'Came to you with a broken faith/Gave me more than a hand to hold/Caught before I hit the ground/Tell me I'm safe, you've got me now//Would you take the wheel/If I lose control?/If I'm lying here/Will you take me home?//Could you take care of a broken soul?/Will you hold me now?/Oh, will you take me home?'
-Take Me Home

:/:

Three days later (Saturday)

"How can someone have so many clothes, but only in two colours?" Olalla commented, looking over to Maggie, who looked equally absent. The living room was brighter today; a result of a quick bout of Spring sunshine.

"Be nice" Maggie cooed a reply, and rubbed her eyes. It had been a long day. "She's probably nervous. Isn't everyone on their first date?"

"She had over a week to prepare; she now has two hours", Olalla retorted, then backtracked. "Anyway, I wasn't nervous".

"What happened to that date?"

"It went very well, thank you very much. He paid for dinner, I said I'd do it again sometime, and cut his throat the next day. I always thought the romance could last a bit longer, but who am I to say?"

"You killed him?"

"I've killed lots of people, he was a traitor and I wanted a bit of fun".

"Well, that makes it right", Maggie murmured under her breath, and Olalla turned towards her, with curious eyes.

"What was my grandfather like?"

"Really? We're doing this now?"

"What? I'm interested. And I don't think Miss. Green and Black is really rushing to show us her wardrobe". Maggie sighed for a moment, then turned towards her.

"What do you want to know?"

"Why'd you choose my grandfather?" she asked, noticing their black saloon car pull up outside. "I mean, you were the prettiest girl in London according to Garson, you could've had anyone. And you chose a monster".

"I didn't see a monster, Olalla. I saw a man broken in two, that didn't want to be put back together, a puzzle that didn't want to be solved. He was a mystery, he was... my mystery", Maggie started, drifting off slightly, then finding her feet again. "He was loathed by so many, and all he wanted was for someone to see past the monster. You Hydes, you shout at the world, causing chaos, when all you want is someone to notice".

"I've killed people, good and bad, I admit that. I've taken family away, I've put people sitting in their bloody high castles six feet under. But the one thing I didn't do was do it to be noticed. I did it because I thought it was right. It's been drummed into me for twenty years, I don't think I'm going to stop when someone suddenly decides that I'm worth something to them".

"And who ordered their deaths? Who said for you to murder your date the next day?" Olalla sighed, knowing her grandmother was right, but not prepared to verbally admit it.

"Dance", she answered finally. "It's always Dance".

"You really love him, don't you?"

"Don't start now, please", Olalla murmured, rubbing her eyes. "I've already had the whole speech from Lottie".

"Just saying".

"Just saying what?"

"I've done the whole charade, Olalla. Those times have passed, left, gone and poisoned themselves in their laboratory".

"If you could go back and change it all, would you?" Olalla asked finally, toying with the rings on her finger.

"Wouldn't change it for the world. Yeah, it was short, and it was sometimes far from sweet, but he gave me a family. I had your father, and now I have you. And your brother and sister".

"But, you always talk about him like you hated him".

"He was a pain in the arse, yes. And it hurt that he never said goodbye, that he just left me alone with Louis, but..." Maggie said, quieting near the end, and before she could finish, Robert came in through the door.

"Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting something?" he asked, stepping back a step.

"Nothing special", Maggie answered, standing up from her seat. "You really going, Robert? It'll be quiet here without you".

"Well, you need some peace and quiet, and I need a holiday", he chuckled, pulling back his curly hair from his face. "And besides it's only for two weeks".

"Somewhat wishing it was longer", Olalla commented, and Robert raised an eyebrow. "No, I'm joking. You have a good time, with your sun, and elephant rides. Don't worry about me".

"Am I sensing jealously there?"

"Oh, no. I mean it's really you that should be jealous of me. I mean where in the world does it rain every single day?"

"I guess that really is a disadvantage", he replied, and started to walk up the stairs. "I'm just getting my suitcase".

"When's your boat leave?"

"Seven minutes and counting".

"So, you're late?"

"No", he replied bluntly, as if he was trying to convince himself. "Not late. Just... cutting it fine". Olalla chuckled to herself, watching her brother go up the steps.

:/:

"So, Ceylon, eh?" Garson started, leaning on the black saloon car.

"Yeah", Bella replied, giving a small smile. "Going to find myself an elephant". Garson paused for a moment, looking at her. Her smile had dropped, though she didn't look upset, more concerned.

"What's troubling you, girl?"

"It's just the Empire. It 'asn't been open for, what, like six weeks. And I'm leaving it again for another two. Punters won't be happy with me".

"Do you want me to look after it? You know, just until you come back", Garson replied, and Bella's ears perked up.

"But, Garson, you've got lots on your plate, and I can't ask that much of you".

"You trying to say I'm old, lass?"

"I-"

"It's okay, I'll get some help", he started, and she looked at him with a confused gaze. "I have someone, who might be available".

"Who?"

"Just someone who knows how to spot a radge and how to deal with 'em".

"Ah", Bella hummed, taking a step up so she lean on the doorframe of the house. "Well, you can tell Miss Barnstaple not to cause too much trouble herself. And be careful; she has a taste for the expensive whisky".

:/:
Tenebrae HQ

Dance sat, staring at the pictures inside the file imprinted with Olalla's name. Monochrome depictions of her as an eight-year-old, smiling and hanging onto his arm, were slid in between the various battle reports and memoranda.

"Good times", he murmured, taking the pile of pictures and putting them in the draw of his great, oak desk. "Past times". Taking a breath, he maintained his composure, and, upon seeing the doors of the headquarters open, a half-scowl appeared on his face. He stood up, leaning on his desk to talk to the arrival. "Silas", he started, saying the name of the brute that entered his office. "What news?"

"MIO has four of the six demons, includin' Keres", Silas answered in a low grunt. "The Gorgon's dead".

"And what of the final demon? Has he or she been found?" Silas gave a short chuckle, then whistled behind him to two of his goons. They stood forward, each holding the shoulder of a chained individual. A bag covered their head, and blonde hair cascading down to their shoulders. They wore a deep emerald skirt and top, with a beige shawl wrapped around their shoulders. They were female. "Release her", Dance ordered.

"But, boss-"

"She's one of us. Release her". Reluctantly, Silas took the bag off the creature's head to reveal the Succubus, still masking herself as Adelie. "You're a Succubus?" he asked, and she replied with a short nod. "Show me your true form. We are all monsters here".

"My true form is the person you love, sugar", she replied in a caramel-sweet voice. She gazed at him for a moment, almost studying him, then immediately dropped her facade in favour of Olalla's face. Dance stepped back, in surprise, then watched as the Succubus changed into, who he knew as, Fedora. The Succubus chuckled, breaking the chains around her wrists and pulling back her now ebony-black hair. "You're quite a confused heart, aren't you?"

"That's none of your business".

"Then, what is my business, Mr. Dance? Why have your... lovely friends brought me here?"

"I'm offering you a place in our ranks. To fight against the parasite that is humankind". The Succubus perked up.

"I have no where else to go, and you seem desperate, so sure", she murmured. "How do I know I can trust you?"

"I am a monster, a Lich. And I can get you what you want".

"What do you think I want then?"

"Vengeance, blood and a way home", Dance replied, and the Succubus raised a perfectly curved eyebrow at him. Pondering for moment, a sickly-sweet smile crossed her face.

"When do we start?"

:/:

"Right, four minutes", Robert said, rushing down the stairs. In his hand was a leather suitcase that was only half zipped-up, and a grey tie hung out of it. "See, not late".

"Have a good time, Robert, okay?" Maggie asked, standing just by the door. "And keep safe".

"I will", he replied. "And I'll be back before you know it".

"But not too quickly", Olalla lilted, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. She looked up the stairs for a moment and saw Lottie, leaning on the banister. She wore a black halter-neck dress that went to her knee, and a green-sash sat on her waist.

"Going so soon?"

"Just going now", Robert replied. "Good luck with your date. And careful with those MIO agents; they're slippery things".

"Don't let another surgery fall on your head", Ravi called, sneaking unnoticed into the room.

"Ravi", Robert said, addressing his adopted brother. "You can come with us, if you want. I know Ceylon means a lot to you".

"It does, and I will always hold it dear, but London is my home now", the Indian boy started, making Robert give a small smile.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Send me a postcard". Nodding, Robert held his hand up to wave and left, closing the door behind him.

:/:

"Right then, boy. Let's go, two minutes", Garson said, getting into the front of the saloon car. Robert got into the back, and Bella sat next to him. He smiled for a moment, putting his hand on top of hers and holding it.

"This holiday, Robert, one condition", she started, lulling. "No supernatural beings, no things nobody can explain, no ghouls"

"Then you're going on holiday with the wrong person" Robert answered.

"Why?"

"I'm a monste-"

"Then am I one too? Is Ravi one? Is Olalla, is Lottie, a monster, Robert?"

"No".

"Then how are you a monster, and I'm not?"

"You've done nothing wrong. I have".

"Really? Excuse me, but two years serving in jail for stealing must count for something".

"But I'm a Hyde..."

"And I'm supposed to be dead", Bella answered bluntly, beaming, as if it was a good thing. "So, for now, let's... just be us".

"I couldn't think of anything better".

"Turning on the charm now, are we?" Bella asked, smiling.

"No, but I love you Bella. Call me a melodramatic fool, but you're the most beautiful person I've ever seen, and I'm so lucky just to have someone as amazing as you in my life". Bella paused for a moment, sighing quietly, then lifted her lips to his, a long smile appearing across his cheeks as Hyde arose.

:/:

7:15pm

The Silverfin Lounge was right in the middle of London, situated on a long, commercialised street next to a few varied shops. Inside it was quite snug, with painted scarlet walls and carpeted floors. On the walls hung portraits of poets from different ages, all in monochrome colours, and several lounge chairs sat scattered around the floor. It was quite packed, with lots of people sitting, chatting, at the bar. A smartly dressed man holding a crumpled piece of paper stood on a small, wooden stage, reading an extract from a Wordsworth poem.

"This is lovely", Lottie commented, and Sackler linked his arm through hers. "Feel a bit overdressed for it, though".

"No, you look..." Sackler started, trying to find an adjective just to describe how perfect she looked. "Fedorable". Lottie laughed back, finding a seat.

"Puns as well? You're not just a pretty face, are you?" Lottie said through chuckling. "I'm guessing MIO told you about that".

"Well, yes", Sackler replied, and a waiter dressed in a suit crossed the room, champagne bottle in hand, to their table.

"Sir, it's good to see you back. And with a guest!" the waiter said, in a booming voice. "Would you like champagne?"

"Love some. Lottie, are you drinking tonight?"

"Well, to be sociable", Lottie replied, watching her glass be filled up with pale, sparkling liquid.

"You're Russian?"

"Yeah, I grew up there. It's died down a bit now since I've come back to Britain, though", Lottie said, quieting down. In the background of their conversation was a rendition of Maya Angelou's 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' in a thick London accent. "So what has MIO been telling you about me?"

"The same old stuff. And I don't believe a word of it", Sackler chuckled. "So what's your side?"

"It's a long story. I don't know where to start".

"The beginning", Sackler said after a moment. Tilting her head to the side, she lifted her glass towards him.

"The beginning it is", she lilted, and Sackler clinked his glass in reply.

:/: