The place was empty with the only signs that someone had been there was smoldering embers in the fireplace and a scattering of the furniture like someone had gone off in a hurry.
Regina poked her head in a little bit. "He must've known we were coming." she said with a sharp sigh.
Cherry looked with Regina and Gold. "...Well, that was a little bit of a letdown!" she then shrugged.
"We'll find him, dearie." Gold told her.
"Well, where do we look now?" Cherry asked with a small groan. "It's hopeless!"
Gold looked all around and then found a small tie pin, that he knew didn't belong to him. "Ah! A locator spell." he said as he straightened up.
Cherry briefly flinched from his exclamation before settling down.
"What a wonderful coincidence," Regina smirked. "Cherry, do you know what that is?"
"A locator spell? Gee, lemme think, lemme see..." Cherry soon deadpanned. "Could it be a spell that locates stuff?"
"Not stuff... A person, and only with something that belongs to them." Gold told Cherry as he walked back over to the women.
"Same diff..." Cherry shrugged.
"Do you always have to be so sarcastic and deadpan?" Regina asked.
"It's my coping mechanism!" Cherry defended. "Okay, this is good... We'll just find something that belongs to this bug-eyed shitweasel and then bingo, we find Katie."
"I just found this." Gold said as he showed the tie pin.
"Great." Regina nodded.
"Yay, you find a pin," Cherry said, a bit flatly as she began to get a bit anxious. "So spell it already."
"I need some ingredients from my shop." Gold told Cherry.
"Augh!" Cherry groaned before she suddenly collapsed into a sitting position and cupped her face with her hands over her face. "You people are so slow..."
"All right, that is enough!" Regina glared. "We know. Katie's missing, you miss her, you want your revenge, but revenge isn't everything. We're more experienced in this field of operation, so you are going to sit down, shut up, and listen unless you have a better idea. So cut the irritable crap or I'll show you why they call me The Evil Queen."
Gold even looked just a little shocked at that.
Soon enough, it was almost evening and Gold had just finished the locator spell. "Alright, we just have to pour this on the pin and follow the pin to its owner." he said.
"If it'll even work..." Cherry mumbled in doubt.
"It will, dearie." Gold told her.
Cherry soon groaned as she crossed her arms over the tabletop and buried her head in her arms.
"You sure know how to pick 'em." Regina snarked.
Jekyll came back to Victor's mansion, holding a vial. He knocked on the door.
"Yes?" Victor answered as he got himself ready.
"I have the thing you asked for," Jekyll told him. "B-But are you sure you want to use it on her? I-It'll be permanent unless someone from her past reminds her." he then had to ask and inform.
"Are you questioning me, Dr. Jekyll?" Victor asked firmly as he opened the door. "Are you doubting me?"
"N-No, but I had to let you know about how it won't be undone easily." Jekyll told Victor.
"Well, I am strongly certain I still want this," Victor demanded. "As long as you don't go talking about this among other people... I don't like squealers~" he then added with a smirk.
"I-I won't." Jekyll promised.
"Good..." Victor nodded. "Just remember our deal."
Jekyll nodded, pushing his glasses up nervously.
"What're you still standing around for?!" Victor asked. "Go get ready!"
Jekyll rushed off to straighten up and be ready for dinner. Victor nodded and soon walked off a bit. Mrs. Reilly made sure dinner was about ready since Katie should be back home by now. Jekyll looked nervous and then glanced at a second vial he had, something special just for him and Hyde. He hid it away and smartened himself up before going to wait in the dining hall. Mrs. Reilly poked her head out the door, feeling just as nervous, if not more, than Dr. Jekyll.
A carriage was bringing Katie and Katrina back to the mansion.
"I've had so much fun today," Katrina beamed at Katie. "Did you have fun too?"
"Yes, it was quite fun." Katie said quietly, not looking forward to returning.
"We'll do it again soon, but very soon, it'll be time for your big day." Katrina beamed obliviously.
Katie gave a small nod and a slightly shaky breath, getting a bit nervous then. She put a hand on her chest and tried to slow her breathing a bit so she could breathe easier and not faint. Katrina beamed as she soon pulled in Katie for a tight, comforting hug like they were old friends, even if the other woman had no memory of her whatsoever even as they bonded. Hyde stood out up front to help escort Katie back inside after spending most of the day out with friends. Katie blinked in surprise, but gave a small hug back. The carriage driver let Katie out and then helped her out onto the ground before getting her bags down.
"Oh, Katie, it's like a fairy tale!" Katrina beamed, not aware that she was just making it worse.
Hyde soon stepped over with a dark smirk on his face.
Katie looked up at Hyde and her eyes widened a little and she clutched at her stomach as well. "I-I can't..." she gasped out.
Katrina soon let go, slightly concerned.
"Problem?" Hyde asked Katie in a tone of voice that spelled doom to those who heard it.
Katie stumbled weakly as her breathing sped up, making her lightheaded. Mrs. Reilly made sure dinner was about ready since Katie should be back home by now.
"Come along now, Miss... I'll help you home..." Hyde grinned down at Katie as he went to take a hold of her while beckoning his hand for her.
The driver took the bags and boxes up to the door. A couple of manservants collected the bags and boxes.
"Can't breathe..." Katie gasped out as she did grip his hand if only for support to try and stay standing.
Mrs. Reilly poked her head out the door, feeling just as nervous, if not more, than Dr. Jekyll.
"See you again soon, Katie," Katrina told her friend. "I really look forward to it." she then added with a smile, though it wasn't as big as it usually was as though she could sense that there was something terribly wrong with her "old friend".
Hyde grinned as he held onto her a bit. "Maybe I should carry you, dear..." he then said, getting ready to do so.
The driver returned and then got ready to carry on with Katrina in the carriage still.
"F-Farewell." Katie gasped only for her legs to give out on her even with the hold.
Katrina soon sat back and got comfortable for until she would end up home as well. Hyde smirked at that and soon bent down and carried Katie like a bride and went to help her back into the house.
"Oh, the poor dear..." Mrs. Reilly whispered in concern as she stood by the open doors.
Once they had gotten her inside, Jekyll stepped out, hearing the slight commotion and then got Katie a glass of water. He then nervously slapped her cheek to snap her out of the hysterics. Katie yelped in surprise, holding her cheek but luckily was snapped out of her panic finding it easier to breathe. She took a sip of the water though, shakily.
"Did you have a fun time in town today, d-dear?" Mrs. Reilly smiled wearily and nervously.
Katie gave a small nod. "Y-Yes, Mrs. Reilly." she said quietly.
Jekyll glanced to Hyde a little nervously. Hyde gave Jekyll a firm look and nod of the head, but otherwise, stood still.
"Oh, go-go-good... You must be starving..." Mrs. Reilly nodded as she let them inside of the house, though Hyde kept carrying Katie in his arms to help her. "Let's get you inside so you can eat up. I h-h-hope you like it."
Jekyll went back to the dining room with them all.
"Ah, Katie, welcome home," Victor smiled innocently. "You must be hungry~"
"Quite..." Katie said quietly as she took another sip of water.
"Mrs. Reilly's prepared a lovely mutton." Victor nodded.
"I did." Mrs. Reilly smiled bashfully as Hyde soon forced Katie to sit down at the table.
"Sounds lovely." Katie said quietly wincing at the slightly rougher treatment, but stayed sitting.
Jekyll sat down too, though he caught Victor's eye and subtly tapped near his wine glass to advise where was best for the potion he had wanted. Mrs. Reilly then beamed in excitement of Katie's approval.
Victor glanced over and soon nodded back towards the other man as Hyde stepped away from behind Katie's chair. "Now, are you thirsty, dear?" he then asked Katie. "You've had such a long day."
Katie glanced to him, but nodded, she did give a small smile to Mrs. Reilly though, quite liking the woman even though she had only met her this day. Victor cleared his throat a bit.
"Ah! Yes!" Mrs. Reilly gasped before dashing off to get a bottle for Victor.
"Please excuse me," Victor nodded as he took the bottle and went to pour them the glasses, though he would give Katie hers first. "Ladies first..." he then told Katie with a subtle wink.
Katie took the glass, and gave a tiny frown but took a sip of the wine. Jekyll watched, once the glass was done the potion would take affect. Victor soon stood by innocently, though a bit darkly too. Hyde then smirked as he watched Katie drink from her glass as something was going to change.
Katie found as she drank that a thirst formed, making her drink the whole glass. Her eyes were closed and then her eyelids fluttered as they opened again. She then looked at them. "Wh-What?" she asked softly as they were looking at her.
Jekyll watched still.
"I'm here, Katie, I'm here," Victor said before he went to sit right back down next to her. "Tell me... How do you feel? What're you thinking about?" he soon asked her calmly, expecting something to happen.
Mrs. Reilly trembled a bit while Hyde shushed her with a finger to his mouth before slitting his throat with his finger as though to warn her about something very grave and important for her to remember.
"H-How did I get here?" Katie asked quietly as she concentrated on Victor.
"I see someone had too much fun while they were out with Katrina today," Victor smiled. "Why don't you eat some mutton and we can talk all about it, my dear?"
Katie looked to him, but nodded. "A-Alright." she said softly.
Seeing that it had worked, Jekyll started eating, though he was a bit nervous too. Victor nodded back as they soon tucked into their dinner. Hyde had a fiendish smile as Katie went along with whatever Victor told her as that was good for them so far.
"This is Dr. Jekyll?" Katie asked as she saw the newest one, the one she hadn't seen before returning 'home', as she delicately started to eat too.
"Yes... A very good friend of mine," Victor nodded. "We discuss many sciences together."
Katie gave a small smile. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you," she told him. She then looked nervously to Hyde and gave a shaky smile. "Are you joining us?" she asked quietly.
"Th-The pleasure is mine." Jekyll said quietly.
Mrs. Reilly soon went off into the kitchen to get her own dinner.
"It would appear so." Victor smiled confidently as this worked out very well so far.
Hyde nodded in agreement. Katie gave a small nod and gestured for him to join them. She then went silent to eat so not to let the food go cold. Hyde soon went to sit down and join them while he could.
"Excellent." Victor whispered to himself as he ate with much gusto.
Jekyll was nervous, but enjoyed his food, his eyes were filled with self-pride as the potion had worked.
"So, my dear, are you feeling better now?" Victor asked Katie. "You're starting to remember where you are and what you're going to do?"
"I'm at your home, Victor, and we... We are to be married within a week's time." Katie told him softly.
"That's right," Victor smiled. "I'm so glad that you remember."
Hyde nodded in agreement as he ate up. Katie gave a small smile, she wiped her mouth with a napkin once she had eaten her fill of the mutton meal.
"Full already?" Hyde smirked at Katie, teasing her a little. "You eat like a bird."
"Maybe I'm saving enough room for dessert." Katie answered primly.
"Dessert sounds nice." Victor nodded in agreement.
Mrs. Reilly soon came back in to collect their dishes, though she seemed to have her mouth full, so she didn't speak up. Katie smiled at Mrs. Reilly. Mrs. Reilly smiled back as she cleared the table.
"Dessert." Victor soon told her as she then nodded and understood what to do on that notion.
"I do hope enough guests show up for the wedding." Hyde soon said.
"Yes, yes, we will make sure of it," Victor nodded. "We're almost done and dear, I do hope that you prepared your vows in time."
"O-Oh, I'll make sure they're ready." Katie gave a small smile.
"I know mine are," Victor smiled back. "It's going to be the most perfect of all wedding days."
Katie gave a small nod. Mrs. Reilly soon came back with a platter of fudge before looking nervous at Hyde.
"I would like some too." Hyde smirked at her.
Mrs. Reilly grinned nervously as she soon set the platter out, though there wasn't enough for everybody at the table, but one piece was missing.
"Strange..." Victor commented as Mrs. Reilly suddenly gulped. "I wonder where the last piece went?"
"Well, whoever took it has my thanks, I have to fit into my wedding dress after all." Katie spoke up then.
"No fudge for you, dear?" Victor asked his bride.
"Just a small bit." Katie gave a small smile.
"I'll share, I don't need a big piece." Jekyll spoke up.
Victor glanced before nodding. Mrs. Reilly sighed in relief once Hyde looked almost disappointed, but didn't make a big fuss over things.
Gold looked at everyone who needed to be there was there. "Are we ready to find Issac?" he asked them all.
"Ready as we'll ever be, Crocodile." Killian replied as he was probably the most ready next to Cherry.
"Let's do this," Regina nodded before looking around. "Is everybody here?"
Cherry slowly turned around in a swivel chair with a paintball gun in her arms as she wore a red headband with black war paint all over her face like from a Sylvester Stallone movie.
"...I don't think you'll need the gun." David said to her, flatly.
"Fine... Ruin my fun..." Cherry rolled her eyes before she got rid of it.
Gold poured the potion on the pin and they started to follow it.
"Where did you even get that gun?" Regina asked Cherry on the way out.
"Granny said I could..." Cherry shrugged before they followed the trail while it was still hot.
Gold led the way. Killian looked firm as he mentally and physically prepared himself as much as possible as they went off together.
"He better be there this time..." Cherry whispered to herself on the way.
The pin led them to a different place, though luckily Issac was there.
"Is this it?" Regina asked.
"It has to be," Killian nodded, feeling very sure of himself. "Everybody, get ready."
"I'm here to kick ass and chew bubblegum," Cherry narrowed her eyes as her hands balled up into cutesy fists of fury. "And I HATE bubblegum."
Issac didn't seem to notice them yet.
"It's quiet... Too quiet..." David said. "You'd think that-"
"Don't say it." Killian scolded.
"Shh!" Cherry hissed a bit as she looked around for anything suspicious.
Issac glanced right at them with a creepy smile.
"All right, you swine! You horrible wretch! You son of a motherless goat!" Cherry soon called out. "What have you done with my friend?!"
"Me? Nothing~" Issac smirked.
"Gotcha!" Cherry called out once she saw the fiend and she soon charged right in front of him, growling a bit like a jungle cat.
"Hello, Cherry, and how nice, you've brought the whole group~" Issac smirked.
Cherry suddenly skid into a halt right in front of him as she narrowed her eyes. "You did this... You did all of this..." she said to him firmly. "You forced me and Katie to come here... Now you took Katie away from me... So I suggest you give her back or else!"
"Even if I wanted to I couldn't~" Issac smirked.
"What do you mean?" Cherry asked firmly as she narrowed her eyes.
Gold joined Cherry, with the others too.
"Her story is currently out of my hands and I wouldn't bring her back here even if it was in them fully still." Issac told her.
Killian brought out his sword to hold against Isaac.
"Who's 'them'?" Cherry narrowed her eyes as her tone sounded harsh and cold. "You had better start talking straight otherwise you and I are going down a LONG walk off a short pier, YOU FIRST."
Issac tilted his head back away from the sword. "My hands," he told her. "But maybe you'd like to see for yourselves?" he smirked.
Killian narrowed his eyes before he drew his sword back.
"If you're lying, I swear, I will push you down a hill in a wheelchair." Cherry threatened.
Issac showed them a book similar to Henry's. Cherry narrowed her eyes at him and soon swiped the book out of his hands and checked it out a little.
"Remind me not to make her angry." David whispered to Regina.
Regina nodded in silent agreement as Cherry grew aggressive and assertive. Gold watched Issac carefully.
"What is it, Bear?" Killian asked. "What do you see?"
"...Katie's getting married," Cherry said softly as she looked through the pages. "To Frankenstein?"
"I could have let her marry you, Hook, but you let her make you lighter." Issac told Killian.
"Wait... What?" Cherry suddenly asked as she slammed the book shut in alarm.
"Don't listen to him, he's crazy," Killian told Cherry before facing Isaac. "She fell in love with me and I fell in love with her. There's nothing wrong with that."
"Oh, keeping secrets Hook?~" Issac taunted.
Killian growled as he bore his teeth.
"What's he talking about...?" Cherry asked Killian, sounding dangerously sharp, though also quiet like how Gold could sometimes get.
"Nothing." Killian said with a light snarl.
Issac smirked his weaselly smirk.
"Whatever," Cherry shook her head before glaring at Isaac. "What do we have to do to get Katie back? I won't rest, I won't sleep, I won't eat, I won't do anything until I make sure that my sister is safe and sound and away from you."
"Well, then you better get on with trying~" Issac said.
"I'll kill you where you stand!" Cherry snapped as her shadow came to life. "I'll hunt you down and drag you off to Hell with my BARE HANDS!"
"Cherry, calm down a little..." Regina said in concern of the darkness corrupting her heart and soul.
"You took me and my friend away from home and now you took her from me!" Cherry continued. "I'll make you pay even if I have to use dark magic to do it! Do you HEAR ME?!"
Issac actually started to look a little scared of that.
"Cherry... Please..." David said softly.
"DON'T tell me what to do!" Cherry sneered as she stormed over a bit as the shadows surrounded her and grinned while looking down at her as her estranged father's side started to come out from deep within her. "We all promised to Katie back and we damn well are even if this little worm won't DO anything even REMOTELY helpful! It just makes me MAD!"
"Cherry..." Gold said calmly, as if he wasn't bothered by her darkness.
"Maybe you'd like to meet my friends..." Cherry smirked fiendishly at Isaac. "I've got some... Here, there... The other side... Maybe they can help you help Katie?~"
Issac swallowed nervously.
"Now then..." Cherry smirked as she sent the shadows after Isaac. "Let's talk."
The shadows soon came around the author and grabbed a hold of him.
"Cherry, please-" Regina said, about to grab her shoulder.
"GET BACK!" Cherry snapped, shooting away Regina suddenly with her dark magic.
"Cherry!" Gold then said warningly.
Cherry laughed wickedly as her hand was raised towards Isaac as she controlled the shadows.
"I knew it," Regina said firmly. "She's becoming like her father."
"Katie wouldn't want you to hurt someone." Gold told Cherry.
Cherry glared before she began to look soft as something shimmered around her. She then suddenly groaned and held her head as she fell to her knees, squeezing her eyes shut as she felt some sort of ache in her head. The shadows then disappeared suddenly and Isaac was dropped in the middle of the ground on his face.
"...What the hell was that?" Killian muttered.
"Facilier's magic, that's what that was." David said softly.
Issac groaned from where he fell.
Cherry's eyes soon went back to normal after the shadows left and she soon looked up to right beside her. "...Goldibear?" she whispered softly in slight pain. "What happened?"
"You really don't know?" Regina asked sharply. "You nearly killed someone."
Gold helped Cherry up as he massaged her temples lightly to ease the headache. Cherry soon hugged him, feeling vulnerable right now. Gold hugged her back and patted her back soothingly.
"Did I... Kill someone?" Cherry asked him.
"Nearly," Regina glared. "I think you need to be hidden out of sight in Storybrooke for a while."
"...She's right," Cherry squeezed her eyes shut. "Goldibear, I need to be put away."
Gold held his tongue to the retort he could have given Regina, but looked at Cherry. "No, dearie, you don't..." he told Cherry. "Everyone here has done something similar or worse." he said kindly.
"I deserve to be put away..." Cherry trembled as she turned away. "I'm trying to control my dark magic, but I can't... I just can't..."
Regina simply watched the two as this was gravely serious.
"You don't," Gold assured her. "Though if you are that worried I could research a spell to bind your magic a bit." he told her.
"She should be locked in your basement where she won't cause any more trouble." Regina suggested.
"Maybe I should just leave town," Cherry frowned. "This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't come."
"No, you will be staying here, dearie," Gold told Cherry. He then looked to Regina. "Need I remind you she hasn't done anything wrong and hasn't ACTUALLY killed anybody, dearie." he said warningly.
"Who's to say that I won't though?" Cherry asked as she wriggled out of his grip and then suddenly ran away from them.
Regina stepped back then. "Katie's doomed..." she then said as she took the book next. "There's no way out of this... Hook, what was Isaac talking about?" she then asked the last part quietly and firmly.
"...I may have done something." Killian said, feeling slightly ashamed.
"What did you do?" Mary Margaret asked him.
"Only if you promise not to judge me..." Killian said.
"Just tell us." David urged, though as gentle as possible.
"We won't judge you, after all we know you love Katie." Mary Margaret smiled softly.
"I do," Killian nodded. "But... I made a deal with Isaac... He'd help me win her."
"...Well, that doesn't sound so bad." David remarked.
Mary Margaret nodded.
"That man offered to help..." Killian said as he pointed at Isaac.
"What did he want you to do for him helping you?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Nothing drastic." Killian replied.
Gold held up a hand and froze Cherry in place with a spell. "Now you listen to me, dearie, everyone in this room, except probably Weaselly there, has killed somebody. You haven't and while you came close we were able to snap you out of it..." he told her as he approached her.
Cherry grunted and struggled, though she was rendered motionless. "E-Everybody..." she then uttered out weakly. "I just... I can't fight fate... It's set in stone... My mother is a Sea Witch... My father is a Shadow Man... I can never be good."
"Well, you seem to be doing well so far, dearie," Gold told her. "And you want to rescue Katie, and that is a noble cause." he added.
Cherry looked up at him with tears in her eyes as she couldn't move, except for speaking and reacting. "I don't remember much of my life before ending up here... But Katie was a key factor..." she said softly. "I was fine until the darkness unlocked deep within me... You were a Dark One... You hurt people... People forgave you though."
"Then they will for you too." Gold nodded sagely.
"...He's right," Regina sighed sharply. "Cherry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have talked to you like that... But somebody is doing awful things in this town."
"Yeah, well, maybe it's duck face..." Cherry said, looking right over.
Regina looked confused.
"I mean that author guy... I'd point, but I'm sorta frozen..." Cherry explained. "I was frozen today!" she then exclaimed.
"Now you're not going to run away, are you?" Gold asked Cherry to make sure before he would undo the spell.
"...No?" Cherry blinked after slight hesitance.
"I'll just refreeze you if you do." Gold told her.
"Grr..." Cherry groaned as she squeezed her eyes shut. "You always know whenever I'm lying..." she then sighed sharply after she gave it some thought after a few moments and then shook her head. "Fine. I'll stay." she said with her eyes still closed.
"Look us in the eye and tell us that." Regina demanded.
Gold waited.
Cherry soon cracked her eyes open as she let out a bit of a gulp. "I won't run away from you." she soon said, making direct eye contact this time.
Gold nodded and then unfroze her.
Cherry then suddenly fell flat on the ground with her face in the ground. "Ow..." she then muffled before she got right back up and straightened herself out with a stoic look on her face. "Katie's gone... That jerk got rid of her... How do I get in the book?"
"Go into the book?" Regina raised an eyebrow.
"Surely there's a spell I can borrow or something." Cherry replied firmly.
"Well, there is a way, we could all go this way." Gold said thoughtfully.
"DO IT!" Cherry urged as she suddenly grabbed his arms, looking him straight in the eye. "JUST DO IT!"
"Settle down a little." Regina told Cherry.
"Calm down, dearie." Gold agreed with Regina to that, looking calm.
Regina soon moved Cherry out of the way easily, planting her back down on the ground after briefly lifting her up.
"...How soon?" Cherry then asked him softly. "...Can you help me help Katie?"
"Of course I will," Gold told Cherry, softer then. "But we'll have to make sure we sort out a plan." he told her.
Regina nodded in agreement.
"Whatever it takes," Cherry said with a sharp sigh. "At least now we know where she is."
"Do you feel alright now, Bear?" Killian asked to check on the girl.
"Not really... But I'm ready to listen..." Cherry shook her head. "Even if I might end up bad and need to be destroyed once the darkness swallows up my heart and you all will have to get rid of me."
"Dearie, we won't let your heart get that dark." Gold told her.
"But... What if... What if... What if-" Cherry stammered.
Regina soon placed her hand on Cherry's forehead, knocking the younger woman out briefly, making her drop to the ground by their feet. Gold looked to Regina. While he wasn't happy with the method, at least Cherry would be calmer now.
"I wouldn't leave her alone tonight," Regina said to Gold. "Do you and Belle take shifts on who sleeps with her for the night or something?" she then shrugged, not knowing if the three of them shared a bed or if Cherry had her own bed while he and Belle slept in their own bed.
"Never you mind that, dearie, but don't worry she won't be alone." Gold merely replied.
"Just keep an eye on her tonight," Regina nodded. "She just might try to slip out while you're sleeping and try to cross the town line."
Cherry let out a small whimper off that reply, though she wasn't awake yet.
Gold nodded. "And that would be bad as she would forget everyone, even Katie." he said.
"Exactly," Regina replied. "So I suggest you keep an eye on Cherry while working on a way to save Katie."
"We'll continue in the morning." Gold said with a nod.
"This isn't over, Isaac..." Regina nodded firmly. "Let's go."
"We're just gonna let him go?" Killian asked.
"Until we get a plan," Regina remarked as they decided to go. "Like I said, this isn't over."
Gold used magic to leave with Cherry. He did keep a hold on the pin, just in case. Cherry let out a small grunt and whimper. Once they were gone, someone watched from the shadows, mostly focusing on the sight of Cherry before they were suddenly gone and went back into hiding.
The dinner had passed by nicely enough, and Katie had requested to be helped to the library to read a little before she would go up to bed. She was reclined slightly on a chaise lounge and was twirling a strand of her hair as she was reading. Victor allowed it since Katie was cooperating this time, though he made sure that Hyde would keep a close eye on her as much as possible and Mrs. Reilly began to clean up around before it would be time to go to sleep for the night. Katie was quietly reading, relaxing before she would have to go to bed.
"Do you require anything else, Miss?" Mrs. Reilly asked Katie during her dusting.
"No thank you, Mrs. Reilly." Katie smiled kindly to the housemaid.
"Very good, Miss..." Mrs. Reilly nodded as she continued to clean up. "So good to see you acting like your old self again."
Katie looked to her. "Did I act differently?" she asked, sounding a little confused.
"Just a little bit this morning," Mrs. Reilly nodded. "Y-You didn't seem like yourself... I-It was probably just jitters before the wedding day though."
"Probably." Katie agreed with a soft smile.
"I'm so happy for you," Mrs. Reilly smiled back. "All of yours and Dr. Frankenstein's friends are going to be there."
Katie felt something itching at her mind, but it quickly went away as the potion was strong. "That's nice..." she smiled warmly. "Will you be attending?" she asked her.
"Somebody has to help do the catering and cleaning, don't they?" Mrs. Reilly giggled bashfully. "But, y-y-yes, dear... And I shall help you get ready every little step of the way."
Katie smiled and then placed the book carefully down. She offered out her hands to the woman a moment. Mrs. Reilly glanced over at that and soon smiled warmly as she came to hold her hands back out to Katie.
Katie took the woman's hands in her own, squeezing warmly. "Your help means so much, Mrs. Reilly." she told her softly.
"I-I-I appreciate that, d-dear," Mrs. Reilly smiled bashfully. "I-I really try my best to h-h-help."
Katie smiled warmly and squeezed her hands again. "A-Are my parents coming?" she asked quietly then.
"Y-Y-Your p-p-parents?" Mrs. Reilly repeated curiously.
"Are they coming to the wedding?" Katie asked her, her blue eyes widening slightly behind her glasses.
Mrs. Reilly bit her lip slightly as she glanced over briefly. Hyde just gave her a look as he peeked from the corner.
"Erm, y-yes!" Mrs. Reilly then answered and grinned bashfully. "O-O-Of course they will."
"Oh, good," Katie smiled softly. "Though if they hadn't been coming I would have asked you to sit in as the mother-of-the-bride." she said softly.
"Y-You... You would do that for me?" Mrs. Reilly gasped softly and surprised, putting a hand to her heart.
Katie nodded with a warm smile. "Even if I can't remember too much before today... You've taken care of me so well." she told her softly.
"Well... I have always wanted a daughter..." Mrs. Reilly beamed warmly back. "I feel so thrilled and honored... I'll still come though~"
Katie smiled and gave a small hug to the woman's hands, then let her get on with what she needed to.
"Aw... C-C-Come here..." Mrs. Reilly beamed in the hug before they separated. "J-Just remember... Holler for me if you need me."
Katie nodded with a soft smile. Mrs. Reilly soon finished up her task in this room and soon went to take off once she had completed. Katie returned back to her reading a little while longer. Hyde soon stepped into the room a little, watching Katie for a little while before he would leave as well. Katie glanced to Hyde and gave a timid smile.
"Getting along okay this evening, Miss Katie?" Hyde asked with a small grin.
"Y-Yes, Mr. Hyde," Katie nodded with a small smile. "F-Forgive my hysterics before dinner, it must have just caught up with me." she apologized quietly.
"Oh, it's all right," Mr. Hyde smiled back, albeit a bit sinister. "We just can't have you running off... We wouldn't want a runaway bride from Dr. Frankenstein, now would we?"
"Wh-Why would I run?" Katie asked him, a bit nervous then at the sinisterness. She shifted nervously, moving the book so it was a little like a shield.
"I suppose you wouldn't," Hyde smirked before he decided to leave the room. "I'm going off to sleep though, it is rather late. You get your rest."
"Good night." Katie said quietly. She then let out a small sigh of relief and decided to head off to bed herself.
Hyde smirked once Katie was playing along properly and soon walked off for the night as it was very late, even for grown-ups at this hour.