The End of a Legend and the Beginning of a New Century
Aurora looked down at the dirt as the hot sun was beating on her shoulders. She wore her grandfather’s hat and vaguely noticed the small gathering of mourners to her right. She stood at the foot of the new grave and just stared. The realism of the past couple of days hadn’t completely sunk in until they buried Allan. She knelt down and touched the newly turned earth and bit her lip. The others wound their way through the small crowd to stand at Aurora’s side.
“You remember he swore Africa wouldn’t let him die?” Skinner said softly and Aurora blinked. “I wish the old boy had been right.”
“He’s not dead.” Aurora said. “Not really. As long as people keep telling the stories of Allan Quatermain, he’ll never die.” There was silence for a moment then Sawyer sighed.
“What’s next?” He asked looking around to each of them.
“I have long hidden away from the world.” Nemo stated. “Now I wish to see it anew as the century turns. You are all welcomed to join me.”
“We’ve all been hiding in one form or another.” Mina said looking at Aurora.
“The Nautilus awaits.” Nemo said.
“So who’s coming?” Sawyer asked and looked down at Aurora. She raised her eyes and looked up at him from under the brim of the hat. “Won’t do if the stories stop here.” Sawyer informed her and Aurora looked at the cross at the head of the grave. She kissed the tips of her fingers and placed them on the dirt then stood. She looked to Nemo and began to walk off.
“So long old chap.” Skinner said to the grave then followed Aurora.
“Good-bye Allan.” Henry whispered.
“Good-bye.” Dorian said and followed the others. Mina stood for a moment at the foot of the grave then lowered her head a bit.
“Bye.” She whispered and went and joined Dorian. Tom stood there for a moment then swinging the rifle in his hands around once cocking it, he laid it on the grave.
“Thanks.” He said and patted the gun then stood and followed the others. Aurora had been so out of tune with the things around her, that if she had heard the medicine man in the background chanting she wouldn’t have felt so bad. The medicine man walked up to the grave and grabbed a handful of dirt and kept chanting as the League walked away. Clouds began to form in the skies and Aurora looked up with a sigh.
“Africa feels it as well.” She whispered to no one in particular as lightning struck behind them unnoticed.
“So, where to?” Nemo asked as they headed for the dock and Aurora smiled.
“London.” She said. “It’s time to come out of hiding. Besides, I have a few affairs to tie up back there before I can do anything else.”
“Affairs?” Skinner asked in a chuckle. “Of what sort?” Aurora looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
“Not that sort Rodney.” She said and the use of his first name made Skinner snort. “Although, now that you’ve mentioned it…” Aurora went on then paused.
“Miss Aurora!” A voice behind them called. Aurora turned then stopped as a man approached them.
“What is it Buckley?” Aurora asked and the man smiled at her.
“I just wanted to say, you know, that I am sorry for your loss.” Buckley said then glanced at the ground. “And that no matter where you go or what you do Africa will always welcome a Quatermain. Always. And you will always be a Quatermain Miss Aurora. Even when the world tries to change you, and it just might.” Aurora smiled and reached out and raised the man’s chin.
“Thank you Buckley.” She said softly. “Take care of things here for me will you?”
“Of course Miss. Until you return home.” Buckley said but Aurora smiled.
“I am going home Buckley.” She informed him and he blinked then smiled.
“Begging your pardon, but I don’t think London is quite ready for you yet.” He said then chuckled. “I imagine they haven’t quite recovered from your last visit.” To which Aurora laughed softly and nodded.
“Probably not.” She turned and stopped. The medicine man was standing in front of her now and began talking in the African dialect common around Kenya and Aurora blinked a few times at him and opened her mouth but closed it again. Whatever he was saying he wasn’t letting Aurora have her say. And then without warning he quickly rapped her on the forehead with his stick and walked away leaving Aurora to blink and rub where he had hit her.
“What was that all about?” Dorian asked trying not to laugh.
“I think he just cursed me.” Aurora said then looked over her shoulder but the man was gone.
“Cursed you?” Mina said and Aurora nodded.
“Something about Quatermains never feeling the icy coldness of Death’s breath.” She said and rubbed her forehead harder. “Did he really have to hit me?” She asked out loud and shook her head.
“Perhaps he was trying to knock some sense into you so that you’ll live longer.” Henry suggested with a smile and Aurora just snorted and boarded the Nautilus.
London. September 25, 1899
Aurora stood on the deserted street listening for other sounds besides the pouring rain. She had been back only a week and had decided to stay when the others decided to leave. They did however; make a pact that they would keep in touch and come together should the world be in dire need of heroes and heroines once again. She wasn’t the only one who stayed though. Henry too had decided to remain in London, even with Hyde’s awful past here. Aurora did remind him that Hyde now had full amnesty and hadn’t needed to worry. Although she wouldn’t be too eager to let him run loose in the streets of London. But it would seem London had other problems. There seemed to be a man, or a couple of them, preying on banktells. Prostitutes. Killing them off one by one, and according to an Inspector Abberline, not in a simple manner either. They had no leads, but Abberline was sure it was someone with some medical education. He had gotten in touch with Henry, not because of Hyde; the killings began before they even left for Africa, but because Henry was a doctor. Aurora had not met the Inspector, all she knew about the case was what she had read in the papers and what Henry had wrote to her.
Since the splitting of the League, Aurora had distanced herself from those who were close to her. And that sadly included Henry. He had come to call on her a few times in the beginning, but each time she wouldn’t see him. Henry had learned from Mr. Graham, Aurora’s head servant, along with his wife and the rest of the service staff that Aurora spent most of the days in bed. At night she wasn’t home. No one knew for sure where she went, or what she did, and no one dared to ask. But they all were very much worried about her welfare.
“She’s never been good with grief.” Mrs. Graham had said. “Why when her parents died she didn’t know what to do! And Allan hadn’t helped any at first either, what with him suffering his own grief and all.”
“She’ll snap out of it!” A young girl by the name of Rosie said slamming her hand on the table. “By God she will! All she needs is for something to snap her back, and I tell ya, this Ripper ordeal may just do it too.”
Ripper was the name the papers gave the mysterious killer. Jack the Ripper. Where it had originally came from was quite unknown, but the murders were well talked about in high and low society. Not even Hyde’s murders had been so gruesome.
So there Aurora stood. In probably one of the worst places for an unescorted woman, listening for any clue at all that might lead her to the killer. She was soaked to the bone and was shivering slightly but none of this she noticed. Her ears were constantly picking up bits of conversation from a near-by pub called the Ten Bells. She secretly wished that they’d all just shut the hell up.
“Porked her like a pig I did!” a man’s voice rang clearly in her ears and Aurora snorted.
“Not with my old cunny, that’s for sure.” A woman’s voice said and Aurora rolled her eyes and began to walk down the street in search of a quiet spot that wouldn’t be found in these parts.
Big Ben began to chime and Aurora winced for a moment at the loudness of it in her ears. She sighed deeply and pulled her grandfather’s hat down over her ears then shoved her hands into the pockets of her trench. What she needed was the killer’s scent. In order for her to get it though she’d have to see the bodies of the previous victims. In order for that, she’d have to meet with Abberline. She’d have to try and explain to him her curious heightened senses. And that was always a pain, especially when dealing with closed-minded men. She stalked down the street making the few people brave enough to be out in the storm move out of her way. Aurora noticed that someone was suddenly walking right next to her keeping with her pace.
“Now what’s your hurry lovely?” A man’s voice said to her left and Aurora ignored him. “Ah, come on now, don’t be that way. Just trying to get a conversation started.” The man continued and Aurora glared at a tree. “You know, a sweet little thing like you shouldn’t be wandering these nasty streets alone.” Aurora slid to a stop and turned and looked at the man.
“I am neither sweet nor little.” Aurora informed him. “And this thing is probably more deadly than anything you could ever imagine.” The man stared at her for a moment then smiled.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” He said and Aurora decided not to comment on this. “You’re Aurora Quatermain aren’t ya?” Aurora answered him by walking away, but he continued to follow her. “I’ve heard all about you.” He said excitedly. “And about your grandfather as well. Didn’t know you lot was back in town. Wait till my mates hear about this!” Aurora groaned inwardly and stopped to face him once again.
“If you live that long.” She said and he blinked at her. “For all you know mate, I could be the Ripper.” She said and waited for his reaction. What she got wasn’t what she had hoped for.
“Could ya now?” He asked with a smile. “I reckon I’d best be watching my step then.” Aurora just stared at him and then snorted and began walking again, and again the man followed her. She gritted her teeth together as he continued to talk. “Although I wouldn’t be too worried, seeing as it’s the banktells the Ripper’s been killing.”
“Minds can and do change.” Aurora stated and the man laughed.
“Sure enough, but why would the Ripper be wanting to kill poor old Johnny?” he said and Aurora looked at him from the corner of her eye.
“Why is he killing banktells?” She stated and the man, who she now assumed as Johnny just shrugged.
“Now there’s the prize question isn’t it?” Johnny said and Aurora again stopped. It took Johnny a moment to realize she wasn’t walking beside him before he stopped and looked back at her.
“Why are you following me?” Aurora asked and Johnny smiled and walked closer to her.
“I saw you standing back there, on the corner, listening. You were listening for him.” Johnny said and Aurora looked at him.
“What makes you say that?” She asked quietly and Johnny had to lean a bit closer to hear her because of the rain.
“Why else would a classy lady like you be in the slums of Whitechapel?” He said and Aurora’s nose twitched. “They say you can hear things normal men can’t. Smell things normal men can’t. You know things normal men don’t.”
“And who is they?” Aurora asked laughing and walked around him. He quickly fell in step beside her and shrugged.
“You’re all the high society ladies talk about.” He stated and Aurora laughed. “Really. ‘Whatever happened to poor Aurora Quatermain?’ ‘No doubt her fool of a grandfather has her out in the wild hunting her own…” Aurora turned on him quickly and pinned him against the wall. Anger shone brightly in her eyes.
“My grandfather was not a fool.” She growled and Johnny held his hands up, palms out.
“I’m just repeating what I heard.” He said and she glared at him then let him go and continued walking. “If you ask me, I’d say he was right smart raising you the way that he did.” Johnny called after her. She glanced over her shoulder and looked at him.
“No one was asking.” She stated and left the man standing there watching after her.
Aurora was still in a foul mood as she stomped up the steps to her front door and opened it. She slammed the door behind her and took off the hat and her trench.
“Good heavens Aurora!” Mrs. Graham’s voice floated down the hall to her. Aurora just looked at her and grumbled. She tossed them on the coat rack and began to cross the hall to the stairs. “You have company.” Mrs. Graham stated and Aurora paused on the first step.
“I don’t want to see anyone Polly. I’ve told you that.” She growled not looking at the woman.
“Well I don’t care what you want Aurora Quatermain, it’s what you need.” Polly stated and Aurora sighed in aggravation.
“Says who?” Aurora snapped at her and Polly made a face.
“I do.” Henry’s voice said and Aurora looked over at him.
“Mmmm…the good doctor. Of which I am in no need of.” Aurora growled looking back at Polly then turned and continued up the stairs.
“The hell you’re not!” Polly yelled at her and Aurora just looked over her shoulder. “Aurora, your grandfather is dead and it’s high time you come to terms with that.” Polly continued despite herself and Aurora stopped dead on the stairs and turned around.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Aurora yelled. “Don’t you think I notice that every time I walk through that damned door he’s not going to be sitting in the library waiting to see what new and interesting things I’ve manage to dig up during my latest adventure? It fucking kills me to know he’s no longer here and the only way I know how to deal with it is to take it out on something else, and unless you rather that be you, or the staff, or even poor Henry, you’d do good to LEAVE. ME. ALONE!” Aurora turned and ran the rest of the way up the stairs and into her bedroom slamming the door hard. A few seconds later it opened again only to be slammed even harder making the whole wall shake. Polly stood rooted to the spot with tears brimming her eyes as she stared at the bedroom door. Henry walked over to the stairs and began to climb them when Polly quickly crossed the distance and grabbed his arm.
“I wouldn’t.” Was all she managed to say before choking back a small sob. Henry smiled softly at her and removed her hand.
“Trust me; I can take any lumps she gives me.” He said softly and continued up the stairs. He didn’t even pause at the bedroom door; instead he walked right through it and was greeted by a knife thunking soundly into the wall next to him. “It’s good to see you too Aurora.” He said looking at the knife and closing the door. He reached over and yanked it out of the wall.
“Go away.” Aurora said flatly and he looked at her. He swallowed a laugh at the sight of her. The ends of her red hair were dripping with water which was running freely down her chest and back. Her boots were covered in mud, and god only knew what else. Her cheeks were flushed with either the cold or from the yelling, he couldn’t be sure which, but her eyes were bright despite the storm clouds gathered inside of them. He smiled at her which made her scowl.
“Aurora, I…” he started walking a few steps closer to her but began to laugh. Aurora glared at him and growled.
“What the hell do you want?” She asked as Henry continued to laugh. She strode towards him and placed her hands on his chest and shoved him back. He hit the door and Aurora stood there glaring at him as he bent over putting his hands on his knees still laughing.
“I’m sorry…” He tried but couldn’t get any more out. Aurora made a face and walked over to him. He quickly straightened up and she hit him on the chest.
“Shut up.” She growled and he laughed a little harder.
“Now, I know that’s not all you’ve got.” Henry said to which Aurora answered by hitting his chest again. “Oh now come on Aurora! You’re hitting like a girl!” Henry baited her and so she hit him again harder. Henry laughed and shook his head and smacked her in the hip with her knife. She snatched it out of his hand and buried it into the wall opposite of them and glared at Henry. “You want to hit somebody Aurora, hit me.” Henry said and she snorted and walked away from him to the window. She stood there for a moment debating whether to jump out of it when another voice greeted her ears.
“Not Henry then perhaps me.” Hyde said and Aurora spun around. He was standing a foot away from her and she fought the urge to hit him. “Give into you demons Aurora.” Hyde said nastily and she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I know you’ve been wanting a go with me for awhile now. You don’t like me because I’ve killed.” Hyde continued taking a step closer to her. “That’s what you want isn’t it? To kill a killer.” Aurora growled at him and lunged. Hyde caught her round the middle and they tumbled to the floor. They rolled a couple of times before coming to a stop with Hyde on top holding her wrists. “Shall I tell you how I killed them?” He whispered in her ear. “Mine weren’t banktells like the Ripper’s victims. Mine were upper class snobs.” Aurora pushed against the floor rolling them again. She looked down at Hyde as they came to a stop with her on top this time and she reached back and pulled a dagger from her boot and held it above his heart. Hyde smiled at her and chuckled. “Killing me won’t bring Allan back.” He stated and Aurora stared at him.
“But killing the Ripper would?” Aurora stated more than asked and Hyde shrugged.
“It’d be doing London a favor.” He said and Aurora laughed shortly.
“And killing you wouldn’t?” She asked breathing hard. Hyde reached up and took her right hand and placed the tip of the dagger against his skin above the heart and pressed down a bit.
“You kill me; you’ll kill Henry as well.” Hyde said and Aurora blinked. He pressed the dagger deeper making a bead of blood swell from its tip and snake a path slowly to the left. Aurora yanked her hand and the dagger out of Hyde’s and slammed it down next to his ear into the floor.
“I hate you.” Aurora growled at him. “I hate you both.” She stood kicking Hyde none too kindly in the side and walked over to her bed where she sat down on it her back to Hyde. He reached up and pulled the dagger out of the floor and stood. Quickly crossing the distance between him and Aurora and placing the dagger to her throat.
“It would be so easy.” He whispered in her left ear.
“It would be so easy to let you.” Aurora whispered back making Hyde blink. He reached up with his other hand and pulled back the hair covering her ear and pressed his lips against it.
“Henry loves you too much.” He whispered and Aurora didn’t move or say anything. Hyde removed the dagger from her throat and tossed it on the table then laid down on her left so he could see her face. She sat there for a moment then looked down at him.
“Don’t tell me that’s what stopped you.” She said and Hyde raised an eyebrow.
“Mmmm.” He said and looked at his fingers. “It’s not the only reason.” He said after a moment and Aurora laughed shortly. Hyde sat up on an elbow and poked her in the leg. “If you can catch me, you can catch the Ripper.” He stated and Aurora glared at him. “Ouch. If looks could kill.”
“Then I’d be the only one alive.” Aurora stated and stood. “I had help catching you Edward in case you don’t remember.” Hyde nodded with a smile.
“I do remember. You little vixen. I remember watching you as you ran on the street below me, keeping pace and never faulting. I remember you taking pleasure in the fact I almost squashed Sawyer with the chimney. If I remember correctly you’re exact words were ‘That was naughty.’” Aurora looked at him and sighed.
“The point?” she said shortly and Hyde rolled onto his back looking at her upside down.
“The point is Aurora; you will go the distance to get what you want. You’ll be just as naughty if it suits you in the end, and,” He paused and smiled wider which to Aurora looked extremely weird. “You have fun doing it.” Aurora blinked at him as his eyes danced. Hyde was right, there wasn’t anything she could say against it and for a moment, she really hated him more for it.
“So what.” She managed and almost rolled her eyes at herself.
“You really think Henry sent that letter to you because he likes writing? Doctors hate writing things out. They rather spend their time in labs and the like working on new…”
“Hyde.” Aurora snapped and he looked at her. She stepped closer to him and crossed her arms in front across her chest. Hyde sighed.
“He knows you can get the Ripper. I know you can get the Ripper. You know you can get the Ripper.”
“Wow. We all agree on one thing. Whoopeedo Basil.” Aurora said and Hyde looked at her funny. As if Hyde looking at her upside down wasn’t funny enough.
“So why don’t you get him? Take out all of your frustration out on him?” Hyde asked and Aurora smiled.
“Because at the moment, you’re right here.” She stated and Hyde glared at her.
“What? You want to roll around some more throwing insults at each other? We both know you’re not going to actually kill me.” Hyde said and Aurora stepped even closer to him.
“Would you kill me?” She asked and he rolled his tongue in his mouth. He made a clicking sound and smiled.
“You know, I can almost see up your shirt. Another step should do it.” Hyde said and Aurora thumped him in the head with her knee. “Ouch.” He said sitting up and looking at her while rubbing his head. Aurora walked around the bed and back to the window and watched the rain as it made tiny rivers and puddles in the streets.
“I can’t listen for him.” Aurora said with a heavy sigh pressing a finger to the cold glass. “There’s just too much noise in Whitechapel for me to single him out. And I’m not even sure what it is I’m listening for.”
“Maybe he’ll come after you.” Hyde stated and Aurora laughed.
“He’s not going to come after me Edward, not unless I’m a banktell.” Aurora said and then turned and looked at him. Hyde was sitting cross legged on her bed giving her a funny sort of a smile as his eyes wandered up and down her body. “I am not dressing up like a banktell!” Aurora said and threw a pillow at him. “So whatever it is you’re thinking just stop.” Hyde threw the pillow back at her and she turned and glared at him.
“So, what is it you need to catch him?” Hyde asked and Aurora bit her lip.
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