Author's Note: Wow! So many reviews! I'm touched, deeply, I am. I'm so happy you're all enjoying it. *big grin* See? Me happy! Yes, so anyway, I thought I'd get this chapter written pronto as a reward of sorts… plus I'm having fun with it, so Woohoo! Anyway, I'm sitting here listening to LOTR cds… one and two, but sadly not three… ack, off topic, sorry. LXG! Yay! Oh yes! I also got extremely bored the other night, and actually toddled off and partook in a Mary-Sue litmus test. Out of a possible 104, I scored 12, which makes dear Anise Delacroix a 'well-developed and believable/feasible original character'. Yay! I knew it!
life sucks: She is indeed alive… far from dead. I'm glad it was a surprise. That was what I was aiming for, Bwahaha! Soon enough for you?
RogueSparrow: Ah yes, the hackles. Dogs do look pretty frightening when they do that, especially if it's night and you can't tell what's got them spooked *shudder*. But yes, imagine a werewolf doing that?!
Emily M. Hanson: Thanks.
Leigh S. Durron: Muahahaha, another surprised victim! Oh, did I say victim? I meant reviewer… yes… that will do. Glad you liked.
Rayne: Complicated? Me? Never! Hehehehe. It might do. All depends what you class as complicated, my dear Rayne. I'm glad you found the fight scene realistic. I tried to visualise it in my head, as always… and came up with that, so I'm glad it satisfied.
angelic katty: She is alive, yes! I couldn't resist! Ah yes… blessed surprises. Tension? Moi? Never! Lol.
Melanie: Welcome to the story. I loved Anise as well, which was why, in 'Silver Bullet', it was heartbreaking to do that to her, and I just had to bring her back! Glad you like such a dramatic revelation.
LotRseer3350: Hehehehe, 'unexpected'… slight understatement. No one seemed to see that coming, which I'm glad for. As for what Tom will do with Anise… you'll have to wait and see, won't you?
Raven Silvers: Ah, my first screaming reviewer, and I must say, I'm happy it was you, Raven. Lol. I did bring her back, yes. I'm glad you like that I did as well. Wasn't sure how people were going to react, but so far it's all been positive. And as for the explanation… phew! 'Worthy o' Clez', eh? I'm guessing that means it was freaky. Lol. Excellent! Plenty more where that came from! Mina-Anise tension? Ne-… okay, yeah, we all know it's coming.
drowchild: Yay! Anise is back! Oh wait… I already knew that. So anyway… you'll have to wait and see won't you? Torn are we, drowchild? Ah! Don't spaz!
Sethoz: Yay! Once again… yay! More happy people! Lets-kill-Clez-dance? Eeep. Don't like the sound of that. Dense? Well, I don't know if I would go that far… silly or misjudging perhaps. Okay, to hell with it, they're dense. Yes they are. Shouldn't have left Tom alone. All their fault. Wow, that T line sure is growing, huh?
Beck 2: A nice cliffhanger? Does such a thing exist? Yay! You liked my fight scene. I enjoy writing those kinds of scenes… there's always so much variety with what you can do.
Niani: Well, Niani should be able to get her (?) answers pretty soon, as in now. Hope they satisfy. Sorry if I called you a 'her' and you're not.
Graymoon74: Well, shows that you can trust to hope sometimes, doesn't it? Jacques? Hmmm… well, if you remember in 'Silver Bullet' what I said Anise had done to him… do you think he's coming back? I'm glad you liked the fight also.
Caraphoenix: Hehehehe, funny reaction. Made me smile. Ack! Monkeys? Not monkeys! Nooooooo!
On the way back to the Nautilus – the only place Tom could think to go – he had managed to reclaim his boots at least, his shirt far from salvageable. He left the shreds of it on the grass outside the barn, and ran the rest of the way with Anise in close pursuit, glancing over his shoulder every couple of minutes to see if they were being followed. For the time being, they were safe. He didn't know what Anise had caught scent of in that small field outside the town, but Tom doubted it was a good thing.
When they reached the woods near the waterline, Tom stopped and cursed quietly. Anise threw him a look, and whispered, "What is it?"
Tom nodded his head loosely in the direction of the mighty submersible. "Look," he said for emphasis, and she followed his gaze to see Nemo's men guarding the entrance. It looked like they were going to have trouble getting onto the ship again.
"What do we do?" Anise asked, and then quickly added, "Maybe I shouldn't go in with you. Mrs. Harker-"
"Mina's not onboard right now… none of them are," Tom interjected, looking around and trying to think of a way to get them back on the Nautilus without being seen. Nothing came to mind immediately, and he bit his bottom lip in pensive consideration of the dilemma.
I didn't give this a thought on the way out, he realised, feeling rather foolish. They could always get back on the way he had left, but Tom seriously doubted his ability to make that leap in the other direction. He also doubted the strength of the tree to vault from.
Suddenly, he turned his head to Anise, the shock at her being alive numbed for the time being as he smiled mischievously. "I think I got an idea."
Mina stopped at once, as soon as the smell hit her, and she turned her head this way and that to try and follow it. The others paused all around her, watching her very curiously, and noting that the locals found their behaviour extremely odd.
"Now what?" Quatermain asked quietly, barely above a hiss of impatience. He leaned in close to her as he said it, and Mina did not look at him or acknowledge him in any solid way.
She did, however, say, "I can smell them."
"The werewolves?" Nemo inquired, hands behind his back in a rigid stance.
Mina nodded. "Yes… it is coming from over there," she told them, and led the way out of the town and away from prying eyes. The others followed right behind her, staying close in case they should get lost… though there was little danger of that. Mina let her senses guide her, and soon came to a stop in a small clearing just on the edge of the woods, looking down at the ground. There were deep, vicious gouges as if from claws, and obvious signs of a struggle. She sniffed. "Blood," she said, and narrowed her eyes. "They were fighting."
Then she saw the carcass.
"No doubt over dinner, 'eh?" Skinner voiced from the rear, clearly having seen what remained of the slaughtered deer. "Obviously they weren't satisfied with poor old 'Maggie'."
Mina was about to comment further, when she suddenly stopped herself as the identity of one of the scents hit her in its entirety. It couldn't be. "Quickly… we must get back to the Nautilus at once."
Hoping deep in her heart that she was wrong, she headed off at a brisk pace into the woods, the rest of the League trailing behind her like shadows.
Climbing onto the conning tower, dripping wet and more uncomfortable than he thought possible; Tom reached down a hand for Anise over the rail where she dangled by one arm. He felt bad for hurting her, and he remembered she had returned the favour… and then the memories of what had happened before his own siring came back to him… her betrayal and lies.
He pushed the thoughts aside, and gently helped her onto the ship, thankful that they hadn't been seen, at least not yet. They still had to get through the Nautilus without being spotted, and that was going to be difficult, yet again.
They had managed to get past the sailors outside the ship by walking a little way down the water's edge and jumping in, then swimming to the Nautilus' other side. He hadn't been certain it would work, but by some miracle, they had been able to climb up the ornate decorations on the hull. Now Tom appreciated their presence, and smiled at the thought. Gesturing to Anise, he walked over – now wearing his boots again – to the door into the ship, and opened it. He led the way in, should anyway see him, they would only hesitate a moment. All hell would break loose if Anise was spotted first.
He carefully and quietly went down the ladder, looking left and right for crewmen, and seeing that they were alone for the time being. They would have to be quick. He waited for Anise to finish her awkward climb down, considering one of her arms was wounded and bleeding – even though the flow was slowing – and then headed off in the direction of his cabin with her directly behind him. He poked his head around corners before heading off each time, just in case someone was on the other side.
Tom took to jogging steadily when he thought he heard a door open somewhere behind them, and before long, he had opened the door to his cabin for her, signalling for her to hurry inside. As soon as he had stepped inside and closed the door, he heard someone walk past. Tom let out a sigh of relief that they hadn't been noticed, and leaned back against the door, gasping and moving away instantly. Anise noticed his motion, and walked over to him.
"I'm all right," he said at once, unsure why he was reluctant for her to touch him. He couldn't come to grips with the fact that she was really alive… could it be possible she was here to try and betray him again?
No, that's impossible. She killed Jacques to save me… to save herself. She asked to be killed after all the things she'd done.
Anise looked him right in the eye firmly. "No you are not. You are hurt. I know because I did it." She turned and walked into his bathroom without even switching a light on, and Tom heard the sound of a cupboard opening, and the running of a tap. He winced, and rolled his shoulders experimentally. They still worked, thankfully, despite the injuries on his back. It hurt like hell though… but even as he stood there, the pain was lessening gradually and steadily. It was a little frightening when he thought about it, considering where the origins of such a phenomenon lay.
She came out of the bathroom again; a wet towel in her hands, and walked to the middle of the room. She eyed him, and raised a brow. "Are you just going to stand there all night?"
"What?" Tom mumbled, standing up straighter again, and cocking his head slightly.
"Come and sit down so I can use this." She held up the towel, and stood by the chair of his desk, somewhat impatiently. She even tapped a foot.
He tried not to laugh, and realised she wasn't going to give up until he agreed. So, a little reluctantly, he stepped over to the chair, and sat down on it, slouched forward a little. He felt the cold water from the towel on his back, and swallowed dryly, a little uncomfortable all of a sudden. He shuddered involuntarily.
"Sorry… did that hurt?"
Tom shook his head in answer, and then added quietly, "No, it's nothing."
Anise continued, dabbing the towel gently on the wounds on Tom's back and wiping away the blood. "I am sorry," she said almost inaudibly, "for everything I did."
Tom frowned. He didn't really want to talk about it, but he realised it would come up sooner or later, and the quicker they addressed it, the faster they could get on with whatever would happen now. "I don't blame you."
"Of course you do… why shouldn't you?" Anise asked of him, and it was without chagrin that she did so. She did not stop in her tending to his wounds as she added, "It was my fault that you were involved at all."
Tom stood from the chair, and he felt more than heard Anise move back, something that he did not let bother him right then. He turned to her, and took the towel out of her hands. "Did you pick me for all of what Evans had planned?"
She did not respond, just avoided his gaze.
"No, you didn't. Then how can I blame you? Yes, you… you hurt me, and I trusted you… but I know that you had little choice in the matter," Tom told her with a slight edge to his words, trying to sound firm. "Jacques… you were afraid of him, and I don't blame you for that. If you hadn't gone along with whatever they had planned, they would have turned you over to your people for… I don't even want to think about that, and I doubt you do either."
Anise looked him in the eye again, and there was curiousity about her as she asked in a voice barely above a whisper, "Why don't you hate me? After what I did…"
He threw the towel onto the chair, and cupped her face in his hands, saying, "I don't blame you, and if you hadn't been there… I probably would still be with Evans right now. I wouldn't be who I am now."
"But you are still different to what you wanted. You still became what you swore you never would become… what I hate in myself." Anise sounded desperate, distraught.
"Listen to me," Tom began again, and released his hold on her. He stepped back a little. "What happened… happened. By some miracle, I've decided that I don't 'hate' you, and I'd rather you didn't change my mind on that… I'm not really very good at controlling any of it right now." He hoped she would realise his meaning.
Before she could respond, there came a knocking at the door, and they looked to one another. Tom mouthed the words 'in the bathroom' quickly, and grabbed a robe off the hook by the door, slipping it on as quickly as possible. His hair was still damp and in his face, and he kicked his boots off, making as little noise as possible. Anise grabbed the bloodied towel on her way into the bathroom, and closed the door to once she was inside and concealed in the darkness. Tom gave the room a once-over with his eyes, and then moved to open the door, even as the person on the other side knocked again.
Mina stepped backwards when the door opened, and Tom could be seen in the shadow. His hair was dripping slightly onto the floor, and he wore a robe. From what she could see, it looked as though he was wearing trousers, but she couldn't be certain. After all, she didn't know what he wore in bed… he could very well be readying himself to settle down for the night.
"Agent Sawyer," she began, somewhat unsurely now that she saw him inside the vessel after being almost certain she had smelt him outside, "is everything all right?"
Tom smiled. "Of course, Mrs. Harker." He paused, and then added, "Sorry if I look a little messy… I've just washed." He laughed quietly, and shook a lock of hair from his eyes.
"Oh… of course."
"Is something wrong, Mrs. Harker?"
Mina looked back to Tom, staring at him seriously for a moment, before shaking her head swiftly, and smiling herself. She had been foolish, hasty in her identification of the scent. "No, no… not at all. I just wanted to check that you were all right. The last couple of days must have been hard on you, I realise."
Tom looked uncomfortable, understandably, and shuffled on his feet, saying, "Um… is it okay if we discuss this tomorrow? I'm… I'm kinda tired." He smiled weakly. "Long day."
Mina blinked, and then nodded. "Absolutely. My apologies, I am keeping you awake. Sorry to have disturbed you."
"Not at all." Tom smiled again, and Mina examined the expression, trying to find anything hidden there. Either Tom was suddenly a very talented actor, or he was telling the truth. Considering all that had happened recently, she decided on a mixture of the two… after all, it was a lot to deal with.
"Good night, Mrs. Harker," Tom said to her quietly. "I'll see you in the morning."
She nodded, and moved to turn away, but Tom called to her suddenly, "Oh… did you find the woman?"
Mina closed her eyes briefly, saddened, and then turned back. "I'm afraid she was no longer available, Agent Sawyer." She paused, musing over whether or not to tell the young man the truth, and then deciding perhaps it was not best… not today. "Good night."
Tom nodded slowly, and then disappeared back into his room. Mina wasn't sure, but she thought for one moment she heard the door lock.
Anise poked her head out of the bathroom, her mahogany hair dripping around her face, and regarded Tom Sawyer with chocolate brown eyes, her brow knitted in concern. "Is everything all right?" she asked, hesitant to emerge from her place of concealment.
Tom looked up as if he had forgotten her presence, something that did little to comfort Anise, and nodded. "She… Mina… I don't know. She was checking up on me. She's just concerned." He slipped the robe off, and put it back on the hook casually, sighing loudly, rolling his neck to the side as if it ached him.
Anise emerged from the bathroom, the towel still in her hand. "I do not blame her."
Tom looked at her suddenly. "Why is everybody always worrying about me?"
Anise smiled at that somewhat stubborn comment, so much like how she remembered him when they had first met, and strode up to him. "Shouldn't they be?"
"Well…"
Anise arched a brow patiently, waiting for him to finish, and when he didn't, she sighed lightly, and walked behind him, frowning at the wounds she had inflicted. "Let them show their concerns, Tom… you are lucky to have people who worry."
She realised just how selfish and pathetic her comment had sounded, and she inwardly cursed herself for it. She wished to take it back, even as she touched the towel to the injuries on his back again, trying to pretend she had said anything other than what she had.
To her surprise, Tom did not reply, just stood still and let her tend to the cuts and scratches… deep as they were. She knew better than he did how quickly they would heal, but that did not stop her guilt. Coupled with all of what had happened before her 'death', Anise was about ready to flee as soon as an oppurtunity presented itself. She was inwardly worried he would reveal her to the others… and it was perhaps their reactions that worried her more than anything Tom might say.
Anise remembered just how she had seen Tom not long ago… he had been so different, so vicious… a werewolf, like herself. His size had been astounding and terrifying, the malice in his eyes on top of the sheer vicious look of him overall had almost caused her – even in her wolf form – to retreat. She had never realised just how foreboding a fellow werewolf could appear. True, she had seen many shapes and sizes, but nothing so menacing as Tom's perhaps. Jacques Beauvais had been similar, but not quite so large, and his hair had been much more akin in shade to the bark of a tree than Tom's… his was almost pure black. It was odd, considering the American had blonde locks in his human form.
But then again… she supposed she would never fully understand anything about it all, even though she had been a werewolf for some time now, and been in the company of many far older than herself. She knew very well what Tom must be going through… she had been there herself, in that place of cold and darkness where it seemed you would always be alone.
She brought the towel down from his back, seeing that the wounds had stopped bleeding. Tom sensed her stillness, and turned slowly, looking into her eyes with an odd sense of understanding. She still could not comprehend why he wasn't angry with her.
But then… perhaps he was. Maybe he just wasn't showing it in the sense she could understand.
She opened her mouth to speak, but his reaching down to take the towel out of her hand made her freeze and reconsider. She closed her mouth again, and let him take the cloth. He touched it to her wounded arm, and – accustomed to the feeling – Anise did not flinch or wince. Sadly, she had suffered worse.
Anise tried to avoid his gaze, for she could not stand the feeling that welled up inside of her whenever she did. She felt as though she would lose all control. Not long ago, she had told herself she was falling in love with this young man… this kind, compassionate, sensitive and brave American man who had trusted her so blindly and affectionately. And she had betrayed his trust and his affections, turning him over to the one man she had truly hated, risking his life, and as a result he was now something she despised… but had come to terms with long ago. She had cursed him into an existence she knew the pain of well, and that was almost more than she could bear.
Hanging her head, Anise tried to tell herself that she could not fall for him again.
Tom saw the way she hung her head, as if she were afraid or ashamed to look at him, and before long, it was more than he could stand as he said, "You don't want to be here, do you?"
Her eyes shot up to meet his at that, and she wore a hurt expression, which quickly faded and became one of reluctance. "It is not that… I… I do not belong here. I never did."
Tom turned his green eyes back on his task, trying to be gentle with her, and feeling guilty that he was cleaning up an injury he had caused… he had hurt someone, with his bare hands… or claws rather. It was disconcerting. He had almost injured Mina in that alley in Paris, and now he had actually wounded Anise. Who was next? Then he remembered he had almost attacked Skinner in that same alley as well, and his heart sank a little more. The people he trusted and cared for were in danger when he was around… unless he could control this thing, and it was starting to sound as though that would never happen.
Then he realised what had happened out near the woods. He had willed himself to change back… and it had worked. The wolf had receded, and Tom Sawyer had claimed his body again. He tried to think of why that might have been… and not willing – as of yet – to come to any rash conclusions, he decided that it had been a stroke of unusual luck on his part. A fluke.
"Maybe you don't belong here," Tom said to Anise at last, and noticed she did not flinch or recoil from his words. "Maybe I don't either. Who knows?" He smiled wryly. "Who cares?"
Anise glanced up at him, her wet hair in her eyes and face, and she knitted her brow in confusion.
He shook his head, staring at her, and though he couldn't understand it, his breathing quickened, and his heart beat a little faster in his chest. "Right now… I don't." Tom's eyes locked with hers, and for a long time, he just stared at her, taking in every detail of her face, the face he had grown so fond of not long ago. The towel dropped from his hand, and he felt his mouth go dry, everything else around them falling away and becoming lost to his conscious thoughts.
Without warning, he had taken her face in his hands, and kissed her hungrily, noticing how she did not resist or try to fight him, instead gave in to him completely and returned the passionate embrace, even as she lost her balance with his sudden movement, and toppled backwards onto the safety of the bed.
He came down on top of her, still holding her in the kiss… he hadn't realised how much he had wanted this… how much he had wanted her. One of his hands stroked her hair back from her face as the other kept him up from pinning her down with his full weight. One of her hands was resting on the back of his neck possessively, the other running over his chest, sending shivers down his spine as their kiss became deeper, hungrier, more passionate.
Whether it was the wolf inside or Tom himself… he couldn't let go… not again.