Page 13 of The House of Whispers

My body forcefully slammed into his, shoving him hard onto the wooden floor. Together we rolled and struggled, my knees and arm pinned him to the ground as I raised the blade. His free hand grappled mine, pushing the knife from his chest as I fought with him, groaning through clenched teeth.

“You bastard!” I screamed, wrestling him. “You went too far, Jakkal!”

“Too far?” His leg kneed my abdomen, shoving me aside. He then pinned both my arms to the ground and tsked. “Oh no,” he forced my knife-hand, slamming it hard into the wooden floor, sending the knife from my grasp. “Iwarnedyou, little ghost.” A vermillion glow peeked from beneath his fox mask as his glove-covered hands burned my wrists with magik. I groaned, fighting the pain as his magik burned my skin.

“I’ll kill you,” were the only words I would muster.

My body wriggled beneath his, struggling to break free of his grasp as his magik pulsated, singeing deeper into my skin. An odd mix of emotions flooded my veins as his body pressed against mine.

“I told you to fix this, Casper. The police cannot know of our little game.”

I groaned, my own magik fighting his. “Then why, Jakkal, did you send them a note?”

The fox mask tilted.

“Do you really think I would be that stupid?”

Before I could respond to his question, the sound of distant, heavy, running footsteps directed both our attention to the door.Nathair.

Jakkal looked back down at me. “Always someone interrupting our time together.” His magik evaporated as the burning sensation in my wrists disappeared. I gasped at the release. His strength loosened as I quickly rolled from his grip away from him and onto my hands and knees. The footsteps in the hall grew louder, quickly approaching the door. Jakkal rose, eyeing the door as I backed to a crouched position.

“Nowhere to hide, Jakkal.” I smiled, knowing he’d be discovered.

Jakkal looked at me, standing tall, “Or so you think.” He glanced back to the window and slowly back to me, “Tick-tock.”

“Casper!” Nathair’s voice boomed as he swung the door open, bursting into the room. My head spun to face him as he stared at the body in horror. He quickly shut the door behind him, huffing as he stepped closer. His cheeks were flustered from rushing as he looked from the body to me. My gaze returned to where Jakkal had been, but he was gone. Jakkal had once again disappeared, unseen.

“Casper,” Nathair removed his hat, “what happened here?” Nathair remained frozen for a moment before his olive green eyes met mine as he spoke calmly. “Did you do this?”

I stood, partially insulted by the accusation. “You know women aren’t my thing.”

Nathair watched me for a moment before his expression softened as he sighed heavily. “Was it a John?”

I grabbed my knife from across the floor, sheathing it as I reached his side. I had to tell Nathair the truth—at least part of it. He was the only person who could help me keep Jakkal awayandhelp me protect Min. Jakkal had killed in the house, in my home. Nowhere was safe. We needed to stop him before he killed again or hurt Min.

“No,” I approached his side, “it was The Ripper.” His name fell from my lips with disgust.

Nathair’s head spun as he glared at me in awe. “The Ripper? How do you know that?”

My eyes moved from Nathair to the Scaley’s mutilated carcass. “Because I saw him.”

Nathair froze, processing what I had just said.

“You—saw—The Ripper?Here?” He pointed down, as his entire expression reflected the worry in his voice. He scanned the room, noting the now-open window at the opposite end. Rushing to the window, he leaned over to peek outside into the cold night air, frantically searching for any trace of the murderer.

“You won’t find him.” Nathair looked back at me, his olive-green scales reflecting the moonlight as he stared. “He’s gone.”

Nathair turned to face me. “You need to tell me what’s really going on here, Casper.” His tone shifted, turning cold and serious as I crossed my arms. “Everything.” He proclaimed, stepping closer, tucking his hat beneath his arm. “I have helped with many things over the years without question, but now I need to know everything.”

If I played my cards right, Nathair could help me stop Jakkal all while keeping Min safe. We may not have been the closest of friends, but we could end this nightmare—together.

I nodded. “Everything.” I’d tell Nathair as much as I could.

Tick-tock.

Curious.

Casper was waiting outside the brothel, pacing anxiously along the dark alley. Her eyes glowed brightly in the night, giving her away as her raven-black hair faded into the darkness even as it clashed against her pale skin and rosy lips. Death truly was quite beautiful.

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