Coco: Hello to all and how are you today? To those of you unfamiliar with me, I am Coco! And this story is brought to you by votes casted by my lovely readers! Those who have read my other works and decided they'd like to see a Black Butler story from me next...though I already have other work I'm neglecting...
Moving on from that! I hope to all newcomers, that we can get along! And to everyone as a whole, I hope you enjoy the story, shall we get started?
The sound of gunfire filled the air along with the sound of glass and other items being shattered as they were caught in the crossfire. There was also the sound of shouting as orders were being given to kill the remaining intruder.
'This is why I prefer working alone,' A figure thought as they were crouched behind a service cart to avoid getting shot. 'Those other idiots already managed to get themselves killed and leave me with the mess they made.'
The figure was a young woman with long, grayish-brown hair with an undercut style that was pulled back into a high ponytail. Her green eyes were framed by dark lashes and dark circles, which stood out against her pale skin.
'But I guess it can't be helped,' she thought as she heard some of the gunfire cease, which meant there were guards who were reloading.
Taking the opportunity, she popped up from behind her cover to rapidly shoot at the guards having to reload their weapons. They dropped like flies before the others even knew what was going on. As they were distracted by their comrades falling, the woman, who dropped her gun that was out of ammo, kicked the service cart towards the other guards. She then ducked behind the wall before pressing the button on the trigger switch in her hand.
The cart exploded with a small charge mostly meant to stun. It sent smoke into the air, which is when she took the chance to charge. She ran right into the smoke and started to engage the remaining guards. She grabbed the wrist of one guard when he tried to shove his gun in her face. She broke his wrist then whirled him around to face his fellow guards. She put her finger over his on the trigger and squeezed off a few rounds, which hit their targets. She then ripped the gun from the man's hand to place a shot in his head. Before she could check the man for more ammo, she was punched across the face by another guard. The hit had her stumbling to the side and dropping the gun.
'This job is starting to be more of a pain than it's worth,' She thought as she spit the blood that had collected in her mouth to the floor.
She narrowed her eyes at the man as he raised his fists to fight her. The smoke was clearing, which meant she'd lose all her cover soon enough. She wasn't sure how many more reinforcements might be in this house, which meant she needed to act fast. She drew a blade from her belt then took a stance as she faced the man. She motioned him forward.
The man charged her and brought his right arm back to wind up for a swing. The woman dodged his swing before shooting her fist forward to catch him in the throat. He gagged and started coughing for air as the woman continued her assault. She kicked out his knee next with the bone popping out of place. As he was falling forward, she stabbed him in the throat. He dropped to the floor drowning in his own blood with her knife still in his neck.
The smoke was almost gone at this point and the woman still had two more guards to take down. She picked up a dented-up tray that had been blown from the cart to throw at one guard like a frisbee. It hit him in the face, causing him to cry out more in surprise than in pain.
He then grunted when she punched him right in the gut. As he was doubled over, the other guard tried to run over to help. Grabbing the gun of the one she had just hit; she shot his comrade once in the head and twice in the chest. She then kicked the last guard to the floor. He landed on his knees as he glared up at her.
"You damn dog of the Queen." He spat.
The woman's brow quirked at his curse before she shot the man pointblank in the face. He slumped over into the floor with his blood seeping across the floor. She then stuffed his gun in the back of her waistband of her pants as she turned to face the double doors leading to her target. She adjusted her suit jacket, which had been ruffled during the fight before pushing the doors open. The room she entered was a large office and cowering at the desk was the very man she was sent to kill.
"T-they sent you after me, did they?" The man stuttered. "The Queen's Watchdog!"
"Yes, well, you have been running a human trafficking ring, Sir Alexander." The woman replied as she straightened her tie. "I'm sure you can understand why such a thing would upset Her Majesty. Especially, when you specialize in the selling of children."
Sir Alexander just gulped as the woman drew closer. Her pace was leisurely as if she had all the time in the world and wasn't worried about the police possibly arriving to see the mess.
"I didn't wish to make such a mess," The woman continued then drew the gun she borrowed from her waistband. "However, it was insisted I bring in help for this job. I was hoping to make things look like an accident. Maybe a robbery that went wrong or maybe you just happened to choke on your lunch, but it seems as if I'll need to improvise now. But I won't worry you with the details."
Sir Alexander started sweating bullets as the woman was making sure the gun still had a bullet or two left. Once she saw one bullet remaining, she reloaded the cartridge. She then pointed it at Sir Alexander who raised his hands and began stuttering.
"P-p-please wait!" He begged. "Whatever they're paying you, I'll double it—No, triplet it! I'll give you whatever you want! Just, please, spare me!"
The woman looked unimpressed with his begging as she let out a small sigh of annoyance.
"I don't do this for the money." The woman said. "It's my duty as Her Majesty's loyal dog to put an end to people like you who threaten the peace of polite society. You should have known there would be consequences to your actions, Sir Alexander."
Before Sir Alexander could mutter another word, a shot rang out through the room. Sir Alexander's eyes widened before losing all signs of life as blood ran down between them from the bullet hole in his forehead. He slumped forward with his blood spreading across the desk before dripping down the sides.
"You couldn't afford me anyway." The woman said as she lowered the gun.
She then sighed as she looked back at the hall where many bodies lay including the bodies of her team who was supposed to act as her backup.
"Now…how to clean up this mess?" She wondered out loud.
'Earlier this morning, emergency services responded to a fire at the household of Sir Alexander Cambridge.' The news reporter spoke as a video of the burning mansion played behind her. 'It is still unknown how the fire began, but it has been reported that Sir Alexander along with several members of his staff unfortunately perished in the fire…'
Declan Colbeck hit mute on the TV before turning to face the source of the start of the fire.
"A bit of a messy finish, but as always, excellent job, Lavender." Declan told the brunette woman in front of him. "Her Majesty will be able to sleep easy knowing you rid our country of filth like Alexander."
"It wouldn't have been a messy job if it wasn't insisted that I bring in a team this time." Lavender told Declan. "I was chosen to carry out Her Majesty's will against the dark underbelly of this country. I have never been unable to finish a task given to me by Her Majesty, which is why I find it insulting you thought I would need backup."
She narrowed her eyes at Declan who held up his hands in a surrendering manner.
"Now, now, I only did that out of concern." Declan defended himself. "After all, you might have been the top pick of all other candidates to take up the title of the Queen's Watchdog, but you're still human. And I've noticed you seem even more exhausted than usual."
Lavender frowned at Declan before she took a long sip of her tea. Declan sweat-dropped as he chuckled.
"That only works for so long, my dear." Declan told the young woman. "Honestly, you're making my hairs turn gray with your bad habits. But I know any concerns I air, you'll only ignore, so let's move on."
He grabbed a large duffel bag from behind his desk to place on the coffee table in front of Lavender. This quipped the woman's interest as she placed her tea down. She opened the bag to see her payment nicely tucked away inside.
"Very good." Lavender said as she closed the bag. "I'll be off then."
She stood up while throwing the bag over her shoulder and picking up her tea in another hand. She walked over to the door and opened it. However, before she could take her leave, Declan spoke once more.
"I meant it when I said you're worrying me, Lavender." Declan told her. "You need to take better care of yourself. You Phantomhives never seem to last long. You either die young or get lost in the very darkness you fight against."
Lavender blinked at Declan before chuckling. Her head tilted causing her singular blue diamond earring to catch in the light. She gave Declan a light grin.
"Don't be so dramatic, Declan." Lavender told the man. "Besides, I am only Phantomhive in title. I have no relation to that cursed family. After all they've been gone for generations."
She then waved goodbye to Declan, so she could make her way home. Where she could finally relax and maybe attempt to get some sleep.
Lavender coughed waving her hand in front of her face to make the smoke that surrounded her clear. Once she could see a little bit, she took note that she was knelt on what appeared to be a pentagram of some kind. A pentagram drawn onto a stone floor. Her eyes moved up seeing she wasn't alone.
There were several people in masks that surrounded her. All looking at her in shock and awe. Though what really took her notice was the child. A child locked in a cage. He was bloodied…beaten…scared and he was staring at her in even more surprise than the others. Lavender went to stand but felt herself feeling woozy. She even thought she might vomit as her stomach lurched.
'What the hell happened?' She wondered. 'Where am I? Who are these people?'
She continued to glance around with her eyes landing on a table in the room. And on that table was a boy. A boy who laid dead with a dagger in his heart.
'Did these people…sacrifice a child in some sort of ritual?' She wondered.
She's unfortunately seen such acts in her line of work. Zealots who thought they could summon demons and the like through dark rituals.
"Demon! Demon!" One of the masked people chanted. "Grant me eternal life and wealth!"
If Lavender had been feeling any better, she might have scoffed at this disgusting man. Lavender then stiffened when she sensed something dark behind her. She glanced over her shoulder realizing the man wasn't speaking to her but the dark figure behind her. She felt her blood run cold as dark crimson eyes met her own orbs. The being smirked as it crouched over her.
"Now…what do you have here?" It purred.
It reached down towards her, which had her heart hammering heavily in her chest. Lavender mentally yelled at her body to move as the being grew closer.
*RING! RING!*
Lavender gasped loudly while sitting up so quickly in her bed that she thought she heard her spine crack. She looked around frantically for any sign of a threat as her heartbeat rapidly in her chest. Once seeing she was alone and safe in her bedroom, she let out a sigh of relief.
"Damn, another one of those dreams again." She complained as she ran her hands through her hair.
She then looked towards her phone, which was the source of the ring. She sighed before reaching over to grab her phone off her nightstand. She looked at the caller ID to see it was Declan calling her.
"This better be good," she said after answering the call.
"Good afternoon to you as well, my ray of sunshine." Declan replied to her snippy hello.
Lavender rolled her eyes at his sass as she pushed the blankets off her legs, so she could climb out of bed.
"What can I do for you, Declan?" Lavender questioned as she left her bedroom.
She started down the stairs to head for the kitchen, so to make a cup of tea. Even on the off chance that Declan wasn't calling her for work, she doubted she'd be falling asleep again anytime soon. Those weird dreams have been reoccurring pain the last few months, which is why she's been so tired and relying on caffeine to keep going.
"I hate to bother you considering you just finished a job, but something new has come up." Declan told her. "The others are calling a meeting."
Lavender frowned at the mention of the others who happened to be notable heads in the Underworld. Their exact title was Aristocrats of Evil, which she technically was as well. However, she felt like that tilt was too…dramatic. Like it was the name of a group of villains from a comic book. Though when she made that comment to their faces, let's just say they didn't find it funny.
Lavender did not get along with them. They didn't like how she did things without consulting them, and she didn't like how they butted into her business. Yes, they could be helpful when the situation called for it, but she didn't trust them as far as she could throw them. Besides, she preferred working alone. More people equal more problems in her book.
"And why should I care that they called a meeting?" Lavender questioned. "They most likely want to come together just to make more complaints on how I do things."
Declan sighed from his side of the phone, and Lavender could just picture him pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance.
"I know you all don't get along, but you can't keep avoiding them." Declan said. "Your work affects their business. Not to mention, the Phantomhive has always cooperated with other organizations to maintain order in the Underworld. You can't keep doing things on your own."
Lavender grunted in irritation as she made it into her kitchen to make that tea she wanted.
"If I must, I'll attend the meeting," Lavender told Declan. "Don't expect me to be happy about it though."
She then grabbed what she needed to make tea and started throwing it together.
"Thank you," Declan said. "The meeting is at midnight tonight at the usual place."
Lavender hummed to let Declan know she understood as she started the stove.
"You will be there, won't you?" Lavender questioned. "I can't deal with them on my own. Who knows what I might do accidentally if they annoy me."
Declan chuckled at her veiled threat though they both knew Lavender wouldn't truly hurt any of the others. Unless the order came down from Her Majesty to do so.
"Yes, I'll be there." Declan said. "Try to get some more sleep until then. Which means, stop making that tea, young lady."
Lavender's eye twitched wondering if he really heard her moving about in her kitchen through the phone. Or if he just knew her that well.
"I'll consider it." Lavender told him. "Goodbye, Declan."
She hung up the phone not waiting for an answer. She placed her phone down on the counter and when she looked up, she could have sworn she saw a shadow reflected on the surface of her refrigerator. She stiffened and quickly grew alert as she whirled around. She saw no one there, but her muscles remained coiled and ready for attack. Her eyes shifted around the room for a sign of a possible intruder.
She reached inside the drawer beside her and pulled out a knife. She cautiously walked around her apartment for any signs of an intruder. Making sure to hug up against the walls and cautiously stalk through every room. Once she found no sign of an intruder, she sighed and lowered the knife.
"The lack of sleep is starting to take its toll." She said frowning then let out a hum. "Maybe I need a dog."
A dog she could train to at least alert her to an intruder, which might help her feel a bit more secure being in this large loft apartment on her own. Though she worked so often that she didn't have much time to care for a dog. As she weighed the pros and cons of getting a dog, she went back to the kitchen to finish that tea.
Far too soon for Lavender's liking came the time to meet with her fellow Aristocrats of Evil. She had hoped one of them might call and cancel, but that was just never her luck.
"Let's just hope this goes by quickly." She said to herself as she stepped out of her car.
She let out a breath, which could be seen in the chilly night air before pulling her trench coat tightly around her. She looked up at her destination, which was the Tower of London.
'Why this became the usual meeting place is beyond me,' she thought. 'It's way too public for the highest members of the Underworld to gather together.'
Yes, it was almost midnight and the Tower had closed hours before, which meant only the nightguard should be around. But still…seemed like bad choice in location to her. The tradition was that all meetings would be held in the Phantomhive Manor, but it burnt down many, many years ago. And the meetings would be treated more like the head of the family was hosting guests and there would be a whole pomp and circumstance that came along with it all.
Lavender wasn't going to complain about getting to skip such tediousness. And to be honest, she would rather the five people she was about to see never step into her home. The only one permitted to visit her was Declan or the occasional messenger sent by Her Majesty. Lavender just preferred the solitude.
As Lavender made her way towards the back entrance where the hidden doorway stood, she noticed the moon looked particularly eerie tonight as it cast a reddish glow from the sky. She felt a bit of foreboding as she gazed up at the red moon but pushed it to the side with a small scoff leaving between her lips.
"I really need to get more sleep." She said to herself. "Those nightmares are making me paranoid."
She finished her little trek to the door and slipped inside. Beyond the door were stairs that would lead to a passageway that few knew off. At the end of the passageway was a secret room that had been discovered in the late 19th century and where the others should be waiting for her. It was about a 10-minute walk to make it to the room, and when Lavender arrived, she was met with darkness. She frowned in confusion with her hand reaching towards the gun she had at her waist. However, before she could grab it, a voice called out.
"Ah, ah, Phantomhive, I wouldn't reach for that gun if I were you."
The lights were then turned on to reveal Declan tied to a chair and with two guns pointed at his head from the left and the right by some goons that Lavender didn't recognize. However, the voice of the person behind her, she knew very well.
"Don Emiliano, why am I not surprised that you would pulling something like this?" Lavender sneered as she dropped her hand away from her gun. "Are the others in on this little coup d'état or is it just you?"
Four more people dressed in cloaks stepped forward. Their hoods pulled over their heads, obscuring their faces.
"Hiding your faces, are you?" Lavender questioned. "I always knew you were cowards, but why bother when I already know all your names and faces?"
"The cloaks are for the ceremony, which you're about to be a part of," Emiliano told her. "Unless you'd rather save your own skin and sacrifice Declan instead?"
Said man was looking at Lavender with wide, fearful eyes. Not fear for himself but fear for Lavender who smirked and chuckled.
"Even if I did pick the second option, I know you don't plan to let me leave here alive, Emiliano." Lavender said.
"Correct as always, Phantomhive." Emiliano said.
Lavender then grunted in pain as she was hit in the back of the head, which sent her crumbling to her knees. She arms went to catch her to keep her face from smacking into the floor.
"Are you really not going to fight back?" Emiliano asked as her head was ringing. "I'm sure you could get out of this if you wanted!"
He then kicked her hard in the ribs and sent her rolling across the ground. She didn't move even after she lost momentum.
"But I guess Declan wouldn't make it if you did that." Emiliano mocked. "I always thought you were a heartless bitch but looks like you have enough heart to at least care about one person!"
He then dug the heel of his boot into Lavender's head as Declan was trying to shout through the gag at Emiliano. He even tried to wiggle out of his restrains, but one of Emiliano's men hit him hard in the back of the neck to knock him out.
"Let's get the preparations ready," Emiliano told the others as he continued to press Lavender's face harder into the floor. "Tonight's the perfect night…to summon a demon."
Lavender's eyes widened at their words as her dreams came to mind. She then winced when Emiliano reached down to grab a fist full of her hair. He forcibly jerked her halfway off the ground to sneer at her.
"Ready to have some fun?" He asked.
He then hit her in the face with his pistol, breaking her nose and successfully knocking her out. Once she went limp, he let go her, so her body could hit the floor.
"To think this all could have been avoided, if you just learned how to play well with others." Emiliano said with a sigh.
Lightning flashed and thunder rolled as the rain poured on this dismal, dark night. The howling winds caused the branches of the trees to sway and groan in protest. And inside the secret undergrounds of the Tower of London, were figures dressed in cloaks and they were surrounding an altar that was set within a pentagram. And laying on the altar was Lavender. Bloodied, tied up, and gagged.
'Their numbers have grown,' Lavender absently noted as she glanced around the room to see more cloaked figures had gathered.
"These are the perfect conditions." One of the cloaked figures said as Lavender was struggling to try and free herself from the chains. "I still cannot believe you managed to bring us such a sacrifice."
He said this to Emiliano who chuckled darkly. He reached out to push back some of Lavender's locks from her face as she glared defiantly up at him.
"They say Her Majesty's loyal dog is one who is ruthless and will sacrifice everything even their own soul to fulfill Her Majesty's commands," Emiliano man said. "However, it seems in the end, trained dog or not, that the Phantomhive scum is only human after all. And all humans have weaknesses."
Lavender felt her eyes water as they flickered over to that 'weakness' of hers. Declan, who they had killed anyway despite her cooperation, laid in a pool of his own blood beside the alter. His eyes long glassed over, and his skin was already starting to turn gray.
'How stupid of me to think people like Emiliano would spare him if I simply gave up,' Lavender thought scathingly. 'The moment I agreed to come to the meeting it was checkmate.'
She then winced when Emiliano grabbed a fist full of her hair again to yank her head up to bring her face closer to his. She was getting really tired of him doing that.
"You've always been the one to work alone, Phantomhive." Emiliano spat. "Ignoring your fellow Aristocrats of Evil and doing as you pleased no matter the consequences you left us to deal with. Perhaps if you hadn't been so arrogant, you wouldn't be here right now."
Lavender just smirked at him as best as she could through her gag. She seemed to do well enough since Emiliano's face twisted in anger before he slapped her across the face.
"Defiant until the bitter end, I see." Emiliano said as he stepped away from her momentarily. "Though I'd expect nothing less from you. You've been fighting all your miserable life, isn't that right, street rat?"
He looked at Lavender scornfully as he spoke. His words meant nothing to her though. She might have started out as an orphan who was surviving by her wits alone, but despite that, she bested those of noble birth and climbed her way up to being the Earl of Phantomhive. It might only be an honorary title alone, but no one could take that away from her. Even in death.
'My only regret was letting things end like this,' Lavender thought as Emiliano ordered for the ritual to begin.
Her eyes glanced back at Declan, the only person to ever believe in her. He took her off the streets after her parents threw her away. He taught her how to read…how to write…and all other things a parent would teach their child. He trained her to protect herself and to be the best version of herself. He raised her when no one else would.
'I'm sorry, Declan,' Lavender thought as Emiliano and his crowd of zealots were chanting and setting the stage to their little ritual. 'For being a disappointment in the end.'
Lavender, who turned her head back to face the ceiling, took a deep breath through her nose then closed her eyes.
'I never believed much in magic or even a higher power,' Lavender thought as Emiliano grabbed the knife that would end her life. 'But if these fools actually do manage to summon a demon, I hope it makes them suffer.'
Lavender then let out a grunt of pain though it was muffled because of the gag as Emiliano rammed the knife right through her chest. The pain was intense, and she felt the blood fill her throat. She coughed and sputtered, drowning in her own blood. Her body convulsed and she was certain that if she wasn't tied down that she would have ended up falling right off the altar. It was a hellish way to go, but with the amount of blood she was losing, she knew it'd be over soon.
In fact, she could already feel herself start to slip away. The pain was starting to end, and darkness was starting to take over. However, as she was going, she realized it wasn't just her vision darkening, but the room…it was filling with dark smoke. The room also seemed to become colder as a heavy, oppressive presence appeared. A dark entity that loomed over her as her eyes gazed up at its blurry form.
'Did…those…idiots actually…do it?' Lavender thought in her haze filled mind.
She felt the entity caress her face. The touch surprisingly gentle as it wiped away the tears Lavender hadn't even realized she shed. Lavender felt oddly comforted by this presence and it made slipping away more peaceful. Lavender exhaled her last breath, but it was surprisingly her vision that went last. And as the darkness came, she could have sworn there was a new figure standing over her. A figure with bright greenish-yellow eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses carrying a curve-bladed weapon.
'What the…h…?' Lavender's thoughts never finished as her eyes glazed over and her body ceased all function.
She became lost to the world missing the screams of horror and pain that came after her death. And when the lightning flashed and illuminated the room once more, it painted a bloodied scene of pure carnage.