Chapter 4 – Playing with Fire
A/N - Just a short one this time. I'm sorry I've have been terrible at updating over the summer. I'm not sure when the net update will be, I need to go through the plot lines to decide which route to take. What would you guys like to see happen?
Vastra entered the streets of Victorian London with her favorite katana. Jenny's slightly smaller one, more suited to her grip, was tucked carefully into her coat. She didn't realise how much she needed Jenny until Jenny was gone. Not as a maid, not even has her lover; but as a friend. Of course Silurians weren't exactly accustomed to having "friends". They were a burden, a sign of weakness, a liability; but this one was an exception. Vastra just hoped that her fellow Silurians wouldn't have disapproved of this relationship. Their relationship, because that was what it was, Vastra loved Jenny and Jenny loved Vastra; and that was all they needed. Right?
"Strax, where did you last see Jenny?"
Vastra had been scouting the streets now for at least 45 minutes. There was no sign of her.
"The boy was right over there," Strax said, pointing to a corner in the busy towns centre, where it was significantly quieter and more low- key.
Vastra sniffed the air. If Jenny was there, she hadn't stayed very long, Vastra could barely pick up a trace of her in the air. There was nowhere else she could have gone.
It was getting late now, and Vastra was starting to get a little worried. She hadn't been away from Jenny for this long before, and it was starting to worry her. She could always pick up her scent.
"Strax! Get the horse and cart, we need to find her before the light goes out completely."
"Wait, stop the cart!" It had been a further 30 minutes of Strax driving the Cart (and Vastra having to persevere through Strax's threats to the horse) until Vastra had picked up a slight sense of Jenny. Vastra got out of the cart and followed her nose, Strax following behind her. Another smell however, became more prominent, Vastra turned the corner to find a bonfire of some sort in its last stages. The flames dimmed as the fire's last embers dissipated into the night air.
Vastra picked up the remains of what had been spared from the fire's wrath and held it to her nose, though she didn't need to smell it to know that the fabric did indeed belong to Jenny. But why did she burn her clothes?
"They're Jenny's," Vastra said, turning around to hand the fabric to Strax.
Strax looked at the burnt cloth and the ashes of the fire and could only draw one conclusion.
"The enemy has burned the boy! We must declare war now or –"
"No, Strax," Vastra interjected. Vastra could smell no blood or bones, meaning that Jenny must have wanted to burn her clothes, but why do that intentionally? Concealment, perhaps?
"It was the cat!" Strax shouted raising his gun into the air, "I have tried being patient with the mammal, but now I will unleash my full power onto it and-"
"No. No it is only her clothes. Jenny is alive, Strax."
Strax paused, lowering the weapon. "So... it wasn't... the cat?"
"Don't be stupid, Strax." Vastra said, kneeling back up and looking ahead into the darkness ahead. "She's still out there, Strax, we need to go and find her."
Vastra didn't think Jenny would go this far from home. Little had Jenny told Vastra of her past, but Vastra knew that the suburbs were no place for a woman, especially in the night, and unarmed. Vastra hissed whilst she turned around to face Strax.
"Strax, return the horse and cart back to Paternoster Row. We go on foot from now on."
"Can I bring my grenades?" Strax said lightening up instantly.
"Considering the circumstances, you may bring your grenades, but if you so much as touch them without my permission I will ensure you never leave the house for a very long time."
Where has she gone? I should have trusted her more and then we wouldn't be in this situation. I can't lose her again. I won't lose her again. Jenny is more than capable of looking after herself anyway. I should stop worrying. Vastra then looked down at Jenny's katana hidden in her robe, sliding her fingers down the handle and gripping it. By the Goddess, please protect Jenny. Or I will tear down the entire of London to get my vengeance.