6 Years

Chapter 2

Note: Might be historically inaccurate

Twelve years later...

St. Petersburg, Russia 

Blood could be seen all over the room in an abandoned warehouse.

There were a total of five people in the bloody room.

One of them was a traitor who sold information to the Huns while the rest of them were the top spies and agents of Britain who were forcing information out of the person's mouth.

"Mmph, mmmmph! " The traitor, Rick, was tied to a chair, and he yelled out as loud as he could through his gag.

"Say, Rick. Do you rather tell us what you have told to the Germans...or do you rather run to the Germans like a loyal pup before they silence you?" Saying this, Thomas Colton, the more senior agent of the group, done a throat-cutting action on his own neck, causing Rick to flinch and cold sweat to form on his forehead. Despite the fact he was blind folded and tortured, he was smart enough to know his position, either to speak or die.

"You sound more like an assassin, King. At least Rook is more "clean" and less messy..." Quoted Sandra, code named Queen, the second most senior female spy, looking towards Roseanne or Rosella, now that it was her final name. "Aren't you going to say something, Rook? After all, you are trained by Morland Holmes himself."

"Finish it quick, King. My daughter is still waiting for me back in Moscow. And I have a performance next week in London." Roseanne asserted, turning her head away from the gruesome sight, "I detest brutality."

"That is why spycrafts are not for women." Felix Johnson, code named Bishop, the youngest among them who was only twenty-two, spoke while not averting his gaze from the stack of bloody papers in front of him. " That is why we are the only females in the organization, Bishop. Furthermore, I do not want to hear that from someone who can't even fight properly as a spy, especially a man." Roseanne retorted,  clearly displeased by Felix's mindset.

Felix retaliated, " I don't fight. I am a code breaker who do the brain work."

"Whatever, American. I will leave first, remember to clean up nicely, I don't want the Russians to follow us too." Roseanne said before sauntering out of the warehouse, " Ah, Remember to help me say hello to Nadia. Have not seen that child for quite a while." Thomas called out.

Roseanne smiled, "I will."

Durham, England

A young blond boy ran down the stairs that was connected from his room to his father's study, with a glare that could send shivers down to anyone's spine. Well, except for someone.

Slamming the door opened, the boy flounced into the room, "Why didn't you tell me, Father!?"

William was seated on his desk grading papers, but his son sudden outburst gave him a surprise as his son had always been having a good temper, "What is the matter, Cedric? It is rare for you to..." Before William could continue, Cedric interrupted, his blue eyes that was the only resemblance to his mother, darkened until they were close to black.

" Pardon me! But I am afraid that this is a serious matter." Holding up a letter, he continued, " Why didn't you tell me that my mother is still alive!? And that you are my biological father?"

William face turned grim at that moment. The day had come when the cat was out of the bag.

He averted his gaze as he spoke through his teeth with forced restraint, " I thought that it was better for you to know the truth when you are older."

"But I deserve to know! For my whole life, I have been thinking that I am just an abandoned kid that has been adopted by a noble...And that my mother is a terrible person... but you... Uncles Louis and Albert... you all!" Cedric swallowed down his frustration before stomping off, leaving a distraught William behind in his office.

"Its all your fault, Rose..." William mumbled, his chest tightened just by saying a name that should be left forgotten.

Louis, who had witnessed their interaction and was filled with concern, stepped in. " Are you alright, Brother William."

"I am alright, Louis. I am always alright..."

" That whore left him anyway, might as well spill the beans."

Both William and Louis turned their heads towards that gruff voice, which belonged to no other than Sebastian Moran, " He will get over it in a few days." He continued, lying on a sofa nearby.

"'Mr Moran! " Louis chided, giving Moran a harsh glare.

At that moment, William gaited towards Moran and hit his fist onto the wall just beside his head, to the shock of both Louis and Moran.

"Brother!" Louis cried out, for crimson red blood that was the same colour of his eyes, began to drip down William's fist from the impact of the blow. While a sudden coldness hit Moran at his core, causing him to stare at William in shock during that brief moment,  "What the hell, William!?"

Taking a deep breath, William threatened through gritted teeth in a dark tone, " Don't call her a whore, Moran. She has her own reason and I will not tolerate if you speak ill of her again." Though his face was expressionless, William was seething inwardly and Moran knew that.

"Tch! Got it."

Ignoring Moran, William ambled out of his study, "Please help to put some bandages in my room for me, Louis. I will be grateful."

 "Of course, Brother. " Louis replied. 

Watching the older blonde leave, Louis could not help but feel worried for his older brother. He then eyed sharply at Moran, " Please control your mouth next time, Mr Moran."

Moran, with a hint of irritation, responded " I said that I get it! You two are being scary today!"

Before he also left the study, Louis stopped, "Also, Mr Moran. This is Brother William's study, not your room, so please get out."

"Damn you, Louis."

The garden of the Moriarty's manor in Durham, although not as big as their manor back in London, was still considered as attractive. With its lush greenery and lipstick-pink peonies adorn the fringes of the garden and honeysuckle festoons  the hedges with its ladylike perfume, Fred sure had made an effort in taking care of the garden. As William walked past a rose bush, the blood from his hand dripped down and stained the white roses red. In realisation, William felt a bit regretful that he did not bandage his hand before coming out of the manor.

" Now the roses are stained with the filthiness of the blood... what a pity..." He muttered.  Suddenly, he remembered how he found Cedric right there six years ago when he was still a baby. That day, it was cold and there were snows everywhere.He was just coming back from the university as per usual, but he did not expect to see a blonde baby, wrapped in thick blankets in order to shield him from the cold, wailing in a wooden box, with two envelopes and a music box beside it. The music box was still able to function properly despite the cold, indicating that someone left the baby here not long ago. Holding the baby to calm him down, he examined the two envelopes.

The stamps that were used were in the shapes of roses, which William recognised it immediately. He opened the letter that was addressed to him, revealing sets of neat handwriting: Dearest Will, by the time you read this letter, you might have already know about Cedric's existence and that I am already in another part of this world that is filled with darkness. Firstly, I know that you are furious. Furious that I had left you without saying a proper goodbye, but my work left me no choice and working as a spy is the fate for all my family members. The matter regarding my older sister still haunts me even now and it just increase my desire for revenge, so I have to avenge her. Also, Cedric is our son from that "night" and he is born with weak lungs ( Maybe from Louis's side), which is the reason why I cannot take care of him as I am too occupied with my shady work. There is a note behind this letter with information about his condition and his birthday. The music box is his birthday present from me and I deeply apologise for giving you an extra weight on your shoulders and I really love our little boy. Once again I deeply apologise, Roseanne.

Fate works in a mysterious way.

The day before, William was still an eighteen year old university graduate and was the crime consultant who swore to make the world a better place. And now, with Cedric who turned his life up side down, he shouldered the responsibility of a father. He would continue to wait for his rose which he assumed was probably blooming somewhere, vibrantly.