The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Resurrected
Chapter Six - Rosaline's Story
Schlasser looked out of the window, it was clouding over. That had to be a good sign. It wouldn't have been right had his plans been carried out in sunshine, there was no cover for illegal activity. Plus which, sunshine always seemed to be an emblem of happiness. Schlasser hadn't been happy for a long time, he hadn't been happy for years. No one seemed to make allowances for him, no one cared whether he had loved and lost. They were always so wrapped up in there own feelings. In fact, it reminded him of a line in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
"I was adored once too."
Somehow that seemed to sum everything up for him. He had been a family man once, before certain things cropped up. His nose twitched and he turned around to look at Tom. The Agent had been untied, he couldn't really go anywhere from a moving car. Also, the boy had no idea where they were, so it wouldn't be terribly sensible for him to run off.
In order to break up the aggressive silence he asked, "So, would you like to ask anything else about what has been going on. I feel that the prior explanation was a little rushed."
Tom looked up at him, he said nothing. There was really nothing to say after all. He had understood Schlasser and Moriarty's plan exceedingly well. It seemed to sum up bringing Europe to breaking point, not that there was much effort needed in that task. And of course exterminating the League.
He knew Mina and Nemo and the others would be on their way there. The thought however didn't comfort him, he wished he could tell them of the plan and stop them from rushing to their probable deaths. He wondered how Moriarty planned to kill Mina, as far as he knew Vampires were of the Undead. Did that mean Mina was dead already, or that she just couldn't die. He was sure she had explained it to him once or twice, there was something about her being only half vampire, but for the life of him Tom couldn't remember what it was.
The barren rocky ground flew by the window, and Tom found himself wondering what it might be like to be a rock. Boring, was the first word that came to mind, and slow. It seemed to be like his situation, he was moving slowly from one position of extremes to another. Schlasser didn't seem worried by his silence and he carried on in that same normal tone.
"Of course, now we're off to Romania, to pick up my accomplice and Rosaline. Oh, course, I never explained to you about Rosaline did I. I suppose I can tell you why she's special, I just will have to be extremely careful. Do you want to know or are you going to sit there and sulk for the rest of the journey. It's quite rude you know."
For some reason the man's tone was infuriating Tom. He sounded so calm, so sane, it was like Tom was his guest not his victim. He had said nor done anything which had physically caused Tom harm. The only time he had lost his temper was when he was talking about the lost unity of Germany and Austria. He swivelled his eyes towards the old man and shrugged, "Guess so, I haven't got anything else to do all day."
"You know, you might as well stop putting me through this. I didn't choose to have you brought into this. I'm just a man who will do anything for what he believes, I don't like to throw away life Mr Sawyer, it's something that should be respected."
He straightened up a little in his seat and angled himself more towards Tom, realising that he would not make the effort to face him. "Rosaline's ability, is something to do with her heritage, her full name is Rosaline Iaso. The clue of course is all in her surname, do you by chance know who Iaso is?"
Tom frowned, truthfully he had no idea no idea who the person was, but taking an educated he said, "Someone from a legend?" It seemed quite a good answer to him, it would hopefully be vaguely right, and seeing as most interesting powers and stories were rooted in Myth it couldn't go too far wrong.
Schlasser laughed and nodded, "A little imprecise, but a good answer none the less. Iaso is one of the daughters of the Greek God Asclepius. His story was quite tragic really, his father was the God Apollo, his mother was killed for infidelity and Asclepius was only just saved himself. He grew to work as a healer, but one day he raised a man from death for a sum of money. This angered Zeus greatly and he killed Asclepius. However Zeus realised that Asclepius had actually done a lot of good as well in the field of medicine. He allowed him to join the gods, and Aclepius became the God of Healing. He left behind on Earth five daughters, one of which was Iaso. His line was carried down - "
Tom had followed Schlasser with actual interest this time, and he was able to finish of his sentence, "Right down to Rosaline, or whoever."
"Indeed", Schlasser nodded, "However don't run away with the idea that she can heal upon will. It doesn't work like that. She has to feel that there is a desperate need for her to use the power, and then she has to call for it to channel through her. So really she isn't the one with the power, it is her ancestor Asclepius who still possesses the power."
Frowning Tom replayed what Schlasser and had said, Rosaline didn't actually have the power she just asked for it from her great squared grandfather and he channelled it through her. But something else bothered him, the man had said that Rosaline needed to feel a great need to do this, which meant there had to be a big problem at the time.
His look of comprehension must have been exceedingly obvious for Schlasser wore a smug look as he watched him with those unblinking eyes, "Yes, but do you know that Asclepius still yearns to help here on earth. Do you have any idea what it must be like having a God trying to force his power through you? I've been told it's made her quite unstable. Every reaction she experiences is amplified at least ten times above the normal standard."
Tom listened to this speech and wandered what this Rosaline would be like. Probably a shivering wreck of a person, but anyway none of it mattered, "I don't see how you can expect me to believe in something like that. The Greek Gods were nothing but Legend, made up because humans didn't understand how the world worked. They don't exist, only one God exists, and sometimes I wonder what he's doing."
"A fair point Mr Sawyer, but in time you will see that there are some things that man understood extremely well. However I am in no mood to get into heavy religious discussions. I shall let you believe what you believe, but when you see what this girl can do I suspect you may want to find some way of editing it into your view of the world."
They lapsed back into their uneasy silence, neither wishing to continue their conversation. Tom thought the whole idea was quite ridiculous. He had been brought up as a Christian and ideas like that were just plain wrong. Greek Gods, their descendants, it confirmed his suspicions that he was in a car with a sane mad man. They were the most dangerous kind of mad men, they were so unpredictable as you had great difficulty deciding what they would do next.
Quite suddenly there was a rap on the bonnet, and the car was brought to a grinding holt. They were still in the mountain country and there was no way they could have reached Romania that quickly. Judging from the position of the sun in the sky it was about mid afternoon. He peered out of the window trying to fathom what was going on. Really Schlasser had told him a whole lot of not very much. Tom didn't really know where he was, how Moriarty was suddenly breathing, or why this man was planning to blow up the Palace of Versailles. Well actually no, that wasn't true, Schlasser had given him those answer, it was just Tom's mind hadn't managed to fit them all together in a logical pattern yet.
He gave a start as Viscien yanked open the door, "Schlasser we have lost you fifty pence."
There really wasn't an easy way to describe Tom's reaction to that statement. It was a mix of disbelief, exasperation, and despair. But there was something else there as well. He felt like he should be laughing, the whole lot of them were completely mad. What fifty pence were they on about?
"Does it look like my bulb?"
"Yes."
"Damn it."
Well at least Schlasser seemed to understand what on earth they were on about. It hadn't occurred to him that they may have been talking in code and the randomness of what had just been muttered perplexed him. Looking between the Austrian Aristocrat and his deputy he raised his eyebrows. He was also strongly tempted to roll his eyes, but there was something about the look of seriousness on Schlasser's face that restrained him. Something had gone wrong. Either that or they really had lost his fifty pence. But why on Earth would Schlasser have, or care about a fifty pence?
The conversation meanwhile had passed by Tom. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"It has been reported by three parties, they came one after another like lightening. They are here."
"We underestimated the fifty pence then? It seems the head of the Queen can be most slippery."
"Not slippery, good at planning travel routes."
Schlasser was shaking his head in disbelief. "There is nothing for it, if fortune does not favour us we must weather a luckless period. Tell the drivers to carry on, we have delayed too much already."
Viscien saluted smartly and then closed the door firmly behind himself. There was the muffled sound of orders being shouted and then the engine of the car started up once more. Tom began to look sullenly out of the window again, he felt alone and thoroughly lost. He didn't cope well with being thrust into the position of Damsel in Distress. He'd always played the role of hero, ever since he was a boy. Schlasser had been muttering to himself for a few minutes in a continuous and jumbled lot of German. He glanced across at Tom and quite suddenly announced, "We will be arriving in Romania within the hour. You'll be relieved to know your friends are on their way."
Mina blinked slightly as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. They had been cooped up in Nemo's ship for the better part of two days. They had only surfaced briefly to take on board supplies and charge up Nemo's ship. Even then Nemo had been extremely tight with time. Mina wasn't complaining mind you, she was terribly worried about Tom. He was one of the only people who could work up her compassionate streak. She normally liked to pretend she didn't have one but more often than not it shone through. She adjusted her veil slightly and then descended the gang plank in her usual regal manner.
Nemo had disembarked about half an hour ago and was still locked in busy conversation with a crew member. They both were holding a large piece of paper which Mina presumed was the plans or design for Nemo's new machine. Nemo by trait was generally secretive and he had refused point blank to reveal what it was to anyone except those involved in building it. His paranoia about his technology had only been increased by the encounter with Moriarty which involved the hijacking and copying of his technology. Mina knew he'd never forgive Dorian for that insult, especially not after the hospitality he'd shown the Immortal. Although, Dorian wasn't really an immortal any more; being dead and all. A tiny smirk of triumph flickered over her face as she remembered her victory over him. The ultimate proof that women were as good as, if not better than men. Even Immortal men.
She finally reached the dock and politely hovered near Nemo and waited for what she estimated was a good five minutes. There was no sign of the others and it looked like Nemo was getting very caught up in the discussion about his machine. Mina spotted the word aviation and turbulence quite a lot and was beginning to form a clear picture of what Nemo had built. It was interesting that it wasn't entirely his own invention this time, but still. A man can only have a certain amount of ingenuity. At least Nemo put it to some use. She waited another few seconds and then gently cleared her throat. It had no apparent effect so she tried it again, this time using a little more direct force.
By now she could hear the voices of the others, they were obviously ready to carry on with the journey. Nemo however was still deeply engrossed in some sort of discussion about Wing measurements and to be honest Mina was getting more than a little irritated. She looked around aimlessly hoping the movement would release some frustration and then quite audibly and pointedly exclaimed, "Why, Captain Nemo I do believe the others are coming. I think it would be a good idea if you explained the next stage of the journey. You know; now perhaps? Now would be good."
Nemo clenched visibly when Mina's voice drove between him and his plans for improvements but quickly prioritised. Tom was in danger, and once more it was up to him to make sure that he could transport everyone there safely. It sounded slightly clichéd when you thought about it like that, but then again someone had to do it. At least he would do it properly. "Mrs Harker, forgive me. I didn't see you waiting there; and my," he caught sight of Jekyll, Denethy, and Skinner (well his coat) emerging from the depths of the ship. "What wonderful timing gentlemen. I was just about to explain to Mrs Harker our next course and unveil our new mode of transport."
He gave a curt nod to his assistant who had been standing to one side, now with the roll of paper neatly rolled up in his hand. He stood to attention sharply in response and then rushed off inside the ship. Nemo looked after him approvingly and then began to march down off the dock to where a car was waiting. The others watch him for a few seconds and then followed quickly, they knew the routine. Nemo would have taken care of most things. He would make sure that there was something waiting to transport them anywhere, and usually he'd make sure that it would work. Mina felt that that particular trait was extremely rare but still useful.
Without a word they all piled in the car. Mina noticed with some mild amusement that Denethy was still carrying a suitcase. He was probably one of those people who felt that they had to pack for everything. Mina didn't share the same material restrictions. She was fairly above all that now. Slowly she was beginning to embrace the darker side of her nature; but only embrace it. She didn't feel any need to fight because it wasn't a threat. The limitations of her vampirism while her weakness allowed her to keep her personality and not loose herself to the dark. She had only ever come close to that situation twice, once with the man who gave her the bite. And once with another man; who's intoxication had been so strong she'd had no power to resist. He had called to the surface everything in her that she wanted to compress and hide. It hadn't been something unpleasant, but it hadn't been her. Thanks to him she had nearly lost herself. Her musings in her memory were shattered when Nemo at last began to outline the final stages of their trip in more detail.
"During the past four years I had to have something to occupy myself with. The war was of course a terrible tragedy but it brought to light a new mode of transport and a new area of technology I had not thought about. Aeroplanes and flight. Many times man has tried to fly, but now he thinks he has perfected it. It isn't the case I have perfected it; not man as a whole just me. Taking into theory most of what I know involving science I have been able to create a stable aircraft capable of carry several passengers that needs minimal refuelling. It is a clever and sleek design.
"Well it would have to be," chimed in Skinner with a terribly unhelpful remark, "You've spent four years working on it? I'm expecting a miracle from you Nemo; you've got an awful lot to live up to."
Mina gave an audible sigh and Skinner picked up the hint. He gave Nemo a cocky little smile and then settled back down into his seat. He wasn't really in the mood to fight with Mina. He didn't really fight with Mina properly; it wasn't that they got angry with each other. He just found a twisted delight in working out all the ways to annoy her and then making the information widely known. It had endeared him to Mina, but as he knew it wasn't the way he wanted.
"The air craft is just outside of the town we'll be there within twenty five minutes. I of course knew that there was always the possibility of building a flying contraption, but having heard of some of the tragic failures in that area or work I decided to bide my time and wait for some advancement to be made not only by myself but also by others. I have of course managed to design a plane that is capable of carrying about 10 people. There are 5 members of the League, one mechanic of mine is added to the number and then the rest are supplies. I've learnt during this that all the key in the design begins with the development of the..."
Jekyll broke across Nemo with a stunningly rare display of decisive action, "Perhaps it would be slightly more appropriate for you to inform us more on the final stages of the journey. You know, Denethy is new and all and he isn't as used to the routine as us." Denethy cringed slightly at the mention of his name is such a negative light but let it pass. Whatever Jekyll felt was best. Dr Jekyll meanwhile had added on another question to his speech, "Also what's going to happen to the Nautilus? You can just leave it here can you? Are you?"
"Of course doctor; forgive me. Sometimes my machines tend to fill up my conscious thoughts. Yes...the journey. Now we'll fly out over Yugoslavia as the crow flies. That will be the quickest route. There is a town about half way across where I will have supplies waiting. We'll stop at the town named Tuzla and then carry on until we get to a safe landing area just outside of Lugoj, that was the town that coincided with the co-ordinates. From there we'll just have to construct a search of the town for Tom as we've had no more details as to his whereabouts. Of course I won't leave the Nautilus here, there is a complex river system that can take the ship to just outside of Lugoj. The River Timsul cuts through the west side of the town. We will reach Lugoj by tonight, they will be there by noon tomorrow."
Each member nodded or gave some sign of approval to Nemo's plan. He had it all well thought out. Mina thought they should have a map of the city with them so that they could plot out the search while on the plane but Nemo told her that she would need to be strapped into so that destroyed any hope of planning using a map but the could still consider various kinds of targets. Maybe based on the sorts of things they had encountered before.
While Mina began to think about the location and various strategies of attack Skinner asked another question. "Nemo, you know you've said that you've built this thing and all."
"Yes Mr Skinner."
"Well, you've never actually mentioned that you've been up in it. So err...if you don't mind me asking.. How in hell do you know it's going to work?"
All eyes were on Nemo now. They were fine with the Nautilus they all knew that Nemo had had his ship in operation for years and that the only problems he'd ever had with it were the ones caused by Dorian. However none of them were too keen to go up in a new style of aeroplane that hadn't been tested before. Actually that meant they might not have to go up after all...it could be a complete disaster and not even leave the ground.
"I don't Mr Skinner I'm taking a gamble."
"Well for you sakes Nemo," replied Mina coldly, "you had better hope it does work. Over twelve hours with Skinner in the air will get on my nerves but make me spend another day with him on that ship of yours and there be some trouble."
"Come on Mina," cooed Skinner flashing her a grin, "You know you love me really."
All around the house there was quiet, however the situation appeared very different to Rosaline. Her day had begun normally enough, she had felt well enough to get up but the dreams had never quite left her mind. During the morning she had begun to feel a little off balance and felt that maybe she hadn't been well enough to get up after all. She had decided to have a quiet sit down and then try and carry on. It had worked for a while, but then there was a never ending buzzing in her ears. She had double checked the wireless and had found that it wasn't interference there but what ever it was she couldn't get rid of.
Around lunch time she had started to feel feverish again and asked her Mistress for a lie down. She agreed and Rosaline had tried to sleep for a couple of hours. Everything about her seemed to be warping though. She had lain down and whenever she opened her eyes the room twisted and spun and whenever she shut them a mocking face was there. A face she knew too well for her own comfort. She had promised him she would try and free him. She had meant to keep her promise but she didn't know how she was supposed to do it.
The more she thought about him the clearer the buzzing became. She focused on his name in her mind and clearly saw the words, "Free me Rosaline," streaming everywhere over everything. They were inescapable. She felt so over come by the pressure of his desire that she wilted into a light dream like state. Not sleeping...but still capable of dreaming. He was pushing her, crying out to her to take the portrait and wish him free.
By the time she had awoken it was near dusk and her head felt like lead. There were no coherent thoughts in her mind anywhere and the confusion was so powerful she felt she needed to choke. There was one wish...one dream...an obsession running through her. A past and memories were running through her mind but they weren't her own. His soul was twisted with agony, greed, revenge but most of all of a betrayal that ran so deep he could not deny it anywhere he turned. The mixture of emotions were leaving Rosaline agonised and she felt like she was sinking in to despair.
She hadn't emerged from her room, and could not rise from the bed. Everything seemed to be screaming at her to try and wake him. Everything was closing in on her in an over powering bout of claustrophobia. Her breathing was becoming laboured and shallow and her skin was covered in a thin layer of sweat. She couldn't get a firm grip on anything and when she reached for her bible it propelled itself from her grip. The final sign that she was Damned. The tears by now were flowing freely down her face and the blurred vision caused by them only distorted the room even more.
In despair she pulled at her hair and pressed her hands to her face. The voices wouldn't stop, they kept on at her. Calling to her, trying to make her compel with their wishes. The more she fought the more pressure she felt. Her sobs were racking through her loudly and every where effects of immense power could be seen. The windows had flown open, and the curtains were billowing out of them in an invisible breeze. The door was slamming shut and then being ripped open and all the while Rosaline rolled around on her bed shaking her head madly, trying to dislodge the face and voice of Dorian.
Over the racket it had been impossible to make out the sound of running feet but all of a sudden the misshapen figure of her mistress was there. Rosaline became aware of her presence not by seeing her but by the familiar scent of Lavender that seemed to surround her. It seemed also that the spirit who was tormenting her had picked up on her mistress' presence for all of a sudden she felt no will to cry. She lay there quite still, breathing in and out. The mistress looked around and the shattered remnants of the room in amazement. She seemed unable to form any words and instead just gaped at the girl who was curled up on her bed. Rosaline's head was shaking madly, to the Mistress it seemed that she was fighting with someone and from the looks of things she had. She wondered whether someone had broken in but the destruction didn't seem normal. A thief would have ransacked everywhere and yet the disturbances were just in set points.
Her focus was brought back on to Rosaline when she began to moan to herself, "No! No! I can't! No! Don't make me try!" Her voice raised in pitch as she carried on and by the end she was softly screaming to herself. Her body had gone taut and pale and her whole form was shaking in an uncontrollable manner. To Rosaline it seemed that Dorian was there watching her everywhere. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't move without seeing him. With out feeling a pang of guilt for not freeing him from the confines of limbo. He watched her, and then giving her the trade marked smirk murmured softly, "That's it Rosaline. I'm leaving you now. I'm leaving you alone."
The wail of inhuman grief that came from Rosaline's mouth made her Mistress jump back with fear. The girl threw out her limbs so she was stretched out once more, her shape writhed and her sobs started up once more. Then without any warning she leapt from the mattress and pushing past her mistress she ran down the hall. She paused only briefly, a moment of calm in her storm of madness but then wildly tore the picture of the young man off the wall. She clutched at it so hard that her knuckles turned white and she spun around desperately looking for something. It turned out she was looking for somewhere to run because her eyes settled on the bathroom and she dashed into the tiled room and slammed the door behind her. There was the clicking sound of a lock and then silence.
Her Mistress could only look down the hall after her. She was in a state of disbelief. What an earth was wrong with the girl? She hadn't picked up some sort of extreme illness that was affecting her mind had she? That would be awful. She waited a few more moments and then decided she really had to do something. Briskly she strode down the corridor after Rosaline and pausing outside the bathroom door opposite the stairs turned and knocked smartly on the door. "Rosaline if you don't come out of there and tell me what's wrong in 5 seconds." She felt that the threat would be ominous enough, but there was still no sound. The mistress was starting to feel slightly panicky now, for her own safety as well as Rosaline's. She looked at the door hopelessly for a moment almost willing it to fall down. Sadly though, it didn't.
"Rosaline, if you do not open this door I'm going to have to go and get some help."
There was the click of something from behind her , and a heavily accented voice replied, "I'm afraid my dear I can not allow you to do that."
I return!!! Gosh it's been so long since I've updated and I'm sorry. But with exams and school stuff and everything. Well enough said. Now the traditional Authors Notes.
As you've probably guessed I haven't been able to find a suitable name for the Mistress of the house yet. I'm was considering working something else into her but at the moment I can see how it will work. So I'm afraid you'll just have to wait for that.
The timing has now furthered to the night of the third day so the League will very soon meet up with Schlasser and next chapter Dorian arrives! I promise a nice exciting piece of fighting next chapter though you may have to wait with me a while so that I can plot it out decently.
Other than that I just need to say I'm going with the Dorian picture and description from the film not the book. In the book the picture is full length and Dorian is blonde but this is a fanfic of the film and not the book so it'll be good ol' Stuart Townsend Dorian that I'll be writing.
Thank you to all my reviewers and I hope some of you will find your way back here and that I'll be able to kick start this again.
All the best
Emmy
Chapter Six - Rosaline's Story
Schlasser looked out of the window, it was clouding over. That had to be a good sign. It wouldn't have been right had his plans been carried out in sunshine, there was no cover for illegal activity. Plus which, sunshine always seemed to be an emblem of happiness. Schlasser hadn't been happy for a long time, he hadn't been happy for years. No one seemed to make allowances for him, no one cared whether he had loved and lost. They were always so wrapped up in there own feelings. In fact, it reminded him of a line in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
"I was adored once too."
Somehow that seemed to sum everything up for him. He had been a family man once, before certain things cropped up. His nose twitched and he turned around to look at Tom. The Agent had been untied, he couldn't really go anywhere from a moving car. Also, the boy had no idea where they were, so it wouldn't be terribly sensible for him to run off.
In order to break up the aggressive silence he asked, "So, would you like to ask anything else about what has been going on. I feel that the prior explanation was a little rushed."
Tom looked up at him, he said nothing. There was really nothing to say after all. He had understood Schlasser and Moriarty's plan exceedingly well. It seemed to sum up bringing Europe to breaking point, not that there was much effort needed in that task. And of course exterminating the League.
He knew Mina and Nemo and the others would be on their way there. The thought however didn't comfort him, he wished he could tell them of the plan and stop them from rushing to their probable deaths. He wondered how Moriarty planned to kill Mina, as far as he knew Vampires were of the Undead. Did that mean Mina was dead already, or that she just couldn't die. He was sure she had explained it to him once or twice, there was something about her being only half vampire, but for the life of him Tom couldn't remember what it was.
The barren rocky ground flew by the window, and Tom found himself wondering what it might be like to be a rock. Boring, was the first word that came to mind, and slow. It seemed to be like his situation, he was moving slowly from one position of extremes to another. Schlasser didn't seem worried by his silence and he carried on in that same normal tone.
"Of course, now we're off to Romania, to pick up my accomplice and Rosaline. Oh, course, I never explained to you about Rosaline did I. I suppose I can tell you why she's special, I just will have to be extremely careful. Do you want to know or are you going to sit there and sulk for the rest of the journey. It's quite rude you know."
For some reason the man's tone was infuriating Tom. He sounded so calm, so sane, it was like Tom was his guest not his victim. He had said nor done anything which had physically caused Tom harm. The only time he had lost his temper was when he was talking about the lost unity of Germany and Austria. He swivelled his eyes towards the old man and shrugged, "Guess so, I haven't got anything else to do all day."
"You know, you might as well stop putting me through this. I didn't choose to have you brought into this. I'm just a man who will do anything for what he believes, I don't like to throw away life Mr Sawyer, it's something that should be respected."
He straightened up a little in his seat and angled himself more towards Tom, realising that he would not make the effort to face him. "Rosaline's ability, is something to do with her heritage, her full name is Rosaline Iaso. The clue of course is all in her surname, do you by chance know who Iaso is?"
Tom frowned, truthfully he had no idea no idea who the person was, but taking an educated he said, "Someone from a legend?" It seemed quite a good answer to him, it would hopefully be vaguely right, and seeing as most interesting powers and stories were rooted in Myth it couldn't go too far wrong.
Schlasser laughed and nodded, "A little imprecise, but a good answer none the less. Iaso is one of the daughters of the Greek God Asclepius. His story was quite tragic really, his father was the God Apollo, his mother was killed for infidelity and Asclepius was only just saved himself. He grew to work as a healer, but one day he raised a man from death for a sum of money. This angered Zeus greatly and he killed Asclepius. However Zeus realised that Asclepius had actually done a lot of good as well in the field of medicine. He allowed him to join the gods, and Aclepius became the God of Healing. He left behind on Earth five daughters, one of which was Iaso. His line was carried down - "
Tom had followed Schlasser with actual interest this time, and he was able to finish of his sentence, "Right down to Rosaline, or whoever."
"Indeed", Schlasser nodded, "However don't run away with the idea that she can heal upon will. It doesn't work like that. She has to feel that there is a desperate need for her to use the power, and then she has to call for it to channel through her. So really she isn't the one with the power, it is her ancestor Asclepius who still possesses the power."
Frowning Tom replayed what Schlasser and had said, Rosaline didn't actually have the power she just asked for it from her great squared grandfather and he channelled it through her. But something else bothered him, the man had said that Rosaline needed to feel a great need to do this, which meant there had to be a big problem at the time.
His look of comprehension must have been exceedingly obvious for Schlasser wore a smug look as he watched him with those unblinking eyes, "Yes, but do you know that Asclepius still yearns to help here on earth. Do you have any idea what it must be like having a God trying to force his power through you? I've been told it's made her quite unstable. Every reaction she experiences is amplified at least ten times above the normal standard."
Tom listened to this speech and wandered what this Rosaline would be like. Probably a shivering wreck of a person, but anyway none of it mattered, "I don't see how you can expect me to believe in something like that. The Greek Gods were nothing but Legend, made up because humans didn't understand how the world worked. They don't exist, only one God exists, and sometimes I wonder what he's doing."
"A fair point Mr Sawyer, but in time you will see that there are some things that man understood extremely well. However I am in no mood to get into heavy religious discussions. I shall let you believe what you believe, but when you see what this girl can do I suspect you may want to find some way of editing it into your view of the world."
They lapsed back into their uneasy silence, neither wishing to continue their conversation. Tom thought the whole idea was quite ridiculous. He had been brought up as a Christian and ideas like that were just plain wrong. Greek Gods, their descendants, it confirmed his suspicions that he was in a car with a sane mad man. They were the most dangerous kind of mad men, they were so unpredictable as you had great difficulty deciding what they would do next.
Quite suddenly there was a rap on the bonnet, and the car was brought to a grinding holt. They were still in the mountain country and there was no way they could have reached Romania that quickly. Judging from the position of the sun in the sky it was about mid afternoon. He peered out of the window trying to fathom what was going on. Really Schlasser had told him a whole lot of not very much. Tom didn't really know where he was, how Moriarty was suddenly breathing, or why this man was planning to blow up the Palace of Versailles. Well actually no, that wasn't true, Schlasser had given him those answer, it was just Tom's mind hadn't managed to fit them all together in a logical pattern yet.
He gave a start as Viscien yanked open the door, "Schlasser we have lost you fifty pence."
There really wasn't an easy way to describe Tom's reaction to that statement. It was a mix of disbelief, exasperation, and despair. But there was something else there as well. He felt like he should be laughing, the whole lot of them were completely mad. What fifty pence were they on about?
"Does it look like my bulb?"
"Yes."
"Damn it."
Well at least Schlasser seemed to understand what on earth they were on about. It hadn't occurred to him that they may have been talking in code and the randomness of what had just been muttered perplexed him. Looking between the Austrian Aristocrat and his deputy he raised his eyebrows. He was also strongly tempted to roll his eyes, but there was something about the look of seriousness on Schlasser's face that restrained him. Something had gone wrong. Either that or they really had lost his fifty pence. But why on Earth would Schlasser have, or care about a fifty pence?
The conversation meanwhile had passed by Tom. "Are you absolutely sure?"
"It has been reported by three parties, they came one after another like lightening. They are here."
"We underestimated the fifty pence then? It seems the head of the Queen can be most slippery."
"Not slippery, good at planning travel routes."
Schlasser was shaking his head in disbelief. "There is nothing for it, if fortune does not favour us we must weather a luckless period. Tell the drivers to carry on, we have delayed too much already."
Viscien saluted smartly and then closed the door firmly behind himself. There was the muffled sound of orders being shouted and then the engine of the car started up once more. Tom began to look sullenly out of the window again, he felt alone and thoroughly lost. He didn't cope well with being thrust into the position of Damsel in Distress. He'd always played the role of hero, ever since he was a boy. Schlasser had been muttering to himself for a few minutes in a continuous and jumbled lot of German. He glanced across at Tom and quite suddenly announced, "We will be arriving in Romania within the hour. You'll be relieved to know your friends are on their way."
Mina blinked slightly as her eyes adjusted to the bright sunlight. They had been cooped up in Nemo's ship for the better part of two days. They had only surfaced briefly to take on board supplies and charge up Nemo's ship. Even then Nemo had been extremely tight with time. Mina wasn't complaining mind you, she was terribly worried about Tom. He was one of the only people who could work up her compassionate streak. She normally liked to pretend she didn't have one but more often than not it shone through. She adjusted her veil slightly and then descended the gang plank in her usual regal manner.
Nemo had disembarked about half an hour ago and was still locked in busy conversation with a crew member. They both were holding a large piece of paper which Mina presumed was the plans or design for Nemo's new machine. Nemo by trait was generally secretive and he had refused point blank to reveal what it was to anyone except those involved in building it. His paranoia about his technology had only been increased by the encounter with Moriarty which involved the hijacking and copying of his technology. Mina knew he'd never forgive Dorian for that insult, especially not after the hospitality he'd shown the Immortal. Although, Dorian wasn't really an immortal any more; being dead and all. A tiny smirk of triumph flickered over her face as she remembered her victory over him. The ultimate proof that women were as good as, if not better than men. Even Immortal men.
She finally reached the dock and politely hovered near Nemo and waited for what she estimated was a good five minutes. There was no sign of the others and it looked like Nemo was getting very caught up in the discussion about his machine. Mina spotted the word aviation and turbulence quite a lot and was beginning to form a clear picture of what Nemo had built. It was interesting that it wasn't entirely his own invention this time, but still. A man can only have a certain amount of ingenuity. At least Nemo put it to some use. She waited another few seconds and then gently cleared her throat. It had no apparent effect so she tried it again, this time using a little more direct force.
By now she could hear the voices of the others, they were obviously ready to carry on with the journey. Nemo however was still deeply engrossed in some sort of discussion about Wing measurements and to be honest Mina was getting more than a little irritated. She looked around aimlessly hoping the movement would release some frustration and then quite audibly and pointedly exclaimed, "Why, Captain Nemo I do believe the others are coming. I think it would be a good idea if you explained the next stage of the journey. You know; now perhaps? Now would be good."
Nemo clenched visibly when Mina's voice drove between him and his plans for improvements but quickly prioritised. Tom was in danger, and once more it was up to him to make sure that he could transport everyone there safely. It sounded slightly clichéd when you thought about it like that, but then again someone had to do it. At least he would do it properly. "Mrs Harker, forgive me. I didn't see you waiting there; and my," he caught sight of Jekyll, Denethy, and Skinner (well his coat) emerging from the depths of the ship. "What wonderful timing gentlemen. I was just about to explain to Mrs Harker our next course and unveil our new mode of transport."
He gave a curt nod to his assistant who had been standing to one side, now with the roll of paper neatly rolled up in his hand. He stood to attention sharply in response and then rushed off inside the ship. Nemo looked after him approvingly and then began to march down off the dock to where a car was waiting. The others watch him for a few seconds and then followed quickly, they knew the routine. Nemo would have taken care of most things. He would make sure that there was something waiting to transport them anywhere, and usually he'd make sure that it would work. Mina felt that that particular trait was extremely rare but still useful.
Without a word they all piled in the car. Mina noticed with some mild amusement that Denethy was still carrying a suitcase. He was probably one of those people who felt that they had to pack for everything. Mina didn't share the same material restrictions. She was fairly above all that now. Slowly she was beginning to embrace the darker side of her nature; but only embrace it. She didn't feel any need to fight because it wasn't a threat. The limitations of her vampirism while her weakness allowed her to keep her personality and not loose herself to the dark. She had only ever come close to that situation twice, once with the man who gave her the bite. And once with another man; who's intoxication had been so strong she'd had no power to resist. He had called to the surface everything in her that she wanted to compress and hide. It hadn't been something unpleasant, but it hadn't been her. Thanks to him she had nearly lost herself. Her musings in her memory were shattered when Nemo at last began to outline the final stages of their trip in more detail.
"During the past four years I had to have something to occupy myself with. The war was of course a terrible tragedy but it brought to light a new mode of transport and a new area of technology I had not thought about. Aeroplanes and flight. Many times man has tried to fly, but now he thinks he has perfected it. It isn't the case I have perfected it; not man as a whole just me. Taking into theory most of what I know involving science I have been able to create a stable aircraft capable of carry several passengers that needs minimal refuelling. It is a clever and sleek design.
"Well it would have to be," chimed in Skinner with a terribly unhelpful remark, "You've spent four years working on it? I'm expecting a miracle from you Nemo; you've got an awful lot to live up to."
Mina gave an audible sigh and Skinner picked up the hint. He gave Nemo a cocky little smile and then settled back down into his seat. He wasn't really in the mood to fight with Mina. He didn't really fight with Mina properly; it wasn't that they got angry with each other. He just found a twisted delight in working out all the ways to annoy her and then making the information widely known. It had endeared him to Mina, but as he knew it wasn't the way he wanted.
"The air craft is just outside of the town we'll be there within twenty five minutes. I of course knew that there was always the possibility of building a flying contraption, but having heard of some of the tragic failures in that area or work I decided to bide my time and wait for some advancement to be made not only by myself but also by others. I have of course managed to design a plane that is capable of carrying about 10 people. There are 5 members of the League, one mechanic of mine is added to the number and then the rest are supplies. I've learnt during this that all the key in the design begins with the development of the..."
Jekyll broke across Nemo with a stunningly rare display of decisive action, "Perhaps it would be slightly more appropriate for you to inform us more on the final stages of the journey. You know, Denethy is new and all and he isn't as used to the routine as us." Denethy cringed slightly at the mention of his name is such a negative light but let it pass. Whatever Jekyll felt was best. Dr Jekyll meanwhile had added on another question to his speech, "Also what's going to happen to the Nautilus? You can just leave it here can you? Are you?"
"Of course doctor; forgive me. Sometimes my machines tend to fill up my conscious thoughts. Yes...the journey. Now we'll fly out over Yugoslavia as the crow flies. That will be the quickest route. There is a town about half way across where I will have supplies waiting. We'll stop at the town named Tuzla and then carry on until we get to a safe landing area just outside of Lugoj, that was the town that coincided with the co-ordinates. From there we'll just have to construct a search of the town for Tom as we've had no more details as to his whereabouts. Of course I won't leave the Nautilus here, there is a complex river system that can take the ship to just outside of Lugoj. The River Timsul cuts through the west side of the town. We will reach Lugoj by tonight, they will be there by noon tomorrow."
Each member nodded or gave some sign of approval to Nemo's plan. He had it all well thought out. Mina thought they should have a map of the city with them so that they could plot out the search while on the plane but Nemo told her that she would need to be strapped into so that destroyed any hope of planning using a map but the could still consider various kinds of targets. Maybe based on the sorts of things they had encountered before.
While Mina began to think about the location and various strategies of attack Skinner asked another question. "Nemo, you know you've said that you've built this thing and all."
"Yes Mr Skinner."
"Well, you've never actually mentioned that you've been up in it. So err...if you don't mind me asking.. How in hell do you know it's going to work?"
All eyes were on Nemo now. They were fine with the Nautilus they all knew that Nemo had had his ship in operation for years and that the only problems he'd ever had with it were the ones caused by Dorian. However none of them were too keen to go up in a new style of aeroplane that hadn't been tested before. Actually that meant they might not have to go up after all...it could be a complete disaster and not even leave the ground.
"I don't Mr Skinner I'm taking a gamble."
"Well for you sakes Nemo," replied Mina coldly, "you had better hope it does work. Over twelve hours with Skinner in the air will get on my nerves but make me spend another day with him on that ship of yours and there be some trouble."
"Come on Mina," cooed Skinner flashing her a grin, "You know you love me really."
All around the house there was quiet, however the situation appeared very different to Rosaline. Her day had begun normally enough, she had felt well enough to get up but the dreams had never quite left her mind. During the morning she had begun to feel a little off balance and felt that maybe she hadn't been well enough to get up after all. She had decided to have a quiet sit down and then try and carry on. It had worked for a while, but then there was a never ending buzzing in her ears. She had double checked the wireless and had found that it wasn't interference there but what ever it was she couldn't get rid of.
Around lunch time she had started to feel feverish again and asked her Mistress for a lie down. She agreed and Rosaline had tried to sleep for a couple of hours. Everything about her seemed to be warping though. She had lain down and whenever she opened her eyes the room twisted and spun and whenever she shut them a mocking face was there. A face she knew too well for her own comfort. She had promised him she would try and free him. She had meant to keep her promise but she didn't know how she was supposed to do it.
The more she thought about him the clearer the buzzing became. She focused on his name in her mind and clearly saw the words, "Free me Rosaline," streaming everywhere over everything. They were inescapable. She felt so over come by the pressure of his desire that she wilted into a light dream like state. Not sleeping...but still capable of dreaming. He was pushing her, crying out to her to take the portrait and wish him free.
By the time she had awoken it was near dusk and her head felt like lead. There were no coherent thoughts in her mind anywhere and the confusion was so powerful she felt she needed to choke. There was one wish...one dream...an obsession running through her. A past and memories were running through her mind but they weren't her own. His soul was twisted with agony, greed, revenge but most of all of a betrayal that ran so deep he could not deny it anywhere he turned. The mixture of emotions were leaving Rosaline agonised and she felt like she was sinking in to despair.
She hadn't emerged from her room, and could not rise from the bed. Everything seemed to be screaming at her to try and wake him. Everything was closing in on her in an over powering bout of claustrophobia. Her breathing was becoming laboured and shallow and her skin was covered in a thin layer of sweat. She couldn't get a firm grip on anything and when she reached for her bible it propelled itself from her grip. The final sign that she was Damned. The tears by now were flowing freely down her face and the blurred vision caused by them only distorted the room even more.
In despair she pulled at her hair and pressed her hands to her face. The voices wouldn't stop, they kept on at her. Calling to her, trying to make her compel with their wishes. The more she fought the more pressure she felt. Her sobs were racking through her loudly and every where effects of immense power could be seen. The windows had flown open, and the curtains were billowing out of them in an invisible breeze. The door was slamming shut and then being ripped open and all the while Rosaline rolled around on her bed shaking her head madly, trying to dislodge the face and voice of Dorian.
Over the racket it had been impossible to make out the sound of running feet but all of a sudden the misshapen figure of her mistress was there. Rosaline became aware of her presence not by seeing her but by the familiar scent of Lavender that seemed to surround her. It seemed also that the spirit who was tormenting her had picked up on her mistress' presence for all of a sudden she felt no will to cry. She lay there quite still, breathing in and out. The mistress looked around and the shattered remnants of the room in amazement. She seemed unable to form any words and instead just gaped at the girl who was curled up on her bed. Rosaline's head was shaking madly, to the Mistress it seemed that she was fighting with someone and from the looks of things she had. She wondered whether someone had broken in but the destruction didn't seem normal. A thief would have ransacked everywhere and yet the disturbances were just in set points.
Her focus was brought back on to Rosaline when she began to moan to herself, "No! No! I can't! No! Don't make me try!" Her voice raised in pitch as she carried on and by the end she was softly screaming to herself. Her body had gone taut and pale and her whole form was shaking in an uncontrollable manner. To Rosaline it seemed that Dorian was there watching her everywhere. She couldn't breathe, she couldn't move without seeing him. With out feeling a pang of guilt for not freeing him from the confines of limbo. He watched her, and then giving her the trade marked smirk murmured softly, "That's it Rosaline. I'm leaving you now. I'm leaving you alone."
The wail of inhuman grief that came from Rosaline's mouth made her Mistress jump back with fear. The girl threw out her limbs so she was stretched out once more, her shape writhed and her sobs started up once more. Then without any warning she leapt from the mattress and pushing past her mistress she ran down the hall. She paused only briefly, a moment of calm in her storm of madness but then wildly tore the picture of the young man off the wall. She clutched at it so hard that her knuckles turned white and she spun around desperately looking for something. It turned out she was looking for somewhere to run because her eyes settled on the bathroom and she dashed into the tiled room and slammed the door behind her. There was the clicking sound of a lock and then silence.
Her Mistress could only look down the hall after her. She was in a state of disbelief. What an earth was wrong with the girl? She hadn't picked up some sort of extreme illness that was affecting her mind had she? That would be awful. She waited a few more moments and then decided she really had to do something. Briskly she strode down the corridor after Rosaline and pausing outside the bathroom door opposite the stairs turned and knocked smartly on the door. "Rosaline if you don't come out of there and tell me what's wrong in 5 seconds." She felt that the threat would be ominous enough, but there was still no sound. The mistress was starting to feel slightly panicky now, for her own safety as well as Rosaline's. She looked at the door hopelessly for a moment almost willing it to fall down. Sadly though, it didn't.
"Rosaline, if you do not open this door I'm going to have to go and get some help."
There was the click of something from behind her , and a heavily accented voice replied, "I'm afraid my dear I can not allow you to do that."
I return!!! Gosh it's been so long since I've updated and I'm sorry. But with exams and school stuff and everything. Well enough said. Now the traditional Authors Notes.
As you've probably guessed I haven't been able to find a suitable name for the Mistress of the house yet. I'm was considering working something else into her but at the moment I can see how it will work. So I'm afraid you'll just have to wait for that.
The timing has now furthered to the night of the third day so the League will very soon meet up with Schlasser and next chapter Dorian arrives! I promise a nice exciting piece of fighting next chapter though you may have to wait with me a while so that I can plot it out decently.
Other than that I just need to say I'm going with the Dorian picture and description from the film not the book. In the book the picture is full length and Dorian is blonde but this is a fanfic of the film and not the book so it'll be good ol' Stuart Townsend Dorian that I'll be writing.
Thank you to all my reviewers and I hope some of you will find your way back here and that I'll be able to kick start this again.
All the best
Emmy