The year was now 1888, the most infamous year in Britain's history. For this was the year that the terrible serial killer Jack the Ripper committed his heinous crimes. Fortunately for Twilight, this man, and the term could only apply loosely, preferred female prostitutes as his victims. Still she made a habit of only going out during the day, and even then with at least one companion. And she wasn't the only one to make this habit. Erina, in the meantime, was gone from England at the time with her father. However, what would follow at the Joestar manor was a terror that would make Jack the Ripper pale in comparison.

Hugh Hudson Academy, the school were Jonathan, Dio, and Twilight attended, was in the middle of a rugby match against a rival academy. And for once Jonathan and Dio were working together. Twilight noted that it was the only time the two seemed willing to bury the hatchet and team up. Perhaps it was because Dio was unwilling to humiliate Jonathan at his own expense. Despite the fact that Dio had ingratiated himself in the family over the last few years, Twilight still couldn't bring herself to fully trust him.

That didn't stop her from cheering for her two brothers when they performed a mighty combo that had won them several rugby games in the past. Jonathan would charge forward like a train, waiting until enough opponents were pinning him down while getting as close to the goal as he could. When it was clear that he couldn't move any further, he passed the ball to Dio. If Jonathan was a freight train, Dio was a racehorse, his superior speed easily letting him dodge the opposing team for the rest of the field, scoring the winning try.

It was the perfect strategy, as the opposing team would be too focused on trying to slow down Jonathan, easily the biggest and strongest member of his team, leaving no one marking Dio when the ball was passed. As the two brothers congratulated each other, they and their sister remarked on their academic pursuits. Dio intended on graduating as a law student, Jonathan planned on a future in archaeology, while Twilight intended on getting her degree in English literature.

As Dio talked with some of his cronies, despite failing to turn the schools against Jonathan he still developed a following over the last couple years, Jonathan and Twilight spoke with each other. "I've noticed Dio started using the term 'father'," he said. Twilight shrugged. "It is so strange? I've also been calling George 'father'." "Perhaps," Jonathan admitted, "But you've been very familiar with Father these last seven years. Dio, however, always referred to him as 'Lord Joestar'."

Dio may have gotten friendlier with Jonathan and Twilight after Danny's death, but something about it felt forced to the two siblings. While neither of them had any proof it was Dio's work, there was also no evidence to suggest it wasn't Dio. There was also the fact that Dio's sudden friendliness was out of nowhere. "Well, let's go inform Father of our victory," Jonathan said, "Hopefully he's feeling better."

George's health had taken a sudden turn in recent days. Even now, when he seemed to be hearty, he had a slight cough to him. "Are you feeling alright?," Jonathan asked. "Yes, for the most part," George replied, "Though this blasted cough won't stop. The doctor wanted to have me hospitalized today." "I wouldn't recommend it," Dio said, "Those hospitals are no good. They just want you for the greater profit."

"That's a bit cynical," Twilight noted. "I declined either way," George said, "I feel far more comfortable at home. My chest has stopped hurting, and the swelling in my hands seems to have lessened." Both Jonathan and Twilight regretted not choosing to pursue medicine, as it might have helped explain why what should have been a simple cold had not yet passed. Still, George seemed to be in high spirits, congratulating the boys on their shared victory.

Later in the library, Jonathan and Twilight were studying the stone mask. Carefully Jonathan pricked his finger to draw some blood, then carefully held the mask away from either of their faces as he applied it. Sure enough, the tendrils appeared again. This was why they had gotten into their pursuits, so they could uncover the mystery of the mask. Jonathan in particular was interested as he thought it might help him get closer to a mother he barely remembered.

"I doubt this will be a discovery on par with Darwin's theory of evolution," he noted to Twilight, "But it would certainly be enough to get our family in the papers." "I'm certainly excited to learn what this mask made for," Twilight admitted, "Like, what's the purpose of these spines? Was this an execution device? A medicinal tool? What sort of technology makes it blood-activated? And what of the ancient writing inside the mask?" Jonathan's sudden cry of distress, following by a crashing noise, cut off Twilight's thoughts.

Twilight's whirled around and laughed when she saw what happened. Jonathan had been trying to get a book from the top shelf, only to have his father's steamer trunk nearly fall on top of him. The sight of him as he landed was rather comical. "Are you alright?," she asked with a chuckle as she helped Jonathan up. "Yes, aside from almost getting crushed," Jonathan replied, "Where was your special powers then?"

Jonathan, like Dio, had eventually come to the conclusion that Twilight possessed some level of physic power. "It doesn't work on accidents involving non-living objects," Twilight explained, "And even if it did, I have to physically see a target, and my focus was on the mask." Jonathan rubbed the back of his head as he turned back to the trunk, then spotted a letter among the books.

Picking it up, he gasped. "This was signed by Dario Brando! That was name of Dio's birth father! He must have written this to our father before he died." Twilight put a hand to her chin. "Dario died seven years ago, a few days before me and Dio arrived. Which means this was written on his death bed. Maybe we should take a look at it." When they did, they were shocked by the contents, and immediately went to find Dio.

It was a good thing they did, as they found him taking George's tea tray from the butler and swapping out the packet with the medicine. "What did you do with that medicine, Dio?," Jonathan demanded. Dio narrowed his eyes. "No more playing dumb," Twilight said, "We found the letter your father, Dario Brando, penned with his own hand. He wrote about dying of an illness... With symptoms identical to Father's. So Dio, care to explain your way out of this one?"

Dio glared at the two of them, then sighed. "Very well, if you really want the truth. My father was a piece of shit. He had worked my mother to death, then sent me out to sell her old things just to earn more coin. He was also a serious drunkard, which caused him to take ill. I once won some money in a chess match to buy medicine for him, but he only insisted on more booze, which any doctor could tell was the source of his illness in the first place."

He clenched his fist in anger. "That man deserved to die! So I went to an apothecary in London to get some special poison. I wore a mask in case some of my father's cronies spotted me. The man gave me all he had, not caring who I used it on." "You killed your own father...," Jonathan said, shocked, "And what of our father?" Dio shrugged. "What of him? Sure he has the same symptoms, but an apothecary could easily make a compound able to mimic a real disease."

He smiled. "You're not really thinking of suspecting me, are you? That would mean renouncing the friendship we've built up over the last seven years." Jonathan scoffed. "What friendship? Yes Twilight and I have grown as close as siblings can ever since we met, but you I have never considered a friend." "Same here," Twilight agreed, "In fact I can remember only one time since our meeting when I felt I could take your words at face value."

She pointed a finger at him. "It's been obvious to me that your goal has always been the family fortune. And now we're finally in a position to get proof of your misdeeds." As she and Jonathan walked away, Jonathan said, "Mark my words, Dio Brando. I will protect my father and this house. You can be sure of that." Dio frowned. By this time it was clear he was no match for Jonathan in a fight, and now it seemed his plans were starting to crumble.

'I had no idea Lord Joestar kept my father's letter,' he thought, 'He foolishly believed Father saved his life, when in reality he was attempting to rob him of his valuables, thinking he was dead.' He looked to the tray, and saw it empty. 'Damn, they've taken the poison. It will be difficult for western doctors to analyze oriental poisons, but not impossible. I give it at least three days before those two get their proof. I need to kill George Joestar before then, or everything I've built up over the last seven years will be for nothing.'

Things will really start to change come next chapter. For starters, I plan on giving Twilight a love interest. Not Jonathan, obviously, since he already has Erina. But it is a male member of the cast. See if you can guess who it is.