AN/ Thank you to my reviewers. I'm sorry I spelled your name wrong, Jinxeh. I have seen "Hellboy" and I think it's really, really cool. Samyo, my other spirit stories involve the spirit guiding Nightcrawler through X2 (under the name Karen) and Captain Jack Sparrow through Pirates of the Caribbean. (under the name Calypso) You don't have to read these fics if you want to, but I may be referencing them a few times in this fic, so be warned. ToTaKeKe13, I'm glad you like Skinner so much. Now breathe…and thank you for the review. Now we will find out the other spirit's name, Funky in Fishnet. Thank you all again. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
As we walked, Skinner finished covering his head in greasepaint and put on his hat, gloves and glasses. I managed to find Mina's spirit guide so I could talk with him quickly.
"Hey, what's your name here?" I asked him quietly.
"Serro," he replied.
"I'm Nikita."
"Cool. We'll talk in a second, okay?" he whispered. I nodded. This was not the right time to talk.
When we got outside the first thing I noticed was that it was pouring rain. A few 'typical summer day in London' jokes ran through my mind, but I just kept my mouth shut and shivered slightly. Skinner was used to this weather, a necessity if he was going to sneak around invisible on these streets.
My eyes were drawn to the beautiful long, white car parked in the street. There was a man standing by the door.
"What in God's name is that?" Quatermain exclaimed as we moved down the stairs.
"I call it an automobile," Captain Nemo explained.
"Yeah, but what is it?" Skinner asked. We stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
"The future, gentlemen," Nemo said. "The future." A hint of a smile appeared on my face. Nemo walked closer to the car, introducing the man who stood beside it. "This is my first mate."
"Call me Ishmael." My smile widened. Nemo moved to the other side of the car. "Please," Ishmael said as he opened the door for the other League members to enter.
I frowned, realizing that Serro and I wouldn't be able to fit into the car comfortably. Sure, we could pass through people, but to have someone constantly be through your body is not comfortable. Skinner and Mina glanced back at us briefly, Skinner seeing only me and Mina seeing only Serro.
"I'll meet you there," Serro and I said simultaneously. Skinner and Mina got into the car and Serro and I grinned at each other.
"I thought you were going off to do I, Robot?" I said.
Serro shrugged. "I was, but there was a change of plans. Now I'm guiding Mina." He nodded to the car as the engine started.
"Yeah. I'm doing Skinner," I said.
"Good luck with that."
I smiled. "Yeah, you too." The car pulled away and I sighed. "Can you fly in this world?" I asked Serro as Tom Sawyer, huddled against the cold rain, followed the car.
"Yes, I can," Serro replied.
"Good, cos I can't."
"Oh." Serro smiled slightly and got the subtle hint. "You want a lift?"
I smiled gratefully. "Yes, please."
He turned around and squatted down. I hopped onto his back piggy-back style. He grunted softly under my weight, holding my legs as he stood up. I clutched his shoulders.
"Okay, ready?" Serro asked over his shoulder.
"Ready."
Serro jumped into the air. A small inventory squeal escaped from my throat. I was used to flying, but not like this. I felt my face go hot, despite the cold air and rain. Serro flew quickly, catching up to the car. We kept pace with it, gliding just a few feet above the moving roof.
I knew that inside the car, Skinner was asking Quatermain about how M got him to join the League and Quatermain was again expressing his displeasure of having Mina as a team mate, seeing her only as a "distraction". And when Alan said that he was in no mood for any more women, Skinner would speak up and suggest that he send them all his way. "Skinner, shut up!" did seem like the best response to that.
Inside, I was the happiest I'd been in a long time. I have had a crush on Serro for years, and this was physically the closest I had ever gotten to him. Rain lashed at us in the wind, soaking us. Goosebumps rose on my skin and I could feel them on Serro's skin as well. I didn't care about the cold and the wet though. My heart was pounding so hard Serro must have felt it. I held on to him tightly, not wanting to fall, but I trusted him. He had a strong grip on me, and I felt quite safe. I smiled to myself and closed my eyes, savouring the moment, swearing to myself that I would never forget it.
By the time we got to the East London Docks, the rain had diminished to a light drizzle. Thunder rumbled in the distance, expressing the day's foul mood. Serro had overtaken the vehicle and we landed on the wet street outside Dorian Grey's house. Nemo's car was a few minutes behind us.
"Thanks," I said to Serro as I dropped off his back.
"No problem," Serro replied, rolling his shoulders. There was a minute's silence. I wracked my brain for something to say, but I was tongue-tied. This sometimes happened when I was around him. I wondered if Serro felt the same. Part of me doubted it. Maybe he just didn't have anything to say, or was he tongue-tied as well? And if so, was it for the same reason I was?
Just then, the car pulled up in front of us, its engine purring like a giant tiger. Quatermain, nemo, Skinner, Ishmael and Mina all got out.
"Shall I wait, Captain?" Ishmael asked.
"No, bring my lady to me," Nemo replied. I didn't have to wonder what he meant by that.
I walked up to Skinner and smiled. His grease-painted face winked at me under his sunglasses. I saw Serro move over to Mina. I left him to do his job.
"This is a charming spot," Skinner sarcastically remarked of our surroundings. "Does Jack the Ripper live here?" I bit my lip. Could I compare Dorian to Jack the Ripper? Maybe.
Skinner's question went unanswered as Alan knocked on the door to Dorian's home. A panel opened on the door and Dorian's eyes peered out, studying the three men on the street. Mina had not approached the door yet. The panel snapped closed. I looked over my shoulder and saw Nemo's car back into an alley and Mina and Serro approaching us. Dorian's door opened a bit and I looked at the immortal man.
"Good evening," he said. His voice was like silky smoke.
"Mr Dorian Gray?" Quatermain asked.
"I am indeed."
"We came by way of M."
"Oh…" Dorian said, opening the door a bit wider to look at Nemo and Skinner. "M for mystery. Well, I've told him and I'm telling you, I'm not interested." He took a step backwards so he could shut the door but a female voice stopped him.
"Dorian." Mina stepped forward, and Gray saw her for the first time in who knows how long.
"Mina?" he said. The two of them looked at each other for a second and I sensed something pass between them. Then Mina, followed closely by Serro, stepped into the house. Alan, Skinner, myself and Nemo followed.
Dorian led us down a hall and up a staircase. The entire house was old and dusty. It even smelled like it.
"Charming décor," Skinner remarked sarcastically as we climbed the stairs.
"You're missing a picture, Mr Gray," Quatermain observed ahead of Skinner and I.
"And you don't miss a thing, do you Mr. Quatermain?" Dorian said.
"Oh, sometimes," the ageing hunter admitted.
As we passed a wall of paintings I did notice a black space on the wall. You could still see the dust marks where the frame once hung. I let a soft sigh escape as I passed it. I knew all about that missing picture, and its importance to Dorian.
As we entered Dorian's vast, two-levelled library, it was easy to see that this was the room the immortal spent the most time in, for it was the most well kept area we had seen so far. The first thing Skinner spotted was a drinks cart and moved quickly towards it. He removed his hat, exposing the invisible back of his head. "Scotch, anyone?"
Dorian glanced at Skinner as he walked by. He saw that Skinner was really an invisible man, but he didn't even flinch. "Please, help yourself."
"Don't let it ruin your make-up," Mina added.
Skinner gave Mina a look. Then he flipped the collar of his coat down, placed his hat on one of the bottles, and poured himself a glass. He offered me one when no one was looking.
"No, thank you," I said. One of these days, Skinner was going to realize that I don't drink.
"I'm impressed, Mr Gray," Nemo said. "You take Skinner's uniqueness in your stride."
"Yes, well, I've seen too much in my life to shock easily," Dorian explained nonchalantly. He sat down in an expensive looking chair, crossed his legs, and began to finger his cane sword resting near by. "Although, I must say I was surprised to see you again," he said to Mina.
She sat primly on the arm of another chair. "Well, our last parting was such sweet sorrow."
"Oh, so you're nothing more then an enticement," Dorian concluded. He was almost as good an actor as M. "Nevertheless, your presence intrigues me."
I rolled my eyes. "Sure it does," I thought.
Dorian paused and turned his attention to Quatermain. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other, forcing myself to be patient waiting for the upcoming battle. "They say you're indescribable, Quatermain," Dorian said.
"Well, a witch doctor did bless me once," Alan said. "I had saved his village. He said Africa would never allow me to die." He said the word 'Africa' with some fondness. I suspected he might be feeling a bit homesick for it. A ghost of a smile appeared on my lips as I watched the old hunter.
"But you're not in Africa now," Dorian pointed out.
Quatermain shook his head. "No," he admitted.
"But he would much rather be," I thought.
Nemo changed the subject. "I confess a curiosity as to what the files say about Mr Gray. We, all of us, have traits useful in this endeavour. A hunter," he nodded towards Alan. "Scientist," A look towards Mina. "Even Skinner has stealth."
"And a sense of humour," I thought with a small smirk. At that moment, my assignment was taking a gulp of his drink. The amber liquid was still visible going down his throat before it disappeared into his stomach. He raised his glass in a mock toast.
"Cheers."
"What have you?" Nemo asked Dorian.
"I have experience," he said slowly, not wanting to reveal too much about himself too soon.
"Gray and I have met before," Quatermain told the group. "Many years ago at Eton College."
"A lecture, no doubt," Mina assumed. "You, the nation's hero, Dorian, the eager listening boy."
"Quite the reverse," Quatermain corrected. "It was Gray visiting Eton…" He looked at Mina. "And I was the boy."
Surprised, Mina looked at Dorian, who appeared unfazed by the whole conversation. Part of me fleetly had to wonder why Dorian was visiting the college in the first place.
I sighed quietly and caught Serro's eye. We had the exact same expression. "Any minute now…"