Nikola stepped out of the carriage, the brisk autumn winds plucking at his hair and clothes. He looked about the London streets, feeling again like a bit of a stranger despite the familiar surroundings. Taking a deep breath, he made his way up to Gregory Magnus' door and knocked.

The door swung open to reveal Helen, a few lines of sorrow etched around her eyes and a gravity to her presence. She smiled genuinely when she saw him though, and embraced him. She held his face in her hands and sighed. "I must say I do not miss the moustache at all."

He smirked as she beckoned him in, self-consciously rubbing his clean-shaven face. "Neither do the Americans…what we do to be accepted."

"It looks as if the New World is agreeing with you."

"It is." He saw the pain lurking in her eyes behind the light teasing and squeezed her hand.

The tender gesture shook her brave face for a moment and she whispered, "I am really glad you came, Nikola. I wish it were under better circumstances."

He shushed her gently. "I would never deny your missive. Come, the others must be waiting."

They entered Gregory's study to find James and Nigel poring over a map of London. There were red marks for every place the Whitechapel murderer had taken a victim. Nigel turned to see them enter and heartily shook Nikola's hand despite the somber mood. James could not tear his eyes away from the map.

"He will strike here or here." James pointed to two alleys in the East end before turning to Nigel. "Your women will be in place?"

Nigel nodded grimly. "I have outfitted them all with a pistol…I just hope it is enough to keep them out of danger." He then took a vial from Gregory's desk and gave it to Nikola. "This is the compound…only you are fast enough to keep up with him. I tried, but…" Nigel smiled mirthlessly, his bandaged hand speaking volumes. "…he sniffed me out."

Nikola nodded gravely, filling a syringe with the serum and then tucking it safely into his pocket. "Let us begin."


The shrill cry of the bobby's whistle pierced through the night as John teleported away from the bleeding, screaming woman. His attempt had been sabotaged and he had the uneasy feeling that he had been followed.

"Druitt!" John turned and saw Nikola standing under the street lamp, eyes black. He blinked and Nikola was in front of him, talons around his throat.

"Send a monster to catch one – how ticklish!" John laughed, even as he felt his supply of air cut off. Nikola's eyes glittered darkly, but John gazed mildly back without any fear. "Do you not see, old boy? You will not be able to hold me at all."

With a savage push Druitt threw Nikola from him, hackles rising. "You could never hold anything over me."

Nikola chuckled mirthlessly, the darkness thick in his voice. "Johnny, Johnny…where has our sensitive poet gone? I never thought I would actually miss him."

John hurled his hand forward and a knife thudded into Nikola's chest. Growling, Nikola pulled the blade slowly from his heart, his face constricting with pain. The blade clattered to the ground, Nikola no worse for wear.

An ugly expression took John's face and he spat out, "Oh do not waste your breath on platitudes. You never had a kind thought about me, there is no point in pretending." John waved goodbye and attempted to teleport.

His confusion grew to menace when he saw the smug grin on Nikola's face. He suddenly convulsed, his body on fire, and fell to his knees. This is when he noticed the syringe growing out of his shoulder. Weak, he gave a bitter laugh. "Very nice. Poison?"

Nikola walked coolly over and lowered to his ankles. "A tranquilizer."

John laughed again, his breathing growing laboured as his vision began to blur. "You know I feel sorry for you, Tesla. You were always the one on the outside…always the stranger. And now you have your fangs and claws – you cannot even belong to humanity anymore."

Nikola gave his head a shake, the black eyes and fangs disappearing. He looked down at the struggling man with a mixture of contempt and pity. "I feel sorry too. Sorry that it was you who so miserably failed your responsibility and broke Helen's heart."

"Helen…" John's voice was strangled as he whispered her name, grief striking his face for a split second before it twisted into black hatred once more. "That makes me pity you most."

John's vision was fading to black and he struggled to stay awake, cursing whatever toxin it was flowing through his veins. He saw Tesla, still regarding him mildly, a hand holding up his head. "We are one and the same in that now, Johnny boy. The Age of Romance passed, taking with it her poets and dreamers and lovers. The world wants Industry now…a new god in efficiency."

Nikola grasped John's collar and lifted his head up so he could whisper in his ear. "Helen has learned now the pitfalls of keeping science as her lord and master. And now, she will never entertain another."

Nikola released him, John's head cruelly hitting the ground with a smack. Soon, James and Scotland Yard would be arriving to retrieve his now unconscious form. Helen would be there to witness it all without tears or regrets. The time for that had ended as well.

Nikola sighed, getting to his feet and leaning against the alley wall. The light from the street post was the only illumination in the otherwise darkened streets. He lightly kicked John's shoulder and when there was no response determined they were truly alone.

"Goodbye, John…you actually were a decent man."

Nikola shoved his hands into his pockets and waited for the others to once again, after a long time, be reunited as the Five.


END