Authors Note: So first off, let me just say that this will be a Next Generation type story. The canon characters may have a cameo here and there but the focus will be on a whole new cast of characters and their stories. I would love for people to submit their own OCs to be added in because it would make my job easier and would add to the fun. If you want to submit an OC then just send me a message. Though I do reserve the right to change and use them as I see fit.
Now then, off to the actual story!
Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave.
"Looks like i's gonna rain, don' it suh?"
Gray eyes snapped to attention as the man was pulled out of his thoughts and into the real world once more. He could only grunt his agreement as he looked back up at the sky, which was turning a frightful shade of gray. Already the clouds looked as if they were ready to burst and let loose a storm on London. Anyone with half a mind had already made their way to the safety of their home except for the man in the lone stagecoach that was slowly driving up the stone path.
"Stop here." The man barked as the driver pulled on the reigns and stopped the horses in front of a small brick house. The driver rushed to help the man out onto the steps but he was already too late as the man hastily opened the door himself and all but slammed it shut while casting his eyes towards the skies once more.
"Don't wait for me." The man said gruffly as he walked past the driver who had his hand out and waiting for a tip. As the passenger entered the house the driver was left cursing all these fine gentlemen who did not have manners enough to tip a man who would drive around at such an ungodly hour. No matter, he didn't want to be caught in the storm himself so he resigned to his fate and started the horses once more for home.
As the grey-eyed man opened the door he could already tell that something was amiss in the house. The lock in the front had been broken and the door was loose from its hinges even as he slowly bushed it open. Someone had desperately tried to break into this home and it appeared that they had succeeded. After all, if they had failed then he wouldn't have to be here in the first place.
"Ah, Inspector Kent, we were waiting for you." A young man in glasses said cheerily as he walked over to the older gentlemen and ushered him inside. Kent could only grimace at the young officer wondering just what he was so happy about in a situation such as the one they found themselves in. This was what bothered him about these young police lads. They were all far too eager to get their hands on a case with no real regard to decency and tact. They saw it as a game where they could make a big name for themselves by solving a large case. Soon even this policeman would learn that this job brought out the worst in people as they were forced to face the evils that lurked in a man's heart.
"Where is the body?" Kent asked the young man, not bothering for idle chitchat. He was here for work and the sooner he got to the crime scene the better.
The young man was taken back by the gruffness of the inspector's tone and stammered a bit trying to regain himself. Finally, he pointed up the rickety stairs that led to the second floor and the bedroom in question. Kent merely nodded his head as he made his way up to the second floor, taking note of how much the old, wooden stairs creaked under his weight.
The second floor was teaming with life as men in uniforms hustled around busily trying to collect evidence and question whatever witnesses were present. Another officer pointed the Inspector towards the door on the far right that was kept open and people were rushing in and out of.
Even as he neared the door the Inspector was hit by a stench that almost made his stomach churn. Reaching into his coat pocket he pulled out a handkerchief with "HJK" monogrammed on the corner in a golden script. Putting the handkerchief to his nose he tried to use it to block the smell that seemed to be leaking from ever crack in the walls. It was a smell he knew all too well; the smell of a decaying body.
As he entered the door he finally came face to face with what was causing the wretched smell. There, lying on a small bed, was a boy, his eyes cast up towards the heavens as his hand clutched his chest grasping for the heart that was no longer there.
The boy could have been no older then twelve and he was still dressed in his nightshirt ready for bed. His smile was peaceful but his eyes held a faraway gaze of someone who was lost to the mortal world. His soft brown hair was ruffled slightly and one would have almost thought he was playing if it wasn't for the gaping hole in his chest. Right where his heart should have been there was only an empty blackness as it had been torn from his frail body.
"His mother found him like this when she went to check on him in the middle of the night." A voice said to the right of the Inspector as Kent turned to see Detective Lawrence shaking his head back and forth at the thought of a mother walking in to see her child like this.
"She's completely inconsolable. We finally had one of the doctors give her something just to keep her from tearing her hair off." The detective said as Kent could only imagine what the woman was feeling now that her child had been torn away from her.
"I trust that your men have done their job." Lawrence nodded in response as he gestured to the men who were busily doing their job. There was little evidence to go on and while the front door was broken they couldn't even find a footprint or a shred of fabric pointing them towards a suspect. The more they searched the more frustrated they found themselves as they desperately tried to grasp at clues.
"I know you don't want to hear this," Lawrence said as he glanced at Kent who was already scowling. They were thinking the same thing but neither man wanted to say it aloud. "I believe it's the same man who killed the others." Lawrence finally said as he voiced their greatest fear.
Over the past few months strange things had been happening around London. It began with some minor grave robbing when groundskeepers had found coffins dug up and corpses missing body parts. They had just assumed it was a ring of thieves lurking in the area but things soon turned more dangerous. People had begun disappearing and then were found days later with body parts missing. It was always a different part and try as they might, Scotland Yard couldn't connect any of the people. They were dealing with a madman and it seemed as if he had struck again.
Kent let out a low growl as he gripped his handkerchief tightly until his knuckles turned white. There was a monster preying upon innocent people and children and they were no closer to finding him. In his ten years as an Inspector the man had never felt so helpless to do something and it tore him up inside. People were dying and he could do nothing.
"I have a letter for you." Lawrence said as he produced a thin white envelope with a red wax seal bearing the Queen's crest.
With trembling hands, Kent took the envelope and opened it as his eyes moved across the page and read what it had to say. The Queen had taken a personal interest in the case and had a request to make. She wanted the young Count Sorien to be given full access to the investigation. While worded as a request even the Inspector knew that the Queen's wishes were final.
Taking his leave, Kent walked out the door just as thunder cracked across the sky and the rain started to fall. He would meet with the Count but something about this was all unsettling. There was something about the Count that made Kent's blood run cold and his heart beat faster. He did not know what the Queen was planning but if Sorien was involved then it couldn't be good.
Authors Note: Next chapter you'll get to meet the main characters and see the dynamics of what is going on. Right now I'm trying to build their world and give the hints of what the plot is but it runs a lot deeper then one might think. I will probably change the rating of the story as time goes on since I do plan for there to be some language and violence as well as other things present.
Please read and review!