by O. M. Grey
“This thing that you make more important than women’s will, this has to go. I think you know that, don’t you, Willie?” I twirled the straight razor around in circles, extending the delectable moment. “You know you can’t continue hurting others, right? Manipulating, violating, sexually exploiting, using emotional and psychological blackmail. It stops here, Willie. Right here,” I positioned the razor over his shrunken weapon.
“Bon appetit, pour moi.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
ARTHUR
I never felt so proud as I did walking into the dining room with Chastity on my arm. Such a delight, so full of life. She made me feel alive again. Free! Through her, I could live again. Love again. Truly love once again, after so long.
We sat near the Starboard side, enabling us to look out the portholes as we pulled into London on this beautiful Christmas Morning. We had a delightful time in Paris, and I had had a delightful time in her. Over and over again. In Paris. Down an alley. In a church. Then, after a short reprieve—she wanted to play charades, but I couldn’t be bothered—all night long. I was rather famished and looking quite forward to breakfast.
“Look, my love. The Thames. It will be good to get home, don’t you think?”
“Yes, but remember, I’m only here for the holidays. Paris is my home.”
“We shall see about that.” Chastity’s face went from prettily pink to white in an instant. She swallowed hard and looked down at her hands in her lap.
I turned to see Avalon standing behind me, her cheeks rosy from what I could only assume was another blood meal. “Ava, my love! What a pleasant surprise.”
“Have you heard? Mr. McFerret has gone missing, just like Nicholas.”
“Oh, my! No, I hadn’t heard.”
“I thought you would be interested to know. Also, if you would be so kind as to allow Thomas to bring me my things over in Baker Street later today. I shall be heading straight there. I don’t have much, but if you wouldn’t mind instructing him what should return with me, I would appreciate it.”
Always the lady, my Avalon. I missed her already, and she looked so sweet this morning. That tiny “o” in the center of her lips beckoned me. As if she could read my mind, she pursed her lips tight, making my “o” disappear. Oh well, sometimes things just didn’t work out. Such were the ways of life and love. Plenty of other women to be had, no doubt. I reached over and took Chastity’s hand in mine, and giving it a little squeeze said, “Is that all, my dear?”
“Yes. That is all.” Her chin started to quiver when I had reached for Chastity, but I couldn’t understand why. Always with the tears, as if she didn’t know Chastity and I were together now. She saw it for herself, obviously. What was there to be so upset about? Too emotional, that woman. Indeed.
“Well, then.” Tilting my head, I locked Ava’s eyes with mine, questioning why she was still here.
Blood rimmed her eyes as the tears welled up. She turned and was gone. Good girl. Best not make a scene, especially with bloody tears. Yes. That would certainly be difficult to explain.
“That was rather awkward,” Chastity said.
“Was it? I didn’t find it so. Where on earth is our bloody tea?” Searching the dining room, all the waiters were busy with other guests.
“What do you think of that? Another disappearance. I wonder what we can discover about that.”
“Oh! My little cherry, do you have a mind for mystery?”
“I must admit, I do find it all rather fascinating. You knew Lord Stanton, did you not?”
“I did. Still not convinced of foul play, though. Well, not someone else’s anyway. It’s only been a week, hasn’t it?”
“True, but the blood. I heard there was blood at the scene.”
“Not much at all. No, I’m sure he’s fine. Good ol’ Nick.”
“So what about Mr. McFerret? He was a writer, wasn’t he?”
“One of the up-and-comers over at The Times, I understand. Strange for him to disappear while aloft, don’t you find? I wonder if they’ve searched the entire ship for a body. I suppose he could’ve fallen overboard.”
“I’d more expect that buffoon Doctor Nesbitt to fall overboard. Usually when I see him he can barely stand, let alone walk properly. Such a Lushington, that one.”
“In my time, I don’t think I’ve seen his equal in that regard, my love.”
“He’s quite crass, as well, don’t you find? Rather rude with the ladies.”
“Oh, my dear, rather rude all around, when he’s knackered. When he’s sober, though, he can be quite charming. That’s what’s important, isn’t it? Ah! Finally.”
“Sorry to have kept you waiting, M’Lord,” he said. “What would you like this morning, sir? Madam?”
“Tea all ‘round, I think, and some pastries as well. Pain au chocolate for the lady and a croissant for me. If you would, also bring some fruit and sausage.”
“None for me, but I wouldn’t say no to some eggs and tomatoes.”
“Yes. Sounds lovely. Make it a whole plate. There’s a good man. Sausage, eggs, baked beans, and tomatoes. Yes. Extra sausage for me as well. I’ll have the lady’s sausage for a change,” I said, winking at my love. Certainly she had enough of my sausage last night.
“Very good, sir. Right away.”
“The tea straight away,” I said as he turned away, making him spin back around to face us.
“Yes, M’Lord. Of course, M’Lord.”
Chastity savored every bite of the chocolate pastry, and I did love to watch her eat it. Every last morsel. Oh, this would be a fine New Year. Yes, indeed.
Just as we finished breakfast, Captain Blackwolf approached me.
“Excuse me,” he said, looking rather disappointed when he saw Chastity sitting next to me, but, no mind.
“Yes! Captain. Lovely cruise. Truly, sir. You are to be commended.”
“Thank you, Lord York, but I don’t think Mrs. McFerret would agree with you. You see, her husband is missing.”
“Yes. I heard. How very unfortunate.”
“Don’t you find it rather strange, just like Lord Stanton? There’s something you have to see, Arthur. Would you mind accompanying me to his cabin?”
“Ohh! Can I come, too?” Chastity sang. “I do love a good mystery.”
“Well, all right,” I said, patting her hand. “Lead the way, sir. We shall follow.”
Upon arriving in Mr. McFerret’s cabin, the first thing I noticed was the smell of blood. Much fresher than at Nicholas’s place, of course, as it had just happened. But there was something else, too.
“Ugh. That smell.” Chastity covered her nose and moved closer to the door.
“Yes. Blood,” I said, “and plenty of it, it would seem.”
“More than at Stanton’s,” the Captain said. “Considerably more.” He pulled the sheet off the bed, and the entire center of it was pooled with blood and a black sticky substance
“No body?” I thought of Avalon. Could he have been her meal last night? Her cheeks did look rather rosy this morning. Perhaps that was why she told me of the disappearance, as a sort of confession.
“We’ve searched the whole ship, and we ain’t found nothin’. Nothin’ at all. But there is that,” he said pointing to a grotesque statue on the floor next to the bed.
I had been so captivated by the scent of blood, I hadn’t even noticed it. It was as hideous as the bizarre one at Nick’s, and it, too, was missing its johnson. “Blood there as well, I see,” I said, noticing a thin line around the edge of its base.
“Yes. If you pick it up, it’s sitting in a pool of blood along with some black substance. In fact, when I found it, it was here,” he said, indicating the bed again. “Right smack in the center of that stain. Strange thing, I wiped off the bottom before placing it down there. Now, there’s more blood. Fresh blood and ooze.”
“Like it’s bleeding? Why, that’s impossible.”
“I think I might be ill,” Chastity said, swooning. I made it to
her in time to catch her before she hit the floor.
“Let me just get her out of here, all right?”
“Of course.”
I carried Chastity in my arms up to the top deck for some fresh air. Avalon was at the top of the stairs. “Ava.” She frowned at the unconscious Chastity. “Fainted,” I explained. “Sight of blood, I suppose. We just visited Mr. McFerret’s chamber. You should see it.”
“I’ve already seen it. Examined it with the captain this morning. Excuse me,” she said as she tried to push past us.
“The statue is still bleeding.”
“What?”
That got her attention.
“The statue. Still bleeding and seeping something else, too. This is supernatural, Ava. Like us. We’re the best team to solve this, and I think you were right, Nicholas is gone, too. He’s not just off on holiday.”
“No, Lord York. I cannot work with you on this case.”
“Why not?”
Her eyes widened and eyebrows went up. The tiny “o” in the center of her mouth got much larger as she gaped at me. “Honestly, Arthur!” she said with incredulity and stormed past me.
Shrugging, I continued out on the deck and set Chastity down gently, fanning her face. London lay out beneath us as we approached Hyde Park. We’d be landing soon, and I, for one, would be relieved to get home. Chastity came to after a few moments, her eyes fluttering open.
“Rest here, my love. Enjoy the view of landing. I’m heading back down to discuss this strange mystery with the Captain. I’ll be back to check on you shortly.”
“Thank you, love. So silly of me to faint.”
“Nonsense. Just rest.”
“I see ya didn’t take my advice,” Blackwolf said, when I returned to McFerret’s room.
“On the contrary, good man. I most certainly did, just with a different woman. Do you really think I could make amends with Avalon? She perceives this as such a horrible slight, and she is far too proud. No. I think my efforts would be better spent creating something new and lasting, but I shan’t take Chastity for granted. No, sir.”
“Uh-huh. He didn’t take my advice, neither,” he said, nodding to the crimson and black stain.
“You knew him? Oh! That’s right. Served together and all that. Charming. Really.” Bored.
“I hated the way he treated Gladys. All women, really, but especially her. Mostly behind her back, mind, but it made it all the worst. Him makin’ a fool of ‘er and all. Such a fine woman, too.”
“Gladys? It’s Gladys? You’re in love with Gladys, aren’t you? Now you’re blushing! How quaint,” I teased. “Oh, this just became so much more interesting!
“Enough,” he growled. “Look at that statue, Arthur. Notice anything strange about it?”
“Other than the obvious?”
“Look closely.”
“All right.” It weighed heavy in my hand, heavier than the statue at Nick’s. Quite. It was approximately the same size, perhaps a little squattier, and—“Oh! Blimey! The mutton chops. Blimey! The thing has mutton chops just like Ol’ McFerret. Rather large jaw, too, and belly, I suppose. What do you think it means?”
“Maybe the statue is made in the likeness of the victim, then used to kill them. I’m not quite sure, but that is certainly worth noting. Don’t ya think?”
“Yes, indeed.”
§
After giving Thomas instruction to gather Avalon’s things and deliver them to Baker Street, I had him drop me back off at Nick’s. I didn’t want to be there while he packed her things, not that I was sad to see her go. No. It wasn’t that. I mean, I would miss her, of course. She was a part of my life for six months, give or take. So, of course, but one must move forward. Always onward.
Nick’s was much as we left it, but I was quite curious to get a closer look at that statue. It still squatted on the desk where we left it. The dark ring beneath it had expanded and was now dried. So it had kept bleeding and oozing, too, just more slowly. Interesting. Picking it up, I studied every line of the gargoyle’s face, looking for any resemblance of Nicholas, but I found none. From the scowling grimace to the angry eyes, it looked much more like a demon than Nick. Maybe the statues were made to resemble the victims, but this one didn’t resemble Nick.
Although, artists. Their bloody license and all.
The blood, while bizarre to come from a statue, wasn’t as curious as the black sticky substance. I had never seen anything like it in all my days. Even in its dried state, there was a faint fetid stench. Not quite sure how I hadn’t picked up on anything but the blood the first time. Perhaps I had been denying myself too much the nourishment I needed to be at my best, so that was all I could smell.
In McFerret’s cabin, the stuff was almost tar-like and putrid. Sticky with long strands extending from the pooled liquid to the statue after Blackwolf picked the thing up. Now dried, it was crusty.
I examined the black ring on Nick’s desk more closely. From my vantage the last time, it looked black, but I assumed it was just dried blood. Now upon closer examination, along with what I had seen at McFerret’s, I could see there was indeed both. I picked at the black and crimson swirled stain with my fingernail. The blood had seeped into the blotter and wood. A good scrubbing would be the only thing to get that out, but the black substance had more…substance. Thicker. It chipped and flaked as I picked at it.
“How odd.” I turned to converse with Avalon, but remembered I was alone. No matter. I could figure it out myself, since I was rather clever.
Hmmmmm. Missing cock. Scowling angry or pained look. Blood on the carpet. Black sticky stuff.
Maybe…
Or, perhaps…
No. It was rubbish. I needed someone to bounce ideas off of. Someone to talk it through with.
Sadness came over me, clouding my eyes with a grey curtain. I missed Avalon so much. My gut felt heavy and empty at the same time, and I wished she were here more than anything. Perhaps I had acted too hastily on the ship with Chastity.
But, oh, Chastity!
Light, again. Light in my eyes. Light in my heart. Light in my life. Chastity.
Yes, I had made the right decision. I must follow my heart, after all. It was a shame Avalon took it so hard, truly, for I had not meant to hurt her. I loved her, of course. But it would be best if we didn’t speak for awhile. I think that would be best. Perhaps we could be friends after some time had passed, after she accepted this. I hoped as much.
The weight of the statue brought me back to the present, and I decided if I couldn’t discuss this with Avalon, for her own sake, poor girl, then I must discuss it with Blackwolf. He, too, had been privy to both scenes, and he was rather intelligent for a commoner.
Yes. I’d call on the captain for assistance.
Tomorrow, though. It was Christmas after all. Perhaps a fine dinner with Chastity tonight. That would keep my mind off of Avalon and other unpleasant things. This was a day of feasting and merriment and such. One should not be alone on Christmas if one could help it.
A man such as me always had options.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CONSTANCE
I waited out in the cold, December afternoon behind St. Saviour’s, just as Nimrod had instructed, but as the sun set and the temperature dropped, there was still no sign of the doctor.
“I really don’t like being stood up,” I said to the raven who had settled on the flint wall. “And after we had been so intimate. He was going to marry me, you see.”
The raven cocked his head to one side trying to understand the sounds emerging from my mouth. It blinked twice, then took flight.
“Nevermore, indeed. Just as well.” Now I wouldn’t have to lure him back to his place. We could just begin and, he, anyway, could end there. It had been quite kind of me to allow him Christmas yesterday, after all, but now it was time to pay the doctor a visit.
When I arrived on his doorstep, I was taken aback by the horrid stench coming from within. After using my sleeve to cover my
nose at an attempt to block out the offensive stench, if only for a moment, I knocked on the door.
“Lucas!” I heard the doctor shout. Then, silence.
I knocked again.
“Levi! Lester! Luther! Lafayette! Whatever your bloody name is, you old simian! Get the door!”
“It’s Lionel, sir.” I heard quietly behind the door, then it opened. An older gentleman with dark skin stood before me. A sadness about him tugged at my heart. He was likely taken from Africa during one of the Professor’s many adventures. His features were kind and soft. If that display was any indication on how his employer treated him, I would be saving yet another person from his abuse on this day.
“Good day, ma’am.”
“Good day, sir. I’m ‘ere to see Doctor Nesbitt, sir.”
“Please, come in from the cold, my dear. Who shall I say is calling?”
“Miss Claire Weisheart. Thank you.” The inside of Nimrod’s house was a cross between a laboratory and a museum. Upon each surface, in addition to being covered in thick dust, sat a taxidermied animal. All shapes and sizes and breeds, everywhere one looked. On the table in the foyer, for example, a gold cage tilted to one side, half on-half off a stack of books. Inside it, a brilliant red and yellow parrot was nailed to the perch, forever frozen in mid-squawk. Next to it a bobcat crouched, ready to pounce for all eternity.
Their glass eyes haunted me.
Some type of animal carcass or a glass jar with hideous things suspended in liquid filled every nook and cranny.
Explained the stench.
“What!” Nimrod exclaimed from the other room. “How did she find me?”
A moment later, he slid into the room and stiffened when he saw me, spindly legs locked at the knee. His preposterous mustache stuck straight out on either side. He squinted his muddy eyes, questioning me.
“I missed you at the church,” I said, drawing a figure eight in the dust on the table
“Oh, yes. Well. That. You see. Well. I’ve realized. That”—he cleared his throat—“well, It’s just, you see. It’s just. I can’t do this, Claire. I just can’t. I mean, my children. Three girls, and another on the way. A boy, this time, I think. Yes. I just can’t do this to them, you understand. Don’t you? And my wife, she works so hard to raise them along with the few servants, only. Yes. Complicated business, this. You understand, don’t you? I think it’s best if you go. I—I just can’t is all. There’s a good girl. Off you go.”
