by Donnie Light
The nights passed quickly on the dingy streets of Whitechaple. Since his last kill, Jack amused himself by reading the local newspapers which offered a multitude of speculative explanations as to the identity of the killer. One headline screamed ‘Leather Apron,’ one of his many nicknames. Another shouted ‘Ghastly Murders!’ Jack’s favorite proclaimed ‘Jack the Ripper’ had struck again, giving Jack a little chuckle. He liked the sound of it. The hand-drawn illustrations sprawled under the headlines displayed the horrid sight that he had created a few days ago.
Yet Jack had revealed no further clues about the vampire he sought. He knew that if he kept to the streets of lower London and kept a close eye on the harlots and drunks, the vampire would eventually reveal himself. Jack knew the unholy beast could go days without feeding. If he had a sanctuary nearby, his consorts could supply him with enough blood that he would never have to leave the safety of his lair. But like others before him, Jack knew the vampire would grow bored and strike out again.
Jack also knew that somewhere, the vampire’s followers would be out and about. To live in the city meant someone had to bring in money. Like sheep, the followers would do whatever they were told. Protection, money and blood were their only value. If Jack waited long enough, he would find a weak link in the vampire’s cover. He knew that more than likely the link would be in the tawdry harlots who slinked around the streets, throwing their bodies at whatever man had coin.
A vampire could seek shelter in the fast paced life of London, its dukes, earls, and queen providing wealth and frivolity. But when it came down to it, a vampire would have more luck hiding in the shadows. One could easily disappear in the stinking cesspool of London’s lower boweries.
The opening days of September arrived with cold. Rain marked the coming of winter, making this early Saturday morning a wet, chilling thirty degrees. Jack could see his breath in the weak light of the gas lamps. His night of hunting had been the same all week: disheartening.
Many young and old women plied their trade in the back alleys and bars, but none bore the mark. He needed to find just one who had the evidence he needed, and once he did, he could rip it out of her. It did not matter if she gave up the needed information willingly or not. It would all end the same for the misguided soul who had fallen under the vampire’s spell.
Then he caught it, a whiff at first, but still it caught his attention. Turning, Jack smelled the light scent of jasmine and saw her stepping out of the darkness of a doorway. Her gentleman caller slipped out also, hurrying down the street, likely heading home to his wife and family. The young thing waved goodbye and said something inaudible to Jack’s ears.
Sidestepping, he drifted into the shadows and watched the young lass straighten her skirt. Adjusting her small pill box hat, she made sure that it was pinned in place. She then ran a hand down the side of her face. As she started to walk down the street, she adjusted her lace collar. That is when Jack’s keen eyes caught sight of the twin marks covered with pancake powder to mask them from view. But her busy night had worn away most of the powder and her true duty shined through.
§ § §
With her night’s work complete, Annie could now go home to her new love and the sisters she never knew she could have. A smile played across Annie’s lips as she thought about William and his cool embrace. Tingling, every nerve seemed to shiver at the very thought of her newfound love.
Annie hurried along through the dark streets. The air hung heavy with fog, and shadowy figures moved around her, giving her a fright. She had heard people talking about the paper’s reports — the ghastly murders in this very part of London. She could not read, so her news came by word of mouth. If she could have read the news herself, Annie would have been more careful where she took her clients.
A firm hand grabbed Annie by the shoulder. Spun around, Annie yelped in surprise, but smiled brightly when she saw the glint of silver in his hand. One quick job and she could be on her way home again, a little richer for her trouble.
Without a word, Annie took the stranger’s hand and led him back to the shadow of the stoop she had occupied moments before with another customer. Smiling, Annie gave the man a wink. She looked up into his cold eyes and found them unsettling in their hardness.
“What can I do fo’ you?” she asked, running a hand across his shoulder and down his sleeve. She tugged on it playfully.
“Information, love,” Jack said.
Annie noticed the silver in his hand was not a coin, but the cruel, sharp edge of a shaving razor. Realization struck her, but Jack’s gloved hand clamped tightly over her mouth, cutting off her scream.
“Shhh,” he whispered. “Do not be frightened, child. Just tell me what I need to know.” Jack eased his hand from her mouth.
Annie tried to act stupid and afraid, as if she were an innocent working girl and claimed to have children to feed. Jack asked about the puncture wounds on her neck, and she then turned on him, hissing like a wounded cat.
“William will take care of the likes of you!” she spat, trying to break Jack’s grip.
Jack forced her against the wall and slapped his hand over her mouth to quiet her. She tried to bite through his glove and Jack responded by sliding his hand upward, against her flaring nostrils, restricting her breathing.
Jack leaned in close and whispered into Annie’s ear, “He’s cast a spell on you and is using you to serve his own selfish purposes.”
Annie’s eyes grew large and desperate as she struggled for breath.
Jack pulled away from her and their eyes locked in desperation — Annie desperate for a breath and Jack desperate to save her from the vampire.
“I do not want to hurt you, but you must listen to me while you can still be saved.”
Annie grew calm, listening.
“What’s your name, lass?”
“Annie,” she said, her voice muffled by his hand.
“You are simply under his spell, Annie, but it’s not too late.” Jack eased the force applied to Annie’s mouth and nose. “Let me help you. I can make sure that you get away from here and are safe from this monster.”
Annie nodded as best she could. Jack yielded even a bit more, and Annie’s body relaxed.
“You can truly help me?” she whispered, tears streaming down her face.
“Yes, I can,” Jack told her. “I can get you away from here. You will be safe.”
“Alright,” Annie nodded. “I’ll listen, if you promise to protect me.” Then Annie began to sob quietly.
Jack eased his grip yet again, then let go of her completely.
Annie raised her hands to her eyes and wiped away the tears. “I’ve been so afraid,” she cried and wiped her nose on the back of her hand.
Jack reached into his back pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, handing it to her. “You will be alright, Annie. I promise you will.”
Annie wiped her face on the offered kerchief and then covered her eyes with her hands. “I don’t know how I could have been so stupid,” she said, as she secretly removed a long pin from her hat.
“It’s not your fault, Annie,” Jack placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder. “But you can help me stop him before he turns more women like you into a soulless creature of the night.”
Annie then smiled at Jack, and with her left hand, offered Jack his kerchief back. When Jack reached to take it, Annie lunged at him with the hat pin.
Jack turned just in time to avoid the long pin going straight through his throat, but Annie managed to plunge the pin deeply into his shoulder. With a swipe of his hand, Jack slapped Annie across the face. Falling from the blow, Annie crashed to the street.
With a grimace, Jack pulled the pin out of his flesh. Slick with blood, he tossed it to the cobblestones.
“You shouldn’t ’ave done that, girl,” Jack said, as he dropped to one knee, landing on her ankle to pin her to the ground.
Annie tried to crawl away. She tried reaching down to her leg and then fell back, as Jack ground his
knee into her ankle bones. The searing pain drove her towards blackness, but Jack let up just before she passed out.
“Where is he, love?” Jack asked.
With tears streaming down her face, Annie looked back at Jack with fear, horrified at what this killer might do next.
“Tell me,” Jack demanded.
Reaching down, Jack grabbed Annie by the shoulder and pulled her close. The worn fabric of her dress ripped and he could see the smooth skin beneath. Annie could feel his hot breath on her skin as he whispered into her ear. “This is not the life you desire.”
Mustering courage, Annie spat in Jack’s face. This woman had a strong will, something that most in this down trodden city lacked. Lifting his hand, he showed Annie the curve of the shaving blade. It glinted in the weak light and Jack smiled at the fright that crossed Annie’s face.
The sound of hoof steps echoed down the street. Out of time to riffle information out of the trollop, Jack sliced with the blade, cutting Annie’s life short. With her dying breath, she uttered a single word — “William.”
End of Excerpt
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Table of Contents
– Chapter 1 –
– Chapter 2 –
– Chapter 3 –
– Chapter 4 –
– Chapter 5 –
– Chapter 6 –
– Chapter 7 –
– Chapter 8 –
– Chapter 9 –
– Chapter 10 –
– Chapter 11 –
– Chapter 12 –
– Chapter 13 –
– Chapter 14 –
– Chapter 15 –
– Chapter 16 –
– Chapter 17 –
– Chapter 18 –
– Chapter 19 –
– Chapter 20 –
Author’s Note
About the Author
Excerpt from “Ripper’s Row”