Authors Warning: This fic is a strong "M" rating. It will contain character death, murder, graphic violence, mature adult content, and drug use. Dark themes mixed with memories of happy times and an occasional dose of humor.
Mortal Sin: Prologue
Art often depicts the more carnal aspects of human nature. What justifies desireless seduction or prostitution? What justifies murder? There is a painting, Giuditta e Oloferne, that justifies this level of manipulation and brutality. The heroine, to save her people from certain death, seduces a powerful general, gets him drunk, and then beheads him. Or at least that was what was taught in the Garden Art History course. As it was once said, every murderer is probably somebody's old friend.
He was the only one who could stop it. As Seifer stared at the battered mangled body in his arms, only recognizable by the hair, he knew it was time. Limbs turned in directions they shouldn't be, a bone protruding out of her shin. Large bruising and pooling in her abdomen made it clear her spleen had ruptured. The blood trickling from her mouth and nose implied the broken ribs had jutted into her lungs, ripping them and filling them with blood. He didn't know the exact mechanism of the injuries, but he could guess based on where he found the body - at the base of the Garden. The killer's sadism and ritualistic intent certainly hadn't waned over time, that was for sure. Whoever had done this had also taken a trophy. A sacrifice.
Seifer knew he was going to find her dead. The bodies of Fujin and Raijin had told him that much. Their deaths had been quick and almost an afterthought, sliced through with the precision of a surgeon.
But her death had been...ceremonial and she had clearly suffered. For Seifer, her death was the one that tipped the scales. Not only did he know he had to take action, he also was now absolutely certain who the killer was.
Seifer was the only person alive who understood what was going through the mind of the murderer. He was intimately aware of the ecstatic euphoria the kills were giving their perpetrator. He wouldn't be surprised if the killer was getting his rocks off right now, fucking sadist, as Seifer pulled the most recent victim closer to him, running his hands through what was left of the corpse's hair, not bothering to avoid the opened portions of her skull. He didn't care that brains were coming apart in his hands and smearing on his gloves.
In hindsight, Seifer should have seen this coming.
Authors Notes: Thank you to my amazing beta, the lovely and talented Bebedora. Without her, not only would I have not had the guts to write this fic, but, it would also probably stink. You rock!
The painting Giuditta e Oloferne is a real painting. There are multiple versions, but the two best are by Caravaggio (located in the National Museum of Rome), and Artemisia Gentileschi (in the Uffizi in Florence) The quote "Every murderer is probably someone's old friend" was said by the great Agatha Christie.
Chapter 1 to follow soon :)