Chapter 6

I didn't reply for a moment, and the entire world was silent as if waiting for me to respond.

"I met a man." I confessed, looking down at the square of moonlight on my lap. "He was human but he just seemed so...perfect." I snickered at my foolishness it was just so...typical. Boy meets girl, girl does something she shouldn't, boy leaves. Such a common story...and I fell for it. I was such an idiot. "I never told him I was an angel." I assured him. "But...he treated me like one. He would tell me stories." I said reminiscing. "Fantastic tales about the moon and the stars..." I lowered my head, my hand balling into a fist on my lap. "And I fell for it." I looked up, flashing a forced smile as I attempted to stay strong.

"You don't have to continue if you don't want to." Sebastian told me seriously, concern tinting his crimson eyes. I shook my head. I had to do this. He deserved answers; he and Ciel were being so kind to let me stay. I had to tell him...and if not for them...for me.

"He always seemed so kind, he wanted to help people...and that's right...right? I know what I was going to do was wrong but...I don't know...things just... didn't go how I intended."

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." Sebastian said thoughtfully, causing me to snicker. He was right...I couldn't rely on excuses. Rules were in place for a reason and I could not allow myself to be an 'exception'.

"Eventually I told him that I was an angel. I told him about heaven and hell, Angels, demons and even reapers. I answered all his questions, and eventually I even told him about the demon swords." I glanced up at Sebastian, expecting a reaction though he didn't stir. "He took interest in the soul swords...do you know about them?"

"Only of the legends." Sebastian said simply. "They can be used to heal and to bring peace...a sword that does not cut." I nodded.

"Not quite." I told him, growing quite with shame as I found myself unable to look in his eyes. "The soul swords do as the name implies, they reflect the soul of their wielder in their handle, when the soul is that of a good person the gem in the swords helm is blue, and then it can be used for peace and healing...however if their soul is tainted with evil and malice. It can do much more damage. It can cut through souls or even capture them...essentially you could kill somebody without actually cutting their body."

"And he had an impure soul." Sebastian guessed. I nodded, biting my lip to hold back tears. How could I have fallen for something as simple and stupid as that?

"I got the sword for him." I said quietly. "In the past it had been used by famous loving rulers, ushering in golden ages...I thought maybe he could bring the next golden age...urge humanity out of the immoral rut it's in...But I was wrong. Once I realized what was happening I tried to stop him, so, he attacked me and I fled back to heaven...and he's been using the sword for evil ever since. If I can return the stolen souls to William T Spears...I might be able to return to heaven." Sebastian nodded in understanding, accepting the explanation.

"There are truly some horrible people in the world." he said, more of an observation than an opinion. "So who was it?" he finally asked. "Who is he?" I took a deep breath, gathering all the courage I could muster to answer.

"Viscount Druitt." Sebastian's eyes sharpened and a destructive aura rolled off of him in waves, a look of pure disgust washing his face.

"You've met him?" Sebastian nodded, his face still twisted in disgust.

"Please, wash up my lady." he told me seriously, rising from his spot on the foot of my bed. "I shall go inform the master right away...I am sure he will help you with your situation." he said, as if searching for the proper words.

"Thank you." I whispered, staring up at him gratefully as he turned and left the room. I waited for a few moments; I stopped by the bathroom and washed up. Fixing my hair and gathering my thoughts before I made my way down the hall, knocking lightly on the elm door of Ciel's study.

"Come in." his gentle voice greeted and I entered, he was sitting at his wooden desk, Sebastian at his side. I took a seat in one of the red chairs across from him, my hands folded tightly in my lap.

"Good evening." I said, muttering the pleasantries. There were much more important things to talk about and we both knew it.

"Sebastian has filled me in on everything." Ciel said before I could begin. And I nodded in understanding.

"Am I to assume you having a plan?" Ciel nodded, he suddenly seemed 10 years older. The childish facade of when I met him seemed like a million years ago. "What can I do to help?" I asked seriously, looking at both boys in turn. Ciel leaned forward, crossing his hands and resting his head on them as if interested.

"I received this letter from the count about a month ago." he explained. "It is another invitation to a ball next week...I originally had not planned on attending; however, in light of recent events I think it could become a valuable chance for information." I nodded, listening intently.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Well...as you know Viscount Druitt has one very powerful weakness." he hesitated a moment before continuing, blushing as he looked away from me, muttering the next part under his breath reluctantly. "He has a soft spot for beautiful women." a blush tainted my cheeks and a looked down at my hands crossed tightly in my lap.

"Beautiful aye?" I muttered to myself quietly so Ciel couldn't hear, however I forgot the demon's superior hearing and blushed harder as he smirked, amused by my unnecessary shyness, a flaw many demons lacked.

"A-are you sure he won't recognize me?" I asked, running a hand through my long silky hair, almost surprising myself when I realized it was black instead of white. I suppose that really isn't a problem actually.

"Sebastian will take care of everything." Ciel told me seriously yet with an air of relaxed confidence. "When the time comes we will attend the ball and you will be able to do what you must to obtain your sword or whatever." I nodded, rising to my feet and bowing deeply.

"Thank you both so much." I said honestly. "I don't know what I would do if I didn't have your help."

"It's nothing...we've had our share of...disputes with the count...think nothing of it." I thanked them again before hurrying to bed.

Days passed at Phantomhive manor. I spent most of my time helping the servants; they seemed to enjoy the company.

"So what can I help you with today?" I asked them as I entered the kitchen my eyes widening in shock as Meirin tumbled towards me with a startled cry, holding a pile of plates that was three times too high. "Oh." I said in surprise, managing to grab and steady the pile of glass before she could drop it; I took half of plates, finally able to see Meirin's face.

"Oh, hello Ms. Crystal." she greeted, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Thank ya kindly ma'Am." she said setting the plates down on the table.

"Took a few to many, aye Meirin." Bard snickered slinging a cooking pot over his shoulder, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. I smiled as I set the plates down, chuckling lightly.

"Are you alright Meirin?" I asked tilting my head in curiosity. She nodded.

"Just a bit shaken up is all." she admitted, letting it roll off her shoulders.

"Well I'm glad." I said "Now is there anything I can help with?" all three of them nodded and they began to argue.

"You can help me tidy up a bit." the maid said only for bard to shaking head.

"Hey, no way, Crystal helped you yesterday." Bard said almost defensively.

"Nuh ah." Finny spoke up pouting like a child. "Lady Crystal helped you both over the last two days, it's my turn now." he pouted.

"Why you." Bard trailed off, raising a hand as if to push finny, they're playful banter. But I got in the way, wrapping my arms around Finny in a slight hug before standing beside him.

"Alright Finny, enough said." I responded with a smile. Bard hesitated a moment before lowering the pan with a sigh. The soldier had lost this battle.

"Oh alright." Bard mumbled, under his breath. Finny led the way outside into the bright spring sun, the grass was a beautiful shade of green and even though I was there to help...Finny did all the work, heaving a few heavy bales over his shoulders as if they were no more than a stack of paper.

"Just wait here ok Miss Crystal." he told me. "I'll be back in a little." he said vanishing around the house. I shrugged, pushing my black hair out of the way as the wind blew at my hat, my green dress billowing in the wind. It was beautiful...and then the wind turned cold. There was a snarling behind me and I turned around to face an angel hound. His massive form snarled at me.

"Good dog, good boy... heel." I began to mutter soothingly, looking up into its demonic red eyes. How did he even get here? I thought distressed.

"Interesting...isn't it." a familiar voice cut through my thoughts, my gaze immediately turned to the white haired angel as he appeared from behind the beast. "After all this time, Pluto still remains my loyal dog."

Ash.