The Hunt for Jack the Ripper (The Phantomhive Diaries #1)

37. Sebastian Michaelis

My posting schedule is very inconsistent at the moment but as promised, here are the next segments of Chapter 3. We're almost to a close. I hope you all enjoy this one. 

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Sebastian, having successfully disposed of all the men who dared to cross his path in the grand foyer, ascended the ornate staircase to the second floor. His heart raced with anticipation as he ventured deeper into the opulent mansion, his sole purpose of locating his beloved young master. As he reached the top of the stairs, a scene of tension and conflict unfolded before his eyes. In the dimly lit hallway, he beheld a confrontation between one of Vanel's henchmen and a young Chinese boy. Their faces contorted with anger, their fingers trembling on the triggers of their deadly firearms. An amused smirk crossed Sebastian's face, for he knew all too well the treacherous nature of humanity. In times of desperation and despair, the veneer of civility usually crumbled, revealing the primal instincts that lurked within. The sight of these two adversaries, locked in a deadly standoff, was a stark reminder of the darkness that dwelled within the hearts of men.

Sebastian observed with keen interest the agitation displayed by the Chinese boy, a vulnerability he was quick to recognize as an opportunity for manipulation. As he noticed the limpness in one of the boy's arms, a chilling realization dawned upon him. He's been shot. It became clear to Sebastian that the boy must have crossed paths with Vanel or one of his henchmen, resulting in this dire situation. Yet, amidst the chaos, it was the words uttered by the Chinese boy that truly captured Sebastian's focus.

"I am not going to allow him to murder a little boy..."

Could he be referring to my young master? Perhaps he knows where he is.

Sebastian brought one of his knives just as those two were continuing their conversation. I'd hate to interrupt, but I'm in a hurry.

In a swift motion, he hurled his blade, piercing the back of Vanel's henchmen, causing him to crumple to the floor in a heap. The Chinese lad gasped in astonishment at the sudden turn of events. His horrified gaze lingered on the lifeless form before shifting to Sebastian's entrance into the corridor. In an instant, the boy raised his firearm, taking aim at Sebastian.

"Stay back! W-who are you?"

Sebastian, devoid of any leisure for a formal introduction, hastened towards the lad, heedless of the bullets he had unleashed upon him. With an unwavering determination, he advanced until he seized the boy by the neck, his grip firm and unyielding.

The young lad's piercing scream echoed through the hall as Sebastian hoisted him aloft by his delicate throat with a firm grip, their eyes locked in a chilling confrontation. A formidable spirit burned within the boy, Sebastian begrudgingly acknowledged. Desperate to break free, the boy thrashed his legs and clawed at Sebastian's wrist, a futile struggle against an unyielding force. Oh, if only the lad comprehended the uselessness of his valiant endeavors. Yet, amidst the heart-pounding tension, Sebastian couldn't help but find a sliver of admiration for the boy's unwavering determination.

"Perhaps you'd be kind enough to tell me where my master is," Sebastian said. The boy gasped for air, his struggles grew more desperate by the second. "If you tell me, I promise to make your death as painless as possible."

He choked. "He...he..."

"I'd speak quicker if I were you," he said, giving the boy's neck another squeeze. He then loosened his grip to let the boy speak. "My patience has been getting thinner by the hour."

"Instead of wasting your breath on me, you should be helping him," the boy croaked. Sebastian's eyes narrowed at his response. "Vanel will kill him if you don't hurry. He's in his study not too far from here."

"And why are you telling me this so freely?" he asked.

The boy sniveled. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't know we were kidnapping a child, I swear."

Sebastian could only stare at him dead in the eyes. There was something different about this boy. He even smelled different. Yet, he couldn't decipher what it was. It was familiar though.

"P-please," the boy said. "If you're going to kill me, just do it. But please, save the boy."

Interesting. He's afraid to die yet is willing to put my master's life first before his own. And he's an excellent shot. No ordinary mortal would have withstood the onslaught of bullets piercing their chest, tearing through Sebastian's very heart and severing vital arteries that would have unleashed a torrent of crimson in an instant. Astonishing, indeed, for one so consumed by fear. Perhaps I might have some use for him in the future. But first, I must help my young master.

Sebastian relinquished his grip on the boy, who plummeted to the ground with a thud akin to a sack of potatoes. With a bewildered gaze, the boy scrambled away from Sebastian, unsure of what would come next.

"Go," Sebastian said. "You have twenty seconds to get out of here before I change my mind and kill you. One -."

The lad wasted not a moment longer. He sprang to his feet and darted past the butler. Sebastian observed his every move. The boy halted abruptly at the far end of the corridor, his gaze fixated upon the towering windows. These magnificent panes, akin to grand entrances, had not escaped Sebastian's notice upon his arrival at the opulent estate. And it seemed that the boy also possessed this knowledge. With nimble fingers, he swiftly released the latch of one of the windows, and, after casting a fleeting glance downwards, he flung himself out into the abyss, his voice piercing the air with a resounding cry.

Sebastian looked out the window and chuckled in amusement.

The lad descended upon a verdant shrub, his landing abrupt and jarring. As he rose, a chaotic medley of leaves and twigs ensnared his auburn locks. Undeterred by the tangled mess, he pressed on, his heart pounding with determination, his every step a testament to his unwavering resolve.

Smart boy. Sebastian knew he wouldn't make it out the front door in twenty seconds. So without hesitation, he made the daring decision to leap out of the window, embracing the unknown rather than facing certain death.

Now that that's out of the way, Sebastian mused as he made his way to Vanel's study. It's time to recover my master.