Title: Shades of Blood and Gray
Genre: Adventure/Drama
Character Focus: Dorian Gray and Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde, pure hatred
Rating: T for coarse language and violence
Summary: Dorian returns from the dead and he wants revenge. He kidnaps Mina's son to exchange for his portrait. With nothing to lose and no outside connections, Jekyll takes on the mission, even if it means sacrificing himself.
Disclaimer: LXG is copyright to 20th Century Fox, based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neil. All characters of literature are copyright to their own creators. Only some characters are made from my imagination.
Author's Note: Hey, I hope some people are enjoying this, it's a very complex plot line to work with. Before the children get abducted by Dorian, I still have to work on how Dorian organizes his plan. I have plot notes written in a note book, so it helps to develop the story without worrying what I would do next. Please don't get upset if I don't update right away, I'm doing my best.
Chapter 2: No Place Like London
London, England
Mina was walking to the post office in London after the Nautilus had docked. She had made her request to the captain the previous night and the rest of the League agreed that a stop in London would give them all a chance to walk on dry land. The London sky was gray and cloudy, but all what mattered to Mina was getting her letter sent to Dr. Seward.
Beside her walked Tom Sawyer, who came because he needed some space from being cooped up in the ship. Mina and the spy both wore their coats and hats in case of rain.
"This weather is a real drag," said Tom. "How do you live with it?"
"It's not always this terrible," said Mina, "and it's normal for the early spring."
They had reached the post office, Mina arranged for her letter to Dr. Seward to be sent. After she was done at the post office, she and Tom headed back to the Nautilus.
"Who was the letter for?" asked Tom.
"It was for a friend of mine," said Mina, "his name is Dr. Seward."
"Was he one of your friends who helped you fight Dracula?" Tom made a nervous smile, realizing that he sounded like he was prying into Mina's background.
"Yes," said Mina, "even after my husband passed away, Dr. Seward still remained a good friend. Since I was going with the League nearly a year ago, Dr. Seward had been looking after my son, Quincey."
"I didn't know that you had a son," said Tom. "How old is he?"
"He turned ten last November," said Mina, "I regret that I was unable to be there for him at that time. I've sent that letter to inform Dr. Seward that I'll be in England for a while and I would like to visit Quincey."
"Maybe you should visit him," said Tom, beaming with that funny grin across his boyish features. "You can introduce the League to him."
"That does seem like a very interesting plan," said Mina, a smile curving at her ruby lips.
Henry Jekyll also was interested in taking a walk through London. It was time for him to become reacquainted with the city he lived in before having to live like fugitive in Paris. With hands in his trouser pockets, he walked down the cobblestone streets, passing people, buildings, and carriages. Jekyll finally found the place he was heading to.
"Home, sweet home," Hyde purred in Jekyll's mind. "Brings back so many memories of what we've done."
"Not now," Henry responded, "I've had allowed you to cause so much harm back in London and Paris and I'm in no mood to argue about it." He passed the gate into the cemetery, it was time he paid his respects to an old friend.
"Why are we in this dreary place?" sneered Hyde.
Ignoring his darker half, Henry found the headstone he was looking for. He combed his dark red hair back with his fingers nervously as he read the engraving. Henry's blue-grey eyes misted with tears as the engraving brought back memories.
In memory of Hatsie Lanyon
"Forgive me, old friend," Henry said softly to the headstone. He remembered how he allowed Dr. Lanyon to witness the transformation and discover the secret. Dr. Jekyll had begged his friend to never tell anyone about the transformation, but the stress had sent Lanyon into madness and eventually death.
"He's dead," growled Hyde, "he can't hear you where he is!"
"I still need to pay my respects to him," Henry replied in his mind, "it's all my fault that he died. I shouldn't have pressured him into keeping the secret about us."
"He was a fool and a weakling! Did you really expect him to understand it all?"
"I suppose not, but I did explain everything to him how I created the elixir and divided my soul." Henry rubbed the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. "I don't blame Hatsie for hating me when he found out, I experimented on my being and it cost me my friends and the life I knew."
"You still have Gabriel. Why don't you visit him?"
"Gabriel Utterson? I can't, he's better off believing that I'm dead." Jekyll remembered the confession and suicide note that he left for Utterson before fleeing. A close friend and lawyer of Jekyll's, Utterson was unaware that Henry Jekyll faked suicide and was living a different life.
After Jekyll had dried his tears and paid his respects to Lanyon, he left the cemetery. Henry decided to return to the Nautilus.
Also taking his time on dry land and seeking amusement for himself was Rodney Skinner. The invisible man was at one of the many pubs in London, keeping himself covered with his black hat, gloves, coat, glasses, and white face paint. Skinner decided that he was going to enjoy a few ales and maybe flirt with the serving girls.
While he drank his tankard of ale, Skinner noticed a strange looking man in the dark corner of the pub. The man had his head bowed over his tankard allowing his greying hair to drape around his face and he wore a black coat over his dark clothing. What was strange was that no one went near the man, as if he were emitting some repelling energy.
The man got up to leave the pub, Skinner looked down at his tankard, using his hat to hide his face. Skinner wanted to avoid eye contact with the stranger. As the stranger went through the door, Skinner quickly glanced at the man. The man leaned on a wooden cane and walked with a limp, he was probably crippled. When the man was gone, Skinner felt some relief, but he could not explain to himself why he felt so uneasy.
"My imagination is running away with me," thought Skinner. The invisible man finished his ale, paid his tab, and left the pub.
The House of Dr. Seward
Whitby, England
Quincey and his friend Mary were finishing up their studies in an upstairs room that was assemble as a school room. Since Mary's mother used to be a librarian, she was able to teach both children together.
The two of them were finishing their notes on their papers after reading the chalk board in front of their table. When they were done and Helen had left, Quincey and Mary headed out of the room and began to talk.
"What do you think your mother is doing for the government?" asked Mary, her blue eyes bright with curiosity.
"I don't really know for sure," said Quincey, sticking his hands in his pockets, "she said that the government needed a chemist and she was the only one available."
"Why would the government need a chemist?" Mary tilted her blond head to the side.
"Maybe to develop chemical weapons to use against that strange Fantom character. Not a lot of information was available about the attacks on the Bank of England and Berlin, I only heard rumors." Quincey shrugged his shoulders. "My mother said she was needed to work with a team of selected individuals to deal with the problem, but I can't really remember the details."
"Perhaps," said Mary as she smoothed the wrinkles out of her skirt with her tiny hands, "your mother must be on a big adventure if she's taking a long time to come home."
"Yes," said Quincey with a sigh, "perhaps she is."
"When she does visit," said Mary with a cheerful smile, "you should ask her about it."
London, England
Dorian Gray needed an ally to help him carry out his revenge and he was on his way to meet that ally. He remembered that M had other friends who shared his vision. One of them was a scientist and an expert on poisons from plants, insects and other creatures.
When he had finally returned to London, Dorian returned to his home at the docks. After he settled back in, he looked through the paperwork that he collected from M. Dorian had found the file on the scientist along with the address. He hailed a carriage and asked to be taken to the address on the file.
The carriage had stopped, Dorian climbed out and straightened his jacket. The house was big and dreary looking, as if it had little maintenance to keep it together. Dorian walked up to the front door and knocked with the door knocker that resembled a crow with outstretched wings.
The door was answered by a man with straggling grey hair, a beak like nose, beady eyes. The man wore grungy grey and brown clothes that carried the scent of chemicals and alcohol. He leaned on a wooden cane as he studied Gray.
"Do I have the pleasure to meet Emil Crowe?" asked Dorian, recognizing the man from the photograph in the file.
"Yes," replied Crowe, his voice dry and cold. "Who are you? What is your business?"
"My name is Dorian Gray." Dorian smiled as he stated his reason for coming. "I believe that you and I can help each other."
"Help each other?" Crowe lowered his grey brows and frowned.
"I was acquainted with your friend, Professor James Moriarty. Unfortunately, Moriarty's plans did not go so well."
"Really?" Crowe was silent for a moment before he spoke up. "Come inside, we'll be able to discuss this in a more comfortable setting."
Dorian followed Crowe indoors, knowing that the right kind of bargain would get him closer to his revenge.
To be continued.