The Queen's Counting Crows

Prologue

Burning coal and rotten fish fill my nostrils. I feel the cold wet pavement beneath me soaking through my dressing gown...

Opening my eyes I see the sky above me, instead of my ceiling. As I lay there a shrill cry pierces the silence of the alley I'm in, causing me to startle fully awake. I get up quickly and make my way towards the sound against my better instincts. Creeping slowly in the direction of the screams, I come upon a opening that leads to the sewers underneath the city. Climbing down the ladder, I jump off down to a ledge as wide as the sidewalks above. I make my way towards the sound, and as I get closer I begin to sweat. The smell of the sewers is far worse than the smell above.

As I make my way further towards the anguished cries, I feel my heart begin to pound against my ribcage. I know not what awaits me at the end of this, but I hope I come back alive. Keeping to the wall, I tread lightly down the end of the tunnel, dimly lit with lanterns haphazardly hung here and there, I get closer and the sound of this woman's screams seems to be coming from right next to me. There's an opening just a few paces away. I creep slowly and silently as can be towards the opening.

Standing there in the tunnel opening, is a small room. It's covered from floor to ceiling in dried blood. The smell of rotting flesh is so strong it's enough to make me vomit. Turning away I empty the contents of my stomach into the sewer water. Shakily standing up, I walk back over to the room. Taking in my surroundings I note the restraints hammered into the concrete walls. The chains, the shackles hanging from the ceiling, and what looks to be a dentists chair, with restraints on the arms and the legs. Next to it was a small table, full of instruments I can only guess are used by doctor's and butchers alike.

All along the counters were jars... Full of formaldehyde. Jars full of eyes of all colors, and different organs. Hearts, livers, slpeens, gallbladders, and pancreases. I walk over to a large bucket and see it's full of blood, bone, and intestines. The horrors my eyes have seen thus far are naught compared to what I see in the chair.

A young woman, perhaps 14 or 15 years of age... covered in blood, cuts and bruises. She has several fingers missing from either hand, and her right ear has been cut off. She's missing her left eye... and three of her teeth have been ripped out. Her leg was cut off at the knee, hastily bandaged with a filthy bit of cloth. I can smell the infection of her wounds. She has maggots crawling inside her festering wounds, and I fear they are making the journey towards her missing eye. Her hair was shorn most carelessly as she has scabs all over her scalp. Her bottom lip is split, and one of her arms was ripped off at the shoulder... the torn skin clear as day from my vantage point. I begin to cry... For I know this girl had once been a great beauty... but no longer. I know not who could have done such a gruesome thing to a young lady, but I do know that he is a monster.

I feel for a pulse but quickly come to realize, this poor innocent girl is dead. Stepping back, I turn to leave when I hear a whistle coming from just down the tunnel. Realizing I have no time, I run from the room and take off towards to sewer opening I came in through. However I hear the man stop abruptly and press myself tight against the wall.

I hear him approaching my hiding place and run further down. Hitting a dead end I crouch low, scooting myself in a corner as small as possible using the darkness as a cover. I now know it's all in vain. I see his lantern, and I quickly stand. Rising to my full height of six feet four inches, I try to make myself look older than my 20 short years.

He approaches me, and I look him in the eye. Trying to hide my fear, I raise my chin high. As he comes closer to me I can just barely make out his face... It seems familiar. And then I see him fully. It is my psychology professor at Oxford. It's Mr. Brachfield.....

He begins to laugh... And I suddenly feel the cold grip of terror around my throat.

"Ahhhh, look who it is. Our young Lord Graymark. What a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to see someone of your stature down here amongst the filth of our great city. Pray tell, how is it you came to get here exactly?" he says, and with such a casual tone it scares me further.

Before I could answer, he came upon me and wrapped his hands around my neck. He was horrifyingly strong, and as hard as I tried I couldn't remove his hands from my throat. I began to kick out against his legs, but he didn't budge. Seeing that I'm out of options, I stop struggling and look him in the eyes.

"Why? How could you do this to a poor young girl?" I asked, barely above a whisper but knowing he heard me. He just stares at me, as if deep in thought over his answer.

"Why, you ask? Well, seeing as you won't be alive much longer to tell anyone I'll let you in on a little secret of mine. Once many years ago, I was called in to do a psych evaluation on a man who was found wandering the streets, mumbling a strange language. I quickly diagnosed him as insane and was about to be on my way when he suddenly grabbed for my arm. Eyes wide as a teacup saucer he began to speak at me in a dark unknown language, but somehow I understood. He spoke of power, he spoke of influence and wealth. All things I'd never once thought of having but knew from then on I had to have to be satisfied with life. He walked over to his bed and brought out this small book, but it was all glamour you see because really it was what any witch or dark conjurer called a Grimoire. I took it away with me, and began my journey to wealth and respect. I made a deal with a demon who promised to give me my hearts desire in exchange for beautiful young women's souls. He gives me a target and tells me how to slice her up to his liking. I do all this so that I can have all that I desire and more. And you, you arrogant little bastard are not going to ruin this for me. It really is a shame I have to kill you now, seeing as you're my brightest pupil, but alas you've seen too much. And I cannot afford for you to share my secrets to the public. If only you'd just gone back home. But no matter. You're an exceptionally handsome young buck, I'm sure my master will make an exception for you." He says, and just as he's about to knock me unconscious, I feel myself begin to fade out.

His eyes darkening with rage he tries once more to grab me but is too late. The last thing I hear is the roar of anger he let's out at my disappearance.....