Welcome, this is my continuation of Atoned Yet Incomplete, its parent being Atonement. (Paradigm being much like a prequel)

It is a world I have created around kuroshitsuji and have been playing with as I wrote my other stories. If you haven't read the other stories then its a friendly suggestion to check them out before reading, but this will be written so you do not have to read the other stories; however, if you desire to understand more about what happened to lead our star, Sebastian, to where he is presently, then you may wish to go back and read the other.

This serves as a prologue, please let me know what you think.

Art is by MedoriGalori, I love it! Such a beastly looking Cain!

[INSERT PART ABOUT ME NOT OWNING KUROSHITSUJI!]

Earth. A planet inhabited by three different realms: Purgatory, Heaven, and Hell. All three have roles with the passing of the souls that populate the earth, and each have different perspectives.

Purgatory is where a soul is collected in order to be judged. Death Gods, otherwise known as Reapers, serve Purgatory and assist in collecting the stranded essences that humans lose upon passing. The Reaper's job is to attend a human's death, which would be listed in their 'To Die' list, a book each servitor carries that documents the prospect's death and location, and then watch the victim's death reel. The reel is much like an old film and flows out of the subject as the soul is pierced. Revealed is a short summary of the subject's life, its goals, dreams, and flaws. It is then the Reaper's job to report their findings as to if the subject deserves a second chance. If the Reaper believes the soul worthy, then the soul will be collected and transported back to Purgatory until an Archangel of Heaven is notified; however, if the soul is tainted or corrupted, the soul is then sent to Hell to feed the lesser demons not bound by contract.

Heaven is not what humans make it out to be, but there are a few similarities. Those pure and devoid of corruption and greed do indeed make it to the pearly gates of light, but what happens once a soul steps through is much different from textbooks and bibles. When a soul makes it through the gates, it is then cleansed of its memories and the ashes left are spread back out upon the earth. Life then seeps through the soil and entangles in the roots of many forms of life. Trees, plants, insects, the possibilities are endless. After the ashes have been spread the core of the soul is then prepped for reincarnation. During the process, an Angel is delegated by an Archangel to protect the soul, as a reincarnation is quite fragile and are desired by many demons. Until the soul matures to an age where Heaven's essence wears off, the Angel will watch from afar. However, in some cases, the souls do not pass on to the mortal realm, but instead become Angels.

There are two very different type of immaculate beings that populate Heaven. First there are Angels, which are created by the Archangels. They are birthed by a single feather plucked from an Archangel's wing and then are entwined with a soul found worthy. Archangels decide when they are to reincarnate or to give birth. Angels are free of sexual orientation, therefore genderless. It allows them to serve as servitors of Heaven and the Archangels and they exist solely to assist in surveying the earth and watching over the reincarnates.

Next are the Archangels, which are the core of the immaculate. These few creations bare gender and meddle in mortal affairs so they may in any way offer guidance and clarity. Boundaries collar these immaculate beings and duties are delegated from the elder of the Angels. These duties include: procreation, protection, and to guide those lost in the darkness. They were originally formed in order to balance Earth as demons rose in power when corruption began to plague humanity. Mortals found that summoning a spawn of hell would allow them to obtain a lifelong goal in the matter of seconds, whereas the immaculate would have them wait years until they even glimpsed a lick of completion. Thus the way of life changed and evil brewed from those driven to the darkness.

Lastly, there are Demons, the spawns of Hell. There are many abominations that would call Hell their home, but most of those creatures lurk there only wish to feed from the scraps that leak from Heaven. These and many other creatures abide by the six rulers that control the abyss. Many pledge allegiances to these powers as the rulers are granted mantles of power from their thrones, so only the strongest hold the crowns. Power is granted to those that fight and dethrone these kings, therefore never ending battle rages through Hell. This is the reason why demons and lesser sinful creatures strive to find a king to serve because those that cannot fend for themselves are lost and forgotten. Contaminated souls are dropped into the inferno for those of hell to consume, but being the greedy spawns that demons were, those free disgusting souls were not enough.

There came a time when the high ruler of Hell and Heaven attended a meeting where this was discussed. Demons had rushed Earth and had almost destroyed humanity, if not for the immaculate. The two spoke and made an agreement. If a demon took it upon themselves to locate a worthy soul and promised to not feast on any other soul besides the one they chose, then they would follow by a Faustian Contract. This contract entitled that the demon was to serve a human in whatever wish they wanted to obtain and in payment, the demon could eat their soul. The power of Heaven found that by doing this, it would cause less causalities and would allow their servitors to collect those that fell before the contracted.

The reason as to why these powers exist are lost in the origins of time, which is the next matter-

"What a bore" the book that had been lifted above the man seated was flung across the table before him and with a sigh, he tossed his head back. Polished black finger nails raked through the man's long raven bangs and he shifted until he could see the small shimmer of a nearby vase. His eyes locked onto the beautiful ceramic, as his memories blended with the dark splashes of color that swirled in a portrait of the midnight sky. Dark blue lace that lined the rim of the vase interrupted the nostalgia the man was experiencing and with another sigh, he pushed himself from the seat.

Fire within the fireplace crackled behind the departing man, and the dim light played against the man's backside, creating quite the odd looking shadow. The man stopped once he reached the vase and reached for the beyond withering flowers within. Upon touch, the shriveled flowers turned to ash and speckled the end table in gray like remains.

"Either come out or leave." The man stated. He moved to glance at the shadow at his feet and watched as the image began to swirl and grow.

"My, my, aren't we in a sour mood." A body dripping with shadow emerged from the floor and as it solidified, the odd fire within the fireplace dulled slightly. It was then that the shadow receded back into the floor as a man appeared beneath the cloak of darkness. "Are you ready Mammon?"

"I will not ask again, so please listen. You shall address me as Sebastian, and none other." The man by the name of Sebastian turned his glare back to the vase. He then brought up a hand and made a wave like motion. What was once decrepit and ancient, now filled with life and beauty. Large unnatural red/black roses filled the vase and with satisfaction the man turned to walk back to his chair.

"I will not call my son by a contracted name. You are demon, not mortal, so end this fictional nonsense."

"Such a pity that you will never understand such passion" Sebastian's dark maroon eyes glittered as he gazed back at the man "then again, there is one you hold in high regard Cain."

The white haired man by the name of Cain moved to follow the demon he had called his son and growled, his own eyes flaring red "I hold none higher then myself."

"You don't have to fool me; I endured your cruel parenting." Sebastian sat back in the chair he had abandoned, frowning when the man stood beside him. "Take a seat if you plan to stay."

"You know as to why I'm here; we cannot afford to be late."

"I believe I sent message that I would not be attending."

"When the event focalizes around you, then it would be quite rude of you not to attend boy."

"The reception is being held for the crowning of the Fourth Lord, and as I do not plan to accept, I shall not attend." Sebastian glared up at his father's blazing gaze unflinching.

"If you prefer me drag you there it can be arranged, but may I suggest you come willingly, as my pets are rather famished."

As if summoned, dark wraith-like creatures rose from the ground and scattered the perimeter, ghost like whispering filling the room. Each entity twitched and quivered as it focused on Sebastian and the demon rolled his eyes.

"Threatening me? How petty" The man rose then and gestured to Cain. "If it will get you out of my residence, then proceed with directing me to this event."

The elder smiled and with a snap the creatures fell through the floor and disappeared from the room "Excellent, let us go."

Let me know what you think!

See you all next chapter.