Deep within the darkness, Sebastian brooded. The Phantomhive manor still stood tall and unthreatened. Hell should have been the same, with the delicious screams and delightful moans of punished souls. But to Sebastian, hell had long since lost its appeal. The demon butler stared at the wall in front of his seat. No purpose.

"Sebastian."

Sebastian glared up at Clara. "I am sorry Clara, but at the moment I really am in no mood to be listening to your nagging. Don't you have better things to do than to loom around this place?" Sebastian looked back to the wall.

Clara would normally have a retort, but didn't seem scathed by the question. She simply stared at the distraught demon with a hint of superiority. "Sebastian, I don't think you quite understand my situation. Earl Phantomhive rescued me from the fire. He took me into a comfortable home and gave me clothing to wear and the opportunity to taste food again. I am thankful and loyal to him for that."

Sebastian nearly snorted at such a human thought. "Clara, you never fail to amaze me. I have met quite a few materialistic souls in my time, but never have I met one as naive and greedy as you are. I cannot believe that you have literally been through hell and you've learned nothing but how to run from your punishment."

"Sebastian, you're a demon. You've never had to feel the true pain that the flames can bring a human soul. If you are left to rot outside like most are, the flames are always with us and most of us have no choice but to endure it. It isn't just the physical pain, you know. It's the pain that comes in knowing that one is really so terrible that they deserve to come here and endure the flames."

Sebastian looked at Clara, his eyes now dark red and gleaming with contempt. "You were never judged, Clara." He exclaimed. "How do you know that you deserved this in the first place? God may have been merciful to you, but you chose your own fate by coming here without his word."

"Ugh, Sebastian, you know what my life was like! I sold my body to perverts! And it was my fault. I decided to do those things of my own free will and this is what I would have deserved. It's what I do deserve!"

Sebastian sighed in exasperation. "I am sorry, but I'm afraid I cannot engage in this conversation any longer. He rose up out of his leather chair and walked swiftly past Clara. As he opened and closed the door behind him, Clara stood as still as a statue. As she heard the click of the knob return to its stance, she began to pace.

"The damn bastard, that cowardly excuse for a demon, who the devil does he think he is?" Clara growled and paused in her pace, then turned on her heel and walked out the door.

Fire. Fire everywhere. Sebastian had nearly forgotten what the true nature of hell had been. He had been told it was different for everyone. Some saw ice; others saw barren deserts, and others; in this case Sebastian, saw and felt raging, white-hot fire. Still, Sebastian felt nothing. He didn't feel the searing pain fire should have inflicted on his skin. He had been used to the heat for centuries. Clara spoke of pain. Yet she didn't know the first thing about pain.

"Ciel, where are you, come out, damn it! Where are you?" Sebastian walked aimlessly through the blaze, feeling his suit burn away and his raven hair singe. Sebastian came to a halt as a dark figure came into view in the distance. Strangely enough, Sebastian couldn't get a sense of who it was. "Who are you?" He called out.

"You don't deserve the privilege to know who I am, Sebastian Michaelis." The voice rang out over the crackling of the fire; over the faint screams of forgotten condemned souls.

Despite his inner void, a smirk spread over the demon's face. "Are you sure? I believe we are on the same level, so I don't see why you would have any right to look down on me." He gestured to the blaze around him. The figure said nothing and slowly approached. As it came closer, Sebastian saw large, white wings come into focus. "Damn. I despise these wretched creatures."

"Hello, Sebastian." The Angel approached, coming into full view, her white hair reflecting flickers of yellow.

"Why have you come here? Respectfully, you have no business here."

The angel smiled. "Oh, actually I believe I have every reason for being here. Now, do you remember your lovely little demon?"

Sebastian raised an eyebrow in contempt. Had this vile being really just come here in an attempt to rub Sebastian's loss in his face? But still, why would this angel care for a lost demon? He took a sharp breath, forgetting that he needn't breathe. "Why?" He asked with knives piercing his tone. "My lovely little demon as you call him is gone." Sebastian couldn't believe the level he had sunk to. First, searching for what was known to be lost. Demons didn't dwell on the obliterated souls of their masters or any other demon. And now he realized that the statement had been more of a question. The angel knew something that Sebastian didn't and that drove him mad. Hell, he was practically wheedling the angel already! This was completely unacceptable.

The angel just continued smiling a smile that was radiant, yet undoubtedly holding sadism she obviously wasn't bothering to hold back. "But is he really gone, Sebastian? I can tell what you're thinking, you know. I know that you're wondering. Well, I am overjoyed to tell you the wonderful news, then! I as a matter of fact have saved the boy from his future with you. I believe he deserves better. He is with me now." At that moment, a figure emerged from behind the angel, revealing himself to be Ciel Phantomhive, dressed still in his white knee socks and black top hat. He stared expressionless, not uttering a sound to Sebastian or the angel. The angel appeared to be startled.

"What are you doing here, Ciel? I asked you to stay put while I was gone."

"Well sometimes-" He said in a near whisper- "I lie."