Prelude

The walls felt thick around him. They left him minimum space and he could see nothing. Suddenly a cracking sound. Light, that fell through slits. He struggled as he forced the walls open, angrily hissing to himself. His body felt long and slippy. Feathers that were wet from the liquid of his egg.

He looked around. He was in a narrow street. A few damp cartons and a toad that looked at him with big, brown eyes, squawking. He licked his lips and growled. Slowly slithering over the ground, he made his way through the street. Night spread over London. Lamps send strays of orange light every now and then. But he kept himself in the shadows. His head twitched around, scanning for a possible prey.

He finally found what he was looking for. A woman was slowly walking down the street. She wore a small hat and had locks. His feathers bristled and his long body slide towards her. He sneaked out of the shadows, made her turn around saw her eyes widen and heard her scream.

But there was also another scream. Higher, younger and more boy like. It was coming out of his mouth as he was Ravi Najaran who jumped upwards in his bed, jerked out of his sleep.

~Jekyll & Hyde~

"This better be important." Bulstrode slowly moved his glasses upwards. He was scratching notes on his notepaper. The chief sat at his massive desk, the stylized sun in his back. The golden emblem spread across the wall, giving the place the air of a throne room. Bulstrode was a prideful man and it showed. He saw himself as a saivour and MIO was his tool. Without him, they would be nothing! "You do know how much I hate mondays."

The old chief looked up. In front of him stood Hannigan. The man was a bit fat, had a bushy mustache and wore a small, black hat. Even with his suit, Bulstrode was reminded of a walrus. It was not that he disliked this agent. In fact Hannigan was like his second hand. He was reliable and did his job with the same heart Bulstrode did.

"What is it, Hannigan?", asked the man. The agent grunted: "You might want to take a look at this, Bulstrode." Bulstrode rose and followed Hannigan in the lift. It too was encased in gold. No true gold, but this fake, cheap gold that got cased over iron and other metals. The whole place was as fake and rotten as the organization it inhabited.

Hannigan brought Bulstrode to a corpse that laid on the table. Rannigan, the scientist, stood before it. He stated: "I am sorry, sir, but we have no idea what killed it." On Bulstrode's command, he removed the plastic blanket which hide the dead man from curious eyes. Oh dear lord...

The corpse seemed to be in perfect health on first sight. There was no wound, no blood, no gap in the throat or anything else that made it look like someone had re thorn it. (A rather unnormal view for Bulstrode as most monsters were rather brutal and created quite a mess). However the person's face was pale, her body seemed rigid and stiff and her eyes were widened in terror.

"This looks odd", stated Bulstrode and tilted his head. He crossed his arms behind his back. "Is she really dead?" "Well, she is motionless", responded Hannigan, "Looks kinda dead to me." Rannigan lifted a brow and asked: "Are you suggesting she is not dead? But petrified or something?" The chief nodded as he bent over the body. "The possibility is there."

Rannigan, Sackler and Hannigan looked at one another. Sackler asked: "But what monster does this?" "A gorgon", guessed Hannigan. Bulstrode shook his head. "That does not make sense", he stated, "Gorgons turn people into stone. This woman is petrified."

"Is there a difference between being turned into stone and being petrified?", asked Sackler in confusion. The blonde agent lifted a brow. "Yes, there is, Sackler", responded Bulstrode, "After all a penguin and a pigeon is not the same, even if they are both birds. We do not have a stature in the house after all."

Rannigan coughed. "What, Rannigan?", asked Bulstrode annoyed. The scientist sighted. "This is not the only corpse." He waved the chief to another table. Bulstrode spotted a boy with a sick looking face. Rannigan moved his head and revealed a green, sticky substance at the corners of the mouth.

"Poison", explained Rannigan, "Probably in food." Great, just great!  Bulstrode inhaled a deep breath to keep a clear head. "Okay", he said slowly, "We have a monster that is petrifying people and we have one that poisons stuff. Two more to the list of our already escaped monsters." Bulstrode was in a state of stress since the incident around Lord Trash's heart. All monsters that had been held in the MIO headquarter had escaped and now were probably roaming through London. If they had not already left the city. The government was hot on Bulstrode's tail and he knew they wanted results. The past few weeks had been quite a disaster.

Bulstrode grumbled: "Please tell me that you at least recaptured some of our monsters." Hannigan and Sackler looked at one another, faces red in embarrassment. "About that", grunted the fat man in his mustache, "We almost got the Harbinger, however it escaped." Sackler added: "However we do believe that it dies soon. It jumped over a barbed wire and hurt its leg badly."

Bulstrode was about to relax when one of his agents handed him a photograph he had just made on his patrol. His eyes widened when he saw the subject. "You do believe it dies soon?", repeated Bulstrode slowly, before he shouted: "Then how do you explain this?!" Lifting his hand, he showed the photography Sackler. It depicted the Harbinger.

The blonde agent narrowed his eyes. "Is that a bandage?", he asked and pointed at a white part of the image. "No, that is a stocking", snarled Bulstrode and snapped: "Of course this is a bandage, Sackler!" He lowered the photo and panted. "It seems our monster visited a certain Doctor Jekyll for help."

Placing his hands in his pocket, Bulstrode gave his next orders with an upset, annoyed tone: "Well, right now we have several monsters on the run. Hannigan, you get a group of man and catch whatever is turning people into stone. Sackler, you keep an eye on Robert Jekyll this afternoon. And if anyone is looking for me, I am in my office, I lock the door and I drink a cup of tea to calm down! And don't you dare to disturb me!" He spun around on the spot and left, not after muttering: "I hate mondays!"

Hannigan, Rannigan and Sackler shared worried glances. They had never seen their boss in such a stressed and upset state. Sackler finally broke the silence by saying: "You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys!" And with that quote he might just hit Bulstrode's mood right.

~Jekyll & Hyde~

Robert's breakfast contained a toast, bacon, eggs and a small cup of coffee. Garson had proven himself to be an excellent cook once more. The young Doctor was sitting in the dining room, which laid in the main lobby. The fire burned in the chimney, sending soft shadows over furniture and other walls.

Robert was taking a sip from his coffee when Ravi came down the stairs. He was moving slowly, his eyes laid in their caves, rings underneath them and his hair was a mess. Concern bubbled up inside Robert and he lowered his cup. Ravi looked like he had slept dreadful last night.

"Are you alright?", asked Robert, "You don't look that good, Ravi." His little brother slumped himself into a chair. Rubbing over his eyes, he muttered: "I had another vision." This can't be good. Robert leaned forwards and patted Ravi's knee. His brother lately had gotten this weird ability since the Reaper had been drawn out of him. Neither Robert nor Ravi fully understood it, but it came in handy when it was needed. And a vision in Ravi's sleep only appeared when something important happened.

"What did you see?", asked Robert. Ravi admitted: "I am not sure. It was very dark and I could hardly see anything. But I could feel what I was. Well, I at least got that I was some kind of reptile. I was in an alley first. Or some other narrow street. I climbed out of it and attacked someone. Then I woke up."

Ravi looked at Robert, his eyes wide with fear. His lips trembled. Sometimes Robert wanted to hug him and bring him away from this all. He still could not forgive himself that he had brought Ravi into this world. This world of ghouls and monsters, he himself did not understand fully. He had taken away every safety of Ceylon, everything as Ravi knew it. His world had been erased drastically.

"Do you have any idea what this could be?", asked Ravi. Robert opened his mouth to voice a guess, but then he shook his head. "I don't know", he responded, "There is too little information." They got interrupted when Garson peeked his head through the door and called: "Mail's there!" He entered the room and slumped a newspaper and a postcard on the table.

Alright. Let's see what we got here. Robert picked up the postcard and furrowed his brow in surprise. The card was from Olalla. He slowly started to read. She wanted to apologize. They had two different mindsets. What he feared? Robert sighted and placed the card away. "Olalla", he muttered to himself, "Didn't I told you that already?"

"What is it?" Ravi picked up the card and read it as well. He looked at Robert, whose gaze seemed to harden. The Doctor avoided to look at the postcard. Ravi whispered: "She really cares about you, Robert. She is worried. Can't you just tell her that you are alright? At least respond to the card somehow?"

"I am alright!" Robert's voice had risen and a hint of anger laid in it. His brows furrowed and his veins pulsated. Taking a fast breath, the Doctor added: "Why can't she see that? I told her what I fear. Hyde! I want nothing to do with him. Yet she keeps digging and glorifying that monster. I would talk with her and maybe even accept her, if she accepted my decision!"

Garson and Ravi shared glances Robert could not read. His own anger clouded his mind. Why did they all acted like he had no fault? Why did no one try to understand him? Why did they all acted like it was no big deal? How could they move on? What was their secret? What made Robert be stuck in the past? He just wanted to move on. Like everyone else.

Robert took the Daily Truth and unfolded it. The headline screamed at him: DOUBLE-MURDER LAST NIGHT! What was that about? Worry painted itself on Robert's face as he started to read the article. A woman and a boy had been found dead on the streets last night, but no one could see what had killed them. The police was without a clue.

"Look at this, Ravi!" Robert handed his brother the newspaper. "Don't you think that is odd? You have a vision and right now the Daily Truth reports a mysterious murder that happened last night." The Indian boy looked up and his eyes filled with determination. They both thought the same. This could not have been a coincidence. "Do you remember any specific landmark from your vision?"

~Jekyll & Hyde~

Westminster Abbey. This had been the landmark, Ravi remembered from his vision. He had came out of the alley and had seen the large church to his left. Nowadays many tourists wanted to see the majestic building with its many towers, cross-coats and most off all the many graves of the nobles and British royalty that had been buried here.

The park was buzzing with life. People were walking over the grass and looked at the church. Some came in, others went out. The sky was rather clear and it was a cold spring morning. Robert and Ravi cautiously moved between all these tourists and scanned the area.

It was hard to find their monster. Especially since they had almost no idea what they were looking for in the first place. Ravi's vision had been a blur and the only hint they had were the reptilian skin. Which was not saying very much.

"You are sure it was here?", asked Robert. They stopped by a large willow, backs towards the church. Ravi nodded firmly. "The monster, I, was coming out of that alley." He pointed with his finger in the direction. The street laid straight behind Westminster Abbey and Robert could easily see how the monster had attacked. The ally was hidden in shadows and the big church blocked out any possible view.

Hmmm. Maybe we can find some evidence. Slowly walking in the direction Ravi had pointed at Robert stopped and gazed into the alley. The walls were wet and dirty. Shadows crept over the stone and the rain soaked into his shoes.

What is that for a disgusting smell? Robert heard Hyde growl inside of him and felt his nose cringe. He turned his head and approached a wall. Something stuck there. Carefully the Doctor dipped his fingers into the substance and pulled. The green slime stuck to his fingers. Was it another Reaper? No, that stuff looked and felt different. It also smelled different. Like really, really sore, rotting apples.

"Ravi!", called Robert and came back from the alley, "I think I found..." Suddenly Hyde forced his attention to something a few feet above and behind his little brother. On the sims of the window stood one of those waterspouts. In front of Robert's shocked eyes that stoney thing was moving, preparing itself to jump.

"Ravi, look out!" Robert did not allowed his brother to turn around. He sprinted over the grass and threw himself against his brother. Just as the monster jumped. Robert fell on Ravi, who landed in the wet grass. Sharp claws tore his clothes and digged into his shoulder, forming three bloody lines. The pain raced through his spine, seemed to split his skull.

Ravi had covered his face in shock. Now he looked up. "Robert!", he called, "Are you alright?" The face of his older brother twitched, the veins seemed to darken and a low growl laid in his voice: "I have never been better." Dropping Ravi like a sack of potatoes, Hyde slowly stood up. His movements were confident, calm and dominant. The mad man rolled his shoulder and neck, feeling bones crack and jump into place.

He slowly turned around to face his attacker. Kangaroo and dragon. Those were the first two words that came into Hyde's mind when he looked the monster up and down. It seemed like a crossbreed of these two creatures. It had the seize of a cat, a long, slender body with muscular hind legs and shorter front legs. Two small wings shivered over its shoulders. The monster had a green scaly skin and yellow eyes. The muzzle was short and reminded Hyde of one of a dog. Spikes covered its spine. But most notably were the long, sharp claws it had on hands and feet. They reminded Hyde of the claws of an eagle.

Well, you definitely picked the wrong guy, kangaroo dragon! Hyde's grin deformed as he unleashed an angry roar. Launching forwards, he was ready to grab the nasty fellow and crush him between his fingers. But he only got hold of thine air as the dragon did a great jump with its long hind legs, catapulting itself forwards and slashing another wound in his shoulder as it raced passed him.

Hyde bellowed in shock and stumbled a few steps forwards. Swirling around he tried to find the monster. The dragon however seemed to be out of his reach and had hidden itself somewhere. Maybe on the roof. Hyde's head twitched around as he searched for it, panting.

"Where is it?", Ravi asked and approached Hyde. The mad man graced his little brother with a firey glance and grumbled: "Seems like our friend enjoys playing hide and seek. How about we play that game properly, eh, Ravi?" He turned his head and gave him a wink. It took Ravi a few seconds to understand. "You count", he said and sprinted away.

"I count", responded Hyde, "And you better get ready." He closed his eyes. "It is not like this will do anything. It just heightens the fun. For me. One, two, three..." The mad man slowly opened his eye a slit and scanned the roof carefully. Where had their monster hide itself?

"Four, five..." There. Hyde's eye glowed briefly in pleasure as he spotted the dragon, sitting stiff near a window sims. Fascinating how something so small could move soo fast, yet could be so still and stiff if required. "Six, seven..." Hyde started to move sideways and pretended like he was searching for Ravi (who had hide behind a tree) so the monster would not be suspicious.

"Eight, nine..." Hyde reached the sims and stopped. He carefully positioned himself, ready to strike not from above but from underneath. The kangaroo dragon would not even know what hit him. "Ten!" Hyde unleashed an angry roar and leaped forwards.

The monster shrieked and tried to jump over his head. The mad man was ready this time. Hyde grabbed the long legs with his hands and swirled around. He heard the dragon yelp in shock as it hit the next wall. Hyde punched it across his chest, before it had time to recover. He felt bones break under his knuckles. Panting and a smug smirk on his face, the mad man stepped back and eyed his work. The monster clearly was dead.

~Jekyll & Hyde~

They had taken the monster and brought it into the laboratory. Now Robert and Ravi were standing at the working table and bend over it. It had a broken chest and its arms and legs were twisted. The claws still red from now dried blood. Robert luckily had no injury from his fight with that thing. Hyde's healing abilities had prevented most of that.

Ravi chewed on his lips. "Something is off", he muttered, "Something is missing." "What do you mean?", asked Robert in confusion, "Is this not the creature you were in your vision? You said it were a reptile."

"It was." The Indian boy slowly ran a hand over the slender, small body and looked it up and down. "But I remember something now, I forgot to mention. In my vision I remembered feeling feathers on me. That thing does not have feathers."

A monster with feathers and a snake's skin? Robert blinked in confusion. He tried to wrap his head around this description and come up with something, but his mind was blank. He had no idea what that thing might be.

"Well", stammered Robert, "If this is not your monster, then what is that?" "A gargoyle." The female voice made him look up. On the balustrade stood a familiar figure with a white blouse, black vest and golden locks. Robert felt his brows furrow at Olalla's sight. "Who let you in?", he demanded to know.

She laughed and walked down the stairs. "I am flattered by the feeling of welcomeness in here", she taunted and stopped by the table, "Well, I too read the news and your brother called me, telling me that you were not feeling well. Let me guess: You still suppress Hyde."

Robert's head snapped around and he glared at Ravi. His brother's smile faded. "I see", whispered the Doctor and his voice was low with anger, "You did this behind my back! What else did you do behind my back?" Ravi backed away. "I was only trying to help", he whispered and his sad and fearful face made Robert feel guilty at once, "She is your sister. She deserves to know."

"I know", responded the dark haired man and sighted, "I am sorry, Ravi. I did not mean to scare you." He inhaled another gust of his sprayer and realized in shock how light it felt in his hand. Looking at Olalla, Robert stated: "You called that thing a what?"

"A gargoyle", responded his sister, "A small, harmless monster that lives on churches and hunts birds and rats." "Harmless?" Robert's eyes widened as he remembered the sharp pain of the claws. "You call that monster harmless. It attacked me! It tried to tear me apart with those claws."

Olalla laughed and tilted her head. "It did not try to kill you. It tried to chase you away. Not every monster is a threat to humanity, Robert", she explained, "Just like not every monster works for Tenebrae. MIO only hunts the biggest threats. Things like a gargoyle. Never!"

"Oh", responded Robert, "Then why did that thing attack me?" "Because you are monster", stated Olalla, "Monsters can sense other monsters. You were invading the gargoyle's territory. It saw you as a threat and wanted to make sure you leave."

"What were you two doing there anyway?", the blonde asked. Robert told: "Ravi had another vision. We thought, we found the monster from his vision. But we were wrong." "What did it look like?" After Ravi described his vision to Olalla again, she responded: "Sounds more like a cockatrice to me."

"Cocko-what?", repeated Robert. "A cockatrice", explained Olalla, "is a snake with the head of a cock. It is a very dangerous creature as it has the ability to petrify people and poison them." Robert and Ravi looked at one another. This sounded a lot more like the threat the news had talked about. But the question remained: Where was the cockatrice now?