Mina was the last to arrive at the meeting table inside a large room of the Nautilus. She looked a bit hurried, but she seated herself with poised gracefulness and looked about the room at the men who were now staring at her. Quietly she eyed each one of them, "None of you have ever ran a bit late at supper?"
"Your suppers are a bit different than any we 'ave ever encountered." Skinner said as he took off his glasses to rub at his eyes, "And what we've all got ta worry about is if you really brought enough blood or if we are gonna end up as dinner some night."
Mina looked unnerved about this, "So my eating habits have all of you worried."
Nemo cleared his throat, which shifted all eyes back to him at the front of the table. Gently he lifted his turban from his head, now placing it in a gold dish behind him. Then he slid both his hands down his long beard and bowed lightly to the table. Upon doing this, the tabletop parted down the middle and pulled to the sides. Now everyone was staring down at something that looked like water.
Chairs screeched across the floor as they all moved closer to the table.
Ripples were now moving on the surface of the water. They started at the middle and stopped upon reaching the sides of the table. Mina found it fascinating to watch.
She slipped a glove from her hand and dipped a long finger into the water. The ripples parted upon her skin as she slid her fingers deeper into the liquid. Now a small wave was beginning to build itself up at the far end by Nemo. She watched it with great interest, but soon a furrow met her brow and she found herself looking down at her own hand. Had she felt something glide past her fingers?
She looked over at Tom who had his face pressed into the water, the waves now crashing against his sandy hair.
He turned his dripping face to her and grinned, "This is great. It's like a miniature ocean."
She looked back at her hand…
And then…
She pulled it out quickly, her palm red with blood. The water below her hand now turning a deep crimson.
Nemo chuckled lightly, "Can't have an ocean without sharks." He said, but dropped his humor when Mina started at him darkly.
"I guess ya now know what yo'r victims feel like dear Mina." Skinner said as he leaned back in his chair, "Why not just reach in there and bite 'em back? Show 'im what yo'r made of."
Mina licked the wound, but eyed Skinner, "Why don't I just make it easier on everyone and come over there and bite you?" she sucked harshly at the wound and then licked it again.
Jekyll was watching everyone, his fingers rubbing nervously at his pocket watch, "It has everything?"
"Mina has everything." A voice hissed in his head, "Just look at her."
Jekyll looked out at the others, but no one seemed to be watching him, "Shut up." He whispered, his eyes shifting from the other men back over to Mina. She was still licking her wound.
"Go over and help her with that wound." The voice mused, "You're a doctor. Go help her heal that flesh."
Jekyll shook his head, now looking down at the watch, "Go away."
A menacing laugh, "Mousy man." The voice croaked, "I bet Dorian Gray knows how to fulfill her. Don't you want to know what he knows? Isn't that why you brought him…"
"Stop it!" Jekyll screamed and stood up.
"Well," Skinner said, propping his arm up on his chair, "I guess we can now vote me out as the mad scientist around here."
Mina scoffed, now standing up to go over to Jekyll who had seated himself again, "Are you okay?" she asked as she squatted beside his chair, "It's that Hyde isn't it?"
He looked down at Mina so wanting for a taste of those lips, "I'm fine now." He said quietly, his eyes shifting to the other men, "Just a spell."
She stood slowly, "Spell or not, I think you need bed."
"Yes." Hyde sneered in his mind, "Her bed."
Jekyll looked sheepish, "You may be right."
"I'm right you moron." The voice roared, "Invite her into your room. Do what you yearn to do to her."
"I think I'll retire as well." Mina said as she moved toward the door with Jekyll. I'll catch up on all this tomorrow night.
"Just a second more." Nemo said, with his hands spread out so that he was pushing Jekyll and Mina back over to the table, "After this all of us can retire."
Nemo was now walking around the table; "This is just to give us a visual of what is overhead." He stopped in between Mina and Tom and bowed to the table again. All of a sudden the whole thing began to vibrate and soon something could be seen coming to the surface.
Finally breaking through it sent waves crashing against the table edge and over the side.
They all were now staring at a minature of the Nautilus. It bobbed in the water like a buoy.
"This is great!" Tom exclaimed as he stood up and leaned over to pick up the Nautilus from its place in the water. Nemo hurried over and smacked his hand away.
"You move it and we will feel it." Nemo said, his beard dipping into the water.
Tom moved back, a small-embarrassed smirk on his face, "Ruin the fun." He muttered.
"This isn't fun." Nemo said quite harshly, "This is my way of keeping safe through these waters."
Jekyll could smell Mina's hair. It was lying on her shoulder just begging for him to slide his nose into it.
A mass of waves that he yearned to feel against his cheek.
She eyed him, "You look so tired, dear Jekyll." She was now moving him out of the room; "Maybe I should lay with you tonight?"
"Oh…" the voice moaned, "let it be so. Slam her to the wall. TAKE HER!"
They paused at his room, "Thank you Mina."
She bowed her head, now looking at him with softer eyes, "Hyde lingers about you at all times?"
"He's in my head." Jekyll said without looking at her, he was staring at his shoes, "I must get to bed."
She slid close to him then, her hand sliding into his coat pocket as her lips brushed past his own. It was a small, delicate kiss that left Jekyll burning for more. He whimpered as she pulled away, her dark eyes resting on him, "I hope you feel better tomorrow."
Something heavy dropped into her pocket.
"Goodnight." He mustered up as she walked away.
"Yes." She said as she neared the corner and turned to him, "Till tomorrow."
And then she disappeared around the corner.
