Author: Officer BudBabe

Title: Hope star

'Mrs Harker, I've buried two wives and many lovers, and I'm no mood for more of either."

Summary: We know about Allan Quatermain's son-but what if he had another child? A daughter? Following Allan's burial in Africa, a young woman turns up to pay her respects and the remaining league tumbles into a dangerous adventure.

Rating: Uh... You choose.

Chapter One - In the night of Death, Hope sees a star

The storm clouds broiled and churned in the black sky. The air was heavy and close together. In a split second the Heavens opened and the rain came. The raindrops were so large they resembled Crystals falling from the sky and smashing in a great crescendo against the dry ground.

Nearby to the patch of ground that served the small Kenyan town as a graveyard, there stood a boarding house. There was no garden, no fence keeping anything in or out.

The house wasn't much to look at either. The shutters were in need of paint and the brickwork was dry and cracking. It probably would have been better to tear the whole thing down and start again.

Stepping inside the front hallway one was hit with a surprising impression. It was spacious, cool and dim. The magnolia walls were smooth to touch and heels clacked on the wooden floor.

Turning into the drawing room the eyes meet a grim sight.

Mrs. Mina Harker stood at the window, a proud figure in the dimming light. Her eyes held no emotion but the trembling fingers the followed the raindrops' path down the windowpane betrayed her.

Stood by the fireplace, brooding was Dr. Henry Jekyll. His appearance was that of a good man, a smart man... a man who had nothing to be afraid of. Inside his mind he was fighting a hard battle. Inside his mind he was a different man. A man who had something to be afraid of. The man who saw too much.

Moving into another part of the room, one saw a floating book. But even an idiot could tell that the invisible man reading it was not concentrating. The pages flicked too often. Rodney Skinner sighed, frustrated. He threw the book down and stormed from the room.

A young man of approximately twenty-two sat with a shot gun lain over his lap. He polished it absently while staring at the floor. He didn't even notice the flying book collide with his arm and hit the floor.

Sat at the small table was an Indian man, seemingly the last of the grief-stricken party. He sat quietly, drawing no attention to himself. The rest of the room was quiet but when compared to Captain Nemo's aura, they seemed to scream.

The rain got heavier outside. Lighting flashed and Thunder shook the sky. The Company heard a sudden bang on the door. Zarina, the housekeeper went to answer it. The person stepped in from the rain heavily, their heels making a hollow sound on the floor. The stranger spoke in a hushed voice to Zarina for a moment. Seconds later the drawing room door opened and Zarina bowed her head apologetically for disturbing them.

"There is someone to see you." She whispered. Mina looked around from the window "Who is it?"

"She will not give her name."

"Send them in please Zarina."

"Yes, Mrs. Harker."

Zarina pulled the door to and spoke to the stranger outside. The door opened again and a young woman of maybe twenty stepped into the room. Her chocolate coloured hair was dripping rain water and she looked chilled to the bone. She wore black trousers and a white shirt. Both were soaked through to the skin. Over the top of this she wore a long black leather coat. Rain was actually dripping off her fingernails.

"Who are you?" Asked Mina, turning away from the window to trek further into the room.

"My name is Katrina... I'm now assuming you are Mrs. Harker?"

"You assume correctly."

"Good. Pleased to meet you." Mina stared at the girl for a moment "Is there something we can help you with?"

"Actually, yes. You can take me to the grave."

All of a sudden, the tension in the room seemed to crackle like electricity. Captain Nemo stood and moved toward the newcomer.

"What is your business here?"

Katrina bristled "Respect." She took a damp piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Nemo. He read it and then stared at the girl with a surprised expression on his face.

"Katrina Quatermain?"

"What?" Tom stood and Nemo handed him the death notification. Tom read it and stared at Katrina sceptically "So what does this make you?"

"His daughter." Katrina folded her arms. It was only then that Mina noticed Katrina was holding herself awkwardly, as if she were in pain.

Tom folded his own arms and shot back with "Quatermain didn't have a daughter. He had a son."

Katrina raised an eyebrow "His son was my brother. Are you telling me the man couldn't have more than one child?"

"He never spoke of you." interrupted Jekyll, coming forward. Katrina smiled a little stiffly "No, I'm sure he didn't."

The door swung open, seemingly by its own accord and invisible footsteps echoed into the room. Katrina's left shoulder lurched forward as Skinner pushed past her. She gasped in what seemed to be shock before her hand went instinctively to her shoulder.

"Who's this?" The invisible cockney asked.

"This is Katrina Quatermain." Katrina spoke for herself. Mina stared at the young woman "Are you hurt?" She asked quietly. Katrina's gaze flitted to her own shoulder before rising again to meet the Vampire's eyes.

"No no, I'm fine."

There was a short silence before Katrina looked collectively at the company "Will you take me to him?"

Katrina stood at her Father's graveside quietly. The rain had long since stopped and steam rose from the ground even thought it was night time. The league stood a little way behind her.

"She is heartbroken. I can sense it." Mina spoke quietly. Sawyer shook his head "I don't trust her."

"What is there to trust?" Nemo's stare seemed to burn the younger man "There is even a small family resemblance."

"But why did she come and find the league?"

"Maybe she needs the league's help." Katrina said, appearing beside the group, making Sawyer jump.

"To do what?" Jekyll enquired, frowning.

Katrina looked over her shoulder shiftily "I can't explain here."

End of chapter one-Please review!

Take care

Officer BudBabe