Mascara

Mascara - Chapter 10

Bright rays of moonlight slithered through the gaps of one of the windows of an inn. The six had once again booked four different rooms of the inn, although Pavo had wailed about not being able to share a room with Danny. Danny had kicked him fiercely, although deep inside her she had felt so relieved that Pavo had expressed such a sentiment after his quietness around her for the past month since they had entered London.

She did not say it, but Jie Ke had slyly watched her face and saw it. His new 'friends' were such an interesting bunch, indeed. Right now, in his room, he watched Xiao Mi sleep on the bed, her head propped on his lap. Her face was illuminated through the moonlight. "You do things with a reason, Jie Ke. I'm sure I'm right about this."

"About as sure as you initially thought I wasn't a murderer?"

"Surer than that."

The Chinese man picked up a mobile phone he had casually snitched from a waiter of the Japanese restaurant earlier, and dialled a number with a slender, long finger, his other hand stroking Xiao Mi's hair.

"Xian sheng," a solemn voice chimed in politely after one ring.

Jack replied nonchalantly, "I assume you have done something productive?"

"We tracked him down," the other man said. "Well, them, really. But would you like to speak to the head of the family?"

"I did not call to exchange pleasantries with you, my good man," Jack drawled. "What do you think?"

The man's voice took on a distinct nervous note. "Immediately, xian sheng."

The man was as good as his word. A few seconds later, a snarling voice came onto the phone. "What is the meaning of this?" the voice snapped viciously. "I was in the middle of my research on finding the most effective way to poison someone too! Then the kind me who has never hurt a fly gets kidnapped by your men."

"My men?" Jack shuddered delicately. "Please, do not associate those gangsters with me. I simply pay them, and they carry out my little, harmless favours."

"Harmless, my foot!" The scientist spat. "What is this, Jack? What happened to our deal? I have agreed to work on your stupid drug, so how dare you—"

"You said you were doing research on poison when you were... interrupted," Jack countered cordially.

There was a short and frosty silence, broken only by Jack's humming.

"Look," the scientist snapped. "I ain't got time to drop everything just for your Mascara drug."

"Perhaps you need further incentive," Jack purred. "Would you like money? Oh, before you interrupt me by saying you don't care about things like money, this amount of money can buy you a brand new laboratory, twice as big as your current miserable little hole, and with brand new equipment, replacing everything you have now."

There was another pause, but Jack's sharp ears could make out the barely audible mumbling of the scientist as he debated with himself. A slight devious smile curved the sculpted lips.

"Fresh bodies, too," the scientist added roughly, cracking. "Fresh, living bodies I can experiment on."

"As many as you could desire," Jack agreed serenely, reaching an elegant hand up to brush his silky ebony locks. "It is always a pleasure working with a kind man such as yourself."

The scientist snorted. "Don't flatter me. And tell your men not to tie my hands so tightly; they're turning numb. I need them to dissect bodies, you know."

"How long?" Jack inquired politely. "How long before I get the drug?"

The scientist muttered, "A month, I suppose."

"It will do for now, I think," Jack replied musingly. He caressed Xiao Mi's forehead. "Start work immediately."

"And what do I get from you now that will guarantee you keep your promise to me?"

"Hm, let's see," Jack answered in mock thoughtfulness. His dark eyes gleamed. "Your life."

The scientist violently lurched nearer to the phone, which was held to his ear by a kidnapper, only to be held down by the other kidnappers and the ropes. "You—!"

"Now, now," Jack purred. "You of all people should know how unhealthy agitation is for the body. It increases blood pressure and all that."

The scientist snarled, "You will not dare to kill me. I am your wife's only hope for a cure."

"Kill you? Perhaps not," Jack replied casually. The Cheshire smile widened slyly. "But I can always harm you. Which of your limbs do you like the most? I will be charitable, being the nice person that I am, and allow you to keep that one limb. Your hands, I forgot, I need them to work on the drug. Alright, which leg would you like me to dismember first, xian sheng?"

The scientist's face twitched slightly as he lay limp, still bound by the ropes. Then he abruptly laughed with abandon, his chest heaving maniacally. "You really are an interesting man, Jack."

"I am just a pleasant man," Jack responded mildly, unaffected by the man's ecstatic howls which were drifting through the speakers. "I wish to do pleasant business with you. You keep your limbs and get your new laboratory, and fresh bodies. I get my drug. Isn't that nice? We're both happy. Isn't happiness what everyone, Mascara and human alike, desire?"

The scientist cackled. "Okay. Consider it done, you sadist. Just don't let me catch you. My fingers are simply itching to experiment on such a beautiful, interesting man like you."

"Good evening to you, too," Jack said silkily. "Meet me in England in a month's time. I will inform you of the exact location soon. You know what I will be expecting to receive from you then." He hung up abruptly, and carelessly tossed the mobile phone into a glass of water nearby. It fizzled and bubbles bobbed.

Jack kissed Xiao Mi's fingers. "A little longer now."

- MASCARA -

Morning found the six at the inn entrance, their luggage in tow. Pavo was dressed in his usual silk shirt and leather pants, and he was digging through his luggage for a jacket to 'match his pants'.

"You don't understand!" he wailed. "It's a sin not to look good."

Danny whacked his head lightly with the barrel of her pistol. "We're going on a mission, and you're worried for your looks?!" She absently straightened her bandana, straightening her short blonde locks. She saw Pavo flinch as he looked at her, before shifting away. What was wrong with him?

"Okay," Chastity hollered. "We're going to take the train now, all the way to London King Cross's station before taking another direct train to Cambridge."

She, Pavo and Chaos were decked in bandanas that hid most of the unusual colour of their hair. Although Pavo had pointed out that a lot of people in this era had odd dyed hair colours; those 'Goth freaks' as he said. Jack stood serenely, sipping tea quietly, while one arm was wrapped around a silent Xiao Mi's waist.

"Chances are, Robert's expecting us," Danny cut in gravely. "He probably would love to catch us first before we catch him."

Chaos looked horrified. "Oh, the lack of peace!"

The six picked up their luggage and set off.

A/N:

Xian sheng - Mister