AN/ To answer several peoples' question, yes, eventually Nikita and Serro will fall in love and have a close relationship. Right now, that relationship is in its very early stages. Nikita is too scared of what he'll say if she asks him out, and to tell you the truth, Serro feels the same. Thank you to my reviewers!

Suddenly, what Serro and I had been waiting for happened. Alan's eyes darted around like he had heard something. He took out his pistol, scanning the upper half of the room using his hunting instincts. Mina stood up.

"What is it?"

Armoured riflemen appeared along the balcony above our heads, one on either side of every book case. The sound of cocking guns filled the air. We were entirely surrounded. Quatermain lowered his pistol and turned to Dorian, who was now also standing.

"Gray?" he asked, demanding an explanation.

"They're not mine," the immortal said. I could feel a slow, burning anger in my chest. I glared daggers at him.

"They're mine," a new voice said. Everyone turned in the direction of the voice, the spiral staircase connecting the two levels. The Fantom appeared at the top of it. Staring up at him, it made me wonder how long it took for M to turn into the Fantom. Obviously not too long, considering we had just left him at the other building.

"First meetings usually warrant introductions," Quatermain said, studying the masked, cloaked man closely.

"Of course. I am the Fantom," he said in a heavy accent. "You are the League of so-called Extraordinary Gentlemen. Introductions made." He took a few steps down the stairs. "Oh, and I'm scarred, Mr Quatermain, not blind. Drop the gun." Alan did so reluctantly, not taking his eyes off the Fantom.

"Your mission is to stop me," the evil man acknowledged. "That, of course, I cannot permit. So I give to you all a special one-time invitation." My attention turned to Skinner, he was watching the Fantom, obviously considering joining him even before he said "Join me."

"You think we'll help start a war that will consume the planet?" Nemo stated.

"While you profit from your arms race?" Quatermain added.

The Fantom continued down the stairs. "I cannot deny that fortunes are made in war." As he turned his back on us, following the twist in the stairs, a new face joined the men on the balcony. Quatermain, Serro and I were the only ones who noticed him arrive. The new man, Tom Sawyer disguised as one of the Fantom's henchmen, winked at Alan, telling him that he was on his side. "Imagine the riches a world war will yield." Now the Fantom had reached the floor we were on.

"He's not wrong," Skinner said.

"Speak for yourself," Dorian told him.

As the Fantom approached Quatermain, I leaned in close to Skinner. "It would not be a good thing if you joined him," I warned. "I highly recommend that you not do it, savvy?" Skinner glanced at me and sighed quietly. The League would already think that he's working for the Fantom anyways. There was no need to prove them right.

The masked villain kicked Quatermain's dropped gun away. The two rivals glared at each other. The tension in the air was palpable. "Get ready," I told my assignment.

"For what?" he mouthed silently.

A second later, Skinner's question was answered. Tom Sawyer turned and shot one of the Fantom's men, thus starting the fight. Skinner and I ducked and started running, as did the others. Quatermain swung the ladder that ran up the bookcases around so that it knocked all the riflemen's guns, distracting them long enough for him to grab his pistol. Then the gunfire really started. Paper flew from bullet shredded books, falling through the air like giant snowflakes. Skinner splashed his drink on his face, the alcohol dissolving the greasepaint as he discarded his coat, making him disappear entirely. I blinked my eyes and turned on my 'Skinner Vision'. I followed him as he ran behind a book case, out of the deadly hail of bullets.

"Bloody hell," he muttered.

"Tell me about it," I agreed. I peeked out and saw Dorian draw his sword and begin to stroll casually across the room, unafraid of being shot. "Wait till most of the guys are out of bullets, then find a big, thick book and start bashing people with it," I told Skinner.

"Oh, good plan." He sounded sarcastic, but I knew that he would go and do it, so I wasn't mad. My thoughts turned to Serro. I hoped he was okay, but I had the utmost confidence that he was just fine and doing a good job of keeping Mina safe.

A few moments later, the room quietened as the gunfire stopped. I peeked out again and saw Nemo step out from behind another book case. Many gunmen, now on the ground floor, had their rifles pointed at him.

"Draw your pistol," one of them commanded.

"I walk a different path," Nemo responded. He drew his sword and slashed at the gunmen, applying lethal, well practiced martial arts to take them out.

I knew that the Fantom was making his escape and that Quatermain and Tom were chasing after him, but were going to be unsuccessful. Dorian calmly walked around the room, slicing and swiping with his cane sword, killing every opponent he came across. I could feel more then see the room fill with empty bodies, devoid of their life force forever. What intrigued me was that Dorian still had a life force, where as every other immortal I've met so far didn't have one. Go figure. By now, Skinner was also in the fray, taking my advice and bashing the Fantom's men with a very large book.

"Night-night," he said as he rendered one man unconscious. He tossed the book on his prone body. I came up to his side and smiled.

"Good job, Skinner."

The invisible man scoffed. We both looked up at the sudden, unmistakable sound of machine gun fire. On of the Fantom's men was firing non-stop, point-blank at Dorian's chest.

"Dorian!" I heard Mina scream. I looked back to her and saw Nemo and Serro pull her back from rushing to his rescue. Dorian just stood there, his body vibrating from the force of the bullets, but he didn't fall. His attacker cried out as he emptied all of his ammo into Mr Gray. Skinner and the man stood stunned as Dorian cocked his head, seeming to say "is that the best you can do?" He pushed the gun away, cut the gunman's armour off and stabbed him. The doomed gunman groaned and grabbed Dorian's bullet-shredded shirt and jacket. They ripped open as he dropped to his knees. He looked up, seeing the bullet holes turn to dust and disappear, leaving no mark on Dorian's body.

"What are you?" the dieing man gasped.

Dorian pulled his sword out. "I'm complicated." He kicked the gunman over and turned away.

I looked at Skinner, who was shaking his head. "Amazing, eh?" I commented. The invisible man nodded.

Now there were no more gunmen left standing. Skinner found his coat, dusted it off, and put it back on. He reapplied his greasepaint and pulled on his black leather gloves. "Well, that was exciting," I said.

"Mmm," Skinner agreed as he put on his sunglasses, covering the empty holes of his eyes. I turned off my 'Skinner Vision' and we went back over to the drinks cart. It was still standing, and somehow Skinner's hat was still perched on one of the bottles. "I thought I was special," Skinner commented as he picked up his hat. He pointed it at Dorian, who was coming down the stairs after changing into fresh, non bullet-holed clothes. "You're invulnerable to harm." Skinner put the hat on his head.

"I don't like to boast," Dorian responded. "What happened to Mina?"

Quatermain appeared, obviously not in a good mood. "Oh, she's probably hip-deep in some sort of trouble."

Just then, Mina stepped out from behind a book case, fixing her hair. Serro was behind her. I made eye contact with him and we shared a smile. We had both come through the worst of the battle with no ill effects. "Don't be such an alarmist, Mr Q," Mina remarked. She swept her long scarf behind her back and stooped down to pick up her hat. "And my hips are none of your business." She went to put her hat back on when the last remaining gunman grabbed her suddenly from behind, placing a knife at her throat. Serro started to say something to warn her, but on purpose he was just a little bit too late. It was important that the rest of the League find out about her vampiric powers. Everyone started. Nemo and Dorian began to draw their swords and Quatermain aimed and cocked his pistol. Another gun cock was heard and Tom Sawyer appeared with his rifle.

"Shoot!" Mina's captor shouted, daring the men. "Go on!" They realised that if he was shot, when he fell, the knife would still slice Mina's delicate throat. Reluctantly, Dorian and Nemo sheathed their swords and Alan and Tom turned their guns away. Once again, the room was filled with tension. "I guessed as much," The man said to Mina. "That they would do anything to protect you." I saw Serro step close to Mina and whisper something in her ear, then step back quickly.

"See, now that's your biggest mistake," Mina told her captor. Her voice was quiet and dangerous. I heard a growl sound from her throat and her eyes turned blood-red. She placed her hand on the one holding the blade to her throat. "Thinking that I need them to protect me."

That was all the warning she gave. Mina snarled and whipped around, her red hair falling loose around her shoulders as she bit deep into the man's neck. Everyone else took a step back as we watched the vampire do what vampires do best. When she let go, the victim dropped to the floor. Her mouth covered in blood, Mina snarled again and dove into his throat, finishing him off. The man's body twitched in a pitiful attempt to escape as she fed . Skinner and Dorian looked at each other as if to get the other man's opinion on the gruesome scene. I found myself adverting my eyes and I saw Serro do the same. When she was done, Mina sat up, licking her lips and pushing her hair back. She liked her fingers with relish.

"Extraordinary," Captain Nemo remarked, breaking some of the tension.

I smirked. "No kidding."

Now they all knew at least part of Mina's secret. Mina took out a small mirror, checking her reflection and telling me that she wasn't a full vampire like Dracula. As she composed herself, Tom spoke up for the first time.

"Boy, they told me European women had funny ways." His American accent immediately betrayed the fact that the young man was not a native of London. He stepped closer to the group. Mina was just refixing her hair. "You missed a spot," Tom told her politely, pointing to the corresponding area on his cheek.

She looked at him and wiped the remaining blood drop away. "Excuse me." She shut the mirror. "And you are?" she asked.

"Special Agent Sawyer of the American Secret Service," Tom introduced to the League.

"Then America is aware of the situation?" Quatermain asked.

"Well, if war starts in Europe, how long is it going to take before it crosses the Atlantic? I followed you. I knocked out a straggler," Tom gestured up to the balcony, "and I took his place."

Dorian moved forward. "Very noble. But this is a private party and you're not invited." It was clear the immortal didn't like the American. I knew why; he wasn't a part of his plan with M.

"Actually, Dorian has declined," Mina reminded us. "So we are one shy of a full deck."

"On the contrary," Dorian argued. "The battle was just the spur I needed. That and the thrill of a friendship renewed." He gave an almost puppy-dog look to Mina, who was cold towards him. Gray didn't pay it any heed. "So you're not needed," he said to Tom.

Fortunately, Dorian didn't have the final word on this. Quatermain went up to Sawyer, who offered the older man his riffle. Alan took it and examined it. "Winchester," he remarked.

"That's right," Tom confirmed proudly. "It's modified, American-style." Quatermain checked the gun's sights.

"American-style shooting too."

Tom flashed a smile. "Well, whatever it takes." Quatermain gave the gun back to its owner. "You like it, I brought two."

That seemed to be the deal-sealer. Quatermain only had to think about it for one second more. "You're in."