Soul Of The Matter

Henta limps slightly through the streets of Paris, watching Allan run alongside Sawyer. The boy's wildcat dæmon is running along the roofs, watching out for Hyde and his snake dæmon. Every so often, Utsa will turn slightly, smirking at the older dæmon who's not quite able to keep up.

The aged leopard catches up to her human as he pulls Sawyer out of the way and scolds him slightly. Utsa jumps down next to them, wrapping around Sawyer's shoulders in comfort. Henta whimpers slightly, edging closer to Quartermain. The wildcat's gesture reminds her so much of her daughter dæmon, who faded to Dust in her arms. Allan bends slightly, rubbing the back of Henta's neck. She looks up, licking at his fingers.

The leopard sets off faster next time, desperate to keep up with the younger dæmon. She's seen the way the other dæmons look at her, how they pity her because she can't do everything they can do. Brapon and Picha, both quite old themselves, are constantly trying to intervene, to 'make her life easier'. Mwizi and Utsa, too young to care too much, spend their days trying to annoy her, to trip up her bum leg. She just hopes Jekyll's dæmon, whatever she is, will treat her as an equal.

She growls as she sees Hyde being pulled into the Nautilus. The plan worked, as she knew it would. Allan crouches, patting her flank.

'We got him, Henta.'

Utsa runs down the corridors of the Nautilus, glancing back at Mwizi every so often. Or, rather, where Mwizi should be. The wildcat can hear the parrots wings, plus Skinner running along beside her but, without a coat or makeup, Utsa can't tell where the thieves actually are. She just needs to stay in front of them until she reaches the meeting room, where Tom and Quartermain are.

Sawyer looks up as his dæmon bursts through the doors, leaping onto his lap. He looks up, seeing Skinner pulling on his coat and applying makeup to Mwizi. He had felt her running but hadn't bother to go check, not worried unless there was pain or panic over their stretched bond.

'I hate that stupid parrot.' Utsa growls, curling into a ball on Tom's lap. Henta, reading the newspaper over Quartermain's shoulder, laughs slightly. Utsa jumps up to Tom's shoulder, snarling at the leopard.

Sawyer pulls his dæmon down, soothing her slowly. 'I'm sure everyone hates the parrot. Don't let her, or Henta, get to you.'

Utsa sneers, flopping down onto his lap. 'Why did we join them? We could be hunting werewolves right now.'

Tom laughs, picking up a knife. 'We could, but this is more fun.'

Henta shakes her head. 'What's so fun about stupid invisible dæmons.'

Tom smiles, listening for noise. 'Scaring their invisible men.'

He flicks his wrist, the knife landing between Skinner's invisible fingers. Definitely more fun.

Brapon flits through the patients, checking which ones need help and which ones Jekyll can handle. Dobra looks up from Henry's shoulder, tilting her head slightly. The mosquito buzzes once around the monkey's head before flying back to his woman. Mina looks up slightly from the man she's healing, smiling at her dæmon.

'Are there any problems?' The vampire mutters as Brapon rests on her shoulder. 'Anything I need to see to immediately?'

Brapon shakes his tiny head. 'Nothing that Henry and Dobra can't handle. But, currently, we have something to discuss.'

Mina nods, tying the bandage and wiping the last patch of blood from the man's forehead. She stops briefly to tell Jekyll she is going but will return. The doctor smiles, waving her off as he sets a broken bone.

'What's wrong, Brap?' She mutters, walking towards her room. She nods to Quartermain and Sawyer as she passes them, her dæmon buzzing threateningly around Henta and Utsa for a few seconds. 'Is Picha's betrayal still bothering you?'

Brapon bit down on Mina's shoulder, imagining it was Picha beneath him. 'The betrayal is upsetting, yes, but I am wondering what we are still doing here. We joined the league because Dorian invited us.'

Mina nods, moving him in front of her face. 'And we stay because he betrayed us.'

Wangja swims along beside the Nautilus, keeping as close as possible to the submarine. Nemo, from the inside, leans against the wall, despite being stretched from his dæmon. The octopus could go inside, and probably will next time they emerge, but she prefers to be in water. Although, she does like to spend time with her human.

She swerves away as the Nautilus begins to rise. Once she is far enough away, she starts swimming upward, propelling herself onto the deck just as Nemo walks out.

'Hello Wangja.' Nemo smiles, bowing his head slightly.

'Good Morning, your majesty.'

Nemo scowls at the reminder of their former life and Wangja laughs, waddling forward to reach her human. He bends, allowing her to attach her tentacles to his arms and face. It's a strange feeling but he is used to it, happy to have his dæmon so close. The Captain turns, walking back into the ship and giving the call to submerge.

Ishmael nods to his captain as he steps away from the wheel, allowing Nemo to take control. Wangja nods at Ishmael's terrier dæmon.

'All gone well so far?' The octopus asks, having been out of sync with the rest of the world.

'Of course.' Nemo smiles. 'We have Jekyll and we make for Venice.'

Wangja smiles. 'Very good, your majesty.'

Dobra shrieks at the reflection, jumping away and scratching at Jekyll's chest. Henry apologises to the other members of the league, trying to calm her down but achieving nothing. The monkey continues to try and run but, being on a submarine, there are reflections at every turn.

'If you can't keep her under control, perhaps you're no good to us.'

Henry glares at the raven on Gray's shoulder and presses his nails into Dobra's back. 'She's just not to so many mirrors. We'll get used to it.'

Parker raises an eyebrow and Henry blushes, realising his slight slip. He sees Edward smirk in the window and stands up, heading to his room with Dobra in his arms. Sawyer makes a quip as they leave and they hear Quartermain scolding him. They manage to get to their room without anyone stopping them, Henry still whispering soothing words.

'It's okay, I promise. Zlo can't get to you.'

Dobra buries her face in his chest, avoiding the mirrors again. 'I hate her, Henry. Why can't she just leave me alone?'

Henry sighs, knowing this is his fault, even if Dobra will never say it. He created the serum, created the man and snake staring at them from every mirror. He ruined their lives for good.

'I don't know, Dobra. I just don't know.'

Zlo wraps herself around Edward's arm and smirks at the mirror. Dobra shakes slightly under Henry's arm but nods towards the bottom of the boat. Hyde begins to float down but Zlo untangles herself, sliding through the water at a relaxed pace. The ship can wait, Edward will deal with it.

Dobra, still in the mirror, keeps an eye firmly on Zlo, even as Jekyll watches Hyde descend. The boa constrictor shows her fangs, delighting in the monkey's panicked reaction. A glance from Jekyll gets her to turn, heading to where Edward is pulling on the levers.

'Bit heavy, Eddie?' She thinks towards him, not wanting to open her mouth again. Dæmons can't really drown, but she's not taking the chance.

'Not at all.' He smiles, not caring about the water. The serum protects him. 'Just showing off a bit for old mother Hen.'

She laughs, wrapping around his shoulders as he pulls the levers, stabilising the ship. He doesn't really know what it actually does, he leaves the thinking up to Henry.

'Well done, Edward.' He hears from the mirror. 'Well done.'

He can't help but smile as the water recedes. Zlo chuckles. 'Enjoying the praise, Eddie? Maybe we shouldn't be so bad.'

He laughs at that and Henry's smile drops. Dobra shivers. 'Don't even think about that, love.'

Mwizi glides through the corridors of the Nautilus after Skinner, trying to keep as quiet as possible. The two of them have just have a shower and are currently sans makeup, meaning they are very careful not to knock anything over or disturb people. They're happy to joke around but Nemo's men are superstitious and would shoot at a noise with no origin. Or an invisible man.

They make it back to their room without any problems and Rodney instantly grabs his coat, wrapping it around himself to stop the shivering. Mwizi dips her wings in the white powder, shaking herself in an attempt to get it all over herself.

'Hey, hey, let me do that.' Skinner laughs, grabbing the brush and making her visible before doing the same to his face.

Mwizi rests on the chair next to the window, watching herself in the reflection. 'I miss being colourful.'

Skinner holds his arm out to the parrot, allowing her to fly onto it. 'I know, I miss you being colourful too.'

The two allow themselves a moment of sadness before Mwizi takes to the air, flying through the corridors, with Skinner on her tail feathers.

'C'mon.' She croons over her shoulder. 'Let go annoy the American.'

Rodney chuckles. 'We should have stayed invisible for that.'

Mwizi merely laughs along.

Dorian raises his glass slightly, as M leaves the room. Picha flies from Gray's shoulder to glide around the Napoleon of Crime's shoulders, annoying his spider dæmon easily. Hanzai simply scurries closer to Moriarty's neck, shielding herself. The raven smirks, landing easily on Dorian's shoulder as the door slams behind their boss.

'How irritable.' Dorian smiles, holding up some nuts for her to nibble on. 'You think she would be used to idiots by now.'

'I can't help but find that insulting.' Picha says, finishing the last nut in his hand.

'That's understandable.' Dorian smirks, running a knuckle over her neck. 'It was meant to be.'

She gives out an indignant squeak, fluttering her wings against his ear. He chuckles low in his throat and she calms, seeing the teasing for what it was meant to be. She glances at the painting in the corner, covered in thin wrappings.

'Shouldn't we hide that somewhere. I won't feel safe until it is wrapped in irons.'

Gray nods, but doesn't move to cover the painting further. 'I am sure paper can last until our employer's new age of machinery. After that, I will bury it and we will remain alive forever.'

Picha's head tilts, nodding towards the glasses on the nearby table. 'To immortality?'

Dorian pours a drink and smiles. 'To immortality.'

Hanzai crawls across M's shoulder, looking down at the machines covering the workhouse floor. The scientists and engineers look up at her man, shaking silently as he smirks. Hanzai has to hide a laugh at their reaction as the two of them walk off. James does like putting on a show.

'Don't scare them too much, Mr Moriarty.' The spider says as they leave the room. 'They still need to be able to work.'

'Ah, but it's the fear that gets them to work.'

Hanzai nods her small, dark head, crawling further up his neck and onto his face. He doesn't even blink at the action, far too used to her familiarity. Hanzai scowls as Dante and some other troops run past them, their dæmons shouting at each other.

'I'm surrounded by fools and degenerates.' She mutters as they enter their room, James sitting down to pull some paperwork. Six hundred batches of Jekyll's formula sold and people still want more.

'Not much longer. Soon, everyone will know our names and want to buy from us.'

'Yes.' She smiles, listening to the far off screams of a scientist's wife. 'But even when they buy from us, they'll still fear us.'