Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroshitsuji.

Chapter Five

Salt burned the back of my throat and stung my eyes as a strong breeze blew up the cliff from the rough waters below. My skirts lifted slightly with it, billowing out around me as stood overlooking the drop. Dark purplish clouds were swirling and growing just along the horizon as the ones above my own head churned a light gray.

A storm was brewing out at sea.

Unlike the humans who'd long since taken refugee in their brick homes, I remained standing on the cliff allowing the strong wind to whip at my face and hair. My blue eyes scanned the horizon for signs of the storms origin. Unlike the simple humans I knew that this was more than just a storm at sea. This was a demons doing.

A presences became known behind me and I smirked. This one wasn't a new one, I'd known this one. Darkly alluring and sweet at the same time, not unalike myself. We'd had our fun more than once and I wouldn't lie by saying that we wouldn't have our fun again in the future. Like most of my species I lived for the pleasurable company and he certainly had been one of the more pleasurable companies I'd known in my time.

"What brings you to Ireland?" I chuckled, brushing back my hair from my face.

His shadow cast over me as he loomed just behind me, "Shouldn't I be the one asking you that question?"

I laughed lightly and shook my head, "Seeing as I happen to travel a lot, that question isn't required. As for yourself, that's a different tale. You never stray too far from the mortals."

I sensed him grin, "If you must know, I'm serving under a master."

"Oh?" I said faking surprise. "So what are you doing here without him then?"

"Because his time is just about up."

I smirked broadly, "Oh, tis a shame then. I'd been hoping I could meet this poor fellow."

"He sold his soul for riches and woman," he stated.

I scoffed, "Let me guess his wish was to be the most sought after man in all of Ireland?"

He chuckled darkly, "How did you know?"

I rolled my eyes, "Because all humans are the same. Selfish and stupid. They never change no matter how old the world around them ages."

Behind me the other demon nodded, "I suppose you're right."

"I hope that for their sake they wake up one day," I mumbled, my voice lost to the wind.

When I finally did come out of my comatose state I found myself in my bed wrapped in my blankets, perfectly safe. I sighed and sat up, gently lifting a finger to brush against my cheek. The sensitive ends of the tips of my fingers brushed against rough bandage. Unbidden tears came to my eyes and I felt them spill over and begin to fall down my cheeks. It was shameless of me to cry over my wounded face when it could have been a whole lot worse. I could've been raped, but I wasn't and instead I was crying over a cut.

I frantically wiped away the salty traitors and instead turned my thoughts to the strange vision I had while unconscious, hoping to divert my attention elsewhere onto something else to stop these stupid tears.

It, like the dream from the first night I spent at the Phantomhive mansion, was similar in the way that both seemed like vivid memories rather then fragments of an overactive imagination. But memories of whom? Not mine surely. I'd never been further west then Germany or further east then London, so there was no way for me to have been in the harsh deserts or Ireland. Those places were beyond what I knew.

Yet somehow I had a feeling that the girl was another me I had no recollection of and that I knew the other figure that kept appearing with her. But I couldn't understand. And what did she mean by demons? Demons don't exist. Nothing of that sort existed and she spoke as if she was one of them. I was human, that I knew for sure, so there was another notch in my theory.

"Do you really believe that?" A voice whispered through my mind.

I gasped and stared wide eyed at the bed, not truly looking at it more looking through it then anything, as I lost my breath over the detached voice. What in the world was that?

I shook my head gaining my composure and giggled to myself. Look at me getting worked up over my imagination. I was probably just experiencing after shock that's all. Nothing more than my mind trying to recover.

"You are thick headed, like one of those mortals," the voice scoffed, startling me again as it rung through my head. "I thought I was smarter than this, but I guess spending so much time living as a human would do that to me. Nothing flash backs can't help."

I let out a blood curling scream as a sharp pain throbbed to life in my temples. It stretched out, expanding outwards to the rest of my head as I continued to scream my lungs raw from the pain. Red splotches covered my vision as I clutched at my head, trying to make the pain go away. Oh gosh, I was losing it.

Everything slowly faded to black...

The rough roof top scratched at the back of my legs as I lowered myself down the tiles. London was asleep, peacefully dreaming about their insignificant wishes and hopes. They laid unaware of the terrors that lurked right outside their cozy homes unbeknownst to them. Only a few actually knew, actually saw the world beyond the humanized bubble of peaceful naivety. And those few were in even more danger then the rest.

I leaned over the edge of the building, using only one hand latched onto the gutter to hold me in place as I titled a complete forty-five degrees over the drop below. A cloaked figure slithered through the streets unnoticed. A top hat secured onto his head hid his face from view, but my sharp senses knew what he was very well. The glasses gleaming in the golden glow of the street lamps below the rim of his hat would've also hinted to his species if my senses had been duller then they actually were.

I observed silently as he turned right and disappeared down a dark alleyway; hopefully never to be seen again.

I sighed and dropped down, landing in a crouch on the cobble stone street with little more then a low thump to announce my landing. I straightened up and smoothed my dark cloak before securing the hood to make sure it hide my face from view.

One quick glance around the street told me that the cloaked man was gone from sight, but not completely gone. I sensed him lurking somewhere not too far off. He wasn't anyone I needed to concern myself with at the moment. I needed to feed and no reaper was going to stop me.

The local pub was still open and the warm light from within spilled out onto the street through it's open doorway. Loud laughing and obnoxious giggles spilled onto the street from the place, alerting me to the large group within. More selections for a meal.

I grinned mischievous and slipped inside, aware of the presences following not too far behind me. I shook off the feeling that I was the being stalked and worked my way through the crowd of drunk humans. Most were of lower middle class mixed with a few brothel girls. The girls who wore barely anything to cover their essentials and caked makeup onto their faces, flirted shamelessly with the male attendants of the pub; giggling and chattering obnoxiously. I ignored them as best as I could and scanned the crowd for someone who looked appealing enough to sate my hunger for the meantime.

I normally didn't come to places like this for my meals. I preferred them cleaner and classier, but I also normally didn't go without a meal this long. Damn that stupidly handsome demon who had kept me busy these past months. Now I was starved and didn't have time to seduce my preferred meal. As it was I would take pretty much anything I could get- well I still had some standard to uphold.

My eyes landed on someone who didn't belong. He stood out among the others. Too clean to truly be of the working class and certainly handsome enough to be of an upper class. His clothes told much the same story. Silk scarf hanging loosely around his neck and white pressed shirt that was sticking to his skin from the heat conjured up by the crowd of humans, plastered against his lean form. Now here was a catch I certainly hadn't been expecting.

I wriggled my way through the crowd and dropped my cloak from my shoulders, letting it fall where it would. My costume of choice gained quite a few looks from the men. A low cut cream bodice that laid too tight against my bust where flesh threatened to spill out over the top, criss crossed with black lacing. My black skirts fell away from my waist, except where I had hooked up one edge to my waist, revealing one of my pale well-sculpted legs. My feet were bare yet soft and smooth, tempting all the males in the pub as I delicately stepped only the tips as I walked.

Eyes rolled over my body, but I only cared for one pair. The misfit mortal happened to glance back as I made my way over to him. His dark brown eyes widened as he took me in, and just to tease him a bit, I shook my hair out sending the bronze spirals to drape delicately over one shoulder.

I placed my forefinger under his chin and titled his head up as I leaned closer to him. He certainly was handsome. Smooth, chiseled features that were both strong in nature yet still retaining that soft edge. Shame that he wouldn't be alive much longer. If I hadn't been so starved I might have liked to enjoy his company a little longer.

"Looking for a little fun tonight, sir?" I purred, running my finger down the curve of his neck.

He swallowed hard and blinked up at me slowly, looking more intoxicated then he had a moment before. The charms were working on him, which made this a whole lot easier. I smiled prettily and batted my eyelashes.

"Sir?" I asked softly.

He blinked slowly as if snapping out a trance and then slowly nodded. I grinned widely and grabbed his hand in mine, pulling him to his feet easily. He followed me in almost a trance like state as I led him up the stairs towards the inner workings of the true nature of the pub.

Inwardly I grimaced at the grimy nature of the second floor. Worn wooden doors closed tightly on either side of me, where moans and groans leaked out into the hallway from underneath. Human males enjoying the pleasurable company of the local whores that worked the pub. At least I had an excuse for my actions, these mortal females just worked for the money it brought to their soiled hands.

At the end of the hall I found an empty room. Silken sheets and pillows were thrown all over the places, along with lacy undergarments and perfume bottles. I wrinkled my nose, yes this was definitely not my first choice of a place to enjoy my meal.

I shut the door with my hip and locked it behind my back, eyeing the male before me. His scent, now that it was alienated from the others, was rich and almost intoxicating. Almost, because no true human scent would drive me completely mad with want. Only another demon's could. It was his soul that made me lust after him, not anything else he could offer.

I grinned slyly and wrapped my arms around his strong neck, locking my lips shamelessly with his. He kissed me back willingly, stumbling backwards onto the bed as I tipped our weight backwards. We collapsed onto the bed with him pinned beneath me as I moved to straddle him around his waist. I smiled into the kiss, running my tongue across his bottom lip begging for entrance which he granted instantly. A groan escaped my lips as I tasted his soul in that kiss. A taste so rich...almost like the sweetest of chocolates that were meant to be savored. It certainly was a shame that I couldn't savor him.

His hands slide up my back to the ties of my dress, beginning to go to work with the lacing there. Of course he suspected he was the one in charge of our evening, having no idea who he was dealing with. I smirked and removed his hand easily, pulling away an inch.

He eyed my quizzically, silently questioning my actions. I smiled slyly and began to undo the buttons of his coat slowly, teasingly, with one hand as I kept my eyes locked with his. Beneath me I could feel his heart racing in anticipation, but it wouldn't be doing so for long.

I brushed my finger tips lightly over the skin just above his pant's line, enjoying feeling him shudder under my touch. Yes, he certainly would've been someone to enjoy had I not been so hungry...

Screaming from the hallway outside the door interrupted our moment of pleasure and I pulled upright, eyeing the door suspiciously. That's when I smelt it.

My nose twitched at the scent and my heart leapt into my throat. I should've suspected as much. Reapers didn't hang around the human realm unless they had to. They only showed their faces among mortals when someone was going to die. I should have known by the proximity that this reaper was coming here, but I hadn't in my hunger induced carelessness.

As I untangled myself from the mortal, who was also was beginning to stand up causing his shirt falling loosely around his chest, the door burst open. Three dark shadows stood illuminated by the blazing fire behind them in the now open doorway. The man behind me swore and stumbled forward towards the creatures in the doorway. To him they looked like mortals coming to help the survivors of the fire, but I saw their odd green eyes hidden behind glasses, the ones that were a light green on the outer rim but had a dark green rim closer to the pupil.

Reapers.

Before the human had a moment to speak one of the reapers cut him down, sending the spiraling film of the man's life into the air. I grimaced, knowing all too well I'd lost this meal. His body collapsed lifelessly onto the ground as the reaper who'd killed him collected his soul.

"We have one more on the agenda, Ronald," one of them spoke, looking at the clipboard in his hand as he used a pen to check off a name from the list. "Better collect the soul fast or else William will be on our asses about it."

"Right on it," the one I assumed was Ronald spoke. He had a funny look to him that wasn't altogether ugly. In fact he was sort of cute. Light colored hair on the top, while underneath was a dark color. Only his eyes ruined his looks. Such a shame.

I moved backwards towards the window, ready to make my escape before they noticed my presences. Demons, even my kind, weren't often held too highly in reaper esteem. They absolutely despised us.

"Mademoiselle?"

I turned knowing very well I was the one being addressed, finding all three reapers looking directly at me. Their eyes were indifferent, lacking the hatred I expected. They couldn't...was it possible they didn't know what I was?

"Shame she had to be one of the victims this fire claims," the one named Ronald sighed. "I would've liked to have met her where I could've gotten to know her."

"Knox," the third warned with a hard tone.

"Alright, I know, head in the job," he mimicked the third's voice.

He approached me, an odd machine in front of him. I stumbled backwards, hitting the window still. Shit, this wasn't good.

"Wait! I'm not what you think-," I started, only to be cut off by him pulling the a string on the machine making it come to life with a roar.

"Sorry, Miss," he smiled kindly. "Orders are orders."

I jolted upright with a gasp as I gained consciousness once again. Dear lord, what was that?