ReaperMelia
Junior Member
A little-known aspect of Great Britain's history is that throughout Queen Victoria's reign, the kingdom was plagued by a slew of supernatural sightings. These paranormal entities would appear anywhere from old universities and churches to ships and even common homes. While rumored sightings and attacks from otherworldly creatures could be found throughout recorded history, the prevalence and frequency of these incidents skyrocketed tremendously during the Victorian Era. Up until then, hunters trained in the arcane arts traveled the lands to find those in need of assistance in evicting these unwanted pests. However, the number of cases and the importance of not allowing these beings to become public knowledge led her royal majesty to adopt a new tactic. Queen Victoria ordered the formation of the Florist Society, an organization that specialized in tracking sightings and enlisting hunters to quietly clean up any messes.
Secrecy was an integral part of the queen's goals with this organization; while rumors would always spread, the existence of supernatural entities was not common knowledge. Clients were not permitted to share the details of their hauntings publicly, and the hunters themselves were ordered to don disguises and use fake names so that they couldn't be tracked outside of the job. Most hunters worked independently as mercenaries and were paid for their work, and there were a few who formed their own guilds and groups. These hunters ensured the peace and security of Great Britain in secrecy while going about their normal lives by daylight. Without them, the nation would have fallen into chaos. This tale chronicles two of these hunters and the ordeals they faced together...
Of all the nights for an emergency hunt, why did it have to be the night before Amelia's piano recital? The young woman hugged herself and rubbed her arms as she trudged along the snowy road before her, trying to keep warm. Her frosty breath billowed out at an even pace before dissipating into the chilly air hanging over the countryside. The usual yellow and orange dress she wore on her hunts wasn't quite as insulated as she would have liked, but she didn't have time to think about comfort. Her boots helped a bit, at least. She peered around the village through her silver floral mask, trying to figure out which building was the one she'd be visiting. The signal for hunters was always a potted arrangement of oleanders, though with the weather, Amelia was worried that the flowers would shrivel up before she could arrive. A small part of her felt like she'd shrivel up if she didn't find her destination soon, too.
She knew there was something strange about this hunt as soon as she was told that the Society's representative would meet her at the job site. That always meant they were desperate for help and didn't want the hired hunter to turn the job down. If a hunter had to travel all that way to learn about their mark, they were more likely to commit to whatever they were asked to do. Of course, the upside was that the pay rate was usually higher than normal. In addition, while she was part of a prestigious guild (thanks to her family of hunters), Amelia herself had yet to build a strong solo reputation. This was her chance, and she couldn't afford to pass on it, even if it meant sacrificing some precious sleep time before an important day.
Her focus was torn away from her recital and back towards the mission once she finally spotted the small pot placed outside the door to a bakery. A variety of breads and pastries were lined up along the windows, and as she approached, the faint smell of the food within made the young woman's stomach grumble in anticipation. She hoped that her mask hid the blush that colored her frosty cheeks an even rosier tint; she knew that a refined lady must remain formal at all times and not give in to base desires, especially when she was also a huntress currently on duty, though she only had time for a light snack before rushing out the door for tonight's job. What she wouldn't give for a taste of bread...
Shaking her head to regain her senses, Amelia made her way to the door. There wasn't time to ruminate on her hunger or her performance tomorrow. She knocked on the door four times-- twice in rapid succession, a long pause before the third, and a shorter pause before the last. The Society's special greeting for clients. The door opened shortly after, and the scent of bread quickly wafted out and tickled the lady's nose. A short man in an apron stood on the other side of the door. Amelia gave him a curtsy before introducing herself. "I am Marigold, the florist sent by the Society. It is a pleasure to meet you."
The man responded with a quick nod and a motion for Amelia to enter. "Please come in and make yourself comfortable while we wait for the other to arrive."
The other? Was the representative really not here yet? They were never late. Amelia stepped inside and took a moment to look around. She found herself examining a few loaves of bread, doing her best to simply look curious rather than hungry. She was far too dignified to even consider sneaking a bite, though the thought of yet another growl from her stomach emerging already had her feeling embarrassed. The huntress held back a sigh as she hoped that the representative would arrive soon...
Secrecy was an integral part of the queen's goals with this organization; while rumors would always spread, the existence of supernatural entities was not common knowledge. Clients were not permitted to share the details of their hauntings publicly, and the hunters themselves were ordered to don disguises and use fake names so that they couldn't be tracked outside of the job. Most hunters worked independently as mercenaries and were paid for their work, and there were a few who formed their own guilds and groups. These hunters ensured the peace and security of Great Britain in secrecy while going about their normal lives by daylight. Without them, the nation would have fallen into chaos. This tale chronicles two of these hunters and the ordeals they faced together...
Of all the nights for an emergency hunt, why did it have to be the night before Amelia's piano recital? The young woman hugged herself and rubbed her arms as she trudged along the snowy road before her, trying to keep warm. Her frosty breath billowed out at an even pace before dissipating into the chilly air hanging over the countryside. The usual yellow and orange dress she wore on her hunts wasn't quite as insulated as she would have liked, but she didn't have time to think about comfort. Her boots helped a bit, at least. She peered around the village through her silver floral mask, trying to figure out which building was the one she'd be visiting. The signal for hunters was always a potted arrangement of oleanders, though with the weather, Amelia was worried that the flowers would shrivel up before she could arrive. A small part of her felt like she'd shrivel up if she didn't find her destination soon, too.
She knew there was something strange about this hunt as soon as she was told that the Society's representative would meet her at the job site. That always meant they were desperate for help and didn't want the hired hunter to turn the job down. If a hunter had to travel all that way to learn about their mark, they were more likely to commit to whatever they were asked to do. Of course, the upside was that the pay rate was usually higher than normal. In addition, while she was part of a prestigious guild (thanks to her family of hunters), Amelia herself had yet to build a strong solo reputation. This was her chance, and she couldn't afford to pass on it, even if it meant sacrificing some precious sleep time before an important day.
Her focus was torn away from her recital and back towards the mission once she finally spotted the small pot placed outside the door to a bakery. A variety of breads and pastries were lined up along the windows, and as she approached, the faint smell of the food within made the young woman's stomach grumble in anticipation. She hoped that her mask hid the blush that colored her frosty cheeks an even rosier tint; she knew that a refined lady must remain formal at all times and not give in to base desires, especially when she was also a huntress currently on duty, though she only had time for a light snack before rushing out the door for tonight's job. What she wouldn't give for a taste of bread...
Shaking her head to regain her senses, Amelia made her way to the door. There wasn't time to ruminate on her hunger or her performance tomorrow. She knocked on the door four times-- twice in rapid succession, a long pause before the third, and a shorter pause before the last. The Society's special greeting for clients. The door opened shortly after, and the scent of bread quickly wafted out and tickled the lady's nose. A short man in an apron stood on the other side of the door. Amelia gave him a curtsy before introducing herself. "I am Marigold, the florist sent by the Society. It is a pleasure to meet you."
The man responded with a quick nod and a motion for Amelia to enter. "Please come in and make yourself comfortable while we wait for the other to arrive."
The other? Was the representative really not here yet? They were never late. Amelia stepped inside and took a moment to look around. She found herself examining a few loaves of bread, doing her best to simply look curious rather than hungry. She was far too dignified to even consider sneaking a bite, though the thought of yet another growl from her stomach emerging already had her feeling embarrassed. The huntress held back a sigh as she hoped that the representative would arrive soon...
