Author's note: Sorry about my slowness in updating … but as I explained on my other fic's author's note, I've been a bit busy and distracted as someone I know is not very well at the moment …
Thanks for the reviews … I really do appreciate it! It gives me a kick to open my emails and see reviews there :-) As for the identity of the mysterious figure … you'll have to wait and see! I know who it is now …
Toshihiko 1: Thanks for reviewing. Re the other characters from Dracula etc. in the first place, it has been three years since the League was formed, and probably a few years before that that the events involving Dracula took place … so who's to say what's happened to those characters in the mean time? And in any case … remember, none of the League really want to be back in the League – who's to say they're all telling the truth? Anyway, thanks for the comments; I'm glad you found bits amusing!
Clez: Suspenseful? I hope so … ;-) Thanks!! And speaking of suspenseful – where is the next part of BTLOTM, Ghosts of Old, and Shadow Games? looks threatening !!
Lotrseer3350: Unique? I hope so … :-) Thanks!
AnonymousLove: Thanks for the thumbs-up! Glad you like it …
Crystal: That's ok :-) Keep asking those questions, it keeps me on my toes …
Lily Knotwise: You're learning French? Wow. Vous parlez tres bien francais … is that right? I used to study French, but I gave it up a year ago … … anyway; glad you like the fic!
Drowchild: ah yes, the mysterious figure … well all will be revealed at some point! And you should hurry up and write your fic … :-)
Niani: Skinner with a girlfriend … frightening I know!
Chapter 5: Abigail
The following day began with a dawn that was bright, and far too early for Sawyer, as sunlight flooded into his cabin courtesy of the curtains Mina had unceremonially torn open. Sawyer cast his sleepy mind back to the Vampiress's words as he crawled out of bed:
"Mr Sawyer," Mina called, opening the door. "Get up please. We are travelling today to meet Abigail, Skinner's girlfriend. We leave in 10 minutes."
Sawyer didn't move; his eyes were still closed. Muttering with annoyance, Mina walked briskly to the window and ripped the curtains open. Light flooded into the room, drenching Sawyer and forcing his eyes open. He shaded them with his eyes. "Close the blinds," he mumbled, "I'm awake."
"We leave in 10 minutes," Mina said, walking serenely out of the room and shutting the door after her.
Sawyer sighed, pulling on his boots. He was not a morning person.
They assembled in the dining room five minutes later, ready to leave. Skinner looked unusually well dressed – he was wearing what appeared to be a new coat. Sawyer grinned despite himself – he's trying to impress his girlfriend: how unlike Skinner to worry about that!
Mina looked around at the assembled group. "Where is Captain Nemo?" she asked suddenly, her face concerned.
Jekyll looked around, noticing that, indeed, the regal Indian was not present. "He was coming – he told me," Jekyll said.
As he spoke, they heard the sound of footsteps, and Nemo opened the door of the dining room. The normally calm Captain was shaking with anger, and his eyes flashed dangerously.
"Captain Nemo," Mina said. "Is something –"
"Come with me, please," Nemo said. "All of you." He lead the way towards the conning tower, the rest of the League trailing – confused – in his wake. Sawyer noted that Mina and Jekyll looked just as confused as he did; it seems our worthy captain has a surprise for all of us, Sawyer thought.
They reached the conning tower after a minute or so; the crewmen had been huddled together around something – someone? – but they drew back as the League approached. Sawyer couldn't stop a gasp of shock as he saw the body lying on the floor, obviously dead. There was a wound in the back that had probably caused death. Mina inched closer, recognising the man as a crewman of Nemo's. A trickle of blood ran down off his back onto the floor.
"He died instantly," Nemo said, barely containing his rage. "Someone" – his eyes darted towards Mina – "killed him using a throwing knife last night when he was making a routine check of the conning tower as part of his duties. He was found this morning when his disappearence was noticed."
"Who did it?" Skinner asked, for once devoid of any jokes.
"We don't know, Mr Skinner," Nemo said, "but I could hazard a guess." He looked again at Mina. "Our resident Vampiress is noted for her … skill with knives," he said quietly, the true meaning of his words obvious.
Mina drew herself up angrily. "What are you implying, Captain Nemo? If you wish to charge me with something, please say it plainly and not cloak accusations in polite language."
"Very well," Nemo said, "I believe that you would have had the skill to commit such a crime."
"But why?" Jekyll asked, and Nemo turned to face the nervous Doctor. "Why would Mina attack someone like that? It doesn't make sense."
"Ask her, Doctor Jekyll," Nemo said, looking intently at Mina. "Ask her, why don't you?"
Mina gave vent to a mocking laugh. "You are getting desperate for someone to blame," she said contemptuously to Nemo. "I did not kill this man."
Before the argument could escalate, Sawyer stepped in. "Wait a minute," he said, holding up his hands. "Does it have to be someone on board the Nautilus that did it? Could it not have been an outsider? Maybe this man saw the intruder and was running to raise the alarm." There was no response to this theory; Sawyer stepped back. "Just a thought," he said.
"And a valid one," Jekyll mused. "Nemo, would it be possible?"
"Yes," Nemo conceded. "But why?"
"An agent of the Shadowman," Skinner suggested.
Sawyer frowned. "But why attack a crewman and not us?"
Nemo let out a deep breath. "Because the crew is my family – by hurting them, they are hurting me." He seemed calmer now; his anger had been vented. "My apologies for what I said, Mrs Harker. I had no proof."
Mina noted that although Nemo apoligised for blaming her, he did not remove blame from her door. However, she let the matter lie. "Thank you, Captain. No offence taken. I understand that it must be hard to loose a member of your crew in such a way."
Sawyer was internally relieved. The League is intact, he thought, with a mental sigh of relief, even if its only on the surface. Hopefully it can hold together for long enough …
"We should go," Sawyer said abruptly. "Abigail will be waiting, Skinner." He paused, then said softly to Nemo, "I'm sorry." He turned to go.
The rest of the League filed out after him, each paying their respects to the dead man.
It was a sombre party that arrived later that day at Abigail Kingsley's country house. Nemo had refused to come, and none of the League had wanted to force him.
Skinner stood – or rather the hat and coat that represented Skinner stood – at the front of the group, and waited for Abigail's maid to answer.
Sawyer stared at the cottage. It was not a small cottage, but neither was it very large. This Abigail must not be very rich, he mused. But how did Skinner meet her? Surely a woman who lives in a cottage like this wouldn't frequent taverns … He shook his head to free himself of the doubts. Skinner surely wouldn't lie about it.
The front door opened, and Maggie – Abigail's maid – looked out at the party on the doorstep. "Morning, Maggie," Skinner said. "Can I come in?"
Maggie nodded, a little flustered. "The mistress wasn't expecting you for a few days," she said as she ushered them into the front hall.
Skinner grinned. "Well, I'm sure she won't mind too much … she's in the drawing room?"
Maggie nodded, and Skinner – waving at the League to wait – entered the drawing room.
Sawyer stared around the hallway, waiting for Skinner to emerge. He barely noticed Mina approach him, until he felt her hand on his arm. "Tom?"
He jumped, before looking around and recognising Mina. "Yes, Mina?"
"What do you think about the murder of Nemo's crewman?"
Tom froze. What the hell does she expect me to say? he wondered hopelessly. He noticed Jekyll wandering around a few metres in front of them; come on Jekyll, he thought desperately, intervene and save me from having to answer …
Whether he was psychic, or whether it was chance, Sawyer was unsure, but whatever the reason, Henry Jekyll turned and walked towards them.
"What do you think of this?" he asked. "Do you think she will come with us?"
Sawyer shrugged, passing the question on. "Mina?"
Mina fixed them both with an icy glare. "That is for her to decide." She looked up abruptly as the drawing room door opened.
Skinner was standing in the doorway; beside him stood a tall woman of about thirty years, with flowing blond hair and a coquettish look. Sawyer could see immediately how Skinner had been attracted to her.
"Meet Abigail Kingsley," Skinner said, his happiness obvious. Abigail extended a hand – and a smile – to Jekyll, who stammered in reply.
"Charmed, I'm sure."
"And your name is?" Abigail asked him.
"Dr – Dr Jekyll," he answered, stammering slightly.
Jekyll has got to develop some people skills, Sawyer thought wryly, before shaking Abigail's proferred hand. "Pleased to meet you, ma'am," he said. "I'm Tom Sawyer."
"Delighted, Mr Sawyer," Abigail replied, smiling coyly. "Skinner has told me a lot about you …"
"And this is Mina – Mina Harker," Skinner said, cutting across Abigail. Mina shook Abigail's hand with a half-hearted smile that fooled no one. Mina disliked this woman intensely … and Tom Sawyer wondered why.
"Abigail will be returning to the Nautilus with us," Skinner told them.
"I'll be ready in a few minutes," Abigail said. "If you'd be so kind as to wait in the drawing room … Rodney! Please assist me," she added with a smile as she walked up the stairs.
Skinner nodded, gesturing the rest of the League towards the drawing room. Sawyer and Jekyll walked in immediately, but Mina paused, looking after Skinner and Abigail with a suspicious look in her eye …
A/N: Next one coming soon … RR please!