A/N: Indeed, Skinner had a deep moment in my last chapter. I think being put in danger will do that to a person. Ooh… I smell a plot twist. He, he! Plot twists are some of my favorite things (just ask my editor/friend, Lily), so I decided, let's throw one in right about… here! Enjoy! (Also, Steffi, you rock too!)
"Where?" Skinner asked in disbelief.
Tom shrugged. "Sweden – northern Sweden." He leaned against the door to his quarters aboard the Nautilus. "And if Davis thinks he's gonna be smart and throw us off the scent – he's got another thing comin'."
Cabrilyn came strolling around the corner, followed shortly by her guards. She didn't seem to mind being under "tight surveillance," and if she did, she never complained. "Oh, Davis is telling the truth," she remarked. "That man is a coward, and a stupid one at that. He'd sell out his own mother if it'd save his skin. Reed's in Sweden, I'm positive of that."
After being thoroughly threatened by Cabrilyn, Davis had told them Reed's headquarters were in Sweden, much to Skinner's dislike. "Great – more snow. What is it with bad guys and snow?" He thrust his hands into his pockets. "Speaking of bad guys – where is Mr. But Sir anyway?" He asked, referring to Davis by his new nickname for him.
"Nemo's got him locked up somewhere," Tom said, yawning. "Oh, well, I'm off to bed. See ya' in the morning." He retired into his room.
"Good night Tom," Cabrilyn said and continued on to her own quarters. "Good night," she added, nodding to Skinner.
"G'night." Skinner yawned as well – it had been a long day. The League was en route to Sweden, so they would have a few days to rest and recuperate. Skinner agreed with Tom – it was time for bed.
* * *
Mina wasn't able to sleep. Her mind was swimming with thoughts of Henry. She was happy in a way she hadn't been since she lost Jonathan. She decided to take her new energy and put it to good use. She picked a beaker up from her desk and wiped it with a kerchief. She sighed softly. The scene in the alley kept replaying itself in her mind.
"What, forgotten me already?"
Mina nearly dropped the beaker. She knew that voice… that calm, silky, dark voice… She turned around slowly, and there in the corner stood Dorian Gray. "D… Dorian?" Mina choked the word out. He was really and truly there, but he seemed different somehow – he was clad in his normal gray pinstriped suit, but his face was fairer than she remembered it, and there was something else, but Mina couldn't place it. She just stared. "You're… you're supposed to be dead…"
Dorian chuckled dryly. "I am dead." He raised an eyebrow. "Don't believe me?" He held out his hand and put it through the wall. He did this several times, and each time he brought his hand back in front of him, he would inspect it as if he thought it had changed while it was on the other side. Suddenly, Mina realized what was so different about him – she couldn't place it before because the thought had never occurred to her, but now she knew – she could see through him.
"You're a…"
"Ghost?" Dorian concluded, sounding mildly amused, "Yes. An interesting experience, I must say."
A million questions flooded Mina's mind, but all she could manage to say was, "But…"
Dorian shrugged. "Immortal is immortal, alive or dead." He moved to lean on the dresser, having forgotten the fact he couldn't touch anything. He went clean through the dresser and the wall, and went stumbling out into the hallway. "Dorian!" Mina went to the door and peeked outside. Dorian was in the middle off the hall straitening his coat, and chiding himself for his rather clumsy display.
"Mrs. Harker? Is everything all right?"
Mina turned around. It was Nemo. "Um…" she wasn't sure how to respond – Nemo wouldn't take too kindly to seeing Dorian in the middle of his ship. "I'm… I'm fine captain. Thank you." She shot a glance at Dorian. He was standing there, waiting to be noticed.
Nemo followed her gaze. "Mrs. Harker?" His tone was that of concern.
Dorian strode up to Nemo and began waving his hand in front of the captain's face. When this failed to get Nemo's attention, Dorian resorted to moving his hand through Nemo's face. Nothing. Dorian raised an eyebrow and turned to Mina. "Well, it appears he can't see me," he glanced over his shoulder at the captain. "Or hear me. Interesting." Mina just stared in disbelief.
"Are you certain you're all right?" Nemo asked.
Mina blinked a couple of times. "Yes, yes. I'm fine, just tired. Good night captain."
Nemo gave a short bow. "Good night."
With that, Mina quickly retreated into her room and shut the door, half-wishing she had just imagined Dorian. Not so, for a moment later, Dorian strode in though the wall. He wanted to sit down, but decided it was wise to test the chair first – he went through it. "Hmm, I guess I'm standing," he remarked.
"Yes," Mina said dazedly. "I guess you are."
* * *
Skinner put his ear to the door. What was she doing in there? He was outside of Cabrilyn's room, resurrecting his task of trying to catch her off guard. Every once in a while, he'd hear the clang of steel, and Cabrilyn saying something, but it was unclear what exactly. Skinner couldn't figure out for the life of him what was going on.
"One… two… one…" Cabrilyn counted, swinging her swords – she was in the midst of her morning training routine. Her flaxen hair was tied back and she was dressed more for comfort and movement than style in a pair of trousers and a loose-fitting shirt. Somewhere in the midst of her exercise, she could've sworn she heard the door open. A quick glance over her shoulder confirmed her suspicions. She did a quick one-eighty, halting her blades in mid-air, or so it seemed.
"Hello Skinner," she said nonchalantly. Skinner stayed stock-still, eyeing Cabrilyn's sword, parked a hairsbreadth away from his throat. Cabrilyn lowered her blade and chuckled, "The score: Cabrilyn, several; Skinner, none."
"So, now we're keeping score are we?" Skinner asked irritably. "You could've killed me, you know."
"Hmm," Cabrilyn said thoughtfully. "Would that be considered murder or charity?"
"Now wait just a second!" Skinner burst.
Cabrilyn stared at him. "Look, if you want to sneak around, fine, but stay out of my room!" Before Skinner could utter one syllable, Cabrilyn ushered him out the door and sent him sprawling into the hall.
Skinner picked himself up and brushed himself off, hating Cabrilyn all the while. Everyone else tolerated his clowning around, why couldn't she? Unbeknownst to him, Dorian stood nearby, delighting in the antics of Skinner and this newcomer. They acted so childish toward each other, and he found it rather funny.
"At least I can find some amusement on this miserable ship," he commented. Skinner couldn't see or hear him either. In fact, Mina had proven to be the only one who could. The reason why was still a mystery to him. Dorian strode away, passing through Skinner and going on down the hall to see what other forms of entertainment he could find.
A/N: Ooh! The ghost of Dorian Gray has come to haunt the Nautilus! I was planning to have a bit more Skinner in this chapter – then the Dorian thing came to me. (That's just my crazy mind at work.) Speaking of my crazy mind at work, this chapter reminds me of a song… *sings Clay Aiken* "If I were invisible, then I could just watch you in your room…" Ah, that's the most romantic stalker song ever! :-P