Leather Aprons

Leather Aprons

What follows is the alternate universe telling of a number of Britain’s most fearful specters, both fictional and not. These tales combine the victorian and gothic legends of old, in a series of synopsis’ which highlight similar interest and possible future which could spell misfortune for the world.

The Historical Horror Of A Time Far-Gone

In 1888 a murderer by the name of Jack the Ripper dispatched five women in Whitechapel, London, England. Throughout history there has always existed a gallery of mimics, copycats, worshipers and disciples of old Jack, and most have have always saw the unforgiving hammer of justice. But it was the few cases, throughout England’s long history, that struck fear into hearts of anyone who dared to walk the streets of London at night; believing, that even hundreds of years later, the Ripper still roamed. For amidst the streets of Whitechapel the people still feared Jack and his murderous acts which, they believed, could last through the ages and transcend the passage of time. There were those who believed Jack the Ripper to be a demon, spawned over a sinful exchange in religious infidelity, and destined to forever hold London in a fit of horror and distress.

Dorian’s Second Chance & Another Immortal

Dorian Gray stood with a knife in his hand. His eyes were fixed on his cursed portrait, embodying all of his filth, his sins and his sorrow. He looked on, ready to pierce the painting’s heart; the core of this object which had robbed him of his age and granted the young man fruitful immortality. In this instant he was ready to end it all. That was… if there hand’t come the breath of a cold white hand, extending itself upon the shoulder of Dorian, offering him contentment. This white hand was not that of a ghost, or any demon for that matter. No, this hand was the phantom talon of the dreadful Count Dracula, who had resided in the local London abode, Carfax. This vampire had ventured down from the treacherous terrain of Transylvania and taken up residence where he could watch over all the villains of London. Dorian looked through the Count’s eyes, amazed and astonished; and in a moment of strength Dorian drove his knife into Dracula’s chest, just barley missing his heart, but stunning the vampire long enough for the young immortal to escape with his painting. Dorian summoned up a coach and took his portrait far away. Farther than any man would care to look. Gray knew that the Count would pursue him, even fearing that Dracula was, instead, the angel of death, come to take Dorian away. Gray couldn’t explain it, but it was something he saw in the eyes of the vampire that granted him this new zest for life. Dorian knew that he would have to take the remainder of his merciless cunning and focus his efforts on the eradication of Count Dracula, lest he, himself, fall victim to the agenda of the demonic heathen. And so, it was beneath a black tree where Dorian buried his portrait, six feet under, to ensure his immortality… for now.

Two Damned Souls, Locked In Limbo

The full moon fades as the bloodshed of the night finally comes to an end. Andrew Jondrake lies in the rainy gutters of London, naked and afraid. Out from the shadows steps a man by the name of Doctor Henry Jekyll; a meek medicine man with a kind-enough soul. Henry takes in Andrew and appeals to his plights. While Andrew suffers the peculiar curse of becoming a creature locals have dubbed, the Wolf-man, Jekyll too admits to his nighty activities as a murderous monstrosity by the name of Mister Edward Hyde. Andrew confides in the doctor that it was his father, Sir Edmond Jondrake that cursed him with lycanthropy, killing his younger brother, Theodore, in the process. Talbot also revealed that it is his intention to kill his father, and then end his own life to prevent the curse from being further spread. Henry, astonished by Andrew’s will, offers him protection beneath his compound. During the full moon Andrew is granted an inescapable underground cellar for which to escape the efforts of Inspector Maxwell Pierce, who is attempting to incarcerate Andrew for murder. Between the nights of the full moon, Doctor Jekyll studies Andrew and looks to find a cure to his lycanthropy, all the while fighting his own urges to return to the night as the vile Edward Hyde.

Fish Of A Fin Learn To Swim

Through the streets of London, Monsieur Lecoq chases the elusive master thief, Arsene Lupin. Gunfire flies as Lupin leaps the building tops of the vast city. Lecoq looks to his side and sees a suit with no one within in, running fast beside him. Lecoq stumbled for a minute before hearing the floating suit telling him to hurry up. Lecoq turns his gun on the floating suit and it introduces itself as Griffin, the invisible man. Griffin gave no other name and only explained that Lupin had stolen from him an item of the utmost importance, hence why he was pursuing him. Arsene Lupin planned to become invisible, thereby launching a new series of thefts that would mystify all of France. Lupin had even planned to team with Fantomas, and perhaps even have him kill the inspector, Lecoq. Griffin, the mad man who desired his formula, above all things, would kill Lupin the second he was to get his hands on him. It wasn’t as if Lupin would see him coming.