"You can not hide from me your Highness." Claude said as he stalked after Alois down the dark hallway of the Trancy manor.

Alois could hear certain death lurking behind him, taunting him. It was only a matter of time after all, and Claude Faustus was not exactly what you would call a patient man.

The terms of their contract had been fulfilled and it was time for Alois to pay the ultimate price he had promised, it was time for Claude to devour his soul. But, fear overcame Alois and he decided maybe he could escape from Claude if he ran, but Claude knew every move he was going to make even before Alois did.

Alois' breathing grew heavy as panic began to set in. He was far too afraid of death, he did not want to be alone again. And this was not exactly going to be a short, painless death. Alois knew that Claude was going to take his time with this one, considering how awful he had treated him when he served him as a butler.

"Alois, I know where you are." Claude's voice rang through his ears, sending shivers down his body. This only made Alois run faster.

He knew his way around the manor like the back of his hand, but Claude knew it better. He knew everywhere he would even attempt to hide.

Aloid suddenly found himself in the drawing room. He pushed back the curtains and carefully pushed open the windows, not even making a sound. He stepped out onto the window sill and turned back for a moment, listening for Claude.

When the coast was clear, he reached up to the gutters on the roof and pulled himself up. When he was on the roof, he looked around and found the chimney.

He walked lightly to it, careful not to make a sound. When he was there, he climbed onto the bricks and hid himself inside the chimney.

Surely, he thought, Claude would not find him there. As he looked around the inside of the bricks, he noticed there was a spiders web occupying the space. He found the black spider and smacked it with the back of his gloved hand.

He then took off his glove and threw it down the chimney, but that was a grave mistake. Claude was currently in the in the room that the fireplace occupied.

Alois' glove landed in the ashes and caused a whoosh sound. Claude's head darted towards the fireplace as an evil grin grew across his pale, handsome face.

"Oh, this is just too easy." Claude said to himself as he chuckled maniacally. Luckily, the fireplace was spacious enough to fit Claude's large body. He stepped over the ashes and looked up into the chimney, where he just so happened to see a little boy hiding.

Claude was enjoying himself, he rather liked a nice hunt, and Alois was playing Claude's game perfectly. Something about stalking his prey made Claude want to feast more than he ever had in his lengthy existence. If Alois could find a way to add a little spice to it, than it was surely, without a doubt, worth it.

Alois took a moment to gather his thoughts while he hid. Maybe there was something he could do for Claude to spare him, but nothing came to mind. He would have asked the other servants of the manor to help him escape, but Claude had sent them away.

"What am I going to do?" Alois whispered to himself. "I don't want to die." He sobbed quietly, but Claude could hear him no matter how quiet he tried to be.

Claude began to climb up the chimney to reach Alois. But suddenly, Claude's foot slipped, causing a loud scratch to sound in the air.

Alois' head shot down, immediately making eye contact with a pair of glowing, magenta eyes. He began to panic again, when he froze. It was like Claude had him under a spell.

He tried to move, but his body would not simply allow it. His breathing started to pick up again for Claude stalked towards him.

Claude climbed until he reached the trembling boy and quickly grabbed him before he could escape again. He skillfully jumped out of the chimney and landed on the rooftop, Alois still frozen with fear in his arms.

"C-claude..." He whispered, barely finding the courage to speak.

Claude looked down at the young boy and raised a brow. "Yes, Alois?"

"P-please." He whispered. "I'm scared Claude."

Claude almost felt bad for the poor boy, but that was not in his nature. He could smell the fear emulating off of Alois, and it made him want to devour him then and there, but it was not the correct time nor place to do such a thing.

"I know." Claude said. "I can smell it on you."

Alois' eyes widened as a few stray tears threatened to escape. "Spare me." He whispered, almost inaudible, but Claude could hear him with ease.

"My apologies your Highness, but I can not do that. As the contract stipulates, when your wishes have been suitably met, I am to devour ever last shred of your human soul." Claude explained.

Alois thought for a moment. "My wishes have not been met suitable." He said, clearly lying.

"Your Highness, we both know that is not to be true. I murdered the men who kept you captive, your wishes have been fulfilled." He said.

Alois looked down defeatingly. "I know Claude."

But then a thought occurred to him as an evil grin grew across his pale face.

"What would you say to a trade?"