A/N: This chapter isn't quite as long, but it has healthy doses of different characters, and it starts to quicken the pace... if you know what I mean. I'm sure you do, so don't look at me that way!
MJ: I'm not quite sure where the parent thing came from. It just seemed like a good idea at the time.
sugaricing: Thank you very much for your kind words, and welcome to the story. Glad you like it. Took me quite a while to work out the plot and its particulars, so I'm glad it's feasible... in it's own supernatural way.
Sethoz: The title just hit me, and it seemed really atmospheric for that chapter, especially since it's all coming to a climax. Hehe. Seems like your sister has a thing about Harry Potter, huh? So does she think you're obsessed with Shane? Well, I have one thing to say to her... are you mad?! Look at the man! P.s. Are you superstitious? You said 'The Scottish Play' instead of its title, and my PA tutor always used to do that... it's supposed to be bad luck to say that name in the theatre...
Anacalagon: There's a nice big chunk of Skinner in this one, don't you worry.
drowchild: *watches you* Um... aren't you gonna get kinda dizzy?
Silent Bob 546: Even though I've already explained, I'll go over it briefly again. Sawyer is the most vulnerable of the group, so if I were an evil mastermind planning to bring down the League, he would be the one I would go for personally. : )
Beck2: I hope this update was fast enough for you!
Looking over Sawyer's shoulder with his own eyes, Amelia saw the beast following without question. She smiled herself, but managed to keep her own happiness from transferring through her psychic link onto the face of the American. That would have looked suspicious. The vampire might have realised something was amiss.
Amelia wasn't sure whether she should feel comforted by the lack of resistance from Sawyer, or disturbed. It was like Gregory had wiped his mind clear of every semblance of fear to the situation. What had he done? Amelia couldn't help but wonder as to an explanation she knew she would not find.
There was something else troubling her as well. When on the Nautilus, she thought she had sensed another presence... perhaps the invisible man. She hadn't been certain, but there had been an odd feeling about the corridor as she -in the body of Sawyer- had traversed it. If he had been there, Skinner had not betrayed himself though... she had been forced to ignore it.
But if he had followed, then let him come. He would be in for a surprise when the fun started.
Henry Jekyll almost jumped three feet in the air when one of Nemo's men came up behind him in the infirmary. He had suppressed the shout of shock, and had whirled, eyes saucer-wide, and uttered, "Yes?"
"Mr. Skinner asked that I come find you, Doctor," the man said. Jekyll tried to think of his name. He couldn't... for the life of him, he couldn't remember. Hyde didn't know either, but that came as no surprise. Hyde knew very little useful information other than the varying techniques to dismember a man and how to sneak up on and rape prostitutes. Henry suddenly felt nauseous, but pushed it aside as Hyde chuckled inside of him.
"Is something wrong? Is someone hurt?" That good old medical instinct kicked in again, and his voice sounded confident once more. If only he could get it to stay that way.
"He told me to tell you that he was going to follow Mrs. Harker and Agent Sawyer, Doctor," the man replied, standing very rigidly before Henry. It took the doctor a few moments to realise what was going on, before his eyes shot wide open again in comprehension and he gave an abrupt shout of fright.
"What on Earth did he want to do that for?" he exclaimed, and the man before him started visibly. He fumbled for a reply.
"I do not know, Doctor," he told Henry, "that was all he said. I suppose he thought you would know how to find him."
"Well, dammit, I don't," Henry mumbled angrily, disbelieving as to Skinner's rashness and stupidity at a time like this.
"Only one thing for it," came the voice of Hyde. Henry groaned and dismissed the man so he could talk freely in the empty infirmary. He had been organising when the interruption had come.
"Don't even think about it, Edward," Henry countered as he rifled through a pile of rolled up bandaged for his jacket. He knew it was here somewhere. "I know the way your mind works, remember? I know exactly what it is you wish to do."
Hyde grumbled for a moment. "You know in your heart this is the only way you can save any of them. The thief, the vampire... the brat. You know something is wrong... you just won't admit that I am right... again."
"Well what about Nemo?" Henry inquired.
"Forget the Indian. He is of little use when there is no need for martial arts and technology. I'm the only one you need worry about, Edward. I can help you find them all."
Henry rubbed his tired eyes in pensive consideration, and frowned deeply. Was Hyde right? Was there truly no other way to save his friends, his team-mates? There had to be another way, but the more Henry thought about it, the more he realised the truth. Edward was right... there was no other way, and he had no other choice.
His mind made up, Henry set about his task.
The cold did not bother him now, he realised; his mind was so focused on his task that his eyes never left his targets and he still managed to avoid bumping into the members of the slimming crowd. His attention never wavered for a second, so intent was he that Skinner never even realised that they had reached a building until he set foot over the threshold just behind Mina.
Now what? Skinner asked himself when his mind snapped back into reality and thoughts became comprehensible. Sawyer and Mina were approaching the banister of the stairs in the gloom of the entrance hall, and Skinner took a moment to look about. An unused chandelier hung from the ceiling, coated in cobwebs new and old alike. There was a -he presumed- locked doorway off to his left in the entrance hall, and a shadowed area underneath the stairs themselves. Other than that, the foyer was bare and bland, even the once-polished floor was now in dire need of care and attention.
Skinner made his way to the stairs to follow his unawares companions, but his eyes caught sight of something on the banister. He touched his fingers to it gently, keeping one eye on Mina and Sawyer as they climbed the remainder. Skinner wished Mina had taken a moment to look around herself... she might have noticed the bullet hole then.
His wits about him, Skinner completed his climb of the stairs, and turned a right, as did Sawyer and Mina. He followed noiselessly behind them, glancing this way and that every now and then to try and keep from getting lost. It was surprisingly large inside, considering the impression one got at first glance on the exterior.
Skinner trailed behind them, all the way into a vast room. It was only when he was inside did he realise that he should have gone back to get Jekyll and Nemo. There was a dry laugh from the shadows of the room, and Mina and Skinner turned as one, both shocked, and their eyes searched for the owner of the voice.
Skinner glanced quickly at Mina to register her alarm, and that was when he noticed Sawyer staring blankly... too void of emotion. It was frightening. A woman loomed out of the shadowed corner she had concealed herself in, and regarded Mina with a fiery glare.
"Welcome, Wilhelmina," the woman said, in dry, humourless tones that sent a shiver down Skinner's spine. He shuddered despite himself, and tried to find his voice. Another figure, and then another appeared in the doorway. If this were any other situation, Skinner might have been excited by the presence of two attractive females. They both looked just as chilling as the first though, despite their age, and Skinner actually took a step back, though he knew they couldn't see him.
"Who are you... what is going on?" Mina had the presence of mind to ask, looking between the faces of the women. She removed her veiled hat slowly, blue eyes ever watchful.
The woman laughed again, an eerie sound that echoed around the dusty, dark room. "That's right, Harker... you do not know me... but you knew my lover, and my son... tell me," she paused, trailing off in an odd way, her face devoid of expression as well now, "did they taste good? Was it worth it?"
Oh, this is not good, Skinner's mind chattered incessantly. His thoughts started to run together in a mess, and he wanted nothing more than to grab Mina and Sawyer -despite his nonchalant appearance- and run from the room.
Mina looked shaken, visibly, and her fear was evident in her gaze. She actually looked frightened... something that did nothing to calm Skinner's own nerves.
I have to get out of here... I have to find Jekyll, Skinner thought coherently, and he started towards the door as silently as he could manage.
"How..." Mina managed to utter through her confusion.
The sound that next carried to Skinner's ears made him freeze entirely, his eyes wide as he listened.
It was of two voices coinciding to make one sentence, and the sound chilled Skinner anew; "I've been watching you."
Skinner turned his head as the words resonated, and saw the woman's mouth moving, as well as Sawyer's. They were speaking together... and then it hit him, as unreasonable as it sounded. It explained everything!
Sawyer was under the woman's control.
"I'll leave you two alone," the woman said, unaccompanied this time, and moved out of the door, almost brushing past Skinner.
Don't close the door! Skinner's mind screamed, but it was too late. The handle clicked shut, and there was the audible sound of a key turning. They were trapped.
Skinner's mind ran in a fever of possibilities that all fought for precedence, and he tried to reason his way out of madness.
He didn't do very well.
Mina slowly turned back to Tom, her breathing rapid now, and she eyed him warily. His eyes were cold and hard, and he panted visibly, his chest heaving. Discreetly, she took another sniff on the air... it was blood, and she felt a fool for not realising it before. That woman had done something to Tom... something terrible.
"Tom..." Mina began, and she dropped her hat to the floor, for she had an awful feeling she knew what was going to happen, "listen to the sound of my voice, Tom. Fight her... don't let her control you."
"Too late," came Tom's reply, and though it was in his own voice, it sounded eerily different. It was the woman speaking through him, Mina knew. She had to try her best to save her friend without falling victim to whatever plan of vengeance this woman had conceived in the process.
Tom raised the rifle and let off a shot, but Mina's instincts saved her terrible injury. She leapt through the air, going into a roll mid-flight, and landed the other side of the American. Though it pained her to do so, she kicked him in the back of the knee, and as he fell, she tore the Winchester from his hand, tossing it aside.
The vampire within started to take control, and she knew without seeing her reflection that her eyes were starting to darken, turn red. The darkness in the room did not hinder her vision, and she was thankful of her abilities once again... though they had been the cause for this mess in the first place, she realised.
Tom turned on her, and leapt like a wild animal. He crashed into her, driving her back into the wall. Mina used all of her strength to throw him away, and he fell to the floor, rolling over and over before coming into a predatory crouch. Mina regarded him for a moment, and cast aside the thought of even trying to reason with the young man. He was not himself... he could not hear her, could not see what he was doing; even if he could, he clearly had no control.
Mina charged, even as Tom stood, and she rammed into him, driving the both of them forcefully backwards, and they slammed against the door with an audible and resonating clang. Tom let out a shout, and Mina felt a pang of guilt.
When the screaming did not stop, she stepped back, frightened and shaking. Her eyes returned to normal. "Tom... oh god, Tom, I'm sorry."
She only realised it was a ruse when it was too late, and he had thrown himself on top of her, driving them both down to the floor with a thud. Mina felt the wind knocked out of her, and she gasped. Tom's hands held her wrists, pinning them forcefully to the floor in an iron grip. She tried to push him off, but then he did something she did not expect.
After staring at her for a moment, he leaned down quickly and kissed her passionately, hungrily. She tried to resist, but when she felt his hands release their grip, she was fooled into thinking this was Tom Sawyer... the real Tom, not a puppet.
He tore away from her quickly, and Mina let out a scream when he stabbed something into her.
She had fallen for the distraction, and with a pained gasp, she looked down at her stomach to see a long dagger protruding, Tom's hand still gripped around the hilt.
Mina looked up into Tom's face, and he smiled slyly. Then he leaned down and kissed her again, fingers of his free hand wrapping mercilessly tight in her hair and keeping her head down.
Though she tried with all of her being to fight out the presence that was bleeding into her consciousness, the shock and the pain made it too difficult, and she was soon losing the battle.