Chapter Thirty-Four:

Skinner…

Kathryn had locked herself in her room and hadn't come out in close to four days. As far as Skinner knew, she hadn't slept in that time. So, one evening, he put his ear against her door and listened intently. Silence animated loudly from within, so he opened the door. He found Kathryn at her desk, completely asleep, using her notes as a pillow.

Smiling, he carefully picked her up and gently laid her down on her bed. She turned over to her side and smiled in her dreaming. Deciding she would sleep for at least a few hours, he quietly left the room. He returned to his quarters to relax.

An hour after checking on Kathryn, a massive explosion took place in her room, shaking the entirety of the Nautilus. Dropping what he was doing, Skinner sprinted to her room. She had just spilled from it, coughing, in a cloud of black smoke. She ran into him. "Oh, Skinner, I'm sorry," she said, still violently coughing. "I obviously didn't see you."

"No, I understand," he said, looking around. The rest of the League was running to see what had happened. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine," she nodded.

Nemo looked around the corridor in shock. "What happened?" he demanded. "And I expect the truth, Miss Kathryn!"

She coughed again and said, "Miscalculation. I added far too much2,3-tri-methyl-pentane than was necessary. And, well, you can see what happened."

"Is there a leak?"

"No, not at all," she said, shaking her head. "It's just smoke. I suggest we surface so we can air out the Nautilus. And my room." Nemo nodded and left for the helm. Sawyer and Quartermain left without a word. Skinner saw Mina and Kathryn catch each other's eye and smile. Kathryn sighed. "Well, I guess that's that until I can return to my room."

Skinner whispered into Kathryn's ear as he watched Mina and Jekyll leave. She nodded and the two walked down the corridor. When they reached his quarters, Skinner opened the door for her, then entered after her. "Kathryn," he said. "If you need to, you can use the bed. You look exhausted."

She nodded. "Yes, it's true," she sighed. "I haven't slept a full night since I began my work on the Elixir. When I woke up and found myself in bed, I rose up immediately and continued to work."

"Are you so bent on finding the antidote that you would kill yourself in the search?"

She thought for a moment. "Yes," she said firmly. "If it means that certain men in the world have to die, then my sacrifice will be well worth it. I assure you of that."

"You are completely insane," he said as she crossed to the bed and laid down. She patted the space next to her. He laid down next to her on his side and lightly traced designs on her stomach.

"I was surprised that you haven't taken the antidote, Skinner," she said quietly, seemingly drifting in and out of the dream world. "I had thought that you would do anything to become visible again…"

He sighed. "I thought about it," he said. "But, then I realised the benefits of remaining invisible." Leaned over to her and sucked gently on her exposed neck. Since her return to the League, Kathryn had left the strict women's fashions behind so she could more comfortably work.

"Such as?"

He chuckled. "I could simply tell you to relax," he said, moving up her neck to her ear. His lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, "And I could just play."

"Oh, you're horrible," she giggled. But she didn't move to stop him.

After a bit, Skinner said, "I was surprised you joined the League at all. You never seemed to be a team player."

She sighed. "I mean to undo the flaws of my character," she said lowly. "I will face my demon… And I will destroy him…"