"Sorry about that, I just didn't want you to be surprised"
"I'm not surprised, I'm pissed! I can't believe Mina lied about Lucy coming here. Are you sure it's a hoax"
"Certain."
"This means war!" said Skinner as he and Jekyll stood at the door and rang the bell, "Will you help me"
"No"
"Judas! I'll carry out my vendetta alone"
"That's fascinating." said Jekyll as he rolled his eyes.
The door opened up to reveal a young butler, "May I help you, Gentlemen?" he asked.
"Yes, you may." said Jekyll, "We're friends of The Grays, Skinner and Jekyll"
"I understand," said the butler, "My name is Francis. May I help you with your bags"
"No, we're fine." said Skinner, "Where are the rest"
"Mr. Gray and Ms. Murray have gone to town; Mr. Quatermin and Mr. Dakkar are in the Den."
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Just as Francis said, Nemo and Alan were in the den playing billiards, much to the surprise of Jekyll and Skinner who thought they wouldn't arrive till the evening at the very least.
"Good to see you've come," said Alan, "I'll be with you as soon as I thrash Alan."
With that, Nemo shot the queue-ball into the eight-ball which was then forced into a corner pocket, ending the game with the victory going to Nemo.
"Dammit." cursed Alan as he laid a five pound bill on the table by Nemo.
"Do any of you fancy a game?" asked Nemo.
"Yeah, I'll show you how grown men do it!" said Skinner as he rolled up his sleeves and grabbed a stick.
"Bring it on, Manchester lad"
"Did any of you see Irene?" asked Jekyll anxiously.
"Ooh, Jekyll is worried about his girlfriend!" taunted Skinner as he racked the balls.
"Skinner, shut up!" said Alan.
"You're not the boss of me, but I'll do just that."
Alan and Jekyll stepped out onto the porch where they stood and looked at the beautiful garden that surrounded Gray Manor.
"Where did everyone go?" asked Jekyll.
"Mina and Dorian went to the town"
"To do what"
"Dorian is taking her for a shopping spree, or so I gather"
"And Irene"
"I don't know, she might have gone with them, perhaps to offer a second feminine opinion to Mina"
"That's funny; I thought Dorian has enough femininity to go around."
Alan chuckled.
"Don't you ever suspect he's that kind of guy?" asked Jekyll, "The kind that drives on both sides of the road"
"No, I don't think he's gay"
"Well he takes Metrosexuality to a whole new level"
"I can't believe you still have a grudge against Dorian"
"I don't hate the guy, I like him; he's one of the mates as far as I'm concerned. It's just that I think Mina is one of the mates as well, and I don't want her to end up like Sybil."
"Henry," said Alan, "Sybil was a mentally unstable person, what she did couldn't be anticipated by anyone"
"Well, I guess."
Alan looked hard at Jekyll, he knew very well about his feelings for Mina in the past, and perhaps they were in the present as well despite his involvement with Irene.
"So how are things with you and Irene?" asked Alan.
"We're alright." said Jekyll after a beat.
"I'm sensing a "But"
"It's just that... This is all between me and you, right"
"Of course"
"Good. It's just that Irene and I have not been "
"Oh! You mean you haven't had any sex yet!" said Alan louder than he should have.
"Bloody Hell, Alan! Why don't you put an add in the papers as well." hissed Jekyll.
"Sorry. Why? I mean you've been dating for over a month. Is anyone a virgin or venerealy ill"
"No, nothing like that. It's just that our first few dates ended in fights anbd us swearing never to meet each other anymore. Then after we hit it off, there was always something in the way, we were busy or someone - usually Skinner - was lurking around and here we are"
"I see, so you think this might be the weekend"
"Maybe"
"You don't think this is why she's gone, do you"
"What do you mean"
"Maybe she doesn't want to do it"
"I bed your pardon"
"Oh, I'm sure that's not the case. Maybe after al this time, she's nervous what it'll be like. I mean did you exchange the 'L' word"
"Lesbian?" asked Jekyll, "Jeez, she looks straight to me"
"No, the OTHER 'L' word"
"Oh! No, can't say that we have"
"Is that the case? Do you love her"
"I'm not sure, I'm standing her missing her and will shortly be obsessing where she is at. I think I might"
"Well look, maybe she's just making sure she looks appealing tonight and had went to get something plucked or waxed or all of that masochistic rubbish"
"What do you think I should do"
"There's noting you can do." said Alan as he turned around and started to walk back into the den, "You can't hunt her down and drag her to your cave by the hair. Just relax and be patient."
Alan stopped in the doorway, turned around and smiled, "And if you do it tonight, jsut remember this advice; Lay back, and think of England."
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Mr. Bridges, a realtor for one of the real-estate agencies in London was rather pleased of himself at the moment, he was in the process of finalizing a major deal in which a Romanian Millionaire gained ownership to a lavish building and his firm gained a great deal f money.
He was still uneasy though, the Millionaire was very eccentric to say the least, which wasn't a rarity of millionaires as we all know, it's just that this particular one was frighteningly so; he dressed in a gothic stile, almost like a gypsy, had a ponytail of long silky pitch black hair and his skin was very pale, and his eyes were always covered by a pair of dark sunglasses. Physically, he was tall and thin, yet he was athletic.
"Mr. Tapesh." he called after the Romanian who stood at the window unflinchingly, looking at the sun as it sank below the horizon. He turned to him ever so slowly, as if he had all the time in the world.
"I... I just need your Signature." said Bridges nervously.
Vlad Tapesh walked over to him, bowed down with grace and signed his name on the required space.
"Congratulations, Mr. Tapesh. You are now in your new home, we hope you enjoy London"
"I'm sure I will."
Even his voice was ominous and powerful, befitting the devil himself. A nervous Mr. Bridges extended his hand for a handshake before getting out.
Bridges felt a chill as the extremely cold, pail finger of the Romanian which were adorned with expensive rings wrapped around his hand and shook his hand in the firmest handshake imaginable. The handshake seemed to last longer than Bridges had wanted, when Tapesh let go of his hand he backed away, smiled politely then went to leave.
Tapesh had some odd company as well, his entourage consisted of several well built men who looked like gypsies, and just as he was leaving, he could see three absolutely vivacious, appealing pale women surrounding Tapesh and touching him suggestively, silently inviting him into some sort of group romp.
"Bloody Europeans..." said Bridges as he got into the elevator and pressed the button leading to the ground floor, he was very happy to be leaving, the whole lot of them had stirred fear in him, fear so severe that he even wished to throw away the Romanian's handsome check.
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Soon after Alan and Henry's conversation, Mina and Gray got back. In the evening the Waverly sisters arrived, who were three daughters of a family that was ancient friends of the Grays. The Nine had dinner and socialized afterwards, at first, two of the Waverly sisters were interested in Henry, and only stopped making advances after Dorian informed them that he was involved with Irene, which didn't really mater to them at first but they switched their attention to Alan, Nemo and Skinner after Henry ignored all of them, almost to the point of rudeness.
Jekyll walked up the stairs to his room, leaving the loud sound of socializing behind him, slightly upset for being stood up by Irene which was no where to be seen and was reported by Dorian to be visiting her aunt on her mother's side.
Upon opening the lights, Henry couldn't help but raise his pair of eyebrows at how Dorian had awarded him with a very comfortable room, 'at least he is hospitable' he thought.
He walked into the bathroom and with some hesitation, poured all the red pills into the toilet and flushed it, feeling a little guilty afterward. He washed his face and freshened up, then stepped back into his room to turn in.
"Irene..."
She was standing in the doorway, unusually smiling contently.
"I thought you were at your Aunt's, not that I don't appreciate the change of heart." said Jekyll nervously, but he wouldn't get a response.
Irene took of her glasses and placed them on a cabinet, then stepped out of her high heeled shoes then walked to him, pulling off the band off her hair, so her wavy long locks of blonde hair dropped down to surround her face as she stood less than a foot away from him.
Henry felt he was seeing another side of Irene for once, the warm, gentle, loving Angelic Irene, rather than the cynical, strong minded woman she was otherwise. She looked so beautiful at the moment as she stood before him, an entire foot shorter than he forced her to have to look up at a sharp angle so that her pair of bright blue eyes could meet his, the waterfall of blonde hair only added to her appeal.
He leaned down a bit and she raised herself on her toes and their lips met for an overdue kiss that sent waves pf heat through both of them, awakening smoldering urges in both.
"All around you," she said, "Listen closely, look intently. What can you feel?"
He knew exactly what she meant, "I see you, I see no roommates, no friends, no relatives; no excuses to deprive ourselves any longer."
"There's a good boy," she said with a pat on his head like she often did, "My Hero"
"Your Hero, eh?" said Jekyll with a laugh, "That's the first time anyone ever called me that, my lady"
"Oh, I'm no lady." said Irene coyly, "I'll show you."
Jekyll really didn't need to be prodded anymore than that, they kissed against, even more passionately; they started to perspire when they parted, their bodies longing for each other.
"I love you, Henry."
Jekyll's heart skipped a beat as he heard that, he'd never imagined what great joy hearing those three syllables would do to him, and right there he knew.
"I love you, Irene."