Return of the Acquaintance


Several slow and peaceful hours had passed since Luca had thrown herself back into the void by attacking the spectre in Hammersmith. It was now time to return to London and begin searching for the doctor.


She used the quietness of the void to just slowly drift around thinking about her next move. It was now clear her master needed to somehow be defeated, to do that, Luca first needed to take out his most loyal servant and guard, Shade. She was weary about allowing her actions to be known as she did not want Henry discovering her again until she was ready; there was also the need to keep her own master from discovering her plans.


The young woman returned to Fulham and went in search of Hugon Road. It was the early hours of the day after the events in Hammersmith and she had no idea whether the doctor would be home or not.


She found the house she worked out to be his, Fifty-six. The dark year, Luca shuddered at the memory Henry's door had provoked.


The door was locked but Luca did not need keys nor handle to pass through one place to the next. She made sure no one was around in the street before a portal opened and she found herself stood in Henry's front room.


After inspecting the room and musing at the little gadgets of unknown use on a side table, Luca suddenly gasped and stumbled, knocking the table and the items on top of it. This caused a stir from the sleeping body on a make-shift bed in the centre of the room. How Luca did not notice the woman before is beyond her.


"You must be the famous Polly," Luca whispered softly as she leaned over and studied the lying woman's face. "Nice to meet you, officially."


This caused another stir and Polly's face scrunched up, "Go away, Neville," she murmured.


Luca backed away and left the room, "We'll meet again," she whispered. Luca ascended the stairs and paused near the top when she spotted the sleeping figure of Henry slouched across his desk.


She decided to stay quiet this time so as not to stir him like she did Polly. She crept slowly across the landing towards the open door of his office; he was sleeping peacefully despite his position.


"Oh, Henry, what a predicament we find ourselves in," Luca whispered softly. She examined the files around his desk, paying close attention to the beige hard covers and Henry's use of simple font.


With a stroke of luck Luca picked up a blank file and proceeded to write down necessary details about the poor girl Shade was currently tormenting. It pained her knowing what was happening to Estella but there was nothing she could have done before now to her master's favourite servant. Now was the time to stop them both, now was the time to include the doctor laying across his desk beside her. She looked down at Henry and smiled, blushing she thought, He is handsome. I wonder if a man such as Henry would kiss a demon woman like me?


Luca kicked herself for straying from her task. She finished writing a brief description of what her knowledge of Estella Bonham allowed and placed the file near Henry's arm. She gently brushed his hair, and felt butterflies in her stomach as she lightly touched the warmth of his skin. Luca had never allowed herself to get close to anyone, nor had she allowed any man to touch her for fear of what her master may do to her or them.


Henry began to stir and Luca instantly recoiled her hand. She was about to whisper gently into his ear but another presence caught her attention. Spirits were lurking near the house, she could sense them. Luca scanned the room, they were not inside yet.


"Henry," she said nervously. "Henry!" She said more abruptly.


Henry woke up and Luca heard him speak her name but she was already entering another portal to escape. She was not proud of doing so but she could not risk battling too many spirits in such short a time lest her master finding out what she was up to.


She was confident Henry and Polly could stop any lowly spirits approaching. Had Shade sent them? She was aware they could track each others movements, but if he was aware that she was selling him out to the doctor then surely she would be facing their master right now. Shade had no reason to not tell their master what she was up to.


All she could do now was wait and see, would Shade or their master come for her or will Henry stop Shade?


***


The smoke surrounding Shade was fading quickly and the dark shadow stood firmly as if nothing had happened. He growled while maintaining his glare at Henry but remained unhurt.


"Who is that?" Polly called.


"Excuse me a moment," Henry said to Shade.


"How dare you," the demon replied.


"Are you serious?" Polly asked as she watched Henry walk away and straight to the man in the red coat.


"Mr Funsie, right?" Henry asked.


"Only on the stage, sir. In the face of adversaries I am Malcolm Trawler, at your service."


"Nice to meet you, Mr Trawler. What is your weapon, sir?"


"This here beauty is a vaporiser; whatever that thing is you are battling is not the only monster in these parts," Malcolm eyed Shade suspiciously. "Although, I guess that's not of the physical plane. My gun should have blown it to a million pieces."


Henry shook his head, "I'm afraid not, this is a demon of the spirit realm. Nasty little bugger."


"Whatever your plan is, demon hunter, you better do it fast. Even without a face it looks furious, and it's coming this way."


"How dare you walk away from Shade!" The demon hissed as it slowly approached again.


"Stop! Please stop!" No one had seen where she had come from but Miss Estella had thrown herself between Shade and Henry and pleaded with the former with her arms stretched out wide.


"Get out of the way or feel my true malice!" Shade hissed.


"No, I will not!" Cried Estella.


Shade clenched his left fist and a scream was heard. Everyone looked to their left and saw Bonnie being slowly raised in the air. The scream was cut off and she began to struggle; clutching at her throat as if something was there.


"No," Estella whimpered. Slowly she stepped aside. "Don't hurt her."


"For too long she has given you strength and an attitude to rebel... No more!" Shade tightened his fist more and a snap could be heard. Bonnie fell limp and was dead. Shade lowered her body back to the ground to rest.


This crushed Estella, she was defeated. Ready to give up and succumb to Shade's evil plans she fell to her knees. She did not cry or plead this time, she just stared emotionless at the ground accepting her fate.


Henry, Polly and Malcolm could only watch on in horror as they contemplated their next move.


Malcolm cocked his gun, aimed it at Shade and fired. The explosive struck the demon in the chest but he did not falter. The black smoke evaporated quickly and Shade began his advance on Henry.


Again his fist clenched, then he spoke to the doctor, "Time for you to feel as Estella does."


Another scream followed by a shout of "Henry!" Polly was being raised into the air, the unseen force gripping her throat. Struggling to breathe she was completely at the spirit's mercy.


"Polly! No!" Henry's face turned a sickly white as he watched his assistant and best friend begin to suffer the same fate as Bonnie.


Suddenly the hold on Polly began to loosen. Henry's attention turned back to Shade and he was amazed at what he witnessed.


"This stops now, Demon!" Luca spat at Shade; she had appeared right beside him and held a firm grip onto his outstretched arm.


"What are you doing, Witch? The master forbade us both from interfering with each others work. You will pay heavily for this," Shade hissed. He let go of Polly and she fell to the ground, crying out in pain as she landed awkwardly and whacking her head.


Malcolm reached her first, "Leg's broken," he confirmed to Henry as he arrived. Polly soon passed out from the pain. "She'll be fine. I'll help her, you go help that poor girl stop that thing."


"Polly, I'm sorry," Henry whispered softly. He pushed another button on his rod and blue sparks shot out of the tip like lightning. "No more games," he spoke with a seriousness Polly would have been proud to hear.


"I'm done being the pet he can kick around," Luca growled. She punched Shade in the chest, forcing him backwards and falling to his knees.


"Fool, your powers are no match for mine," Shade gave out a short laugh.


"Maybe not but I have allies, what do you have?"


Before Shade could answer he was struck square in the face by Henry's rod at full swing. Shade crashed to the ground; not the effect Henry hoped for but he still felt better for it. He soaked up the feeling before turning to Luca.


Luca grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away, "You have a lot of questions but first we need to get out of here. I have an idea, follow me."


"I won't leave Miss Alexander behind," exclaimed Henry. He turned to face his assistant just as she let out another horrified scream courtesy of Malcolm snapping the bone back into place.


"Mr Trawler is a friend of mine, trust me, she's in the best hands."


Henry looked somberly at the young woman. Her words were enough to convince him, "Where do you propose we go?"


Luca pointed to the circus, "Funsie's tent of course. The mirrors."


The idea clicked in Henry's mind, he knew what Luca had planned, "What happened? Where did you go?"


"It's too difficult to explain right now, he's coming," Luca pointed towards Shade making his slow approach again.


Henry ignored Shade, his focus was on Polly and praying she would be ok. He could still just about see her being nursed by Malcolm. The circus tent they sought was still some distance away.


"Pity I couldn't send that wretch back to the world beyond," Henry said to no one in particular.


"Shade can move freely through the realm you speak of. It did not work the way you intended because it would have had no effect on his ability to come back here," Luca replied.


Shade picked up his pace and began chasing them with a run. Whatever that stuff was that woman had thrown at him had removed his ability to disappear or leave the area completely but it fortunately had not hindered his other powers, especially the ones that kill.


Ignoring the peasant mortals around them, Shade's focus was entirely on Luca and Henry. He wanted them to suffer but they were just out of his reach to use powers that could hurt them. Instead he took a liking to the hunt, like a cat chasing a mouse into its hole, or in this case, a large tent.


Shade laughed to himself as they entered the tent. They would be no match for him in an enclosed space and they must surely be short on breath with the running, he had them and he was going to enjoy torturing them.



His cackle laughter grew into a terrifying howl as he lavished on the thoughts of murdering the two, slowly and painfully.


***