I've been working on this story for over a year.

The amount of effort pooled into planning this out is appalling but my writing itself could use some improvement.

I suppose as the story goes that'll improve as my confidence in writing for these characters gets better but for now, here's chapter one of what will be a fairly long story.

'Young master, it's time to wake up.'

With a fwish the curtains were flung open, the morning's gentle rays filling the previously dark bedroom. Ciel grimaced but sat up so he could eat breakfast. He yawned as Sebastian served a piping tea with an astringent aroma.

'Darjeeling oolong,' Ciel breathed as he took a sip of the tea.

'Correct as always,' Sebastian answered, 'For breakfast this morning, we have a warm pheasant pie with lemon poppy seed scones.'

Ciel disregarded the food and held his hand out to receive the days newspaper. He was puzzled to be holding an envelope instead.

'What is-' Ciel cut himself short upon flipping over the envelope to see the Queen's seal. Using the letter opener handed to him by Sebastian, he cut through the seal to read the letter.

My dear boy,

How are you? I do hope you are enjoying this gay winter upon us. I would as well but there is something that fills my heart with sorrow. It appears so that a particular group of citizens are inflicting harm upon the people of London I believe it would be best if you looked upon the culprits with your own eyes, as I would be very grateful if you could look into the matter for me.

Ciel was reading the letter for the second time as he entered his study as Sebastian dutifully followed after. He sat heavily in his chair, mugging a face of discontent.

'A particular group…' Ciel muttered, 'What could be so special about the culprits if she already knows who committed the crime? Does she want to know their motive?'

'Perhaps it would be best if you see for yourself as she suggested,' Sebastian commented.

'I suppose. Although I would rather not go to the city in winter. It's disgusting,' Ciel complained. Memories of gray slush and the bitter cold was enough of a reason to dissuade him of ever stepping foot outside during the winter months, much less the city. Still, if the Queen requested it of him then he would go to the ends of the earth if necessary. That didn't necessarily mean he wouldn't gripe about it for a good bit.

'Shall I prepare a carriage?' Sebastian inquired, interrupting his thoughts.

'Yes. All the required necessities,' Ciel answered. He looked out at the window at the falling white snow. Despite being cozily inside he couldn't help but sneeze. This escapade would a miserable one.

The trip to London was relatively slow. And cold. Snow covered the roads, making it a grueling task of navigating patches of ice or clearing the way to get by. Now on a rare stretch of clear road, Ciel felt he could finally relax a little from the constant jarring of the carriage wheels hobbling over half frozen drifts of snow. Breathing a small sigh of relief, the earl was then inconvenienced with a gargantuan jostle that sent him tumbling into the side of the carriage.

Muttering a curse, Ciel hissed through gritted teeth, 'What the hell was that?'

Sitting undisturbed without so much as a hair out of place, Sebastian answered, 'It seems the carriage ran over something.'

Ciel's eye deepened into a glare that rivaled Sebastian's look of amusement. He broke off the exchange, noticing that the carriage had stopped moving. Poised to make a remark on the matter, Sebastian merely offered, 'I shall investigate whatever it is that's impeding the driver.'

In a fluid motion the butler slid out the carriage. Noticing the driver absent from his seat, he turned to the rear the the carriage where they were standing with their head lowered, hand covering their mouth in shock.

Sebastian strolled over, acknowledging the driver with a nod of his head. The driver began to babble, 'I s-swear I d-didn't hit them. T-they were just there!'

He switched his gaze to whatever it was that held them captivated.

A body. A male human body.

It was obvious that their carriage hadn't been the source of his demise due to the state of decay he was currently in but one certainly was. Snapped bones protruded from his maggot ridden arms and legs. Blood from the impact was splattered across the snowy road, further smeared by carriage wheels that hadn't a moments pause.

There were two peculiarities about the scene. One was the lack of the smell of rot. Rather, the pleasant scent of nutmeg wafted from the corpse. Most disturbing of all was the obscene grin stretched across his deteriorating lips.

This was quite the mystery to be sure. However, it was also not a part of the young master's present business.

'Pay no mind to it then,' Sebastian replied, walking back to the carriage.

Now reseated, there was a moment's pause before the vehicle jostled back into motion. Ciel gave Sebastian an appraising look before finally asking, 'What was the issue?'

'There was a carcass,' Sebastian stated.

He furrowed his brow but resigned to looking out the window. 'Why does it smell of lavender?' Ciel wondered aloud absently.

His butler remained silent.

Ciel walked into the Scotland Yard, mildly noting the detectives bustling about the place. It seemed that with the holidays the time for joy and good cheer was accompanied closely with the need for crime. From the buzz of the crowd stepped forth a familiar and annoyingly friendly face that Ciel knew all too well.

'Ciel! What are you doing here?' Detective Aberline asked. He looked rather frazzled compared to his usual appearance but still held a cheerful look in his eyes.

The earl procured the envelope and flashed it's seal, 'Her majesty sent me to see the culprits of a crime. Would you know what criminals she's speaking of?'

Life seemed to have drained from him completely, 'Oh. I do. I'll take you right to them.'

Aberline motioned for the earl and his butler to follow him through the chaos. Ciel raised an eyebrow in puzzlement but fell in step behind the detective. After passing by several records rooms and offices, the hallway eventually gave way into interrogation rooms. Ciel kept his eye trained in front of him, not wanting to see whatever criminals lurked beyond the slotted doors.

The detective finally came to a stop in front of one of the rooms. He placed his hand on the handle, pausing to look warily at Ciel. Upon seeing his impatient glare Aberline opened the heavy door.

The boy stiffened, mute shock possessing his body.

The criminals sitting within the room were children.