"Grell!"

Madam Red's sharp shout made the Burnett butler jump. She glanced to the clock on her bedroom wall. Dear me, she thought to herself, I've wasted half an hour in thought!

She stretched, and made her way to Madam Red's bedroom, smiling sheepishly at her master, as she stared her down, her arms folded across her chest. "What took you Grell? I called you many times!" Madam Red blinked, then stared into Grell's eyes. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." A lie. Grell hadn't been fine in quite a long time. In fact, she don't think she had ever been fine. At least not in her recent memory. "You could have called someone else, Madam. You have many servants."

"Don't be silly. You're the only one strong enough to tie this bloody thing right." She sighed, nodding her head to the corset, only sitting loosely around her waist.

"Of course Madam." She turned Angelina around, with a touch on her Madam's shoulders, and held the string of the corset between her slender fingers. She gently tightened each rung of string, in silence.

"I'm almost certain there is something wrong dear. I have the inkling you're keeping something from me."

"There is a lot I must keep from you." Grell teased. She hoped that teasing her would take Angelina's mind off the truth that Grell hid. "I am a Grim Reaper after all."

"I suppose…" She frowned, wincing as Grell began to pull the string tighter around her waist. "You aren't slacking off on that work are you?"

"No of course not!" Grell didn't like the accusatory tone of her voice. She wouldn't dare slack off when hiding such a secret! It would spell the end for them both… William probably already hated her anyway, so she had to admit it was hard to care whether or not he found out about doing this to innocent humans. It's not like he ever cared about her. "How could you say that!?"

She pulled the corset again tightly, too tight for Madam Red. "Ow! Hey!? Watch what you're doing!"

Grell dropped the string in panic, then ran around her to face her. "Oh god… I'm so sorry! Are… Are you alright Madam!?"

"I'm fine. You're not all there today. Did you not sleep? You should have told me, I would have made you something to help!" Madam Red snapped at her. But that wasn't completely anger. It was also worried. Grell's own concern faded into a soft smile.

"I have been struggling." She admitted. It wasn't a lie. She never quite got enough sleep after her jobs… Especially after the more morbid ones that had taken place recently… Though… It was strange. She couldn't stand the sight of a brutal accident, but when she was tearing people apart, she got a sick kind of pleasure from it. Maybe the other Reaper's were right. She was insane.

"Well when we get home tomorrow I shall make you something to ease that trouble."

"We're going somewhere today?"

"Did you forget already? We're going to my Nephew's. Ciel Phantomhive's…"

"The queen's watchdog right?"

"How did you know?"

"I heard gossip from the other servants." She admitted half-heartedly. "But I know everything else you've told me."

"Ah, that's right…" She muttered, as Grell loosened the corset tightly. Enough so that it made her as thin as she wanted to be, but loose enough so that she could breath. "I am looking forward to it. His butler can actually cook and make a cup of tea!" She laughed quietly, as Grell's eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh you're too kind, Madam." She snidely replied. "Alright. I'll leave one of the maids to finish helping you here, and prepare our carriage for departure."

"Thank you Grell."

She left for outside, toward the stable. She knew Madam Red would take a long time to finish preparing, so she concluded that taking some time to relax with the horses was much needed to keep herself healthy and beautiful.

She was met with a snout nuzzling into her cheek, and she smiled. "My my, Sampson, you're looking quite handsome today!" She gently ran her fingers across the horses coat and sighed. She could hear madam Red making a fuss from here. "Oh dear… I have tried to love her Sampson, you know that don't you?" He snorted quietly at her. "I can't betray my emotions. I feel more like she's a caregiver… and… she keeps saying she understands but I know she doesn't- What am I doing?" She gave a slight laugh, and shook her head. "You're just a dumb horse. You can't help me. Come on. It's you and Vincent's turn today."

She led the two horses from the stables, and spent much time to make sure they were safely and securely bound to the carriage. If she were to have an accident… She would save Madam Red, but that beautiful red woman would never forgive her for it.

Vincent, a large grey horse, bounced his head at her. "Your name makes me sad, Vincent. I know what that name means to my Madam… But you're her favourite horse, so it's little surprise that you have her favourite name." She scratched his forehead, and turned to Sampson. "But little Sammy, you're my horse, and I love you a lot." She kissed his nose, and sighed into his fur. "Horses are nicer than humans." She sighed to him. "But then again…" She smirked to him. "Men like you aren't as attractive as someone like William…" She gave a slight giggle, and patted his shoulder. "Wait here. I'm getting our madam for our little excursion!"