Chapter 27 - Albatross Around the Neck
TheNautilus, Indian Ocean: September 26th

Skinner dressed and grease painted, slipped inside his room and closed the door behind him. The room wasn't so different from the others, with clean walls bearing intricate patterns that helped to make the place seem so much more peaceful. There was a chest in the corner close to the canopy bed, both made of dark wood. He liked his room, it was warm and clean, but it was very different from the London he grew up in. Things had changed a lot since he last slept on British soil.

Lost in thought, he hoped to go undisturbed but he failed to notice that the sneck of the door hadn't caught. It was open a little way and he was too distracted to pay attention. The days to wait until they arrived at the island were drawing to a close. Skinner wanted to be at his best, even if it would be that much more difficult for him.

What he had not told the League was that he had developed a paralysing fear- a fear of fire. He couldn't stand anything more than a candle and even then he was far from keen. He had to expect to come across fire during their upcoming rescue mission, but he could not allow his fear to stop them from saving Nemo and Ishmael.

Gingerly, Skinner took a box of matches out of his pocket and sat at his desk, where there was a little candle and a cup of water waiting. The thief had done this several times beforehand but he did not feel like he was improving at all. He took his gloves off and waited a few minutes for his courage to come back to him. Clenching his fist for a moment, he crushed the tremble that tried to emerge in his fingers.

He took a match out of the box. With a deep breath, he struck it, but it snapped and did not ignite. He grumbled under his breath and tried again, though the second didn't work either. Skinner grunted in irritation, stopping for a moment. He tried a third with less force and after a few swipes, he had it.

He heard a snarl as the flame took to the wood. The lithe flame warped and whirled as it reduced into a dainty light. Skinner had to force himself not to throw the match away.

For Nemo... You're doing this for Nemo, he reminded himself, which helped a little. It didn't stop his mouth getting dry and his chest tightening. He kept the match upright so it couldn't burn up the wood and reach his fingers.

The salt white flame danced in front of his widening eyes, murmuring and wheezing it swayed due to Skinner's hurried breathing pressing upon it. It devoured the pale wood, leaving a burnt, disfigured, limp trail behind it. That's what fire did. It would destroy anything in its way: paper, wood, material… even flesh.

Skinner tilted the match to allow it to burn a little more as his mind skittered back to Mongolia. He could feel himself tensing in apprehension, he licked his lips as the incandescent and amorphous light ravaged the wood and pierced through the dark. The eerie glow had reached less than the halfway mark but that was the thief's cue to put the match out. He blew hard, dismissing the burning as quickly as it had begun and put what was left into the cup. The sour smell of smoke filled his nostrils, making him swallow back a feeling of nausea. He shuddered.

With a deep breath, Skinner took another match and repeated the process. He watched as it delicately moved like a ballerina, although to him it was not so calm. Fire was not a welcome and serene element. It was ungovernable and desperate, frantic and merciless. Though his skin had healed, he was covered in scars, luckily for him, no one else could see them. They weren't reminded of his injuries every time they looked at him. He remembered how he had panicked when the fire pounced on him. The heat, the light, the inferno that almost killed him! How was he supposed to overcome that? Fire was unpredictable - how could he learn to trust it again?

"Skinner," Mina suddenly enquired. The invisible thief jumped and as he did so the flame bit his finger. "Ow!" he barked, throwing the match in the cup. "Mina, don't sneak up on me like that!"
"I'm sorry, but the door was ajar… What were you doing?" she asked.
Skinner sighed and pocketed the matches, hoping the vampire had not noticed. "It's nothing- did you need something?" he asked.

"No" she replied, tilting her head. "Why were you lighting matches?"
"I was lighting a candle."
Mina sighed "Mr Skinner, you are a terrible excuse maker."
"Ha, that's because I'm not trying." He scratched at his head.

Mina stepped forwards again, a subtle hint for Skinner to start explaining.

"Mina, I'm not sure you'd understand. Besides, it's daft - a joke."
Mina sat down on the end of Skinner's half-made bed. "Let me decide if I understand and my opinion of it."
Skinner sighed and turned around in his chair. He shut the door, checking it was closed this time.
He sat back down and took the matches out of his pocket again. He was able to find distraction in playing with the box in his hand, flipping it and spinning it. It was easier to focus on that rather than his unexpected company.

"It's just what happened in Mongolia, I've. I don't... like fire- I can't stand the stuff." Skinner couldn't help but smirk at how ridiculous he felt he sounded. He was waiting for her to start to laugh. He felt so embarrassed at it all. "I was trying to get myself used to fire somewhat- get past the fear. I don't want to mess the rescue up but I didn't want anyone to know about this. I guess neither one of those has gone to plan." He threw his hands in the air. "See, told you it was daft."
"No, Rodney. It isn't."

Skinner looked up from the matchbox to see the cool expression of Mina Harker. She sat and patiently listened as she made sense of what the thief was telling her. Now it was her turn to talk.
"I know what it's like to be followed around by a fear. Present or not, it is always controlling you, in the back of your mind. I know how difficult it is, even if our situations are so very different."

"Dracula?" Skinner found himself mumbling before he could stop himself. He expected he would regret opening his mouth and reminding her of such, but she seemed unaffected. She nodded and continued, "I understand why you're so keen to rid yourself of this fear before we get to the island. But we will be working together to stop the Albatross and although I cannot guarantee that there will not be a fire, I promise I will be in calling distance if you need me. I will not let any harm come to you or anyone else. You won't affect the plan so do not burden yourself with that worry."

Skinner shook his head to himself. "I can't depend on being able to come running to you like a little kid if something goes wrong."

An expression of defeat fell upon her face for a moment. "No... I suppose there is a chance you won't be able to." She sat up straighter. "You defied all odds surviving what happened to you that day. We should have realised that it would not just leave physical wounds. Yet I know you can learn to overcome your fear and if I can help you in any way, then please tell me how to."

"Thank you, Mina," Skinner replied awkwardly, but he meant what he said. He cleared his throat, deciding now was the time to change the direction of the conversation. "To be honest I don't understand our plan all that much. What are we meant to do about Robur?"
"We leave him."
"And why are we doing that exactly?" Skinner asked.
"Because it is not our right to decide what happens to him. Nemo and Ishmael are the only ones who can decide his fate, just as Robur chose the fate of their families."

Skinner nodded "Well, I can't argue with that. I just can't believe that all that happened to Nemo and Ishmael. I don't mean to cause trouble, but Sawyer already knew most of it."
"Yes, I see that now as well. He'd spoken to Ishmael about it, but I understand why did not say."

"I was mad at him for it, I realised he knew before Pavan told everyone. I'm just glad nothing was said that I can't take back."
Mina understood. "He was trying to protect Nemo, that's all."
Skinner nodded, "I understand that now. Sometimes I just feel like no one trusts me. It's frustrating, what's a man got to do, huh?"
"We do trust you, Rodney. That I can promise you. You're a good man, and we all know it."

Skinner gave an awkward smile but stopped a moment. "You know, you seemed a little angrier than I expected when you heard about what Robur had done come to think of it. I mean, Quatermain was understandable, he had a son, but you… Is there something I'm missing?" he asked with curiosity in his voice.
Mina cleared her throat. "Well, as a mother, the truth about Nemo affected me that little bit more."

Skinner raised his eyebrows. "Didn't know you had any kids."
"A son, Quincey. He lives in America with some close friends. After I was... bitten, and his father died. I knew I couldn't look after him. It was too unsafe for him. I can imagine the pain Nemo has been put through... At times I feel like I have lost my own child."

A saddened smile fell into Mina's lips. "Quincey has no doubt forgotten all about me now. Often I wonder if I did the right thing or if I simply… abandoned him."
"You had the best intentions in mind, Mina. You know that," Skinner insisted.
"Yes, but thinking of Nemo and Ishmael I can't help but think of how much I... miss him- how precious he is. As he gets older he will seek answers and he is already twenty two. If I tell him the truth he might feel inclined to return to me and that is not fair on the ones who have raised him, or him. I do not think I should tell him who I am, but that means staying away from him forever… I'm not sure if I can bring myself to do that."

"Then don't. Why don't you write to them? See what your friends think? If they're your friends I can't see why there should be a problem with it. Then you could write to Quincey and talk to him. Don't guess what they want, ask them."
Mina was quiet for a moment but nodded and stood up to leave. "Yes, yes perhaps I will…" She smiled softly, an idea springing to mind. "If I write to them, will you let me help you with your fear?"

Skinner smirked and looked down at the matchbox in his hand. "You know what, Mina? I just might." He tossed her the box of matches which she caught with ease.

"You think for being so cooperative and helpful I deserve a kiss?" Skinner teased as Mina took her leave.
"No," was Mina's blunt reply. Skinner couldn't help it and he laughed heartily.

This was the way he liked things to be and he hoped that things could soon go back to normal - as normal as things could get for them anyway.