*A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry for the delayed update, life got kinda crazy and I hit a slump with this arc. This chapter is a little shorter because I wanted to get something published for you guys. A huge thank you to my reviewers, especially Taurus Pixie and LovelyRose2212, for boosting my confidence and motivating me to keep writing. I love you all and enjoy the update!*

"Master!"

"Angela!"

"What's going on here?! What's all the fuss about?!"

Lilliana looked up as Mey-Rin, Finny, Tanaka, and Bard all rushed out of the castle in their pajamas. She hadn't been able to spend much time with Bard and Finny yet, but she considered Mey-Rin to be a good friend. Tanaka was just...Tanaka. When Angela somberly answered their question, Lilliana frowned and had to suppress a shudder. Her soft, 'woe is me' tone grated on Lilliana's nerves. She had absolutely no sympathy for the fallen angel and would not play her games.

The servants were all horrified by Angela's explanation of the demon hound's punishment, and rightfully so. When Ciel had told her about the demon hound just moments before Angela had come to his room, Lilliana had been afraid, too. She assumed that this explained the otherworldly presence in the marsh, though she still knew nothing about them.

"Angela!"

The group turned to see a crowd of villagers walking toward them carrying torches. The man leading the crowd spoke again. "Please find Lord Barrymore at once. The demon hound has come again."

"Who was the punished one?" Angela inquired, sounding near tears. Lilliana wanted to roll her eyes at the dramatic scene playing out before her, but she knew there was a real victim that deserved respect and justice.

They were led through the village to a house they had passed on their way into town earlier that day. Lilliana felt sick when she saw that the victim was the young man they had seen training his dog. She closed her eyes and looked away, fists clenched at her side. This man had been gruesomely and senselessly murdered with his whole life ahead of him. She silently pleaded with Mother Earth to grant his soul the peace he deserves.

"Stand back! Don't touch!"

Lilliana's eyes flew open when Lord Barrymore's voice cut through the crowd. Again she watched silently by Ciel's side as an almost rehearsed melodrama played out in front of her. It took all of her focus to keep herself calm and not reach for her magick. She hated this disgusting man in front of her who used the empty power of his worthless title to manipulate these poor villagers.

The crowd began to recite that same disturbing chant as the old lady from earlier. Their empty eyes and perfectly matched voices made Lilliana shiver. She was right. Something is very wrong here.

"I was sure you outsiders were going to be its next prey. You were lucky to have escaped," Lord Barrymore remarked over his shoulder as he and Angela followed the villagers away from the scene.

Lilliana's deep frown was reflected in the clenched fists she hugged to her body, as if to keep them from striking out. She stayed just behind Ciel off his left shoulder and nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard Sebastian speak from just inches away. He had been so quiet and she had been so distracted by her anger that she forgot he was right next to her. A light red stained her cheeks and she hoped it was too dark for the others to notice. After a short moment, their party made their way back to the castle and settled in for a fitful night of sleep.

The next morning dawned clear and bright with clear blue skies and warm sunshine. The weather did little to lift Sebastian's irritation with the swarms of dogs outside the Barrymore Castle. He served breakfast to his master and Lady Rosenberg with a pleasant, fake smile and awaited his orders for the day.

"Sebastian, I would like to spend time at the lake today. Prepare a picnic lunch and find suitable bathing suits for everyone."

"Yes, my lord."

Sebastian rose from his bow to collect the breakfast dishes and noticed that Lady Rosenberg seemed very pleased with the idea. Her excited voice and his master's chuckles followed him down the hall on his way to the kitchen. Sebastian frowned. He wasn't yet sure exactly how he felt about his master's behavior toward their newly acquired guest, but he was unsettled. Shaking his head, Sebastian tried to put it from his mind and focused his efforts on the tasks he had been given.

When the bathing suits had been collected and the picnic packed, Sebastian walked outside to find three very depressed servants drooped over a small crate.

"Don't look so gloomy. We're on holiday, it's a time meant for relaxing."

At the sight of the picnic basket and bathing suits Sebastian held, the servants' faces lit up. Inwardly, the butler sighed. Soon enough, the party had reconvened at the shore of the large lake. Sebastian had set up a chair on a blanket with a small table for tea and the picnic basket rested on a blanket nearby. Angela had taken up residence there under an umbrella, while the rest of the servants splashed into the water.

Mey-Rin hesitantly exited the changing shack, seemingly quite embarrassed judging by her brilliantly red cheeks. While Finny and Bard cheered her up, Sebastian noticed that Lady Rosenberg had not yet made an appearance.

"Master, will Lady Rosenberg be joining us?"

Ciel glanced up from his book with a frown. "She said she had to look for something before joining us. Honestly, what is taking her so long?"

Sebastian narrowed his eyes slightly at his master's tone. Was he worried about Lady Rosenberg? Seconds later, Sebastian heard the sound of bare feet running down the path. He looked in that direction and was momentarily blinded by the sunshine as Lady Rosenberg came running toward the group in a small, haltered bandeau and an equally small, ruffled skirt that appeared to be sewn over top of a pair of shorts. The material was a brilliant, crimson red that complemented her pale skin and dark hair. Sebastian's breath caught in his throat as, for a split second, he could have sworn that he saw dark markings covering her skin.

She continued running their way and the markings vanished like shadows in the light. Sebastian blinked furiously and, still, her skin remained clear. Must have just been the glare of the sun in my eyes, he thought to himself. However, there was a clawing feeling in his gut that told him this wasn't something he should ignore. He couldn't seem to stop himself from watching Lady Rosenberg run straight to the water's edge and perform a clean, shallow dive under the surface.

Frustrated with himself, Sebastian forced his eyes away from the woman sparkling in the water and turned to his master.

"Don't you care to bathe with them, young master?"

Silence.

He smirked. "Oh I see, is that the problem? The master can't…"

"I don't see why they're making such a fuss," the young lord cut him off. "Just because you can bathe doesn't make it a resort."

"You still intend to make this place into a resort?" Sebastian asked incredulously.

"Naturally."

"But what about this great demon hound?" An edge crept into his voice.

"Surely you know as well as I, by now. This demon hound is no dog. Shall we discuss it further?"

Sebastian bent down to his master to receive his orders. "Yes, very well, master. You may consider it done."

"You're very cooperative," the young lord remarked. "Especially for someone who hates dogs."

"Yes, I detest them. That's why I'd like to finish this as quickly as possible." Sebastian began walking back toward the village and glanced over his shoulder at the young woman in the crimson suit floating in the water. His eyes flashed. "Preferably before it all goes to Hell," he quietly muttered to himself.