The Diaries of an Enigmatic Manipulator

A/N: Venice! Alright—just to warn you, this chapter gets a little…intense. (In my opinion) Also, at the end of this chapter is a special treat: an entry in Dr. Jekyll's diary, where he records some interesting thoughts of Siyana.

Oh, and sorry if I don't really write who's saying what at times—it might be a little confusing if you've never seen LXG or don't remember, but it's in the POV of Siyana, who can't tell who's saying what due to her condition.

Somewhere in the Mediterranean (I believe), 1899

Today, I've heard some frightening news:

Dr. Jekyll claims that Mr. Skinner has taken a vial of Hyde's formula, and that he is a spy.

But, I do not believe him. It is not because I claim to know of Mr. Skinner's loyalty, and that he would never double-cross us, but I do not believe Dr. Jekyll because I know who really took his formula.

I will not record it for reasons in which, no matter how much we trusted him and how much he betrayed us all, I will not be the rat. But I sensed that part of him…the part where he certainly had something up his sleeve…and evil presence in which I was surprised no one else noticed…a presence I found familiar in myself.

And yet, I am surprised to simply write all this new news down without being crushed by my revelation to Dr. Jekyll! Why—I had certainly welled right in front of him! And he was so kind about it, despite the horrors of my embarrassment. I do not believe he thought much of my history but of my charisma. It was absolutely dreary.

All this came across my mind just hours before our arrival in Venice—in which, according to M, we must stop the Fantom from attacking the conference. I could nearly faint…I do not know how to fight! I cannot defend myself! I just cannot! My unknown, unpracticed power only the Captain and I are aware of is surely confusing to me, and I do not count on it to defend my life! One must understand…I cannot see anything during the process! As I feel threatened, I become more of a threat by losing my eyesight. It truly is a horror.

But, almost at once we docked, and exited the ship to the lovely grounds of Venice, Italy. It would seem there was some sort of carnival going on, with masquerade, music and dancing, and more of the likes.

As the league and I walked down the Nautilus' ramp to meet the stone grounds of Venice, a team of divers dressed in white and silver suits, decorated with a most beautiful God-like armor in protection exited by almost a march as well.

Nemo spoke as their order: "Deploy the divers beneath the city. That explosive must be found."

Dreary me…but…explosive…? Did anyone ever mention an explosive for my sake? I…I do not know what to say! I shall be torn to pieces with this explosive! But…what was it the Captain said? Did he say to "deploy the divers beneath the city"? Is that where the explosive is; beneath the city? If so, the entire city of Venice will be destroyed! How can we accomplish to save that?

"The city is vast…it could be anywhere!" spoke Mrs. Harker, and I couldn't agree more! How will we be able to track it within time? How much time do we have, for that matter?

"What about Skinner?" Agent Sawyer had asked.

"I'd be alert for his treachery." Mr. Gray had responded. I glared in his direction, and came across a devoted, yet dangerous preposition. Depending on our probable fight this evening, I would do something that could very well put me in grave danger.

Oh, but I cannot! I am too frightened to do what I wish for this league!

"Are you alright?" Dr. Jekyll had taken me to the side, and asked me of my condition—he claimed that I was acting quite…anxious.

I asserted to be fine, trying to ease my predictable, ever-fast-beating heart.

Just before I could hardly allege to be fine, and meditate in a position to be composed, the bomb had gone off! I heard the sound, and yet, I did not feel any vibrations! It was a strange bomb, indeed!

Perhaps, then, the Fantom's plan had not worked out all along!

But, I jest…I looked up, and there, in the sky, were dozens of fireworks.

Yes, yes of course—the noise I had heard was of the fireworks…not a bomb.

I continued to watch the colorful sparks within the air as I caught the league's amused, yet frightened conversation.

"Bloody carnival…" Allan had said.

"God, I feared the worst!" Mrs. Harker had said.

"It's alright," I heard Agent Sawyer say. "We still have…"

But the real bomb had already gone off! Yes—the real bomb! I had screamed, and the grumbling grounds had already shifted my body to fall upon the mounds of crumbling rocks at my feet. I felt a strong pinch at my back. As the buildings continued to fall, and I attempted to stand up, I put a hand to my back, retrieved it, and thankfully did not yet find any blood. I was most certain there would be a bruise, however, for I could sense the pain already.

Out in the distance, I heard a man shout something over the shouts of terror within Venice, and around the Nautilus.

"We're too late…!" Mrs. Harker observably concluded. Yes, we were…and we had very few options left! Was the conference already terminated? Were the leaders of Europe safe?

I faintly heard Mr. Quatermain grumble "There must be more than one bomb!" as he inspected the buildings falling down one by one. Oh dear, I pray to my death now! I simply stood there in the action, wincing at my back, losing my eyesight, and falling faint once again.

I could barely hear the league's shouts, as if they were whispers—

"Nemo! The bombs are at the city's center. We must take out one key building."

"Yes! Get ahead of the chain and destroy the next building!"

"Interrupt the chain of destruction!"

I gripped to the side of an unknown object, and lowered myself down. All I could see was grey, everywhere.

"With a beacon at the coordinates, I could launch a rocket that would take out the domino!"

"Well, that's ridiculous! We'd never get there in time!"

I must…help…but I cannot…I needed…strength…to fight…back….

"There will be no room for error, but I tell you it could work!"

"What are you talking about, Gray's right!"

I…I cannot…

"I'm an immortal sir, not a gazelle! How can we outrun this?"

I heard a strange sound growling at the same time as someone's arms had surrounded me, and I tried to fight back, but could not find the strength. The arms picked me up, and attempted to give me support, but I did not have any strength they could leave me with to stand. I heard a voice quite near mine.

"She's blind!"

I thought I had heard Mr. Quatermain's voice mumble something.

"Care for a spin?" I thought I heard someone say.

"Dear God, what has happened to you, Siyana?" I thought the voice sounded familiar.

"H…Henry?"

Sounds of shuffling and motion had taken attention to my ears.

"Come on, Jekyll, Siyana—get in!"

Somebody needed my help…

"I'll need coordinates!"

"Can you track this thing?"

I fell out of Dr. Jekyll's support, and nearly stumbled across to what I felt to be the Captain's 'automobile'. I heard someone's supporting voice; as they helped me grope to the seat, and climb over the metal barrier that protected its outside interior. I had attempted to sit down in what I believed to be the back seat. I sensed figures around me. I was regaining my strength…but oh, it had all gone white, now! I still could not detect the voices! But yet, I did hear the sounds—thank the Lord!

"Of course!"

"Then the car will be your target. Launch when you see the flare!"

"Right!"

"C'mon, Jekyll; we'll need Hyde!"

My head lifted to take notice of Dr. Jekyll's name. Was he not in the 'automobile'?

"No! Hyde will never use me again!"

I questioned his choice of words. The Doctor sounded…protective.

"Then what good are you?"

Whoever had said these words, I found to be surely harmful!

I felt the mechanism take charge, and I had thought we started moving. I began to pray:

Holy Father, who art in heaven,

"My goodness, you are blind, Siyana!" I thought the voice sounded womanly—Mrs. Harker.

"What?"

"She's blind! Just look into her eyes!"

"Huh?" I found the voice to be my estimate as Agent Sawyer.

"Oh, bloody hell…" It sounded like Mr. Quatermain. I heard ruffling sounds of paper, and then, "Straight ahead, then turn left!"

"No, no…take a right after the canal forks!" The voice was closer to me…I identified it as Mrs. Harker's.

"We must turn left to get ahead of the…!"

Just then, my ears burst in pain of a thousand bullets whizzing past my head. I lowered my head in my hands, continuing to pray:

On Earth, as it is in heaven…give this day our daily bread, and give us…

"Snipers!" If I had to identify, I thought it to be Agent Sawyer's.

"Damn Skinner…he must have told them we were coming!" I had a great feeling that voice had belonged to Mr. Gray. The notion came to mind that he was the one who claimed Dr. Jekyll to be of no use just minutes ago.

As we forgive those who trespassed against us, and leave us not, into temptation, and deliver our sins, Amen.

"Dorian!" I heard Mrs. Harker shout, right next to me. I had assumed Mr. Gray had gone out of the device. And, without hesitation, I instantaneously got out myself. My feet lightly hit the ground before the rest of my body could be torn away by the moving transportation. I heard the 'automobile' cast away with voices, and voices nearby as well.

As I did know where I was going, I groped around with my arms to the closest voices I could find. I did not even stop to think they were the voices of the enemy. As I stumbled closer to the shouting voices, I began to hear them more distinctly.

"Mr. Gray—what are we to do?"

"Continue to shoot them. We'll need all the men we can get." The voice of what I assumed to be Mr. Gray sounded uninterested, and yet smiling. I searched for his body.

"Dorian?"

"Ms. Blair?!"

"Yes! Oh, yes…Dorian!"

"What on Earth do you think you're doing?" his idiom seemed to give the impression of a bit chary.

"Mr. Gray, I cannot—" I felt for his shoulder.

"Why, your eyesight is gone, is it not?"

"Yes! I—"

"Mr. Gray, do we shoot?"

I heard a few anxious groans and screeches, which made me shutter. Was I unknowingly blinding gentleman again?

"No…no shooting her…Ms. Blair, do you know what you are doing?"

Well, certainly, I did not know for sure if I was taking their eyesight…had I taken Mr. Gray's? Oh, but I'm sure he would have healed by now! Or did he merely mean if I needed help, due to my loss of senses.

"Why, Mr. Gray…who are you talking to…? Why, what am I—OW!"

It would appear as if a gunman had injured me! I felt a very sharp pain on my palm! I screeched in pain, had swung my arm to my chest in protection, and more screeches were heard. Oh, I was almost sure I was causing harm! Why was I given this…this curse? I have always been one to try and preserve life than take it…had I been damned to suffer this insolence in which I have already suffered? How had I gained this ability? Surely, it could not have been from their tests…could it? I could not imagine!

Suddenly, I grew panicked. I had not heard Mr. Gray's voice. Where had he gone to? Had I hurt him?

Oh…cleanly perfect! In the middle of a crumbling city, I have lost…more or less harmed my only means of guidance! Was there no one to help such a…a….a victim such as I?

I must calm myself, I soon realized. It is my only hope of regaining my sight.

Yes…hope! It is the only way!

I did as much as I could to try and find the brightest of lights inside my soul…and might I tell you, it was not easy. After quite a long time of standing there, concentrating… (I truly did wonder how I was not shot then and there), and was able to regain enough sight to see my surroundings. Not distinctly, but enough to regain my absorption.

Just then, before I could carry out anything else, I heard an explosion! Almost as loud as the bombs from before, and I could not imagine what it was that went off. I could not think at all! I was in the very middle of a crumbling city (which strangely didn't seem to sound very destructive any more than it was moments ago…had the league stopped the city from falling to ruins?), typically blind, and unaccompanied!

But I meditated in the calmest manner I could execute, and sure enough my sight came back enough to see even more clearly than before! The scene before me was washed out it white, but I could still decipher the scene! I felt marvelous! The only thing I could possibly think of doing was finding the Nautilus and (hopefully) its members! I feared for our league—had we all survived? This had me remember…I could not find Mr. Gray! I did not see his body! I could only hope for the best he is alive. And yet…I noticed slightly less than a dozen blind men grope their way around the area….

I had walked…yet, ran as far as I could go; I attempted to retrace the Captain's 'automobile's' path, back to the forked canal Mrs. Harker and Mr. Quatermain had argued over before (or so I thought), and more or less found it difficult enough. But soon I could find it…I had hoped so! Down the canals I sprinted whilst lifting my skirts (for I hoped I should not fall!) and finally found our designated Nautilus! Oh, how I gleefully ran to its interior!

And then, I had not noticed the dozens of injured patients being tended by our dear Captain Nemo and Dr. Jekyll. I had seen them signal to me.

I was inside the Nautilus, looking for those who I did not quite see (my dysfunction was forming yet again!) and I heard voices, which I obviously ran to. And then…several gunshots! Who had gotten shot? Had I? But I was inside the Nautilus…safe, safe Nautilus! Oh, it had been a trap all along! And I…Siyana Blair, had fallen for the trap, yet again! I will not go back again! I will stay good! I will stay good!

I stopped in midst of the hallway, and frightfully changed my course! I had turned around—I must escape them! I had groped the halls until I found the doorway opening to the streets of Venice.
I ran down the ship's ramp to the city's grounds, only to be snatched by unidentified arms!

I squirmed by my obvious offender! I did not want to get shot! I tell you…I did not want to get shot! I will not be taken again!

"Siyana…Siyana! Calm yourself! It's only me, Dr. Jekyll!"

Dr. Jekyll was to shoot me? The traitor! He was working with the house all along!

"Siyana…Siyana be calm!"

"Dr…what is the matter?"

"It's Siyana! She won't sit still!"

The extra voice sounded like the Captain! Oh…I knew it! I just knew he was no good! They are all no good! It is all a trap! Everything has been a trap! Everything, I tell you!

I began to tear….I have gone blind, I was to be shot! Taken to that wretched home again, to be treated I tell you! I will…not…be…taken! I fought with all my might!

"Ms. Blair…Ms…Ms. Blair…!" I felt an extra pair of hands holding me down!

"Siyana, it's alright!"

"Can…can she hear us, doctor?"

I did not hear Dr. Jekyll's voice for a while. Of course I am able to hear them! I had not spoken…and so they believed so!

"Let me go! I will not get shot!"

"Ms. Blair, we will not hurt you! It is only us…." I heard the Captain grumble! Why had I not blinded him them yet? I must blind them now…or I will never escape! I must blind the Doctor and Captain!

I screamed in angst.

"Here…"

I believed Dr. Jekyll and the Captain had given me to an alternative pair of hands; they must be getting the materials to knock me unconscious! They intend to drug me!

I heard noises around me in Hindustani. I was being forced to lie down on a sheet of some sort. I groped for eyes to blind. Doing so, I had heard voices in the background…

"The Fantom is M…and the hunt is still on."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Fantom is M! The very man who recruited us!"

I heard some more talking within to what I assumed to be members of this league…but I could not decipher them. I had stopped for a moment; I stopped the struggling. I stopped the screaming…the attempt to blind. I heard mumbles in Hindustani.

Our enemy…the man who caused us so much harm…was the very man we trusted to form this mission? I had been tricked…again? The Fantom is M? I have had enough of this betrayal! I should simply kill them all! I have been tricked for the second and last time…I had not known to trust this league and its members…but I fear I did; enough to be a joke!

I believe I had angrily screamed far more loudly than I had that evening. I had fought with all my might at those who held me down.

"Good god, what has gotten into her?" I heard a familiar voice say. Was it Mr. Quatermain?

But I had not stopped screaming.

I then heard Dr. Jekyll's voice (I believe I can decipher his voice distinctly now.):

"I don't know…she accused us of wanting to shoot her. I fear she might be suffering from a mild case of chronic anxiety."

"Mild?"

I felt extra hands holding me. I…I do not believe it…I was being strapped down to a table! Oh, I had feared this! It is happening again! It is only a matter of time…

"Where are the others?"

The league was ignoring me know. They had put the dirty work to others.

"Dorian's missing in action…and Mr. Skinner must have fled when he realized we knew."

"And Sawyer?"

"He'll live to fight another day."

"Don't worry…I've had my fill of throats for this evening."

There was a silence for a moment…then, I sensed a body hovering over me….

Oh, I feared the worst!

"Here…"

I felt my arm being held down.

"NO!" I screamed, as I felt the familiar pinch in my veins.

"Siyana I'm sorry…" It was Dr. Jekyll.

Silence….and then,

"Captain!"

The hovering body had shifted away from me.

I could barely hear these next words:

"It was Gray…not Skinner…Gray's tricked us all!"

Who was speaking? Had I not predicted so? I knew Mr. Gray had been the traitor all along! I knew it! Mr. Gray was but one of the many traitors…

I…I fear this is the end for I! I fear…I—I fear…

I thought I had heard a noise…such a strange noise…

"What is it?"

"The sound of treachery!"

It is nearly the end…this is it…

This is the end……

(A/N: No…I don't mean this is the end of the story. Siyana's just saying that—she's been put to sleep.)

Dr. Jekyll's Diary

A/N: No, I'm not going to give out a full entry of Jekyll's diary from his experience in Venice. I'm just "showing" a part in his "written diary" where he mentions Siyana's condition. He gives us a bit of a lecture on Siyana's "anxiety neurosis", in a doctoral/concerned somewhat-friend POV.

June 17, 1899

…The league's task in Venice, Italy had brought about much alarm in Ms. Blair, however. From her unsystematic outbursts and sadistic rampages I fear, as a doctor, I am observing at a ghastly case of anxiety neurosis, or chronic anxiety. It is quite unfortunate for Ms. Blair to be suffering from such a horrible nuisance, especially after her disturbing admission just last night. I do fear what Ms. Blair had attempted to describe was part of a medical asylum. I would have to be reminded to check up on her condition—ensure for any promising signs of the disorder: dizziness, insomnia, high blood pressure, fatigue, general weakness, headache, breathlessness, rapid pulse and palpitations. She gives off a bizarre sense of illumination at certain times, and at others cases of severe blindness. These, as no certain symptoms of chronic anxiety, I fear are to be separate disarrays Ms. Blair undergoes. As a doctor, I am able to understand the chaotic physical and mental situation Siyana Blair must endure, and seeing such a case, I am quite concerned as to what purpose she serves in this League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. And yet, she maintains to not be troubled by Hyde….