"So, how are we getting in?" Grell asked, playing with his long hair and looking through the Trancy entrance gate.

I had ridden Juni back to the mansion. Grell had followed me by jumping tree to tree like a frog. Other than eternal life, awesome glasses, and the power to send souls to Heaven or Hell, Grim Reapers (or as they call themselves: Shinigamis) had incredible jumping skills.

"Well, with this dress, I can't climb over the gate." I said, looking over my dress.

Yesterday had ruined it. The black fringes had mostly been torn, and one of the bows was missing. My hair was to its original tangled and loose state. My bare feet had blisters and cuts on them.

"I can FIX that, you know." He said, raising his red chainsaw and turning it on. "Now hold STILL!"

Before I could react, Grell swung his chainsaw. I screamed and closed my eyes, but felt nothing.

"THERE! My, my, I MUST say, you look better with it like that!"

Slowly opening my eyes, I looked down to see my beautiful dress ruined. Grell had chopped all of the skirt off, leaving only the beginning where my knees were. Now that the heavy skirt was gone, I could move freely.

"Thanks Grell." I said, and then started climbing the gate. Once I was over, I jumped down and turned to Grell.

"You needn't to WORRY about ME!" He said, then like a red bouncy ball, jumped over the gate swiftly. "If you don't MIND, I'll head over to MY dear BASSY! Best of LUCK to you!" And with that, the Grim Reaper ran off towards the place where Sebastian and Claude were fighting.

Thanks for all your help Grell. Not.

Okay, first I'd find Hannah. If it was really after noon like Grell had said, that meant that Ciel and Alois would be eating. Hannah would be inside the mansion, probably fixing her dress of the tears that Sebastian had made when he threw knives at her. I needed to talk with her.

Juniper nickered through the gate, her ears pricked and pointed at me.

"You're free to go Juni." I said, smiling at her, "Be a good girl."

After stared at me for a bit, she finally got to message and trotted away, heading to the woods.

I jogged into the house and threw open the doors. Thankfully, they were unlocked. Now where was Hannah's room again? Upstairs to the right, two rooms down from the game room.

I quickly ran there, my feet yelling at me to stop. I marched through the pain and finally burst into Hannah's room.

She was sitting there, doing just what I thought she was going to be doing.

"Nichole! You came back!" She said happily. "I heard Young Master crying for you in the night."

"He-he…missed me?" I said, my face turning red from blushing.

Hannah nodded, "Yes. He was mad about what he said to you and was pleading with Claude to bring you back. Claude refused."

So he regretted that he said he hated me…I don't think Hannah knew what that meant to me.

"Hannah, tonight Alois shall nearly die. Then tomorrow Claude will break his neck and finish the job. Please, you need to help me."

"I shall do anything for Young Master…for my brother." She said, smiling. "Luka wants you to save him. He wishes that you two could be together."

"Tell Luka thank you for me." I said, smiling. Luka was so nice for dead four-year old living inside of a demon.

"He can hear you." Hannah, said, turning back to her sewing. "And trust me; I shall help you in every way possible. Now, go get changed into a real dress."

"This is all I have. Plus, I can move more freely in it. I'm fine Hannah. I'll stay here until it's time for the duel." I said, sitting on her bed and laying down. I hadn't slept well last night. All I saw was darkness and blood in my dream.

"Whatever you say. I need to return to the butler's duel right now." With that, she got up and started off. "Good luck. Rest your eyes and eyes until I return."

"Yes, Hannah." I said, almost instantly falling asleep. "Wake me up before Alois gets hurt. I need to help….to help…him..."

…

"Wake up! Hurry!"

I opened my eyes groggily as Hannah desperately tried to stir me.

"What? I-" I stopped and jumped out of the bed. "ALOIS! Where are they!?"

The older demon maid was out of breath, and it took her a few moments to respond. "Th-the parlor! Run!"

She didn't need to tell me twice. I stumbled out the door but fell over while on my way to the stairs. I rolled down them; they were wood, and hurt. By the time I had gotten to the bottom, my body felt numb. I made myself get up and limped as fast as I could to the parlor. The pain told me to cry and just fall over, but I refused.

Not until Alois was safe.

I threw open the door to the parlor only to see Claude and Sebastian sanding there in shock. No. I was too late.

Alois was on the ground, screaming bloody murder and holding his side. "CLAUDE! HELP ME! I'M DYING!"

"Yes, your highne-"

"NO!" Ciel screamed at the two butlers and I, "Don't come closer or I'll kill him."

I stared at Alois, who was on the ground. Blood gushed from his side, and it made me feel queasy. But anger at Ciel soon replaced all that. I took my pocket knife out and ran at the Earl.

"I'LL KILL YOU! I HATE YOU!" I screamed as loud as I could and stabbed Ciel's shoulder.

It didn't make a big cut, but it was deep and when I took my hand away, it was still in his shoulder. Ciel gave a shout and punched me in the mouth.

I recalled and held my jaw. It wasn't broken, but it felt like it.

"NO!" Alois screamed, slowly crawling to Ciel, leaving a trail of his blood behind him. "Don't hurt her! She didn't do anything! Please…"

My knees buckled and I fell to the ground. The sight of Alois and the pain of my, well, everything was too much.

"You all deserve to die!" Ciel yelled, and raised his sword at me, a murderous look in his eye.

"STOP!" Alois clung to Ciel's leg and hugged it. More and more blood came out of his side, and it sickened me. "Don't! Please spare her and me, Ciel! We don't want to die! Can't you see we are the same, you and I? My parents were killed too!"

Ciel just stared at Alois, who was wiping his tears on Ciel's pant leg. He was not amused.

"I promise I won't follow you around anymore! Just please let me live! You are being tricked by the demon at your side! Please, let me live Ciel…"

Tears stung my eyes. Just spare him, Ciel. If you really had a heart, you would. He was pleading for you to.

Ciel gave a short laugh and raised his sword. "You have stained my pride. With that, you shall pay for your life!"

Alois's eyes rolled to the back of his head and he weakly whispered, "Claude, save me. Please."

Behind me, Claude ran at lightning speed and grabbed the sword before Ciel could pierce Alois's skin once more.

Ciel and Claude started fighting, but I didn't care about them. Alois was on his face on the ground, sobbing. I crawled to Alois, and turned him around, so he could face me. My arms were weak, but I lifted his body into my arms and stared at him.

His face was an absolute mess. Tears came rapidly from his eyes. His nose was running and snot covered the part above his mouth. His eyes were wide with fear and pain.

"Calm down. I'm here. Please…" I pressed my free hand against his wound, and the blood quickly covered my hand. What else could I say?

"You…you c-came back? E-even after what I said to you?" He stuttered.

"Yes. Why would I leave? You're my master. Now please, just concentrate on breathing." I pressed my hand harder on Alois's cut, only to cover more of my arms with that ugly color red. How could Grell love it so much?

Alois moved his hands on top of mine, and pressed down too. "Okay…I'm glad….you…came back."

"NO!" I turned to see Ciel, who was in Sebastian's arms, squealing like a brat. "Let me GO! I MUST KILL HIM!"

Behind me, Claude stood, with Ciel's blood on his face. He stood like he was having an orgasmic, and didn't move when Sebastian talked to him.

"Excuse us, Claude." Sebastian said as he stood up with his childish master in his arms. "We shall continue the Macabre Dance another day. You should attend to your master."

As the two skipped away, Claude looked after them. He didn't care about Alois anymore. Only Ciel.

Alois looked at me and then his butler, "Claude…what are you looking at? Can't you see I'm dying?! Save me!"

I looked at Claude and scowled. I hated him so much. He deserved to die. "Alois…he…he doesn't…"

"Claude…" Alois stammered and buried his head into my ruined dress.

Claude licked his fingers and stared at me and Alois. I wanted to jump up and just murder him. Words cannot describe my hate for him. A demon like him didn't deserve to even breathe.

"Hoheo Taralna, Rondero Tarel! Hoheo Taralna, Rondero Tarel! Hoheo Taralna, Rondero Tarel!" Alois chanted, weakly holding his hand out to Claude. Hoheo Taralna, Rondero Ta-"

I quickly reeled back as blood and other vile smelling substances spewed out of Alois's mouth and all over him and me. As he finished, he leaned back into me, his eyes full of terror and pure utter fear.

His entire body was red, and my stomach and legs were too. Alois stared at me, looking at me as if I was supposed to become God and save him from all the pain. If I could, I would.

Claude stared down at us like we were nothing. Like we were dirt. Like we weren't people, but animals.

"You…you look like you are staring at maggots flying around a pile…of….sh…i…" Alois took one more breath and went limp. His breathing was shallow, and each breath shook his entire body.

"Claude Faustus..." I said, not taking my eyes off him. "I swear I shall take Alois with me once he is better."

"Malady, I might no longer want his soul, but a contract is a contract." Claude said, still searching for any trace of Ciel-blood on his face.

"No. I won't let you take him! I hate you Claude!" I yelled, hugging Alois's body close to me and crying. I pressed my forehead against his and wept like a little baby.

Claude moved close to me and touched the top of my head. "A contract is a contract…however; there is always a loop hole…"

Before I could respond, I felt pain in the back of my head, and then…darkness.