Arrowhead
Prologue
Lavendyr studied the man from under her hood, hands clasped and propping up her chin. Across from her, the man plonked a sleek black object onto the table that sat between them. It was a gun, a hand-held pistol.
The man himself was withered with age, deep blue eyes boring into hers. He might have been handsome once, but time and the harsh life of a lower-class man changed that. His clothes certainly said so.
"This here is a good piece," He said, his voice obviously slurred with drink."Manifactured by the Goodwill company-" Lavendyr held up a hand.
"Now let me stop you there." She began. "Do you really expect me to believe that?"
"Whatever do you mean?" The man asked innocently. She picked up the gun and flipped it upside down with ease.
"Look at this." She tapped the underside of the grip. "If it was really made by the Goodwill company, it would have the mark of said company. Instead, it has the mark of the Sanctuary Society. So either you mixed up the meaning of the mark…." She smiled slyly from the shadows of her hood. "Or it's a blatant fake." She saw the man sweat. It disgusted her, but it was part of the job. Finally he ginned sheepishly.
"You have a good eye. This is-"
"Not what I need." Lavendyr finished for him. "I came here for arrows, not some illegitimate piece of shit bullet shooter."
"Oh, uh, sorry. Most come to me for these sorts of things, so I assumed-" She cut him off once again.
"You assumed nothing. So get me my arrows so I can get the hell out of this shit hole." She ordered. Muttering something about bossy bitches, he reached under the table and pulled out a package wrapped in red fabric.
"Woah woah woah. There were arrows under the table, and you didn't say shit about it!?" The man didn't answer. Instead he held out a hand, expecting payment.
"Fifty shillings." He demanded.
"Fifteen. And may I ask you a question?"
"Fourty-five. Yes, you may.'
"Twenty. What do you know of a man surnamed 'Woodley'?"
"Karl Woodley?" Lavendyr nodded.
"That's the one."
"He's the president of the Woodley Company, a diamond polishing business. Fourty shillings."
"Twenty-five. Anything else?" The man hesitated.
"...He's an arms trafficker." He said. "And thirty shillings."
"Deal."
Lavendyr surprised him by actually placing a bag of coins into his hand.
"What?" He asked. "You're not going to try to kill me and keep your money?" Lavendyr scoffed as she inspected the package of arrows. They seemed to be well-made, a small blessing. Arrows didn't necessarily need to be well-made.
"I'm not stupid, you know. Why would I do that, when you have twenty men on the upper levels, ready to attack if necessary, and that loaded gun right in front of you."
"It's not-"
"Don't lie to me." She smirked, and stood. "Now, I see no reason for conflict, don't you agree?" She patted at weapon that hung at her hip. "Crossbows are tricky things, but are effective when used right." Her smile fell.
"Now, I'd best be on my way, so is there anything else you want to say?" He didn't answer. "Right. Goodbye." She turned and waved carelessly over her shoulder.
Once outside, she breath a sigh of relief.
"Well, that was something." A voice came from the shadows. Lavendyr glanced at it.
"I can't see you when you're hiding in the shadows. Be polite and come out." She ordered.
The new man had a slander face, crow black hair and blood red eyes, and he wore a butler's uniform.
"Pacifist, are we?" He asked. She contemplated it for a moment.
"...You could say that." She met his cold gaze squarely. "And who might you be?" He raised a gloved hand to his chest.
"Forgive me, I am Sebastian Michaelis, Phantomhive Mansion's head butler."
"Oh? And what would a butler be doing all the way out here?" Lavendyr inspected a nail, but was really watching him from under her hood.
"You forget your manners. You ask me who I am, but you say nothing of who you are." She smirked, and lowered her hood.
She had wavy dirty blonde hair that reached half-way past her shoulders, and light-brown eyes famed by long eyelashes.
"Lavendyr Deer, at your service. Now, answer the question." She demanded. He smiled, almost a smirk.
"I would like to hire you, Miss Deer." He replied.
"Oh?" Lavendyr turned and waved a unconcerned hand over her shoulder. "I don't need charity; I'm perfectly fine on my own." She began to walk off.
"You would have access to clean clothes…."
"Got my own."
"Fresh food…."
"I'm good, thanks."
"Boarding…."
"Already got a place."
"And games rooms, gardens and libraries." Lavendyr froze, and turned back around.
"You know, good books are hard to come by. And the hotel I'm staying at is rapidly draining my pocket. I accept."
"That was fast." She shrugged.
"What can I say? I love books." Sebastian did that smile again.
"Then you will be my Lord's private librarian-" She held up a hand.
"Hold up. You could have hired anyone for that job, and yet you came to me. On top of that, you appeared to just want to hire me, but had not prepared any specific job. Tell me, what are the real details for this occupation?"
*-*-*-(^_^)-*-*-*
The carriage pulled to a stop outside the Phantomhive Manor. She observed it from the window.
"Well, it's good, but it's not as impressibe as Starcross Manor." She remarked.
"Sorry?" Sebastian asked.
"It's nothing." She assured.
As Lavendyr stepped out, she saw what she believed to be the other servants waiting outside it. One, the maid, had short red hair, big round glasses and a slightly chubby face. The gardener had blonde hair, and wore a shabby cotter shirt, jacket and straw hat. The last, whom she learned later was the chef, also had blonde hair, and wore a standard chefs uniform, and had a cigarette in his mouth and goggles hanging loosely around his neck.
"Everyone, this is Lavendyr Deer, our new librarian." Sebastian introduced to the three.
"Hello! I'm Finny!" The gardener cried enthusiastically.
"I-I'm Mey-Rin, the maid."
"Baldroy, at your service." He held out a cigarette packet. "Cigarette?" He asked, a bit uncertain. For all he knew, Lavendyr may despise smoking. She hesitated, before surprising them all.
"Please." She took one and lit it.
"Fantastic. We have another smoker." A sarcastic voice came from the stairs leading up to the manor. She looked up.
A young boy who looked to be about thirteen stood at the top. He had black-blue hair, and midnight blue eyes, one covered with an eyepatch.
"Who's that?" Lavendyr asked the other servants, slightly confused.
"That's the Lord Ciel Phantomhive." Mey-Rin replied.
"Hello, my Lord." Sebastian greeted, and turned to the others. "The rest of you, get to work."
"Yes, Sebastian!" Lavendyr stayed, knowing he didn't mean her.
"Sebastian. Who is this?"
"May I introduce Lavendyr Deer, our new librarian."
"We don't need a librarian. We have Tanaka."
"He's the house steward, not a librarian. And besides, it's just a cover." Sebastian said gently. He frowned.
"'Cover'? Whatever do you mean?" Ciel asked.
"Apparently I'm to protect you as your bodyguard." Lavendyr said for the butler. "Or at least, when you're out on business." Sebastian nodded his confirmation.
"What are you saying, Sebastian?"
"I'm saying that I will not always be by your side when you send me somewhere."
"Are you breaking our contract?" The Lord demanded.
"Contract?" Lavendyr murmured.
"No, not at all. But I would feel better if the was someone watching you back when you send me on some errand." Ciel thought about it for a minute.
"Very well. Lavendyr, as of this moment forth, you are to be my bodyguard and private librarian. Do you have any questions?"
"Yeah." She replied, breaking into a sly grin. "When do I start?"