Note: Well, guys. I'm out of town right now and don't know if I'll be able to post consistently. I'll post when I can, but by the look of things it's nothing to worry about. Anyway, deon!sebs and a little bit of... manipulation? And Ciel is a bit too forgiving. Extra chapter will be out tomorrow, too! Just some fluff and pregnant Lizzie

Oh, and I've noticed that I've been losing readers with every chapter, and have been getting almost no reviews... So remember to review, guys! I love hearing from you.

Sebastian flicked his wrist and the lanterns went out. The only light was from a small, dimming candle resting on Ciel's nightstand. Somehow in the few seconds it had taken Ciel's eyes to adjust to the darkness Sebastian had managed to disappear. He scrambled to grab the candle from his nightstand. He never made it, though.

There was a terrible ringing in his ears, sharp pain shooting down his spine. He dropped to the floor, desperate to hold in cries of pain. He wouldn't give the demon that satisfaction.

The first requirement will be souls. Extra payment.

It was Sebastian's voice. It was as if he had spoken inside Ciel's head… it was strange and uncomfortable. Ciel felt horribly violated at the invasion of a voice other than his within his mind. However, the voice blocked out the terrible pain.

The candle flickered as if threatening to go out, and Ciel stumbled to his feet, grabbing at it and trying to regain his balance. Your soul, though it will be quite the meal, does not suffice. I need more than that.

Ciel made his way to the door, staggering through darkness and trying to dispel the oncoming nausea.

I'm giving you a choice.

Ciel finally found the doorknob, and his shaking fingers unsteadily locked onto it. But it refused to turn.

A terrible cackling resonated through the bedroom. Ciel winced, spinning to see Sebastian standing there, just outside the circle of glowing golden light provided by the candle. He was illuminated just enough for Ciel to see that this wasn't his butler. At least… not exactly.

He still looked like Sebastian; messy black hair, glowing red eyes, porcelain skin. However the skin around his eyes was turning gray; his teeth were now more like Grell's, but they were sticking out at odd angles, far too large for his mouth even though it stretched up in a sick grin that didn't fit his thin face. There were two black sheep's horns protruding from his head, curved into a pair of swirling shells. On his back were two skeletal wings, a few black feathers clinging to them. He was still wearing his uniform – or at least, what was left of it. It was torn to shreds, hanging from his slender body and showing off more of him than Ciel had ever expected to see. Ciel felt an odd fluttering in his stomach. Even like this Sebastian was still intoxicatingly beautiful.

"To fulfill this requirement I would need the equivalent of every soul in London. Perhaps in all of England."

Ciel's hands were shaking so the candlelight trembled; Sebastian was sometimes more in or more out of view. Ciel could see the tiny bundle that was Rose still in his arms.

"Or…" Sebastian smirked, "you may find other means to satisfy me."

In a flurry of black feathers he was gone.

"Wait! Rose-!" The candle flickered out, and Ciel was lost in darkness.

You have until tomorrow night. Decide quickly.

.

"Milord? Are you alright?"

Ciel shot up, his head colliding hard with Finny's, only fueling his headache. It took him a moment to organize his thoughts after that.

He looked at Finny and then around the room. It was sunny outside and the tea cart sat by the door. Elizabeth was not next to him where she was supposed to be, and there was a terrible aching in his chest.

"I'm sorry, my lord…" He offered Ciel a teacup. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Where's Sebastian?" Ciel demanded, declining the tea.

Finny blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Where is Sebastian?" Ciel repeated, more forcefully.

"He's with Mey Rin taking care of little Rosie," Finny said. "She's beautiful, milord! And, considering the way she was brought into the world, she's doing exceptionally well."

Ciel found little comfort in Finny's words. "Take me to them."

"Right now? My lord-"

"Take me to Sebastian."

Finny blinked, but then bowed. "Y-yes, my lord! Right away, my lord!"

.

Mey Rin hovered nearby, watching as Sebastian fussed over Rose, not putting her down for a second and ensuring that she never so much as frowned once. He let her play with his fingers and pull his hair and just smiled and laughed along with her. He had never looked more docile.

Despite everything there was a moment of peace, and it was wonderful. However it couldn't last forever.

Ciel stormed in, ranting and shouting, startling Mey Rin badly and even surprising Sebastian. The earl was in complete disarray – he hadn't even changed out of his nightclothes, and his hair stuck up at all different angles. He looked about five years younger than he was, but didn't sound it.

"You bastard! God damned lying con artist!"

It took Mey Rin a moment to realize the words were directed at Sebastian, who seemed unfazed.

"My lord, what-"

"Mey Rin! Take Rose and go to my bedroom. Wait there for me to come back. Finny, go with her. Don't you dare come anywhere near this room!"

Mey Rin, shocked, nodded and stumbled over to Sebastian, who handed her the baby cautiously. She and Finny were out the door in seconds, leaving Ciel to continue yelling.

"You tricked me! You lying jackass! Murderer! You…"

"Demon?" Sebastian offered.

Ciel scowled. "Explain to me. That's an order! Explain everything that has happened!"

Sebastian stood, brushing himself off. "I'm sure that would be unnecessary, seeing as you witnessed the whole thing-"

"Don't disobey me!"

Sebastian frowned. "Yes, my lord." A small smirk curved his lips. "As I said in my note, something about you has made a demon more… human. And part of being human is loving. What wasn't explained is that when demons do have a connection to a mortal as I do to you and we can feel emotions such as love, it is amplified. Greatly. As are all things that follow, such as jealousy.

"I don't like sharing my things, Ciel." When Sebastian said his name it sent shivers down his spine. "And I definitely do not like sharing you. I never had any intention to allow Elizabeth any part of you."

"If that is so, then why did you wait so long to kill her?"

"You see… I thought I could cover up the murder. Not from you, but from the rest of the world. By killing the women and then waiting for Elizabeth to fall into the category… It was quite simple, really."

"But why wait for pregnancy?" Ciel asked.

"Mh…" Sebastian laughed softly. "It just makes things oh so much more tragic, does it not? Besides, some demons have a very strong maternal instinct. I thought it would be fun little project, do you not agree?" His arms twined around Ciel, lips pressed to Ciel's ear.

Ciel couldn't find the strength to push him away. "And what about the rest of it?"

"And what would that be?"

Ciel blinked. "You said there would be alterations to the contract."

"I said no such thing, my lord." He was trailing his mouth along Ciel's jaw, obviously waiting for the conversation to end so he could kiss him. "You must've been dreaming."

"What?"

"You fainted after reading the note. I tucked you into bed and left to tend to Miss Rose."

So… it had been a dream? No, a nightmare.

Ciel allowed himself to put his arms around Sebastian.

"The note… can I see it?"

Sebastian, without having to draw back much, handed Ciel the note.

My lord,

I can honestly say I have enjoyed serving as your butler. But you have made some truly unwise decisions and it seems it has cost you the lives of many. There are some lines that you mustn't cross, and you've stepped passed them all. I love you for your bravery in doing this, and that's unacceptable. Too many human emotions follow love, such as jealousy, lust, caring, etc. But I suppose I can make an acception just this one time.

-Your Butler, Sebastian

Ciel frowning. There was no way…

It must've been a dream. This was the exact same note. There were ink blotches in all the same places as he remembered and the bloody fingerprints were just as they had been…

"This is the original note?"

"Yes."

"A dream…"

"I'm afraid so, my lord."

Ciel looked up at Sebastian, and he could feel tears threatening to escape. Why a demon… of all things… why a demon?

"I… I forgive you, Sebastian."

"For murdering Elizabeth?"

"…Yes."

Even now those crimson eyes were a sanctuary. Why a demon…?

Ciel pressed his lips to Sebastian's, sobbing into his mouth. Why, why, why?

"My lord…? I think we should go attend to our… project." Ciel could Sebastian's smirk against his lips.

Ciel nodded. "Yes. We should." He drew back, but allowed Sebastian to twine their fingers together. Ciel glanced down at their hands suspiciously.

"What if someone sees?"

"No one will see, my lord. Trust me."