Disclaimer: I own none of the characters in this fic. They all belong to much wealthier people with copyrights, and I am just borrowing them. Please do not sue me. Savvy?

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CHAPTER ONE: FEAR SPREADING LIKE A FLOOD

Mina's nightmares were growing more and more violent, steadily getting worse every night. The other league members could tell, even some of the Nautilus' crew had begun to notice. Something was plaguing her, but she had only drawn into herself more, closing everyone off without ever truly being rude or cold.

Nemo worried over it silently, offering her chances to talk every time he felt she might listen to him. Skinner, he decided to simply keep his mouth shut on serious matters and act natural. Sawyer was unsure of how to act around her period, and was still mourning Quartermain's death.

Dr. Jekyll though, avoided her as best he could. Hyde, though not quite as vulgar as he had been before the league, was more interested in how he could use Mina's haunted state to his advantage than anything else when he was around her. And Jekyll's own feelings for her spurred his demon on even more.

The few times he had come into Mina's path, he had simply inclined his head slightly with a nervous glance and moved on, only talking to her if she spoke first, which lately she had not done at all with anyone. And at dinner, Jekyll was fortunate enough to be at the opposite end of the table. Even then Hyde's lewd ideas would flash through Jekyll's mind, making him sick and nervous, though he was taking more and more control.

It was just that Mina was his weakness. Jekyll was too shy and nervous and shamed to ever attempt to be barely even friends with the fellow scientist, but Hyde was quiet eager to toy with Jekyll's insecurities and feelings over her. Hyde had always been interested in her, but when Jekyll had shown genuine interest, Hyde saw the chance to have a real field day.

Jekyll was, much to his shame, truly thankful Dorian Gray had been the true turncoat. If not, he feared he would have let Hyde take over completely, especially now that it was apparent how badly effected Mina was by her dreams, egging Hyde's cruel nature on even more. And Gray, he had known, he had seen Jekyll's infatuation with her. Taunting him for it. Acting as judge and jury, itching to become execution.

He would have been even worse to Mina probably, only it would have been so subtle, she might not have even noticed. She barely seemed to notice much of anything now, she simply did as was requested of her if her services were needed, otherwise she kept to herself, rarely ever venturing outside her room.

Jekyll was partly thankful, but even more worried. Thankful that he had a better chance of avoiding her, but worried she would finally lock herself in there, cutting off the world and giving over to insanity, to letting her mind slip so that she could escape whatever it was that haunted her so.

Henry Jekyll knew all too well how powerful that temptation was.

Yes, you know how blissful it can be once surrendering as well, Hyde whispered inside Jekyll's mind.

Jekyll told him to shut up and continued on his way to the main room where Nemo had called all the league members. Apparently, they were needed again.

***

"Do you really think Mina will help us? It is quite possible she may want to avoid any involvement at all after everything she went through."

Renfield shook his head. "No. I know her. And I know she will understand that she cannot run from this." He turned his head towards his companion. "From him." He watched grimly as the sun rose, lighting up a new day.

"I know. She would never refuse to fight him. Not after all that has happened, all his done." A short pause, and then, a whisper. "All he has taken.

Renfield nodded. "Yes." Abruptly, he clenched his eyes as he felt a stab of pain run through him, starting in his head and traveling down to his stomach.

"What is it, what is he doing?"

Renfield pushed away his friend's arms, steadying himself. He blinked several times and looked up. "He cut me off." It was barely above a whisper, the dreaded statement. Both men knew it would happen sooner or later. Both feared it. "He must have fed."

"I hope you are right about Mina. Because if you aren't, we have no way of tracking him now."

"I know," Renfield replied, grabbing his coat. "Let's go."

***

It felt good, walking. He had forgotten what it was like almost. It was a simple pleasure in life far too many mortals took for granted. How easily it could be taken, the ability to walk upon the earth, to carry oneself across a path or a floor, through the woods, over bridges.

A brief surge of anger swept through him, but it was easily contained, bottled up in a reserve. There would be a time for that later. For now, he had a voyage to join. He had always enjoyed London's seasons, the rain and fog, dampness in the air. It was like home, only with much bolder inhabitants. Foolish inhabitants.

Not a sound was made as he continued to walk away from his meal, the graceful doe's body lying on the ground in a crumpled, bloodied heap. Deer's blood was not the best, but it would suffice. It had given him enough strength to fulfill the most important task of cutting off his traitorous fledgling.

Yet again, a flicker of anger, a change in his eyes. Yet again, it was quickly dispelled, calm overtaking his demeanor with lightning speed.

He smiled. It was a beautiful, stormy day. He looked up, the clouds darkening as he did. He watched, eyes glowing red as thunder resounded through the trees. A quick flash of light, then another rumble echoing the lightening. He began his walk again, satisfied.

The rain started to fall around him, on him, pouring down on him as he carelessly walked on, closing in on the nearest village, a place to find a horse that could take him to the train station.

He knew that once he reached town, all would be again trembling in fear. Just as it should be.

***

It had been a long time since Mina had felt this lust run through her body. Yes, she had felt the bloodlust natural to her kind, she had given in to her thirst for the crimson liquid regularly, accepting what she was as best she could. But this, this was beyond that.

She felt his hunger for blood, his lust for that sweet, tangy liquid, burning hot as it flowed through living, breathing, bleeding creatures. His desire to drain a being dry and feast on its heart until he was sated.

Only, he was never sated.

Mina felt her breathing grow heavy, labored, and she could vaguely feel his probing presence in her mind. She wanted to scream out in rage and despair, her body on fire yet frozen to the core, and she craved. Oh, she craved, and she hated him for it.

Hated herself for it.

Steadily regaining her composure, she let her mind race, her thoughts troubled and confusing and all questions without answers. She knew she should wait, address this issue once the meeting was over, but then again, this was more important.

This was Dracula.

Suddenly, Mina was aware of eyes watching her. She looked up to see Captain Nemo regarding her with what could be taken as concern or worry, but Mina simply looked away, slightly, and she knew unjustly, angered by his stare.

She sat silently, waiting for all the others to come in. Once they had gathered around the long table, everyone turned to Nemo, awaiting the news of their latest mission to save the world from some villain on a power trip.

Mina almost smiled at the thought of Dracula dispensing their enemy for them, making sure no other even dared to think they could be more powerful then he was. But the thought that this was indeed true kept that smile from forming.

"Mr. Bond has informed me that there is a great threat gaining power in Europe. What or who he has not said, but he wishes for us to come to a meeting in London. Apparently there is someone who is more aware of the situation and better equipped to inform us of what has happened," Nemo explained. His expression was unreadable as usual, but Mina noticed when his eyes flickered over to her for a moment.

"Sounds more mysterious than our first mission," Skinner stated before downing a shot of bourbon. "Dangerous, top secret, need to know, has potential." Skinner paused, then glanced over at Nemo. "Wait, why are they informing you? I'm the one who's the real agent for them."

"What, suffering from a bruised ego now?" Mina quipped softly, but Skinner only grinned back, showing nothing but air. This was nothing more than routine behavior. Mina quipped and he shrugged it off, Skinner smacked her arse every so often, she slapped him when he did. It was strange, but then, weren't they all a little strange anyway?

"They informed me this time, Mr. Skinner, because you were nowhere to be found and Mr. Bond apparently feels that this is too important to be delayed by a search for you," Nemo told them. "Now, we have charted course for England, and should arrive within the day. I suggest we all rest and prepare for another quest."

Mina was the first to rise from her chair, languidly moving away from the table with an ease that belied her inner turmoil. She noticed Sawyer glance at her, a kind smile on his boyish face, but she could not muster a smile of her own.

Stopping before she had even reached the, remembering she had placed her book on the table, where it still lay. She turned and nearly ran into Dr. Jekyll, fidgeting as he following the rest of them out of the room.

"Excuse me, sorry," he offered shyly, and Mina nodded.

"My fault, I was the one who stopped and turned without warning," she replied, almost smiling as she walked by towards the table, grabbing her book. She turned to find the follow scientist still standing there, watching her.

Immediately he turned red and walked out, never once glancing back as he hurried away to his quarters.

She had noticed his sidelong glances and daring looks, had secretly found it charming. But this was the first time for outright staring, and if it had been under normal circumstances, she might have liked it a bit more.

Now though, all she could think about, concentrate on, was Dracula. On her dream. What he had said.

Mina dropped her book.

Dracula would go after the League, immediately she was certain. He would target Jekyll first most likely, aware of all of her memories of Jekyll's actions. Aware of something she had not yet admitted. Aware of far too much.

"Damn you," she whispered, closing her eyes for a moment.

"Mrs. Harker?"

Mina opened her eyes, letting them meet Nemo's. She shook her head. "Forgive me, I was thinking aloud again. If you will excuse me," she hastily said, moving past him and down the corridor. She hurried back to her own room, never acknowledging anyone she passed by on the way.

***

"Mina, you need to live every so often, there is so much to life!" Lucy exclaimed as she gave her friend a pleading look. "Please, come to the ball?" I would be ever so lonely without my dearest friend to help me select which man to take as my partner during each dance," she added with a wicked grin.

Mina smiled softly and finally nodded. "Oh, all right. I am just worried for Jonathan. His last letter was nearly a month ago, and he usually has a letter sent by now." The older of the two women sighed.

Lucy came over, sitting next to Mina with an arm wrapping around her friend's shoulder. "Do not fret so much. He is probably having a wonderful time, seeing those exotic foreign places!" Lucy tried to reassure Mina. "What you should be worrying about is if he has found a Romanian vixen to take your place," she teased.

"Lucy, please," Mina said with a slightly annoyed look. "Just because most of the men you keep in your company are only concerned with pleasure does not mean that is all every man cares about and thinks of constantly."

"Oh yes it does, and yes, they are, they do," Lucy replied, winking. "But Jonathan is probably an exception to the rule," Lucy added. "He does love you so, that much is obvious."

***

"What happened to you, Jonathan? What did he do to you?" Mina asked her husband softly, stroking his care worn face.

Jonathan closed his eyes, shaking his head and moving her away. "It was not what he did that has me so drained. It is what his whores did," Jonathan practically hissed, startling his wife. He had always been of a quiet, calm, reserved disposition, but since his return from that accursed castle, he had changed.

"His whores?" Mina repeated. Her brow furrowed in confusion, unsure of what he meant. "Jonathan, what happened?"

Her husband looked up at her, his clear, blue eyes haunted. "Mina, forgive me please," he whispered. "They had some power, some force, some hold over me the moment I saw their eyes," he told her. "They drank my blood, my sweat," he paused, shuddering. "They took everything that should have been yours, and they made it disgusting."

Mina embraced Jonathan, stroking his hair. "It's all right now, Jonathan. They are still in Transylvania, they cannot reach you any more," she comforted him as he wrapped his own arms around her, holding her tightly. "We are safe now."

"No, my love. Never safe. They may still be at that castle, in those forbidden lands, the haunted mountains, but not he. He never sleeps. He will come, he has already come," Jonathan whispered. "Do you not see, Mina? He will never stop."

***

This is not your fault, none of the blame can fall on you. It is not your fault, nothing that happens, nothing that he does, none of the blood he has spills or will spill stains your hands. Even if you gave in. He would never stop.

Mina kept saying this in her head, repeating those words over and over and over in the hopes that she could finally make herself see reason. But reason was something that could not exist when Dracula entered the picture.

There was a touch, a caress of her mind, something probing but she shut her eyes, concentrating all her mental and physical energy on pushing the presence out of her mind. She was surprised at how easily the feeing left her.

"He must still be gaining strength," she muttered to herself. If he could not break past her barriers, he was still weak, his mental strength not even close to its peak yet. Which meant there was a possibility she had more time than she thought.

If she could only find a way to kill him, rid the earth of his presence once and for all. There had to be a way, but obviously it was nothing that had been done. He kept coming back, returning to walk amongst the mortals he preyed upon with his sadistic hunger. She shuddered as she felt his hunger enter her belly again. A part of her feared that it would take over her, gain control for one moment, and that would be her downfall.

All he needed.

Unable to contain all of her rage, mina knocked several bottles off of her table, careless of the liquids in them. They fell to the floor with a crash, the glass shattering and bringing her back to reality.

She was letting him win already, allowing him to get under her skin. She suddenly felt him at the back of her mind again, and she shuddered when she imagined his soft laugh, his confident eyes in that mask of a face.

Mina shivered now, her blood suddenly sluggish in her veins as she felt a chill pass through her.

Cruelty. Such cruelty when he laughed, when he stared at her. So much more when he smiled, a silver grin. Stained with crimson.

***

The wind was almost violent now, towering trees swaying like branches. Thunder rumbling low, flashes if light in the clouds, rain coming down so hard, so fast, it was like a fog. A stranger walked along to the stables. Black boots, black cape, black clothes of an ancient style. The storm had no effect on him, even though it seemed as though the rain beat harder on him than it did everywhere else.

Villagers shrank back into their homes, a cold fear sweeping through the town. Mothers tucked their children tightly into bed early, husbands loaded their guns, grabbed their daggers. Dogs whimpered and fled to shelter, cats hissed.

The dark stranger entered the stable, walking past neighing horses, bucking and kicking at their stalls in fear. Fear followed in his wake while power emanated from him, hanging over him like a second skin. He finally stopped when he reached the calmest horse, a stallion.

As still as a rock, the horses huffed and looked around in fear, backing away as best he could from the stranger, but otherwise made no move.

The man grinned and stretched out a hand, holding it still. His grin widened, baring white, too white, teeth as the horse neared. He rubbed the animal's velvety nose, then opened the gate to the stall. He led the horse out, whispering soft words in his native tongue. His voice was soothing.

Far too soothing, just as his teeth were far too white, just as his eyes were far to piercing, just as his presence was far to overwhelming.

Relaxed, the horse allowed the stranger to saddle him, quickly preparing the horse for their long ride. The other horses had calmed, the whispering voice calming, soothing, putting their frightened instincts to rest, beguiling their senses of what it was that was speaking to them.

It was pouring even harder, if that was possible, when the stranger rode his horse out of the town, the stallion galloping away as fast as his long legs could carry himself and his rider. They would reach the station by midday.