Hyde leaped off the balcony, landing on the canopy like a cat. Some of the glass smashed under his feet, but he just kicked it away. Laughing, he swaggered off, swinging his coat behind him. He didn't exactly know where to go, but he knew what he needed, and he knew who to go to. The mist was low hanging and white, so it allowed for a cover. But not just for Hyde.

"Hyde's left the building", a man murmured into a headset. He was crouched near the corner of the Empire and was sporting a pair of military grade night vision goggles. He tore them off to reveal Sackler.

"And his eyes?" Bulstrode asked hastily on the other end of the line.

"As red as sin, sir. I think we've already lost him". Bulstrode sighed.

"This is a critical time, Sackler. Extract the girl and bring her back. We can't let him fall into Tenebrae's hands, because this could be the difference between every monster or every human being wiped from the planet".

"But, Hyde is not that powerful. At least not on his own".

"Exactly. Tenebrae have already caught one of the Triumvirate -"

"Which one?", Sackler interrupted. "Order or the Tribunal?"

"You know we don't call them that anymore. They have... grown out of those titles".

"Fine. Have they caught Lottie or Olalla Jekyll?"

"...Lottie", he replied, and there was a moment of slight awkwardness. "I, I know you liked her a lot, and... I'm sorry, and I hate to say this, but you fell in love with a monster".

"So?"

"There's a chance you're in the wrong business, Sackler. But are you going to give in to some passing fancy, or are you going to save people who actually care for you. She's using you, kid, it's what they do-".
Sackler didn't answer, he didn't want to. Because whatever Bulstrode said, however much he threatened him with armageddon, he was never going to stop loving Lottie. Even if she didn't love him back. He pulled the headset out of his ear and threw it down the alleyway. If he was going to do this, he didn't want Bulstrode making him deaf. Pulling his rifle out of its casing, he went up to the doors of the Empire and shot the lock off. It pinged across the street, and the wooden doors swung open. The lights were all out inside and, before going in, checked nobody was prying on what he was doing. He had never been to the Empire; most of his time was spent hunting monsters or practising his shooting. It seemed civil enough, or at least the décor did. Five barstools were propped up against the bar and a half-empty bottle of whisky was on the counter. On the cream coloured wall were traces of monocane. He headed up the stairs and into Miss Charming's bedroom. She was lain on the bed, stone-cold, and the French window was open. Bundling her body into his arms, he was about to escape out the door, but spotted something shining on the floor. He placed her back for a minute just to investigate. It was almost glowing, green, and he picked it up curiously. "Ah!" he yelled. It burnt his skin as he touched the metal. Pulling the sleeve of his jacket over his hand, he picked it up and threw it into his shotgun case. The sleeve drooped, and he noticed a hole had burnt though the leather. He shook the sight off, and bundled her back into his arms, running off with his gun case slung over his shoulder, then took off.

:/:

"A Miss Isabella Charming for you, Bulstrode", Sackler exclaimed, sliding her body into a chair.

"How long since death?" he answered, flicking through an address book on his desk.

"About nineteen hours according to Brannigan. So, what now? We've got one Hyde on the rampage and another being held captive by Tenebrae".

"We're trying to track Robert Hyde, and we think he's gone somewhere up north. And as for this one", he said, pointing towards Bella. "I might have someone who can help".

"Yeah, you did say", Sackler commented. "Who is it?"

"A sorcerer, one of the only 'legal' ones in London. Man named Joshua Silverlight. He's based in the suburbs, runs a fortune telling and 'favour' stall for monsters-only. I'm calling in Maggie Hope and Garson Poole, relatives of the Hydes, who have less...outbursts". He started to punch in the number for the sorcerer, but before he could finish, a flash of light filled the room. It was a spinning tornado of smoke, purple and yellow, then a man appeared from within it. The smoke cleared into the corners of the room and revealed a man dressed in a long, black trench coat. He had tanned skin and black hair cropped into a mohawk, dyed red in places. Two piercing blue eyes cut through black eyeliner, and his neck was adorned in long pendants.

"You called", he bellowed in a gruff English voice.

"Well, I was in the middle of it", Bulstrode retorted. "So, you must be Joshua".

"Oh, please, call me Mr. Silverlight", he commented sarcastically. "Where is my patient?"

"A Miss Be-"

"Save me the introductions. Let's face it, I already know all of you", he cut in, holding Bella's wrist. "I can't work with this".

"And why not?"

"Well, this woman is dead".

"Of course she's dead. That's the whole point of you coming here. I did explain it on the..."

"On the phone?" asked Joshua. "Sorry, my bad".

"So, can you bring her back?"

"It depends. What you planning on giving me back?" Bulstrode strode towards his desk and opened the top draw, taking out a small vial of blue powder. He flicked it towards the sorcerer and he caught it, reflexes those to rival a cat's.

"Powered sapphires. I believe this is your price".

"Hmm", Joshua hummed, examining the bottle. "Okay, I'll do it. But I need some space, and the permit of someone who knows the deceased. Got someone?"

"They're on their way now". Joshua started wandering around the room, picking up random objects and putting them back.

"You've quite a collection", he commented, eyeing up Sackler's shotgun case that was lying on the floor. "And all completely unknown to you. You know I could use all the stuff in here to destroy London, destroy half of Europe perhaps".

"Perha-"

"What's this all about then?" Maggie interrupted. She and Garson had come down the lift rather silently, and Garson pulled back the metal caging.

"I understand you know of Bella Charming's death".

"A bit, yes. You know, her being my grandson's girlfriend and such".

"This is Joshua Silverlight, the sorcerer of London", he said, and Joshua gave a flowing bow. "He can bring Bella back to life, but we have a price: hand over the girl Olalla, and we will command this warlock to resurrect her".

"Ahem", Joshua coughed.

"...we will ask this warlock to resurrect her", Bulstrode reluctantly corrected himself. Maggie strode forward, landing both palms on Bulstrode's desk in front of him.

"This 'girl' is my granddaughter. That woman is my grandson's true love. You bring her back, or it won't just be Robert you have to deal with".

"'True love', eh?" a voice said from the corner. Garson spun around to see Lily standing in the doorway. "Way to put a girl in the corner".

"As I was saying -" Maggie continued, only to get cut off.

"Sir, Hyde has been spotted near the Jezequel House. We believe he is going after the Hyde Sword", Lily interrupted.

"Okay, Miss Carew", Bulstrode replied. "So, Ms. Hope, do you agree to our deal?"

"No!" she exclaimed, rather offended. "I'm not handing over my granddaughter to you fruitcakes".

"Well then", Bulstrode retorted. "Joshua, it seems you are not needed".

"Can I keep the sapphires?" he asked, flicking the vial in between his fingers.

"No. I'll have that back".

"You'll have to catch me first", Joshua chuckled, and abruptly teleported away, leaving nothing but a lingering smell of burning liquor and incense.

"Well, damn him then", Bulstrode muttered.

"We'll be going too", Garson lilted, and Maggie smiled sarcastically at Bulstrode, getting into the lift. As soon as the MIO office was out of sight, Maggie sighed.

"Have I done the right thing, dear?"

"Of course you have. Knowing MIO, they'll snap you quicker than a black belt on a sugar rush".

"I'm losing them, aren't I? I mean Robert's gone off somewhere, Olalla's worried sick, and I don't know what the Hell is up with Lottie".

"All this is bigger than us. But it doesn't mean we can't help".

"I suppose".