"London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London bridge is falling down, my fair lady."

The woman ran through the streets, her breath heavy and panicked in her chest. Her heels clicked and clicked and clicked, the underlying companion to the musical laughter that rang down the alley. The woman's heel caught on a cobble, and she feel harshly to the ground. Her heavy exhalations filled the air with puffs of mist. The lady struggled to get to her feet, but only managed to flip herself over. Mist coiled towards her feet from the edge of the alley.

"So build it up with iron and steel, iron and steel, iron and steel. Build it up with iron and steel, my fair lady."


The woman trembled, her hair falling out of its elaborate style and collapsing about her pale shoulders. Her body shook from cold and fear, and her eyes were wide and crazed from fear.

"Iron and steel will bend and break, bend and break, bend and break. Iron and steel will bend and break, my fair lady."

The figure that appeared out of the mist caused the woman to go slack with fear. She was helpess to do anything but watch as he materialized before her. 

"So build it up with silver and gold, silver and gold, silver and gold. Build it up with silver and gold, my fair lady."

"Dressed all in black. The sound of a cane clicking against the cobbles." The woman's voice was barely a whimper. "One shining red eye trapped under a mop of black hair, and one... amber." The woman shivered violently. "It's the...."

"But gold and silver I've not got, I've not got, I've not got. Gold and silver I've not got, my fair lady."

And with the last verse, the demon finally silenced the lady.

*  *  *
Cyprian's butler woke him late in the morning. His nightshirt and blankets were tangled about him tightly. He yawned and disentangled himself from the mess. His butler, Sebastian, dressed him and escorted him downstairs, where his mother and father sat at the large dining table. Sebastian pulled out Cyprian's chair and pushed it in, before excusing himself to fetch the tea.
Cyprian's mother, Ruenna, rang the bell that signaled for the maid to serve the meal. The breakfast was delicious, consisting of warm cups of Earl Grey, tender poached salmon, scones, ginger french toast, and a raspberry parfait. Cyprian's father, Augustine, finished his meal before his wife and child, and pulled out the daily paper, The London Gazette.
"Look at this, darling," he exclaimed after a few moments of studying the Gazette. "That London Bridge fellow has taken another victim."
"Dreadful," Ruenna sniffed, delicately chewing a bit of salmon. "Absolutely dreadful."
Augustine huffed. "I've no idea why those fellows over at Scotland yard haven't caught this git yet. They ought to hire on a new inspector, they should."
"Of course you're right, darling," Ruenna agreed, dabbing at her mouth with her napkin.

......................
TO BE CONTINUED