The Diary of the Vam’pir Jacques (The Diaries of the Immortals #1)

Chapter Twenty.

I remained in London playing the grieving fiancé, and then, after a while, I went out and began to enjoy life once more. Sometimes I ran across the Hamiltons, and it was hard to look them in the face.

Other times, I bumped into James, but luckily, that was rare, and I always left before him. Julia stayed in London, and we had become closer than ever. We weren’t in each other’s pockets, but we did visit each other regularly. People talked as they wondered what our relationship was. Neither of us minded the rumours or gossiping happening behind our backs. In a perverse sort of way, we enjoyed it.

Soon, four years had passed, and I began to see Julia less as we both went separate ways. We still visited at least once a week, but not daily. It was just a case of bumping into each other at balls or friend’s homes.

March of 1888 arrived, and life changed forever. A prostitute, Ada Wilson, was stabbed twice in the neck. The murder was completely ignored except by those of Vampiric nature. Why should anyone care about a prostitute’s death? Stabbing someone in the neck was rare, and Julia and I paid attention. We wondered and waited, but when nothing else came along, we just put it down to a freak murder.

Months ticked past until August. August 31 st , 1888.

The victim’s identity requires no explanation.

This was the first of what became known as the Ripper Victims, and her name was Polly Nichols. The killing made the papers, but it wasn’t taken much notice of until 8 th September when Annie Chapman was killed.

This time, the papers screamed blue murder (no pun intended) and linked the deaths of Polly Nichols with Annie Chapman.

Julia and I rightfully guessed that we had a serial killer on our hands. While the papers didn’t link Ada to Polly and Annie, we did. That was three victims. Vampiric curiosity was roused as the police announced they had received a letter with the murderer calling himself Jack the Ripper.

London reacted with horror, but nobody appeared to be solving anything. Investigations yielded no results. The detective, Frederick Abberline, appeared lost and didn’t have any leads.

Following the discovery of two more murdered prostitutes on September 30 th , riots erupted. Elisabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes had been killed within an hour of each other.

The mutilations were extreme, and the Vam’pirs in London searched for the guilty culprit.

But our senses picked up nothing, and they should’ve. The only reason they would’ve failed if it was a vampire doing the killing. By now, Li’zel and Ami, along with Pari and Emil, had joined Julia and me in London. There were six Vam’pirs hunting the Ripper.

Sadly, it was me who found him, or should I say… her?

Four nights before the murder of Mary Kelly, I was walking through the back streets of London when I saw an unusual sight. I had to look twice before I could believe my eyes.

A well-dressed woman hurried through the streets, accompanied by a manservant. The female belonged to high society.

Puzzled, I followed from a distance and was confused when she entered a slum. The fellow stood outside, and a while later, they left. Still curious, I followed, and then I noticed the Ripper.

He was shadowing them and hadn’t realised that I was also following. The Ripper moved quickly and struck the fellow on the head.

“Lady Elizabeth!” the man cried as he collapsed as a second blow hit him.

Wondering who the hell Lady Elizabeth was, I ran forward.

Holding a hand over the woman’s mouth, he dragged Lady Elizabeth into an alley and held a blade to her throat. Elizabeth’s eyes widened, and she hung limply in his arms.

Clearly, she knew who held her. I reached out and grabbed an incredibly strong man.

I found myself being thrown back against a wall, and the Ripper turned towards me with the weapon poised to be thrown, and then he paused.

With a muffled sob, the Ripper threw the knife and grabbed a black bag from the ground and ran away.

I had little time to reflect before the lady fainted. I rushed to catch Lady Elizabeth before she soiled her clothing in the filth that lined the streets.

There was a groan from behind, and the manservant rose unsteadily to his feet. My eyes widened in surprise as he pulled a wicked-looking knife from inside his coat, and, facing me, he thrust it forward.

“Why don’t you let the lady go?” he rasped, still trying to clear his head.

I smiled reassuringly, or so I thought.

I began, “Now look here, man—”

“I know what you are. Release the lady now.”

“Do you want your mistress laid in the filth? I think not. I am not the one that struck you. He was chased off. Shall we get Lady Elizabeth somewhere safe and away from prying eyes? I’m sure that although the citizens of lower London would like a show, I am not quite prepared to give them one.”

I nodded my head towards the top of the alley, where several figures were lurking in the shadows. The manservant considered my words, and then signalled me forward.

“I’ll be right behind you,” he said, the threat all too obvious in his voice.

Unconcerned, I walked out of the alley and walked to a more reputable part of the district. Once there, the lady started to rouse, and she opened violet-coloured eyes that held me spellbound.

Confusion reigned for an instant until she realised that an unknown man was carrying her through the streets of London.

“Put me down; I can walk,” she exclaimed in panic. Without further argument, I set Lady Elizabeth down.

She straightened her dress. “Jeeves!” she shrieked.

“Here, miss,” Jeeves said, still holding the knife.

“Your head?” Lady Elizabeth demanded, brow frowning in concern.

“Clear enough to hold this gentleman.”

Lady Elizabeth looked at me in the gloom and shook her head.

“No, it’s quite all right, Jeeves. This is not the person who attacked. In fact, you are holding the Marquis Du Mont hostage. Please accept our apologies, my lord.”

Lady Elizabeth’s voice rolled over me, leaving me fascinated. The soft tones left me wishing that Elizabeth would say more. Her voice was like velvet, with none of the affectations that women’s voices usually held.

Suddenly, I realised I was staring and pivoted my gaze towards Jeeves. The servant had a nasty cut on the side of his head, which would become a large lump by morning.

“That needs checking out. And cleaning at the very least,” I suggested as Jeeves put the blade away.

I wonder what Jeeves would have said if I had told him I could’ve taken the knife any time I wanted to. Inwardly, I smiled as I wondered even further what Jeeves would’ve done if I claimed a stab wound wouldn’t have killed me.

“You recognise me, Lady…” I paused, searching for a name.

“Elizabeth Barrington. I should, my lord, you are one of my brothers closest set.”

Interest fully roused, I studied Elizabeth in interest, now puzzled as to what she was doing in the slums. Truthfully, she looked nothing like Barrington. Elizabeth had dark auburn hair that fell in ringlets down her back and was tall like him but very slender. Her eyes were violet and framed by long, curling lashes.

“Apologies for not recognising you. Such a terrible insult to a beautiful lady.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere, I am afraid. Damn, my dress is filthy.”

Shocked, I rocked on my heels. A most un-ladylike word to say. Elizabeth smiled grimly. “A little shocked, Marquis Du Mont? Try having David as a brother, and you’ll find yourself picking up the most terrible language.”

Amused, I laughed at Elizabeth’s bluntness.

There was no denying my attraction. This was the companion Caroline should’ve strived to be. Elizabeth was witty and charming. However, I realised immediately I couldn’t make Elizabeth a Vam’pir.

The girl was Barrington’s younger sister, and there was no way on earth that I would deprive him of Elizabeth’s witty company.

Barrington was one of my best friends, and although I admit to not paying much attention to his sister, Barrington doted on her. Now, it was easy to see why. I had screwed up the Hamiltons’ lives, causing untold damage, and I wouldn’t do that to a friend.

A little upset, I sighed. If only Elizabeth been someone else’s sibling. But that didn’t mean that I would not avail myself of Elizabeth’s company. Friends were always welcome.

“If I know Barrington, he had you climbing trees and swimming in the ponds on your estate,” I replied.

Elizabeth nodded her head and laughed.

“But what will Barrington say to you arriving home in this state, I wonder? Barrington wouldn’t be too pleased to learn that you were walking around the slums of London late at night.”

Elizabeth frowned and peered down at her dress again.

“Suppose I can’t sneak in, can I? There is no way to explain this type of damage. Wait, I’ll send Jeeves on ahead to fetch a cloak. Then I can creep in through the servant’s quarters. That’s my plan.”

Elizabeth looked pleased with her reasoning.

“You’ve forgotten one thing,” I said.

Elizabeth frowned, going over her plan in her head. “What’s that?”

“Me. I know that you’ve been running around the slums. Why shouldn’t Barrington learn your activities? Barrington would be utterly devastated should anything befall you. Lady Elizabeth, you owe me a satisfactory explanation. Should it be reasonable, then I’ll never tell your brother. Offer me a lame excuse, and I will tell Barrington exactly what you’ve been doing.”

“Personal business.”

“Not good enough, Lady Elizabeth.”

We had left the slums, and Jeeves followed faithfully behind. Jeeves was listening to everything said, and I noticed he still held the knife, ready for if the need arose. I saw a hansom cab and stepped onto the road to hail it.

The driver stopped, and I helped Elizabeth and Jeeves into the carriage. I climbed in and told the driver to my address. Elizabeth gazed at me as if judging how much to divulge. Sternly, I gazed back, and finally, Elizabeth saw that there was nothing to do but explain the whole story.

“This concerns my maid, Lilly. Her mother lives there. Lilly departed my employ recently without notice. Just packed a few clothes and left. A few days ago, my cook saw Lilly around this area and informed me. Cook knew I was concerned, and Jeeves had been searching for Lilly. Cook, Mrs Bains, approached Lilly, and Lilly told her she was looking after her mother, who was sick, but Mrs Bains thought she was lying.”

“This is all very interesting; however, why are you here?”

“Well, Lilly had been with me for years, we were children together. Lilly would’ve informed me if her mother was ill. It made no sense for Lilly to just leave without saying anything. Jeeves and I began searching and discovered her two nights ago.”

Elisabeth sighed, and her face fell into sadness.

“Lilly has had a baby. That is why she couldn’t remain. The disgrace.”

“What about the father?”

“Lilly doesn’t know who he is. She says she was attacked, and I believe her. But Mother wouldn’t allow an unmarried mother in the house, and Lilly fled. Lilly planned to return with some excuse but without the baby. Mother would not have taken Lilly back into service, but Lilly is not thinking straight. I’ve been taking Lilly’s clothes and money while we try to sort this mess out. Lilly cannot give the child up even though it was a result of violence, and she loves it dearly.”

The cab pulled up outside my home. Leaping lightly into the street, I looked around and saw it was deserted. Checking my surroundings, I helped Elizabeth down and led her inside. Jeeves followed dubiously.

“Why are we here?” Elisabeth finally realised she was not home.

“Jeeves can run to your house and fetch you some fresh clothing and you’ll change here. Then, you can enter through the front door with the excuse that you went for a walk with Jeeves. While walking, you met me, and I escorted you back.”

“That is not acceptable behaviour.”

“It’s somewhat preferable to wandering through the slums. Perhaps a tad more defendable than sneaking through the servant’s entrance. Word of that event would eventually reach your mother’s ears. I believe Lady Barrington is distressed enough without hearing of your late-night exploits. Plus, we must address the attack.”

Elizabeth paled, and I saw she had managed to put that out of her mind.

Remarkably, I realised Elizabeth intended to go back despite the fact she could’ve died tonight.

Jeeves saw I was working myself up to chastise her. He left the room so he could give his mistress some privacy during what was going to be embarrassing for her. Grimly, I smiled at Jeeves as he strode away.

“Do you’ve any idea who it was who attacked you? That was the bloody Ripper! You must have known what was happening with those shocking murders. I do not doubt for one minute that you haven’t heard. The whole of London is talking about them, even delicately brought up ladies such as yourself.”

Angrily, I rose up from the chair I was sitting in and stood above her.

Elizabeth peered up without an expression on her face.

“What if I hadn’t met you? The Ripper would have torn you into pieces. How do you think Barrington would have felt when identifying your body?”

Now, Elizabeth looked sick, but I wasn’t finished.

“Recently, you lost your father. Do you really think Barrington wishes to bury his sister as well? London slums present danger, regardless of the time of day. I cannot believe that you would have been so stupid to walk them alone at night.”

“Jeeves was with me,” Elizabeth muttered, like a sulky child.

“Some help Jeeves was. The Ripper knocked him over the head. You might have killed Jeeves as well as yourself. Barrington would be terribly shocked if he learnt of your actions, all because of a maid.”

“Lilly needed me!” Elizabeth hissed, her temper stirring.

“Lilly would not want your death on her conscience. Or that of Jeeves. If I had not been there…” I stopped and allowed Elizabeth’s imagination to take over.

Slowly, it did, and Elizabeth looked suitably contrite and scared. Now, it was sinking in just how close a call she had indeed had.

“But I would do it again, and you can’t stop me. Lilly needs my help, and she’s suffered enough, and I don’t intend to desert her.”

Stubborn little madam.

I sighed as my anger fell away. “Lilly means that much to you?”

“Yes. Despite our rank, Lilly was like a sister to me. I would not desert Lilly to the mercies of fate. London has already been very unkind. It would be even crueller for me to leave Lilly when she needs me.”

“Fine, tomorrow, send word to Lilly that you have found her a place of employment where she can also bring the infant. Give Lilly this address, and I will employ her. Having a child about does not bother me. Lilly can do light duties, so she has plenty of time to spend with the baby,” I said impulsively.

Elizabeth looked at me with the hope I was not jesting her. “You would do this? You would help an unknown person?” Elizabeth breathed, her face a study of emotions.

Confusion warred with gratefulness and a little suspicion.

“This ensures your night-time safety. Not for you or Lilly, I must admit, but for Barrington.”

Elizabeth rose to her feet and pecked me on the cheek.

“David is right. You have a very kind and generous soul. I see why David considers you a brother.”

This was news. I’d not realised that Barrington considered me like that.

“David thinks so much of you and considers you one of his very best friends. It is clear why. I didn’t believe him, but now I see what David can. Thank you for helping Lilly.”

At that moment, Jeeves returned with some clothes, and I sent Elizabeth up to my bedroom. Fifteen minutes later, Elizabeth returned in clean clothes and left.

Sitting down after they had gone, I rang for Marks, and he entered within a few seconds.

“Marks, we’ll have another maid coming tomorrow. Her name is Lilly, she will have a young infant with her—”

“A baby?” Marks cut in, confused.

“Yes.” I sighed. “Please, can you see that Lilly only receives light duties on my orders? Also, see to it that she has everything she needs for herself and the child. Tell Mrs Kingston (my housekeeper) that if there is anything Lilly requires, then she is to go out and buy it. Speaking of purchases. If there is anything that you or any other member of my household need, make a list and charge it to me.”

Marks nodded and smiled.

I was always generous towards servants. For I never knew if I would need their help one day. Treating them right paid off in the long run.

Marks had once informed me a position in my household was sought after. He claimed I was known in London as one of the best employers, if not the best. I was a great believer in showing people respect and kindness. My staff could come to me if they required help. A few of them had done so over the years (I’d done my best to support them), and I knew that I had their loyalty until their dying days.

My staff understood something different about me. Even so, they readily rose to my defence if someone of their acquaintance said a word wrong.

Marks was aware of my Vam’pirism yet kept it confidential. The loyal man would take the secret to his grave. I don’t think that it really bothered him. If it did, Marks never mentioned it. As he turned to leave to give the orders to Mrs Kingston, I called out.

“Buy those cigars which you are fond of.”

Marks grinned before leaving the room. Our relationship possibly was not as formal as it should be. The staff performed better for the lack of formalities and if it worked, then why change it?

Wearily, I sat back in my comfy chair and pondered on the night’s events. The Ripper had sobbed and fled. Why? He couldn’t have known what I was, so why flee? Why weep, for that matter? That wasn’t because he’d been caught.

The Ripper had knocked out Jeeves and yet had not raised a hand against me. That sob kept worrying me. The cry resonated with familiarity, though the source eluded me. Sighing loudly, I left the study and walked to my bedroom. As I lay on the bed, I carried on analysing the memory repeatedly, trying to find that elusive detail.

Just as I was about to leave the problem alone for the night, the realisation hit me like a bolt from the blue.

Oh my God! Shocked, I sat upright, but I knew that I was correct. I extended my senses, searching for my quarry, but they were nowhere. They had completely closed themselves off. That was why they had run away.

The Ripper had known me and what I was capable of.

Christ almighty!

Damnation, I should have realised from the minute when I first met the Ripper who he was.

Worried, I rose from my bed and dressed in a hurry. Running down the stairs, I left and ran to where I knew the Ripper lived. The house was empty, with only the staff present. They were unaware of where my quarry hid. In a temper, I searched the bedroom and study for clues to The Ripper’s whereabouts but couldn’t find anything. For hours, I stalked the streets, looking for The Ripper, but to no avail. Finally, I gave up and returned to my house after leaving a note at his home.

I looked for the next three nights and found no sign of my suspect. The Ripper had vanished. November 9 th brought a wave of satisfaction, bordering on madness aimed, directly at me.

Luckily, I was at home as the feeling swept me off my feet, and I fell to the floor, clutching my head in my hands. This was personal, sent to taunt me, and it disclosed the sender’s whereabouts.

Unsteadily, I rose and made my way to Miller’s Court.

There, in a house, a sight so terrible confronted me; I was sick. The woman, now known as Mary Kelly, had been completely cut open. There was blood everywhere, and her organs had been removed. It looked as though I had entered an abattoir. In the middle of the bed, still merrily cutting and tearing, was The Ripper.

Aghast, I walked in the door and shut it behind me.

“Why?” I asked.

“Why not? They all deserved this. Why not kill them, Jacques?”

“Why did they deserve to die?” I questioned, approaching the bed and trying not to peer at the body.

Instead, I gazed into the eyes of the Ripper and witnessed the glint of madness. How had it been hidden from me?

“These bitches take a person’s soul and twist it. Good souls are imprisoned in these whores and witness how they torture them, Jaq. They corrupt and damage the soul so much it becomes unrecognisable in its anguish.”

The knife slashed again, and I swallowed.

“This is the last, isn’t Jacques? You have come to help, and now I must stop, but not before I leave this for the world to see. Tonight shall never be forgotten, and the warning will be heeded.”

“What warning, my darling?” I asked, taking the blade from cold and shaking hands.

“The message that prostitution is bad. It’s very naughty and mustn’t be allowed. They twist the souls inside those bodies and kill them.”

Hands now pummelled the bloody and torn carcass, and I winced as blood splattered onto my suit. I put a hand to my mouth and shook my head. The sight made me feel nauseous again. How had I not realised what was happening? The truth was, I should have.

I was partly to blame, as I had not seen the warning signs.

I took The Ripper by the arms and dragged them off the bed. The Ripper collapsed against me and started to cry.

I offered comfort and muttered nonsense, but inside of me, great anger was building.

“Why?” I exploded.

“ I saw Kierran’s soul! ” Julia screamed.

Julia fell into my arms and began babbling. I couldn’t make any sense of it. Julia kept repeating that Kierran’s soul should not inhabit that filthy body and that she had to free it.

I shook Julia repeatedly, but I was getting nowhere fast. Scooping her up, I fled the house of horror and ran to Hyde Park. This late at night, it would be deserted.

I kept stroking Julia’s hair and making soothing noises as she continued spurting random sentences.

Julia leapt from my grip and began pacing up and down the grass. She was waving her arms about and pulling at her hair. Julia ranted for at least an hour before she calmed enough for me to talk.

The state of Julia left me heartbroken, and I cursed myself repeatedly for not realising what was happening.

I should have known ; the thought kept running though my head, and the guilt was tremendous. Had I had been so engrossed in my life that I’d not realised Julia required help, needed me? There was a unique bond between us. It had been there ever since Julia had rescued me from the guilt over Father. Yet, despite our closeness, Julia hadn’t been able to inform me what was happening.

However, I must ask, would I have listened? Probably not, I was that selfish. Well, Julia needed me and now would have my full attention. Julia had never judged me over that fiasco with Caroline, and I would not judge her now.

“Darling heart, tell me what is wrong,” I said softly, pulling Julia onto my lap.

Julia curled up in a ball, and it felt like she was trying to climb inside my skin. She burrowed into my chest and sat there for a few minutes. Julia slowly lifted her head and stared me full in the face. The madness remained, but sanity was present, too.

“I had been hunting when I came across her. Her name was Polly Nichols. I tried to avoid her, they’re diseased creatures, all of them. But Polly raised her head and looked right at me, and Kierran’s soul blazed out from her eyes. I froze, not knowing what to do.”

Julia hissed in anger.

“I wanted to flee but was drawn back. I returned and got to know Polly. She’d had such a hard life, but all I kept seeing was his soul . Jacques, Polly had five children. How unfair when we couldn’t even have one? I was not a prostitute, and yet God did not allow me to have a single child. Polly had to be punished.”

“You killed her,” I asked.

Well, it wasn’t a question. Julia had, but I needed her to confirm it.

“Oh yes, I slit Polly’s damned throat,” Julia replied gaily.

It was almost as if we were just discussing dinner or the latest ball. I felt fear.

Was Julia too far gone? Could I do something to help Julia regain sanity? Healing would take years, perhaps a lifetime.

“What else did you do?” I asked gently, not wanting to upset her.

“I slashed Polly’s womb so she could not have any more children. How could Kierran do that to me? He was mine, yet Kierran had sex with another man so he could have children. How could Kierran do that? What about my needs? Oh, they did not matter anymore, did they? I was nothing to him. Kierran didn’t even recognise me… me who had loved him all my life.”

More ranting followed, and Julia leapt up and paced again.

I couldn’t take everything in. There was too much to handle. Julia kept calling Polly Kierran and confusing the two of them. In sadness, it slowly dawned on me, that seeing Kierran’s soul in a prostitute had broken Julia.

She ranted for about another hour, and I allowed her. I sensed Julia needed to get it out of her system. I was in shock as Julia spat out detail after detail of the murders, never once showing remorse or sorrow.

Polly Nichols, had been the catalyst, and Julia felt that she needed to free all the ‘lost’ souls. In a way, I’d been correct when I assumed The Ripper was a vampire, but I hadn’t expected it to be a Vam’pir.

Julia began pulling at her hair again, and in desperation, I slapped her. That stopped her, but for a moment Julia looked at me with such hatred, I cringed.

“Sorry!” Julia exclaimed. “I didn’t mean it.”

Julia patted my face gently. Briefly, I believed Julia returned; however, her eyes retained their unsettling intensity.

“Where do we go from here?” I asked.

“You know where, Jaq. You must kill me and stop this misery I’m suffering. I will kill again, and next time, it might be an innocent like Elizabeth Barrington. Oh, I saw you and recognised her. What’s a well-heeled lady doing walking the streets of London that late?

“All I was going to do was cut Elizabeth’s womb. Why should Elizabeth damned Barrington have a chance when I didn’t? Damn you, Maurick! How could you do this to me? ” Julia shrieked.

She spun around, eyes blazing.

“Maurick haunts me, Jaq. Maurick doesn’t forgive us for not accepting him. And Maurick means to kill from beyond the grave. Don’t let Maurick get me, please.”

Julia fell to her knees, sobbing.

I raised Julia’s head gently and saw that she was right. The torment Julia was suffering would never end. Julia would remain a tortured soul. This recent sighting of Kierran’s soul had destroyed her fragile grip on reality. She had no control over her actions.

I felt like I was dying myself at the knowledge of what I’d have to do. But I owed Julia this. I owed her the peace she craved. How long Julia had sought it, I don’t know, but we were not suicidal, not the Vam’pirs.

“Kill me. I deserve to die, and I want death. I lack the courage to die by my hand, you have to help. Save me from Maurick. He hides in the darkness and mocks me. Jacques, I am wounded, Jaq, and I cannot heal. Leave me be!” Julia hissed over my shoulder.

I turned and looked. There was nobody present, of course there wasn’t. But I couldn’t help myself.

“I want to join Kierran. Jacques, I freed his soul for that purpose, and now it is my time. Do it, do it, do it to me. Kill me and let me go. Give me your blessings. Free me from this eternal prison. I will kill that Barrington bitch, Jaq. I saw how you looked at Elizabeth. If you won’t help me, then I’ll take her and make Elizabeth bloody Barrington suffer. Worse than that little whore back there.”

“Come,” I said, taking Julia by the arm.

“You’ll do it? You will help me?” Julia asked, biting her bottom lip in anguish.

“Come,” I repeated, leading Julia away from the park and out of London. We flew across the land to Devon, where there were rocks that jutted out of the sea.

I would tie her to one of these, and Julia would have the peace that she craved. She was too far gone for me—or anyone else—to help.

Julia’s rantings deepened as we raced towards her death. My heart was heavy, but I accepted the responsibility for what I must do.

We reached the coast at Dawlish, and I searched along the coastline till I found what I was looking for. Julia raved at my side the entire time.

It was too late for Julia. There was no saving her.