Mississippi DEAD (5 page)

Suddenly, Jenny sprang from her seat and put her hands to her temples. Agnes and Deborah looked at her in fright, thinking she had a sudden pain.

“Jenny, are you all right, dear?” Agnes asked.

Jenny shushed her and held a finger to her lips.

“He’s here,” she said. “I told you he would…” Abruptly, she fell silent and held her fingers to her temples in deep concentration. She walked to the double-doors leading into the hall. Jenny opened them wide and peered out.

The other girls watched Jenny back away from the door. A dark shadow fell over the hallway as something moved past the oil-lamp sconce. The beast entered the room, and the ladies gasped in fright as he closed the door.

Blood dripped on the worn floorboards, leaving a mark that quickly turned to ash.

Seeing this frightening visage, Agnes crumpled to the floor with a swooning gasp. Lucky for her, William’s monstrous form was too much for her to bear.

Blinded by an insatiable hunger, William leapt upon Deborah as she cowered near the rear window. The beast bared his fangs and plunged them deeply into her flesh. He ripped his way into her veins, letting loose her lifeblood. He felt Deborah’s body tense and then go limp. Her sudden shock sounded in a short cry of pain, followed by a sigh mixed with fear and pleasure.

Blood seeped down her shoulder and into the fabric of her dress.

William relished the iron tinge of the blood. Immediately, he felt energy flow into his body. He tried to release Deborah before completely draining her of blood, but in his desperation, he could not pull away. He used the energy to transform from the demonic bat-like beast back to his handsome human form. The transformation drained him of the energy he had just obtained, but it was necessary to calm Jenny. It was too soon to show her the hellish side of being a vampire. He needed to lead her along until she could accept it. He knew the sight of his true form had not broken the hold he had over her. All the while, his hunger cried out for more of the healing blood.

After draining poor Deborah, he released her. Her limp body crumpled to the floor, landing at his feet like a rag doll. A smile crossed her face as the large gash across her neck trickled blood.

“William?” Jenny stuttered. Her hands were trembling. “What has happened to you?”

“The Ripper,” William said with a snarl. “The insane human and I did battle, just after the ship left the dock.”

“Is he dead?” Jenny asked.

“I cannot be sure,” William said. “But I believe he is. I dropped him far from shore, and I know he was wounded and bleeding.” William gazed at Jenny from across the room.

“What if he’s not dead?” Jenny asked. “What if he…”

William quickly turned and shot across the cabin. Jenny did not have time to blink before her master was upon her. Vice-like hands grabbed her by the shoulders. With fangs glistening in the lamp light, William moved in for the kill. A demonic rage still pumped through his body, and the smell of blood caused him to act like a starved animal.

William stopped himself before his teeth punctured her flesh; his breath pulsing against Jenny’s neck. He saw the blood pumping through the veins barely underneath her luscious skin. However, William refrained. He already killed one of his consorts out of anger and pain, but he desperately needed them so that he could survive this journey.

He pulled away and gazed deeply into Jenny’s eyes. He allowed his mind to pierce through the veil within them; there he saw a mix of fear, passion, and confusion. His fangs receded. His hold on her was strong, but her fright at seeing his true visage might be enough to drive her away. That was something he could not have. William needed someone to watch over him as he slept through the voyage and healed alongside the soil of his homeland.

Releasing Jenny, William turned and looked at Deborah. Little blood had trickled from her rendered flesh, showing the fright and loss of blood had been too much for her. Her heart no longer beat, and he sensed her body growing cold.

“You will throw her overboard,” he said in a steely voice. He looked at the window at the back of the cabin, and Jenny followed his gaze.

“I must rest now. No one is to come in here, understand?” William asked, stepping toward his casket.

Placing a hand on the coffin’s smooth wood, William looked at Jenny.

She stood, glued to her spot, unable to move.

“You have done well, my love,” William said.

Jenny looked up from Deborah’s body, meeting his eyes. He could see the fear slip away and the spark of love begin to shine. A smile formed at the corners of her mouth. William saw that Jenny wanted to rush over and throw her arms around him, opening up for any whim he may fancy. But his eyes held her back. She had a job to do, and he needed rest.

Turning back to the coffin, he lifted the lid. The red satin lining the interior called out to him. His eyes scanned its length, searching. He saw the white satin pillow lying alone at the head of the coffin. After slamming the lid shut, he turned quickly to Jenny.

“Where are they?” he asked.

Jenny hesitated.

No answer was forthcoming, so William used his powers to pierce her mind and wrought the answer from her. Using the control he held over her mind, William scanned her memory, retrieving the sights, sounds, and feelings she held concerning his question.

In his mind, he saw his consorts hurrying to the ship. Jenny was cold, wrapped in a woolen shawl, shivering. She held a bag, containing her few worldly possessions, and more importantly, some of the soil he needed to survive.

Through Jenny’s eyes, he saw Agnes, her face distorted with fright while a scream passed her lips. Human figures, dressed in roughhewn robes with large hoods covering their faces appeared from the dark recesses between the crates and barrels resting on the dock.

The incident only lasted seconds. The bags his consorts held were ripped away. The hooded figures searched the frightened women and his pouches of soil were taken. Swiftly, the thieves departed with the soil, leaving Jenny and her friends alone and scared.

William had all the information he needed. When he broke his contact with Jenny’s mind, William howled in anguish.

He grabbed Jenny by the shoulders. Staring into her anxious eyes, William began to explain.

“I will not be able to fully recover my energy without the soil of my homeland,” he said through clenched teeth. “Without the soil, I will be forced to lay dormant until we reach New Orleans. My flesh will be motionless, but my mind will be active while in this state. I will hear every word spoken in this room, and I will come to you in your dreams.”

After calming down, William cupped her chin is his hand and gazed lovingly into her eyes.

“Listen carefully. The humans on this ship cannot discover my true nature before we reach our destination.”

A heavy knock echoed from the double doors.

“Quickly, drag Deborah’s body behind the bed, and insist that only you and Agnes came on board the ship. I will be resting for the remainder of the trip, unable to join you.”

The pounding shook the frame and rocked the oil-lamp sconce on the wall.

“Do not allow anyone into the room, and stay with our story that you are escorting the body of a loved one to the New World,” William said.

The pounding was repeated, followed by a man’s voice. “Ladies, is everything all right?”

“Stall him,” William said. “And when you sleep, open your mind to me. Now answer the door, but do not allow him in.” William kissed Jenny’s cheek. “Now go, my love.”

Jenny turned to the door. “Just a moment, please. Everything is fine.” The pounding stopped, but the voice asked yet another bothersome question. “Ladies, may I enter the room, please?”

Jenny quickly dragged Deborah’s body behind the bed. Before approaching the door, she quickly scanned the room. Agnes, slumped in the chair, was still unconscious. William had vanished.

Jenny walked to the door and spoke to the man on the other side. “Everything is fine,” she said. “We do not require any assistance at this time, but thank you for your concern.”

“Open the door, miss,” the stern voice said.

Jenny turned the latch and peeked around the opened door. A rough-looking man stood in the hallway.

“I’m sorry if we disturbed you,” Jenny said. “My friend has fallen ill, and I’m afraid she was in some distress.”

The man stood close to the door, but Jenny only saw half of his face through the crack.

“I’m Captain Jacobson,” the man said, his face filled with concern and suspicion. “We do not have a doctor onboard, but my First Mate and I know a thing or two about doctoring. May I take a look?”

Jenny looked into the captain’s stern face. She remembered William’s instructions. “I’m sorry, captain, but she is fine now. It must have been a case of seasickness, which seems to be passing. Besides, she is not decent right now.” Jenny fixed her gaze on the unconscious Agnes. “It’s the captain, dear, just checking on your welfare. I’m afraid you roused him with your moaning.”

Jenny turned back to the captain. “She seems fine now, sir. I’m sure she will be all right as soon as she gets her sea legs.”

“Aye,” the captain said. “My cabin is right across the hall if you need me.”

“Thank you for your kindness, captain, but all is well now,” Jenny replied, giving him a courteous smile. “We’ve never been to sea before, and did not know what to expect.”

“Aye, it happens,” the captain replied. “We are not accustomed to having passengers, so you’ll have to ask if you need something.”

“We will, captain. I assure you.”

“Well, goodnight,” the captain said.

Jenny closed the door and locked the latch. She went to Agnes whose breathing was normal but was still not awake. Jenny dipped a handkerchief into the pot of fresh drinking water and wiped it across Agnes’s brow. Her eyes fluttered briefly prior to opening. Jenny first saw recognition in her friend’s eyes before a look of fright drew across her features. Agnes looked around frantically, breathing heavily.

“It’s all right, my dear,” Jenny said. “Everything is fine.” Jenny put her finger to her lips and nodded toward the casket.

“Master William is here now.” Jenny took Agnes by the hand. “I’m afraid that he will be resting for some time, and will not be able to join us. We will be all right, nonetheless.”

Jenny gently placed her hand over Agnes’s mouth, and then turned her eyes to Deborah’s corpse. Agnes followed Jenny’s gaze to Deborah’s bloody body, her scream muffled by Jenny’s hand. Jenny’s stern look, as if in warning, stilled her friend.

“We will be fine, dear,” Jenny said soothingly, keeping Agnes’s mouth firmly covered. “We’ve got a little job to do.”

Agnes struggled to calm herself, and Jenny sensed her distress. Jenny also knew Master William was but a few feet away and heard every word spoken. “Perhaps you simply need a breath of fresh air,” Jenny suggested, nodding vigorously, so her friend would agree.

“Yes, that would be good,” Agnes replied, taking her cue.

“All right then,” Jenny said, helping Agnes from her chair. “Let’s step onto the deck for a few minutes.”

Agnes was wobbly when she got to her feet, and Jenny helped her to the door. Once on the deck, Jenny explained to Agnes what had happened, the nature of the beast she had seen, and how they must dispose of Deborah’s body.

Agnes was mute for a moment as she considered. “Throw her overboard?” Agnes cried.

“Yes, we cannot avoid it.”

Agnes shook and wrapped her arms around herself. “But that beast… William…”

“The Master took that form in order to battle the Ripper,” Jenny said, “In order to protect himself…and to protect us.”

Agnes turned away from her friend, but her shoulders heaved with each sob. Jenny placed a hand on Agnes’s shoulder.

“He loves us, Agnes,” she said. “He has protected us from that vile killer—Jack the Ripper. Now it is our duty to protect our Master, and keep him safe until we reach New Orleans.”

Agnes, visibly upset by this news, felt she had no choice. She took a deep breath, and tried to remember better times. Times when William held her close, made her feel special.

After a few minutes, the two women returned to the room. They dragged Deborah’s limp, bloody body to the back of the cabin. Jenny examined the large window. She found a latch on each side of the frame and released the pin that allowed the bottom to swing outward from its hinge at the top. A rush of cold air filled the room. The women struggled to lift Deborah’s body high enough to cast her out.

Agnes grunted under Deborah’s weight. Using her legs, Jenny lifted as best she could. “Push,” Jenny said, as she struggled.

Without reply, Agnes did as she was told. Together they pushed the body through the window, where it slipped out into the night, falling into the dark waters of the North Sea.

Jenny peered through the window as she locked it. The night this time of year was as cold as it was dark—too dark to see Deborah’s body float to the surface in the wake of the ship.

From inside his coffin, William heard the splash of Deborah’s body as it fell into the sea. He smiled inwardly knowing Jenny was firmly in his grasp and he could count on her to cover for him with a determined ferocity.