Chapter 1

Her Maid, Negotiating

"I'm curious to see what a dragonfly would look like as a woman." The girl had said as the dragonfly manifested into a feminine figure.

"Is that the form you would like me to take on? I can't promise that it will be very sightly." The dragonfly, which was now becoming a woman, informed her.

"You mean, there are other options?" Elizabeth blinked. "I suppose.." She thought back to what had always comforted her. "..Something cute."

"Cute?" The shadow woman repeated, a smile curling into place where her mouth would be. "Well, there is one form that I am particularly fond of." The woman tilted her head back, raising her arms above her head as she allowed herself to finish materializing.

The woman before Elizabeth had flawless, tan brown skin that looked soft to touch. Her eyes were the same shade as the dragonfly's- a reddish purple. Her hair was a vibrant green, worn in loose pigtails.

The clothing covering her body was in the style of that of a maid, but in less traditional colors. The dress and gloves were the same green as Elizabeth's eyes, but with accents in that same reddish purple.

"Will this do?" The woman asked with a curtsy.

Elizabeth managed to muster up a small smile. "Yes, that will do wonderfully. Those colors are to die for. They remind me of.. Of the pictures I've seen of the aurora borealis."

The woman curled her lips into a smile once more. "I can't say I've ever heard that one before."

"Tell me." Elizabeth began. "What am I to call you? What is your name?"

"My name is whatever you desire it to be." The woman informed her new mistress with a small bow. "As part of our contract, you get to decide a name for me."

The blonde didn't hesitate. "I think "Aurora" to be a fitting given name for you, just like the northern lights."

"An excellent choice, my lady." The newly named Aurora bowed again. "Will you be giving me a surname, as well?"

"Ah, yes. That would be the proper thing to do. We can't exactly let you be without a surname." Elizabeth considered this, touching a dirty finger to her cheek. "I'm thinking.. "Newcomb". It means "newly come", and you are newly come into my life.."

"Another excellent choice, my lady. Then please, from now on, refer to me as "Aurora Newcomb" whenever possible."

"So, Aurora. You must tell me more about this contract we are to have." Elizabeth sat on the grass under the tree in her filthy, torn dress. "I know that you want to consume my soul in the end, and I can see that you are not of this world given how you can change your form.. But what else is there to it?"

Aurora knelt across from Elizabeth in her dark green dress. "My lady, I can tell by looking at you, even in your current state, that you are a lady of high social class. Given such information, I figured it would be appropriate to fulfill our contract from the role of a lady's maid. With your permission, of course, my lady. There is also the matter of the terms of our contract and the contract seal."

"Of course you are welcome to serve as my lady's maid, Aurora!" Elizabeth leaned forward a bit, then gazed down at the ground in a dismal fashion. "Though I must warn you, I haven't felt like a noble woman in quite some time now."

"We can fix that, my lady." Aurora reassured the blonde.

Elizabeth lifted her head to gaze at Aurora. "You mentioned the terms of our contract and the contract seal..? What exactly is the contract seal?"

Aurora's left glove, which was wrist length, green, frilled and adorned with purple stitching, was slipped off of her hand to reveal two things. The first, and most obvious thing, was Aurora's fingernails. While in much better shape than Elizabeth's currently were, they were pitch black. The second thing became visible as Aurora turned her hand over. There was an odd, green and purple pentagram on the back of Aurora's hand.

"This is my contract seal." Aurora held her hand out for Elizabeth to see, who rubbed at her eyes with her dirty fists. The blonde couldn't believe what she was seeing!

"What.. What is it for?" Elizabeth asked foolishly.

Aurora smiled apologetically. "Per our contract, this seal must be branded somewhere upon your body. Luckily, the location is entirely of your choosing."

Elizabeth averted her eyes upon hearing this, as if she were displeased and didn't want to think about it. "And the terms of our contract?"

"That would be the main "wish" you would like me to grant, upon the granting of which, I will claim your soul. I'd advise you not to make this decision lightly, as it will be the driving force behind our whole partnership. Similarly.." Aurora's expression grew serious. "This is your only chance to turn back. Once we finalize this contract, you will never be able to reach Elysium. There is no repentance for this sin."

Elizabeth lowered her head, taking a deep breath. "I may never know what happened to Ciel during that time when he was gone, and I pray that he never finds out what has happened to me. I know that whatever he has gone through, is worse than what I have suffered. But even so, that doesn't change the fact that I am at my lowest point right now." Elizabeth's voice cracked as tears welled up in her emerald eyes. "I need to be able to start over, even if that means throwing my soul away, Aurora. What I want is for.."

The blonde choked out her wish to the unholy being before burying her filthy face in her dirty hands.

Aurora moved closer to Elizabeth, pulling a handkerchief from her purple apron's pocket. "You've done well, my lady. Just a little more, and then I can begin easing your pain."

Elizabeth moved her hands away from her face, allowing Aurora to wipe away tears and dirt. "Do you promise?"

"I promise, my lady." Aurora bowed her head. "Please instruct me on where to brand the contract seal.. The deal will be finalized."

Elizabeth shuddered. Aurora's seal was not ugly, but it was not beautiful, either. It would have to go somewhere where no one other than Aurora or herself would ever see it. If her parents were to see it, or Edward..

Elizabeth also thought back to what Aurora had previously said to her. Elizabeth, like Ciel, had been raised religious. But she had noticed, that ever since Ciel had returned with his butler clad in black years ago, that Ciel's faith in anything holy had greatly diminished. Ciel no longer attended church. To be fair, after what she had gone through after leaving home, Elizabeth herself was starting to question if a god existed. What god would allow these things to happen to a young girl?

She had made her decision.

"I… I want it on my sternum." Elizabeth informed Aurora, slowly beginning to pull down the top of her dirtied dress.

"Very well, my lady." Aurora reached out her unclothed hand towards Elizabeth's flesh, which was covered in grime.

The blonde trembled as she watched, wondering if the branding would hurt or not. She became more and more anxious as she could feel the heat radiating off of Aurora's palm.

The searing pain was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Her voice pierced the heavens that she would never reach, and she fell into unconsciousness.