Chapter Twenty-Four:

Henry heard a rather violent crash from Angelique's room. Then he heard another. He ran up the stairs and pounded on the door. "Rodney Skinner!" he yelled through the door. "If you don't stop destroying things in there, I will deport you to her house! Then see how much you miss her!"

The door opened and Henry saw no one there. But he heard Skinner sigh loudly. "I know, Jekyll," he muttered. "And what's worse, now that she's gone, I can't stop thinking about her and I'm having a bit of a problem keeping control of my visibility."

"What do you mean?"

"When I took the antidote she made for me, it made me visible, right?" he asked. Henry nodded. "But, I discovered that I could become invisible whenever I wanted to. So the antidote really only gave me control over my visibility-invisibility status. It's like a complex. And with her gone, I can't concentrate on anything except how much I miss her and need her with me, so I flicker between the two states… Does that make sense?"

Henry nodded. "Almost," he said. "We'll think of something to help you out. But, in the meantime, I would appreciate it if you would stop ruining my furniture and think of some way to get Mrs. Gull to leave. She still thinks Angelique is here and is demanding to see her."

"Why don't you tell her that Angelique's dead?" Skinner suggested, flickering into visibility. With his complex, his clothes changed states as well. For that, Henry was grateful. "Technically she was never really alive. But, she's in Heaven, now isn't she? So she could pass for dead."

"That may just work," Henry murmured, thinking quickly. He had just heard the front door slam open and Lydia shriek about seeing Kate immediately. "Thank you." He flew down the stairs to meet Lydia at the door. "Yes, Mrs. Gull? Did you need something?"

"Yes!" Lydia spat. "I want to see my sister! Where is she?"

Henry shook his head solemnly. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Gull," he said. "But, last night, your sister was found murdered in Whitechapel. Her throat was slit open and her body mutilated. Either your husband wasn't really Jack the Ripper, or someone else was imitating him."

Lydia was shocked at the news. "She's dead?" she whispered, walking backward into the wall and leaning on it for support. "She can't be dead! She's Kate Bloody Bennet! She's killed more men than she's lived years! More than our mother's lived years! She's the most feared woman in all of England! Dr. Jekyll, surely you jest to tell me that she was murdered in Whitechapel like a Ripper Victim! She wouldn't have allowed the bastard to get anywhere near her!"

"True," he replied. "You're right, of course. But the fact remains that she is dead. Myself, my wife and our friend Rodney Skinner identified her body just this morning. I am truly sorry for your losses, Mrs. Gull. First your husband, then your sister. It's a horribly tragedy."

"I came to talk to her because I believe her," she whispered. "I found a journal in William's writing desk that I had never seen before. It detailed everything about the Whitechapel murders to every last drop of blood on the bodies. He even wrote about her walking in on him writing the 'From Hell' letter and letting her live because he knew her 'dirty, little secret', which I can only assume was her line of work, which started about that time. The last entry was of his last encounter with her here. How he had discussed everything with her, whether or not completely, I'm not sure. How he had cut her skin, and drank her blood, and how the wound healed itself quickly. Then how he discovered that she was married and he cut her stomach open and left her for dead." Tears fell from Lydia's eyes. "I believe her… I believe her… And she's gone."

"Henry, what's going on out here?" Mina asked as she entered the hall. She saw Lydia crying. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Henry quickly walked over to Mina and whispered, "We need to pretend that Kate Bennet is dead—a victim of a Jack the Ripper imitator. At least until we figure out if we will ever see her again, that is. Please, play along." Mina nodded, then took Lydia into the sitting-room for some tea. Henry leaned against the nearest wall and sighed, realising that this task would prove to be very difficult indeed…

Angelique was sitting in the tallest tree in the Archangel garden, gazing into the distance, never speaking to anyone, never leaving her position, never tearing her eyes from the distant location she had chosen to stare at. Gabriel had, on several occasions, attempted to speak to her, but she would never respond. She would sigh, then continue to ignore him. He hated to see her in such a state. So he went to God to speak to Him about it.

Tell me again why you are upset, Archangel Gabriel…

Gabriel nodded. "My Lord," he said. "The Archangel Angelique spends all her days sitting in the tallest tree of the Archangel gardens. She will not move. She will not speak. She continues to stare at some distant location unknown for all the hours of the day and ignore any request to engage her in conversation. She has discarded her duties as an Archangel and her hair is turning a ghastly shade of grey. I fear for her Grace, my Lord."

She has lost her Grace once, Gabriel. If she loses it once again, it will not harm her. I restored her to Grace, I need her here. Do you know why she does this?

The Archangel shook his head. "I do not, Lord," he admitted. "Though, I can suppose that it is because she was torn away from her beloved. The Mortal—Rodney Skinner."

The one with the ability to become Invisible… Ah, yes, him. Her relationship with him was unhealthy for an Angel of her abilities and station. It needed to be dissolved.

"She loves him, Lord!" Gabriel protested. "You teach Your children, do You not, to love others as disciples of Your Gospel? How can You make such teachings, then disallow your most faithful Angel to love? You are a jealous God, true, but she does not put the Mortal before You, only herself."

SILENCE! Gabriel, you have stepped beyond your bounds. I will do as I wish with my servants. You are to never question that. Bring her to me… NOW!

Gabriel nodded. "Yes, Lord," he murmured, then left in search of Angelique.

She stood before her Lord moments later, bowed to him, then asked, "What is Your will, my Lord?"

Gabriel tells me you are unhappy here. Why?

She hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I have always loved You, my Lord. You know this. I have always been a faithful servant to whoever was my master. Know You this also. But, while I was in the servitude to the Devil, I discovered the few pleasures Mortal Men may know. I confess that I had indulged myself in these vices and enjoyed them as any Mortal Woman would. But, there came a time when I had met a man like no other I had known. This man was Rodney Skinner. He was one of the few reasons why I was able to bear serving the Devil. I… I love him, my Lord. Nothing can alter my opinion or my knowledge of that. And while I am here, in Heaven, I am without him. I cannot continue on in this manner, Lord, lest I discontinue to exist at all."

You have made your point poignantly and clearly, Angelique. Is there a Wish you may have to help alleviate this pain you feel?

"My Lord," she whispered, tears forming at her eyes. "I have as of yet not asked of You my Angel's Wish. Were I to, I would wish to become a Mortal Woman so I may continue my existence with Rodney. But, there is a reason You have restored me to Grace. And I must obey Your commands at whatever cost to my happiness they may bring me."

You would wish to become a Mortal? She nodded. I will consider it. In the meantime, you will not enter the Archangel garden and you will continue your duties as an Archangel. Do I make myself clear?

"Inescapably, Lord," she nodded, joy filling her heart.

Go. I will send for you when I have come to my decision.

…