Part 16

Angelus made his way to the area where the vampire was supposed to have his lair. He couldn't feel any presence around so he entered the abandoned building on the wharf. He looked around the building until he came to a shelf in the corner. There were two jars with what looked like body parts and a ginger beer bottle with blood. Angelus thought, now why would he keep the blood? Why not just drink it up? He understood the body parts in jars. There was a time when he would torture his victims and he would take parts of their body to remind him of happier times.

Angelus would have admired him if he hadn't been involved with the man that wanted to harm his witch. Looking through more things he found a journal and opened it.

August 6, 2004

Today I set in motion my plan to meet Jack the Ripper. I have been waiting for this time since I felt Willow's power. I needed her power added to mine so I could meet Jack the Ripper. When I read the journal that he had seen the red head and realized it was Willow, I knew the plan would work. Had already worked. Time travel tenses are really confusing.

There is a little known legend that the heart of his last victim holds great power. No one had been able to find the heart and if I can follow him, become a protégé, maybe I'll be able to steal the heart. I just don't know who the last victim is. I know from the journal he continued after Mary Kelly.

Angelus closed the book. So the power lies with the last victim. He'd have to find this Ethan Rayne and ask him what the power was. Angelus smiled in anticipation. It had been a long time since he had tortured someone.

~~~~

Robert Lee opened the morning paper with trepidation. Ever since he had these visions about the women being killed he dreaded reading the paper.

There had been a double murder on the 30th. The first victim had their throat cut but the second one was viciously murdered. They were no details but from the description of the first victim it sounded like what he had seen in his vision.

He left to make his appointment with Sir Albert Giles. He was to transcribe some of Sir Albert's research for him. He enjoyed working with Sir Albert and today they were to meet at his home instead of Oxford.

Albert rose when Ian brought Robert into the library. "Robert, glad you could make it. Ready to get started?"

Robert took the seat that Albert had indicated. "Where would you like me to start?"

Albert brought him a stack of papers. "Thank you for meeting me here instead of Oxford. Lady Hannah and I were late getting back from Devon. We'll start transcribing these."

Albert took half the stack and returned to his desk.

~~~~

Willow and Hannah were enjoying the garden. "Albert's clerk Robert Lee is helping him transcribe today. We were so late getting back from Devon that he asked him to meet him here instead of Oxford. I think you'll like Robert Lee. There is a mystical quality about him. I feel it every time I meet him. It is the same feeling I get when I'm around you."

Willow looked around before responding, "Do you think he has magickal abilities?"

"That I am not sure about but he does have something. I thought we would all have tea together here and you can see for yourself."

Willow smiled at her friend, "So you want me to use some magick to see if your feelings were correct?"

Hannah smiled, "I have no doubt that my feelings are correct I just wanted you to meet a nice young man."

She rose when Ann brought out the tea. "I'll go get Albert and James."

Hannah knocked on the library door and waited for Albert to answer.

"Come in."

Hannah entered, "Good afternoon, Robert."

"Good afternoon, Lady Hannah."

Hannah turned to Albert, "I thought you and Robert would like to take a break. Ann has brought tea and biscuits out to the garden for us if you'd like to join us."

Albert rose and kissed his wife on the cheek, "That would be lovely. Shall we?" He indicated Robert to follow them.

Walking into the garden he noticed Willow sitting by the table. "Miss Rosen may I present my clerk Robert Lee."

Willow nodded her head in greeting. Hannah was right she felt his magick. It was small but it was there nonetheless.

Robert was speechless. It was the red head from his vision. Gathering himself together he replied, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Rosen."

Willow was surprised at his response to her introduction. She knew she wasn't the type that inspired men to be speechless so why did Robert have that reaction. Could he feel her magick? She didn't think so. His own magick was so small he probably wasn't even aware of it.

They all settled down around the table and Hannah poured the tea.

Robert kept giving Willow surreptitious looks while everyone was enjoying their tea and biscuits. Who was Miss Rosen and why did she appear in my vision? Had she been there the night of the murders or was it something else? How could he find out?

Willow noticed Robert giving her curious looks. Why is he so interested?

Hannah noticed Robert's interest in Willow. She knew Willow had to go back to her own time but it would be good for her to meet nice men while she was here. She caught Albert's eye and motioned toward Willow and Robert.

Albert caught his wife's eye and looked toward Robert and Willow. Well, he seems interested. He keeps looking at her. He stood, "Robert, if you'll excuse us for a moment. Lady Hannah and I need to take care of something we'll return shortly."

Willow watched as Hannah and Albert left. Well that was as subtle as a sledgehammer. She turned to Robert maybe subtle didn't work, "Is there something about me that bothers you?"

"Bbbeg your pardon?"

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't help but notice you keep giving me curious looks."

Robert closed his eyes and swallowed. She's going to think I'm nuts. "I apologize. You just look familiar and I can't place where I saw you. You don't happen to belong to the Workmen's club do you?" There that ought to tell me if she's been there before.

Willow stiffened, oh just great. Someone saw me with Spike while trying to find Jack the Ripper the other night. "No but I was there with a friend the other night." Willow looked into his eyes trying to gauge his reaction.

"Were you there the night of the horrible murder?"

"Yes, it was terrible. We were too late."

Robert's eyes bored into Willow's. "Too late?"

"We were walking up the road when we saw two men running away."

"Just like my vision" Robert mumbled.

That got Willow's attention. "You have visions?"

"Wwwhat?"

"You said, just like my vision."

Robert looked at Willow's reaction but saw only curiosity not skepticism. He sighed, "I've been seeing things these last few months and I think they are the Ripper's murders."

"Have you gone to the police?"

"And have them send me to Bedlam? No, I haven't gone."

"But you should, at least to Scotland Yard. I mean what if you saw something that could catch this guy. You should offer your services even if they do laugh you out of the place. Can you live with yourself if you didn't try everything possible to at least help?" She took a deep breath, "Sorry, I'll get off my soap box now."

Robert smiled ruefully, "No, that is all right. I've had the same discussion with my conscience since this began. You just reminded me of it. I think I will go to the police tomorrow."

Willow smiled, "It'll be okay. Even if they do laugh at you, you'll know you did everything you could."