"Heartkiller"
Summary - Sebastian - having already taken Ciel's soul - has been put on a quest to find a deranged killer who steals the hearts of men. Said to be a bloodthirsty witch, Sebastian is set off to find the hideous yet beautiful creature to destroy it. But will his heart be capture before he can? (Set in the times of old England where valleys and knights took place, with witches, dragons, faeries, pirates and all that lovely stuff. Very different, somewhat OCC, and yes, you'll be confused.)
Chapter 1: Where the Rumor Began
It was nearing dawn on the London coast as waves set in and night clouds began to drift apart. The ships were already set into port, their captains all asleep in their quarters whilst the crews lay drunk in the taverns. Chickens clucked in the cobblestone streets, maidens just awakening to begin the chores set out by their husbands. Besides their dressed bodies that covered the sidewalks, one man walked among them, his raven hair sticking out from underneath a leather black hat; only one crow feather perched upon it. With boots clicking, he made way with steady red eyes to the town King's Tavern, a set place grin on his lips. Pushing open the double wooden doors, a wave of music, alcohol, and cigars rushed over his senses, making the grin widen only slightly.
"Sebs! There ya be!" a voice called from above the ruckus and the red eyes flashed to a drunk man sitting half on a stool by a table. With one hand holding a jug of whiskey and the other wrapped around a woman's shoulders, he stumbled his way towards Sebastian Michaelis, all the while wearing a goofy smile to match his lopsided eyes.
"Harold, what brings you here?" Sebastian questions, his accent thick with proper dialect unlike the ones around him whose words slurred out in barely audible syllables. Harold only swayed with reply.
"Oh, nuthin'' much, Sebs. Jus' buyin' a drink o' two, hangin' wit' the pretty ladies an' such 'till I set sail wit' the captain. No harm in that, eh?"
"Aye. Though, do tell where the rest of your crew members are?" Sebastian asked while his eyes roamed the rest of the tavern. He couldn't make clear to who was where and if he knew them or not.
"Oh, no. They all still sleepin' on the ship."
"So you're here alone, then?"
"Aye. Jus' me, me whiskey, and t'is beauty lady here," he chuckled, his lips leaning to capture the maiden's neck. Sebastian only turned away in disgust, not wanting to watch the scene after having just devoured his breakfast a year ago. He licked his lips, remembering the fresh taste that lingered. The queen's guard dog had made a wonderful meal, though now he hungered for more in which he'd soon have.
"So then tell me, Harold, where I may find a map of the England lands," Sebastian demanded, interrupting Harold's fun. The man looked at him, one eye brow raised in suspicion, then finally let go of the woman's shoulders to take Sebastian's, leading him to the back of the tavern.
"Aye, Sebs, what ye be needin' a map for, eh? On a quest o' somethin'?"
"In fact I am," Sebastian replied, looking for any curious ears that might be listening in. Once he was sure there weren't any, he continued. "I'm needing a map to search for the heart killer, Grell Sutcliff. Heard of him?" Harold's eyes went round and the pupils seemed to shrink till all you saw was white.
"Heard o' him? Why, he's the most feared man in England right now! Why on god's created earth are ye after him?" Sebastian cringed at the g-word used, but ignored it.
"I have been ordered to kill him, that's why. To get to him, though, I need a map. Also, I need a heading. Any idea where he may be?" Harold narrowed his eyes, shifting them from side to side. Finally, he grabbed Sebastian again and headed for an oak door that appeared to be locked.
"Come, I know o' a man who knows a thing o' two about yer killer." Not even minding the lock pad on the handle, Harold pushed right through. Shrugging his shoulders, Sebastian followed, only to be doubled back onto his bum by the smell.
"What the hell is that scent?" Harold began to laugh.
"Sorry, Sebs. Forgot to warn ya about the sewer run through here. You'll have to mind it till we get to the back room. That's where me frien' be waitin'." Sebastian stood up and cringed, swiping his pants off from the dust. Holding his nose with a handkerchief, Sebastian finally followed, but slowly, cautiously minding the puddles of odd looking substance near the walls.
Soon, but not soon enough to Sebastian's liking, they reached the final door. Harold paused and held a finger to Sebastian, motioning him to wait. Knocking three times the door opened and let Harold enter, only to slam close in Sebastian's face. Frowning, he waited.
"Sir, me frien', Sebastian Michaelis, he's here to -"
"I know why he's here. Bring him in." Sebastian tried to lean closer to make out the voice, only to nearly fall forward as the door swung open.
"Come in," Harold stated, side stepping to let Sebastian into the room. Sebastian had to admit he was shocked to see it in such fine manor, despite the fact a sewer ran outside the door. Though the walls were perfect velvet, the curtains a fine blood red and even the black oak desk which hid the shadowed figure was polished to shine. Oddly, the room smelt of fresh roses and peach, which strangely made Sebastian want to puke.
"So," the shadowed figure started, catching Sebastian's attention, "you've come here for a map and a whereabouts of the killer, Grell Sutcliff, eh?" Sebastian tried hard to make out the familiar voice, leaning closer to try and catch the face. Suddenly a candle lit on it's on, and from the shadows emerged an unlikely face in which Sebastian jumped away from.
"You," Sebastian growled, turning to Harold with narrowed eyes. The man only shrugged, edging for the door in need to run.
"Yes, me, Sebastian Michaelis." The figure stood, showing fine pressed brown slacks and well polished boots, a ruffled shirt and blue button up vest to match. A pair of thin rimmed glasses were pushed up with two fingers as William T. Spears glared forward at Sebastian.
"What are you doing here? Last I heard, you had moved to the westward kingdom in search for more reapers," Sebastian stated, keeping a close eyes on the man before him. His entire being screamed danger, but his curiosity made him stay set in place where he stood. William only grinned, walking forward till he was around the desk, facing Sebastian properly.
"Yes, I was recruiting more, but apparently none are good enough for me to take in. So I was brought back here to run this little business until I can properly manage the other." Sebastian finally smirked, relaxing.
"So you're out of business, hm? Well, that is a bit strange, I admit, but sort of an advantage for me," Sebastian stated, finding a velvet laced chair to sit upon. With one leg crossed, he looked at William with amused eyes. "Seems you can't kill me now, eh?"
"Watch it, demon," William snapped, eyes narrowed. "I may not have my scythe, but I won't hesitate to kill you in a heart beat. Now stop the act and tell me, do you want to know Grell Sutcliff's location or not?" Sebastian sighed, holding up a hand to examine it.
"Well, your no longer fun, and I suppose I do need to know his location. If I am going to kill him, that is, I need to find him. So tell me, where is this heart killer?"
William stepped away and returned back to his desk, his hand ghosting over parchments that laid scattered on its surface. "Rumors say he resides right here in London, but we know that's false. Other rumors spot him in the westward and eastward kingdoms, the China and Japan territories, and even in the northern lands. Choose your pick," William stated, tossing a map to Sebastian, "and start looking."
Sebastian narrowed his eyes, opening the map slowly and finally looking down to scan it. It showed every sing village, town, city, and port of continent, from the north to the south, from the east to the west. Growling, he rolled it back up and tucked it underneath his coat.
"So you don't have an exact location?"
"Do I look like I do?"
"Pity. Here I thought you were the great reaper, William T. Spears, when in truth, you're nothing but an unemployed, low life, fag -"
"And we're leaving!" Harold interrupted as he saw the menacing aura radiating from Sebastian. Pushing the demon out the door, he bid thanks to William before slamming it. William only chuckled, leaning against his desk.
"This ought to be interesting," he grinned, tipping a cup to his lips to let red wine slip down. His grin widened. "Very interesting."
"What was that about, eh? Ya tryin' to get me and ye killed?" Harold asked as the walked quickly down the sewer hall. Sebastian paid no mind to the smell as he walked, or rather stomped.
"Why did you take me to him? You know I despise him! Ever since he tried to get in the way of me and my…lovely soul…I've hated him since and I want him dead! So why?"
"He gave ye a map, didn't he?"
"Yes, but not a location," Sebastian growled. "It's like chasing a wild goose." He burst open the doors and walked through the tavern, heading for the exit.
"But wait, so ye're leavin' now?" Harold asked. Sebastian paused and turned.
"Well I have to start somewhere, don't I?" Sebastian asked, his smirk reappearing. "Where better than where the rumor began?" Smirking wider, he left the tavern and headed north into the larger part of London, straight for the one sighting where the Heartkiller was first seen.