The Adventure of the Spider's Web

by Ardent Aspen

(Human AU) Renowned philanthropist and lover of books, Lord Optimus of the house of Prime did not expect that the appearance of his secretary and a young paperboy on his doorstep on foggy London evening would herald the return of an old enemy and catalyze a chain of events leading to a darker villainy in the shadows of the city.

2. Prologue

The Adventure of the Spider's Web: Prologue

To whom it may concern, meaning the readers that may chance upon this humble missive:

Upon the unfortunate—but not unexpected—passing of my grandfather, I found myself called to his estates in the year 19— to go over his papers, as my mother had died while I was young, and my father was traveling at the time. He lived in a grand, if secluded, old house that I dimly recall being the haunt and hiding place of my many childhood games, along with my cousins and the numerous children of the servants.

In an old chest of drawers I found the items bequeathed to me in the old gentleman's will. One was an album of faded photographs, some as old as the days of Albert and Victoria. The other was a sheaf of papers, yellowed and stained with age, and bound with a red silk ribbon. Sealing the ribbon was a marvelous little wax design of a helmeted face over a torch. Of course, I knew it at once to be the signet ring of my mother's side of the family. She herself had borne one of the two rings, and my uncle in America the other.

Now that he was gone, I knew that I, would become the head of the house in England, and my mother's ring would, in turn, be passed to me.

I would have liked my cousins to have been there with me, for I found a great many things my grandfather had left specifically for them. He had always feared that somehow they would think themselves less a part of the family because of something to do with their last name. It was never quite clear to me, even in my adult days.

I pored over the yellowed letters late into the night, and discovered that I have, in fact, a great many more relatives than I knew.

Evidently my list of cousins is quite extensive.

For the most part, the papers were a series of correspondences between at least two generations of my family, both the branch in England, and the branch in America. They covered such a wide array of astounding events and colorful characters—some of whom I had been certain were fictional—that I thought it best to write it all down.

And so here, on these poor pages, I bequeath to you the strange and wonderful story of the House of Prime, and how they found themselves caught up in the most extraordinary events to shape the world.

Should you have further questions, I trust my secretary will be available them further, though I hope that through the study of these letters and diaries, both your curiosity and mine shall be satisfied.

All my best,

-O.P.