**Author's Note:

OMG. I am so sorry. I haven't written all summer… My laptop was taken away for the majority of it and the only reason I've got it back now is cuz I need it to write English papers.

Sebastian: Not very enjoyable.

Me: No Sebbie, not at all.

Sebastian: *glares at the nickname*

Me: And in all honesty, I was having major writer's block about this story. I didn't know where I wanted to take it. I still really don't but I'm going to try. So if anyone has any ideas for me, which I would really appreciate, let me know and I'll try and incorporate it. So shall you start us off , Sebbie?

Sebastian: *sigh* If I must. And now, the Raven and the Rose. Chapter 6.

Holly

Soft light fell on her face as the curtains of her room slid open. Grumbling, she rolled away from the light, temporarily forgetting everything that had happened the previous night. A soft chuckle pulled her into reality.

"My lady, it is nearly 10 in the morning," the soft voice whispered, footsteps echoing on the floor as he walked over to her suitcase. "I suggest you rise soon. We do have investigating to do after all."

She flinched when her breast started burning. Sitting up, Holly looked down in alarm, and then remembered.

The mark.

"I will serve as your butler, all the while helping you discover the killers of your family." Sebastian's voice rang in clearly in her thoughts.

"My lady?"

Glancing up, she was pulled from her thoughts. "Yes?"

Sebastian's eyes twinkled mischievously. "I had asked, what would you like for your breakfast? Ciel usually pre—."

"Can we not talk about Ciel?" Holly's voice came out sharper than she meant to. Sebastian paused but seemed unfazed by her words. But even so, she immediately regretted what she had said. Ciel had been Sebastian's master for how long, she didn't know. There was an obvious tie between them and to simply wave it off as if nothing was cruel.

"If that is what you wish, my lady." His voice was velvet darkness in her ears as he leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Then it shall be done."

However, as if on cue, Ciel's voice rang out from down the hall.

"Sebastian! Come here now!"

"Yes, master." Was his immediate response. Then he cringed, realizing what he had done.

"Forgive me, my lady. He is—." He became to apologize but Holly cut him off.

"Sebastian, just go."

He bowed low, then spun and left the room, leaving Holly there, frustrated more or less.

Sebastian

Ciel, I will kill you for this.

Sebastian thought as he glided down the hallway. He had been fully intent on pleasing his new mistress, but of course his eternal duty to Ciel always came first.

He past the Phantomhive family portrait, the one Ciel had decided to restore before he left the manor, those years ago. That, however, had been before the demoness, Hannah something, who worked for the late Alois Trancy, decided to turn Ciel into a demon, therefore forever binding Sebastian to Ciel for their contract had never been completed.

Sebastian shook off the memories, stopping outside Ciel's office. With a gentle knock he opened the door. And was immediately met by a very enthusiastic "Bassy!" And a hug tackle from one such reaper obsessed with the color red.

Sebastian grunted, side stepped the reaper, allowing him to fall to the ground.

"Hello Grell." Sebastian greeted him with a certain coldness that was reserved specifically for said reaper.

"Oh, Bassy!" Grell continued as if Sebastian had done nothing. "I've missed you so much! You know, reaping souls can be such a bothersome job some days. Especially when this bug, over here keeps hitting me because all I want to do is see you."

"Grell, shut up!"

Ciel, Sebastian and their second guest spoke at the same time.

There in the corner, soul reaping hedge clippers at his side stood William T. Spears. His dark hair was slicked back as per usual, the blond underneath almost white. Green eyes shone intelligently through his speckticals which he was always pushing higher up his nose.

A very annoying habit. One that made Sebastian want to reach out and break the prick's annoying glasses.

But he hid this annoyance well.

With a formal bow, Sebastian spoke, working his magic with his smooth words.

"William. How good to see you again."

William let out a soft sigh. "And you Sebastian."

Ciel sat at his desk, watching this confrontation. Grell stood in the other corner, staring at Sebastian with affectionate eyes. But in all reality it was just obvious that Grell wanted to rip Sebastian's soul to bits.

A very strange obsession.

"So, if I may be so bold," Sebastian's eyes flared pink for a moment. "Why are you here?"

William pushed his glasses up, Sebastian noticed with annoyance, then spoke. "We're here because of the recent death that occurred here at the manor."

Sebastian nodded. "Yes, the Marquis of Marseilles was murdered. His granddaughter Holly Desmarias is the only living decent."

William nods. "I see. Well… there was something odd about the Marquis's death. You see, when Reapers reap, we obtain the soul. With this death," William's eyes sharpened. "There was no soul."

Holly

Several minutes after Sebastian left her room, Holly forced herself to crawl out of bed. In all honesty, she didn't want to leave the soft comfort that the bed had given here.

She didn't want to face the death of her beloved grandfather, didn't want to face the fact that see was now in a binding contract with a demon, the fact that she'd have her soul devoured by said demon once the contract was fulfilled.

A faint sting on her breast brought her out of her daze. Looking down, she gazed at the pentagram burned onto her flesh. It was very beautiful in a way but she knew it was the mark that indicated that Sebastian had claimed in her an every binding contract.

Finally, crawling out of bed, Holly walked over to the adjoining bathroom. She was in desperate need of a shower. It felt as though all the blood was still on her flesh, even though Sebastian had taken great care to make sure there wasn't any.

She had just begun to stripe out of her nightgown, when the door to her room opened. A surprised voice that sounded like velvet called out, "My lady?"

She pulled the gown back over her shoulders. "In here Sebastian," she called.

Immediately, soft footsteps made their way to the bathroom. His handsome head appeared around the corner. Deep burgundy eyes gazed into hers.

"My lady," he bowed, eyes peeking up at her through his luscious black hair. "Would you like assistance?"

She felt heat rise on her cheeks and she was sure she was the same color as Sebastian's eyes.

"Umm, I think… I think I can manage…"

Sebastian smiled wickedly.

"As you wish… My lady…"

The words echoed in her ears and as she heard his footsteps begin to disappear, she glanced up into the mirror and saw how ragged and dead she appeared.

"Wait! Sebastian!"

He reappeared, a wicked glimmer in his eyes. "Yes, my lady?"

"I could use some help with my hair…"

He smiled.

"As you please. My lady."

Sebastian

He had to be honest.

He was ecstatic when his mistress asked for help.

It gave him an excuse for him to touch her, something he didn't take lightly. That perfect cream flesh would be ravishing. He had never felt this sort of hunger before

Not of one for souls.

But one for physical touch.

Holly

She turned away from Sebastian, blushing still, but he quickly appeared in her sight again as he moved around her to turn the water on.

"Bath or shower, my lady?"

She hesitated for a moment. "Bath."

Sebastian worked in a whirlwind, preparing the bath, adding lilac scented bubbles, which were her favorite scent and how he knew that, she'd never know.

Holly stood off to the side, watching him as working.

He was lithe and graceful, like a cat.

Like a demon.

A voice rang in her mind, but she ignored it and went back to watching Sebastian.

He stood before her, his black jacket stripped and hung neatly on a towel rack, gloves off as well and sleeves of his crisp white shirt rolled up. She noticed that he had black nails, which was odd but he was a demon so she didn't ask.

"Ready, my lady?"

Holly nodded. Sebastian turned away, like a gentleman, and allowed her to stripe without his prying eyes. Which she did quickly.

The nightgown on the floor, she slid down into the warm, bubbly mass that had become her bathtub.

"I'm in." She spoke softly.

Sebastian spun and landed on one knee beside the tub, eyes glittering. "If you would please wet your hair. I shall begin untangling it."

She nodded and slid underneath the water and momentarily became lost in a different underwater world, holding her breath as the water overcame her. It was warm, not to hot, not to cold. Perfect. She held her breath as she left the sensation overwhelm her, erasing memories.

Memories that didn't stay erased for long.

Sebastian's strong hang reached in and pulled her out of the water, just enough that just her head was above. "My lady, you are not a fish."

She scowled at Sebastian, but sighed and relaxed when he began to run a brush through her wet locks. He was surprisingly gentle, only the slightest of tugs pulling her head back. Ever so often, his fingertips would brush the back of her neck sending chills through her spines.

Sebastian

Her hair was so soft, even wet.

Her skin just flushed from the heat and below the water; even through the bubbles he could see her luscious body.

He needed her.

Now.

Sebastian jumped slightly, shaking those thoughts out of his head. He would consume her. But not yet. Not now. She was still too fragile.

But how those lips of hers tempted him. He wanted her so badly.

"Holly…"

Her name escaped his lips before he could stop himself.

Holly

"Holly…"

He spoke her name softly, reverently. Glancing back at him, she jumped in surprise.

His eyes were glowing pink, like they had last night when he had placed his mark on her. He gazed at her with such heat she thought she would melt on the spot.

Everything after that was a blur.

The next thing she knew, Sebastian's lips were pressed against hers in a fiery kiss.