Read and review, my fans and non-fans, I beg of thee! Do you people know
how important my reviews from you guys are to me? Not the praise, when I
get any, because I even enjoy the flamers and critics, but the fact that
someone is reading my story and trying to help me fix it by giving
pointers... dude. It's like, whoa!
Hey, does anyone know what an "Estelle Lynn" is?
Chapter Two: Good Things Come in Threes prt.1
(In the car)
"You're testy, Mr. Q."
"My dear, I'd imagine you don't measure danger in the same way I do." Alan said, smiling a bit condescendingly at Mina. Jessie pretended to still be asleep, but she listened intently.
"And I'd imagine you've quite the library, Mr. Quartermain. All those books you must have read, merely by looking at their covers."
"I've had women along on past exploits, and found them to be, at best, a distraction, save young Jessie, who's actually useful."
"Do I distract you?"
"My dear girl, I've buried two wives, and many lovers. And I'm in no mood for anymore of either." Jessie decided now would be the time to wake up. "Hello, Jess."
"Sorry. Rain makes me sleepy." To Mina, telepathically, she whispered, "Don't be angry with him. He still misses my mother. He loved her the best." Mina nodded to the child, smiling sympathetically.
* * *
"This is a charming spot. Does Jack the Ripper live here?" Skinner muttered. Jessie shivered. "Sure seems like it. Think he'll kill us?" She asked. The door opened.
"Dorian Gray?" Alan asked, hand on Jessie's shoulder.
"I am."
"We're here by way of M."
"Ah. M for mystery. As I've already told M, I refuse to-"
"Dorian." Mina Harker stepped forward, gently pushing Jessie towards Alan.
"Mina? Do come in... what is that?" The tall, dark haired man nodded in Jessie's direction. "Who are you?"
"Me? I'm Jesshiquekah Quartermain. Why?" She yawned and clapped a hand to her mouth. "Sorry." Alan lifted her up and ordered, "Put your head on my shoulder and go to sleep, we'll wake you if something happens."
"Uh-uh, not sleepy." Her eyelids drifted closed, and she yawned again. "Only my eyes and mouth are tired, honest, I swear, I'm fine, I...." Her head hit Alan's shoulder, and her eyes closed once more. She heard voices, but she couldn't make out any words, she was too tired. She started to dream.
* * *
"Jesshiquekah, my love, help me!" Jessie raced through a forest path, trying to peer through thick fog. There was a silhouette ahead of her, so very familiar. It was a boy, with spiky hair, about her age from his size. "Jesshiquekah!"
"Ash?"
"Jesshiquekah, help me be free again! Help me, Jesshiquekah!" She ran all the faster, trying to catch up with her dearest friend.
"Ash! Slow down! I can't keep up, Ash, wait!"
"Help me, Jesshiquekah! And be careful! Watch out for the ghosts!"
"Ash!" The shadow-image of the boy was fading. "No! Ash, don't go!"
* * *
She murmured his name over and over, a mantra, until she heard something that made her jolt awake about ten minutes later.
"Jessie?"
"There's something weird going on... I thought I heard something." She looked around, brow furrowed. "Daddy, it's the brown feeling, like with the dogs." Alan frowned sharply, looking around the library. He turned his eyes back on his daughter, uncertain. She saw the indecision in his eyes. "I'm sure. It's just like the dogs, and the lion, and the bear. Daddy, I'm absolutely positive! Something isn't right." She whispered softly. "I dreamed of Ash... he said to be careful. I think... I think this is a trap, Daddy. It makes my heart sound... I don't know, like worn violin strings, just about ready to snap and lash someone's fingers. I'm certain of it. I feel a spark of something soft and bright, and when I close my eyes it seems like there's a flash of gold and blue and white and pink, but it still scares me. This is a trap, I know it. Ash was trying to warn me, I know it."
Alan set her down in a chair, and she reached up for her harp. He handed it to her, noticed how she clutched it to her chest for comfort. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. Letting it out, she asked quietly, "Mr. Gray, do you have a sheet of paper I may have? And a pencil?"
"Of course." He handed it to her, looked at Mina for explanation. Mina looked at Alan, who walked over to her. "What's she want it for?" Dorian asked quietly. Alan stared at his daughter for a few minutes, then shrugged, replying, "She's nervous, thinks something's up." "Why would she think that?" "My daughter's a powerful psychic, like her mother. She senses something's off." "Why are her eyes a different color?" Mina asked. "Her eyes change color when she's scared, and right now, there the same color as when she was almost attacked by wild animals a few times. Once, an enemy threw her into a pen with rabid dogs, and her eyes were this one shade of light gray. Another time, in India, her Ayah was attacked by a rabid lion, and when I found them, her Ayah was fine, but Jessie's eyes... they look like that when she senses something isn't how it should be. If she knows there's an enemy before she senses him, her eyes look different. But now, she doesn't know where the enemy is, what it is, so she's frightened."
"So, what's the paper for?" Skinner asked quietly.
"She's writing a song, to calm herself down. Or she was, she's done now." Jessie set down the pencil, sighed, and clutched her harp. "Jessie? All finished?" She nodded. Dorian smirked, looked around, then ordered, "Play it."
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's for Miss Mina. She might not want you to hear it, you might tease her."
"I don't mind, Jessie, really. Let me hear it, and the others." Mina's hand went out to stroke the girl's hair gently. Jessie looked up at her, around at the others. Biting her lip, she began playing, then began to sing.
"A pure human heart and a soul of the light
sometimes gives into a nature much darker
a life in the shadows, walking in the night,
the lovely Miss Wilhelmina Harker.
Her eyes are as bright as the sweetest starlight
As clear and as pure as the night sky
Blue as the deep sea or a crystal clear lake
Such beauty is so hard to come by
Her hair is a river of molten red gold
Soft as the notes of my harp's tune
A fountain of ringlets, a cascade of copper
Framing a face sweet as a full moon.
Her skin is as white as the crescent moon's light
Clear as a diamond or white gem
A lovelier lass no one ever may see
Prettier than the lot of them.
Her voice is as gentle as butterfly wings
As dear as that of my dear mother's
My heart it does melt when she doth sing
In tones as pure as her laughter.
Her eyes they do shine and they twinkle like stars
Her embrace as sweet as this harper
Her laugh and her voice are sweet as moonbeams
The lovely Miss Wilhelmina Harker."
Jessie fell silent, finished the music, and blushed, eyes darting nervously around. She was still frightened, the singing hadn't helped at all, as it usually did. "They say you're indestructible, Mr. Quartermain." Dorian said. "Well, a witch doctor did bless me once. I'd saved his village. He said Africa would never allow me to die." "But you're not in Africa now." Jessie shivered, then started in surprise when she saw something move on the second floor. She looked around, then got to her feet slowly. She walked to Alan, who lifted her up into his arms. The others saw her lips moving, but none of them actually heard what she said save her father. "We're surrounded, Daddy. Gunmen are all positioned on the second floor, their sights are on us. What do we do?" "Are you positive, love? Alright, leave it to me." He set her down on the floor again, and she hugged him around the knees. "Mr. Gray, I presume you're wondering why Jessie's here, are you not?" "If you're suggesting she can actually be useful in a non-entertainment endeavor, sir-" "She can. Jessie, do the thing with your molecules or whatever." Jessie's eyes filled with comprehension. When she was invisible and her molecules spread out, she couldn't be hurt unless she lost concentration and reformed. Crossing her eyes, she thought hard. Her molecules began to buzz, and she felt them loosen, disperse. She loved this ability, for she could see without being seen, and move around without the dangers Skinner faced in his present state of compact invisibility. She heard Dorian swear, and Nemo murmuring in Hindustani, "Kali's name..." Then, a shot went off. Jessie lost concentration. "Nice try, Mr. Quartermain. But, child or not, I won't spare her, either." Jessie sat up, looked up at a man in a mask and fur coat. "First meetings," the harper said indignantly, "usually warrant introductions. You big bully." "Yes. I am the Phantom. You are the so-called League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. You are Jessica Quarter-" "Jesshiquekah! Stupid." The Phantom pulled the trigger on his pistol. The bullet pierced the panel-wood floor next to her. She didn't even flinch, but stared angrily at the evil man. "Bully." "Yes, I am indeed a bully. There, introductions made. And, Mr. Quartermain, I'm scarred, not blind. Drop the gun." Her father let the pistol fall to the ground. Jessie glanced around at all the men with guns. Ooooh...not good. "Your mission is to stop me. This I cannot permit. So, I offer you one-time good deal. Join me." The Phantom said in his thick, German accent. "You think we'd help bring the world to war," Nemo began, indignant. "While you profit from your arms race?" Allan finished. Jessie groaned as the conversation on weapons continued. She was getting miffed. Majorly. Finally, she stomped her foot and cried, "Who do you think you are? We'll never be part of your weapons collection, one of your ornaments! You're nuts! Phantom," Jessie's eyes gleamed, turning a deep blue like the night sky, and her voice changed, becoming older, darker, "you would do well to leave this well enough alone." He opened his mouth, as if to speak, his eyes cloudy as if in a trance. He shook his head. "No," he barked, "no, you can't ensnare me with that voice of yours. I know your tricks." Jessie glared from behind Allan's legs. Suddenly, shots rang out. One hit the wood by the harper's feet. "Jess, orb out of here!" "Nuh-uh!" Jessie's molecules disbanded quickly, and she streamed behind the thick bookcases. She returned to her natural state beside Mina. "I need time..." "Time for what, pray?" "To transform. It's really hard. I don't have time. Fudge muffins...." A man aimed a gun at Alan Quartermain, and Jessie gave a cry of alarm. "Daddy!" She reached out a hand, flicked her wrist, and the man gasped, jerking to a halt and dropping the automatic rifle. Jessie gave a short, piercing shriek. The man and six more around him clapped their hands to their ears to shut out the noise. The child gave a series of rapid shrieks that soon had the men in her path screaming in agony, blood pouring from their noses and ears. Mina looked down at the seven-year-old girl. She wasn't a child anymore. She was a demon. Her eyes burned with inner fire, and her face was a mask of cold indifference. The men dying now would haunt her later, but in the heat of battle, she gave it no thought. When a bullet hit Jessie in the back, she gasped and fell into Mina's arms. Her eyes were glassy, back now to their normal blue color, her face that of a terrified child. "Daddy... Mommy...." A shadow, glowing with a strange burgundy light, wrapped itself around the girl, and Mina blacked out. She didn't know how long she lay there, but several minutes later, everything went quiet, and Jessie's father called to her and the young harper. Jessie, in cloud form, blew herself out from under a chair and reformed. "Who's this guy?" She nodded at a cute boy of about twenty-one or so, with slightly longer than usual, curly blond hair and mischievous blue eyes. He was holding a British Winchester. When he heard Jessie's voice, he turned and winked. He had bright blue eyes, like an angel's. She suddenly felt shy. "Whatever happened to Mina?" Dorian inquired. "Probably hip deep in some kind of trouble," Alan said to Dorian. Mina sighed and rearranged her scarf while coming out from behind the bookcase. "Don't be such an alarmist, Mr. Q," she said, "and my hips are none of your business." Then she gasped as a steel blade pressed against her throat. All the men started forward, but stopped. "Shoot! Go on." The last of the Phantom's men cried. "That's what I thought. That they'd do anything to protect you." As Mina began to speak, Jessie's eyes suddenly changed color, going black. She stepped forward, capturing the enemy's attention. She intoned the same words: "Now, you see, that was your first mistake, thinking I need them to protect me..." And when Mina transformed and attacked, Jessie watched. Then the two females of the LXG looked at the group. "Boy, they told me European women had funny ways. You missed a spot." "Oh, excuse me. And you are?" "Special Agent Sawyer, at your service." Jessie couldn't help thinking she liked his voice, very much, even though it didn't have the cultured British accent she expected in light skinned adults. She was only seven, she didn't know everything, she supposed. But she definitely liked his voice. It was warm and soft. And his face. He had a very handsome face indeed, the handsomest face she'd ever seen, with an adorable nose, little boy blue eyes, and a full mouth with a slight, natural pout. And she liked his gun. Jessie felt her face grow warm, so she buried it in her father's legs. "I followed you, knocked out a straggler, and took his place." Dorian replied mockingly, "Well, that's very noble of you, truly, but I'm afraid this is a private party and you're not invited." "Who might you be, sir, to say so? You're not in charge!" Jessie cried, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring vehemently. Mina put a gentle, soothing hand on Jessie's shoulder and murmured in her soft voice, "Actually, Dorian has declined, so we are one shy of a full deck." Jessie looked up at Mina and gave her a tiny thumbs-up. The vampire winked. "Actually," the immortal man countered, "the battle was just the spur I needed. That and the thrill of a friendship renewed." Mina merely made a small, non-committal noise. Jessie glanced in slight panic from Mina to Allan. The old hunter glanced at his daughter curiously, and her gaze turned pleading. She mouthed silently, "Bring him, bring him! Bring the American." Alan approached the blond youth. "Is that a Winchester?" "Yessir. Modified, American style." "American style shooting, too." "Well, whatever it takes. I brought two, I got another one in the car if you want it." "Do you have a pistol?" Jessie asked sweetly. He nodded. "May I see it?" Tom looked at Alan, who nodded his permission. The harper child examined the shiny gun with interest. "May I... have this?" "Sure, I've got like, ten." Jessie turned to Alan and nodded, saying, "Oh, yes. He's in, I like him." "You're coming with us, Mr. Sawyer." "Now, wait a minute!" Dorian protested suddenly. "What can he do?" "Since you weren't planning on coming anyway, Mr. Gray, I don't see why you should care." Dorian glared at the "older" Brit, then muttered, "These buffoons destroyed half my library. Of course I care, and of course of I'm coming." "Wait..." In the face of new information to be checked or taken in, Jessie had lost her shyness of the blond American. "You're Thomas Sawyer? The boy who went missing for a week when you were young, then crashed your own funeral? The boy who saved Muff Potter from being hung, because Injun Joe framed him? The boy who rescued Becky Thatcher from the caves you two were lost in, and Injun Joe was there too? That Tom Sawyer? Huck Finn's friend?" "You read my autobiography." "Loved it, thrilled me right down to my toes, though what you ever saw in either Amy Lawrence or Becky Thatcher, I don't know." "I got me a new girl." Tom smiled down at her, and she blushed prettily. "Where?" "Right here." He tapped her nose with his finger, and then flicked his wrist like a magician pulling something out of thin air. He handed her a large, emerald colored marble. It was very pretty, reflecting everything in a world of green hues, delighting Jessie, who loved anything that could even be rumored to be magic. Jessie gasped and cried, "Oh, how pretty! For me? Thank you!" Tom smiled and tweaked her braid. He noticed the others were trying to suppress smiles at Jessie's sweet delight in the simple gift, and were failing miserably. "So, where are we headed?" "The docks." Nemo murmured gravely, though when his eyes rested on Jessie his mouth twitched. "Why?" "To catch a ride to Paris." Jessie's swift intake of breath made everyone turn to regard her questioningly. She murmured breathlessly, "Can we see the Eiffel Tower? Please? Not actually go, but look, maybe?" Alan laughed helplessly. His daughter was a puzzle, alright, a package of grown up wants and child ideas and godlike power. She was so cute.
Yay, it fits the movie better now! I remembered to put everything in finally, because I finally got to rewatch LXG, and made note of all the crap I missed. I spent two weeks of my spring break (that's all of my spring break) getting this done, so I'm owed some reviews, I think. At least 3 per chapter (from different people, obviously) but as my birthday's coming up soon, (like, a week and a half) I think 5 per chappie might do the trick, pretty, pretty please. Okay? Some people may not like getting a review from the same person for each chapter, but I do. I don't even care if it's flames, praise, or constructive criticism, I love reviews, so leave them.
Hey, does anyone know what an "Estelle Lynn" is?
Chapter Two: Good Things Come in Threes prt.1
(In the car)
"You're testy, Mr. Q."
"My dear, I'd imagine you don't measure danger in the same way I do." Alan said, smiling a bit condescendingly at Mina. Jessie pretended to still be asleep, but she listened intently.
"And I'd imagine you've quite the library, Mr. Quartermain. All those books you must have read, merely by looking at their covers."
"I've had women along on past exploits, and found them to be, at best, a distraction, save young Jessie, who's actually useful."
"Do I distract you?"
"My dear girl, I've buried two wives, and many lovers. And I'm in no mood for anymore of either." Jessie decided now would be the time to wake up. "Hello, Jess."
"Sorry. Rain makes me sleepy." To Mina, telepathically, she whispered, "Don't be angry with him. He still misses my mother. He loved her the best." Mina nodded to the child, smiling sympathetically.
* * *
"This is a charming spot. Does Jack the Ripper live here?" Skinner muttered. Jessie shivered. "Sure seems like it. Think he'll kill us?" She asked. The door opened.
"Dorian Gray?" Alan asked, hand on Jessie's shoulder.
"I am."
"We're here by way of M."
"Ah. M for mystery. As I've already told M, I refuse to-"
"Dorian." Mina Harker stepped forward, gently pushing Jessie towards Alan.
"Mina? Do come in... what is that?" The tall, dark haired man nodded in Jessie's direction. "Who are you?"
"Me? I'm Jesshiquekah Quartermain. Why?" She yawned and clapped a hand to her mouth. "Sorry." Alan lifted her up and ordered, "Put your head on my shoulder and go to sleep, we'll wake you if something happens."
"Uh-uh, not sleepy." Her eyelids drifted closed, and she yawned again. "Only my eyes and mouth are tired, honest, I swear, I'm fine, I...." Her head hit Alan's shoulder, and her eyes closed once more. She heard voices, but she couldn't make out any words, she was too tired. She started to dream.
* * *
"Jesshiquekah, my love, help me!" Jessie raced through a forest path, trying to peer through thick fog. There was a silhouette ahead of her, so very familiar. It was a boy, with spiky hair, about her age from his size. "Jesshiquekah!"
"Ash?"
"Jesshiquekah, help me be free again! Help me, Jesshiquekah!" She ran all the faster, trying to catch up with her dearest friend.
"Ash! Slow down! I can't keep up, Ash, wait!"
"Help me, Jesshiquekah! And be careful! Watch out for the ghosts!"
"Ash!" The shadow-image of the boy was fading. "No! Ash, don't go!"
* * *
She murmured his name over and over, a mantra, until she heard something that made her jolt awake about ten minutes later.
"Jessie?"
"There's something weird going on... I thought I heard something." She looked around, brow furrowed. "Daddy, it's the brown feeling, like with the dogs." Alan frowned sharply, looking around the library. He turned his eyes back on his daughter, uncertain. She saw the indecision in his eyes. "I'm sure. It's just like the dogs, and the lion, and the bear. Daddy, I'm absolutely positive! Something isn't right." She whispered softly. "I dreamed of Ash... he said to be careful. I think... I think this is a trap, Daddy. It makes my heart sound... I don't know, like worn violin strings, just about ready to snap and lash someone's fingers. I'm certain of it. I feel a spark of something soft and bright, and when I close my eyes it seems like there's a flash of gold and blue and white and pink, but it still scares me. This is a trap, I know it. Ash was trying to warn me, I know it."
Alan set her down in a chair, and she reached up for her harp. He handed it to her, noticed how she clutched it to her chest for comfort. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath. Letting it out, she asked quietly, "Mr. Gray, do you have a sheet of paper I may have? And a pencil?"
"Of course." He handed it to her, looked at Mina for explanation. Mina looked at Alan, who walked over to her. "What's she want it for?" Dorian asked quietly. Alan stared at his daughter for a few minutes, then shrugged, replying, "She's nervous, thinks something's up." "Why would she think that?" "My daughter's a powerful psychic, like her mother. She senses something's off." "Why are her eyes a different color?" Mina asked. "Her eyes change color when she's scared, and right now, there the same color as when she was almost attacked by wild animals a few times. Once, an enemy threw her into a pen with rabid dogs, and her eyes were this one shade of light gray. Another time, in India, her Ayah was attacked by a rabid lion, and when I found them, her Ayah was fine, but Jessie's eyes... they look like that when she senses something isn't how it should be. If she knows there's an enemy before she senses him, her eyes look different. But now, she doesn't know where the enemy is, what it is, so she's frightened."
"So, what's the paper for?" Skinner asked quietly.
"She's writing a song, to calm herself down. Or she was, she's done now." Jessie set down the pencil, sighed, and clutched her harp. "Jessie? All finished?" She nodded. Dorian smirked, looked around, then ordered, "Play it."
"No."
"Why not?"
"It's for Miss Mina. She might not want you to hear it, you might tease her."
"I don't mind, Jessie, really. Let me hear it, and the others." Mina's hand went out to stroke the girl's hair gently. Jessie looked up at her, around at the others. Biting her lip, she began playing, then began to sing.
"A pure human heart and a soul of the light
sometimes gives into a nature much darker
a life in the shadows, walking in the night,
the lovely Miss Wilhelmina Harker.
Her eyes are as bright as the sweetest starlight
As clear and as pure as the night sky
Blue as the deep sea or a crystal clear lake
Such beauty is so hard to come by
Her hair is a river of molten red gold
Soft as the notes of my harp's tune
A fountain of ringlets, a cascade of copper
Framing a face sweet as a full moon.
Her skin is as white as the crescent moon's light
Clear as a diamond or white gem
A lovelier lass no one ever may see
Prettier than the lot of them.
Her voice is as gentle as butterfly wings
As dear as that of my dear mother's
My heart it does melt when she doth sing
In tones as pure as her laughter.
Her eyes they do shine and they twinkle like stars
Her embrace as sweet as this harper
Her laugh and her voice are sweet as moonbeams
The lovely Miss Wilhelmina Harker."
Jessie fell silent, finished the music, and blushed, eyes darting nervously around. She was still frightened, the singing hadn't helped at all, as it usually did. "They say you're indestructible, Mr. Quartermain." Dorian said. "Well, a witch doctor did bless me once. I'd saved his village. He said Africa would never allow me to die." "But you're not in Africa now." Jessie shivered, then started in surprise when she saw something move on the second floor. She looked around, then got to her feet slowly. She walked to Alan, who lifted her up into his arms. The others saw her lips moving, but none of them actually heard what she said save her father. "We're surrounded, Daddy. Gunmen are all positioned on the second floor, their sights are on us. What do we do?" "Are you positive, love? Alright, leave it to me." He set her down on the floor again, and she hugged him around the knees. "Mr. Gray, I presume you're wondering why Jessie's here, are you not?" "If you're suggesting she can actually be useful in a non-entertainment endeavor, sir-" "She can. Jessie, do the thing with your molecules or whatever." Jessie's eyes filled with comprehension. When she was invisible and her molecules spread out, she couldn't be hurt unless she lost concentration and reformed. Crossing her eyes, she thought hard. Her molecules began to buzz, and she felt them loosen, disperse. She loved this ability, for she could see without being seen, and move around without the dangers Skinner faced in his present state of compact invisibility. She heard Dorian swear, and Nemo murmuring in Hindustani, "Kali's name..." Then, a shot went off. Jessie lost concentration. "Nice try, Mr. Quartermain. But, child or not, I won't spare her, either." Jessie sat up, looked up at a man in a mask and fur coat. "First meetings," the harper said indignantly, "usually warrant introductions. You big bully." "Yes. I am the Phantom. You are the so-called League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. You are Jessica Quarter-" "Jesshiquekah! Stupid." The Phantom pulled the trigger on his pistol. The bullet pierced the panel-wood floor next to her. She didn't even flinch, but stared angrily at the evil man. "Bully." "Yes, I am indeed a bully. There, introductions made. And, Mr. Quartermain, I'm scarred, not blind. Drop the gun." Her father let the pistol fall to the ground. Jessie glanced around at all the men with guns. Ooooh...not good. "Your mission is to stop me. This I cannot permit. So, I offer you one-time good deal. Join me." The Phantom said in his thick, German accent. "You think we'd help bring the world to war," Nemo began, indignant. "While you profit from your arms race?" Allan finished. Jessie groaned as the conversation on weapons continued. She was getting miffed. Majorly. Finally, she stomped her foot and cried, "Who do you think you are? We'll never be part of your weapons collection, one of your ornaments! You're nuts! Phantom," Jessie's eyes gleamed, turning a deep blue like the night sky, and her voice changed, becoming older, darker, "you would do well to leave this well enough alone." He opened his mouth, as if to speak, his eyes cloudy as if in a trance. He shook his head. "No," he barked, "no, you can't ensnare me with that voice of yours. I know your tricks." Jessie glared from behind Allan's legs. Suddenly, shots rang out. One hit the wood by the harper's feet. "Jess, orb out of here!" "Nuh-uh!" Jessie's molecules disbanded quickly, and she streamed behind the thick bookcases. She returned to her natural state beside Mina. "I need time..." "Time for what, pray?" "To transform. It's really hard. I don't have time. Fudge muffins...." A man aimed a gun at Alan Quartermain, and Jessie gave a cry of alarm. "Daddy!" She reached out a hand, flicked her wrist, and the man gasped, jerking to a halt and dropping the automatic rifle. Jessie gave a short, piercing shriek. The man and six more around him clapped their hands to their ears to shut out the noise. The child gave a series of rapid shrieks that soon had the men in her path screaming in agony, blood pouring from their noses and ears. Mina looked down at the seven-year-old girl. She wasn't a child anymore. She was a demon. Her eyes burned with inner fire, and her face was a mask of cold indifference. The men dying now would haunt her later, but in the heat of battle, she gave it no thought. When a bullet hit Jessie in the back, she gasped and fell into Mina's arms. Her eyes were glassy, back now to their normal blue color, her face that of a terrified child. "Daddy... Mommy...." A shadow, glowing with a strange burgundy light, wrapped itself around the girl, and Mina blacked out. She didn't know how long she lay there, but several minutes later, everything went quiet, and Jessie's father called to her and the young harper. Jessie, in cloud form, blew herself out from under a chair and reformed. "Who's this guy?" She nodded at a cute boy of about twenty-one or so, with slightly longer than usual, curly blond hair and mischievous blue eyes. He was holding a British Winchester. When he heard Jessie's voice, he turned and winked. He had bright blue eyes, like an angel's. She suddenly felt shy. "Whatever happened to Mina?" Dorian inquired. "Probably hip deep in some kind of trouble," Alan said to Dorian. Mina sighed and rearranged her scarf while coming out from behind the bookcase. "Don't be such an alarmist, Mr. Q," she said, "and my hips are none of your business." Then she gasped as a steel blade pressed against her throat. All the men started forward, but stopped. "Shoot! Go on." The last of the Phantom's men cried. "That's what I thought. That they'd do anything to protect you." As Mina began to speak, Jessie's eyes suddenly changed color, going black. She stepped forward, capturing the enemy's attention. She intoned the same words: "Now, you see, that was your first mistake, thinking I need them to protect me..." And when Mina transformed and attacked, Jessie watched. Then the two females of the LXG looked at the group. "Boy, they told me European women had funny ways. You missed a spot." "Oh, excuse me. And you are?" "Special Agent Sawyer, at your service." Jessie couldn't help thinking she liked his voice, very much, even though it didn't have the cultured British accent she expected in light skinned adults. She was only seven, she didn't know everything, she supposed. But she definitely liked his voice. It was warm and soft. And his face. He had a very handsome face indeed, the handsomest face she'd ever seen, with an adorable nose, little boy blue eyes, and a full mouth with a slight, natural pout. And she liked his gun. Jessie felt her face grow warm, so she buried it in her father's legs. "I followed you, knocked out a straggler, and took his place." Dorian replied mockingly, "Well, that's very noble of you, truly, but I'm afraid this is a private party and you're not invited." "Who might you be, sir, to say so? You're not in charge!" Jessie cried, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring vehemently. Mina put a gentle, soothing hand on Jessie's shoulder and murmured in her soft voice, "Actually, Dorian has declined, so we are one shy of a full deck." Jessie looked up at Mina and gave her a tiny thumbs-up. The vampire winked. "Actually," the immortal man countered, "the battle was just the spur I needed. That and the thrill of a friendship renewed." Mina merely made a small, non-committal noise. Jessie glanced in slight panic from Mina to Allan. The old hunter glanced at his daughter curiously, and her gaze turned pleading. She mouthed silently, "Bring him, bring him! Bring the American." Alan approached the blond youth. "Is that a Winchester?" "Yessir. Modified, American style." "American style shooting, too." "Well, whatever it takes. I brought two, I got another one in the car if you want it." "Do you have a pistol?" Jessie asked sweetly. He nodded. "May I see it?" Tom looked at Alan, who nodded his permission. The harper child examined the shiny gun with interest. "May I... have this?" "Sure, I've got like, ten." Jessie turned to Alan and nodded, saying, "Oh, yes. He's in, I like him." "You're coming with us, Mr. Sawyer." "Now, wait a minute!" Dorian protested suddenly. "What can he do?" "Since you weren't planning on coming anyway, Mr. Gray, I don't see why you should care." Dorian glared at the "older" Brit, then muttered, "These buffoons destroyed half my library. Of course I care, and of course of I'm coming." "Wait..." In the face of new information to be checked or taken in, Jessie had lost her shyness of the blond American. "You're Thomas Sawyer? The boy who went missing for a week when you were young, then crashed your own funeral? The boy who saved Muff Potter from being hung, because Injun Joe framed him? The boy who rescued Becky Thatcher from the caves you two were lost in, and Injun Joe was there too? That Tom Sawyer? Huck Finn's friend?" "You read my autobiography." "Loved it, thrilled me right down to my toes, though what you ever saw in either Amy Lawrence or Becky Thatcher, I don't know." "I got me a new girl." Tom smiled down at her, and she blushed prettily. "Where?" "Right here." He tapped her nose with his finger, and then flicked his wrist like a magician pulling something out of thin air. He handed her a large, emerald colored marble. It was very pretty, reflecting everything in a world of green hues, delighting Jessie, who loved anything that could even be rumored to be magic. Jessie gasped and cried, "Oh, how pretty! For me? Thank you!" Tom smiled and tweaked her braid. He noticed the others were trying to suppress smiles at Jessie's sweet delight in the simple gift, and were failing miserably. "So, where are we headed?" "The docks." Nemo murmured gravely, though when his eyes rested on Jessie his mouth twitched. "Why?" "To catch a ride to Paris." Jessie's swift intake of breath made everyone turn to regard her questioningly. She murmured breathlessly, "Can we see the Eiffel Tower? Please? Not actually go, but look, maybe?" Alan laughed helplessly. His daughter was a puzzle, alright, a package of grown up wants and child ideas and godlike power. She was so cute.
Yay, it fits the movie better now! I remembered to put everything in finally, because I finally got to rewatch LXG, and made note of all the crap I missed. I spent two weeks of my spring break (that's all of my spring break) getting this done, so I'm owed some reviews, I think. At least 3 per chapter (from different people, obviously) but as my birthday's coming up soon, (like, a week and a half) I think 5 per chappie might do the trick, pretty, pretty please. Okay? Some people may not like getting a review from the same person for each chapter, but I do. I don't even care if it's flames, praise, or constructive criticism, I love reviews, so leave them.