Chapter: Seven: Fire and the Black Book

Author Beck2

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The city streets were packed, as usual. All of the clatter and noise gave Gilbert Nesmond time to reflect on his position.

What exactly am I doing here? If Lex doesn't want to be found he won't be. And I'm leading a whole band of freaks right up to his doorstep, I'm sure he'll be pleased. Chalk one more lost friend because you did something stupid, Gilly. Well, lost friends to lost life, pretty strong argument.

"Do you know where you're going?" Sawyer asked him. He rolled his eyes.

"If I didn't, do you think I'd be sticking around with all of you?"

And I certainly wouldn't stay to enjoy the company, he added silently. Especially since the only good company, Clunky, had gone running after some woman's chickens. He'd be back, but still, it was bad form, leaving him here.

Lexington lived in a rather charming building in the center of the business district in Rome. Very nice place. Full of people looking down their noses at the odd party.

Or it would be, if their attention wasn't directed more to the building that was billowing black smoke out of its windows. 

Most people were just standing around, pointing. The League was worried, talking about what could have caused it. But he didn't hear them. His mind was on who lived in that building.

"Lex."

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Smoke was hanging thick throughout the room. The doors were barricaded from the outside, and if the fumes didn't kill him, the fire licking the walls would.

He had come back to pick up some things from his flat, and then skip town. He did not think that they would be here, waiting for him. He should have. Perhaps it was fear that had caused him to make so many mistakes.

And now he would pay for those mistakes.

Loud banging on the door pierced through his smoke crazed mind, and he had the fleeting hope. He gave a strangled yell, and sounds came from the other side of the door, of someone trying to move whatever had been used to block the door.

Too slow. It was taking too long.

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He managed to push aside the crate and got into the room, coughing loudly as he walked in. The smoke was suffocating.

There on the floor, lay the prone form of his friend.

"Lex!" He crouched down next to him, covering his mouth with his sleeve. "Wake up, you stupid American! I can't bloody well drag you out, you have to get up." He shoved Lex hard, and was rewarded with a moan.

"Gil…the study…get the black…book…"

"Hardly time to start thinking about your bloody date book, man! We're going to burn alive!"

"Get BOOK!"

"Alright!" He leapt up and ran into the study. The fire was extreme here, the heat rising off in waves. In the middle of burning papers lay the book he was looking for. He swept the paper off to the floor and stomped on them, rescuing the black book from the flames. He rushed back to his friend with the book in hand.

"I got your stupid book, you going to go save yourself now?" He asked annoyed. The man gave no answer. "Lex?"

He looked into the man's face and felt a sick feeling tighten into his stomach.

"Bloody hell."

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"Where did 'e go?"

"I think he went into the building."

"Great. Where's Sawyer?"

Mina looked around. Sawyer was nowhere to be seen.

"'Ow much you want to bet he went with that kid?"

"We have to get in there."

"Err…yes…well."

"What?"

"I have slight problems about running right into fire. It tends not to be a good idea, you understand."

"Then stay out here." Mina rushed off toward the building, throwing an trying to stop her.

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Sawyer ducked through the smoke, and saw the open door at the end of the hall and the two figures in the room beyond.

"Kid!" His yell was followed by coughing as he tried to clear his lungs. He pushed forward and stopped at the door, the room was almost entirely in flames. It was obvious to see the fire started here. "Kid!" He yelled again. This time the boy looked up and staggered upright towards the door, coughing and walking unsteadily.  He managed to get to the doorway and Sawyer dragged him away from the flames.

Mina showed up and scared both of them half out of their wits.

"Bloody vampire." The boy coughed before he collapsed. Sawyer picked him up.

"Can you get us out of here?"

"Stay with me." She grabbed his arm and led them through the smoke filled hallways.  The smoke blinded him, but he kept going with her direction. He trusted her. She wouldn't steer him wrong. Not now.

And he was right.

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Dr. Jekyll sweated in his bed. Awful visions had been dancing through his head. The murderous intention of Edward. Henry winced as the images spiraled through his head. He had considered many times taking something to allow him to sleep, which Edward  would snicker and comment about the elixir. So far, Henry had been able to ignore him.

But soon, the urge would get to be too strong, and he would have to appease the monster within himself. He only hoped that some good would come of it.

Some good from where there was no good at all.

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I know, I know, another late update, I am VERY sorry. I got caught up in schoolwork and finishing a few other fics and time just flew by without me realizing it. I really am sorry, I will try to do better, I promise.

Clez: Charlie was what I had in mind when I created him, actually, and the mastiff is fairly accurate. I never put much thought into the breed, he was just supposed to be a big devious mutt. I hope you're feeling better!

A.L. Nowicki: My goodness, you are absolutely right. *chagrin* I'm very sorry, that must have been a slip in my typing. Being a huge Jekyll fan myself, I cannot believe I missed that.

Niani: Glad to hear you like it, I'm so sorry about not updating sooner, but I really am going to try and do much better.

Graymoon74: Probably. But I think that may be part of his charm. And he probably will get smacked for his comments sooner or later.

Silent Bob 546: Heh, I'm glad I'm getting some emotion out of the reviews, that's always good.

Rayne: Thank you very much! I'm glad you like them. I'll try to keep the humor level up.

Rogue77: Eh, that's okay, you review just about everything else I write, and I'm impressed and exceedingly flattered that you keep such a close eye on my writings. Thank you so much!

Anyway, feel free to leave your comments, I always enjoy them.