Prelude

Robert had left the house for a walk. Ravi and Olalla were both sitting in the dining room, while Garson was preparing some tea for them in the kitchen. The blonde woman was holding a few cards from a solitaire game in front of her. She and Ravi had decided to practice his side. He was getting better at it, that was sure, but they still had not achieved perfection yet.

Olalla looked at the card before her. She could hear Ravi, shifting his weight on the chair, face crunched in concentration. "Clubs five?", he guessed. Olalla shook her head. "Try again", she whispered. "Clubs six." A short nod and the woman placed the card down, taking the next one.

"Hearts jack." Olalla flipped the card down. "Spades three." "Diamonds ace." "Clubs king." Down and down the cards went. "You are getting better", responded Olalla and placed the last card down. The Indian boy smiled. "I don't know", he admitted, "Whenever we train, the Sight feels much easier to me." She placed her hands on the table, crossing her fingers in one another. "How do you mean that?", asked the young Hyde.

Ravi squinted his eyes thoughtfully. "I do not know for sure", he said slowly, choosing his words carefully, "Whenever I use the Sight on someone, I...I become that person. I do not just see. I feel what they feel, I hear what they hear. I may not be able to read minds, but I still feel like I become them. And you..." The Indian boy sighted. "We have practiced a lot and your body language is more familiar to me now. Maybe that is a reason why it is so much easier."

They heard a sharp knock against the door. Garson scuffled out of the kitchen and called: "I check." For a brief moment they heard nothing. Then Garson made a sound like someone who attempted to shut the door before somebody's nose. "Stop it!", a familiar voice said, "Open that door! Now, Garson! Or I am gonna shoot yah."

That can't be good. Olalla and Ravi went into the lobby just in time to see Garson slowly move backwards. "Blimey, Silas", he grumbled, "Did you get up with the wrong foot in the morning?" The fat bandit was holding two pistols at him as he entered. "Shut up!", Silas declared. He was followed by two more bandits. They too directed their pistols at Olalla and Ravi.

"Hands up", commanded Silas and the pistols clicked. Garson stood between Olalla and Ravi, looking at them. What now?, his gaze seemed to ask. The young Hyde slowly lifted her hands and the others followed her example. We wait, Olalla signalized Garson. Her greyish blue eyes widened when Fedora entered the room.

The Eryins had crossed her arms. "Well, well", she mused, "This is an interesting reunion." She seemed to be about to reach for something in her pocket. Another gun. Olalla took a step forwards. "What do you want, Fedora?", she demanded to know.

"Olalla?", asked Ravi anxiously. "Garson", hissed Olalla under her breath, "Take Ravi and run the laboratory." The old man took the boy by his hand and stepped backwards. The bandits still held their pistols up. "Nobody moves!", shouted Silas, "I shoot!"

Fedora responded: "We came here because we are looking for somebody." "Well", snarled Olalla, "Bad luck for you. He is not here." And with these words she formed her hand into a fist and slammed it against Silas' jaw. He grunted in shock and stumbled backwards, falling over. "Run!", Olalla roared, looking at Ravi and Garson, as the bandits charged at her and she fought back.

They were only two, but they came from different sides. Olalla kicked the one in the front in the stomach and saw him slam against the wall by the door. The other one jumped from behind and wrapped his arms around her throat, trying to make her bend over. "Just, wait you", he snarled, "Dance will get you and your brother."

Olalla gagged and bent down. Stabbing her fingers in her opponent's stomach, he heard him grunt in pain. The young Hyde broke free and grabbed the bandit by his collar. "Sorry, sweetheart", she whispered and lifted him up, "What were you saying?"

At this moment a low shot could be heard. Olalla gasped in shock and surprise as she felt the needle slice through her skin. Her eyes widened. This cannot be! Olalla pushed the bandit away and stumbled backwards. The world spun around her and her head ached. She felt Hyde slither out of her gripe, her legs turning feeble.

The woman fell on the floor and got caught by Silas. Fedora bent over her. Olalla's lids trembled. The woman smiled. "What made you think we were after Hyde?", was all she asked.

~Jekyll & Hyde~

Robert felt the dizzy sensation of sitting on a chair that was spun around. Shelves, tables and windows passed his view so fast that it made him dizzy. The world had no up and down. But despite his confusion Robert knew what had happened. He always got treated like this when MIO captured him. They had gotten him during his walk. Before he had known it, someone had pushed a sack over his head and he got forced into a car.

Now he was sitting on a chair that finally stopped. Before him stood a familiar figure. Bulstrode wore his grey suit, the red tie screaming disapproval together with his grim and gloomy face. In fact the chief of MIO had placed his hands on his side and looked really, really pissed off.

"Why am I here?", asked Robert, although in his heart, he felt he knew the answer already. Bulstrode snapped at him: "Sackler has been hospitalized! He is in a critical state. Have you lost your mind? What have you been thinking?" He was angry and he had every right to be.

However Robert felt Hyde bubble up inside him. "I...I..." Robert turned his face away. He did not want to look at Bulstrode, not see the accusing look on his face, the look that screamed monster. What right did he have to make such assumptions?

"I did nothing." His voice was low, hoarse. Robert had lowered his head. When he looked up his eyes flashed cyan and the veins pulsated. Hyde growled angrily: "You should consider yourself lucky that I decided not to follow my grandfather's footsteps." His behaviour changed from unsure and nervous to dominant and aggressive.

Hyde leaned himself back in the chair and placed his arms on the back. Bulstrode gasped in shock, before he furrowed his brows. "Do you even consider what you did?", he snapped, "My agent could die and this gave me a very good reason to lock you up. In fact I could do it right now!"

"I dare you to do it", breathed Hyde and stood up. "Sackler will be fine. He is young and strong", growled the mad man, "In fact if there is anyone to blame, it is probably you." He slowly furrowed his brows and whispered angrily: "Did you really expected me not to notice that your spies are watching after me? Robert may try to ignore them or even pretend they are not there. I am not such an idiot. I thought, maybe a message from me would make you consider what you do."

Bulstrode angrily knocked against his table. He responded: "Hyde, whom do you think we are? We are a government department! It is our job to hunt monsters and destroy them. Especially those that are in such a close relationship with Tenebrae and Lord Trash."

Hyde groaned and gazed upwards. "I am not on Tenebrae's side and you know that very well. Besides didn't I do you some kind of favour? The Hearth is destroyed. Lord Trash is back in his nirvana prison. So how about you do me a favour in exchange and leave me be?!" He shouted the last word in rage.

MIO was so annoying. They kept watching him like scientists an insect. It was frustrating. Hyde wanted to live his life without them constantly peaking over his shoulder. He really hated the fact that he was trapped in the middle. Enemeys everywhere. Why could MIO and Tenebrae not tear each other to pieces without him getting involved?

Bulstrode's gaze turned sour. He knew he had a monster in this room and caution was off priority. The chief responded: "I am afraid, we cannot do this. You too are classified as a monster for us, Hyde, and therefore it is our duty to keep an eye on you. Moreover the chance is very likely that Dance will try to get back on you."

Oh, you just said something stupid. Hyde's grim expression changed into an amused smile. "Dance", he repeated, "It is always Dance. That is the one you are really after: Captain W. M. Dance. You know, I have the feeling that your plan won't work. Has nobody told you it is unwise to use the same plan twice?"

"What do you mean?", asked Bulstrode. Hyde slowly walked through the room and explained: "You know, I always wondered how did it come that Dance got shot in the right moment in that storehouse. How could it be that you were there to save my neck?" The chief of MIO shrugged. "Probably a funny coincidence. Nothing special", he guessed.

"A funny coincidence?", responded Hyde and stopped before the table, placing his hands on it. "I do not think so. You were at the storehouse. You shot Dance right at the moment where I was in trouble. The timing was perfectly. And how could it be that way? Because you have spied on me. You knew I was there and you knew what Dance planned. I was your bait."

His face turned grim again and he growled, leaning forwards: "Tell me, was that second monocane bullet reserved for me? If I decided to open the jar?" His hands shot forwards and he grabbed the other man by his collar. Hyde slowly lifted him up. Bulstrode gasped in shock and clung to the mad man's wrists.

"I am sick of being your bait", whispered Hyde, "Mark my words, Bulstrode: From now on you are on your own. I won't ever help you again. If you want to find Dance, find him without me! In fact, leave me alone. If I see any more agents near my house or me, I am gonna make sure that they die!"

Bulstrode finally found the courage to speak: "This is no solution, Hyde. Put me down! If you harm my agents, I will give the order to shoot you with monocane bullets, strong enough to tear you to shreds."

Baring his teeth, Hyde growled: "Maybe I should just kill you now. Do us all a favour." He tightened his grip. Bulstrode gagged. He struggled, trying to break free. "Hyde", a familiar voice said, "Put him down."

Hyde slowly turned his head. In the door frame stood Lily Clarke. She was wearing her pelt scarf over the dark blue dress and small hat. Elegant as always. And skin like marble. Her dark eyes focused on them and her gace was strict. Great. Just great.

"Oh", mused Hyde, "Whoopsie. Maybe the doll has entered the wrong door. How about you go back to that phantom mother of yours? I have business to finish." Lily did not move. "Put him down", she repeated, "He is not worth the trouble." "You should listen to her", stammered Bulstrode angrily, "Miss Carrew is the reason you are still free. She convinced me that you have yourself in control and are not a threat to society."

Hyde laughed and flashed Lily a canine smile. "Oh, how noble", he taunted, "The spy has a heart of gold. It is almost too much to ask for." The fair lady entered the office, however she still remained by the door. "I still consider myself your friend, Robert", responded Lily calmly, "Despite what has happened. I said it before and I will say it again: I wanted to tell you. I deeply regret that you had to find out about me like this."

Hyde responded: "You seem to have forgotten that I am Hyde right now. I am not Robert. And I do not think I am your friend." Lily was not faced by his harsh words. She said: "I know, you are Hyde right now. But I do not care. I do not wish to be your enemy. I know asking you to see me as a friend is a bit far stretched, so just consider myself as your alley."

Looking at Bulstrode, she added: "And I am sure he will give you a break if you put him down." Hyde crunched his teeth and looked back at Bulstrode. "Hmm", he mused, "What do you say, Bulstrode?" "I give you a break!", he stammered, "I promise. You just have to understand that we are equals in this fight."

There was a low thud when Hyde dropped Bulstrode and marched past him. He stopped before Lily. Looking at her with dark, smoldering eyes the mad man whispered: "I suppose, Robert will thank you later." Her coral red lips twitched into a thine smile. "I suppose so too", she responded. Hyde nodded once more and pushed himself past her, leaving the office.

~Jekyll & Hyde~

Bulstrode slumped himself back into the chair. He massaged his temples and closed his eyes. Sweat glittered on his skin. The chief looked at Lily and murmured: "Thanks. I usually do not like your logic, but in this case you had a point." A deep sigh left his lips as he placed his arm back on his table. "What is the actual reason you came here?", Bulstrode demanded to know.

Lily crossed the office and stopped before her chief's desk. She simply responded: "I succeeded" as she pulled out a sheath of paper. The sight off it wiped the exhaustion from Bulstrode's face. He leaned forwards, hands lifted as if he wanted to snatch the paper out of her grip. "You did it?!", he asked.

Lily responded: "I did." "Well, then give it to me then", Bulstrode demanded. However Lily refused. She stated: "What about your part of the deal? You know how difficult it is for me to rewin Robert's trust. He already knows what stands on this sheet. Besides I agreed giving it to you, if you did something in return."

Bulstrode huffed and narrowed his gaze. "Fine, Miss Carrew." His shoulders sank. Lily may be one of his best agents, however her stubbornness and the way she wrapped him around her finger was not really something he appreciated.

"Hannigan!", Bulstrode called, "Bring me Miss Carrew's order." The golden grit opened and the fat agent stepped through it. Moving through the office, he placed a long, black box on the table. Bulstrode laid his one hand on it. The other one rested waiting. "The sheet", he demanded.

Lily slowly handed him the piece of paper. Bulstrode leaned himself back into his chair and started to read. The fair lady carefully opened the box. Embedded in red velvet laid a small, fragile looking silver pistol.

As if handling a glass necklace, Lily carefully took the pistol out of its box. It felt smooth in her hand and handy. She made the magazine click open. It could easily be bent down, so one could shove a dart into it, small like a finger.

"You do realize it was expensive to make this, Lily", stated Bulstrode and readjusted his glasses. Lily placed the pistol back into its box. Closing it, she responded: "I know, Roger. And I shall use it with responsibility."