Hello, It's Mrs. Hyde

Prologue:Ch.11: Fire and Glass

Jekyll (Narration):
*"They always think the warden is the dangerous one.
But no one ever suspects the doctor."*

The wand clicked into place, a golden pulse running down its spine as the last fissure sealed with a shimmer of magic. Jekyll adjusted his gloves and held it up to the light, smiling faintly to himself.
"Perfect," he murmured. "Now all I need is the girl."
He walked slowly around the lab table, turning the wand over in his hands, admiring its pulse.
"Where would he hide it..." he mused, almost giddy. "Where would he put the cure, knowing I'd tear this place apart to find it?"
Then he chuckled to himself, low and almost breathless.
"No matter. She'll tell me. She always tells me. Eventually." He ran his fingers along a nearby scalpel. "A little blade work here. A little touch there. A few well-placed reminders that even the brightest minds... break."
"Is that so?"
The voice behind him made him freeze.
Bram stood in the doorway, his stun baton already humming with current in his hand, his face pale with fury.
Jekyll straightened abruptly. "Bram. What a surprise."
"Where'd you get that wand?"
Jekyll tightened his grip on it. "That's hardly your business."
"It is when the name 'Jessica' leaves your mouth like you own it."
Jekyll stepped back a pace. "She's the key, Bram. The cure. He's been hiding it. But all I need is five minutes alone with her—"
"You say her name again and I'll break your teeth."
Bram's voice was sharp, vibrating with rage.
"You don't understand—"
"I understand plenty."
Bram surged forward. Jekyll backed into the table.
"I warned you," Bram growled. "The warden won't like what you've been saying. Or thinking."
"Hyde's resting," Jekyll said quickly. "He doesn't want to be disturbed."
Bram's eyes narrowed.
"Then wake him up."
He uncorked a vial of thick blue liquid with his teeth, grabbed Jekyll by the throat, and forced it down his throat.
Jekyll gagged violently, sputtering as he clawed at Bram's arms — but it was too late.
The scream tore from his lungs as his body convulsed, slamming into the table. Glass shattered. Beakers crashed. The wand clattered to the floor.
His coat ripped. His fingers bent. His skin darkened, hair growing coarse and thick.
Bram stepped back as Hyde emerged, breathing heavy, black coat stretching back into place.
"What now?" Hyde asked, voice raspy but composed.
Bram raised a brow. "Because Jekyll wants to use Jessica. However he sees fit. Said he'd torture her to get the details of the cure."
Hyde's eyes darkened instantly.
There was no outburst. No fury.
Just a twitch at the corner of his lip.
He picked up the wand, examining it slowly.
Bram swallowed. "What do we do now?"
Hyde looked up, a glint of amusement hidden beneath the rage.
"We let him believe he's winning."
"You're going to let him run the escape?"
Hyde smirked, walked to the window, and plucked a tiny vial from the hanging ivy above.
"Always expect the unexpected," he said, twirling the serum between his fingers. "She did what no one else could Bram. She got it right."
"You're sure of this?"
Hyde's smile was razor-sharp.
"Ohh, I'm sure. She knew exactly what she was doing. For the first time in decades, I've found someone who matches me in mind, motive, and madness."
He handed Bram the wand and gestured to the door.
"Go get her."

A Few Minutes Later – The Lab

Jessica entered with Bram beside her, brows lifting slightly at the familiar setting.
Hyde stood at the head of the room, turning the wand slowly between his fingers.
"Well," Jessica said, crossing her arms. "Didn't take you long to find it."
Hyde gave her a smirk. "I always find what I'm not meant to have. Jekyll's very proud of himself. Thinks he's orchestrating a brilliant escape."
Jessica raised a brow. "So what's the real plan?"
Hyde's expression sobered slightly. "I need you to find the Dark One."
Jessica blinked. "Rumplestiltskin?"
Hyde nodded. "Find that which is most important to him."
Jessica's tone turned wary. "I don't have my powers anymore."
"Maybe you don't need them," Hyde said quietly, holding the wand out. "Maybe this wand can find both."
Jessica hesitated. Then stepped forward and took it.
The moment her fingers closed around the hilt, magic surged into her. She gasped, clutching the wand as red light coiled around her arms.
She turned back to Hyde and Bram with a grin. "You might wanna step back."
Hyde raised a brow, but didn't argue.
Jessica raised the wand and whispered ancient words. Bram didn't understand them — but Hyde did.
The language of witches.
Power burst from the wand like flame.
"Bring me what is mine," she whispered. "And what he loves most. And if he touches it... take the next best thing."
The room swirled with wind and light.
And then—
THUD.
A small ornate box dropped into Jessica's hands.
She stared at it.
Bram leaned in. "What is it?"
Jessica tsked. "Looks like the Dark One keeps his pregnant wife in a magic box."
Hyde smirked. "Then we have her."
Jessica handed it to him.
Hyde turned it over in his hands before giving it back to her. "Hide it. Jekyll must never find it."
Jessica nodded and tucked it into her coat.

   The wand was still warm from Jessica's spellwork, red magic coiling at its edges like smoke clinging to a dying flame. Jessica held it carefully in her hands, studying it — but something inside her still stirred. A strange hum beneath her skin.

Hyde took a step closer, examining her face.

"You felt that, didn't you?" he asked softly.

Jessica didn't respond at first.

"I did," she said finally. "But I don't know what it means."

Hyde watched her carefully. "What happened to your powers, Jessica? Where did they go?"

She opened her mouth to answer—

CRACK.

A scream tore from her throat as a surge of crimson lightning exploded from the portal — a delayed aftershock from her spell. The beam struck her square in the chest and hurled her backward, straight into Hyde.

The force sent both of them flying into the workbench behind him. Glass shattered. Beakers fell and exploded in brilliant color. Vials clattered and cracked beneath their weight.

Jessica groaned as Hyde instinctively shielded her, both of them landing hard on the ground, tangled between the legs of the overturned table.

"Bloody hell—are you two alright?!" Bram asked, Hyde helping her upright.

She blinked, dazed. "I think so..."

Then she felt it.

In her fingertips.

Like fire.

She lifted one trembling hand and whispered a word — and with a sudden, vivid burst of red flame, her palm came alight.

Her eyes widened.

Hyde's did too.

Bram, standing just feet away, dropped his flask. "Well I'll be..."

Jessica stared at the flames dancing from her hand, her lips parting in a grin of wild disbelief.

"They're back," she breathed. "My powers—Hyde, they're back."

She laughed, throwing her head back with joy as the aura danced and pulsed up her forearm. "I thought I lost them forever."

Hyde allowed himself a rare smile — genuine, soft, and proud.

"I knew you'd find your way back," he murmured.

⸻

Later That Night – The Lab

Hyde, Bram, and Jessica stood around the restored wand, a scroll of paper on the table between them.

Hyde tapped the edge of the plan they'd mapped out — a precise, misleading trail of manipulated clues for Jekyll to follow.

"Jekyll believes he has the upper hand," Hyde said. "Let's not disappoint him."

Jessica crossed her arms, casting one last glance over the room.

"I'm going back to the cell."

Hyde looked at her, his face tightening. "This will be the last night. I give you my word."

Jessica narrowed her eyes at him. "You'd better keep it."

"I always do," Hyde said with a faint smirk, then turned toward Bram. "Make sure your bag is packed. We depart at first light."

Jessica paused at the threshold.

"Everything has to look untouched," she said. "Like nothing ever happened."

Hyde's smirk deepened. "Then let's lie well, my dear."
Jessica last minute, then turned back. "I learned more, by the way. From the others. There's a town. Storybrooke. It's real. Full of people like us. A town of magic in a world with none."
Hyde considered her.
"What's it like?"
Jessica smiled faintly. "Beautiful. Quiet. Like something out of a book."
Hyde turned to Bram, then back to her.
"Then that's where we'll go. Let Jekyll play the escape artist. When the time is right, I'll use the serum. I'll be free. And then we'll take Storybrooke."
Jessica's brow furrowed, nervous.
"You'll be okay? During the split?"
Hyde nodded slowly. "With your help it'll go smoothly. But worry not, I won't let him lay a hand on you. Ever again."
Jessica gave him a small, tight smile.
"I trust you."
Hyde looked down at her, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
"Good," he said softly.

Jessica (Narration):
*"It didn't matter what was coming.
He believed in me.
And for the first time
In a long, long time...
I believed in myself, too."*