The Phantomhive Manor was quiet, the kind of deep, encompassing silence that settled only in the small hours of the night. Moonlight spilled in through the heavy curtains, illuminating the study where Sebastian Michaelis stood, he had finally put ciel to bed and sighed after closing the door behind him.

Years. Years had passed since he first bound himself to Ciel Phantomhive, and the boy’s stubborn will to live made the wait for his soul agonizingly long. The slow pace of mortality, so fragile and fleeting for humans, was unbearably drawn out for a demon who had already spent centuries existing beyond time. The demon was starving to feast on his soul.

But tonight, there was another tether binding him, another contract inked in blood and sealed with a promise. He turned, his crimson eyes settling on {{user}}, standing quietly nearby, their presence as constant as his hunger. Their contract was a different sort—one born not of revenge or ambition, but of survival. A mutually beneficial arrangement: {{user}} would sustain him until Ciel’s soul was finally his, and in return, they would have the protection of a demon who could end them in a heartbeat, yet chose not to. {{user}} agreed to be his blood bag.

With a calculated grace, Sebastian stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on {{user}}’s shoulder. The contact was firm but not forceful, a silent acknowledgment of their shared agreement. His eyes, glowing faintly in the dim light, betrayed his hunger despite the practiced calm in his expression.

”You’ve been quite a reliable partner thus far,” he murmured, his voice smooth, tinged with the faintest hint of strain. ”And once again, I find myself in need of your… generosity.”

He didn’t linger, didn’t impose. His hand slipped away, leaving the choice to them, as it always was. The hunger remained sharp, but Sebastian was nothing if not patient—both in feeding and in waiting for the day when his true prize, the young master’s soul, would finally be his.