Sorry this one isn't long but between working on the other fanfiction and the lack of reviews I haven't had much encouragement towards this one! Zane and I are working when we can on this while working on Skyrim Vs. The Two Sisters. Thank you everyone who has reviewed/Favorited this story! It will be updated soon as possible! ~Rose~

Her Butler, Never Far Away

Sebastian sighed as he leaned upon the window, staring out at the well trimmed garden. It had barely been five months since Ciel's disappearance but he was still grieving her loss, he had searched everywhere he possibly could but found nothing at all. He sighed as he stood straight, fixing his unbutton black shirt as a quiet knock came from the door.

"Enter." His voice had little enthusiasm to it as he turned, seeing Tanaka enter. The older butler had seemed to resort to his normal self over his deflated form. Tanaka bowed before holding a letter out in his hand.

"Earl Michaelis, Her Majesty sent word at last." Sebastian winced at his new title, after Ciel's disappearance the Queen had given the entire Phantomhive estate, including the titles to him for being so loyal to Ciel and to Her Majesty. He calmly took the letter with a bit of resentment towards the Queen, she had sent plenty of guards to search for Ciel but only for a week and no longer. He opened the letter and was surprised.

Earl Michaelis.

Please understand that I do share your pain in the loss of Lady Phantomhive but I have begun to hear rumors that a man has appeared in numerous parties escorted by two maids, one of whom he calls his betrothed. It may be nothing but the one he is to marry keeps herself cloaked whether with a mask or under veils, please do me the favor of looking into this and figuring out who this man is and why he suddenly decided to show his face. He calls himself Lord Arok.

Sincerely,

Queen Victoria

Sebastian sighed as he folded the note and tucked it away nicely in his pocket, smiling to Tanaka. It felt odd to him, knowing he was a butler to the core yet here he was taking up the title of Earl and running the house hold; of course it wasn't like he didn't do that before he was the Earl.

"Tell the others that we shall begin preparations for a masquerade ball for tomorrow, send word through out and make sure everyone hears about it." Tanaka bowed and left the room quickly.

A dark shadow fell upon the room when the candles began to dim, the tall man stood at the window, his white hair shimmered as the lightning cracked outside the window. His golden-red eye shined in contrast to his left eye, only a mirrored glass eye had replaced the hole of which his old eye had been; the eye that had been unfairly stolen from him. He gave a heavy sigh as his perfect reflection showed in the window, the rain beat down heavily upon the glass as a knock came from the door. He turned to face the door as a little boy entered, no older than twelve. He was a perfect reflection of the older gentleman, a full smile with his pumpkin colored eyes shining brightly in contrast to his dark-navy outfit.

"You rang for me father?" The man sipped the brandy in his hand before smiling to the boy, loving how no matter what his voice had an uplifting ring to it.

"Yes I did Gabriel, I wanted to know how is your new sister taking to you?" Gabriel's smile faltered a bit but he closed the door, skipping over to the older man he gleefully hugged him.

"Oh she is taking quite well! She is loving all the lovely outfits we picked out for her, though the one who is to become mother seems most distressed." The man laughed and pat Gabriel on the head, a mischievous smile upon his face.

"Don't you worry about your to-be mother, she shall come around with time my dear boy." The man glared to the door as a knock came upon the door, he was going to call for them to leave but Gabriel was already skipping over and opening the door. The maid behind the door was shaking, her green eyes complimenting her red hair and freckles quite nicely. She timidly stepped forward, sensing the man's hatred for interruptions.

"My-" She winced as he glared at her coldly, a whimper escaped her throat.

"What is it?" His voice was uncaring, he hated when the maids interrupted his father and son time. She shuddered before holding her hands out, bowing at the waist.

"Lord Arok this just arrived, it is from the Michaelis household." She gasped as the glass within his hands shattered, blood mixed with the glass pieces as they fell. She dropped the letter and dashed from the room, leaving Gabriel looking at his father in awe. He swiftly made his way to the mess, gently pulling the pieces from his fater's hand.

"Father you mustn't keep scaring the maids away, they do wish to help you since mother was gone and with this new engagement going so roughly perhaps it's time you warmed up?" Arok turned at his son and found himself unable to stay mad, the boy pulled a handkerchief out from his pocket and wrap it around the hand. He sighed as Gabriel picked the letter up and opened it, the smile returning to his face. "Oh look it's an invite, Lord Michaelis is inviting all of us to his ball tomorrow!" Arok chuckled as his son jumped up and down. "And it's a masquerade, oh how wonderful! Shall we attend father?" The boy looked to him with such a pleading smile, Arok nodded as he laughed.

"Of course, it has been a long time since I've seen Michaelis. I think it is past time we have a little game of catch up..."

Sebastian sighed heavily into the mirror, once again his hand was forced to play a role of which he hated. He had accepted the title for Ciel's sake, for the Phantomhive estate, and yet the void within him burned as he saw the mark upon his hand. Their contract still stood which meant he should be able to find her no matter what but he had not been able to trace her once, it was as if she had simply vanished. He had opted for a long-tailed black suit with a vibrant red vest to compliment his mask. Smiling he placed the mask on, the black horns slowly mixed into the red with many swirling designs upon it. He frowned when he heard the bell ring, a signal for him to make his appearance.

"And so the dance of the devils begins." Sebastian forced a smile upon his face as his eyes began to glow, the room around him growing dark as feathers began falling around him.