Once the battle ended, the only thing flying through the air were the pages of Gray's books that were caught in the crossfire. I returned to my human form once I felt the danger pass. Skinner reached for his hat from the scotch bottle where he left it. I noted how quickly he applied his make-up after slashing it of with scotch in the battle.
"And I thought I was special," I then realized Skinner was referring to Mr. Gray as he came down the spiral staircase.
"You're invulnerable to harm."
"I don't like to boast." He commented "What happened to Mina?"
"Oh, she's probably hip-deep in some sort of trouble." Quartermain answered with a slight chauvinist tone, that made me growl and I shot him a glare.
"One shouldn't assume what one doesn't know." I snarled. I could sense his uneasiness.
"Don't be such an alarmist, Mr. Q." Mrs. Harker's sudden appearance made me jump as she continued. "And my hips are none of your business."
Then quite suddenly, one of the Fantom's soldiers sprang up and held a dagger to Miss Harker's throat. My claws began to unsheathe themselves as a low growl escaped from my own mouth. Everyone else pointed a gun barrel or blade at the soldier.
"Shoot. Go on." He urged.
Thinking that Mrs. Harker would die if they did, the League lowered their weapons. But I still stood on alert, for a strange new scent I hadn't come across before caused me to do so. The combination of an indescribable, sickly sweet odor and the aroma of dried blood filled my nose almost to the point of a searing sting, but not quite. I was amazed that this scent seemed to waft itself off of Miss Harker, Then I knew what would happen in a few short moments and I stepped back a ways.
"I guessed as much. That they would do anything to protect you." The man foolishly stated as the scent became more potent and Mrs. Harker's eyes turned from green to blood red.
"See now, that's your biggest mistake," She grabbed the dagger and I braced myself. "Thinking I need them to protect me."
And with that, Willemina Harker lunged at the poor soldier's throat and drained him dry of blood. Her hair tie had come undone as she dragged him to the floor. I was tempted only just to lunge in, but I held myself back knowing I must have control. She shot up once she had her fill and wiped the blood on her face to her mouth. Captain Nemo gazed in awe. Vampires, such savages.
"Extraordinary."
"Boy, they told me European women had funny ways." Sawyer remarked, then pointed out a smear of blood she had missed. With a small mirror in hand she wiped away the splattered blood from her face with a kerchief.
"And you are?" Mrs. Harker inquired.
"Special Agent Sawyer, American Secret Service." Sawyer replied.
"Then America is aware of the situation." Quartermain stepped in.
"Well, if a war starts in Europe, how long will it take to cross the Atlantic?" I complied then continued. "Kessandra Talbot, Division Six."
"We followed you," Sawyer explained, "I knocked out a straggler and took his place."
"Very noble," Gray noted to Sawyer, "but this is a private party and you're not invited."
"Actually Dorian has declined." Miss Harker stated, "So we are one shy of a full deck."
"On the contrary." Gray objected. "The battle was just the spur I needed," He then turned to face Mrs. Harker.
"That and the thrill of a friendship renewed. So you're not needed."
"I would not say the same in the case of Agent Talbot." Captain Nemo stated, "you have shown great skills in the fight, such talent could be of use to our cause."
"Yes, I read about the mission you all were assigned. I was immediately sent to meet with Agent Sawyer to assist you in any way possible."
After exchanging a few more words, and Sawyer and Quartermain exchanging a few rifles, we ventured outside towards Gray's private dock. As we exited, I found out we had one more member to recruit, or to coin a phrase 'capture'.
"You make him sound like some sort of animal." Mrs. Harker said.
"Speaking thus Mrs. Harker, your conduct a moment ago." Quartermain pointed out.
"Not to exclude yours, Agent Talbot." Nemo implied.
"Indeed. We were all aquiver with curiosity." Skinner continued.
"Well, my husband was Jonathan Harker." Miss Harker began. "Together with a professor named Van Helsing, we fought a dangerous evil. It had a name; Dracula, he was Transylvanian." I could sense the tension in her voice as she spoke. Skinner spoke up.
"Ah, European. One of those radicals the newspapers like to report on?"
"I don't know Mr. Skinner," She turned around to show the side of her throat where two deep puncture marks lay close to her jugular vein. "Is the vampiric sucking of peoples blood radical behavior?"
"Savage is more like it." I growled. Aghast, Mrs. Harker replied.
"Excuse me Agent Talbot, I cannot deny that our kinds have tension between them, but for the sake of this mission it would be best if we put our differences aside."
"It's more than a matter of difference, Mrs. Harker." I could feel my temper rise slowly as I spoke through clenched teeth. I felt a great rage inside me, but it wasn't until Quartermain pulled out his rifle that I realized things were getting out of hand. I took a step back and collected myself.
"Our blood feud runs deep." Mrs. Harker continued. "But remember I did not choose this life."
"Nor did I." I replied. "My condition has its drawbacks, as yours does. But I would suggest that you not get in my way."
"Now we can see why your Division Six sent you, Miss Talbot." Quartermain pointed out. "Your, uh, condition as you put it will come in quite handy."
"You can stop with the charade, Mr. Quartermain." I could sense his hesitation in his use of words. "It's no use hiding behind a disappearing tree."
"Never heard a phrase put quite that way." Skinner said.
"It's an old saying my father told me." I smiled at the thought of my sleek haired father. "It means you can't avoid the inevitable, no matter how hard you try."
"Your father is a very wise man, I assume." Nemo chimed in.
"Yes." I started. "His name is Lawrence Talbot. In his youth, he was bitten by a werewolf and caused some trouble in his English hometown. Eventually he caught the attention of Division Six who recruits individuals with qualities similar to mine. They sent one of their finest agents, a human by the name of Gwen Conliffe to retrieve my father. To put the locals at ease, he and Agent Conliffe faked his death and had him shipped to America in secret. They were married shortly after, and I in turn was the product."
"You've shown that you can hold your own in a fight Agent Talbot," Gray noted, the musky scent of some foreign cologne and, oddly enough, ashes seeped off of him. "I've met many of your kind over my lifetime, though must say that a lycanthrope that can turn at will is unique."
"That's because almost every werewolf was bitten, thus becoming a subject to the changing moon." I continued. "I on the other hand was born with the gene, and can turn as needed. Though, I'm told my aggression does tend to be under the moon's influence."
A silence fell over us for the longest time until a rumble from the water caught our attention. The water bubbled as something from below.
"Ah. Our transportation is forth-coming." Said Captain Nemo.
"A boat?" Sawyer questioned. Nemo continued.
"It travels on water, if that's what you mean." Then a massive silver-white ship slowly rose from the depths of the river. "And beneath it."
We all gazed in awe as the submersible ship rose to its full height, towering well over Dorian Gray's riverside mansion.
"Behold Nautilus, the sword of the ocean." Nemo announced. "Next stop, Paris."
