It only took a couple of days for Ciel to formulate his next move. He had arranged for those closest to him to receive a box to announce his supposed death, but of course, that was a cover-up. Even though he didn't have to fear being hunted by those who tried to sully the Phantomhive name, he still didn't want anyone trying to find him. He didn't even want to have a funeral to give people closure since that would attract too much attention and too many questions would be asked. Though, for Lady Elizabeth, he had to plan something special since he couldn't just leave her without saying some sort of a goodbye, or at least, that's what Sebastian recommended.
For being a demon seemingly all his life, Sebastian has grown sentimental to human emotions at times. It was a stark contrast to Lilliana's avoidant behavior. She has barely talked to the other servants and their troubled thoughts were apparent. They had to know something was going on, but how could they guess that their own master had turned into a demon and was going to leave them hung and dry? This was the way she was supposed to act since the beginning; Reapers were not allowed to form attachments to humans, after all. Whenever they tried to ask either head servants about the tension in the air, they would either ignore them or avert their attention to another task.
Lizzie arrived at the Phantomhive manor that morning and Sebastian had gathered the servants to give out their assignments before heading out for an errand. "I want you four to attend to the young master and make sure that Lady Elizabeth is comfortable."
"Sure, Sebastian, but where are you going?" Finny asked with concern.
"I have some other business to attend to and Ms. Kiliamo will be assisting me," Sebastian said bleakley. Lilliana, who stood beside him, did not meet their gaze as the two head servants started heading out.
However, the servants wanted some answers. "What kind of business? Oi, what's going on here?!" Baldroy asked with frustration, but he was left with more questions.
When they were out of earshot of the servants, Lilliana said in a quiet voice, "You have to tell them eventually. It would be cruel to leave them with no warning,"
"The young lord ordered me not to tell them until the very moment we left. Any sooner and they will try to stop us."
"Rightfully so," she said curtly. "And what do you need my help for? You're only delivering those boxes; I'm sure you can take care of that yourself."
"For some, yes, but I believe you would be a better messenger for some of these," he said before handing her two black boxes that were wrapped in a black-and-white striped ribbon. She let out a deep breath before taking them.
"I guess it's better than dealing with hysterical humans," she said seemingly to herself before leaving his side.
"I don't know why she insisted that we meet in the human world," Grell said as he, Ronald, William, and a recently-discharged Katia sat down at a cafe in the human world. "If she were hungry, she could have just as easily eaten at a Shinigami cafe."
"Well, she would be working her morning job, so maybe she didn't have the time," Ronald said before grabbing a menu and looking through it. "It's been a while since I've had human food."
"I hope she doesn't expect us to stay long," William said before looking at a pocket watch. "Mr. Sutcliff and Mr. Knox have souls to collect soon after this."
"Oh, don't remind me," Grell said in a melancholy tone, but his tone changed as he said, "But at least I can go on a date with a handsome gentleman."
"This is not a date," William denied.
"Not to mention that you have other people on your 'date'," Katia reminded.
"It would have been a double date, but your preferences are elsewhere," Ronald teased, making Katia roll her eyes. "Speaking of which, where is Lilliana?"
"Right here," she said with a tray of various cups in her hand before placing it on the table. "A black tea for William, Earl Grey with a splash of milk for Ronald, red wine for Grell, and a latte for Katia."
They looked stunned at her as they took their respective drink. "How did you . . . know our drink order?" William asked before taking a sip, satisfied by her choice.
"I asked Katia for her help," she said before sitting down.
"I thought it was odd that you asked for our tea preferences," Ronald said before taking a sip.
"Especially since I don't even like tea," Grell added.
"Well, it's a good thing I asked," Katia said before taking a warm sip of her coffee. "But where's your drink, Lily?"
"I don't have a lot of time to spare and I figured that I would treat you four after everything I put you guys through the past couple of weeks," she said as she pulled out the box and put it on the table. "I have some good news and bad news. The good news is that I will be returning to full-time soul collection."
"Wait, so does that mean that—," Ronald said before getting cut off.
"The contract was completed a long time ago. If it weren't the handiwork of a couple of demons, Ciel's soul would have been devoured by now."
"You mean saved?" William asked for clarification.
"That's the bad news," she said as she pulled the ribbon free and opened the box. Inside were four Funtom lollipops and a small card that simply read:
In Memory of
Ciel Phantomhive
Who died on the 26th of August, 1889
Aged 13 Years
"I was not successful in collecting his soul," she said in a defeated tone.
"So all those years cuddling up with a demon were for naught," Grell said in a high-and mighty tone, but was hit on the head by his supervisor.
"It was an experiment at best. Collecting contracted souls already has a slim chance of success. She merely promised to try to steal the soul by gaining his trust," he defended. Lilliana was surprised by his defense; she thought he would be the most critical of her.
"And I can't blame her after everything that happened with you three," Ronald said before finishing his tea. "From what I heard, if three Reapers were struggling to fight off demons, I can't imagine how difficult it would have been to collect the soul that multiple demons were after."
"I wish it were that easy to explain," Lilliana said with some breaks in her voice. "Sebastian wasn't able to devour his soul either . . . Ciel Phantomhive is a demon."
"A demon?!" they yelled in unison before Lilliana shushed them.
"Do you mind keeping your voices down? Don't forget we're out in public, let alone a public that likes to gossip."
"And what would they say? 'I heard a rumor that the Phantomhive brat was a demon all along'. Not sure if humans are quick to believe that kind of stuff," Grell said with a disbelieving sigh.
"Still, let's not give them any ideas."
"Wait, so if Ciel is a demon, what does that mean for his butler?" Ronald asked curiously. Everyone looked surprised by his question, mainly because it did not occur to them until then that an event like this could occur. Katia's ears especially perked up, awaiting Lilliana's answer.
"He's still his butler until he consumes his soul. That was the order he was given and he cannot break it," she said. The Reapers were quiet for a moment to process what she said.
It was Katia who broke the silence. "I hate to bring my job into this, but having a rogue newborn demon roaming around can be dangerous if left unchecked."
"Sebastian will be keeping an eye on him," Lilliana said, hoping the topic could be dropped, but it didn't.
"And he's going to teach him to be a demon that doesn't devour souls?" Katia commented before taking a long sip of coffee. "At the end of the day, I am still a demon huntress and will need to make the necessary precautions to make sure that souls are protected, even if that means exterminating demons we may have grown attached to," she said with some bite into her words.
"And you didn't grow attached to this demon, correct?" William said with a stern expression.
Lilliana was reluctant to answer the question. "I'll admit that it is hard to work with someone for years and not see them as a colleague."
"So she gets to be in close contact with a demon for years, yet I work with a human one time and get sent to the rehabilitation center," Grell pouted.
"You are neglecting the fact that you killed humans during your so-called partnership," William said before pushing his glasses up. "Though, he does bring up a fair point. Even if the mission was successful, there was always a planned 'detox' period for you to make sure that demon could no longer influence you. I promise it will only be for a short while, but it is mandatory."
Even though she shot a disapproving look, she shrugged and said, "Fine, but if they use the old methods, I will fight back."
"It will be the same program that Ms. Vendoa went through."
"I promise that it is not that bad," Katia interjected. "The worst part is the boring lectures."
"And yet I had to clean practically the entire headquarters building while I was in rehabilitation," Grell complained.
"Which wouldn't be a problem for me," Lilliana said with a small chuckle, "After all, I've been a maid for some time and was trained by one hell of a butler."
Suddenly, they heard a bell tower toll in the distance and William looked at his pocket watch. "Break time is over, everyone. Sutcliff, Knox, it's time for you two to go to your scheduled collections."
"Yes, sir," Ronald said playfully before turning his attention to Lilliana, "Thanks for the refreshments, Lily."
"Yeah, thanks," Grell said quietly before following Ronald out of the cafe.
"I have to get going as well. I have one more person to tell about Ciel's 'passing'," Lilliana said before leaving their side. "I already paid the bill, so you don't need to worry about it."
"See you later," Katia said with a small wave.
"Make sure to report to my office when you are finished so we can go over all the details about your full-time schedule and requirements," William reminded.
"I'll drop by the office tomorrow," Lilliana said before leaving their side.
Though, when she was out of ear-shot, Katia said to William, "What do you want me to do about those two demons? There really isn't a point in keeping them alive. Arguably, there never was a good reason from the start."
"I have a feeling that those two aren't going to stay around here for long. They know that we are going to keep a close eye on them, so they are most likely going to flee. And besides, you are scheduled to return to America soon, so I would not want you taking unnecessary risks before then. If they reach American soil, you are free to do whatever you want with them."
She sighed before saying, "They're not going to look favorably on her, especially since she failed her mission."
"I'm aware, but now there is no reason for her to interact with demons once she is a full-time Reaper. With her brother dead and now the two demons fleeing the country, she will finally be free from demonic influence."
"We shall see. She's not like me; I resent the fact I'm a Rogue Reaper, but she sees nothing wrong with the label other than the discrimination that she thinks is unfair. She could be influenced in the future."
"Then, as her superior, it is my job to prevent that from happening," he said as the two of them made their way out of the cafe to return to headquarters.
When Undertaker wasn't busy working on his clients, he could be found sleeping in one of his many coffins laying around his shop. It was the closest thing he had to experiencing what his clients felt like in their, in his words, most beautiful states. Though, when he heard the bell, he opened the lid to greet the unsuspecting customer that could be frightened by his odd greeting. "One of these days, you'll be a normal shop owner and greet humans normally," Lilliana said with a soft smile as she closed the door behind her.
"How boring would that be," he said with a chuckle. "I'm surprised to see you here and by yourself, no less. Does Lord Phantomhive need information from me?"
Her smile instantly faded at the sound of his name. "N-No. Actually, I have some news to deliver to you," she said as she handed him the striped box.
"Oh?" he simply said before opening the box with haste. He took note of the card in the middle of the box and soon looked at her with a shocked expression. "Another lost soul?" he asked.
"Not exactly," she said as she sat on one of his coffins. "You may be able to see Ciel Phantomhive again, but he will not be the boy you once knew. He will be the very being we are supposed to detest."
His eyes widened. "He's a demon . . . I would have never guessed that would be the route he would find himself on."
"Neither would we," she said softly. "And Sebastian will forever remain as his butler; a torture worse than death. Can you imagine cultivating a soul for that long only to have it out of your reach for eternity? Not only that, but you must serve that soul with total obedience and no reward."
"It is beyond my imagination," he said as he lost his playful tone. "But what does that mean for you? Surely, the Association is not going to let you continue working for a soul that can no longer be reaped."
"I'll go back to a full-time schedule with some reconditioning to wipe my slate clean of demon influence," she said with her face down. "Besides, those two plan to leave London as soon as possible to leave behind the human life Ciel cannot return to. That's why we are sending out these boxes to all those that were remotely close to him."
"And leave those human servants all alone?"
"They'll find new places of employment, whether they split up or stick together. They may be incompetent house servants, but they have talents that will help them survive in this world."
"And you will remain under the thumb of the Reaper Association, arguably with an even tighter grip."
"It's not like I have much of a choice. I can't follow them even if I wanted to," she said, though her voice started to crack and two streams of tears fell down her cheek. She wiped her tears to hide them, but she soon felt overwhelmed with grief and sobbed into her hands.
"They say that Reapers shouldn't get emotional on the job since it could interfere with their performances, but what good is it to repress emotions if it only brings us misery?" Undertaker said before handing her a handkerchief. She blew her nose into it and wiped any remaining tears that were left before setting it next to her. Though, despite her wearing a long-sleeve shirt, he did notice a black marking on her left wrist that resembled a bracelet of thorns. "My, what an unusual piece of art on your wrist, if I do say so myself."
Lilliana looked at him with confusion before panic sinked in as she realized he could see it. She tried covering it with her sleeve before making an excuse. "I-It's nothing."
"Nothing, you say? If that was the case, this 'nothing' wouldn't be a secret, now would it?"
She sighed before saying, "I-I wanted to commemorate these couple of years of freedom with something small."
"I'm sure Sebastian thought the same," he said teasingly.
"How did—," she said before stopping herself. Clearly he knows the true meaning of the thorny bands. "Sometimes, I do wish I was born a demon. So much would have been different."
"But then we wouldn't have met," Undertaker said before handing her the Funtom lollipop that was in the box. "I don't have much of a sweet tooth."
She looked at it with fondness. "Unfortunately, I am a Rogue Reaper and will remain as such until I completely embrace the Association's rules."
"And is there anything wrong with being different?" he asked. When she kept quiet, he continued, "At least promise me that whatever you decide to do next, you won't conceal who you are. Whatever you choose, embrace it fully and hold nothing back."
"Would you be fine with me complying with the Reaper Association?"
"I wouldn't be the most thrilled about it, but if it is what you choose, then who am I to stop you?"
With those words of encouragement, her smile returned. "It's good to know that I will always have a friend nearby."
He smiled genuinely. "And I will always be the one rooting for you, even if no one else will."
It was sundown when Lilliana returned to the Phantomhive manor. Even though she had the lesser amount of boxes to deliver, she wanted to take her time, making sure to leave no one with questions. At least Reapers could be somewhat understanding of the situation; Sebastian had to tell humans that a loved one passed away unexpectedly and they couldn't say goodbye. Humans can be so irrationally emotional that deities could not understand. Speaking of which, she was just in time for her to witness the servants' learning of their master's departure. Sebastian had already loaded a carriage with luggage and Ciel was boarding it with little thought about the servants' cries. "It's true then, young master? You're really leaving us?" Finnian said with disbelief in his voice, hoping this was one of the young lord's practical jokes.
"Do whatever you like with the mansion. You're free to stay here if you want. Or just burn it; I don't really care," Ciel said coldly.
"What?! We could never do that!" Bardroy exclaimed before they surrounded the entrance of the carriage.
"Why not?" he asked, almost annoyed by their persistence to change his mind. This is why he delayed telling them the news until the last minute.
"Because this place is filled with memories!" Finnian exclaimed.
Ciel scoffed. "Memories don't mean anything in the end. Or haven't I proved that much already?"
"That's not true, master!" Mey-Rin said with tears forming in her eyes.
"Hurry it up, Sebastian," Ciel said before closing the carriage door. At this point, they noticed Lilliana slowly approaching them and they ran to her.
"Lilliana, the young master and Mr. Sebastian are leaving us! You have to convince them to stay!" Finnian said as he clung onto her vest.
"Please, Lily! You're the only one that could get through that thick skull Mr. Sebastian has. Maybe use some of those feminine charms. I don't know, anything!" Bardroy stammered through his rushing thoughts.
"There's nothing I could do," she said as she looked at Sebastian, who only nodded at her before entering the carriage.
"Then tell us why they're leaving, please," Mey-Rin pleaded through her tears.
"All I can say is that they have outgrown this life and are looking for something else. I'm sorry that it doesn't involve us," she said as they watched the carriage pull away. Although the servants did try to chase after it, they would have never caught up. They watched helplessly as the carriage grew smaller and smaller and then disappeared out of their sight. All the servants, now including Tanaka, who was now wearing the head butler pin that Sebastian used to wear, had tears flowing down their cheeks, ranging from waterfalls to a simple trail. Little did these servants know that tonight, Lilliana planned to do the same to them with even less of a warning. Only a note was left for them, stating how bad she was at goodbyes.
Ciel and Sebastian did not travel far. They still remained in England; just a few cities away from London. Ciel was not yet comfortable with the idea of traversing Hell just yet and wanted to get used to the idea of being a demon before traveling there. From what Sebastian told him about demon hierarchy, there was a possibility he would need to be able to fight off demons that liked to toy with fresh meat, which could result in his death if he wasn't prepared. Of course, he could rely on Sebastian to do most of the fighting, but they would know that Ciel is his weakness and they would not hesitate in targeting him mercilessly.
They still resided lavishly since Sebastian conjured townhouses for them wherever they decided to settle for short periods of time. He had to teach the young lord that demons were always in motion to prevent being targeted by demon hunters and give them a chance to find their next meals. Plus, it gave Ciel some time to learn self-defense and other forms of combat with various weapons, hoping to find a style that benefited him. During one of those lessons, they were interrupted by a knock on the door, which put them on high alert.
"Who would be foolish enough to enter a demon's den?" Ciel said, both annoyed by the sudden intrusion, but also a bit relieved that he can stop fighting with today's weapon: a chain mace. He was not coordinated enough to avoid the spikes from hitting him. He no longer feared serious damage, but it still hurt.
"I have a small list of possible suspects," Sebastian said as he brandished some knives and forks. He walked to the door as Ciel kept himself hidden around the corner of a hallway. Sebastian approached the door slowly, looking out the peephole to see who it was. However, surprise overtook him as he opened the door quickly and threw the knives and fork outside without hesitation.
"Oh my! Is that any way to greet a guest?" Lucille said coyly as she held the silverware in her hands, not one of them piercing her skin. "I would have assumed you wanted me dead."
"Not without trying," Sebastian said with a mixture of disappointment and anger. "What are you doing here?"
"I just wanted to greet the newborn. Is that such a bad thing?" she said as she pushed her way into the townhouse. "Now, where is the little brat?"
"I would prefer you to call him by his name, Lord Ciel Phantomhive," he said as he was about to close the door, but was stopped by another pair of hands.
"And what exactly is he the lord of?" Bastille said, shocking Sebastian almost to the core. "As far as demons are concerned, he holds no power over anyone, but you."
"How are you—?" Sebastian tried to ask, but Lucille interjected.
"Normally, if any of my brothers died, Lucifer would recycle their souls into human forms so that they had to prove their worth to become demons again. However, he took pity on Bastille and decided to keep his soul as a demon so he wouldn't lose his precious adopted son," Lucille said with venom in her words as she looked around the foyer of the townhouse. "And I was kind enough to bring him up to the human world as a favor so he could see his dear sister again, but unfortunately, she was caught up with some things."
"I guess you would be aware of how my lord became a demon," Sebastian said as he let Bastille enter the townhouse before closing the door.
"There you are, you little brat," she said as she grabbed Ciel by the ear and pulled him into the foyer.
"Unhand me this instant!" he said as he tried to wiggle out of her grasp with no luck. Instead, she grabbed his face threateningly.
"You should know your place, boy. You might think you're hot shit because you were once an earl, but you're talking to a blood child of Lucifer and I don't take kindly to anyone who disrespects me," she threatened as her demon eyes flared, but pulled back suddenly as a knife was aimed for her head.
"That is my young master you are speaking to and I would much appreciate it if you would refrain from putting your hands on him," he threatened.
She scoffed. "You know, it's an embarrassment for a demon as highly-ranked as you to continue playing butler to such a low-level demon. Hannah Annafellows really did a number on you."
"At least she got what she deserved for torturing my sister," Bastille said. Ciel was as shocked as Sebastian was; although he never witnessed his death, he was told that Lilliana's brother died at the hands of the angel that killed his parents. "Along with that other butler that used her."
"Speaking of her, I'm surprised she's not with you. I thought you had that Reaper under your thumb," she said mockingly, already knowing the reason, but wanting to rub it in his face.
"Did you expect the same group of people that sent a demon huntress to kill her only flesh and blood to actually let her run away with us without consequences? Even if she wanted to, she wouldn't be able to without risking her life and ours." Sebastian explained.
"You were supposed to protect her no matter what," Bastille interjected. "You promised me as I took my last breaths that you would protect her."
"And I am, even now. I assure you that keeping her in London is actually the safest move for her."
"And leave her in the care of Reapers that abused her? What kind of logic is that?!" Bastille said as his demon eyes flared in anger.
"Now, now Bastille. There's nothing he can do now to change things," Lucille said as she put a hand on his shoulder, but he shook it off with vigor.
"Don't act like you had nothing to do with this," he said with his frustration at a boiling point. His words piqued the other demons' interests as they listened to their quarrel.
"Nothing to do with what?" she said in a nearly-threatening tone. "If you know what's best for you, you should choose your next words carefully. I can easily send you back to Hell with no chance of escaping." He scoffed, but kept his mouth shut, which put a satisfied grin on her face.
"I believe you have overstayed your welcome here," Ciel said, trying to regain the noble presence that he was once accustomed to. "If you have no further business, I suggest that you take your leave."
"But I do have further business," Lucille said as she walked up to Sebastian, who kept a close eye on her to make sure she didn't try to attack them in some way. "I was wondering when you were returning to Hell. My father really misses having you around."
"I'm flattered, but I need to make sure my young master is prepared to survive there. I am bound to protect him, but as a demon, he should learn to defend himself from the likes of you," Sebastian explained.
She pouted. "Oh, such a pity. Knowing my father, he would find a way to break this silly contract and you may finally be able to consume that brat's soul." Ciel and Sebastian's eyes widened at her words and she continued. "Though, there would be a catch."
"There always is with Lucifer," Sebastian said with a frustrated sigh. "And that would be?"
"You would have to mate with one of his children and join the family," she said matter-of-factly, followed by a knowing grin.
Sebastian scowled. "And that is an arrangement Lucifer desires? Not, perhaps, your desire?"
"If my father demands it, then who am I to stop him?" she said with a playful shrug.
"Coming from the person who despises Lucifer with every ounce of her body," Bastille commented under his breath.
"Not when it benefits me," she said, brushing off the comment. "What do you say, Sebastian?"
"And be in yet another contract with a soul I cannot be rid of? I think I'll pass," Sebastian said. Bastille snickered at his response while Ciel felt a little insulted.
"Would you rather miss the opportunity to mate with one of Lucifer's children? You would be promoted to a higher rank instantly and be in a partnership with a powerful demon that will fulfill your every pleasure."
"You mean to fulfill your every pleasure," he said skeptically. "Someone like you wouldn't know the meaning of 'equal partnership'."
"And what would be so wrong in being my mate," she said with a bit of frustration in her voice. "Don't tell me you're still hoping that your Reaper lover will decide to become demon-like again?"
"I bet she'd like that, but I know it's not possible. She has confided with me multiple times how much she wished she could go back to her old ways."
"And yet she's not here. She chose her Reaper Association over you," she said with spite.
"That's enough, Lucille," Bastille shouted.
"I will not be scolded by a lower level demon like you," she said as her demon eyes flared out of anger as she turned to him. "You're only here because I enjoy seeing your face as I strip away everything that made your sister happy."
"How would you know that harm would befall her?" Ciel said, annoyed that he was being ignored for the most part of this interaction.
"Unless . . . ," Sebastian said with a sudden realization that caused him to start demoning. "It was you that masterminded this entire thing."
She couldn't help, but chuckle. "And so what if I had a hand in things."
"Wait, so when you said that you orchestrated the demon battle, you actually intended for my sister to get harmed?!" Bastille said with the same dark mist emitting from his body.
"That wasn't the main intention," she said with an air of smugness. "But it was a nice perk." As she finished her sentence, a demon sword and silverware were aimed toward her. "It appears I may have struck a nerve . . . or two."
"This will be the last time I say this: leave this place at once or else I will have to dispose of the trash," Sebastian threatened.
"Why are you getting so hung up on a Grim Reaper? I could give you everything she never could, and yet, you reject me?" she said as she conjured a floating blue flame from her hand.
"Why would I partner myself with a manipulative cunt like you? All you ever cared about was your own sadistic pleasure in watching others suffer," Sebastian said as he threw his silverware. She raised her fingers to form a firewall to block the attack and melt the projectiles. Bastille was next to strike as he swung his demon sword to her, only for her to block it with her fire one.
"Such a shame. You were in the running to be my mate when we were together, but you rejected me," she said as she tried to conjure fire by his feet, which he stepped away from the moment he felt heat.
"That's because you were the one that alerted the Reaper Association of her and separated us for centuries. Your fucking jealousy is the reason why she's suffering, even before all of this. That's why I rejected you. There is nothing you could do that would ever align myself with you."
"And yet here we are," she said with a smirk before feeling a knife at her throat from behind her.
"This may be a human weapon, but it's sharp enough to cut off your head if I so wish. It won't kill you, but it would be very inconvenient for you to put your head back," Sebastian threatened.
Lucille sighed before her flame sword dissipated. "Such touchy demons. And all over a fake demon."
"Well, that 'fake demon' was closer to gaining Lucifer's approval than you ever were," Bastille said. She scowled at his comment, but she redirected her anger to the defenseless young demon and aimed a fireball at him. However, Sebastian made it just in time to block the attack, causing his tailcoat to catch fire.
"Sebastian!" Ciel yelled.
"Even after all this time, you still worry for me, young lord." He quickly took it off and put out the flames, but the two other demons noticed something strange about him, or more specifically, his arm.
"Is that what I think it is?" Bastille asked with surprise in his voice. Sebastian looked at him confused, but then realized what they were staring at. On his wrist were two black interwoven thorny bands that looked like they were tattooed on. Although demons having tattoos wasn't taboo, certain marks have significant meaning and the one he had was enough for Lucille to lose her temper and manifested a fire whip and wrapped it against his neck. The burning pain was intense, but he tried to pull it off with his gloved hands. However, the fire burned hot and the gloves burned away in no time.
"You mated with her?! When did this happen?! Even when she was covered in demonic marks, she never had that on her wrist," she said as she tried to pull the whip tighter to choke him, but he kept his arm between his neck and the whip.
"Then take a wild guess when the ritual took place," he said with some attitude in his tone.
"I . . . I can't believe it," Bastille said in pure shock before pushing Lucille out of her focus so she would release Sebastian. She was about to strike him with the whip again, but Bastille got in between them.
"Get out of the way, low-rank," she said with her anger clearly on display.
"Not a chance. Now that he's mated with Lilliana, he's the closest thing I have to a brother and I'm not going to let petty jealousy ruin this."
She snarled at him, but she took a deep breath before letting the whip dissipate. "This is just a little setback. All I need to do is kill Lilliana and the ritual will be voided," she said matter-of-factly.
"You wouldn't dare," Bastille said with a threatening stare.
"I would advise against that," Sebastian said as he walked in front of Bastille, now that his life wasn't in immediate danger. "It's clear that neither of you have mated before. To be mated means that you and your partner are in an equal partnership and are essentially two demons in one."
"So what?" she spat.
"It means that if you try to kill one of us, the other could die as well since we can feel each other's pain," Sebastian explained.
"But demons mate with humans all the time and they don't die when a human does," Lucille argued.
"True, but a human has a weaker body and is a lot less tolerant of pain as demons are. Sure, they'll feel the pain, but it's more of an inconvenience than actual pain. Imagine how much pain a human would feel if the roles were reversed."
"And since she's a Reaper, she has about the same pain tolerance as a demon," Bastille interjected.
"How foolish of you to put your life in the hands of a Reaper that is out of your reach. She is bound to get hurt . . . or worse," Lucille said with crossed arms.
"She has proven to be a survivor, even after everything she's been through. She would be the one I trust most with it and I shall do the same for her," Sebastian defended.
There was a brief period of silence as everyone took this revelation in, enough time for Lucille to finally calm down. "Such a disappointment. To think, you would have been mine for the taking, but that's not possible now. Come, Bastille. We'll be taking our leave," she said as she turned toward the exit.
"Answer me one last question: do you want me as a mate genuinely or to get your revenge on Lilliana?" Sebastian asked, making her stop in her tracks.
She chuckled before saying, "What fun would it be to give you that answer?" With a smirk, she finally left the townhouse.
Bastille was about to follow her, but had some departing words. "She's not going to rest until you're hers. I wish I could warn Lily to keep her guard up, but until I can gain autonomy, I'm under Lucille's control."
"She doesn't need anyone to protect her. She will be fine on her own," Sebastian reassured.
He sighed. "Right . . . I've spent so many years chiding myself for not being there to protect her in the past that I forget that now, she can fight back her aggressors, but Lucille will stop at nothing until Lily feels absolute pain. I thought us being separated would have been enough, but it clearly wasn't."
"The most you can do for now is to appease Lucille and make sure she doesn't learn of her whereabouts. Thanks to her Reaper duties, she will never be at the same place for too long and the Shinigami Realm has barriers that will keep demons out."
"I'll do my best, but you are in as much danger as she is. Lucille might change her mind about wanting you as a mate and kill you to utilize the Mated Mark."
"Will do, especially since I have the young lord to care for," he said as he looked at Ciel, who was subtly cowering behind the corner.
"He's lived this long with your help; I'm sure he'll live many more years to come," Bastille said with a bit of a smile, which Sebastian reciprocated. "So long . . . brother-in-law." He left with a playful chuckle as he watched Sebastian's face change as he was taken aback by his comment.
Soon, there were only two demons in the townhouse and with the threat gone, Ciel was able to compose himself a bit as he walked toward his butler. "It appears my servants were having extra-curricular activities without my knowledge."
"I apologize for the scandal, my lord," he said with a bow. "But certain needs needed to be met and we were able to use each other for such purposes. I'm sure one day, when you're older, you'll understand."
"Bollocks," he exclaimed. "If it were merely physical, you wouldn't have gone through all this trouble to make sure that she was safe. From the sound of it, it was as if you had eloped with her and no demon I know would do all that unless they loved someone."
"My lord?"
"You promised me that you would never lie and although omission isn't exactly lying, it can still be just as effective. So, answer me truthfully, Sebastian: do you love Lilliana Kiliamo?"
Sebastian was stunned by the question and took some time to process his answer. With a sigh, he said, "At first, it was not the case and she probably felt the same. For her, it was an act of rebellion and for me, it was a moment of victory to be able to lay with the elusive Demonic Reaper. However, the longer we interacted, the more uncertain feelings grew and nearly losing her made me confront it: yes, my lord, I do love Lilliana. However, there is no way for us to be together without hurting her."
Ciel was surprised by his butler's newfound vulnerability. "And I thought leaving Lizzie behind would be the hardest thing for us to do. Well, no matter, I think we've had enough training for today. We should heed that demon's advice and be on the move. We shall leave at dawn," he said as he headed toward his chambers.
"Yes, my lord."
A week had passed since she said goodbye to the Phantomhive manor. Lilliana presented her last report about the failed mission, but despite her initial fear, they were surprisingly forgiving of her, mainly due to her recent trauma that resulted in extensive injuries. They assumed that she was tortured by the Trancy demons, especially since she was under hypnosis against her will, and only advised that she went to rehabilitation for only a week, mainly to monitor her behavior and not to correct it. She was relieved by the light sentence and served her time with little complaint. However, she was careful to keep her Mated Mark covered at all times by purchasing a tight-fitting bracelet just before entering the building.
Her coworkers made sure to visit her and William was the one who visited her the most, claiming it was his duty as her supervisor to determine if she was fit to return for work. He asked her questions about the mission under the guise that he was looking for ways to improve their tactics if they ever wanted to undergo this mission again. However, looking past the questioning, he seemed genuinely concerned for her well-being. She was surprised that he was this attentive to her, especially since he did not act like this toward any other Reaper under his watch, even when they got injured on the job.
On her last day of rehabilitation, Katia was there to discharge her, much to Lilliana's surprise, but then she remembered that this was her last day before Katia had to return to America. She tried to delay it as much as possible, but the Head Reapers could only be so generous, especially since her target was eliminated and they feared her feelings for Lilliana would be a distraction toward her work. Still, she couldn't just leave without a proper send-off. "You still have a promise to keep," Katia said as they exited the building together.
"What promise?" Lilliana asked.
"I guess it has been a while, but you promised that we would visit the white stag you mentioned earlier in the year."
"The white stag . . . ," she said as she rummaged through her memories to recollect her promise. Then she remembered the white stag that Lizzie and Ciel found so long ago. It felt like years since that little adventure. "Oh, right. I remember you saying you wanted to go as a group."
"Actually, do you mind if it is just the two of us?" Katia asked shyly.
She smiled. "Not at all. I would actually prefer that."
They traveled to the river outside London where the stones were in the shape of a stag and sat under a nearby tree. Katia prepared a picnic basket for them to have a lunch date as they looked at the work of nature with admiration. It was clear that Katia chose the easiest food to make: sandwiches with nothing more than bread, meat, and cheese. After all, she wasn't hired for her cooking potential. In fact, it was rare for Reapers to know how to cook since food isn't a physical need that needs to be met as often as humans do and it was easier to buy pre-prepared food. "I know it's not much, but I hope it is to your liking," Katia said as she pulled out a sandwich and handed it to Lilliana.
She took a bite and smiled. "It's delicious." Katia's face lit up as she hurriedly pulled out a sandwich and took a bite.
However, her smile faded away as she said, "You liar! It's so dry!"
"It's the thoughtfulness that adds flavor," she said as she took another bite. "I can recommend some ingredients that pair well in case you ever decide to make some more."
"That won't be necessary. I'll be returning to a country that utilizes good seasonings," Katia said with a laugh as she continued biting into her mediocre sandwich. Lilliana reciprocated her cheeriness, but it was clear that some sadness was hiding underneath. "The white stag is supposed to bring people happiness, correct?"
"That's what Lady Elizabeth said . . . ," Lilliana said before chuckling to herself. "I don't need to address her formally anymore. I may never see her again unless I collect her soul."
"The same goes for the humans you worked with. One of them is already an old man, so it won't be long for him."
"Unfortunately. All I hope is that when he does pass on, it will be peaceful. The same for the others. They've already dealt with enough in their past and they deserve to live a long and peaceful life. Maybe I can even ask William to assign me to collect their souls so I can see them one last time," Lilliana said as she looked at the stag. "The last time we were here, we were unaware of all the misfortune that would be bestowed on us. If only we could go back to that simple time, but it would be impossible."
"Then let's hope that coming here today will reverse all that misfortune and we can set our sights for future happiness," Katia comforted. "Though, I do have to ask something."
"Ask me anything," she said before finishing her sandwich, wishing Katia brought a drink with her.
"Did you . . . Did you have feelings for Sebastian? Genuinely?" Katia said with some difficulty.
Lilliana looked away for a moment before turning back to her. "I may have gotten carried away with the assignment, but I promise you that it is all in the past and it won't interfere with my duties."
"And you're not just saying that because I'm a demon huntress?"
"Am I sensing lingering jealousy even after I've left that life?" Lilliana deflected.
"I can't help how I feel," Katia said in defense. "I'm happy that it's over, but now that we finally have a chance to get to know each other better, I have to leave."
Lilliana felt guilty. This wasn't her fault, per say, but she was indirectly responsible for her pain. Katia had to admit to a room full of Reapers that the reason why she couldn't go through with her mission was because she was in love with Lilliana. Not only that, but she accidentally learned about Lilliana's relationship with Sebastian when she caught them kissing during intermission of a play Funtom was putting on. It would have been easy to get revenge on someone that clearly didn't love her by reporting the affair, but that same love didn't want to hurt Lilliana. She did try to alleviate Katia's suffering by indulging in her feelings with an occasional kiss, but even Katia knew that it would never be genuine like she wished. Some would argue that it was cruel, but to Katia, it meant a lot for a Grim Reaper, who were known to be unloving creatures, to indulge in minor love-like behavior.
"I'm sorry," Lilliana said regretfully. "You sacrificed so much for me and what do you have to show for it?"
"A genuine friend at least," she said with a blush on her cheeks.
"I really wish you didn't have to go. Demon hunters are already rare and we don't have one stationed in London."
"England already has a demon hunter, though stationed elsewhere in the country. I can't say where or else his life would be in danger by demons that want to eliminate him. Besides, America is a big country and we need as many demon hunters that we can get."
"Well, if I can't make you stay . . . ," she said before leaning close to Katia, inches away from touching her lips, but her eyes her red. ". . . then I can give you a lasting memory." She kissed her, but it wasn't a usual peck on the lips she had been giving her. It was a deep kiss that soon introduced some tongue.
Katia pulled away and said, "Are you sure this is a good idea? We're in public; anyone could see us."
"We are secluded from prying eyes, but just in case, I'll be discreet," Lilliana said as she kissed her again, but this time, Katia fully embraced it. Their passionate kisses were slowly turning more intimate as they began to rub each other over their clothes and their breaths turned into pants. Lilliana was taking a more dominant role as she started unbuttoning Katia's shirt, but never took it off so she could be covered. She quickly ran her hands inside her shirt and fondled her breasts as she started to kiss Katia's neck. She wanted to hear her moans. Eventually, her excitement was apparent as her nipples hardened in her hands and Lilliana started to give extra attention to them. "You have to admit; it is a bit thrilling to do this in public," Lilliana breathily whispered in her ear.
"A-A little," Katia said in between moans before feeling Lilliana's teeth sink into her shoulder, almost making her scream. "Fuck, Lily."
"Too hard?" Lilliana asked genuinely.
"A bit, yeah. I'm not a masochist," she said sweetly.
"Sorry. Old habits," Lilliana said, but quickly added, "Sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up."
"If you say it's in the past, then I am going to believe it is," she said as she turned her head to kiss her again to reignite the mood.
"Let me pleasure you properly," Lilliana said as she scooted behind Katia and put her in between her legs. "Now, make sure no one can see us. If you tell me to, I'll stop . . . unless you don't mind it," she teased as she unzipped her skirt to make the waistband loose enough for her hand to slip into. Despite being covered, Katia's face gave away exactly what she was doing underneath her skirt as she rubbed against her wet panties.
"Don't tease me like this," Katia begged.
Lilliana chuckled by her directness. "If that is what you wish, so be it." She then slid her hand inside panties and slowly inserted her middle fingers inside her pussy. Katia bit her lip as she squirmed in her lap, not paying any attention to anything else but the pleasure she was receiving. Her moans, while on the quiet side, were not subtle enough to hide their naughty little secret.
Lilliana kept thrusting her fingers into her fast and deep, reveling in Katia's little moans that got her hot and bothered. However, she didn't want to be selfish and wanted to give Katia all the pleasure that she was denied, even if it was going to be short-lived. Though, she had to keep her sadistic tendencies in check as she was tempted to wrap her hand around Katia's neck to choke her a bit. However, if she was against a little biting, she would probably be against that as well. Instead, she used her free hand to fondle Katia's breasts, giving extra attention to the nipples, and kissing her neck.
"Lily, I'm close," Katia said in between loud moans as she threw her head back into Lilliana's shoulder. She increased the intensity of her thrusts and without much warning, she could feel Katia's whole body shake as she climaxed. Her moans reached a peak before she collapsed into her body to catch her breath. Lilliana pulled out her hand from her skirt and found a napkin to wipe off any remaining juices. Though, she let Katia stay close to her and even hugged her.
"Did it feel good?" Lilliana asked genuinely.
"It felt marvelous," she said in between breaths before she zipped up her skirt and buttoned up her shirt. "Though, I feel guilty for being the only one enjoying the fun."
"Oh, don't worry; giving pleasure is just as satisfying as receiving."
"Then I should return the favor," Katia said before giving her a quick kiss. "Though, I want to do it in a more private setting. I share an apartment with Grell and she won't be back for work in a little while. We'll have the place to ourselves."
Lilliana laughed. "I never thought I would be allowed access to his holy temple, but if you're inviting me, then how could I say no?"
"Then let's pack our things and get going," Katia said excitedly as she haphazardly put the sandwiches back into the basket, not caring if the meat or cheese slid out. That night was a night neither one of them could forget and Lilliana made sure she was at the dock the next morning to see Katia set sail back to America.
The week after Katia's departure seemed to be running smoothly as Lilliana was the first to arrive at HQ, even managing to beat William, who was the previous early bird, and she was the last to leave. Normally, Reapers on the Task Force did not pull constant double shifts, but since she was used to that kind of schedule already, she asked for it. William did not mind giving her extra work since that meant less work went to the other Reapers, who appreciated a lower soul quota. Even her paperwork was much more detailed and thoughtful. In the past, she would write the bare minimum so she could return to the manor and sleep, but now she had time to write details she would otherwise skip, which William appreciated since he used to fill in those details. Despite her initial depression, it seemed that Lilliana had finally gotten over it and had a bright smile on her face. She was still her usual sassy self and would bicker with Grell and Ronald, but she was a bit friendly to them at the same time.
Though, that illusion started to shatter one day when William was stuck doing some overtime paperwork. He didn't realize just how late it was until he looked at a clock on the wall and knew the morning shift would come in before he had a chance to leave. He dreaded these kinds of nights because, although Reapers didn't need to sleep as much as humans did, it was still nice to unwind after a long day at work. He sighed as he got up and went to the break room to make some tea to try to energize him before the morning shift arrived. However, as he passed by the cubicles, he noticed that someone else had stayed the night as well, but she wasn't working. In fact, she was sleeping, slumped over on the desk with her arms as a pillow.
"Ms. Kiliamo?" William said softly, but she did not stir. "Ms. Kiliamo," he said louder, but all she did was turn her head away from him. "Lilliana," he almost yelled as he shook her. Though, the little shake was all he needed as she shot up at attention, trying to pretend that she was never asleep.
"G-Good evening, William," she said with an innocent smile as if she did nothing wrong.
"It's morning, actually. Have . . . Have you been here all night?" he asked out of concern.
"I-I just had some paperwork to fill out. I guess I dozed off," she said as she put a hand behind her head. Though, with a quick glance, he could see that her desk was neat and orderly with no hint of paperwork that was overdue.
"You told me that you were going home when you turned tonight's files in to me," he said, waiting for her next excuse, but her face of defeat told him otherwise. "Lilliana, what's going on? Don't you have a place to stay?"
"Well . . . ," she said, not wanting to complete her thought. "I kind of . . . don't."
"What do you mean you don't? I know you don't have a registered home in the Shinigami Realm, but what about that inn you talked about before even taking the mission?"
Her smile disappeared. "I don't want to go to the human realm if it's not for work."
"So you think sleeping in your office is the better choice?" he asked.
"Well I work more hours than anyone else, so I practically live here," she tried to joke, but her chuckle was weak. "Is there a rule against it?"
He pushed up his glasses and sighed. "No, there isn't, but it is heavily implied that Reapers need proper rest to not interfere with their performances, which includes resting outside of the workplace."
"I haven't been full-time that long; burnout is not going to be an issue," she argued as she stood up in defiance.
"True, but you will expedite it if you keep this up. If you need a place to stay . . . I could offer up my place," he said sheepishly.
"Absolutely not!" a voice rang out from behind them. They looked toward the door and saw Grell had just arrived for his morning shift. He usually came in this early so he could be alone with William, who usually clocked in at this time, even though Grell's shift did not start for another hour. "There is no way I am going to allow a woman to room with a man. It's indecent!"
"You sure that's the only reason?" Lilliana teased.
Grell huffed. "Along with other reasons. I wouldn't want my dear William getting distracted from his duties with a freeloader in his beloved home."
Lilliana laughed loudly. "Me? A freeloader? I can assure you that I can pull my weight around the house. I was employed as a maid after all."
"That only makes things worse! Your cleaning habits could disrupt my dear's sleep or you may get in the way of his private matters."
"Private matters? No offense, William . . . ," she said as she turned to him, ". . . but all I can envision for you is you going home or maybe getting something to eat and then sleeping. Maybe you would read a book with some tea."
"I'm not sure how I feel about that analysis," William said with a puzzled expression.
"Are you accusing him of having no life outside of work?" Grell defended.
"I'm just saying that if he invited me to stay in his home, I wouldn't be disrupting much. Besides, I don't see you offering your place to stay. After all, you are the only other 'lady' in this sect."
"Th-That's because I don't want you in it!" he said bluntly.
"Why? Are you afraid I'm going to interfere with your 'private matters'," she continued to tease.
"Enough of this," William said in a loud voice to get their attention. He didn't want anyone else walking in and seeing them bicker. "If sharing a residence is out of the equation, then we must set up living arrangements for Ms. Kiliamo. We shall see to it at once."
"That is, when the registration office opens," Lilliana pointed out as she gestured toward a nearby clock.
"Right," he said with reluctant acceptance.
As planned, William and Lilliana went to the registration office a couple of hours later to buy a home. Although living conditions for Reapers are technically free if they wished to live in the small and minimalistic apartments, one could purchase a home of their own if they wished for more privacy or space. Unlike humans, Reapers didn't have to pay rent or mortgage, so one could be ttempted to buy the biggest house on the market and not worry about future payments. Even though Lilliana initially considered living in the free housing, the clerk had other ideas.
"Ms. Kiliamo, I don't know how it's possible, but you are able to afford a home that could rival the size of a Head Reaper's. I have never seen this large sum of money on a regular Task Force Reaper," the clerk said with surprise as he pulled out her file.
"During your three years on the mission, there wasn't a single time that you had to pull money from your account?" William asked her, shocked by the amount he heard. Even with his salary, he did not have that much in his account.
"Well, room and board were provided, so there was no need to," Lilliana said, slightly embarrassed by the amount.
"Do you still wish to proceed with the free housing? At this point, you can buy a larger home and still have money left over," the clerk suggested.
She thought about it for a moment and said, "Can I just have a small house . . . with a kitchen!" she nearly blurted towards the end. The surprise in their faces made her blush and slump back in her chair in embarrassment.
After a brief awkward silence, the clerk started to get up as he said, "I'll find the catalogue and let you peruse it. Though, I'm not sure how many houses will have a kitchen."
After some time, he brought back a small binder with all the available homes. It did not take her long to find the one she wanted and a contract was signed. In no time, she got a deed and they traveled to her new home, a nice cozy spot not too far away from the HQ building. It was a single-story home with two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. The walls both inside and outside were off-white and there was no furniture, but with the money left over in her account, she was able to furnish it completely in no time. There wasn't a hint of extravagance since most of what she bought was the cheapest stuff with no real color theme to match. Maybe in the future, she may buy better furniture, but she was still getting used to the idea of living in the Shinigami Realm in the first place.
A few months had passed since her mission officially ended and all seemed fine in the Task Force. Lilliana was starting to return to her old habits of coming to work late, but now she did not have an excuse that was acceptable in William's eyes. The only saving grace was that she was collecting souls quickly and efficiently and her paperwork had never been this thorough. She was still the last to leave, but now she had a bed to rest on.
Though, one day, she did not show up to work at all. Even at her worst attendance, she would never be a no-show for work unless she was in trouble. At least now, he could simply go to her house and not fear for his safety if he were to confront a demon.
He arrived at the house and knocked on the door. He listened for any signs she was inside, but it was pretty quiet inside. He knocked on the door again, a little louder than before. At this point in the day, he would be surprised if she was still asleep. After a while, he finally heard signs of life inside and watched as the door unlocked and opened. However, he was surprised to see an unusual face staring at him.
"Oh, it's just that Willy boy," Undertaker said as he tried to close the door on him, but William stopped him.
"Wh-What are you doing here?!" William asked with surprise. Yes, Undertaker was a Grim Reaper, but he practically banished himself from the Shinigami Realm after retirement.
"I'm not sure that is any of your business," he said playfully, but took a calming breath as he continued, "If you must know, Lilliana invited me to stay here temporarily."
"Since when?!"
"It was supposed to be a few days after she bought this place. She said that she didn't want to be alone in a big home, but now it's been a few months."
"She didn't want to be alone?" William asked with genuine concern. That would explain why she worked for so many hours and didn't want to leave HQ. "Why would that matter to her? She was someone that prioritized privacy."
Undertaker sighed; his playful smile was no longer there. "Let me show you something." He opened the door wide so William could enter. The place wasn't hadn't changed much since she first bought it. The only difference was the kitchen had clearly been in use as dishes were in the sink. He saw a small cake was on the dining table with a couple of slices taken out of it.
"Were you two celebrating something?" William asked.
"It was her birthday yesterday," Undertaker said as he directed her to Lilliana's bedroom. He opened the door, but only gestured for him to look inside. William felt a bit nervous looking into her bedroom, especially without her permission, but he did as he was told. He looked inside and saw Lilliana on the bed with her Reaper outfit still on, including her shoes. Though, one of her sleeves was pulled up to her elbow. There was a glass bottle of wine and a knocked-over glass on her nightstand. Her makeup was all over her white pillowcases, most notably her mascara, which was smeared all over her eyes.
"Lilli—," William nearly said, trying to wake her up, but Undertaker was quick to cover his mouth.
"Let her sleep. She had a rough night," he said as he closed the door. "I wanted to show you that she was all right physically, but mentally . . . ," he said before trailing off.
"She still needs to report for work. Just because you two had a little celebration doesn't mean that she is permitted to miss work," he said in an authoritative voice.
Undertaker was getting visibly frustrated by his oblivious statement. "Boy, you just don't get it. I'm sure you passed Reaper anatomy or else you wouldn't be a supervisor. You should know that alcohol has no effect on Reapers, no matter how much we drink, but last night, when I returned from my work in the human realm, she was clearly inebriated."
"That can't be possible . . . unless . . . ," he said, contemplating his thoughts.
"Unless she mixed something in it," he said as he went to the living room to find her Death Scythe. On the blade, there was some dried blood on it. "There's only one thing that can give us an euphoric feeling and that is Reaper blood."
"But that's dangerous, isn't it?"
"It's not like she was out and about when she was drinking her own blood. Though, she was quite the talker since she no longer had her inhibitors. She told me how much she dreaded this day since she was reminded of the year before: the last year she was with the Phantomhives."
"Why would that matter? As a Reaper, she was not supposed to develop attachments to humans."
"It's a bit different when they get attached to you. They threw her a huge party to celebrate a date that had no meaning for her. You have to admit that it must bring up some happy emotions even in someone like you," Undertaker nearly scolded. "And that's the main issue. She desperately craves these happy moments, but she knows she can never have them. When she's alone, her thoughts wander and her emotions fall down a pit that she has difficulty escaping. Don't forget that in the last two years, she has lost her brother, her former colleagues, and Katia."
"B-But she's fine at work."
"People wear masks to hide how they truly feel. We all do it from time to time, but some people's masks are the only thing keeping them together. Once the mask is removed, they find themselves in a void that they either try to distract themselves from or are consumed by it."
William was shocked by what he heard. He didn't realize all of this was going on inside her head. She had a smile on her face in front of him, but he couldn't imagine that when she was behind closed doors, she was holding back so many conflicting emotions with no real way to let them out in a healthy manner. "How do we help her?"
"I've tried all I can. I tried talking to her about her emotions, but when the depression starts to creep in, she goes for the mixed bottle and will try to drown her feelings. I'm afraid she is going to need constant care or else she might go mad and do something regrettable."
William was silent. There were cases in the past of Reapers losing their minds either due to inescapable depression, paranoia, or mania and they were either imprisoned in the rehabilitation center or terminated if their actions were unforgivable. Lilliana used to be able to be controlled since they threatened to kill her brother if she fell out of line, but now that he is dead, she has no real reason to follow the rules. Hell, he was surprised she was cooperative as she was now. If this wasn't addressed, who knew what fate would have in store for her.
"I'll see what I can do," he said as he started heading out the door. "When she wakes up, can you tell her to come to my office first thing?"
"I'll consider it," Undertaker said with a teasing grin returning to his face. With a nod of acknowledgment, he left her home, making sure to close the door quietly to not disrupt her.
Lilliana walked in the door as the sun was setting. She knew she was going to get a scolding from William for being late. She wondered if Grell and Ronald would be angry at her for picking up her slack. Though, she didn't want to think about things too much since she had an insufferable headache. She tried to be careful about her drinking, but last night, she indulged more than intended. When she woke up, panicking about how late she was, Undertaker tried to calm her down by telling her that William knew the situation and only asked that she go to his office when she was ready. Though, she was skeptical of how "understating" he actually was and feared the worst.
As instructed, she walked straight to William's office and knocked on the door quietly. "Enter," he said. She took a deep breath as she turned the doorknob and entered the room. Despite the initial panic, she did manage to fix herself up so she looked normal. "Rough night, Ms. Kiliamo?
"I-I promise that it won't happen again," she reconciled.
"I would hope not. It has been brought to my attention that you are having a very difficult time transitioning to full-time work."
"Trouble transitioning? What did Undertaker say to you? I have never been a better employee," she argued.
"That may be, but remember when I said that I wanted you to rest outside of work? I thought it was simply getting you a place of your own, but it's apparent that you are worse off on your own."
She sighed in defeat. "I assure you that I have things under control. It has not affected my work . . . other than today."
"Maybe, but I always look ahead and it does not look good if things continue as they are," he said as he pulled out a file. "I was recommended to find you someone that would give you constant care to try and deal with your problems."
"D-Does that mean that you are sending me back to rehabilitation?" Lilliana asked with worry in her voice, expecting the worst.
"No. I figured you would regress if we sent you there. I found another solution," he said as he presented the file to her. "We don't normally collect souls of London emigrants, but I have made an exception just so you can get a change of scenery."
Lilliana looked at him confused before opening the file. The target's name was Annabel Lee, a London girl with a horrific past and even more horrific deeds. With dreams of becoming a barber to feed her bloodlust, she decided to escape from the law by moving to America. "You sure you want me to oversee such a case?"
"I believe there is no one better suited than you. Plus, you won't be alone executing this mission. I have sent word to the New York sect to have Ms. Vendoa assist you."
Her face lit up. "Katia is going to help me?"
"Correct. She will provide housing as well, so you don't have to worry about that. Besides, I think she would be more than happy to assist you in whatever way you need."
Lilliana had a smile on her face. This may be just what she needed. Perhaps a break from London and typical Reaper duties will break her out of her mental void. "When do I start?"
"There is a ship scheduled for tomorrow morning. I need you to pack your things immediately."
"Yes sir," she said with a salute as she headed out of his office, but before she could leave the room, he stopped her.
"I have one more thing to say: happy belated birthday," he said with a soft smile, something she was not used to seeing from him.
"Th-Thank you," she said sweetly before leaving. She went home and packed a suitcase of clothes. She managed to find her pocket watch that Sebastian had gifted her last year, but the glass was shattered and the metal was heavily dented since she threw it full force at the wall out of a depressive rage. It made her tear up a bit, but she put it in her suitcase, even if it was broken. Maybe she could find a clockmaker to fix it.
The next morning, she excitedly boarded the ship, wishing that she could have experienced this with either Bastille or Sebastian, but knowing she would be free, even if it was temporary, was enough to bring her some hope. It took weeks, but she finally arrived at Ellis Island, making sure to avoid the security checkpoint. Waiting for her on the other side was Katia, who welcomed her with a big hug, more than excited to see her.
Her target was scheduled to die in over a year, so she had plenty of time to determine if she was worthy of another chance, but based on the facts presented already, she deserved the death penalty more than a second chance. Still, she had all this time to reset her mind and maybe, just maybe, she can finally move away from her designation as the Demonic Reaper and be the Grim Reaper she was born to be. At least now, it would be her choice and no one else's.
The story may be over, but the questions remain. Will Katia be able to help Lilliana out of her depression? Will Lucille be able to seek her vengeance? Will Sebastian and Lilliana ever be reunited? So many questions, but only you can answer them, so please leave a review!
Thank you so much for reading my story and I hope you enjoyed yourself. Normally I use these answers for a possible sequel, but I have already written a semi-sequel through another story called Looking through the Broken Mirror. It is a sequel to a number of stories, so you may need to read those before this one. Then again, it has been many years since I wrote them and my writing style has changed, so I am hesitant to actually recommend them without a rewrite.
If you want an alternate universe that is closer to the manga, you might want to check out One Hell of a Reaper: Book of Discovery. I am still writing that one and would recommend that one more. There may be some surprises that were not explored here.
See you then. PhantomGypsy13