The Bloody Ripper (Leopard King Saga)

by T. A. Uner

  Seamus nodded. “A planet twenty light years from Earth. I work for its remaining inhabitants. I’m one of their Caretakers, assigned to monitor a chosen era for temporal transgressions.”

  Robert shook his head and rubbed his temples while the strange metallic arm buzzed about him like a incessant wasp.

  “I know this is all a lot for you to take in mate. But I guarantee you I’m trying to protect Earth, not harm it. And now I need your help.”

  Robert tried to sit up but the restraints kept him in place. The metallic arm beeped at him while a floating sphere entered the room and scanned his body with a ray of red light. Robert cringed. “What the hell is that bloody thing?”

  “Body-scanning probe.” Seamus grinned. “It’s checking your organs to make sure everything has healed properly; it’s standard procedure around here.”

  “So you’re not an alien, Seamus?”

  Seamus rolled up his sleeve and whistled at the robotic arm. It stopped buzzing about Robert and extended itself toward the Irishman. “Mini-blood sample,” he ordered it.

  The claw of the arm transformed into a pinprick and drew a small amount of blood from Seamus’ arm before depositing it into a small vial. “If that doesn’t convince you, laddie, I don’t know what will.”

  Robert couldn’t hide his disappointment. A part of him wanted to believe this was a farce. But an unexplainable piece of technology had proven him otherwise. Still, he thirsted for more information. “It still doesn’t explain how you became part of all this.” Seamus grimaced and scratched his cheek.

  “Now that, my friend is another tale.”

  “It appears we’ve got plenty of time, Seamus.”

  “Well, it all started while I was investigating a disappearance in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, near a rail station.”

  “Yes. I think Jack mentioned this to me. You were searching for a client’s missing employee, right?”

  Seamus nodded. “Yes, but what I left out of the story was what happened tome later in the investigation. After I had located the victim’s body, drained of all blood, I heard a noise nearby. It sounded like an animal’s snarl. Being the inquisitive soul I am, I proceeded to investigate further.” Seamus paused for a moment and swallowed hard. No doubt he was reliving an episode from his life that he would rather forget. Robert understood Seamus’ hesitation, but was eager to hear the rest of the tale.

  “So...what happened?”

  Seamus exhaled. “I walked a few steps, and to my right in an alley just under the stairway leading away from the platform I saw a shape hunched over another body. I pointed my revolver at it and ordered it to step out of the darkness. At first it stopped, then, before I could take another breath it was on me, my revolver had been knocked out of my hand and its gloved hands were around my throat, choking the life out of me. I was so busy trying to claw out of its grip that I only caught a glimpse of its face. It was a woman, beautiful, but her lips and fangs were stained with blood that dripped over my face. As hard as I tried I could not break free of her grip. She proceeded in choking me to death.”

  “You died?”

  “Yes. But what happened afterwards was the strangest thing I ever saw. I awoke in a room, similar to this; just as you did. Standing over me was the face of an old man with a long wispy beard. He told me that his people (Atlasians) had brought me back to life. Of course, I thought he was lying; at first I called him ‘St. Peter,’ thinking I had already died and gone to heaven. Over the next few days this man, who called himself Archon, explained his purpose, and how he and the remaining population of his planet, Atlas, were tasked with preserving universal timelines. He asked me for his help, and told me I could work for him as one of his ‘Caretakers.’ Helping him combat The Sect.”

  Robert held up his hand. “The Sect?”

  “Yes.” Seamus ordered two cups of coffee from a terminal. “A ruthless Vampire organization bent on reclaiming their lost glory. They alter timelines, to benefit their agenda. The results often do not favor other sentient species.” Another floating sphere entered the room. Its two metallic arms carried a small metal tray with two steaming cups of coffee. Robert drank it heartily; it was just what he needed.

  “Naturally I felt indebted to Archon. He gave me my assignment: to track down and prevent Vampiress−the female vampire who had murdered me−from accomplishing her agenda. I didn’t need any added incentive and gladly signed on as a caretaker. ”

  “I know of her,” Robert said. “She interrogated me in the warehouse.”

  “She must be stopped,” Seamus added. “But despite the technology at my disposal, I’ll need help. And that is where you and Jack come in.”

  Robert finished his coffee. “I take it you have a plan?”

  “Yes, but if we succeed, it will cost us our lives.”

  Seven

  The first whore Jack questioned nearly took his head off.

  “I don’t talk to coppers,” she said, after he had ducked her punch. “So kindly fuck off.”

  “I’m no policeman,” Jack replied, handing her a silver half crown. When the ruddy-faced woman saw Queen Victoria’s face glimmering on the coin’s surface her eyes lit up like a street urchin in front of a bakery window.

  “Well in that case, love, I’m all ears. Or would you care to shag first?”

  Jack tried containing a burst of laughter that threatened to explode from his lips. “Not today, but I would like some information.”

  The woman’s eyes narrowed. “What type of information?”

  “About the killings. Do you know anything about them?”

  “I thought you said you weren’t a bloody copper?” For a moment Jack thought she was going to take another swing at him.

  “No…just a concerned citizen.” He pressed another half-crown into her palm. “Please, this is very important.”

  “Very well.” She pocketed the coin in her dress pocket. “All the girls are scared. They talk about a She-Demon stalking the street. Punishing them for their transgressions, since they’re women of ill-repute.”

  Jack’s hopes rose. This She-Demon had to be the Vampire woman he was looking for. “What else?”

  “Me and two of the other girls were talking, they’ve got no other means to support themselves, that’s the only reason they risk their lives on the streets at night.” The woman paused and wiped away a stray tear from her cheek. “Same as me, love, I have two little ones to feed.”

  “Can you tell me anything more about this She-Demon?”

  “Rumor is that she goes by the name of Vampiress. She poses as a man at first to lure her victims — don’t ask me how she does it — then…kills whoever is unlucky enough to cross her path.”

  So now Jack had a name. Maybe Seamus might know something about this Vampiress. But why was this Vampiress stalking women? And why in Whitechapel?

  “I’ve run across her path and know how vicious she can be. And thanks to you I know her name.” Jack kissed the woman on the cheek and pressed a third coin in her grubby palm. She smelled like alcohol and tobacco all rolled up into one but he didn’t mind. She giggled like a shy schoolgirl.

  “Well if there’s nothing else I’ll be on my way.” Before Jack turned to walk off, the woman−whom he learned went by the name of Oral Annie−placed her hand on Jack’s arm.

  “There is one more thing, love.” Annie looked around to make sure no one was around them, and apart from a homeless man sleeping in an alleyway it was all clear. “I’ve got a friend, her name’s Mickie, she might be able to tell you more about this Vampiress.”

  Jack was intrigued. “Really? How so?”

  Annie leaned in closer. “Because, she’s the only girl who’s survived a Vampiress attack.”

  • • •

  The address Annie gave Jack took him to a dingy apartment building in the heart of East London. The hallway to the apartment smelled musty and was devoid of light except for one dangling bulb that flickered like a firefly, making it difficult to read the a
partment numbers on the doors. When he finally found the apartment he was looking for he knocked.

  He waited for what seemed like forever before trying the door again. Finally it opened, a young boy, not much older than five years, stared up at him. He wore a dirty linen shirt and worn overalls over bare feet.

  “Can I speak to Martha Carter?”

  The boy wiped his runny nose. “She’s with a customer now,” the boy said.“You’ll have to wait.”

  Jack’s face turned red and he felt for the child, having to endure this type of environment at such a young age was unfortunate. A few moments later a beefy man wearing a derby and a tight-fitting suit appeared at the door. He avoided Jack’s glare and made a hasty exit.

  “You next?”

  Jack turned his head and saw Martha Carter standing before him. She looked like she was in her mid-forties, but Jack had a feeling she was much younger than her outward appearance. “Annie sent me.”

  “Oral Annie? Well c’mon in, mate, don’t stand in the hallway like a fifteen-year-old with the first-time jitters.”

  “I’m actually married,” Jack said.

  “Of course,” Martha said, “most of my customers are.” Jack took off his hat and entered the apartment. It was as unkempt as the building it occupied. Clothes lay strewn all over the living room floor, and it was sparsely decorated. “Take the gentleman’s cloak, Nigel,” she told the boy.

  “I’m actually here to talk, and won’t be staying long.”

  Martha looked confusedly at him. “Talk about what? If you wish to confess your sins there’s a church down the street,” she said coarsely.

  “I’ll pay you.” Jack handed her a few shillings.

  “Fine then, talk.”

  “Annie told me you survived an attack by someone called, Vampiress.” At the mention of that name the blood drained from Martha’s face, and for a moment she too looked like a vampire.

  “Aye, but why would you want anything to do with her?” Martha unbuttoned the top of her blouse and showed Jack a milky scar across her throat. “That cheeky cunt did this to me. Was lucky to know a nurse nearby who patched me up before I fucking bled to death.”

  “Did you go to the police?”

  “I sure did, but you don’t think those wankers would believe the words of a common street whore. When I told them a bloody demon attacked me they bloody threatened to have me locked up if I didn’t leave the station.”

  Jack nodded. “I know what you mean. Now this is important, Martha, can you tell me anything about Vampiress that you remember.”

  Martha started thinking; she walked over toward a dresser and removed a small circular object; she handed it to Jack. “I tore that off her corset before I took off. Lucky for me I had just gone shopping earlier that day and was carrying a bag of groceries. The bitch went crazy when she saw I had a clove of garlic in my groceries and I used it against her to escape.”

  Jack studied the object. It looked like a small medal. In the center was a logo similar to the one inscribed on the blade Vampiress had hurled at him: a bat hovering over a crest depicting two crossed swords. “One more thing, Vampiress spoke to me after she’d cut my throat. She said: ‘even though I wasn’t one of the five traitors, she’d enjoy me for a quick snack.’ I don’t know who these ‘five traitors’ are, or how that’s gonna help you.”

  Jack didn’t know either, but he felt hopeful. “Trust me Martha, you may have just helped save lives.”

  {2}

  “Under my leadership, disloyalty will not be tolerated.”

  After they had arrived at Liverpool Street Station Blood had been boarded by Vampiress and four Hollow Men. Despite his disdain for the woman, Lok welcomed her onboard in a gracious manner befitting one of her rank and heritage. Now that he was in league with Flick he didn’t want to raise any suspicion.

  “Yes mistress,” Lok said. He felt like a lowly sycophant, but had to appeal to Vampiress’ arrogance. Her aura was well-renowned throughout The Sect.

  “You come here highly recommended, Conductor Lok. You served with distinction onboard the Viceroy’s cruiser as an engineer?”

  He nodded, and did his best to avoid extended eye contact with her. For some reason he felt she would pluck his seditious thoughts from his mind and have him executed on the spot.

  “Yes mistress,” he repeated. He wished he was back onboard the cruiser, away from this genocidal place.

  “Excellent. Let us proceed: to prevent any future insurrections, I have decided to make an example of one crew member…to be selected at random of course.”

  Lok’s heart dropped into his stomach, and his blood froze in his veins. “Mistress, I do not understand, the previous crew has already been dealt with; everyone here is loyal to The Sect.”

  Vampiress turned toward him and smiled. “Of course they are, Conductor, I was referring to a clandestine source. You see, the Hollow Men recently intercepted a Grand Militia signal originating from Blood, some sort of dampening field used to mask conversations.”

  Lok composed himself. “Please mistress, I beg you. Do not kill one of our own, I’m sure the Hollow Men will locate the perpetrator.”

  “Perhaps,” Vampiress said slyly, “but if you know who the perpetrator is Conductor Lok, then we can dispense with the random execution.”

  She had him in a difficult position. To admit he knew the perpetrator would expose him as well, and endanger Flick’s cell. But if he remained silent, the safe move, an innocent would die.

  Part of him wished he never spoke with Flick in the dining car.

  “Well Conductor, I am waiting.” Around him the whirlpools eyes of the Hollow Men swirled expectantly.

  “I know of no such Vampire that could be disloyal.”

  “Then the execution shall commence immediately.”

  “Very well mistress, I shall be in my quarters.”

  Vampiress put a hand on his shoulder. It felt cold, even though it was gloved. “Ohh no, Conductor, you shall remain here to watch the execution, it shall take place here, inside the first car.”

  “But, I have important work to attend to,” he lied.

  “It can wait; surely you understand the importance of discipline.” She turned toward the Hollow Men. “Bring the Stoker, Rolfe.”

  Lok wanted to yell at the top of his voice and tear Vampiress’ eyes out with his nails, then, take those eyes, which have no doubt gazed upon countless executions, and ram them down the throats of these insidious Hollow Men.

  Less than two minutes later Rolfe was brought before him. A red bruise on his left cheekbone, it healed quickly due to Rolfe’s Vampire metabolism, but Lok knew the worst was yet to come. “Conductor why am I here?”

  “Because you are a traitor, that’s why,” Vampiress said.

  Rolfe ignored her words and looked at Lok. “Conductor, please, I’ve been cleared of any wrong-doing.” Lok’s heart cried out for him to act.

  Vampiress slapped Rolfe across his right cheekbone. “You should be addressing me, worm. I am in command now.” She nodded to the Hollow Men, who forced Rolfe to his knees. “I’m sorry, Rolfe,” Lok said. If these were the types of sacrifices he had to make then he knew he would be damned.

  One of the Hollow Men drew a Black Cube from inside his Jacket and activated it. It started pulsing before a white light shot out from it and engulfed Rolfe. He screamed in pain alongside Lok’s conscience as the white energy extirpated his essence. His skin turned from a vampire white to a dull beige hue. Lok’s fingers ached as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

  After a few moments Rolfe collapsed face-first. The Hollow Men dragged his lifeless hulk out of the first car. Vampiress smiled at Lok, as if she had just done her good deed for the day. “Carry on, Conductor.”

  Lok would carry on, but whether or not his soul could was another matter.

  • • •

  “I watched a good vampire die today.”

  Lok had forced Flick to meet him inside the main lobby of the Great W
estern Royal Hotel, near Paddington station, away from the prying whirlpools of Hollow Men. The bartender kept looking around nervously. But despite his jittery exterior, his voice remained calm. “More innocents will die if we don’t stay the course. I never said this was going to be easy, Conductor.”

  “I know, but you don’t know how much I wanted to kill Vampiress today.”

  “If you had even attempted it, both you and I, and, the rest of the crew would’ve been killed, immediately. I know watching Rolfe die was difficult; you did the right thing, Lok.”

  Lok was not so sure about that. “I want the name of that London Grand Militia operative.”

  “I’m not sure that’s such a good idea. The situation is already precarious, let’s not unsteady it further.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Flick leaned in closer. “We’re planning a major operation.”

  “When?”

  “Soon,” Flick whispered. He stood up and put on his jacket. “Don’t do anything rash, Conductor. Your conscience is the least of our problems. Wait for me to contact you. Or else we’ll all end up like Rolfe.”

  {3}

  When Jack got home from Martha’s apartment he found Robert and Seamus waiting for him in his living room.

  “Robert!” Jack hugged his brother and looked him up and down. “I had given you up for dead.”

  “I was dead, before Seamus had me resurrected.” Jack did not know what his brother meant but he turned toward Seamus and shook the Irishman’s hand.

  “I’ve been looking for you too.”

  Seamus smiled. “I know, I’m sorry Jack, I’ve been busy.”

  “What about your ankle injury?”

  Seamus looked at Jack abashedly. “Sorry to have deceived you Jack; it was an act, I was monitoring the warehouse and did not want to endanger you any further. I was hoping you’d lose interest once I backed out of our investigation; I see it hasn’t.”