Footsteps echoed ominously on the damp ground. The muffled crunch of multiple footsteps in the deep night, announced the imminent doom of the prey that this particular group of dashing hunters tracked down. William James Moriarty walked down the quiet streets of London, with his associates Moran, Fred, Bond and younger brother Louis. 

The familiar clang of metal sliding out of a scabbard made Louis whip his head in alarm in the direction of the sound.

William snapped his head to the left as a scream wailed helplessly through the air. The pathetic cry of a man, strangled out through the silent. Louis and Moran rushed through the alleyway, tracing the direction of the painfilled voice.

A hooded figure loomed over a man who helplessly writhed, blood spurting out through an opened gash. The figures hand lifted up to strike once more, the silhouette in the darkened night making them appear as if a grim reaper had descended down to collect the man's soul.

"Oii!" Moran yelled stilling the movement of the figure. The dark hooded figure turned to look over its shoulder. With a snarky grunt the concealed person scaled the fence jumped over the alley onto the otherside.

Moran moved to tend to the struggling man but was stopped with a hand on his back.

"Don't! You'll get involved unnecessarily, besides, it's too late for him." The cool, calm voice of William stilled Moran. Turning without further word, William's footsteps clicked off. Louis bowed his head and backed out of the alleyway following behind his brother in silent obedience.

The man quickly bled out, a final grunt escaping his lips before his glassy eyes gaped lifelessly into the night. 

Back at their mansion, William, Moran, Fred and Albert sat in the meeting room sipping on a strong, lemony blend of earl grey tea.

"Why did you stop us from helping that man? He could have a family waiting for him." Moran asked crossly. Louis handed him a cup of tea balanced on a saucer.

A small smile danced in Williams eyes that peered at the Sniper over the cup.

"We needn't mind the business of someone else, there's always two sides of a coin. Surely you should know that." Moran startled but looked away at Williams chiding words.

"It wouldn't be right to interfere, we can only aid those who approach us or search us out. Minding the business of someone else, especially that of an enraged woman, well... that wouldn't be good." William answered cryptically with a light chuckle.

"Oh no definitely not. The fairer sex is a force you don't want to fight against, especially when provoked." Albert agreed with a small chuckle.

"How do you know it was a woman that killed that man?" Fred asked from where he sat perched on the niche by the window.

"Naturally by observation. Firstly she forgot to cover her scent and thus her perfume still lingered in the air. Second the knife marks in the man's neck were short and deep. A man making a killing blow would usually aim for larger deeper strokes." William pronounced with a proud set in his drawl.

Louis frowned in thought, agreeing with his brothers words.

"Our little killer had to resort to tact and aimed for his jugular vein." William smiled amusedly to himself.

"What else was there?" Moran pressed.

"Well, the man had tripped, I made out a twisted ankle in the faint light. The man no doubt was tripped first, which made it easier for her to swoop down and make her kill. Height was a disadvantage that she remedied." The more William explained, the more he became enraptured with the unknown figure.

"Tomorrow's papers will no doubt finalise our findings." William said with a decided smirk. The group dropped the matter and retired for the evening.

The following morning William sat with the paper spread out on his lap, his head thrown back in a gleeful, throaty laugh.

"What is it brother?" Louis asked, peering at his sibling through his bangs. Inhaling sharply with a final chuckle, William shook his head, blonde strands dancing with his movement.

"Nothing just amused at our little killer. A real force to reckon with. The man's face is in the papers for missing. But that's about it, regarding news on him." William replied. Louis frowned and peered at the page over his brother's shoulder.

"That's odd, the body was disposed off." Louis guessed out loud.

"Clever of her to cover her tracks so thoroughly." Albert commented, entering the room having dressed for the day. Placing his top hat on the table he sat in the seat opposite William and crossed his leg at the knee.

"Now she's gone and caught my interest. I'd love to meet her." William said out loud with a bright enchanting smile.

Albert exhaled long arms resting on the arm rests of his chair. He smirked at William, emerald eyes glinting with interest.

"Well isn't this is a first Louis? Have we ever seen Will interested in a female ever? No matter the reason." Albert teased, glancing at Louis.The youngest brother smiled soft and shook his head.

"No but this is interesting." Louis answered handing Albert a plate with articulately sliced fruit.

"Oh yes, this came for you." Louis said handing Albert a crisp white envelope on a tray. Slitting it open with the silver blade that sat on the tray, he read the contents and sighed heavily.

"What is it?" William asked, brows bowing down in a frown upon seeing Albert's reaction.

"It seems that our last tea party was a bit too much of a success. This letter states that we are to host the next tea party again. Oh heavens!" He exclaimed with a forlorn look. Albert pinched the bridge of his nose and shut his eyes painfully.

"Ahhh... That's extremely unfortunate." Bond tutted entering the room unannounced with Moran.

"Yeah, a true pity for all of us." Moran commented grimacing at the thought of the flustered women who flocked around them.William smiled politely at them all, folding the newspaper close.

"So there's no way to turn them down I'm assuming." William guessed, a hopeful look danced in his eyes nevertheless.

"No there isn't unfortunately. It's scheduled for next week. Everyone please start planning for this event. I want it going off without a hitch. On a second attempt who knows what these women could do." Albert said with a strained voice.

"Maybe you'll find a nice lady this time. Perhaps it could turn out better?" Moran tried, with a comforting smile.
Albert turned his unphased glance at the dark haired man and frowned seemingly unamused.

"Nah that plan would only work if Albert turned ugly overnight. In short it's impossible." Bond commented with a snicker.

"Alright team, here's what we'll do for next week. We'll add in more distractions to keep the women entertained, this will ensure an even smaller chance of them slipping into the mansion." William said decidedly.

Louis, Bond, Albert and William brainstormed ideas on how to keep women engaged and enraptured through various creative activities.

"This will work. Brilliant idea brother." Louis praised with a bright grin. William smiled back enchantingly at his brother.

"If there's one thing. Women are competitive. These events will distract them. We should have thought of this the last time." Albert said, glancing out the window at the bright sky.

"We'll be better equipped this time. That's what counts." Louis said comfortingly.

A/N: Credit to artist. 

Let me know what you thought ;)