𝒊. | REDRUM

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❝No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.❞
— C.S Lewis

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Hard work paid off, that was what Mina's father used to always say. "Mina, if ya work hard enough, give it all that yeh truly got, good things will happen, I guarantee." He wasn't speaking about a specific task or subject, just about life in general. In his mind, if you worked hard in life, be all that you could be, give all that you could give, you would achieve the ultimate reward — peace in the afterlife, because God didn't punish good, hard-working people who stayed true to His written words and morals.

Mina supposed that was what all people like her could ever really hope for, finding peace after death. She wasn't rich, she wasn't of noble blood, she didn't possess any special skills that set her apart from the rest of the common folk, but she was good with her hands. She could milk a goat and make cheese, she could plough an acre's worth of land and seed vegetables (in a good day's work), she could sew and mend clothing, she could cook, she could launder, and she could listen to orders and follow them diligently and without complaint.

Her father was a farmer, and she was an able body.

Mina's younger sister, Mary, had other dreams. While Mina was content to spend the rest of her life working the family farm, Mary wanted more. She wanted life, to live! She wanted love and romance. She wanted what the farm couldn't offer. Of course, with Mary's striking features and the daily proclamation's of undying love from the town's unwed men, they did serve to help inflate Mary's ego.

Mary made sure to work as little as possible so that she would not gain muscle and lose her feminine curves. She made sure to brush her golden brown locks exactly 100 strokes each night before bed and every morning upon sunrise. She made sure to always pick clean her teeth after every meal so that nothing could hinder her gorgeous smile. She made sure that every hour, on the dot, she would pinch her cheeks and bite down on her lips so that a 'natural' rosy tint would form on her porcelain skin. She would, also, keep a sewing needle on hand so that when a gentleman would come calling for her she would prick herself so that her forest green eyes would always shine a luscious colour from her unshed tears.

Mina only knew of these things because Mary had attempted to convince her to try those tricks. According to Mary, she felt guilty of always stealing any unwed man's attention from Mina; since she was the oldest, she was expected to marry first.

One particular night, if Mina hadn't had the tingling urge to use her chamber pot, she would've missed her sister's run away. The two sisters locked eyes when Mina noticed that half of Mary's body was already out of the window. Normally, Mina would've dismissed the act as another one of her sister's nightly meetings with one of the local town boys, but when she saw a bag strapped to Mary's back, she realized her sister's true intention. Mary tried to cajole Mina into going back to bed, to not tell their parents of what she saw, and promised that she would write as soon as she got herself situated in London. Instead of complying, Mina asked where they were going.

Mina couldn't let Mary leave to an unknown, strange place all on her own. She loved her too much to let her struggle by herself. Mary didn't put any effort into anything other than her looks and men, and Mina knew her poor sister wouldn't survive without aid. Besides, their father still had their three brothers to help out with the farm. Mina and Mary were essentially still living at home, waiting to be married off to other farm families.

Even though Mina had left with Mary, like the good Catholic girl she was raised to be, she obeyed her father's teachings by working hard each and every day.

Mary chased after her dreams for romance and love and adventure.

To pay for their new home, Mina took a job as a chambermaid for a grand and luxurious hotel in central London.

Mary was on the arm of many a handsome man, wealthy or otherwise.

Mina made sure to have a clean house and a lending ear for whenever her sister decided to return to their small one room home with the reasons why her latest gentleman caller was not 'the one'.

Mary eventually gave up on her quest for love. She decided to soak up all of the attention her radiant beauty and alluring personality granted her.

Mina met one of the hotel's food delivery men. While unloading crates, he told her that he aspired to become a lawyer because he wanted to help the lower folk that couldn't afford to defend themselves in the court of law. The man introduced himself as Jonathan Harker, and Mina thought that he had the kindest smile she had ever seen.

Mary was absolutely gleeful! Men were actually paying for her to spend time with them, and the most wealthy would buy her all types of presents in vie for her attention!

Jonathan would come over to the hotel during Mina's breaks and lunch hour, and after discovering (much to Mina's embarrassment) that she could not read or write, he patiently started to teach her.

Mary wanted her own place to take her 'customers'. Mina became a distraction when she came home from work and would accidentally disrupt her sister's 'entertaining'.

Mina wanted to help pay for Jonathan's education. He had a goal that he was truly passionate about, and she admired him for it. With everything he had done for her thus far, Mina had to plead with Mary to stay and split the rent because she couldn't afford a place of her own if they parted ways.

Mary stayed out more and more, often gone for weeks on her adventures.

Jonathan asked for Mina's hand in marriage, and she excitedly said yes. When Mina told Mary that she and Jonathan were getting married, Mary didn't take the news well. She was the one who had come to London to find love, not the other way around! In her jealous rage, Mary bitterly claimed she wanted nothing to do with the wedding process. Deeply dejected, Mina didn't want to have a wedding unless Mary attended, and while Jonathan was disheartened he did consent to push back the wedding date until the sisters could reconcile.

More unfortunate and horrible news befell the Murray women. There was a horrible lightning storm which ignited a wildfire back in Mina and Mary's hometown. Their parents and brothers had perished in their attempt to save their livestock from the burning barn. By disaster only, two sisters were reunited. Mary would attend Mina's wedding as her Maid of Honour, and the two women would welcome Jonathan into their lives to begin their family anew.

Mary wanted to restart her quest for love, filled with renewed hope after witnessing Mina and Jonathan's deep affection for each other. She had quit her job as a lady of escort, but, unfortunately, she discovered that she was with child not too soon after. Mina convinced Jonathan to take the child in as their own. They planned to rush the wedding and were in the process of finding a new home for their growing family. However, Mary underwent a risky surgery without informing Mina or Jonathan. She didn't want her older sister to clean up her messes anymore. She wanted to learn how to take care of herself, like a proper adult.

Jonathan received an internship at a prestigious law firm. His first task was located in Transylvania, Romania. Sadly, the wedding was put on hold, again, but Mina was supportive. She was happy for her fiancé, but she also concealed her sorrow at losing her niece or nephew. She wanted to tell Jonathan to stay, but she also didn't want to hold him back from his dream that he worked so hard to achieve.

Mary instantly regretted her decision. She would've loved her baby with all of her heart and soul. Mina faked a cheerful smile and told Mary that everything would be all right, they still had each other and Jonathan.

Mary — sweet, wonderful, beautiful Mary — she made her mistakes, she knew most of her faults, and she was just beginning to learn from them. Mina knew that her sister could've worked a little harder, but she always thought that they would have had time to help her grow into the woman she was surely meant to be. They were still young; Mina was twenty, and Mary recently turned but a mere nineteen.

But those screams... GOD, THOSE SCREAMS! They were all Mina could hear, the world beyond ceased to exist. Her chest rapidly raised and fell, her pants were short and ragged, but her lungs couldn't seem to receive enough precious oxygen. Her eyes were wide with sheer terror, dry and stinging with the pain from the lack of blinking. A strange wet substance coated her face and neck, seeping through her night dress in a sticky goop, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from the source of the screams.

Mina's soul thought was: Would Mary find peace? Would God accept her? She could've worked harder. She could've worked harder! We were supposed to still have time!

Heels clicked against the hardwood floor, and a wall of red blocked Mina's view of her sister's bed… of the shadowed figure straddling her sister's body and wildly hacking... Mina's eyes took in red heeled boots, a red layered skirt that fit snug against curvaceous hips, and a fitted matching blouse which hugged a tiny waist and displayed a well-endowed chest, but before Mina could meet the eyes of her killer a sheen of silver caught her attention as her would-be attacker shifted to reveal a long and deadly looking blade that was tightly grasped in her red-gloved hand.

Yes, Mina worked hard just like her father told her to do, but was it enough? Could she have done more? Would she have peace in the afterlife? And what about Jonathan? Oh, Jonathan! Please love again, she inwardly begged to the heavens.

A burst of light filled the small home. Mina's head swiftly turned toward the source, her heart filled with elation. However, her hope was quickly dashed. Her rescuer was but a child, a young boy. He must've heard Mary's screams of anguish, and Mina's cries of terror. Before Mina could fully grasp the situation, hands took hold of the child, pulling him away from the doorway.

Wait, don't go! Mina wanted to shout. I'm still here! I'm still alive! Help us, please!

Footsteps. Mina scrambled back using her hands and feet, thinking that her killer was approaching her to finish what was started. She thought wrong. The woman in red remained still, her steely gaze focused on the open door the boy had kicked in. The footsteps continued and from within the darkness the shadowed figure that once hovered over Mary's body was carefully ambling toward the open doorway.

Not the boy, Mina gasped. NO!

While the woman in red was still distracted, Mina launched herself at her would-be attacker, using all her might to push the woman back. Mina didn't wait for the woman to react, she ran through the door, chasing after the shadowed figure who murdered her sister.

Mina gasped in horror when she saw the blood soaked cobbled street. A thick trail of crimson liquid led up to a tall lithe figure dressed in black who had long flowing red hair that reached a stick thin waistline. The figure stood before the brave boy who had come to Mina and Mary's rescue. Unfortunately, the boy was clenched tightly to the chest of a well-dressed man whose face Mina couldn't quite see.

Was there more than two?!

"No, don't hurt him!" Mina exclaimed, her hands outstretched to grasp at the figure with red hair. However, she misjudged how slick the cobble street would be with the mixture of her sister's freshly spilled blood and that of the rain, softly falling from a starless sky. Her first step forward caused her to came crashing to the ground, sliding across the bumpy texture. She landed painfully on her front, scrapping her palms, knees, and chin as she unsuccessfully reacted in time to catch her fall.

"Oh, you're still alive?" a voice purred through a hair-raising chuckle.

Fingers clutched at Mina's hair, forcefully yanking her to her knees. Pain exploded from her scalp, and she released a choking sob when her weight acted against her and she sunk heavily to the ground. Her scraped and battered knees couldn't bear the pressure of keeping herself upright on such a hard, uneven surface. The pebbles from the cobble street sharply embedded deep into her flesh, rubbing tormentingly against her skin when the unnamed man pulled her head back in an awkward and uncomfortable angle.

"Well don't you look lovely soaked in red," Mary's murderer sang gleefully. "But we really must do something about that god awful hair—" they gave her a rough shake, causing her to cry out in pain, again, while they merely giggled "—it is much too dark."

"Sebastian." This new voice was monotone, detached, yet held a noticeable tone of authority.

Through the pain, Mina forced her eyes to open. The man clad in black released his hold on the boy. Sleek, like a feline, he circled around the boy, a gleam in his deep crimson eyes and an eerie smile on his lips. He frightened Mina, and for some reason she had the urge to hide behind her sister's murderer. Dark raven hair framed a narrow face, yet the ends of a few stray locks accented high cheekbones, full pale lips (for a man), and an elegant nose. He was as beautiful as he appeared lethal. His motions were carefully calculated, graceful and effortless. Mina couldn't keep her eyes off of him. The man advanced, rushing toward Mina and her captor. Mina wanted to scream, but the sudden relief of pain from her scalp when she was released caused her to gasp instead. She fell forward and held out her abused hands to catch her fall, but she never felt the ground come. Warm arms caught her fall, and Mina's nose was filled with a pleasant aroma of a sharp and spicy scent.

Without warning, wind blew across Mina's hair and through her night dress. Her stomach lurched as the person holding her leapt high into the air. When they landed, it took Mina a moment to register that she was staring into the apathetic gaze of a single cornflower blue eye.

The boy. Why, he wasn't frightened at all! What is going on?!

"Are you all right, my lady?" The chest of the person holding Mina rumbled as they spoke, deep and unquestionably male.

"What a stupid question to ask her," the boy remarked before Mina could respond, not that she would. She seemed to have lost her ability to speak, plus the boy was right. "You, woman, what is your name?" the boy unabashedly demanded.

"W-Wilhelmina, my Lord," Mina timidly stammered, shocked by her need treat the boy as her superior rather than the common street child he dressed to be. He seemed to naturally carry an aura that Mina had seen in nearly all the wealthy patrons at her place of work.

"What was your relation to Marian Jane Murray?" the boy inquired.

Was.

Tears instantly pooled beneath Mina's wide eyes. What was her relation to Marian Jane Murray. "She's… She's..." Mina began to openly sob, uncaring that she was acting improperly. "She's gone! My sister — GONE!" Subconsciously, she clutched the man still holding her tightly, hoping to find some sort of comfort within his hold. Her nails dug into the sleeve of his arm, yet she couldn't find it in herself to be concerned about whether if she were hurting him. In her manic state, her mind conjured the image of the red-headed man maniacally cackling as he haphazardly swung some type of blade this-way-and-that as he straddled Mary's body on her bed.

"HEY! Don't you ignore me like I'm not here!" came the screeching voice of Mary's killer. "Pay attention to me, Sebastian Darling~" A foreign and loud roar rang loud in the air, scaring the living daylights out of Mina. She further huddled herself against the man still holding her, her eyes shut closed.

"My darling nephew, how unfortunate this turned out to be..." Mina instantly knew who belonged to that voice, a person who struck fear and devastation in her heart. Her eyes snapped open, but she did not turn to face the source. How could a voice so soft, so soothing and eloquent belong to the lady in red? "If you hadn't insisted on getting to the bottom of all this, we might've played chess again," the lady in red remarked, her tone far too casual for assisting in the murder of Mary.

Mina dug her nails further into the man still holding her.

"Madam." The boy spoke the name in a deep, accusing timbre. Mina was surprised to hear such a tone coming from someone so young. "Naturally you were on the suspect list from the very beginning, but all of your alibis seemed flawless."

Astonished, Mina gazed up at the boy who appeared to be no older than 12. His face was heart shaped, still holding the youthful roundness of adolescence. Long midnight blue hair hung uncombed in silky strands to cover the majority of a white square cotton eye patch that was placed over his right eye. Despite his dress of common clothing, Mina barely realized they were missing the signs of wear (which meant the clothes were either hardly used or brand new). This was no common boy, he held the stature of someone with wealth and nobility.

"How could you, Ciel? You went as far as to doubt me, your dear aunt?" the lady in red sounded genuinely offended.

"I was looking for a murderer; degree of relation to me did not matter," the boy replied, aloof.

Mina tensed, she was so tightly coiled she felt like she might snap at any given moment. What she was hearing was confusing her. She didn't understand what was happening. Why was a noble-blood dressed in commoner's clothing? Why were they acting so casual, as if the lady in red or the man absolutely drenched in her sister's blood did not savagely murder a human being? Why was she the only one scared out of her mind?

"Oh, Ciel," the lady in red sighed sorrowfully. "Why couldn't you have left it alone? Why… WHY DID YOU HAVE TO RUIN EVERYTHING?!"

The loud screech returned with a vengeance. Mina turned her head, craning her neck to bear witness to her sister's murderers. The lady in red and a red-headed man with razor sharp teeth. Within the man's grasp, he carried an object Mina had never seen before, but the long blade sticking out from a vibrating red handle was enough to take her fear to a whole new level because he was charging right toward her, laughing maniacally.

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Reviews, comments, and criticism are always welcomed; flames—tolerated.