sighing.

"Yes, sir." She whispers, hurrying to take a seat in the wingback chair opposite the desk. She folds her hands in her lap, playing with a section of fabric on her dress.

Ciel sighs.

"Have you decided to tell me your name, yet?" He asks, playing with the pen he'd been working with earlier. "Or are we going to play this game still?"

"Game?" The young woman asks, looking up and tilting her head to the side. Ciel is struck for a moment by her eyes - they're almost the exact color of his, but somehow they're older, more weathered. He continues.

"Yes. Everyone has a name, from the Queen to the lowliest beggar. You don't expect me to believe you're without one." He leans back in his chair, gauging her reaction, which turns to one of what he thinks is genuine confusion.

"I can't remember." She whispers, playing nervously with her braid. There's something in the very back corner of her mind, nagging at her. She had a name, she's sure of it, but a feeling creeps over her as she struggles, making her stomach uneasy.

"Charming." Ciel mumbles, fidgeting with his blue diamond ring. It feels suddenly heavy on his finger, but he passes it off as an after-effect of his nap.

"I'm sorry," the young woman whispers, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. She very much wants to have her name back, and Ciel's unwavering gaze pushes her further to the edge.

"Fire," he says, looking at her. She glances up at him quizzically, not quite sure what he means. "Last night, you said you could remember fire."

"Yes." She says, recalling the conversation. A sudden sensation hits her gut, sending her entire lower body into a spasm of pain. It feels like she's burning, like her flesh is on fire. She grasps her abdomen, doubling over with gritted teeth to keep from crying out.

"Are you all right?" Ciel asks, genuine concern bleeding into his voice. He stands from his chair and quickly approaches her, not entirely sure what to do. She coughs, her back now feeling aflame, and he reaches for her as she slides from the chair onto the floor.

"Don't," she barks, crying out as another wave of pain hits her. It's too late, though, and Ciel touches her back, immediately searing his fingers like he'd touched the side of an oven. He pulls his hand back and cries out.

"Sebastian!"

Within seconds, the butler is at her side and pulls off his gloves.

"Don't, she's scalding." Ciel warns, but he kneels down beside the young woman and places his hands on her cheeks, his eyes turning a frightening shade of pink. Staring into her eyes as she sobs, Sebastian holds tight until her breathing begins to slow and eventually, her eyes slip closed and she collapses into him.

"What on Earth was that?" Ciel demands, nursing his hand as Sebastian feels the young woman's forehead.

"It appears, my Lord, that someone doesn't wish her remember."