A/N: The calm before the storm perhaps? Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Appreciated it as always. Glad to see no one is going to try and kill me for telling you how many chapters you have left : S I was worried. Now, Sethoz, I hope this keeps you happy for a while ; )
The long table in the dining area of the Nautilus was empty from food, instead plans of New York spread out over its surface. It was a time for action, and a time for planning. The seats were empty, even pulled aside so the remaining members of the League could stand near to the table, rest their hands on its wood in pensive consideration of the maps and street diagrams.
"Evans' abode is here," Nemo voiced, pointing a finger at one drawing, showing an extensive mansion and grounds. "It must be well guarded, but with the correct weapons and tactics, entrance is not impossible."
Skinner shook his head. "I can get in there, it's just a matter of the buggers smelling me."
"They do have heightened senses," Mina agreed, looking from one to the other. "I would be able to cause a distraction, perhaps kill a few whilst some men skirt the walls. Vampires and werewolves have a... less than friendly history."
"So, you expect they will concentrate on you instead of us?" Jekyll inquired, shifting uncertainly on his side of the table next to Nemo.
Mina nodded. "Do you think it possible to contain Hyde until we enter the mansion? If they see him approach the gates..."
"Maybe it would be best if I did not release him at all."
"What are you talking about?" Skinner demanded as politely as possible. "We're gonna need his strength. These things are exactly puppies, you know."
"It has been most difficult of late to keep him controlled," Jekyll divulged shakily. "I find his thoughts most troubling. He seems to be reverting to his old ways, his bad habits. I have caught him more than once thinking of... harming certain individuals."
"Us?" Mina arched an eyebrow curiously.
Jekyll simply nodded quickly, and lowered his gaze as if he were to blame.
Mina sighed. There was nothing else for it though. "We have no other choice but to risk it. We will need his strength on this endeavour if we are to have any chance of saving Tom."
Her mind reeled angrily at Kazuo's revelations once again. They had been betrayed. Anise Delacroix had set them up; set Tom up, for a fall. It was difficult to believe this somehow though... Mina had just thought the young woman an uncertainty. She hadn't imagined seriously for a moment that she would actually mean harm. She had simply considered her weak and useless.
But the one thing that frightened her most was what they planned for their American companion. They intended to add Tom to their ranks, as they had many times before apparently. Different countries, different additions. So many different nationalities, and each one a victim. It disgusted her inside, and she suddenly felt quite nauseous. Pushing the sensation down, she turned her concentration back on the table.
"Very well," Jekyll sighed at once, and rubbed his forehead as if it ached, "but I believe it best if he is at hand as soon as possible, in case the werewolves attack in force. I mean no offence, but you may not be able to fend them all off."
"None taken," Mina agreed. The doctor had a good point. She knew she was strong, but if they ambushed her she would be in trouble. She would not be able to defend herself as well as she would against a smaller number. "You are right. We will need Hyde at the beginning of the plan as much as we will need him inside the mansion. We will have a vast distance to cover internally. I may be able to smell Sawyer inside, but there is no guarantee."
"We'll have to split up and look for him," Skinner noted, nodding. "Going solo might not be such a good idea though."
"We will stay in teams of two, perhaps three," Nemo suggested. "Some of my men will go in larger groups for safety. Hyde and I can search the lower levels, and Harker and Skinner, you can try the upper floors."
Mina nodded. It was a sound idea. It made sense not to search alone. Skinner and Nemo could have difficulty defending themselves. She had already informed them where and how to strike to kill one of the creatures, but it was best they travel with a partner in case they were overwhelmed.
"We will need to prepare at once," Mina voiced loudly, "if they are to carry out their plan tonight. Full moon has arrived, and this is when they are at their most dangerous... their most savage. Our informant has already assured us that they planned to carry out their... 'ritual' this evening. We need to work quickly."
Nods of affirmation came from each member, and they soon left the room to prepare, focused and determined.
Skinner stood in front of the sink, a damp washcloth in his invisible hands, smearing the cream from his face, watching as it streaked away down the plughole when he dampened the cloth for continuation. With a sigh, he pressed on, ensuring he removed it all from every inch of his face.
He would never admit it to anyone, but this mission had him a little frightened. He hadn't seen one of these... things, in full yet, just the semi-bestial form the oriental man had taken on. The eyes and the teeth and claws... that was all. He wondered what they looked like when fully transformed.
Trying not to think about it, he went back to his tedious, but necessary, task.
Henry Jekyll ignored the eager gibbering of Edward Hyde inside of his skull as he pocketed three vials of his formula, not entirely sure how long this would take. He knew they wanted... no, needed Hyde, would need him for the majority of the time it took. He knew, with a heavy heart, that they thought him more useful.
He even knew this himself, but was reluctant to admit it, even tried to hide it from Edward. This was the hardest task. The monster knew his every desire, his every thought.
With this eating away at him, he unnecessarily neatened his collar in the mirror before departing the room to meet the others.
Captain Nemo stood before the shrine of Kali for just a few moments longer; head bowed in respect and admiration as he silently prayed they would survive this night. It was a difficult task, a complicated plan.
But, despite all of this, Nemo knew it to be for the greater good. These beasts had to be destroyed, no matter what the cost. He would see it through to the end; ensure his men were not afraid by putting on a brave face. His men usually calmed and accepted their possible fates in the presence of their stalwart captain. They thought him a strong and almost indestructible man. This was no secret.
Nemo knew himself that it was just a façade... it was just an act he put on to calm and reassure others. Inside, he was frightened, more than he could remember being in a long time. Sheathing his ornate sword, he left the room, closing the large white doors behind him.
Staring in the mirror, she reached up with a heavy-hearted sigh, and released her hair from its ties, feeling it fall freely around her face, slightly curled now. Her blue eyes stared at her own reflection, her pale flawless skin, her lips set grimly into a line, her expression otherwise blank. She was ready. She was slightly hesitant, but she was ready.
Mina Harker had no idea how many of these beasts Evans kept in his company, but she had no doubt it was more than they had seen so far. He probably kept enough to ensure he felt safe... enough to protect his home and self.
Of course, she also knew he had many different nationalities stored away inside those walls, so the numbers had to be great.
Swallowing her doubts, she reached over to her dresser, taking the two long, thin silver daggers from the surface, and slipping them away, concealed in her clothing. She only wanted the weapons revealed at the last moment, before the beasts realised it was too late.
With a grim expression of anticipation, she swept mysteriously out of her cabin, leaving the door open behind her, expecting to return later to close it before bed.
Anise could feel the electricity of expectation in the air as she made her way through the grand hall where everyone was gathered. They were of all nationalities. Russian, Egyptian, Portuguese, African, Indian, Spanish, English, German, French, Chinese... there were so many she had lost track.
The only two other females sat in the corner of the room, and stood eagerly to intercept her before she left the hall. They were of definite foreign origin. One was named Jamila Hosny... she was Egyptian in origin, and had an unmistakable lilt to her voice that sounded almost soothing to the ear. Her hair was dark and curled around her face like a frame of shadow, and her light green eyes stared at Anise in anticipation. Her tanned skin flushed expectantly.
The other was an African woman, the oldest of the females. Samura Asante was by all meanings of the word, beautiful. She had long black hair that trailed all the way down her back in intricate braids. She had brown, almost black eyes that penetrated everything, saw right into the soul, and her dark skin was flawless in its perfection. She was the silent envy of both Jamila and Anise, and the object of many a male eye.
"So?" Jamila began impatiently, "What have you heard?"
Anise looked between the two, in the mood for neither, just wanting to be alone with her own thoughts. She sighed quietly, rubbed her brow, and replied, "I have heard nothing. Evans does not trust me."
"Well he must trust you to a certain degree," Samura offered lightly, almost carefree.
Anise turned her eyes solely upon the African woman now, and narrowed them in confusion. "What is it that you mean?"
Samura laughed bitterly. "Well, Evans does not choose just anyone, Anise, you know this."
"I don't understand."
Samura was jealous of something. It was written all over her face. She half-sneered as she divulged, "Your affection for the American must be something impressive, Anise, or Evans would not have picked you for the siring."
Her heart sank to the very pit of her stomach, and she nearly retched. "Siring?"
"Yes, my dear girl," Samura confirmed, sounding very much like the Englishman himself in her words. "He has chosen you for the honour."
"I would not call it an honour," Anise mumbled, feeling very sick all of a sudden. Evans could not be serious... this had to be some kind of cruel joke he was playing on her.
"And what would you call it?" Jamila inquired with a hint of aplomb. "It is not exactly a punishment."
Anise looked suddenly to the two of them, and without saying another word, broke her way through the middle of them, and left the room in a hurry, intending to take this matter up with Evans himself.