AN:
This is my first proper attempt at a big, serious story. There will be yaoi later on, mostly CielxOC and SebaxGrell. Enjoy, and please R&R.

Ciel Phantomhive sat alone in his study, reading that morning's Times. The front cover showed a large photograph of himself, with Sebastian looming in the background as always. The headline read "Phantomhive Cracks Case Of Mystery Cat Burglar". He grunted in mild amusement. He hadn't really done anything, besides ordering Sebastian to find out who the culprit was and apprehend them. In fairness, he thought, Sebastian would not have done that on his own, so technically I did do all the work... Hah.

Outside, crickets chirped and birds sang in the stifling heat, the sounds floating through the open windows on the dead air. Suddenly, there was a breath of cold air on the back of Ciel's neck, as though it were snowing. Confused, Ciel shifted to look around the high back of his chair. It was the middle of June, not December, so where had that breeze come from?

"Hello there, little lord" came an effeminate voice from somewhere out of view. "How are we today?"

Ciel stiffened, reaching for the small pistol he kept in one of his desk drawers.

"Who's there?" he asked, in a cold voice that betrayed no trace of the nervousness he felt inside. "State your business or be gone. I will not tolerate such intrusions."

Although he couldn't see the speaker, Ciel could practically hear the pout in the unseen voice.

"How cruel you are, dear boy. Don't you remember me? After all we've been through, after all those... adventures we shared? I'm hurt..."

Ciel's eyes flickered about the room, searching for the source of the voice that now seemed to come from everywhere at once. There was certainly something familiar about it, something in the tone... Then it came to him.

"Grell?" he asked. "What the hell are you doing here? And show yourself, or I'll have Sebastian throw you out."

There was a dark chuckle from within the grandfather clock in the corner of the room, before its door swung open, and the smiling form of Grell Sutcliffe stepped out.

"Ahhh, Ciel" he trilled. "So nice to see you"

He stepped lightly across the room, red coat billowing out behind him as he went. He stopped short just in front of Ciel's desk, leaning his elbows on the wood and lowering his head to look directly into the young lord's eyes.

"You didn't answer my question" scowled Ciel. "What are you doing here? What do you want?"

An odd look came into Grell's eyes, and he smiled, exposing his wickedly sharp teeth.

"Tell me, Lord Phantomhive. Do you know what will happen when you die?"

"Yes" replied Ciel. "Sebastian will eat my soul. That will be the end of everything."

Grell smiled that odd smile again, and pressed his lips to Ciel's ear.

"What if I told you that you can escape such a fate? What would you say? Hmmm?"

Outwardly, Ciel remained calm, but his mind was in turmoil. What if? He thought. What if he's telling the truth? Is there really a way I can be reunited with my parents in the afterlife? He resolved to learn as much as he could, and see if the Reaper was lying or not.

"Go on" he said, inclining his head slightly, out of the way of Grell's hot breath.

Grell stood back from the desk, brushed down his coat, and coughed gently.

"In the darkest archives of the Grim Reapers," he said, his voice taking on a dark, forbidding tone "there is a Book. It is called the Book of Sebek, and it contains certain... details. Details that, if used correctly, could sever the contract between a demon and its master."

Ciel gasped.

"You mean... Sebastian will have no claim to my soul? I can go to heaven?"

"Yes, Lord Phantomhive" intoned Grell. "Your soul will be free once you die. However, there is a catch. Such is the unholy power of a demonic contract that breaking it will cause your lifespan to be shortened considerably."

Leaning back in his chair, Ciel steepled his fingers. Of course there would be a catch like that. It was practically a tradition. To gain freedom in the afterlife, he would have to sacrifice some of his time on the mortal plane. However, maybe it would be worth it...

"How many years will I lose?" He asked.

"Well" replied Grell "Your time of death is not currently fixed, but I can estimate that you would die at the age of twenty-two if you took part in the ceremony of Sebek. It is a serious undertaking. Do you wish to engage my... services?"

Suspicion flared in Ciel's mind.
"Why would you do this for me?" he asked.

To his surprise, Grell began to laugh.

"Oh, dear boy, it's not for you. It's for me. Once you are free, my dear, sweet Bassy will no longer have a master. He'll be waiting for me to sweep him into my arms!" he said.

"I doubt that very highly..." muttered Ciel under his breath. He massaged his temples. Most of his brain was beginning to go into shock at the mere thought that he would be able to see his parents again, but the cold, analytical part that had kept him alive for so long began weighing up the pros and cons.

True, Sebastian had saved his life on countless occasions, and he was one hell of a butler, but was a mere servant worth his immortal soul? In his heart, Ciel knew that this was his one chance at redemption, and a wave of hope, excitement and bliss began to saturate every fibre of his being as he realised the significance of what he was about to do.

Ciel Phantomhive rose to his feet, pulled the patch from his eye to expose the mark of his contract, and took a deep breath.

"Grell Sutcliffe" he said, heart pounding in anticipation "I wish to perform the ceremony of Sebek, and be rid of my butler Sebastian Michaelis."

Grell smiled broadly.

"Very good, Lord Phantomhive." He motioned towards the grandfather clock. "This way, please."

Without a backwards glance, Grell strode into the open clock, and disappeared. After a brief moment of hesitation, Ciel followed, and was lost from sight.

In the kitchens of the Phantomhive Manor, Sebastian dropped the tray of tea he had been preparing, and sat down suddenly in a nearby chair. He knew something terrible was about to happen...