Part 14

Ethan Rayne watched Malcolm as he rearranged his trophies on the shelf. Next to the two trophies was a ginger beer bottle with blood in it. He had been trying to think up a plan that would put Malcolm in Willow's path or vice versa but he hadn't come up with anything yet.

As he watched the light play off of the blood he thought too bad there wasn't any way to do a newscast to get publicity. That would surely bring Willow out of hiding. He had no doubt that the goody goody that she was she would try to stop Jack the Ripper from killing the innocent women, especially if she found out that he was a vampire.

He thought about how to go about getting the publicity when an idea struck him. He would send a letter to the newspapers. Serial killers did it all the time. He grinned thinking about the reaction the letter would get not only now but also in the future. He tried to remember if Jack the Ripper had ever written to the press. He thought so but wasn't sure what he had said. Not that it mattered because the timeline had changed anyway. So who knows what was supposed to happen. He decided to send the letter to the Central News Agency.

Malcolm looked over at Ethan. He wondered what he was writing so earnestly. He glanced back at his prizes. The humans think they are so smart, he thought wryly especially his human pet Ethan. He knew that he was plotting and planning something but it didn't concern him. When it did he would take care of it. He was becoming weary of his pet anyway. Oh, he helped him with the women that he killed but sometimes he got too cocky. He would put him in his place soon. But for now, he was still useful.

Ethan looked up at Malcolm watching him. He just couldn't figure him out except that he was nuts! "Malcolm, I've come up with an idea. I thought to taunt the police and to make a joke about the leather apron rumor and that doctor rumor that is circling the area."  Ethan stood and showed him what he had written.

"Jack the Ripper. What kind of stupid name is that?" Malcolm asked. "I get the Ripper part but Jack?"

"Well I thought a very common name. Your name isn't common and neither is mine but think of all the Jacks there must be in London alone." He couldn't say, well in my time that was what you went by. Hmmm, maybe he was the reason the future thought Jack the Ripper was his name. Ethan liked that idea.

Malcolm thought about it for a bit then agreed. Maybe he will cut off a bit of ear from the next one. That was a good suggestion.

Ethan re-read the letter before putting it in an envelope to send to the News Agency.

Dear Boss,


I keep on hearing the police have caught me but they wont fix me just yet. I have laughed when they look so clever and talk about being on the right track. That joke about Leather Apron gave me real fits. I am down on whores and I shant quit ripping them till I do get buckled. Grand work the last job was. I gave the lady no time to squeal. How can they catch me now. I love my work and want to start again. You will soon hear of me with my funny little games. I saved some of the proper red stuff in a ginger beer bottle over the last job to write with but it went thick like glue and I cant use it. Red ink is fit enough I hope ha. ha. The next job I do I shall clip the ladys ears off and send to the police officers just for jolly wouldn't you. Keep this letter back till I do a bit more work, then give it out straight. My knife's so nice and sharp I want to get to work right away if I get a chance. Good Luck.

Yours truly
Jack the Ripper

Dont mind me giving the trade name

PS Wasnt good enough to post this before I got all the red ink off my hands curse it No luck yet. They say I'm a doctor now. ha ha

~~~~~

Hannah and Albert had left early in the morning to return to their country estate needing to take care of some business. They had asked Willow to accompany them but she had respectfully declined. She figured they should have some alone time and she would like some alone time as well. She told Albert to let the staff have off because she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself for the few days they would be gone. That would give the staff time off to be with their family like they would have done if she hadn't come to London.

Willow picked up the morning paper and almost dropped it again. Was this for real? She thought she remembered Jack the Ripper writing to the newspapers but was this really from Jack the Ripper or a wannabe copycat? Willow re-read the letter in the paper to see if she could get any clues as to authenticity. I guess I won't know until his next victim has part of an ear cut off, she thought. She didn't remember that in the victims' information but all she could really remember was that they had been disemboweled. That kind of fact sort of sticks in your mind more than a victim had a missing part of ear.

~~~~

William, Drusilla, Angelus and Darla made their way through the streets of London. They had abandoned the Whitechapel area because everyone was watching everyone. Paranoia was rampant there and that made it very difficult to find victims without a lot of people seeing you. Nothing like a stake to the heart or decapitation to ruin a good meal.

They entered a pub and each picked out a potential meal. They separated and went on the hunt. Darla found a handsome but not quite bright man, she tended to pick them the most often. All they saw was a pretty face never seeing the calculating gleam until it was too late.

Angelus found himself a barmaid. She was very pretty, small and blonde. Not too bright and she easily fell for his glib tongue. She didn't see the Machiavellian mind under the handsome face.

William left the pub to follow his meal out the door. As he left he passed Drusilla smiling shyly at a man in the corner. He winked as he walked by her.

William's meal made his way down the road and turned into a courtyard. William tapped him on the shoulder and the man turned. "Yes, may I help you?"

"Actually mate you can." He vamped and the man gasped. "Mmmmm, I just love the smell of fear."

William quickly drank the heady fear filled blood. Nothing like fear to add to the intoxicating taste of blood. He dropped his victim and turned to leave.

As he turned to leave the courtyard he stopped and sniffed. He thought he smelled Willow. Her scent always reminded him of his mother's garden after a spring rain. At first he had chosen her for a meal because of her scent but now all he thought about was Willow when he smelled it. He didn't think of his family at all.

Following the scent he came to a townhouse close to where he had introduced her to Angelus. He made his way to the back and there she was. There were no lights except for the soft light of the street lamp further down and the small light from a window. He watched the moon reflect off her white skin. She was beautiful.

Willow turned when she heard a small sound behind her. William! Where had he come from and how did he find her? She slowly smiled. She really didn't care, she was just happy that he was here.

"Good evening, William. How did you find where I was staying?"

"Fate again, Willow. Darla, Angelus, Dru and I were at a pub a few blocks over. When I came out for a stroll I thought I smelled you."

She wrinkled her nose at him, "Are you saying I stink?"

He laughed. That was the first time Willow had heard him genuinely laugh and she discovered that she liked it. "No, love. You have a very distinctive scent and I thought I smelled it in the breeze."

He moved closer and took her in his arms, "I think it's time we finished our discussion."

"Oh is that what they call it in these times? See, where I come from it's called making out."

"What is making out?"

Willow smiled as she reached her arms around his neck, "This." She pulled him closer and leaned up and kissed him. She ran her tongue over his lips until he opened for her.

"Mmmm, I think I like this making out."

"Gets better." She said as she pressed herself even closer.

William walked backwards with Willow in front never taking his lips from hers. Finally he hit the wall he was aiming for. He turned them around until Willow's back was against the wall. His hips rocked into hers and she moaned into his mouth. Goddess, he felt so good. His lips left hers and trailed down her neck. She let her head fall back to give him better access. "Don't even think about biting."

He chuckled and inhaled her scent. "I don't think I can think much at all right now." He continued kissing her throat and moved lower. Willow's hands left his neck and started exploring his chest and back. She grabbed his butt and pulled him closer until the only thing separating them was a thin layer of clothes. She felt his erection at the junction of her thighs and rocked into it. She was pretty much cursing the stupid long dresses of the era. She wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and she wasn't able to. "William, please."

"Yes, William please."

Willow and William stopped instantly. That voice was as effective as someone throwing a bucket of cold water on them. William didn't move from Willow. He turned to face him with Willow behind.

"What do you want, Angelus?" He all but growled.

"You didn't have to stop on my account." Angelus smirked and looked at Willow. "I like to watch."

Willow narrowed her eyes at him. She was really close to forgetting that Angelus becomes Angel. She was very tempted to send a fireball up his ass and watch him explode.

This time William did growl and flashed yellow eyes. Angelus held up his hands, "Now, now boy. Don't do anything hasty. Dru was just concerned that you hadn't returned to the pub. So out of the kindness of my heart I went searching."

William's eyes slowly returned to ice blue. "How did you find us?"

Angelus pretended to sniff for a scent. "Love was in the air." He winked at both William and Willow.

William turned and gave a quick kiss to Willow, "I should go, love." He whispered in her ear, "Next time we won't be interrupted."

She smiled and returned his kiss. William walked passed Angelus and onto the street. Angelus got close to Willow and whispered in her ear, "You ever want a taste of a real man and not a boy, I'll be here."

The fireball was looking better and better with each word that Angelus uttered.