Chapter Twenty-Five:
Kathryn…
She sighed and lowered her pistol as Sawyer left the house. "I didn't want to have to do that," she muttered, holstering her pistol. She walked over to the desk.
"Bold move, Kit," James commented as she opened the package Sawyer returned. "Why are you going to Kenya?"
"Because if Allan Quartermain is still alive, I want to know how," she said. "And I thought that I could perhaps combine Alchemy with African Magic, and possibly make the Elixir stronger."
James gently placed a hand on her cheek and turned her face towards him. "You were so lovely," he said softly. "But, since then, you've changed in so many ways. What happened to you?"
She noticed his hand felt as cold as ice. His hands were never cold. "Death, James," she said. "I've witnessed it far too many times in my life to come out unaffected. The effect death has is different from person to person."
"It made you cold and hard-hearted," he said, pulling her over to him. He was leaning against the desk and he pulled her up against him. "It made you one of the most feared women in all Europe."
"Thank you," she said, feeling his hands snake around her waist and under her clothing. She winced. "Gods, your hands are freezing, James! What's wrong? You were never cold."
He averted his gaze. "I need more of the Elixir," he said, almost mumbling. "Without it, I'll die in a month or two."
"What?" she asked, shocked. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" She moved away from him and hurriedly started packing the Elixir formula and other important documents into a case. The bell rang. "Oh, gods," she muttered. "Gods, I hope that's not the police." James started to walk to the front door. "No, James, I'll get it." She ran to the front door and opened it a crack. It was Mr. Holmes. Almost worse than the police. "Yes?"
"Higgins said he saw a group of thugs through your kitchen window," he said. "They were either dead or severely wounded. Is everything all right?"
"Yes," she said, quickly. "Everything's fine. I was just packing to continue on."
"May I come in?" he asked, pushing on the door.
"I would rather it if you wouldn't," she said. But she had no choice. Mr. Holmes pushed the door open and walked into her house. She shut the door. "Honestly, Mr. Holmes. Everything is just fine. There's no problem whatsoever."
"Then why is there blood on the floor of your hall?" he asked, pointing it out.
"I didn't even notice that," she muttered. Then she noticed he was walking swiftly to the study. "Mr. Holmes, please. Just leave. I have to go." He entered the study. She groaned when she heard the shouts of surprise.
"Moriarty."
"Holmes."
Kathryn walked into the study to find both Mr. Holmes and James eyeing each other warily, holding pistols up. "Gentlemen, please," she said.
"Is this why you wanted me to leave, Miss Bennet?" Mr. Holmes asked her.
"Partly," she said. "Please lower your weapons. There's no time for this." When they didn't move, she sighed. Then two gunshots were heard. The men looked over at Kathryn. She had both her pistols out and had just shot the guns out of their hands. "You will settle this like the learned men you both are… Or I won't marry either of you."
"What?" they both said at the same time, staring at her.
She feigned innocence. "Your offers still stand, don't they?" she asked. They nodded. "Well, then. Unless you both cooperate and follow my rules, I won't marry either of you. I'll—I'll run away with Skinner!"
"Kathryn, he shot you!" the both protested.
"I don't care! You both are acting like idiots!" she screamed. "Settle this! Now." She holstered her pistols and waited, watching them. The men glared at each other for a moment. Then they both suddenly had knives in their hands. She could tell they were not going to settle their differences intellectually. As they both lunged for each other, Kathryn quickly puts herself between them. She felt the stinging pain of a metal blade in the back of her left shoulder and she grabbed the shoulder of the man she was facing. Her nails dug into his shoulder and she could feel her strength leaving. She sank to the floor and gasped for air.
"Miss Bennet—" Mr. Holmes said.
"Go away," she said. Her vision was blurring. Then it came back into focus. Her overcoat was off, and James was holding her, pressing a cloth to her wound. "There's someone coming," she whispered, hearing the footsteps in the hall.
The door opened and Jekyll walked in. "Good god," he said. "What happened?"
"Dr. Jekyll," she said. "I need your help." She sat up and pulled away from James. She pulled her hair around her neck, away from the wound. "Stitch me up."
"But—"
"Just do it," she said. "There's no time for sedatives, so don't bother." She brought one knee to her chest and held onto her leg as Jekyll pulled her shirt away from the wound. Her nails dug into her leg and she uttered a soft sound of pain as she felt the needle enter she skin as Jekyll stitched the wound closed.
"There," he said after a bit, replacing the fabric of her shirt. "Are you all right?"
"Yes," she said. "What are you doing here?" She stood, leaning on the desk.
"Sawyer had boarded the Nautilus yelling for me and saying that you were alive," he said. "I felt so guilty about leaving you at Sir Lucas' that I needed to find out for myself." He held out her despatch-box. "I brought it to save you a trip."
"Thank you," she said, taking the silver box from him. "Did you read my letter?" He nodded. "The document should be in the desk drawer unless Skinner pinched it. Now, go. I don't have time to chat at the moment."
"But—"
"There's no time for this, Jekyll!"
"You should come with us," he said.
She looked at him sadly. "I can't," she said. "Now, go. I have to finish packing."
"But, Kathryn—"
"Get out of my house, Henry!" she shouted. "I don't have time for this." He nodded and left her house hurriedly. Kathryn sighed, then her strength failed her altogether. James caught her and carried her into her bedroom and laid her on her bed.
