A/N: Alrighty! I've finally got chapter three up and running! Mind you this is kind of a lead in chapter, not a lot of action, just mostly dialogue. But I promise the next ones will be help everyone fully understand the mission.
Silent Bob 546: Hehehehe devilish smile Good! That means I'm doing my job! I'm glad you like my story so far! And love...hmmm it could happen, but once you read this you'll know she's not a Mary Sue. I may make her do a small Mary Sue-ish thing but not to the point where it destroys the entire story.
Raven: Yay! I'm glad I actually stumped some people! Thanks for reviewing!
Funky in Fishnet: Alrighty, I'll try! Thank you so much for your review!!! It took me forever to even come up with a plot for this story! Thanks again!
Queerquail: Another one who didn't see it! Yay! I'm doing my job! Yes Nightingale is a woman, but hopefully not a Mary Sue! Hehe, hope you like this chapter!
Disclaimer: Nightingale is mine, and can only be used by others with my permission, the villain will also be mine unless he turns out to be someone else, in which case he isn't! ?-? Yeah...that's the ticket...Anyway, the League in no way whatsoever is mine, so no suing please! Thanks! Oh yeah the castle in Romania is also not mine, that's a real castle in Bucharest! So no matter how hard I wish for it, I don't own it.
The Nightingale
Ladies First
Nemo was the first to react after the incident, quickly becoming the stoic captain he was. He had ordered his men to start the Nautilus and to bring the automobile around to them, his eyes never leaving Nightingale. He turned toward Mina and questioned in a hushed tone, "Did you have any inclination that Nightingale was a woman?" Mina shook her head, staring toward the young woman that lay before them. She couldn't help but smile slightly that the infamous killer of low class men was actually a woman, and a very young one at that.
Mina turned to Skinner, or the floating clothing articles he had removed from Nightingale. "Skinner, you are in charge of her, get her into the automobile and into the Nautilus."
Skinner turned his face toward Mina, if she would have seen it he would look a mixture of confused and somewhat frightened at being in charge of a flying human. "And where, pray tell Mina, are we going to put the lass?" He chuckled slightly as he retrieved his coat and hat from one of Nemo's men.
Mina turned as a slow, cold smile crept to her lips, "The ice room, lock her in there and if she wakes and proves troublesome, use the chains." Mina turned toward the approaching car as Skinner gulped visibly. Mina could be quite cold when the need arose. He looked toward the young woman and slowly leaned down and cradled her in his arms, walking toward the car as Sawyer helped the dazed Dr. Jekyll.
On Board the Nautilus
The League entered the Nautilus, all still wary at the figure still cradled in Skinners arms; her hair covered her face as she leaned into Skinner's shoulder. Mina glared at the young woman and turned toward the ice room, while Nemo went toward the helm and Sawyer went to take the now conscious Jekyll to the medical bay. Skinner followed behind Mina as they finally reached the old ice room, the place where they had first contained Hyde when he was brought aboard.
Mina opened the door and allowed Skinner to pass through; carefully making sure Nightingale wouldn't hit anything or worse, wake up. He looked around for a place to lay her and quickly turned to Mina for help. "Just place her gently on the floor Skinner." Mina's piercing eyes chilled Skinner more than the ice box they were leaving Nightingale in. He did as he was bid and turned to walk out, Mina quickly stopped him, "You need to put the chains on before she wakes up."
Skinner stared at her, "What?!? Me put the chains on that thing? What if she wakes up? She will rip me to shreds!" Mina smiled almost playfully, "Oh Skinner, surely you of all men know how to chain a woman down?" She walked out, smile still playing on her face as Skinner stood speechless.
Oooo low blow Mina, quite a low blow. He couldn't help but chuckle, but quickly silenced himself as he heard Nightingale stir behind him. He turned quickly, tensed for battle again, only to find Nightingale just turned over in her unconscious sleep. He located the large silver manacles used to chain Hyde down and quickly placed them on Nightingale's hands, feet, and a large silver collar around her neck. He carefully slipped the collar around her neck, letting a low breath escape his lips when Nightingale's eyes flickered open. Skinner went rigid as her eyes immediately locked on him; she gave one loud scream and chased Skinner until she was pulled back by the manacles.
"You devil! Let me out of here this instant!" She jerked and pulled at her restraints, battling toward the floating coat, her eyes glowing with the light for battle.
"Easy, easy luv, we aren't going to hurt ya, stay calm now." Skinner backed toward the door and slowly opened it and raced out, Nightingale calling behind him. "Get back here you invisible whelp! I'll tear you to shreds! No one captures me and lives to tell the tale! No one!"
Skinner ran down the halls, bumping into crewmembers left and right until he finally reached the board room. He threw the doors open to find Nemo, Mina, Sawyer, and a bandaged Jekyll sitting around the large oak table. Nemo glanced at the floating coat, heaving up and down in ragged breaths as Skinner breathlessly told the news, "She...she's...a...awake." He slumped by the wall as the League rose and headed toward the ice room, Skinner taking up the rear.
Mina opened the door to find Nightingale still struggling at her restraints, only this time the girl chose to use her wings to help, pulling the chains around her tighter to where they nearly cut into her skin. She screamed and thrashed left and right until she lowered back down to the ground clutching her arm from the wound she received from Sawyer. She stayed bent down as Mina entered beside Nemo, Sawyer stood with his coat off, revealing his two colt pistols at his sides, staring toward Nightingale as Jekyll stood, his eyes as wide as plates toward the winged creature in the center of the room.
Nightingale glanced up, her eyes still blazing with inward fury, she had never been caught, never in her life, and now she was here chained in an ice box like a common monster. She slowly stood up, the pain still burning from the wound in her arm and her head pounding from where it connected with the ground. Nemo glanced at the girl, taking in her appearance.
She stood fairly tall for a young woman, but very thin, her body was fully clothed with a black sweater and black suit trousers her black leather jacket draped down all the way to her ankles where her black boots started. Her hair was raven black and hung down to her shoulders, matted against her face with blood and grime, covering her green eyes. Her face was grimy as well, covered in dirt and blood from the battle, her glove hands tightened as she crouched down sizing up the people before her. Surprisingly she was the first to speak.
"If you want me dead then I suggest you do it now, I'd rather be dead than a captive," she spat towards them.
Oooo a feisty one Henry! Maybe this one will let me have a go with her. She seems rough enough. Jekyll shook his head trying to ignore Hyde's remarks.
"Trust me, miss, if we had wanted you dead then we would have killed you in that alley way." Mina took on her form of authority as she walked to stand in front of Nightingale. Nightingale glared defiantly at the woman in front of her, her hair a blazing red and contrasting skin the color of cream. Her icy blue eyes seemed to pierce within the very soul of who she spoke to. Nightingale merely laughed and stood straight, the pain in her arm forgotten.
"What do you want of me?" Mina let a slow smirk come to her face as she began to pace in front of her captive.
"There is a disturbance in Bucharest, Romania. People have recently been reported missing and it has now escalated to group kidnappings. The authorities first thought nothing but random kidnappings until villages started to suffer drastically. No bodies were found and soon entire households began to go missing. There have also been reports that all the clues have been found to lead the missing last seen within a mile of Cotroceni Castle, right in the heart of Bucharest." Nightingale arched one eyebrow, her eyes never leaving the pacing Mina. "We were ordered to investigate after the authorities found blood around the steps of the castle and some animal hair. Soon they too went missing."
"And you were called to investigate these crimes," Nightingale finished, "but what does any of this have to do with me?" She laughed and rocked back slowly. Mina turned toward her, her brows lowered and her eyes glowing.
"We need your unique services to help our little endeavor." Mina emphasized the word 'unique' with a hint of distain, slowly eyeing Nightingale up and down. Nightingale sat back, a smile still playing on her lips.
"And if I refuse?" Mina's own smile widened, only it was full of malicious mirth. "Then we take you back to London were they will lock you away until they decide to execute you for your murders and thievery." Nightingale stared hard into Mina's eyes, her mind twisting as to what she could or should do. Finally she sighed, there was nothing else she could do, "You have my services if I can be let out of these chains. They are dreadfully uncomfortable." Nightingale feigned mock agony as Mina smiled.
"After you explain your story, then we shall see." Nemo stepped up, his dark eyes searching the young woman's face. Sawyer then approached. "For starters, what's your real name and what are you exactly?" Nemo gently pushed Sawyer back behind him and his eyes fell on the young American to keep him quiet.
Nightingale slowly sat back down and rubbed her neck where the collar was. "Hmm...my real name is Carmen Valance, Nightingale was the name I picked up when I was sixteen after I had acquired a job as a thief of the streets. I dressed as a man so I could gain respect amongst the other thieves, unfortunately women are not looked upon as respectable in a circle of double dealing thieves. My 'unique' powers were due to an accident at Greece. I had become a stowaway on a ship and heard men speaking of a great treasure called the Eye of Selene at what used to be the old palace of the moon goddess. In short, I went, stole it and went to sell it. Unfortunately, there was a curse surrounding the Eye, and Selene cursed me to live as a Night Demon for all my days. I have demonic wings that can sprout from my back, and every night I can dispense my very being into a dark shadow." Nightingale took on a look of boredom when she finished her tale.
"Now may I be let loose from these cursed chains?"
Nemo nodded and threw a silver key to the manacles toward Carmen. She grabbed it and began unlocking the locks on her chains and quickly stood and stretched, grabbing her arm immediately. She grimaced and began walking toward the door. Dr. Jekyll immediately barred her path, "Before you do anything more, Miss Valance, we need to clean that wound up, then you can go to your new room." Carmen rolled her eyes and tried to move around the doctor, who gave a slight nod to Tom and Skinner. They nodded and grabbed Carmen by her coat.
"Get your hands off me you insolent brutes!" She screamed but Tom and Skinner still held on until finally Tom pointed his Colt pistol toward her.
"If I were you, I would follow the doctor before you get into anymore trouble." He smirked as Carmen scowled and followed Henry to the infirmary. Skinner chuckled and held Carmen by her unhurt arm but she jerked away giving Skinner and icy glare, her hair still matting her face, "Keep your non-existent hands to yourself." She turned off as Skinner chuckled and followed behind her.
"Come on now luv that hurts a bloke." He moved ahead beside Jekyll as they reached the infirmary door. Jekyll walked in and immediately began setting up his bandages and medications for his newest patient. Skinner held open the door and did an overdramatic bow of elegance, sweeping off his tribly and gesturing inside, "Ladies first, my sweet dove."
Carmen smiled an intoxicatingly sweet smile as she walked through the door, and did an elegant curtsey toward Skinner before swiftly belting him in the stomach with her fist, "Thank you Mr. Skinner, but unfortunately I am not a lady, and only in your dreams am I your sweet dove!" She swept into the room, Sawyer's face turning red with suppressed laughter at the unfortunate thief, muttering curses and holding his gut.
A/N: Just a little explaining chapter, and yes I had to do that to Skinner, it was just too good to miss! Don't worry ladies Skinner is fine because I am a true Skinner nut!!!! I just like to tease him a bit! ;-)