Who: Jack the Ripper and Agrat What: Finding the Prey. Where: New York City, at a Charity Ball When: Saturday Night
Agrat had not been having a good week. Ever since her conversations with Jack she’d been slightly on edge, and her wariness was starting to affect her work. She’d taken more care in observing the people around her, stretching her senses in an effort to feel that all-too-familiar aura that was oh-so-distinctly him, sometimes to the point of distraction. Tonight was going to be different, however. Tonight, Agrat had been contracted to act as the date of a wealthy financier at a charity ball and was looking forward to playing the part of his mysterious girlfriend.
He had paid for a dress and jewelry, and they’d met up ahead of time so she could assess their compatibility. After spending a few hours talking about everything from art and music to theater and even vacations they’d been on, Agrat -- or Lottie (short for Charlotte), as her date knew her -- decided that if her client asked her to spend the night with him she most certainly would. He was everything she liked in a man -- handsome, wealthy, old enough to know how to treat a woman, utterly captivated by her -- and she was hoping that if all went well she could somehow convince him to make her his escort of choice. Stranger things had happened, and she could be quite persuasive.
As they made their way into the ball, Agrat felt like a true queen in her glittery dress. She looked good, and from the possessive way her date had his arm around her shoulders he was obviously aware of the attention she was attracting as well. Riding on the high of the moment, Agrat nearly ignored the odd little tickle alerting her that someone much like herself was nearby. Plastering a smile on her face, she resolved to pay attention to her date and forget about trying to find the source of her current fascination. At least, for now.
----
The day had started been simple enough. Wake up at some ghastly hour in the morning, drive to a scene of a murder, check out the ridiculously childish way the killer had taken out the victim and take him back to be checked out for further information. The longer he stayed in New York, the more intriguing it became. Others like him were scattered through the city and even had their own special places of amusement. He could say he was disappointed that he had not found Agrat in such an obvious place for her to be, but he found other amusement and practically a menu of victims.
Tonight would not be the night for him to take out any of them though. Someone in one of the expensive flats he rented had decided they wanted to get to know the stranger in their building who obviously had a fair amount of money to share with the charity. James knew better. Charity balls were never about the charity foundation, but about sizing up newcomers and old money to see who should be considered one of them and who should be shunned. James didn’t even need to start the story that he was from old money back in England, they assumed because he was British and wealthy that he must be. Maybe he was even related to royalty, he heard the whispers as he walked through the crowds of people, drink in hand.
James dressed in a black, fitted, three piece suit, with a dark red buttondown underneath. His hair was allowed to be a bit wild, adding to his appeal amongst the females whether they had dates or not. He had not been amongst the ball long before he felt that familiar sensation of another like him there, followed by a sweet aroma that only he could truly notice and that he knew all too well. Dark green eyes scanned the crowds standing by the entrance, a deliciously mischievous smile pulled on lips. Pulling a waiter to the side, he quickly wrote out a note and handed it to him. ‘Found You, From Hell.’ It would be his gift to her.
----
Within moments of finding their table, Agrat and her date were swept up into the crowd. Despite her concerns that he was here somewhere, she found herself relaxing. With a glass of champagne in one hand and her date guiding her from one group to the other for idle chit-chat, it was easy enough for her to assume the role of Charlotte Jensen, at least just for one night. And if she happened to be clinging to her dates' arm and acting as though she was loathe to leave his side, well that just lent credence to their story about a whirlwind romance that took them both by surprise. Tales like that always went over well, especially when they involved men like Cedric Leafe, the man she just happened to be accompanying.
They had just finished making their initial rounds when he brought her back to the table, leaving her side to go speak with an old friend. Glancing around, she finished off her drink and was looking for a waiter to take the glass away when one appeared rather suddenly in her periphery. Blinking up at him in shock, he took the glass and left behind a napkin. Staring down at the writing, Agrat was momentarily stunned but did her best to hide it. It burned her to realize that he was indeed amongst the other attendees, but even moreso that he had technically won round one of their little dance.
Agrat tapped her fingernails rapidly against the table, eyes fixed on the annoyingly smug napkin as she figured out what action to take. There were only so many ways this could play out, and no matter what path she chose she wasn't fond of her chances. There was sending back a note, which was certainly doable as the waiter seemed to be hovering waiting for a response, but she knew doing that would reveal just as much to him as it did to her. She could hear Cedric approaching and made her decision, taking that same napkin and pressing a crimson kiss to it before handing it back to the waiter with a smirk. Let's see how he reacted to that.
----
Jack was a hunter and loved to follow his prey, but his sense of her presence hadn’t been exact. James had watched the waiter look for the girl he had described. No other description but a girl who people cannot take their eyes off of and a simple tattoo on the inner wrist. Not many at the ball would have visible tattoos and the others he knew of wouldn’t be visible depending on what she wore. The waiter would be paid very well for his services, so he went about searching out James’ target. Once the waiter found the girl he gave James a signal and waited before delivering the message.
James knew she wouldn’t have come alone, Agrat was not the kind to go to a party without someone on her arm. They as much of a prize as she was to them. All it took was James to ask about the man she was with and he was brought in for introductions with Mr. Leafe and his friend. His eyes trailed back to the table so he could watch her reaction to his note. Perfect. She could not out hunt the hunter. The introductions went well and Cedric invited everyone back to the table; Cedric’s friend and James followed. When the waiter received the kissed message back, he gave James a confused look as he approached with the group. James ignored it, not wanting to blow his cover just yet.
----
Agrat had no idea that her entire performance had been watched, though deep down she suspected he was close enough to see her, and as such recovered her composure like a pro before Cedric and his new friends approached. By the time they reached the table she looked as though she was just as enraptured by the party as she had been when they first arrived, even though inwardly she was seething. All she wanted this time around was to create a new life free of certain previous entanglements, but apparently Jack hadn't gotten that memo. Of course, she'd be lying if she ever claimed to have no feelings towards him whatsoever, but he didn't need to know that he haunted her dreams. And not in a pleasant way, either. More like in a 'how many ways can I torture you?' kind of way. She assumed the feeling was mutual.
Standing when Cedric started to introduce her to the others, Agrat made sure her smile was extra-bright and charming as she held out her hand to the gentlemen, smoothly interrupting before Cedric could give out her last name. "Now Cedric, darling, there's no need to be so formal, is there?" she practically cooed before continuing. "Hello, I'm Charlotte, but please, call me Lottie. It's a pleasure to meet you both," Agrat said, her intuition confirming that one of the men standing before her had to be Jack. She waited for them to speak, listening for the posh accent he'd never managed to shake, wondering idly what Cedric had told them of her.
----
Jack nodded politely while the other man shook her hand. Cedric called over the waiter for some new refreshments for the men. The waiter, still holding the kissed napkin, offered up the few glasses on his tray and with Jack’s nod, handed him the napkin. Jack knew as soon as he touched Agrat, or Lottie now, she would know it was him. Upon looking at the napkin he smirked and then took Lottie’s hand, kissing her knuckles gently- like the old days. “Pleasure to meet you, Charlotte.” His accent unmistakable. “How lucky of Cedric to find such a magnificent creature such as yourself.”
Cedric looked proud of himself too. Stupid dolt. “Could I possibly have a dance with her?” Good business said Cedric had to let her dance with him, he had offered to help in his business endeavors just so he could do this. With a nod, Jack kept her hand and gestured to the dancefloor.
-----
Agrat was able to keep her features from showing her ever-increasing frustration when the waiter handed James the napkin, concentrating her efforts on casting the occasional fawning smile at Cedric in between listening to their guests introduce themselves. When it came time for Jack to give his name she caught on to the almost subtle way he avoided the subject and instead dusted a light kiss across her knuckles. Bringing her free hand up to rest against her cleavage as if she was swooning -- which was not entirely faked; Jack always had that affect on her -- Agrat giggled softly. "Oh please, I think it's obvious that I'm the one who got lucky."
Jack's next words made Agrat's entire body stiffen, not wanting Cedric to agree but unable to voice her objections without seeming petty and possibly calling attention to herself. Raising her right eyebrow questioningly, she watched the exchange between the two men and waited for Cedric to give his approval. When he did, Agrat's smile thinned into a more polite grin as she led the way out onto the floor without a word.
----
The music of her giggle made him genuinely smile, but it quickly disappeared by her all too hard act she tried to sell. Others might not see it as an act, but he knew better. He knew that even had she not been paid to be there, she would leave him for another quickly enough. Jack may not have known whether she had been the one to truly hurt him or not, but he knew she had been the cause of everything that made his last kill oh so famous. And he both hated and was intensely attracted to that. Oh how Jack loved seeing her squirm- in more ways than one.
He said nothing until they stood on the dancefloor, his arms snaking around her in just the right way that she could have no other doubts and yet her date would not recognize it for anything but the proper form to dance. “You’re letting yourself slip, love.”
----
She didn't expect the smile, and couldn't say for sure if it had been a figment of her imagination or not with how quickly it came and went from his face, but seeing it brought a blush to Agrat's cheeks that seemed befitting of the part she was playing. Jack may not have bought into her machinations, but he wasn't the intended audience anyway so she couldn't care less what he thought so long as he didn't ruin her plans, as he was wont to do. In Agrat's mind Jack had already altered the course of her life in an irreparable fashion back when they'd first met, but she wasn't sure how much of her he remembered. She had dropped hints here and there, but had yet to tell him the full story, and wouldn't until keeping the secret no longer amused her.
She would have been happy to simply share a dance without any conversation, but he clearly had different ideas. Keeping that vaguely interested smirk on her face since they were being watched and she didn't want to arouse any suspicions, she felt her eyebrows wing upwards expressively at his comment. "Oh? Care to enlighten me, darling?"
----
“It only took a week for me to find you... tsk tsk.” Of course, it had been more by fate and less by his skills, but when things fell into place for him he would not argue against them. He spun her around, dipping her slightly so his hand could trail down her back. “Remember the first round... took nearly three months after you killed me for me to find you. This modern age has ruined the true fun of the game.”
Jack’s green eyes gazed into her dark eyes with few glances to anyone around them. Truly he didn’t care what others thought while they danced and if things went his way then Cedric would be leaving alone. He glanced down at the ground for a brief second, before returning his gaze. “You look fantastic tonight.” Around Agrat, his emotions always seemed to have a Jekyll and Hyde effect. A small part within him wanting to give her genuine compliments, while the other larger part of him wanted to rip her clothes to shreds, take her and then torture her slowly until she couldn’t stand it any longer. Maybe even let her torture him also.
----
"Please, you didn't find me, you got lucky," Agrat scoffed. Regardless of already conceding the victory to him, she was too bothered by how easily she'd fallen into his proverbial lap to be polite about it, even if having his hands on her was bringing up sensations she didn't want to deal with. "Ah yes, those were the days. I can still remember the way your eyes glazed over with confusion when you came back that first time..."
It was a memory that never failed to turn her on, which was unfortunate when one stopped to think about it. Agrat's eyes darkened as they met his, tongue darting out to lick her lips at the unexpected compliment, her nose wrinkling as she studied his face. Once she determined he was being sincere, she allowed herself a pleased smile. "You look rather nice yourself, I like what you've done with your hair." It was calling to her, begging her to run her fingers through it, but she wouldn't give in to that urge. No, Agrat knew how dangerous getting tangled up with Jack again could be, and she already had a plan in place for this life, one that didn't involve dying at his hands. "Well, this has been... nice, but I should return to my date. Make sure he gets what he paid for and all," she said, pulling back from him as the song ended.
----
“Luck has always been on my side... I wonder what that says.” James smirked. The smirk dropped slightly at the mention of his first death, the death by her hands not long after his last kill. Not many could get an upper hand on him, but somehow she had managed. When he had awaken from the death, he was sure that she was some kind of vampiric creature who had cursed him. It had taken some time before he would fully understand that it was his story and mystery that made him immortal and not the bitch that killed him. “The latest style of children these days,” he laughed. He knew how to blend in with the era.
When the song ended and she pulled away from him, he grabbed her wrist, digging his nails deep into her tattoo. The date she was itching to get back to had turned his attention to some other businessmen. Pulling her back into him, he grazed his lips across her jaw near her ear. “Or you could end the date early and have some real fun.”
----
“Has it really, or do you just assume is has?” Agrat pointed out, watching his expression and inwardly reveling at the sight of that smug little grin drooping when he was reminded of their ‘official’ first meeting. At least, the one where she revealed her true name to him, which had to count for something. Even if he hadn’t killed her first, she had more than enough justification to snuff his life force what with all the prostitutes he’d killed, but the sheer fact that she’d been one of those women had really tipped her desire to see the man who he was then get his just desserts. “You always were big on being in style, if I remember right,” she agreed.
To her credit, when she felt his bruising grip on her wrist and his nails digging into her skin, not a sound escaped Agrat’s lips. The only sign that there was any panic going through her head came in the form of a quick glance down to confirm that he had indeed stopped her from leaving. Sliding her free arm up to rest her hand on his shoulder, she began to sway as another song started up. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” She laughed softly as she stared up at him. “You want me to go back over there and tell the man who has effectively paid my rent for the month that I need to end things early so I can leave with you? Sorry, but I don’t flake on my commitments.” Especially not when she knew what his idea of ‘fun’ entailed.
----
The smirk returned to his lips. Her hand back on his shoulder felt like he won yet another part of the game. “I would say that I could pay you more... but you know how I am.” He paused. “You don’t have to say you’re leaving with me, only that you don’t feel well and will need to cut the date short. You’ve always been good at lying; he’d believe you... somehow he’d think you were special and that you’d actually return for the date later.” James let go of her wrist, setting his hand back on her hip.
He sighed, letting his head tilt to the side as he looked at her. The simpler times were lost to the flow of the world. James didn’t have to be violent at all times, in fact he didn’t feel the pull unless the temptation was near. Well, he still felt the pull but not to such an extent. Kill, shag, love, the lines blurred often. He could never love like he once had, that wasn’t what the public remembered of him. “But... you must go be that not prostitute, escort you were so adamant about. I’ll believe it when I see it.”
----
At first, his argument was more amusing than something that might convince her to give up a potentially great thing just to leave with him, and the wry smile that twisted her lips as she shook her head slightly reflected that. “You’re right, I know who you are, and I know what would most likely happen if I left here with you.” She had visions of herself split open from stem to sternum, laying in a ditch gasping for air. While normally that could be a grand way to spend the night, she loved this dress way too much to let him dirty it.
It was his sigh, and the condescending words he followed it up with that tipped the scales in his favor, getting her so irritated that on top of the usual narrowing of her eyes she could feel her control over the illusions she used to hide her scars slipping. Agrat was thankful that unlike most men she dealt with Jacks’ eyes seemed firmly focused on her face and not on her chest, since he was one of the few who might be keen enough to spot the faded marks. “Of course he’d think I’m special, we both know that I am, but that’s beside the point. Say I do what you want, that I feign being ill and make my exit, then what? I highly doubt you plan on taking me dancing, or someplace scenic to let off some excess hormones, so what’s in it for me? The pleasure of your company?”
----
The form of a woman was one of the most beautiful things one earth; God truly made their curves flow like the water so needed to live. But Jack preferred to keep his attentions at the eyes. The eyes gave so much more information. “You know you like the pleasure of my company.” He chuckled. “I have a standing dinner reservation at Eleven Madison Park. I know it’s not the most creative of restaurant names, but their food is rather delicious.”
Jack’s eyes moved down her body for the first time that night. “Or we could eat in at my flat nearby. Well, more like a suite in a hotel that I’ll likely give up before you could use it against me.” They had played the game before, each one using any information they found on the other against them, taunting.
----
Much as she might try to oppose his words -- and she could, convincingly, if she ever had to -- Agrat couldn’t deny that Jack was right. She did like the pleasure of his company, even if it never ended up working out well for one of them. Her feelings towards him were complicated, and not something she’d ever want to try and explain to anyone. Least of all to the man himself. The look of naked amusement that bloomed on her face was unlike any other that she’d used throughout the night in that it was genuine, not something faked. “I’m sorry, are you inviting me to dinner now?”
Agrat’s laughter rang out louder than she’d intended, attracting more attention to them. “We’re at a charity ball where we’re surrounded by men in penguin suits bringing us drinks and canapes, and you suggest dinner? Sometimes, dear, I just don’t know what to think of you.” She paused, checking around to see where Cedric had wandered off to. “Fine, you win. I’ll make my excuses, possibly even cry prettily, and meet you elsewhere. Unless... you’ve changed your mind now that you might get what you want.”
----
Complicated didn’t even begin to describe their relationship or his feelings toward her. He didn’t know half his feelings even existed towards her which only made the whole situation more confusing and alluring. Dinner was the simplest idea, mixed with the want to know more about her and how to use whatever she said against her. That was if they even made it to the restaurant.
“That’s why I suggested dinner,” he whispered. “I’ve stopped caring much for the penguin suits, hence my own attire.” Jack smiled, twirling her around as the song ended. “The only way for the game to work is for someone to win the small battles. Its boring otherwise.” He bowed to her and left the dancefloor, blending into the crowds so that her date might not notice him leaving at the same time as her. Jack didn’t trust Agrat, but if she didn’t show he always had her date’s name.
----
Contemplating how the two of them had gotten to where they were today was an exercise in futility. All it ended up doing whenever Agrat would attempt to figure things out was give her a headache and remind her that he made her life more interesting. And when it all came down to it, if you had an eternity to spend with someone, wouldn’t you want it to be with someone who constantly kept you on the edge of your seat?
“If you’ve stopped caring much for them then what compelled you to be here, knowing they’d be everywhere?” she questioned, her curiosity unable to be quelled, at least not until he brought up winning the smaller battles. “Hum, no matter. We both agree you won this battle, but that says nothing for the war.” A low curtsy was spared to him before she sauntered off the floor, her posture and bearing noticeably changing as she glided along. Hunching over slightly, hand splayed across her stomach and eyes wet with unshed tears, soon enough she was lightly kissing Cedrics’ cheek and allowing him to escort her outside. She sought out Jack in the throng of people as she left, eyes reflecting a clear message. ’Your move, old friend.’
----
The thought crossed his mind as he watched the two interact to kill Cedric. Men were not typically his idea of prey, but he had made several exceptions through the years. Everyone knew his victim profile, but then the populace of America seemed to just view him as a general killer rather than a specific hunter. If he had learned anything over the decades it was that even men deserved to be punished and could provide their own energy from their death; not the same as or as powerful as women.
Jack watched her moving with grace even when pretending to be sick. She had asked why he came to a party such as this if he wasn’t much into the fashion any longer, it was simple really, because in the end no matter who he was the image of him would forever be the look of a gentlemen with the cape and top hat. He needed to be at these events, because somewhere inside him was a royal, a duke and several doctors that worked for the royal family.
Before the couple could make it out the door, Jack had already disappeared from the party. His soft footfalls echoing eerily behind him. By the time they exited the building, he waited for her, hiding in plain sight.
----
If she had any idea that Jack would ever think to make Cedric one of his victims Agrat would tease him about being jealous. Both because she believed it, but also because in her mind there couldn’t be any other reason for Jack to single out Cedric out of all the people there. If she were the murdering type -- more like the type to want to kill anyone other than him -- this swanky party had practically gifted her with a buffets worth of choices. More than once she had to stop herself from slapping someone across for daring to breathe the same air as her.
Agrat had perfected the art of remaining poised no matter what the situation. It was one of the few things in life she had control over, and there was very little out there that she loved more than maintaining a firm grasp on how a scene would play out. It flew directly in the face of that yearning to hold the reins that she was allowing Jack to push her around as she did, but if anyone had ever pointed that out to them she’d continue to ignore their logic.
Stepping outside into the cold night air, Agrat continued to feign weakness. Taking a deep, exaggerated breath, she arched her back enough to draw attention to her chest, revelling in the knowledge that most men in the area (and a few women, let’s be honest) were definitely looking. Assuring Cedric that she would wait with the doorman until a cab came, she shoo’d him off back into the party. It was only when she was absolutely convinced he could no longer see her that she straightened up, flashing a grin at the doorman before picking a direction and just walking.
----
The amazing thing about New York City, or any city at that, was the mass amount of darkened alleys that few ever looked down. Even ones off of a nice building that held charity events and likely had security cameras, instead of feeling safe they gave off a sense of dread. The unknown hid within alleys. Yellowing streetlamps merely spilled small localized pools of light amongst the dark, the dark obviously winning the battle. Jack slid into the alley, watching her walk towards him without knowing. Her ability to sense his aura always intrigued him. So many couldn’t tell unless they stood directly in front of him, yet she could hunt him down if she focused enough. Just as he could her. A succubus related to prostitutes made it so easy for him to hunt her down- when she didn’t just fall into his lap.
As she passed in front of the alley, he reached out of the darkness, grabbed her arm and pulled her into the alley. Pushing her against the wall with his hand over her mouth and a wicked smirk on his lips. “Shh.”
----
To say she expected him to reach out from the darkness and make his presence known to her would be correct, so when he literally yanked her into an alley by the arm she reacted with only the barest hint of stupefaction. Part of her wanted to make some snarky comment, but the hand over her mouth was preventing her from cracking wise. It was just as well, since he most likely would only get annoyed at realizing that she just didn’t find him as scary as she probably should. Then again, when you knew you’d just come back once you died there wasn’t much out there that could frighten you anymore. Agrat visibly brightened up when she saw his smirk, mischief dancing in the depths of her brown eyes. She had no idea what shenanigans he might have in store for her beyond hopefully getting dinner, but that was just part of the thrill.
Flicking her tongue out to lick at the hand over her mouth, she wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at him. Her words came out muffled thanks to his fingers, but she spoke anyway. “If you wanted to have your way with me you could’ve just asked.”
----
Jack was a creature of habit, how could he not be? No one would willingly give up environments that they felt stronger within. The excitement of having someone against the wall, under your hand, couldn’t be beat. And seeing her excitement towards him only heightened the situation. The turn on of them being turned on by the events only added to the disgusting mix of hate and lust in his system. Even after his run in with Lust herself, he could not be turned away from his nature.
“If I had to ask it wouldn’t be fun.” Studying her face, he decided that the new appearance fit her well. It didn’t have that perfect pale complexion that he adored seeing blood spilt over, but there was something strong in this one opposed to the others he had seen. The hand over her mouth moved down her jawline and neck. His eyes darkened as he imagined his blades cutting into her, not enough to kill her- not yet, not this time- but enough to give that thrill and then see the pleasure turn to pain. Jack really did belong to Lust in that manner. He took a slow, deep breath, licking his lips. The black of eyes looking back into hers.
----
Agrat held Jack’s gaze even as the little voice in the back of her head that always seemed more cautious than she was piped up a warning. He had a way of staring into her soul and reminding her of the more demonic side she possessed, and the heart inside her all-too mortal body began beating faster. Would he try something, here, in this darkened alley? She wouldn’t scream if he did, all out of a need to see just how far he would push the envelope before she did something to stop him.
“You never were one for asking when you could just take, anyway.” Concentrating on memorizing his features despite knowing that she wouldn’t remember them, she brought her arms up to twine about his neck. A soft sigh escaped her lips as her fingers buried themselves in the hair at the nape of his neck, the strands as soft as she imagined they’d be. “You’re thinking about doing it now, aren’t you?” Her voice came out as a breathy whisper as she stepped closer, pressing her body flush to his. “Of slashing into my skin, bloodying up my pretty dress...” A pout came to her lips, lingering as she debated kissing him. “What if I said no, that you can’t ruin my nice things, hmm?”
----
His eyebrows raised for a moment in an expression that said ‘that’s just who I am.’ Jack’s hand slid gently down the middle of her chest, only to wrap around her waist as she closed the gap between them. “It is such a beautiful shade of white,” he whispered back. Girls she represented should never wear white, the color giving a false illusion to the one wearing it. Though the cut to Jack’s eyes was exactly what he expected of her, it was modest compared to what most women decided to wear in this modern era. That made hunting so much easier for him.
“I wouldn’t hear your words, love, only the rush of your blood from the wounds I create.” Removing a small knife he had hidden, he smirked, remembering their past and remembering his encounter with Lust. He preferred a razor sharp knife that could be concealed easily for play time, the larger knife would be for the actual kill. His breathing was deep but steady as he slid the edge along her arm, blood immediately rushing to the cut surface. The fun of a razor edge was that they never felt it at first.
----
Her breath caught in her throat when he trailed his hand down her chest, idly wondering if he could feel the rough edges of the scar she knew resided there. When he didn't comment regarding any flaws, Agrat sighed in relief, pleased she wouldn't have to invent some story to explain the souvenir from their past. Agrat knew she could probably play it off as being something he must have forgotten, but in an odd twist the bringer of deception couldn't bring herself to insult their history by lying to him. "Isn't it? I saw it and just had to have it," she murmured, lips barely brushing against his skin. She was being bold now that she'd recovered her equilibrium and felt they were back on an even playing field.
"I always did envy just how focused you could be when you were working," she started to say, her eyes going wide when she caught the change in his breathing. It was subtle, but she had been around him enough to recognize what it meant. Mentally steeling herself for what she sensed coming, she gasped at the familiar sting of skin getting cut. Angling her pelvis so it aligned with his, she offered him a wicked smile. "Is that something in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me...?"
----
He closed his eyes as her lips caressed his skin. Both hate, lust and something he would never admit to seethed deep inside of him. Women used men’s lust against them, while Jack used women’s lust against them. She, like all the others, so easily went from one man to the next, but for some reason they always found each other time and time again. He had to wonder if he would have the same reaction to her sister succubi.
To envy his focus when it directed his soul towards her and other’s deaths. He smirked. The scent and sight of her blood gave him an eerily calm facade. His hand came up smearing the blood up her arm. Of all the lines she could have said, he hated that innuendo the most. Wrapping his other hand into her hair, he shoved her back against the wall. She’d have to get the dress dry cleaned if she felt that would get a good reaction out of him. Bringing the knife up to her chest, fog started to billow around his feet. Agrat did react better to being cut than Lust had, he’d give her that.
“I could just carve you right here,” he whispered. His face centimeters from hers. His threats were not empty, but he also wanted her.
------
She found herself pleased by his reaction and how it mirrored her own when she was around him. The hatred urging her on, the lust just intoxicating, but beneath it all was an emotion that she refused to name. Sexual attraction was a tool, one Agrat could wield with as much precision as any knife he might choose to wave in her face. She wondered if he knew that finding him was the only highlight of each new existence she had.
That’s not to say she hadn’t tried to stop herself from seeking him out, it just never seemed to work. This time around she was of two minds about it, and yet even without consciously searching they had stumbled upon each other. She’d claim it was God’s will, but that was giving the big man far too much credit and power over her. Sparing a glance at her arm when he slammed her back into the wall, Agrat rolled her eyes and affected a bored tone. “Are you that anxious to get started that you can’t even buy a girl a drink first? And what did I say about not making a mess of my dress. Rude.”
Had she been anyone else his comment might have frightened her, but she was used to this. “You could, or there’s other things you could do to me as well. The choice is yours.”
----
Jack had almost forgotten about the dinner promised. When he had her or anyone for that matter in an alley, his mind turned completely to the Ripper. It was about the blood and hunger. He didn’t want to kill her just yet, no matter if she made him want to. No. More could be done over time. Pushing the knife to make a small cut almost exactly over the scar he had given her previously, he kissed her. Jack could have noticed the scar had he wanted to, but his unconscious mind had decided a long time ago when they started to play this game that he didn’t want her to be that woman. Jack wanted Mary Kelly to be dead for the pain she put him through. Her heart still sat on a shelf in a hidden room of one of his homes. The formaldehyde along with other preserving herbs keeping it in one piece after all these years.
The hate, lust and more in the passion of the kiss, when he released her his eyes had returned to their normal green. Pulling out a handkerchief, he dabbed at the blood so it wouldn’t fall onto her dress. “Come now, I’ve promised a dinner and I shall keep to that promise.”
----
Agrat was inwardly grateful that he was too busy concentrating on making his next incision that he missed the flicker of heartbreak that flashed across her face unbidden when she caught on to where he intended to cut her next. All pretense of playful banter died unspoken on the tip of her tongue as she instead forced her emotions back behind the mask of insouciant indifferent she typically wore while he was having his fun, until he did something to make her lose control. Throwing herself into the kiss, Agrat injected all her building emotions into it. Part of her wished that the strength of her fervor would cause his hand to slip and do more damage than he intended, while a lesser part was using this as an opportunity to hint at all the sentiments she kept bottled up when it came to him. He had her heart, figuratively and literally.
Her eyes had drifted shut when he’d initiated the kiss, slowly opening part way as he cleaned her up. Not trusting her voice with the myriad emotions the small show of near-affection had dredged up in her head, she nodded at his statement, offering her arm to him.