Black Butler: The Lich's Compass

La Esperanza Prologue

The smell of ink and aged paper filled Ciel Phantomhive's office as he sat at his desk, the dim light of the late afternoon casting shadows across his brow. His single visible eye, sharp and focused, scanned the contents of the letter held between his gloved fingers. Across from him, Sebastian stood, poised and attentive, his hands clasped behind his back. The silence in the room felt heavy, like the calm before a storm.

The letter bore the seal of Don Alberto Torres, a prominent plantation owner in Puerto Rico. The message was brief but clear—Torres wished to discuss the terms of a new partnership concerning the sugar trade, a venture vital to the Phantomhive family's growing business interests. However, there was a complication. To reach the island of Vieques, they would need to find passage across the Caribbean Sea, and with tensions rising between European powers and pirates increasing in number, finding a reliable vessel proved more difficult than anticipated.

Ciel placed the letter down, his thoughts already racing. "It appears our usual contacts are either unavailable or unwilling to make the journey," he muttered. His gaze drifted to the map spread out across the table, its lines and markings highlighting the islands scattered across the West Indies.

"We've exhausted all options, young master," Sebastian said, his tone smooth and measured. "None of our current ships are suited for such a journey, and many reputable captains are reluctant to sail those waters due to recent... hostilities."

A look of irritation flickered across Ciel's face, though he quickly suppressed it. Time was of the essence, and he could not afford delays. The sugar trade was not only profitable but essential to maintaining the Phantomhive household's influence abroad. There had to be another way.

The door to the office creaked open, and a sailor—one of their informants from the docks—stepped inside, hat in hand. He gave a slight bow before speaking. "Beggin' your pardon, Lord Phantomhive, but I might have an option for you."

Ciel raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"There's a ship, sir. La Esperanza. She's fast, reliable, and her captain's got a reputation for takin' on the kind of voyages no one else will touch." The sailor paused, his gaze shifting between Ciel and Sebastian as if weighing his next words carefully. "The captain... well, she's not just any ordinary sailor. Marisol Colón, they call her. The adopted daughter of Captain Alejandro S. Colón, a man who was well-respected in these parts before his passing."

Ciel leaned back in his chair, his interest piqued. "Marisol Colón?"

The sailor nodded. "Aye. She's young, but they say she commands her crew like a seasoned veteran. And if there's anyone who can get you to Vieques, it's her."

For a moment, silence settled over the room. Ciel's mind raced with possibilities. He had heard whispers of Captain Colón before, though her reputation was shrouded in mystery. Some claimed she was blessed by the sea itself, while others spoke of her fierce loyalty to her crew and a hidden past tied to her island roots.

"Why haven't I heard of her sooner?" Ciel asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

"She keeps a low profile, my lord," the sailor replied. "Doesn't deal with many Englishmen. But she's trusted around here. No one knows the Caribbean like she does."

Ciel exchanged a glance with Sebastian, whose faint smile suggested he already approved of the idea. "What do you think, Sebastian?"

"Miss Colón's reputation precedes her, young master. If the sailor's information is accurate, she may be the most suitable candidate for our needs." Sebastian's voice carried that same tone of quiet confidence that Ciel had come to rely on. "Besides, a captain willing to take such risks is often one with much to gain—or much to hide."