The Assassin (Black Butler/Sebastian Love Story)

Chapter 1

Earl Alfred Palmer. He had two children. A girl of the age of seven, and a boy who was fourteen. By my discoveries, the son wasn't too bright for his age. I suppose that was why I was there. The girl, well, she could never run the company, so it didn't matter. He also had a wife. Lady Winnie Palmer. She was only there for looks. Not a real threat to me.

The Earl had a large security force. He was a very paranoid man, afraid that he would be targeted and killed. Most of the security was inside his mansion. Eleven guards surrounded his house during the day, but surprisingly, only eight watched at night. How stupid of him to allow that.

Earl Palmer was always the last of his family and servants to retire. After dinner, which ended about six o'clock, he remained in his drawing room to finish his work for the day. He was a very busy man. His desk was right in front of a huge window.

At midnight, six hours later, the grandfather clock would ring. He would look up at it and stand, walking over to a single candle stick that rested on a shelf in his bookcase. He would light it with a book of matches he kept in his coat pocket, which he also used to light his cigars. Then, he would blow out the other candles that lit the room. The Earl would walk out the door and lock it with the key he kept in his breast pocket. Two guards stood at the doorway at all times. They would escort him to his bedroom where he would join his wife and retire for the day. That was what I had observed after a week.

I had to get him before he blew out all the other candles that lit the room.

The guards walked around the mansion at night, evenly spaced out. I watched from the foliage to make sure I wouldn't be seen. There would only be a split second chance. I didn't want to kill any of the guards. It would take more time and cause a bigger mess. The time came and I bolted from the bushes to the brick wall.

The only unguarded way into the drawing room was through the window. The window was on the second floor, so I would have to climb. The brick wall was very uneven, so there were many points I could hold on to. I began to scale the wall, trying to be quick. I was about ten feet up when a guard passed by, but he didn't notice me. That, besides time management, was probably the hardest thing about my mission. Speaking of which, it was almost midnight. I had to hurry.

Only slightly struggling, I finally made it to the window. It was never locked, but it wasn't open, either. The clock began to go off, tolling twelve times. I pictured in my mind that Earl Palmer was looking up and standing. He was going over to the bookcase, his back turned to me. I silently pushed the window open just enough so I could slip into the room.

I hid in the corner, where it was darkest. I wore all black so that I blended in with the shadows and the night. It made it harder for people to see me. I could walk against wall in the shadows, never to be noticed. That was the number one rule. Never be seen by anyone except for your victim. Even then, half of my face was covered. If they somehow escaped, which never happened, they'd have a harder time identifying you. Also, they might have some sort of substance that could knock you out. You can't smell it with the cloth over your face.

Earl Palmer took the little package and opened it, taking out a single match. I quietly, but quickly, walked until I was right behind him. I removed the knife from my belt and gripped it tightly. If I hesitated for a second, it would be over for me.

I covered his mouth with my left hand and pulled him against me. He tried to scream, but I sliced his throat. I released him before he got blood on me. I smirked a little, "Love, from the Widow." I carved a capital "W" into his cheek, my signature.

I ran over to the window and pushed it all the way open that time. The rope hanging from my belt, which I was afraid earlier would fall while I was climbing, was still there. I took it and tied it to the window's hinge. Once I was sure I made a good knot, I slid down it. Rope burn was not a problem since I was wearing gloves. I jumped onto the ground and left the rope there, having no use for it anymore. I ran back into the bushes, then, away from the property.

Earl Alfred Palmer was assassinated.