Time was an ephemeral thing. The lives of mortals were fleeting, making my lives serving under my masters brisk as well. But as a demon, there is no concept of time. Waiting in hell for my next contract was like watching time stand still. Immortality was grand, but it is also a double edged sword. To be immortal was to live a life of solace and emptiness. Demons with too much time become disinterested in consuming souls and might become obsessed with a particular soul.

Those demons lose sight in the hunt, and the glory of eating a perfectly seasoned soul. To become enamored with a single soul was not the nature of a demon, and frankly those demons were quite dull. Eternity is a long time to exist without goals or without purpose.

Crows are birds of prey, so it was in my nature to enjoy the thrill of the hunt. But crows were also birds of opportunity. And when an opportunity presents itself, I find it in my nature to take it. I took chance on the soul of Ciel Phantomhive, a mere boy who summoned me in his time of need. But our contract was nearing its end, and I would move on soon. His soul would be delicious, a fierce anger that couldn't be quelled, a taste for revenge that was unmatched, and a cold heart. Yes, his soul was one of a kind.

But as delectable as his soul was, it was also fleeting. His soul wouldn't satiate my hunger forever. No, I would move on, and take on a new identity and a new master. That was the nature of a contract. However, in addition to contracts, occasionally I would indulge in a more, carnal pleasure. Occasionally I would acquire a pet.

These pets were other immortal beings. Demons, fallen angels, vampires, lycanthropes, hell harpies; any creature that peaked my interest I would take as my pet. The nature of this was different than that of a contract because it was indefinite. After hunting the pet and taming it, I may simply tire of it and toss it away, or I may kill the pet and consume its soul. It was all very indefinite, but all in my control.

So as my contract with my young master neared its end, I found my eyes straying from his soul in search of a new pet. I found a creature that sparked interest in the back of my mind. The creature was bold, murderous in nature, and powerful, in its own right. However, the creature was foul tongued, fickle, and its loyalties were nonexistent. There wasn't much a hunt, because I found the creature throwing itself at me. But taming this potential pet, ah yes, that would prove very enjoyable.

So the creature and I began the deadly dance. I sought to break open the cracks in the creature's façade and pull out the monster I knew was within. I wanted to swallow the red with darkness and overtake the vibrant color. I wanted to taint the sanctity of the death god's name and smear it with sin. I wanted to taste the forbidden fruit, and do what few have done before and take the shinigami's soul. I wanted to tame the creature and have it bend to my whim.

The crimson locks resembled blood, and seemed to fuel the inner demons in the creature. Ah, for a higher being, just under the mark of the lowest levels of angels, the creature was cruel and sadistic. The creature had a taste for blood and a thirst for darkness.

I could feel a sadistic grin pull at my face as a clipped a vibrant red rose from the bush. Yes, I would make Grell Sutcliff mine.