Pride, Prejudice, Illyana and Zombies
(Lots and lots of zombies)
(An Illyana passage story)
Author's note: I'm using the Project Gutenberg eBook of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, as the source for the actual story (saves me from having to do a bunch of typing). The eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever (yea!). So you will likely see a different writing style from time to time.
License stuff, you may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www gutenberg org.
However I have rewritten many of the words and, since the underlying plot does change, I will eventually stop using the existing words. I'll let folks know what are the original chapters of the book.
Oh, because I am a cruel and mean person, I will not be revealing just who are agents of Hydra (hail hydra!) until the time is right, but I suppose you could look at the tarots to know (or so you might think). And I suppose guessing always helps.
Ahh… this should be such fun. Let me know what you think (hint hint). I've gathered some of Ben Franklin's actual quotes and used them in this story.
Part 11a: Utopia interlude
"Did the girls know that you were a demon as well"? Asked Emma.
Illyana answered with a slight smile. "No. Mr. Bennet kept that tidbit of information to himself. Magic is one thing, but an actual demon would cause all kinds of consternation. I suppose the social stigma alone would be quite frightful. They knew I was from someplace else but not the actual locality or my true nature".
Emma chuckled "Yes… one must maintain proper decorum".
"Now you sound like Jane or Lizzy". Replied Illyana as she chuckled in turn.
"How… did you like it there"? Inquired Emma.
"Nice in that I wasn't considered slime by everybody. Odd being… liked. Rather smelly in that most people infrequently washed, rather glad that the Bennets did not follow that particular social norm".
Part 11b: Author's explanation about money and worth in England at that time
A few brief words about finances in the early 1800's. If you read the books, or watch the film or TV adaptations, many of the characters are always talking about yearly incomes (i.e. Mr. Bingley's yearly income of £4000 pounds a year) instead of net worth.
To put some of these sums from Pride and Prejudice into perspective, the average annual income for an English laborer or farmer in 1800 was around £15-20 pounds. To live comfortably, an English gentleman like Mr. Bennet, would require around £300 pounds per year per family member, or over fifteen times the amount for a common working man who supported his entire family with that income.
So Mr. Bennet must have at least £2100 pounds a year income.
As you can see from the above figures, as long as Mr. Bennet lived his family was comfortably off. But the situation would change drastically the moment he died. After that unhappy event, Mrs. Bennet would be expected to live off the 4% interest of her £5,000 marriage settlement (which is likely in the form of government bonds), yielding £200 per year (i.e. one tenth of what Mr. Bennet provided, oh the horrors… the horrors).
No wonder she becomes shrill every time she thinks of her unmarried daughters, for Mr. Bennet's entire yearly £2,000ish income and his house were entailed to Mr. Collins (it did not help that both Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were spendthrifts so their actual savings are quite low). After Mrs. Bennet's death, Lizzy would receive just 1/5 of her mother's marriage portion (1000 pounds). This means that she would bring to her marriage only 40 pounds per year (which I point out is still twice the average yearly wage).
Keep in mind that if one of the Bennet daughters were to marry and produce a male offspring before Mr. Bennet dies, then that male offspring would be the new heir. If multiple daughters produce male offspring before his death then I think the oldest daughter's male off spring would have precedence.
Oh, and why four percent? Well, that was what government bonds paid so all basic investments were judged against four percent because why would you own something that returned one percent when you could sell it and get four percent? This meant that low performing assets would fall in price until the return was roughly four percent.
How much is a pound worth in today's English pounds? My rule of thumb is to multiply by 1000 and you roughly end up with current day's monetary values. Keep in mind that taxes were very very low back then (and there was no income tax).
Back then English currency was not decimal so a pound was divided into 20 shillings and each shilling into 12 pence, making 240 pence to the pound. 4 farthings = 1 penny so a pound was 960 farthings (yea, most confusing).
On to the story!
Part 11c: Breakfast at Bennets (original chap1 of the real book)
A few days later…
Two axioms appeared to guide the Bennet household. Mrs. Bennet was a firm believer that it must be universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. After all, heirs require both the labors of a woman and her labor, or so she frequently told her daughters. Mr. Bennet taught them a zombie in possession of some brains must be desirous for even more brains.
Her goal was to marry them off. His goal was their survival.
It was a drizzly morning as the two of them partook of breakfast in the library. Tea, toast, some dried fruit, and this new confection called Eggs Benedict. The girls were not at breakfast this morning as Mrs. Bennet wished a private conversation with Mr. Bennet.
The girls had already eaten and were outside engaged in combat practice, the clatter of the wooden training swords could be occasionally heard, that and once a shriek from Lizzy as Illyana won yet another round of scare the ninja. Lizzy was by this point deeply regretting teaching Illyana the game, she could never get Illyana to do anything but tense up. And now Lizzy had a bit of a phobia about being startled in the shower or tub; Illyana called is psycho syndrome but refused to explain the meaning of the comment.
The desire for quality matrimony was of paramount concern for many a family. Therefore any newcomer single male of worth to the neighborhood was considered the rightful matrimonial property of some one or other of their daughters.
"My dear Mr. Bennet" said his lady to him that morning, "Have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last"?
Netherfield Park being a fine estate that had stood empty ever since the prior occupants had unfortunately been consumed by a roving horde of zombies during a christening party. Very sad.
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
"But it is, for Mrs. Long has told me all about it at yesterdays' tea".
Mr. Bennet made no answer for he had none that he wished to share. He sadly realized that a pleasant, quiet breakfast, was now but a forlorn hope.
Annoyed at his silence, his wife cried impatiently. "Do you not want to know who has taken it"?
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it".
This was invitation enough.
"Why my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a fine carriage to see the place, and was so much delighted with it, that he agreed with Mr. Morris that he shall immediately take possession, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week".
"What is his name"?
"Bingley".
"Is he married or single"? Like he didn't already know the answer. If this Mr. Bingley was married then this conversation would not be so… impassioned. Oh why the blazes had his woman not produced at least one son? It was not from want of trying.
"Oh! Single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls"!
"How so? How can it affect them? Wealth is little defense against the dead. is he if worth with blade and power"?
"My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of the".
"Is that his design in settling here"?
"Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes".
"I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley may like you the best of all". Flattery rarely hurts was one of Mr. Bennet's axioms in life when it came to women.
"My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty".
Mr. Bennet replied to her false modesty. "In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of".
Mrs. Bennet continued to press. "But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighborhood".
He demurred just to see how agitated that would make her. "Perhaps...". Sometimes such agitation results in a mock quarrel over the sauna and her need to demonstrate how… unhealthy it was.
Mrs. Bennet took the bait, hook, line and sinker. "But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know, they visit no newcomers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him if you do not".
He rebutted her arguments. "You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see the lot of you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy".
"I desire that you do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humored as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference".
"They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters".
"Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion for my poor nerves".
"You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these last twenty years at least".
"Ah, you do not know what I suffer".
Mr. Bennet mopped up the last of the egg yoke. "But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighborhood".
"It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them".
"Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all".
Mr. Bennet was such an odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humor, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character.
Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and sometimes uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.
"And another thing Mr. Bennet, it is high time that the sauna be retired. That heat is harmful for your aged constitution and its use by the girls will likely affect their childbearing abilities. Must I demonstrate the harm yet again"?
"Yes I suppose you must". Replied Mr. Bennet has he concealed his grin. Well, the day is suddenly brighter was his thought.
Part 11d: London
At least some things are going well thought Benjamin, the new Lord Commander of Hydra, as he sat in the carriage with Mr. Dorian Gray. They were returning from a meeting with Professor Aida Durard, recent member of the British Academy of Sciences, late of the Paris institute of Science, junior curator in the British Museum, and life long servant of Hydra; his family had been part of Hydra for generations.
"I'm pleased that you've accepted my invitation to dwell in my home for the remainder of the week old friend". Spoke Mr. Gray.
"I have need to acquire my own domicile within the next fortnight or two, and proper servants for myself and Sally. But this lets me cycle amongst the council for now". Then with a grin. "I have always found that fish & visitors stink in three days so time to give Lady Catherine some space".
"I take it Mr. Shaw has offered as well?" hypothesized Dorian as he glanced out the carriage window.
"Yes he has, most… astute is Mr. Shaw". Replied Benjamin. "Tonight we shall all meet Mr. Rothschild for drinks and supper. Lady Catherine was rather disagreeable about having a Jew in her home, but she finally came to her senses about those of the Hebrew persuasion after some intimate discussions".
Dorian looked back to Benjamin. "I find myself somewhat surprised that she was ever hesitant in that Mr. Franklin. Your powers of persuasion are still as capable as I remember them oh so long ago".
"Yes, those were fun times Mr. Gray. Ahh the joy of youth and the London Hellfire Club". Replied Benjamin with a slight smile. "I have my ways and Lady Catherine is very amenable to the proper… persuasions".
Hmmm, yes at least some things looked salvable from the debacle that the former Lord Commander had been crafting.
REFLECTION Part A
The day had begun early, one could say bright and early but this is London so foggy and damp and early describes the morning quite well thank you very much.
Mr. Gray had arrived before dawn with his cartridge and after breaking fast with Mr. Franklin and Lady Catherine, the two men, and the nurse/warrior Sally, had taken the carriage to the British Museum, there to meet with the Professor. Lady Catherine had other things to attend to that day.
The professor was found in one of the back workrooms examining the progress of the ongoing reassembly of the drake skeleton while two workmen and an assistant nervously stood by.
"Mr. Franklin, it is an honor Monsieur". Spoke the Professor upon seeing his visitors. The Professor spoke with a strong French accent but his English was impeccable. It should be as he spoke more then a dozen languages.
"Professor Durard, I've heard so much about you". Replied Benjamin as he examined the Professor while he accepted both the Professor's greetings and handshake.
Professor Aida Durard was tall and stout, but a bit on the thin side. Long brown shoulder length hair done up in a ponytail, clean shaven, very smartly dressed which of course was but fitting for one of his family background; shame about the now very dead family background. And brilliant green eyes, a rare color indeed, but appropriate for such a rare man. The Professor was also wearing a set of golden spectacles with very small lenses.
"A most interesting creature" opined Benjamin while pointing at the partially assembled skeleton with his cane.
Professor Durard dismissed the assistant and the two workmen. Once they were gone he replied.
"Yes… never seen before. Winged as you can see by the bones on the work benches, going to be a devil of a time securely wiring those up. And the jaw, my God, we hazard that it was capable of biting through the spine of a horse. Speaking of which, it was apparently a steed of some type according to the saddle I saw strapped upon it, a saddle that I sadly was unable to further examine or acquire. But here we have the complete skeleton apart from one missing tooth which we have had to fabricate a replacement for".
"Was it her steed"? Asked Sally while admiring the skull and its teeth. She touched one and quickly drew back her finger which now had a drop of blood upon it.
"Unknown milady, and please take care as the teeth are wickedly sharp. It could be that the beast was maddened by its arrival, perhaps it was just caught in the undertow that brought her here, or it may have had some rider that she previously killed or may even yet be in hiding and undiscovered".
"What went wrong with the summoning"? Was Benjamin next and very direct question.
The Professor replied while he took his glasses off and cleaned them. "I have looked again and again at the rituals and I can find nothing wrong. I think we summoned exactly what we sought and bargained for. It's just that the… form is not what one would expect for a demon of such power".
He continued. "Perhaps she is some sort of chameleon, assuming a form similar to that which she encounters as a way to blend in. In this case a weak female form to deceive. One must observe that this is a matter of the demonic so she may not in fact be a she. I hypothesize that it has subsequently has become trapped in that form as the bindings took hold. That and the injuries which nothing human could have survived, I examined her myself and was most amazed at her continuance. We at first thought the demon was the missing rider of the beast and only belatedly concluded that the woman was that what we sought. I know I should have killed the onlookers, but in hindsight that would likely have been a poor decision as this Bennet family is most skilled in the arts combat. The men granted to me would have fallen like petals from a flower and I fear my skills would not have sufficed, both martial and arcane".
"Any thoughts as to why she is still dwells with them"?
"I would like to say fear, but how can one judge such a creature? Perhaps she is confused and knows not what she is? The bindings and the false female form may have affected her abilities to reason. It would be of some minor amusement if she actually believed herself to be the creature she pretends to be. I hazard that she has taken control of this family and is building upon that refuge".
The Professor picked up a claw. "And yet the odds of one's so skilled being at the locality of her arrival must be vanishingly small. She must know she has been bound by some entity unknown, although I fear my name is likely upon her tongue so she knows something of us".
"Likely more then we would wish as fools were sent to acquire her. Fools sent by fools. Well that's done and paid for. When will the beast be ready for its unveiling"? Inquired Benjamin.
"Likely the same time the machine will be ready Sir, in some months. The Crown itself is planning a gala around it, the King is most interested in the beast. He has visited this room twice to gaze upon our progress".
"Months…"? Replied Benjamin in a slightly dangerous tone.
"Yes Monsieur, regrettably months. The machine must be… altered. The demon is in mortal guise and adjustments must be made and new components fabricated. Prudently I kept samples of her blood and even a bit of detached tissue when I examined her".
The Professor drew forth a small glass jar from his coat pocket. "I brought the bit of flesh with me, it and the blood are kept at the location of La Machine as they are of great importance in the adjustments needed to. We must… how do you say… it is like waves… Ah harmonics. We must harmonize the harmonic resonances. Most interesting you can see it has not decayed and has even healed as the bruising is gone from the surface of the skin. I would hazard that it is warm to the touch if I were so bold as to perform the experiment. And the vial of blood is still liquid and is warm as well".
"Let us see La Machine then". Concluded Benjamin.
With that the party of four departed the great museum to Mr. Gray's carriage.
REFLECTION Part B
It was a short journey as to the locality of La Machine was it adjacent and beneath Westminster Abbey. Benjamin and Mr. Grey sat on one side and Professor Gray and Sally sat on the other side.
"As so was Paris" commented the Professor as they rode in the carriage. "In Paris we located La Machine adjacent to Notre Dame, this allowed us to utilize the lightning rod of the steeple. A way to project the machine's emanations. The Abby lacks a Steeple, but the dual towers proved a similar function with their lightning rods".
Benjamin asked a question of the Professor. "You were there Professor Durard, in Paris when it all went wrong. I've read the recounts of the few survivors, but words upon parchment are different then the spoken word. I would be most grateful if you were to recount your recollections of that of that most unfortunate failure".
The Professor answered and got briefly chocked up as he did so. "It was bad Monsieur. Everything… Tout a tourné à la merde. Forgive me milady but all was ruin. So much was lost, city, country, and... la famille".
Sally put her hand on the Professor's shoulder as he paused and got hold of his emotions.
"La Machine was assembled, the demonstrations using entities of lesser power had shown the proof of our work in destroying the undead. An entity of great power was needed to power La Machine for the function of its creation, the eradication of this unnatural plague. There was… disagreement as to the selection of the entity. To my great regret I acquiesced to the capture of a queen of Faerie as the lesser of Faerie had been proven to be usable, as the lesser demonic or persons of power. All… sufficed as fuel, but I believed that endeavors of such scale required more… potent fuel then Faerie could provide, or at least darker fuel then one of the Fay".
"The Fay was bound and consumed by La Machine and… I was right. The unfortunates as you call them, in the France that was we called them Des morts-vivants, they did not perish. They… answered a call as it were. Perhaps the Fay cursed the invocation in her dieing, she was most… resolute in her words and hate. Perhaps there was a flaw in our understanding? Whatever the cause, the undead of France descended upon Paris and they now had purpose. To the horror of all, they had intent. No longer creatures of mindless appetite, they… overwhelmed the city's defenses, they killed and they… consumed. And their ranks swelled with the fruit of their deeds".
"At first we did not know what gathered as we focused upon why the dead yet walked. Why had the device not worked as planned? Then as the dead gathered we realized we were trapped in a city surrounded by the dead given purpose. I…. I will not recount those days and nights. My city burned in the end, the King an court destroyed, and all that I had, all that I treasured was lost. And with the losing most of my compatriots and resources of Hydra were lost as well".
"What was left of us managed to flee the final destruction with the critical components of the machine. The horde, it then… ate its way across most of France before it finally degenerated back into mindless undead that we are so unfortunately familiar with".
The motion of the carriage ceased.
"Ah, were are here". Commented the Professor.
The carriage had stopped at a set of buildings adjacent to the main opening of the Abby.
"La Machine is underground and the access point is here". Spoke the Professor as the carriage door opened.
REFLECTION Part C
"Most impressive" was Benjamin's statement upon viewing of the were ungrounded, and according to the Professor, beneath the Abby.
"A disused part of the crypt, walled up ages ago. We broke in and expanded this room by digging down. We also dug a deeper level to provide drainage". The Professor was in lecture mode. "There are adjacent workrooms and a secure storage for… things that need securing.
The party was in a high domed room, the ceiling painted in a now faded dark blue with a single painted star in the center. Painted angels with trumpets were painted in the corners of the room where the ceiling joined the walls. The trumpets pointed to the single star. Four half inch thick silver wires protruded from the ceiling upon the endings of the trumpets and connected to the machine.
The original stone floor as gone and now the chamber was now over fifty feet tall.
The machine took up the center of the room and stood roughly forty feet tall. It was a device of wrought iron bronze, blown glass, and gleaming crystal. The bottom of the device was a platform and a large glass chamber that contained a large golden cross attached to the floor of the chamber. There were straps on the cross that obviously were for strapping a body to the cross.
The whole machine looked very art deco merged with steam punk Victorian combined with Lovecraftian unnaturalness. While there were lanterns providing some light, some glass globes of the machine itself were glowing which provided most of the illumination. The base of the machine was enclosed by a pentagram of inlaid red tile. The pentagram was within a circle of mystic half completed runes.
"We were able to disassemble and preserve the core components, but most of the glass work has had to be re-blown at our workshops".
"And the enchantments"? Inquired Benjamin as he walked around the device.
"Half done… but of course alterations are needed". Replied the Professor.
"Yes…". Benjamin replied as he leaned over and peered into the workings. Hmm some of the parts were moving without any obviously source of locomotion. He stood back up but was still facing the device.
"I wish to review the tomes and the design notes used in the making of the original device and this present incarnation".
"Of course Monsieur, but some of the notes are stored here and are needed by the artifactors and I as we work upon it. For reference and of course documentation as to what has been done. For those I must ask that you review them here".
Benjamin turned to face the Professor. "Acceptable. You and your team are most skilled Professor. Encouraging considering so many of the original team perished in Paris, including your mentor I believe. Lord Browswell, the designer of the original device".
"A most grievous loss to our cause Monsieur". Replied the Professor.
"Where did you first meet Lord Browswell Professor Durard, Japan I believe"?
"No Monsieur, I was already a member of his team, but not part of the inner circle at that point".
"Ahh, thank you Professor, your file was not detailed as to that. Shame about your accident in Japan. I must say I am somewhat surprised to see just how fit you are for one so injured unto death".
The Professor replied while he grimaced in remembered pain. "It took time but I had the finest of care, and of course the arts arcane played their own part in my healing".
Sally, who was standing next to Benjamin, at this point whispered something in Benjamin's ear. "Ah yes, quite right Sally, we really must be going. Professor, I would ask a favor to ask of you. Would you do me the service of escorting Sally here as to the sights of London? She has never been and would dearly love to take some of it in. She has seen much of the Orient in her youth, but never anything of the Old World".
The Professor offered his hand to Sally. "It would be my pleasure to show la demoiselle the sights as it were".
Benjamin concluded the meeting. "Thank you sir. Please send the documents to Mr. Gray's residence. I wish to delve into them starting promptly on the morrow. We shall see ourselves out. Sally I expect to see you no earlier then the day after tomorrow. Take good care of her Professor as she is most... dear to me".
He turned to leave with Mr. Gray, but turned back. "Sally, please don't break him too much, we have much need of him".
The Professor's eyebrows rose at the statement while Sally gave a demure eyes downcast smile.
END REFLECTION
"I forgot to ask, how was your time in the East Dorian"? Inquired Benjamin.
"It was entertaining old friend. For awhile at least. The things they do in India, so delightfully wicked. Sufficient to amuse me for a length of time".
"Sufficient length for the heir of Mr. Gray to be born, grew to adulthood, and return the England to the astonishment of society"?
A smile from Mr. Gray. "Why yes, there was talk as to how I so resembled my late… father. Tell me Benjamin, why did you take a different path to immortality"?
"Different price paid Dorian. Your path… terrified me. And here it was that I keep secrets from you and now I find you in Hydra? What changed to pull you from your endless pursuit of… tedium relief"?
"The need for survival Benjamin. This… plague threatens even one such as I. The world is dying, something I've strove oh so long to not partake of".
They rode in silence for a few minutes, and then the carriage passed the gate to Lady's Catherine's London estate.
"Your conclusions Lord Commander?" inquired Mr. Gray.
Benjamin smiled, but his eyes did not. "I have always found that half the truth is often a great lie".
"In what way my friend"?
"Paris should NOT have failed. The scourge should have been destroyed. Something went amiss. I seek the answer to the question as to what and why and…".
Dorian finished. "Who".