Disclaimer: I don't own LXG. I also don't own "Hello" and "My Last Breath," by Evanescence. Rewritten with new content, because saw the movie again! Fixed anything missed the first time! )
Jessie: Kisses! Thanks for reading about me. Don't know why you do, I'm not so interesting, really. (scuffs ground with shoe, bashful.) Thanks. Read and review, though, orL.A. might get sad and decide to snuff out my existence.
Me: Do you think I'd be so cruel?
Jessica: Do you wish me to be untruthful?
Me: Okay, ya know what, go to your room! R/R, please! I need it, it's my anti-drug... I'm just getting lamer and lamer, do you realize this? R/R to cure me of my terrible disease of lameness!
Hey, does anyone know what an "Estelle Lynn" is?
Chapter Three
Good Things Come In Threes (pt.2)
Jessie shivered and pulled her cloak tighter. It was very cold, but it was cloudy, and there was no fog or rain. She couldn't find it a bit romantic at all.
"Jessie, I know what you're thinking." Alan murmured. She looked up at him, blue eyes wide and quizzical. "You're bored with your surroundings."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"No sparkling rain, no stars, no magic mists, no nothing but black-gray skies and cold, cold, cold." She sighed, disappointed.
"Go... go talk to Dorian, he must have something interesting you would want to hear." He noticed Tom, Nemo, and the others listening. "Or, you could sing, make the night interesting." He knew she would refuse. She was too annoyed with the colorless environment, the lack of romance.
"Sing here, now? I'd rather be eaten by a giant squid." Skinner snickered, but Jessie was not to be entertained. "I'd rather be lost in an underground cavern, stuck there in search of treasure, trapped there for all time. Nuts." Then, something caught her fancy. The night was cold, and she was cold. The streets were muddy and slushy. The wind stung her face, making her nose tingle. She could almost imagine herself a beggar princess, thrown out into the world. The thought, that there was some adventure to be had, made her smile.
Alan saw.
"Sing now?"
"Most assuredly." She began singing "the Highway Man," and finished just as they reached the dock.
"This will be a most excellent hunt, I'll wager." Allan said to his daughter.
Mrs. Harker murmured, "You make him sound like some kind of animal."
"Speaking of which, Missus Harker, an explanation of your conduct, a moment ago."Alan said. Jessie scowled at her father but said nothing as Ms. Harker looked at the ground.
"Yes, we're all aquiver with curiosity." The invisible man encouraged. Mina cleared her throat and walked a few steps ahead of the others, then went still.
"Well, as you know, my husband was Jonathan Harker. Together with a doctor named Van Helsing, we fought a dangerous evil. It had a name, Dracula, he was Transylvanian."
Skinner interjected sarcastically, "O-oh, European? One of those radicals the newspapers like to report on?"
"I wouldn't know, Mr. Skinner." Mina's voice was deceptively soft and gentle, even as she bared her throat to show the scar from the famous vampire's dark kiss. "Is the Vampiric sucking of people's blood considered radical behavior?"
No one answered, all looking at the ground. They were filled with sympathy for the woman. Jessie was, too, but instead of being depressing and mournful about it like the grown-ups were, she simply hugged Mina and said in a small voice, "That's okay, Miss Mina, we still love you anyway." The vampire lady flashed the child a grin, just as the water began to churn violently behind them, making Jessie gasp and run to the edge of the dock to look.
"Ah, our transportation is forthcoming." Nemo said, his voice edged with a hint of pride.
Tom looked skeptical. "A boat?"
"If that's what I think it is, then it travels on water, if that's what you mean, Mr. Sawyer." Jessie whispered in a voice hushed with excitement.
"And beneath it," Nemo added.
"Oh, oh, if only Mommy was here, Daddy!" She whispered just as something large and ominous rose from the water. "Oh. My. Goodness. Christ bananas. What in the world is that?" Jessie stared up and up, looking at the large, strange ship. It was white, gray, and silver, and when Jessie reached out to touch the bow and then slipped, she nicked her palm against it, it was so sharp. "Is that... is that the Nautilus, Captain? Is it?" She asked in rapture, sucking on the cut she'd received to relieve the sting.
"Yes, Missie Sahib. Behold, Nautilus, Sword of the Ocean. Come, take rest in my submarine. I'll take care of that cut of yours."
"Nah. It doesn't hurt, it'll be fine. But, wow... first an automobile, then a submarine. You are the smartest man in the world, Captain... well, second smartest. Daddy's first."
Nemo smiled inwardly at the child's devotion. His own parents couldn't have hoped for a more loyal child. He wondered briefly, almost detachedly, whether Jessie would consider the League her family, ever. Probably not, but it didn't matter. He had no desire for a child who followed him about everywhere, aggravating him, asking questions. Yes, he murmured silently to himself, decisively, he would not give his heart to Jessie as was his very bad habit with children he gave shelter to aboard the Nautilus. She would not steal her way into his soul. No, never will happen, not ever.
As Nemo was making these promises to himself, Jessie was looking at the deck of the ship. It was highly polished wood, light brown, sunny looking, she thought. Having never been on a boat where she was allowed on deck, or where'd she been awake enough to notice it, or allowed anywhere that wasn't her room, she was amazed. The harper wished all boats were like this, so big and spacious, so interesting. She could get lost on this ship, she realized suddenly, and wander back into time, to the past, into the realm of the dead, and meet the ghosts of long dead crew men... she shivered in morbid, macabre delight. She walked up to the very edge of the deck, looking over the rail. The sea was black as midnight, black as a witch's heart. The moon just barely peeked through the clouds, shining a bit of light on the water. Jessie sighed in adoration. She loved the look of it, the baby moonbeams on the black waves.
"Jess, come on. You need to get settled, it's past your bed time." Alan called from the door to down below deck. Jessie groaned and went to him. She felt something nag at the back of her mind, but it was pushed aside as she descended the stairs with the others. She looked around, down hallways and through portholes, but she wasn't impressed. They were above the water still, with nothing interesting to see. She sighed in disappointment. "Jessie? What's wrong, pet?"
"Don't tax yourself, Daddy, it's nothing." She bit her thumb, thinking hard. Questions were revolving around her brain, giving her a headache because they wouldn't shut up. She wondered what she would see when the submarine went beneath the water. Then, shrugging, she decided it didn't matter. Her eyes darted to someone walking far ahead of the group. Now, who in the world... "Who is that, Captain?"
"Oh, he's my first mate."
The man, upon hearing Nemo's voice, stopped, turned, and waited. The man smiled when Nemo nodded in his direction. "Call me Ishmael. You met me in the automobile, but I believe you were asleep."
"The Ishmael?" Jessie asked breathlessly. He nodded, replying, "Yes, the one who went hunting the great whale with Captain Ahab."
"I remember, I know. You said, 'Call me Ishmael. Some years ago, never mind how long precisely, having little or no money in my purse-'"
"Memorize the whole book, did ya?"
"Indeed, that, and many others. It was a true story, wasn't it?" He nodded. "Alright. I often wondered..."
Ishmael asked, "Bit young to be reading the books, ain't ya?"
Jessie shrugged, replying, "What would you do, with no others to play with? I cannot play my harp all day, it's bad for my fingers, or so says Miss Eulalie. So, I read. Most others my age cannot stand books, but I love them."
"I'm glad to hear that. Younglings need to read more, they do. I'll be bidding you a good evening, then, Mistress Reader." Jessie smiled. "Good night, Captain." Ishmael went off.
Jessie turned to Nemo. "I like him. I don't suppose you have Mr. Arronax on board as well, Captain?"
"Sadly, Mr. Arronax died, Missie Sahib, a few years ago."
"Nuts. I did want to meet him." Nemo stared at her as she went back to Alan's side, slipping her tiny hand into his. That girl was a puzzle, indeed.
"Come, your quarters are this way." Nemo showed them their rooms, and Jessie was told firmly to dress for bed and actually sleep. She nodded and slipped inside, shutting and locking the door with all three locks. Then, putting her hand against the door, she shut her eyes and concentrated. A light, a pale blue, glowed beneath her fingertips. She smiled when the light faded.
See if you can get through that lock, Mr. Skinner, she thought smugly. She didn't bother changing her clothes, but merely slipped off her cloak, coat, shoes, and socks. Then, she set her harp at the head of her bed, making sure the case was firmly tied shut. Punching the pillow, she fell onto it, falling asleep.
Jessie rarely dreamt, but when she did, what she dreamt always came to pass. Now, she was locked in a strange nightmare, unsure whether this could actually happen. She tried to wake herself, knowing she was dreaming, but she could not. So, she watched the strange events unfold.
A man in a black suit was holding a gold pocket watch, looking at a wooden box. In the box were glass vials of turquoise and amber liquids.
Then, the image changed, to a large, red haired giant with a nasty smile, wearing only a pair of black trousers. The man was strangely proportioned, his chest and arms massive, his legs only slightly larger than average. His eyes, though, were like the eyes of the first man. Jessie felt something slipping through her mind, trying hard not to be noticed, but she caught the elusive bit of information.
Edward.
The man's name was Edward.
Henry.
So, if this was Edward, who was Henry? The first man, maybe? Who were these men?
The view shifted again, to a woman with long red hair and glowing red eyes, eyes like a demon's. Her face was pale, the skin stretched taut over the bones so she looked like a demonic skeleton. Her claws were outstretched, red with blood, as were the woman's long fangs. There was a horde of bats, legions of them, all around her. But, even with all the changes, Jessie knew who this was.
Miss Mina.
Then, the image shattered. She was in the forest again, running over the wood path. Where was this leading?
Then she saw him.
Ash.
Her darling Ash.
She ran faster, nearly tripping over her feet in an effort to keep up with the gliding shadow of her boyfriend. "Ash! Wait, Ash!"
"Jesshiquekah, be careful! I need your help! We all do! You're in danger! You've got to be careful!"
"Ash, what is it? What's the danger!? Ash! ASH!!" and suddenly the forest faded, and she saw the Nautilus, three large, gaping holes in the hull of the large submarine. Everyone but her was on the deck... everyone but her and Dorian. Where was Dorian? She saw him off to the side, spotlighted, snow swirling about him seemingly from absolutely nowhere, cane in one hand and what looked like a picture in another. M was standing behind him, smiling.
Jessie turned, confused, and saw another picture, of the first two men, Edward and the other. Edward was swimming through water, in a large, glass tub. The other man... Jessie could see his reflection in the glass opposite Edward, but she didn't see the man himself. What was her subconscious trying to show her?
But her mind wasn't finished yet. Jessie was suddenly buffeted as if by wind, spun about until she fell to the ground, dizzy. Looking up, she saw her father on the ground. Alan lay in a pool of blood, a knife sticking out of his back, and a bullet hole in his chest. Jessie's eyes went wide. Everything she had ever seen had always come to pass. But not this. Not this, no, not her father, dead...
"No, Daddy... no, no, NO!"
Jessie sat up so fast she hit her head against the bottom of the top bunk bed. Falling back, hand to her forehead, she gasped for breath, trembling. She was going to be sick, she was going to faint, she was going.... Her calmer mind-voice took over. She was going to get up, as it was morning, calm down, get dressed, and find her father, to talk to him. It was that simple. Yeah... yeah.
The harper put on a clean white shirt and a dark green tunic, as well as a fresh pair of black pants. Slipping on her black leather hunting boots, she suddenly felt better. After brushing her dirty blond hair, she braided it deftly in a thick braid, reweaving the feathers, beads, and seashells into the baby fine strands. She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and picked up her harp.
Slipping out the door, she looked around, trying to see where she should go. A smell hit her nose. Oh, blueberry pancakes...She also smelled leather, paint, scotch, and cigar smoke. Something was moving behind and above her, and it was about to touch her. She heard breathing that wasn't hers, and the sound of flesh sliding against flesh.
"Mr. Skinner, I can see you. Don't bother trying to scare me."
"Damn."
"My virgin ears." Jessie giggled when the invisible man made a rude noise of derision. "So, where is everyone? I smell pancakes, which means, I hope, breakfast, but I can't trace it, really."
"Follow me, my freaky little darling." He slipped on a leather overcoat and a black hat. "Oh, just a moment." He smeared the white grease paint on his face and doffed the dark glasses. "Ah, yes. Suitable for travel and high adventure. Would you do me the honor of accompanying me, Ms. Q?" He held his arm to her, and she took it, following him to the mess hall. But as they were walking, she realized that, in her dream, Skinner hadn't been on deck either, but also in her dream, Dorian had carried a faint whiff of cigar smoke, leather, and paint.
"Skinner, where have you been keeping her?"
"Calm down, Mr. Q, I only escorted her to the mess. I've been a perfect gentleman. Of course, I also tried to win her heart. Miss Bright Eyes will tell you all, I bet, about my amorous advances, and then I shall find myself walking the plank."
Jessie giggled and sat down. Alan simply scowled at the invisible man. His daughter sighed and tugged his sleeve.
"Daddy, I need to tell you something." "What's wrong, my harper girl?" Quickly, she told him about her dream, trying to remember everything. She even told him about Ash and his warning, even though she knew her father disliked him. When she finished, Alan nodded slowly. "Edward Hyde was the man you saw, and yes, Henry was the other man, Dr. Henry Jekkyl. I don't know what the rest might mean, though the thing Dorian was holding was probably his portrait. But... you say Dorian and Skinner were the only ones not with us, besides you?" She nodded. "Hmmm... I don't know what it might mean, love. We'll be on our guard, though, I promise. And nothing is going to happen to me, I swear."
"But, Daddy, it always comes true."
"I promise, love, nothing will happen. Alright? You should eat while we have the time." He gave her a plate of buttered and syruped pancakes, and she began to eat, still unsure. "Well be in Paris soon. We're going to meet the good doctor. He's part of this little band."
"Is he nice?"
"I don't know. What do you think?"
Jessie thought a moment, then nodded. "When I saw Edward, I mean Mr. Hyde, in my heart I was cheering for him. He was trying to do something good, I'm sure of it. Something only he could do. It's... it's all very confusing, but... oh! Another thing. In Dr. Jekkyl's box of serum, one of the blue ones was missing."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. I'm sure."
"Keep this to yourself for now, sweet. Alright? Promise."
"I promise. I won't tell, I promise."
"Good girl. Eat."
"Oh. My. Goodness." Jessie whispered, watching the large giant of a man raging in the confines of the chains. He was like... like a wild animal. He's like the rabid bear. Jessie watched in awe and slight trepidation as the man exhausted himself slightly. When the others stepped close, Jessie closed her eyes, then opened them quickly. With her eyes closed, she'd seen a flash of silver, like a knife or dagger. She had heard someone say "Ow! You scratched me." She shook her head and focused on the beast man. His fiery, bristly red-blond hair (it looked reddish to me, if I'm wrong, I'm very sorry) stood on end. His face was red, the veins in his neck bulging. A vein throbbed at his temple. He was a thousand times worse than in her dream. She had a feeling he wasn't so nice in a temper. The man murmured something to the grown ups. Alan walked in, looked first at the giant, then at Jessie, then marched up to Hyde.
"Mr. Hyde, you've done some terrible things in England, so terrible you fled the country. Now, the Empire needs your help, and I'm ashamed to say, Her Majesty's government is willing to offer you amnesty in return for your services." Edward Hyde stopped pacing and stared at Alan. "Also, someone whom you'd like to meet. She can ensure your good behavior."
The hunter beckoned to Jessie and she stepped out of hiding.
Edward Hyde stared at the young girl, unsure what to say. She was beautiful, blond and blue eyed, with light skin, her eyes large and sparkly, her hair tied in a thick braid. She wore a modified tunic of dark red, with the sleeves cut out, and black breeches, with small, red leather slippers with upturned toes. She looked like something out of the Arabian Nights, and in her small hands she carried a gothic harp. What was odd about her was, her eyes held an ancient, wise look. It would have been an old look for a girl of twelve, but he knew this girl was barely older than five or six, seven at the most. An he wasn't attracted to her, not like he had been to some of those younger whores in London and Paris, but more in a protective way. Something in him- not Henry- screamed and clamored for him to protect and watch over the child.
That was not his way at all, though.
"How can she ensure my good behavior?" He leered at the child. She merely sighed and shook her head in affectionate exasperation.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Mr. Hyde." Allan snapped.
The girl looked at Edward with awe, sympathy... and respect. Affection. This was new. "You want to go home, don't you, Mr. Hyde?" She asked him kindly.
"Edward," he said gruffly, then, "Home. Home is where the heart is, that's what they say. And I have been missing London so. Its sorrow is as sweet to me as a rare wine." He knelt to look Jessie in the face. She met his eyes squarely and didn't flinch when he grinned, showing off his not so pearly white smile. In a deep, husky voice, he said to her, "I'm yours." He was surprised when she smiled happily, murmuring, "Good."
Edward rose and began pacing. He looked over at the others, focusing on Tom.
"Don't be afraid."
"Who says I'm afraid? Who's afraid?" Tom asked condescendingly, then jumped back when the other man roared, "You are! You do! You stink of fear! It's a stench that surrounds you!" Dorian smirked at the display of temper. Alan nodded to Jessie, thinking to her, Calm him. Jessie began to sing a song she'd written about herself when her mother had died, something slow and sad, haunting. It was called "Hello."
"Playground school bell rings... again.
Rain clouds come to play... again.
Has no one told you she's not breathing?
Hello. I'm your mind giving you someone to talk to.
Hello...."
Everyone stopped talking and stood still, listening to the song. It was a child's lament, breaking their hearts. Mina bit her lip against the unreasonable urge to cry. Tom blinked rapidly in amazement. He suddenly felt as if the world was going to end.
Was Jessie doing this?
"If I smile and don't... believe
Soon I know I'll wake... from this dream.
Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken.
Hello.
I'm the lie
Living for you
So you can hide.
Don't cry."
Edward Hyde wasn't moving, mesmerized by that lovely, heart shredding voice. Was that the girl singing? How could it be that she could put such sorrow behind such painful words? He heard Henry, the weakling, almost in tears at the sweet tune.
"Suddenly I know I'm not sleeping!
Hello, I'm still here....
All that's left of yesterday..."
Jessie trailed off, the song finished.
Edward suddenly roared, "Another! Sing another!"
She began to sing "My Last Breath."
"Hold on to me, love.
You know I can't stay long.
All I wanted to say was
I love you and I'm not afraid.
Can you hear me?
Can you feel me in your arms,
Holding my last breath?
Safe inside myself?
Are all my thoughts of you?
Sweet raptured light,
It ends here tonight."
Edward began transforming, he could feel Henry taking over, feel himself being shoved to the back of Henry's mind, but he didn't care, so long as that girl continued singing. Who was she? Where was she? He didn't care about that either, he realized as Henry took control. He just wanted her to sing. He began paying close attention as the second verse began ending.
"I'll miss the winter,
A world of fragile things.
Look for me in the white forest
Pining in a hollow tree
(You'll find her there)
I know you hear me.
I can taste it in your tears!
Holding my last breath?
Safe inside myself?
Are all my thoughts of you?
Sweet raptured light,
It ends here tonight."
She finished the song, and stepped into view as the man before her transformed into Henry Jekkyl.
"Jesshiquekah Quartermain, at your service, sir."
"Doctor Henry Jekkyl, at yours, my lady. You're voice is lovely."
"Thank you."
"Are you part of this extraordinary league, then? A girl your age?"
Alan cleared his throat. "As you no doubt already know, Dr. Jekkyl, Jessie has great powers of her own. Welcome to the League of Extraordinary Gentleman. Well... then the League is set."
Nemo got everyone's attention. "And so is the date of the conference. We have two days to get to Venice."
Tom laughed and turned it into a cough when Jessie kicked him. "Two days? Can this canoe do that?"
Jessie's eyes darkened slightly as she whispered along with Nemo's voice, "You underestimate the Nautilus. You underestimate her greatly." Tom shuddered, crying, "Jess, it freaks me out when you do that!"
"Sorry. It's hard to control the channeling." She looked sheepish for a moment before she yawned widely. "I'm not tired, I'm not, I'm wide, wide awake... Daddy, can I go to bed now?"
.
.
End of Chapter Three