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Chapter 2: The Ripper

Whitechapel, London

          “I would recommend surrender,” Doctor Daedalus stated through the handkerchief held over his mouth and nose. The smell of death hung heavily in the air. The room would never be large enough to hold the blood, and the stench. Flies buzzed about, seeking out the fresh carnage.

           “This poor girl need not have died for your obsessions, Montague.” Daedalus made a mental note to burn his clothing adorned for this evening’s romp. The stench of decaying flesh and blood was hard to mask even with the finest of perfumes. He would never understand werewolves and their need to act upon the most carnal of wants. The devouring of a victim’s organ to sustain youth while affective for these creatures it did little for intellectual augmentation.  One could not simply eat to gain knowledge. 

          The lycanthropic man named Montague John Druitt, but known to the world as Jack the Ripper laughed as he sat nude in a pool of his victim’s blood. “Obsessions, if anyone knows of the power of the great intellectual muse it should be you, dear doctor.” Druitt’s dark eyes burned with madness in the low candle light.

          “There is no intellect in murder most foul; of this I can assure you. You have done well in covering your tracks to a point Montague, but you are but a novice in a very old game of hide and seek.” Doctor Daedalus knew his time for interrogation was running out, it would be only a matter of time before Inspector Abberline and his men would move in. “Five women dead. Quite a show you have put on for the city.  A show that no one will soon forget, and yet your hunger I would assume is far from sated?”

          “Are you calling me a glutton?” Montague growled.

          “Well if the adjective is correct.” Doctor Daedalus did not have time for this feral beast’s tournament of dominance. “Tell me who holds your leash and I can see that you are not put down, like a rabid animal. Her Majesty’s police are not known for kindness in regards to a murderer’s treatment. There is no need for you to die foolishly.”

          Montague giggled. His face was caked with dried blood and bits of flesh fell from his lips. “Did you think I would give up my master’s name so easily?” Another laugh boomed. “Now who is the fool?”

          “You are the bigger fool. Do you not find it disappointing, that your master is not here to protect his most loyal servant? Your secrecy only ensures that his life is saved, but not yours.” The doctor lowered his handkerchief and glared at the creature before him. 

          “What does your master tell you? There is glory in death. Perhaps honor? Well if that were the case, why do they not give up their life as well, and prove it for the entire world to see? You see Montague, there is the great lie you have so willingly become a fool of. You suffer, and your master is better for it. Tomorrow he could very well retire from this subterfuge, and you will still be a dead dog.” 

          Montague quickly stood up, rage making his lithe muscles twitch. He growled, face twisted with a snarl. Even in human form, he was dangerously strong due to his most recent feeding. The lycanthrope was about to attack when he heard a small buzz and whine from an odd looking hand gun that appeared in Doctor Daedalus’ hand. “I hold a silver infused lightning gun that promises to be effective and very painful. I would sit back down if I were you.”

          Montague did not like the doctor’s mention of silver and lightening in such close proximity to his naked form. He did not need to be a scientist to know that he had lost his tactical advantage.

          “Varney,” the lycanthrope growled.

          “So now the servant knows his master’s name. So where do I find, Varney, these days?”

          “I do not know. I have only seen him once at my initiation to his order.  His commands come by pigeon.”

          “Pigeon, how inventive and most untraceable,” Daedalus deduced with wonder in his voice.

          The sounds of the inspector and his men approaching were apparent to both men in the room. Time had run out, and soon the room would be crawling with Bobbies. “So you said you could get my life spared,” Montague suddenly pleaded. He steered his eyes away, like a cowering dog.

          “I did. Yet now you are not just some marauding werewolf, you are an uncouth servant of a well known malignant narcissist. Something I cannot let the good inspector know of.” Before Montague could react, the crackling of silver lightning filled the air around him as the strange gun discharged.  Its spidery effervescence ripped through Montague’s exposed flesh. The werewolf felt his heart burst inside his chest as death took him, a look of puzzlement frozen on his face forever.

          The door to the small flat burst open and several of Scotland Yard’s finest armed with revolvers secured the area.

          “Well the battalion has arrived at last,” Doctor Daedalus smirked and raised his hands to show that he was at present unarmed. The officers made no move to search him. They brandished their guns to make it clear he would not be leaving anytime soon.  The small flat was alive with dismay, as the men of Scotland Yard took in the ghastly scene with anguished grunts and pale faces.

          “Officers I assure you this crime is not of my doing. Hence there is no blood on my hands nor does any of my clothing, except for my shoes, much like yours, victims in passing alone. There is no way that I could have committed such atrocities and be so… impeccably clean.”

          The men ignored the Doctor’s remarks and kept their weapons pointing at him. Then without warning, a young officer, leaning on a nearby wall, retched uncontrollably, the murder scene too much for his young eyes.

          “Come now, surely the Yard’s finest have seen blood before? Granted there is quite a bit about.” The Doctor glared at the weak young man, and remarked,  “And now thanks to your weak stomach, most of the scientific evidence contained in said blood, is now tainted.”

          “Look who complains about tampering with evidence. A man I do not remember inviting to my crime scene.” The husky voice belonged to Inspector Abbreline who now stood in the doorway. The flat could not accommodate any more investigating visitors.   

          “Inspector, perhaps you can have your men be a bit friendlier to a scientific practitioner and agent of the Crown. There is more to this crime than meets the trained eye, and it involves things to which my services are required. If your men have the proper clearance, I would be happy to discuss the situation with them as well.”

          Inspector Abberline frowned at Daedalus, but signaled for his men to stand down. “I want everyone to wait outside, except for you, Doctor. I expect you men to keep the area outside protected. I do not want any writers or cameras from the local rag snooping about.” 

          The inspector allowed his men to exit the small grisly flat, and proceeded to enter himself. He closed the door behind him.

          “What exactly would require you to be involved with the Ripper case?” Inspector Abberline asked, as he looked about the room. Even though it was cold in the room, beads of sweat decorated his face. His cheeks had a decidedly bluish cast to them, and his adam’s apple bobbed a few times, as he convulsively swallowed.

          “Why seeking out the true identity of the Ripper himself of course, a personal request from the Queen.”

           “Doctor, do I need to waste time in sending one of my men over to Yard command to verify your statement?” 

          “Hindrance on your part for this matter does not in the slightest infuriate me; it will however bring the Queen some small displeasure.”

          Inspector Abberline gazed back down at the corpse on the floor. “Well at least that rabid dog has finally been put down. The real question is, where his master is?”
          “If you are referring to the Prince, he is long gone. Though I am not so sure that dog was his to control,” Daedalus stated flatly.

          “Another fine mess you have left for the Yard to cleanup good doctor,” the inspector spat.

          “I am quite sure this will be a most grateful mess to clean up. I believe your Ripper case has come to a gruesome close.” Doctor Daedalus smirked with audacity. “It took me one night to find the lycanthrope that has mocked your precious Yard for weeks now. Mind you this fellow’s imperial entanglements, they would have proven troublesome to say the least.”

          “One does not simply question a member of The Royal family, even if he is known on the streets to travel with such filth.”  Inspector Abberline grimaced.
          The doctor pertly nodded. “Correct. Now if you require nothing further, I must take leave and continue my investigation, and I would defer any further inquires about my comings and goings, to the throne itself.”

          The inspector gave the doctor a measuring glance. “Tell me truthfully, Doctor. Do you hunt these monsters because you are one of them, or does something else drive you?”

          He grinned at the inspector. “My dear Inspector, there is one mystery the whole of the Yard will never unravel.”  Doctor Daedalus tipped his bowler, and walked smartly away, leaving the Yard to clean up the Ripper’s bloody remains.