"Your horrible manners." She said dryly as she pulled a glove from her right hand. She shifted it about in front of her before pushing it deep into her coat pocket. Now she worked at the other glove, her eyes staring at the painting. "I suppose having that painting up there is quite the joke to you? Something to throw in my face. I knew you weren't dead Dorian. Unfortunately, you never die." She moved into the center of the room now taking notice of the large, black dog perched beside one of Dorian's easels. The dog growled deeply in its throat; its black eyes watching her with an intensity that made her somewhat uncomfortable. She cleared her throat, now turning to look at Dorian, "And what is it you've done with Thria? I've never seen her act so strange."
Dorian grinned as he walked over to a small table in the corner of the room. There he placed the empty wineglass. His eyes now resting on a silver ashtray that was very much out of place atop the black doily, "Tom and Skinner seemed to have left the poor woman for dead last night. I merely revived her." He glanced over his shoulder at Mina, but she took no notice of this action. She was now concentrated on the large dog again. The animal was slowly moving closer to her.
Quietly she seated herself in a large chair, her eyes never leaving the dog.
"I don't want to know details. I believe I could see the specifics in her glittery eyes. Really, Dorian, can't you just leave the mortals be?"
He turned, his glass now full again, "That would be no fun." He purred. She noticed that the suit he had on tonight was one of the finest she had ever seen him wear. It was a dark assembly of black pants, shirt and vest, but all were a shade deeper than any black she had ever seen in her life. The whole outfit seemed to match with his dark hair. And, she realized the clothing made his skin look more radiant and fresh. "Dear Mina, you're beginning to sound like a mortal life would agree with you. I'm supposing no one knows of your treachery yet?" He said, eyeing her now with a bemused smile on his lips. The dog growled again, "I fear that my Lucifer doesn't like you very much."
"You must have beaten him with something of mine." She said as she slid her barrette from her hair. She opened and closed it with her nimble fingers as she watched the angered animal.
"I don't beat animals." He said, lifting an ebony eyebrow at her, "I've never beaten you, have I?"
"I suppose you're saying that I am an animal?" She said softly, her throat a bit constricted by the
uneasiness she was feeling, "Granted I can turn into any animal, but I have never acted as one. I would be right in saying that you, Dorian Gray, are the animal. You are a man, after all."
He handed her the wine and then seated himself, "You always have such nice things to say to me." He mused, "Tell me what you mean to do now that I have returned."
She looked at the dog. It had paused to lick itself, "You said you would never come around again." She raised her eyes to meet his, "So why are you here?"
"The boredom of immortality can make the mind yearn for drastic company." He held out his long fingers and the dog padded over to him, "I suppose you have told the league nothing of our true agreement."
She closed her eyes, feeling a great bite of guilt gnawing at her side. She had betrayed everyone. And none of them had even known that she to was somewhat of a traitor. She had played both sides. Dorian had called to her needing her help just at the same moment that the league had needed her. And she had joined only to help both sides. But hadn't Dorian really betrayed her?
"You betrayed me." She spoke softly, her eyes on Dorian's hand that was sliding over the fur of the dog, "I was there to help you regain your painting, Dorian, and act as if I didn't know you were to be called to the league also. I knew why you wanted to join. But you had promised that you would deceive M if I would get your portrait back for you."
"You weren't doing a very good job, Mina. I realized that you weren't going to get it back. You were too caught up in all those feelings of doing the right thing and such. I couldn't let my painting be destroyed while you waited around for a few pats on the back."
She looked up at the painting, "You killed Quatermain."
"M killed Quatermain, not me." Dorian said as he stared up at the portrait, "Or blame Basil. If Basil hadn't put this curse on me, then I wouldn't be here destroying things. I really can't help who I am, Mina."
His hand slid deep into the dog's fur, now covered. He pulled it out and buried it again. The dog, quite contented, let out a yawn, his tongue now licking at Dorian's black shoe.
Mina rolled her eyes very uncharacteriscally of herself, and stood up. Immediately the dog leaped up at her, causing her to falter backwards into a small bookcase. It snarled menacingly, long stings of spit dropping from it mouth, "Call it off, Dorian." She said with her bare hands grasping at the bookcase.
He grinned, "He really doesn't like you at all, Mina."
She, still gripping the bookcase, watched as Dorian stood up. He patted his suit pants of some unseen wrinkles and then brushed his shirt and vest of lint, "I hope this is a nice enough ensemble for tonight. I would hate to show up at the theatre looking a mess."
The dog snarled, its' horrible fangs just inches from Mina's dress. A low growl was slowly becoming a steady rumble in the dog's throat and its whole body seemed to be vibrating with the intensity of the threat, "Please Dorian." She begged. Her finger worked to loosen a book behind her head. If she could pull it out she could throw it at the dog, maybe gain some room to run before the animal could latch on to her.
"You'll join me for the evening?" he asked as he walked over to a large mirror and checked himself, "Lucifer." He said as he stared at himself. The dog backed up a bit, but didn't leave Mina.
"I feel as if I am making plans with the devil." She said as she began to inch her way over to the left. The dog reacted to Dorian's voice again, but still didn't pull away from Mina, "The dog doesn't listen to you very well."
Dorian turned from the mirror and said the dog's name again. This time Lucifer turned and walked over to Dorian, its tail between its legs. It whimpered softly as it reached Dorian. There it laid itself on the floor at Dorian's feet.
Dorian's eyes went to Mina's, "When's the league setting off on their little voyage?"
She was already putting her hair back up. Now she reached into her pockets and pulled on her gloves, "I have to get going. Meet me on the docks by eight tomorrow night and I will tell you what I need you to do." She moved past him and the growling dog, "And don't bring dear Lucifer or I may really have to give him something to whimper about."
Seconds later she was gone.
