Death comes in packs.
Disclaimer: Don't own it sorry, I know ya'll are disappointed too.
A/N: Thanks Shadowcat, I always look forward to your reviews, and thank you Just Me, the cavalry has arrived! ^__^
Chapter seven, Passions dwell in shadows.
Sara walked in front of the small crowd that was the League, leading them to the bright red door that entered into the pub. "I must warn you." She said a light in her eyes. "It's not what you are expecting." She opened the door, and light streamed out into the darkness.
The sound of a fiddler playing a fast cheerful song filled their ears, singing and shouting, the smell of roasting meat and fresh beer, the brightly colored garbs of the Irishmen and woman swam by in a sea of senses. Sara took a deep breath, "I'm home." She said with as much emotion her voice would allow, and stepped into the light. Her own multi colored skirts mixing in with the rest.
The bar wasn't all that magnificent save for the circular high-beamed roof over head, which ribbons and bits of colored glass hung down from. The gaslight streamed through the colored cloth and glass so that the colors mixed in with the dancers like will-o-wisps.
The rest of the group followed Sara. Skinner with his hat bowed low, was wearing his coat, and a suit underneath it, he'd put a pair of gloves on and an extra layer of grease paint, along with his tinted glasses, he looked like an old fashions opera star. He looked on to the merriment, and was reminded of the pubs he used to frequent in his visible days.
Mina and Nemo came in side by side both wearing the same expression of skepticism. Sawyer came in after them smiling broadly, he'd wanted to go to a good party for a while; this was killing two birds with one stone. Two pretty Irish women giggled when they saw him and waved. Or maybe three. He tipped his hat at them cocking a grin, and the erupted in giggles. Jekyll came in last, timidly looking around as if he was ready to bolt at any moment. He crept along side of everyone else like a shadow, not getting to close to the dancers.
"SARA!" A deep voice called from behind the bar. A large man was the owner of said voice, he was huge, easily six feet tall, with long curly blond hair that tailed down to his back, with sparkling green eyes.
Anyone looking at him could see the Norwegian Viking in his background, and from the green eyes it looked as if at least one of his relatives were native. The man was currently filling three flagons full of foaming beer on a tray, "Hold still lass, I'll be witcha ye' in a moment. AMIE!" he bellowed into the throng, and like magic a curly pretty little red head woman appeared, wearing a blue peasant dress and matching white apron. She deftly scooped up the heavily laden tray one handed and promptly disappeared again.
Sara was molding into the crowed like she was a part of the other people, her colors mixing into the rest. The rest of the group had to try and have path made for them, as best they could.
"Kenny!" Sara shrilled happily when she got to the oaken bar, "I haven't seen you in ages." she examined his for a moment, "I see your doing well." she didn't need him to tell her, the large crowd here tonight was enough to feed and operated the pub for the next month.
"Aye girl, and how have ye been doin'" He asked and began to wipe down the bar. "Ye' haven't been in fer some time now."
"Well, I brought a whole crowd with me thins time." She gestured for everyone to come forward. "This is Nemo, Tom, Mina, Skinner, and Henry." She said everyone nodded.
"Friends?" He asked cracking his knuckles.
"Yes Kenny."
"Good, pull up a seat all of ye', an' ye'll be havein' a drink then? On the house o'course." He winked at Sara, "Any friend of Sara's is a friend of mine." His voice sounded like warm thunder as he chuckled while he poured them all a full, foaming cups. Sara took hers graciously, as did Skinner and Tom. Mina and Nemo however shook theirs away saying they didn't want them. But when he came to Jekyll he looked the mousy man up and down once.
"Ye're not a heavy drinker are ye?" he asked cocking a bushy blond eyebrow at him.
Jekyll looked up startled that he had been asked a question. "N-no." he stuttered, and fidgeted nervously.
Kenny took a breath as if to say something, but Sara cut him off, "Don't say it Kenny, if Henry doesn't want the drink, he doesn't want it all right?" her voice held the dark hint of a threat, though she didn't look up from the cup.
He exhaled dramatically rubbing the back of his neck, he smiled crookedly at her, slightly ashamed, "Fine, fine lass." then he leaned in closer and said, "What is the real reason ye're here, I know ye' now, ye would ne come ifin' ye did na have a problem."
"Actually," She said softly, "I'm looking for information." She leaned closer and whispered something to him. The Viking man looked at her gravely and nodded understanding.
"Aye, I heard somethin' about tha' this morning, the ol' man is still here, I'll warrant." He looked through the crowd and bellowed, "McKarther! C'mere!"
An old man came stumbling out of the crowd, his graying hair in disarray, one side of his shirt was tucked in nicely, the other was hanging out, stain told the tale of a meal earlier in the day. He was obviously drunk. He stumbled up to the bar and slammed himself down next to Sara. "What da ye' want Kenny?" He demanded his word slurring so bad in his thick accent it was hard to make them out.
"Tell me again about the thing you saw in the woods a month ago." He said innocently.
The man's expression changed from drunken anger to delight at the prospect of sharing his tales of woe with the bartender and the listens with in earshot. "AYE! The wolf-man! Terrifin' he was, all wolf-like an' such!" From where she was sitting Sara could smell the beer on his breath. "I was up'in near Holycross! What a place to see the likes of him! Near the Abbey bridge I was tendin' to my flock and then," His eyes grew huge, "a whole lotta um' came out as it were! From the woods, took the whole flock they did! I was lucky ter get outta der alive I was!" He waved his hands blindly in the air like he was fending off some invisible foe. "I jumped inter the river an' swam fer me life!" He looked round about him shaking one warning hand at them all, "Mark my words don't go up'in near Holycross, it's crused I tell ya, the good Lord sent demon's to punish the likes of the towns folk fer their sins."
"Did one of them have only one eye?" Sara demeaned grabbing the man by his filthy collar.
The old man wasn't off put by this gesture; he thought she was caught up in the fear of his story. "Aye lass! One big glowin' yellow eye!" He got back onto his own chair and pratically poked out his own eye in a wild gesture to it. "Lookin' as the devil 'isself he was! Litsen ter me! Don't go huntin' up 'ere lass, ye'll get yerself killed!" and with that said the man promptly passed out cold.
"Been wonderin' when dat would happen." Kenny said eyeing the man's slumbering form.
Sara downed the last from her flagon and turned to face everyone, "Well we have our information, and tomorrow we set out for Holycross in Tipperary. Now," She slapped her hands together, "let's enjoy the party!"
Mina and Nemo stayed near the bar, while Tom, Sara and Skinner enjoyed the dancing. Jekyll rolled up his sleeves and sat in the shadows by the fire.
Sawyer danced with all the pretty young Irish girls, all of who were impressed that he had come all the way from America. Skinner even danced with most of the woman while the fiddlers went on playing, his white greasepaint giving him a mysterious edge enough to interest them. Jekyll however stayed near to the shadow, he had been offered to dance but never accepted.
"'Scuse me luv," Skinner said tapping Sara on the shoulder while she twirled around her skirts flying about her like a fire, "May I have this dance?" He held out his gloved hand and she accepted with her own. They danced and twirled for a whole song, not really dancing in particular, just swinging about in each other's arms, both enjoying themselves thoroughly. Then she saw Jekyll sitting in his shadowed corner.
"Skinner," She asked as the twirled around, "has Henry danced at all?"
He glanced behind his shoulder at Jekyll, "I dun think so, he never really seemed the dancin' sort to me." He shrugged it off.
"I'm going to see if he will dance, he doesn't look to happy with himself." She let go of Skinner and, as she made her way through the other dancers she heard Skinner say to a particularly young and pretty girl,
"Why yes luv', I came all this way from London herself, jus' to meet a girl like you." She couldn't help but laugh, that was one of the worst lines she'd ever heard.
"Henry," she called when she made it through the gantlet of dancers unscathed.
He looked up to see Sara standing before him, the firelight dancing on her face and in her eyes. Her face was a bit red from the heat but her soft brown hair fell on her face softly, she really did look lovely, a thought said in his mind.
"Aren't you going to dance a little, I've even seen Mina dance with one man." She came a bit closer to him putting her hands on her hips.
"No, I've never been much of a dancer." He said, he could feel a blush creeping up his neck, though it could have just been the heat.
"Oh come one," She reached forward and grabbed his hand, "Dance with me?" She pulled him up beside her.
"I don't know how." He said trying to get away before he looked like a fool, he didn't belong here, he knew it; he'd never like the crowds. But she was so lovely. One dance couldn't hurt, could it? His mind was racked with indecision.
"I'll show you how." She grabbed his other hand and put it on her waist, he gulped, she still was holding the other had, and then she put a hand on his shoulder. "Like this," She said and they were off, she was leading at first, and then they both were in unison. "See this isn't so bad." She yelled over the other voices.
"No it isn't." He said. "Though I don't suppose Hyde likes it."
She tossed her head back and laughed. A smile came across his face as he watched the beautiful woman he held in his arms laugh at something he had said. Who would have thought? Then he to began to laugh, they laughed and danced for what seemed like hours, ignoring everyone else around them. They were in their own small world, the lights from the fire and streaming colors flashed by. It was just the two of them.
Then Sara was thrown into him suddenly, as the crowd clustered in on them, she gasped at the sudden movement. At the first push she caught Jekyll around the neck with both arms, trying not to fall, she had to lean up a little because of the tip, then at the second push she was thrown directly onto him, and they kissed for the first time. It happed so quickly neither of them had time to think, they just locked lips for the briefest second. They both came away looking shocked. Sara's face burned a bright crimson.
"I'm sorry!" She gasped and let go of him, "I didn't mean to it was the crowd." No one had seen that, Skinner and Sawyer both had their backs turned, and Mina and Nemo were both a ways away, at the front of the pub. She glanced around embarrassed checking to make sure.
Then with surprising boldness, Jekyll kissed her again this time on purpose, and Sara was the one more surprised. The kiss lasted long and was filled with undeniable meaning. Sara recovered from her shock and kissed him back a little more forcefully. They broke away soon, searching each other's eyes. Sara grinned wildly. "I didn't know you had it in you." She said her eyes dancing.
"Neither did I." Jekyll said grinning back shyly.
"SARA!" Came Kenny's voice from the front of the pub, and she looked away from him still smiling, "Play us a tune!" And then once again the barmaid appeared out of nowhere and handed her an old violin. Sara looked at it awkwardly the brought it up to her chin.
A circle had formed around her and the rest of the music stopped, to hear her play. She took a deep breath and began. The music began soft and melancholy at first then slowly picked up with more voice and vigor, soon it was a full out jig, the music seemed to fill the building like a breeze sweeping by refreshingly. Sara had closed her eyes and was lost in her music. The song itself was not very hard, in fact it was a very common song, but she seemed to fill it with her energy, her very soul. She swayed gently while she played as if she longed to dance to it.
Then from the back a voice that was unmistakably Mina's. The song she sang like a crystal bell harmonizing with Sara's playing, a path cleared and Mina came to stand side by side. They were so different these two women. Mina a straight and tall proper, posh woman, wearing a high class red dress to match her carefully styled hair auburn, who sang like an angel on her way to the pearly gates. Then Sara, a wild woman, wearing many clashing, vibrant colored skirts, her soft brown hair pulled back in a messy braid, except for the strands that clung to her sweaty face, she played her violin like a fairy tale musician playing for the wee folk keeping the monsters at bay. But they did have that in common, both were dangerous creatures of the night holding the dark secrets of their past beneath their smooth surfaces. At the song's finish and they both sang, their voices became one.
The room erupted in applause for both of the woman, two clasped hands a bowed. They both looked at each other with a neutral agreement that they were both all right. Sara glanced to Jekyll who was clapping with great enthusiasm, a bright grin on his face. He really was handsome when he smiled. Mina followed her gaze, and realized what had happened. Sara oblivious, bowed again.
Disclaimer: Don't own it sorry, I know ya'll are disappointed too.
A/N: Thanks Shadowcat, I always look forward to your reviews, and thank you Just Me, the cavalry has arrived! ^__^
Chapter seven, Passions dwell in shadows.
Sara walked in front of the small crowd that was the League, leading them to the bright red door that entered into the pub. "I must warn you." She said a light in her eyes. "It's not what you are expecting." She opened the door, and light streamed out into the darkness.
The sound of a fiddler playing a fast cheerful song filled their ears, singing and shouting, the smell of roasting meat and fresh beer, the brightly colored garbs of the Irishmen and woman swam by in a sea of senses. Sara took a deep breath, "I'm home." She said with as much emotion her voice would allow, and stepped into the light. Her own multi colored skirts mixing in with the rest.
The bar wasn't all that magnificent save for the circular high-beamed roof over head, which ribbons and bits of colored glass hung down from. The gaslight streamed through the colored cloth and glass so that the colors mixed in with the dancers like will-o-wisps.
The rest of the group followed Sara. Skinner with his hat bowed low, was wearing his coat, and a suit underneath it, he'd put a pair of gloves on and an extra layer of grease paint, along with his tinted glasses, he looked like an old fashions opera star. He looked on to the merriment, and was reminded of the pubs he used to frequent in his visible days.
Mina and Nemo came in side by side both wearing the same expression of skepticism. Sawyer came in after them smiling broadly, he'd wanted to go to a good party for a while; this was killing two birds with one stone. Two pretty Irish women giggled when they saw him and waved. Or maybe three. He tipped his hat at them cocking a grin, and the erupted in giggles. Jekyll came in last, timidly looking around as if he was ready to bolt at any moment. He crept along side of everyone else like a shadow, not getting to close to the dancers.
"SARA!" A deep voice called from behind the bar. A large man was the owner of said voice, he was huge, easily six feet tall, with long curly blond hair that tailed down to his back, with sparkling green eyes.
Anyone looking at him could see the Norwegian Viking in his background, and from the green eyes it looked as if at least one of his relatives were native. The man was currently filling three flagons full of foaming beer on a tray, "Hold still lass, I'll be witcha ye' in a moment. AMIE!" he bellowed into the throng, and like magic a curly pretty little red head woman appeared, wearing a blue peasant dress and matching white apron. She deftly scooped up the heavily laden tray one handed and promptly disappeared again.
Sara was molding into the crowed like she was a part of the other people, her colors mixing into the rest. The rest of the group had to try and have path made for them, as best they could.
"Kenny!" Sara shrilled happily when she got to the oaken bar, "I haven't seen you in ages." she examined his for a moment, "I see your doing well." she didn't need him to tell her, the large crowd here tonight was enough to feed and operated the pub for the next month.
"Aye girl, and how have ye been doin'" He asked and began to wipe down the bar. "Ye' haven't been in fer some time now."
"Well, I brought a whole crowd with me thins time." She gestured for everyone to come forward. "This is Nemo, Tom, Mina, Skinner, and Henry." She said everyone nodded.
"Friends?" He asked cracking his knuckles.
"Yes Kenny."
"Good, pull up a seat all of ye', an' ye'll be havein' a drink then? On the house o'course." He winked at Sara, "Any friend of Sara's is a friend of mine." His voice sounded like warm thunder as he chuckled while he poured them all a full, foaming cups. Sara took hers graciously, as did Skinner and Tom. Mina and Nemo however shook theirs away saying they didn't want them. But when he came to Jekyll he looked the mousy man up and down once.
"Ye're not a heavy drinker are ye?" he asked cocking a bushy blond eyebrow at him.
Jekyll looked up startled that he had been asked a question. "N-no." he stuttered, and fidgeted nervously.
Kenny took a breath as if to say something, but Sara cut him off, "Don't say it Kenny, if Henry doesn't want the drink, he doesn't want it all right?" her voice held the dark hint of a threat, though she didn't look up from the cup.
He exhaled dramatically rubbing the back of his neck, he smiled crookedly at her, slightly ashamed, "Fine, fine lass." then he leaned in closer and said, "What is the real reason ye're here, I know ye' now, ye would ne come ifin' ye did na have a problem."
"Actually," She said softly, "I'm looking for information." She leaned closer and whispered something to him. The Viking man looked at her gravely and nodded understanding.
"Aye, I heard somethin' about tha' this morning, the ol' man is still here, I'll warrant." He looked through the crowd and bellowed, "McKarther! C'mere!"
An old man came stumbling out of the crowd, his graying hair in disarray, one side of his shirt was tucked in nicely, the other was hanging out, stain told the tale of a meal earlier in the day. He was obviously drunk. He stumbled up to the bar and slammed himself down next to Sara. "What da ye' want Kenny?" He demanded his word slurring so bad in his thick accent it was hard to make them out.
"Tell me again about the thing you saw in the woods a month ago." He said innocently.
The man's expression changed from drunken anger to delight at the prospect of sharing his tales of woe with the bartender and the listens with in earshot. "AYE! The wolf-man! Terrifin' he was, all wolf-like an' such!" From where she was sitting Sara could smell the beer on his breath. "I was up'in near Holycross! What a place to see the likes of him! Near the Abbey bridge I was tendin' to my flock and then," His eyes grew huge, "a whole lotta um' came out as it were! From the woods, took the whole flock they did! I was lucky ter get outta der alive I was!" He waved his hands blindly in the air like he was fending off some invisible foe. "I jumped inter the river an' swam fer me life!" He looked round about him shaking one warning hand at them all, "Mark my words don't go up'in near Holycross, it's crused I tell ya, the good Lord sent demon's to punish the likes of the towns folk fer their sins."
"Did one of them have only one eye?" Sara demeaned grabbing the man by his filthy collar.
The old man wasn't off put by this gesture; he thought she was caught up in the fear of his story. "Aye lass! One big glowin' yellow eye!" He got back onto his own chair and pratically poked out his own eye in a wild gesture to it. "Lookin' as the devil 'isself he was! Litsen ter me! Don't go huntin' up 'ere lass, ye'll get yerself killed!" and with that said the man promptly passed out cold.
"Been wonderin' when dat would happen." Kenny said eyeing the man's slumbering form.
Sara downed the last from her flagon and turned to face everyone, "Well we have our information, and tomorrow we set out for Holycross in Tipperary. Now," She slapped her hands together, "let's enjoy the party!"
Mina and Nemo stayed near the bar, while Tom, Sara and Skinner enjoyed the dancing. Jekyll rolled up his sleeves and sat in the shadows by the fire.
Sawyer danced with all the pretty young Irish girls, all of who were impressed that he had come all the way from America. Skinner even danced with most of the woman while the fiddlers went on playing, his white greasepaint giving him a mysterious edge enough to interest them. Jekyll however stayed near to the shadow, he had been offered to dance but never accepted.
"'Scuse me luv," Skinner said tapping Sara on the shoulder while she twirled around her skirts flying about her like a fire, "May I have this dance?" He held out his gloved hand and she accepted with her own. They danced and twirled for a whole song, not really dancing in particular, just swinging about in each other's arms, both enjoying themselves thoroughly. Then she saw Jekyll sitting in his shadowed corner.
"Skinner," She asked as the twirled around, "has Henry danced at all?"
He glanced behind his shoulder at Jekyll, "I dun think so, he never really seemed the dancin' sort to me." He shrugged it off.
"I'm going to see if he will dance, he doesn't look to happy with himself." She let go of Skinner and, as she made her way through the other dancers she heard Skinner say to a particularly young and pretty girl,
"Why yes luv', I came all this way from London herself, jus' to meet a girl like you." She couldn't help but laugh, that was one of the worst lines she'd ever heard.
"Henry," she called when she made it through the gantlet of dancers unscathed.
He looked up to see Sara standing before him, the firelight dancing on her face and in her eyes. Her face was a bit red from the heat but her soft brown hair fell on her face softly, she really did look lovely, a thought said in his mind.
"Aren't you going to dance a little, I've even seen Mina dance with one man." She came a bit closer to him putting her hands on her hips.
"No, I've never been much of a dancer." He said, he could feel a blush creeping up his neck, though it could have just been the heat.
"Oh come one," She reached forward and grabbed his hand, "Dance with me?" She pulled him up beside her.
"I don't know how." He said trying to get away before he looked like a fool, he didn't belong here, he knew it; he'd never like the crowds. But she was so lovely. One dance couldn't hurt, could it? His mind was racked with indecision.
"I'll show you how." She grabbed his other hand and put it on her waist, he gulped, she still was holding the other had, and then she put a hand on his shoulder. "Like this," She said and they were off, she was leading at first, and then they both were in unison. "See this isn't so bad." She yelled over the other voices.
"No it isn't." He said. "Though I don't suppose Hyde likes it."
She tossed her head back and laughed. A smile came across his face as he watched the beautiful woman he held in his arms laugh at something he had said. Who would have thought? Then he to began to laugh, they laughed and danced for what seemed like hours, ignoring everyone else around them. They were in their own small world, the lights from the fire and streaming colors flashed by. It was just the two of them.
Then Sara was thrown into him suddenly, as the crowd clustered in on them, she gasped at the sudden movement. At the first push she caught Jekyll around the neck with both arms, trying not to fall, she had to lean up a little because of the tip, then at the second push she was thrown directly onto him, and they kissed for the first time. It happed so quickly neither of them had time to think, they just locked lips for the briefest second. They both came away looking shocked. Sara's face burned a bright crimson.
"I'm sorry!" She gasped and let go of him, "I didn't mean to it was the crowd." No one had seen that, Skinner and Sawyer both had their backs turned, and Mina and Nemo were both a ways away, at the front of the pub. She glanced around embarrassed checking to make sure.
Then with surprising boldness, Jekyll kissed her again this time on purpose, and Sara was the one more surprised. The kiss lasted long and was filled with undeniable meaning. Sara recovered from her shock and kissed him back a little more forcefully. They broke away soon, searching each other's eyes. Sara grinned wildly. "I didn't know you had it in you." She said her eyes dancing.
"Neither did I." Jekyll said grinning back shyly.
"SARA!" Came Kenny's voice from the front of the pub, and she looked away from him still smiling, "Play us a tune!" And then once again the barmaid appeared out of nowhere and handed her an old violin. Sara looked at it awkwardly the brought it up to her chin.
A circle had formed around her and the rest of the music stopped, to hear her play. She took a deep breath and began. The music began soft and melancholy at first then slowly picked up with more voice and vigor, soon it was a full out jig, the music seemed to fill the building like a breeze sweeping by refreshingly. Sara had closed her eyes and was lost in her music. The song itself was not very hard, in fact it was a very common song, but she seemed to fill it with her energy, her very soul. She swayed gently while she played as if she longed to dance to it.
Then from the back a voice that was unmistakably Mina's. The song she sang like a crystal bell harmonizing with Sara's playing, a path cleared and Mina came to stand side by side. They were so different these two women. Mina a straight and tall proper, posh woman, wearing a high class red dress to match her carefully styled hair auburn, who sang like an angel on her way to the pearly gates. Then Sara, a wild woman, wearing many clashing, vibrant colored skirts, her soft brown hair pulled back in a messy braid, except for the strands that clung to her sweaty face, she played her violin like a fairy tale musician playing for the wee folk keeping the monsters at bay. But they did have that in common, both were dangerous creatures of the night holding the dark secrets of their past beneath their smooth surfaces. At the song's finish and they both sang, their voices became one.
The room erupted in applause for both of the woman, two clasped hands a bowed. They both looked at each other with a neutral agreement that they were both all right. Sara glanced to Jekyll who was clapping with great enthusiasm, a bright grin on his face. He really was handsome when he smiled. Mina followed her gaze, and realized what had happened. Sara oblivious, bowed again.