Gazing at the scrapbook, one of the belongings of Jonathan, Elizabeth sighed deeply as she had witnessed the vision of past her husband and the IM-Humans had. Now, she fully understood the innate pain, anger, and disgust she felt whenever the name of National Institute of Mystic Health was mentioned or written. All of these people were forced to give up their lives as humans because of the selfish curiosity and ambition war had brought out from horrid figures. Yet, her husband Jonathan has been brave to lead his people and other victims to escape.
"He and I, and so the others settled a Bund here… safest we had thought of." Nicodemus sighed.
"Umm… Sir… what is… the Plan?" she asked carefully.
"It is to live…without being exposed…," the wise prime minister answered, "my child…, we can no longer live among humans…. We know too much."
It wasn't a detailed explanation, but for the last sentence, it sounded enough for Mrs. Brisby to understand why. Since, she has witnessed what he had shown to her about her husband and the IM-Humans. Dreaded, as she imagined what could happen if NIMH ever learns of this location. It would be only a matter of time these people would be captured and all the efforts Nicodemus, Jonathan and others worked hard would be in vain.
"But… Commander Winford…?"
"Ah, yes, Jenner Winford…a broken man who was forced to separate from his son…his grief vulnerable to so many temptations…," Nicodemus sighed, "I knew he'd be against the Plan… for this is where he promised his son to build a house and settle in."
"O-oh…" Elizabeth gazed down.
Nicodemus reached his hand out, and the small treasure chest floated close to him.
"Here…, I have a gift," he pulled out a sparkling trinket, "Jonathan made it for you."
As the chest floated back to its place, the wise man held out the pendant. A round-cut ruby gemstone. Adorned with a strong golden string. It sparkled in response as Elizabeth's eyes met with her reflection on the stone, she gasped in awe admiring its beauty.
"A ruby…," she gazed at the amulet with fondness, "...my…birthstone…"
"It sleeps…" Nicodemus informed.
"Sleeps…?"
"Oh yes…, when worn by one with a selfless and courageous heart, the stone glows…it with enlightened radiance," he smiled warmly, "courageous heart is very rare… but, the stone grants the power when it's there."
Her blue eyes gleamed once she noticed the inscriptions at the back of the amulet. She recognized its words. An inscription with Jonathan's handwriting as she reads:
"You can…unlock… any door, if you only have the key."
Elizabeth let out a soft sigh. He hasn't changed. She remembers how enigmatic her late husband could be when he sent messages to her at times he was summoned to the war. Only for her to instinctively understand when he returned. He was occasionally absent from their children's lives. When little Timothy would beg him not to go, he would give their second son a small gift to make a separation easier and to calm him. Jonathan would always leave with mysterious words and only she understood what they meant. And now, she could read what he truly wanted to say behind these messages.
'Whatever you do, remember that I'll always love you.'
Mrs. Brisby wiped her tears.
"Oh, thank you…," she gazed at the ruby as Nicodemus placed the amulet around her neck, "I'll treasure it. Always."
"Elizabeth, always remember that he is nonetheless a husband and a father…he couldn't tell you about us…, because NIMH's experiment has slowed our aging process," his glowing golden eyes dimmed down for a brief moment, "you see…, you would have grown old…while he remained young."
Her eyes widened at the new discovery. A new effect the experiment had done to Jonathan and the IM-Humans. They would outlive normal humans.
"Now, shall we journey to your home…?" He stood up, fetching himself a staff.
She approached, offering to help him but he waved his hand declining the offer. Both walked out of the chamber and used the birdcage elevator to go down.
"How long… does it take for everyone in the Bund to prepare…? To move out of town?" Elizabeth questioned.
"By now, all who wish to move out, would be packing… and have to erase their tracks… give or take, a week if longest." he answered.
"Surely, there's…something I can help…" she offered timidly.
"Oh, Elizabeth…, your arrival has brought hope to my people… you just didn't notice, but we appreciate it," Nicodemus' hand reassuringly patted her, "in fact, I hope my presence won't scare your children.."
"Not at all, sir…," she smiled, "I'm sure they'd love your visit… Timothy enjoyed Jeremy's company…"
"Ah, Jonathan's spirit friend. I haven't seen him for a while…"
Arriving at the bottom, Elizabeth and Nicodemus walked out of the tower as she spotted Justin who had given her a concerned but comforting nod. Majority of Bund's Senators bowed to them. Conflicted feelings bubbled within when she noticed Commander Jenner Winford stood behind them. Despite the different shades of light and location, she could see the man hadn't truly slept much and was deeply bothered with the Plan. Considering, leaving the Bund means leaving the memories of his son behind.
Already, several guards have prepared a close-windowed automobile for their Prime Minister for his final meeting with the council. Nicodemus bowed lightly to Elizabeth before entering the car. Senators resumed back to their automobiles. Noticing the coat of a military arms' minister, Elizabeth decided to approach and gave a slight tug on it grabbing Jenner's attention, confusing the captain of the guards as well.
"Mrs. Brisby…" Jenner's deep and darkly sonorous voice greeted her.
He blinked when Jonathan's widow held out a clean apple from her bag. A bright, crimson red fruit.
"Just happened to have a spare…" she spoke, her bright blue eyes gazing up at an imposed figure.
A simple sign of compassion Jenner recognized. But, it didn't offend him somehow. A flash memory of a woman and little boy reaching to him with the same fruit across his mind. And, for once, the cold, cynical IM-Human minister accepted the widow's kindness. With a small appreciative nod and green eyes glint with discreet amusement, Jenner left with his henchman Sullivan.
Gazing at the sky, she could tell soon it was morning and she needed to go back home, concerned for her children, her aunt, and their house guest and spirit Jeremy.
"Um…Captain Strauss….?" she called nervously.
"Please, ma'am…, call me Justin." He smiled to her.
"Ah, yes…Justin…, I-I should return home… my children must be worried…even though Mr. Ages must have gone to check on Timothy." she shifted her bag nervously, having the scrapbook inside and the amulet hidden behind her cloak.
"Allow me… I can take you there faster." Justin held out his hand.
Elizabeth blinked, but accepted his hand as he led her to the canals where gondolas were docked. She has used trains, cars, bicycles and small buses, but never a boat. And the thought of it scared her a little. Sensing her anxiety, the guard captain held her hand and helped her enter, making sure the boat didn't move much as he used his foot to keep the entrance close to the shore. She gave a shy 'thank you', clutching onto her bag tight as he got on. Rolled up his sleeves he grabbed the long and firm oar before starting to row. As the gondola moved, Elizabeth glanced on both sides of the canal, noticing the buildings and its inhabitants.
'They don't seem much different from normal people…' she thought, then noticed a tunnel the gondola was approaching.
Preoccupied with the surroundings she hadn't noticed several glances Justin laid upon her. Perhaps, the lights have enhanced his visions on Elizabeth Brisby, but the simple red cloak, her hair in loose bun, or light heavy bags under her eyes didn't deteriorate the serene fairness. Her chestnut brown hair was slightly unkempt with awkward touches, her tired sapphire eyes were occasionally sparkling in an innocent curiosity or awe, her withdrawn yet polite posture when sitting, a lady she was strictly taught be one from her aunt, there was a certain air that enticed the virile IM-Human captain. She unknowingly provokes the protective instinct and at the same time, he would feel honored to clear the path for her anywhere she'd walk.
"Umm…how did Mr. Ages…hurt his leg…?" She asked, remembering the doctor with his one leg casted and limping every time he walked.
"Ah, during the process of our Plan…," he answered carefully as he rowed the gondola, "to move the Bund, it requires Drago Welker to not detect our trace…Mr. Ages made sleeping powders to put him to sleep for a day."
"How would you get him to take it…?" she blinked.
"Someone has to drug the sleeping powder in his drink… considering he drinks by himself in his shift. Ages tried that Yesterday, and that's how he…" Justin shortly gestured his hand down to leg to emphasize.
"...broke his…leg…" Elizabeth frowned a bit, 'poor Mr. Ages…Mr. Welker doesn't handle older people politely.'
After an awkward silence, it was Justin's turn to speak up.
"Forgive me, if I may sound nosy…, how was Jonathan, as husband and a father?" he asked.
"Oh…, I guess… Jon didn't tell you before…" she giggled a bit.
"We may be close comrades, but in terms of private life, he's a man of few words. I'm sure Nicodemus told you what happened to us before…, but Jonathan was not a person to trust others easily."
"I understand…," Elizabeth's lips thinned despite smiling, "it took me a while to open up his heart when we first met. He does speak words I can't comprehend sometimes… I do appreciate that he taught me how to read and write. My children often say he is a better teacher than the ones from the school they attended. He was a busy man, but never a neglectful husband. How was he in the Bund?"
"A man who's dedicated to a given task," Justin answered, but added playfully, "well, a walking celebrity as well. Many young men strive to be like him, many young women wish to wed someone like him…, now I think some would envy him."
Elizabeth tilted her head at the last part of answers.
"They understood why he kept you a secret from them." Justin grinned, despite the pair of fangs, it didn't scare the woman as his smile was good natured and sincere.
He chuckled as she began to blush, slowly understanding that he was complimenting her. 'Even from me…. I can't blame him, though.' She wouldn't know this was what he wanted to add for the next.
Approaching the secluded shore not far from the waterfall, Justin halted the gondola boat before tying the rope around the pole. She accepted his hand extended for her as she got out of the boat, being led to the stone bridge upward.
Unbeknownst to the two, in the dark tower of the Ministry of Military Arms, the former commander gazed at the scenery before him. His green eyes lightened up as the chilling neon of the blackness standing shirtless and a long pair of gray pants. The light, dark colored robe around his broad shoulders. His one hand holding the red apple that was given from the petite widow of Jonathan Brisby. Jenner gazed at it for a while. Eyes half-lidded slowly.
Hearing a knock on a door before the creak, Jenner didn't need to turn around to see who it was, inwardly rolled his eyes in contempt.
"...Sullivan." he sighed.
His right hand man and one of the council members approached nervously.
"Commander…, you can't be serious…"
"...With the Prime Minister out of the way, what's to stop us from taking over?" The tall, imposing minister grinned.
"But KILLING him?" his right-hand man whisper-screamed.
Finally, he turned to face his anxious minion. Jenner let out a chuckle. Amused but cruel.
"No taste for blood, hm," he flicked Sullivan's forehead as if playfully scolding a child, "they've taken the beast out of you…"
"It's a risky plan…" Sullivan frowned.
"Once Nicodemus Jacobs' out of the way, the Plan will die… we can stay here as long as we desire…," Jenner gazed at the balcony once again, placing the small apple on a table with a surprisingly gentleness, 'as I promised Racso…'
"What about Justin…?"
With a hardened gaze, eyes gleaming and grinning, he clenched his fist. Veins surfacing with immense stamina and power he has long enjoyed.
"Leave him to me…" Jenner stated, flashing his clear white fangs.